Disclaimer: Warhammer Fantasy and Goblin Slayer are properties of Games Workshop and Kumo Kagyu. I own nothing here except the few OCs I have created.
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Tests, Mushrooms and Naughty Damsels
Another day, another new work day over at the Red Horse Inn.
The smell of roasting meat and a pot of stew slowly boiling into excellence wafted out of the open door of the kitchen and permeated the air within the main hall. Tickling the appetites of the hungry patrons of this humble yet respectable establishment.
Several men were seated on sturdy chairs on the sides of the many clean tables, a stein of beer in their hands while idly chatting as they waited for their food to be served. But none of them were actually invested all that much in their conversations.
Indeed, for as they wait for their hunger to be sated with good food from the Innkeeper's kitchen, they secretly yearned for a chance to quench their manly needs. By partaking on another different kind of meal.
She walked across the smooth hardwood floor at a steady gait, wearing an air of calm and confidence as she deftly balanced with one hand a tray laden with food and drink. Her every movement executed with natural elegance and poise, which to the trained eye, may seem somewhat odd for someone of apparently humble origin and occupation.
Not that any of the men present cared for such things. For their attentions were mostly focused on the sumptuous curves of her supple and voluptuous form, which not even her simple dress and bodice could truly hide despite actually being conservative in design. Nor could they hope to banish from their hearts the desire to look upon her face. Which was so fair and so heavenly as to inspire any painter to preserve her beauty in canvass. Or drive any sculptor to immortalize her likeness in virginal white marble.
Of course, none of the men present had such artistic inclinations. They would very much prefer the image of her kneeling before them. And worshiping their already turgid manhoods using her delectable lips and skillful tongue.
All of this she was very much aware of unbeknownst to them, despite their best attempts to hide it. Their desires leaking out of their very souls like smoke from an open hearth. Visible through her witchsight.
Yet she was hardly bothered by such amorous intentions. It was all par for the course in her current line of work and she was already quite accustomed to it. And if she were to be perfectly honest, she actually rather enjoyed it. So long as they all remained within a comfortable distance and do not seek to act on their base desires without her express consent, all would be well.
And besides, their secret yearnings for her helped ensure the Red Horse was never bereft of paying customers even during the hardest of times, much to Bertha's grudging approval.
"One schweinhaxe with boiled potatoes and a tankard of ale." She stated as she placed the food and drink on the smooth surface of the wooden table.
"Now that's some fine cooking right there." The man said in praise, eyeing the meal in front of him with relish, much to her quiet approval.
"Is there anything else I can get for you, monsieur?" She queried, lips forming into a most pleasant smile.
The man shook his head at that and said. "No, I think I'm all good for now."
She nodded at that before she slowly turned around and was about to make her way for the kitchen again. But she barely made two steps before a firm and calloused hand grabbed her wrist.
"Wait. Now that I thought about it, there is something else I need."
"Of course." She thought with some derision as a smirk soon formed upon her lips.
She calmly turned back towards him and looked at his face. Amber eyes twinkling with amusement as she spoke rather suggestively. "Yes, what can I do for you?"
Spurred on by her words and tone of voice, and with his desires and excitement growing steadily, the man gave voice to his needs.
"My coin pouch feels a bit too heavy right now. So how's about you and I go to your house later tonight and you help me lighten it up a little. And you can give me a nice dance while your at it. Without that pretty dress of yours on of course."
He said to her in hushed yet hopeful tones, all the while staring at the front of her dress which bared a decent amount of cleavage. The creamy flesh tantalizing and ripe, fanning the flames of his lust further.
Her smirk grew just a bit wider as she looked at him knowingly. A dozen or so pieces of silver perhaps, in exchange for a few hours of pleasure? A reasonable enough arrangement, one that any hale and hearty young woman in need would find agreeable. And there were plenty of young girls out there who would be willing to spread their thighs for a handful of copper pence. Or even just a warm meal.
Sadly for him, this particular maid was not in the habit of practicing Mankind's oldest profession. No matter how confident she was in her ability to attract the most affluent of clientele. And regardless of the fact that she alone could easily compete with an entire bordello and emerge several hundred gold Crowns richer, while also running the place out of business.
Thus, she would have to disappoint him. And then rightfully correct him for trying to engage in such infidelity.
"Oh, you poor darling." She cooed at him while gently extricating her hand from his hold, then started caressing his cheek almost lovingly. And her soft touch made him instinctively lean onto it.
"I would love to be of service to you and grant you a long and wonderful night. The Lady knows such a strong and hardworking man like you is in dire need of release."
Her smile now seductive and alluring as she uttered each honeyed word. Causing his arousal and excitement to spike that much higher, such was his desire that she knew he was close to spending his seed within his trousers.
But then her smile turned absolutely wicked as her delicate hand suddenly grabbed a firm hold of his chin. She then leaned closer and stared deep into his eyes, amber orbs full of mischief. And the silent promise of exquisite torment.
"But I fear your wife might chop off your cock, if she were to find out that you slept with little ole moi. We wouldn't want that to happen now, do we?" She said to him in warning, her voice honey-sweet.
His eyes widened in alarm. "Well, uh... Now that you mentioned it, I don't think my pouch is that heavy at all..."
Was his immediate change of heart. Fear of discovery and the possible loss of his manhood extinguishing the flames of his desire. And made his cock shrivel like a dead weed.
"So let's just... forget I said anything. And don't tell my wife." He all but pleaded.
"Tres bién." She spoke gleefully, smile widening in triumph.
She finally released her hold on him and stood straight. Placing her hand upon her hip, she continued. Softer yet still playful and suggestive.
"If you wish, you can simply think about me whenever you make love to her. And all the things you wish to do to me, you can do to her intead. I'm certain Agatha would enjoy it."
That immediately brought a smile to him. "Good point. I'll do that."
A soft laugh came from her as she winked at him. Before she finally turned around and left.
Another day and another ordinary workday here at the inn. And with it, the same little dance that Giselle has been performing ever since she started working here five years ago. That was not the first time she had to fend off an unwanted proposition, and it certainly won't be the last. It could be rather annoying at times, but nothing she was not accustomed to already.
And moreover, she once again succeeded in salvaging a marriage that was nearing its unfortunate end. So now, instead of having to witness their potentially violent separation, she instead could look forward to seeing the birth of their third child. And that carpenter's wife will surely be with child again, all thanks to her little intervention.
Inside the kitchen she could see Bertha at the front of the counter, her back turned to her. Every movement of her burly arm was accompanied by a clatter as she chopped some fresh turnip greens with a small kitchen knife. And to her side were several thick sausages cooking upon a grill.
Giselle went over to the counter right next to Bertha and took a long fork before she started flipping over some of the sizzling pieces Bratwursts.
"Any of that lot give you trouble?" The Innkeeper soon asked. Stern as a headmistress.
