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Rated: 18+ · Campfire Creative · Fiction · Action/Adventure · #2150348
Medieval fantasy heroes must defeat a powerful witch and her army of tickle monsters!
[Introduction]
People of all races have gone recently been abducted by strange creatures. Witnesses say they've been dragged off into the night screaming, and sometimes even laughing.

A council of races was convined to look into the matter. Now a small group of adventurers are hunting these monsters and searching for answers.

Create your adventurer with the folliwing guide lines:

1. Must be an original character and at least age 18

2. No killing off characters.

3. No fetish stuff other than tickling.

4. When it's your turn, you have one week to make an addition or be skipped

5. We'll start with one character each, if it's a small group we can each add a second character. Each character must have a character sheet with the following information:

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Race:
Appearance:
Bio: (strengths, weaknesses, personal history, personallity, etc.)
Most Ticklish Spot(s): (all characters must have at least one tickle spot, also please describe how they react when tickled)

Name: Osridian "Oz" Shayzire
Age: 75
Gender: Male
Race: Wood Elf

Appearance: Oz is just under six feet tall and has a slim, toned body. His skin is tanned from spending almost all his time outdoors. His straight black hair is trimmed short at the sides and back, but longer at the top and front. His slightly slanted eyes are light brown with flecks of green.
Oz wears a brown leather vest and bracers over a sleevless green top with brown pants and leather boots.


Bio: Even though his body is fully matured, at 75 he is still considered an adolescent among his people. Oz's one aspiration in life is to become a Ranger. They are the elite soldiers of his people, and though Oz is skilled in both stealth and combat, his youth, impatience, and a desire to impress the ladies, hold him back.
To prove himself worthy of becoming a Ranger, Oz volunteered to represent his people in the hunt for the Ticklemancer.

Most Ticklish Spot: When Oz began his Ranger training, he worked hard to surpress his ticklishness. In most areas, he can resist the urge to smile or laugh for a few seconds, but even the lightest of touches to his belly or the bottom of his feet will force a wide grin across his face. Worse still is his lower abs or the area of his feet where the sole and ball meet. Tickling either of these areas will leave Oz helplessly laughing his head off!

Name: Duskero Lillanty
Gender: Male
Race: Warlock

Appearance: Duskero stands at 5'10" with a relatively skinny build. His violet eyes are covered mostly by his sapphire blue hair. Normally found wearing a black top and pants with violet stockings. He doesn't worry about shoes due to the ability to levitate slightly when outside.

Bio: Duskero was outcasted not only for how he used his magical abilities, but also his preference in who he decides to seduce. Not caring, Duskero became a bit of a freelancer. He trained himself in many different forms of sorcery those his favorites by far are his tickling based talents.
Seeing it as an opportunity to make himself the only tickle based warlock, he saw the challenge of the Ticklemancer to be his next adventure.

Most ticklish spot: Unfortunately, since Duskero doesn't enjoy shoes, he hovers around rather than wearing shoes. This cause his socked feet to almost never be touched by anything but air. Duskero quickly realized his error when he passed over some long grass and burst into girlish giggles. Though through his stubbornness, he still refuses to wear shoes.
Name: Nev
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Race: Satyress

Appearance: Nev stands at five and a half feet tall (167 cm), with a lithe, athletic upperbody of an attractive young woman; and the hooved, furred lower half of a goat. The short and soft fur is black, matching the thick wavy hair on her head. She has dark brown doe-like eyes and pale skin gently dotted with freckles on her face and shoulders. She wears a red loincloth at the waist held on by a leather belt, and a similarly colored bandeau top around her chest. This leaves the followed areas of bare skin exposed: her neck, shoulders, arms, underarms, lower ribs, sides, hips, and all of her belly.

Bio: Nev has always been a fairly lazy person, sleeping in, napping, lounging, and playing instead of getting anything done. She’s fairly impatient, quickly getting bored of tasks and wandering off to do something fun instead. This is why when the Satyrs were asked to send a representative to deal with this threat, they realized that they could easily part with Nev without sacrificing too much.

With all of that being said, Nev is a capable addition to the team. When she wants to be, her powerful legs and hooves make her a fast and nimble runner, to say nothing of her kicking strength. She also carries a scimitar at her waist, and is trained in how to fight with it. Nev may resent having to get off her lazy butt and go on an adventure, when the group is threatened she’ll be able to fight on their behalf.

Most Ticklish Spot: Having hooves, Nev’s feet are completely immune to tickling. But her sensitivity makes up for it in other areas. Nev is ticklish pretty much anywhere above the waist. But her weak spot would have to be her underarms. Silky smooth and perfectly hairless, the softest caress of a fingertip or a feather would make her jump and squirm ticklishly. Nev is rather terrible at hiding her ticklishness or staying still while being tickled, which could pose a problem with an opponent more interested in tickling her than crossing swords.
Name: Vermicia Domanicus
Age: 26 (???)
Gender: Female
Race: Vampire

Appearance: Adding to the height of her elevated heels, Vermicia stands at 5'5". While she might look like a normal adult, her outward appearance belies her true age of several thousand years old. Hailing from the prime lineage of vampires everywhere, flowing silver hair frames a pale and petite face. A flared dress of black and red covers her body, ending at just above her knees. Crimson red heels complete the look of the royal vampire, along with her choice of weapon, a blood-red metal staff which ends in a horizontal crescent shape.

