by Reed James
“He's escaping!” Iris gasped.
“Let him,” I panted, unable to see. “We have the Priestess. We can interrogate her. Find out what's going on.”
“Indeed,” said Kulri. “My spell will keep her unconscious until she takes damage or several minutes have elapsed.”
Just then, a surge of experience shot through me. We had won the battle. Everyone gasped around me as we went from Level 10 to Level 11. My fingers flexed. A new skill unlocked in my mind, Shield of Faith. It let me put a bubble around someone and give them 5 seconds of immunity from damage.
It also meant the battle was over.
The smoke cleared as Maria gushed in delight. She must like her ability. Even Éjyona had leveled up to 11 with us. She approached through the mist, her rifle slung over her shoulder. The halfling had a big smile on her lips.
“That was exciting,” she said.
“Exciting?” Dëshoma gasped. “That is a most inaccurate description of the heart-pounding fray that we didst find ourselves embroiled in, Lady Halfling.”
“She's a formal one,” Éjyona nodded.
“It's her charm,” I said, smiling at Dëshoma as her wimple-wrapped face appeared out of the mist.
“Marcus Aurelius, the Priestess is missing,” Kulri said.
I glanced down at my feet and groaned. She was right. There was no sign of the woman at all. “Guess that bastard doesn't abandon friends.”
“Only so long as they believe the same lies,” muttered Éjyona.
Chapter Four: Hints of Corruption
Twist
“Rūzem's greasy touch!” Twist groaned as she felt the tingle coming from the other party members.
She gained experience, but not as much as they had. She was too far away, only getting half of what they gained through the group's bond. Which meant while she was paying off her debts, they had found a fight.
And fights meant loot.
“Khah's loud fart!” she spat out and burst into a trot.
With her good Perception stat, a secondary stat made of Dexterity and Intelligence, she noticed the commotion. People were pointing down an alley. Twist pushed through the crowd, her scaled breasts jiggling in the leather straps she wore.
The humans parted out of her away, muttering, “Shardhunter,” in equal parts awe and curses. She didn't care. Annoyance twisted at her. She had been too far away to feel her party's condition. She was sensing them now. They were close, all at full health from the level up.
“Can't believe I missed out on the level,” she hissed, her words coming out sibilant, her S's almost Z's.
She reached the alley mouth to find them searching through the garb of five dead bodies. Four were clearly Rogues of some sort, maybe Thieves like herself. The other was a Mage. Kulri picked up the staff, examining it while Iris muttered something, identifying it.
“What happened?” Twist demanded as she strode up.
“Ambushed by followers of Pushijer,” said a halfling who looked up. Her brow knitted. “Is she with you, Marcus?”
“Are you with him, runt?” Twist spat, more irritation rippling through her. Followers of a God of Light attacked Marcus and the others?
“Jealous that once he tries the tightness of halfling twat he won't want to slide into a dragonborn's used cavern?” she shot right back, giving Twist a deadly look while brandishing her gun.
A smile split Twist lips. “You got fire.”
The halfling winked her metallic-red eye.
“You two want to go off and fuck each other?” Marcus asked, his gaze sliding from Twist to the halfling and then back to the dragonborn Thief.
“Want to watch us?” Twist asked. “Want to watch me lick her sweet pussssy?”
Marcus grinned. “Fucking hell, I do.”
“Fucking... hell...” The halfling glanced at him.
“He swears funny,” Twist explained. “He's from some backward end of the world. They don't know much in whatever mud-splattered village kicked his ass out.”
But the halfling studied Marcus intently. Does she know something about his origins? Twist realized, shocked that where Marcus was from could be important to anyone.
“So, you got in a scrap with some rogues and a mage.”
“Followers of Pushijer,” the halfling said.
“These miscreants could not be a follower of the God of Protection,” Dëshoma said, putting far, far too many words and syllables into her sentences. “Surely they were servants of Aphounga, Goddess of War, or Īwheda, Goddess of Crime. That feyborn priestess could not have served one of the Gods of Light for surely her soul is blackened and twist ere she wouldst not have attacked our stalwart leader.”
