A Saxon Quest (IC)

"Erik Blackwater, you are standing under trial for the crimes of Treason, Killing an Officer, Honour-less Killing and Disobedience. How do you plead to these charges?" The high Judge asked with a hard stare upon the white bearded ice warrior who stood in chains in the hall of Judgement, the hall of trials, festivities and honourable duels.

"Not guilty under the pledge of preventing dishonour." The people began to mutter and the trial proceeded with the accuser, the killed captain's uncle, stepping forth and made a bravado speech that didn't really involve either his nephew or Erik, though it still seemed to win over the jury. Erik could see the resemblance between the two, both spineless and cowardly, not worthy of their ranks.

After some rambling them an finally got to the matter at hand. "And now wish of you the people to judge this murderer for his dishonourable murder of my nephew Hans Persson and let his bones rot in the feeding pits." "You and your nephew wouldn't know a single thing about honour." Erik's word made the crowd react as he excepted, jeering and taunting. The judge slammed his hammer into the iron desk and let the echoing thunder silence the crowd.

"Under what rights do you have to accuse a General and his nephew, whom you killed, for dishonour?" The judge's words carried their weight and the room held their breathe as the prisoner spoke up. "Because from what I can see, so are he and his nephew the same, cowards, they have not the rough scars or skin of one who have been in the front of battle. they have the well oiled and manicured hands of a maiden and their eyes are dark with the sins sloth and vanity." He took a pause before speaking again. "His son was about to dishonour not just himself but the entire nation when he ordered me and others to lay waste to a caravan of approaching settlers. He declared them to be undeads, but no undead could have the accompany of a Priestess of Frey nor her symbols. But he ignored our words and declared it to be a trick of the undeath, so rather then watch a egoistic brat kill innocent women and children, I killed him. Under the Pledge of Preventing Dishonour."

Even with his words it seemed that the majority were against him, as there were no other who had witnessed, and the men who had been with him had conveniently been ordered on a patrol to the southern borders. Watching as he saw the crowds discuss he decided to not take a chance and be turned into a thrall or killed for doing the right thing and spoke up again. "As to prove my innocence not by proof, word or needless speeches, shall I prove it the right way, by action. I demand to take a Saxon Quest to prove my honour in victory or death. and also, I demand the Price of Justice to be effected for the thralls who are to be put under me, so they may regain their freedom from their crimes if the complete the quest we are given together, even if they do not get the chance to save my life."

The Judgement Hall was filled with noise after his declaration, even the Judge's thunder hammer couldn't silence their voices. Erik was taken out of the halls and given back his equipment before taken to the Gate of Heroes, where he would await for the chosen thralls that would accompany him. It was a large gate shaped like the legendary Gate of Hel, where he would stand and wait for his thralls. It only took an hour of waiting, and a bag of supplies given to him by a servant, for a group of ten guardsmen to approach with three women.

"These are the thralls bond to you Erik Waterstone, one a murderer, one a pillaging pirate and one a thrall since birth. Now go forth inthe name of the Saxon Empire and prove your honour in life or death. You are to go for the Tower of Bones in the Blackmarshes and slay the evil necromancer and former high priest of Hel, Nagoth. Bring us his head or any other parts that proves your success and you shall be be free of your dishonour in our eyes. Now go!" They are then moved out of the gates which are then closed behind them, leaving the four in the open snow covered fields of the Northern Saxon Region near the Blackfrost Woods.

Natia had been taken out of the general population holding cell ... she didn't know how long ago. She knew it had been a few days having seen the sun and moon go by, but she wasn't sure for how long when she had tried, in the beginning, to sleep her existence away. She had no hope her crew would come back for her. It wasn't the pirate way. Plus, they had been given bad information. This place was HEAVILY guarded. Whoever the informer was he or his employer wanted her and her crewmen dead. She hoped her crew seeked revenge and had a hearty meal on their bones.

Those thoughts gave her few moments of joy in her solitude, but she preferred this to the noise of the others. Their arguing, bickering, talking, laughing. It all drove her insane and she found herself quick tempered with them all. Especially the guards who would oggle the girls, but claim honor. Some were honorable, most were not. She was lucky and never touched nor spoken to alot after the first incident.

"Get dressed. You have a Master," the words were taunting and meant to do what they did: spread dread throughout her body. She slowly put on her jacket and tucked her leather pants into her boots. She turned towards the cell door, but stopped and hastened back to the bed before the guards could grab her and plopped her rusty old hat upon her head. Now she was ready for anything.

