<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=208691.msg11135543#msg11135543">Quote from: Autocad on 06-04-2015, 09:07:59</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">Fourteenth Day in the Guilded Cage</span></div>Arensha had an ambition - it was physically impossible for her to bear a full-blooded marid heir for al-Samara, but what she <em>could</em> do was bear him his eldest child. She discovered a curiosity in marid inheritance law and the gestation periods of various races that she was rather certain she hadn't had before. Well, the library would provide her with the information to determine who her competitors would be in this regard. She had the tools for the job, in the form of the night tea provided to her by Bakr, and the perfect way to disguise it - in coffee, its dark hue and strong aroma would hide the presence of the night tea, with any luck. </blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><em>As a bard Arensha automatically discovers all of this information:</em><br/><br/>Arensha discovered via library research that marid (as well as other genies) go through a gestation rate similar to that of humans, 9 months separated into 3 trimesters.  This is in regards to pure-bloods, and half-breed results with other races can vary widely.  Elves and planetouched tended to be the longest-lasting, a period of 10 months, whereas goblins were the shortest, about 5 months.  This research, naturally, was gathered via the notes of previous generations of nobles experimenting with their own concubines.<br/><br/>Regarding inheritance law, the marid did not really have centralized standards.  Such things varied widely from region to region, customized by the ruling noble families and the circumstances of the geopolitical situation.  The City of Glass, however, had various standards: one, large portions of the city were considered part of the "public trust" and thus managed by the government.  Private residences of merchant clans and noble houses where decided by the wills of family patriarchs or matriarchs.  In regards to the al-Samara family, begotten children of the bloodline were considered "kin" and thus at the basest allowed access and audience to the palace, as well as the ability to air their concerns and grievances to the Sultan.  Direct descendants (in the possible case of Arensha's child) were afforded a portion of the land and personal possessions in the event of al-Samara's death.  Genies, being elemental entities, often faded back into the planar fabric, and there's a huge incentive to keep the bodies of the deceased close by for future divination and counseling.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Did she have enough? She didn't need to keep it up indefinitely, only until she was assured - taking the time until birth into account - to be carrying al-Samara's firstborn. Indeed, a sterile harem would raise too many suspicions after that point. Judi and Faliensk she had to drug, for Faliensk she couldn't bear the thought of her rival beating her in this regard, while for Judi it was nothing personal, but if a pure marid was also al-Samara's firstborn, then his or her position as heir could never be challenged, unless... no, Arensha refused to let herself go there. For the other concubines, she would have to slip them the tea the morning after or as soon as possible as al-Samara bedded them, which meant she needed to keep track of that too. She probably would have to rely on her friends and allies to keep their ears open, and if they asked why Arensha was so keen to know... So, she had to pretend to be jealous, and use that as an excuse for why she wanted to know who al-Samara had been sleeping with.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Zelda chuckled a bit upon hearing Arensha's 'concerns.'  "Well, you probably aren't used to competition, now that he's spreading his attention around a lot more.  But if it would help ease your worries, sure, I'll keep an eye, ear, and fin out for you."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">Fifteenth Day in the Guilded Cage</span></div><br/>Arensha discreetly listened and asked around for whom al-Samara had slept with the previous night, and slipped some night tea into the strongest drinks they took, along with Judi's and Faliensk's as well, with the aid of an <em>invisibility</em> spell to cover her tracks. She could foresee this dangerous task turning repetitive what with having to see to it every day, but she could hardly let anyone else, not even Alfreldi or Hanifa, know, let alone ask for their help in this matter. Partly because each additional person in on the secret was another chance to spill the beans, and partly because she would not spare even her closest friends from a dose of night tea if it came down to that. With any luck, they would never know, and she only had to keep it up until she was sure of her pregnancy and sure that the child she bore would be al-Samara's firstborn.