Giselle smiled at that. "Not at all. They behaved like perfect little angels."
"I'll bet they are." The Innkeeper snorted at that, before she gestured. "Hand me those plates."
The maid did as she ordered and took several plates from the nearby cupboard. Placing them on the counter next to Bertha. The burly Innkeeper started placing some of the freshly chopped greens into each of the plates before she began picking up each of the sizzling pieces of meat from the stove putting them alongside the fresh greens.
"I know I don't need to remind you that you're only to serve food and drink and clean up. Not to shake your tits in front of anyone, even for a Mark." The older woman said once more.
Giselle could not resist the urge to roll her eyes. "Oui, mama dearest. Whatever you wish."
The older woman glared at her, though there was no real heat behind it. Before she smirked at her and said sarcastically. "I'm glad your not actually my daughter. Otherwise, I might end up castrating every drunken idiot who tries to lay a hand on you. Bad for business really."
Somehow she knew that the Innkeeper was being rather serious about that. Which was why she was glad that she never told her about what happened between her and Erik last night.
Still, this presented an opportunity for Giselle to poke at the Innkeeper.
"And what if I want someone to lay a hand on me?" She teased, a cat-like grin upon her pretty face. "What if a certain silvery-haired outlander decided to have me for dinner instead of your popular pot roast?"
The Innkeeper's plump face could not have soured faster. "I don't fancy the thought of my best worker spreading her thighs to some Northman barbarian. Especially if he'll just leave you behind shortly after filling you with his spawn."
"My, my! I had not known you cared so much Bertha! You may act like a mean bear most days but you are actually rather sweet and soft inside." She happily said as she stepped forth and gave the burly older woman a hug.
"Oh! Get off!" She shook her off but without much force, making her giggle at the burly Innkeeper. With an annoyed look on her face, she continue.
"Someone has to look out for your narrow arse you troublesome little minx. And Sigmar knows what all sorts of trouble you will get into with those loose lips of yours."
The Innkeeper soon had all the plates filled and Giselle placed them all inside her tray before picking it up. She soon gave Bertha a cheeky grin and said.
"I'll have you know, my arse is not narrow and my lips are very tight. So says many a happy man in the past." she proudly said before finally turning around and heading back into the main hall, luscious hips swaying haughtily with each step.
"Tramp." Bertha spoke aloud, grinning in amusement as she shook her head.
"Prig." And Giselle answered in turn, not missing a beat.
It was almost a daily ritual of theirs, their banter and exchange of harmless barbs. Bertha would give the fair maid a lecture or two and Giselle would answer in kind with a playful retort and a bit of teasing. Sometimes it would even devolve to a shouting match between the two with lots of particularly unladylike comments thrown at each other. But by the end of the day, the two would talk to one another again as if nothing had happened.
Moreover, Bertha was also one of the main reasons why the fair maid had remained surprisingly untouched all these years, despite having had countless men trying to woo and proposition her.
Even if Giselle wanted to engage in the occasional dalliance with one of their regular customers, it was next to impossible due to how Bertha kept close watch over her. Not unlike how an overbearing and overly protective mother would to her rather willful and adventurous young daughter.
Many would find this rather unfair or even oppressive, and in some ways in can be. But if she were to be perfectly honest, she rather enjoyed having someone always looking out for her and making sure she was on the right path. It reminded her of some of the things she once took for granted, and lost a long time ago.
So in a way, her time spent working for the Innkeeper allowed her to relive some of those happier times.
The hours seemed to fly by as she went about her day, serving food and drink, and cleaning up tables when some of the customers were finished eating. As well as fending off the occasional flirtatious comment and attempted fondling with a witty remark and a minor slap to the wrist.
Before long, it was well past noon and the last group of satisfied customers had left, going back to work. And Giselle once again found herself alone within the main hall of the inn, mopping the floors while humming a pleasant tune. The inn's regulars would not be back until sundown so she had plenty of time to enjoy these moments of peace.
Then the front doors of the inn opened once more and caused the small bell behind it to tinkle. Signaling the arrival of another patron. She turned towards the direction of the front door and wore her most pleasant and welcoming smile.
"Bonjour! Welcome to the Red Horse!" She greeted the newcomer. But when she laid eyes upon him, she could scarcely contain her excitement.
Impressive in stature and powerful in physique. Standing a full head taller than her, his corded muscles visible beneath his woolen shirt and cotton trousers. His bearing straight and proud, making each audible step with his heavy boots as he walked with purpose. And his face was a stoice mask, achingly handsome. Undiminished even by the few faint scars that adorned it, instead giving him a primal quality that spoke loudly of his masculine strength and warrior prowess.
Thick and wavy hair of a slightly duller shade of silver sat rather unkempt upon his head, and with a few soft locks hanging in front of his eyes. A striking pair of eyes that were the same color as blood, piercing and vigorous, which contrasted very much with his ghostly pale skin. Making him hauntingly beautiful to the fair maid's appreciative gaze.
"By the Lady! I would bear this man many children if I could!" Giselle thought with such ardor.
A warm moistness began to form in between her thighs and accompanied by a fierce desire deep within her loins. The temptation to simply cast off her clothes and beg this man to ravish her right here and now proved rather enticing.
Thankfully, all the lessons she learned in proper etiquette and decorum had not been forgotten. So instead of acting like some desperate harlot and plead this man for a good rut, she would conduct herself with both dignity and grace befitting one of the blessed handmaidens of the Lady.
"Well, well. What have we here." She strutted towards him, a sensuous smile upon her luscious lips.
He calmly regarded her where he stood, a small smile forming upon his face as he nodded respectfully towards her.
"Miss De Gaul."
She halted just an arms length before him, the top of her head barely reaching his chin as she looked up and held his crimson orbs with her sultry gaze. With a hand casually placed upon her hip, she continued.
"The brave and noble hero finally graces us with his presence. Tell me, what brings the Goblin Slayer to the Red Horse this day?"
"I wish to make a few purchases." His prompt response, serious and professional.
"Then we shall gladly be service to you. Please, take a seat and have a meal while we cater to your needs." She gestured towards the many empty chairs and tables, her gaze never leaving him all the while.
But he shook his head at that. "I cannot. I will only buy what I need then I shall leave soon after."
Her smile faltered at that. She sought to convince him otherwise, not wishing for him to leave just yet.
"Must you truly leave so soon? I assure you, the food we serve, est excellente, and the drink we pour, c'est magnifique." She proudly said. But much to her amusement, he frowned somewhat. Confused.
"Zest magne. . . Magnifeek?" He tried and failed to pronounce the words, unaware of how this little mishap made him look rather adorable. Oh, the things she would teach him once they were finally together in private.
