Beta Key Contest #4
Welcome to week four of the DiabloFans Beta Key Contest! This week is going to be slightly different than the previous three weeks: this time we're doing a mini-writing contest. If any of you haven't seen already, there is an NPC in Diablo III named Binkles the Frog and we're dying to find out more about him! We want you to come up with his backstory, fit him into the Lore of the Diablo Universe, and simply tell us what in the world he is doing around Sanctuary.
We'll choose the best one or two entries week and they'll be granted a Diablo III Beta Key. In addition, the winning piece(s) will be placed on his wiki page permanently as his "fan lore." Submissions should be posted in this thread and you are allowed more than one entry if you'd like! You have until October 31st at midnight to get your submissions in.
Congratulations to Arvron for winning the third Beta Key caption contest.
He can not be upgraded or Attuned but after a 10,000 weapons strikes with him socketed, you will see a message appear about 10,000 strikes. If you unsocket him you can now transmute him plus a perfect gem and a portal to the secret miniature pony ranch appears.
Binkles the Frog
Binkles the Frog is an NPC in Diablo III. He is a rare frog whom Adria found deep in the Black Marsh while seeking rare weeds for her potions. Adria discovered that Binkles could release a small toxin which could be brewed with other ingredients to create powerful potions such as the Spectral Elixir. Adria kept Binkles the Frog a secret in her hut in order to craft powerful potions for courageous heroes entering the cathedral in Diablo 1, but after Adria died Binkles escaped back into the wild.
Binkles the Frog can be found hoping around some of the open areas in Act 1 after killing the Skeleton King. Coming into contact with Binkles triggers the mini-event Toxic Swarm.
The tiniest of sounds woke up a battered and beaten Wirt, but it was enough to draw his attention to it. Raising his head from the dusty ground he looked through one swollen eye at the noise which turned out to be a red and yellow spotted frog.
“Hey there” Wirt said, his captors no longer around, assuming his paralyzed leg will keep him still. “You mind helping me out?”
“Ribbit” the frog said again, before turning, hopping once in the other direction, and then slowly turned and looked over his shoulder at Wirt.
“Alright, I’ll come with you…the alternative isn’t pleasant.” Wirt said, the other children had already been slain and he was the only one left. He slowly rose up to his feet. He watched as the frog hopped once more, as if to show him the way. Looking down at his paralyzed left leg he grinned at the frog and hopped along with him.
Not a single Fallen crossed their path, day and night both hopped their way towards Tristram until finally Wirt was safe. He collapsed just on the outskirts of the town. Exhausted, Wirt reached out to the frog and petted him. “Thank you Mr….Binkles,” he said with a giggle before passing out. Calmly, Mr. Binkles hops into the boy’s pocket.
<Events of Diablo begin>
“Can you believe it, Mr. Binkles? 50 gold pieces just to look at my items.” Wirt said with a laugh as he counted out the gold pieces one by one. “I don’t know how you do it but these items you seem to find are amazing.”
“Ribbit”
“If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead, but those idiots couldn’t save my leg. I guess you’re my only friend here, besides Gillian, and soon we can leave Tristram.” Wirt said. A sudden calm came across the land and a mighty roar could be heard from beneath the ground. A rumble shook the land.
Everyone come out to see what happened; Griswold, covered in black soot, stepped out of his blacksmith and gazed in the direction of a figure coming out of the dungeons. Adria, Cain, Farnham, Gillian, Ogden and Pepin all stepped out to view the figure as well; unsure of what had taken place.
With Mr. Binkles perched on his shoulder, Wirt approached the figure slowly. Dressed in a heavy dark hood and cloak he couldn’t see who it was but he had a guess. “Aedan? Is that you? Is it over?”
The figure shifted slightly in his hood and then nodded his head. He stepped forward and into the town, never removing his hood, saying only a single word, “East.”
Binkles who had retreated into the pocket of Wirt upon getting closer to the man began to cower. But Wirt paid no attention; instead he joins the other to celebrate.
<Events of Diablo 2>
“Go, Binkles! Please don’t die with….” Wirt whispered as the Fallen descended upon him, Mr. Binkles only able to watch as his owner was slain. He watched in horror as flames ate at the town and a weathered old man was strung up in a cage.
Hopping in and out of crowds of demons that were gathered around the cage, Mr. Binkles managed to get to the old man before the cage was lifted too far off the ground. Looking up at the dark grey robe, he knew that Wirt had talked decently of the man.