She hadn't been fed the morning meal. Her stomach grumbled in protest, but she marched what seemed like forever. She was confused when she was given back her weapons although in a sack. She was marched out the gates and she couldn't believe they were letting her go, but then she saw them and more importantly him. "If you run or leave him. He and We are duty bound to find you and kill you. And anyone who helps you pirate." With a shove that was disguise as a nudge that sent her to her knees she was looking at the 2 other women and the man while frantically trying to open her sack.

Natia believed them. She had heard and witnessed these Saxon Devils and she would not bring their justice down upon herself and her crew. She knew she was a slave to this man, because of what the guard said but she didn't know why she was out of the walls of their village. Right now she only had one focus and that was untying this damn knot to get to her precious weapons.

Naida sat in her cell waiting to see what was going to become of her. This was not the life that she would be able to handle. She was a gypsy, a wanderer, and had no desire to be tied down inside stone walls to some person that would see her for what she was and would use her in many different ways. She pushed the red hair from her face and tried to calm herself, there was no use distressing about it now. There was nothing that could be done at this juncture.

And as she was settling in the opening of a door caused her to jump.

There was no way that they had found a master that quickly, but then she supposed that she might have been in high demand. Then her thoughts went to the murder of the shaman and smiled.

Nope... There was no way she was in high demand.

And yet it was her cell they were opening.

The next hour was full of confusion, fighting, and getting dragged around. There was one thing that they had told her however and it sent a chill through her bones... She had an owner now. She was given back her things, odd... They should have been given to her master but she did not question this further as she got ready She was dressed warmly enough and even given supplies but then she was brought before a very large man. She flinched when they called her a murderer. It was true but there was a good reason, at least to her it had been just. She was quiet as she listened to the men talk, taking in what was going to happen to them.

Saxon Honor... She scoffed in her head and soon found the gates shut and three women standing there with this large man. He looked to be ten feet tall, of course being under five feet could have that effect. She hoped he didn't step on her. She didn't know what she was supposed to say or do, she came from a world where she was just as equal as anyone else and now... Now she was nothing, short of what use she could be for him.

She looked at the woman who had just been brought forth, not that Naida had been there much longer and watched as she frantically tried to untie the knot. If the woman had calmed down she probably could have gotten the knot undone twice as quick as the frantic motions she was using right at that moment. The shapeshifter she was not one hundred percent sure what was going on but she wasn't going to play the part of the fool.

Once the gate had shut and everyone that was going was present she found herself speaking... "May I ask what exactly is going on?" She asked.

Perhaps it was a bad idea...

Nerthus

Nerthu’s father Kraki; a Saxon invaded and captured many Thralls. Already having four sons he forcibly impregnated one of his Thralls who gave birth to his only daughter, Nerthus. Nerthus, unlike her brothers had many Viking traits that her father found difficult to control. She is totally unfeminine in her approach to life and now eighteen Nerthus was 1856 cm tall, weighing 76 Kg Nerthus, athletic and strong with cropped blonde hair and blue eyes that gave her a boyish look enhanced by her firm but small breasts.

Now she had come of age she was expected to marry anyone her father chose but she resented the idea of giving her body to a man. She had no lesbian tendencies but secretly wished she was a man because that would allow her the freedom to fight and hunt.

The day came for Nerthus to be presented to her husband, Naddod, but when Kraki sent for his daughter she had disappeared.

Kraki was furious and swore his daughter would feel the full weight of justice. Sending a search party of armed men he told them that if Nerthus would not surrender peaceably they had his permission to use any means at their disposal to capture her.

For two days Nerthus kept away from her hunters but on the third day she was cornered by three pursuers, one she killed, another she injured while a third escaped to report back to Kraki. Secretly Kraki was proud of his daughter as she showed more fighting spirit than any of his sons. Nevertheless he had promised her in marriage to Naddod and his honour depended on it.

The next day Nerthus was hunting a young buck when she heard the sound of her father’s men coming after her. She placed her arrows back in their quiver and ran through the wooded area. Confronted by two warriors intent on capturing her she killed the first with a clean swipe across the throat causing a fountain of blood to leap into the air. The second put up more of a fight but once Nerthus had disarmed him of his sword she lunged forward destroying his heart.

Knowing she could never return home she made her way into the hills where she was confronted by her future husband, a warrior like herself he was the toughest opponent she could imagine and the fight lasted nearly an hour. Eventually she got the better of Naddod and killed him with a sweep of her sword removing his head from his body.

But all was to no avail as another ten warriors closed in on her. Realising defeat was inevitable she moved to fall on her own sword when a rock crashed against her head rendering her unconscious.

