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<div class="SpoilerTarget bbCodeSpoilerText"><b><div style="text-align: center">♣ ▬ Dramatis Personae ▬ ♣<br/>
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MAIN<br/>
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<b>Baron Carl Diethelm Van Schwartzhand the Second</b><br/>
”As spooky as he is indiscernible, the Baron rules all of Bruutheim under his iron fist. Towering above others – if not in height then in sheer dominant presence – this elderly man is hard to figure out and even harder to predict. He has found particular interest in Tamaska, for reasons as of yet unknown. But for whatever reason, it's quite clear this top-hatted ”gentleman” shouldn't be trifled with.”<br/>
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<b>Emberspike</b><br/>
”First and leading man of the gruesome twosome in the Barons employ, this sly imp has taken the guise as a long-nosed goblin with a curious sense for fashion. Formally bound to the Baron, Emberspike is considered an effective muscle and remains surprisingly privy to the many secrets his warlock master holds. Having a fondness for cigars, booze and women, Tamaska and her demeanour is right up his alley.”<br/>
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<b>Bahiyya</b><br/>
”As a succubus disguised as a blood elf, Bahiyya isn't lacking in the temptation department. With her fierce red hair and her sultry physique, this despicable demoness revels in the fact that she has found a new girl-toy in Tamaska. While a close confidante to the Baron, she's ultimately subservient to Emberspike, though it can be hard to see.”<br/>
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<b>The Shepard</b><br/>
”Castle custodian, advisor and wild-card – The Shepard as he's simply known is second only to Emberspike and Bahiyya in terms of proximity to the Baron. Often, he's given the charge of overseeing political affairs in the Bruutheim Kingdom. The Shepard has as well as the baron found a curious interest in Tamaska.<br/>
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<b>Kumar the Dragonkin</b><br/>
”The unwillingly appointed fairy-dragon ally of Tamaska, Kumar is a talking and flying encyclopedia of Bruutheim knowledge – that is, if an encyclopedia came with a snarky tongue and a cynical world view. Hard to love and impossible to shut up, Kumar has only so far proven to be a test – but what passive defiance does he harbour for the Baron?”<br/>
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<div style="text-align: center"><b>SUPPORTING<br/>
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<b>The Admiral</b><br/>
”One of the finest nautical minds of contemporary Azeroth, what the Admiral lacks in emotional communication he makes up in impeccable and dependable professionalism. A man not easily phased by mortal concerns, the Admiral has been given the ultimate honour of commandeering the Catharsis under the watchful eye of the Baron.”<br/>
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<b>First Mate Dalton</b><br/>
”You could accuse this man of holding expertise in the rarely recognized art-form of arse-kissing, First Mate Dalton is a plump, short excuse of a man serving as the Admirals right hand (much to said Admirals chagrin) – the only redeeming factor to this man might be his sense of administration, which is cited as a reason – the only reason – he still serves under the Baron. Despises Tamaska mostly because he cannot own her.”<br/>
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<b>Seaman James Echgrey O'Barney</b><br/>
”One of many colourful Bruuts, Jimbob O'Barney could – and often is – mistaken for a particularly lively Forsaken due to his bony physique. Serving on the Barons mighty airship, one'd easily write him off as but another servant in the Barons charge – but don't be fooled: This elderly scarecrow is much more resourceful than his dilapidated exterior lets on!”<br/>
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<b>Sterre, ”Star of the North”</b><br/>
”A warm soul enclosed in a narcissist shell, the blood elf concubine Sterre has a pathological transfixtion towards looking her best in every scenario. However, her narcissism thankfully extends to those around her, demanding and sometimes imposing that they remain at their peak at all times, be that visually or mentally – she will go to great lengths to ensure the mutual proliferation of all around her.”<br/>
