Might and Magic - Goblin Hunt WIP

Note - this story is both unfinished and unedited. Writing is a time consuming process, of course, but I've been enjoying it as of late. I still wanted to share something with you today, so here's the story as it is now. I'll upload an updated version when it's finished and edited! I hope you enjoy either way.

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Goblins, always goblins. It didn't seem to matter which parts of Noloria one hailed from. Stories of Goblins in the hills, goblins in the woods, or goblins in the mountains would be told time and again. Farmsteads would be ransacked, traveling merchants pillaged, and small villages raised. They were a known pest. Warlike, bloodthirsty creatures by nature the goblins were. And though it was known that some of them were amicable and made genuine attempts to integrate into more civilized society, by and large they were a problem.

So it was that Samaria found herself on a goblin hunt. The larger than life warrior was tasked to deal with a local problem, the town just outside the temple grounds had been subject to a few raids, and things had gotten far worse when the daughter of a visiting noble had been taken captive. The cause alone was worthy enough for the exotic beauty to want to test her might against it, but she knew as well that it would serve as a way for the temple to test her mettle. It was a graduation test of sorts, to see if she was ready to work as a guardian for the priestesses.

Samaria steeled herself and trudged onward, up into the red rocks of the high desert that separated Khomid and the Holy Ephostos Kingdom. The warrior's powerful legs carried her up and over the rocks as she diverted from the well-traveled merchant trail. Rust-colored pebbles scattered and slid down the hill side each time Samaria's bare feet left the ground. Thankfully the woman's skin was tough, fortified by her curious origins. Walking barefoot across the red rocks must have been similar to walking on coals, though it bothered Samaria none.

Back on the trail Samaria had left behind the wreckage of a merchant caravan. Telltale signs of a goblin attack had been present. Merchant corpses riddled with bite marks, dark singed spots on the wood of the wagon, glittering coins all missing from coin purses, and trade goods well torn through, scattered, and picked clean of those that would be useful to the goblins. Samaria had spotted a small blood trail and pursued it up and away, likely toward the goblin den.

The statuesque warrior's knuckles whitened as she gripped her blade tighter. Knowing that she was in goblin territory compelled her powerful body to tense up, ready for action. The vile pests were known for a great list of terrible things, among which was their penchant for setting traps. Goblins were small and relatively weak compared to many of the heritages of the realm. A certain level of craftiness was often required of them in order to overcome most of their foes. Whether they achieved it through swarming numbers or through cunning traps, they saw an alarming amount of success. Each step the amazonian woman took could have placed her in a snare, sent rocks tumbling her way, or who knows what else.

Samaria took some level of comfort, despite her nerves, in knowing that she was likely too strong for a typical goblin-made device. The statuesque warrior stood taller than anyone she had met in either Khomid or Ephostos, and not by a small amount either. The temple guards, strong men in their own right, typically only stood as high as the bottom of her hefty breasts. Not only was she a few full heads taller, but she was a person wider then most of the human folk. Powerfully built, a bountiful body spilling out of her golden armored pieces, Samaria exuded strength and beauty.

Still, the comfort she gained from her impressive arms and heavy sword didn't keep her from maintaining a vigilant watch. From underneath her heavy and voluminous bangs, her amber eyes darted about in search of any potential threat. Thick tresses of dark hair spilled out from her high ponytail, cascaded down her back and shoulders, and gently bounced as Samaria's head slowly shifted side to side.

A fine red cloud of dust swirled up as a slight breeze whistled through the cracks in the canyons and the rocks. The earthy clouds rolled across the ground ahead of the warrior. Samaria moved forward, seemingly unphased by the rough terrain and the bite of the sand, headed toward a split in a rock wall. A slot canyon of sorts it looked like. It was a defensible position, and the most likely spot for the goblins to have set themselves up.

The gleam from her polished armor vanished as shadows overtook Samaria's form. Each step of her bare feet brought her closer to the cliff face, and further into the long shadow it cast. As suspected, there were clear signs of goblin presence. Samaria couldn't help but turn her nose up slightly in disgust at the sight. Stakes had been punched into the dry ground, their wood stained a rusty color from dried blood, some of their tips adorned with the dead and decaying skulls of animal and human alike.

If it wasn't goblins, something else equally as cruel and vicious surely made its home there. Samaria didn't love the idea that there may have been yet a greater threat in the hills. It had to be the goblins, she reassured herself.

