User blog:Ore-samma/My Gazer (No lewd)

Hello fans, Ore-Samma here!

I often find that my stories are quite long in the beginning.

I dunno, I guess that I want the reader to have some sort of bond with the character. Otherwise, I might as well just write lewd scenes and nothing else.

Ever your servant-

Ore-Samma

.

.

.

.

Stories.

Everyone loves a good story, don’t they?

And the stories we tell run the gauntlet of all aspects of life. From the secrets of the beginnings of creation, the epic accounting of legends, the fanciful tragedies of love and romance, the dry records of history, all the way to the mundane conversations that have to do with one’s day.

I sighed as I slowly closed an ancient tome that contained the life and exploits of one of the Empire’s mightiest heroes during the time of the former demon lord; Lord Blackthorn.

His personal account detailed how him and his four companions delved into the Abyssal caverns located within the Ashen Mountain Range.

The caverns were the location of an ancient and powerful Gazer cult. Somehow, a Gazer by the name of Saalmux was able to dominate and rule an empire of its own. At the pinnacle of its power, it commanded over a hundred Gazer’s and who knows how many thousands of monsters and hundreds of thousands of human thralls.

Funny thing about stories….there had to be something that started them, some nugget of truth.

I leaned back as I contemplated the implications of what I’ve just read.

Even by Lord Blackthorn’s admission; he could not defeat or kill Saalmux. There was something that kept repairing any damage done to his body. Something ancient and powerful. The best he did was disrupt it’s domination over the other Gazer’s and seal it under a magically caused cave-in to block its lair.

The book warned the reader to never return to the caverns, even purposefully omitting any detail as to its location; stating that there were other horrors within the caverns that he saw everyday in waking nightmares.

But that was the past, and in the here and now-

“Do you need to find anything else, Edward? Something more specific?” The librarian asked in a hushed voice, seeing that I was finished with the tome.

I looked up at the librarian, who also happened to be a Gazer as well and smiled. “No, but thank you.” I said, handing over the book.

-now times were different. There was the possibility of adventure, and a fortune to be made.... for what could possibly be more priceless and valuable than the ancient artifacts of old?

(later)

“You’re sure?” I said, looking about at the scene before me.

“Quite sure.” Lilly, a white horn mamono said while nodding. “This place never grows any vegetation, and for some reason, the sky always stays overcast. No one in living memory has ever recalled the sunlight directly touching the ground here.” She paused and ran her hand over her chin. “Only at night do the clouds part, and only when the moon is full.” She looked up. "You know, they say that the moon is the Tear of the goddess! That the Tears that fell to the earth bestowed the owner with life eternal, and protection from the demon lord!"

I looked at the moon, "Really? hmm, that's interesting." I looked back to Lilly and nodded " Thank you so much, Lilly. Could you tell the Shadow Wing Company to meet me here after dark?

She nodded, “Be careful. I don’t know what you think you might find here, but everyone in the mountains tends to avoid this place.”

I nodded and watched her go, delving into my notes and making a few more.

.

.

It wasn’t long before darkness settled in, and I heard excited squeaking as the Shadow Wing Company closed in and landed around me; a collective of twenty (married) werebat mamono.

“Brrrr- what a dreadful chill.” One of them said, shivering a little.

“Is this the place, Edward?” The leader asked.

I nodded. “Yes, I’m certain of it. Just like we agreed, please try to find me the entrance to the deepest cavern you can find.” I said, holding out a bag of silver coins.

With a flurry of wings, wind, and frenzied squeaking the were bats took off. I quickly quaffed a magic potion that  would allow me to see in the pitch black and watched as they swooped from one end of the valley to the next.

Suddenly they all turned their heads in the same direction and converged on a single spot. I tried to peer closer, but they disappeared into some spot in the valley.

After a moment, two appeared and went straight for me and landed.

“We think we found what you were asking about. We can get you there in a jiffy, if you want.”

I nodded, “Yes, please.”

