Thread: The Amazon's Prize (PsionicCuttlefish & Madam Mim)

Bardon was not having a good day. In fact, it hadn't been the best week, though it started out on a high enough note, and should have ended in vindicating triumph. The soldier-of-fortune gladiator was fairly well-known among the region as an expert monster-slayer, as well as a winner of several local fighting tournaments, though he hadn't yet competed in a major tournament in the big city. Still, he had a very comfortable amount of fame, wealth, and women coming his way. But, as men like him are, he always wanted more. Bigger fights, greater fame, more wealth. To that end, he had started the day to go hunting in the Kolee Jungle, near the town he was passing through. The locals had told stories of beasts well-known to them, but none so great and elusive as the Tuskchargers, supposedly a beast like a wild boar, except twice as big and--most famously--with a face of nothing but tusks. The head of one of those would make an excellent addition mounted on the wall of his lodge. So, Bardon had entered the jungle almost a week ago, intent on tracking and claiming a trophy. The jungle was harsh, but Bardon was accustomed to hardship and challenges. Tracking a Tuskcharger was harder, but Bardon persisted, and finally picked up a trail. Then, he finally found the beast, and set about slaying it. Though the Tuskcharger was indeed powerful and exceptionally dangerous, like most beasts it wasn't particularly bright. Bardon's weapons, his skill, and his own strength won out over the creature, even though it kept going even with Bardon's spear clean through its chest. Once he was sure it was dead, Bardon felt that familiar thrill of victory, of proving he was better than what faced him. Thus, he had begun to cut off the Tuskcharger's head so he could take it back home as proof of his deed. Then... she showed up. Bardon had no idea who she was individually, but he had a pretty good idea where she came from. The locals had also whispered stories of jungle-dwelling savages who liked to prey on intruders in the Kolee Jungle. The other towns and cities near the jungle had similar stories, especially the trading posts that maintained a caravan trail that cut through part of the jungle. If the savages found someone, they were never seen again. If the person was male, that is. Every now and then a trading carriage was raided, but the only survivors were women if there were any, who told wild stories that the savages were warrior-females who would defeat the men in combat and take them away to unknown fates. Bardon had scoffed at such notions, attributing it to exagerration and hyperbole. He could handle some uncivilized savages if he saw any, especially if they were women. Which only made what happened even more burning and humiliating for Bardon. He had just finished cutting off the beast's head when a single wild woman lept out from the trees to attack him. Bardon counterattacked, and they engaged in a long and drawn-out battle. Bardon could scarcely believe it. She was faster than him, taller than him, and moved with more skill than him, despite his mind insisting it was impossible. Finally, Bardon got fed up and tried to take down the woman with a grappling move that would negate her speed and grace, as it was a contest of pure physical strength that gave advantage to the one who was stronger. Except she was stronger than him. To Bardon's horror, the woman turned the move back on him, and the next thing he knew, he was being pummeled into submission. Which led directly to his current situation Bardon, the brown-haired, six-foot-two man, built like a lion, winner of multiple champion titles, never before defeated in a fight that didn't involve magic or wizards...was bruised, blindfolded, gagged, had his arms bound behind his back, and had a rope around his neck that was leading him to Shining-Fist-knows-where. A woman had beaten him. A woman . He couldn't believe it. He seethed in anger, his ego not letting him accept the reality. Not yet, at least...