Remalle and Lor Rimtarshin were relaxing at Frea's bar, taking in the atmosphere, what little there was of that. The two had been out of work for a while now, with every tree in walking distance now turned to charcoal.
“That's the problem with being a woodcutter, Lor. We do our jobs right, and pretty soon there's no more job, and we're just stuck in the bar, with nothing to do but get drunk and shout things at passers by.” He paused for reflection, and another drink. “Wait, did I say that was a problem?”
“Mm.” Lor looked distracted. “Hey, do you see that kid in the door? The one that's staring over here. Isn't that one of poor Atis' kids?”
Remalle squinted over to where she was pointing. “Think so. Good to see she's out and about again, really. I think she took her mother's death pretty poorly.” He sighed. “What a mess that was...”
Lor was now staring herself. “Uh, Remalle, she's got something in her hand...”
“So? Probably a doll, or a goblin head, or some toy. She's a kid. C'mon, relax!”
“It doesn't look like a toy. It looks like a knife-”
“Oh shit oh shit oh shit!”
Remalle was over the bar and huddled on the floor before he even quite realized what he was doing. So, while he didn't see anything that followed, he heard it all. Shouting, screams, tables upended, a sickening tearing sound, a few unpleasant gurgles, and then silence, stretching out over what seemed like minutes. Finally, he decided it might be safe to stand up.
Lor was still alive, though she looked like she might collapse at any moment. There was a long, impossibly long pool, no, stream of blood leading from one of the fallen tables out the door. He tried to keep his voice, and stomach, under control. “Okay... What in Bokbon's name happened?”
Lor just pointed to the door. “Ab- Aban...”
From the Journals of Solon Wardbridges, Moonstone the First, 206Even Frea was a bit shocked by Aban's murder, I'll give her that. That's all I'll give her. She had the goddamn nerve to declare that Deler couldn't be tried for the crime, due to her having lost her mother, and being insane, or some such bullshit. Ha! She wouldn't be so forgiving if it was Legon killed. And speaking of insane, I'm pretty sure his reaction to all this was to shrug, and say “Never liked Aban anyway.” Bastard bastard complete bastard.
Oh, and as for Aban's body, at least we were able to give her a decent burial, right? Wrong. The little psychopath, and I can't believe I'm writing this, but she turned Aban into a piece of leather armor.
I'd say this was like some sort of nightmare, but I don't think the word does justice to what's going on around here.
(More discodwarf later. I'm working on finding all the gems necessary for a proper disco ball)