There was a dying man in a dying town. The town was dying on its own--but, then, everything was dying there, and the desert was creeping in--but he was hurrying himself along by eating devil grass. Stupid name, but it's what they called it. He ate it for the dreams and visions it gave him. It drove him mad and it killed him.

But a little spit and a little show and he was back on his feet. Long enough to play messenger, at least. Not much more than that, but long enough for that.