Alexia's Corner

Alexia rounded on the dreadlocked sellsword, unsheathing her blade as she did so.

"You shall do no such thing! You've no idea who you're facing this day!" the warrior cried, taking a strong swing at the mercenary's breastplate. (Str 8)

(8+3=11 critical hit!)(defense 7)
Alexia’s swing made contact with the straps holding on the Mercenaries’ breastplate. Her hands on her sword, she was unable to catch the plates before they clattered to the ground uselessly, leaving her in her white bra, exposing her ample belly and disproportionately small breasts for her body. Her eyes went wide.
“You’ll pay for that!” the red-haired mercenary cried and took a swing at Alexia’s own breastplate.
(Merc 5+2=7 Alexia 7+1=
Alexia finished her swing just in time to dodge the blade, causing the mercenary’s swing to go wild, temporarily throwing her off-balance.
Nearby, Miryala drew her sword and confronted the third Mercenary, taking a low swing at her greaves.
(9=1=10 Critical)(defense 5+2=7)
“I would have spoken to you before swords were drawn,” she said, as her sword made contact, “but you gave me no choice.” The mercenaries leg plates fell to the floor with a clang, leaving her in cotton briefs nearly as pink as the blush that came over her face.
“Aaaaaaahhhh!” she screamed, in a pitch that made it unclear whether it was intended as a war-cry or a scream of loss and embarrassment, as she struck at Miryala’s breastplate.
(Merc 7+1=8 Defense 6+1=7, damage roll 4+1=5)
Miryala tried her best to dodge the swing, but it just barely caught her breastplate. Unfortunately for her, the force and precision behind it was still enough to render her strongest piece of protection useless. The Mercenary’s eyes widened as she saw an unexpectedly buxom busom for an elf, covered only by a white, lacy bra. She had evened the score and now it was Miryala’s turn to blush.
Niniane had been standing uselessly as battle commenced around her. Now, unexpectedly, her action was to reach into the satchel on her shoulder. From inside, she pulled out a comically large cream pie, which was the size of the entire bag, and must have been the only object in it. She proceeded to shove it toward the dreadlocked mercenary’s face.
(6+1=7)(defense: 1)
The shocked mercenary sputtered as the cream engulfed her face with a squelching sound. She was forced to stop fighting in order to clear the cream from her eyes. Niniane rubbed her hands together and gloated, her opponent wouldn’t be attacking anytime soon.

Merc 1 dark dreads
[Platemail Greaves (3), Platemail Breastplate (0), Bra (1), Pauldrons (1) Panties (1)]
Mercenary 2 red hair
Platemail Greaves (3), Platemail Breastplate (4), Pauldrons (1)Bra (1), Panties (1)
Merc 3 Long dark hair, impressively hourglass figure.
Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (4), Pauldrons (1) Bra (1), Panties (1)

Miryala
[Breastplate (5) Greaves (4) Outer Skirt (1) Pauldrons (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]
Niniane
[Skirt Apron (2) Skirt (2) Corset (3) Blouse (1) Panties (1) Bra (1)]
Alexia
[Breastplate (5) Greaves (4) Outer Skirt (1) Pauldrons (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]

OOC POST:
The illustrations for this adventure have begun, at
http://myds6.deviantart.com/gallery/50370935/Devious-Folder
(If it doesn't take you right there, click "gallery," then "adventures: mercenaries."

If you don't like curvy women, wait a bit...that's coming (especially in the form of villains who really resemble certain celebrities--you can guess when you see them).  But if I am doing all this work of illustrating it, I want to make sure I enjoy it, too, no?

(Also, Phantompen, your move, the Merc whose turn comes before you is stunned this turn)

(Hi! It's been almost two months since there's been activity in this thread. I want to wait for our moderator, but I also want to wrap up this activity to make way for the adventure it introduces--so I apologize if this isn't right, but I'm going to take the liberty of moving it along below.)

(Alexia 8+3 Merc 6 success! dam 4
Niniane 3+1 Merc 2 damage 2
Merc 3+2 Mir 7 Defense
Mir 7+2 Merc 4+2 Dam 3
Redhead Merc 6+2 Alexia 4+3 (GM Special))


Taking advantage of Niniane's surprise attack, Alexia brought her sword down hard on the stunned Mercenary's greaves, bending the metal and breaking the straps with the force of her blow. Niniane followed up by removing the mercenary's pauldrons with her small knife, leaving her in her bra and panties.

Nearby, the dark-haired mercenary took a swing at Miryala's own legplates. The elf rolled to the left in a manner that seemed more luck than nimbleness, and recovering her feet, was able to catch the back of the Mercenary's breastplate with her own sword, leaving it hanging loosely by a single shoulder strap.

With all of the commotion, Alexia missed the redheaded mercenary behind her. With a colossal swing she managed to catch Alexia on the back of the head with the pommel of her sword, and Alexia fell to the ground, unconscious. "We won't have to worry about that one," she called out triumphantly, as if unconcerned whether anyone was listening. "Keep them alive, we'll have some fun with these feisty ones!"




