OF COURSE...

As soon as I see Kanenas place the right statue on the right slot without getting blown to bits again I realized my idiotic mistake. OF COURSE the dragon who breathes poison would have leave it's essence to finish off anyone coming close to it's horde. OF COURSE we should have prepared for this eventuality with a blessing from our priests; esp with everything I know from Mother. Gods I wish I'd summoned her teachings and been thoughtful before this mess. And OF COURSE, I don't stand a chance against such a powerful dragon's trap. Sure... I'm soooooo smart and sooooo powerful with my new staff, I'm obvisouly the smartest of us all.... but I couldn't see this coming? Idiot. If I had the time, this oversight would have shaken me to my core but, I don't. I ran toward the lake as soon as I saw the gas but I wasn't fast enough.
 
Not longer being able to hold my breath, my eyes burning and my skin feeling as it's peeling off I fall to the ground trying to choke myself so I don't take in any of the noxious gas. Hands at my own throat I pass out thinking....OF COURSE.
 
I was too greedy, maybe we all were...except Ozus. He was the only one of pure heart in that moment. His initial reaction after we fought off the undead ghost warriors was to speed back to Leilon and prepare to defend our adopted home. I thought he was being an idiot. I thought we'd need every bit of that potential horde to even have a chance at ridding Gnawbone of her demon. All I thought of was the powerful spells and possibly enchanted items the horde would provide, one way or another. Leilon would HAVE to wait. And now...as far as I can tell... we are all dying; at least that's my assumption. I did get one look back before I could no longer keep my eyes open and saw Kanny and Ezra upright but withering quickly. They'd be no match for this.
 
As my life drains away, my lungs ablaze and flesh searing I think of what everyone I guess thinks of: family, regrets, and accomplishments. The "smartest" one in my family, too smart for the family business... the "easy" way I thought was not good enough. A profession for elves not willing to study and put the time into developing their brains but relying on trickery, deception and, well, killing. The "smartest" one of this new group of friends, the most "powerful" of them and the one thing they relied on me for, I couldn't provide. Divination powers, intelligence, strategy. Damn it, I've let them all down and it's come to this. Driven by my greed and my arrogance, we are here, dying while surely Leilon, and maybe even the whole coast, happily drinks their ales, and roasts their pigs unaware what is to come. No one I've met so far will be a match for Ularan and his army but we could have made a difference... I think. Me and these poor fools who trusted that I might have the brains and foresight to keep us in the fight. I wonder if the stories about reincarnation are true...what will I be next...