Sha'llae picks up on Leaf's words and turns to explain, speaking quickly in elven tongue. As she speaks her words grow bitter and she turns her face towards the emperor for a second, then back to Leaf.
"Or, Sher mi air os tasondraedi eindri thys ei cestal, syl ei shor thys ei car are. Ai eis mesi si aetaesys air ber taseil caes os shaelari mir air car aelael. Air air ei salaeria eir sai cyrn aelaer esi saer caesi. Saes eiralolaelaer sai cestal tajaer air shysi thys saes sal oraes thys valaer. Ais Ai shaesi byr ei pandrylodaes, Ai shyr cali shael tadi ei mali thys si aestaesys'm vaeresaer. Aelael malaer sar ci.. iaraer… eisi oreal tesaesaer. Ai cyrn, shia si Jhadia Caesaer, Ai shor oli pae eilaeli saes ol cos." Her eyes turned back to the emperor, promising vengeance to him.
Emilia eyebrow raises at the expression on the girls face. She doesn't need to be trained in body language to understand her fear and discomfort. Her face softens and she smiles, genuinely at the half-elven princess.
Emilia stands, and bows low to the emperor. "Your majesty divine, I will protect her life beyond my own. It will be an honor."
She looks not at the emperor as she speaks, but at the princess, and her eyes bespeak warmth and comfort. It was not many years ago that she herself wore that terrified look, and she would not have survived with out the guidance and protection of a good and loving family. Her eyes flit back to the emperor with a sultry smile again painted on her features.
Sense motive on the emperor to see how he thinks of his daughter:
Casfi'azair listens to the pompous god-emperor and sympathizes with the young princess. Seeing a fair Elven girl, so youthful, to be used and married off like some bartering tool enrages him. He keeps his cool and keeps a perceptive ear on the emperor's words, taking note of his tone of voice.
Roll Sense Motive check:
|
Enall frowns as he sees the terrified Princess. This wasn't right. In fact, this was a major problem in his eyes. Fixing it though would be tricky, since he didn't actually know if her father had deific power or not. Maybe he could turn her elven heritage to her advantage? Non-humans didn't seem to very respected around here...
|
"You may now retire for the night. In my divine benevolence, I have granted your choice of comfort slaves for the night. Should they not please you, they will be punished." The tone of his voice reveals that refusing his offer would be less than wise. However, what you do behind closed doors is your own choice.
Your Journey begins tomorrow...
|
|
Leaf scans the list looking for any interesting looking names. When she finds one, she picks it.
"This person, please," Leaf asks the person who is in charge of doing this. She then follows whoever is showing them to their chambers to hers.
When the poor soul arrives (or if they are already there, when Leaf arrives and she is sure the door is closed.), Leaf speaks before the person has chance to speak."So, where're ya from?"
Which kicks off a few hours of talking about recipes, birds, adventures, jokes, pranks, and anythings else the blue-haired gnome, or her company, is curious about before the days events catch up with her, and Leaf finally falls asleep.
Emilia is particularly worn down, and when presented with the list, she asks to see the most delicate of the elven women, discovers if the maiden is happy in her position, and if not the Tiefling does her best to make her so. The Calistrian is very persuasive.
Profession(Courtesan)
|
|
The maiden, well not quite a maiden considering her lot in life, seems to be quite happy. In fact her face lights up when she sees that it is a woman that she is to spend the night with.
"I am not pleased with my lot in life M'lady. The men are not kind, and do not take my preferences into account when they call on me. she says, keeping her eyes down. It seems that eye contact between a slave and non-slave is something that is trouble. "But I am pleased to serve you for the night M'lady. there is a trembling eagerness in her voice. It also seems that she is barely holding herself back from jumping on the tiefling.
And is unable to control herself, and leaps into Emilia's arms eager to do whatever the inquisitor wishes.
"Come away love. You can sleep in my quarters tonight." Sha'llae says as she tugs at Casfi's arm.
|
|
Kujoe does not wish to have a slave but realizes the power of the emperor and possible dangerous outcome should he not pick he chooses somewhat at random but tries to chose an elf. Once out of the emperors hall he turns to the girl "I am sorry that you have had to live like this...but I ask of you only one thing what do you know of the princess or of the emperor I am very curious" Kujoe says as nice and formal as he can to the young slave.
Diplomacy for info:
|
|
The young Slave girl glances around, seemingly nervous of something. "The Emperor is a good and kind man. I am blessed and honoured to serve him as I do and would not wish it any other way for he is a god in the form of a man." She says, but her hands are trembling. It seems she has been trained to give this answer, despite all of it being essentially blatant lies. "Come, I will see to your needs in your quarters sir. She adds, her eyes not meeting his.