Bio: Living in this world for far longer than most, the aloof yet proud Vermicia had seen many things. Centuries ago, she had chosen to accompany a hero and his party on a whim during their adventures across the land. Eventually tragedy struck when they encountered their most dangerous foe yet: The Ticklemancer. Not used to her unorthodox methods, the hero sacrificed himself to ensure the rest could flee in the hopes of warning others.

While the party had managed to escape, they parted ways in the hopes of warning about the tale of the hero. Eventually, this story would make its way into the rumors of every bar, bard’s songs, their great-great-great-grandchildren’s ears and down for many generations to come. However, all of this was not without cost. Turning to an adolescent young girl due to over excessive use of her blood-magic during that key fight, Vermicia was forced to live a secluded lifestyle, biding her time as she waited for her powers to return.

With only half of her prime age returning over the course of the past few years, the vampire stepped out into the sunlight. While most of her kind would have shunned going out in the day, vampires of the prime line remain unaffected by most weaknesses their kin have, while retaining most of their strengths. With the instinctual feeling that something dark was moving once more, perhaps it was time to join a new band of people in their escapades throughout the land.

Most Ticklish Spot(s): Although she hadn’t had much human contact in the past several years, memories of her… sensitive fight with The Ticklermancer still rings fresh in her mind. While her pale skin was seen to be a hotbed of ticklish spots, peals of her hysterical laughter was earned when The Ticklemancer’s underlings had their way with her naked legs and thighs.
Name: Sintel
Age: 20
Gender: female
Race: human

Appearance: Like all self-respecting femme fatale rogues, Sintel rocks the black leather look well, wearing tight pants and boots, accessorized by various straps, buckles, utility items and a pair of daggers. Her upper body is a little less protected- most of it is left exposed by a bandeau-top and jacket that just reaches past the scanty clothing beneath.
In contrast to the black outfit, her hair is a flaming red and tied back in a ponytail with a few errant strands hanging over blue eyes. Standing just over 5'5" she possesses a lithe, slender body- which helps in both distraction and athletic, unseen movement.

Bio: Sintel is one of the few self-taught thieves worth her salt. Growing up on the street of a large city she mastered the art of theft and deceit quickly- and the art of free-running when she realized she still had a way to go with that. What she picked up from more experienced thieves she quickly implemented into her own method, propelling her to notoriety among the city guards and admiration in the backstreets and slums.
When she was no longer a mere street urchin trying to feed herself but an accomplished thief and wanted criminal, Sintel decided to expand her horizons past the city walls and into the world beyond. Dungeon crawling, valuable artifact 'retrieval' - didn't matter to her, the thrill of the challenge was its own reward. Sometimes more than the actual reward.

Most Ticklish spots: While generally ticklish all over, Sintel is particularly sensitive on her upper body- everything from hips to neck will reduce her to a giggly mess. The irony of her choice of outfit isn't lost on her- it adds to the challenge. That and, secretly, she joys the kiss of the feather, or the dance of clever fingers on her skin. Not that she let admit it to anyone- especially the guard or angry nobles when she was serving time in the city stocks.
Oz walked into the tavern with his new companions and they all sat down at an empty table, except for Nev, the Satyress, who knelt on the floor on account of her goat like legs. They had all been briefly introduced when they left the council, but were still basically strangers to each other. After making eye contact with each of the companions, Oz decided to break the awkward silence.

"We need a plan to find this Ticklemancer. I suggest we lay a trap, like we would for any other prey."

The blue haired Dusk, with his stocking feet resting on the table, gave a snort of derision. "This is no simple minded beast we are hunting, any mage worth their weight will see right through any mundane trap you can think up."

Oz frowned at Dusk and replied, "not true, we just need to use the right bait in the right time and place. We already know that this town is a target for the Ticklemancers' minions, with at least one person going missing tonight, the night of the new moon."

The mysterious, silver haired Vermicia leaned in an said "who would agree to be the bait for this hypothetical trap? What if we are unable to reach them before they are taken?"

Oz locked eyes with her and gave a confident grin. "One of us will be the bait. We can have the towns people make a show of stripping them of their weapons and leaving them in the stocks just before dark. The rest of us will hide in various vantage points and strike when someone takes the bait."

Nev, who was resting her elbow on the table to support her head, suddenly took interest in the conversation. "It's your plan, why don't you be the bait?"

"I'm not that ticklish" Oz blurted out a bit too quickly to be convincing. "I'm also the best shot and best tracker in the group" he said motioning to the bow on his back. "If one of us does get captured, I'll be able to find them. Anyone want to volunteer, or should we draw straws?"

