[Vile] Puppy Kicking PCs at Work

[Thomas Hobbes]

"I know your type, pretty girl think she’s too good for this. Wouldn’t take me one day to convince you otherwise down in the basement.”

"There are different kinds of professionals," says Aeweth, her eyes narrowing in anger. "Some have power and skill. Others..." Aeweth and Rhesa both retain stronger language "get trapped and abused in a place like this." Or run it is another thing she leaves as best unsaid. Aeweth shrugs, crossing her arms and throwing her shoulders back while looking around casually, as if she couldn't care less. Going along but not conceding by any means. "I'll do my job, Madame. Don't you worry about that."

Rhesa sneers at the closed door following Brie's exit. Hey, f-ck you too, you pint sized pimp. She sighs. No good swearing at the green runt. Best get to work. Best hope is to take Brie's out- hope he's a gentleman. She sighs again. Right. A gentleman hiring the most innocent girl at a whorehouse. Goddamn.

As Ezuvial begins heading upstairs, whore in tow, Aeweth appears at the top of the stairs, and the bodyguard immediately stops, and smiles. "My dear lady, my apologies. You look," he pauses for a moment, then says "almost as good as you did before. I could have lied, said I found your new attire more becoming, but I'm trying to teach you the value of honesty, eh 'Faleri'?" He finishes his way upstairs, to her side, seemingly barely noticing the girl he has with him. "But I am impatient to get to know you better. Privately." Looking back at the prostitute for a moment. "Well, almost privately." Another genuine looking smile crosses his face.

Aeweth blushes, and awkwardly takes his hand, more because she thinks that's what she should do than because she wants to. Her hand might have even been a little sweaty- Rhesa’s not too happy about this whole situation either- but she also knows how to keep her palms dry with a little powder. "I- I can't say I favor the outfit much either," she murmurs, apparently not wanting Brie to overhear. She regards the other girl with only a little less embarrassment than she goes Ezuvial- another girl seeing her doing... this, and more experienced, which puts her both higher and lower than Aeweth-as-prostitute. Call her "Faleri." So now she has to make sure no one in the group sees Aeweth out of character, while still acting like Faleri and, hopefully, not losing Rhesa in there either. Next thing I know there'll be voices.

Now it's Faleri speaking, still quietly, still hesitantly. "I'm sorry about before. It's just... it's complicated." She smiles a little, not making eye contact. "I didn't mean to offend you." I wish I could get a read on you, you bastard. It's like I'm going off to sleep with a wall for all the information I'm likely to get out of you. I swear, if Gwyn says one word... well, I'll shut up and look scared.

As they walk, Rhesa leaves Faleri studying the walls very carefully and steps out to observe herself. Why is she so opposed to this? It's not like she's some little goody-two-shoes nun or anything. Nor are men exactly unknown to her, although she'll have to play up the virgin bit for this guy. Is it humiliation? Degradation? She’s playing this man for a fool and pumping him for information, a real slick spy bit. (Olidamarra, I’d never thought I’d get tired of the innuendo of pumping someone for information, but here we are.) If he’s actually related to the missing girls and she’s just doing this for sh-ts and giggles, plus giving Madame Brie some extra cash. She dislikes the goblin immensely, and the idea of the little goblin covered in far too much makeup and cackling at her lends color to her cheeks.

I suppose this just isn't really what I had hoped for when I embarked on my grand quest for a moral middle road. She snorts internally. Gods, what an existance this must be! One of the msot enjoyable human activities, reduced to a job that you don't want to get up in the morning to do.

 

[Telsar]

Loni looks at Accalon in the small, dark room. “A living hell? I guess sometimes it’s like that here. Some of the johns can be very scary. What they try to get away with, or what they pay to get away with…”, she shudders a bit. “But there’s a roof over my head, and food to eat. And a sisterhood I never had growing up. And the work,” brushing Accalon’s cheek with her fingers, “is sometimes very enjoyable. So don’t worry about my burden.”

“And as for Geoff, I would… damn, I hadn’t intended saying his name.” She tenses up a bit, and continues. “As for him, if I saw him, on the street or if he walked into Brie’s, there’s no forgiveness. I would do something. Grab a sword, or try to strangle him with my bare hands. Something. I hope… I hope I’m a lot harder if I ever do see him. So I can go through with it.”

Cuddling in Accalon’s arms, Loni says lightly “So, since I don’t forgive him, then I’m not a better person than you and no apology is necessary.” She kisses him, saying “But I think I could learn to be a better person, a stronger person, with you to show me.”


