DAYS UNTIL WAVE: 52
Tyler opened his eyes to see that at some point, he'd cradled Lily's small form against him like a teddy bear. He smiled fondly as he saw this. She may sometimes make me nervous with that fire, but I do love her a lot. She's a helluva a little sister. He looked over his shoulder to see Kaori was still asleep, and kissed her awake. The blonde beauty smiled as she opened her green eyes.
"Good morning my love."
"Good morning, my lover."
She smiled wider and looked over his shoulder to see him cradling the small elf.
"She looks so cute like that."
"That she does. I love this cute little wildcat."
"I love my future husband too."
She opened her red eyes to smile at him.
"Plus he is great to snuggle."
The trio smiled as they rose silently to begin the day, passing Wulf and Ashy as they lay tangled again. Ashy topless as well, and Tyler smirked as they went out the flap.
"It mean I had an idea?"
Kaori looked at him.
"What was the idea?"
"Drip a little cold water on her nipples as she slept."
Lily and Kaori laughed quietly as they got the fire going and the food laid out.
"It'd be funny to hear her reaction, but it is a little mean."
"Do it to Malico."
They both looked at Lily as she smiled evilly,
"Wow, Lily, evil. I love it."
She sniggered as the fire was relit and the coffee set to brew. Tyler sat by the rock and opened the map up again, as Lily plopped herself down in his lap to watch him work. Tyler looked at the stretch of green and grey along the route, indicating a forest and rocky area. Tyler sipped his coffee as he saw the lines for topography showed a bit of a descent. Lily saw it too.
"Kaori sets our pace?"
"She knows best."
Lily rubbed her arm.
"How's it feel this morning?"
She smiled.
"A little stiff, but fine over all. More like I did a lot of hammering of iron yesterday. If possible, I can't use this arm today, or I risk the muscle."
"Sure. Most we need to worry about are a few bandits. You, Sera and Lillia get your breathing time, as you all earned it from yesterday. Gives the rest of us a chance to play."
Lily rested her black haired head against his chest as Wulf came out for his morning rite. Ashy came out still topless and sat next to the fire as she looked at the map.
"How's it looking?"
"A little pale. Should tan more."
She smiled as lily looked her rack over.
"eh, Kaori's are better. Least they don't sag."
Ashy blinked, and her expression became more strained as Tyler became very interested in the map all of a sudden.
"Well, Lily, not all of us are as well endowed as Kaori are."
Lily looked at her own meager chest.
"That's true. Momma said I'll be as big as her, but I worry."
Tyler hugged the smaller girl.
"Whatever you get will look great on you Lily."
She smiled as she leaned over to give a stunned Ashy a morning breast exam.
"Wow, firmer an I thought. Kaori's got her beat though, hers are like really hard pillows."
"Awww, thanks Lily!"
Kaori was laughing as Tyler just stayed the fuck out of the two girls chat, as Lily continued groping Ashy as Wulf took a seat across from them. OUT of smacking range.
"Road look good?"
Tyler tapped the spot it went downhill.
"Kaori sets our pace here."
"Agreed. I've heard tales of idiots that didn't see or know of the slight dip, and either got thrown, got their horse killed, themselves killed or some combo of the former."
Lily was still playing with a now just taking it Ashy as Tyler tilted his head.
"We're a good halfway to our goal. Today, Lily, Sera and Lillia get a light day. Lily's arm is stiff and their fingers are most likely stiff too."
Wulf nodded.
"I agree. It is downright dangerous to push them that hard every day. Stronger though they may be."
"Plus, at this point I'm happy with their skills. All that's really left are different situations and handicaps to test themselves with."
Ashy was now starting to moan a little under Lily's hands, as Lily herself was smiling as well. Kaori came over and took a seat next to Tyler, amused at the sight of Lily getting her boob on.
"Okay, so are we still hunting bandits?"
HE nodded.
"they're easy. Plus fun too. We'll take them though."
Lily got up and sat in Ashy's lap now to get fully into her rack as Kaori stole her seat, and Tyler wrapped her in his arms.
"So, we have our plan."
He kissed Kaori on her neck, getting a shiver as Sera came out yawning and rubbing her eyes.
"Morning everyone."
She sat by Tyler, not even looking twice at Lily now full on suckling on Ashy's nipples. Wulf chuckled at the sight.
"I see she's getting to that age."
"I thought she had another hundred years?"
Wulf just smiled.
"For puberty. Her instincts and lust? That hits sooner for elven children."
"Damn. Well, there goes me spear."
That got a laugh as Lily got up to full-blown kiss Ashy on the mouth, as Wulf was heard commenting.
"Have fun you two. Just be careful to not go TOO overboard."
That got him a thumbs up from both girls as ashy was now on top of Lily giving her some good tongue. Tyler shrugged and let the girls play as he looked to his HUD for stats. He smiled as he saw he had another 125 to throw. So, he added 25 to strength, agility, a full 50 to his Physical defense, and the last 25 to magic. Bringing his totals to strength 450, agility to 425, and physical defense 455 with magic at 350. He smiled as he saw he had a new title. Curious, he looked at it.
"Hey, I got a new Title."
Kaori looked at it.
"Wandering Hero?"
Wulf chuckled as the two girls moaning increased.
"Wandering Hero gets awarded for traveling to at least three different places a good hundred miles apart and leaving a hero. In other words, a title exclusively for heroes."
Sera giggled as Ashy had her morning orgasm off an overly eager Lily.
"I keep telling you he is a hero! MY hero!"
Tyler smiled as he patted her hair.
"Just for you, Sera."
They looked over the map a bit more as Lily got her own orgasm off Ashy as the rest of the party came out for breakfast. Once the two girls were satisfied, food eaten and camp torn down, they saddled up and rode out. Tyler smiled at Ashy's flushed face.
"Have fun?"
She licked her lips.
"Oh, I LOVE me an elf!"
