{"id":1136,"date":"2017-05-19T21:35:09","date_gmt":"2017-05-20T01:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/?p=1136"},"modified":"2017-05-19T21:35:09","modified_gmt":"2017-05-20T01:35:09","slug":"chuck-wendigs-flashfiction-challenge-demons-and-assassins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/?p=1136","title":{"rendered":"Chuck Wendig’s #FlashFiction Challenge: Demons vs. Assassins"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Demon\"<\/a>This piece of flash comes to you by the way of two sources. The first is Chuck Wendig’s Friday Flash Fiction Challenge. And here is what he says about that:<\/p>\n

Way this works is, below you will find two tables \u2014 X and Y! \u2014 and you will pick (or randomly draw) from those tables. That will leave you with a set of X versus Y \u2014 and from there, you will write a piece of flash fiction based on that parameter set. You can even use the match up (SKELETONS VS. SCIENTISTS!) as the title to the work, or come up with a new title.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The second is a contest of sorts held between the writers at Fantasy Writers.org called FWO’s Deadliest Warriors<\/em>. Here one of our own challenged us to bring out our deadliest warriors and pit them in matches against our fellow writer’s warriors. What started as a D&D style matching of abilities and battle strategies turned into, toward the end, a head to head battle of writing skill, where entries started to assume the form of short stories. <\/p>\n

“You realize,” one of my opponents said, “this means war.”<\/p>\n

“Yes,” I said gleefully. “Bring it.”<\/p>\n

And so it went.<\/p>\n

It was fun to watch how we clashed our various characters and wove our world building and stories around each other. Sadly, my ghostwriting career took a sprint about that time and I didn’t check in on the new entries. But from I can see, the contest won over all us.<\/p>\n

The characters of Danquor and Lydia come from my entirely unfinished Mor’a’stani 5th, 6th and 7th novels, which I promised I will finish after I finish books one through four. B’yetishen’s Mercenaries are a little piece of world building that never assume a major role in any of the stories in the Mor’a’stani stories.<\/p>\n

Okay, I’m cheating a little bit here pulling up a previously written piece, but heck,the contract pieces are calling and I just don’t have the time.<\/em><\/p>\n

Without further chatter, FWO”s Deadliest Warrior, Round Four<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Challenge: B’yetishen’s Mercenaries vs. Oneroi in a Sultan’s palace! <\/strong><\/span>
\n
\nThe Terms of the Contest<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI do not understand why the Oshijian palace is engaged in this sordid affair,\u201d said Lydia, the first wife of the Chartan, that is, crown prince, of Oshijia. Her pert nose below her bright green eyes was upturned in the arrogant air that Danquor despised about her.<\/p>\n

\u201cDarling,\u201d said Danquor, \u201cThe owner of A\u2019ven Enterprises made this request of us, to use the palace for this affair since it matches so closely the parameters of this contest. Since we\u2019ve been trying to secure an appointment with her to discuss trade relations with Oshijia, father agreed. But we are nicely protected behind this electronic field.\u201d He spread his hand to indicate the area ahead that shimmered with a force field.<\/p>\n

Behind Danquor and Lydia seated on their thrones, the bulk of Danquor\u2019s ninety-nine wives sat, their silk gowns a rainbow spreading across the imperial dais. To the right, many Oshijian courtiers and their many wives stood under the sunlight streaming into the high and long portico supported by the twisting columns so prevalent in old Oshijian architecture. They also were protected by an electronic screen. And while the private apartments of the Charquan, Danquor\u2019s father, were locked and fortified from intruders, the rest of the expansive palace had no such protections. While Oshijian spectators were labeled non-combatants, there were no guarantees of anyone\u2019s safety if they chose to remain in the palace.<\/p>\n

Lydia looked at Danquor, his blue eyes shining with excited anticipation, his dark hair flowing past his shoulders, knowing that this entertainment would keep the easily bored prince excited for days. She hoped that would work in her favor later in the evening. He was not called \u201cThe Party Prince\u201d for nothing.<\/p>\n

A Couple Days Previous<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The merc commander sucked in a deep breath as he scanned the instructions for the next engagement. The Oshijian palace! Excrement would hit the fan if any of the rich and important nobles got hurt or injured during this battle. And the Oneroi? He couldn\u2019t believe the intel on these opponents. Legion of Darkness? Turns into mist at will? Magic not allowed? He could not see any tactical advantage to help in the fight against any of these so-called demons of the night. He didn\u2019t believe in demons or magic but he knew there were people in Kyn who did. And there were people who claimed to practice magic. The commander scratched his chin and opened a com channel to headquarters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to speak to a sorceress,\u201d he said.
\n
\nThe Day of the Battle<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure this is going to work?\u201d said his captain, standing next to him. His men and women all stood in front of the electronic shields, camouflaged in Oshijian dress, looking for all the world like courtiers unlucky enough not to fit behind the protective shields. The commander thought his captain looking particularly attractive in the off-the-shoulder silk gown that pinched her waist prettily. He smiled at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d he said with an air of confidence he did not feel.<\/p>\n

