(Almost two shimmers, or two months, after the death of Dorrad Chaos)

  In Dirtmoth there is a clogged fountain, occupied gallows, empty stable and an upside-down tavern. In the center of town, at the gallows, uncanny arcane energy summons a soul into a corpse hanging from the noose. The corpse falls as its head drops off its shoulders and when the body lands a hand extends out to catch the head. It was the body of a pirate but I, the Deathal Void, was its puppet master.

  "Ahh, I must be early." When I breathe there is a pause in the surrounding world, when I speak it is deliberate, wizened and curt. The puppet bones move to a patron of the tavern who is sat outside, finishing up a meal.

  "What the!" The humble patron jumps as the puppet's hands reach out.

  I grab the meal and pull it in close "What's this?"

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  "F-food m'.... m'lord?" The patron shivers out a response.

  "I'know its food dim wit, What is it?" The puppet bones dark rotted flesh animating in improper, un-life-like, ways.

  "It's cake." The tavern patron quivers noticing the puppet's rotting tongue like a root growing out of the mouth "Oh god, what in the Den are you?"

  "What ye said, I'm yer lord." A smell festers from the bone's skin. I pop the cake in the puppet's mouth, chew it up and give the patron a frown. "Go'on, aren't ye gon' bow ta yer lordly Deathal Void?"

  The Patron's eyes grow wide "m'lord" and he drops to the ground.

  "Aha, ehahahaaaa. Fear me child, Moon give ye life but I'm here when yer ready to find what lies beyond." My Deathal aura squeezing fresh tears from the Patron's eyes "Say, we both have nothin' better to do, be a treat and go fetch me these." I offer up a list from thin air and the patron cautiously goes for it. Before it can grasp the list of errands I grab the Patron by its hand and pull a finger off without a yelp of pain. "In case ye thought of runnin' off, ill be holding on to this." The finger shrivels up and gets swallowed by the air.