“Ribbit”
Deckard Cain looked down and spotted the frog. He smiled sadly at him, knowing him to be Wirt’s pet. He slowly leaned down, picked him up, and placed him in a pocket inside his robe.
“Stay a while and listen.” Deckard Cain said as he looked out over the hordes of monsters, waiting for a savior or the end to come. Days passed before a miracle happened, and a band of warriors set him free. Travelling with them on their journeys, Mr. Binkles saw the Rogue Encampment, Lut Gholein, Kurast Docks, Pandemonium Fortress, and Harrogath.
Finally, after all had been done and seen, Deckard Cain returned to Tristram with Mr. Binkles to find a pregnant Adria. Her health had been deteriorating, but she made Deckard Cain promise to care for her child, to which he accepted, albeit a bit reluctantly. Upon her passing some months later on, it was up to Deckard Cain to care for the child named Leah.
<5 years later>
“Ribbit”
“Yay! Uncle you brought me a friend.” Leah said, smiling brightly as she sat at a table, writing alongside Deckard Cain. The town of Tristram was slowly rebuilt over the years.
“Indeed, he stayed a while and listened. Saw many great and terrible things, and yet he is still here. This is Mr. Binkles and he can be your friend through whatever hardships you might come across, even as a new chapter begins.”
<Thus comes the events of Diablo 3>
Binkles was once known as Tathamet; after the relentless war against Anu both were supposedly destroyed and through the aftermath of their destruction, created the high heavens and the burning hells; but what was kept secret from us, was that one can never destroy these powerful deities. Anu simply transformed his essence into what we know now as the Worldstone, to bloat to his new offspring (angels) the power that he now has. (does that make Anu a douche? Yes )
Tathamet however, after ages and ages of warring, was tired from fighting. Wanting to both settle down and pursue his life long dream of well… simply mating, he devised a plan to get away from the ongoing battles between heaven and hell. After pillaging Inarius’s thoughts, Tathamet showed him how to use Anu to create another world, so both Inarius and him could get away from the constant fighting. Allying with Lilith, Inarius successfully obtained the Worldstone, and then used the powers it contained to create what we now know as the Sanctuary. As both Inarius and Lilith crusaded forward to the Sanctuary, a very happy Tathamet trailed behind them.
Tathamet, now overjoyed, set out on his true life’s mission; to mate and settle down, but mostly mate, don't judge. Just after being kicked out of New Tristams night club a dozen times due to flashing his four genitals to the blacksmiths daughter (hey, its called love guys), Tathamet, walked very lonely in the moonlight by a stagnate pond. Frowning, he gazed down he saw a frog, but more importantly he saw what the frog protected, hundreds upon hundreds of eggs. Tathamet then had an epiphany; one frog would have to get laid at least 80 times to have that many eggs. Stricken by the new thought, Tathamet then transformed into a male frog, and is now, to this day, named Binkles. And if anyone asks; yes, he is not a virgin anymore.
And he lived happily ever after.
The End
Re-worded and Revised hope you enjoy
I thought /dance (slashdance) and adam west finger would win for sure.
That aside, i think beta key contests are awesome, i'm glad somebody won, and <insert nicety>.
/end
Binkles the frog
Lore: After the siege break on Arreat, Harrogath has been pushed into battle. The honorable barbarian forces that guard the sacred Mount Arreat are famous for their skill and bravery on the battlefield. But few would fight a battle through magic or other ways. Binkles was one of them.
Never being skilled with weapons, this peculiar barbarian was an adept of alchemy and apprentice of medicinal sorceries. When the siege on Harrogath was taking too rough on its citizens, Binkles had to make his way to glory and respect of his beloved leader, Anya, who has always been prepared to lead Harrogath after the disruption of the elder clan.
Binkles was genius and daring. He was capable of composing a mixture based on Baal's enslaved minions and apply to himself in order to produce a mutation to his own body. Having succeeded, he'd become an abomination. Through his veins now run demon, frog and human blood.
Assuming the form of an minion, he'd infiltrate Baal's army and secretly cause devastation by sabotaging catapults and barricades, releasing prisioniers and poisoning their food.
As weeks passed by, his mutation had been degenerating his body into a small frog's and even though his efforts to support his allies had been giving advantage to the barbarians in battle, after he witnessed the delivery of the Relic of the Ancients to Baal himself, he fled.
To the people of Harrogath, he'd always be a traitor. There's nothing that could draw the attention from the new champion that had arrived. He would only recieve the news about the destruction of the Worldstone a few years later, in Kurast.
