Therric watches Nessa with a little smile as she goes to give Sylee another hug.
...those two look adorable, really.
Sylee thinks a few seconds, then
Nope. I need nothing. But I'd like to go there another time so I can feed the snake!
She gives a big hug to her mommy, then looks with hopeful eyes at Alayna
Do you all need to leave?
Nessa laughed and said, "We'll see what we can do about that honey." She kissed the girl and then rose as she looked to Therric, "Give me just a moment to grab something and the we can go," she looked back to the others again, "assuming there are no problems with this?"
Therric rises from his chair and sets his empty teacup down. "Alrighty then."
Cameron says his goodbyes and starts to make his way back to the Goblin.
"I ken stay an' spend a day with the mite, as it's better than trompin' sidewise on the Goblin's listin' decks."
Nessa grinned and said, "We'll be back in a while then." She looped her arm through Therric's and said, "Shall we Therr?"
Nessa reached into her pack then and took out what looked like an oversized black leather dog collar with a matching leash on it, "Wear this Therr, for me, please?" Her eyes were big and her chin quivered a bit before she broke out laughing, "If you wear this and I hold the end of the leash, it will signal that you're mine and the others will leave you alone." Her expression became much darker as she said, "And I want the other to leave you alone...for now anyway." She almost seemed worried at that last statement, like she'd never had that thought before.
"...well, we won't be in there too long, right? We can have a chat inside and get back quick enough." He shrugs and keeps on walking to the temple, stopping short when Nessa pulls out a large dog collar with a leash.
He eyes the collar for a bit with wide eyes. "...er..."
Is this a joke or is that really how things work in there?
"...alrighty then." He takes the collar and manages to slip it on over his armour's collar. "Just so long as I don't have to bark. Or crawl. Hard to do in this armour, ya see." He chuckles sheepishly.
Cameron heads back to the Goblin and looks for Saul with a certain amount of trepidation. There was something about Saul that made him nervous.
If Sauls's about, Cameron fidgets with his Desnan butterfly before knocking and entering. He then lays it down straight , "Well sure enough the Lock on Larur's door was smashed, but there was no sign of a struggle. A neighbor saw a never-do-well running away with clothes and stuff like that, but I have a feeling that was just some opportunist. We then paid Lymas a visit, yeah I think you've got a problem there. He says he doesn't know or care about Larur and I believe it. What he does care about is the money and he intends to collect. The others are out with their ears to the ground but there's not much to go on so far. Did anyone else know about this deal?"
I hope.
He takes a breath and nods at Nessa to lead on.
Saul listens to Cameron carefully, and seems at lost for words
You mean I'll got to pay again? Why do you trust Sylas? Did he paid you? How can I find that much money such short time? We're struggling to do business here, and Sylas is linked to the crimelords of Riddleport, who want to bury me! I had no choice but to get a loan from him!
Unconsciously, Saul rubs his stub with his remaining hand
Maybe you're right, Cameron, we have a traitor! I think now that that dirty dwarf ran away with my money!
Caithlinn give you time to play and take care of Sylee, then when the little girl is too tired, put her to bed for a nap
The old elf woman looks at you
I am glad you could spare some hours for Sylee. I can provide her confort and love, but I'm not young anymore. I have been young, of course, and remember how it was, mostly. A wonderful feeling... May I ask you a question? I see you carry a whip, but you don't look like a Calistrian. Why this choice of a weapon?
Of course, there are a few odd looks, and some chuckles, as the leashed Therric follows Nessa. The guards of the temple welcome her with a deep kiss and wandering hands.
a wandering leash-erous one, Nessa?
the guards wink at Therric as he passes
Inside the Temple, Therric's sense are quickly overwhelmed by the sounds, sights, perfumes of pure, unaduterated lust. As Nessa planned, no one tries to touch Therric, but many-males and females of different species-look at him with desire.
The squire opts to keep his eyes on Nessa as she leads him onward. He tries to keep his eyes focused on her head or her wings, but time and time again he catches himself lowering his gaze to her tight, curvy ass.
Having found out what she could, and realizing poor Therric was likely to have a coronary if she kept him here much longer, she made her way to the First Stings chambers and asked the guards, "Is the First Sting available? I needed to check in with her before my pet paladin and I leave."