.

.

I landed amidst  the company that was already at work. Two of them were on portable desks and drawing a map, detailed by other werebats that were coming back-and-forth from the entrance of a foreboding cavern.

“How deep does it go?” I asked looking over the shoulder of one of the cartographers.

She blew a sigh. “We don’t know. That’s the scary part.” We keep going deeper and deeper into this cave, but no matter how deep, we cannot hear the echo of our cries.

“Woah! Wait!” I cried out in alarm, causing the sensitive werebats to flinch. “Is that safe? I don’t want anyone to get lost down there!”

A few chuckled. “Of course it’s safe,” The cartographer said, “we have one of our own acting as a beacon that keeps signaling to our spelunker. So, even if she cannot locate walls or anything else, she’ll be able to ‘hear’ where the entrance is at all times.”

I sighed, “That’s a relief. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“Aww, you’re so cute! Say after this is done, wanna meet my daughter? She seems to be about your age!”

“Ha, ha! We’ll see. I fully intend to explore this cave before long.” I said glancing again at the entrance.

.

.

As the night wore on the company got more excited. About two miles in, and three miles deep they finally found the bottom and a labyrinth of walls and passageways that abruptly ended at an old cave-in. They even found a tiny tunnel that led to an even larger chamber beyond the mass of solid rock, but my contracted time ran out before they could explore further.

“Okay!” The leader said handing me one of the two freshly made maps. “This map details everything you need to know, and has an enchantment to glow in the dark if you need it.” She also held out an iron pendant. “This will show your location on the map at all times. So, keep it on you.”

“Awesome!” I said, accepting the two items.

“One more thing!” The leader said, holding out a potion. “Drink this, and if you run into trouble, or need evacuation; just cry out the word ‘shadow’ as long and loud as you can. We’ll be able to pick up on your signal and we’ll either come and get you, or send a rescue party.”

“Hey, really! Thanks!” I said again and quaffed the potion. “How long does the potion last?”

“About a month. Please do not abuse that.”

I nodded, and thanked the company and watched them take wing, still squeaking excitedly.

.

.

“Three miles down.” I breathed as I edged near the precipice and looked down, feeling a robust gust of wind constantly blowing from the depths, carrying the stench of stale air and the faintest odor of rot.

I set up my pull-behind wagon and got out my equipment, rummaging for the box with the canvas.

“Ah! Here!” I exclaimed and got out two sizes. One was over a hundred feet square, while the other was only tenfoot. I set it up and tested it.

Yep, the hundred foot canvas could easily carry my weight. I happily repackaged it and started to secure  my supplies for a long exploration and, taking a few deep breaths, jumped over the edge, connected to the ten footer.

As expected the canvas opened up immediately to the gusts of wind and slowed my descent to a steady glide. I guided the ensemble in a lazy downward spiral, looking at my surrounding with the aid of the night-vision potion.

.

.

The walls of the yawning abyss were lined with innumerable rectangular caps; stone graves for dead bodies carved into the cavern wall. A never-ending mausoleum of those foolish enough to challenge Saalmux. They were collectively called the vanguard of undeath. Tireless servants that would rise, march, and kill under the banner of the Gazer empire.

.

“I wonder if the magics that animated these soldiers are still active?” I said aloud as I drifted like an autumn leaf down the hole.

I doubted it. Seemed like the Gazer Lord preferred to conserve magical power and likely activated the horde only when necessary.

At last, I could discern the bottom of the abyss and lightly touched down. I set up my supplies and quickly made my tent and looked at the map.

I was at the barest beginnings of the labyrinth. It’s entrance shouldn’t be no more than a thousand feet or so away from my current location.

I looked up, noticing now that the floor was made of carved stone brick. The insane amount of work that had to go into the carving of the  Mausoleum and now the entire ground floor of the labyrinth?

I peered ahead and noticed the massive wall and minuscule entrance to the labyrinth.

.

.