Merc 1 dark dreads
[Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (0), Pauldrons (0), Bra (1) Panties (1)]
Mercenary 2 red hair
Platemail Greaves (3), Platemail Breastplate (4), Pauldrons (1)Bra (1), Panties (1)
Merc 3 Long dark hair, impressively hourglass figure.
Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (1), Pauldrons (1) Bra (1), Panties (1)

Miryala
[Breastplate (0) Greaves (4) Outer Skirt (1) Pauldrons (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]
Niniane
[Skirt Apron (2) Skirt (2) Corset (3) Blouse (1) Panties (1) Bra (1)]
Alexia
[Breastplate (5) Greaves (4) Outer Skirt (1) Pauldrons (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]

(Dreadlock Merc 6+2, def 4+2 Dam 3
Niniane 3+1 def 10 critical defense!
Dark Haired Merc 4+2 def 3+2 Dam 3
Miryala 5+2 def 1 critical defense fail!
Red-haired Merc 5+2 def 2+1 Dam 2)

Niniane screamed as she saw Alexia go down...it was three on two now, hardly fair odds...especially considering she was equipped as a tavern maid against mercenaries.  This thought might have been what caused her defense to waver.  By now the dreadlocked mercenary had cleared her face of pie cream enough that she could see, and it seemed she was seeing red.  She pointed her sword at Niniane, "You'll pay tenfold for that dirty move."  With what might have been a moment's hesitation when she realized she was fighting in her underwear, the Mercenary reached her sword out to catch her opponent's skirt.  The skirt was clearly no match for the sword, and was soon dangling from the blade, leaving Niniane in her soft, white panties.  She screamed and tried to cover herself.  Suddenly, she looked at her opponent and lunged for her, reaching for the large pink panties clinging to her copious hips.  "No, no you don't" the Mercenary shouted, nearly laughing as she stepped aside, adding insult to injury by using her free hand to slap Niniane's backside as she passed.




Miryala was having problems of her own nearby.  Although she had stripped her opponent of leg armor and nearly destroyed her breastplate, she was losing her own armor at an alarming rate.  The skirt that protected the chink in her leg armor was the latest casualty, as the desperate dark-haired mercenary sliced right through the belt that held it in place.  

"A lucky swing!" the Elf taunted, trying to cover her concern with bravado.  With a particularly well-aimed thrust, she managed to get her sword between the Mercenary's body and the single intact strap of her breastplate.  As it fell to the ground, it  revealed a white, lacy bra underneath.  The brunette examined the battlefield and noted that she was nearly as unequipped as Giuliana, her dreadlocked colleague.  She considered retreat, but the thought of the punishment she'd receive and the hands of her captain when she returned defeated banished it from her mind, while the fact that one of her squadron was still fully armored brought her hope--and besides, who knew what these crazy women wanted to do with her?



Still riding on the success of having knocked out an intimidating warrior, the redheaded sellsword turned her attention to the far less intimidating tavern wench in front of her.  "Hey, Giuliana, is this the one wot tried to fight us at the tavern and you showed her wot for?" she asked as she grabbed the back of Niniane's corset and cut the laces.


Merc 1 dark dreads
[Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (0), Pauldrons (0), Bra (1) Panties (1)]
Mercenary 2 red hair
Platemail Greaves (3), Platemail Breastplate (4), Pauldrons (1)Bra (1), Panties (1)
Merc 3 Long dark hair, impressively hourglass figure.
Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (0), Pauldrons (1) Bra (1), Panties (1)

Miryala
[Breastplate (0)  Outer Skirt (0) Greaves (4) Pauldrons (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]
Niniane
[Skirt Apron (0) Skirt (0) Corset (1) Blouse (1) Panties (1) Bra (1)]
Alexia
[Breastplate (5) Greaves (4) Outer Skirt (1) Pauldrons (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]

(Giuliana (dreadlocks) 2+2 def 7 defense!
Niniane 9+1-1 def 3 dam 2
Dark-haired Merc 5+2 def 8+2 defense!
Miryala 8+2 def 4+2 dam 2
Redhead Merc 4+2 def 3+2 dam 3)

The dreadlocked Mercenary maneuvered, cut, thrust, and parried while replying to her colleague, "Yeah (pant), that's the one...makes you (huff) wonder why she had a pie here and not at the tavern!"  She smiled when she was certain her current cut was on a collision course with what was left of Ninaine's corset.  But, to her surprise, the usually-clumsy tavern wench ducked quickly, causing the weapon to pass safely over her head.  Springing forward, she grabbed the surprised warrior's bra and tore it right from her chest.  "What?  No!" the Amazonian woman shrieked as her pale, large areolas came into view.  "So, Niniane taunted, "you can dish it out, but you can't take it."  As an afterthought, she added, "My, my, they're not very big compared to the rest of you," knowing that enraged opponents make mistakes.

Miryala had overheard the conversation, and laughed to her opponent, "Sounds like your friends aren't doing so well over there."  "And one of yours is out cold!" said the mercenary, swinging for her greaves.  The Elf parried masterfully, her blade sliding down her opponent's blade until it caught the strap of her bra.  Miryala waited for a second, allowing the mercenary a moment of suspense before she flicked it away.  "Ohh, nice," was the wittiest banter she could muster considering the buxom pair of fleshy orbs she revealed.

"Do you always travel with pies, o portly one?" said the Red-haired mercenary as peeled the damaged corset from Niniane's body, allowing the full girth of her midsection to come into view.  "Have you looked in a mirror lately?" was Niniane's comeback, as she tried to concentrating on finishing the dreadlocked tormentor before letting her opponent's words get to her.  But then, she looked down, and realized how little clothing she had left.  She immediately dropped to the ground, nearly curling up in a ball to cover herself.  (defense penalty)

Giuliana Merc 1 dark dreads
[Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (0), Bra (0) Panties (1)]
Mercenary 2 red hair
Platemail Greaves (3), Platemail Breastplate (4), Bra (1), Panties (1)
Merc 3 Long dark hair, impressively hourglass figure.
Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (0), Bra (0), Panties (1)
((Per the rule I suggested on the forum, I'm going to drop the pauldrons out of the count--they are stupid and don't cover anything interesting, like boots or gloves.))