"I'll do it" the fiery haired Sintel replied with a hint of enthusiasm in her voice. "It wouldn't be my first time in the stocks. I do have one condition though, let me keep a hidden dagger and lock picks."

"Agreed, lets get everyone into place"
Name: Lucia Rexford

Age: 33

Gender: Female

Race: Human

Appearance: Long, light brown hair pulled into a braid down her back, gray eyes, and tall at 5'7, with noble, angular facial features. Wears simple, form-fitting clothing and a corset held by lace. On her lower body, she prefers loose low boots with buckles. Lucia carries a short sword, but her greatest and most useful asset is her mind.

Bio: As one of the older members of the group (not counting the elf Oz), Lucia's personality manifests itself as more reserved and calculating than the others. This serves her well for her chosen profession of an experienced tracker, as she is well known through the land for her skills of perception and craftiness. As a tracker and "huntress", she's been hired many times to root out evil creatures or find bandits and rogues plaguing the countryside. While she can definitely be a bit aloof to the annoyance of her compatriots, her motives are pure, putting her squarely in the lawful good camp.

Most Ticklish Spot(s): (all characters must have at least one tickle spot, also please describe how they react when tickled)
Lucia's calm composure is most susceptible to rough, hard tickling meant to make her shriek and squeal. She is particularly ticklish on her sides and hips, as well as her thighs. Her feet, too, are incredibly ticklish, and she panics if her shoes are removed and her soles are threatened with brutal punishment.

-----------------------
Lucia pushed open the door of the tavern, searching the berth of the place and seeing old and new faces and carefully marking them in her mind. Nothing seemed amiss, and there were her comrades seated at a table in the corner. By the looks of it, they were already discussing how best to deal with the pervasive threat of this "Ticklemancer".
The first meeting of this unusual hunting party had gone rather quickly and smoothly. The elf seemed to push the group forward, trying to lead. Nev was content to let him do it, although she did arch an eyebrow when he wanted someone else to be the bait. Was he really “not that ticklish?” Nev was skeptical, and she certainly didn’t want to let herself be tied up as a present to the Ticklemancer. She knew she wasn’t the best person to be put in the stocks. With hooves instead of feet, she lacked one of the most enticing tickle targets for their prey. That didn’t mean the rest of her wasn’t vulnerable to the Ticklermancer’s… talents. She could just imagine being stuck in that position, unable to move as stiff feathers raked all across her exposed skin: teasing her belly, sides, and back. Coating her with ticklish feelings that made her wriggle and jump and laugh. And if her arms were restrained too? Then those feathers would be able to tease down her arms, softly stroking downward towards more and more sensitive skin until they nestled gently under her arms, tickling the delicate skin there until Nev was bellowing with loud laughter. Unable to do anything but sit there and feel the tickles overwhelm her until she waits for the help of her comrades. All the while feathers twirling in the very center of her underarms… Nev blinked deliberately, pulling herself out of the thought.

She didn’t have to worry about that possibility, Sintel had volunteered for the job. Nev turned and looked at the red-haired human carefully. Was she really going to be the bait? Her voice seemed almost eager to volunteer. The satyress looked the woman over, noticing her exposed midriff as a tempting tickle target. On top of that, she was quite good looking as well, all in all looking like the perfect bait to coax out the Ticklemancer. But that would also mean subjecting herself to more than a little tickling…

The daydream returned, only this time it was the rogue in the stocks and not her. She would be watching from some safe place as many tickling hands reached out and skittered over that bare belly, spidering up and down the taut skin and making it shake with laughter, hearing the woman’s giggles rise as the tickling takes her over. Fingers caressing the woman’s hips, gently squeezing her hipbones and kneading their way up her sides. Exploring every inch of her tummy and slowly zeroing in on her bellybutton… Maybe the woman’s secret was that she wasn’t ticklish. Then she really would be a valuable asset to the team. Nev said nothing, but eyed the woman curiously, perhaps staring just a bit as the daydreams played out in her mind.

But with a volunteer and no other objections, the hunting party had their plan. Everyone stood, and moved to the town square, with the exception of Oz. He went off to inform the townsfolk of their plan. As they started walking, Nev thought about this Ticklemancer they were chasing.

She’d heard plenty of stories about the Ticklemancer. It had been centuries since the last time the Ticklemancer had been anything other than a myth, and not even the long-lived elves actually remembered what the Ticklemancer actually was. Some said the Ticklemancer was a monster, a large creature with soft fuzzy fur and numerous hands capable of easily tickling anyone into hysterics. Other tales told of a powerful wizard, an immortal man summoning creatures to capture the ticklish and return them to his dungeon, to be ticklish playthings for the rest of their lives. She had also heard stories where the Ticklemancer was a woman, who used her power and beauty to trick people into her clutches, and that no one could resist her charms. Perhaps the Ticklemancer was some kind of shapeshifter, a being even more powerful, able to change its form into anything, but always doing for its ticklish ends. That last theory would help explain why there were so many competing ideas of what it actually was. ...or if there were more than one of them. That was a scary thought. Nev realized that it would be difficult to hunt something that you didn’t even know what it looked like. And that also might be hunting you.

