1 The Beginning (1/2)
The Dark Iron Forest sat menacingly at the edge of civilization. Legends have said that other lands sat beyond the forest, but none that had taken it upon themselves to make the journey ever returned.
That isn't too say, however, that everyone that entered died. On the contrary, many thousands had become rich or famous because of their exploits in the forest. Some had even become nobles, and even Kings as a result of their conquests. However, for every legend that came out of the forest, there were a thousand doomed to death or mediocrity.
Over the last couple centuries, millions of people had migrated to the edge of the forest to challenge their fate. These people formed many settlements, but none could be compared to the city of theives, of liars, of fools, of gamblers: Den, the City of Adventure! While on the edge of the known world, it was also the central hub. With tens of millions of registered citizens, and several times more of those not, Den became it's own country, separated from any other earthly power. It is said that within money and power, there is nothing that can't be obtained within the city of Den.
Surprisingly, however, there was no King over the city-state. The city was run by a council, formed by the wealthy merchants and powerful organizations of the city. Unarguably, however, the majority of influence was held by a small few: the Chairman of the Merchant's Guild, the Boss of the Mercenary's Guild, the King of the slums, and perhaps the most powerful, the President of the Adventurer's Guild.
Other nations mocked them as barbaric due to the lack of nobility and traditional class system. However, this didn't stop it from growing. Every day, thousand of new people entered the City of Adventure to make a name for themselves.
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One autumn morning, while the fog and dew clung to the Ironoak trees, a small cabin sat in the middle of a small ravine. Like much of the Dark Iron Forest, this hidden ravine was soaked in the vibrant colors and oranges of the season. A pair of pristine springs flowers on either side of the small clearing. Each one surrounded by flowers and herbs surrounding them. A couole dark stone paths, that contrasted splendidly with the vibrant plants, led both springs to the cabin that sat a mere dozen yards from either.
The cabin, though somewhat simple in design, caused a strange attraction to any unfortunate enough to stumble upon the hidden valley. It seemed to make people forget to question to themselves about the oddity of such a peaceful home being in the middle of the most dangerous forest known to man. They, instead, would find themselves in a dazed state, slowly making their way into the valley.
Today, however, such a scene would not take place. Contrasting the warm appearance of the valley, a oppressive and terrifying pressure radiated from the cabin as even the surrounding trees bent away from the valley as if to escape from their impending doom.
The inside cabin had a simple design, where the main body and the basement each had no interior in walls save for the toilet. The somewhat small cabin seemed surprisingly spacious and while the various furnishings gave it a cozy look.
Inside one corner, atop a bed, was a young woman. She was the epitome of beauty from head to toe. Her long, smooth, open legs were bare as their curviness seemed to draw the eye along them. Atop her pleasantly plump thighs sat her soft, round, uncovered cheeks along with a round belly, covered by a blanket. Above her protruding belly, two large shapely mounds like elastic mountains, last atop her chest. Her thin arms and thin neck seemed as though they were shipped by the goods of beauty herself. Atop her thin neck, was a mesmerizing face. Luscious lips, a cute nose, and soft, violet eyes filled her full, but not chubby face. Atop her head was long, slightly wavy, deep red hair that flowed down to her lower back. The only thing unsettling about her appearance was a pair of goat horns emerging from her head and a lon,g smooth, black tail with a heart-shaped point.