The Trial of the Champion

[freeko]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

Lindsay would enter into what was possibly the room where the priest of the temple resides. There was little visibility as the room was dark and filled with smoke making for a very foggy atmosphere in the room. A male figure would emerge from the foggy haze and start to speak. His words would mark her as a catalyst of destiny. Seemingly both the destiny of her own and those around her were affected. The robed figure would start to circle around Lindsay, was he trying to simply check her out for himself up close?

Resuming his monologue, he would start to warn Lindsay that people may well try to manipulate her and her choices so that they lead Lindsay down their path instead of the true path intended for her. As he would finish he ended with a question, at which time upon completion Lindsay would be beset upon by 3 females that were dancing around while moving in her general direction.

"If my future is my own, then I would like to know what my true enemy to overcome is?" Lindsay would stop there as she was starting to focus more on the women dancing around her than of the question asked to her. She had originally come here seeking the knowledge of finding the Lich that had used a vassal to attempt to dominate her. In looking for that information she learned that the Lich was possibly an unwilling cog in the wheel of another.

This person was one she already met in some form, that being the one who confronted her during her trials to become a recognized knight of her village. To be honest, Lindsay did not know fantasy from reality anymore as she would look under one rock only to see that what she thought to know to be correct was nothing more than the furthest thing to the actual truth of the matter. Learning who her enemies were not was just as important as learning who her enemies were.

Looking back on her past, both during the trials and even now, Lindsay would not have changed a thing. Were she to have accepted the offer of what would have been her Master, then she along with Alera would have been lovers. Though her fate would have been controlled by another, which would have made her little more than a slave.

 

[FireoftheMonkey]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

The prophet smiled at her as he continued his walking. "It is quite simple, your foe is who ever you wish it to be. What makes you special is that you have choice over your path. Thus far your most likely foe is the master of the trail whom you scorned by not joining him." He paused once again standing in front of her. "Although if you don't wish to fight him honestly you can ignore everything he does and he will probably leave you alone. Or more accurately what he does will become irrelevant to your life." He paused. "Although honestly your most likely foe is going to be him." He said as the haze wrapped around him and the three women now dancing very near Linsay, spoke.

"Why did you choose to attempt to save those who's fates were already sealed?" One asked, her voice was melodic. As they kept dancing around her their robes flowing through the light haze. Linsay would notice their bodies and their movements were erotic and difficult to look away from. She would also not really remember where the door to the room was any longer, it was either gone or she had been turned around so much in the haze, she had lost her bearings.

 

[freeko]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

Lindsay would continue listening to the prophet as he spoke. It would seem as if she were unique in that she had control over her path and destiny instead of it being defined for her by someone or something else. He would go on to confirm that the Master of the trials was her most likely adversary but Lindsay could just as easily ignore him and choose a different path entirely.

As he finished speaking the women would move closer and the Priest would disappear into the fog. As the women circled around her, Lindsay lost track of where the door leading out was. Though she was asked a question that brought her back to the here and now. A question Lindsay would answer immediately and with confidence behind her answer.

"They needed to be saved. Neither Millia nor Alera chose to be what they were. If their fates were sealed then I believe they could be shown a different path. Neither Millia or Alera owe me anything, as they are free to choose to do as they please. That I removed the bonds previously oppressing them was the right thing to do and it will always be the right thing to do."

Having given what she felt was a sufficient answer, Lindsay started to look for the way out. She had what she needed now, though it looked like the women may not have been done with her. If they had further business with her, Lindsay had nothing to hide from them.

 

[FireoftheMonkey]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

"Excellent." They spoke in unison their vocal melody ringing through her ears. "Then you are as we had hoped you would be, the warrior of destiny. Your path will lead you to over throw a great evil and right the way's of the world. The master as you call him is a time manipulator. He seeks to alter time and events as he see's fit. You must stop him." They said one approaching her as she danced by her finger gliding across Linsay's chest poking each of her nipples through her shirt.