Tyler laughed as Wulf and Lily looked at each other.
"Yeah, Ashy had a hard fetish for elves in our world."
Kaori was heard sniggering.
"And HE had a hard fetish for goths."
"And NOW we got two!"
Serafina and Vixen looked at each other and smirked.
"I can do that."
"I WANT to do that."
"Nifty. A threeway with a wraith and a black mage."
They all laughed as the party neared the dip. Kaori setting the pace to a light canter as they moved. They were in good spirits and even better company as they rode along. Tyler in the lead with his perception with Sallie sitting in her spirit form and her green hair blown out behind her as they went. Sylvia was riding with Vixen and was loving it. Tyler smiled as he had a thought.
"hey, I just realized something."
Kaori looked at him from her spot.
"This oughta be good."
"we don't even have a deck of cards for camp."
They all blinked at that one. Then Wulf was heard chuckling.
"The things that mind comes up with when left to wander."
Tyler smiled.
"We'll get one. I'll look over that scroll minus gave us again, as I wonder if games from our world are banned."
Kaori tilted her head.
"Strip poker?"
"Yes, but I was thinking more like boardgames like monopoly or life or the like."
Kaori smiled.
"I wonder if they have chess here?"
"If not, the pieces and rules are simple enough to teach and make. Plus it'd give us something to do when resting in camp."
That got a smile from the crew. Lily was heard then.
"I wanna play a few 'games' with him."
"well, there goes my peaceful slumber."
Sallie giggled.
"If you come visit us, and she does things to you, it'll work for her and you'll still be well rested!"
Tyler and kaori looked at each other a little concerned.
"Okay. Let's NOT tell her that one."
"yeah, just gonna pretend to NOT know that."
Sallie giggled again as they went by a small field of barley. Tyler smiled as he saw the grain.
"hey, Sera, Lillia, how you feel today?"
The two girls flexed their hands.
"A little stiff, and my sword arm is sore."
"Same. I can barely hold my sword."
"You and Lily got a rest day. Anymore and we risk the tendon."
They nodded as they passed into a small canyon. Tyler smiled.
"Let's see if any idiots are about today."
That got a laugh as they slowed down and relaxed. Tyler had out a set of gold coins and was counting them as they went, as kaori brushed her golden ponytail. Tyler happened to notice something.
"That thing's looking kinda ragged, isn't it?"
She smiled sadly.
"Yeah. It's missing bristles and it cracked. I don't wanna replace it since you bought for me and all."
"We'll see if it can be repaired in town."
She smiled at that.
"Thanks. It's a kinda memento of our journey."
"Hey, I get it."
he smiled as he noted shadows along the top of the canyon and flipped a gold coin and placed it in a bait pouch on his belt as a spear this time slammed into his chest and bounced off. He blinked and looked around as if confused as a group of men with drawn bows behind a shield wall aimed at them with a similar formation behind them. Tyler looked at the groups.
"Wow. Kinda smart really."
A man in plate mail came forward.
"Alright kids. Money, women, and that elven girl. Hand em over."
Tyler smiled.
"Water wall."
the wall of water rose 40 feet high behind the line of men at the back of the party. Blocking them in as the men fired their arrows, only for them to get hit with a fire spell from Kaori.
"Hellfire Kiss!"
Tyler had reached the bandits by then and had drawn Oblivion and Oathkeeper as the canyon was too small for his bastard swords. He dove into the first of the men, and used his flame breath.
"Crystal dragon roar!"
He set a group alit with Glacious' flames as Kaori took three with her katana. Behind them, Lucy and Thistle were getting their blood on as the two axe ladies smashed through man and armor alike. Wulf was firing arrows with Ashy at would be snipers on the canyon tops, and every now and then one would get hit and fall into the canyon. The bandits were ripped apart with the last survivor being the man in plate armor. Tyler came over smiling as his crew got to looting as he looked the man in the eye.
"Your camp?"
The man was shaking.
"Outcast."
"That makes it easier."
The terrified man passed him the map.
"No chant."
"Number of men?"
"60."
"Mages?"
"10."
"Colors?"
"Blue, black, a white, and a red."
"Nice rainbow there. Leader have a bounty?"
"Most likely. I know not for certain."
"Nice to NOT have to torture for once. Weirdly boring though. Not sure why."
HE knocked him out and searched him before dumping him in a ditch.
"results?"
"10 gold, 32 silver."
"Licenses?"
"A few. Them too. Malico got em."
"Alright. Wulf, have a look."
Tyler and the ranger looked at the map location. The ranger frowned.
"Should be fun this one. They're set into a small alcove like the one we camped in."
"We'll need Vixen to deal with the blacks, Me to keep that white from screwing with us, let's see. Who else?"
He looked at his team.
"We'll take Serafina, Lucy, Ashy and Kaori. Plus Wulf and Vixen."
The named crew nodded and looked to weapons as Wulf led them to the spot on the map. It was a rather short ride down the road to the left of the canyon wall. They had found an alcove-like cave in the side of a red sandstone rock face a decent three hundred feet tall. Tyler smiled as they dismounted and drew blades. The group walked silently across the rocky terrain that reminded Tyler of an Arizona desert. They spotted the camp and smiled.
"Wanna just kick the door in?"
The raiders smiled as well.
"Aye, laddee."
"Sure."
They went fast and quiet then. Tyler with Gliepnir and Fafnir out and two the sides as he raced forward. The camp had a front gate, but Tyler just smiled as he used a blue spell.
"Water blade."
