The scrape of steel carving through wood filled the ears of two. A mare and a stallion, dressed from head to hoof in red.
The stallion dressed in simple, plain, chain and leathers, his crimson-coloured hood pulled up over his head, a mask covering his own dirt-brown equine face, protecting him from the cold winter day. He appeared to be a mustang by breed, and an was an archer by trade. A bow and quiver strapped to his back, his elegant longbow was wonderfully constructed of valuable willow, its string fashioned from carefully cured hide, sliced into fibre, and turned into wondrously woven string. It was a very rare material around these parts of the world, and would have cost much more gold and silver than seemed reasonable.
The mare, meanwhile dressed in a soft red robe, torn and shredded lightly. It wasn't as extravagant as the stallion's, though it was plenty capable of indicating her own method of combat - A mage. She was using her magic to help push and pull the stone around where they now set their camp to build defences, while casting a shield to hide their actions from the world. It looked stressful and taxing on her.
They were defectors from the Crimson Sigil, a zealous order of religious warriors and mages dedicated to the destruction of all that they thought unholy, and an example of what happens when mad zealots take over a good cause; For to them everything was an unholy force that needed to be purged. The pair had made the choice to walk away from the order, for there was nothing good to come from it. The order hunted the undead and demonic with a frightening zeal, and commonly attacked those who were unfortunate to wander too close to their holdings. These paladins, archers, mages, and whoever else decided to become followers of the corrupt order had a frightening policy: When in doubt, assume the worst. Many innocent mortals had thus had been killed through misunderstandings, or simply for good measure. Those who questioned their leaders or policies were assumed to be undead sympathisers and slain...
And so the equine pair built their camp at the edge of the Crimson Sigil's territories, hidden within the mountains where the archer build walls and the mage protected them from sight. It was thankfully quiet, save for the occasional scraping resultant from the stallion carving wooden pikes to use as walls.
"Hey," he heard the mare suddenly call, her soft voice bringing him out of the trance of carving he had fallen into, "Rain? What are we going to do? We can't just let them keep slaughtering innocents like that!"
"We can't," the stallion replied, sighing softly as he slumped over, sitting on a smooth rock, his hoof tapping against the stone. "Honestly, Eris," he spoke with a cautious tone to his voice, mulling over his words carefully, "I think our only chance is to go back in there and destroy the place. But two people isn't enough for that. Not by a long shot." He brayed, snorting lightly as he looked to the pile of pikes, then the area he needed to turn them into a wall for. "We'll have to gather a group to bring them down. But tomorrow. We need to rest, and fortify."
The mare nodded her head curtly in reply, frowning lightly as she listened to the stallion speak. She looked to the fire-pit they had thrown together hastily earlier, glad her spell had kept it dry. She pointed sharply at it, a ball of flame materialising from her finger, shooting forward in an instance to bring the campfire alight. It crackled softly in the rain it was sheltered from, warming the icy air slowly. It's effect was immediately apparent, even if it took time to bring the air around them to a comfortable temperature.
"I hate rain," Rain commented, realising the irony in the statement, "Would you have guessed that? Rain hates the rain?" he chuckled. Then he let out a sigh of concern. "At least we put our sleeping bags under the overhang. And it's raised enough that we won't get wet during the night. He shrugged lightly, looking to the faint shimmer of the pale amethyst dome keeping them dry for the time being. "We should at least make this spot a little more comfortable. I get the feeling we'll be staying here for a while."
Eris nodded her head in reply, still holding the amethyst sphere up with her mind, manipulating the mana around her to protect them. "Likely wise," she replied with a curt nod of her head, "I'd suggest an awning over where we're sleeping for a start. And those walls you're supposed to put up."
