Portal - Innocence Lost (Black_Out and Loveme)

[Black_Out]

"On the charges of treason against the Empire of Merasheel you are found guilty!" The thin nosed man of some elderly age cried out as he tossed his gaze about the mumbling discordant crowd gathered beyond the fringes of the protective wall offered by the Empires mighty knights. "...and sentenced to banishment from these lands by means of the Portal!" The stern and age worn voice of the gray haired man known as the High Inquisitor rang out over the crowd from his elevated perch behind the stout white washed wooden podium. His immaculate robes flowed in the gentle breeze, the blue embroidery gracing them matching the brilliant blue star centered upon the white face of the podium. It was the symbol of the Empire's only god, Merasheel, the High Father of All Knowledge and Keeper of Magic. As the shackled young man with dirty brown hair and a beaten and bruised face desperately cried out his innocence a tall and imposing knight stepped forward from the nearby ranks and with a thunderous back hand his metal clad fist smashed the already beleaguered and weary prisoner to the turf, sending a spraying mist of blood mixed with teeth into the air.

A pair of white robed Inquisitors approached from behind the podium of the High Inquisitor. Dark blue hoods hid their visages as they stepped forward and gathered the floundering young mans body up by the arms. Rich crimson stains of fresh blood decorated their white robes as they dragged the barely coherent prisoner past the lofty perch of the High Inquisitor. From beneath his bushy grayed brows the High Inquisitor spared a brief and scornful look upon the unfortunate soul before he turned his attentions back over the long line of those awaiting judgement by his hand this day. While he turned his attention to the next that stood accused of crimes against the Empire the young man was dragged up marble steps, his bared feet kicking weakly at the hard stone stairs that led to the shimmering blue vortex of the Portal.

The Portal was immaculate, carved of white marble, gilded in gold and rare metals, and etched with the blue star of Merasheel in decorative patterns. Massive wooden wheels bound together with straps of iron offered it a means of locomotion, while a team of the strongest of draft horses pulled the immensity of the devices weight wherever the Empire took it. Currently, those twenty horses were stabled and being cared for elsewhere under watchful eyes since the Portal was in use and would be for days to come. Nearly a month ago the Empires army had arrived at the city of Levono and surrounded the sizable, but ill prepared settlement. As rations quickly ran low, and the meager forces of Levono knew they were outmatched and swiftly disbanded, the governing body of the city submitted to the Empire's will.

Their gates were opened wide, and the Inquisition swept in and took root in the city. In the weeks that led up to the Portals eventual arrival outside the cities limits none were spared from the Inquisitions arrival. Homes were opened up, businesses were searched and cleared out, even the noblest of Levono's citizens were questioned at length. Prison camps were established outside the city, and filled with both Levono's criminals and those the Inquisition suspected of heresy, magic use, or treason. Every item was stripped away, belongings and holdings were claimed by the Empire, but most ended up in the hands of the city of Levono as a small token of the Empire's appreciation for their cooperation.

Pleas of innocence fell on deaf ears as the camps were filled, the prisoners left with nothing but simple rags that barely passed as clothing. Those that were defiant were beaten mercilessly into a more manageable mind set, while those who practiced, or were even suspected of being capable of magic were made to suffer excruciating tortures. Fingers were bent, twisted, and broken, tongues were sliced in half, or cut out all together, and mouths were emptied of teeth, and sewn shut, all in an effort to make sure that no breath of magic ever left their lips again. Few if any were spared, even those that professed a sudden finding of faith in the teachings of Merasheel were taken to task. Priests of the Pantheon of the All Father, the God that had gone silent many years ago suffered the worst. Many of his acolytes and faithful found themselves hovering at the edge of death as they were tossed through the swirling blue vortex of the Portal and into the unknown fate beyond it. Even the ones that fell dead from the rigorous tortures and extreme punishments they endured were sent through the Portal.

Rebellions had risen up to try to stand against the might of the Empire and the ruthless judgments of their Inquisitors. But the mystical marble artifact was surrounded on all fronts by the might of the Empires army. Steel juggernauts with the heads of rams that spit out smoke and steam paved the way for the portal. Forming roads where none had existed underneath the tremendous weight of solid steel cylinders that could crush a full grown tree into splinters. Even those who managed to get close to the Portal found themselves faced with an elite opposition of the Empires best and most powerful knights and wizards. In the end most that tried were left dead or banished into the depths of uncertainty that lied in wait beyond the Portal.

The High Inquisitor barely flinched as the screams and pleas of the young man were drowned out by the hum of the swirling blue energy of the portal and then vanquished into silence as he disappeared within it. Those irritated hazel eyes, sprouting crows feet from the edges of the mans weathered and elderly face had already settled upon the next in line. There was a brief uptick of his lips as he gazed upon a young woman, sporting a fresh series of bruises upon what was otherwise a rather pleasant and beautiful face framed by long blonde hair. She had ample curves and the High Inquisitor admired her attractive features for but a moment before he turned his gaze down to the ledger before him. With a wetting smack of his lips and quick drink of water from a skin to replenish his voice the High Inquisitor looked back upon the young woman and spoke in his typical stern fashion.

