User blog:Ore-samma/My Girtablilu (Desert Outpost) (Assassin)

Hello Fans, Ore-samma here!

And here it is, a little late, but technically still in the correct 'day' for day 18 of halloween one-shots!

Hope you like it!

Ever your Servant-

Ore-samma

“Is this it?” one of the men whimpered, looking around frantically.

I sighed and turned around. “What do you think? I told you The Order hired us to investigate their lost outpost and here we are, in the middle of the desert, with no other structures other than this fortress...and you ask ‘is this it’ like….what else could it possibly be??!?” I glanced to the other two men. “And the rest of you- I’d better not hear any whimpering or complaining, I can investigate this myself if I must and claim the pay all to myself!”

The three catapulted into action and we slowly made our way to the silent, dread filled fortress that was once the foremost outpost of the Northern reach of The Order. The fortress was a tall structure made of sandstone, accented by jet-black basalt. It was ancient even before The Order arrived, part of the Shah’s Empire when the desert tribes were united.

The sweeping lines and curved architecture all served a grand purpose, it’s perfectly honed geometry would mean that there would be a cool place, aware from the hot sun, and even colder water somewhere inside it’s deep aquifer well. The gate was shut tight, but thankfully two of the three men already were making their way up the wall, and threw a rope ladder behind them.

“You, stay behind and look after the camels.” I told the coward. I let him feel the momentary relief before I grabbed his shirt and pulled him close. “Oh- and don’t forget, my company knows where your family lives….think about that while you’re out here all alone and the tempting thought to run away starts to creep in your mind.”

He gulped as I started to climb and took in the scene beyond the walls. I swore I saw something moving amid the stalls, but I blinked...and it was gone. The fortress held a small, but highly efficient town. The stalls, shops, tavern, barracks, and homes all were eerily dark and silent.

Wait a second….there was something….I could have sworn I saw-

“No sign of a serious struggle, no blood stains or corpses” One of my men said, interrupting my sight and concentration. “Its like the entire outpost decided to up and leave all at the same time.”

“You said, no serious struggle?” I said quizzically, looking over the scene from high above, trying to refind that flash of motion I was certain I saw before. “So could there have been any struggle at all? Maybe an overwhelming force that would make the situation hopeless and force them to surrender to save their lives?”

The man shrugged, “With so much time passing between their reported absence and our arrival, it is nearly impossible to say what is the result of a struggle, and what is the result of just plain neglect and the wind.” He pointed to one of the stalls. “See that market there? Broken pots, overturned tables and chairs...too heavy for winds to move, but none of the furniture is broken, and none of it has dark stains of blood.” He glanced over and pointed to a home. “Door’s broken off its hinges, but from the inside….but is it neglect? Or did someone want to get out pretty badly? And why out? Wouldn’t someone want to get in?” He shrugged again. “Too many strange clues.”

“Right, well, we better get down there and take the images the mages requested of us with their stones.” I held up my hand. “You two stay here on the wall, inspect the towers first, I will open the main gate and bring the coward inside with the camels.” I tossed the rope ladder to the inside of the walls and started to make my way down.

The ground felt stable beneath my feet, hard-packed sand, slowly turning to sandstone from all the wear and foot traffic.

Another flash of motion and I looked up to where I saw it….nothing….what the heck is going on? I casted my spell to detect illusions….nothing.

With jittery movements I headed over to the main gate and quickly opened the small guard door with the portcullis.

“Get in here, you fool!” I shouted and watched the coward slink by me with our camels, tying them up to the posts and stood next to me.

“Right, let’s get to the main administration office. The other two will be coming along shortly.” I said, bringing out an image stone I was issued for this assignment and took several shots of the main structure, taking care to show the overturned pots, tables and chairs.

“Avaris! Look!” The coward hissed.

I turned and noticed several pots of wine, still sealed and at their place in their stall. “Leave it be.” I hissed back, taking a few images. “We have no idea what happened to these people, so we have to assume anything here could have gotten them.”

“I know, but….no bodies anywhere.” He murmured.

I nodded. “I know, good work keeping an eye out, Uther.” I said, slowly opening the door to the main administration office.

