There once was a Lively beggar-girl, dirty and heedless and gay in the face of misfortune.
Begin with the Bear Boy
There once was a Bear-Boy whose job it was to keep a Dancing Bear and make money from her antics.
Begin with the Dancing Bear
There once was a Dancing Bear who followed after the baneful Ring in her nose.
Begin with the Merchant's Daughter
There once was a rich Merchant who doted upon his Daughter.
Begin with Love & Death
“There once was …” properly begins a story about mortals because mortals have but once to act it. This story is about Immortals, Love and Death, born conjoined twins and hatched from a silver egg.