The Demons of Watchwood Forest 2

[Harri-chan]

Ginny's sword remained at her side as she came to a stop at the foot of the bed, gazing at the boar woman with a worried look in her blue eyes. "So what if I liked it... ", she blushed. "It doesn't matter how many kisses we share... you're evil, and I WILL slay you before I leave this place... ", she said, shifting her weight from one foot to another, starting to look uncomfortable in armour that had looked much too heavy for such a slim girl in the first place.

[Blindsense]

Gol nods. "Right. Wasted too much O' tha day anyways." With that he turns and marches off through the streets, parting the crowd in his wake. With his back turned, the mage could see a large warhammer strapped to Gol's back... radiating the unmistakable aura of enchantment. An old and powerful one, by the looks of it.

Nergal arches an eyebrow at the sight of this rather impressive weapon. He covers a short incantation with the rouse of a cough, casting a simple interpretation cantrip to identify the sort of enchantment placed on the fierce-looking warhammer. "Ah, yes. Can't be wasting too much time, sir."

[Blaze]

James sighs and nods before finishing his meal and wiping his fingers on the grass.

"Can we expect more attacks during the night?"

[Vomica]

Glancing around for a moment, Ovvar takes the sights of the noble's district in. There lays the Arena... his destination in sight. But first... first he gathers information! The man peers around the street... looking for any signs of homeless, beggars, or vagabonds. They tend to know more information then the average citizen. And are more willing to talk. Heck. He'd settle for an urchin. If he can't find any, he walks to the Arena with a flourish... but only if he can't find anyone.

[Knight Errant]

Ginny's sword remained at her side as she came to a stop at the foot of the bed, gazing at the boar woman with a worried look in her blue eyes. "So what if I liked it... ", she blushed. "It doesn't matter how many kisses we share... you're evil, and I WILL slay you before I leave this place... ", she said, shifting her weight from one foot to another, starting to look uncomfortable in armour that had looked much too heavy for such a slim girl in the first place.

The demon smirks and scoots to the side of the bed, looking up at Ginny. "Then how about just one more... then you can slay me if you want..." Her smile widens as she stands up... suddenly quite close to Ginny. The demoness's sweet smell quickly begins to rekindle Ginny's lust, as she reaches out... beginning to lightly caress the Paladin. Where she touches, the armor softens... turning into white cloth.

Nergal arches an eyebrow at the sight of this rather impressive weapon. He covers a short incantation with the rouse of a cough, casting a simple interpretation cantrip to identify the sort of enchantment placed on the fierce-looking warhammer. "Ah, yes. Can't be wasting too much time, sir."

The enchantment is quite difficult to identify... but he can tell the primary quality is phasing. The hammer head seems to exist in several dimensions at once. If Gol notices this he says nothing... pushing through the crowds as they near the gates to the Nobles District.

James sighs and nods before finishing his meal and wiping his fingers on the grass.

"Can we expect more attacks during the night?"

"No... unless we are quite unlucky. I'd get some sleep if you could." A few of the travelers seem to be doing just that. The Wardens show no sign of drowsiness.

Glancing around for a moment, Ovvar takes the sights of the noble's district in. There lays the Arena... his destination in sight. But first... first he gathers information! The man peers around the street... looking for any signs of homeless, beggars, or vagabonds. They tend to know more information then the average citizen. And are more willing to talk. Heck. He'd settle for an urchin. If he can't find any, he walks to the Arena with a flourish... but only if he can't find anyone.

Perhaps not surprisingly, there are few beggars, homeless, or vagabonds in the Nobles District. He does find an old man in a slightly tattered, faded robe sitting on a stone bench by a fountain... He gazes at the pool, constantly being filled by stone maidens, seemingly lost in thought.

[Harri-chan]

Ginny let out a little groan as the Demon got to her feet and came closer. She tried to fight the growing lust within, but it overcame her as she felt her regal armour begin to crumple into soft white cloth around her, releasing her sword in suprise, it clattered to the floor beside her feet. "Maybe one more...", she whispered breathlessly, one delicate hand sweeping the loose blonde hair from her face, brushing it across the top of her head as she stared into the eyes of the boar lady.

[Vomica]

Perhaps not surprisingly, there are few beggars, homeless, or vagabonds in the Nobles District. He does find an old man in a slightly tattered, faded robe sitting on a stone bench by a fountain... He gazes at the pool, constantly being filled by stone maidens, seemingly lost in thought.

Ovvar is instantly enthralled. ...who is this man? He is clearly a local, and is old, so has been around for a while. Striding gracefully across the cobblestone road, or dirt if it is, he takes a seat on the bench. Careful not to disturb the old man until he is seated, Ovvar waits for a few moments. Finally he says in a soft voice, "...Excuse me sir."

[Blaze]

James nods and removes his coat before lying down, using it as a blanket. He slows his breathing to make it look like he's sleeping, but remains wide awake.