"C'est Magnifique." She repeated for him, a bit slower this time. Her smile ever present. "It means it is magnificent, our drink. And as one who hails from the fair lands of Gilles le Breton, I do not bestow such praise lightly."
"I see." He nodded at that. "Still, I cannot delay. Perhaps another time."
Disappointed by that, she made to persuade him to stay or perhaps get him fo agree to return later this evening.
"GISELLE!"
A thunderous bellow rang out, startling the fair maid and cutting off whatever it was she wanted to say. She bit down a curse as she quickly turned around to meet the source of this rude interruption.
"What!?" She all but shouted back, glaring at the Innkeeper who stood by the kitchen entrance.
"Tell that Northman boy to sit his pasty arse down!" The Innkeeper commanded, looking quite severe. "I got some saurbraten here that will be ready in ten minutes, and he is getting some!"
She disappeared into the kitchen soon after, leaving a stunned maid and a rather bemused Goblin Slayer behind. That was a rather unexpected surprise, but one that Giselle found most welcome. She soon turned her sights back to the silvery-haired warrior.
"Well, you heard the woman. I'm afraid you will not be stepping out of that door until you have eaten. And I would not offend Bertha if I were you." She smiled rather triumphantly at him while waving a finger in mock warning.
She could tell that he wanted to object, frowning a bit in annoyance. But in the end, he sighed tiredly as he conceded defeat.
"So be it."
"Très bien!" She exclaimed, delighted by his response.
She then took his hand and began to lead him towards one of the unoccupied seats, and the man did not resist.
"Please, make yourself comfortable." She said to him, pulling out the chair for him.
When the man was properly seated, Giselle once again offered him her most welcoming smile and spoke. "So tell me, you mentioned something about wanting to make purchases. What is it that you wanted to buy?"
Nodding at that, the Slayer leveled his calm and piercing gaze towards her and went straight for business.
"I wish to buy fifteen bottles of your strongest spirits."
She could not contain her surprise. And her smile became more strained. "My, my. . . I did not expect you to be such a heavy drinker Monsieur Slayer."
She had always pegged the man as a disciplined and responsible soldier, not some bibulous drunk who consumed his weight in ale. But it would seem she was mistaken, and her earlier estimations of him had fallen as a result.
He shook his head that though, and calmly corrected her. "No, I will not drink any of it."
"Oh? So what do you plan on doing with it then, if you don't mind my asking?" Her casual question, already feeling her earlier disappointment recede.
"Slay Goblins."
Only to have it replaced with genuine surprise and confusion. She openly gawked at him, her mind unable to fully grasp the absurdity she just heard.
"Slay Goblins. . . with strong drinks?" Did she hear him correctly? Or perhaps her ears were playing tricks on her.
"Yes." He affirmed, leaving no room for doubt.
She just continued to stare at him, speechless.
Alright, so her brave and dashing chevalier was a bit touched in the head. She could work with that. She could simply think of this as him being particularly creative and resourceful. Better that than being some incompetent buffoon, like many a Questing Knight whom Giselle once aided in their quest for the Grail. A quest they had ultimately failed, much to her utter disappointment.
"Very well, I shall inform Bertha of your request." She said to him cordially before she turned around and left.
Back inside the kitchen, Giselle found Bertha standing by the kitchen table, pouring a cup of rich, sour and spicy sauce onto a plate containing two hearty slices of beef, which had been marinated in a mixture of wine and vinegar for days prior. A pair of boiled potato dumplings sprinkled with herbs served to complete the dish.
She could tell that Bertha had done her best to prepare this latest meal. The scent coming from the Innkeeper's creation was enough to rouse even Giselle's appetites. The Goblin Slayer stood no chance.
"Well? Did the Northman ask for anything else?" Bertha soon spoke, not looking her way as she continued preparing the food.
"He said that he wished to buy fifteen bottles of your strongest spirits." Her straightforward response, trying to contain her amusement.
That drew the Innkeeper's complete attention. Looking rather impressed. "Fifteen bottles of my strongest eh? And that would be my special homemade moonshine no less."
Giselle merely nodded, causing the older woman to shake her head and smile in contempt. "Typical Northman. Able to drink their weight in ale and still beg for more."
"Oh, he has no intention of drinking any of it." The fair maid corrected.
"Eh? What does he want to do with it then?"
"He said that he would use it to slay Goblins." Giselle said with a grin.
"Slay Goblins?! With my secret family brew?!" Bertha exclaimed, shocked and rather affronted that someone would seek to use one of her prized drinks as a weapon. A drink that had been passed down for generations.
"What does he plan to do?! Use it to get those green midgets pissed drunk, and hope that they start killing each other?!"
Giselle could not resist the urge to laugh, her hand upon her mouth. "Ha ha! Oh, I don't rightly know myself. A strange request indeed, but there you have it."
The Innkeeper shook her head, face all sour. "I knew that mutant had a few screws loose, but I never knew he was this mad."
"Probably. But I believe the man simply knows of a few things that we aren't aware of." She spoke respectfully in his defense.
"Whatever." The Innkeeper huffed. "I'll give the boy what he wants. Coin is coin and I'm not about to turn away a paying customer. I'll have Hans and Felix fetch me the moonshine from the cellar. But before that."
She watched as Bertha went to the counters and took out a hefty looking tankard. She then went over to one of the large oaken barrels sitting at the side of the kitchen and started opening the tap, filling the large tankard with the inn's signature Red Horse ale. And when it was full, she went back to the kitchen table and placed it onto the tray right next to her latest dish.
She then gently pushed the tray closer to her and said. "One Saurbraten and a full tankard of Red Horse for the Goblin Slayer. On the house."
Giselle could not hold back a smile, pleasantly surprised. "My! And I thought you held no fondness for him, yet here you are offering him your best dish for free."
Bertha let out a rather unladylike snort. "And I still don't. The boy is an unwashed foreign savage and a mutant. I trust him as far as I can throw him."
And then she watched as the older woman's face softened, her demeanor warmed. And her next words spoken with a gentle, motherly tone. "But Anna spoke to me yesterday. About what happened to her and Tanya, and how the Slayer saved them. So this is just my way of saying thanks to the lad."
Giselle merely nodded, deeply pleased with what she heard. She reached out and touched the older woman's hand, giving it a comforting squeez, before she picked up the tray and made her way back to the main hall.
The Slayer was still right where she left him, sitting quietly at the table, looking perfectly at ease. But Giselle was not fooled though. The man was definitely on alert, wary of even the slightest hints of danger, ready to act at barely a moment's notice. With deadly force no doubt.
This she knew despite the man's stoic mask and air of calm. For through her witchsight, she could catch a glimpse of a person's innermost desires and emotions. And his was a cold blue flame that burned low from within, contained behind the unyielding wall of iron that was his discipline. Yet this flame had the potential to flare up into a blazing inferno, white-hot and unquenchable, which would consume all within its path. Burning so bright from within his soul that it literally set his eyes alight.