It coated the dual blades in a layer of blue water that increased their cutting power. He then spun a sideways flip and as he landed he smashed the gate with a loud bang. The camp was caught completely by surprise by the brazen assault. Tyler pounced on a group of ten men as they fumbled for swords and staves as he cut them to pieces. Lucy swung her new Magicite axe that flared with her twin paths of grey brown, and any the 7 foot tall barbarian hit with it came apart at the seams. Wulf and Ashy were working in tandem, as Wulf could handle a sword, he'd charge a group as Ashy fired arrows around him. The combo attacks working neatly. Vixen was having fun throwing acid at people, along with a new black called Wave of Pain. A wave of acid like Tyler's Waterfall spell, only corrosive. Serafina was also active in her own quiet way. The Wraith would sneak around and leave a man dead with a stabbed kidney or a punctured jugular. Kaori was dancing amid a group of men with her slim katana slicing people clean in half. The friends made short work of the group as a burly man in fur armor came out with a neon green greatsword 7 feet long. Tyler smiled as he charged him, the man lowered the tip of his blade to impale the boy through the stomach, only for Tyler to pivot on a foot and cleave the man's head from his shoulders. The man fell and that was that for the battle.
"How we doing?"
Lucy was wiping gore off her axe.
"Was fun to kick the door in as ya say laddee."
"I'm good."
"Been a while since we played rush."
"What he said."
"I too am fine."
"That was fun."
They got to looting the camp as Tyler looked for a bounty.
"Okay. Clark. Wanted dead. Reward is 250 gold. Eh. Good enough I guess."
Tyler looked at the green sword and smiled.
"That blade is worth more an he is. Hey, Wulf."
The ranger looked up from his current corpse as Tyler lifted the blade.
"Find something?"
"Wondering if this can be reworked into something smaller for Malico."
He smiled.
"With that much material, maybe a few things."
"Nifty. I'll see about some more green path gear for her."
The party walked away with 35 gold, 45 silver and 58 copper, a few banneds, a new white offense spell called White Fire. Basically a fire spell that had an extreme effect on undead. A new blue called water walk that allowed the caster to walk on water, which Tyler thought kinda nifty. As they left the camp he had a thought.
"hey, I was wondering something."
Wulf looked at him as they went.
"This should be good. What is it?"
"Do they have water breathing spells?"
Wulf smiled.
"They do. Only there are exceedingly rare. I've heard it said that only the Merfolk are allowed to sell such a spell. For not only does it allow the breathing of water like a fish, but it also allows better swimming like one as well. What brought that one up?"
"Just thinking of my paths and what direction I want to take em. What path is ice magic?"
"Believe it or not, ice is a mix between white and blue. The color itself is a shade of blue. I think called Azur?"
"Huh. So, as I understand it, if it's a blue shade it won't fight me?"
"No. It will be as easy for you as say water wall."
"neat. I'll add some ice spells to me arsenal."
Kaori tilted her head.
"You thinking of ice walls and spikes?"
"Yeah. More or less. Plus having a few ice spells can be useful in certain situations. Like say one of us gets hit with heat stroke, we get hot in the tent, or want a cold drink."
Kaori and his friends all laughed.
"I see the appeal."
Wulf held his chin as he thought.
"I think you should talk to an ice mage about eating it. I'm not entirely sure of the safety of it."
"Sure. I'm more spitballing right now."
Lucy the barbarian looked up at the unfamiliar term.
"What be spitballing?"
"Throwing a bunch of ideas at the wall and seeing what sticks."
"ah. I see."
Kaori had a thought herself.
"I'm a pure red path. It's directly across from blue, yet shares colors with white and yellow. I wonder if it's worth adding some lightning spells?"
Tyler thought about it.
"I'd hold off until we get a better understanding of how magical lightning works. Last thing we need is you casting a bolt and it gets attracted to someone else's weapon instead"
The group nodded as they returned to the group. As they did, they found them all on their horses looking at something further down the road. Tyler and the party walked over.
"See something interesting?"
Malico pointed down the road.
"There's a person walking along the road alone in a rather unsettling manner. Look."
They did and There was indeed a person walking along the road alone. Tyler tilted his head as he saw the thing's shuffling gait.
"A Broken? Vixen."
She used her far sight and nodded.
"Yup. We've found a Broken One alright."
Tyler and his party mounted up then. They didn't approach the creature as Tyler used his own far sight. The person was a man with rotting flesh, white sightless eyes, ragged clothing, a slack jaw, black skin, and more or less dragged it's feet along the road. Tyler blinked as he looked to Vixen. The black mage had a pitying expression on her face.
"So we just smash it's head right?"
She nodded sadly.
"Indeed. Or use one of your white undead spells."
"So that's what a Broken One looks like? Well, let's put the poor bastard down."
She nodded as he fitted an arrow with his Holy Smite spell bound to it and fired at it. It hit the Broken in the chest and it screamed with such relief as it burst into white flames as it's ruined soul was both purified by his white magic and freed by it as well. It then vanished as it's body was consumed and the arrow fell to earth with a faint clack. The party rode to the spot and a flower was seen with the arrow resting on it. Tyler retrieved the shaft and sighed.
"Poor bastards."
They rode on as the scent of salt water started to fill their noses.
"We're about a few hours out, right?"
Wulf sniffed the breeze.
"I'd say maybe three. Soon as you sniff saltwater, you're nearly there."
Tyler smiled as they looked to Kaori.
"Is the pace good?"
They were still going downhill at a steady rate, and the road was wide. The blonde beauty sighed.
"We can't risk any faster. We do we'll risk killing the horses."
"Why we have you here, kaori."
She smiled as they went along. As they went, Tyler spotted a small fox-like creature in the woods next to them.
"Hey, the hell is that thing?"
Wulf looked over as the thing bounded alongside the group like a squirrel. It had large fox ears, raccoon like fur, and a small frame. The ranger smiled.
"That's a Foxling. Small creatures hunted for their furs. I've heard it said that their fur is so soft it's like down."
Tyler looked at the thing curiously.
"Well, it's definitely following us. So, I'd say not a normal foxling."
Wulf watched it now as well.
"I see what you mean. No normal creature follows humans and elves on horses like that."
"Wanna see if it's a spirit?"