"You stand accused of theft from one of the Empires soldiers, a sum of twenty gold and a family heirloom in the shape of a ring were claimed to be stolen from his belongings while visiting your brothel. How do you plead?" The High Inquisitors expression grew smug, as his tired eyes drifted past the young and freshly beaten blonde haired beauty to regard the next in line.

 

[Loveme]

Her world had been shattered within moments. Rose was fine, working in a bar in Levono one minute and she was swept into a prisoner line the next. She tried telling them she was the wrong person, tried pleading with the guards that she wasn't the one they were after. Nothing she said worked, even as she tried to escape, it wasn't long and they had slapped her around, not much. Just enough to cause her to behave.

"Please! I promise you have the wrong one!" Shaking her head, she had no choice but to be pushed into the wagon that held all the other prisoners. She knew where they were headed, the Portal.

When they had arrived at the Portal, she felt herself being ushered out and shackles forced around her wrists. She was then forced into a line, her belongings stripped, clothes stripped and replaced with mere rags against her body. Barely enough to cover her secretive parts. All the while unable to stop them from doing anything to her.

Watching as each person in front of her was deemed to the portal, she soon felt her ownself pushed to the pedestal. Hearing that raspy voice. She shook her head and pleaded.

"Please! I don't know anything about any of that! You can search my home! My property! I don't have any of it! Please! Don't banish me to the portal!"

She could feel her tears falling down her cheeks, the bruises from her earlier misbehaving still fresh on her cheeks. Nothing he spoke of sounded familair to her, she hadn't done any of it.

"Someone is setting me up! I promise! I dont know what any of that is!" Rose knew she would be banished to the portal and that is one place she didn't want to go.

 

[Black_Out]

There was a stir of some laughter from the onlooking crowd of fortunate citizenry gathered in the trampled fields outside of the meager walls of Levono. They had witnessed more then enough of the accused making vain attempts at pleas for leniency to know that only irked the High Inquisitor. The thin hawk nosed man wrought his wrinkled expression into a soured one as he drew his eyes back towards the young blonde standing in shackles before him. "Are you suggesting our soldier is a liar?!" The sneering lips twitched as the High Inquisitor shifted his gaze to the towering and menacing knight standing nearby. "Obviously you have yet to learn your lesson." There was a look of sadistic pleasure on the chiseled features of the knight that were barely visible from beneath his heavy protective helm. "Teach her again."

At the beckoning of those words the immense form of the knight took one large step forward and with a turn of his shoulders his left arm went high up into the air before coming crashing down against the tender back of Rose. It was akin to being struck by a battering ram and the force of the blow flung her face and chest first into the hard dirt surrounding her. "On the charges of theft from the Empire..." The High Inquisitor raised his left hand into the air to emphasize his rising voice. "..you are found guilty and sentenced to banishment by means of the Portal from these lands, forever!" As a smattering of cheers rose up from the more brazen and drunken portions of the crowd the large knight stepped back.

Once again the two blood stained robes of members of the Inquisitions ranks swept forward from their waiting place beyond the podium of the High Inquisitor. They moved in, whatever expression their faces may have displayed were hidden by the obscuring blue hooded masks they wore. Their hands reached down and took hold of her by the arms, pulling the young woman up to her limp feet. As they began to drag her off towards the Portal beyond the podium, the High Inquisitor was leveling his gaze upon the next in line while his fingers tapped against the ledger displaying the names of the accused and the crimes they were going to be found guilty of shortly.

The swirling blue energy of the vortex hovered in the middle of the Portal as Rose found herself being led up the white marble steps that were splotched with fresh and old puddles and smears of blood. She could see the hazy image of the gargantuan dragon horns, etched with symbols far beyond her meager understanding, that framed the funnel of blue mystical magic that she was being led to. Upon being dragged up the last step, the view of her predicament, of her fate was clear and evident to all from the elevated height of the Portal.

While the body of Rose was being drawn backwards in unison by the pair of Inquisitors she could hear that shrill screeching voice of the High Inquisitor booming out once more. "You stand accused of..." She never heard the rest though, as she found herself flung forward and thrown into the waiting storm of blue shimmering force that was the Portal.

 

[Loveme]

The strong hit of the Knights hand against her back was enough to leave her almost unconscious in away. It had definitely knocked her senseless as she fell crashing on the the dirt. Causing her chest and face to become filthy. But before she could beg for anything else, she felt the arms of the Inquisitors wrapping around her arms and lifting her limp frame.

They were dragging her to her demise and all she could do was let her tears fall. The portal would of been something beautiful if it didn't rank of blood, wrong doing, so much hate. The blue shimmering force of magic surrounded her as they pushed her over into the portal. It engulfed her quickly and left everything silent. She could hear no more until she landed with a thud.

Landing on a thick pile of fresh blood, dried blood, bodies. It was something she could never unseen, trying to scour away from it as quick as she could. Her back was throbbing, in so much pain as she crawled away from the mangled pile.

Standing up rather slowly, she winced. Looking around, she couldn't help but feel lost, she didn't know where to go. What to do.

All she could do was walk, maybe find someone to befriend. So they wouldn't be in this journey alone. She didn't know if she would survive alone in this world. Wherever here was.