As they walked to the square, Nev pulled herself out of her thoughts. Now that they had left the tavern, she could see that it was already getting to be evening, and that they would have to get into their positions soon if they wanted to put their plan into action tonight. She was walking with the group, with Vemicia on the one side and Sintel on the other. Nev turned to Vermicia, with the odd features of silver hair and rather pale skin. She seemed human enough, though. The silver-haired woman looked to be around Nev’s age, perhaps a few years older. But if she wasn’t human then it was impossible to say. Some races lived quite long or matured slowly, like the elves. With that red staff, Nev assumed she was some kind of mage. They tended to stay indoors reading tomes all day, which would explain the pale skin.

“So… Verminica, was it?” Nev asked, striking up a conversation with her. She stretched lazily as they walked, crossing her arms over her head. “What do you think this Ticklemancer is like? I’ve heard so many different stories I don’t know what to look for. Do you think it’s a man? A woman? Some kind of beast? It’s hard to chase something when you don’t even know what it looks like.” Nev also turned to Sintel, with a look that also wondered if she had an opinion on the matter. It was an open question to anyone in the group, but Nev had an instinct that Vermicia might know something about it.
Verminica placed a finger on her cheek at the question. While she had gotten a few glimpses of the Ticklemancer during their previous bout, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about that encounter. Vaguely recalling her memories gave her even more of a headache as to whether she faced a humanoid foe, or something else entirely. Verminica slowly shook her head in apology. “Unfortunately, I can’t give an exact answer as well. It’s been a few years since I last saw them... Whatever it was.”

Sintel and Nev whipped their heads around at the soft-spoken words, the rest of the group pausing in step. The former shouted with raised eyebrows. “Wait, you’re saying you met the Ticklemancer?! Why didn’t you say anything before!”

“Hmm…? Other than personally experiencing their work first-hand, I had nothing helpful to add to what we already knew. For some reason, I just can’t recall the specific details…” Verminica rubbed a hand to her head, muttering softly in thought.

“Well alright then… Since there’s no helping it, shall we begin setting up? Night is about to fall, and I think Oz should be about done informing the villagers.” Nev brushed aside her suspicions for now. However, something about what Verminica said didn’t sit right with her. Did she say that she had met with the Ticklemancer in the past? But that meant that she had to have been a child at that age… Was she kidnapped when she was younger, kept as a plaything for her evil steward before narrowly escaping their clutches?

Footsteps (and hooves) arriving at the centre of the town square, they could see that a slightly raised wooden platform had been built, with steps leading up to it. Upon closer inspection, what differed it from the more commonly seen guillotine stands was a set of wooden stocks and pole built on it’s centre. Making one last check that her weapon and lock picks were stowed away in the hidden fold of her clothes, Sintel roughly sat down before placing her feet in the stocks. “Hey. Just so we’re clear, you’re all capturing that thing the moment they show their face, right?”

“Of course.” Verminica watched as Lucia and Duckero stepped forth to close the sturdy stocks upon the pair of naked feet, before helping to tie the red head’s hands to the pole behind her. “However, if you’re still worried about being taken by the Ticklemancer, I might have a suggestion to make…”

***One hour later…***

Sintel gave a giddy grin. With torches lit to illuminate the otherwise night-covered area, Oz had done his job. All around her, a crowd of townsfolk had congregated at the opportunity to ‘punish a ticklish thief in stocks’, or as that wood elf had so kindly put it. Already, several of the males had taken their time to drink the curves of her body with their lusty stares, while the females prepared to pour their jealous resentment on the trapped beauty.

Feeling the first few fingers slide along her sides, Sintel fought back a grin as spared a glance at the cloaked child beside her. While most of the town-folk ignored the young person among their ranks, a few strands of silver hair slipped out from underneath the hood. “How are you doing? If you can’t take it for too long, just give us the word and we’ll stop the act.”

“What are you saying? This is when the real fun starts!” Sintel began to bubble with giggles as a young blacksmith’s apprentice spidered his fingers on her wiggling soles. Thinking back to when Verminica had put forth the added idea, she found that she couldn’t have faulted herself for being shocked when the pale woman willingly turned her appearance to be that of ten years younger. While she had mentioned the transformation would only last for about an hour, the plain red dress and smaller proportions (among other things) certainly gave for a convincing act.

It was also true that one would be more suspicious of a wood elf, a warlock, a satyress or an adult hunter, rather than an unarmed young girl. With that settled, Verminica had agreed to stay by Sintel’s side, in the case of anything going awry. Whether it was by magic or something else, Sintel didn’t question the fact. While Nev and Oz quietly reconsidered what they knew about their silver haired ally, Duskero and Lucia were more than ready to put it past them. ‘A sorceress’ skeletons should remain in her closets’, or so the thief had once heard.