His discomfort in his new surroundings gradually eases as the pair wander the temple, and he starts to straighten his posture more. While he's still flushed with some measure of embarrassment, he starts looking at the surrounding sights & sounds with more acceptance.
...and possibly, even curiosity.
Still, he remembers what he and Nessa are here for, and keeps close to her as she inquires as to the whereabouts of the First Sting.
Guilelessly Cameron asks, "You sure there wasn't somebody else? No. Ok well we'll find Larur and with luck the money. Any preference as to how you'd like him treated when we find him?" 'Not that Cameron had much doubt you understand, but he wanted to hear it from Saul's lips.'
Once Sylee is down for the afternoon, Alayna is on a devan in the parlor tricorn over her own eyes, getting some rest. Sleep when ya ken, but not when on'a fire watch! She peeks under the brim of her hat and sees Caithlyn standing nearby, but somehow in the older woman's grace she isn't lurking. Alayna sits up straight as Miss C start's talking. Wow. This woman is as powerful as a sea's wind! She knows how to get what she wants from her people, too.
When the question about the whip comes up, Alayna smiles and in a voice that does not carry her usual bravado, "When at sea, a Cap'n 'as ta maintain control o' 'is crew, or the 'ol lot o' sailors'll go to Cassomir's Locker. So, it falls ta tha quartermaster, or sometime' the Master o'arms ta dispense the cap'n's justice." Stepping to the sideboard where her whip is coiled she grasps the handle and continues, "An' as often as not, this is the tool. Floggin', beatin', scarrin' an' scarin' all 'appen when the B@##~'s Own Tongue lashes a swab's back. Most men won' wanna face that. So, I use that to keep some folks a'back from me. Besides, when it comes to it, I ken fight from here and not corps'a'corps when many a' man's brawn'd be my end." Handing the scourge to Caithlyn she smiles. Her voice comes back to it's normal boisterous self, "Bu' truth be tol' I ain' afraid to use any weapon that'd keep me an' my crew safe. Knife, bucket, cutlass, pin."
Gold Goblin
"I don't think that your employee was a traitor," the investigator finally said. "Larur hired me some days ago to keep an eye on him. He was fearing for his life, and even gave me instructions in case he would disappear. He was most likely attacked, by something -or someone- he was already afraid of, and you are one of the few people who might have an idea of what that is. Did you notice anything strange about Larur recently?"
Come with me, sweetie. I might have something for you.
Alayna follows Caithlin to the elf chamber, and starts wondering what the old lady has in mind.
Caithlinn opens a drawer on a big mahogany desk, and shows a magnificent whip, with black and yellow strips
This was my own whip, when I was full of youth and mischief. Now, how course, my youth is gone...
She winks to Alayna
But maybe you will find this of use.
She uncoils the whip, and tests it in the air
Not that bad... But you can do better with that bad girl
Answers Saul, before Zahel speaks
Larur feared for his life? Hey, I can understand that. With Zincher around... Everyone would fear for his life. I fear for my own life, by all the putrid Hells! And no, I haven't seen anything strange in Larur recently, why, he changed his haircut and I didn't noticed? he was a competent manager, but we weren't buddies. I was his boss.
And Therric can have a good look at the naked man, his body painted in yellow and black.
"Pet paladin"?? That's a good one... Can I get one too? You can go in, Nessa, but he should stay there, or Mistress Padomae will want to try it.
He extends his hand, ready to take the leash from the sorceress hand
He looks over at Nessa with pleading eyes. "Er... I... I prefer women, sir."
Something was bothering Cameron, 'All that seems a bit flippant Saul. Just his boss? You claim to have trusted him enough to keep five hundred big ones over night. No this smacks of desperation, you hoped we'd stick the knife in Lymas Smeed leaving you to pocket the cash. Who did you need to pay off eh Saul?'
Cameron sounding serious and with a straight face asks, "Speaking of the devil, I don't suppose Zilcher or one of his goons are likely to be sniffing around are they? Last time they scared the customers good and proper, we lost a fair bit of money that night and not just due to that darn ghost. Reminds me, we should arrange for an exorcism."
Gold Goblin
Good point. We didn't find such an amount of money at Larur's place. But again, why would he have left the hundred remaining behind?
"Does Larur have an office? I'd like to check it, if you don't mind."