Samaria passed through the veritable fence of grim stakes and dried blood. The smell was awful. Enough to give her pause. She released one hand from her blade and held it to her nose as she continued her careful march. There were plenty of worrying things about Samaria's situation, but the biggest was realized once she actually reached the entrance to the canyon.

"It's so narrow…" Samaria muttered to herself as she examined the opening to the goblin lair. Her eyes trailed down until her gaze rested upon her body. The one thing she hated about delving into the various lairs, dungeons, and ruins that dotted the lands of Noloria was their generally tight spaces. Such was the expected result of most of the lands being inhabited by humans, elves, dwarves, and even smaller beings like gnomes and goblins. They built structures for them, and not for someone of Samaria’s size. She grimaced a bit as she beheld her caramel skin, spilling out of her armor. Her broad and powerful shoulders gave way to large arms. Her ample bosom bulged out of their golden armor. Her hips were wide, her thighs like tree trunks. Samaria had a hard time fitting in places, literally.

She lifted her gaze once more to the canyon and narrowed her eyes as she pondered her best course of action. The opening, and what part of the trail she could see before it disappeared around a bend, were certainly wide enough. Samaria figured two of her could fit within the rough and rocky walls. But beyond that, things were certain to get more narrow.

It was going to be close quarters, especially for the Demi-Katsangi. Samaria eyed her blade and pursed her full lips. It'd be all but useless to her in such a narrow space. There was no way she'd be able to swing it, unless she wanted to do overhead chops. Even then, she worried that there may be some caves she'd need to travel in.

Unfortunately, there was no chance the goblins would come to Samaria. Out in the open, she knew they’d stand no chance. It was in their home, laden with traps, hidden paths, and too cramped for the amazonian warrior to fight properly that they would find their advantage. So, Samaria shrugged her powerful shoulders, as if in answer to some unasked question, and pressed into the canyon.

Golden rays of sunlight found their way through whatever slits and cracks they could, and cast patterns across the dusty ground. Samaria was grateful for the light, though many of the cracks and alcoves along the canyon walls were cast in shadow. The dark places remained in the back of her mind as she cautiously rounded the bend. She simply could not shake the feeling that she was being watched. More likely than not, the goblins had had eyes on her ever since she made her approach toward the canyon. A slight sense of dread fell over Samaria, her stomach sank, and her white-knuckled grip shifted uneasily. One hand fell free from her sword and instead came to rest on one of Samaria’s locks of hair. She twirled the dark hair around her fingers for but a moment as she considered her position.

It was her test though. Samaria had to clear the goblins. Not only was it her task to protect the village, and to maintain the safety of the road, but it was also her task so she could become a guardian to the temple priestesses. The opportunities she’d have to travel to distant lands and to aid others once she had her magical charge were well worth fighting a goblin camp for. She swallowed her fears, heaved a heavy sigh, and pressed onward.

Around the first bend, the canyon became more treacherous. The walls converged overhead into a low ceiling of smooth stone. Darkness blanketed the red and rust-colored walls. Any cracks, crevices, caves, or alcoves that goblins might have hid in were obscured from vision. Most adventurers would likely have been able to pass through with a torch in hand, but Samaria knew she’d have to crouch down once after only a few more steps. She hadn’t the materials required to make a torch, but fortunately Samaria had been trained in some of the magical arts of the temple.

Most of her training had gone into martial prowess, forging her body into a weapon against evil and the monsters that plagued Noloria. However, she had been afforded some time with the priests and priestesses as well, and learned a few magical tricks that would aid her in her tasks. She’d never be anywhere near the spellcaster that some of the priestesses were, but some simple magical spells were within her grasp.

Samaria closed her eyes and held her hand over one of the brooches that rested atop the thick cords that held her breastplate up. She murmured a few words in the Khomidian tongue, and conjured forth a simple light spell. She felt the energy surge up within her belly, then rush up her torso and down the length of her arm. Her skin tingled, covered in goosebumps. Not a moment later and the magical energy had passed from her hand down into the emerald jewel set into the brooch. Shadows all around Samaria dissipated as the jewel began to glow a warm green light.

“There we go, less places to hide,” Samaria sighed to herself. She reclaimed the grip on her weapon, and pressed onward. The larger-than-life warrior ducked down low and pushed deeper into the canyon.

Just a few steps in, and Samaria was reaffirmed that she was on the right track. The air was heavy, stale, and permeated with a powerful odor. Her nose wrinkled again in disgust as she pushed forward, definitely the smell of goblins.