Brought back to the present by a jabbing finger, Sintel almost shrieked as a mischievous grin could be seen plastered onto the younger Vermicia’s hood. “You still have to play your part as the bait. So… Coochie Coochie Coo!” Quickly finding the thief’s sensitive spots from where she stood, the cheeky girl leaned forward to goose Sintel’s wiggling hips. The thief squealed while squirming as far as the stocks allowed her movement, yelling at her fellow ally to stop.

…Or so she would have done, if Verminica had not called upon more of the jealous female population to help her efforts. The girls gave cruel smirks while bringing out a fluffy feather each, every one of their plumage's a different color of the rainbow. With her age re-winded, Sintel cursed the fact that the mature disposition displayed previously had regressed to reflect her mental age. Couldn’t she have mentioned about the side effects before turning into a kid?

From the window in a nearby inn, the remaining four of the party watched intently at the mirthful display held in the town's square. At the sight of any suspicious movement, they would spring the trap meant to take down the Ticklemancer with gusto. Wincing a little at Sintel’s treatment, Lucia turned towards Oz. “Is it just me… Or is Verminica enjoying this a little too much?”



“I was starting to wonder.” the wood elf nodded and stroked his chin. “Still, she’s playing her part nicely and that’s all we really need.” Nev on the other hand was getting the impression that Sintel was having a little too much fun in her current predicament. Like how she bit her lip when a new tickler approached. Or cocked an eyebrow with a defiant smirk as they stepped away. “Was that it?” it looked like she said. And the musical laughter that wasn’t so much desperate and panicked as- ecstatic? Euphoric? There was no doubt that she was ticklish- very ticklish actually. But it didn’t seem like she was eager to escape her self-imposed torment. Her earlier daydream came back to her- only in this instance she’d switched places with Verminica.

As the Satyress gazed intently, Duskero let his eyes and mind drift all across the town square, scanning for anything that seemed suspicious and reaching out to sense anything that might indicate that something sinister was coming. So far he had seen nothing but- was that? No. It was weak, brief and now gone. Whatever it was, he doubted it was what he was looking for.

All the while, Sintel was kept laughing and in ticklish bliss, squirming helplessly as the blacksmith’s apprentice returned, trailing a feather up one foot and down the other, the barmaid tapped her nimble fingers in her underarms from behind and Verminica sat in her lap, only to unleash her nails on the redhead’s poor defenseless ribs. It seemed doubtful at this point that either one of them would be prepared to react if the ticklemancer did appear.
Nev snapped out of her daydream when she felt a feathery touch just below her navel. Nev let out a reflexive giggle as she squirmed and tried to slap the irritant away. Nev looked down when she felt something wrap around her wrist. The object tickling her appeared to be some sort of tentacle tipped with long feathery hairs.

At the same time, one of the tentacles wrapped around Duskero's ankles while the mage levitated and stared out the window. A pair of tentacles brushed their feathery tips along Dusk's feet, sending the mage into a stream of high pitched shrieks and giggles as he fell to the floor.

The group, minus Dusk who was too busy convulsing in laughter on the floor, turned to find the source of the strange tentacles. The creature appeared to be a woman from the waist up, but everything below was a seemingly endless mass of the tickly tentacles currently attacking Dusk and Nev.

"It's the Ticklemancer!" Nev shouted as she fumbled for her scimitar with her left hand while more tentacles teased her right side. She gave up reaching for her weapon when one of the tentacles found its way to her outstretched armpit. Nev burst into laughter and tried to use her free hand to slap the tentacle away, only to have it bound as well. With her weakness exposed and both armpits now defenseless, Nev quickly joined Dusk writhing on the floor in helpless laughter.

Oz fired of a flurry of arrows, grazing their assailant with one as she used her magic to deflect the others. "Save your arrows elf" She quipped "And don't bother asking the towns people for her help. They think they're tickling that lovely redhead in the stocks of their own free will, but in reality they are all under my spell. They can't help the four of you, and soon you'll be all mine."

Oz dropped his bow and he and Lucia drew their shorts swords, cutting down the tentacles as they came for both of them. It was a loosing battle and the tentacles quickly outnumbered them, occasionally slipping past their defenses and finding a bare patch of skin. "Oz, we HAHAve to get out of hehehere!" Lucia laughed as the tentacles stroked her hips.

"I don't..,wan't...to...leave...them, but... you're...righihihit!" Oz said as he fought back his giggles until one of the tentacles found its way beneath the base of his vest. They both turned and made for the window, only to be tripped up by more tentacles. "Take off your boots!" Oz shouted as he unbuckled his own and helped Lucia out the window. Oz jumped out right behind her as several tentacles grazed the soles of his feet, causing him to laugh hard as he hit the ground.

"Go ahead a run, you're heading out of the frying pan and into the fire!" The Ticklemancer shouted from behind them.