"Millia came seeking knowledge of where a liches phylactery resides, it is in a belt worn by the warrior who proves themselves greatest in the tournament of arms. It is in a town to the north in the desert that direction. If you were to follow the path she desired that would be your next step. We will not tell you what to do only that if you can make him your ally he will be extremely useful to your quest." They moved around with closer still their fingers running across her leg and ass as the circled another brushing against her breasts.

"What else do you desire warrior of destiny?" They asked in unison again their hands gliding over her body.

 

[freeko]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

Lindsay would answer the question to the satisfaction of the women dancing around her. They would further go on to reveal a few other things, mostly about what Millia had come to the temple for. She was seeking revenge against the Lich that had ripped her spirit from her body. Lindsay would need to resolve this conflict in some way, as both of them wanted to meet the Lich though for very different reasons. Millia likely for revenge, and Lindsay to gather another to aid her cause.

Maybe the tournament itself could provide the answer? If Millia and Lindsay both entered perhaps whoever was the winner would control the meeting with the Lich. Alera was another possibility, though her motives were yet to be revealed to Lindsay and that would be the next question.

"What of Alera? Why was she here, and what was her purpose?" Lindsay would inquire as the girls would continue to dance around her, their hands wandering around her body. Their very touch was enough to start to draw Lindsay away from her train of thought. She very much wanted to see Millia and Alera again, but these dancers started to enchant her. Simply starting to let out a smile as the dancing women continued to tease about Lindsay's body, it was clear that she was not going to resist the advances on her.

The next course of action was likely to obtain the phylactery of the Lich.

 

[FireoftheMonkey]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

They continued their dance their hands gliding over her body as they spoke again.

"Alera was here to stop you, at least that was her masters wish. That being said you saw her fate, and her destiny until you interfered. She was destined to come here and fall, and go back to her master to be breed over and over again for his army. Sadly I can not tell you his motives for truly sending her here, she had emerged from a portal through space and time in order to fight you. Maybe it was the point where he no longer had need of her and decided to see if she could defeat you, or maybe just slow you down." The women paused as their fingertips danced over her body. "Although if your destiny is one to be seen maybe he had hoped you would return to him if you saw her, and your life with him. We can not say what his motives were or are, as he is not here and not working towards our purpose."

Their bodies shifting as they began moving in the opposite direction to the one they had started moving in their fingers still lightly dancing over her body. "But what we can say is we allowed it to transpire within our temple as a fitting test of your motives. Were you the heroine to save the lands or another villain to add to it's numbers. Either way she served us, as she served him, as she will undoubtedly now serve you." They moved with purpose now, their fingers moving along her body teasing her nipples purposefully, never truly attaching to her but obviously attempting to arouse her for one reason or another.

"Your next journey is to the land where this tournament is held, it will be an long journey but with your two new traveling companions probably a most pleasurable one. Do you seek any additional counsel before you leave this place?"

 

[freeko]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

Lindsay was curious now, it all seemed to make little sense to her. If someone could manipulate time, why would they not just repeatedly attack until they get the desired result? This Master of the trials was going to be a formidable enemy to say the least. Though thinking about it was only going to be a distraction at this point. She did want to know more about how she could possibly take the fight to him, but these women were clearly distracting her with their advances on her body.

Lindsay was interested in a few things right now, and she was starting to show signs of arousal very visibly as the dancers continue to tease at her body. How exactly was Millia faring through her trial? What would be needed to take the fight to the "Master" as she so referred to him? How would Alera, or the Lich for that matter, factor into aiding her? There were alot of questions, and Lindsay hoped there would be answers to her inquiries. If it would take some time enduring the dancer's advances upon her, that was probably an added bonus.

Once Millia was finished with her trial, and Lindsay got the answers she was hoping for it would seem that there was little reason to stay in the temple. It was going to be a bit of a journey to their next destination, though Lindsay was confident that the three of them would be able to safely arrive at their next goal.