"Ask the girls."
Tyler looked to Sallie in front of him.
"Friend of yours?"
The green haired girl giggled.
"It's a Fox Spirit! She says she's curious about you!"
"In what way?"
"Teehee. She and Seline are good friends, so both!"
Tyler smiled as he looked at Kaori, the blonde snorted.
"Oh go play with her. We can use the chance to rest the horses."
"Love you too."
The party laughed as they rode to a small hollow out of sight of the road for a breather. Tyler climbed down as the foxling came and looked at him with head tilted, as if to say, who the hell are who? Tyler chuckled as he crouched in front of the tiny thing, it being maybe two feet long.
"So, Sallie here say's you're a fox spirit."
The thing dipped it's muzzled head in a nod.
"You got a human form?"
Nod.
"Ooookay. Can you take it please? Kinda odd talking to a fox."
"You talk to me."
"You a hot Vixen. But you speak!"
That got a laugh from the mage, and a small gasping snort from the foxling. Then it glowed as the girls did when taking human form. It rose to Tyler's height and blinked leaving a tall lady with a set of five very thick red fox tails flowing behind her. She was a beautiful lady, white skin, bright yellow eyes with a most lively, excitable light within them, a pair of four inch tall red fox ears on her head, a massive flopping rack, and long legs atop delicate bare feet. She even had a pair of adorable fox whiskers by her small nose above her full lips. She was clad in a gown of pale red, and it ended at her ankles. Tyler tilted his head.
"Wow. Another hot fox. Nice to meetcha, I'm Tyler, Miss?"
She smiled, revealing white teeth.
"Vulpix."
Vixen gasped.
"The Lady of Foxes herself? It is an honor!"
Tyler looked at the fox spirit.
"Are you like a goddess of foxes?"
She nodded as her tails flicked and twitched behind her.
"Indeed mortal."
Her voice was both high, sweetly kind and oddly relaxing. Like a violinist that knew how to play. Tyler rubbed his head.
"So, can I help you?"
She smiled as she held out her arms to him.
"Lay with me."
"Oh. Okay."
Vixen laughed.
"Vulpix will ruin women for you."
"Oh, its on."
The lady laughed and took his arm to lead him to a more private spot as Kaori looked at Vixen.
"She's that good eh?"
The black mage rubbed her chest.
"My mother laid with her once. Said she was the best woman she'd ever had."
Kaori smiled as she looked to the spot they'd vanished.
"Well. He'll have fun then."
Tyler and the fox lady walked to a spot with a bed of thick grass. He smiled as he saw her wave her arm and render them both naked except for Sylvia's locket. She held out her arms as he walked over and let her embrace him with arm, leg and tails. HE laid her on her back as he kissed the fox deity, finding her taste of warmth and heat. HE slid inside her and moaned hard at the feeling of her warmth and tightness. She moaned as well as they moved together in thrusts and bucks. Her rack flopping as her sounds and squeaks drove him wild. Her flesh was warm, tight, and caressed him in a way he had never experienced. He loved Kaori and her sex, but this lady just wasn't fair. She screamed in joy as they blew at the same time. Then she was on the ground with her five tails in air with her now inviting rear presented.
"More please."
her way of speaking was cute as well, as she only said the bare minimum to make her point. He fitted himself into her from behind as he stroked her soft fox fur, eliciting a sexy giggle from the lady as he filled her again. She kissed him as she herself exploded from pleasure, and sighed.
"Still more."
"I got plenty for you."
"Happy."
He filled her three more times before she sighed and laid in the grass on her back.
"Full."
He laid beside her and she rolled to look at him.
"Again?"
"Sure."
She smiled happily as he kissed her softly. She stroked his face with her tail.
"Like me?"
"Loved you. I want more of you."
She smiled happily as she giggled like a small girl.
"It's full."
"Rear?"
She blinked and looked over her back as if to see what he meant. She had a look of cute wide eyed confusion on her face.
"Rear?"
"Can I show you?"
"Curious."
She sat up as he poked her little button on her butt. She squeaked.
"There?"
"Yup. It'll feel good!"
"My first there."
"Try it."
She smiled and nodded.
"Be kind."
"Of course."
She let him settle down as she felt it press against her never before pierced rear. Him holding her as she felt it enter her. She gasped at the new feeling.
"Like it already."
He smiled as he lifted himself up onto his knees to fill her backdoor fully. She was breathing hard at this new sensation. Her stomach heaving as he kissed her on the neck, raising goosebumps.
"Ready?"
She smiled.
"Yes."
He pulled back and moved it back in, as she clenched her fists at the new sensations flooding her mind and body as this most sensual mortal filled her yet again. She herself blew again as he kept going against her.
"More."
"Still plenty."
"Love you."
"Love you too."
She sighed as he laid her back on her hands and knees to keep piercing her. He filled her two more times before she fell forward again.
"Too full."
He smiled as she rolled onto her back and looked at him with large yellow eyes of awe.
"Still more?"
She seemed a little nervous at the still ready sword pointed at her. He smiled at her.
"Are you done?"
She nodded as she looked at him.
"More and it hurt."
HE leaned in and kissed her softly.
"Full then."
She sighed with relief as she felt her body's new aches.
"Sad not done."
HE just kissed her and placed her hand on his rod.
"Back and forth."
She blinked, but did as was requested, and she had him shooting his last shot onto her slit. She was wide eyed at this surprise as he finally went soft in her hand. He then leaned in to kiss her more.
"Done."
She giggled and wrapped her tails and arms around him.
"Favorite mortal."
"Kaori's my favorite lover, but close third."
She smiled as she understood his heart. She was panting hard with a bright red flush on her cheeks as they kissed passionately on the grass as they recovered from their sex. Then she giggled.
"clean."
"Probably a good idea."
She laughed again as she showed him to a small hotspring that was big enough for two. He climbed in and she straddled him to kiss him more as he stroked her soft tails, making her giggle as they kissed.
