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

diagram by erasing a small portion..." He looked at me, his eyes boring into
my skull.
I paused, "What's in it for me if I do?"
"My gratitude will know no bounds. I will lay the planes themselves at your
feet... free me!"
"I need something more concrete than words... if you can't deliver, I'll just
be leaving."
"Very well..." I could feel his eyes boring into me as he thought. "I will grant
you a magical weapon, a weapon of great power, a weapon to bring your
foes to their knees... I will grant you Heartgrinder!"
"Heartgrinder?"
"Yes... A weapon dear to me, but one I would sacrifice for my freedom.
What say you? Will you free me for Heartgrinder?"
I glanced sideways at Grace. If anyone knew the heart of a tanar'ri it would
be her. She returned the gaze with a firm coolness, and the barest hint of a
nod. “Do what you must,” she seemed to say, “so long as you are willing to
pay the price.”
I had no interest in fiendish weapons, nor in any power that carried the stink
of the Lower planes. I knew I'd be opening a Pandora's box doing this... but
by all the Powers I'd gone this far. At the very least I'd have eternity to hunt
down Agril-Shanak and correct things with the edge of a blade. Until then,
robbing him of some power might help limit what havoc he would wreak.
Somehow, I had the feeling that his release would be inevitable anyway.
I knelt, touching the diagram, and a surge of energy washed up my arm.
With a quick stroke I erased a part of it. Just as quickly the energy faded and
a cry of triumph roared within my mind. "Free at last!"
"I'll take Heartgrinder now."
"Yes... I will abide by our bargain, human. The weapon is yours and freedom
is mine. A fair trade..." He glared at me and then a rusty axe appeared in his
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