When Zahel speaks, Saul reacts with anger
Sorry, but I don't know you, and I mind. Larur has an office, but everything inside concern the Gold Goblin, and it's none of your freakin" business.
He tries to calm down
I still have to find a way to find some money to pay that shark!
He fails, and throws a glass to the wall, shattering it.
When will all of this end?
You finally enter the private chamber of the First Sting of Calistria. All around you are images of lust. in various pictures or statues, the way the First sting walks up to you, her splendid body, her welcoming smile.
Nessa Meriatrix. Do you bring me a gift? Should I unwrap it right here, right now?
Even the sound of her voice is enough to send shivers in the poor paladin's lower body. And the way she looks at him, the intensity....
As the old elf woman gives the whip to the blonde piratess, she breaks the silence
I must confess I had an idea when I decided to give you my whip. I'd like to ask for a favor in return. Nothing kinky, I promise.
She laughs joyously
Unless you insist, of course.
She gazes at Alayna and continue
I'd like you to keep an eye on Nessa. I know you are not the best friends, but I trust you. She can be.. I won't say foolish, but quite reckless. Quick to get into troubles. I hope that having Sylee to care for will help her, I think it will, but I know she could do with your help too. What do you think?
She smiled hungrily then and looked the fist sting over, her tail lashing, before her body shook as she collected herself back from the brink of lust. "I won't keep you from your...worship, we've got other places to be so we'll be leaving as soon as I collect a few things from my room." Her tail was idly stroking the inside of Therric's leg now, almost as if she didn't realize she was even doing it.
She looks at Therric one last time
Nessa, you know, of course, that I could demand you to give me your delicious companion, and you would have to obey... But you've done much for Calistria, and I hope you'll enjoy your treat... until the last drop.
She gives to Nessa a small bag with a powder
Consider this my own personal contribution.And if you and your friends manage to find the last killer and defeat it, remember the Night of a Thousand Bliss can be enjoyed as a group.
She walks to Therric, her hands cupped within millimeters from his crotch-without her even touching him, the paladin can feels her desire.
And you, on your way out, take in the last drawer of my desk near the door a little something that can help you. You could find it handy, and I hope you won't think I want to rub you the wrong way. This is for all your little group of do gooders, so you can heal your wounds and bring vengeance to the foes of Calistria.
Therric didn't have a clue what would be on the other side of the doors when he walked in with Nessa. Or perhaps he did, but Nessa's firm backside and the general atmosphere of disinhibition distracted him too much for him to care. Part of him wonders how everyone in this temple can be so... so brazen with their basic instincts, with their erotic art depicting lovers in all manner of positions and their devotion to lust...
Another part of him idly wonders if he's pledged his faith to the wrong goddess. That part of him gets quite a violent reprimand from the parts of his mind that are still capable of rational thought.
No. Keep your back straight. Don't stare. You're a paladin--you should have MUCH more self-control than this!
Then the First Sting steps forward, and the poor squire can't help but stare silently until Nessa's wings block her somewhat from view. He listens to Nessa as she informs her boss about their success with only half an ear, especially when his voluptuous 'handler' starts stroking his inner thigh with her tail.
...I need a cold bath.
"While we were here I wanted to make sure you got the letter about the killer that I sent. We think we got him, a ghoul who had turned two streetwalkers, including one of my sister abbesses, into ghouls. One of the deaths didn't fit the pattern so we're not sure yet if it was one killer or two different ones."
One of his hands clenches down on the scabbard of his scimitar, and the other holds his coin purse in a vice grip. "Er... yeah, I kinda helped with that." He sheepishly adds before going silent again.
Hands, stay right where you are. I know her top's just a few inches away--
The hand on his coin purse inches towards the back of Nessa's top.
--what are you doing. What are you doing. What. Are. You. Doing?!
And starts lightly toying with it before the First Sting addresses him directly. His hand snaps back to his side and he clears his throat. His toes clench when he feels her hand right next to his codpiece.
"Ah... um... thanks?" He tentatively steps over to the drawer she mentioned and pulls out something that, all things considered, should really not have surprised him.
...really? Is there ANYTHING in this temple that DOESN'T involve... well... sex?