The only thing that would need to be decided was Millia's disposition toward the Lich that likely ripped her spirit from her body. Though it was the same Lich that atoned for it by providing her with a Golem body that was by her own admission better than her corporeal being previously. If Millia truly desired revenge then that was her choice to make, Lindsay would respect it. Though the point would be moot if neither were able to win the tournament.

 

[FireoftheMonkey]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

the women stopped circling Linsay one grabbing her breasts and squeezing them as she asked her first question. She looked deeply into Linsays eyes and Linsay felt her view shifting. It came upon Millia, kneeling before a figure that looked familiar, but her eyes were not broken or under any spell. They were aggravated but blushing, more from embarrassment then anything else. Linsay would watch as Millia began to suck on the man standing before her's cock her face shifting into a pleased one as she looked up at him. Her hands grasping his body as she worked herself up and down his member in a growing pace, finally seeing him climax shooting his seed down her throat and onto her face. The image would fade as she would see Millia smile up at him.

"That is how your friend fares, in all honesty far better then she has any other time she has come to see us." The girl laughed releasing her breasts but letting her fingers glide to her nipples pulling on them. As then the oracle would shift as the next girl would satnd in front of her this time her hands slide over her lover body pushing their bodies together. Her solf silken robe rubbing against her.

As another vision came to her, this time of the Lich and Alera channeling on a spell. The spell opened a portal and Linsay traveled through it alone. Millia remaining behind to guard their friends. This vision answering both questions in a single stroke, the Lich could help her get to the masters realm with Alera as a sort of diving rod. The vision faded as the oracles withdrew from her fading back into the haze as they danced away giggling to themselves. As the haze moved around her she felt herself move, although not by being pushed or falling instead like being slide along the ground. When the haze cleared she would find herself standing in the entrance to the temple, Alera sitting by the entrance seemingly asleep, still naked.

 

[freeko]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

The Women dancing around her, would show her a vision. It was Millia and she seemed to have succumbed to her carnal desires as she was willingly sucking away on a man's member. It was as if she wanted this, whoever it was seemed to have meant something to her previously. As the dancing woman would release her grasp upon Lindsay's vision she would also reveal that was further than Millia had made it in previous attempts.

Another vision would come to Lindsay, and this time it was seemingly how she would be able to find her way to where the Master of time was. It would seem that the Lich would be able to use Alera as an anchor of sorts to send Lindsay back into the area she was initially thinking she was taking the trial to ascend into knighthood. There she could confront her potential Master again.

First things first however, and as the vision came to an end the female dancers around her would also fade into the mist. It would seem that Lindsay's time in the temple had come to an end. The mist would engulf her as well now and she could feel that she was being moved, though it was not forceful like being thrown or falling down a pit. As the mist faded, Alera would be seen nearby and Lindsay could tell that she was back outside the temple.

Alera was slumped over in a sitting position, naked and asleep. Lindsay would look around and see little that would help to cover her with. More distressing for the apparent here and now was what Millia had originally said. She said that if Lindsay completed the trials that it would save her as well if she were to be unsuccessful. Thinking on how she herself was removed from the temple, it would seem that she just needed to be patient and wait for Millia to emerge from the temple as well. Not wanting to rush things, Lindsay would wait until Millia appeared or Alera awoke before trying to take stock over what exactly she needed to do next.

It was fairly clear that she needed to head off to a tournament and hopefully emerge victorious to gain the phylactery of the Lich she had previously encountered. Thinking that it was best to hedge her bets as it were, she would not stop Alera or Milla from joining the tournament as well. She might just enjoy those battles more than any other and it may well decide the fate of the Lich as well. Lindsay felt no level of domain over Alera or Millia and they were always able to make their own choices. If they no longer wanted to follow or accompany Lindsay then that was their choice to make. It would be the same as with this tournament. Were Millia to emerge victorious, it would allow her to exact revenge on the Lich if she so desired to.

