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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 4231824" data-attributes="member: 11760">"I need to send a message to Middleborough about the bounties on the boys' heads and request transport for you while you await trial," the constable tells Heath. "I'm going to trust you will be safe with the gnome and look after him, but I can't risk you running, so I'm going to need to lock you both in the cell until I get back. I've got no time for arguments at this point.""Good to know my word ain't good any more after a known family of liars says so," Heath says, his face reddening.Heath walks over to Bufer and proceeds to check over the gnome to see if there was anything he missed. He doesn't look up when Ward leaves.Heath jerks backwards in surprise as the gnome suddenly sits upright with a tremendous gasp, as though finally breaking through the surface after being too long submerged. His breath comes as rapid, shallow panting, as his eyes, wide and haunted, dart wildly around the room."Flesh betrayed the lost moon found barbarians at the gates the pyramid revealed wizards burning in the streets their faces consumed by venom-shaped thrall it is the end the end the end of all--" He breaks off suddenly as he raises his right hand and viciously slaps himself across the face."WEAK!" he howls, spittle flying wildly from his mouth. "SCARED LITTLE GNOMEY MEWLING! JUST LIKE FEEBLE-MIND NUN-WHORE! WHERE BE YOU FAITH IN STOOPID TRICKSY GOD NOW, CRYING LITTLE GNOMEY?"Confused, Heath leans in and reaches out towards the gnome, then flinches as Bufer's snarls at him, then breaks down weeping, his body wracked with choking sobs as he reaches up to gently stroke Heath's face."Leach Katyadid's father hard and angry inside but always so kind loved so much his broken little boy already carrying so much hurt so much pain such a burden shouldn't have to bear no more no more NO MORE YOU WILL NOT HAVE HIM YOU EVIL EVIL BASTARDS NOT IF'N GARL TAKES 'IM FIRST!"And with that, tears pouring down his face, Bufer hurls himself bodily at Heath, hands outstretched and clawing at the apothecary's throat."Blessed mother!" Heath leaps back, terrified. "It's all right. You're safe and ... ESTANNA!"The screaming gnome collides with Heath, but is unable to lock his hands around the startled man's neck, and he's pushed back off.But there's no place for Heath to run in the small locked cell. It's 10 feet by 10 feet, with a barred window and a locked grate for a door. Two benches are built into the walls. Even if Heath could get under one, the gnome would have an easier time of it."Gods damn it, Bufer ...""HAW HAW HAW HAW!" Bufer laughs as Heath lunges for him. "NOW MEDICINE MAN KILL YOU, YOU LYING, CHEATING, WEAK-WILLED LITTLE GNOMEY! CAN'T EVEN DO THIS RIGHT!"No!" he says then, his laughter transforming itself into soul-wrenching sobs. "Like Heath! Save Heath! Kill Heath!"Moving with a surprising swiftness, Bufer reaches into his right sleeve and produces a dagger. Light glints off its pointed tip as he thrusts it at the advancing apothecary.Heath manages to slap it away from him and grabs the squirming, kicking gnome."Damn it, you ain't making sense. Calm down! WARD! Sawyer! A little -- damn it -- A LITTLE HELP HERE!"Bufer gnashes his teeth as he struggles against Heath with all his might."KILL HIM, MEDICINE MAN! must get free can't let it take 'em KILL THE GNOMEY! KILL HIM BEFORE HE KILLS YOU AND HER AND EVERYBODY ELSE! everybody else kill everybody else kill her kill her kill her before the end HIM SLIPPERY-TRICKSY slippery-tricksy like a fish squrim like a fish escape to the river then come back and kill BUT WEAK AND STOOPID! KILL HIM! Love them save them kill them all!!"With some difficulty, Heath is able to slam the squirming gnome to the ground and hold him there, closing his knees in time to stop Bufer's boot from meeting his crotch at high speed.Being slammed into the stone floor briefly knocks the wind out of the crazed gnome. He gasps painfully, sucking in huge, shuddering lungfuls of breath, his face absolutely sodden with tears."NO!" he shouts weakly, clearly overcome with despair. "You don't understand you don't know you don't SEE! Why can't you SEE?"Before Heath can react, a strange, hard look comes into Bufer's eyes, and he sneers up at the apothecary's face."KILL IT!" it hisses urgently. "KILL THE GNOMEY! STAB IT SNUFF IT WRENCH ITS FEEBLE LITTLE HEAD OFF REACH DOWN ITS THROAT AND PULL OUT ITS HEART KILL IT KILL IT KILLITKILLITKILLITKILLIT! ""Ebu! What am I supposed to see?"Bufer blinks as Heath calls him by his familiar childhood name, and the murderous ferocity seems to fade from his eyes for a moment."Don't see can't see shouldn't have to see black giants older than the world bursting from the womb tearing clawing eating through the belly of the earth skin boiling melting blood raining from a fiery sky death is better death is sweeter no pain no fear no--"NO!" he snarls suddenly, the madness in his eyes returning. "NO TALK! STOOPID MEDICINE MAN MUST LISTEN TO STORM! MEALY-MOUTHED GNOMEY WAS WEAK LIKE NUN-WHORE! NOW WEAK GNOMEY MUST DIE BEFORE HE KILL EVERYONE!"With a gutteral howl, Bufer renews his struggle to get free, twisting and turning in an attempt to slip out of Heath's grasp. Bufer's changed style of wriggling catches Heath by surprise a moment, but he manages to hang onto the ranting gnome.Clearly getting frustrated, Heath tries to grab the dagger and throw it to the side of the cell."Storm can piss off then! Ebu! I don't need saving from any nightmares! Black or otherwise, now drop that knife already!""NO!" Bufer shrieks, as he continues to struggle against the apothecary. "Not a dream not a hoax not an imaginary story pus-filled boils bursting across the surface of the world consuming it drowning it in blackness rot and decay you'll thank me when it's over Katy would know Katy would believe Katy would understand ..."Heath blanches at the mention of his son. In fact, he almost lets the gnome slip out of his reach, but he holds on and keeps trying to grasp at the dagger to fling it away."So? Ebuferpaly Whitethatch Potenloins, you are a damned cleric of Garl Glittergold! You laugh at this crap, you don't lose your damn mind! Snap out of it before I try something drastic!"Bufer screams, frantically trying to get free of Heath, who suddenly realizes that the gnome could have more than one dagger hidden upon his person."WRONG, STOOPID MEDICINE MAN!" Bufer snarls as he continues to struggle. "GNOMEY, HIM WEAK! NUN-WHORE MAKE HIS BRAIN GO SNAPPITY-SNAP LIKE DRY TWIG UNDER CLAW! YOU LISTEN TO STORM NOW -- YOU WANT LIVE, YOU TWIST TRICKSY GNOMEY'S HEAD OFF LIKE BROWN APPLE! ONLY THEN YOU AND HAZEL-LIKE-TREE AND SINGSONG GIRL-GNOMEY BE SAFE! KILLTHEGNOMEYKILLTHEGNOMEYKILLTHEGNOMEY!"</blockquote>

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