Rain chuckled back. "Yes, yes," he told her with a soft smirk, picking himself up and returning to work, positioning the wooden pikes in the ground, sinking them into the rocky soil beneath their hooves. It was a repetitive and exhaustive task, though by the hour's end a solid wall had been erected, held together with coarse rope, and fortified with more pikes angled in another direction. It would keep them safe. The stallion smiled at his work, before heading to the fur and leather sleeping bag the couple would share. He sat on it, looking over to the mage whom now sat beside him, watching her play with her spells while keeping the fire safely lit. "May I suggest something?" he asked.
"What is it?" Eris prompted in return, turning her gaze to the stallion.
He smirked back at the mare, tapping the stone wall beside them firmly. "Push this back. Move the fire in there. It'll be warmer, and we won't have to worry about it being rained on.
The mare raised an eyebrow, before placing her hand on the stone. With but a mutter of a spell, a small square formed on the stone, which she pushed back with ease. Her spell-work was certainly improving, Rain realised.
Then a bright flash, and the fire was gone, the cold returning to the air, before Rain felt the heat coming from behind him. He smiled, pausing, pulling his tail away from the open flame. "Maybe cover it now a bit? For safety reasons?"
Eris smiled back, clicking her fingers together. A stone grate had covered the flame, allowing it to breath while protecting the pair from it. She sighed softly, kissing Rain's cheek lovingly, taking his hand in her own, bringing it to her breast. "It's a little to wet out there to find some aid for our task. Shall we do something fun now and head out in the morning?"
The stallion smirked slyly to his lover, groping the mare's hefty tits with a smile, pulling away so he could slide his hands beneath her robes. He kissed her on the cheek, nuzzling her cheek affectionately. As his hands kneaded her breast, he felt her rubbing her hand against his join, prompting a soft gasp from Rain. "I'm not going to object to a quick romp," he replied with a chuckle. He stopped groping Eris, starting to unbuckle his belt. Moments later his pants were undone, his hefty horse cock springing free, slapping Eris on the belly.
She chuckled in response, throwing off her gown, revealing her slender nude form for all to see. She was beautiful, Rain silently thought, caressing her pasty brown-grey pelt, his hands brushing tenderly across her fur coat. She turned her gaze to him, kissing him on the lips, her glistening blue eyes staring into his own.
A sudden, knowing smirk came across Rain's equine visage, watching as Eris lowered her face to his groin, her tongue lathing across his sizeable, spunk-filled balls. A soft shudder left the stallion, watching as the mage began to suckle on his leathery orbs. It wasn't long before the thick, familiar scent of Rain's musk filled the air around them, the wonderful smell filling Eris's nostrils as she worked his orbs with her tongue.
Then her head rose, kissing the crown of Rain's thick shaft, which now stood erect that's to the attentions Eris had gifted to his spunk-factories. Eris smiled up in response to Rain's reaction; a soft moan of pleasure, and wrapped her lips around the tip of his cock, sinking her head down to engulf him whole. A pleasant bulge formed in her throat, while her head began to bob up and down. Her actions were slow, deliberate, and attentive, her hands gracing the stallion's orbs with attention even as her mouth glided over his shaft.
She smiled softly, continuing to suck and slurp and bob her head, eagerly providing the stallion a blowjob she guessed he had likely been craving for days. It wasn't often they got to do stuff like this. And the expression Eris read on Rain's face could only make her chuckle, despite having her mouth stuffed with his thick shaft. Pure bliss.
Rain's hands came to rest on top of her head, slowly thrusting up into her mouth, pushing her back into his groin, hearing the mare moan into his shaft. He grunted, grinning softly as he continued to thrust up, his balls slapping against her chin with every stroke into her hungry maw. More and more, faster and faster, deeper and deeper he went, stuffing her lips again and again with a groan. His balls throbbed, threatening an orgasm, though he held on and continued his efforts.
Eris gulped softly, groaning softly as she continued her eager sucking, happily letting Rain work his shaft down her throat. Her tongue wrapped around his shaft, her head sliding over his groin with ease, kissing the base of his shaft.