Nessa nodded in acknowledgement if what the First Sting said about her right to Nessa's companion but her face lit up when she was told she wouldn't take him away from her. The bag of powder, when she realized what it was, was a gift beyond compare. She tucked it away, hooked Terric's leash to her waist, and threw her arms around the First Sting in a passionate embrace to show her thanks. When released she said, "I'll never forget you for this Mistress, and if we find the last killer we'll let you know." Relieved now she no longer blocked Therric protectively and let the First Sting approach him, restraining her jealousy as she spoke to him. She couldn't help but giggle at the wand, it was quite interesting and soo Calistrian. Their business here done she gestured back towards the door and moved that way, slipping out as she did.
When they were back in the main room she gave the leash a tug and pulled Therric next to her as they headed towards the personal quarters of the temple. "This place is really good for you isn't it, I felt you playing with my top," she draped a wing around his shoulders and kissed his arm, "It was quite well done. We just need to go to my room and grab a couple of things." She lead the way into the back halls of the temple, sounds of passion could be heard from the various rooms they passed, the only doors were curtains or beads hanging through the entrances to each person's room. It was obvious that privacy was non-existent in this place with what could be seen here and there as they walked.
Reaching Nessa' room is was much like a tiny version of the First Stings, there was a small bed that would barely fit her and one other person, a cabinet with outfits and toys, and along one wall a cage of sorts that help a snake. The little reptile seemed to be sleeping and Nessa lit up as she saw her serpent friend. She went to a container and reached in, her movements drawing a deal of squealing as she pulled out a small mouse and opened the top of the cage, dropping it inside. The terrified rodent tried to flee bu had nowhere to go as the snake perked up and rose, it's head focused on the mouse for a moment before it lunged, it's fangs piercing the hide of the mouse quickly and latching on. Slowly the serpent began to swallow the snake as Nessa cooed, "That's a good snake Zith, I'm sorry I haven't been here much lately. We're going to take you to our new home now, but I thought you'd want to eat first. Zith glared at her but seemed content to eat rather than be cranky with her.
She looked at Theriic and said, [b]"This is Zith," she looked tot he snake and said, "and this is Therric." It seemed as though the snake understood what she said as it glanced at Therric and then ignored him.
"This place is really good for you, isn't it? I felt you playing with my top."
Therric looks down at his feet with a guilty expression. "Yeah... I'm sorry, I don't know what got into me--"
"It was quite well done. We just need to go to my room and grab a couple of things."
He looks back at her with a somewhat puzzled expression before shrugging his shoulders and stowing the healing dildo WAND into his pack. Preferably as deeply as possible so that it will not accidentally see the light of day.
When the two of them finally reach Nessa's room, the paladin looks even more flustered than before, if such a thing was even possible. He glances between the curtain separating her room from the hallway, and the bed inside.
No. We're here to just get a few things and get going. No shenanigans--
When Nessa opens up a box and pulls out a tiny mouse, the fuzzy creature's squeals of terror draw the man's attention. He watches wordlessly as she opens up a cage containing a snake and drops the mouse in...
...where it promptly gets eaten. Therric winces at the sight.
...okay, I kinda should've seen that coming, really.
He waves hello to the snake as Nessa introduces the two of them, before turning back to her. "Do you need me to carry him?"
He looks down at her breasts and glances ever so briefly over at her bed again before getting ahold of himself.
Cameron makes his excuses to leave by saying, truthfully, "Well to have any hope of recovering the money, we need to find Larur." He turns to his companions and says, "Lets go." Meaning out of Saul's face. Cameron isn't going to stop Zahel from poking a round if he wants to.
Feeling pretty despondent, for their Boss was clearly hoping they'd have killed a man over money, Cameron sits down on a bench in the taproom with a sigh. The place was quiet this morning, although it would likely get much busier as the day progressed. He fiddles idly with his special deck and on a whim cuts, shuffles, reshuffles and finally cuts the deck once more. With a faint premonition of foreboding he turns the top card cover.
With a sudden intake of breath and muffled curse he stares for a long moment at the beautifully painted vignette of a leg bitten by a viper. The brush strokes where tiny but you could clearly see the milky poison and mixed with blood welling up from the twin puncture marks. This was a terrible omen, representing poison, venom, assassination, and discord!
'Saul wanted us to be his assassins,' Cameron thought bitterly, 'We disappointed him, but despite the histrionics he took it suspiciously well. Perhaps we need to watch our backs, if he can send one lot of would be assassins, he can send another. Especially if he's pocketed five hundred big ones like I suspect...'