<br/><br/>Her thoughts wandered back to the coffee she had accepted from Judi yesterday - was it just coffee, or had a little something extra been mixed in? Arensha wasn't the only one who could play this game - but then, Judi's child would be pure marid and the offspring of one of al-Samara's official wives, and she might not even view his harem as competition at all. Still, she resolved to be more careful in what she chose to eat and drink, just in case one of the other concubines had similar ideas...</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Yesterday night al-Samara summoned Alfreldi and Amvi to his quarters.  "Apparently he's trying to go two at a time now, to help speed things up, I guess," Zelda remarked with a shrug of her shoulders.<br/><br/>Using<em>invisibility,</em>it wasn't hard to go about the palace undetected, although the many wards made it hard to maneuver.  Ahriman in particular seemed immune to the illusion magic, forcing Arensha to hide as though she were visible.  Slipping birth control into Alfreldi and Amvi's tea was easy enough, for they were enjoying the beverage in the courtyard as a late breakfast.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Later, Arensha took the vial with the sample she had obtained from Roshul's quarters to Bakr. Dressed in her harem pants and putting a sway in her hips as she entered his office, she pretended to be oblivious to his lecherous gaze as she presented the vial to him. "I found a bottle of lotion in my room last night, a gift from an anonymous admirer. But given recent events I thought it'd be safer to run a sample by you first, just in case it was really poisoned or somethinya..." she laughed, "silly me, it's probably harmless, right? I'm sorry for wastinya your time..." She made as if to stand and leave, but of course, she was secretly counting on him to insist on checking the contents to be safe...</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>"Give it to me, please," Bakr said.  "Thank you for coming here, meet me back at my office in three days time, and I'll have an answer for you."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">Sixteenth Day in the Guilded Cage</span></div><br/>Arensha half-woke to the sounds of love-making. "Oh, al-Samara..." she giggled, still half-asleep with her eyes closed. But something felt off, like a definitely lack of being filled up, for starters. She opened her eyes, and the first thing that greeted her was Judi riding al-Samara, her blue-skinned body nude and leaving nothing to the imagination. Arensha's eyes widened, suddenly finding herself fully awake. Judi had claimed his bottom half, but al-Samara still had a perfectly serviceable and underutilized tongue. She grinned mischieviously and winked at Judi as she sat up in bed and straddled his face. He was definitely in for a surprise when he woke up... Leaning forward, she captured one of the marid noblewoman's impressively bouncing breasts with her lips and flicked her tongue against the nipple.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Judi moaned in response, and with a toss of her head whipped around her hair so that it would spill over behind her instead of her front to not get in the way of Arensha.  Her own hands slid over Arensha's breasts, belly, and down to her pussy, a slender finger running the length of her lower lips to her clit, making her wetter in response.  Al-Samara, his face comfortably covered by Arensha, gave a muffled sound, although he did not some uncomfortable, quite the opposite in fact.<br/><br/>"Uh, ah, yeah, work it baby!" Judi said as she hopped up and down on his cock, her hands clutching Arensha's head so that her face was buried in her breasts.  Just then, al-Samara's hands blindly reached upward, softly grabbing at the two women on top of him.  His mouth, now wet with the catgirl's juices, gently kissed her, his tongue teasing Arensha's slit as his hands grabbed Judi by the hips and pulled her in deep around his manhood.<br/><br/>Judi's eyes glazed over as the intensity picked up.  "Fuck, I'm so hot right now, I need it, I need to...uh..."  She kissed Arensha, her lips locked and exploring tongue holding them together for twelve long seconds, yet felt like an eternity of bliss.  Arensha's own body was feeling hot as well, as al-Samara continued stimulating her pussy and the girls tweaked at each other's nipples.<br/><br/>"I'm cumming!  Aaaaaahhhhh!"<br/><br/>Judi screamed as Al-Samara shot his hot seed into his wife, whose lap milked every last drop out of him.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Al-Samara was lying in a state of bliss as Judi and Arensha crawled off of him.  