It’s been a long journey from the Grove to the Shadow Cursed Lands. The Thieflings had left before you, but only by a day. So when you entered the Lands and soon found their best warriors dead bodies, it was no pretty sight. The blood was fresh and their air smelled of ick and copper.

But something unexpected was between the dead bodies. A survivor. One of your friends from the Grove. Asharak was in bad shape. His eyes were taken, and so was his tongue. But he was breathing. Laying in the dirt as even the power to move eluded him.

Blood was caked on his cheeks and his chin. Like tears and saliva, it was running down his chest.

A grim sight, but he wasn’t gone yet.