 

[Black_Out]

Hovering some ten feet above the mangled pile of corpses that Rose had plummeted into was a flat plane of swirling dark red energies that emitted a low droning hum that mixed with the buzzing of insects swarming about the massive pile of rot and the shallow moans of despair from the various people working their way outward from the center of the mound of bodies. Fresher corpses recently deposited lay a top of older bodies that buried bloated corpses which all rested upon a foundation of humanoid bones. Circling in the skies were buzzards, crows, vultures and other winged scavengers intent to pick every last corpse clean if their bellies could handle the immensity of the feast. Massive rats, easily the size of a dog could be seen plucking away at the spoiled rotten meat of maggot filled corpses, completely unconcerned with the living bodies. The stench was revolting beyond belief, it was all a scene out of some gruesome nightmare, and Rose wasn't the only one currently suffering through it.

Further down the sloped pile of decaying bodies was the young man with the dirty blonde hair that had preceded her into the portal. He was crawling upon his hands and knees and lost in the throes of shock as he stumbled and felt his arm sink into the soft flesh of death beneath him. His face was battered, one eye swollen shut and the flesh around it the color of blackened purples. At least his shackles had been removed as he sobbed and wretched up bile from his gut before trying to yank his arm free and move once more. Beyond him Rose could see other signs of life, a scattering of men and women of various ages, all clad in white tattered rags working with varying degrees of success and failure to leave the rot behind.

Off to the west the burning orange glow of the sun could be seen setting upon the horizon, while just moments ago it was brilliant morning yellow back in her home town. Off in the direction of the falling suns glow a gently rising and humble hill could be seen that was full of plush green grasses. Rising like a tower from upon the top of the hill was a bending large white pine tree that seemed out of place in this field of massacres. The canopy of its pine clad branches offered shade and comfort to at least a dozen or more bodies that were cloistered beneath it. A small spring that fed down the hill from the base of the tree and sparkled orange in the setting suns light had more survivors gathered at it's meager banks, cupped hands taking deep drinks of the cool refreshing waters it offered up. It seemed strangely peaceful over there, while chaos and death swirled around the vicinity of the portals red swirling egress.

As Rose was just beginning to pick her way through the tangled mass of corpses, carefully stepping to avoid any squishy unpleasantness another body fell from the portal and landed with an awkward thud. It was an older man in his early forties that Rose barely recognized at first, a jeweler by the name of Joseph. She could recall him visiting the bar she worked at, always pleasant, and leaving a good tip for her. His long pony tail had been cut off at the base and his face looked like it had been mashed inward. His visage was smeared with crimson and as he tried to gather his wits and senses all he could do was gurgle out blood from a tongueless and toothless mouth. As he fell onto his back and spat out more blood his fingers could be seen, bent and twisted into painfully misshapen directions as he laid there, seemingly unable to find any strength to move beyond the few crawling feet he had managed.

Off in the distance, in the fading light of the sun the surrounding terrain loomed in the coming shadows. Well beyond the mostly flat and rocky fields that were spread about the portals immediate surrounds upon the horizon to the west and south were thick copses of trees and hills. To the north there were far fewer trees and rows of rolling hills and fields that seemed to show no sign of ending. While to the east the terrain seemed to slowly and steadily rise towards a range of distant larger hills that were full of thick woods. There were no signs of any civilization to be seen anywhere around them, only the wilds of some unknown land surrounding them on all sides.

 

[Loveme]

The stench was horrible, the decaying bodies, the fresh bodies.... it was all something out of a horror scene. Slowly standing, she managed to make her way down the pile of bodies. There were bones, peices of fabric strewn about, flesh, whatever you could imagine was strewn about in the pile and all around the pile. Rose was lucky, she managed to avoid the soft piles of decomposing bodies, but it still didn't cause her not to have harm. Holding her mouth and nose closed, she felt her stomach churning. She needed to get away from the stench and quick.

A few moments later she was at the bottom of the pile, lurched over throwing up. She didn't care what or who she got. She had to. It was no choice. Wiping her mouth as she finished she groaned deeply. Wherever she was, she still felt pain. Her face was hurting, her back. But yet there was Joseph, toothless and tongueless. Blood pouring from his mouth. Rose turned away. She couldn't worry with him. She had to make sure she was fine and knew what to do..how to survive.

Rose focused on the pine tree on top of the grassy hill. She lost time as she hiked herself up the hill. It was beautiful there, over looking the gruesome scene below. Once she finally reached the top of the hill, she collasped against the grass. The whole ordeal was fresh, it made her tired. Like traveling through the portal to years off of her life. Closing her eyes, she was sure she drifted off into a sleep.

 

[Black_Out]

Rose found the grasses to be soft, like laying upon a bed of down feathers, there was no sensation of unpleasant itchiness from the blades of grass that comforted her weary and tired body. The entirety of the sloping meager hill was filled with a sense of serenity and tranquility that wiped away the hatred and cleansed the body, mind, and soul of thoughts of violence. All about Rose others were nestled in the depths of slumber as the dwindling sun began to settle past the horizon. Still others talked in hushed voices, barely whispering their plans and thoughts of what to do with other potential traveling companions that had gathered around the leaning boughs of the heavenly starch white pine tree.

