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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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coppers, a strange picture frame <strong>of</strong> twisted metal, echoing with magic.<br />

There was a spiked mace, also magical perhaps. Two charms <strong>of</strong> healing,<br />

desperately needed, and a scroll. Excellent.<br />

I helped myself <strong>to</strong> the lighter items first: the charms, the scroll, the purse,<br />

the frame. It was when I lifted the mace that I should've <strong>be</strong>en more careful.<br />

Ah, if only I had but remem<strong>be</strong>red my thief training, I would know <strong>of</strong> the<br />

cunning traps that could <strong>be</strong> placed, even in a hovel such as this.<br />

An ominous click was danger's herald, and I slid the mace in<strong>to</strong> my pack<br />

quickly. To my horror, a but<strong>to</strong>n had <strong>be</strong>en left under the mace's head, and<br />

a<strong>not</strong>her under the end <strong>of</strong> the handle. I froze in shock, only <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> brought<br />

back around by the clicking and light rumbles emanating from the box.<br />

"T-TRAP!" I choked out, but I was a few seconds shy <strong>of</strong> saving myself.<br />

A foul brown mist billowed from the crevices in the crate, a bilious fog a<br />

rusty yellow. I was blinded as I stumbled back, and for a moment I felt<br />

<strong>not</strong>hing. Perhaps it was a dud, or the venom had degraded over the ages.<br />

And then came the pain.<br />

The first whiff <strong>of</strong> the gas gave me the smell <strong>of</strong> my own blood, at first<br />

dismissed as from the nosebleed I suffered earlier. But then there was the<br />

burning sensation, a quickening fire that spread through my nostrils.<br />

My eyes were in flames, and I pressed my hands there only <strong>to</strong> meet a<br />

horrifying squelch as those tender orbs burst in my sockets, the milky<br />

vitreous humors flowing <strong>do</strong>wn my hands and cheeks like thick, hot tears. I<br />

struggled, trying <strong>not</strong> <strong>to</strong> breathe, but gasping in horror I had drawn the<br />

poison in<strong>to</strong> my lungs. I could feel the fiery flush <strong>of</strong> blood, a <strong>to</strong>rrent <strong>of</strong><br />

crimson liquid iron flooding through my nostrils, pouring <strong>do</strong>wn my lips. The<br />

burning agony was spreading through my skull, reaching my brain as flesh<br />

and cartilage were dissolved, eaten away as I reeled in pain and terror.<br />

I tried screaming <strong>to</strong> my companions, tell them <strong>to</strong> flee, but the poison had<br />

already <strong>be</strong>gun its work in my lungs. My chest was charred by the venom, the<br />

inner lining <strong>of</strong> my lungs had liquified <strong>to</strong> the point that the <strong>be</strong>st I could<br />

manage was a gurgle. The molten remains <strong>of</strong> my esophagus and lungs<br />

spilled from my lips, flesh sloughing <strong>of</strong>f like fat melting from a bone in a cook<br />

fire.<br />

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