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Of Vile Darkness

linnorm said:
*Ralam frowns deeply at the image in the mirror. This is more serious than I thought.*

"A business transaction gone wrong I'm afraid. Apparently the quality of my work was not up to the necessary standard. Can you remove it?"
"It is possible. However, such things have their price. This is a complex curse that draws heavily upon the power of the Lady Doom. The price for this would be in that of service, rather than donations, as Beshaba has use for one touched by Her will," Sister Vel says, looking at you with the kind of detached fascination one uses for examining a crippled insect.
 

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Aekir Ranger/Fighter/Soul Eater

Isida Kep'Tukari said:
"Watch what they're doing and report back. The place is warded against most magical intrusions, but your abilities are something they haven't shielded against, mostly because no one really knows about you. You can get in where others of more knowledge would fail. Besides, you are reliable enough to report what they're doing even if it makes no sense to you. There are those here that could interpret your information. So. What do you think," Wode asks, making a langorious gesture.

*Shortly after this, a serving wench comes and takes Ssessarina away, presumably to see the priest to restore her sight.*

*Aekir is quite for a moment, considering his options.*

"I am going to need time. Caution is called for here, I will need time to scout their defenses and test them as well. How much time do I have to work with? Will you need me for anything else?"
 

"Time is not as much of an issue at this point, but the information is. Swiftness would be preferred, but it is understood that this task will be both difficult and dangerous and a larger expenditure of time may be needed to avoid the loss of an agent. But there may be some smaller jobs in the meantime. If you accept this we can give you several days to make your first probes before offering you any other jobs," Wode murmurs.
 

Stop looking at me like that. Stop looking at me like that! STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!! Calm, calm, must stay calm.

*Ralam unconsiously straightens his clothing while nodding at Vel's comment.*

"I expected something of the sort. What exactly would this service be and how long will it take you to get rid of this," Ralam waves his hand, "curse. I have important buisiness to conduct and I can not have this getting in the way."
 

Loviana: Half-Nymph/Female (Rogue/Corruptor/Bondblade)

Loviana looks up at Orshallan and gives a small how did you know look while she blushes slightly in embarrassed, “Oh well only a month or so now, I’m original from Seadale, which is rather close to the Sea of Song. Anyhow it’s a small town and I missed how everyone helped each other that I started to volunteer. Orshallan, what about you? How long have you been in Andeluvay?”
 
