The Sinking Cadaver (Part 3)

“The fear comes, the fear goes

Like a footprint in the snow,

It will fade, the question though

Is will you last long enough to know?”

- The Poet, A Ghost in the Frost: Diaries of the Lost

            With its third and fourth best fighters standing face to face, Jazmin’s Tavern was poised for a duel of epic proportions. However, the Bard’s return superseded all else in the minds of the participants and thus the fight was called off. After all, both the Thief and the Ranger were curious to learn as to how he was still alive. The Ranger knew full well the strength and force of the spike trap he had triggered. It was not meant to merely teach someone a lesson. It was meant to kill. And the Thief had even more reason for suspicion, being that he saw the Bard die and discarded his body as such. And so they left the room and headed down toward the lobby, planning to continue their quarrel at a later time.

            Upon reaching the heart of the inn the Thief approached the Bard in a cautious manner, still finding it hard to imagine that the sinking cadaver stood before him, alive nonetheless. But however it had happened, he knew he would have to make amends before the Bard would tell. And so he took his friend up to the bar and offered to buy him a drink, which he graciously accepted, seeming none too upset by what had transpired only hours ago. And although the Thief found this to be odd, what he found even more surprising is that the Bard no longer limped. There was no hobble to his step whatsoever. It was just one of the many things the Thief would have to ask him about as the night progressed. But first thing was first, they needed to have a drink. And drinks they would have.

            After countless hours of hearing the word lucky and getting drunk, the Thief decided to call it a night, realizing he wasn’t getting anywhere with his questions anyways. The Bard didn’t seem to understand the situation any better than he did, which made it all the more discomforting. But the Thief tried not to let it bother him too much. He had enough problems as it was with the Ranger wanting him dead and all. And so went to bed with a heavy head, hoping the Ranger wouldn’t kill him while he slept. But it wasn’t his death he should have been worried about.

            The next morning the Bard was found dead. Again. And the Swordsman had also gone missing. Jazmin’s Tavern was in an uproar. They had liked the Swordsman…