"Best tail?"
"Oh hells yeah."
"Happy."
He smiled as she laid her face into his chest.
"Come back?"
"Sooner or later."
"Again?"
"Oh hells yeah."
She flicked her tails in joy.
"Eager."
"Me too."
She looked to the small spirits applauding a show.
"Cute."
Tyler smiled as he looked at them.
"Very."
Vulpix looked at the locket then to the girls.
"Muse?"
He nodded and popped it open to show her the photo. She became very sad then.
"Poor girls."
"Eh, they won in the end. We're together right?"
That got a laughing giggle as they came over to get a hug off him and pet the fox spirit's tails, making her giggle.
"Very sweet."
"I love em."
She smiled at his multi-layered response.
"Boon."
"Okay?"
She looked at the small girls, and their outfits became lined with sift fox fur. They both gasped and hugged their new clothes.
"It's so soft!"
"I love it! Thank you so much!"
The fox lady smiled as she hugged them, only to get nearly throttled by their hug death. Tyler laughed at the sight of her rubbing her neck a little nervously.
"They mean no harm. Best damned hugs you'll ever get though."
She smiled then.
"Love them."
"Indeed we all do."
Sallie and Sylvia were lost in their new soft gowns and the soft tails of Vulpix. Then she lifted her tails to flick them with them. Getting a loud laugh as they then started trying to grab her tail tip. Tyler just laughed.
"I STILL miss my camera. That level of cuteness is just not fair."
Vulpix was smiling as she looked at him.
"Tails for them?"
Sallie and Sylvia froze and looked at her in awe as Tyler tilted his head.
"Ability or?"
"Ability. Fox Mimic."
Sylvia looked to Tyler gaping.
"It'll let us have tails like hers. That's all it does. Like a disguise or to just look cute."
"Downside?"
Sylvia smiled as Vulpix stroked her own tails.
"Doors and brushing."
"Well, thank you. They love good foxfur."
That got a happy smile as Sallie and Sylvia glowed before growing a pair of fox tails and ears. Sallie's a beautiful little red furred thing with a pure white tip. Sallie's was pure black with a red tip. The two girls hugged their new fox tails tightly as Vulpix looked at Tyler.
"Spirit Shell too."
"Seline is going to be JEALOUS their tails are better."
Sallie and Sylvia hugged the fox spirit as they thanked her profusely. Then the fox lady kissed Tyler some more as the two girls played with their tails. Then she sighed sadly.
"Time up."
HE kissed her softly.
"Always next time."
She smiled happily as they left the small hotspring and she waved her arm. He was dressed in his gear, and knew everything was right where it had been. The two exchanged a final deep kiss before parting. He going back to his crew, and her going back to the forest with the feelings of her new favorite mortal lover in her heart and body.
"Need more soon."
Tyler came back to the group with a happy smile as Kaori came over to kiss him now.
"Wow, even her second hand is amazing. Her?"
"You hold to top spot, kaori. But she was AMAZING. Yeah, we come through here again I'm taking her again."
That got a laugh as the blonde hugged him.
"Now I want her!"
"Oh, and that was not ALL that happened."
The group looked at him. He smiled knowingly.
"You'll just have to wait for the right time."
He'd made Sallie and Sylvia hide their new trick, as in his words.
"We'll wait to show you off in the room, where they can properly digest the cuteness overload."
They'd giggled.
"Okay!"
"It'll be fun watching their minds break!"
Kaori looked over his shoulder to see the two spirits smiling at her with pure mischief in their eyes. She gulped and it got worse.
"Well, now we are all scared."
"Well, let's get going."
They all laughed as they mounted up to keep going. The rode off, as the fox spirit waved goodbye to her mortal lover, as her loins fired up for more of the most intoxicating human she had ever lain with.
They rode along as the sea came into view, along with a few ships on the saltwater. Tyler smiled as he spotted the walls of Yalik coming into view. The wall was built of a curious blue stone.
"What is that stone, Wulf?"
"Blue sandstone. I guess they use magic to dye the red into blue."
"Nifty."
They rode along, more reading for entering a new town, when a sound reached Tyler's ears.
" Hey, you hear that?"
They went silent, and heard the unmistakable sounds of battle.
"Go! Lily, Sera, Lillia stay out of the fight. You need to rest those arms."
They nodded as they spurred their horses to thunder into motion. They rounded a bend and saw the front gates being attacked by a group of men in light armor. The men were definitely a bandit party, and were trying to force entry into the town. At the sound of thundering hooves, a few looked to see the Outcasts riding towards them. Tyler had his bow up, along with Wulf, Ashy and Malico. They fired as the men tried to run, only for a few to get pierced by the shafts as Tyler and his party leapt off horses to engage them. The party had maybe 30, and in the space of 4 minutes, only one remained. Tyler walked over and crouched before the man.
"Where'd you come from?"
The man was clearly terrified.
"A camp not too far from here."
"Map."
"Here. No chant."
"Number of men?"
"350."
"Huh?"
"We have 350 men."
"Okay, leader."
"Wallace the Wallbreaker."
"Nice title. He have a bounty?"
"Indeed. How high I know not."
"Mages?"
"100."
"Colors?"
"Most of the five. Only one we're missing is a solid black."
"Okay."
The gate opened and Tyler tossed the man towards the guards that came out.
"Ya got a bandit army headed this way led by the Wallbreaker."
The guard grimaced.
"Bad business indeed, Sirrah. Will your party assist the defense?"
"I'll lead it myself."
"Thank the gods Sirrah. The Baroness Lymir is expecting you."
"We'll finished with the dead and go see her."
"Very good sah."
"In the meantime, ready the walls for an attack and get the men armed."
"Sadly Sirrah we need the baroness to say you're in charge or the other guards won't heed a word."
Tyler sighed as his crew got to it.