Miryala
[Breastplate (0) Outer Skirt (0) Greaves (4) Pauldrons (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]
Niniane
[Skirt Apron (0) Skirt (0) Corset (1) Blouse (1) Panties (1) Bra (1)]
Alexia KO'ed
[Breastplate (5) Greaves (4) Outer Skirt (1) Pauldrons (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]

(Giuliana dreads 10, def 2 critical hit!
Niniane 6+1-1 def 3+2 dam 2
Dark haired merc 8+2 def 3+2 dam 3
Miryala 10+2 def 3+2 critical hit!
Red haired merc 1 def 5+1 critical miss!)

While Niniane was chortling at her oh-so-clever response, Giuliana was grabbing her blouse, and pulling it off revealing a black lacy bra underneath. Niniane screamed in surprise, and now the sellsword was chuckling, "Didn't bother to match for me today, eh?" "At least I have something there!" the tavern wench responded as she grabbed the warrior's large pink underwear and pulled up sharply, eliciting a tiny shriek from the large woman, who attempted to hide her now exposed untrimmed pubic hair with a hand while using the otehr to shield her small breasts. Niniane would have none of that. She balled up the pink panties, grabbed her opponent by the dreadlocks, and shoved them into her open mouth. "I think it's time for you to shut up." With that, she punched the warrior in the solar plexus, causing her to double over. "Now don't you go anywhere," she said, as if the previous action hadn't rendered it unnecessary to specify. She heard a clank behind her, and turned from the defeated opponent just in time to see the fully armored mercenary charging at her. She was caught totally unaware, so it was lucky for Niniane that rabbits had recently made a burrow in the ground. The armored woman's foot caught in it on the way to Niniane. Her foot slid right out of her stuck boot, and she fell forward. Niniane threw herself to the side to avoid the now-flying mercenary, who flew face-first into Giuliana's hairy crotch, and the two of them landed on the ground in a jumble of flesh and armor.

"Why don't you two just get a room?" Niniane taunted, using her enemy's momentary lapse to assess how her strange companion was doing.

Miryala was slightly worse for the wear. The mercenary had damaged her greaves to the point that they were useless as armor, and almost as useless as clothing. Yet, she managed to wind up behind her opponent, who was now facing where Niniane was. Niniane saw the Mercenary looking confused, then saw her panties slide down to her knees, followed by a sudden jerk forward, which must have been Miryala kicking her in the backside. Miryala apparently had apparently pulled her opponent's panties down and back, then drove her sword into the ground, but through the waistband and leghole of the panties. When she applied a firm kick to her opponent's behind, the mercenary moved forward, but her panties remained stuck on the sword. She landed with her face down and her sore behind in the air, utterly defeated. Miryla gave her backside another solid kick, to keep her down, so she could help Niniane.

Giuliana Merc 1 dark dreads
[Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (0), Bra (0) Panties (0)]
Mercenary 2 red hair
Platemail Greaves (3), Platemail Breastplate (4), Bra (1), Panties (1)
Merc 3 Long dark hair, impressively hourglass figure.
Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (0), Bra (0), Panties (0)
((Per the rule I suggested on the forum, I'm going to drop the pauldrons out of the count--they are stupid and don't cover anything interesting, like boots or gloves.))

Miryala
[Breastplate (0) Outer Skirt (0) Greaves (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]
Niniane
[Skirt Apron (0) Skirt (0) Corset (0) Blouse (0) Panties (1) Bra (1)]

(Niniane 2+1 def 1+2-1 critical defense failure
Miryala 7+2 def 2+2 dam 3
Serana (redhead Merc) 6+2 def 8+1 defense!)

The opponent facing Niniane had been unscathed the entire battle, always choosing to attack an opponent who was otherwise engaged. This strategy had helped her retain her armor, but enraged her colleagues, who found themselves stripped, although neither of them was in a position to complain to her--especially since they dreaded what might happen should the unthinkable occur and she loose to this lowly tavern wench and oddly-made-up elf.

Niniane was terrified--were they going to lose? And how was Alexia? Would she ever wake up? She decided they needed all the edge they could get, so she once more reached into her satchel and produced a creamy pie.

Giuliana removed her panties from her mouth and shouted a warning, "Serana look out!"

"Another one? Where did you get that from? No matter, you won't be able to hit m---mmmmmpppph" she said, as the creamy treat engulfed her face. "What is wrong with you?" Giuliana shouted from her vantage point on the ground. Niniane gave the nude amazon a dirty look, and she turned her head, not wanting to incur any more of this tavern maid's wrath than she already had.

Miryala had barely gotten close enough to attack the mercenary, but took a risky swing at the plates guarding her legs. The risk paid off, and soon some very fancy but very large lacy satin panties came into view. If you could have seen the mercenary's face, you would have seen her blushing, but, ironically, although her panties were exposed, the embarrassment on her face was hidden by a layer of cream.

Still attempting to fight, Serana the Mercenary took a swing at where she thought Miryala was standing. In fact, Miryala had moved to a safe distance after striking and the only person she could reach was Giuliana, who was attempting to get off the ground, and had made it as far as her hands and knees. The flat of her blade hit Giuliana's large posterior with some force, throwing the defeated Mercenary back to the ground with both hands on her smarting backside, and causing the pie-blinded sellsword to lose her balance, falling down next to her.

"Yes!" Miryala called to no one in particular at this spectacular turn of events.