Giselle had already seen the destructive effects of his inner fire during the battle against the Greenskin horde days prior. And her memory of that event would last for all time.
Yet she noticed that his fire only ever burned bright when facing against Greenskins. Giselle wanted to know if she could somehow channel all that passion, all that rage, towards other things. And other ventures. And other foes.
And maybe even towards other simple pleasures. Like coitus for example. That naughty little thought made her rather giddy.
"Thank you for your patience." The fair maid spoke to him as she approached, her pleasant smile ever present. Giselle then placed the food and drink in front of him. "And here is your meal. One saurbraten and a full tankard of ale."
He soon reached for the coin pouch hanging by his belt while watching her expectantly. "The price for the meal?"
She shook her head and said. "It is on the house, compliments of the cook."
He just stared st her for a moment. Unblinking. Before he finally released his hold over his coin pouch and picked up a knife and fork.
"Gratitude." He uttered before quietly tucking into his meal. And the way he nodded in approval after taking a bite told her he was enjoying the meal.
"I spoke to Bertha about your purchase. She will have it ready for you soon." She informed him, wanting to make a bit of conversation. And his only response was a simple nod, not even looking her way. And this made her smirk.
"Not very social I see. . . Easily remedied."
"Is there anything else I can get for you, Monsieur Slayer?" She spoked to him again. Her tone honey sweet and her smile inviting.
He looked at her and thought for a moment, before shaking his head and turning his gaze away. "No. Nothing comes to mind."
Her smile fell soon after. This did not sit well with her. To be turned down so quickly with nary an acknowledgement of her beauty whatsoever. Not even so much as an attempt to get her into bed like most men would. Or perhaps he was simply too dense to pick up on her subtle offer. If so, then she would make it painfully obvious for him.
She cast a quick glance around her, and after making sure there were no one else nearby to interrupt them, Giselle placed the empty tray on another table near the side. And proceeded to undo some of the laces that fastened the front of her dress and bodice. Soon she had a generous amount of cleavage bared. Her ample mounds utterly inviting to the eye. And had there been other patrons present, doubtless they would be devouring the fair maid with their hungry gazes already, and may even attempt a quick touch or two.
The man noticed the new change in the fair maid's current state of dress and looked at her curiously. But did not say anything in response.
And so she brought her hands upon the table then leaned closer to him and arched her back slightly, thus giving him a wonderful view of her magnificent bosom. The two hefty orbs looking quite succulent and ripe, and perfectly available for his personal pleasure. With her witchsight fully open, she gazed rather lustfully at him and smiled a most sensuous smile.
"I shall rephrase the question." She spoke once more, her voice sultry. "Is there anything that I can do for you, mon heros? And I do mean, anything!"
She playfully bit her lips and winked at him suggestively. Leaving very little doubt as to what her offer may entail. She expected him to immediately give voice to his heart's desire. Attempt to woo her or seduce her. Or try to simply take her hear and now and plunder her mercilessly for all the forbidden delights her sinfully delicious body had to offer. And she would have given it to him without resistance.
Yet he did not do any of these things. The Slayer tilted his head a bit and looked away, deep in thought as he pondered the answer to her question, seemingly oblivious to Giselle's blatant proposition and carnal display. Much to her growing annoyance.
"There is one other thing I need." He finally said after a long moment, nodding.
"Yes?" Giselle urged rather patiently. Even though her own patience was wearing thin.
He looked at her intently, eyes boring straight into her own. Then spoke rather softly. "This may seem odd, but do you happen to know where I may acquire potions?"
"P-potions?!" She nearly shouted and all but growled. Her blood beginning to boil.
The man calmly nodded. "Yes. Healing potions and other magical elixirs. They are essential in my quest to slay Goblins."
Giselle slowly drew back and stood perfectly still, deathly quiet as she stared at him blankly. Her pleasant demeanor completely gone.
"I have all but begged you to fuck me, yet you would much rather slay Goblins?!" She raged from within! While resisting the urge to scream at him outright.
Never before had she met a man who proved seemingly impervious to her charms. Until now.
The cold flame within his soul simply flared briefly in response to her, and nothing more. She had sensed a small spark of desire towards her for one fleeting second, but it had been drowned out by an even stronger need for murder and destruction as he plotted the demise of his most hated foe. Such dedication, or obsession, towards one's mission was both impressive and worrisome.
And more than a little insulting! Her brave and handsome chevalier would much rather hunt down Greenskins than make sweet and passionate love to her!? Does he not realize that even the proudest of Imperial lords and princes would gladly pay a King's ransom in gold just to have one night with her!? Now here she was, offering such a rare honor to him for practically nothing in return. But instead of accepting it, he asked her where he might find potions and elixirs, so that he can slay Goblins!
Any woman would be deeply offended by that, and rightly so! If it were not for the fact that Giselle desired him so, she would have already cursed him for insulting her.
But wait! This presents a new opportunity. He wished for potions did he not? She shall use this as a way to point her handsome but oh so infuriating chevalier towards the right direction. And when he arrives at the desired location, she would spring her trap and ensare him before he could act. Rather underhanded of her to be sure, but she had little choice. Time was no longer on her side.
With her new little scheme now in mind, Giselle's spirits rose once more and her pleasant demeanor returned. She feigned a look of curiousity and thoughtfulness as she gently tapped a dainty finger upon her chin.
"Hmmm. . . Now that I think about it, I think I know of a place where you may find what you seek." Then she gave him a mischievous look. "And other things you may find most useful."
He leaned slightly forward and stared at her intently, eager. "Tell me."
"Nah ah! Not here." She raised her finger at him at waved it in a cautioning way, giving him a knowing look. "Come to my house later this evening. It is just on the other side of the Red Horse. The one with a small garden at the front. There, I shall tell you everything you need to know."
And much to her continued delight, he did not even hesitate.
"Very well." He nodded in agreement.
Giselle could barely hold in her excitement, so pleased was she of his answer. "Très bien! I shall eagerly await your arrival."
The man did not say anything further as he turned his attention back to his meal. And Giselle picked up her empty tray before walking off to resume her work. A noticeable spring upon her every step.
It had taken a bit more work than originally planned, but she had finally managed to secure a private meeting with her silvery haired warrior. Now she needed to make all the necessary preparations for his coming arrival. Giselle wanted their first evening together to be as memorable as possible. And although her chevalier proved to be rather resistant to her charms, she was confident that he would eventually succumb to his needs. And ride her so hard and for so long that she would be robbed of the ability to walk.
A necessary sacrifice, and one she shall eagerly perform. All to ensure that her Knight becomes agreeable to her every request.