"They brainless or stupid?"
the guard rubbed his head.
"More….loyal in their words. They'd slit their own throats if she told them to. Yet, refuse to take orders from another period."
"Blind loyalty I can work with. We good?"
"Yup. No coin, a few of those, and just junk mostly."
"A probe attack. Okay, mount up and let's go see a mermaid."
That got a chuckle and they went into the city. Yalik was a city of stone. As every building was made of the most beautiful blue sandstone, the streets were paved with it, and the docks themselves were paved as well. They were led through the street by the guard as men, women and children all stopped to look at the newcomers. Tyler smiled as he saw the looks of curiosity on their faces.
"Shall I introduce myself?"
Kaori and the party laughed.
"Go on, show off for them."
Tyler aimed at the sky and breathed some of his trademarked blue flames as the crowd ohhh'd and ahhh'd. Then they realized who that was.
"Blue flame? Outcast!"
"By the gods. The Outcasts!"
A chant went up then as the city welcomed the newcomers to their city.
"OUTCASTS! OUTCASTS! OUTCASTS!"
They smiled as Tyler looked around, getting a feel for the town and her people. Most were healthy and well clothed, though some bore the weathered look of sailors and dock workers. He noted the cheerful looks in the eyes of the children they passed, and the well-fed appearances as well of the crowds. He then noticed a few shapes moving around in the shadows of the alleys they passed.
"Sera, Lillia and Lily are not alone in this town. we got rats in the walls."
The group heeded the words without acknowledging them. Tyler made a point to mark the various allies and blind spots as they were led to a winding road up a small mountain side with a mansion that overlooked the city.
"Hey, kaori. We've seen this movie right?"
She laughed as they headed up.
"Jack Sparrow."
"I do believe there is a captain in there somewhere."
"Loved those movies."
"I did too. Kinda sucks we can't see them again though."
She smiled as sadly as they entered a rather beautiful tunnel of trees that had grown in a manner to overhang the road.
"Yeah. As much as I love Lectis, I kinda miss my phone."
"I miss my music. Took me three years to build that collection."
Ashy sighed as well.
"I miss my dog."
"Yeah now that sucks."
"Poor boy."
"Girl. Sasha was a good girl."
"She was a husky, right?"
The dirty blonde nodded sadly.
"I raised and trained her myself. Now I'll never see her again."
"Be kinda odd if she came here too."
Ashy smiled.
"Ya think she did?"
"Honestly? It's a solid maybe. Dogs live here too, so, and this is just me spitballing, but if your dad was walking her or was she in the room, I don't really see a reason why she WOULDN'T get sent through."
Wulf smiled as well now.
"There are tales of pets coming through the summoning. They're rare though, but they happen sometimes."
"Well, at least that's something to work with."
Ashy had a look of hope.
"I hope I get to see her again, and she's alright."
"If we find her we'll bring her with us. Huskies are good dogs, plus we got brown paths and me to help care for her."
"Plus a good dog is a great travel companion. Next to horses a good dog is the most valued companion."
Ashy smiled proudly.
"And Sasha was a very good girl."
The party smiled as they went through the arched gate and got a look at the mansion up close. The building was four stories tall, with a round vestibule, columned pillars, and two full wings extending to the right and left all made form the curiously beautiful blue stone. Tyler noted a man in a black suit waiting by the doors. They hitched their horses to a set of posts by the door and approached the elderly gentlemen.
"Greetings heroes. I am Gerald, butler to the lady Lymir. Before you are permitted to stand her Baroness, I'm afraid you must surrender your weapons and armor."
"Yut, Nope. Seen that one before."
The man sighed.
"I was afraid you'd say this."
A wall of men fifty thick surrounded the Outcasts, and got between them and the horses. Gerald reached into his waist coat and pulled a wand.
"It seems the Outcasts are indeed as much a threat to his Holiness as he feared."
"fuck it."
The Outcasts moved like lightning, Tyler going right for the butler. The man waved the wand at him and he felt a massive pressure on his mind, stopping him in his tracks. Gerald smiled.
"There, that's a good boy. Kill your friends."
Tyler looked at him and smiled.
"Get. Out. OF. MY. HEAD!"
The wand shattered as a piercing scream of agony was heard, and the butler was horrified.
"My word, that was a high wand of utter supplantation!"
Tyler smiled as the wall of men were cut down without Sera, Lillia, or Lily having to lift a finger.
"I cannot be enslaved. My will cannot be broken."
Tyler walked over and grabbed the man by the throat.
"I cannot be controlled."
The man was white as a sheet. His best shot had meant nothing to this man.
"Now then. TALK."
"I will die before I tell you anything."
"That right?"
Tyler pulled out his Sgian Dao, and the man snorted.
"Torture? A mere test of my faith."
"Oh right I forgot. You worship Dragonis, right?"
The man frowned.
"If I do, what of it?"
"The other name for Ignatia, right?"
"How dare you speak the name of the Fire Dragon King?"
"Bitch I TAUGHT em that one! Check it."
Tyler breathed Ignatia's flames and showed the white faced man the Dragon Friend title.
"See? Yeah, me an him are first name basis."
The man sighed.
"A most tragic turn of events. It seems even the lord of fire has fallen from grace. Bestowing such a gift upon one as undeserving as you. His Flaming Grace must have taken leave of his mind."
Tyler tilted his head.
"I do believe you just insulted Ignatia. A lot."
The man had a look of disgust on his face.
"And If I have? What will you do about you mere barbarian brute? Kill me? Preposterous. Death is preferable if the True God has fallen from the sky to mere lizard."
Tyler winced at that one.
"Yeeeeah. I'mma just throw you to the courtyard. I got feeling this gonna be bad."
He throw to butler to the ground in the center of the courtyard as an enraged, far off rumble was heard. Tyler looked at his friends ruefully as a series of heavy wingbeats were heard.