Giuliana Merc 1 dark dreads
[Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (0), Bra (0) Panties (0)]
Mercenary 2 red hair
Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (4), Bra (1), Panties (1)
Merc 3 Long dark hair, impressively hourglass figure.
Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (0), Bra (0), Panties (0)
((Per the rule I suggested on the forum, I'm going to drop the pauldrons out of the count--they are stupid and don't cover anything interesting, like boots or gloves.))

Miryala
[Breastplate (0) Outer Skirt (0) Greaves (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]
Niniane
[Skirt Apron (0) Skirt (0) Corset (0) Blouse (0) Panties (1) Bra (1)]

(Niniane 6+1 def 3+2 dam 2
Miryala 7+2 def 2+2 dam 3
Serana (redhead Merc) Stunned)

One might almost feel sorry for the heavily-armored woman with the red hair, and her partners, if one didn't know anything about what kind of contracts they fulfilled, or how they spent their leisure. Serana made a pathetic sight, lying on the ground, trying to get enough of the cream away from her eyes that she could open them.

Pity was an emotion her two assailants had no time to feel--this was a high-stakes fight. Their companion had been knocked out, leaving them at a three to two disadvantage. They had each defeated their own opponents handily, but would they be able to finish the third? Niniane didn't wait to find out the answer. She bent over and grabbed the shoulder of her opponent's breastplate, cutting as many straps as she could with her small knife before Serana blindly swatted at her until she backed off. Unluckily for her, Miryala was standing on the other side, and finished the job.

Serana finally opened her eyes--then blinked hard for a moment, because the cream was stinging them. She climbed to her feet, looked down, and saw her lavender bra that matched her panties. She looked confused, then saw the body armor lying on the ground were she had just been. She knew she had to finish her opponents quickly, or this would be all over for her.

Giuliana Merc 1 dark dreads
[Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (0), Bra (0) Panties (0)]
Mercenary 2 red hair
Platemail Greaves (0),Platemail Breastplate (0), Bra (1), Panties (1)
Merc 3 Long dark hair, impressively hourglass figure.
Platemail Greaves (0), Platemail Breastplate (0), Bra (0), Panties (0)
((Per the rule I suggested on the forum, I'm going to drop the pauldrons out of the count--they are stupid and don't cover anything interesting, like boots or gloves.))

Miryala
[Breastplate (0) Outer Skirt (0) Greaves (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]
Niniane
[Skirt Apron (0) Skirt (0) Corset (0) Blouse (0) Panties (1) Bra (1)]

(Niniane 9+1 def 3+2 dam 2
Miryala 9+2 def 8+2 dam 3
Serana 7+2 def 8+1 higher mod wins)

"This isn't over," Serana spat, as if trying to convince herself.  "I'm going to get you and your weird elf, too!"  She took a swing at Niniane's bra and managed to slide the garment in half, exposing her large, fleshy breasts.  Niniane shrieked in horror, then dove for her opponent's panties.  Niniane ended up face down on the ground, but with the panties in her hand.  Miryala walked right up to the stunned mercenary, and cut her bra from her.  

"It looks like it's over," said Miryala smiling in sinister fashion, "Now are you going to sing, fat lady, or do you need a little encouragement?"

Niniane ran over to Alexia's side.  "She's still breathing.  I'm surprised such a light blow managed to knock her unconscious. We should get her back to the city so a healer can look at her."

Miryala shook her head, "We will, but this battle was hard-won, and I'm not leaving without answers.  We should also make sure there are no more of them around."

Niniane walked over to the well, filled the bucket, cut the bucket from its rope, and brought it over to Alexia.  "Maybe this will do it," she said hopefully, pouring the water over the warrior's face.  Alexia coughed, sat up, and spat some of the water back at her.  Niniane laughed, "She's awake."  

"Thanks," said Alexia sarcastically, then added, "is that all you do?  Spill stuff on people?"  "It's a talent," Niniane half-joked.  "Are you alright?"  "I think I'll be fine, I just have to rest for a bit."  

While this was going on, Miryala had gathered the three defeated mercenaries one next to the other, to make it difficult for them to escape.  Noting that Niniane had cut the rope on the well bucket, she took it and used it to bind the hands and feet of each of the captives, tying their hands to the fence surrounding the pig stye.  

"Is this really necessary?" Serana exhorted, "can't you just let us go?"  Miryala ignored their pleas and kept tying them up as Alexia and Niniane came over.  "Wait, she said," pointing to Giulina, "I'll take that one."  "Be my guest."

"Remember that night at the tavern you were so keen to remind me of?  Where you tried to humiliate me and carry off the girls?  I don't think I've quite paid you back for that yet."




"Look, please, I'm sorry, I'll never show my face in that tavern again!  I'll leave town!  Please!"
Niniane sat on the fence of the pig pen and led the tall woman by her dreadlocked hair onto her lap.  "Please, no...."  "How many spanks do you think I should give you?  "Please..."
"Please is not a number.  This one is for my girls!"  The large, round backside jiggled as Niniane hit it with considerable force.  "Please...." Giuliana whined.  "This one--is for my skirt.  how many more would you like?"  "No more..."  "Did you say thirty?  Thirty it is then!"  Niniane enthusiastically spanked the jiggling ass before her thirty more times, her own large breasts jiggling along, echoing each impact.  Giuliana's protestations became quieter with each several smacks, becoming a bawling, and finally a quiet wimper.  

"Well, that's it," said Niniane.  "Well, almost it.  You deserve more.  Here, pick up this piece of a armor."  She pointed to a broken piece of metal lying on the ground, just in front of the short fence to the pigstye.  When Giuliana bent over to follow the order, Niniane swiftly kicked her such that she stumbled forward, tripped over the railing, and wound up face down, stinging red ass up, in the mud of the pig stye.  At least, she hoped it was mud.