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<b>Ife, ”The Exotic”</b><br/>
”Ife is on the surface a lovable and warm-blooded simpleton – but make no mistake; under the almost ditzy outwards behaviour lies a wise womans perceptive glance. She instantly took an immediate liking to Tamaska, a sympathy tinged with subtle hints of pity for her situation.”<br/>
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<b>Aonghus the Saint, St. Aonghus of Eisenkliff</b><br/>
”Curator of the Carnival, Aonghus is a glorified master of the baths. Charged with preparing the concubines and cicesbos for their clients, this kal'dorei has a sharp eye for presentation, manipulation and social etiquette. He puts extra attention onto Tamaska due to her unique role in relation to the Baron and his plans.”<br/>
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<div style="text-align: center"><b>♣ ▬ Theatres ▬ ♣</b>​</div><br/>
<b>Castle Eisenkliff</b><br/>
”The Barons fortress, home and political centre – Castle Eisenkliff exemplifies the riches of Bruutheim, towering towards the skies without apology. Home to hundreds of servants and thousands of soldiers, overlooking a massive amounts of factories, workshops and laboratories, this bastion underlines the Barons dominance.”<br/>
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<b>The Catharsis</b><br/>
”The Barons' flying fortress – the sky-jewel of Bruutheim; The Catharsis remains one of the most potent weapons in the Barons arsenal that the public knows about; this airship puts even the flying behemoths of the Alliance and the Hordes to shame, having been under construction for the last fifteen years. The Catharsis is the largest airship in the small armada that the Baron controls, but its stopping power is unmatched by any recent machines on Azeroth.”<br/>
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<b>The Carnival</b><br/>
”The home of Tamaska and the lair of the fabled courtesans and companions of Castle Eisenkliff, the Carnival is a cage that'd put envy into the hearts of any noble. It acts as a small, almost autonomous society within the walls of the castle, providing a much needed breathing space for these sexual servitors. This wing of the castle has been equipped with everything the risqué socialite needs: a kitchen to serve healthy foods, an auditorium and library for learning and a very extensive bathing hall for preparations before meeting clients.”</div>
</div><br/><div style="text-align: center">▬▬▬<br/>
▬▬▬​</div><br/>Kumar produced an almost winsome scoff at Tamaskas retort, gesturing articulately with one of his webbed hands towards the booty-sasheying draenei causing head turns ahead:<br/><br/><b><span style="color: grey">”What? It's painfully obvious – this woman could spread a crowd with less effort than a twelve-manned battering ram.”</span></b><br/><br/>The blood elf on her arm was more preoccupied with Tamaskas brief tale of mischief and jeopardy. Sterre repeated the word<b>[COLOR=dark_green]”Adventured?”[/COLOR]</b>, her haughty hint of a smile gaining a fraction of an inch. The woman didn't pursue it, but it could be surmised that she wouldn't leave it alone indefinately.<br/><br/><b>[COLOR=dark_green]”You must have taken a liking to your new vocation, Tamaska-..”[/COLOR]</b>the blood elf tittered with a gratified tone of voice, shooting a telling glance towards the trolless ass:<br/><br/><b>[COLOR=dark_green]”..the inklings of blushing cheeks and that particular sort of forbidden elation can be seen from across the hall.”[/COLOR]</b><br/><br/>Sterre patted her hand, face blooming into a full – and to the haughty elf's credit – sincere smile:<br/><br/><b>[COLOR=dark_green]”It's always nice to see someone sharing our sort of enthusiasm.. And you couldn't be more correct concerning our Mistress and our Masters.”[/COLOR]</b><br/><br/><b><span style="color: purple">”You should hrave brought friend alongk for ride, da!”</span></b>Ife's voice exploded a few paces ahead:<br/><br/><b><span style="color: purple">”The more peopel the merrier, I alvayz sayink!”</span></b>she continued, entertaining with a follow-up hoot of merriment, before waving energetically for them to keep up. A fruitless endeavour, as her twelve-mile steps propelled her ahead with the conviction of a flash-flood.<br/><br/>The foursome was led through the mighty double doors carved out in the eastern walls, comparative to the entrance: in this case, they were left open revealing a broad, low-roofed interior boulevard curving gently towards Tamaskas left.