<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Day 108, the Arcane Detective/Discovery and Disarming of Traps</span></span></div><br/>Finishing a test first was sometimes nerve-wracking, but in this case it just meant that their team had filled up with the most valuable treasure before any others reached it.  Others trickled in with iron, silver, gold, of varying degrees of purity of the ore.  The praise was exciting, and getting a bit of treasure from class was always a satisfyingly direct reward.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Day 110, post-Derrick</span></span></div><br/>Bringing the iron defender home to campus worried Kleris a little; some students had swords and weapons, but would a construct be a step too far?  Fortunately his roommates approved, admiring and cooing over Ari with pets and hugs—it wasn’t the same as a furry animal, but as an animated homunculus it at least flexed and moved more than a statue.  Having a certain intelligence as well, there wasn’t a long training period, Kleris could just tell it to follow or lay down out of the way, or it sat and watched protectively as they changed out of uniform for bed, sitting around talking, trying on new underwear, having pillow fights… (http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/120/e/a/lingerie_pillow_fight_by_yuriko_goly-d4y52z7.jpg)<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Day 111</span></span></div><br/>Going on dates with—or rather alongside—Zull was nice, as it added a measure of reassurance that they were both in this, and some safety.  It pleased clients to no end as well, and Kleris did enjoy making out with her.  On dates she couldn’t worry and be self-conscious, but instead throw herself out there and have fun, imagining herself as some other girl.  Running into two more Redhurst girls on the street, however, clearly in the same situation brought reality crashing back.  There was too much shock to do anything in the moment but continue to mechanically walk with and cuddle their current client; Kleris laughed it off and gave him a kiss, all the while the back of her mind was calculating what this revelation could lead to, and what she could do about it.<br/><br/>The followup came soon, actually, with a direct confrontation with the lizard and ooze.  They must have been as surprised and worried as Kleris and Zull, which was could be a good sign.  At least Kleris had had some time to recover his cool and think things through.  Petting Ari, Kleris told him to sit and be a good boy as they talked.  Sitting under a tree all together, his own legs tucked underneath, nobody spoke for a while, all just looking at each other or their partners, or down at the grass as they thought about how to forget anything happened that day.<br/><br/>“Kleris,” he nodded in greeting.  “I think we can say we’re all in this together, and it hasn’t been a problem so far, so it doesn’t have to be now either.  I don’t think we want to run into each other on the street again, so perhaps some coordination of schedules would be helpful.  And if we’re going that far, well, we may as well help each other with school and ‘work.’  Avoiding bad neighborhoods, getting class notes, making curfew...”  After the initial awkwardness of confronting, then delicately avoiding their mutual business, it was rather easy to talk shop and hash out who took what classes, what dorms they stayed in, and where they might avoid running into each other, whether by different schedules or routes.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Day 111, Night</span></span></div><br/>After a day or evening of “work,” Kleris sometimes felt an ache for his or her own satisfaction and had sexual dreams.  Tonight was quite different, however—she felt awake and lucid, though in an obviously impossible situation.  The colors were all wrong, and for some reason a flower petal was bearing her.  Looking around, she suddenly realized Horishkad was there, and not just floating slightly menacingly, but coiled around her.  His myriad pedipalps and stinger all held tight, flexing against her soft skin, but he or the dream imposed an intention of safety and erogenous satisfaction, even if it would not have naturally occurred in the waking world.<br/><br/><em>Um, yes, I believe my faculties are intact, what is it you needed to discuss?</em>The flexing of coils immobilizing her arms and legs, only able to look down at the swiftly passing ground or up at his innumerable glassy eyes, and of course feel his claws stroke and scratch at her breasts, abdomen, and thighs.<em>Strengthen my, uhn, my mind?  How are, oooh…</em>already she gasped and moaned as his stinger gently but insistently flexed and inserted itself into her.  She had some understanding that these dream monsters—these quori—had powers over dreams and emotions, and that stinger could probably do some very bad things.  For some reason the expectations imposed by the dream’s narrative made that merely an erotic peril, and as the dream or her vision turned to even more random sights and surreal visions, wondered if they could have arousal venom or something.  Or perhaps she just had perverted dreams with tentacle monsters.  Either way, it was her dream, and felt safe enough—or heedlessly aroused enough—falling into it, letting go, and letting Horishkad manipulate her mind-body.  Bound and helpless, she let the benign monster spread her, enter her, and she groaned willingly and enthusiastically, begging for it now, to fuck her and use her every which way. (https://i.imgur.com/pGl93R3.gif)<br/><br/>[Will 3+8 = 11, fail<br/>Knowledge (planes) 8+17 = 25, successful for CR 7, DC 17]<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Day 112, Weekend</span></span></div><br/>The next morning, Kleris woke groggy, horny, and female.  Apparently she had changed to match the dream, and the ache in her loins told her if she were male, there’s be a turgid morning wood if not wet sticky sheets.  Trying to shake off the confusing dream-images that swam back to subconsciousness, she patted Ari’s head and got dressed for the day.  “Business” had been good, and she had decided to take advantage of what Sharn had to offer while the getting was good.  She had been saving all her cash, and her little hoard of gold was enough to order a glamerweave outfit.  Not only that, but one from Clebdecher’s Loom, apparently the place all nobles and well-to-do went for the best.