Alexia had seen to it that the prisoners were secure, allowing Miryala a moment to interrogate the dark-haired mercenary.  Seeing Niniane's humiliation of Guliana, she imitated her style, spanking the mercenary like a child.  Instead of responding to the naked woman's pleas with taunts, she responded with questions.  "Who do you work for....?" *SMACK*  "Who do you work for?"  *SMACK*  "This one is useless, she won't talk," she said, dropping the mercenary in the mud as she had seen Niniane do.  







"Alexia, can you tie her up and watch the prisoners?" Miryala asked.  Seeing a nod in response, she continued, "Niniane, come with me, please...we need to see if there are clues in the house..but be quiet...in case there are more of them."

Niniane nodded to Miryala and smiled.  She wanted to please her, but had never been very good at stealth.  Looking at the elf, she doubted she was good at it either, and her talkative demeanor wasn't promising.  

As Alexia finished tying the prisoners, Miryala looked for a way into the house.  Niniane, on the other hand, was fumbling with the broken pieces of armor and torn clothes that littered the site of their battle.  As Miryala was trying to climb up to a windowsill just above a thorny briar bush, Niniane tapped her on the shoulder.  She immediately slipped off of the sill, and landed on her backside on the briars.  "Ooowwwww!"  Her greaves offered her backside little protection.  In fact, the briars managed to finish off the straps that had kept them dangling from her legs.  "What do YOU want?  Can't you see I'm trying to get--"  Niniane held up her hand.  Between her fingers was a key, the kind of key that might fit a house lock.

"Where did you get that?"  "It was in fatass's armor," she said, gesturing to Serana.  "Have you looked in the mirror lately?" the Mercenary called out, happy to be able to turn Niniane's words back on her.  Alexia responded with a quick boot to the prisoner's backside.

Miryala took the key and inserted it in the lock.  She paused for what to Niniane seemed like an eternity, than turned it.  The door squeaked open, and the elf went inside.  Niniane shrugged, and followed her.

((Miryala Greaves (1) Bra (1) Panties (1)]
Niniane Panties (1) Bra (1)]
Alexia fully equipped, but a little dazed.))

What they entered looked like any normal farmhouse would--if instead of housing farmers it housed rough-and-tumble sellswords. Much of the furniture was broken, and the floor was littered with bits of trash here and there. Niniane checked the pantry. A bag of flour, some spoiled custard, half a loaf of bread. "Ugh..." she said, "they've been living here some time. I'm willing to bet that this isn't originally their farm, though."

Miryala nodded, then stopped dead in her tracks. "Do you hear that?" "Hear what?" "Shhhhhhh." suddenly Miryala started tapping her boot on the floor. Niniane nodded and started doing the same. At one point, she grabbed a carpet and pulled it to the side, revealing a trapdoor. "Apparently, there's a cellar." "And I think there's someone down there," Miryala added, drawing her weapon.

As they descended the narrow stairway, their noses were confronted with a peculiar stench, a carnal stench, of sweat and bodily fluids. Muffled cries came from beyond. Taking a torch of the sconce and lighting it, they walked into the dark room ahead.

Nothing they had ever seen prepared them for what they saw in that room. Three women, their arms tied above their heads just high enough that they couldn't reach their bonds to untie them, but low enough that their feet were still on the ground. They were gagged, and clearly hadn't bathed in some time.

Miryala pulled the gag from the mouth of one of the women, as Niniane started trying to untie their bonds with the help of her trusty, bit odd-looking, little knife.

As the gag came out of her mouth, the brown-skinned woman took a deep breath, her eyes widened as if asking Miryala to wait a minute before she spoke. Then, her voice came, weak, and in a thick accent. "You're not one of them. Are you here to help us?" "Calm down, you're not in danger. My name is Miryala, and this is Niniane, where are you from?" "My name is Saffron. I am from the capital of Enferia, where I am sorely missed. I am the chief merchant in spices from the land of my grandparents; they've had me down here almost three weeks. I can see the hint of daylight coming through the floorboards near the window upstairs."

Miryala looked on, incredulous, as Niniane cut Saffron's bonds, "They've kept you tied up like this for three weeks?" Saffron shook her head, indicating a negative. "Two days ago, we attempted to escape. When the tall one came down to feed us, Leesabet here hit her over the head with the plate from the last meal, and I took her sword. We almost got away, except for the redheaded one catching us at the cellar door. They've kept us tied up, ever since. Please, can we get out of this room? It has bad---feelings."

Niniane led the three ex-prisoners to the living quarters of the house, where they sat down. They wanted to leave the building altogether, but found the sunlight too much without some time to acclimatize.

"If you hadn't come when you did...I don't know what would have happened," the third woman spoke, looking Miryala up and down and noticing their state of dress, she added, "I suppose it wasn't easy getting in here. Who sent you, the merchants guild?" Miryala looked confused..."No, I'm Miryala, I'm tracking these mercenaries." "I'm Layla. You didn't come to save us then? There's a large reward, I would imagine. I am the Guildmaster of Merchants in Enferia, my disappearance must have had economic consequences. In fact, Leesabet and Saffron are on the council as well."

"So this was politically motivated?" Miryala inquired. "I don't know who would want to do this. Perhaps enemies of the kingdom trying to create strife to weaken Enferia for war?" Miryala gestured for the door, "let's ask them?"

Leesabet held up a finger to stop her. "Let's look around the house, see if we can find some clothing." Saffron started sobbing, as Niniane opened a small box.