She shook her head, not fooled by his bravado.<\/p>\n

Then the air grew hot, the lights dimmed, and dark figures swirled into to the throne room. The Oshijian courtiers gasped as the formidable warriors gathered in the center of the room, leering at the frightened courtiers that lined the walls.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are our opponents?\u201d said the tallest, with a deathly rasp. \u201cDo they not dare to meet us in battle?\u201d<\/p>\n

The commander stepped forward. \u201cYes, we\u2019re here, but you soon won\u2019t be.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Oneroi commander laughed. \u201cAgainst you, I doubt it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShow them!\u201d barked the commander.<\/p>\n

His soldiers drew out their single weapon, a flashlight outfitted with a blacklight shining the beams on the floor underneath the Legion of Death.<\/p>\n

The Oneroi commander\u2019s red eyes widened as he sees the black lights display a devil\u2019s trap painted in urine, now dried, glowing on the floor. It was an ancient symbol, a five-pointed star, a pentacle, surrounded by a circle. In each of the corners and within the sections of the pentacle were scribbled with sigils of command and power.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour prison if you don\u2019t concede this match.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are not allowed to use magic!\u201d the Oneroi commander complained.<\/p>\n

\u201cMagic? I didn\u2019t use magic. Just painted some symbols on the floor. Not my fault you didn\u2019t see them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Oneroi commander roared, and his minions wailed, the light fixtures in the room shaking from the force of their unholy utterances.<\/p>\n

But the commander and his troops stood fast, and finally when the sounds died, the Oneroi commander stared at the mercenary leader.<\/p>\n

\u201cRelease us!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cConcede.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Oneroi commander made a noise that sounded like a dull roar.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine! We concede.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder oath!\u201d commanded the Merc leader.<\/p>\n

The Oneroi leader growled.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy Hades I give my bondsword that the Oneroi concede this match.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that you withdraw without harming anyone here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ashen-faced demon glared at him with his red eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy Hades it is so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen go. I release you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The captain moved forward and wiped away a part of the devil\u2019s trap with a handkerchief in her pocket. With a roar and rustle of wings the Oneroi swirled up to ceiling and disappeared in a dark cloud.<\/p>\n

But then the Oneroi commander returned in a swirl of black smoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not think that this ends this,\u201d he said with malevolence. \u201cYou\u2019ve made a mistake in fighting us dishonorably, and I will be there personally to attend to your death!\u201d With that, the Oneroi disappeared in a swirl of black smoke.\u201cWell,\u201d said the captain. \u201che\u2019s a sore loser.\u201dThe merc commander nodded, but he couldn\u2019t help a shiver as if someone walked over his grave.<\/p>\n

Aftermath<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 
\n\u201cWell, my lord,\u201d said Lydia to her husband. \u201cWhat did you think of that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt missed expectations,\u201d said Danquor with a frown.<\/p>\n

Lydia poured a glass a wine from wine service on the table between them. \u201cSo sorry, my lord,\u201d she said demurely. She handed him the glass.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d said Danquor eyeing the merc commander. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to think of another diversion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Danquor stood, his tall frame and regal bearing commanding the attention of the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell done, Commander!\u201d he said, his blue eyes boring into the commander\u2019s. \u201cYou and your people should be rewarded! You are all invited to a party in my apartment tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lydia shut her eyes, disappointed her husband just made other plans for who would share his bed that evening.<\/p>\n

Image published under a Creative Commons license issued by Flickr user Winter Jefferson<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This piece of flash comes to you by the way of two sources. The first is Chuck Wendig’s Friday Flash Fiction Challenge. And here is what he says about that: Way this works is, below you will find two tables \u2014 X and Y! \u2014 and you will pick (or randomly draw) from those tables. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[17,1],"tags":[62,95,109,111,142,179,187,197,206],"class_list":["post-1136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiction-challenges","category-uncategorized","tag-assassins","tag-chuck-wendig","tag-demons","tag-devils-trap","tag-flash-fiction-challenge","tag-legion-of-darkness","tag-magic","tag-morastani-universe","tag-oneroi"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1136\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}