Narrower and narrower the path became. Samaria’s heart began to beat faster and faster. Sound from far off echoed and reverberated off the rocky walls. Pitter patters of small footsteps, shrill laughter, gristly sounds of all sorts reached the warrior’s ears. Though she had plenty of resolve, she also had a fear of such tight spaces. She had to press on though.

For but a moment her warm green light revealed a goblin ahead. The creature peeked from around the stony bend. Large yellow eyes glinted in the magical light, floppy ears twitched, yellowed teeth visible in its toothy grin. The creature was small, with a large head set on top of a wiry body of mottled flesh. Hardly clad in any clothing, there was little of the green-skinned menace left to the imagination. The bony and clawed hand that gripped the rock wall seemed to be caked in dried blood as well. Truly a grim sight. Samaria’s eyes widened, but the creature disappeared as quickly as it had been revealed to her.

The warrior steeled herself and pushed forward, eager to carry out her task, spurred on by thoughts of such beasts ravaging the merchant caravan from earlier. She took a few more lumbering steps forward, head dipped to avoid the ceiling. The stony walls narrowed before transforming into a deeper cave system beyond, and Samaria felt the rough rocks grate against her hips and shoulders. Then, she was wedged.

Samaria’s wide hips were soon stuck fast. The rocks grated against her, tugged at the fabric of her skirts, but then she could move no more. Sweat began to bead Samaria’s brow as she looked down to see her wide hips were firmly wedged within the rock walls. She pushed forward, stony walls digging into her skin, but to no avail. Behind her, the deep red fabric of her skirts were being chewed up with each attempt to unstick herself. Each time she rocked her body, her massive bottom squished together in an attempt to somehow make it through the narrow gap. Her skirt disappeared deeper and deeper as her heavy cheeks continued to chew it up, resulting in more of her caramel skin being revealed.

While it seemed like a futile effort, Samaria was making progress. Slowly but surely she was able to nudge herself forward. Though she’d likely have some bruised hips and thighs, and would need to acquire a new skirt later, she wouldn’t be stuck forever. Samaria only hoped that the goblins hadn’t taken note that the trespasser in their lands had gotten into a predicament, and not even at the hands of one of their traps.

Samaria’s thick bangs were slowly getting stuck to her forehead, the normally fluffy hair was dampened from sweat. With the hair so weighed down, it became harder for Samaria to see. She puffed out her lips and blew air upward with a shake of her head. Once her vision was cleared, her amber eyes caught sight of a new danger. The goblins had taken note.

Beyond the narrow pass the giant warrior was wedged in, two goblins crept into view. Their clawed hands gripped the stony walls, sharpened yellow teeth visible through wicked smiles, their eyes glinted in Samaria’s green light. Sinister laughter echoed all around, the goblins had found easy prey it seemed.

Samaria growled and thrust her powerful arm forward, her blade leveled toward the goblins. Though there was no way she could swing it effectively, she could at least try to fend them off. Her heart raced, panic attempted to take hold of the statuesque warrior. Samaria tried to fight off the bad feelings. She needed her head level, her heart calm, and her sword arm strong. She breathed deep, as much as she could, and slowly nudged forward.

“Your time is come, vile things, I am sent to reclaim the roads from your wicked claws,” Samaria spoke authoritatively. She hoped the creatures would be frightened enough to allow her time to get herself free.

“You are stuck, giant woman! You can’t fight, we will feast tonight!” One of the goblins shrieked.

“Big and juicy this one is… Big feast, big feast!” The other goblin chanted along with its shrill voice.

The two creatures stalked toward Samaria, their claws twitching from excitement. Though goblins often cowered away from a fight with an overwhelming enemy, Samaria’s predicament made them confident enough to approach her. She gulped and gave a slight swing of her sword, as much as she could. The metal of the heavy blade clanged against the stony wall, resulting in a small shower of sparks.

“Mm, a big and juicy rump too,” a voice called from behind the stuck woman.

Samaria whipped her head to the side for a moment to catch sight of the goblins who made an approach behind her. Two more of them, clad in cloth scraps, stalked toward her huge legs. The little creatures hardly stood as tall as the bottom cuff of her rear end, and their wiry bodies were less than half as wide as Samaria’s thighs. As small as they were, they had numbers, they had Samaria surrounded, and they had their prey stuck fast.

“Mmm, Gluc never had fun with such a big woman. We use her before we feast!” The second goblin who approached from behind called out. Out of the corner of her eye, Samaria could swear she caught an unsettling movement from underneath the goblin’s waist wrap.