"What do you think she meant by that?" Lucia asked as she helped Oz to his feet. He looked up and pointed to the townspeople, who were now headed towards them, wiggling their fingers and brandishing feathers with crazed looks in their eyes!
Lucia gasped as she saw the townsfolk advancing on her and Oz, smiling insanely under the thrall of the Ticklemancer. She'd dealt with many strange and occult situations before, and she knew that they needed to escape, to be able to regroup and reassess how to tackle this threat. At least now they knew what the Ticklemancer looked like. Or was that what it looked like? She'd heard that it was powerful enough to manifest itself in whatever way it wished. So how were the two of them supposed to rescue their comrades? Dusk and Nev were being helplessly tickle tortured by the tentacles, and Sintel and Vermicia might be unaware of their predicament, still gleefully participating in that tickling ritual unless the townsfolk had gotten them already.

Lucia looked around with her keen hunter's eyes, and spotted an open window to a three-story house with a thatched roof. Probably lodgings of some kind. It could provide them an alternate route to get to Sintel and Vermicia. She grabbed Oz by the wrist and ducked low under the scrambling claws of a middle aged female villager, who was hungrily grabbing at them. These brainwashed townsfolk seemed to retain control of most of their mental and physical abilities, they just also had an insatiable urge to tickle. The woman reached out and cackled as she squeezed Lucia's sides, causing her to stumble as she turned towards the open window. She shook with laughter, and almost fell then and there, which would have no doubt been the end of her. But Oz acted quickly, pushing the lady away, then bodily shoving Lucia through the window. He entered himself, then closed and locket it just in time. Ominous thumps sounded against it and the nearby door, as well as begging please from the townspeople who stood outside in the street.

"Please honey, we just want a little tickle!" "Just let me squeeze those cute toes of yours!" "Hey elf, bare that belly for one of us won't you? Promise I'll make you enjoy it!"

The two compatriots panted as they recovered from the close call. Lucia hadn't been on close terms with any of the other adventurers, but she was now a bit more grateful after Oz had saved her skin back there.

She caught her breath and composed herself. "We've got to do something. Do we warn Vermicia and Sintel, or should we try to rescue the other two? Whatever we do, we've got to move quick," she said bluntly.





Nev had been too busy watching Vermicia and and Sintel to pay attention to her surroundings. Vermicia had taken on the form of a child, something Nev found surprising and pretty disturbing. She wasn’t sure what exactly Vermicia was or what spells she was using, but she wished she wouldn’t do something like that. The strange display distracted her, and in that brief moment she lost.

She felt the touch of something soft and feathery graze over the bare skin of her belly, just below the navel. She flinched and let our a reflexive giggle, tickled by the unexpected and unexpectedly soft touch. Her belly fluttered, and she turned to brush away whatever was touching her. But instead of some insignificant thing, she found herself face to face with the Ticklemancer. Further away, she could already see Duskero writhing on the floor barking out laughter as his feet were tormented by some kind of tentacles coming out of the Ticklemancer’s body. And more of those tentacles were heading for Nev.

She called out and struggled valiantly, but she was no match for the opponent she faced. More tentacles quickly wrapped around her wrists and ankles, and yet more of the feathery appendages found their way under her outstretched arms. Once tickled there, she yelped and laughed loudly, her sensitivity easily identified by the Ticklemancer. From there she was captured prey, as the Ticklemancer leered over her eagerly. It (or was it her?) seemed to be handling the entire party with ease, and Nev could see Oz and Lucia falling back, protecting themselves and giggling under the attack of the tentacles.

Over by the stocks, Nev saw Vermicia notice something was wrong, and quickly transform back into her normal fully adult form. Sintel was still trapped in the stocks, and howling with laughter as villagers swarmed over her, tickling her everywhere. Someone grabbed a foot apiece, and seemed to be competing over which one of them could tickle their respective foot the best. A young woman had climbed up into Sintel’s lap, and was enthusiastically wriggling her fingertips over the rogue’s bare belly. Vermicia might have been able to escape the throng, but if she wanted to help Sintel escape it would take some doing.

That thought was the last coherent one Nev had as the Ticklemancer doubled her efforts. A tentacle wormed into each armpit, stroking and wriggling its feather-tips all over the exposed area. Still more scribbled and stroked over her sides and stomach, licking at her midriff as it jiggled and shook with twitching laughter. Nev was manic, overwhelmed by the tickling. She could vaguely tell the Ticklemancer was focusing on her now. Oz and Lucia were nowhere to be seen. Duskero seemed to have been rendered unconscious close by.

The Ticklemancer leaned in close to Nev. “You’re quite the ticklish one, aren’t you?” She asked her, whispering the words into her ear. Nev couldn’t reply other than to gasp with loud laughter as tentacle tips wriggled up and down her underarms, sliding their feathery tips quickly over her skin. Another soft tip wiggled its way into her bellybutton, while others licked up and down her sides. There was no way for Nev to resist the intensity of the tickling, and it left her weak in the Ticklemancer’s grasp. “Oh yes!” She cooed in her ear. “I’m going to have fun with you.”