Meanwhile, in another room, Lydia and Algernon are on a bed, Algernon’s hands roaming freely over the cleric’s body. “Most invigorating thing? Now what would make you ask that? Ah… little Miri must have seemed all upset after our last encounter. And you,” kissing Lydia on the neck, “being entirely evil (chuckling), want to know what I did to her. It was nothing too heinous, at least I didn’t think so. I didn’t even touch the girl. I just had her pose for me. You see, I’m an artist, a bit famous in some circles. Perhaps too famous. Do you know someone trashed my studio, just the other night? That’s why I need the bodyguard.”

“Oh, but I’m digressing from what you wanted to know. I just painted her picture, numerous paintings where I captured her likeness perfectly. But I added a few things that weren’t really there. Such as various creatures, both intelligent and not, all extremely male, if you catch my meaning. The look of horror when she saw them I thought was priceless. But worth more than that was her look when I said I knew a gallery that would happily display them for me. I bet she didn’t tell you or the other girls or Brie a single detail of that, did she? Alas, I only found a private collector willing to buy them, not a gallery, but it was still very worth the few gold I spent here.”

“But of course, nothing I could do would frighten you like that. Nor would I want to. I’d love to see how you might be able to frighten me, though. One’s heart pumping from, well, a little fear, nothing too drastic of course, is an incredible aphrodesiac. Have you frightened very many men?”


Back at the voyeur closet, Accalon and Loni realize they need to be quiet, as they hear Ezuvial and his two companions enter the adjoining room. The long-time whore, a girl in her mid twenties with reddish-brown hair and blue-green eyes, seems to want to get down to business quickly, trying to undress the bodyguard, starting with his belt and scabbard. But he looks at her and says “Heliah, would you be so kind as to see if the bed’s comfortable? I need a moment with Felari, to help calm her nerves.” The girl shrugs, moves to the bed, bounces a bit on it on her knees, then begins to undress. Ezuvial turns to Aeweth, and uses a whispered voice, apparently to keep the whore from hearing, but having the same effect on Accalon and Loni [Accalon fails a default listen roll]

Ezuvial whispers, “There is nothing to be nervous about. You can trust me.” He inhales deeply through his nose, apparently trying to take in Aeweth’s scent. “And I think I can trust you. Your bloodline is strong. Even if you resist it’s calling. But you shouldn’t. You also shouldn’t be associating with such clearly evil characters as that hooded warrior or the stoic woman Algernon was so impressed with. They are your allies, correct? Ah, but first, time is almost up…”

Then he steps back, and says a bit more loudly, where all can hear. “If you two girls don’t mind, I’d like to cast a little spell. Nothing harmful, I assure you, affecting only myself to allow our encounter here to last a bit longer.” He gestures and incants a few phrases, and magical energy surrounds him for the briefest of moments. [Unfortunately, none of the PCs here have Spellcraft] Watching him cast a spell brings a quick look of fear on Heliah’s face, after hearing the discussion below about ensorcelled girls.

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

Gwyn searches the grounds, especially around the headstone, looking for traces of those who cleaned the place. He also examines the area in front of each door, to see if any have entered recently.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Accalon Darcanda: Human/Male (Unholy Warrior)

Accalon finds himself returning the kiss, it’s far deeper and passionate than he intended, but the sound of voices coming down the hallway keeps Accalon from losing himself completely in Loni’s tender lips and slender frame. Pulling slightly away from Loni Accalon’s green eyes grow distant as his ears struggle to hear more. He smiles apologetically while he places a single finger to Loni’s lips signaling to her the need to remain quite.

As Accalon leans into the peepholes the voice of annoyance returns, its pitch and tone are high as it mocks Loni’s sweet words, But I think I could learn to be a better person, a stronger person, with you to show me. The voice stops long enough to crackle in laughter as Accalon remains expressionless as he watches from the peephole but the voice returns accusingly, A better person? It chuckles lightly and though it’s still condescending it at least sounds slightly sympathetic, My friend she’s clueless and to goodhearted and she’ll never be what you want, it’s best you forget the matter and simply let the naive tart bestow the gift to those that would pay to touch her.

Accalon leans closer, its was obvious to him that Ezuvial had whispered something, trying to catch what was said but between Ezuvial’s whispering and the unwanted voice yapping in his ear he had missed it. Frowning in frustration he rips into the voice, Shut it! Now is not the time, I’m busy and I already decided.

