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

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Dustman might've attributed it <strong>to</strong> a misguided instinct, or a spark <strong>of</strong><br />

misguided empathy that still smoldered like a slowly-dying coal. The undead<br />

here saw themselves in their silent brethren, and Stale Mary was the<br />

grandmother that tied <strong>to</strong>gether all the shambling children.<br />

Of course, some weren't quite so agreeable.<br />

As I walked past, the rot-stink <strong>of</strong> the ancient-looking ghoul-woman was<br />

nauseating, even from a distance. Her gray-green skin was infested with<br />

<strong>to</strong>mb rot and festering sores, and her fingers, each capped by a long, curved<br />

talon, were covered in dried blood and filth. Her hair, thick with scuttling<br />

insects and worms, hung <strong>to</strong> her knees. It hid nearly all her face in sha<strong>do</strong>w,<br />

save for a fanged, feral grin and a lolling gray <strong>to</strong>ngue.<br />

"Hsssst. What have we here? Some pretty meat, aye, a little <strong>to</strong>ugh gristle?<br />

Sharpen me teeth on yer bone and grow fat on yer marrow, hmmm?<br />

Hsssst."<br />

"Damn. What is with you, chief? Why is it you're suddenly a blood with the<br />

ladies and I'm stuck all by my lonesome 'ere?"<br />

I ignored Morte, "You must <strong>be</strong> Acaste."<br />

"I <strong>do</strong>n't have <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> anything <strong>to</strong> ye, meat and bones," she hissed, "Ye watch<br />

yer <strong>to</strong>ne with me, or no one will find ye in one piece again. Now, who are ye<br />

<strong>to</strong> come <strong>be</strong>fore me like a feast? Answer Acaste."<br />

I <strong>be</strong>gan <strong>to</strong> step away, but the other ghouls at her side were slavering like<br />

bull<strong>do</strong>gs. If I ran now it might just spark that instinct <strong>to</strong> give chase. "I am...<br />

Adahn," I lied.<br />

"Aaaadahn..." She drew her long, gray <strong>to</strong>ngue slowly across her lips,<br />

yellowish drool trickling from the corners <strong>of</strong> her mouth. "Yes..."<br />

"I <strong>do</strong>n't suppose you could tell me a little about yourself."<br />

"Go! Pester Acaste while ye still live, meat! Ask!"<br />

"What are you <strong>do</strong>ing here?"<br />

Her chuckle came out like a hiss, "We fight, win and feed. Blooded ones such<br />

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