"The princess is the daughter of his Divine Majesty and a concubine, a willing one though. This was before... Before the times of plenty." She stumbles over her words, picking each one carefully. "You do not wish me to please you?" She asks, her whole body trembling. Her eyes were a little too bright and her movements flighty. "He will not be pleased with me, I do not wish to incur the wrath of a god"
|
|
"You speak so kindly of the man and yet he is the one who enslaves you and just to throw in something the man is no god though he thinks himself it I believe there is much more to him then he speaks, I will tell him on my own behalf that you did well please do not worry." He tries to sooth the poor elf calm her down.
Casfi'azair does not get to choose a maiden, but is instead dragged off by Sha'llae. "So, are you obligated to, er, do things to... um... people?" He asks, already knowing the answer, but asks anyway to tease her, hopefully to lighten both their moods.
Cerdyn didn't want anyone to 'comfort' her tonight, but understanding the emperor's word knew it was better to take someone to her room rather that subject and slave unnecessary pain. Cer glanced at her fellow caravaneers to see if it seemed they were taking advantage of this situation (Sense Motive: ) She proceeded to pick out a male slave name asking him to lead her to her room.
|
|
Cerdyn- It seems that everyone is leavening with someone, however it seems that only Colt and Emilia have the intention of comfort for the night. You also notice Casfi being dragged of by the dragonrider.
KuJoe- By the way the girl is acting and speaking it seems that she is more afraid the emperor will hear of her badmouthing him than she is praising him. The look in her eyes says that she knows that man is no god.
"Not obligated sweetie, but I do serve the goddess of lust remember?" She says, stealing kisses from him. ""Eil saijol si eidallandri sai thor saes shor sholi eil eirol ei thaenr cerol. Tardi taji mesi si tyr eirdoroli byrdaer shylaer iar teiraesoria paer." she added, speaking her native tongue in hushed tones.
|
|
Kujoe after finding out all he needed asks her to take him to his room. Kujoe was only aiming to see how the emperor treats the slaves and all races other then humans this only greatens his hate for this place he is glad that they will be leaving tomorrow and can take his mind off this foul place he thinks back to his past during the night and ponders as to how he will take this whole situation.
Once Cerdyn got to her room, slave in tow, she turned to explain to him that she wasn't wanting any 'comforting', that she was celibate, but would be happy to report when asked that she had a good evening.
She proceeded to ask about the emperor and his court and empire.
(in case any dice rolls are needed during my talking to slave)
diplomacy
know (history)
know (religion)
know (nobility)
After she was done questioning him she layed her hands upon his face, chanting a little (casting CLW ) and thanked him for his help, offering him the bed to sleep on while she took the floor.
|
|
Cerdyn- The slave, a lithe blind half elf, seems to know quite a bit about history and his happy to talk of it.
”Only seven years ago we were happy, I had a good position in the court, as soothsayer to the old emperor himself. I did magic, and had the imperial purse to draw upon, within reason for in my hands and in my visions were the empire’s line of defense. He fixes his gaze on you, his eyes are unnerving and have a milky look to them. ”But good things are not too last. I spent my whole life serving the old emperor; he was a good man and followed the will of The Dawnflower. But then his son took power, and soon after things changed. I was called a fraud, for not seeing the famine and stripped of all rank and land. Then I was made a slave. I have been beaten daily, humiliated, raped, used… I have seen my kin, fellow elves and half elves killed for the smallest slights.“ He pauses and looks down. ”There is something wrong with the emperor, whispers say that he is more than a man who thinks he is a god, he wishes to become a god and will stop at nothing to do so. Some say that he has pacts with dark beings.” The slave pauses once again, then his body goes ridged and he begins to speak with the voice of a woman, the voice of the Dawnflower. ”What has been set in motion must be seen to the end, and that end seen to ending, and there will be no mercy for those who have refused it.
Casfi'azair is led into Sha'llae's bed chamber, where the two of them continue with their flirtatious musings. However, Casfi is still deeply invested into figuring out the god emperor's true motives. He was able to sense something earlier upon their first meeting, something devious... perhaps sinister. But the god emperor was adept at keeping his intentions hidden. Casf'azair holds Sha'llae close and tight, stroking her silken hair, but he feels quite preoccupied however, "I wish I knew what he was thinking. I have a terrible feeling about all of this...."
Cerdyn bends her knee and looks to the ground as the voice of Sarenae flows from the ex-soothsayer, "I will do what I can to follow your will, tell me your commands," Cer listened apprehensively for her god to speak again, all the while trying to surpress her obvious pride that Dawnflower was communicating directly with her.