<br/><br/>Granted, most of the time Kleris was either studying in class, going through rough-and-tumble dungeoneering classes, or throwing herself into peril.  But it wouldn’t always be like that.  In the future there would be dances, maybe a prom, graduation, and eventually opening her own business, and she wanted to invest in a fine outfit fit for society.  Perhaps school and its relative freedom had spoiled her for materialism a bit, but other than investing her hard-earned funds into CUMS, she was going to get this present for herself.  Still though, she wondered how much pushback Rensha or Zull might give her on this.  Considering both her quest and frustrated state of arousal, she decided to walk over to the boys’ dorms and knock on Carson’s door.<br/><br/>“Heya, get your pants on sweet-cheeks, you’re escorting me out into the city for shopping after lunch,” she smirked up at him, voluntelling him the plan for the afternoon.  “If you’re good, you will be well-rewarded…” she left with a smile and arched eyebrow, always happy to tease Carson and the prospect of what may come of it.  In anticipation of the outing, Kleris had done some research on Clebdecher’s Loom and how to even find it:  Upper Dura quarter, Highhold district, a middle-class dwarf neighborhood, run by Ms. Hellien Clebdecher.  Obviously with custom-tailored outfits and high demand, Kleris would be fortunate to get measured for a future order, but she was prepared to put her best foot forward and even give a down payment.<br/><br/>With some time left over in the library, she did some research into construct repair and maintenance.  While<em>make whole</em>was good for restoring totally broken items to function, it was a rather involved ritual that took several minutes.  With the prevalence of homunculi and living constructs in Eberron, they had developed more expedient ways of repairing constructs in times of war and the heat of battle.  After a morning of study, Kleris was confident he’d be able to quickly restore Ari to working order if he was forced to defend his master from ruffians.<br/><br/>Stepping out the school gates to a tower in the upper district, Kleris hailed a skycoach.  “Upper Dura, Highhold, please,” she ordered, sitting down with Carson.  Taking off, the small ship flew over and through the city, around other vessels, or with a flow of traffic; meanwhile, Kleris surreptitiously reached over to Carson’s thigh, stroking up until she was cupping his groin and gently squeezing and stroking him over his pants as she watched the passing city with an innocent grin.<br/><br/>Once dropped off in the district, they could see that it was built by dwarves, for dwarves.  The architecture was not only strong and functional, the scale was short and thick, with doorways that would barely leave Carson’s head with clearance without ducking.  Asking around for some direction, Kleris was able to lead them to a well-appointed shop.<br/><br/>“Hold on a moment, I don’t know if there will be a waiting list for orders or anything, but if this is the most popular craftswoman for exclusive designer wear, I need to put my best foot forward…”  Pulling out a small perfume bottle and chanting a spell over a spritz, Kleris’ features and makeup took on the most flattering light and shade, her hair shone and bounced, her eyes sparkled like a blue lagoon.<br/><br/>Looking around, there were suits, gowns, and fabric on display, most in foreign styles for shorter clients, though there were some human-sized samples in advent-garde Khorvaire style.  Silk, velvet, satin were in abundance, as well as the most coveted glamerweave, creating shimmering, even iridescent patterns and almost magical effect.  Looking for any shopkeep or assistant that could help, Kleris introduced herself and asked about ordering a tailored outfit, a Clebdecher glamerweave in fact.<br/><br/>“If I’m going through this expense, I need something formal (https://wholesalehalloweencostumes-weblinc.netdna-ssl.com/product_images/vixen-of-versailles-elite-marie-antoinette-costume/5745416469702d7eab001956/zoom.jpg?c=1465331796) enough I could meet high society.  Though practical (https://i.gyazo.com/cb0ef065a2f6a1b518a2101f5c1edec8.png) enough to actually walk outside.  Probably with a corset (https://img00.deviantart.net/f46b/i/2015/308/a/1/erika_2015_by_dreamerwhit-d8du2h1.jpg), and of course integrating glamerweave (https://img.davidsbridal.com/is/image/DavidsBridalInc/Set-2139D-11087686-Silver?wid=407&hei=562&bgc=255,255,255&defaultImage=DavidsBridalInc/PDP_No_Image_Available_Message) for shimmer (http://picture-cdn.wheretoget.it/gdh98x-l-610x610-dress-sparkly+dress-gorgeous+dress-elegant+dress-glowing+dress-ball+gown+dress.jpg), iridescence (https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/images/interviews/bostwick22.jpg), and glamours (https://i.imgur.com/h7rRizY.jpg).  I don’t know exactly what your process is for taking orders and commissions, but I was hoping there would be time to take some measurements and put in an order today?  I’d be willing to put down a deposit if that’s needed…” she smiled sweetly.  “I can see your work is quite popular and you’re busy with orders.  If there was any way I could help I wish I could.  I keep so busy at the magical academy, and it’s difficult to scrimp and save with odd jobs…”<br/><br/>Through some “absent-minded musing” and dropping some hints, Kleris puts out idea that a student wizard might be a lot of help for a shop, in exchange for some discount or exchange of services, though of course she would never directly make that suggestion herself…<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://i.imgur.com/sD73vJh.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/hKlp3gI.jpg)</div></div><br/>[Will 18+8+5 = 31, success, free to make plans<br/>Study and learn 2nd level spell:<em>repair moderate damage</em><br/>Knowledge (local) 16+11 = 27, travel through Sharn in half time with DC 15, know three pieces of lore for CR 7 starting at DC 17<br/>Hellien Clamas Clebdecher, LN female gnome commoner 6/magewright 2, specializing in Mrorian and Zil styles<br/>Fly further than adjacent ward: 2d6x5 minutes/2 Knowledge check = 20 min, 1 sp/mile<br/><em>Glamour</em>+5 Bluff and Diplomacy 70 minutes]<br/>Bluff to suggest a course of action as their own idea: 17+18+5 glamour-10 far-fetched = 30<br/>Diplomacy 6+18+5=29 vs indifferent attitude DC 15+Cha]