There was a strange and unique atmosphere to the trap rooms, the place was part Temple, part training ground, part library, Part monastery, and all of it For the service of rogues. Having been a student of this place for well over 2 years, he now knew the rules, and its eccentricities and he learned if it’s many dangers. The place had scared him when he had first arrived but as he grew older and more experienced it became clear that this place was far more thought out than anyone would ever give it credit.
The rules were designed specifically to impart all of the necessary disciplines needed for anyone who would have to eventually break into a place, steal something valuable, and leave unseen. If the number one tenet of this place was silence, The second, was caution. Every single lock, every single mechanism, every single chest, especially the big vault like ones, were trapped And these were no trinket traps, the kind that pricked your finger with a little pin, to teach you and those grubby fingers not go into the one box that your Grandmother told you not to, as it’s were she hides her spiced snuff or some other such vice.
These were spring-loaded razors that would cut your fingers and face to ribbons, Release mechanisms that would eject pressurized salt acid directly into your mouth and eyes, And never “eat” anything that you find in these boxes. One of those lessons learned in the shadows is that even victory can defeat you. Now he found himself coming here sometimes because he was bored and just wanted to sharpen his skills in peace.
So far, he hadn’t actually seen one of the more visceral traps do its thing, The worst thing that he had seen was some older man falling from the top of the beams were the real prices were held in gilded Chest’s suspended on thin chains with multiple layered traps and multiple layers of locks.(edited)new
He didn’t get a very good look at the man as he came plummeting down but from what he saw the man’s face had been torn open and melted off from the jawline down.
That sent a chill up his spine, and he glanced over into the darkness which at this time was right next to him and it was around this time that he noticed a small girl, She was kneeling next to a chest that he had tried in the last week and actually managed to open, he had gotten himself another small, sturdy little lock pick for his efforts, which was a pretty sweet thing. It was well made. When a box was opened and the prize within taken, it was always replaced, very quickly. She was focused.
This wasn’t her first time with a pic. He couldn’t tell if she was trained or just naturally skilled but she did all the same things he did when curiosity was just itching at the inside of his mind. She even stuck her tongue out of the corner of her Mouth when she felt like she was getting close to something going click. He watched her in silence for a few minutes before she realized that his eyes were upon her.
She looked back at him and there was a moment of recognition from one little thief to another. Then she stuck out her tongue at him. He crossed his eyes and made a face at her in response and they both, Giggled silently between the two of them before returning to their tasks. She had very small hands.
Clean.
No gloves.
No scars.
Just a little porcelain colored fingers little pink nails. He wondered what drew her to a place like this. Maybe it was the challenge. He hoped she wasn’t being coerced. Though it didn’t seem like it, she was far too interested in seeing what the little box had to offer. He knew the feeling. She was very small, probably a few years younger than him. starting very early in this line of work. And for a few moments he went back to his task in silence, His own locked, latched, box being frustratingly stubborn. Just as it had been the last two times he visited.
Then, He heard a sound that he had never heard in this place before. And it immediately filled him with dread. From across the space where he had just been looking at the girl he heard a loud, sharp, mechanical snapping sound followed by a very fast moving spiral of sharp promises on the wind…and something wet, splattering onto stone. Slowly, He turned to look at her, having not heard a scream from her and Almost cried out in pure shocked terror as he saw what was left of the girl.
She was recoiled, having jumped back about 6 feet but not nearly fast enough she was on her knees and her grey tunic was completely covered in blood, Her arms and hands were shaking, or more accurately, what was left of her hands. All of her fingers had been sliced off and the palms were mangled with parts of them hanging down like chopped meat. She was already in shock and just gasping looking at what was left of her petite scar-less hands and elegant digits. He didn’t know what to do, there wasn’t really anything he could do to help her, they were miles away from anywhere and already underground in a hidden chamber with people just waiting with blow darts to make Silent anything that dared make noise in this hallowed place. No matter what the reason.
Then, she looks right at him. Her eyes were wide with terror and she Seemed to have just suddenly come to the realization of what had actually just happened to her, her eyes looked panicked and were filling up with tears. So did his. She opened her mouth, to let out an ear piercing scream of agony and terror and regret, but nothing came out of her mouth, blood however came pouring out of the hole that had been slit through her throat, which now only just opened.
Her eyes rolled back in her head and slowly she Slumped over, Having been perched on one of the small beams, and plunged into the darkness. Not making a sound.
He wasn’t sure how long he sat there just staring into the darkness from where she had been. His hands were covering his mouth and his eyes barely blinked. He was just frozen in a state of shock and horror. Something moved out of the corner of his left eye, He barely noticed and by the time he looked over, The only thing sitting next to him was a small role of leaf. He looked around realizing that he was certainly not alone, regardless of whatever had just happened and whatever he had just witnessed. He picked up the leaf, Put it in his mouth, And realized that he didn’t have any way to light it.
Closing his eyes and putting his head in his hands, Slowly rocking as the feeling came back into his legs. When he opened his eyes, there was a small little lamp next to him. He let the leaf. Took a long drag off of it until the herbs within calmed his nerves and scented the air like incense. Closing his eyes again, he calmed himself. Opening his eyes again, the lamp was gone. He didn’t remember exiting the trap rooms but he found himself on the road, Walking near the Southern sands outside of the city.
Halfway through the strip of desert leading back to Eruk from the South, he fell to his knees and threw up, screamed and cursed and tried to unsee what he had just seen for a few minutes and then collected himself again.
By this time he was old enough to know and recognize when something was going to leave him with horrible nightmares.