Looking like he'd seen a ghost, Cameron tells Krucina and Zahel, "I think we should go find the others and stick together. I've got a bad feeling about today, our luck may have turned sour."
He sets off to Caitlin's in the hope of meeting up with Alanya and the love birds.
Krucina narrows her eyes upon watching Cameron whiten considerably. Grabbing his arm and pulling him into an embrace, Her lips curl into a coy smile and come very close to his ear...she whispers softly....
'Remarkable eyes.' Krucina's sudden closeness was quite the surprise and it was all he could do not to stammer that out loud.
Realising he was gazing into her eyes, he pointed at the harrow card, and whispered "That. Do you know it's significance?"
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By the time Nessa had finished packing Zith had fully swallowed the mouse and Nessa took out a kind of ceramic bottle with tiny air holes in it's sides before she began speaking to Zith softly. She reached inside the cage and gently grabbed the snake just behind her head. Zith's coils began to wrap around her arm and Nessa waited for the snake to be comfortably ensconced before she raised her hand to the bottle. The snake understood what to do and began to slither off of Nessa's arm and into the bottle. Once she had fully entered it Nessa pulled a cork our and plugged the opening up. She then took the container of mice, thew some food in for them to eat, and then placed it inside the snake cage. She turned to Therric and said, "Alright, get the cage, once we get outside I'll remove your leash and collar." She gently placed the bottle inside her pack and waited for Therric to be ready.
Right--get going. Still got things to do. Like douse myself in cold water, for instance.
He follows Nessa out of the temple, feeling quite relieved that he no longer needed to stick around in such hallowed (or depraved, depending on one's tastes) halls of debauchery.
There's still a part of him that's grumbling in disappointment. It's being resolutely ignored.
......no, I do not know what that means, but I can imagine it isn't very good. Maybe we should regroup with the others.
Krucina lingers on Cameron a bit longer before releasing his arm.
He replies earnestly, "Yes. Yes we should." Although he doesn't do anything about it, at least not immediately.
Krucina's physical closeness was totally unexpected, particularly she had been so reserved. Nessa on the other hand had often done this to him and it was only by supreme effort he'd stopped flinching whenever she did it. It wasn't that he disliked Nessa, but she just wasn't his type! Still he'd come to grudgingly respect her over the last few months as they worked together. Krucina on the other hand was a complete mystery, but by the song of the spheres, those eyes! Wow!
When Krucina lets go Cameron tells her something softly in elvish.
Krucina of course knew the story of poor stupid old Martigan. It was one of the many things that had been playing on Cameron's mind.
Cameron gets up to leave, and moves the table forwards slightly so it's easier for Krucina to get up.
Finally... I can start thinking clearly again.
"Nessa?" He gestures to the dog collar and leash still around his neck. "May I take this off now? Please?"
"So, what did you think of the temple?"
The question causes Therric to blush again. "Well... it was an eye-opening experience, certainly. I wasn't expecting the worshippers there to be so..." He seems a bit lost for words. "...well, focused on sex."
"Anyway--mind if I ask was that powder the First Sting gave you? You looked like she just gave you a promotion or something from the way you hugged her."
Gold Goblin
Saul's reaction was rather unexpected. Was he just scared, or did he want to keep things in Larur's office hidden?
"I think we should go find the others and stick together. I've got a bad feeling about today, our luck may have turned sour."
Zahel raised a inquiring eyebrow, but didn't ask any questions. Before moving on with the group, he answered to Saul with a shrug:
"You are right What concerns the Gold Goblin doesn't interest me. I just want to get the job done, finding your employee, and get my pay. You want your gold back. I just thought that the help of an investigator might have been a mutual benefit. But as it is none of my business, I bid you goodbye. Good luck."
I don't understand what you hope to find there.Larur isn't in his office. He isn't at his home. I'll check his office first, if you want, and will remove everything concerning the Gold Goblin. Then I'll give you the key to his office, and you'll be allowed to search it. Do we have a deal?
Gold Goblin
Zahel nodded.
"I think we have a deal."
Although he wasn't trusting Saul at all (his eagerness to remove whatever "concerned the Gold Goblin" was far too suspicious), entering the office was still worth a shot.
If only I could see what exactly he wants to "retrieve"... Well, you've got to have hope.