When he came to, his look turned to one of confusion.<br/><br/>"Judi, how did you get in here?"<br/><br/>"The guards let me through, silly," she said.  "I intended on surprising you, but and your concubine were already worn out, so I waited until tomorrow."<br/><br/>"So they just let you in?  No clearance or divination spell or waking me up?"<br/><br/>Judi gave a frustrated puff as she blew a strand of hair out from her face.  "They checked me before I could enter, stop being so paranoid!  If I was an assassin you'd have been dead already."<br/><br/>"That's not the point, Judi!"  The Sultan sat up now and began getting dressed.<br/><br/>"Just once while I'm here, Hasan (Arensha noticed that nobody in the palace called him by his first name before), I'd like to talk normally with you without some argument surfacing!"<br/><br/>"And just for once, I'd like you to take things with the weight they deserve."<br/><br/>At this point Judi threw up her hands.  Arensha's presence seemed to disappear as the two began airing past grievances and arguments which by all means had little to do with the situation."<br/><br/>"We decide to give you a pleasant wake-up call, and this is how you repay me?!"<br/><br/>"I can't take any chances, Judi!  Not when my life and legacy is on the line!"<br/><br/>"You're not thinking things logically.  I<em>was</em>checked when I came in here!"<br/><br/><em>Should Arensha desire to diffuse the argument before it ends up leaving resentful feelings, roll DC 20 Diplomacy check.  If she intends to try and pile on Judi and make al-Samara even angrier at her, roll a DC 20 Bluff check.  The latter option might sever any remaining goodwill between the two, but the consequences will be riskier, in terms of potential fallout should she fail the roll.  Regardless, a successful check results in 2,000 experience points.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Diplomacy Success</div><div class="spoiler_body">The two marid remember that Arensha is present.  They stop arguing and listen to her, clearly weighing her words.<br/><br/>"I'm sorry," al-Samara said.  "Normally I'm not like this.  It's my position, really, but that's not excuse to lash out."<br/><br/>"It's okay," Judi says with a hug.  "You have every right to be cautious.  I'll try being more upfront with any surprises from now on."<br/><br/>Al-Samara takes a deep breath.  "Alright, enough of that.  Why don't we all get some breakfast?"</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Diplomacy Failure</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Arensha, please, this does not concern you," al-Samara said.  "You shouldn't be exposed to this anyway."  He motions her to the door after helping her dress.  "I'll be out once I clear all this up with Judi."</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Bluff Success</div><div class="spoiler_body">Judi dropped her mouth upon seeing Arensha betray her so.  "But you were all-"<br/><br/>"Arensha's right, you're too foolish!  Judi, if you're going to stay here, you need to heed my advice and treat me with respect!"<br/><br/>"And you're going to take advice from your...from your <em>whores?"</em><br/><br/>"That respect also extends to Arensha and all the other servants in the palace, Judi," al-Samar says coldly.  "If you don't like that, then you're more than free to leave."<br/><br/>Biting her lip, Judi rushes out of the room, in tears.<br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Bluff Failure</div><div class="spoiler_body">Arensha's attempts to butt into the conversation only serve to make things worse, as well as direct a portion of the anger at her.<br/><br/>"Oh ho, you're one to talk!" Judi says, poking a finger in Arensha's chest.  "You were all too happy to join in earlier, only know do you try to feign concern?  Buttering up to my husband to turn him against me, you wretch!  Do anything like this again, and I'll ruin you!"<br/><br/>Judi is about to strike her, but al-Samara grabs her hand.  "There will be none of that under my roof!  Get out of here, now."<br/><br/>Al-Samara turns to Arensha.  "I understand your love for me, but do not try to beat down Judi like that again.  Are we clear on this?"  The tone of his voice indicates  that he's not in the mood for any protestations.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Arensha does not intervene</div><div class="spoiler_body">Their shouting continues for another minute or so until the eunuchs arrive.  "I don't need your protections from my own wife!" al-Samara exclaims.  "Away with you all!"<br/><br/>"Our apologies, Sultan al-Samara."  One of them comes to escort Arensha out of the room.  "You don't want to get between them when they're angry, trust me."