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

Totems were set up in several corners craft from bestial skulls and rags
scrounged from shrouds or ancient tapestries. If they didn't ward off the
more savage creatures of the Drowned Nations, they likely served as signs to
mark out sanctuaries that had been cleared of such dangers.
The ghouls here didn't eye me or lick rotting lips with serpentine black
tongues as others did. There was some measure of control here: while the
ghouls glanced furtively at the shadows and crept warily for hidden dangers,
there was a contentment that came with the hunt and the satisfaction of
being well-fed.
These ghouls didn't have to live on rats with just enough meat on their
frames to pick out of their teeth. The prey here was larger, more rampant,
and I would have to be careful.
Searching down one chamber, I came across just such a monster.
"Are you... ssscared of thiss creature? Ha ha!" one ghoul barked a laugh.
His companion scowled, "I will try. It is... fassst."
As I watched, the second ghoul crept towards a hulking beast at least eight
feet long from nose to tail. Mottled white skin, fishbelly pale, was drawn
tight on its heavily muscled frame. A mouth held rows of dagger-sharp teeth
that sprouted from its jaws like weeds fresh after a rain, and two large bony
spines protruded from its mandibles. The thing could've taken an arm in a
snap and a tug, and as the ghoul crept closer I winced, expecting a snarl and
a wet, ripping sound as those jaws tore grisle and tendon.
At the last moment the creature growled, and the snarl sent the ghoul
running with a pitched "Yeeeeeeeeee!"
His companion howled, "Ha ha! Coward!"
"Sssstupid beast..."
When his laughter died down he glanced at me with quite possibly the
friendliest grin I had ever gotten from a ghoul. While I'd rather not see that
sort of snaggle-toothed grin again, it was better than the Acaste's snarls and
furious ramblings, "Sss... meat creature... trocoptoca keeps us from
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