[B7L] The Small Man

This is from Diana Wynne Jones' very funny The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, which skewers the cliches of wizards'n'wyverns fics.

SMALL MAN can be a very funny or very tiresome TOUR COMPANION, depending on how this kind of thing grabs you. He gambles, he drinks too mucy, and he always runs away. Since the Rules allow him to make JOKES, he will excuse his behavior in a variety of comical ways. Physically he is stunted and not at all handsome, although he usually dresses flamboyantly. He tends to wear hats with feathers in. You will discover he is very vain. But if you can avoid smacking him, you will come to tolerate if not love him. He will contrive, in some cowardly way, to play a major part of SAVING THE WORLD.

-(Y)