[Blindsense]

The enchantment is quite difficult to identify... but he can tell the primary quality is phasing. The hammer head seems to exist in several dimensions at once. If Gol notices this he says nothing... pushing through the crowds as they near the gates to the Nobles District.

Hmm... Interesting. This man seemed formidable indeed - he'd have to watch himself around this man, at least as far as his magic was concerned. It certainly wasn't a good idea to make him angry... While Nergal was confident that he could take the man one-on-one, magical hammer or no, he really didn't want to make a scene. He remains silent the rest of the way to the Nobles District.

[Knight Errant]

Ginny let out a little groan as the Demon got to her feet and came closer. She tried to fight the growing lust within, but it overcame her as she felt her regal armour begin to crumple into soft white cloth around her, releasing her sword in suprise, it clattered to the floor beside her feet. "Maybe one more...", she whispered breathlessly, one delicate hand sweeping the loose blonde hair from her face, brushing it across the top of her head as she stared into the eyes of the boar lady.

The Demon continues caressing the Paladin, teasing her lust to greater and greater heights. Soon her armor has dissolved into a simple white dress, low cut and tight against her curves. The Demoness herself begins changing, her dark purple hair lightening into red. Her horns drawing into her forehead, her skin turning peach colored... if still a bit pale and flawlessly smooth. Her dark leather outfit rippling out into a cascade of red silk as it turns into a dress. Her nails become polished ruby red... but still remain long and razor sharp.

Soon she looks like a human woman... a stunningly beautiful human woman. She smiles at Ginny. "Kiss me, sweet Paladin..." Her voice remains the same... retaining its enchanting, seductive tones.

Ovvar is instantly enthralled. ...who is this man? He is clearly a local, and is old, so has been around for a while. Striding gracefully across the cobblestone road, or dirt if it is, he takes a seat on the bench. Careful not to disturb the old man until he is seated, Ovvar waits for a few moments. Finally he says in a soft voice, "...Excuse me sir."

The old man turns from his solitary introspection, looking to Ovvar. He sees a pair of bright, sharp eyes speaking of intelligence not dulled with age, but cultivated. Under his curly white beard can be seen the lines of a strong face, graced with one or two thin white lines. Scars from battles long past.

He seems to think for a moment, then. "Yes, child... what is it you seek?"

James nods and removes his coat before lying down, using it as a blanket. He slows his breathing to make it look like he's sleeping, but remains wide awake.

The camp remains quiet for a time... the faint sounds of some falling into feigned or non-feigned sleep entering the air. Finally, what looks like the leader of the party of merchants turns to one of the Wardens. "So... what is it you want to do about the lad, there?" He nods his head towards James.

The Warden glances towards him, looks back to the merchant, then replies. "Nothing... The Watchwoods will swallow him whole. There is nothing to be done."

The merchant raises an eyebrow. "How do you know that? I mean he seems able to fight..."

The Warden shakes his head. "No... he is marked. Those raging souls did not come across us by chance. They were drawn to him. Had he not come across us... We would have had a peaceful night. And no doubt the poor lad would have been torn asunder."

The merchant's eyes go wide. "Are you sure of this...? And shouldn't he be told?" He glances back to James.

The Warden humphs. "The foreigners Arleigh invited to the Watchwoods are not of our concern. Marked or not... if the boy knew not about what he would face under the boughs of the Watchwoods he has no business to be here." He falls silent after that.

Hmm... Interesting. This man seemed formidable indeed - he'd have to watch himself around this man, at least as far as his magic was concerned. It certainly wasn't a good idea to make him angry... While Nergal was confident that he could take the man one-on-one, magical hammer or no, he really didn't want to make a scene. He remains silent the rest of the way to the Nobles District.

Soon they are tromping through the streets of the Nobles District! The Arena entering their view. Gol seems to look at the Nobles with disdain, muttering. "'Nobles.' Hah! Noble my left arse cheek. I come from a true noble house. We dont sit around in plush houses behind stone walls when tha kingdom is being gnawed on by Spirits. When a call goes out what needs some killin done... tha house a Bloodhammer answers! Haha!" He picks up his pace, eagerly heading to the Arena.

[Harri-chan]

Ginny glanced down, the white dress squeezing her breasts, pushing them together and presenting them to the Demon. She blushed, as without the heavy armour, her slim and dainty figure was revealed, a far less fearsome sight. Her head shook slightly in disbelief as the watched the boar features being replaced by those of a beautiful, human woman. As if this wasn't hard enough to resist, the woman's hair was red, which had always been Ginny's favourite. She reached up, her fingers softly stroking the red hair as the red silk dress formed around the woman and her long, sharp nails became red to match.

Ginny's knees felt weak as she was commanded to kiss the seductress, both her hands reaching to play with that gorgeous hair as she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to those of the other woman, kissing her eagerly.