In the depths of Rose's resting mind a vision arose, a dream most surreal and refreshingly peaceful. Nothing much was different in her dream, save that she was vaguely awake and the sun was cresting now and it's warm and gentle rays where falling upon her body, invigorating her with a renewed sense of energy. In the dim motes of light that the mornings rising sun brought there was a ghostly apparition that had simply hovered past Rose. The woman was a soft tone of white, her body draped in delicate silken fabrics that swayed unnaturally in the breeze-less morning air. Her face was obscured by a thin veil of embroidered silk, though the motherly beauty beneath it was still evident enough to be felt as she passed her gaze over Rose. Soft flowing hair fell down around her shoulders and back that was the color of the dawning suns yellow and as her gaze met Roses she offered a soft smile to the woman and in a gentle voice she whispered. "Head to the South, there you will find a trail, beware of the road to the North, no good will come of traveling that way."
She fluttered along then as if carried by an unseen breeze and faded from Rose's sight and mind as the depths of her slumber overtook her once more.

Eventually she would awaken, the soft light of the rising sun falling upon the hills edge. Her bruises and other more meager wounds had taken leave of her body, her eye was no longer swollen shut, and the aching in her back had passed far swifter then it should have. Currently, across from the hill the Portals red swirling vortex hummed and droned, but as of now there were no bodies, no more prisoners coming through it's shimmering field of energy. All about Rose, other's were awakening, taking to the babbling crystal clear waters of the brook that flowed down from the mighty white pine and feasting from small bundles of blue berries that grew in abundance about the hill.

 

[Loveme]

Rose had fallen asleep, the grass was plush beneath her body. It was such an odd sensation. Especially with the gruesome scene that was before the hill. In Rose's mind, she was dreaming of the same place. Ironic as it was, she couldn't help but feel at peace. Her body felt healed, her mind felt healed. Everything that ailed her felt healed.

Blinking her eyes a few times, she couldn't help but see the woman floating above her. It's how she knew she was really dreaming. The woman was peaceful, calm, caring. Catching Rose's gaze several times before actually speaking to her. For some strange reason, Rose knew she should trust the directions she was giving her. Nodding to the woman, she felt her mind waking up.

Her eyes opening and adjusting to the outside. Sitting up, she found her body was completely healed. She really didn't know how are why. But part of her thought back to the woman. Reaching down, she grabbed her growling stomach and noticed others eating the berries. Rose followed suit, eating a belly full. Moving to the crystal clear water, she gathered a hand full and sipped it slowly.

She knew it was time to follow the trail that she had been given. Standing up, Rose started walking South.

 

[Black_Out]

The trail south wasn't very hard to find after a brief scouring of the lands to the south of the grassy hill with the tall white pine. It started off as a conglomeration of tread over paths that weaved and worked themselves into one larger beaten down path that cut into the shallows of the forests edge. There were others making use of the path, like the trio of men that were up ahead of Rose upon the trail. They stopped after one of them had noticed her and a few others beyond her coming along the winding path. Soon enough a small group of ten was formed and the gathering traveled along in mostly silence as everyone seemed quite lost in their own thoughts about the events that had recently transpired and altered the course of their lives.

Most of the people Rose found herself traveling with were younger folk, along with a few that might be considered past their primes but still had plenty of productive years ahead of them to live out. The dirty blonde haired youthful man that had been accused of treason moments before Rose faced the High Inquisitor was among the groups numbers. Rose discovered his name to be Jacob during the briefest of exchanges between the two. There was Mary and Angela, two women that were in the vicinity of Rose's age. Mary was a touch on the plump side and had deep auburn hair that fell around her shoulders. Angela was by far the more attractive of the two and she wore her dark black hair in a pair of pony tails that bobbed behind her back as she walked. That left the other six of the group and they were all men of differing ages, two of which were probably old enough to be considered Fatherly in the group.

Then there was Sean, he was a hot head that Rose had seen come and go in her time working behind the bar at Levono. He had a penchant for drinking and fighting, and more often then not he was a source of trouble. Not to mention the fact that on more then one occasion Sean had let his hands get a little too friendly, a little too invasive with the ladies, Rose included. But he had served on the city watch and with such a position came the benefits of being allotted a certain measure of impunity for the minor infractions he so often got caught up in. Rose could feel his eyes on her from time to time, and when he wasn't admiring the bared beauty of her body in the meager white garments he was often seen stealing a glance at Angela or Mary.

The day wound on as the group moved through the ever thickening forest and canopy above them offered a cooling amount of shade from the heat of the sun. Several hours had passed and as the group rounded a bend they discovered a simple clearing along the edges of the path. There were bushes with a variety of berries and beyond the thickets the lapping of a streams inviting waters could be heard. There were a few old logs laid out as make shift benches and more then enough space for all to relax for a bit and give their aching bared feet some time to rest away from the hard dirt trail they had been traveling upon.

 

[Loveme]

Rose was very glad she found herself in a large group of people. She knew a few of them, Jacob had been sentenced before her. Sean was always in her bar causing trouble. She could feel his stares from afar, thinking to herself getting pushed in the portal didn't change him any.

She got along well with Mary and Angela. Most of the others stayed to theirselves inside the group. To Rose, being in a group made it feel not so horrible to be thrown through the portal. When they rounded a bend, Rose couldn't help but smile and sigh at the same time. It was very bushes and a stream of water again.