Recovering back in her father’s tent she awoke to find herself bound. Kraki looked at his daughter with dark angry eyes as he said slowly “Now my Dear, you have left me no choice. You must face the full fury of justice!” Clapping his hands he ordered the guards to bring her to the centre of the camp to face trial and sentence.

Finally Belirith was for once in her life, right where she wanted to be. After some days of begaving as she should she had gained the opportunity to join the condemned warrior in his quest for liberty.

She hadn't planned scaping him, she wanted to get her freedom in an honourable way, so she was determined to fight for her life. She knew she didn't have any obvious power, besides her intelligence and will, but something inside her told her she could do it.

When she was placed outside the walls with the other people she took a careful look at them. She wondered why the man had asked for help in his quest, as she though him being a giant soldier, he would be more than able to kill anybody by himself. However, she was not going to complain.

Besides them, there were other two three girls. One was a pirate, and was trying hard to get the knot that tied her undone, but she couldn't manage. Another looked like a gypsy, and Belirith wondered what she could have done to be there. She didn't look as is she had killed anybody; but, who could tell, she herself had done so and didn't look like she could either. The third one was different. She looked quite rebel and masculine.

But anyway, the two three women looked confused. They seemed not to know why they were there, their being the giant's thralls, and their mission. When one of them asked "May I ask what exactly is going on?" she realized they didn't know. Why was she the only one to know? She had to admit nobody had told her, but she had heard about everything while in prison. She admitted she had quite a good hearing and she could even hear people wispering afar. But had it been the case? She couldn't remember. She was going to answer the gypsy but wouldn't want to annoy her master on the first day. So she kept her mouth closed, looked at him and waited for his response.

OOC: I guess Nerthus hasn't joined us yet, but I'm not sure, so I have written it both ways. I'll delete what is wrong when everything clears out

OOC: I am not sure really.. seems to be a mix of the character sheet's background story.

Erik turned his neck side to side with a loud crack before he spoke up with his thick Saxon dialect rumbling. "I am Erik Rockwater, I was charged with treason for committing dishonourable acts I did not find to be dishonourable. Disobeying orders that would cause dishonour and slay a military officer who was about to commit dishonour." Taking the pack of supplies onto his back the Saxon warrior look northwards towards the White Teeth Mountains with the Blackfrost Wood standing like a black sea beneath its white peaks.

"Seeing how the people would have me made permanent thrall or killed I decided to prove my honour by taking on a Saxon Quest, a quest in which I shall go and preform a task given to me by the Emperor himself. My task is to slay the evil Necromancer Nagoth who dwells in the Black Marshes. And you are bond to me in a chance to regain your honour in the Saxon law by either, saving my life, dying in combat and help me fulfil my mission, by the Price of Justice, an old rule. If you are to complete this quest without able to save my life, even if I am to fall, you will no longer be thralls but free women." Pulling out a map the warrior of the frozen lands looked upon the path which would take them to the Black Marshes.

The seas were too dangerous with high reefs and sea monsters lurking along its shores and depths. They would have to move to the lumberjack village known as Woodveil Town for their wood carved talismans. Then over the mountains to the dwarven mine city of Steelhand Keep, to the thick jungles of Noveria through the Amazonian kingdoms and then to the Black Marshes and then finally to the Tower of Bones.

"We will have to move fast before the winter storms come, if we move with only one rest per day we will be able to reach past the mountains within a week and then through the jungle and the marshes in two weeks. A month is what would take us in total to reach the Tower of Bones if the gods deem us favoured." He then motioned for the tattoo of Heimdal, the Ever-seeing, Ever-hearing and Ever-vigilant God. "These tattoos they gave us will be there until our quest is completed, they are linked to our souls, letting the Priests of Heimdal look upon our progress, shall anyone deem it fit to flee or escape, the tattoo will be used to locate and recapture or kill you."

Nerthus was dragged into the centre of the camp to face a jeering hostile mob. The judge, a short fat oily man with thick fingers stood up and leered at her before looking round and banging a hammer down on a bench calling for silence. “Nerthus, daughter of Kraki you have been handed to this Court by your Father as it is the only way he can defend the honour of his family. Your crimes are so heinous that you are not even to be granted the right of reply. It is the sentence of this assembly that you be taken outside this encampment and …”

Before the judge could continue riders were heard approaching and a group of warriors entered the encampment. Calling the judge one spoke to him in private before raising his hand for silence. “Despite the gravity of the crimes committed by the accused and the just punishment that should be meted out to her we are willing to show mercy. Nerthus, daughter of Kraki, you may still win your freedom. Your challenge is to join Erik Blackwater and his band of murderous Thralls in an attack on the Tower of Bones in the Blackmarshes and with them slay the evil necromancer Nagoth. What is your response?”