"We will find out soon enough love, tonight we join. For soon we may die, the desert is unforgiving." She says, embracing him.
(heal)
Cer went to the Half-Elf hoping to rouse him, wondering if he knew what'd just happened, hoping he could interpret the full meaning of what was said.
"you...well...umm, you know Sarenrae, she...ah...spoke through you, she told me 'What has been set in motion must be seen to the end, and that end seen to ending, and there will be no mercy for those who have refused it,' I really think you should come with me on the caravan, just in case she speaks through you again, come you can help free these people from a tyrant" (diplomacy )
Cerdyn grasped his hands pleading with him
"Do you know what was meant by all that? Has it happened before?"
|
|
"I...it has happened before." he says, his eyes locked with hers, however he looked through her. "These people, they look to me as a leader. I protect them, It will be years that I am gone if I travel with you." He pauses, looking down. "I... I... I know I have to, the Dawnflower must will it. But, I have not desire to." He looks down. "But I will go with you, if you are sure it will free the ones I protect."
Then he closes his eyes. "Ever since I was five, and I went blind, Sarenrae has spoken though me. I rarely understand what she means until it comes to pass. It seems that the Goddess sees fit to speak though me only using riddles. But it seems that she wishes us to go, and that there are bigger things at play than you are I... He pauses. "M'lady"
-----
Hopefully you have gotten a good night's sleep because you set out before the dawning of the sun. There is a grand progress. Well somewhat grand, a little bit grand. The princess is escorted to a carriage that is pulled by two pure white horses. She has six ladies in waiting with her, all around the same age as her, tough the youngest is a mere twelve, the eldest is eighteen. She seems to act as a mother for the princess.
The second carriage is armoured and magicked to the hilt. It carries enough gold and treasure to last you for what seems at least three years, maybe more. Then again, you are caring for a princess, and part of it is likely a dowery for the young woman.
The third carriage in the caravan carries everything that is needed in the way of food, the cook travels in this carriage. She is a big woman, a slave and a half orc. She also seems to be very grumpy about being up this early and doesn't talk only scowls with her arms crossed.
The fourth carriage is full of various things that may be needed, as well as several books. This carriage is pulled by a very plucky little donkey and manned by a female halfling who is as chipper as the cook is dour.
There is a fifth carriage, whoever is inside of it doesn't seem to be coming out. You are unsure if there really is anyone inside of it.
There are five other carriages, finely made ones that will serve as sleeping quarters for the ladies in waiting.
Aside from the massive amount of carraiges in your caravan there are two horses for each of person. One trained for riding, the other laden down with packs filled with half your pay, and anything that may be personally useful.
The caravan is slow in progress as it heads out into the desert wastes.
So begins Act two
|
|
Enall- "Mimay Bairnell, sir." She pauses and looks then grins at you. "What am I supposed to be calling you? I don't think I can spend the next four years just calling you sir. Oh, it should take us two years to get there, and two to get back." She chuckles. "That's one reason the princess is so young, she'll be a proper age once she gets there. Her face darkens when you ask of when the drought started. "I remember it well, it was the day the old emperor died. Some say there was foul play at work. I tend to agree, what else would he be doing on the roof at night, drunk?" She pauses again and lowers her voice. "There are whispers that he's worshiping evil things, though no one quite knows what sort of evil things are spoken of, or if they are unspeakable." She looks ahead, then tugs a bit at her ponytail as she thinks. "Truth be told, I've never heard of this prince. Or even heard his name, all I know he is supposed to be quite powerful. Maybe a good trading partner will ease some of the suffering here."
|
|
"Enall Rumyr, though just Enall will be fine. That's Auto." He says with a gesture to his mechanical friend. He frowns as he listens to Mimay's tale. "The whispers could very well be the reason the land is like this, but how? If I knew that then I could work toward a solution... a good thing I have four years to think about it then, isn't it? Can't say I don't like the company either." He adds with a slight reddening of his face and a grin.
|
|
Leaf- "Ahem." If Leaf looks down she notices the gnome (they were a gnome I suppose) she spent the night with walking beside the carriage. "You're gone for all of ten seconds and you forget me? He asks, grinning. "They won't even notice I am missing, this adventure sounds much better. He pauses and looks at her for a moment, his eyes worried. "It's begun, and life was getting too dull. You're fun and interesting." the fear in his eyes spoke of what he meant. He was starting the Bleachling.
Enall- The halfling actually turns and gives Leaf a rather nasty Death Glare. "You know, some halfings are less bringers of good luck and more manipulators of fortune." she says, an offhand way if stating that she is a jinx, and it may be best not to upset her. "I think I would, it would be nice to be able to be taller than other people for once." she says, grinning.