Grabbing a handful of berries, she set down by the stream and watched the water flow by. She couldn't help but wonder if she would be destined to eat berries for the rest of her life. What would become of her life, the others. Rubbing her bare feet, she realized she was way more exhausted then she realized. They had all walked for miles, hours. Looking over the trail, Rose didn't know where they were all headed, even she wasnt sure if the others knew.

 

[Black_Out]

Beyond the banks of the shallow stream that rambled past the small clearing upon the trail Rose could see a cluster of crayfish jetting about through the shadow layered waters. The sounds of a handful of frogs hidden somewhere in the vicinity of the quietly babbling creek reached her ears. Of course there were the sounds of birds fluttering about overhead, their chirping songs lent a faint pleasant mood to the surroundings. There was even a pair of squirrels across the stream, clambering about the length of a shade granting oak tree, engaged in a game of chase. Without much warning to mention the squirrels suddenly disappeared up into the tree while the sing song chirping of the birds faded away as their sounds turned to the flapping of their wings.

With her back to the small encampment and the rest of her group Rose didn't see the grizzled man that dropped down out of his hiding place up in the tree. She certainly didn't notice the other men that came out of the thickets and bushes and surrounded the others in her group back at the small rest stop. What she did take note of though was one filth ridden man of large proportions that suddenly emerged from the tangles of overgrowth on the opposite side of the stream she was lounging at. Heavy hides of slain animals covered the muscular and lean body of the barbaric warrior that burst out of hiding and charged towards the far edge of the creek. Assorted bones and colorful simple rocks that fell around his body in the shape of necklaces and bracelets swayed as he lunged across the stream.

There was an eruption of panic, startled shrieks, and out cries of pain that sounded from the others back at the encampment, as the large and surprisingly nimble figure landed upon his leather hide wrapped feet just a short distance upstream from where Rose was. "Your all so fucking predictable, every last one of you blasted portal rejects. You always, stop here." The voice was thick and edged with youthful strength and it came from back towards the others. "So, do we want to do this the easy way, or shall we continue beating the puss out of the lot of you?" That deep voice intoned as Rose saw the barbaric berserker turn his predatory gaze upon her while his hand reached behind his back and drew forth a sturdy cord of wood that was topped with a sharpened bone tip and he took a step towards her, readying the primitive spear.

 

[Loveme]

Rose had been in her own mind the whole entire time. But that was okay until she heard the screams of her group from behind her and noticed the man in front of her. He was huge, one step over the stream and he was almost right on top of her. Turning to look at her group, they were all circled. There was no way out of it unless they took the easy way out.

Holding her arms up, Rose panicked. She really didn't want the fuck beat out of her again. Raising her arms was a sign of surrender.

"No.... please. Don't kill me." Sure she had just been banned from her own town and through here. But that didn't mean she wanted to die. She couldn't make that choice for the rest of the group..

The men were way bigger then Rose was, her gut told her she wouldn't win even if she tried to fight them. "What do you want? You know we don't have anything of value on us."

 

[Black_Out]

With a pair of lunging long strides the fur drenched barbarian closed the gap between himself and Rose and loomed over her as he planted the business end of his weapon into the softened soils of the creeks bank at her side. "I won't have to kill you so long as you don't do something stupid." The bearded dirt stained face of the tribal warrior scowled as his words fell out of a mouth that was missing a few teeth. "Now get up on your feet." He spat at her as he dipped down and she felt the strength of his grasp land upon her forearm. With a yank he pulled her upward and drew her towards himself, spinning the smaller woman about so she was facing away from him as his grasp drew down along the length of her arm and circled about her slender wrist.

The foulness of his breath washed across her shoulder, and the feeling of his unruly chaotic beard scratched at her skin as the larger and far stronger man forced her wrist to pin upon her belly as he drew her back up against his thick and fur clad body. The barbaric man of some prime age that was difficult to discern from the amount of dirt and filth that caked his form drew the spear out of the ground and settled it into the straps across his back. "Your going to be a slave, girl, so get used to the idea. So yeah, you got value." He growled out into her ear as he began to push and lead her back through the thickets towards the rest of the group she had been with.

Coming around the short trail that weaved towards the streams edges, Rose arrived back in the clearing and saw a trio of the men she was traveling with laid out on the ground. All were still breathing, but there was blood pouring from spots, and the beaten looks that had been upon them when they came through the Portal had returned in a lesser fashion. "Found this one out by the stream." Her captor spoke as they emerged, directing his words to another man that bore a similar appearance, though he was taller and held an actual sword that was as tall as he was. The pommel of that sword was stained with a smattering of blood and hair that matched the color of Jacobs hair and gave an explanation for the reason behind his unconscious body laying sprawled out upon the ground.

"Tie em up in a line." The massive man with the sword that looked like it could cut a man in half with one swipe stated to another pair of barbaric looking men that were armed with more mundane, though still effective clubs. "The lot of you are responsible for each other." His darkened gaze worked over each of the captives as bundles of looped twine were brought out and unraveled by his cohorts. "So that means you look out for each other, because if I have to deal with this shit, then this is what will happen to you." With that the long blade of his weapon was drawn up and then plunged down into Jacob's back, skewering the man and sending a spray of blood from his mouth as his body twitched and writhed in the throes of his moment of death. "Now all of you get in a line, women in the front, men in the back, and wrists together in front of yourselves." His gaze settled upon Rose as he drew the heavy blade out of Jacob's still twitching blood spurting back. "Understood?"