Before she could answer the crowd murmured and the judge shook his head “Either way the sentence is death” he laughed.

Nerthus looked up and shouted “I ACCEPT!” With that she was unbound and handed over to the riders to be taken to meet her new comrades. One tried to assist her in mounting her horse and tried to run his hand over her left breast. Bending his fingers back until he screamed Nerthus looked him in the eye and whispered “You can look, BUT DON’T TOUCH!”

The leader looked at her and smiled “I pity Erik Blackwater; he’s going to have trouble with you.”

“Only if tries to bed me” Nerthus answered “No one will do that.” With that the party rode off to meet with the other Thralls.

Natia stopped. She heard the others around her and even heard one ask a question, but that didn't stop her from what was at hand and that was untying that damn knot. She was too frantic, too desperate, too close to freedom to do anything with her fingers, but get them in her freaking way. So she stopped and took three deep breaths holding them and letting them out slowly. Then she untied the knot and a feeling of deep satisfaction and thankfulness washed over here. She was complete.

Natia listened to this Erik man and her feelings of joy slowly seeped out of her. It wasn't the quest that disturbed her, but that this tattoo they put on her wrist would allow some man to watch over her; to see her whenever they wanted. That she didn't like. She stood slowly feeling more like herself as she strapped her sword onto her hip and place the powdered gun on her hip.

She glanced at the map and agreed with his assessment on where to go, though she would have loved to be on the open seas. She doubt they would be a hearty crew, so land it was. "So we save you or you die, but if we at least try to help you we'll be free of enslavement? And during this journey you could do whatever you want to us. Is that correct?" The other girls were very beautiful and Natia figured she would be one of the last to be approached. She buttoned up her jacket hiding her 'womanly' assets and looking more like a man with long hair ... at least from a distance she did.

Naida listened very carefully. It was a lot for someone to have to take in. She knew what a thrall was but hearing all of this... Well, she was the thrall to a man who was supposed to complete and incredibly dangerous mission or die. And if he died... they would die... Well, that gave her some incentive to keep him alive at least. She heard the other woman voice her thoughts, though they seemed to be in the form of a question more than anything else.

She blinked somewhat stupidly as the woman pointed out something that the shapeshifter had not thought of.

They were still his slaves.

He could do with them what he wished.

She had never been a slave before. And while it was not her first time with a man she had a feeling that if he were to come to her that... he would not have a hard time taking from her what he wanted and while she did have one form of self defense it might not work with him, he could probably beat her until she changed back.

Naida had never been beaten before.

She waited for his response to whether or not he could do with them whatever he pleased before figuring that she should probably ask an important question.

"I have never been a thrall before... I've never even been around thralls... Are there rules we are supposed to follow or are you more concerned with just getting to where we need to be and doing what you need to do?" She did not think it was unfair to ask.

Nerthus was escorted to the group who signed her over to Erik. The captain of the guard said “She’s been tattooed. Now she’s all yours!” He saw Nerthus pout teasingly back at him as he said “Good riddance!” Goading his horse to ride away he stopped, looked at Erik and said “Good luck; by the gods you will need it with her!”

Looking at Erik intently she said “No need to give me your rally cry to the troops, the Captain, or whatever he calls himself, has already filled me in.” Glancing round at the other women she said “Is this all we’ve got? I bet Nagoth will shit himself when he sees us coming”.

Before anyone could respond she continued “Now for some ground rules. First, I don’t know and I don’t care what arrangement you have with these ‘ladies’” she emphasised the word mockingly “but my bed is strictly off limits. Unless you want to sing soprano” Seeing the reaction from the other women she clarified “and before any of you worry I don’t fancy women either so your sweet innocence”, she laughed “is safe. I’m not ‘that way’. I just don’t have time to massage a man’s ego or feed his children. There’s more to life than that.”

Looking at Erik she finished “Now, I’m hungry. I don’t mind going hunting as long as one of these” she pointed at the other women “does the cooking.”

Naida was small, by far the smallest, and probably the strangest looking in her natural state. Orange eyes took in the newest of the females to be thrown onto Rockwater's plate. She was not impressed with this one who seemed to think so highly of herself as she laid out rules. She found the tiniest of smirks on her face, this one was going to be fun to watch, there was no way that she wasn't going to get herself into copious amounts of trouble. A dark hand found her way through her orange hair as she watched this one, she looked to see if the other two females were as unimpressed as she was with her attempt to be in charge.

She had a feeling that the pirate and the thrall were no longer innocent... and she knew she was not. But this woman, there was a good chance she was. Naida made a mental note of that.

