Uno Grev’loch awakens to find himself hopelessly restrained inside a chamber of horrors. A pulsating pain radiates from a deep wound under his left armpit. He can feel the dead slaad tadpole inside his chest cavity, about two inches deep. It is the size of a walnut. Uno looks around the room to find his companions. Karn is missing. Tallian and Wymar are nearby, but they are unconscious. Like Uno, they are nearly nude. Both show signs of infection by the monstrously advanced tadpoles. Blood drips from fresh entry wounds. How could the tadpoles be this large so fast? There are other prisoners with them. They are a handful of hostages taken during the Battle of Toads. Their infections are much more advanced and three have already died. Their corpses show signs of a horrible death, just pain and blood. A blue slaad gingerly devours one of the corpses. Facing its meal, the slaad’s back is turned to Uno. Exhausted and wounded, Uno musters the last of his strength and begins to focus his faith. Ancient words rarely spoken are quietly muttered as Uno desperately stretches. Touching either Tallian or Wymar … even for an moment … would mean instant salvation. Noisily, the blue slaad continues to devour the tortured corpse of a villager. Her name was Sofia. THE END???
