The air thinned as the group ascended the winding path into the highlands, the crisp bite of mountain wind cutting through their cloaks. Jagged peaks loomed overhead, their snow-capped summits stark against the pale sky. Below them, sheer cliffs dropped into unseen depths, and above, wisps of cloud drifted lazily, caught in the grasp of the towering spires. The path they followed was ancient, carved into the rock by hands long forgotten.

  Nestled between the peaks lay the town of Karthmere, its stone buildings huddled against the mountainside as if seeking shelter from the ever-present cold. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, and narrow, winding streets wove through the compact settlement, lined with wooden stalls selling thick furs, dried meats, and mountain herbs. The people here were hardy, their faces weathered by the high-altitude climate, their gazes wary of outsiders. The group of four drew curious looks, but when they inquired about the Whispering Wilds, they were met with shrugs and dismissive glances. It was as if the place they sought did not exist.

  It wasn’t until they entered the local tavern, a dimly lit establishment of rough-hewn wood and stone, that a voice finally acknowledged their search.

  “Looking for the Whispering Wilds, you say?” A man seated in the corner, wrapped in a heavy wool cloak, raised his head. He had a homely face, round and ruddy, with a thin mustache that twitched as he spoke. His eyes, small and set deep, gleamed with an unreadable light. “Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.”

  The group exchanged glances. Lorelai stepped forward, her expression guarded. “You know of it?”

  The man chuckled, pushing himself up from his seat. “Aye, I do. I might be persuaded to share what I know. Why don’t you fine folks come with me? A conversation like this is best had away from prying ears.”

  Something about him put them on edge. His smile was too wide, his manner too eager. The way his gaze lingered on Lorelai and Aeryn made their skin crawl, and though his words were warm, there was something in his tone that felt rehearsed, deliberate. Yet, the promise of information about the Whispering Wilds was too tempting to ignore.

  Despite the warning bells ringing in their minds, they followed. The man led them through the narrow streets to his home, a squat stone dwelling near the edge of town. Inside, the warmth of a crackling fire contrasted the chill outside. The scent of herbs and cooked meat filled the air. Wooden beams lined the ceiling, and simple furnishings spoke of a humble but comfortable existence.

  “Make yourselves at home,” he said, moving toward a counter where a kettle steamed. “It’s not often I have visitors, but I always keep something warm ready for guests.”

  He poured steaming liquid into four mugs, handing them to the men first before preparing another set for Lorelai and Aeryn. The scent was rich, spiced with a hint of something floral.

  Kael took a tentative sip, his expression shifting from suspicion to mild surprise. “This is… actually really good,” he admitted, licking a stray drop from his lip. The warmth spread through his chest, easing the tension from his muscles. Thrax grinned, taking a deep swig of his own. “Not bad at all,” he agreed, savoring the way the spices danced on his tongue. “Reminds me of something I had back home—smooth, just the right amount of heat.”

  The comfort was fleeting. A sluggish weight settled into their limbs, creeping in slowly, like a thick fog rolling in over a valley. Kael’s eyelids drooped, his grip on the cup loosening. “Wait…” he mumbled, brows knitting together as if trying to piece together a puzzle that refused to fit. Thrax’s grin faltered, a sudden dizziness overtaking him. His body felt impossibly heavy. “The hell…” His fingers twitched toward his weapon, but his hand refused to obey. The cup slipped from Kael’s grasp first, shattering against the wooden floor as his knees buckled. Thrax barely had time to curse before he, too, collapsed, his vision tunneling into darkness.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Aeryn, holding her cup, suddenly stiffened. Something was off. The scent in her drink was subtly different—sweeter, heavier, almost cloying. Her heart pounded against her ribs, and a strange warmth coiled in her stomach before she even took a sip. Her breath hitched, her fingers trembling as heat pooled beneath her skin, curling around her spine like an unwelcome embrace. The room seemed hotter, the fire’s glow almost oppressive. She licked her lips unconsciously, the simple motion leaving them tingling.

  Lorelai brought the rim of her cup to her lips but barely tasted the liquid before a shiver ran down her spine. A flush of warmth surged through her veins, rolling in waves that left her limbs weak. Her knees threatened to give out beneath her. The air was suddenly thick, pressing against her skin, heightening every sensation. Even the fabric of her clothes seemed to cling more tightly than before, the friction against her body far too noticeable, causing her to squirm.

  Their breaths grew uneven. Aeryn clenched her fists, trying to push back the unnatural sensations flooding her mind, but it was like her body had turned against her. Her thoughts blurred, an uncomfortable mix of desire and alarm warring for control. Lorelai, usually grounded in clarity, found her focus slipping, her pulse drumming against her throat in an unfamiliar rhythm. A heavy, lethargic heat weighed them both down, leaving their limbs sluggish and unresponsive. The girls fell to the floor with their legs rubbing against each other, all too keen on the smoothness of their own flesh, despite their protests.

