Board Thread:What Would You Do?/@comment-35836714-20190404204810/@comment-36855838-20190404231818

Two days wandering, and I find this.

The faint scent of burnt hair and copper fills the air, a great deal of magic is at work here, no doubt the cause of the bizarre appearance of these various women.

Most likely this place is run by a mage or two, playing mix and match with body parts on humans and animale.

I decide to play it safe, and watch a while more.

Soon I spot a man entering the town square, not particularly tall or short or brawny or weak, but good lord, the bulge in his trousers is definitely oversized.

A few other men soon show up as well, accompanied closely by various varieties of women, among them is one who seems to have been mixed with a lapdog, another seems even more doglike, with golden fur instead of the other's brown fur.

The first man to arrive in the town square is soon joined by a woman with what looks to be a red scaled snake instead of legs. Her skin is unnaturally pale, and her hair is white and voluminous.

She coils around him a few times, before snapping her fingers.

A flame leaps from her hand and ignites a massive pile of wood in the center of the gathering.

Tables are soon brought, covered in meat and produce, bottles of wine, and casks containing who knows what.

More tables arrive, bearing pastries slathered in honey, caramel, and glazes.

The paired townsfolk begin to dance, giving the white serpent and her man a wide berth.

Those unpaired mingle and chatter, seated about, or lounging near their friends on the ground.

I spot a small group of unpaired men, and hoping for an explanation, walk over to them.

"Elvira is already paired off with Albus, Damien, look for yourself!"

One of the men turns to look at a woman who stands taller than the average door, she is performing an ambling waltz with a thin, sickly looking man who is almost her height, and the two seem absolutely enamoured with each-other, like all the other couples.

"Just face it, Dam. You can't expect your dream girl to come to you, you have to pursue, even if monsters are agressive, you have to show that you're interested!"

He nods, a sullen look on his face, but a fire burning begind his eyes.

"Alright, I will, thanks, Claude."

He pats his friend on the back, and-

Suddenly, a knife is at my throat.

"Welcome, to what do I owe the displeasure of your invasion into our humble village?"

Words die in my throat, and I feel a hand press firmly onto my shoulder.

"Speak, worm."

The voice in my ear is distinctly female, and almost melodious, but certainly violent.

"I was robbed by marauding thieves while traveling through the forest, I don't know where I am, I'm tired, hungry, and thirsty, may I please have some wa-"

I barely manage to croak out that much before my throat cracks and I feel moisture running down to my stomach.

The pain is so excruciating I would scream, but all that escapes is a panicked gasping gagging gurgling sigh.

I collapse, my vision blurred, my throat getting cut on the blade.

---

I wake to the sensation of a warm blanket, I see a woman with the body of a horse, a pair of horns protruding from her head.

A faint, black mist emanates from her outstretched hands, and I feel my aching throat has recovered somewhat.

A man I recognize as the first to the party holds a waterskin to my lips, I eagerly drink, quenching my thisrt.

"Slowly, now, slowly. There's plenty more, and Rosemary will tend to you once my Marie has finished with your injuries."

Minutes later, the horse woman bows low, removing her simple cap.

"Marie," she states, her voice flat.

She stalks out of the building, her hooves somehow silent on the wooden floor.

A woman with a bladed tail walks in, her body covered in a single tatto, pure black ink.

Her face alone remains uninked, and she wears a simple white sleeveless dress.

She holds a knife, stained red.

Bowing low, she introduces herself, as Rosemary, the woman who, in her carelessness, allowed me to cut myself on her blade.

There is some tension in her statement, though what it is I can't place.

She must value her skills highly, and judging by her somewhat plush belly and limbs, it's quite possible she has neglected to maintain her body and training.