The shapeshifter was not concerned with her lack of virginity.

In the end... it was probably better that she was not.

Naida had enough as the other woman pointed to her and the other two and called them 'these'. There was only so much a woman could ignore. "If you can get off your high horse long enough to address us properly with a please we might just think about it Jaelle. Last time I checked... We were his thralls... and so are you."

This woman seemed to have a temper. Naida stayed at ease but waited to either shift or call forth Faye.

Nerthus smiled at Nadia’s response and waved her hand down in a mocking gesture of respect “O please”, she said softly before emphasising the word “PLEEEEEESE! Please will you cook for us if I do the hard bit and catch our meal?”

As she spoke a large male wild boar came into view. Instinctively Nerthus pulled an arrow from her quiver, loaded it to her long bow, aimed, shot and instantly killed the creature with an arrow to the base of its head. “Lesson to all hunters” she said seeing she had an audience “Sadly we have to kill and eat some animals. It’s our responsibility to ensure any death we inflict is quick and painless.”

Riding up to the creature she engaged in a Saxon ritual peculiar to her tribe “My brother the boar. Thank you for giving your life to feed us. I pray the gods will grant you eternal youth in the next life.” With that she dismounted her horse, dipped her left index finger in the blood and smeared some onto her right cheek.
Looking at Nadia she smiled “After you have roast the beast you must give the first portion to our Master” she bowed at Erik “and don’t forget anything left uneaten must be left for the birds of the air to pick on. The skin we can turn into clothing and boots, the teeth can be sharpened into arrow heads. This creature gave his life for us. Nothing must be wasted.”

With those words she mounted her horse ready for whatever came next.

Erik watched the thralls talk, or rather, argue, with each other. Some of the questions directed at him he waited to answer once the spitfires had settled down."So we save you or you die, but if we at least try to help you we'll be free of enslavement? And during this journey you could do whatever you want to us. Is that correct?" "Yes that's the deal with the Saxon Quest aligned with the Price of Justice. And yes if I wanted to I could do whatever I wish, but I am not a young foolish warrior looking for a quick rump and a glorious victory. This quest is not just a punishment, it is a personal vendetta for myself." "I have never been a thrall before... I've never even been around thralls... Are there rules we are supposed to follow or are you more concerned with just getting to where we need to be and doing what you need to do?" "The only rules for a thrall is to obey his or her owner and not dishonour them in the eyes of the Saxons. I do not really care for these rules as I am more interested in getting my way to the tower and complete this quest."

He then turned towards Nerthus and just gave her a pointed stare, like a scolding father did to an unruly child. "Try not to agonize the others, we have to remain together for at least a month if we wish to complete this task. You should be glad we were lucky to get horses, almost everybody are given shoes to walk with. And you shouldn't worry about cooking, I have more then enough experience in the culinary arts." He then climbed up on his own horse and looked at the others, waiting for them to climb up on their own mounts, those who needed them at least.

The group went northwards towards the Blackfrost Woods, the thick furred horses handled the cold as if it was spring, their strong bodies carrying the travellers across the snow covered lands until the black trees with their white leaves came within sight, revealing the thin road moving towards the tall mountains behind their black trunks. Danger was afoot within these realms and it would take more the brute strength to get past the trials awaiting them.

Natia waited for her question to be answered. She mostly ignored the other thrall who seemed more like a spoiled bitch more than anything. Natia would not cook for her. After the girl got enough raw meat she'll either keel over or start cooking and she would dare Erik to beat her for not cooking that bitch's food. She watched the two go back and forth with a even stare that was slowly getting angry. The longer they bitched the longer she had to wait on her answers. Natia liked the midgetty one. She had fire and spunk and Natia was sure that had something to do with her small stature. She probably had to get in a few fights just to make up for her curvy, but diminutive size. More than one male probably tried to have her.

Finally they stopped and her questions were answered. Though it seemed he didn't want to get his dick wet just as much as they did not want to get penetrated. Good enough for her. Though in a month or two will tell the true story. Still she was happy with the events thus far and she swung onto the back of her horse. She looked down at Naida. "All respect. Do you need help getting onto your horse." Natia wasn't being mean or trying to pick on the girl, but was thinking with crew mentality. Help the weakness (or in this case shortest) one so that they could get a move on. At this moment Natia didn't have any reason to hate any of the girls except for the Ice Bitch, a nickname Natia was starting to call Nerthus , and would help them all during non-intense times.