And that was all was needed; he came, flooding her throat and belly with horse cum, the creamy white goo shooting down the mare's throat in thick spurts, filling her belly with his essence. Eris sighed, smiling up to Rain as she pulled away slowly, licking Rain's cock one last time, causing a spurt of his spunk to cover her face. She chuckled slyly in response, wiping it away slowly.
A soft chuckle of his own was Rain's reply, leaning down and kissing Eris on the lips. Pulling her up, he pulled away her underwear, teasing her cunny with his fingers. "Shall we continue?" he asked her with a soft smile, cuddling the mare affectionately.
Her reply was a simple kiss, rubbing her slit against his shaft, which soon sunk into her warm depths. Her tightness enveloped him snugly, her wetness , doubled with how her saliva covered Rain's cock, made it so comfortable, yet so pleasurable. Eris's insides massaged Rain's shaft, her lower lips sliding up and down from his cockhead to base. His balls slapped against her rear, an audible but soft smack echoing through their small camp with every thrust into Eris's tightness.
Given a few more minutes, and they were in a deep rut, Rain practically ravaging Eris's pussy with every single, powerful effort, diving into Eris's tight depths with eagerness. His balls slapped against her butt time and time again, both lost deep in their shared haze of love and lust, before once more an orgasm rocked the two, pumping the mare full of the stallion's fertile seed. Panting softly, the two fell onto their sleeping-bag, drifting away into a slumber as darkness surrounded them...
Morning came swiftly the next day, the sun shining brightly on the two equines and their encampment, as if an angel or even the gods themselves smiled down upon the two. The kitted themselves out swiftly, Eris casting a spell to hide the camp from the sight of all, placing arcane guardians to ward the area, and to protect it from harm. Any unfortunate to step too close would be frozen in place. Hostiles wouldn't be treated lightly...
And so Eris and Rain made their way from the mountains into the valley below, following a trail that led towards an old, cobblestone road. They followed it, the sound of their hooves making contact with the stone pathways ever-present. Town would be an hours walk, but they would have plenty of time to recruit some allies for the battle ahead. And to purchase supplies while they were at it; one could never have enough health potions, mana potions, or whatever else might prove useful. Even something as simple as rope could be utilised in ways one would not traditionally think about for great effect.
When they arrived in the town, passing beneath the sturdy wood and stone portcullis into the well-defended center of life, the first place they went was the tavern. From the outside it looked delightfully enchanting, welcoming any weary traveller or aspiring adventurer to enter it, built up from bricks of stone and pillars of log to make up most of the building's outer structure. A rich garden, filled with flowers of an assortment of vibrant colours could be found beneath a sturdily-supported overhang, presumably where more rooms lay above for the convenience of the management. It was always easier to built above a garden if you needed more space in a town or city.
And as both mare and stallion entered, having forsaken the tabards that would have labelled themselves as dangerous enemies, they saw just how the tavern was as alluring inside as it is on the outside. Rounded, wooden beams supported the upper floor and the chandeliers attached to them, with the staircase up tucked away in the corner of the room. The walls were littered with rows of painted portraits, with the bartender recognisable on one of them; the others must have been either friends, family or previous owners.
The tavern was utterly packed, with travellers seemingly making up the majority of the clientele, a surely helpful sign that the two horses could find that they needed.. Several long tables were occupied by what seems to be entire families, all enjoying the food, drinks and company of each other. The other, smaller tables are also occupied by people who seem to be enjoying themselves a lot, perhaps too much, if such a thing is possible. Even most of the stools at the bar are occupied, though nobody seems to mind more company.
Eris nudged Rain's side suddenly, pointing to a group of four. A wolf, salamander, cow, and fox.