</div></div><br/><hr/><br/><br/><br/><div align="center"><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Seventeenth Day in the Gilded Cage</span></em></div><br/>While exercising, Hanifa whispers into Arensha's ear.  "Would you like to spar?  Just for fun, of course?"<br/><br/>Zelda and the other harem girls cheer them on as they take up opposite corners of an enclosed ring.  Hanifa has white strips wrapped around her fists, and she gives a waving "come get this" gesture to begin the fight.<br/><br/><em>Roll opposed Acrobatics and attack rolls.  Acrobatics represents flair and style, attack practical combat.</em><br/><br/>Hanifa has a 29 attack roll result. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=74448)<br/><br/>26 Acrobatics result. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=74449)<br/><br/><em>If Arensha gets 25 or higher on both, she finds out that the two of them coordinate very well in putting on a good show.  Gain 5,000 experience points, and a +4 bonus on aid another checks for the duration of their stay at the palace.</em><br/><br/>Later that night, Arensha and Hanifa are invited to al-Samara's quarters to join him in a threesome.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Sense Motive DC 12</div><div class="spoiler_body">Hanifa does not seem to be enjoying herself, due to finding it awkward having to act erotically towards her friend.  If Arensha brings this up to al-Samara, he'll suggest having sex with them one at a time, then.  Hanifa seems...okay-ish...with this.</div></div><br/><div align="center"><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Eighteenth Day in the Gilded Cage</span></em></div><br/><em>Arensha can try Diplomacy on Claudia again if she so desires.</em><br/><br/>Sharisa rushes up quickly to Arensha while she's taking a group bath.  "Ummm, er...Faliensk is really pissed.  Apparently there's some suspicion on her now by the palace guards, and she thinks that you're to blame.  Watch yourself, I think she plans on getting the jump on you soon."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">If Claudia's attitude is Helpful by this time</div><div class="spoiler_body">Next meeting in the library, the Taldorian takes Arensha to an isolated space.  "Faliensk is going to do something really stupid, enough to endanger not just herself, but you as well.  She's got her hands on a vial of extra-strength hot sauce, which she plans on cornering and force-feeding you.  It won't be fatal, but it will literally eat at your stomach and scar your tongue.  She's called in some favors from some harem girls as well to do this, but Sharisa and I disagree with this plan."<br/><br/>Claudia is literally shaking at this point, overcome by extreme stress.  "I, well, we need to intervene, but not in a way which will hurt either you or her.  I'm considering going to Ahriman with this before this spirals out of control.  Do you have any better ideas?"</div></div><br/><div align="center"><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Nineteenth Day in the Gilded Cage</span></em></div><br/>The Palace's day begins just like any others, except this time Bakr comes to her while she's lounging about somewhere (in the library, courtyard, etc).  "Come with me, to my office.  What I found out...you're going to want to hear."<br/><br/>Sitting upon the alchemist's table was the vial of lotion Arensha gave him, plus a second vial filled with a shimmering greenish-yellow liquid.  He appeared worried, not really appreciating the catgirl's fine feminine curves, his mind apparently elsewhere.<br/><br/><em>If it's really anonymous, isn't Roshul trying to bury her memories...?  Or maybe it's a group tied with the earlier assassins?  No matter, the time to act is now.</em><br/><br/>"That anonymous lotion you were given..." he begins.  "It has an ingredient designed to erase one's memories.  I fear, that someone in this palace is trying to pacify you, for one reason or another."<br/><br/>He reaches for the second vial, examining its colorful hue in the light of the room.  "For several days I've been working on this other concoction, meant to help accelerate the return of one's memories.  I made it to help you in case there's any hidden knowledge in your mind to unearth which might help in our Sultan's protection, but this forced return can have some side effects.  Usually, immediate upwelling of memories can leave the subject scatterbrained for hours as their mind adjusts to filter in the lost information.  It's even possible it might block out your memories even more, but that's only a very tiny chance."<br/><br/>He hands it to her.  "Either way, the decision's up to you."<br/><br/><em>Upon drinking this potion, Arensha must roll a DC 15 Fortitude Save.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Natural 1</div><div class="spoiler_body">As soon as Arensha drinks the last drop, her head begins pounding to the point where she gets one of the worst migraines in her life.  