  Lorelai’s eyes snapped to the man, fury barely winning over the foreign haze dulling her senses. “What did you put in these?” she growled, her voice weaker than she wanted it to be.

  The man’s expression flickered, the friendly facade cracking just enough to expose the malice beneath. “Now, now, no need for accusations. Just a little something to help you relax.”

  Lorelai tried to incite her magic, divine energy radiating from her as she hurled the tainted drink into the fire, where it sizzled ominously. The alien warmth pooling below her stomach was spreading further, tendrils of foreign desire creeping through her limbs, her sensitivity heightened. Aeryn trembled beside her, her grip unsteady on her rapier. The firelight blurred at the edges of her vision, her thoughts clouding with an unnatural heat. Aeryn could not prevent herself from peaking glances at Lorelai, whose out of breath panting sent her spiraling further downward to depravity. Worse yet, neither of them could muster the strength to stand.

  The man sighed, stepping back, his eyes alight with something vile. “Poison is such a strong word. Let’s call it… encouragement. The men have simply dozed off. You lovely ladies however, hehe…” His smile turned sickening as he looked them over. “Well, I had something different in mind for you.”

  Aeryn attempted to lunge, but her body refused to obey. Her grip on her weapon was weak, her limbs betraying her as the aphrodisiac coursed through her veins. Lorelai gritted her teeth, struggling against the overwhelming sensation clouding her senses, but every movement sent jolts of pleasure throughout her body, draining her strength.

  The man chuckled, stepping past them toward Thrax and Kael’s unconscious forms. “Don’t worry, my dears. We’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other better once I’ve secured the boys. Can’t have them interfering, now can we?”

  He knelt beside Thrax, producing a thick rope from beneath his cloak, his fingers deftly wrapping around the warrior’s wrists. “Ah, what fine specimens. Strong, sturdy… they’ll fetch a good price, I imagine. But you two,” he glanced back at Lorelai and Aeryn, licking his lips, “you’re worth far more to me.”

  The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows on the walls as the man’s smirk deepened.

  class: Martial Force

  Agi - 24

  Will - 22

  End - 21

  Int- 20

  Lightning Animus: Scarlet Thunderbird

  Aura of Purity - emanate a protective aura that radiates from you granting allies protection and curing against poison, charm effects, and status ailments such as paralysis and petrification. Cures minor curses.

  Bolt Slash/Piercer: A slash(sword)/Punch (Spear) that sends out lightning/radiant magic attack from a weapon. Small chance of paralysis effect, duration 1.5 s

  Gravity Slash/Piercer: The slash presses down, the punch presses to a wall or other object. Str of gravity effect coordinates with WILL stat.

  Daylight(light magic)- illuminates dark areas, weakens undead, and dispels magical darkness below a certain level/tier

  Zakir- large bolt of lightning shot with two fingers, high piercing effect

  Oppression- greatly increase the gravitational force in an aoe

  Gravity Centrifuge-you create a focal point to create your gravitational pull point. Any enemy within a fifteen meter radius is pulled towards the center. The closer to the center, the stronger the pull. The ball of gravity explodes at the end of the spell dealing damage proportional to proximity to the center

  Repulse- can repel or pull any metal object under the effects of lightning clad

  Weight Manipulation (upgrade pending)- Alter the weight of yourself or target, concentration required. Drastic changes are available at a higher tier

  Spatial Storage: Provides a pocket dimension to store non-living things in, the size of the space is dependent upon your INT stat.

  Rapid thrusts - Give numerous quick thrusts, number of thrusts dependent upon AGI stat power of thrust dependent upon STR stat

  Dash(Rank II)- rapidly increase movement speed for up to 2 meters cd 15 seconds. Speed of dash is dependent upon AGI stat, distance is dependent upon STR stat. At a small mana cost create an after-image to confuse enemies

  Counterstrike- Parry and counter strike with a higher chance to critical. crit chance dependent upon WILL stat, damage dependent upon STR

  Smite(Rank II) - coats weapon in radiant energy and provides a minor heal/stamina to allies within 60 feet when an enemy is slain by smite. Radiant dmg is scaled off of STR and WILL

  Affinities: holy, radiant, light, lightning, gravity, spacetime, electromagnetism

  basic skills- dash unarmed combat

  Swordsmanship: Diamond Cutter: Dragonslaying Sword (second form)

  Spearmanship: Spear of the Divine: Precision and Punishing (second form)

  unique talent - shapeshifting (human only)