The halfling bent down and twisted the dead mage to show the tattoo of a diamond with inward bowing curves to the lines. Pushijer's symbol.
“Then this must have been a grave misunderstanding that did lead them to attack Marcus,” Dëshoma said.
“You mean ambush me,” muttered Marcus. “I followed that armored bastard right into getting stabbed in the back by that cunt.” He thumbed at the dead rogue who wasn't scorched. “Then these other three ganked me.”
“Ganked?” Maria asked, voicing Twist's question.
“Luckily, Éjyona lent her assistance.”
“You doth have my most heartfelt and sincere thanks for coming to the aid of mine lord and lover,” Dëshoma said, bowing to the halfling.
“Yes, how fortunate you just happened to be around to intervene,” Twist said in an offhanded fashion.
Marcus's brow knitted with sudden suspicion.
“Nothing surprising about it,” Éjyona said. “I've been following them. I am—was!—a follower of Pushijer.” She held out her wrist. The same tattoo was inked into her flesh. “I grew disillusioned with their greed and broke from them.”
“Told you priests were corrupt, Dëshoma,” Twist said, smirking at the pale-faced Cleric.
The light around Dëshoma dimmed. Worry tightened her brow.
“When I heard that some of my former friends wanted a Shardhunter dead, well, I thought it would be worth it to keep tabs on them,” Éjyona explained. “Anyone they wanted to kill might just be a friend I need to make.”
“Why would they want me dead?” Marcus muttered. “I just came... I mean, I've never been to this city. I've never left my home before a few days ago.”
“Well, they're not going to stop. The Blue-Plumed Warrior isn't one to give up. He has a reputation. I could stick around.” Éjyona shouldered her gun. “Watch your back.”
Marcus glanced at Twist.
The Thief shrugged.
“You did help save Marcus,” Maria said. “I mean, it's your decision, Marcus, but I'm fine with it.”
“She hast proven herself to be stalwart to join the fight with thee against such uneven numbers with no hope of reinforcements arriving,” Dëshoma said.
Too many words, Twist thought, rolling her eyes.
“Do as you please, Marcus Aurelius,” Kulri added.
“Yes. Let's go shop. We have loot from these mooks to spend plus the other dungeons. I need some new gear.”
“Perhaps a top that is more than a pair of belts, Twist,” Dëshoma said with a light touch.
Twist smiled.
* * / *
We began shopping for equipment in earnest now. We found ourselves at the tailor's first. Dëshoma and Kulri were browsing robes and habits, skirts and stockings for the perfect armor to fit them. All under the watch of a brawny human with more body hair than I could imagine.
“I sewed that one with the softest silk,” he rumbled as Kulri examined a blue robe for a mage. “I coated each thread in glacial ice. That will add cold damage to any arcane spell you cast through it with a chance to freeze them. Quite proud of that. My fingers went numb sewing it.”
The elf nodded. She didn't seem to find anything to rival her top, that delicious pink that showed off her hard nipples. I couldn't wait to try out her milk one day. I bet I co
uld just suckle forever from her big boobs.
“If you are looking just for stockings and panties to match your current top, lady elf, I have some delightful pink thigh-highs and garter over here. I wove the stockings from light silk, practically spun the hosiery out.”
“Please, show me,” the elf said to the brawny tailor.
I had a hard time imagining him doing anything dainty.
“Oh, my,” Dëshoma said, stroking a skirt of purple. It fluttered as she moved it. The fabric looked so light and had a strange shimmer to it.
“I wove spellthread into that one,” the tailor said as he showed Kulri the hosiery. “See how it shines through as it moves. It'll increase the range of your spells as well as let you cast a touch spell at range.”
“My compliments, Master Tailor, for these art a work of beauty that I would be greatly honored to wear.”
“As would I if you donned them, Priestess,” answered the tailor. He scratched at a hairy arm. Even his knuckles bristled.