 

[FireoftheMonkey]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

After a few moments Millia emerged from the temple, slumping to the ground as she moved into the clearing in front of temple. As she looked around, suddenly confused by the new companion added to their mix.

"Who's the pretty little thing here?" She asked as she looked down at her sleeping form. "Admittedly I learned many interesting things, what about you love? Anything pressing you want to pass along to your golem friend?" She asked with a smile towards her.

"Or would you rather I began?" She asked.

(Sorry for the short post coming down with a cold and it's hard to write like this, far to much sneezing. Hopefully I'll kick it in the next couple of days.)

 

[freeko]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

Lindsay would notice Millia exiting the temple and Lindsay would breathe a sigh of relief as she saw her come back out. Millia seemed to be somewhat confused about Alera laying on the ground near Lindsay and would instantly inquire about her. Before Lindsay had a chance to respond, Millia would continue to say that she learned a few things while in the temple as well. She stopped with the ever difficult question of who should go first.

Lindsay figured it better to start by introducing Alera. Not wanting to hide anything, she would explain exactly who and what Alera was. Though that was hopefully not what she will be in the future. This was admittedly a troublesome situation for Lindsay to be in as both Millia and Alera could be driven away from her. Though hiding it from them would only make it worse, Lindsay would try to make the right decision by putting it all on the table and allowing Millia and Alera to make their own choices. In all fairness it would probably even work out better if she could get the two of them to get acquainted with each other at some point.

In a perfect world they would be able to figure it out. Alera was needed no differently than Millia was if Lindsay was to recognize her long term objective of defeating the Master of time. Now that Lindsay had taken a turn giving information, she hoped that Millia would reciprocate in kind.

 

[FireoftheMonkey]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

Millia listened intently as she looked down at the young woman. "Interesting, sounds like your information was decidedly more interesting then mine. I know why I didn't move on when my soul was removed from my original body. Took a long while for me to admit it to myself, but thankfully this place always seems to push you just the way you need to be pushed." She paused as she walked into the clearing and began to speak.

"The belt the lich put his phylacracy into he made into the tournament belt so that anyone who wanted to destroy that needed to beat one of the best fighters in the world to do it. The tournament itself is rather straight forward, it's a series of no holds bared, anything goes, drag out fights, until only one person is left standing. You can yield or get run through, or if your completely unable to fight but still alive you also lose. pretty much the fight goes until you have nothing left. The trip there we will also pass by a group of slavers under the command of the new emperor that is trying to set himself up with a kingdom. Should what they told me be true it should have some of the women from your village in their group if you wanted to try to save them." She sat down on a large rock at the far end of the clearing.

"And lastly and probably least, I learned you are decidedly more important then I am. I mean this wholeheartedly, if you have the choice between leaving me behind and escaping, please choose escape. They showed me the world if you don't do what ever it is your supposed to do. Or one of them, it's a horrible place and I would wholeheartedly not like to see it come into being." Millia looked around the clearing. "Do you want to rest here for the night or head down the stairs and rest at the bottom?" She asked her friend.

 

[freeko]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

Lindsay would listen to what Millia had to say, and at a face value she was relieved that there would likely not be an issue between Millia and her going forward. Though how Alera would figure into things once she woke up would be another matter altogether. "Well, I can only say that I am thankful I was able to bring you back." Was all Lindsay could really muster up when Millia mentioned that she now knew why she was not able to move on from her original body. Thinking it was best to leave things alone on that front, Lindsay would not ask anything more on that subject.

Lindsay did not know anything about the slavers that Millia had mentioned. Thinking about it a little, it made sense that the tracks from her destroyed village did go in that direction. Maybe she could learn about the fate of those who were taken from her village when it was destroyed. Though how she could possilbly take on a whole slaver's camp with just the three of them would be an interesting undertaking. Lindsay had an idea pop into her head, but without Alera being awake currently she would wait until they were all recovered from the temple to see what they thought about it.