 

[Loveme]

Rose had no chance to stand on her own. The barbaric man was soon grabbing her by her arm and pulling her up rather roughly. He twisted her around and faced her away from him, his hand wrapping against her wrist and pining it to her stomach. With one fluid movement she was pinned against the mans chest. The stench of filth flowing over her nose.

When they rounded the ben, Rose gasped at the sight of the men laying on the ground. They were beaten and bloody. As if they had just come through the portal.

Rose had no idea what had happened before the moments her captor had brought her back over to the rest of the group. But it didn't look to be good. Shaking her head, she listened to him speak. Her eyes were on Jacob and before she could turn away the blade of the sword sliced through his back. Watching as blood squirted from his mouth and back, Rose turned her face away. "You didn't have to do that!"

Rose shook her head, watching as the gaze of the man fell onto hers. Rose moved to the front of the line and crossed her wrists in front of her like the man had said. She could feel a tear running down her face for Jacob. "I understand. "

 

[Black_Out]

Gasps and cries echoed Roses sentiments for the swift and brutal means of Jacob's death though as the notion of not wanting to meet that same end dawned upon them those words fell away. The hefty barbarian grinned as he slammed his bloodied blade down into the ground and left it planted in the forest floor. "Good, good, that's the spirit." His smirking lips spoke as he stood tall and looked down over the assembling line of captives. It was only natural that he approached Rose first as the others settled into a line behind her and offered up their wrists.

His firm and sharp features drank her in as he leaned side to side to peer over her body. "You'll clean up nice I bet." His words were spoken like a man at the market looking over a prized pig. His hand rose up and took a hold of the flimsy white cloth that most modestly covered her body. "Let's see what you have to offer, hmm?" He spitefully stated as he ripped the cloth garment down the center with the sharp tug of his hand and bared her breasts. As his eyes turned down and fell upon Rose's his hand let go of the torn garment and came up to cup and fondle upon one of her breasts. "Are you a virgin?" He coldly inquired as his gaze slid down between her legs.

From the back of the line the first of the prisoners was being tied off. Wrists laced together with loops of rope that were then circled about their waists before being led forward to the repeat the process to the next in line. As the man in charge stood there, bouncing Rose's breast about in his palm he let his gaze move away from her and looked out over the proceedings. "If any of you have any useful skills, you better let me know, and if you think to lie to me, well just look at your friend for a reason to not."

 

[Loveme]

When he ripped her cloth down the middle, he freed her breasts as the fabric hung off to the side. If her hands weren't bound, she would have slapped the man. His nasty grimy hand fondled her breast like it was his own. "What's it to you if I am or not?" Rose was. She hadn't really found the guy that made her jump like that. But maybe that would help keep her safe in this ordeal. She was a virgin, they would want her safe and kept.

He hadn't dropped his hand away from her, even as spoke to the other captives. Rose spoke up rather slyly. "I can make drinks... I'm, was a bartender." She really didn't know if that would help her out or not.

Hearing someone else from the back of the line speak, her head turned back to see Angela speaking. "I am good at giving head..." Of course she was Rose thought to herself. A few others spoke up from the end of the line, Rose really couldn't hear them as she was focused on Jacob's body. He didn't have to die, but that's how the barbarians worked. They didn't care nor having feelings.

 

[Black_Out]

For the most part Rose and the others that she had found herself traveling with seemed fairly mundane in the set of skills they offered up. All of the men had some background serving in the town militia as was customary. There was one man who followed Rose's comment by exclaiming that he worked as a brewer's assistant. Another spoke about being part of a masonry, while the rest of the men and women seemed inclined towards more menial and general labor.

Towering over the smaller Rose the commander of this gathered troupe of hunters glanced down upon her as she spoke up, his hand still settled beneath her breasts and stroking his thumb across it. "Your my property, girl." His fingers clenched down into the tender flesh of her bosom. "Your all my property, until I sell you off." Those clenched fingers sunk into the softness of Roses breast and twisted it painfully within his grasp. "So when I ask you a question, I expect a prompt and respectful answer."

Dark eyes of the brute looked up towards Angela as she spoke up. "Well, I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to do just that before we get back to Piom." Finally the clenching fingers parted from Rose's reddened breast and grasped her beneath the chin, forcing her to turn her head upwards to meet his fierce gaze. "Are you a virgin, girl?" As he spoke spittle flew from his lips and struck her in the face. "Or are you just another cock sucking slut like the other girl?"

 

[Loveme]

When he spoke, she groaned deeply. She knew she was going to be his. For some reason he was interested in her and had attached to her rather quickly. But when he clenched down on tender breast, her hands raised and her mouth opened. A scream of pain escaping her lips as he twisted her tender skin.

"Fuck!" Rose screamed out again, her face twisted in pain. "I understand. Let go of me!"

Maybe she didn't understand, but the mans grasp was killing her. It hurt so bad and he wasnt letting go. When he finished speaking to Angela, she felt is grip let go of her breast and reappear on her chin.

His gaze on her, hers on his. She had no choice. "Yes. I am." Rose spoke through gritted teeth as his spittle flung on her face.