In the end, Dëshoma purchased her Fluttering Purple Silk Skirt. She bought a matching Purple Silk Habit. It offered more defense than her cotton one. She vanished into a changing room. When she emerged she was swathed in purple now. The skirt swirled about her thighs, somehow shorter than the red, pleated one she had on before. If she bent over, she'd show off half her ass.
I approved.
The sleeveless habit came with a matching veil she wore draped over her wimple. The top had a diamond cut out in the center that showed off the inner slopes of her round breasts. The right and left points ended right before her areolas. What should have been modest was delightful to behold.
“My Lady Dëshoma, you are as radiant as a purple tulip opening to the world,” I said, sweeping her a bow in my chainmail.
“He's got a flowery tongue,” Éjyona said.
“With Dëshoma,” Twist said, sounding bored. “He's coarse with me and treats the elf like she's just a pet.”
“This elf does not mind,” Kulri said. When she was in a submissive and aroused state, she would start referring to herself as “this elf.”
It always made my dick throb.
Kulri wore pink panties and thigh-high stockings now, the pale cloth matching her robes. She had a sway on her heels as she sauntered to me, her large breasts jiggling. I couldn't help a hungry grin as I stared at her.
“Elf, you are looking fucking sexy. I could bend you over and fuck that cunt right here.”
“If you must relieve your cock, this elf is ready,” Kulri said.
“I want to do more shopping, Marcus,” growled Twist. “You can fuck the whore back at camp.”
“She's not the only one you can bend over,” the halfling said. Éjyona glanced up at me. “Though I have to warn you, no cunt's as tight as a halfling's. Hate to ruin you for all these beauties.”
“I'm willing to take that chance.”
“What if I'm not,” Twist asked, grinning wickedly at the halfling.
“Why would I care. It'll be my pussy getting all the cock.” She stretched. “There's a leather-worker next street over. We can buy Twist some gear that won't make her look like a hooker desperate for cock.”
Twist shot daggers at the halfling. Then she smiled. “You sure that's not the profession for you? If your cunt's so tight, why, you could charge a fortune for all the men lining up to split that slit.”
“I know.” Éjyona sighed. “I would make so much money. But my life has a greater purpose than draining the purses—”
“And balls,” I added.
“And balls,” Éjyona agreed, “of the men of Liberus. They will all have to settle for lizard cunt and elf pussy. It's cruel of me, I know, but what can I do?”
She sauntered out of tailor's.
“Lord Marcus, I find her to be an amusing and delightful member of our party.”
“So delightful,” Twist said and swayed out of the building, her ass hugged tight by the leather panties she wore. “I can't wait to smother her in my tits.”
“What a way to die,” I sighed. “My lady. Maria.” I held out my arms and the two women took them, Maria on my right and Dëshoma on my left. I glanced at the redheaded Duelist. “Let's get you some leather armor as revealing as Twist's.”
“As revealing?” gasped Maria as I led them out of the tailor's.
“Just imagine those perky tits of yours on display with just a pair of straps hiding your nipples,” I said as we stepped out onto the street.
* * / *
Maria du Marne
The leather armor she found wasn't nearly as scandalous as she'd feared. In some ways, it covered more of her body than her metal armor. She was sad to part with her Dazzling Bronze Bikini Breastplate, but a Duelist needed more mobility. She found a Savage Boiled Leather Bikini. It had a fierceness to it thanks to the fringe of rawhide tassels that ran along the bottoms of the brown cups. It lifted her round breasts into two delightful mounds.
Marcus approved.
While wearing it, Maria just felt more mobile. More able to deal additional damage with all her hits. It was savage, imbuing her with a fierceness that had her strutting around for a few minutes in it, swaying as she walked on her knee-high, heeled boots.
“Looking good!” Marcus said, his handsome face breaking with lust. Then he put his fingers in his mouth and whistled at her.
A wicked tingle went through her.
To replace her chainmail loincloth, she went with a Boiled Leather Thong. While it covered more of her flesh in the front than her loincloth, it hid none of her butt-cheeks. Her toned ass was on display as the strip of leather ran down her crack. It held no special properties, but it was Level 10, so an upgrade in theory.
