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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aust Thale" data-source="post: 7301400" data-attributes="member: 6804768">On the road again...just can't wait to be on the road again...~ Membership seems to have privileges...I certainly hope so. ~Respen's demeanor with the djinn prince is wholly dignified and unpretentious, and before the djinn disappears, he makes mental note to address the prince properly whence he might see him again.Afterwards, Respen gathers the items transported to Dame Clare's study, as well as the portable hole.  His fear gives way to wonder and not the least bit of amazement.  Not a month ago, he was travelling in an old threadbare cloak with barely anything to eat and drink.  Now he will be comfortably dressed in familiar clothes with an impressive array of magic items and options.He nods at Dame Clare at her suggestion that he make preparations, "As you wish, your Grace."  He takes his leave, and returns to Nelvandra's room.  As he enters, he quietly places the clothes out in a chair near his gear, and the magic items among his others.  He examines magical bow-staff, and then lays it down again.  He re-packs his backpack, placing assorted survival and adventuring equipment that would fit into one of his large canvas and leather sacks outside of it, tying off the top of it.  He places the portable hole atop a table and stores the equipment bag inside along with a 2nd masterwork quarterstaff, his spellbook, changes of clothes, and his bedroll and rations. He tests the hole to see that he can indeed reach in and remove the contents should he require it.  He then packs his backpack with four (4) cases of parchment paper and ink, his pipe and tobacco, and his silver Holy Symbol.  He tends to his previous leather belt, already fashioned for scroll tubes, potions, and alchemical substances, such that it can be worn above the Belt of Battle.  He places the three vials of carrion juice on his bandolier as well.  He cleans up the quiver taken from the red orcs in Skorane, inspecting the forty (40) arrows.  And he gathers his cloak and hat of disguise and other magic items, placing the monocle of perusal and portable hole in his backpack, his spell component pouch in his belt, and his new gloves of storing on his hands.  Setting all on a table and chair in one corner of the room, satisfied with his newfound lack of encumbrance, he turns his attention to Nelvandra, as she wakes from her nap and becomes alert.  For a moment, he contemplates taking her, "coupling" with her, as Dame Clare put it.  He watches as she rises to greet him.  He realizes that whatever dominating influence that Dame Clare had exercised over the two of them, it really hadn't taken much to convince him to go to Nelvandra.  Nelvandra is extraordinarily, even preternaturally, comely.  She is vulnerable.  She has a sense of humor.  That he wanted her was without question.  However, it was not really her choice at this point.  He continues his work with his gear, and he helps her with hers.  He innocently flirts with her, and he remains as close as she allows him to remain.  However, he stays on his best behavior.  Of his own free will, he will not take a woman without her entire faculties, and he wouldn't presume his own free will on her.  Selfish though he might be, and not the least bit greedy and even vain, he was a stickler for individual free will.  If and when she freed herself from Dame Clare's conditioning, Respen hoped she would make peace with their relationship, short and sordid though it might be.  He hoped that she would remain open to something with him, at least a friendship.  If a child had indeed resulted from this union, he or she would be better served with both of them as parents.  Either way, they had a mission to complete.  After he is dressed and ready, he returns to Dame Clare.</blockquote>

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