There may have been some combination of the group’s obvious desire to be overheard, and perhaps their loud laughter disturbing others just trying to hire a companion or priestess, but Alice’s appearance was met with a cheer and the filling of a wine goblet for her.  “Welcome, acolyte Alice, welcome, pull up a chair, or join Faunra there on the lounge.  I’m Tamarie, ” the half-elf nodded, indicating a tall elf on the couch with her goblet, before sweeping it over to another half-elf sitting cross-legged on the bare wood floor of the hollowed-out tree temple, “And Kieyanna is taking the floor tonight.  We were just reminiscing about some recent exploits and enjoying the hospitality of the temple on a rare evening home.  We’re often out ‘working’ you know…” she tried to bring that down to a conspiratorial whisper but it was more of a husky rasp.  Faunra was a typically tall elf, though more muscular and broadly built than most in her leather doublet and tight breeches—still, she grinned warmly and patted the couch next to her.  Kieyanna went without artificial comfort, instead taking the floor, her long, unusually verdant-green hair hanging down to the floor as well, pooling along with her loose dress.<br/><br/>Tamarie, dressed more flamboyantly with a corset and and tight skirt, continued her story of a short-lived visit to Kerse in neighboring Druma, a place where the streets are almost literally paved with gold.  Managing to keep her avarice contained, she submitted herself to a year-long contract of servitude in return for access to learn from a Kalistocratic prophet and follow the strict philosophy of accumulating wealth.  The philosophy of self-denial and abstinence was strict, even with such comforts easily available, and the half-elf made sure to flaunt those temptations of material comfort and physical contact to their limits.  Over weeks of temptation and some not-so-subtle flaunting, Tamarie convinced her patron that one could experience some satisfaction to relieve his frustrating tension without breaking any self-imposed prohibition on comfort and physical touch.  Wearing nothing but white opera gloves and thigh-high stockings, she bound him to the marble slab that served as his bed and teased his robed body with crop, stacked gold bricks over him, and rubbed herself against the cool metal, moaning how hard it was and how rich it made him.  To tease and “edge” him further with some denial, she excused herself to let him squirm before returning and finishing.  In reality, she went to put on the “fat suit” of gold and treasure she’d been crafting, donned a white robe, and slowly and carefully walked out to the skiff she had waiting on the river.  Escaping the city was one feat, and transporting her stolen treasures was quite another, spending or losing much here and there, but the satisfaction and tale of stealing a chunk of a Kalistocrat’s material “soul”—and being marked for death were she ever to return—more than made up for it.<br/><br/>The pettiness of risking her life to barely make off with a patron’s religiously-mandated wealth delighted the others, and there were many laughs and toasts congratulating her and the golden manacle souvenir she had converted into a bracelet.  Having finished off another bottle of wine, it was Alice’s chance to offer to get another from the cellar.  With another cheer, this ingratiated Alice even more to their hearts, and they toasted their new friend with what remained of their cups.<br/><br/>The sermon continued in the chapel, having been more often than not overwhelmed by the louder patrons, and the temple’s clients, whether for business or pleasure, were able to continue their more private intercourse, either in private booths or being escorted upstairs.  The stairs down to the basement were tucked away behind a huge knotted root, and were more broad and utilitarian—as much as Iadaran architecture could be—for the administration and maintenance of the temple, rather than pleasing guests.  As the upper structure was for residence and entertainment, the lower levels contained storage, pantries, kitchens, washrooms, and of course, the wine cellar.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Diplomacy 30</div><div class="spoiler_body">The party group were delighted by Alice’s simple patronage, attention, and indulgence, and had quickly integrated their new friend into their clique.  [Helpful attitude]</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Religion DC 15</div><div class="spoiler_body">The Prophecies of Kalistrade are a series of dream-records written by an eccentric mystic during the early days of the Age of Enthronement. They stress the benefits of a strict regimen of self-denial and promote the accumulation of wealth over all other pursuits. These teachings and predictions are followed as a pseudo-religion, most prominently in the nation of Druma. A follower of this philosophy is known as a Kalistocrat or prophet, although the latter is a slang term, and the adjective is Kalistocratic.</div></div>