((OOC: Tags to Goblin, don't be afraid to say if any of this doesn't work for you, and please PM me if you need anything clarified. I'm kinda brain-dead right now so this might be a special post :P))
A silent shadow passed by a dozing guard into a warehouse full of supplies. The building was stuffed with crates of fruits and vegetables, and barrels water, all three of which were very valuable commodities in the desert. Haran set to work destroying the resources. Not all of them, mind you. That would be much too easy. Instead, he pried open one crate, picked a peach off the top of the contents, and inserted a needle into the fruit. The tiny sliver of metal he used was coated in one of his most virulent poisons.
It was one the Haran rarely used. Far too messy, showy, and expensive for his tastes, but it was perfect for his purposes now. The venom, for it was a natural concoction, quickly spread through the healthy piece of fruit. The skin acquired disturbing red spots, and the peach's flesh became particularly squishy. The smell of it was terrible, and the decaying fruit somehow gave off a potent aroma that evoked the scent of rotting flesh, fecal matter, and fermented fish.
The poison would quickly enact the same process on a human that ingested it. Or if it got into their bloodstream. It didn't take much of the poison to begin the process, it was very quickly lethal, and the corpse always gave off the same disturbing odor.
The poison originated from the Kishahn jungle, or so the assassin had been told. Supposedly, there was an animal there that could only eat rotten food. So, to speed up the process of decay, and to deter others from claiming the meal during the process, the animal would inject it's food with this particular venom.
The venom was exotic, and hard to extract, so it was very expensive. There were far more efficient choices available, and Haran only utilized this one when he wanted to send a message, like now. His intended target would be sure to recognize the smell the rotting food in here gave off.
It took some time to pry open each crate and insert one of his venomous needles into the pile, and a bit more for him to drop one into each barrel of water. The rest of the food he left untouched, and in actuality, the metal he left in the water was untainted.
There were two reasons for this. One was that he wanted to use as little of his expensive venom as possible. The other, was for the mind game. His employer wanted him to ruin the target, not kill him. Frankly, Haran didn't get it. He didn't understand why he couldn't just off the man. Something about sensitive information being released upon his death. Well, not his problem. What he did know was that he was being paid five times his normal rate to ruin the man's reputation and business. Not his usual work, but it paid well so he wasn't going to complain.
The more angry, more miserable, and more financially ruined the man became the better. This was step one. The move made to test the target, to to see if he'd call Haran's bluff on the untainted food and water. He'd known the man he was going after for years, but not since the man had moved to Essyrn. No, Haran needed updated information on the target. He needed to gauge reactions and test the water so he knew what he was going up against.
Once his job was complete, Haran slipped back out into the cold desert night. He'd been in the warehouse several hours, and in the intervening time the guard had awakened.
The guard turned towards the opening door to see someone coming out. "Hey, you there, what are you doing?" he asked.
Haran smiled. "Nothing much friend, just some inventory." Even as he spoke and wore the grin on his face the assassin skillfully stepped closer to the man. The disarming voice and smile gave the guard pause, and the poisoner was already close to him before he realized what was happening.
The guard tried to draw his sword, he really did, but one of the assassin's poisoned knives was embedded in the fellow's chest faster then he could react. He next tried to scream, and he really gave it his best effort, but one of Haran's gloved hands covered his mouth and the assassin used his leverage to force him to the ground, winding the man. The guard lay there twitching for several moments with the stocky assassin on top of him, before his movement stopped altogether. The entire process had taken about five seconds.
Haran stood up, brushed the sand off his robes, and went on his merry way, whistling a little tune as he walked. Step one was done, the opening move made, and could hardly wait to see his opponents counter. The game was afoot.
