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

way."
He hastened to open the gate before I made good on your threat, and stood
far out of my reach as I passed through the gate.
"Learned our lesson, have we? Let's see a little more respect next time.
Farewell."
The other guards looked at me with mingled fear and loathing, but they
readily gave me a wide berth. No one met my eye as I passed by.
I gave a friendly wave as I left them, "Top of the morning, lads!"
Keeping my pack close to me I led the way to to Pharod's throne room. I had
gone through too much to lose it to a cutpurse now.
I licked my lips. Pharod had answers for me. I could taste it.
"Ah, corpse..." Pharod turned as I approached, his crutch clacking on the
cobbles of the Court. He licked his lips and smiled expectantly. "Have you
brought me what I asked for?"
I held it out. The surface curdled under my fingertips, and the nauseating
stench led me to hold it at arms length. "Here it is. The bronze sphere."
Pharod's eyes gleamed as I handed it over -- he touched it gingerly, almost
reverently. How Pharod could bear to show this sort of affection to such a
vile thing was beyond me. Then again, maggots did breed best in rotting
flesh.
"You..." He chuckled. "Ah, corpse, such a gamble you were, and paid off
handsomely, you have..." Pharod studied his reflection in the sphere and
tsked. "The years have been cruel to me, I see..."
"I did what you asked, Pharod. Now I want some answers."
Pharod didn't even look at me as I spoke... his attention was swallowed by
the sphere he held. "Yes, yes, ask your questions..." Pharod turned the
sphere in his hands. "Very important, your questions..."
"What do you know about me? Why was I told to seek you out?"
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