The cold was becoming intense and Nerthus could feel it going to the centre of her being. She mulled over Erik’s words about horses. They were lucky to have them and she would ensure her horse would not suffer from either exhaustion or hypothermic attacks.

Without being commanded she took up a riding position at the rear to protect the party from unexpected attack from behind. When they reached a narrow canyon and had to dismount she walked behind watching, listening and observing while guiding her horse. She had mainly taught herself the art of stalking, observing and hunting and she knew even a slight change in the direction of the wind could mean someone or something was approaching.

Arriving in the Blackfrost Hills just before sunset it was obvious the group would need somewhere to sleep until night had passed. Nerthus felt uneasy, there was an eerie silence softened by the snow on the ground yet she felt there were eyes everywhere watching, waiting, and reporting their every move.

Back on her horse she sensed there was something in the tree in front about to pounce on Natia. It resembled a human bat with long talon like claws protruding from its toes and a large complicated mouth that very likely had poison fangs in its upper jaw. Nerthus had no time to draw an arrow; instead she drew her short sword aimed and threw it directly into the creature’s back. The creature cried, rocked and then fell out of the tree into the snow where after a short convulsion it died.

The party immediately came to a halt and Nerthus approached the corpse and retrieved her sword. Looking round at her colleagues she asked “What in the name of all the gods is or WAS that?”

The other woman saying please forced a smirk and a roll of Naida's eyes. She stared at the killed boar and watched as the other woman had just hopped up on her horse at that point. Naida could see that everyone was just going to start moving along so there was really nothing she could do with this boar. She looked at the man and wondered what she should do but decided that since the Jaelle had killed the beast she should be the one to deal with it.

The woman that had been the thrall, offered to help Naida onto her horse.

She knew that she must seem like the weakest but that was mostly due to her short size. The red haired shifter smiled before shifting to someone much taller who had no trouble climbing onto the horse. It was a tall beautiful light haired woman with blue eyes but just as quickly she shifted back to the diminutive size she had been moments before.

"I appreciate the offer, but I am fine," she hoped that the other woman would see her as being a little more self sufficient now and not take her actions as rude or above the offered help.

"Thank you once again," she said before settling herself on the seat of the horse, it must have been quite the site to see someone so small on a horse like that. For a moment she thought about calling forth Faye but decided it would be best to let her friend rest for now.

There seemed to be some commotion as they continued on with their journey. The loud one seemed to be very good at killing, but seemed to draw a lot of attention as well.

"Are we going to use all of... him as well?" She asked.

"Vampire Spawn." Erik cursed as he saw the winged beast, it was a sort of undead creature who is created by other undeads called Vampires, self aware undeads of dead bodies with no rot or decay, just cold and dead. "Keep eyes and ears open, these things attacks from anywhere there's no light." and with the sun slowly goign down was it clear that it was the time of the hunters.

The first signal was only a slight screech before a swarm of bat like creatures swarmed out of hollow trees towards the group. Erik grasped his axe and raised it, shouting out the name of Odin and then with a flash of blue light his axe was swung and the inborn frost magic of his giant heritage let out a wave of icy wind which froze half of the swarming vampires, leaving them to fall and shatter.

But the swarm was not swayed by the show of force by the Saxon half-giant and assaulted the groups, going first for the mounts to throw off the riders. But Saxon horses are used to the sound and sights of battle and their own fighting spirits are well known, thus they fight back against the flying menace while keeping their riders in their saddles. As the swarm attacked them came an opportunist out of the darkness out of sight of the others. Long black tendrils reached out of the shadows and swiftly snatched up one of the women, warping its slimy appendages around her mouth to muffle her sound before disappearing towards the mountain with its catch without the others noticing as they fought off the swarm of vampires.

Erik cut apart one of the flying vermin before grabbing one attempting to bite his neck from behind and crushed its neck. The battle was bloody and rough but none of the months or the girls were damages outside of a few small scratches it seemed.

Belirith had been quiet upon her horse while the other thralls asked their questions and quarrels with each other. She wouldn't understand how that girl could be so bossy... anyone could say she was the master! Anyways, she wasn't going to tell her anything, as the little one had done, as she thought it would be going too far. She wouldn't want to annoy Erik, as he seemed quite focused in the task in hand, and not bothered at all in the behaviour of the girls. So, she tried to do her best. This was a fight for liberty.

Finally they got going. After some time, they found themselves surrounded by the first monsters they were to find in their way. Belerith started fighting them as she could with her stick and some physical power she didn't know she had.

But suddely she couldn't. Before she could notice, she was wrapped in long black tendrils. They also covered her mouth so she couldn't ask for herlp. She tried hard to get free, even tried to bite the thing, although it was so disgusting. But nothing worked.