)-(
The sight before him made his chest swell with pride, and a grim sense of satisfaction. A large mound of charred Goblin corpses would prove rather unappealing to most. Yet to one such as him, there could not be a more beautiful sight. A sight that he had seen many times before, but one that still did not fail to please him even after all these years. And by his will, there would be many more like it to come.
But as pleasing as it was to see the unfortunate remains of his unworthy foes, he did not come all the way to this small clearing in the woods just to marvel at his own handiwork. No, he had more practical reasons in mind.
He stepped closer towards the sizeable pile of burnt corpses and began picking through the remains, eyes probing and focused. He did this for what must have seemed an hour. Simply shifting through the dead Goblins for something. Something that would give him a better edge against them. Not a weapon or armor or any sort of trinket, but a greater understanding of these filthy abominations.
"Knowledge is power. He who knows the enemy and knows himself need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles."
His former Master had been the one to teach him this age old lesson, a lesson he held close to heart. And it was due to this that he had not only survived, but emerged victorious over his foes time and again. And now, he needed to gain new knowledge in order to better destroy the Goblins. Specifically, he needed to know how they are able to reproduce, and in such staggering numbers.
He already knew how exactly. He had seen their abominable methods of reproduction so many times that he could not forget even if he wanted to. The memory of what they did to his sister alone remained a ragged scar upon his heart that still refused to fade.
But here in the Old World, the Goblins were. . . different. They bore enough similarities to the ones found in his lands that it would make them rather indistinguishable to the untrained eye, but they were different. The first were the eyes, the Goblins here had mostly red eyes instead of sickly yellow, and they were beady instead of goat-like. The other stark difference was their numbers.
Back in his homeland, he had personally slain enough of the despicable green monsters to form several whole legions, and that was not counting the ones he had sent to oblivion when he finally found a way to destroy the Green Moon. But they were never able to grow their populations to the extent where they could literally cover whole lands from horizon to horizon, becoming a nigh unstoppable Green Tide of destruction. It was simply not possible.
But the Sergeant had told him that they could, and that the Empire had been besieged by such a Green Tide thrice in its entire history.
If so, then this would mean the Goblins of the Old World had somehow found a way to replenish their ranks without the need for kidnapping and impregnating the females of other races. Either they had mutated in such a manner as to forgo the need to copulate, or something much darker and sinister was at work here.
He needed to know how they were able to multiply at an unbelievable rate, and thus find a way to counter it. For if he wanted to have any hope of completely eradicating this prolific evil, he first needed to know their secrets.
Otherwise, he would be doomed to continue fighting and killing until he died in battle, or old age rendered him crippled and useless. And with no hope of ever returning home. No hope of ever being reunited with her.
A grim and dark future he did not wish to see.
He lifted up the remains of what must have been the hundredth corpse from this pile and examined it under his critical gaze. And he could not stifle the need to frown as he cast away the wrecked remains and continued to rummage through the ash and bones. The Essental militia had been much too thorough in their work, having collected every single dead Goblin and burnt their corpses beyond salvaging, even by Necromancy.
So no matter how much he tried, their was simply nothing he could discern from these remains that would help him better understand his enemy.
He let out a frustrated sigh, finally stepping away from the mound. His search had not borne fruit. There was nothing else for him to gain by lingering here. He turned around and made his way to his horse, intent on returning to the village.
*Squelch*
He had stepped on something soft and wet, something that oddly enough, possessed the same consistency as fresh animal droppings. Grunting in annoyance, he took a step back and made to scrape off the filth from his boots, when his stern gaze finally landed on something rather peculiar.
Apparently, he had not stepped on fresh shit, but something that looked just as foul instead. It appeared to be a mushroom, but it was unlike any type of fungus he had seen before. It was sickly-green in color with a somewhat shriveled, fleshy cap. And oozing a thick, green puss-like substance from its broken body.
He knelt down and examined the unknown mushroom further. He raked through his mind in an effort to remember if he had ever seen such a plant before, but he came out with nothing. It looked truly alien to him. After a long moment of careful thought, he finally decided that it must be an entirely new species of mushroom that was native to the Old World, and that it was nothing that warranted further investigation. That is, until he saw the fungus start to mend itself right before his very eyes.
Surprised, he stared at the plant with renewed attention as its broken stem slowly reattached itself and its crushed cap returned to its previous shape. The green puss stopped oozing out of its body as it stood upon the ground once more, now looking no worse for wear and proudly defiant. Like a particularly belligerent tumor.
He frowned at the mysterious green growth as he pondered this new discovery. Whatever this mushroom was, it proved surprisingly resilient, possessing a prodigious ability to heal itself. And upon closer inspection, he saw that it had sprouted on rocky and barren soil, which might also mean that it was very adaptive, able to grow on almost any kind of environment.
This warranted further study. He might be able to learn something from it that might prove useful to his crusade.
He took out a small cloth sack from his back pocket and then he grabbed a firm hold on the strange mushroom. After pulling it out of the ground, the plant actually started wriggling within his grasp as if struggling to escape, wanting to return to the earth. Another interesting discovery.
He threw the annoying little fungus into the cloth sack and then tied it close, before placing it inside his bag. Ignoring its continued futile struggles, he calmly made his way to his horse once again.
*Rustle*
The sound of movement from one of the nearby brushes drew his attention and made him stop. Glaring at the spot, he did not try to check on it. He called out to them instead, deciding to end their little game.
"I'm returning to the village. Best you do so as well." His voice ringing loud and clear.
No sooner did he say that when he heard more rustling of leaves as his two young spies finally rose out from there cover.
Two young boys of roughly the same age as Lady Anna met his critical gaze. They were identical to one another in every way, sporting a head of thick and somewhat unkempt raven-black hair and handsome boyish faces that had no doubt set more than a few maiden hearts aflutter. They stood just a head shorter than him, their woolen shirts hanging loosely from their lean and wiry forms, which was kept fit due to regular hours of labor. And the baggy trousers they wore were kept fastened by simple leather belts.
He had met the Steiner twins before, and in contrast to the rest of the villagers who always viewed him with open hostility or suspicion, these two boys all but worshipped the ground he walked, always trying to follow him whenever showed up at the village and engage him in conversation. And now, it would seem they had decided to follow him again, much to his chagrin.
"Wow! You found us so soon." Hans spoke out.
"That's some good ears you got there." Felix complimented.
"And eyes too." And Hans added, in agreement with his brother.
He pointedly ignored them and pressed onward. In no mood for any pointless exchanges. It came as no surprise though when two pairs of footfalls soon sounded from behind him as the two boys began to follow him.
"Hey! Sir Goblin Slayer, wait!"
"We need to talk to you about something Sir!"
"Do not call me Sir. I am no Knight." Was his rather brusque response, not deigning to look at them though he did slow his pace as he listened.
"Well, maybe not. But last we checked, only Knights are able to fight as well as you do!" The first boy continued enthusiastically, now joining him on his right.
