I am Stalker the Assassin of the Abyss! This is a story. Rear Admiral Stalker the Assassin of the Abyss strolled up and down the gangplanks of his ship, the Abyss. They had been sailing two seasons, but had plundered so greatly that they had enough supplies. It had been three weeks since their last raid and were waiting for their next prey. Then the Corsair from the crows nest called down, "Ship on the horizon! 'Larboard side!" The Marlfox Admiral looked to where the ship was and started rasping out orders.
"Get the slaves pullin 'ard slavemaster! Duskear, tell the crew below decks to arm up! The Abyss gave a sudden lurch as the slack sails tightened and the wind took hold.
The ship was abandoned. The crew had been killed and tossed overboard by raiders. Then a mutiny broke out and they killed each other.Their lifeless bodies were still rotting on the top deck. The ship was uninhabited. Save for one....
It was
dusk when the Abyss' crew boarded the ship. Dogface said, "Well
A'miral, looks like somebeasts were here first."
The Assassin scowled as he berated the weasel.
"You stupid blundering idiot! Don't you think I know that already?"
Dogface twinged with each blow.
"Sorry A'miral, never 'appen agin, I swear!"
"See that you do Dogface, see that you do. Ratnose, take Slitmouth
and Lomis with you and search the cargo hold, find any survivors. If
they look like trouble, kill them. If not, chain'em up so they can row."
"Yes Sir! Come on you two."
The three ferrets went below decks while the remaining crew searched
above decks.
"These beasts were part of a crew, see the tattoos, they're the same. They must have mutinied and divided, see that line. I'd wager somebeast drew that wit' his sword and everybeast took sides. 'Cept for that one, the one with the arrow in his chest. He was probably the cap'n and told them to stop. Somebeast obviously didn't like it, judging by the arrow. Then the rest of'em fought until they slayed each other."
The Corsairs were amazed at the ability of the Admiral to deduce
what happened.
"Hellsteeth cap'n, how'd you learn to find out that sort of stuff?"
"Experience, Snoteye; experience, and a good teacher."
He was ready to get them back to searching when a cry came from
below decks.
"Aaaaaggghhh! Cap'n! Cap'n! There's a huge adder down there whos
chokin Lomis and
Slitmouth!"
Stalker didn't stay around to question
him.
"Alright everybeast, get down there and kill the adder!"
The charged down the steps, swords, pikes, scimitars, axes, hooks, and all other instruments of death drawn. But they weren't prepared for what they saw next. The entire below decks was covered in sand, and there was no sign of the two Corsairs. Stalker pointed to a rat and a weasel.
"You two, search that sand for your missin mates."
"But s-s-sir, supposin the creature that et them is in there?" they
stammered fearfully.
"Then you can join your maties at Hellgates. Understood?"
"Y-y-yes sir!"
The unfortunate pair tiptoed nervously through the foot deep sand,
getting further and further from the crew as the watched the sand warily.
"I don't like it mate. Stalker knew what he was doin', he must have
it in for us, the slimy blaggard!"
"Tsk tsk, 'tis mutiny to talk ill of the grand A'miral himself. You
best shut your trap 'afore you get us both killed."
"Aye, but what are we to do? We can't go back, we'll be slain. We
can't go all the way and not find'em, we'll be slain. And, finally, we
can find what killed Slitmouth and Lomis, and it can kill us too. Aye mate?"
But his friend was gone. "Cap'n, hes go-."
They both disappeared.
"Where did they go, did you see it, what was it!"
Stalker the Assassin was violently shaking the nearest beast to him,
a stoat. "I swear I didn't see a thing A'miral!"
"Look!"
The Admiral released the stoat and turned to see a small hump of
sand. Except it was moving. Suddenly, a huge snake emerged from the tip of
the moving mound. "Ssss! Away from me, foul creaturesssss! I am
Sssandssswift! I move through the sand like water! Itsssss death to come
here!"
"Don't kill it! Sandswift is it? I am Stalker the Assassin, Rear
Admiral of the Abyss and follower of Emperor Ublaz. We have come along way
and we found this ship. What are you doing here?"
The snake calmed and spoke civilly."I wassss captured and put on thissss ssssssship to be given to some dissstant ruler, I do not know hisssss name. I have been without food for many dayssss."
"Would you be willing to serve the Emperor."
"Anything to leave thisss vessssel."
"OK. Welcome to the Empire."