 

[Black_Out]

"Let me make this perfectly clear to you all." His gaze swept out over the gathered train of rope bound prisoners clad in the tattered white robes they had come through the Portal with. "Whatever you were before, whoever you knew back home." He licked his dried and cracked lips as he let go of Rose's chin. "None of that matters anymore. All that matters is what you can provide." He stepped out around Rose and walked along the line of people, giving each a brief pause to let his presence be felt, to allow his words to sink in with each individual. "You'll be provided for. Food, shelter, and provisions to survive." His hand slid down and groped over Angela's ass. "Some of you will be used to breed the future generations of our land and please our men." His hand squeezed the shoulder of the man who claimed to be a brewers apprentice. "The fortunate ones, you'll be put to work." As he worked his way back towards Rose. "While the rest of you will be put to work in the fields, or used as entertainment in the pits."

As their commander circled around the line of prisoners a pair of the barbarians went off down the trail. Moving at a steady jog and shortly vanishing into the depths of the forest as they scouted the trail ahead. The other two remaining hunters remained with their boss, keeping quiet and looking around the perimeter for any signs of trouble.

Once more his hand found itself taking control of Rose by the chin as he settled those owning eyes upon her. The thickness of his thumb stroke across the side of her chin as he tucked his head down and arched a thick brown brow towards her. "Now, back to my earlier question, your answer was vague." He offered a sly smile as he looked into the depths of her eyes. "Yes, your a cock sucking slut, or yes, your a virgin?" He inquired as he jammed his thumb into the corner of her mouth and gagged her with the momentary force of it's invasion. The hand resumed clenching around her jaw as he twisted her head to the side and waited for her to respond.

 

[Loveme]

He wouldn't leave her alone for anything. She could hear his words become distant and heard them become more coherent as he made his way back to her. Her eyes watched as the two ran off before them, she could only imagine moving to make sure the path was clear.

Before Rose could return her gaze, he was gripping her chin hard between his fingers once again. Forcing her to look at him again. His thumb caressing against her cheek. As he spoke, he jammed his thumb inside her mouth, gagging her for a split moment.

He was rough, he didn't think twice about hurting her. His hands clenching her jaw, she groaned slightly. "Yes, I'm a virgin." When he twisted her head to face a different way, she wanted to slap him. Not physically being able to. "That should get you a pretty penny when you sale me."

 

[Black_Out]

The man's thick brows furrowed as he looked down at Rose. "What, a pretty little thing like you could find a man she wanted to fuck in her home town?" His rough and dirt clad fingers squeezed with some pressure into the softness of her skin before letting go. "If your lying I'll know soon enough, once the slavers have inspected you." He stated as he settled both of his hands squarely across her shoulders.

Those strong hands forced her to turn around and face the sweeping line of prisoners arranged behind her. "This one has some fire in her." His hands came around and down from her shoulders. Thick fingers parting and encircling her revealed breasts, anchoring into them and using the leverage upon them to tug her back until her body was snug against his. "That's not a good thing to have where your all going." With a deepening grasp his hands pushed and pulled at the soft orbs of flesh within his grasp. "That's earned, none of you have earned anything, yet." He stated as his hands slid back from the soft creamy flesh of her breasts and took hold of her ragged torn open white garment and ripped it fully away from her body.

"So this one is going to learn to keep her mouth shut for now." His voice barked out over the hushed line of prisoners as he tore the tattered white of her attire into mangled strips. "Now if you all behave, when we camp for the night, whatever food we have left over will be yours to enjoy." The white strap of dirty and sweaty cloth was looped around her head and forced against Rose's lips. "Tonight's menu is wild pig. I can eat a lot, or leave what we can't finish to rot." As the man's hands drew the ends of the cloth back behind Rose's head and started to pull at the cloth, forcing it to wedge into her mouth. "But if your on your best behavior, you'll get to eat some real food tonight."

He then leaned his head down and murmured softly into Rose's ear. "You better keep a good pace. Your in the front." His hands moved to take hold of her shoulders and spin her about once again to face him. "Don't test me." His hands reached down and took a grasp of her bared ass. "You might be a virgin, but I could split your ass wide open and you'd still make me the same amount of coin." He looked up from Rose then and grabbed the end of the rope that puddled at Rose's feet and turned, tossing it over his shoulder as he started to walk off down the trail that the other pair had left to scout.

As he began to lead the train of prisoners up the winding path that worked through the forest the other two men under his employ fell in around the flanks of the line. Whips were displayed in their grasp, and a few quick threatening cracks of those long and wicked tools cracked in the air around the roped together parade of prisoners, serving to remind them to keep the pace.

 

[Loveme]

Yes, she had fire in her. She may have surrendered, but that didn't mean that she was going to surrender fully. When he tore the rest of her white cloth off and wrapped some around her lips, she groaned deeply. He pulled it taught against her to where she couldn't really talk or move her mouth. She loved irritating the man, but also knew the prisoners behind her were probably in her hands.

Her body faced the crowd as he spoke and soon was pulled right back around to face the front. His hands gripped her bare ass and she whimpered softly. Her cheeks flushed with redness from being naked in front of everyone, the only one who was.