With Alera having some ability to fight, Lindsay felt that if the three of them were to enter into the tournament it would allow for the greatest chance of victory. The prospect of having to fight Millia or Alera again almost made her grin as the thoughts would dance in her head of what they would do to each other. Her mind was brought back into perspective once Millia said that Lindsay should leave her if given the chance to escape and leave her behind.

"No, absolutely not. I need you just as much as anyone or anything else. I cannot do that." Lindsay would respond. As much as Millia figured she was just another cog in the wheel as it were, Lindsay would not be able to live with herself if she had to let Millia suffer unnecessarily while Lindsay were to escape away. If anything Lindsay would look to see if she could do anything in her power to save Millia, Alera or anyone else that would join her cause.

Getting herself a little worked up over this, Lindsay would start to look around a little and see if there was a proper spot to make camp for the night. With Alera already sleeping, it almost made the decision for her as she would decide that they should stay near the temple and wait until tomorrow to journey down the steps and move forward on their journey.

 

[FireoftheMonkey]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

Millia watched Linsay get worked up over the thought of leaving her behind, and her gung ho nature of saving everyone. She smiled and giggled mostly to herself.

"That's wonderful to hear dear, and I have to say if I were to pick I would ask that you save me as well. I look forward to this tournament were going to be doing, although the trip there is going to be a pain. No caravans or anything else that goes there from here we'll have to travel straight over land." Millia paused for a moment before continuing. "Linsay dear, I have to say in my life I lived very selfishly, and spending time with you I know when I was alive I would have tried to enslave you and called you weak. now I think you stronger then I ever was. I look forward to what our adventure brings to us. Lets go set up camp and get some rest before we start out for the tournament." Millia said with a smile as she picked up Alera and would follow Linsay down the steps to a clearing to set up camp.

Alera would moan slightly as she was picked up but remain sleeping peacefully, it seems her mind and body were pushed well beyond their limits. She would need time to get herself back together, as would Linsay as she would feel the drain of the day before wearing on her. The area at the bottom of the path was rather clear but there was a place to the side of the stairs with a pit already dug and well worn markings of a camp. It was there when they headed up the stairs but it seemed so much less important then. A nice rest woudl do them a world of good, while they rested Millia would repair their armor and everything else. Finally taking stock Millia would look concerned at Linsay.

"Your sword looks like it's at nearly the end of it's life. i think a new one would probably be in order, I'm honestly surprised it lasted this long considering what we've done with it so far." She said with a chuckle as she finished setting camp and stared at the tree's. "Do you want to collect firewood or should I?" She asked her friend.

 

[freeko]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

"Well, think you have any more miracles up your sleeve?" Lindsay would look over her sword for a while as she came to the same conclusion as Millia. Her sword was pretty much shot at this point. The runic engraving Millia had done in the past helped, but it was obvious that her sword was not going to hold up much longer. Lindsay had a secondary sword with her belongings, but she had planned to give that to Alera if need be.

As they would talk some more, Millia seemed to be as excited as Lindsay was about the tournament. Inquiring about who should go look for firewood, Lindsay only felt it right that she be the one to do so as Millia was already busy repairing the armor for all three girls. At some point soon, Lindsay would need to ask Millia about what she knew in the ways of smithing. The last thing that she would want to have happen would be to have her sword get broken in the heat of combat.

For now, rest was probably the best thing for them. Once a new day were to come about then Lindsay could ask about between Alera and Millia to see what their options were. Taking a path to the slaver's camp felt like a good idea but the whole issue of trying to do either without the proper armaments was going to loom over their efforts like a black raincloud.

 

[FireoftheMonkey]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

The chore of gathering wood was a short one, only taking an hour of wandering about finding the proper sized logs and getting the kindling required for the camp they were making. She found herself completely equipped to keep a fire going for a single night without too much additional trouble. The woods were peaceful, and a good place to think of her coming quest.