Twenty years have passed and now Binkles, the frog, as he is always known, travels through the Sanctuary in search of exotic essences and knowledge to share.
Binkles the Frog was once one of the luckiest frogs in all of Sanctuary. He had it all - a great job, a beautiful wife and a great family. Then one day that all came crashing down around him.
It was a cool autumn day in Sanctuary - and not just any day, it was Binkles' birthday. On this particular birthday, Binkles woke with a wonderful attitude that this birthday wouldn't be like the rest ... Everyone would remember his birthday and it would be one of the best ever.
Binkles jumped out of bed and readied himself for work. Hoping downstairs he fully expected to hear "Happy Birthday" from his wife and his young froggy children but no one really said a word to him. This left Binkles feeling quite sad but off to work he went.
Binkles was greeted with a few "Happy Birthday's" from co-workers and he felt a little better. When lunch rolled around, one particular female frog that Binkles had a short-lived romance with (before he was married) offered to take him to lunch. He graciously accepted.
After lunch Tinkles (the female frog) asked Binkles to accompany her back to her apartment to pick-up something on the way back to work. After arriving and entering Tinkles' apartment, she told Binkles she had to go do something in the bedroom and that she would be right back. Binkles became quite nervous and excited at the same time.
After a few minutes, Tinkles came out of her bedroom with a big birthday cake - followed by Binkles' wife, kids and co-workers all chanting "Happy Birthday Binkles!"...
Binkles sat there on Tinkles' couch in complete shock ...
Naked.
(Based on the findings of Frog extraordinaire B.S. Winkles PhD, and a real joke I once read somewhere on the Internets)
His origin dates back to his conception in the dark fiery depths of the Burning Hells.
Binkles was never normal to begin with, he was born under a giant demon bullfrog and a nudist siren.
He grew up contradicting the actions and commandments of his parents and peers as he did not agree with their ambitions. When the time came that the hells were forced to invade the "Sanctuary" above, everyone including Binkles was sent forth to claim the land for themselves.
Amidst the warfare and chaotic events, Binkles strayed away from the pack and took refuge in the small cathedral in which the demons flooded, he thought to himself "All cathedrals must be safe havens, those foul beings will leave eventually!". Boy was he wrong.
As he cowered away from all the scrutiny and abuse he revealed a softer and fearful side of him that the demons preyed on. One fateful moment as Binkles was listening to the soft brontide coming from above, two sad excuses for demons strolled up to him in a disgusting manner and threatened him with wicked violence. Just before they could hold up their end, a courageous and inhumanly mighty man lunged his sword of demons bane right through the abdomen of one foul monster and quickly dispatched the other. Binkles could only witness what could absolutely be the greatest moment in his existence (as it was all downhill from there.). The two figures which represented all that is good quickly bonded, but of course with all good things, it had to come to an end. The warrior quickly fell down a path that he could not escape. After the defeat of the dark lord himself the warrior and Binkles headed East, for that was all the man could speak of and Binkles was too loyal to refuse to follow. Slowly the man was showing treacherous signs that began to worry the poor frog and ignorance was all the creature could produce, for he didn't want to lose the only good thing in life he had. Along the path of corruption, the darkened man with seemingly no soul struck the frog for following too close and thinking too much. This caused a release in Binkles as his anger reached a limit of unacceptable proportions. Without control the amphibian struck a minor blow to the man. His eyes quickly widened in fright as he knew this was the end. The man rose his hand and tremors commenced. Before he laid death on the poor creature, a glimmer of control and conviction rose from the bottom of his heart that prevented him from murdering the frog, only just leaving him on the steep cliffs of death. The man shed a tear for his lost friend but that was all he did and nothing more before he proceeded on his unholy path. The frog didn't get too far before he reached a safe haven and collapsed. The goddess of luck must have smiled on him greatly that day as a elderly but kind man took him in and cared for him to the best of his extent.
To this day Binkles doesn't like to recall the past for all it contains is battle scars and lost friendship.
If any kind soul ever summed up the curiosity to ask the frog about his past, Binkles in return would only shrug and turn his back for it hurt him too much.
All he had left now was to chime in his attention and listen to his new master that could never get a grip on his nonsense repeating of history which all starts with "Stay awhile and listen!".
Binkles the Frog
Binkles the frog has a very odd name
So does his nature, in his own domain.
Hidden in the sanctuary he subtly yawned,
that is of course until Diablo was spawned.