"What's wrong?" "I also kept track of the time because they came to visit us twice a day. Once, in the morning, I think, to feed us. Once in the evening, to...."

((Warning-this gets a bit intense.  It even involves some fetishes I’m not that into, but seemed good for the storyline.  Images to follow sometime, and they will probably not mainly be on DeviantArt!))

Niniane tried to sound sensitive and sympathetic as she held up the objects in the box.  “It involved these?”  She was holding three leather-covered dildos, with straps that could secure them to a woman’s hips.  On the inside, there were small knobs connected to the shaft on the other side, that would rub against its user’s most private areas as she put it into motion.

“Those bitches!” Miryala interjected, “Let’s call the guard right now.”

Looking thoughtful, Niniane held up her index finger.  “You’re a newcomer here, you haven’t seen how justice works.   These women will be thrown to the arena where they can make a profession out of bullying weaker women.  They’ll probably even enjoy it.  But…” she gestured to the former captives, “we have a rare and exciting chance to see that justice is done…to give these merchants, these, women, back what was taken from them.  Provided that is what they wish.

Lisabet and Layla looked at each other, as if trying to decide what was right.  Saffron, however, jumped to her feet, wiping the tears from her eyes.  “I pic first.” She said, urgently.  Niniane handed her, then the other two girls, the strappy contraptions.

Forgetting the concern about finding clothes in the house (and indeed, little in the way of cloth was evident at all, as if the linens had been sold off with many of the other furnishings), the five women went outside, dressed (or undressed)  as they were.

The three mercenaries were on their knees, their hands tied to the fence of the pigstye.  Alexia was sitting on the back of Giuliana, the tallest of them, looking almost bored, when she saw her companions return with three nude strangers.  The look on her face explained that she understood what was happening, and she got up to get out of the way.  She might have liked watching, but needed to get out of the sun; she still didn’t feel well, and went into the farmhouse to rest.
Miryala was the first to speak.  “So, you keep these women prisoner, use them as your sex toys?  What is your game here?”  She kicked Giuliana’s already red rear.  “Is this what you were going to do with my friend you tried to abduct from the tavern?”  Aside from a grunt when the kick landed, the mercenaries were silent.  “Well, we’ll have to do this the hard way, I suppose.  But Saffron and her friends will help with that.  Saffron?”

The former prisoner moved with a new energy as she stepped into the harness.   Her eyes were red from crying, but the tears had dried.  There was a look of intensity about her that caused Niniane to shiver.  “So, you tell me every night I enjoy this, tell me how you like it!”  With that, she crouched behind the mud-drenched mercenary and unceremoniously inserted the dildo between her legs.  The women watching could almost feel the sensation as the first, dry, rough strokes admitted groans from Giuliana, as Saffron pulled her head back by the dreadlocks and increased her pace.  Miryala heard the swish sounds, indicating the presence of natural lubricant as Saffron picked up the intensity again.  Within minutes, the large mercenary screamed, and her fluids exploded all over Saffron and dripped down her legs.  Saffron stopped, leaving the device inserted, and still holding her hair.  Miryala walked in front of her.  “You seem to be the ringleader here.  What are you doing, what is your purpose here?”

Again, the mercenary wouldn’t speak.  Miryala nodded to Saffron, who responded by removing the large dildo from the mercenaries hair pussy and positioning it against the tighter hole above.  “I suggest you tell me what I need to know,” said Miryala.  Again, silence.  

Miryala wasn’t sure she actually wanted to be party to what happened next, as Saffron needed no more cues from her before inserting the leather-clad shaft into her former captor’s backside.  Giuliana screeched, and cried.  She seemed to be in terrible pain.  Miryala wanted to stop it, but was afraid to deny Saffron revenge.  Niniane looked away.  Maybe this hadn’t been a good idea after all.
It was Lisabet who put her hands on Saffron’s shoulders and got her to stop.  “That’s enough…enough.”  Saffron sighed.  Layla, however, had grabbed the dark-haired mercenary and was ready to take her turn.  Miryala bit her lip, concerned that this might be a miscarriage of justice.  Layla, however, seemed more intent on deriving pleasure from her former tormentor than revenge.  She was gentler, maybe not less emotional, but her emotions were mixed.  Perhaps she had been in captivity too long.  Perhaps this mercenary’s black hour and hourglass figure was too enchanting and she had obsessed about her.  No one knew.  But it was over in relatively short order, with both women panting and bucking, perhaps the cum that rolled down their thighs belonged to both of them.  Miryala decided this was not a good time to interrogate her.

Lisabet walked over behind Serana, the last of the mnercenaries.  She clearly didn’t approve of this course of action.  “Please, tell them what they need to know.”  Serana was silent, so Lisabet gently inserted the end of the dildo and moved in a gentle, almost halfhearted fashion.  Niniane, sorry she suggested the whole thing, especially considering how Saffron’s intense anger had been expressed in a very physical manner, walked over in front of Serana.  “Please, tell us, what are you doing, who are you working for.”  Lisabet stopped, keeping everything in place, as Serana started to speak.  “We’re posted here…a less guarded road.  We raid the caravans, capture prisoners.”   “Don’t tell them anything,” Giuliana yelled.  Serana ignored her, and Lisabet pulled out.  

“When we have enough prisoners, nine, ten, twelve, a cart comes.  It brings them down to the piers…not through the walls, the commercial piers outside city limits.”  “Go on” Miryala encouraged.  Saffron, walked away toward the barn and farmhouse, as if angry that her captors were getting off so lightly.  Everyone ignored her, and turned to what Serana had to say.  
“There are smugglers, pirates.  We ship the prisoners overseas, to be sold in the slave markets.”  “I thought they were your sex slaves,” Niniane protested.  “Well, they are nominally ours, until the cart comes.”  “You’re digging your own grave,” Giuliana warned her companion.  “Enough from you!” Layla responded, with a swift kick in the flank.

