Tiefling Tail with Turnips

Ger gingerly approached Offal’s tent. His name was not really Offal, it was Offell, but everyone in the regiment called him Offal. Offal was not human. The regimental histories first mentioned Offal nearly one hundred years ago. Offal crafted the regiment’s ceremonial drinking cups from the skulls of the defeated enemies. A humanoid creature emerged from the tent. Ancient intricately carved black leather armor enveloped the boney frame. The dark armor provided a stark contrast to the pale variegated gray dry wrinkled skin.

Offal smiled showing jagged greenish teeth and said, “There is a spring in your step, Ger. Did you get some tail?”

A slight blush crossed Ger’s face as he replied, “In more ways than one.” Ger handed Offal a blood soaked rough canvas bag.

Offal opened the bag and pulled out a long, bloody tail. He carefully examined the tail and asked, “Tiefling?”

Ger nodded yes.

Offal brought the tail up to holes in his face that served as a nose, sniffed deeply, and said, “Young, female Tiefling.”

Ger smiled and replied, “That is why I have a spring in my step.”

Offal said, “I will give you twenty gold for it.”

Ger said, “No. I want it as a trophy.”

“Ah. I understand. That will cost you.”

“How much?” Ger asked.

Offal said, “I can tan the skin and stuff that for ten. If you want the bones as a periapt that will cost you another three hundred.”

Ger muttered, “I ain’t no officer. Can’t afford more than fifty.”

“Make it fifty-five, and I get to keep the meat.”

Inwardly Ger shuddered at the thought of Offal and the meat of the Tiefling. Ger said, “All I gots is fifty-three.”

Offal hefted the tail and said, “Must be a good ten pounds of meat.” He licked the bloody cut end of the tail. Licking his cracked lips with a purplish black tongue Offal said, “Ok, fifty-three it is.”

Ger handed Offal a small bag of coins.

Offal said, “Give me a couple of weeks.”

Ger left quickly.

Offal retrieved his finest scalpel. He honed the scalpel on an oilstone. Offal was careful to make sure no one saw the lubricant for the oil stone. He doubted the regiment would allow anyone to live who created oil by extracting it from the bodies of human babies. It only took a couple of drops to hone the scalpel.

Offal used the scalpel to remove the skin from the tail. Ger held the regimental record for skinning prisoners. Offal never entered the skinning competitions. He knew his decades of experience, speed, and skill would frighten the regiment and end his meal ticket.

Offal boned the tail putting all the bones in a large bowl. He took the bowl of bones over to a rack of amphora. He placed the bones in the bottom of an empty amphora. Offal pulled on a pair of heavy leather gloves before opening one of the sealed amphora. Carrion beetles normally ate dead flesh. Offal had scars on his hands proving the beetles could not tell he was alive. The confusion of the beetles was justified. Offal opened the amphora. He scooped up handfuls of detritus rich with beetles to cover the bones. Offal knew the beetles would expertly clean the bones of any remaining meat and connective tissue.

Offal now turned his attention to the meat. He dug through his pantry selecting some small turnips. He skewered the meat alternating chunks of the Tiefling with the small turnips. Offal liked his meat bloody rare and hot with burnt edges. The crisp texture of the turnips gave contrast to the tender meat. Offal reminisced, it was almost fifty years since his last taste of Tiefling flesh. Tiefling was sweeter and less gamey than Elf. Offal licked his dry, cracked lips enjoying the smooth texture of the meat. He savored the taste. The Marazzer provided ample human flesh. They gave Offal the bodies of the ones they skinned. In contrast, Tiefling was a special treat. Wistfully Offal hopefully thought about eating the heart and liver of the female Tiefling that provided the meat for the evening feast. He hoped Ger would soon bring him the rest of the Tiefling.

Over the next few days Offal tanned the skin and stuffed it with straw and cotton. He carefully pulled the cleaned bones from the amphora. Using gold and silver wire he wound the bones into a spiral pattern with the largest bones on the outer edge. He created the charm using arcane spells and infernal potions.

When complete, Offal admired his work. This was not the most powerful artifact Offal created over his decades but it was the most impressive he had made in years.

Finding a Map

In a previous adventure, the party joined up with Simon the merchant taking a load of fine wine to Hosigar. Accompanying Simon were his two hired mercenary guards: Curcio and Powa. The caravan made arrived after dark at Hosigar and found the gates of the city closed. Simon the merchant suggested the party stay at the Full Barrel Inn. The inn keeper, Nudar, welcomed the party and showed them to their rooms.

The party, desperate for coin, asks the customers in the Full Barrel Inn for leads for work. They learn the Ruffy is might have a job for some adventurers. The party also hears that Inoxim has some “questionable” work they might be interested in.

The party retires for the evening. Nudar, the inn keeper, gives everyone a warning, “Keep the windows closed to keep out the creatures from the swamp.” Nudar suggested it was safer to use the chamber pots and not visit the outhouse after dark.

Loud voices from downstairs awaken the party. Simon is frantic. Curcio and Powa left in the middle of the night and are missing. Simon entrusted his Letter of Introduction to the two mercenaries for safekeeping. Now the two are gone. Simon offers the party a reward to recover his Letter of Introduction.

The party heads off toward the swamp to the North-West. They see the circling buzzards which leads them to the bodies of the dead mercenaries. The mercenaries fought off several Stirges but in the end the Stirges won and sucked them dry. On the bodies the party finds Simon’s Letter of Introduction. They also find a hand-drawn map on a wax tablet with some instructions. The instructions read, “Give the small jewelry box to Kelash at the Three Eye Tavern. Do not open the jewelry box! The contents are dangerous. Kelash will give you 500 gold when you deliver the unopened jewelry box.”