<br/>Exotic sandstone walls en-capsuled them, the low roof carved into immaculate arcs, their sweeping contours occasionally obstructed by the same sort of iron chandeliers as within the Carnival lobby.<br/><br/>The welcoming bouquet of scented bathwater struck the trolless nose, a plathora of feint perfumes of all sorts coming to mind. Along this pathways right walls, smaller archways lead into what Tamaska surmised to be lavatories – whomever cared for these places should be commended for a job well done, as no particular rank stench ever marred the air.<br/><br/><b>[COLOR=dark_green]”Well, my story involves a little less adventuring, dearest-..”[/COLOR]</b>Sterre began as they walked down the hallway:<br/><br/><b>[COLOR=dark_green]”With the nobility infighting in the Sin'dorei capitol of Silvermoon City, the common-folk suffered. In my days prior to the Carnival, I helped my father in his tailoring shop, trying to eek out something of a living; needless to say, with the weight of countless of wars weighing down on our fair city, we barely made by day to day..”[/COLOR]</b><br/><br/>The blood elf paused slightly, a momentary squint of uneasiness marring her otherwise immaculate mask – then, as if someone lit a fire in her eyes, a crooked smirk took hold:<br/><br/><b>[COLOR=dark_green]”And then -one day-, I meet a Bruutheim agent-.. it's what the locals are called here, Bruutheims – and struck up some idle chit-chat. Charming fellow, a blood elf like myself, but curiously enough draped in some unusual colours for a Sin'dorei. Blacks, browns, golds-..”[/COLOR]</b><br/><br/>A towering orc man, sleek-muscled and ironically well-tended for any orc, passed by. The heavy leather loincloth covering his privates did a passable job of hiding what had to be a huge tool, but his wanton eyes fixed on the duo as they passed: a mix of curiosity and a little inkling of idle lust.<br/><br/><b>[COLOR=dark_green]”After a few hours of back and forth, he simply came clean and offered me a position as a Carnival Companion-.. Oh yes, I came here entirely willingly. In fact, many people you see within the Carnival halls are volunteers and hired ”muscle”-..”[/COLOR]</b>Sterre said, throwing her head towards the orc, now currently fixating on Tamaskas spoiled butt with surprised bemusement.<br/><br/><b>[COLOR=dark_green]”The pay, and the possibilities of self-development, coupled with a potential outlet for the Sin'doreis-.. erh.. ”condition” was simply too good an opportunity to pass up. Sure, there's a certain.. stigma attached to our trade, but-.. Kumar can tell you a lot more about that.”[/COLOR]</b><br/><br/><b><span style="color: grey">”Can? Pfhsh..”</span></b>Kumar gracefully added:<br/><br/><b><span style="color: grey">”I -have- to, if Tamaska here hopes to last more than a week.”</span></b><br/><br/>The curve straightened out, the passage-way opening out into a smaller – but still overwhelmingly capacious – bathing hall: six pools easily capable of holding twenty people each with excess elbow room spread before the foursome, mighty sandstone columns with immaculate figure-carvings growing into the roof. A gentle haze of moist hung heavy in the air, along with the stronger assault of scented perfumes.<br/>At the far end of the hall, arching vestibules opened into smaller suites that at a glance seemed to function as dressing stations. Ife, naturally keeping her point-position, strode purposefully towards these back-rooms, occasionally shouting an enlivening comment to some of her acquaintances:<br/><br/>Sterre abused the situation to lower her voice, while throwing an apologetic glance towards her towering teammate:<br/><br/><b>[COLOR=dark_green]”Ife is also a volunteer, but her past has roots in orcish slavery-.. it's not exactly a light-hearted topic, and she doesn't speak about it easily. Needless to say, where she is now is a healthy far-cry from where she came from.”[/COLOR]</b><br/><br/>The water looked so inviting, radiant heat promising the trolless of soothing satisfaction, but Sterre gently guided her in the wake of Ife, speaking slightly louder:<br/><br/><b>[COLOR=dark_green]”We will fetch a dip just in a moment – we just need to introduce you to his ”highness”, saintly Aonghus of Eisenkliff. He's a colorful man, I think you'll like him.”[/COLOR]</b>the blood elf promised with a smug, secretive glint in her fel-green eyes.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>