“Tell us the ships, the ports, the destinations.”  “There is a loose floorboard in the house, under it is a manifest.”  Miryala left the conversation to find the documents.
Niniane, on the other hand, stayed outside with the mercenaries and their former prisoners.  “What are we going to do with you?  If we let you go, you’ll have the rest of your company after us…”
It was then that Saffron returned with another odd collection of leather straps.  “We turn them in,” she replied, matter-of-factly.  Niniane was surprised with her response, “But…the”  “I know, the corrupt justice system.  But we’re going to teach them a lesson they won’t soon forget!”  
“Haven’t you done enough?” Niniane protested.  Saffron held up a finger, then disappeared into the barn, reappearing with a small wheeled cart, similar to a chariot.

“It’s for two horses, but I think these three cows can pull us back to the capital, where we will lay charges against them.”  Niniane seemed both amused, and concerned.  These prisoners had a right to be vindictive, but Saffron seemed ready to get cruel and unusual in their punishment.  The thought was interrupted as Miryala came running out of the house, waving the manifest.  “I know where to go now!  I know where to look for my people.  And I know how to find the mages that worked with these mercenaries, and the pirates that transported them.”  “Congratulations?” Niniane responded, confused what to say.  “I only need three things now: an army, a ship, and a crew.”
Saffron and Layla had already taken the liberty of starting to harness the mercenaries to the chariot like horses.  Lisabet, still disapproving more than the other two, was standing with her rescuers.  “I think we can help with the second one.  There’s a large reward for capturing these bandits, mercenaries, slavers, whatever you want to call this scum.”  She spat in the general direction of the mercenaries.  “It should be enough for a ship.  If not, assuming our business are intact, we can ‘float’ you the rest of the cost of a small ship.  Especially if you’ll be taking this operation down.”  Saffron overheard and nodded from where she was standing.  

“What about a crew?” Miryala asked.  “We can’t help you there.  We need all the crews we know of to keep commerce flowing.”  Niniane interjected, “The Ripped Bodice—you’ll occasionally find sailors there, though not of the most reputable sort.  You may even be able to recruit some adventurers to help you…although perhaps not an “army.”
“These adventurers better be good!” Miryala said, hopefully.  “Oh, they probably won’t be of the most reputable sort, “ Niniane teased.  As the prisoners say in the cart, Saffron cracked a whip and the mercenaries, bent over as they were, pulled the cart away like horses, but rather slower.

“Serves them right,” Miryala chuckled, forgetting uncomfortable moments a bit earlier.  “Let’s find Alexia and get back to town.”  Inside the house, they found Alexia napping, covered in a thin white curtain.  “Where’d she get that?” Niniane asked.    “I don’t know, but we need it more than she does, she got knocked out and still has all her armor on.”  They plied the curtain away from her.  Niniane produced her knife and cut the curtain into two pieces.  

She wrapped her piece around her body, where it covered from just above her nipples to the top of her thighs.  It was a little too short, and, although she tied the top and the bottom, it had a large opening on her side.  In addition, it was rather see-through, so any careful observer could see the outline of her navel and the shape of her underwear.  Miryalas proportions were only slightly smaller, and she found a similar situation with the size of her portion of the curtain, with the exception that hers had a slit in it, which she placed in the back.

Niniane tapped Alexia on the shoulder.  “Did I miss anything?” came the response.  “Come on, it’s time to go.”  The trip back to town as the sun set was rather uneventful, at least until they came upon the cart pulled by three mercenaries, with three nude merchants riding in the back.
Niniane and Miryala, out of sympathy, offered the curtain cloths to the merchants, and walked back to town in their underwear, enduring catcalls and rude comments, but no more than that, from passersby, because they were usually met with threatening stares from the tall, heavily armored woman by their side.

I have a question, Miryala, if it isn't too forward of me. "Yes?" the elf responded, puzzled.

"I have been told elves don't grown hair on their bodies. Yet, you have hair like a human woman." Niniane pointed to the elf's armpit.

"You've been told wrong. Elves vary just as much as humans do, maybe more. We've been told of elves with smooth, hairless bodies, but we've never seen them where I come from. There are elven groups who perform depilation as part of a ritual bath, and perhaps that's why people think they are hairless. Or perhaps, they're just a different kind of elf."

Niniane nodded, "Thank you for explaining that, I'm sorry if I offended." Miryala laughed, "You gave me a chance to set the record straight about my people. I should thank you."

"So, then, what's with the facepaint?" "OK, NOW you can stop. Maybe I'll tell you some other time, after all of this is over. Or maybe not."

Is anyone reading this thread?  Just curious.

Here are the images that can't go on DeviantArt:

http://img147.imagevenue.com/gallery/loc260/220_1691_EnferiaMercenaries.php

Same files, but with thumbnails.  The images that were safe to put on deviantart have been edited into the previous messages, about where they go.  Alternately, the whole gallery on DeviantArt is here:
http://myds6.deviantart.com/gallery/50370935/Adventure-Mercenaries?offset=24

Those above and beyond the terms of service for that site are below:

Arriving back at the Ripped Bodice, Niniane set Miryala up with a room for a few days. Two days after the affair at the farmhouse, a messenger came to the Inn inviting Miryala to Saffron's mansion, in the heart of the upperclass district. She went up to her quarters, and buckled on her armor and sword. Coming down the stairs, she met Niniane. "Will you need company?" she asked. "I suppose I can manage alone. I promise to share with you any reward I won't require for the task of freeing my people." "May luck be with you," Niniane encouraged.

