A Broken Chain, Jerrie the Dual-Cursed Oracle's backstory
Of all the things the Yrrum clan believes, always being able to trust one another is one of the most important ones. When you are part of a traveling caravan that goes through dangerous regions, it has to be! “Our trust is like a strong chain that keeps us together against the world” is their famous motto. No one can remember ever having to worry about a Yrrum halfling keeping their promise, because no one can remember every being lied to or betrayed.
No one, that is, except Jerrie. He can remember it quite clearly, since it is all he has to think about as he bleeds to death.
He'd been hunting with his best friend, Reed, and had chased a deer into a cave. The thought of roasted deer urged them on, even when the faint stench of death and decay should have warned them off. Hearing the ragged breathing of their prey, Reed and Jerrie rushed in after it.
They never saw the pit that the deer had jumped over it, having seen it much easier in the faint moonlight. They did yell as they fell into the deep pit though, and the each groaned as they woke up with throbbing heads and aching bodies. They both found the tunnel and hoped it would be an easier way to freedom than climbing the sides of a sleek pit. But when a grotesque creature leaped from the shadows and attacked, Reed shoved Jerrie toward it and ran back they way they had came.
Pinned tot he ground and fearing for his own life, Jerrie couldn't call out to Reed when he saw another creature slip from the shadows and give chase. He attacked the creature blindly with fist and hunting knife, matching it's claws wound for wound. He struck a mortal blow he thought, when he slashed open it's throat, but Fate was working against him, for the creature's blood burned like acid and it struck a blow of it's own. Opening it's mouth to scream in pain, a spike like appendage shot out and pierced Jerrie's heart. That attack was it's last, and Jerrie was barely able to push the creature off him, even though doing so pushed more blood out of his body.
Now, laying in the thin layer of water the covered the floor, Jerrie felt cold creeping into him and making his body it's home. He heard one last, death scream and wondered if it was his friend who had thrown him to the beast or the second beast itself screaming.
Then he succumbed to the cold invading him and died, alone and betrayed.
For a Yrrum, that is the worst death possible.
Jerrie believes his is dead, but can still moves among the living because he needs to tell his clan about Reed's betrayal so it can be recorded and Reed punished(if he's still alive).
Jerrie's appearance does not help disprove the idea he is dead. Pale skin, black eyes, tall for a halfling but spindly, and he just doesn't have the same speed or agility he had in 'life'.
