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Mimic Orchid

by Rick

We met the mitisama, the moth-people.
Then, the group took me to the statues of the lost.

Now, back in Erta after a night's rest, as Tiberius and I looked over our shields once more: we prepared to visit the last of the farmers. Preda, the wealthy family with connections.

Previously, I've seen Toc the Younger hanging around the bar: far too old for his twenty-something years and an eyepatch, he grew up in the saddle. Five horses, two ponies, and a wagon later, and we left our new stablemaster in Erta to head out the day's travel to the Preda farmstead.

The Predas were wealthy: their butler and private guard ushered us into the receiving room. One of then, Jan, motioned us into a study. Venrick and I stepped up, calling magics to us in prayer and rote memory as we did.

Madam Preda was curt: she did not want part of the council, as her position provided more than half of Erta with food. More importantly, she has spoken with Qada's trade region and reached an agreement. Duncan, the man responsible for our situation, was at the helm of this interaction.

"We market now in Erta. Next: Trenventari. Then? The world."

As we spoke, quietly in the background, Preda's guards congregated around the study. Lily noticed first: "Rick, guards," and in the midst of Venrick's plea to Preda, I cut him off.

"We're done here."

The guards rushed in, and everyone leapt to action. Their swords, like Preda's, were swift and uncaring. I tried a wave of light to halt them, but to no avail. For they, they are the eyeless.

Thorek was more successful. A wave of pure energy, Torag-sent, rushed through the room like a warming wind. It healed our group and harmed our enemies, and gave Curie a chance to glimpse the weakness of Preda -- locked in combat with Venrick.

Lily swapped spaces with Venrick as our mage leapt back to safety, bow drawn.

I fell, before the pull of Thorek brought me back from the visions of my parents. Soon, as I stood up again with my shield ready, Preda fell. The witch became incorporeal, a fine mist of nothingness, and fled.

We scrambled to take care of the rest of Preda's hunters. Still standing, I ushered everyone out of the Preda house. Tiberius took one of the guards' masks -- they too were undead, like the madame.

We cleared out.

Curie inspected the piano in the receiving room. We didn't hear hear scream for help until it was too late, her arm latched onto by the mimic within.

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