Episode 04: Coyote the Bookie

Character and Citizenry content brought to you by Azurbala Broadcasting System. None of these words are our own. We post what we want, when we want, from who we want. Mostly from people with interesting stories. That doesn’t include you Jenkins the Mutant, so stop asking.

Azurbala is a beautifully dangerous place. It is also Home.

Within this world, the Sprawls is where I lay my head (most days). The jungle surrounds us, talks to us, and protects.

My name is Coyote.

Now, that isn't my born name. I was born as Pratt. When I was young, my mother read me one of the only books we owned. That book was called "Coyote Moon" and I imagined myself as those characters each day. That branded me.

Coyote as a boy.

My father worked 7 days a week. I had no idea what he did, and when I inquired⁠—I was a very inquisitive child⁠—I was told he "serves the people of Azurbala."

Sounds good right? Very respectable. I thought very highly of him. Great work ethic, provided for our family.

Later in life, I understood him to be working underneath the biggest crime lord in Azurbala. My attitude of him changed. Rumors of things he had done. Rumors that came true when I finally had the courage to confront him.

Rumors of things he had done.

I was angry with my father, but grew to understand. We aren't educated here, sure, but he could give me what he had. And he had no skills to teach except one: survival! “You just have to adapt,” he’d say. “Coyotes are known for adapting to their environment, whether in the forest or the jungle,” and that skill I learned from my father.

Unfortunately, it’s no different here where crime and illegal activities run rampant. There were so many close calls to him and our family. We moved from place to place, but all within the Sprawls and the jungle. We never ventured outside those "city limits." Father's business stayed here, and as I got older, he taught me.

He taught me to be a man, how to survive and to provide from myself, and eventually, my family. I learned that people always dream of bigger things, which meant they needed more than they had to get there. And I learned how to read people.

In order for the average citizen to realize those Big Dreams, they would need more marrow to do it and I give people the opportunity to ‘earn it’ quickly, through games of Chance. I am a bookmaker. Some in your world might call me a "bookie." Essentially, I take bets for people.

No, I am not rich by any means, so don't go thinking that I’ve some lavish lifestyle. Every day for me is survival. It's a constant game of finding the action, and finding those who owe. Coyotes are great hunters. My father taught me well and, well, I have had to do bad things.

I suppose I’ve become him in a lot of ways. I don't like who I am and my goal is to one day get out of this life. It's hard though.

My real passion is to help others, and from what I remember most of that story my mother read me growing up, the little Coyote had a lot of compassion. But being a bookmaker, it’s stressful. And I have my own addictions. Gambling marrow being one of them. I also smoke jungle leaves constantly throughout my day. It hides the pain.

The marrow is good some days and business is good every day. So good in fact, it has opened the eyes of my competition in the underworld: Falon. He called on me recently, wants me to work for him. It seems I’ve cut into his business.

Unlike my father, I declined. I want to stay my own man and I don't want to be in this profession forever. But I do know, my decision to do what I do on my own puts a bullseye on my back. Falon isn't forgiving. But as I said, I only really have one skill: survival.

Today is another day here in Azurbala, and I am alive. I am providing. I pray to the Gods that continues.

My name is Coyote. If you are an Azurian, follow this link and please follow me on Twitter. I'll follow back to learn your story. That way we can all retweet each other’s origin stories, and more outsiders can learn about the wonderful lore and storytelling of Azurbala.