The walk to the city's upscale district was only as eventful as could be expected. Miryala endured many distrustful looks, some quiet whispers in the shadows, and an occasional shout of some elf-hating drivel or another, always by young ruffians who disappeared into the crowd. As she entered the wealthier parts of the cities, the shouts stopped, but the looks and whispers increased. Arriving at the manor, she was announced by a servant. She bowed as Saffron entered the room. "Ah, my savior, please get up." Miryala stood, but kept her head bowed.

Saffron handed her a small purse, heavy with coin. "That's the city reward for putting an end to the plunder on the outskirts of town, and turning in the guilty parties." She gestured and a servant stepped forward, handing a sealed scroll to the elf. "That's from us, in thanks. Please, look at it."

Miryala carefully broke the seal, and moving closer to a nearby candle, unrolled the parchement. "It's a deed for a ship--thank you." "Not just any ship, the Harbour Cloud, she's a fast Cog, one of the best merchant ships that sails into Enferian waters. And she comes with a captain; with Vida's guidance, she'll blow over the seas like a cloud or a fog. May she serve you well, in your current task, and beyond."

"Thank you, great lady, I don't know what to say." "Call me Saffron. After what you did for us, it's the very least we could have done."

A day later, Miryala went down to the harbor to see her new ship and meet its captain.

"Ayyy!" called a leather clad mariner whose clothes seemed a little to nice for hauling ropes or scrubbing decks. "You're the elf I'm supposed to meet."

"Miryala. Proud new owner of the Harbor Cloud." "Yes, congratulations," the mariner said quickly, adding, "You may own 'er but she goes nowhere without me. A condition of the transfer contract." Miryala simply nodded, "I'm Miryala," she repeated, trying to provoke a proper response. The curtsied in an exaggerated, nearly comical fashion, "Captain Vida, at your service. Come on, I'll show you the ropes."

Miryala followed Vida down a long pier, where an old-fashioned Cog was tied up. The ship didn't represent the current height of sailing technology, or that of three decades ago for that matter. It had more than a little wear and tear.

"Welcome, to the Harbor Cloud, the fastest Merchant ship in these waters."


"She's seen better days...and you don't look like a merchant captain," said Miryala, walking down the gangplank.

"Well, 'aven't we all? Ms. Saffron's messengers didn't tell me why you need 'er, but, from the looks of you, I doubt you're trying to get into the merchant business. No offense intended, but I know precious few elven merchants of note, and none who wear that much armor. If you adn't seen better days than these, you wouldn't need me or the Cloud."

"A fair point, but you're evading my question."

"I am, um, most recently a merchant captain." Vida walked to the center of the deck and gestured as if she was trying to sell someone a used ship. "I was on the seas for some years before that, so, I have--other sailing experience."

"Let me guess, Enferian Navy?" Miryala laughed.

"Well, there it is," the captain answered, turning to face her again, "I might have engaged in a little privateering, but those days are behind me now. Think hard about the skills you want in a captain and decide if that makes me unfit. No matter what you decide, I'm part of your contract with Lady Saffron. I'm with the ship until I choose to retire."

"Calm down, Captain," said Miryala, "I have no intention of firing you. But if we can't be honest with one another, how can I trust you with the life of my crew? Besides, perhaps your knowledge from those previous jobs is an asset."

"'Course it is. That's why Lady Saffron and the Merchant's Guild hired me. Who better to avoid attacks at sea than someone who knows how to launch such an attack? That brings us to the issue of crew. You speak like you have one?"

"Not as such; my companions are canvassing the Ripped Bodice for sailors and adventurers."

"One more thing then: I get final say who sails with us. Perhaps you can never tell who you can trust, but there are many that you can tell you can't. Let me have final say over who comes."

"For sailors, I will allow you this, for adventurers, I will listen to your advice, but the final decision is mine." Vida seemed pleased, spat in her hand, and offered it to the elf. Miryala raised an eyebrow. "To seal the deal," the Captain explained. "Uhhh, just trust me on this one." Miryala said, a disgusted look on her face.

Looking away casually, and pretending to secure some ropes, Vida continued, "So it's time to tell me what we're up to. We're in this together and need to choose suitable companions."

Miryala gestured to a pair of barrels, and she and Vida sat side by side as she told her the story of her village, and how one day she returned to find everyone missing or dead, except for a child who had been hiding., and told her what happened.

Vida's face darkened. "Where is this child now." "Safe with distant relatives." Miryala continued her tale of meeting Alexia and Niniane, tracking down the Mercenaries, and discovering how they had been capturing people, mostly merchants, travelling a deserted road, and shipping them overseas as slaves. when she produced the manifest she had found in the farmhouse, Vida gestured to hand it over.

Flipping quickly through its pages, Vida frowned. "I know some of these ships, and I know where we'll have to go. But I can't tell you where they took your people for sale. There are nearly a dozen ports of call here."

"Then we have to find the ship that took them." "I think I can do that. I'm not sure how easy it will be to get the information, we might have to board a few ships until we find someone who knows and who'll talk. We need to become hunters of hunters. I'll make some quiet inquiries from old friends. Meet me at the Bodice tomorrow night. Perhaps then we'll have some crew to interview."

Miryala took back the manifest and nodded, "until then, Captain."

((Sorry to fill up Alexia's thread so much, going to continue this over on the adventure forums--still a bit preliminary, because I don't want to make too much competing content now that we've got the Arena stuff rolling again!))