He turns to Loni briefly with an inquiring curious look hoping to see if she had heard anything that was whispered but he quickly turns back in time to see and hear Ezuvial speak of casting a spell. Accalon, smiles lightly at this but makes no move to leave his set as none of the previous girls had been harmed, they had simply left on there own accord at a later time and one can always fallow a charmed girl. So he simply sat quietly trying to see all that he can as he silently holds and stokes the light brown lockets of his dear Loni's hair.

 

[Thomas Hobbes]

Ezuvial whispers, “There is nothing to be nervous about. You can trust me.” He inhales deeply through his nose, apparently trying to take in Aeweth’s scent. “And I think I can trust you. Your bloodline is strong. Even if you resist it’s calling. But you shouldn’t. You also shouldn’t be associating with such clearly evil characters as that hooded warrior or the stoic woman Algernon was so impressed with. They are your allies, correct? Ah, but first, time is almost up…”

Rhesa (and it is Rhesa, with all of her layers of deception dropped in shock) pulls back from him suddenly, as if he emanated a scorching heat. She stares at him, mouth slightly parted in surprise. All of it. He sees through all of it. Is he reading my mind? "What are you?" she asks quietly, wonderingly, and a little afraid.

She takes his spellcasting in stride, his words seeming to eliminate him as a possible suspect. A little bit of resentment takes a place next to the nervousness, which is compounded, or perhaps just modified, by his apparent ability to see everything about her. The thought of being completely unguardedly honest, or having all of her deceptions in vain (the same thing, as far as she's concerned) frankly frightens her. But yes, resentful; she doesn't take kindly to people talking about her bloodline. As if it mattered to her who her great-whatever slept with.

She snaps herself out of it and tries to return to character- Faleri. She may not have to, or be able to- Gods, I hate this!- perform well enough for Ezuvial, but she- does she have to decieve Heliah? Heliah can see Aeweth, but she can't see me. Getting hard to keep this all straight she jokes to herself.

 

[Telsar]

Searching the grounds around the burned-out building, Gwyn doesn’t find much to tell him of the identity of the groundskeeper. Hidden in the pile of branches [Search rolled 10+6=16] is a large wooden box with various small weapons: hammers, daggers, a pick, a sickle, and a hand axe. Although not gardening tools, they apparently have been used as such by the soil that can be found on them. On the side of the box is written the words “These are not toys! Don’t touch!” in common.

The headstone is a simple piece of stone, but elaborately engraved, with the words “Here lies Cleric Donaldo. His mission failed, but his lifetime a success”. There are tracks throughout the yard, including the grave, that appear to be human, but as he approaches the doors, he sees no tracks leading to them. Apparently whoever’s been cleaning up didn’t consider the building safe either. Which makes it that much odder when Gwyn hears a shuffling noise coming from inside the building.


In the voyeur closet, Accalon’s eyes have adjusted to the dark enough to tell Loni’s facial expressions. When Ezuvial whispers something to Aeweth, her confused expression tells him that she couldn’t hear what was said either. When Ezuvial casts his spell, Loni noticeably trembles, letting out a small squeak of surprise, a noise that apparently no one in the room notices during the droning of the incantation. Loni looks to Accalon, holding him, her concerned expression indicating she and her sisters were depending on him, if this bodyguard was indeed who had cast spells on them.

In the room, Heliah is getting a little nervous. “A spell? You didn’t tell Brie anything about casting spells.” Ezuvial smiles calmly at the girl. “You’re frightened. I assure you, the spell only serves to make our time together more enjoyable for you. But why so scared? I know for a fact I’m not the most frightening client you’ve ever had. Did Madame Brie tell you spellcasters were dangerous?”

He again approaches close to Rhesa/Aeweth/Felari, whispering “What has Brie been telling her? She really needs to calm down. I can… help her become calm, but if it fails to work, I’m afraid of how she’ll react. Please, if you can, talk to her. Get her to trust me. So that when I cast another spell, she doesn’t do something foolish. We wouldn’t want that, now would we?” He smiles, that same no-guile smile he seems to favor her with a lot. “We’re all friends here. Or at least we should be. And as for what I am,” his hand caresses Felari’s hair (coincidentally at the same time as Accalon strokes Loni’s), “I’m a servant of what’s right. As you should be. Please, calm her down. Then perhaps you can tell me what you and your allies are doing here.”