Then he mounted his platypus and told it never to stop,
but he quickly found out he’d be much faster if he just hopped!
Where to go, not to the centre,
Diablo was there fighting Cain’s mentor!
The fire and flames Binkles hopped around,
almost made dinner and toasted his skinny green frown.
Mmm, fresh meat, or fresh frog should he say,
as the butcher was ready to cook up his prey.
Binkles knew not where to go, so he headed to the waypoint,
back to the flayer jungle where the amphibian could once again become joint,
with his classless father who let him go,
into the depths of Diablo’s dark chateaux.
Binkles smelt his father and knew the Slime Prince was near,
so he mounted his platypus and said “Never fear, Binkles is here!”
They went toe to toe and it seemed like a mismatch,
but Binkles’ platypus did more than just watch!
It shot hot venom and beaver tailed the Prince,
but Mr. Slime resisted it, so then with a wince,
the platypus kissed Mr. Slime with his duck shaped bill,
and Mr. Slime turned into a man of great will!
Now, would you ever guess who?
Binkles was surprised too!
After all Griswald kind of look like a frog,
but only when Ms. Charsi accompanied his ****.
Binkles, son of Griswald and Charsi.
His origin dates back to his conception in the dark fiery depths of the Burning Hells.
Binkles was never normal to begin with, he was born under a giant demon bullfrog and a nudist siren.
He grew up contradicting the actions and commandments of his parents and peers as he did not agree with their ambitions. When the time came that the hells were forced to invade the "Sanctuary" above, everyone including Binkles was sent forth to claim the land for themselves.
Amidst the warfare and chaotic events, Binkles strayed away from the pack and took refuge in the small cathedral in which the demons flooded, he thought to himself "All cathedrals must be safe havens, those foul beings will leave eventually!".
Boy was he wrong.
As he cowered away from all the scrutiny and abuse he revealed a softer and fearful side of him that the demons preyed on. One fateful moment as Binkles was listening to the soft brontide coming from above, two sad excuses for demons strolled up to him in a disgusting manner and threatened him with wicked violence.
Just before they could hold up their end, a courageous and inhumanly mighty man lunged his sword of demons bane right through the abdomen of one foul monster and quickly dispatched the other. Binkles could only witness in shock what could absolutely be the greatest moment in his existence (as it was all downhill from there.).
The two figures which represented all that is good quickly bonded, but of course with all good things, it had to come to an end.
The warrior quickly fell down a path that he could not escape. After the defeat of the dark lord himself the warrior and Binkles headed East, for that was all the man could speak of and Binkles was too loyal to refuse to follow.
Slowly the man was showing treacherous signs that began to worry the poor frog and ignorance was all the creature could produce, for he didn't want to lose the only good thing in life he had.
Along the path of corruption, the darkened man with seemingly no soul struck the frog for following too close and thinking too much.
This caused a release in Binkles as his anger reached a limit of unacceptable proportions.
Without control the amphibian struck a minor blow to the man.
His eyes quickly widened in fright as he knew this was the end.
The man rose his hand and tremors commenced.
Before he laid death on the poor creature, a glimmer of control and conviction rose from the bottom of his heart that prevented him from murdering the frog, only just leaving him on the steep cliffs of death.
The man shed a tear for his lost friend but that was all he did and nothing more before he proceeded on his unholy path.
The frog didn't get too far before he reached a safe haven and collapsed.
The goddess of luck must have smiled on him greatly that day as a elderly but kind man took him in and cared for him to the best of his extent.
To this day Binkles doesn't like to recall the past for all it contains is crude scars and lost friendship.
If any wandering soul ever summed up the curiosity to ask the frog about his past, Binkles in return would only shrug and turn his back for it hurt him too much.
All he had left now was to chime in his attention and listen to his new master that could never get a grip on his nonsense repeating of history which all starts with
"Stay awhile and listen!".
Only death could end the misery, but it would not come. The thought of it offered fleeting relief, however infinitesimal, but I craved the permance of death's embrace.
It wasn't always that way. I lived my days on the banks of a small river near an encampment that offered shelter when necessary and a fire to warm me on the colder nights. Never was quite enough storage though.
Things changed at the arrival of the stranger. Hero they called him, and Hero he proved to be, though I'm not exactly sure how or why. It intrigued me, though, so when he left with the caravan I tagged along.
I parted ways with the Hero when we reached our destination. This place...so dry. Every day a struggle, every oasis far. I pressed on, seeking adventure. I found dark places to explore and did, allowing my small stature to keep me hidden from danger.
