We tell nursery rhymes to children to impart morals and enforce cultural values on them. I got to thinking that even shared stories might be altered slightly to fit others' values. Take, for example, Goldilocks and the three bears. It's told differently even in our own world context, but in a fantasy world, it would likely be different between different races (species?). These aren't meant to be definitive.
[I think we all know what a human looks like without a picture]
Humans:
Natural explorers. Goldilocks comes across a cabin in the forest and knocks on the door. When no one answers, she walks in. She tries the porridge she finds on the table. Too hot, too cold, just right. After finishing the bowl, she sits in several chairs she finds. Too big, also too big, just right, but not sturdy enough. The chair breaks and Goldilocks goes upstairs to try to find some respite after her hearty meal. She finds three beds. Too hard, too soft and finally just right. When the bears who own the cottage arrive on the scene, they exclaim indignation and find Goldilocks in the smallest bear's bed. They scare her away. The End.
Elves:
Ancient beings who are at ease with nature. Goldyelf's story progresses much the same, though she waits far longer before entering the house and all the stew is cold. When the bears arrive, she hears them with her keen ears and hides away the broken chair before they can find it. She communes with the beasts and negotiates her way out of the situation.
Orcs:
Larger humanoids who value strength and ferocity. Goldyorc's story progresses the same as Goldilock's, but she favors the chairs and beds a size larger. Since she spends less time searching for the perfect chair and bed, she gets more rest. When the bears show up, she is more prepared to face them and battles the largest one to the death a leg from the broken chair then skins and wears its pelt after the other two bears flee. Goldyorc's furs keep her warm on the long trek back to her mountain clan.
Dwarf:
Stoic people whose greed is as legendary as their appetites. Goldidwarf eats all the porridges, breaks into the pantry and packs herself a bag to go. She spies the bear's vodka and drinks herself into such a state that she does not care about beds and chairs and promptly falls asleep on the floor where she is found by the bears and thrown out into the snow where she gets frostbite on all her toes before she wakes up.
Gnomes:
Diminutive and crafty people with noses as sharp as their minds. Goldignome takes one whiff of the porridge and decides it needs a pinch of clove and nutmeg, adding some from her pockets where she stores a variety of spices. She eats one bowl, tries all the chairs and breaks the last just as Goldilocks did. But rather than go to sleep, Goldignome repairs the chair, improving on it tremendously. She barely finishes in time for the bears to return. They find what she has done and aren't even mad at her for breaking in, especially when she adds some pizazz to their porridge as well.
