FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Welcome to Bilgewater Cove" The sign had once read, but more current hung loose on rusty chain and the rotting wood post. A mariner city that had been carved out under a shelf of land in a hidden inlet of sorts, the large ports drew in interested parties for trade and commerce from all over the realm. The centralized location on the sea ways also made it an attractive rest point in long hauls as well. As time went on, however, the corruption and crime began to run rampant; turning the place from a simple trading post, into something of a smugglers den and pirating haven. Local militia and the mayor's office both were in the pocket of many different individuals; leading to a general lawlessness. Murder, prostitution, gambling, illegal goods elsewhere; the only time guardsmen weapons came out is if one grew TOO rowdy, and always at their own discretion. The city, surprisingly despite this ran incredibly efficiently. The harbor was always busy with minotaur, ogres, ursine, and orc dock workers shifting cargo to and from. While the shop and markets were populated primarily by drow and human merchants, the delicious smells of food stalls or restaurants were often managed by avian families.

Located in a normally far quieter part of town, a cathedral for multifaceted worship and the town circle before it had drawn a sizable crowd on this day. The gallows had been brought up, and a hanging of an individual seemed due. While it was hardly the best kept secret of being a pirating town, the powers in charge had looked down on those that didn't conduct themselves under the code of, honor among thieves. The noose was being fit around the neck of a nine-tailed she kitsune dressed in the garb of many a privateer on the sea might have been.

While the crowd whipped themselves into a blood frenzy, one man in particular watched on with far more apprehension. Golden of hair, tall and strongly built in stature, with classic handsome looks befitting a human in his early adulthood; Maximilian looked on with blue eyes like polished sapphires, meeting a matching pair of the fox woman's own for a brief moment. The feeling cut through even the thick sky-blue tabard, heavy chain mail and plated pieces of armor he wore, sending a chill along Max's back. He wasn't a fan of public executions, even at the expense of a criminal.

"ALRIGHT!" The executioner on stage yelled out, hushing the crowd that had gathered to watch the fate of the kitsune female. "Shut yer traps, you grimy guppies." Clearing his throat, the elven man with greasy, slicked back hair and a golden tooth flashed a smile. Unrolling a scroll from within his jacket, he read it out loud. "By order of our fair governor, this wench named Isha has committed crimes against the state and therefore been found guilty; condemned to death by hanging until she's sucking for air no more."

Giving a snort in response to that, the girl whose name was Isha, rolled her eyes. "Call it what it is you pencil dick knob, I cheated at a game of cards for fucks sake. Not my fault it took you all so long to notice.." The comment illicit a bit of laughter from the crowd, but despite it no one was leaping out of their way to back her cause.

"Shut up, you tried to swindle 700 electrum coins.. from the captain of the guard.." More laughter at that, as Isha casually shrugged her shoulders.

"Get it over with then, I'm not going to be the source of your jollies as you have this power trip." Even as her words were strong and resolute, from Max's position he could see that the fan of tails behind her were restless and fluffed out.

Clearing his throat once more, the executioner sneered at Isha as he rolled back up the orders scroll; shoving it once more back into his jacket. "By ancient rite, though I think it's far too good for someone like you.. Isha, the state recognizes your last chance at life, and the naming of a champion by proxy combat to fight for the fate of said life. Though I doubt anyone will miss the likes of you for other than a good bed warmer." The crowd did hush down at that, quietly murmuring to themselves. The trial of combat was an old tradition, but a less often practiced one. Not only did a named party need to be willing, but the odds were often stacked against them from the very start once opponent was selected.

Preparing to turn his head and leave, Max had no desire to watch the rest when the kitsune's voice called out. "I name my champion there! The Heracles paladin!" It made Max stop in mid-stride, briefly glancing around to the now undivided attention of the crowd staring at the only armored figure baring the crest of the god upon tabard and shield.

The elven executioner barked out in laughter. "Foolish girl, some stranger would not fight for your li-" He was cut off though as the young paladin turned to look back at them both.

"I'll do it." He called out, taking a deep breath in through the nose and standing his ground. His eyes stared right into Isha's own, evaluating that mirthful, smiling, and yet.. scared expression she held onto him.

