Humanity may not be perfect, but it certainly doesn't deserve the kind of death and destruction the Craxil has in mind.  You announce to her that you would rather die than support her in this plan.  You were terrified that this being might become infuriated and attack, but instead she calmly and slowly backs away... then looks to your sister.  Your sister looks back at the Craxil and you realize the Craxil has just given her a nonverbal order.  By now your sister's blade is unsheathed and she is coming at you. 

 
She fights with a furocity and intent that is completely out of character for your shy and reserved little sister, but her physical strength is the same.  There is nothing special about her swordplay technique either and you are pleased to see that you can block and parry her attacks.  Still, this is your sister, and you don't want to kill her if you don't have to.  The Craxil is obviously enjoying this and you can't help but think that if you could just find some way of killing her then perhaps your sister can be saved.

 
The Craxil is currently in her noncorporeal true form, but she has taken corporeal forms before when she was watching you.  You wonder if striking her while she's in one of these corporeal forms might actually damage her.  Alternatively, you wonder why a shapeshifting being with noncorporeal capability would even need others to spread the plague in the first place.  Perhaps she isn't immune like you once thought or perhaps she felt secure from it in her noncorporeal form.  Would you still need to get her into corporeal form for that first or could you try and give it to her while she's in her noncorporeal state.  Or perhaps there is some other way of getting your sister back to normal.  Unlike you, she knows some very basic magic.  Perhaps she will have something that will damage the Craxil in its noncorporeal state.

 
While your mind wonders to ponder these things, your sister manages to get a shallow cut across your right shoulder and you respond by kicking her onto the ground and stopping down on her sword hand.  You remove your sister's weapon and the Craxil moves in as if to protect its vassal.  You quickly begin to go over your previous ideas in your head knowing you will need to try something and soon lest the Craxil decides to attack first.

You challenge The Craxil To Take On Other Corporeal Forms, Then Strike Her Down With Your Sword

"It is clear that I have neither the means nor the ability to complete my quest, so as a dead man I ask that you grant one dying wish" you proclaim.

 
"Throwing in the towel already?" she scowls, obviously disappointed that you didn't have some clever trick in mind.  "From your past exploits in my territory I thought you'd at least think of something to try.  What do you want?"

 
"I want to know how you were able to keep tabs on me during the journey.  What other forms did you take besides Brandolf and the old man?"

 
"I took many forms.  From birds, to rocks, to the very water you swam through to get past the orcs."

 
"Show me" you demand, "I want to more fully understand how I was bested before this ends.  Let me die with that peace."

 
The Craxil takes the form of Brandolf the Bray first and you seize upon you opportunity.  Walking forth with feigned curiosity you unsheath your sword and charge at her with a firm sense of purpose.  You bring the blade down through her collar bone and into her chest while she's still in the Brandolf form.  She looks surprised, and the look of disappointment is replaced with a smile and a laugh.

 
"So that's it eh?  Not bad.  But you see, I can reconstitute my form."  You withdraw your blade and watch as her flesh comes back together and restores itself anew.

 
"It was not a bad idea, it really wasn't.  The kind of thing a guy like you would probably try.  But this is where it is going to have to end. 

 
While your attention is focused upon the Craxil, your sister springs forth and grabs your arm.  The significance of this move is lost on you until you realize she's the carrier of the new plague.  You shirk her off and back away but it is too late.  The Craxil and your sister then leave, discussing various ideas for disseminating the plague, leaving you to spend the last few hours of your life in complete darkness.

 
THE END