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

luck we were able to find Brasken's kip well before the day's peak.
I gave a firm rap on the door. No answer. Another knock, and the door
creaked open. For a city that was so dangerous to its denizens it was unusual
that the door wasn't bolted or locked... but by the rumors I picked up
Brasken was someone that no one really wanted to cross.
As I entered a warrior in loose armor grunted from his seat, shaking his head
at the light that suddenly flooded in. His head was rolled back in sleep and a
trickle of drool had crusted at one corner of his mouth. Upon noticing us
enter though, Brasken leapt to his feet and shook off the grogginess in an
instant. In loud, booming voice he growled, "What in the name of the abyss
are you doing in my house?! Leave now, before I make you even more ugly
than you already are."
"Whoa! I'm sorry... I was just asked to deliver this box into your care," I said,
holding out the sack.
"Well, why didn't you say so? Let me see it and you can be on your way,"
Brasken shrugged off his temper as quickly as he did the fog of sleep, and
only a grunt of annoyance punctuated his words. As I pulled out the box for
Brasken, however, his expression changed from one of anticipation to that
of amusement. "Whoa there! I won't fall for that trick a second time. Put
that thing away and leave."
I shook my head and looked him in the eye. A full head taller than I was with
hair wild as a lion's mane, I wasn't about to take any chances with him, "I
don't understand; why won't anyone take this box? First Ku'atraa, and now
you."
"Did you say Ku'atraa?" Brasken let out a great bellow of laughter. "Why,
that's the fellow who bought the box off me. Thought he got the best of me
when he bought it. I guess he figured the gem alone was more than worth
the price he paid me. Poor fellow didn't realize what he'd gotten himself
into 'til it was too late."
"Just what's so horrible about this box?"
"You mean you really don't know anything about that box you're holding?
Well, I guess it won't hurt to tell you what I know," the floorboards seemed
to quake with each step as he made his way to a cupboard where he pulled
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