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Leprosy has tormented humans throughout recorded history. The earliest possible account of a disease that many scholars believe is leprosy appears in an Egyptian Papyrus document written around 1550 B.C. Around 600 B.C. Indian writings describe a disease that resembles leprosy. In Europe, leprosy first appeared in the records of ancient Greece after the army of Alexander the Great came back from India and then in Rome in 62 B.C. coinciding with the return of Pompeii's troops from Asia Minor.


Throughout its history, leprosy has been feared and misunderstood. For a long time leprosy was thought to be a hereditary disease, a curse, or a punishment from God. Before and even after the discovery of its biological cause, leprosy patients were stigmatized and shunned. For example, in Europe during the Middle Ages, leprosy sufferers had to wear special clothing, ring bells to warn others that they were close, and even walk on a particular side of the road, depending on the direction of the wind. Even in modern times, leprosy treatment has often occured in seperate hospitals and live-in colonies called leprosariums because of the stigma of the disease. Leprosy has been so prevalent in various areas as certain times throughout history that is has inspired art work and influenced other cultural practices."


Once upon a time, in the year 1206, there was man named Tobias Pickle. Tobias, as many people knew, was a leper. Now, Tobias wasn't your average everyday medieval leper that lay slumped in a slimy ally moaning all day. He was a leper who enjoyed life (while he still had some left), thus earning him the nickname "The happy leper". One of his favorite pastimes included hiding behind a tree and scaring weary travelers by jumping out with his hood down (exposing his mangled face by doing this) and yelling "BOO!"
He had lost both of his hands, but he made do with some old carrots that he had stuck to the stumps of his arms using some sort of unknown adhesive.
Also he had one eye, but it was usually blind, except when he thought of muffins, which was quite a rarity since muffins hadn't been invented yet. Tobias lived out the rest of life (27 minutes, to be precise) as a happy and diseased man. He died knowing that one day he would be immortalized in some sort of piece of art.

The end.
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I found that this contest made it hard to figure out what to make for my entry. I recently saw the movie Kingdom of Heaven (great movie. Check it up out if you're allowed to see R-rated movies) and I got several ideas for skins from it. Here's the thought process for what it took for me to get the idea for Tobias (I'm sure my brain is plotting against me):

1: hmm, mayhaps a knight from the Knights Templar of the first crusade would work?
2: naw. To many knight skins already.
3: Baldwin IV of Jerusalem? He had leprosy. That'll be original enough; a leper king with a cool name :B.
4: BLAAAARGH! It looks like crap! *Presses "delete skin" button*.
5: Why not just a plain peasant with leprosy?
6: BRILLIANT! I'll do that! *genius face*.
7: I'll name him Tobias.

Anyways, enjoy Tobias the happy leper and happy skinning! *Old carrot fingers not included*

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