Today’s snippet, titled “Too Late”, is a piece I wrote about my PC in Mark’s new (Good) Pathfinder Campaign.
      Be forewarned, there may be mature themes and naughty language below.
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      There were footprint all over the place. Someone – or several someones – had paced and criss-crossed the chamber. A humanoid lay in state within the huge, smoke-colored crystal in the center and the whole place reeked of sulfur. Magma heated the cavern, pooling all around the island and casting an eerie ruddy glow.
      “I hate this place already,” Rhiallis muttered, flapping her wings. Tom Parris and Ezekiel drifted down on the power of Desna’s magic, Randa flew upon the power of her patron, and Sadie climbed down the sheer cliff-face like some jungle spider monkey.
      “Let me detect for magical auras in here,” the halfling said, drawing one of her many wands. With the flick of her wrist, she activated the power and then let out a sound that was half-giggle, half-cry. “Desna be good, the whole fucking place is lousy with auras! That whole crystal altar, too.”
      Rhiallis moved closer, then frowned and wrinkled her nose. There was no smell left, for the heat of the cave had baked the loaf until it was like clay, but she could imagine it. Someone – or several someones – had defecated on the crystal tomb.
      “Wait – before we touch it… just in case…” Randa cleared her throat pointedly. She and Rhiallis took a moment to prepare themselves, shrouding themselves with abjuration magic.
      Impatient as only a halfling can be, Sadie stalked up to the crystal and lay a hand upon it.
      Suddenly, she began to shriek. Her entire body spasmed, jerking around violently.
      “SADIE!” Rhiallis rushed forward, prepared to yank the girl away to safely.
      “Gotcha!”
      “Sadie!”
      She grinned, standing up and brushing dust from her knees. “What? It was funny!”
      “Not really,” Rhiallis pulled a face. “Not really.”
      Randa recovered enough to snicker and Tom Parris smiled down at his pupil with affection. Only Ezekiel seemed to side with Rhiallis and even he appreciated the break in the tense mood. Rhiallis relented and chuckled. “You are really quite a nut, Sadie. You know that, right?”
      “Yeah. A little bit.” Sadie paused. “You know, if he was here… and there are no footprints leading out again…”
      “What about down there?” Randa pointed to the pit. “Maybe whoever leapt, leapt down there and left through… a tunnel we can’t see?”
      After a thorough check of the pit, which had no other exits, they discovered a note. It had been cast aside by an errant breeze. Scorched at the edges, it remained readable.
      Sadie smoothed it out on her knee and read it aloud. “What great heroes you must be to leave me here to die… No help. No saviours. Now it is open season your most beloved ones!”
      Fuck. James’ face leapt into her mind and she clenched her fist around Radiance’s hilt.
      “We have to get back!” Sadie crumpled the note. “Marley’s in Drezen. James too, and our friends. That Jesker fuck can’t have them!”
      Miranda nodded. “Ini desna ui, ulph sauriv vur Gorum ui! Ulph bemin, mrith Erastil ui, ulph ivah si relgr acht wer navnik di wer swift jivi – spol ve vi herd zyak batobot yth nomag qe fleet acht hesi gogetoi!”
      Without discussion or debate, the five of them mounted the illusory horses and raced toward the rising sun, and those they loved, left behind – vulnerable in their ignorance of Jesker’s curse – in Drezen.

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Note: Image is “King Jagiello Statue Central” by (Mulligand) from SXC.hu; edited by me