The interior looked pristine and I took a deep sigh of the cold air after passing the several winding turns that kept the heat out and the cool in.

“How is it so cold in here?” Uther said with a relaxed grin.

I shivered a little. “It’s the way this place is built.” I said glancing at the precision ceiling and knowing somewhere far below, were the heat sinks that kept the cold air circulating throughout the entire building.

The office was small, and completely put together in order. I sat down and looked at the logbook….hmmm… the logs stopped about a month ago…..and there was no indication of anything out of place or amiss up until then. I  took an image of each page for three months worth of entries and packed away the book. “There’s almost no point in staying further. Let’s go before whatever happened here, happens to us.”

“Are we going to take the wine?”

I shrugged. “I’m not touching it. You can if you want, but I would wait till you got back and had it gone over with the local magister. What do you-” I turned around and stopped talking….Uther was gone….

I drew my sword and rushed back...there was only one way in and out of these offices! Where was he? What happened?

Nothing...Uther was gone….

I rushed outside and called for my other two men…...nothing….I was alone.

I looked over to where the camels were….good! They were still there.

I quickly rushed over, my head on a swivel and looking in all directions…..I could swear I almost heard the ghostly panicked cries of the former Order Soldiers stationed here.

'' Where is everyone! ''

'' How do they keep disappearing?!? ''

'' Stand fast you fools! Stand fast! ''

'' Save yourselves! ''

'' Johnny is gone! ''

'' Someone, save us! ''

I reached the camels and quickly got on top of one and-

I felt a tap on my shoulder….I looked up…..

“Gotcha.”

I cried out as I felt the sharp pinch of the stinger of some scorpion lady hanging from the ceiling of the gate shot into my neck, and the burning as its venom coursed throughout my body. I struggled and grasped my dagger. I tried to force it to cut the singer off, but the woman skittered down the ceiling, still attached to me by her stinger and curled her legs around me and took my dagger in her teeth, giving me a lewd smile as she tugged it from my hand.

“Now my dear, what were you going to do with that, hmmm?” She giggled as her stinger slid out of my neck, and stung me again, and again in several spots as she spoke again. “I think. You. Need. To. Be. Punished!”

I cried out as each sting was too fast to inject venom, but each flash sent an eruption of pain and pleasure throughout my body….then only pleasure as she continued to sting me. She tore my clothes from my body, even as she entered one of the towers and started to skitter down the heat sink into the caverns below.

I caught glimpses of other men being held and ravished by these scorpian women...heard snippets of songs praising the Soft Sand Assassins Guild, and at last, thrown onto a bed, and immediately smoothed by the body of the woman before me.

“Aaaah,my love.” She purred as she nibbled on my neck and after I regained consciousness. “The pleasures that await you are just beginning! Soon, I will let you move on your own...but for now, I just need to revel in your smell, pleasures, and your spirit energy.” Her face took on a tender, gentle look and I felt my heart melt to see her face and eyes fill with such adoration.

“Because, I love you so much.” She whispered.

I struggled, even though the pain was immense….even though the strain was horrible. I must...find a way…..

I reached up and wrapped my arms around her shoulders and brought her in close for a deep kiss.

“Yes….” I whispered. “I….love you….too….” I said, seeing her face light up in surprise, accompanied by her gasp.

I closed my eyes, hearing and feeling her sobs as she squeezed me closer, her stinger also caressing my face along with her hands….gentle….no longer stabbing me or injecting its venom.

“By all mamono!” She cried. “You do love me! To fight this hard against the venom to hold me!” She sniffed. “Oh! Husband! Please, know that I share my most intimate name with you….I am yours,now and forever….and my name….. is Chani.”

I opened one eye and grinned. “Avaris….thank you...”

I closed my eyes as she moaned and lowered her flesh over my flesh again. I felt her spells work, slowly removing her venom as I started to touch and caress her as well. Together we held, kissed, and loved...I felt all my former loyalties and cares pass away in the arms of my love.

After it was done, she sat me up, feeding me bowls of water and hot curry soup. We sat and talked and kissed until sleep claimed us both, as we held each other close.