[Vomica]

Ovvar shows the signs of having lived on the streets and having survived off from the wilderness for years, but nothing compared to this man. Finding himself in slight awe, he bows his head is slow respect... it's a subconscious gesture. Even if this man is just a common beggar, he still has seen all life has to offer. Pick his head back up, and fixing the tilt of his hat, Ovvar asks the man "...knowledge. Information. I seek answers..."

[Blindsense]

Soon they are tromping through the streets of the Nobles District! The Arena entering their view. Gol seems to look at the Nobles with disdain, muttering. "'Nobles.' Hah! Noble my left arse cheek. I come from a true noble house. We dont sit around in plush houses behind stone walls when tha kingdom is being gnawed on by Spirits. When a call goes out what needs some killin done... tha house a Bloodhammer answers! Haha!" He picks up his pace, eagerly heading to the Arena.

"A wise philosophy, sir," Nergal agrees earnestly as the two approach the arena. He examines the massive structure, smiling a bit. "It's... Rather impressive."

[Blaze]

James's eyes widen! At least they would if he wasn't keeping them closed. So he was marked was he? Well then, he was just going to have to stick with the Warden until he reached town. And if he had to use force to get the merchants out of the way, so be it.

For the first time, he pondered that he might be in over his head, but it was too late to worry about that.

[Knight Errant]

Ginny glanced down, the white dress squeezing her breasts, pushing them together and presenting them to the Demon. She blushed, as without the heavy armour, her slim and dainty figure was revealed, a far less fearsome sight. Her head shook slightly in disbelief as the watched the boar features being replaced by those of a beautiful, human woman. As if this wasn't hard enough to resist, the woman's hair was red, which had always been Ginny's favourite. She reached up, her fingers softly stroking the red hair as the red silk dress formed around the woman and her long, sharp nails became red to match.

Ginny's knees felt weak as she was commanded to kiss the seductress, both her hands reaching to play with that gorgeous hair as she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to those of the other woman, kissing her eagerly.

The woman smiles, her lips readily kissing back as her arms wrap around Ginny... pulling her close. The paladin feels a rush of ecstasy flooding her... and a faint feeling of being drained. Slowly, Ginny begins shrinking, her curves pulling inwards. But its hard to notice, on the rush she is on. Plus the demoness is quite capable of keeping her attention... especially as her beauty begins increasing. The woman's breasts and hips begin to swell larger, her hair growing longer as both it and her skin become even smoother and silkier.

Ovvar shows the signs of having lived on the streets and having survived off from the wilderness for years, but nothing compared to this man. Finding himself in slight awe, he bows his head is slow respect... it's a subconscious gesture. Even if this man is just a common beggar, he still has seen all life has to offer. Pick his head back up, and fixing the tilt of his hat, Ovvar asks the man "...knowledge. Information. I seek answers..."

The old man smiles. "Good lad, wise beyond your years." He looks away, up towards the Arena. "Tis obvious why you have come to the Watchwoods... but is it obvious to you?" He looks back to Ovvar. "Wondered, have you... why a province like Watchwood, thick with warriors and those which practice the Old Magic, called out to foreigners to save them in their time of need?"

"A wise philosophy, sir," Nergal agrees earnestly as the two approach the arena. He examines the massive structure, smiling a bit. "It's... Rather impressive."

Gol nods. "Aye that it is. One thing this blasted district got right. 'Course it was built back at tha foundin. Overwatch people hadnt the time to get soft yet." He strides forward, past the statues flanking the entrance... they are of warriors of Watchwood's history. Names famous not only in local history, but all across the empire. It seems at least once a generation a warrior would emerge from the Watchwoods to go on to do great and amazing things. Leaders of armies... solitary wanderers... famous duelists... Watchwood had produced all kinds.

Oddly, the oldest statue is nothing but an empty plinth. And unlike at the rest of the statues, the brazier at this one lies cold and unlit. Gol regards it with more than usual disdain, muttering something dark. The Arena itself is spartan, like most things of Watchwood. Sturdy but graceful stone arches rising in a ring until they tower above the rooftops. Torches mounted in the arches, now unlit, but ready to light the Arena in darkness.

James's eyes widen! At least they would if he wasn't keeping them closed. So he was marked was he? Well then, he was just going to have to stick with the Warden until he reached town. And if he had to use force to get the merchants out of the way, so be it.

For the first time, he pondered that he might be in over his head, but it was too late to worry about that.

After that the camp is quiet... the rest of the merchants holding for one or two insomniacs finally going to sleep. The rest of the night is tense... but uneventful. And as the rays of dawn begin breaking through the trees, the merchants and Wardens begin to break camp. One of them heads over to James, shaking him by the shoulder. "Up and at 'em. The suns out... and so are we. Daylights much too precious ta be wastin on sleep."