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Loviana looks up at Orshallan and gives a small how did you know look while she blushes slightly in embarrassed, “Oh well only a month or so now, I’m original from Seadale, which is rather close to the Sea of Song. Anyhow it’s a small town and I missed how everyone helped each other that I started to volunteer. Orshallan, what about you? How long have you been in Andeluvay?”
"I've lived in Andeluvay all my life. My family was grooming me for a rather high position of noble significance. I chose the priesthood, and the rest, they say, is history. Tell me, I haven't had much chance to go to the Sea of Song, what is it like? Did you ever watch the water elf song pearl divers or see any of the song pearls? Did you ever run your own boat?" Orshallan asks, looking quite interested in your answers. He seems to enjoy being in your company. Probably it's because he has to embody the virtues of Heironeous with everyone else, and you are someone he can relax with, to a point.

~~~~~~

*Ralam unconsiously straightens his clothing while nodding at Vel's comment.*

"I expected something of the sort. What exactly would this service be and how long will it take you to get rid of this," Ralam waves his hand, "curse. I have important buisiness to conduct and I can not have this getting in the way."
"Such a service would not come to pass immediately. I can relieve you of the symptoms of your curse while you do your normal work, but you would be called to Beshaba's aid in helping spread her work upon those who are most undeserving of their good fortune. Now, come here," Vel says.

*She pours a shallow basin full of what your nose tells you is fine spirits, then uses a candle to set it alight. She takes a branch of a black antler, sacred to Beshaba, and dips it in the lighted spirits, burning her finger slightly. She then traces the antler on your face, in the places where the mark was, muttering to herself all the while in what you assume are phrases from Beshaba's holy books. When she finishes she blows out the flame and drinks some of the spirits, then hands the bowl to you to finish it off. The spirits are potent and leave you momentarily dizzy.*

"Go now, we shall call you when Beshaba has need of you," Vel says, her eyes piercing you through one final time before she dismisses you from her presence.
 

*Torr, later that evening Pearl, Chastity, and Scarlet arrive in a lovely gilded carriage, carved with symbols of joy and pleasure. It is one of Madam Gloria's "special" conveyances she uses for clients that have the pockets for it. Madam Gloria's House even has the approval and blessings of the churches of Sune and Lliira, as they embody the ideals of both faiths.*

*Pearl is a lovely young woman of northern stock, with beautiful pale skin with a pearl-like sheen, silver-blond hair, and silver eyes. Her skin and hair are dusted with crushed pearl powder, and her makeup cunningly applied to give her eyes the appearance of a beautiful oyster embracing a silver pearl. She wears pale pink silk accetuated with a small fortune worth of pearls in white, silver, and gold. Her hair is braided with ropes of them. On of her favorite tricks involves her special power. She is able to share her senses with another, and would often do this with a client to allow him to experience her own pleasure as she indulges in some of her own making.*

*Scarlet is a fire-genasi, with a brilliant fall of red hair and eyes like fine orange topaz. Her skin carries a flush of heat and shows the copper burnish of those native to the warmer south. She tends to wear red silk with a flowing train, like flames, and adores red gold jewelry with rubies. The fiery stones flash at her ears, neck, wrists, hands, hair, and waist, even her feet are encased in ruby-encrusted slippers. Her speciality consists of sensuous massage with heated oils.*

*Chastity is one that only tends to go to the those with the deepest pockets. Though she is much older than she looks, she is a sorceress that has employed her magic to keep her at the perpetual age of twelve. She hovers eternally at that sacred cusp between being a girl and being a woman. She embodies every aspect of a virginial bride, golden-blond hair in a young woman's flowing locks, woven through with babies' breath and pink rosebuds, limpid blue eyes full of innocence, a faint blush to her milk-clear skin, and dressed in eternal virginial white, wearing the veil of a bride. Her speciality lies in her acting ability, and her sorcerous arts, so that every time she embodies the nervousness, innocence, uncertainty, and delightful ignorance of a young girl. Every time she is taken is as if it is her first, both in body and in her acting. Most willingly allow themselves to be deceived to take her over and over again. She's probably the richest woman in the House.*

*The three present themselves in their fashions, Pearl elegantly, Scarlet seductively, and Chastity demurely. You tell them what you wish of them, and Chastity is delighted to play along to increase Rosalyn's anguish. You have a light meal together, allowing Scarlet to feed you finger foods while Rosalyn serves you, tears in her eyes. When Scarlet becomes more bold, engaging in some delightful massage at the table, Rosalyn gasps and nearly drops the wine pitcher more than once. Pearl ignores it blithely, while Chastity is "utterly shocked" and turns to your serving maid for "comfort from that decadent man." You "allow" Rosalyn to have several glasses of wine, to further take down her barriers, occasionally dropping a word or phrase about how much she means to you, even as Scarlet continues her ministrations. She alternately blushes with pride, love, anger, and embarassment as dinner goes on.*

*Finally you retire to the bedroom, allowing Pearl to entertain you with her speciality, delighting in her pleasure as Scarlet slides you out of your garments (and hers, not so incidentally) to continue with a more complete version of what she started at dinner. You pleasure yourself with both of them, occasionally calling Rosalyn to assist in removing a boot, a tightly-laced corset, or other little thing, reveling in her anguish each time she comes near. Chastity sits near her on the bench, skillfully pretending to share in her pain, sympathyzing with her and expressing fear and loathing toward you.*

*Later in the evening you call Chastity to you, and she goes into her full "uncertain virgin bride" act, you coaxing, she protesting, until you are "forced" to "ravage" her in her virginial white dress, Pearl and Scarlet assisting you. More than once you have heard Rosalyn choking back sobs, but this final betrayal has her weeping openly as you complete your amusement with Chastity. Finally, must later, you finish with all three women, and the clean themselves up and prepare to leave. Rosalyn is required to help them into their dresses, and is shocked when Chastity gives her a few acidic words about little servant girls who were fooled by the clever acting of a whore. Rosalyn is crying opening at the end of it, as she holds the door open for the three prostitutes when the leave the house, to return to Madame Gloria's in their guilded carriage.*

*To further the servant girl's sweet anguish and confusion you give her a full kiss on the lips and a loving, intimate carass before bidding her to retire for the night. Stormrider was fantastically gorged on Rosalyn's jealousy and anguish, and nearly satisfied. There's only a few more things you could do to the girl to push her farther. Hmm... perhaps she might be angered enough to attempt to kill one of your whores, an amusing though, though Madame Gloria would not approve.*

*In the morning you receive a note from your tailor that he is ready to measure and sew your new clothes today at your convenience. When you arrive, the short, dark man with a nervous air has a wide selection of different fabrics and braids for your approval. After describing the nature of your party, the tailor nods and eventually helps select a golden-brown broadcade with a subtle pattern of foxes, with a tasteful golden braid and elegant brown silk for the cuffs and shirt, along with similar material for the hose. Next door the jeweler can find you a good belt of golden plates in a leaf pattern with a fox for a buckle, a golden ring with a lovely golden topaz, and equally fine buckles for the new boots the tailor is have being made for you. Add your signet ring and you will fit it quite well with any noble crowd. All said and done, the new clothing, jewelry, and boots will cost you around two hundred gold, and they'll have it done by Fifthday.*

*That done, you return home to find a rather urgent message waiting for you, with a messenger waiting to take your return message. It is written neatly, on fine paper, with dark green ink being used, and sealed with a blue wax seal that shows a sunflower.*

Lord Torr,

There's been a complication on our business transaction and we need to meet immediately to discuss alternate courses of action. Send word upon your availabilty at once.

~Lord Ravyn Rosewatcher
*Torr, that name is a pseudonym used in dealing with the Black Butterfly.*

