_{by jaymamma.}

Here I am. Galivanting through the forest.  Whipped by branches, briars stuck to me and even in my dam hair.

    I should be getting ready for the funeral. I know Lillian will have need of me. I had been slowly growing fond of Harbin as well. Even though I always thought of Mercarri and her finger hole trick when I looked at him.  I also couldn’t say I didn’t care more for Freda than just my tailor. She was a killer true, but so aren’t we all. What would I do without her. I DID need a dress for the funeral after all, dam it. 

    It definitely seems now that Harbin was targeted and the poisoning wasn’t random. It seem more likely the poison was administered well before the party, so they would die there. Many of the other nameless victims were just collateral to hide the true targets. After questioning the guards with my new technique we would know with more certainty. Then to the bar where the note went. We were closing in, it did not matter who wanted the issue closed.  Dare pointed ahead, the cemetery had been located.

    We dug up a grave and dare was rewarded with a wand. If it had magic in it he would likely hurt himself with it. Finding a flask full of a mystery fluid just meant he would probably drink that, and then hurt himself with the wand. These were just distractions it seems. The mausoleum that’s where maybe we would find this so called demonic artifact that the Tieflings had used to amass such jealousy inspiring wealth.

    Just as likely the humans just had an issue with Tieflings, especially ones better off than they. Time would tell. The door quickly yielded under the overwhelming physical strength of our two bruisers Dare and Mercarri. The mausoleum was adorned with the most lovely of paintings. I couldn’t help but marvel at the total waste of such fine art in a tomb.

Maybe I would liberate it on the way out.

    It depended on what we found out about our old town council. We all noticed peculiar indents in the paintings. Initial thinking was maybe it was a way to activate a secret door.  After all pushing ..nothing. It looked as if we were going to be opening the casket in the middle of the tomb. 

    If your looking for treasures or forgotten secrets in god forsaken places like this, you know you need to find traps. No traps, well there is most certainly no treasure or anything worth finding. Up until this moment I felt like we were just killing time before our little date with Sildar.

    I felt the gas enter my nostrils. As much as it burned and singed my lungs, I still smiled. The new guy glanced at me as he sucked in his first breath of it. Fear and shock flashed on his face. I couldn’t tell if it was the gas, or that I was smiling in the circumstance that attributed to his expression. Eh, maybe twas a bit of both. 

    Why would I smile in such a position? Easy question.

    Traps were only present when there was something worth hiding or protecting. This was looking way less like a waste of time. I picked another briar from my hair and flicked it away. Ugh I hated briars, I preferred the poison.

    The solution to disarm the trap came simply enough. Trapped in a poison gas cloud had its way of sharpening your problem solving skills. I thought for a second I would hold out on inserting my gem into its slot, in its particular painting. Give everyone another small slap for the fiasco in the mines.

    I in the past had walked through the poisoned mists of Ravenloft. I could breathe this crap all day. Honestly Mercarri’s hammer smelled worse, and it didn’t singe your just your nose hairs it singed your soul with its stench. 

    The trap disarmed, we now proceed into the depths beneath the tomb. This place was a shithole. I think I would rather be cremated and my ashes spread in a pig pen.

    Mystic approached a strange urn. Suddenly the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. An electrical charge seemed to arc through the air. It went right Through Mystic. It resembled something I had heard of. A wisp I think? Little undead globs of light, nasty little shits though.

    As we engaged, I felt the rogue circle towards my back. Paranoia reared its head. I turned my head slightly to keep one eye on him to make sure he wouldn’t try to stick a rapier in my back. As I did so something streaked by me. It resembled a dagger, but I felt it more than I actually saw it. Then another. I knew he had power and abilities from my mind read. I Must have missed that.

    Psychic ability was very rare, and could be very powerful. I was very impressed. He could have put them both in my back. If he was an assassin he had a good shot right there. Then again if he was a ‘Good’ assassin, he would know that wouldn’t have been enough to kill me. That and the others would surely be far more than he could handle.

My paranoia was correct and to be followed, I would still keep any eye on him. Then again if one didn’t believe in their own paranoia it wouldn’t be paranoia would it?

    Before long droop was gathering wisp dust in a vile. Mercarri and Droop combined their brain power to solve a puzzle. One that I was not very happy to see. I was not a member of a Tiefling Lives matter movement or anything, but still one did not find their kin reduced in death to pieces of a stupid puzzle; anything but painful.

    I was unsure of what solving the puzzle accomplished exactly. Still we sauntered forth. Dare caught a Dart in the leg. That cheered me back up a little. The new guy offered to disarm the traps. I was on the fence about this one. I rather enjoyed watching Dare eat traps. He did it extremely well. I was starting to think he was Death Proof. I also had no problem continuing to test that theory. He apparently did not either.

    I offered Cursebringer, and Droop his Healing spider turret to Protect Ultron, Unlit, Little unit whatever the hell his name is. I stared at him as he worked. Testing his nerve more than anything. Also, I think it made him aware I could twist my blade at any point and let the darts through. This was a trust building exercise. More that I had felt at his mercy when he threw his blades, and wanted to return the favor. I was just in a mood. I flicked another Briar from my hair. God, I fucking hated Briars.