When she returned Millia was be resting mending the clothing and armor of the trio. She smiled at her as Linsay returned and put down her current task, to assist with setting up the fire. Before long they would have a roaring camp going with plenty of warmth for their rest. Linsay could remain awake but she could also sleep for the night, she hard earned herself a little rest. Millia would stand watch over them as she needed not sleep, and Alera was already curled up near the fire sleeping her aches away.

 

[freeko]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

Gathering the wood was easy enough. It would take an hour or so for Lindsay to gather a few decent sized logs along with smaller kindling to start the fire going. With the whirlwind seemingly going on around her, having the time to just walk about and think a little over what was going to happen starting in the morning would put Lindsay at ease. Seeing Alera sleep so peacefully was another reassuring moment for Lindsay.

She would start to chat up Millia a bit to see if she happened to know of any places that they could upgrade their armaments at. Millia certainly seemed concerned about their weaponry simply wearing down, and Lindsay knew it as a basic piece of information that was instilled upon her in training that your weapon meant everything to you. Again thinking back to a weapon that had broken in the middle of a combat that she should have won. As her weapon broke, it also broke her will to fight causing her to lose that particular sparring session. It was not a lesson Lindsay would soon forget either.

 

[FireoftheMonkey]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

Millia grimaced at her "Not really, I've been out of the world for a good number of years. Besides you would probably want a magical sword of some kind and those are rare. And normally guarded." She said as they continued their discussion, Alera awakened.

"I know where you could get a magical sword, it in a temple north of here, right on the edge of the desert." She said laying on her side looking at them.

"Well the tournament is north of here so we could hit that on the way or we can simply go to it after the tournament, at the city we can certainly get gear that's at least usable for the tournament." Millia added as she looked Linsay for a decision.

"Either way it would probably be best for you to sleep on it, just tell us where were going in the morning." Millia said with a smile towards her friend.

 

[freeko]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

Alera would awaken and interdict into the conversation that Millia and Lindsay were having. Letting everyone know that she knew the location of a magical sword. Lindsay would think on it for a while and simply take Millia's advice to sleep on it. Maybe it would give her an advantage in the tournament to have a magical blade. Could she lose the weapon if she were to lose in the tournament? Lindsay had more questions than there were answers for and her ability to sleep was compromised because of it. After a restless night Lindsay would have come to a decision that she felt was right.

"If we can get geared up enough for the tournament then let's go there first. Securing the Phylactery of the Lich is the next goal. Once we have that, then we can go to the temple and hunt down the magical sword Alera speaks of. With any luck one of us can win this tournament."

Lindsay had the confidence behind her voice though her doubts started to creep into her mind about this whole thing. Maybe there was another way than to attempt to befriend a former enemy. Then again, Lindsay just wanted to test herself in a tournament all the same. If she was the Warrior of Destiny like the prophet had said in the temple, this was the best way to prove it to herself now.

Gathering their belongings and breaking camp for the day, the destination was decided. The group would head for the site of the tournament next.

 

[FireoftheMonkey]

Re: The Trial of the Champion

The journey to the tournament grounds were long, but nothing too difficult for the seasons warriors and adventurers of their band. Finally standing on the top of the dune nearest the desert tournament, they saw a Colosseum mostly with the other buildings built around it. Most buildings were below the walls of the Colosseum, but a few towers rose above it, obviously for viewing the tournament from some wealthy individuals private room. The paths in and out of the city were bustling at this time, as the tournament was only a few days away.

The adventurers would need rooms and entrance into the tournament, a pair of difficult tasks normally but considering their knowledge of the lich possibly easier. A large singular wagon was passing by the hill currently, moving slowly with it's beast of burden drawing it along, it would be a nice way to get into the city, although just walking in was another option.

--Decided how to enter the city and find out how to enter the tournament.--