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Mature Content

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For the several weeks, Red and Raven made their way south towards the fabled city of Ratammav. Time passed quickly however, with their days usually full of combat or traversing the harsh environment and their nights filled with passionate love-making. The two warriors could barely keep their hands off of each other, enjoying the feel of their hard, sweaty flesh pressed close and the taste of their lips as they crushed together. Between Red’s incredible strength and swordsmanship and Raven’s wondrous gifts of flight and invulnerability, the two amazonian warriors made swift work of many foes and bizarre creatures until at last the road began to turn from a winding dirt path to one of cobbled stones. The air became hotter as they made their way ever closer to Ratammav. The land began to take on a dry, parched look. Trees that were once plentiful gave way to scrub-land and then finally to desert. The oppressive heat seemed to pale in comparison to the great bronze walls of the city as it came into view, heat radiating off of it in a haze. Merchants, pilgrims and others of all sizes, dress and ethnicity began to choke the road heading towards the city, some on horseback but most on ragged feet. As they rode forward, Red’s expression became grim while Raven looked up at the mighty walls with her jaw open.


“It is so large!” she exclaimed, “Have you been here before Red?”


“Once, but that was a long time ago, before Zbavra .”


“Who is this Zbavra?”


Red glanced over the crowd around them before she spoke. She didn’t see any of the Queen’s soldiers and decided to continue. It wasn’t that she was afraid to speak her mind about the Queen at all, but to have something overheard and reach the ears of Zbavra might cause a complication earlier than she would have liked.


“Zbavra was an impressive warrior from the East who earned her gold as an adventurer and later as a sellsword for hire. Soon she had enough money hoarded to form her own mercenary company and began working for warlords and kings, sometimes switching sides in the middle of a battle if the pay was good enough. At some point she began to meddle in the dark arts, becoming a powerful sorceress in addition to her formidable martial abilities. It was then that she marched here and conquered the city, putting the entire royal family to the pyre and declaring herself Queen of Ratammav.”


“Is that why you are seeking her for revenge?” Raven asked.


Red shook her head slowly, tossing a red lock over her eye. “Revenge? No. Justice. The king and his family were good people. They did not deserve such a fate, let alone one as terrible as being burned alive. The people here also suffer, subject to her whims and desires. She is a cold, ruthless and heartless woman and I intend to put an end to her.”


“And I will help you.” Raven said smiling, placing a hand firmly on Red’s shoulder.


“First we have to meet my wizard friend and find out what the situation is here. He will be able to perhaps give us a way into the palace and I am of course hopeful that he can help you as well my dear, sweet friend.” Red replied, taking hold of Raven’s hand as she held Goliath’s reigns tight with the opposite one.


“What is his name? Where can we find him?”


“Once we pass through the main gates, we turn towards the marketplace and from there we turn left towards the slums. That is where my friend has been hiding and I hope to the Gods he is still here. His name is Emmeric.”


As Red and Raven passed through the massive, green and gold bronze gates into the city, flanked on all sides by travelers both coming and going, they both took notice of the city guard. They were all lean, well-muscled men wearing leather armor and helmets, riveted with iron studs. They carried wooden shields emblazoned with a coiled black serpent or dragon of sorts and were armed with pikes and short swords. Upon entering, the two rode on towards the marketplace, passing structures made of sun dried clay bricks, covered with clay or plaster, with thatched roofs. Many larger buildings or those owned by the wealthier of Ratammav, were built of stone and plastered with tile roofing. Ahead of them, thick plumes of smoke filled the horizon. The marketplace was bustle of activity, with merchants from all over the known world selling everything from fruits, meats and fabrics, to products of silver and gold, to weapons and everything in between. The majority of people gathering here were gazing at several tall, burning pyres made of wood and straw. Dozens of skeletons and charred corpses were buried in the middle of these pyres, their arms outstretched, jaws open in terror, trying desperately to escape just before the flames consumed them. There was a significant military presence here keeping order at this macabre spectacle. As Raven looked on in horror at the blazing towers of wood and bone, Red pointed her direction to the side.


Standing on a raised dais with a stone throne perched in the center, watching the burning pyres was the Queen herself. She was an impressively physical looking woman, clad in black leather armor and an imposing helmet. Icily beautiful in a way, her armor was designed to show off her flesh and distract as much as it protected. Almost as large of the woman herself was the sword she held at her side, a massive weapon that seemed to be etched with designs depicting moaning, tortured faces and cackling demons. Raven couldn’t help by wonder if the etching were just by design of a master blacksmith or something much more sinister. A chill ran up her spine as she looked back at Red, whose gaze at the warrior queen was less one of awe and more of pure anger. Her brows knit together and it almost took physical effort to pull her eyes off the Queen and back over to Raven.


“Follow me this way; I’ll lead you to Emmeric now.”


“Who were those people she was having burned alive?” Raven asked in a low voice as they lead their horses down a side road.


“The last of her victims.” Red answered solemnly.


To be continued....

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A massive thanks to the sensation that is and letting me us his iconic character Red the Paladin.

Artwork created by who is just amazing!

Dark Dragon made the sword model. Game it came from is Darksiders.
Model Link www.renderosity.com/mod/freest…

Soviet Superwoman and Zbavra are my creations and property.