"I may love getting under the skin of others, but even I have a damned line."
The butler was dusting himself off with a most smug of looks as the beats grew in volume and frequency.
"It would seem you are not as fearsome as the stories made you out to be Outcast."
"Well, much as I WANT to skin you alive, well, my friend who you just pissed off deserves it more."
The man snorted.
"What could a mere lizard do to me?"
"LET'S FIND OUT HUMAN!"
Tyler and his crew laughed as the idiot butler looked up, and screamed with despair as the flames of Ignatia engulfed his body in a slow cooking wall of death. The red dragon was flapping overhead as he lowered down into the courtyard to face the Outcast party. Tyler walked forward to dump a four foot pile of rubies on the ground as Ignatia fixed him with an eye.
"So. We meet again Ambassador."
"Sorry about that idiot. Didn't think it was THAT bad."
The butler was still screaming as his death was going to be a most long one. Ignatia looked to the spirits, and saw their boons.
"It seems you ignored my advice."
"Not so much ignored, more unexpected events. Seriously, get this."
HE spent the next few minutes explaining the pity the two spirits had incurred to the red dragon. Afterwards, Ignatia nodded.
"I see. So, the only thing you really actively sought out was the divine sight to better protect them. Which I understand, given your mindset and heart. The rest came from not even looking for them."
"Be amazed what you can find when not even looking for it."
He chuckled.
"Indeed. The world works in the most mysterious of ways."
"A good example is just look up."
HE did and saw a hundred foot sky shark swimming along. Tyler laughed.
"Still bugs the hell outta me sometimes."
Ignatia just chuckled at the human's small mind.
"Human's and their tiny minds."
"Agreed."
Then Ignatia sighed.
"So. The human."
"By the gods if they're THAT kinda religious nut, we got a MAJOR issue here."
"Indeed we do boy. We-hey, why is she staring at me like that?"
Ashy was staring open mouthed at her second dragon, and Ignatia blinked as he noticed her.
"Ahh, can you stop? You freakin me out here."
Wulf poked her.
"Serious, Ashy, that staring is kinda unnerving."
She had wide grey eyes as she pointed at the red dragon.
"But it's a dragon!"
Ignatia sighed as Ashy's gaze left him.
"She's a bizarre one."
"Eh, more hardcore fangirl. Seriously, she did that to Tempesta for like thirty minutes straight before someone poked her. Poor bastard was squirming like he had ants under his scales."
That got a laugh.
"I wish I coulda seen that one."
"A special kinda priceless. So, you were saying?"
He relocated his train of thought.
"If these dragon worshippers have truly forgotten what we dragons ARE, then we need to REMIND them."
Tyler leaned back on his weight as he thought about it.
"Honestly? A good way to make that point would be to take out the dragon Tower that pope lives in. Same time however, we really can't endanger the city needlessly."
Ignatia became thoughtful himself now.
"Indeed, lad. If the Dragon Tower is destroyed by the dragon it was built for, it would drive the message home with a hammer as you say. Yet such an act would endanger innocent lives."
"I wonder if it would be possible to take PART of the tower out and throw it beyond the wall. Drop it below the height od the royal palace. That would be more then enough to make the point."
Ignatia tilted his head.
"A very interesting and shrewd idea. I myself am strong enough to both knock the tower over at the height we'd need and strong enough to throw it the required distance. Plus it'd be fun to wreak havoc again."
"If any other dragons give you grief, pull the indignant dragon card. Lizard? Seriously?"
he got a fierce glare at that one.
"I would NOT recommend using that yourself."
"Sure. Much as I love getting under the skin of others, I DO have a line."
Ignatia nodded.
"For such an act of destruction, I must consult Lord Tempesta before such power can be unleashed."
Tyler smiled and opened his mouth.
"Don't. Seriously? Just don't."
He closed his mouth at Kaori's exasperated sigh. Ignatia looked at her curiously.
"What was he about to say?"
"Knowing him? Probably was gonna ask you to ask Tempesta how his diet was going. It's a stupid inside joke."
Ignatia looked at a grinning Tyler.
"You have a death wish."
"Nah, just a fucked up sense o humor. Did you hear about the giants and the trees?"
Ignatia shuddered.
"What the hells is wrong with you?"
"Dunno, how much time ya got?"
"Not enough."
Tyler smiled as the butler stopped screaming.
"We have a helluva mess here to clean up."
The dragon nodded.
"That you do. I'll leave you to it."
HE flapped off as the group waved. Tyler smiled before he noticed something.
"Hey! Ya forgot your rocks!"
That got a laugh as Ignatia landed and took his offering.
"An honest human indeed. Was curious what you'd do if I up and left them there."
Tyler shrugged as the dragon flew off leaving a pile of scales for them. Once added they drew weapons and went inside the mansion. Tyler had Gleipnir and Fafnir out and the rest their own weapons as they went up the grand staircase in front of them. Tyler using his knowledge of such buildings from his own world to navigate the party to a large set of double doors like he lived there himself. He kicked the door in and found a mermaid lady behind a desk with a tall man stabbing a needle into her neck. He got an arrow in the chest as he pierced the lady's skin with the needle. Tyler sighed as he cast a holy relief as Kaori went over with an antidote. She was healed and cured and just broke down sobbing as Vixen tasted the needle. She smiled as she smacked her full lips.
"Oh my. How interesting. Unholy Kiss. It's a nasty toxin that mimics a snake's venom by clotting blood, shutting down nerves and movement, and even eats away at the flesh of the wound. Only differentiating piece is the color of the rot. A snake's is more yellow, whereas this is pure black. It's a banned poison as a drop the size of a sewing needle head is fatal to thirty men and was once used to assassinate an entire royal line."
Tyler smiled as they went to the sobbing mermaid. She was a beautiful specimen. Long sea-green hair that went to her waist, bright purple eyes, light blue skin and scales, a massive flopping rack that every time her shoulders moved bounced a little, and was as tall as Tyler was. Kaori was comforting the lady as Tyler spoke to her.