She had less defense wearing higher-level gear. But she could make use of her increased dodge. She didn't need to mitigate hits with protection if she never took a blow. It was a theory she was eager to put into practice.
Twist, on the other hand, found another set of straps to wear for armor. Maria arched an eyebrow at the crimson straps of boiled leather that crisscrossed her chest. They almost blended in with her scales, save the pink belly scales that covered her large breasts. She had her shurikens thrust through the loops on her new top, though only on the portions that didn't cover her heaving tits.
“I don't want to obscure the view,” Twist said, seeing Dëshoma's judging eyes. “Got to give our party leader some eye-candy. After all, I'm competing with the elf.”
Kulri looked up from her contemplation and fixed an unreadable gaze on the dragonborn Thief. Maria's cheeks warmed for the elf. Having her nipples displayed for anyone to see was so embarrassing. She couldn't believe anyone could do that.
The Dragonbreath Boiled Leather Straps that Twist purchased would add fire damage to all her physical attacks and let her breathe flames once per day. It fit her. She also found a magical pair of panties. Silenced Boiled Leather Thong would let her maintain her Stealth longer, staying invisible so she could move into position to deliver a devastating sneak attack.
Éjyona browsed, but the halfling already had Level 10 gear on and the shop didn't have any Level 11.
At the weapon shop, Maria found an Iron Parry Dagger. It was a perfect off-hand weapon. She didn't need a bulky shield any longer, but having a bit more block wouldn't be amiss. She picked it up, and the long, thin dagger with a crossguard hilt felt natural in her hand. She drew her Black Iron Rapier, falling into her new fighting stance. The thong felt so natural now. It allowed her legs the maximum amount of movement, not restricting her body at all.
“Fuck, that is hot,” Marcus said, standing behind her. “Makes me just want to bend you over.”
“Marcus!” she gasped, straightening out of her stance, a pleased blush spilling across her cheeks. “Not here.”
Maria liked obeying her party leader. It just felt so right to submit to him in any way. She didn't know how she would ever explain this portion of her life when it was over, but for now, she had to do this to save
her village.
Not because sliding her pussy down Marcus's cock was the best thing in the world.
Marcus didn't buy a new weapon, his ax was Level 10, but he did find an Iron Kite Shield. It was a heavier class than the round shield he'd been using. Becoming a Paladin meant he would be upgrading to heavier armor.
We're moving in opposite directions, she thought. I'm going down the Dexterity Path and he chose its opposite, Faith. I wonder why? He never seemed religious.
“You look so inspiring wielding that brawny shield, Lord Marcus,” Dëshoma cooed. Her golden aura pulsed with light. “It makes mine knees weak with kindled desire.”
“We'll take care of that when we're finished, won't we?” he asked.
“I truly hope so, my Lord,” she breathed. “For mine sex is quivering for thy skilled and knowing touch.”
“Yeah,” Maria said, her leather panties hugging her pussy.
Twist replaced her bronze shurikens with iron ones. Maria thought they looked ugly compared to the bright orange-gold ones she used to have.
They found an accessory shop next, run by a tall and motley dressed changeling. She seemed to be wearing different colored scarfs artfully tied about her body to hide the naughty bits and reveal everything else. She had hair the color of pink, one of her parents a full-blooded fey who had enjoyed a mortal.
Marcus found himself an Iron Titan's Belt that increased his strength and once a day could make him immune to the next hit. Made of woven chains, it fit perfectly about his waist.
Maria chose a Flash Bright Ring that would help her resist being blinded. In addition, it could blind an enemy for a short time once per day.
Kulri donned an Armband of Angelic Spirit. The dainty ring of gold fit about her upper arm and gave her a boost to her total MP.
Dëshoma purchased two things. The first was a holy book that would let her channel her miracles with more efficacy. The Book of Renewal was a pink, leather-bound book with a flower stamped on the front. It would boost her healing. The other item were Swift Stiletto Heels. Maria thought Dëshoma looked elegant in them. They were made of white swan feathers and cupped her dainty feet. She could move faster, letting her cross the battlefield and help deal out her healing.