~~~~

*Ralam, when you come home from Beshaba's temple you are utterly exhausted. You can do little else but sleep that day, and dream. Your dreams are not so troubled as before, but they are still odd. When you begin having the dreams again, of the empty streets echoing the cruel laughter, a beautiful woman with dark hair and eyes that speak of doom and despair appears on them, interposing herself between the dreams and you. She stays the blood flowing in the streets, banishes the hiding dark thing, and brushes aside your fear.*

*Even so you have a feeling that eventually her presence might cause you more concern, given enough time. Her beauty seems... poisonous somehow, as if having her would mean you could only have her until the end of time. But if it is truly Beshaba that is helping you, that could be all too true. It is said that men have lost themselves to the love of the Maid of Misfortune before. But for now she is your dark angel, protecting you from the terrors of the night.*

*In the morning you have a messenger waiting for you, sealed with blue wax with a sunflower seal, written with green ink on fine paper.*

Lord Ralam,

There's been a complication on our business transaction and we need to meet immediately to discuss alternate courses of action. Some magical detection could cause discomfort for your client. Send word upon your availabilty at once.

~Lord Ravyn Rosewatcher
*Ralam, the pseudonym is one for the Black Butterfly. The bit about magical detection could mean that someone has been employing some very potent divination magic to find out the captain's killer.*
 

Loviana: Half-Nymph/Female (Rogue/Corruptor/Bondblade)

Loviana lightly rolls her blue eyes and gives a hear we go again smile as she replies, “Orshallan, my dear high righteous, not everyone from that area deals with Song Pearls.”