Dumbstruck for a moment, the official sputtered for the words before thrusting index finger towards Max. "You have no hold on this wench's life, why care of her fate? If you fail, you both lose your life."

The crowd had gone dead silent for the exchange, as Max shift his gaze to the elven man speaking to him. "I believe.. I just said I'd do it." An excitement ran through the gathered populace at that, as the people made room and part to provide a circle of open space now between Max and the hanging gallows. The only thing the people loved more than an execution, was an open combat.

Sneering down at Max, the Elven man waved a hand towards a group that loitered near the doors of the cathedral. "Then you are as foolish as the vixen cunt you hope to save.. Draw your weapon then crusader, your foe already has his.." Wearing a grin along with an air of arrogance as rising up through the sea of people was a large ogre. Dressed in a swatch of legging clothes they had managed to dress the beast in, his top was bare with a number of old scars shown proudly. The grey hued creature heft a heavy lump of wood that had been more or less shaped into a club, stomping forward towards the open space created. Though the presence of the ogre caused something of distressing, widening that space even further as people urged to get as far away from the beast.

Taking another slow, deep breath in to steady that slight nervous twitch in his arms, Max looked on at the ogre as it approached. "Heracles guide me.." He muttered quietly to himself, drawing out the longsword he wore at his side and brandishing shield in the other hand. The rush of adrenaline filled blood made the steady, rising pace of his heart heavy in Max's own ears. Every instinct practically screamed at him to turn the other way and flee; and yet, he refused to. It was the very way of life for a paladin to face the adversity of life head on. Through fear, through death, he was duty bound to protect those that could not protect themselves. And while Max was certain this 'Isha' was far from innocent, he also could not stand by for such blatant violence.

"GWROOOAR!" The ogre bellowed out at him, muscles as thick as a man was wide, the creature stomped forward seeing Max in a ready stance as townsfolk fled in either direction. The paladin held strong in that spot however, even as the slow, heavy, overhead swing brought that club crashing down right upon him. Feet shifting position, shield raising up, Max met that blow head on with a grunt, almost buckling under the force.

In a single moment that crushing wave sent a jolt from arm down to feet, making Max's teeth rattle and body ache. What the blow had not done however, was crush the young crusader as had been expected. Instead, he rose at the knees, shoving the shield up and to the side. In a surprising feat to all that watched, that greatclub flung back; throwing the ogres weight off balance with it. Leaving the beast open for repercussion, Max spun on his heel, slamming the side of the metal shield at the ogre's hip and weaving blade around into a clean stab right in the gut.

An audible gasp came from the crowd at that, and Max felt the surge of victory; moments before he realize the blow would not have been a killing one for this foe. "Oh shit-!" Cursing out as the ogre roared and thrash, that heavy club making a wide horizontal swipe and nearly taking the paladin's head off if he hadn't ducked and brought shield up to turn the blow into a glancing one. The blow still stung regardless, as the heavy weight of the shield at least instead struck him through the guard, causing Max to stagger back. Though he'd backed off, his sword had not come with him, as another silent curse passed his lips noticing it still jabbed into the ogre's bleeding gut.

A paladin was not within a weapon though, as long as his greatest one remained at his side; as Max tightened grip on his shield. "Shield of faith, protect thine servant so he might protect others.." Muttering the incantation with free hand poised over the surface of his shield, the protective barrier took on an unearthly radiance. A throbbing in his head made vision pulse slightly, as he felt a bit of warm-wetness on forehead.

"ME.. CRUSH!" The ogre screamed out, red in the face as once more the beast of a creature came stomping forward with a heavy overhead smash like the first. This time however, Max not only stood his guard but shrunk down slightly in preparation of the strike. Rising up to meet the blow halfway, a maneuver that would normally get one killed, Max was emboldened with the surge of magic as he act as a conduit for it. The two forced met in the middle, and for the briefest of moments nothing happened. With a span like the blink of an eye however, that club bounced back up at it's wielder, smashing right into the ogre's face. A gust of wind accompanied the blow as it lift the ogre slightly from his feet, blood and broken teeth streaming from that face, as the heavy weight of the beast crashed down onto the town circle.

