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[Thrax]

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The bank reeked of stagnant water and the rotting bamboo logs which propped it up. The inside was decorated tastefully enough, but nothing could offset the oppressive high humidity and the constant annoyance of blood-sucking insects which flew freely everywhere. "Welcome to Papua," Dharzhal thought to himself. "Gods how I loathe it."

Upon leaving the bank, he coaxed his etheral swamp dragon southeast toward the docks, and from there traveled at a leisurely pace along the banks of the river that flowed north to the Shallow Sea. He summoned a daemon to protect him, but became irritated at the slowness of the beast in following him and sent it away, preferring to use blade spirits and energy vortexes to deal with the few malicious creatures that foolishly tried to hinder his progress or bar his way.

After a rather long journey he finally arrived at his destination: the fountain-head of the river. Dismounting, he removed a small vial from his pocket, uncorked the lid, and spread its white, powdery, contents into the slow-moving water...
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"There is one more task that you must do as part of this deal," Alicia had told him before he had set out. "It is not negotiable, as you like to say, and is punishment for what you did in helping the Duke."

"Let me guess... kill myself?" he said, mocking her.

She smiled. "Maybe," she replied, folding her arms. "You will be the first one to put the toxin into the river that is east of the town. After that, we will have someone else continue to do it at intervals. We need a culprit, though we have one already"

Dharzhal scowled. "No, you will have two. You mean to implicate me in this as deeply as you can. Must I be seen doing this?"

"Yes," she admitted. "Although you are already in it up to those pretty pointy ears. Everyone knows, or will, that you created the toxin. Once the disease is recognized for what it is, your name will naturally come up. We will see that there are "witnesses" to your malicious act."

"My life won't be worth horse dung."

"It isn't now."

The dark elf sighed. "And if I refuse?"

"You won't. It is one thing to have a bunch of do-gooders hounding your steps... it is quite another to make the top of our vendetta list. We are watching you... and Streea. Do anything foolish, and no more deals... we will happily grind your bones to powder and eat it on roast pig."
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He knew her threats were not idle. She had told Lord Thrax about him aiding in the cure of the Duke, despite her word that she would not. Thrax had rendered judgment: he was to become more of a criminal than he had been; they would see to that.

The contents of the vial empty, Dharzhal threw it into the water. He watched as the swirling waters boiled briefly, bubbled, and passed on downstream, toward the unsuspecting, sleepy little town.