"You Lymir?"
She looked up and nodded.
"I am. Thank you for coming."
"By the gods lady, I was expecting bad but the hell?"
She sobbed as she explained.
"It's gotten worse since I called for your aid. I was only allowed to make it seem like I was safe in the articles as a way to try and make you lower your guard."
"Yeah. I kinda figured. Okay, Lymir. I have a single question for you."
She looked up.
"What?"
His eyes hardened.
"What are you prepared to do to make your point?"
She sniffed and got out of her chair. She was clad in a light shirt and pants as she walked to a cabinet. She opened it and on a rack was a 6 foot long trident with two foot prongs, a suit of blue chain mail, a set of blue daggers, a leather tunic, pants, boots, and a short sword and shield. She reached up and tore her shirt and pants off, and dressed as she spoke.
"The ONLY reason I sent for you was you are the best there is at this type of work. Much as I wanted, I was outmatched in the gutters and sewers of MY city. So, to answer your question?"
She too the trident down and smiled.
"We have a wall that needs some new ornaments. I couldn't do it properly alone, but I'll do what I can."
Tyler smiled as he saw her eyes were both on fire and clear.
"Nice to see a leader with a damned spine for once. Just hope you can use that over-sized dinner fork."
She smiled as she twisted and it collapsed in on itself to a one foot haft she hung on he waist.
"Oh I can handle myself just fine."
"Good to hear. Now, are you aware of the Wallbreaker?"
She snorted.
"I am. How many does he have?"
"350."
"Okay. We'll need to deal with him FIRST."
"Sure. I'll handle the defenses myself."
She walked over to her desk and pulled a set of blue crested medals that she tossed to the party.
"My guards worship the sea goddess Orca. As such, they view ME as her avatar, so unless you wear her seal, they'll ignore your orders."
Tyler smiled as he donned it over his shirt.
"This is the kinda religious nut I DON'T mind. More just devoted."
The mermaid smiled as she hung her sword on her hip and her shield on her back.
"They love me too."
"Must be nice to have a new bed mate every night."
That got a laugh as they walked out of the room.
"It is fun, since the men all throw themselves at me. Only I prefer a women's touch."
She looked at Malico.
"Specifically NekoPlesians."
That got a purr as her long tail waved seductively.
"I got a trick to show you later Lymir."
"I'll look forward to it, longingly."
That got a chuckle as they headed for the walls. They arrived and Lymir led them to the top of the wall overlooking the road.
"This is the only way in or out of the city they can use. Here's a map of the area."
Tyler added it to his own and rolled it open on the stone to look at it. The city was set against a cliff face a thousand feet high. The mansion nestled in a natural alcove with a narrow path in the stone. At the back of the city, the rock face jutted out into the ocean a decent four hundred meters. Which sheltered the bay and ships from nasty winds and waves. Tyler looked at the rock face.
"How long would it take to scale that thing?"
Lymir looked at it herself.
"They do it all the time actually. So, 5 full hours of climbing?"
"Okay, repelling down it would be a dead giveaway, so that's out. Sea assault?"
The mermaid smiled.
"We have cannons on all rooftops facing the oceans. So, maybe two thousand bellowers?"
"They manned?"
"To the last with regular shift changes. Even our children get to take a turn."
"I see. So the civilians can fight as well if need be."
She nodded proudly.
"Most in this town are sailors, descended from sailors, or the same with Marines."
Kaori was confused.
"You have Marines here too?"
Tyler chuckled.
"A Marine is a soldier aboard a ship. In the old days, they were a separate force from the ship's crew that were hired for the sole purpose of repelling pirates. Our country just loved the name."
The blonde smiled.
"I see now. Glad we have you and that encyclopedia of uselessly random information."
Lymir was smiling as well.
"It seems you have a better grasp of the people here than I thought."
"Just the important pieces. Okay, so in a worse case scenario we can arm the town and have them join the fray."
She nodded as she pointed to a tower with a bell.
"That will summon the town militia."
"Okay, ya just got probed toady, so we'll get to it."
Tyler went and rang the bell, and the town militia came flooding to the walls. They all knelt before Lymir as she looked at them.
"Our town is in danger. You are under the command of the Outcasts. Their words are MY words."
A man slammed his fist against his chest plate.
"Milady Sea."
Tyler looked at the four hundred men.
"Hold up. Something's not adding up here."
Tyler looked to Wulf.
"That bandit said he had 350 men, right?"
The ranger nodded.
"Yeah, struck me as odd as well. Yalik has over two thousand people living here. All of whom would fight to defend their homes."
Tyler looked at the kneeling men.
"Plus the town guard alone outnumbers them by fifty. Not including the ship's crews and Marines. Okay, we're missing pieces of this puzzle."
Lymir blinked.
"350 men? That's it?"
Tyler looked at her.
"That off?"
"Last time he had a thousand."
Tyler crossed his arms as he looked at the road.
"That man was NOT lying to me. He was far too scared. Wulf, ya got that map on you?"
The ranger handed it to him as Tyler looked to Lymir.
"We told you in the mansion how many men he had. Yet now you seemed surprised."
She sighed.
"It didn't register till just now."
"Okay. Fair."
Tyler added that map to his own and the area filled in was no less an ten minutes ride up the road. Tyler tilted his head.
"Okay, no way he has more an that. If they were THAT close we'd see their cook fires from here. Okay, we need answers"
He looked to his crew.
"Backs to the wall here. Me and Wulf will go take a look. No one goes anywhere in that city alone, and Lymir is not to be alone either. Thistle, your camp."
"Appreciate the trust Lad."
Tyler and Wulf mounted their horses and rode out to the spot indicated as the others all placed their backs against the battlements with Lily, Lymir, Sera, and Lillia in the center.