Max pant for breath, the only sound in that moment as the crowd looked on in stunned silence. Stepping forward, the young human grabbed the hilt of his sword and withdrew it from the belly of the beast. Thrusting open hand once more forward with blade sheathed, a new radiance filled his palm. As that warm light washed over the fallen ogre, wounds mend and sealed, as the creature groaned where it lay. Turning his gaze firmly to the executioner, hand rest on the pommel of longsword as Max stood up straight without another word spoken. His muscles burned though, and he knew the next day was going to be an unpleasant one; and yet.. pride swelled in his chest.

"Th-that's cheating! You! You cannot use magic!" The elven man was furious, stamping his foot. "I should have you hung as well!" Growing smug as the crowd began to boo, that arrogance quickly soured however as the booing was not directed at the young crusader, but the executioner. The crowd threw stones as they stormed the gallows and surround Max, giving congratulatory pats on the back or rubbing his head.

"Free the fox!" "She picked well!" "Ante up suckers, odds on the boy were 3 to 1!" The crowd was in a frenzy, making the officiant nervous as he glanced into the swiftly agitated mob.

For Max however, it was a bit smothering. Feeling the weight of his armor heavier than ever, the shadows of the crowd around him grew denser and thicker as he slowly blacked out on his feet. The vauge sensation of hands and being moved wrestled with the impromtu rest. How much time had passed, he was uncertain, but the next Max opened his eyes it was looking up at an unfamiliar roof overhead. He'd been removed from his armor, though before any panic could set in Max noticed it all sitting nearby on table and chair of the room he slept in. He also was not alone either, as the yellow hued vixen from the gallows sat nearby, pausing in mid gesture with a bowl of water and wetted rag in hand. "What.. what are you doing? Where am I?" His voice taste stale even on his own tongue.

The broken silence snapped Isha from that moment to continue what she was doing, wiping the rag across his brow and over a lightly bloodied scrape he'd received. "Hush, I'm just.. repaying my debts. Least I could do you know.. saving my life and all." The vixen shrugged her shoulders, but wore a bemused expression. "Didn't realize such a cute boy would actually come to my aid, I might have to come to his.." Her tone was purred, as those tails wiggled and swayed behind her.

Max went red in the face at that, tensing at the blatant teasing. As his mouth opened to question her some more though, the fox cut him off. "Isha.. since I think I more formal introduction is in order.. and the room, well.." She raised an eyebrow, glancing back over her shoulder at something.

Someone cleared their throat at that, as a figure stepped into view around Isha. A halfbreed human and fox themselves, the furred bits of canid ears, longer hair, and a single tail were all purple in color. Almost as if by common trend, their own eyes sparkled a beautiful blue color as the halfbreed smiled. "How do you do Sir paladin, my name is Seren. I caught that whole exchange outside and frankly, you moved me almost to tears! Ahh.. so cool, so very valiant! Had me positively on the edge of my metaphorical seat!" A feminine voice accompanied the otherwise somewhat masculine dress of cloaked traveling clothes and belted sword. Offering a hand, they shook as Seren continued smiling. "After you collapsed I offered my rented room here for you to rest in, and.. Miss Isha here insisted on coming along once she was freed." Nodding her head in corroboration to the story, she wrung of the rag over the bowl.

"That's very kind of you both but.. I feel fine now, I shall be on my way." Max felt embarrassed, but also a bit uncomfortable being watched over so; still blushing red in the cheeks. As he rose up in bed, the realization that he'd not only been removed of armor, but underclothes as well redoubled that embarrassment.

Pressing fingers to his chest and lightly shoving Max back down onto the bed, Isha's fingers walked their way up until they slid over his cheek affectionately. "I don't think you heard me right." She leaned over the top of him, that muzzle coming right beside his ear and teasing him by blowing lightly at it. "I told you.. I was going to aid you.. in any.. way.. possible.." Her tone dripped with seduction, giggling softly as Max couldn't seem to move his limbs. "You don't think a life debt is paid with just little bit of dabbing a wet rag, do you? You're stuck with me until we're both satisfied.." Casting a glance back at their room host, Isha grinned. "And I can hardly cast away Seren for so graciously loaning their room. So buckle in sailor, looks like these waves are about to get rocky.."