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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GodOfCheese" data-source="post: 1581351" data-attributes="member: 19170">Effrem and Andrew, continuedThe sound of Andrew’s shortsword landing on the soft soil is astonishingly loud when he releases it abruptly.  “Fine,” he says.The tip of Effrem’s blade dips slightly, still threatening, just not as imminently.  “Talk.”“They eat them.”“You said that already.”Andrew closes his eyes.  “They eat them completely.”  Effrem doesn’t react.  “Completely, Effrem—I watched him divour every bit of the man he killed in a manner of minutes.”Effrem turns his nose up, disgusted, but still says nothing.  His sword’s tip doesn’t waver.“A few hours later, it...” he chokes a little, then: “I saw the man he killed later.”Effrem’s brows squeeze his eyes to slits.  “You said he ate every bit of him, so only his skeleton could be left...”Andrew shakes his head carefully.  “No, I saw him.  As if the killer had never scratched him.  Effrem, they kill them and replace them somehow.  Make copies of them, like with pressing blocks, and then nobody’s the wiser.“That’s what I meant—you can’t go after them!  You’ve no way of knowing whether your friends are really helping or waiting to kill you!”“Why do you care?”  Effrem asks defensively, trying to refute Andrew’s assessment.  There has to be a way to save them!“I do,” Andrew says, looking slightly hurt.  “Leave it at that.”  He looks down at Effrem’s sword.  “Do you mind?”Effrem sheaths his sword.  Andrew licks his teeth delicately.  “The tar-people...”“We call them slugs.”Andrew smiles, briefly.  “The slugs, then...” His smile disintegrates.  “...their numbers are growing.  I can see where this is going, and Millington won’t be safe for me much longer.”  He inhales carefully.  “I have to get out of here, Effrem.”Effrem’s face, for a moment, is a perfect mirror of his thoughts: You coward, Andrew.   Andrew scowls, “...and if you’re smart you’ll be right behind me.  What’s keeping you here?  You’ve no allegiance to the Empire* or that temple**, or even to this city.  All that’s left is your friends, and they’re dead!”Effrem relaxes and whispers, “Not if you help me.”*Millington is on the frontier, at the edge of the Saldasha Empire.  During its history, it has changed hands several times.  The Empire made its presence known recently when Voldren Greenshield's army arrived, officially to shore up defenses after an attack by Ogres.  When this happened, Andrew went to ground, effectively vanishing off the face of the earth.  That is, until he snatched Effrem above.**the temple of Pelor, that is.  Effrem's neutrality about the various deities is conspicuous considering his long-time association with Chloe.  Note that Effrem is not an atheist -- just not a follower.</blockquote>

Verification