SCARLETS DOMAIN

Three gladiatrix's, Gudrun, Karelia and Antiope escape
from the Arena following a cruel tournament which saw
the deaths of five other brave women. They embark on
a quest to find the land of the Amazons and offer
their services, though Antiope, the only one who has
met the warrior women before, has misgivings. They,
after all, killed her mother.

On the way, they are atacked by a servant of the witch
Streeth, who they kill, taking from her a piece of
cloth which heals wounds but corrupts the soul.
Karelia uses this to staunch a wound in her breast.

As they trave they come acorss a village where the men
have all been killed. They embark on the training of
the remaining women to defend themselves, but Karelia
becomes more and more unpredictable and begins
committng atrocities in the village.

Eventually Karelia goes too far and one of the
villagers says she knows of a witch who might be able
to help. They bind Karelia, and take her to the
witch, who is Streeth herself. The witch seeks to
take Karelia for herself, but Gudrun and Antiope
manage to capture one of her servants and strike a
bargain to bring back a virgin warrior whose blood may
be used to cure Karelia, then they can exchange
Karelia for the servant.

The only place they could think of to find such a
virgin is in Amazonia itsef, and so thats where they
head for, taking Streeths servant Omphale.

The expedition to Amazonia is almost fatal, but they
manage to capture an Amazon, Molpadia to take back to
Streeth. It turns out, however, that Molpadia wanted
to escape Amazonia and live the life of a red-blooded
woman. Gudrun and Antiope end up liking her. They
decide that they have to tell Molly, as they now call
her, and let the Gods decide the best course of
action.

Molly comes up with a plan that involves exchanging
her for Omphale. They blind Streeth, once she has
checked Molly, and exchange her for Omphale. As the
cermony progresses,however, they are discovered by
pursuing Amazons. But Karelia is cured, and a fight
ensues in which many amazons die horribly in the
witches cave and Gudrun, Antiope and Karelia escape
with Molly.

As they depart, the witch Streeth curses them:
"One of you will die at the hands of the one you
love."

"A second will die at the hands of the one you should
have loved."

"And the third will die at the hands of the one you
would have loved."

It is here that Book 1 ends.

Book 2 begins with the discovery that many of the
women in the village have been massacred. They
approach cautiously, and find that the village has
been invaded by a despotic group of men, and many of
the women have been imprisoned. They free the
prisoners, and turn the tables on the invaders, helped
by some of the men who oppose their despotic leader.

Together they form an alliance, and they party to
celebrate their union. It is the centurion Gregory
who becomes the new leader of the men, and he tells
them that the Amazons are abroad now in far greater
numbers than warranted by their escapade, having
secured the services of Ritta the Tagar from the East.

As the celebrations continue, Karelia, Gudrun and
Antiope are drugged and bound by Streeth servants.
Molly comes to rescue them, but is killed by Streeth
who is taking her virgin. When one of the servants
tries to kill the three, she too dies as the Streeth
points out the protection afforded by her curse.

Antiope escapes, killing Streeth and her remaining
servant, and returns to the village and Gregory with
the others.

A party is put together to find the Amazons and spy on
their camp. Karelia is not in the party, choosing to
remain behind and continue the training. Gudrun and
Antiope are, acompanied by Lia, and two men, known as
Pinky and Comerus. Together they breach the outer
watches of the Amazons, though Comerus is killed in
the action, until finally the find the Amazon camp.

The story continues in Chapter 7...