"Or the Greatswords! They're good at fighting as well, maybe even better than Knights! Though you don't seem to have a zweihander with you." The other boy joined him on his left, speaking animatedly as he made a mock swing with both hands.
"Your point being?" He said rather tersely, not really in the mood for talk.
"Well, Sir Goblin Slayer. Since you are really good at fighting." The first boy began again.
"Maybe you could teach us how to fight like you do." The second boy quickly added.
"So that one day we can become famous Knights ourselves!" The first continued joyously.
"And earn glory in battle by killing Goblins by the hundreds, same as you did!" The second one concluded with no less fervour.
He resisted the urge to sneer. Finding their reasons for wanting to learn the ways of combat to be most frivolous. Dangerous even. Fame and glory were good, but pursuing either one on the field of battle always leads to an early grave. Always.
He had but one answer to their request. "I refuse."
"What? But why not!?" Both of them exclaimed at the same time, surprised and a little angry at his swift denial.
"I have neither the time nor the means to take on an apprentice." His simple and straightforward answer.
There were many other reasons but those were true enough. He could not afford to go hunting for Goblins whilst looking after a pair of novices. He had succeeded with Priestess in the past yes, but the circumstances back then were much different. Moreover, the blood of these two boys would be on his hands should anything happen to them while they were out traveling with him.
"Please, at least give us a chance!" He begged.
"We won't let you down, we swear!" And his brother pleaded.
But he shook his head, his mind on the matter all already set. "My answer is final. I will not train you."
He could now see his horse a short distance away. The cream and chestnut colored mare was tied loosely to a nearby tree and peacefully grazing on a patch of grass. He made his way towards the beast, intent on riding back to Essantal. Or he would have, had he not been impeded by a pair of twins who suddenly barred his path. Blue eyes glaring at him with all the rebelliousness typical of youth.
"Out of my way!" He barked, matching their glares with his own piercing stare.
They flinched in the face of his stern command, yet the two boys did not buckle under his harsh gaze and refused to submit, masking their qualing with a thick layer of bravado.
"We are not stepping aside until you've atleast allowed us to prove ourselves." The first stated defiantly.
"We will show you that we can be true warriors, same as you." The second added in agreement.
His frown only deepened, displeased by their stubbornness and all the pointless delays they were causing him. He actually had half a mind to knock these two boys unconscious and then drop them off in front of the Red Horse, thus putting this whole matter to a swift end.
But then again, he had dealt with a certain Boy Wizard in the past. And that spiteful little cretin had proven much more troublesome than these two, yet he managed to handle him with greater care. So, he decided to reason with them instead.
"Hans, Felix. Listen to me." He finally addressed the two boys by their names, looking at them intently. "I meant what I said that I have neither the time nor the means to take you on as my apprentices. Soon I shall leave this village and I will not be back for a long time. Probably never again. I cannot train you."
"Then we will come with you." Hans answered with a confident smile.
"We will follow you wherever you may go." Felix added in agreement.
"No." He immediately denied, irked by their stubborn refusal to see wisdom. "I shall not be troubled by a pair of children while I hunt for Goblins."
"Hey, we're not children! Both of us turned fifteen just this Sigmarzeit!" Hans was quick to counter, looking affronted.
"Which makes us old enough to be considered as Men of the Empire!" Felix proudly declared, puffing up his chest.
"That's right!" And Hans soon nodded in agreement, also puffing up his chest.
He just shook his head at that, not in the least bit impressed. Men were they? They were little more than children in his eyes. Yes, back in his homelandand, the proper age when a person was considered an adult was also fifteen. And yes, they were no older than him when he first started slaying Goblins, but that was not the point. They were untested and unprepared. Innocent to all the harsh ways of this cruel and unforgiving world. They would only hold him back.
"My answer still stands." He spoke once more, resolute and severe. "I will not train you and you are not coming with me."
That should have been the end of it, as he turned to the side and began to walk around them at brisk pace. But once again the two boys barred his path, giving him a pleading, almost desperate look.
"Please Sir Slayer, give us just one chance!"
"We won't hold you back, we promise! We'll do whatever we can to help you!"
"We'll clean your armor, care for your weapons, cook your food."
"And even do your laundry for you if we have to. So long as you agree to train us to be great warriors."
He gritted his teeth and clenched his hands into tight fists as he began to feel his patience start to fray, leaving only a few small strands of string to hold onto his temper. Why were these boys proving so difficult? His own son was only a few years younger than they were, yet he was nowhere near as troublesome and pigheaded as these two. He was seriously considering knocking these two boys out cold and be done with the matter entirely.
That was when a worrying thought came to mind. No, he will not knock them out. That would serve little purpose, for they would no doubt continue to hound him once they finally awaken. And even when he finally leaves this village behind, he could not trust these two boys to not do anything stupid, like sneaking off to tag along with him. Or worse, journeying out on their own in some misguided adventure. He had strong suspicions that they would do just that, for he had seen the exact same tale happen countless times before. And they always ended in tragedy.
Since it was obvious by now that his words could not dissuade them, and simply rendering them unconscious would serve no purpose, he would just have to beat some sense into them instead. Nothing quite discourages the arrogant and the foolhardy than pain and humiliation. And he shall subject them to both. See how far their fledging resolve takes them before they finally broke under the strain, which he reckons would not take long. Not when their reasons for fighting were so shallow and weak.
And besides, his meeting with Miss De Gaul was still a few hours away, so he had plenty of time to spare. And punishing Miss Steiner's foolish sons ought to make for decent enough exercise.
"Very well." He finally said, nodding in assent.
No sooner did those words leave his lips when the two boys broke out into wide, joyous smiles.
"Thank you Sir Slayer! You're the best!" The both exclaimed at the same time.
He could not resist a small smirk as he looked at them in amusement. They will be cursing his name soon enough. "Do not thank me just yet. You need to pass a simple test first before I shall agree to train you."
That served to make their smiles falter, though their enthusiasm still remained strong.
"Alright, tell us what we have to do then." Hans folded his thin arms in front of him as he proudly said.
"And whatever it is, it can't be that hard. We'll pass it in no time." Felix nodded in full agreement, adopting the same stance as his brother.
He said nothing more as he quietly turned around and made his way back to the large mound of burnt corpses, gesturing at the two boys to follow him. Soon they found themselves near the mound of corpses and he immediately started picking through the remains once again.
"What are you doing?" Both boys asked, genuinely curious.
But he did not answer as he continued his search. Not long after, he was able to retrieve three spears that were commonly used by Goblins. They were relatively short in length and crudely made, but they ought to fulfill their intended task well enough.
With this done, he turned back towards Hans and Felix and tossed a spear to each of them. Both boys quickly caught the offered wooden tools and held them rather awkwardly in both hands, looking rather confused.