“Tomorrow.” I muttered, setting down two mildly enchanted sticks. “Right now, I’m tired and hungry.”

I deactivated the night-vision enchantment and the darkness immediately swallowed my vision. I tried to see my fingers before my eyes...nothing.

“So dark.” I muttered, hearing my voice echo back from the depths.

I struck the two sticks on the floor and they immediately burst into flame. I set them aside and went about preparing my supper and a cup of tea.

I glanced about the darkness that was somehow magnified now that I had a fire going. Asides from the small ring of light on the ground, I couldn’t see any feature within the dark. It was just an all encompassing, shapeless, formless, mindless void of existence.

Shouldn’t I be scared? I wondered to myself, but quickly dismissed the notion. Even if Saalmux himself was down here, I was more than confident of the new metaphysical laws that bound all monsters.

With a warm, full stomach, and the fire still producing ample light and heat I fell asleep.

I awoke, feeling as though I had a dream. It must have been a good dream; I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so excited! I noticed the two sticks were only about half way burnt, and I deactivated the magic.

“Waste not.” I murmured happily and reactivated the night vision enchantment that still had hours left.

.

.

Again, I could just barely see the massive walls, and started to make my way, glancing at the map marker that was slowly progressing to the entrance.

As I walked, I studied the route the Shadow Company drew for me, and was thankful that I paid them for the task. I looked up at the walls that stretched over a hundred feet into the sky, knowing that the Shadow Company was able to literally get a birds eye view of the winding maze, and reduce the time needed to get through it to a fraction of what trial-and-error would demand.

I paused at the entrance and noticed some ancient runes carved into the pillars on either side of the entrance. I stared wistfully at the runes, copying them done in my notebook, wishing I knew what they said.

“Well-” I breathed and took out my pack of glow rocks; markers to make for a quick return journey. “Here I go!” and stepped through the threshold.

.

I quickly realized that the map was not as useful as I initially thought. The labyrinth had multiple levels, and what should have been a clear passage, was only true on a floor above my current one.

“Hmmm.” I said, looking at the latest dead end; a wall of cages that was filled with dry bones of elves and dwarves.

I grasped the bars of the cage, about to see if I could climb it when a skeletal hand grabbed onto me, causing me to recoil in horror.

''“Is it safe? You should go back!”'' The skull of an elf chittered.

The other skeletal remains animated and reached out for me, wailing and crying.

“Fascinating!” I murmured as I got over my initial shock. “They aren’t sentient- they have a proximity activation.” I stepped back and watched them grow still and silent, but small lights illuminated within their empty sockets. I stepped closer and they began to reach out again.

“Hmmm… I wonder.” I murmured and took the iron necklace off and placed it into an empty bag with a long rope and allowed one of the skeletal hands to grab it.

I watched my map marker go through the obstacle and come to rest on the other side.

.

“Genius!” I exclaimed, and backed up and started to pull on the rope. With a little difficulty, the bag made its way through the cages and back at my feet, no worse for wear.

I took a deep breath. It was one thing to send my amulet and bag through. But for me to proceed….

I took in a deep breath and approached again, allowing the skeletal hands to grab hold, and pulled me into the cacophony of the voices of the dead. My entire body was touched from all sides, the yelling and screams of the skeletons were deafening, and…. It all ended just as quickly as it began, I found myself on the other side.

I blew out a breath and waited for my heart to slow, and took in my surroundings.

.

There it was! The cave in!

“Lord Blackthorn.” I breathed. “Was this what you saw after you were done?” The cave in was more demolished castle than mountain rock. I approached, seeing grotesque carved statues and stone blocks that were almost big enough to be houses in their own right, covered with runes.

Ah! There it was, the small tunnel the Shadow Company detailed.

It appeared to be a recent addition, the possibility of another living creature here made the hairs on my neck stand up, as I looked at the way the debris was evidently excavated long after the dust settled from the massive cave-in…. Maybe not recent but someone survived the cataclysm Lord Blackthorn wrought.