The giant warrior’s amber eyes widened at Gluc’s declaration, her nostrils flared in anger. She had no intention of becoming a meal for the goblins, let alone letting them have their way with her. She choked down her disgust and hatched a plan of action. She had pushed herself pretty deep into the narrow pass. She had to choose whether to try and lunge forward, or whether to try to back up into the slightly more open section of the cavern. An idea crept into her head.

“You like my big and juicy rump?” Samaria called back to the goblins coolly. Her heart still pounded in her chest, but she knew she had the means to slay the vile creatures that approached her. The amazonian warrior rocked her hips back and forth, an attempt to make it look like she was panicked and trying to escape. Her thighs and bottom squished and jiggled as they were rolled against the narrow walls. “Just you wait till I get free!”

Samaria turned her attention back to the front. The two goblins ahead had multiplied in the moments she had taken her attention from them. Four goblins approached her, more tenacious than before. Among them, Samaria was surprised to see a couple of female goblins.

She swung her sword again, just as a goblin came within reach. The creature nimbly dodged backward as the heavy steel of the blade clattered against the stone floor. With her arm down and the sword punched an inch into the ground, the goblins charged forth. Bloodlust in their eyes, mouths drooling, the goblins were upon her. One of the females clambered up Samaria’s arm, its wicked claws digging into her flesh. Thankfully, Samaria’s fortified flesh was a bit too hard to pierce, without a powerful strike the claws couldn’t actually draw blood. However, the goblin’s gnashing jaws were a different story. The female bit down hard, sharp teeth punching through Samaria’s skin.

Samaria growled in pain and gripped the goblin with her free hand. Her muscles bulged and flexed as she tore the creature free from its perch. Blood sprayed into the air and painted the canyon wall as the goblin’s teeth were wrenched from their perch in Samaria’s shoulder. The warrior wasted no time. She flung the creature back toward its brethren. The goblin woman crashed into a couple others, and bought Samaria some time.

She looked behind her, just in time to see the goblins from behind lunge at her. One ran, claws first, toward her thigh. Gluc, meanwhile, had his eyes on the big and round prize. Samaria moved fast, before the goblin could hamstring her. The giant warrior released her grip from her sword, still stuck in the ground, and pushed backward with all her might.

Samaria was freed from the stony prison, and was sent hurtling backward. Gluc leapt from a rock to get at her backside. The goblin would receive more than it bargained for as Samaria crashed into her foes. She fell down hard. One mighty cheek bashed into Gluc in midair, and carried him downward. The warrior landed with a meteoric crash, knocking dust and stone loose from the canyon walls. Her bottom landed squarely on both goblins. She felt bones snap beneath her.

She glanced back behind her, to see little bits of goblin sticking out from under her. Her bottom, both muscular and fatty, had sufficiently dealt with her threat. She could hardly feel the flattened goblins beneath her. Samaria breathed a sigh, somewhere between relief and disgust. She did not relish the idea of cleaning the vile things off of her when she was done. There was no time to focus on such things, as she still had a threat ahead.

“Two down,” Samaria grunted and pushed herself off the floor. The warrior stood to her feet, revealing the crushed and mangled corpses in the butt-shaped crater. She arched an eyebrow as she noted Gluc’s still-swollen member pushed against his waist wrap. At least he got that close encounter with her titanic bottom. She turned her attention to the four goblins ahead, “four to go. Want to get squished like them?”

Two of the goblins stopped in their tracks at the proposition, already they had been pushing through the narrow gap, easily able to duck down low. Behind them, the two females retreated away into the darkness, shouting in the goblin tongue. There must have been more of them back deeper in the caves.

Samaria brought both hands up in front of her swelling chest, ready to cast a spell. She called forth the magical energies from within her. A burning sensation boiled up in her gut, her body temperature rose. The energy pulsed out of her core, up through her torso, and through both arms. Her hands emitted a red glow that bathed the goblins in a foreboding light. They turned to run, but were overtaken by the fiery orb that Samaria summoned forth. Fire flew from her palms, swirled together in a great sphere, and launched toward the goblins.

Shrieks of agonizing pain echoed through the canyon walls, the goblins were caught within the red flames, they flailed and cried out until they expired. The smell of charred goblin was not exactly a pleasant one. But Samaria had no sympathy for the evil things. Especially not after they had planned to defile her. She held her concentration, her hands moving in small circular patterns, guiding the rolling flame to continue torching the goblins until they were scarcely more than cinders.

Gruesome, yet cathartic, Samaria breathed a sight as she released her spell. The fires dissipated, save for the few flames that sprouted from the charred goblins. The way was clear, and though Samaria would have to squeeze through again, her hunt could continue.