"What are these for?" The twins asked in unison, staring at him as he began to walk a short distance away.
"Practice weapons." He simply stated as he finally halted and turned towards them.
"So you're making us practice with these Goblin pig stickers?" Hans cried out, displeased.
"A sword would be better. Or even those Orc choppas would be nice." Felix quickly added, looking at the spear in his hand with nothing but contempt.
He just smiled at that, amused by the boys' antics. "If you believe a Hobgoblin's weapon would be better suited for you, then pick one up if you can."
Both of them looked towards the corpse pile, where many other discarded Goblin weapons lay, including many of those choppas they were referring to. And after taking a good look at those overly-large, thick slabs of iron that had been crudely fashioned into the shape of a sword, Hans and Felix soon abandoned the idea of using one of those.
"Fine, we'll settle with the pig stickers for now." The older Steiner grudgingly said. And the younger one simply nodded in agreement.
"Thought so." He was pleased by their answer.
With that settled, he reached into his bag and picked out a small ring. A simple golden band with a tiny round jewel that glowed with hidden power. Hans and Felix looked on with interest as he slipped the ring onto his left ring finger, and the moment he did, the jewel on the ring pulsed with a small flash of golden light before settling down to its normal faint glow.
"Your test is quite simple. You need only steal this ring from me, using whatever means available to you. And you have only one hour to accomplish this." He said to them as he stared at them intently, with the same air of one who has trained countless other new Adventurers in the past. "Succeed, and I might consider taking you as my apprentices."
This was the exact same test that he had given to applicants who wished to become members of the Adventurers Guild. As per the Guild's new laws, before an applicant could be given a rank and allowed to take quests, they must first pass a trial set before them by a Silver or even Gold Ranked Adventurer. It was meant to weed out the weak and the incompetent, as well as help improve the skills of those who proved most promising. And of course, those who failed the test were free to take it again at a later date, if that person was so determined.
And as for the tests themselves, they varied according to the preferences and styles of each assigned trainer.
High Elf Archer's trial had an emphasis on stealth, tracking, and marksmanship. Lizardman Priest employed a simple trial of combat combined with a test of one's spirit. The Spearman preferred a test where the recruits only needed to land one successful blow upon him. Which was hardly fair, considering that a bunch inexperienced recruits had to fight against the man known as 'The Strongest'. The Witch on the other hand would cast a simple illusion upon the new applicants which they must find a way to break within a limited period of time. And if some of them happened to be spellcasters, then she would challenge them to a magical duel instead.
And as for him, a simple trial of one's wits and skills was what he preferred. His test was the easiest in the Guild by far, at least, according to his standards. And yet so many had failed, to the point that his dear friend the Guild Master was forced to stop him from conducting anymore trials, for she feared they might never be able to gain any new recruits if he was involved.
Now, he would see if these two boys had what it takes to be proper Adventurers themselves. If they were skilled enough, they could perhaps steal the ring from him before the time ran out. And if they were cunning enough, they could actually finish this whole test and defeat him without even having to fight him at all.
But as they began to charge him without prior thought, he knew they would soon fail like so many others before them.
"Heldenhammer!" Hans and Felix shouted at the top of their lungs, their spears poised to strike him down.
The cries of pain and curses of two unfortunate young boys could be heard throughout the woods of Essental, as the man known as the Goblin Slayer spent the next hour beating them to within an inch of their lives.
Author's Notes: Hello again ladies and gents! John here, and I am back with a brand new installment. And as you have seen, our resident Bretonnian and Orcbolg finally met face to face once again, with a more private meeting to take place between them quite soon. And Giselle seems to be planning something! My, what could it be? Definitely something not child friendly, I'll say. Expect possible lemons in the next chapter. I would have placed that hot scene right here in this chapter, but I wanted to end it in a more lighthearted note, so I decided to put my lemons on separate basket for now.
We also got to see a bit of interactions between GS and those two boys, putting them through the test. Think they'll pass? Oh, and internet cookies to the ones who can correctly guess what that mushroom GS picked up actually is. Only true Warhammer fans will know the answer.
Reviews Replies:
Pasive Nox: Thanks :D
Angel Arcano: Your ideas would really make for a nice crack fic. The dakka will come my friend, it is inevitable. And GS will have plenty of it. But, I wouldn't completely rule out the possibility of Archaon being forcibly overthrown and supplanted by another potentially more powerful Everchosen. Nor would I rule out the possibility of MILF Queen Morathi taking a liking to GS. Stranger things have happened. And as for Mannfred. Fick Mannfred. I hate him. I wish Eltharion had killed him instead of going directly for Arkhan :P
NIGRIS: Hey man, thanks for pointing out all the mistakes in the last chapter. That was so embarrasing, went back and fixed as soon as I could. And I'm bit surprised that you didn't like the way Erik turned out. I mean, I didn't want you to like him for what he was doing to Giselle, but I figured it was a bit obvious by now. Not to worry though, Erik will have a chance to win back some of his coolness later.
human dragon: Thanks for the heads up buddy. Went back and fixed it all. Should be good now. Hope you like this new chapter as well. And please, don't be afraid to call me out on anything you see wrong. It helps.
rc48177: Thanks for pointing it out. It's all good now though. Hope you enjoy this latest one and please, keep pointing out any mistakes you might see. I'll my best to fix it.
Diesec: yeah, I guess so too. i don't want to give away too much, but I will say that I took quite a bit of inspiration from Doomslayer when I started coming up with ideas for Goblin Slayer's weapons and armor. I hope you'll like what I got cooked up.
Guest: I know. Here's another batch of wows for ya. ;)
Samuelalpha: Possibly. I can't give away too much details on that yet.
Nikola1488: The poor dude definitely has the odds stack against him. But that's the beauty of writing an underdog protagonist. Its because they start out weak and alone that the potential for them is quite high.
Guest: Hey man, sorry for the late update. I hope you're still doing alright there. Earthquakes are no joke. Hope you and your family are safe. Hope this chapter help keep things bright for ya.
Greavous123: You basically just mapped out what Goblin Slayer would be doing for the majority of his stay in the Old World. Again, like I said before, any such upgrades to GS's weapons, armor and accessories would come about gradually over time, and such a way that while it gives him an edge in certain fights, it doesn't make overpowered. At least, not right away. And as for him possibly starting a Warhammer version of the Adventurer's Guild, the possibility of the happening is actually rather high. Look forward to it.
