The King's Last Resort

The Gontic kingdom, long feared for its overwhelming might, faced its final days. How such a state befell it still puzzled all the peoples of the world, but nevertheless the armies of three kings surrounded their shared enemy. King Gons VII and his enflamed spirit looked over the enemies which surrounded his last redoubt not with resignation but with ferocity.
"In all this Gontic kingdom established by my ancestors at the behest of the gods and blessed them so that each of us is more than human, stronger on the field of battle than three normal soldiers at the weakest, is there no one who will bring me King Blanned's crown, his head still wearing it? The man who does shall have for his wife my own daughter!"
To the side, a warrior even then submitting his person to his squire and his attendants that they might arm him with the silver armor that once the war god wore before bequeathing it to Gons III for a service done him and the sword whose smith tested it on the earth and created Mykress Canyon, turned and scowled. "I intended to do just that," said Prince Haufen. "Now I cannot."
"My brave son! Know that I have never taken back a word I said. I will add this though, that he for whatever reason is not to wed my daughter will instead be given this peerless cup studded with one gem from every land in which I killed a dragon, for their hearts are clumps of such jewels!"
"So then, my sister is worth a single cup, you say? I've changed my ideas about which king to kill!"
The nobles rushed to restrain the two royals, a difficult task because of their heroic strength and mythical passion. In the end the father and son made a wager that whichever of them killed but one king owed an apology to the killer of two. The prince won, and as for the princess, she was left to wonder why her father wanted to get rid of her so badly.
Finis

Challenge of Spring

The year-round theft! The criminal bold enough to flout the laws ought to exhibit daring in his targets as well, but few did. At last a heroic burglar declared his intention to steal the entire year and acted accordingly. The Jewel of Summer, the Jewel of Winter, and the Jewel of Autumn were in his little pocket.
"Oh, it's terrible!" What else could the gallery owner say? The Jewel of Spring was his responsibility but not his to sell, which he would have done just to sleep again. The police were sweating too. They had failed three times.
Around the gate they were posted, around the rear entrance, the side entrance, the balcony, and the equivalent entrances of every adjacent building. Disguised inspectors walked up and down the street as if pondering a purchase while custodes mingled with the visitors.
"But it's up here that it's best to wait, Falgunus!" Inspector Iagius told his custos.
"What makes you say so, sir?"
"The oath I took when I became an inspector to use my wits instead of sticking to rote procedure and claiming it's the fault of the regulations when I fail, Falgunus." What a striking figure he was on the roof across the street, watching over the gallery like a sympathetic god!
Suddenly, the alarm. Policemen scrambled all over the ground level, the second level, and the third and fourth, but the thief was ahead of them. He jumped up the first flight of stairs, leapt up the second, and so on, until he hopped up to the gallery roof and then crossed the street with a single superhuman bound. Right into the waiting arms of Custos Falgunus! The malefactor's panicked struggles availed nothing against the brawny limbs of the law.
"You see, Falgunus? The wizard-crafter made this seasonal jewel to absorb the very power of spring. The lesson is to look into the qualities of what you're guarding and not just the price."
Another triumph for Inspector Iagius!
Finis

Disputes Over Schools of Magic

The argument: "I have become the strongest Gem Master in the world! My magic is supreme."
The counterargument: "You can't call yourself a Gem Master just because you have a bunch of gems, and being rich isn't magic."
The outcome: After Gem Master Dorol bought the furniture store where Polish Mage Irsen worked and fired him, the argument was proved correct.
The aftermath: Gem Master Dorol's shoes are the shiniest in town. Meanwhile, Polish Mage Irsen isn't starving to death.
Finis

Home Decor

Where does the discriminating lady keep her jewels when not worn? In a box? Or in the mouth of a statue designed for that purpose? I think we all know.

Quick Question

The stars are . . .

Balls of chemical reactions.
The hopes of the people.
Ancient heroes, immortalized.
The eyes of the terrible beast!
Big bugs.
Gems as big as your fist, ready to be taken.
The future, if you can read it.

Addendum

Hey! This emerald is a fake!

Big Worldbuilding Questions

You've got your fantasy country all settled with a name, imports, exports, government type, and everything. You've decided to call it Wipitaria, which I encourage you to rethink, but ignore that and answer me this. Do the people there sit down or recline? Pants or otherwise? How tall are their hats? I won't listen to the answers, though. I only wanted to distract you so I could filch the emerald.

Challenge of the Secret Poison

"Far, far, and far again to the east and the south, it is said, there is a tree that bears on its extraordinary branches fruit that will never produce another such tree, for there is and ever will be only one. The fruits instead are full solid and flash blue, shine red, and glisten green. No tunnels dug into the wealth-hoarding earth brings forth finer material for jewelry.
"That was the story as told for centuries. Make up your mind, call it true or false on those words alone, for the journey was too long and too deadly for any but the most death-courting of adventurers. And one there was, in time. He trekked over every river and forded every danger, reaching the other side with a bit less blood than before, but with every grain of his intrepid nature. He reached the tree that stood just as legends told, except the ones about circling manticores or a jealous witch. Nothing guarded its fruit. An ordinary man would have taken a load of treasure and left, but who of that sort would ever have made it that far? The adventurer plucked a ruby, bit into it, and died. The fruit of that tree is poisoned.
"And that was the poison used in this case!" Inspector Iagius declared, and as always, he was correct.
Finis

Worldbuilding Tips

People like jewelry I guess, so throw some of that in there. Rings and junk. You can put most of it under a dragon, though, if it makes you feel better. A space dragon, because people in the future are still going to like jewelry.