Withered Ruby Fruit

Item · 10 gp · Weight 0

As you pick it up, you sense an echo of an ancient memory... "Like an unmoving statue, I stand still atop a tower of treasures. Masked by the darkness, I survey my domain vigilantly, my hungering eye looking for traces of my little thief. I wait in silence. A dislodged coin tumbles to the floor. I hear the melodious jingling of his crystal rattle. I catch the pearlescent sheen of his scales. He is here, carefully making his way through, slithering amidst the treasures. He is looking for signs of my presence, but the gloom conceals me. My dastardly snake is after my newest jewel — an old, gnarled tree I took in a raid on Elysium. The ruby fruits that decorate its branches grant three precious pieces of knowledge to the one who tastes them. A great treasure, which my little thief wants to take for himself. His scaled hand picks one of the fruits and brings it to his smirking lips. He grins smugly before clenching his claws, squashing the juicy, priceless flesh. In an arrogant show of wastefulness, he destroys my treasure, disdaining to taste it! The peel of the fruit tears, revealing beneath it... teeth! Thousands of tiny, needle-sharp teeth sink into my thief's palm. With a surprised hiss, he tosses the fruit aside, but the others, spreading wide their greedy maws and jointed legs, swarm him like angry, hungry fleas. I cackle in triumph and step out of the gloom. For the first time, I have managed to outsmart my little thief, who is so very clever, but not omniscient. It took great finesse to make the tree drink of the poisons of the Abyss and turn it into such an elaborate trap. Yes, the precious wisdom it held is ruined beyond hope, but this victory is a far superior treasure. My thief hisses in agony and paints the floors with his blood, but even now his face bears a fiendish grin. 'That was a clever trick you pulled on me. I feel like a complete fool!' His hissing is full of mischievous joy, and my triumph gives way to bafflement. 'You amused me greatly today — you have Star Rattle's respect for that. Until next time!' My thief vanishes into thin air, and I let out a wounded roar at his departure. I wished to see his suffering, his fear, his bitterness in defeat! But instead, that... that protean with a foolish name — he was pleased? He has stolen the sweetness of victory from me — once again!"