Each dressed like a fighter of some sorta, with the bovine in the sturdiest of equipment. Her breastplate had been fashioned from several layers of metallic sheets, likely of steel, which perfectly sat just under her bulky, spiked shoulderplates. It covered almost everything from the neck down and ending at the groin, mimicking a dragon's underbelly in decor. Massive metal gauntlets fit around her hands, tipped with small square spikes that looked seriously threatening. A masterfully crafted skull had attached on the vambraces above, likely a personal decoration. Her greaves meanwhile were less glamorous - A simple, undecorated sheet of steel that had been wrapped around each ankle, ending at where her thick hooves began. Her leggings were simple as well, chain-mail, most probably to offer some mobility in her heavy equipment. Some plates had been layered atop at each joint in her legs. A tabard that matched the others covered her chest.
The bovine had also come with her weapon. A runic blade... It was a long, broad, and straight blade of the unshatterable metal, mithril, held by a grip wrapped in rare, dragonhide leather. Dyed purple, it was a status of her wealth. The grip was protected by a jagged, straight cross-guard, creating the ideal weight balance to allow for smooth and accurate swings with the weapon. The cross-guard has a gilded dragon tail on each side, which likely added expense to the deadly weapon; it was most obviously a custom order, probably a gift from an important figure. At the tip, the wide pommel had decorated with precious gems, as to be expected from such an elegant weapon.
The blade itself was, of course, engraved; a runic word of power etched into the heavy weapon's thick blade. 'Fire' it read. It was a runic blade of fire! Such a rare sight, for the crafting of such weapons required not only immense magical prowess, but a deep knowledge of the forge - Two things that did not mix often...
She also had a shield with her, strapped to her back. The mighty squared shield, made from the same mithril as the runeblade, would certainly offer heavy duty protection from assault, most probably being able to counter just about any attack thrown at it, were it's wielder quick enough in her movements. The shield's edges had furthermore been emblazoned with double rows of small spikes, with additional decoration from many feather-like patterns engraved on the sheet.
Its center had been embellished with symmetrical metalwork and painted symbols that matched the tabards each of the four wore. It was their groups property, and she was the lucky one to get to use it. A guild, perhaps.
Rain and Eris soon approached, getting the bovine's attention. She spoke in a soft voice, mismatched with her heavy armourments and deadly weapon. "Can we help you two in any way?"
Rain nodded his head curtly, leaning onto the table while Eris kept watch. "We need help," he explained quickly, "We're deserters from the Crimson Sigil - And we've decided we want to dismantle the entire order of lunatics. We saw how they were unjust zealots and are taking the fight to them. We're going to burn their monastery to the ground."
"And you want us to help you?" the bovine asked, not giving Rain a chance to finish speaking. Though he nodded his head slowly in reply.
"We can offer you free reign on the treasuries once we've defeated the order - all the gold and jewels and weapons and armour you could carry would be yours to take. We don't want it." Rain paused, "Not as much as we want to see the Crimson Sigil fall, anyway."
The small group turned to each other, whispering to one another in hushed voices, evaluating the prospect of the job.
"The entire treasury to ourselves?" the wolf whispered with a grin, looking to the others with an expression that cried willingness to go for the fight.
"That's a lot. We could likely find some neat upgrades."
"The money!"
"New equipment.
"Money!"
The bovine slammed the table, though only hard enough to startle the others in the group. "If we're going to take this, by the end we're each taking what we can carry for ourselves. If you want money, you'll have to take money. If you want items, you'll have to take items. I'm in, though. This will do the world some good, and be a chance to line the guild pockets. Maybe even to buy that hall we had our eyes on by the town square. What of you?"
"In," the first said.
"In," the next said.
"In," the last said.
"Then we're all in," the bovine stated, picking herself back up. She turned to Rain and Eris, smiling as she extended her hand. "We're in. Where and when shall we meet you?"
"Town square, mid-day tomorrow," Rain replied with a swift nod of agreement from Eris, as he continued, "We need to get a few supplies ourselves. See you there." And with that, the two parties split ways, Rain and Eris heading to the market to prepare, stocking up on weapons, ammunition, and many new spell tomes. Perhaps even a book on counter-spells or arcane protection!