Her vision becomes blurry, she loses balance in her legs, it feels like her stomach is about t void its contents...<br/><br/>...and then, it all stops.  Briefly forgetting where she is for a moment, she finds herself lying face up in Garetz' infirmary.  "Are you alright?" he asked.<br/><br/>Arensha...yes, that is her name...feels fine.  In fact, she's never felt better!  It's as though some massive burden has been lifted off her shoulders, as though her mind dispensed with all the negative thoughts, emotional baggage, and personal demons.  The catgirl feels like a new person!<br/><br/>In fact, her old memories of being Menya have been buried to the point where nothing short of a <em>limited wish, wish,</em> or <em>miracle</em> will retrieve them.  She still recalls her time at the palace, and her friendship with Hanifa, but her life in the Pathfinder Society, the Forgotten Crown, her capture by the gnolls and recent purchase at al-Samara's hands...all gone.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Failure</div><div class="spoiler_body">As soon as Arensha drinks the last drop, her head begins pounding to the point where she gets one of the worst migraines in her life.  Her vision becomes blurry, she loses balance in her legs, it feels like her stomach is about t void its contents...<br/><br/>...and then, it all stops.  Briefly forgetting where she is for a moment, she finds herself lying face up in Garetz' infirmary.  "Are you alright?" he asked.<br/><br/>She remembers groggily her last waking moments, of taking Bakr's solution and drinking it.  No new memories, at least.  Looks like the potion did not work.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Success</div><div class="spoiler_body">As soon as Arensha drinks the last drop, her head begins pounding to the point where she gets one of the worst migraines in her life.  Her vision becomes blurry, she loses balance in her legs, it feels like her stomach is about t void its contents...<br/><br/>...and then, it all stops.  Briefly forgetting where she is for a moment, she finds herself lying face up in Garetz' infirmary.  "Are you alright?" he asked.<br/><br/>Arensha remembers glimpses of events.  She remembers time spent in a lodge in Osirion, full of tomes and books, bearing the symbol of the Pathfinder Society.  She remembers trekking across the hot desert on horseback alongside Hanifa, fighting sword-wielding thugs and exploring darkened tombs.  She remembers being gifted with a Wayfinder, treasured magic items from a prior era which are given to Pathfinder members upon recognition of great deeds.<br/><br/>Arensha and Hanifa...the two of them were explorers and archeologists in their lives before they became concubines!  She does not remember her real name, her current mission for the Forgotten Crown, Roshul coiling around her and explaining to her the properties of the memory loss lotion, nor her recent purchase by al-Samara; for all she knows, that past life might have been as much as a decade ago (beyond that would be stretching it, due to Hanifa being somewhere around her early to mid-twenties).</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Result of 20 or better</div><div class="spoiler_body">As soon as Arensha drinks the last drop, her head begins pounding to the point where she gets one of the worst migraines in her life.  Her vision becomes blurry, she loses balance in her legs, it feels like her stomach is about t void its contents...<br/><br/>...and then, it all stops.  Briefly forgetting where she is for a moment, she finds herself lying face up in Garetz' infirmary.  "Are you alright?" he asked.<br/><br/>Arensha...no, no, that is not her name.  It's <em>Menya.</em>  She remembers time spent in a lodge in Osirion, full of tomes and books, bearing the symbol of the Pathfinder Society.  She remembers trekking across the hot desert on horseback alongside Hanifa, fighting sword-wielding thugs and exploring darkened tombs.  She remembers being gifted with a Wayfinder, treasured magic items from a prior era which are given to Pathfinder members upon recognition of great deeds.  She remembers being gifted the mighty task of retrieving the Forgotten Crown, of being captured by gnoll slavers a few weeks ago, being brought to Katapesh and being bought by Sultan al-Samara, of Hanifa's neck injury which she used to feign muteness...and she remembers Roshul coiling around her after being given an oil massage, the naga describing the properties of its memory loss...<br/><br/>...Menya's been tricked.  For all this time she thought herself a concubine, her and Hanifa being kept as pleasure slaves...the honeyed words of al-Samara of how she was a faithful servant for five years...</div></div>