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Accalon Darcanda: Human/Male (Unholy Warrior)

Accalon attention quickly turn from the peephole to the trembling whore on his lap, his eyes fill full of compassion as he shifts Loni so that he can hold her instead of having her simply sit upon his lap as he hides her eyes by tucking her head in the notch between his neck and shoulder.

As his green eyes turn back to Ezuvial, and the other two whores, he continues to reassuring stroke Loni’s light brown hair as he whispers tenderly into her ear, “My dear Loni, please be strong for me. The kidnapper has never harmed one of your sisters, he’s only compelled them to leave Brie’s through magic. Simply put we’ll never catch him if we do not have the proof of watching him try again and the best way to find your sisters will to be to fallow another.”

Embracing her reassuringly one more time Accalon lightly kisses her tender ear before he asks her in a hushed voice, “Nod your head yes if that make sense to you my dear.”

OOC: I’m assuming that Accalon, and Loni, heard everything said last post. If he sees Ezuvial start any sort of thing that could be construed as the start of a spell he’s going to continue to shield Loni’s eyes, as he is doing now, and he’s also going to cover up the peephole. (Hopefuly blocking any effect that is line of sight.)

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

At the sound of shuffling, Gwyn dons his buckler and draws his weapons; he then moves to the nearest door and listens, to try to determine the location of whoever is within.

 

[Thomas Hobbes]

Rhesa grows increasingly suspicious of this man, and the phrase "I'm a servant of what's right" sets off a dozen alarm bells in her head- Trouble. "As you should be." And self-righteous to boot. "Then perhaps you can tell me what you and your allies are doing here." Big trouble. Aeweth nods slightly, although it's unclear whether she's agreeing simply to calm the girl or to anything else. In any case, she walks over and leans to whisper a few words in the girl's ear.

"Don't worry," says Aeweth, optimistic and confident, acting the adventurer coming to 'save' the prostitutes. I know what I'm doing, and I'll hand this guy his head if he tries anything funny, with a wink and a smile. "I won't let anything bad happen to you," she says, and then giggles as if she just whispered some dirty secret to her fellow whore. The giggle might be a bit too loud or a bit too obviously a cover, depending on whether Rhesa can manage to play Aeweth as appropriately confident.

I assume there's some sort of check here- Diplomacy, perhaps?

Assuming Rhesa's calmed the girl down, she waits for the fellow to cast his spell, standing next to Heliah and casting the occasional confident look her way- which doubles as a method of checking to see how she's affected by the spell. Despite her apparent confidence, Faleri is nervous about her first foray into prostitution, Aeweth is nervous about that plus the fact this fellow is asking awkward questions, and Rhesa, although regaining her balance (the suspicion helps- he's probably a self-righteous Cuthbertian dragging them out of here, will they or nill they!- despite the fact she would appreciate the rescue, were she working here) is nervous about all that and the fact that this man is so goddamn sharp. He knows what she is. How can he know what she is?

This fellow sound familiar? Like the Heironian lover-boy, perhaps, minus the convieient niaviate? The obliviousness was what made that relationship work. Which is to say, it worked because he had no idea what was really going on. Which is a pretty poor definition of "working," but in any case.

And why am I thinking of this paticular sordid exchange in terms of a relationship, anyway?

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

T'aria: Half-fiend rogue

T'aria will search through Elorelei's closet, attempting to find a replacement shirt that is not blood-splattered, as well as a skirt in the unlikely event that Elorelei had something quite as concealing as T'aria prefers. After changing, T'aria will rejoin everyone else in leaving for the church.

On her way out the door, she will glance at the carriage and horses before dismissing them. Too difficult to sell in such a small town. Might be noticed - and, well, the house will be discovered soon enough when the servants arrive for the day. She smirks slightly, imagining their expressions upon finding the lady and her driver... whatever it is Alicia did with him.

When they get to the church, T'aria will pace the perimeter, highly unwilling to set foot on what may be consecrated ground. She will watch as Gwyn inspects the grounds; when he draws steel, T'aria will duck into the nearest shadows and drop a dagger into each hand from her wrist sheaths.

She glances at the church. Well, hell. Not much I can do about it. Gwyn wasn't blasted, so I suppose it is at least somewhat safe. She will distastefully step onto the church grounds and ghost up to near the door Gwyn is at, listening intently for what has grasped Gwyn's attention while attempting to watch for ambush at the same time. One hopes that Alicia won't tip off whatever it is that Gwyn noticed...

[OOC: Hide +9 Move Silently +9 Listen +3 Spot +6]