I kneeled at the hole and looked inside. It was dark, but passable. I started to crawl in, hoping that another cave-in wouldn’t end my adventure.

At last! I was able to stand up. I was now in some sort of great hall. I noticed three stone sarcophagus in the middle of the space and walked up to one of them.

“Again, more runes I can’t decipher.” I muttered, but noting the rich red and purple velvet banners laid upon the stone, adorned with glittering gemstone, mythril, gold and bronze.

“Let’s see what...we...got...here!” I grunted, pushing the stone lid of one of the sarcophagus’s aside.

I noticed a desiccated skeleton adorned with the garments of the priesthood of the Dark Nine. Amazing! There was a scroll by his side which I gingerly took, leaving behind the heavier precious materials behind.

“Let others have the baubles.” I muttered. “The lore and forgotten spells here will be far more valuable I’d wager.”

I tried to open the other two sarcophagi, but they were stuck fast… I moved on.

.

.

The great hall was adorned in deep red carpet on the ground, and the banner of the Gazer Empire hung at regular intervals; an all encompassing eye with a deep purple background depicting the extent and reach of the empire across the continents of the ancient times.

“So impressive!” I said, fingering one of the banners and gasped.

“A banner made from silk of an Arachne King!” I exclaimed, feeling the texture as described in ancient text.

It was said that the King Arachine could spin silk that was superior in every measurable way to the females, even the Arachne Queen!

I looked closer at the separate fibers. Yes! They were thicker, heavier and held a triangular cross-section versus the oval shape of the females.

I pulled one of the smaller banners and packed it away, feeling an immense happiness.

“What other wonders will I see? What other priceless artifacts lay in waiting?” I breathed as I pressed on.

I passed by stores of weapons, torture chambers still slick and pungent with decay, prisons with skeletal remains…. and at long last; I found it… The Lair.

I took in a deep breath as I beheld the cavernous room before me.

.

.

There were still-ongoing medical experiments; glass jars of bubbling liquid with creatures still moving inside. They watched my every move, rack after rack of potions, scrolls, books and items of raw magical power.

“This is amazing.” I breathed as I edged deeper, past carved depictions of Saalmux’s historic acts.

Turned and froze. Did my eyes deceive me?

There it was, an ancient dead Gazer upon the floor, a large stone brick lodged in its body.

I edged closer… how on earth did a mere stone block, massive or no- kill Saalmux?

I heard something walking towards the corpse and quickly hid behind a bookshelf and waited.

.

A mamono gazer walked into view and started to speak in a strange language. I cursed myself for not bringing any potions or enchantments that would decipher the meaning but watched all the same.

The gazer set down a mithril serving plate, and gestured to a cup, and delicately poured its contents in the dead Gazer’s mouth. She then cut a piece of roasted meat and deposited them also into its mouth.

After serving it food and drink, she then began to speak to it, her voice and cadence almost sounding like giving a report.

After a while the gazer stopped, watching the lifeless body and slowly caressed its desiccated skin, speaking words in a soothing tone… it had an almost haunted, and despairing tone to it.

.

A flash of motion caught my eye and I noticed one of her many eyes had spotted me and was nudging the other eye tentacles. The others quickly followed suit and soon the gazer gasped and looked directly at where I was hidden in the shadows.

I slunk back, keeping as quiet as I could, passing from one section of bookshelves to another, hearing her call out in an alarmed voice.

''What do I do? What do I do?'' I thought in a near-blind panic.

A sudden idea struck me and I circled back to the dead Gazer. The closer I got, the more massive I realized it was. As I neared, I noticed how all of its eyes suddenly turned to look at me. It’s mouth barely opening and closing.

''What was this? How was this possible?'' My mind screamed.

' Human. ' A voice thundered in my head. '  Release me from this endless hell! I will give you anything of what little power I have could grant! '

I grabbed at my temples. The presence of the Gazer Lord nearly knocked me unconscious.