Oh, and as for GS possibly picking up a new party member over at Lustria. Nothing is set in stone yet, cuz the Lustria arc of this story is still many chapters away, but I do plan GS meeting all the native peoples of that region, including the Amazons. Perhaps he could pick up one of the mysterious warrior-women as an ally and team member. We will see how it goes. The Lizardman is definitely in though, I already got that encounter planned out.
reality deviant: Yes, I shall go out and confirm it now. Giselle is a Grail Damsel. And a rather unorthodox kind at that, considering where she is right now and what she is doing. Or scheming. And sorry about Erik. I honestly did not expect his actions to rub you and the others the wrong way. I guess the dude picked up a bit of a fanbase. Ha ha! But not to worry, Erik will have a chance to redeem himself later on. And don't think Giselle is all squeaky clean. She's not evil, but she's no saint either.
Evowizard25: That's right, our resident Bretonnian is one of the famed Damsels of the Lady, although she is a bit different than most Damsels. And yes, being a Grail Damsel, Giselle is not as susceptible to the usual dangers that other magic users face, because technically Grail Damsels aren't as reliant on the Winds of Magic like Imperial Wizards for example. They get most of their powers from the The Lady, and they are blessed with her protection. But that doesn't mean they are completely immune to the corrupting influences of Chaos or Undeath though. More on that later on.
Yes, in many ways GS might start changing the ways the Empire fights its wars later on. And the changes would be small and gradual, culminating in what, as you correctly pointed out, 1800s level of tech with a few splatters of World War 1 era of tech. Or possibly even World War 2 levels of tech, depending on the kinds of enemies GS fights along the way. (Skaven, Chaos Dwarfs, Ogres, etc.)
And as for Beastmen. I'm still a bit 50/50 on whether or not I should introduce a Beastman or Beastwoman into GS's party later on. Mostly because of how I would be able to balance said Beastman's presence along with that of the Elf, Witch Hunter, Dwarf and Grail Damsel. Not to mention the possible ramifications of having GS allying with a member of the oldest and one of the most hated enemies of The Empire. The amount of heresy there would surely raise the Cult of Sigmar's hackles up. But I am not completely discounting it, since I do know that there are possibly non-violent or non-evil Beastmen or mutants out there in the Old World. And yes, I agree that a non-chaos aligned Beastman or mutant would be in many ways similar to an Imperial Abhuman in 40k, so the potential is still there.
I'll just have to think on this one really carefully for now. Anyway, here's the latest chapter. I hope you'll enjoy it :D
Jeff: Oh, she is thirsty alright, but its most likely due to teenage hormones and such. She is ony fifteen after all. But I won't completely discount the Cult of Pleasure either. By canon, they do have a sizable presence in the Empire.
And as for how I came up with this story and why it works rather well so far. Well, I guess its probably mostly luck, and that I happen to have read quite a few really good books in the past which helped me to better write and establish this story as well as all the characters I have so far. Plus, its a bit of a first in this kind of crossover. Cuz almost all the GS Crossovers I have read don't actually have GS in it, or they do but Orcbolg is relegated to a secondary character or even a cameo at most. I wanted a story where GS is still the main character of the story, where we get to see him face off against a whole knew range of enemies and threats, see how well would actually do. Hence, that's how this story first came about.
Guest: Thanks for the praise my man. But don't worry, I don't let negative criticisms get in the way of my writing. I use it as fuel instead. And have no fear, I have full intention of finishing all of my works, including my other one.
samuelalpha86: yes, I will go right out and say it. Giselle is definitely a slut. But she is a slut with standards mind you, and one that has a moral compass. I know, weird to use slut and moral in the same sentence but you get what I mean. I'm liking your story so far, please keep it up. :D
Alphasdragon: Hey man, I'm glad you like my story so far. And happy to see you like my little iteration of GS. I like to view Goblin Slayer as medieval Batman. No superpowers, not the strongest or fastest. Just a normal human. But has the brains and the will to outsmart his opponents by finding unique and crafty ways to defeat them and circumvent whatever formidable defenses they may have. Not to worry, while I do plan on GS inventing or co-inventing new and powerful weapons or tech, he will not be able to create them out of the blue or something like that. He will need help in actually making these new weapons and tech. So he'll definitely be unable to build a Steam Tank, at least, not yet. But maybe once he has all the necessary raw materials, manpower and skilled labor on hand, he could actually build one. Maybe even a better version of one. And a Dwarf Master Engineer would really be a major help in that regard yeah.
As for the GS's potential Elf partner. I wish to remain neutral in the whole debate so I will not cast my vote or my chips in any particular Elven faction, nor will I voice my preferences (Druuchi wifus are best wifus) But yeah, a Wood Elf partner would be the one closest to High Elf Archer and the one GS would be most familiar with, considering the overall aesthetics and culture of that race. But there is the possibility of the Dark Elf snatching away victory at the polls and becoming GS's partner. If that happens, then look forward to a much darker, potentially more radical version of GS, because the Dark Elf would heavily influence him if he/she were to join his party. Plus, it is not farfetched to find a Dark Elf in the Empire. Remember, the Witch King sends his spies and assassins to almost every corner of the Warhammer world. Goblin Slayer might just run into one later on.
I do plan on introducing a Lizardman to GS's party in order to recreate his old team, but like you just pointed out, due to geographical distances, a Lizardman would probably be the last or second to the last to join Orcbolg's party. it basically goes like this: Grail Damsel first, then Dawi Slayer or Engineer, then an Elf and finally the Lizardman. But as a few have pointed out, an Amazon and or a Beastman might be up for consideration.
Finally, as to whether I should introduce a Beastman/Beastwoman to GS's party. Like I said to Evowizard, there so many possible ramifications to having a Beastman or true mutant partnering with GS. The obvious one is incurring the wrath of the Cult of Sigmar upon him. With just that alone, I'm a bit wary of putting a Beastman in GS's team, even though that would be so uber cool. But I'll see what I can do.
Steelrain66: He would have a bit of resemblance to a Witch Hunter in terms of future tactics yes, due to all the guns I'll have GS using. But without the pointed hat and the big black leather coat, although it would be really cool to have GS start wearing a leather coat. And yes, our French analogue lady will be GS's party member, his first one in fact, although their relationship might not be all that nice and bright at the beginning. As for who she is following, it's The Lady of the Lake aka Lileath the Goddess of Dreams, Knowledge and Prophecies. Don't worry, you'll be able to know quite a bit of Warhammer lore by reading my story since I am a big lore enthusiast and I do my best to remain faithful to the source material.
I'm glad you and the others are enjoying my work so far. I always wanted to see how GS would fare if we were to suddenly crank the difficulty level all the way to Legendary. This is how I plan on exploring all that.
damian03p: Glad to have you here buddy and thanks for taking the time to read my work. Hope you enjoy this latest one, and please, don't be shy to give me any thoughts or opinions you have about the story.
Jadex Imperia: A Doomguy version eh? Hmm... I'll what I can do, since I am already taking a lot of inspiration from Doomslayer when I'm writing this story. Although I do plan on writing a Devil May Cry version of this story though. Got the first drafts for chapter one about halfway finished. Look forward to that.