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

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was a humble sha<strong>do</strong>w <strong>of</strong> faith here that spurred the dead as much as faith<br />

bolstered the living.<br />

"Beautiful, isn't it?" a skele<strong>to</strong>n chittered <strong>to</strong> me as he walked past with an<br />

armful <strong>of</strong> scrolls.<br />

"Creepy, more like. I'd sooner see a Dustie ballroom dance in the Mortuary<br />

than one in this dump," Morte ducked <strong>do</strong>wn and cocked his head in an<br />

attempt <strong>to</strong> look up a passing zombie's skirt, "Though I wouldn't mind <strong>be</strong>ing<br />

proven wrong."<br />

"But look around, Morte," I gestured, "We're talking about a fledgling<br />

civilization born from <strong>death</strong>. They're a people who refused <strong>to</strong> die and in the<br />

name <strong>of</strong> duty banded <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> protect the ones that weren't strong<br />

enough <strong>to</strong> <strong>do</strong> so." As we wandered <strong>do</strong>wn the halls skele<strong>to</strong>ns and zombies<br />

walked and shuffled about, busy at their tasks, deep in thought. Occasionally<br />

I heard a few ghouls snarling about <strong>be</strong>tter protection against the incursion<br />

<strong>of</strong> cranium rats. It was no metropolis, but the Dead Nations were thriving,<br />

"Doesn't that amaze you at least a little?"<br />

"Eh," Morte rolled his eyes dismissively, "I know you're still kinda green<br />

here, chief, but trust me. Once you've seen one necropolis <strong>of</strong> undead<br />

standing guard over an ancient and forbidden maze <strong>of</strong> catacombs you've<br />

seen... 'em... all..." his speech slowed <strong>do</strong>wn as a female zombie who still had<br />

most <strong>of</strong> her long, white hair shambled past. "Excuse me."<br />

I sighed and walked ahead. Whatever he said <strong>to</strong> her, it earned him a smack<br />

across the jaw which sent him flying in<strong>to</strong> a pile <strong>of</strong> rags. "Wooo! Someone call<br />

the mortician! We've got a live one here!"<br />

"'Mawgry?' Nay... 'anhungry?' Nay..." a nearby skele<strong>to</strong>n muttered <strong>to</strong> itself,<br />

occasionally pausing <strong>to</strong> scratch its skull. It was old enough so that no meat<br />

was left on its bones... only a few colored rags.<br />

"Greetings..."<br />

It nodded a greeting in return, but didn't reply.<br />

"I was hoping you could tell me where I could find the Silent King..."<br />

The skele<strong>to</strong>n looked up at me and grunted in frustration. "Not now! Forgive<br />

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