''Too loud! '' I cried out in my mind.

' Please human! I have been in this purgatory hell for longer than I can remember! I cannot remember anything other than this pain and suffering! Kill me! Let me die! I cannot live like this! '

I heard the other Gazer crying out, her voice drawing nearer, and The Gazer Lord seemed to sense my desire to hide.

'Hide in my maw, I sense you need answers and explanation! There is nowhere else she will not find you!'

I took in a breath and quickly dove into the Gazer Lord’s mouth, our telepathic connection made me realize that it spoke the truth and would not hurt me.

.

.

My vision turned white and I found myself in a vast white-nothingness and a vision of the Gazer Lord materialized before me.

“You are Saalmux.” I breathed.

''“Yes. I apologize for the weight of my earlier communication. There was no time to adjust, and I need you, human.”''

“How are you able to resist the transformation into a mamono?” I asked, “This makes no sense? How are you even alive?”

The gazer closed all of its eyes and swiveled as if shaking its head. ''“Human. I know nothing, except that I have been in agony nonstop. The entirety of all my memories knowledge has been eroded by the never ending pain and the insipid ministrations of the one loyal servant I have left who refuses to let me pass on!”''

Again, I felt the truth. Saalmux’s mind was so filled with the centuries of torment and agony that everything else was blocked away.

''“I can barely be coherent enough to plead with you now. All I want is to die! Will you show me mercy?”''

I tightened my resolve. If this was the Saalmux of legend, it was receiving what was deserved, and still falling short of repayment to the horrors it caused the ancient world.

Saalmux felt where my mind was going and its eyes took on a remorseful gleam. “''Human, I cannot even remember the crimes your mind has already found me guilty of! I cannot remember a single moment that was not wracked with agony! For centuries I clung to the memory of what life was like before, then the memory-of-the-memory, and now there is nothing!”''

It took the equivalent of a deep sigh and cried out again, tears spilling from all of its eyes.

''“At the very least those that suffered under my crimes know the peace of death, and so have all those who cried out for justice to the things I’ve done. There is no one left that even remembers the pain I’ve caused. Let me face justice, this is not it; this is nothing more than agony!”''

“What must I do?”

The Gazer opened its mouth and I saw a gleaming pearl within. ''“Take this! It is the greatest treasure I have ever obtained; the tear of the goddess of your Empire! It sustains my immortality.”''

I gasped! Immortality! Could there even be a better artifact in all of existence? Likely not! I reached out, seized the pearl in one hand, squinting my eyes to the blinding light.

“Master! You have recovered!”

I blinked, noticing the mamono Gazer from before. “Master? Me? Hey wait! I can understand you now!”

She nodded, “Of course you can, Master!” She cooed. “After all, you are Saalmux!”

I shook  my head, “No- I am Edward, Saalmux has passed on.”

The Gazer glanced to the rapidly decaying corpse on the ground and to me. Her eyes narrowed and she bared her teeth. “You! You killed him!” She hissed as she rushed forth.

.

I felt an extreme nudge within my brain, and a presence of Saalmux. I stepped forward into her onslaught and grabbed her chin and forced her to look at the enormous stone block that had crushed my head and cracked the Tear.

“You see that, Rellis?” I thundered.

“What-”

“Do you see that!”

“Yes- I see it!” Rellis cried.

I fished the Tear from my pocket and showed it to her, it was cracked. “The Tear was cracked, I was never going to get better!” I gasped, feeling the presence draw more encompassing.

“Master….master….master….” Rellis sobbed, “I’m sorry. I just wanted.”

.

“You are worthless! You are nothing! I shall finish taking over this body, and you will be the first to die! I- your master declare you as my enemy and cast you out of my service!”

I grasped my head, and felt a flood of memories wash over my identity. The entire breadth and scope of Saalmux and his identity was beginning to fill my mind, eroding my identity.

