They helped the being as they mourned. Helped find the last of the deceased, gave a gentle burial. Then, with magic, a ton of precautions in both spell and item, began to help clean up the "burning, glowing rock" that gave off such toxin, and help clean the land. Life would come back here one day. But right now, healing one so badly hurt, and helping this place heal from those ancient evils, was the priority.
https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04437-l053-the-buildings-left-intact -- Anon Guest
After the bodies were buried, Semephis could turn his devil's bargain for good. He alone could handle the cursed stones with no lingering damage. Wraithvine shaped the thick-walled lead cauldron to hold them all. Bibrid gave Semephis the directions to each and every one, and helped aid his healing when the light failed.
It took two cauldrons to hold all the cursed stone that had ruined so many lives.
The bodies buried. The cauldrons sealed with lead and made part of the memorial to those who perished. All that was left were the buildings, and the Hellkin who had sold his soul to try and help.
He sat and wept when it was all finished, watching the last of his blisters shrink and heal. "I thought I could get away with it since I was going to the Plane of Torment anyway. I didn't mind the sacrifice. Now... I'm doubly cursed. The gods never answered me. The Fae didn't want me. What do I do? I'm lost twice over and damned doubly."
"You can still do good in the world," offered Wraithvine. "The cursed stone needs to be secured. I can gift you with a device to track it down. The D'varuv will pay you to isolate it, and will provide the lead for free."
"And... what do I do about the whispering?"
"Devote yourself to the only god who sees and hears all," said Bibrid, and handed him a single black feather.
The token of Mistress Dark, the goddess of death.
[Photo by Sian Labay on Unsplash]
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