A shiver ran through me, my body nearly solidified then a guttural query was the last I knew. "Looking for Ba'al?"
Pain and darkness.
After an eternity of suffering, commotion? Light? Surely a dream. Bleary eyed, I emerged from a heap of flesh. Was that the Hero? I followed slowly, trying to regain strength. A being with light tendrils departs and so do I, reborn.
With this second chance I vowed to myself to make them pay. All of them. They shall feel as I felt and all shall know my name. No matter how long it takes or how dire the cost, Binkles the Frog shall rise. Perhaps I'll start with the caravaneer...
Binkles the frog was once known as Tathamet; after the relentless war against Anu both were supposedly destroyed and through the aftermath of their destruction, created the high heavens and the burning hells; but what was kept secret from us, was that one can never destroy these powerful deities. Anu simply transformed his essence into what we know now as the Worldstone, to bloat to his new offspring (the angels) the power that he now has. (does that make Anu a douche? Yes )
Tathamet however, after ages and ages of warring, was tired from fighting. Wanting to both settle down and pursue his life long dream of well… simply mating, he devised a plan to get away from the ongoing battles between heaven and hell. After pillaging Inarius’s thoughts, Tathamet showed him how to use Anu to create another world, so both Inarius and him could get away from the constant fighting. Allying with Lilith, Inarius successfully obtained the Worldstone, and then used the powers it contained to create what we now know as the Sanctuary. As both Inarius and Lilith crusaded forward to the Sanctuary, a very happy Tathamet trailed behind them.
Tathamet, now overjoyed, set out on his true life’s mission; to mate and settle down, but mostly mate, don't judge. Just after being kicked out of New Tristram's night club a dozen times due to flashing his four genitals to the blacksmiths daughter (hey, its called love guys), Tathamet, walked very lonely in the moonlight by a stagnate pond. Frowning, he gazed down he saw a frog, but more importantly he saw what the frog protected, hundreds upon hundreds of eggs. Tathamet then had an epiphany; one frog would have to get laid at least 80 times to have that many eggs. Stricken by the new thought, Tathamet then transformed into a male frog, and is now, to this day, named Binkles. And if anyone asks; yes, he is not a virgin anymore.
And he lived happily ever after.
The End
Re-worded and Revised hope you enjoy
huddled around their fire place.
"Now finish up your soup dear, it's time to go to sleep".
"But mother, I'm not sleepy yet. Can't I stay up just a bit long?"
"I won't ask again!" replied the mother, her eyes glowing softly from the nearby flame and cauldron.
As the young girl climbed into bed, her mother sat down beside her.
"You will learn to listen to your elders, just as my mother taught me before I became a witch.
Now for a bed time story...
In the evening one hears the calls of the night.
As I crept closer, he felt my presence.
His sounds periodically starting and stopping.
I went to the toad that lies under the sage brush.
I charmed him out, and he came at my call.
I go out and play shepherd, but my flock is toads."
As the old woman finished, she kissed her daughter on the forehead, "Good night my dear, Leah."
The next day...
"C'mon dear wake up, we must head down to the waters edge and gather some mushrooms."
Leah's eyes quickly opened with excitement, as she always loved time to play at the swamp and chase
frogs while her mother searched for plants.
There was a slight fog that morning as they left the safety of their hut, perfect humidity for
large shrooms to have grown in the night.
As her mother gathered different fungae, Leah started walking down the shore line, looking for
anything to try and catch. As she approached a wet, mossy log half way out of the water she noticed
a small salamander sitting near the water line, very well camouflaged against the bark of the tree.
She crept very low as she approached. Her eyes looked like an owls, about to snatch its prey.
With all her might she lept forward.
Kurslasph!
"Aww damnit, I missed."
She continued down the shoreline, with her mother now out of sight.
RRRIBIT.
Where is that coming from? she thought.
RRRIBIT..
Hmm, where is that lil' bugger? she said to her self as she glanced at the nearby shrubs.
As Leah approached a patch of reeds she spotted something.
"Oh my it's beautiful" she said under her breath.
Small rays of sunshine started peeking through the fog, lighting up vibrant yellow spots and drops of
dew on the orange frogs back.
As she approached the frog sat there calmly looking directly at her serene and gentle eyes,
mesmerized as a man to a siren's song. She picked him up and said softly, "I will call you...Binkles."
----------------
Written by Hazedontblaze
Oct.26/2011