Orc Territory

The champions traveled south for days, walking much of the way. Even when they saw a farm or village, they restrained themselves from raiding. Denni would sneak in to steal some food, perhaps, but pillaging these small settlements was not their quest.

Eventually, they reached a large river. They bartered passage on a merchant boat that took them east, inland. The boat was taking supplies to Laran, the last human outpost before the Orcish tribelands.

The outpost was a small but fortified town. A garrison of troops from Alsforn kept watch over the border here. The people, the champions noticed, were hardy folk, but constant attacks from Orc raiders kept spirits low.

"It's so much warmer here than at home," Yolna said.

They'd all removed their winter clothes during the boat ride, as the weather to the southeast was hotter and drier than the mountains. Josk had cut the sleeves from his tunic, and Brudd was now bare-chested full time. Denni no longer wore a cloak over his leathers. Karn shed a layer of his dark robes, making them more utilitarian than before.

The girls, meanwhile, had also minimized clothing, much to the boys' delight. Ria minimized the padding around her chainmail, and went bare-legged beneath her skirt. Denni especially could not stop staring at Yolna, who wore a loose wrap around her ample tits, displaying a great deal of cleavage. Even Hanna had removed most of her heavy robes, and everyone was surprised to find that her bust was quite large--though not quite as large as Yolna's. Still, she kept her breasts covered by a fairly conservative linen robe.

The merchant unloaded his boat, watching the young champions carefully. "You all look like the adventuring type," he noted. "I'm guessing you're here to make a trek into the tribelands?"

"That's right," Josk said. "We're going to return to our home with a great prize."

"Be careful, young ones," the merchant said. "Orcs are tougher than you think. They're savage fighters, and the men will fuck anything they get their claws on." He glanced at Yolna, Hanna, and Ria. "Keep an eye on your women," he said. "Or else they'll be stuffed full of Orc cock quick as a blink!"

"We... can handle ourselves," Hanna said, but she couldn't keep a slight waver out of her voice.

The merchant just shrugged. "Fine by me," he said. "But the prize you return home with could be a Half-Orc bastard in your belly if you're not careful."

"We'll be fine," Josk said, more to Hanna than to the merchant.

"Hope so," the merchant said. "Best of luck to you."

The champions left the dock, and headed to the town wall. A gate faced east, and through it they could see the steppes stretching into the distance. The horizon was dotted with plumes of smoke denoting Orc camps.

"The Orcish settlements are so much closer than I thought!" Ria said. "We could reach one before nightfall if we leave now."

"Or we could stay in this inn tonight," Yolna said, pointing to a roadside tavern. "And leave in the morning."