Finally, the effort she was making and the thing's squeez made her lose consciousness. The last thing she could think about was she was letting her master down.

"I'll be back, my Lord", she thought as her mind got to sleep.

Any differences Nerthus might have had with the other women or them with her were put aside as they joined forces to battle against their common enemy. Nerthus was amazed to see the power of Erik’s sword and yelled in triumph as she saw many of the attackers shatter into fragments on the ground.

One of the creatures attacked her horse and she moved swiftly with her sword to decapitate it. Another landed on her head and she pulled it off before it could begin to bite into her. Seeing some of the attackers who had escaped Erik’s sword regroup she noticed one was leading and guiding the others. Aiming her arrow straight for its breast she saw it explode. But it was a wasted effort because another immediately assumed command. The other women were also putting up a brave resistance and Nerthus was glad to be part of such a strong team of fighters.

She heard a rustle and a struggle and turning she observed Belrith being lifted from her mount by a huge creature that flew away with her. For one moment Nerthus aimed an arrow at the creature’s heart but then realised if she killed it in mid-flight Belrith would plunge to her death. Cursing out loud she vented her anger on two other attackers who flew passed her withdrawing from attack.

The creatures vanished almost as quickly as they appeared leaving the remaining women and Erik. It seemed they had got what they wanted by snatching one of their number. Riding up to Erik Nerthus asked “What happens to her?”

Natia was shocked when the girl went from being small to a different person altogether. "By the gods. A witch." Natia didn't mean any offense by it. Her smile was meant to be a deterrent and Natia was fascinated more than worried. Hell, she was supposedly worse than a witch being a pirate. Natia just nodded at Nadia as she gave her thanks and they rode on.

Natia was lost in her own thoughts thinking of the seas and the gentle rocking of the sea that was like a mother's caress. Suddenly, there was a sound of an arrow and Natia already had her sword out not sure what was going on. She heard the Ice Bitch's words and groaned. That was only the beginning. Hearing Erik Natia wasn't sure what those creatures were. She only had to deal with water mammals not these... these ... monstrosity.

Natia was engaged in battle fighting off the horde, but she caught sight of the Ice Bitch and she turned to see what had made her hesitate. It took whatever that Thralls name was, but it was one of them. It seemed shortly thereafter the battle was over. Apparently, it wanted one of them. Natia was ready to go after them and was already looking at the path on the mountains to get to her.

"We'll need to take that path, but we'll need to climb the rest of the way up. Which means leaving our horses and going on foot." Natia never once thought they weren't going to get her back. She was a part of the crew.

Naida - Shapeshifting Gypsy

Naida was silent for most of the ride. She gasped however when she saw the sky overtaken with beasts similar to the one that Nerthus had taken out; the noise of leather flapping in the wind seemed deafening. Naida managed to get her staff out and got a few good hits and shots in before the crisis seemed averted. Until she became aware of the thralls absence. She looked around to see if everyone else was there and apparently they were.

The pirate was right.

They needed to get her.

Naida knew that it must have seemed crazy, he had three other thralls that would be fine to get him through this journey but Naida came from a large group that treated one and all as family and while these people were not familiar to her, for now... they were her family.

You didn't leave family behind.

"We are following her yes?"

Nerthus nodded her agreement. She might have spent most of her short life as a loan warrior and she might not be on the best possible terms with her colleagues but she acknowledged what both Natia and Naida had expressed; they needed each other.

Dismounting her horse she said a little ritualistic prayer before saying to it “Thank you for all you have done. If we don’t meet again I pray the gods find you a loyal and kind master”. Removing her quiver and bow and slinging them over her right shoulder she fastened her sword into its scabbard on the right side of her belt.

When she travelled alone Nerthus was always prepared for an attack from the rear and instinctively she went behind the last warrior constantly walking backwards and turning her head. Always prepared for battle she was alert and ready for anything.

Like the rest of the women Nerthus knew that without the direction and leadership of Erik there would be no hope of rescuing Belirith or successfully completing their task.

Meanwhile, Belirith was slowly recovering from her blackout. At first she felt so dizzy that she could barely open her eyes, worried that she would fall from whatever position she was, as she couldn´t find out at first because of her state. After a while she realized she was hang upside down and she understood why she was feeling so strange. She didn´t know for how long she had been hung there, but it had probably been for a while and a lot of blood must have been flowing in her head.

After a while she finally got a clear image of everything. Trying not to move a lot, she saw a nd remembered the beast that had seized her. Two of its tentacles were keeping her hung that way, one seizing her arms and chest and another seizing her legs. She turned her head around, her only body part that was allowed free movement, to get an idea of the place where she was held captive.

