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Bloodfire 27th

Shade and Dagger

by Errin Lonewood

I don't know where to begin. I'm shaking even while I'm writing this. I don't think Shade is entirely who he claims to be. I still don't fully understand what happened earlier this night, but I'll try to recount the actions piece by piece. Maybe it'll help me recount how all this happened.
 
1.) While resting outside the tavern, I saw Grimgrin, that sick demented lizard monstrosity that butchers whole families of dwarves for fun. IT was pilfering through Avantis' things while he was performing for a gathering crowd. I tried luring him away with a bell, but he snipped it off and continued. I knew I couldn't fight him, at least, not on my own, so I stayed back and tailed him.
 
2.) After a few moments, my scalie nightmare transformed into Shade. At this point, I thought this was just a common thief's error: failing to account for potential witnesses when you escape. I figured, maybe he wanted us to believe that a dragonborn did this, potentially pinning the blame on Salinor (If that were the case though, then why wouldn't he use Salinor specifically? And for the love of Kilve, why Grimgrin!?). I also thought, if he's willing to do this to Avantis, then maybe he's willing to do this to others as well. Others, meaning simple townsfolk who wouldn't know any better? He's proven himself capable of pulling a job or two here and there. I know he could pull his own weight on a few jobs I'd set up. I also know he's annoyed by me on a regular basis; he wouldn't help me if I just ask. He'd be more inclined to drop me for being a potential witness than he would to hear me out if I simply approached him. If I wanted to get his attention, I'd need something more. Leverage.
 
3.) I left a note just outside his bedroom door: "If you don't want Avantis or Salinor to know, meet me outside the tavern -Errin". Knowing that he'd be looking for a fight, I had to hide. Someplace dark, someplace where I could speak with him and he couldn't attack me directly. I hoped he'd be willing to listen to reason, but he (or whatever possessed him OR whoever he spoke on the behalf of) wouldn't. He showed up looking for a fight. A mess to clean up. I had to get out before he'd spot me.
 
4.) I told Avantis everything. I knew he wouldn't let this slide. I can't fight Shade myself, but maybe with my friends, we could at least make him see reason? At this point, I don't care about the blackmail. I just don't want to die. Fuck! why do I put myself in these scenarios. First with the sledgehammer guy back in Tardok, and now this! I can see why Perceus threatened to leave me behind.
 
5.) While gathering the rest of our friends, he (or someone/thing) else grabbed me. It happened too fast for me to properly react. I managed to yell out for help, but only just, before Avantis got him to speak. I untied myself and nearly got away when he gutted me. Next thing I knew, I saw bloodied up Shade huddled over my corpse, looking almost as disturbed as I did. I didn't have the time to think, react, attack, or much of anything else other than to hide behind the more experienced fighters in my team. Right away, Shade seemed like a different person. Like someone who didn't agree to the actions he'd committed. This cannot be a coincidence. He knows Grimgrin, or at least, he knows someone who knows Grimgrin. What the hell would that scalie son of a bitch want with me anyway? I'm not with the Goodbottle gang anymore! Hell, even when I was we never got into any major fights. In any event, the local guards took him in for questioning. I should be there too, but Avantis recommended me to hold back and wait for the guardsmen to dig out their answers first. Oh, the things I do for a score!

Continue reading...

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 05:21, Nov 1 2024