His threats were enough to cause her to walk behind him. The rope attached to her taught as he expected her to keep up and she did. The pace wasn't slow, but wasn't fast either. The sounds of whips cracking beside her made her jump each and every time they cracked.

Rose was starving, knew the others had to be too. Part of her hoped theyall behaved so they could all get something to eat later. He would find out that she wasn't lying and was telling the truth.

 

[Black_Out]

And so the train of prisoners was led along with Rose at the head of the line, pulled from time to time by the hand of the barbaric figure that had laid claim to the lot of the assembled prisoners from the Portal. The trek was a tiring one, with a few intermittent breaks taken to allow the sore and aching feet of the claimed line of people led by Rose a chance to rest before being forced to press on again. During these brief breaks a skin of water was passed along the line and a brief meal of dried and salted meats and nuts was passed out. Not enough to quell the depths of hunger they all suffered from, but enough to grant some energy and fuel to continue on with the journey. The pair of whips snapped and cracked whenever there was a stumble, or someone lagged enough to draw their attention. Rarely though did they actually strike flesh, and then only in the moments where it's threat needed to be tangible enough to force someone back onto their feet.

Perhaps with an hour or so to spare until the sun fell from the horizon and the night swamped in over them the group arrived at cleared patch of land in the depths of the woods that had grown far more mysterious and haunting with every step taken further into its grasp. There were other's there already, more of the barbaric horde of dirt ridden humans bathed in the heavy furs of bears and wolves. Another line of prisoners was also there, among which were a few familiar faces that Rose had seen gathered beneath the white pine just the night before. There was a stockier brute with a mass of tangled dark brown locks of hair that had been caked with dirt and bundled together by his filth. His gleaming weapon swayed side to side from his grasp over the end of the battle axes handle.

"Hey Jericho" His gaze went to the leader that led the line of prisoners that Rose was the front of. Jericho came to a stop and tossed the line down upon the ground as his two cohorts ushered the line of slaves towards a patch of open ground in the center of the encampment. "Sit here, and be quiet." One of the two whip bearing thugs stated to them all before moving towards some worn hide tents that were arranged about the edges of the clearing. While the line of prisoners were isolated and sat in meek obedience Jericho walked over towards the shorter and stockier man that had called out his name. The pair talked in private, their words hushed for the most part, until a name was heard from Jericho's lips that sounded with bitterness. "Fucking Vorax...great."

 

[Loveme]

Rose drug her feet as they moved down the trail. There were times she drug it out and stumbled but soon was reminded to keep up with the whips cracking against the air. When they finally arrived at the clearing, Rose could see also see another line of prisoners sitting all in a line in the center of the camp.

Rose set down on the ground, the rope around their wrists and waists caused them to sit close together. Her mouth and chest had saliva running down, she wasn't about to swallow all that well with the fabric around her mouth.

She was exhausted, her head hanging as she closed her eyes. She could feel her stomach growling from below, the provisions that they had given the prisoners wasn't nearly enough and they needed more. She had become some what comfortable with having her skin exposed, but when they arrived at the encampment, she felt even more exposed.

The new men had her nervous, even if she was the property of Jericho. She could feel herself becoming more tired as she sat there, her eyes were still closed as she hung her head. Groaning deeply, she tried to listen to the conversations that were happening, but she was mentally and physically exhausted.

 

[Black_Out]

As the pair finished their hushed conversation Jericho turned away and settled his broad hand upon his forehead as he looked out over the assembled line of captives cloistered together in the middle of the encampment. His fingers pinched down into his skull, fighting off the sudden surge of a headache caused by the information he had just been acquitted of. Woolen fur boots paced about the camp as the lean and muscular barbarian tromped about in an obviously troubled state of mind. Curses fell out of his cracked lips, often spewing the name "Vorax" out with them as his compatriots kept their distance while their temperamental leader tried to work through the news he had been given.

Every time he spat the name Vorax out of his mouth, one or more of the lingering barbarian brothers of Jericho cringed or scowled. Whoever Vorax was it became apparent that the name was universally despised among the primal hunters gathered in the camp. Another prisoner among the line that was already here when Rose arrived with Jericho piped up, perhaps asking the question that many were growing curious of. "Uh, who, who is Vorax?" He didn't speak loud, but he turned towards the stout looking shorter barbarian with the axe that had brought his group in.

He immediately received the flat end of the axe to the side of his head as the ill tempered stocky man stepped forward and let out a scowling roar as he smacked the man into unconsciousness with one club like swing of the flat end of his weapon. "I said to be quiet!" Spittle flung from his mouth as he barked out at the gathered line of would be slaves. "Not another word." He muttered as he nudged the unconscious man with his boot and turned him to lay upon his back. There was a smear of blood along the side of the mans head as he laid limply upon the ground.

Jericho lowered his hand as he turned towards the brief moment of disturbance and narrowed his gaze, biting his bottom lip as his gaze swept over Rose on more then one occasion. "Vorax, is a War Troll." He huffed out as he looked towards Rose. "Unfortunately, you don't fuck with Vorax. When he shows up, and he will, some of you are going to become his property." The bearded barbarian's face wrought into an unpleasant expression as he walked towards Rose. "Might want to keep your mouth shut about being a virgin." His words fell upon her as his hands dug out the saliva drenched gag in her mouth and let it fall across her breasts like a necklace.