The Ticklemancer turned her head and raised an arm, her eyes suddenly glowing with a strange purple light. A circular void appeared in front of her, some kind of portal. Grinning eagerly, she pulled Nev and Duskero with her through the magical portal, stealing them to some unknown place to have her fun with them.

For the remaining members of the party, that saved them from their toughest opponent. But the townspeople still appeared to be under the Ticklemancer’s spell. They chased the heroes, and while they weren’t powerful on their own, the villagers were a force to be reckoned with as a swarm. And their compulsion seemed forced on them, none of the party wanting to hurt the normally innocent townspeople.

***Elsewhere***

Nev couldn’t tell how much time had passed, or exactly where she was. All she knew was that she was laying down on a large bed. It was soft and luxurious, and looking around the same could be said of the room she was in. Fine silks and decorative feathers were hanging on the walls in vibrant colors. But what was most important was that Nev found herself restrained. Her wrists and hooves were tied down tightly, stretching out her body as she lay on her back. She could barely wiggle at all, and saw no way of freeing herself.

She didn’t have to sit like this for long before the door to the room opened. In walked the Ticklemancer, or at least Nev assumed that’s who she was. The face was familiar, but the woman in front of her didn’t have a lower body composed of tentacles anymore. She seemed like a normal woman. No, that wasn’t right- she looked human except for the fact that she had four arms instead of merely two. Nev took a closer look at her as the woman approached: her skin was lightly tanned, her jet black hair was chin length. Her face and body were beautiful, more so than any human Nev had ever seen. Looking closer, there were some other subtle differences, too. Her eyes glowed with a faint purple light, and as she smiled Nev could see fangs behind those lips. Nev couldn’t tell how much of this was the Ticklemancer’s true form, or if she even had one.

“You’re finally awake.” The Ticklemancer said, grinning at her from the foot of the bed. “I was getting impatient.” Her voice was sultry, oozing a sensuality and flirtatious playfulness. Yet there was also a hint of power behind her voice, something suggesting that she was not a being to be trifled with.

“Urgh.” Nev grunted, tugging once more at her restraints. “Where’s Duskero? And why have you tied me up here?” Her mood was defiant, at least putting up a good fight.

“Him? Oh don’t worry, sweetie. I’m keeping him somewhere very safe. I’d be more worried about yourself.” The Ticklemancer climbed onto the bed, crawling up closer to Nev. “As for your other question- I’ll tell you a secret. You aren’t restrained at all!” She chuckled, as Nev looked at her confused. “At least not physically. You are now completely under my spell, and I have convinced your body that it is completely tied up. It won’t help you to know this, but I do enjoy watching you struggle.”

Nev looked up at her wrists and down to her hooves, and no matter how hard she looked she saw ropes tying her limbs to the bed. Was it all some kind of illusion? Was she really under the Ticklemancer’s power? “Rrr… you monster! What have you done to me?”

The Ticklemancer crawled up to her, four arms leering over the supine satyress. “What have I done? Oh, you’ll find out soon enough…” One arm, her lower left, lowered down to Nev’s midriff. Nev watched it as it slowly descended, anticipation building as one finger lowered itself to the taut skin of her tummy, gently landing a fingertip just below her navel. Her belly shivered ticklishly at the touch, and Nev’s eyes widened. She knew she was ticklish, but that little touch had felt far more ticklish than it should have. The fingertip stayed there, not moving yet, as the Ticklemancer grinned down at her, two fangs showing in her toothy smile. “What’s the matter, little satyr? Are you feeling… ticklish?”

At that word, Nev shivered again, feeling suddenly giddy. It was as if she had just become more sensitive, and she was even more acutely aware of that fingertip on her soft skin. It started to move, slowly drawing a line down her belly to her waist, causing Nev to start to giggle. “M-m-my comrades will come hehe-here and stop you-hohohoho!” She said, trying to sound defiant but betrayed by her silly giggles.

“Will they? If they manage to get out of the situation there in and actually find this place, I will welcome them with open arms. But until then, I’ll have to content myself playing with you. You and your very… ticklish skin.” The Ticklemancer’s upper arms touched Nev’s wrists and began drawing a line softly down her bare arms. Nev knew she was being toyed with, and that it was only a matter of time before the Ticklemancer started in earnest. She hoped she could hold out until the rest of the party managed to find her. If they could even figure out where she was.
Vermicia was reacted quickly to the new development. Where the townsfolk had ignored her previously in her child-like state, the crowd now gave her hungry grins, outstretched hands, and grabbing fingers, the same which they had given their trapped victim moments before.

Unable to get away from the wooden podium, she gave a click of her tongue when a rather quick-footed boy tried to pull her into their grasp, forcing her cloak to be shed. As even more crazed eyes turned towards her conspicuous crimson dress, the pale woman clapped her hands together before stretching them apart. Her beloved staff appeared in the air as she brought its pole end to slam against the ground, a shockwave of energy giving both her and Sintel room to breathe. “It seems the Ticklemancer has made their move, but we haven’t been given a signal. Should regrouping be the wisest course of action?”