She was into a quite deep cave, probably in a small hill near where they had been attacked. Frlm where she was, she could see a small light entrance. The monster being quite big, it mean the entrance to the cave was quite far from her. However, she could distinctly hear the sounds of the forest, so it shouldn´t be that far. She guessed she would need about half a minite to run fro where she was tiill that entrance. But she would need to get free first.

She kept on checking the place. She thougth she could see two small red eyes, halfway to the entrance, but when she tryed to check them out, they were gone. She guessed it would have been a bat or a rat, although the position and measure of the eyes were more like a big dog like. It could have been a mistake due to the little light, so she didn´t give it any other thought.

Finally she concentrated on the beast. Due to the poor light at the cave, she could only imagine how it really was, but the ideas she got were enough to let her know she would need to be quiet and fast, as force wouldn´t be enough with that black filthy monster. If only her gang had come to help her... She wondered for a while what would have come of them. She was sure they would have got rid of the little flying things that had attacked them in the end. Then, they would either have follow their way or have gone after her. She hoped it was the last, as she hope to have some backup in case the thing woke up. It had too many tentacles for her to handle and giving the fact it was holding her so tight, it had the stregth enogh to break all her bones in seconds.

But her knowledge of forest beasts told her that it was probably not what the monster had in mind. They usually killed and ate bigger animals, such as horses or bears, as they had more meat and fat. Those kinds of monsters were only interested in slim little female people for one thing: reproduction. And Belirith was determined not to be impregnated by such a thing.

So she needed to come up with an escape plan. And fast.


(As I wrote this from my phone, I´ ll check grammar and puntuation later from my computer)

Frowning Erik got off his mount and checked the ground for any clues of the disappeared thrall, with the last of the vampire spawns dead he could see the tentacles of slime in the snow, frozen but still clear to be seen. "Hmmm there was an eldritch monster lying in wait. It went to the west, we better get moving or she will have been impregnated, given birth and then eaten. These creatures have a fast way of breeding and hunting."

The four riders followed the trail of slime and bent trees, hoping to reach the captured woman before she ended up as mosnter fed.

-

Meanwhile were the tentacles slithering over the woman's body, pushing beneath her clothes and caressing her smooth skin, the aphrodisiac acting slime exciting her body even against her will. The first tentacles were all long, thing and slimy, like earthworms, but with great strength. Then four larger limbs reached down and grasped her thighs and arms and spread them apart. Four long slimy cock headed tentacles grew out of the mass of slimy appendages, two reached out and slithered beneath her loin covering cloth and began to rub against her moist pussy and tight rosebud, lubricating the entrances by spurting slime into her holes, while the other two reached for her lips and forcefully pushed down her gullet and began to pump nutrient rich fluids into her belly.

Then the two appendages at her loins pushed inside her tender holes and pumped into her holes, instantly pumping semen into her loins, and as they kept pumping inside her, the smaller tentacles begins to caress her breasts, slowly crawling inside her nipples and injecting lactation fluids which causes her bosom to expand as milk is forcefully produced by her mammaries. Her belly is swelling up as the properties of the slimes pushed down her every orifice works together to speed up the pregnancy cycle, she was at two months now and steadily getting to the third as the tentacles kept ravaging her body, pumping various fluids inside her.

The impregnation came by surprise, and Belirith found herself strongly tied up and filled by the monster.

Terrifyed, she saw how her body responded to the monster's doings and found herself eagerly wanting to die, before giving birth to another of those filthy creatures. For the speed of her growing belly she knew it would be over soon, and wondered whether she would still be alive when the monster and the newborn started feeding on her. Being used that way was so horrible, but she guessed it would be worse to be eaten alive.

Suddenly, she saw a white furry thing in the distance. Because of the exhaustion of what she was going through, she wasn't able to see it clearly but it seemed like a wolf. In a few seconds she heard a growl, then the monster cry and she fell to the floor. Her sight blurred because of the hit but she thought she saw the white animal fighting the black creature. She heard noises, yells, knocks and blows... She was now free, but she could barely move, being tired from the previous moments. Besides, she was heavier, the little monster growing inside her. Anyway, she tried crawling towards the light, desperately trying to get out of the cave.

She was getting closer when she felt the blow. She looked back and saw the white furry figure lying on the floor, and immediately black tentacles granned her legs pulling her inside again.

"Nooooo!", she yelled trying to fight it, sinking her nails on the ground, desperately hoping to beat the monster's strength.

But everything was in vain. Some seconds later, the monster was growing its offspring inside her again.