''No! I’ve been tricked! Betrayed!'' I wailed in my head. I struggled with all the psychic power I had, trying to stem the tide, trying to maintain my identity…. I felt hope beginning to wink out when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

'“Rellis! YOU DARE TO BETRAY ME?!?!?!”'

Rellis’s expression remained calm and deadly. “I am no longer yours, Saalmux.” She hissed, and her eyes glowed a brilliant purple.

I felt the presence of Saalmux cling to me, begging me to stop her. But this time I knew him for what he was, I took one final look at the corrupted Tear in my hand and flung it away from me.

“Back to the Shadows!” I cried out with all my might. My mind and consciousness reeling from all the psychic energy of the last few moments. I saw the red haze that could only mean that my mind had reached its fatal limit. I was beyond saving.

My body grew numb and I fell into the arms of Rellis.

“Edward.” She whispered. “Are you okay?”

I looked at her, unable to move, unable to speak and slowly darkness replaced the red.

.

(later)

.

I woke, seeing a large eye before me.

“Wha-” I sputtered.

“Edward!” Rellis cried out, her eye beginning to well with tears! “Edward! You’re alive!” She took me into her arms and up into a half-sitting position.

“How did- how did I survive?” I gasped.

“It wasn’t easy.” Rellis whispered in my ear. “But you saved my life, I did everything in my power to save yours.”

A motion caught my attention and I stared awestruck at the Shadow Company gathered around me. “Heya Edward!” The leader said with good cheer! “You’ve got quite the pair of lungs on you! Heard you like you were in the same room!”

Of course! The recall spell! My mind still felt as though it were filled with shards of glass and I protested feebly. “Rellis… please… let me lay down.”

“Of course!” She breathed as she gently laid me back down.

.

I sighed, staring into Rellis’s eye, feeling a strange merging of Saalmux memories and my own. I knew her devotion and love like Saalmux did…. but at the same time, I was not repulsed or angered by them….actually….I….

.

“Rellis...I want to thank you.” I said with another sigh.

“For what?” She said, her brow now showing a confused angle.

“You- I remember all the things you did for Saalmux… as if you did them for me…. and I am just….so overwhelmed.” I finished, feeling my heart overwhelm with a love that was kickstarted by eons of memories that were not mine. “The songs you sung, the tales you told…. the sweetness you did…. I am just so...”

Rellis quirked her head and blinked. A single tear fell from her eye and onto my cheek, meeting my own tears.

I reached up, and cupped Rellis’s chin, and watched her close her eye and wrap her hands around my arm. I pulled her close and our lips met.

(6 years later)

“And then what happened, daddy?”

I looked at Jenna, sitting in my lap, holding her teddy bear. Her big eye looking at me in amazement.

“Heh, well- your mom and I stayed in the caverns for a while. An expedition company soon followed to excavate the place so that we could learn from all that history!”

“Uh huh! And then what happened?”

.

“Your father and I wanted to live elsewhere.” Rellis said, entering the room, “and so we moved here, had a beautiful daughter, who’s bedtime has long since passed.”

“Aww! Just one more story? Please?” Jenna pleaded, bringing forth her eye tentacles to her arms to assist her begging pose.

“You’re mother’s right.” I said, stretching and yawning. “I’ll tell you another story tomorrow.”

.

“Poop!” Jenna huffed and rolled over. “Goodnite!”

I stood and stretched, following Rellis out into the living room and let her snuggle next to me on the couch.

“I love you, so much Edward.” Rellis sighed, her hand idly playing along the lines of my chest.

I tilted her chin up and kissed her. “As do I- across the centuries and until the next life.”

She sighed and rested her head against my chest again.

.

I glanced over the living room, and my eyes drifted to the Banner of the Gazer Empire and grinned, noticing it was smeared all over with Jenna’s finger paint…. My eyes passed over the rest of the house, lingering on the most precious of artifacts that I could imagine…. keepsakes of a happy home, and of a family so in love.