“That sounds about right.” Sintel flashed her trade-marked grin, a small blade whisking into her tied hands. The thief easily freed herself to stand by Vermicia, surveying the throng. As far as her gaze extended, almost every inch of the circular town square had crazed villagers, all clamouring for a piece of their ticklish flesh. The thief’s lips curled into a grin, her paler companion suppressing a small shudder. “Although I’ve lived for some time, I’ve never seen anything like this. To think that the Ticklemancer was capable of such extensive sorcery…”

“We can’t stay here for too long… Unless you’d rather be under their capable hands?” Sintel gave a smirk. Vermicia nodded her agreement before muttering a word of power. Crimson energy crackled through the crowd, parting them down the middle like Moses had done with the red sea. Surprised gasps and cries rang out as Sintel only raised an eyebrow. “Quite a party trick. You’ve been holding out on us, Vermicia?”

“Run. Now. With my mana drained from that act of reversing my age, they won’t stay this way for long.” Not waiting for a second invitation, both women leapt from the platform before breaking into a run. Like a scene straight from nightmarish tales told by mothers to keep their children out of trouble, grasping hands strained at them from either side of the one-person wide path, with only an invisible force keeping them at bay.

Ducking and weaving underneath a harlot’s sharp nails, Sintel couldn’t help but let out a snort as they followed through to clamp on her hips. “Sorry daaahaharling, maybe another time!” Returning with a quick tickle at her captor’s underarms, the red head tore herself free to the tinkling sound of the other party’s feminine giggles.

Behind her, Vermica wasn’t faring as well. Not having the same reflexes her lithe companion was born with, it took all her restraint when a particularly lecherous drunkard swiped at her ribs. While a grimacing smile crept up on her face, her palm opened up, sending the male yelling before careening several feet away. “There’s just no end to them…”

“We just gotta keep going till we-Look! Over there!” The duo spied the common sight of ram-shackled residences. What set this one apart from other similar buildings, however, was the sight of two familiar figures waving from its ajar door. “You two! Come this way! We’ll explain everything once we’re inside!”

Both females didn’t need to risk a second glance to know how close the horde was. The rogue reached the entrance first, prying away two clamouring harlots from getting in. Oz moved to help, grunting while throwing out a kick outside the door. He let out a surprised chortle when he felt sharp nails rake across the arches of his naked feet, before wrenching himself free from their owners. “Hurry, before the rest arrive!”

With laboured breathing, Vermica offered her thanks before being helped by Lucia over their makeshift barricade. Inside, she could see that both elf and huntress had blockaded any points of entry with chairs, tables, and almost everything but the kitchen sink. With her weakened physique, this house would probably fare better as protection than any spell she could have mustered against the coming mob.

Making sure to dissuade any would-be stragglers in following her, the thief made a move to vault over the dining table lodged between the doorframe. Sintel’s eyes widened in surprise at the sensation of hands shooting out from behind, grabbing a hold of her ankles with an iron grip. On the other side, her companions moved quickly, both Oz and Lucia reaching out to grasp each of her outstretched hands. “Damn it! I can’t shake them loose!”

Almost as if playing a game of tug-of-war, Sintel’s body had become the proverbial rope. No matter how much the assassin liked being tickled by someone, she figured that being under people craving for her demise by laughter probably wasn’t the best way to go. From behind the pulling pair, she could see a flash of silver moving before a staff reached out to vigorously jab at her assailants. From the crazed gleam in their eyes, it didn’t look like her willing release was coming anytime soon.

Even with the sound of frenzied begging, yelling and shouting all around, Oz’s ears pricked up. Amidst all the chaos, a new, more suspicious noise registered in his mind. The sound of soft footsteps, coming from the second floor.
"Hurry hee hee up!" Sintel pleaded as she felt someones fingers skitter along the bottom of her feet. With renewed motivation, she pulled hard on Oz and Lucia. Most of her body was now inside, but her feet were still locked in the arms of tickle crazed villagers.

"I cahahahant hohohold on much lohohohonger!" Sintel giggled as the villagers continued to tickle her hepless feet.

"Vermicia, climb up on her back!" Oz shouted over his shoulder.

The vampiress, still in her child like form, clambered up Sintel's side as she continued to squirm and giggle. "This would be alot easier if you stopped moving so much!" Vermicia chided. Sintel could only respond with more laughter as she struggled not to buck Vermicia off.

Vermicia sat down on Sintels back and used her staff to jab at the villagers again. From her new position, she was able to jab several of the villagers in the face, finally freeing Sintel.

The four adventurers collapsed in a heap on the wooden floor before scrambling back up again to secure their make shift barricade. The villagers continued to pound on the door, forcing Oz and Lucia to lean up against it. The side door began to shake as well.

"We've got this!" Vermicia shouted as she and Sintel ran to secure the side door. "We only have to hold them till the spell wears off!"

Oz heard the foot steps again as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "We're not alone in here!"

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