*As she speaks Loviana gentle reaches across the table with one of her delicate hands reassuringly grasping and squeezes Orshallan’s hand in the process*

“I’m nothing more than a simple farmers daughter but to answer your questions, it’s warmer so there’s more farms and due to the closeness of the sea many fishing is very important to the area.” She gives a small wink and a huge grin as she finishes, “But nothing can replace the importance of the Song Pearls cultivation and trade. I’ve seen one, but it was from here to the other side of the room, you can see them dive from the shore but its not truly all that impressive and if you didn’t know better you could easily assume there doing many of other things. Finally, I’ve never ran my own boat as have none of my family.” She gives a slight pause as she laughs lightly, “Nor do I have any desire to as boats scare me.”
 
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Lord Torr Stormrider - human weretiger/rogue/fighter

*Besides the intense physical gratification provided by the expert services of Madam's Gloria's ladies, Torr feels a strong sense of mental relief as Stormrider is emotionally sated. When Stormrider's hunger builds, Torr feels it as an indescribable pressure that prevents him from feeling at ease until she is properly fed.*

*The following morning, Torr will summon Rosalyn. The girl arrives, her eyes bleary and hair is disarray.*

"Rosalyn, dear," he says, "thank you for last night. You are so strong. I think I'd be lost in this city if I couldn't count on you. You're my emotional anchor." He gently holds her head in his hands and looks deep into her eyes. When she looks back, he kisses her softly.

"I need one favor from you this morning," he continues. "I want you to take this note and coin to Madam Gloria's. Give the Madam our thanks for her ladies' exceptional service."

(ooc - The note is simply a note of thanks to the Madam with high commendation on her girls' performance. It also requests that the extra few hundred gold be split evenly between the Madam, Pearl, Chastity, and Scarlet.)

Torr pretends not to notice Rosalyn's mixed and emotionally charged reaction. "When you return, take some time for yourself to rest. I may have need of you this afternoon."

*****

*Torr enjoys his trip to the tailor. Being catered to and fussed over gives him the proper sensation he feels he deserves as a "Lord." He also appreciates looking stylish in the latest and most expensive fashions.*

*When the tailor is finished completing the ensemble, Torr gives him a slightly snobbish approval, though secretly he is very keen about how it should look on him.*

"I suppose this is satisfactory," he tells the tailor and arranges for payment and delivery.

*****

*When Torr returns home, he immediately tears through the seal on the message and contemplates the request. He goes to his study and scribes a hasty reponse, then seals it in orange wax and stamps his signet ring into it.*

Lord Ravyn Rosewatcher,

I am always eager to see that our business arrangements meet your utmost satisfaction. I can meet this evening at the King's Head. If matters are more urgent or your prefer a different venue, send word back immediately and I will meet you at a time and place of your choosing.

~Lord Torr Stormrider

*Torr hands the reply to the messenger and gives him a few coins, urging him to be quick in carrying it. He then heads up to the porch off his bedroom where he sits in a comfortable chair in the sun and takes a cat-nap.*
 

*Loviana, Orshallan looks at your hand for a moment, seemingly lost in thought before pulling himself back the present.*

"I should have realized... I didn't mean to sound like such gawking little boy. I've only been to Albon once, and it was quite an experience to see all the things there. It's so strange, having no ruling nobility about, but they do follow the kingdom's laws.

"At any rate, Larissa I must be going... I have many duties to attend to. But I would like to see you again later, perhaps in the morning, after Sunrise Services?" Orshallan asks, almost seeming a bit shy.

~~~~~~

Lord Torr, you send off your message, and less than a half-hour later the messenger returns with a response.

Torr,

We will meet in the Guildhall at twilight.

~Ravyn
*The guildhall being, of course, the Assassin's Guildhall, currently located in the basement of the Blind Woman, a tavern known for its sale of illegal drugs.*
 

Into the Woods

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