<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: papyrus;"><strong>A Brief Respite</strong></span></span></div><br/><strong>Inspiration:</strong>1 (Natasha)<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Communal Baths Gossip</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Religious Conflict:</strong> “Dyar Presk and some of the hardliners of Set held a sermon advocating for the expansion of holiday rites during the equinox. I don’t think that will go down well with much of the city; that’s when the Orgy of Veils takes place!”<br/><br/>“The Setites wouldn’t make such suggestions unless they’re confident the Lord-Monarch won’t oppose them. But the last thing anyone needs is rioting in the streets; Presk may be overstepping his good graces this time!”<br/><br/><strong>Auspicious Treasure:</strong>“Did you see those engraved tusks in Folra’s Emporium in the Atlantean Ward? I recognize those markings; barbarian tribes in the Lands of the Long Shadow use them to summon the glacier’s winds and be spirited away...or crush their enemies beneath a tomb of ice...”<br/><br/><strong>Traveler from the West:</strong> “I heard that wizards are leaving the city of Thran lately. And not as spies, either. A power coup must have happened.”<br/><br/>“Things must be dire indeed, if forced to travel across to the other side of the jungle.”<br/><br/>“It may have been one of the serpentmen, but I swear I saw one of them walking about in the next Ward over. Didn’t seem friendly, although nobody’s tried to harass them yet.”<br/><br/>“Is there any fortunate fool that raised arms against a wizard and lived? I think not.”</div></div><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">She quickly returns the hug, stammering out as if she had too much to say and not enough time to say it all "Thank god you're okay! What happened to you? Have you seen any of the others?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Ellen happily returned the embrace. “A lot has happened, but we have time to talk. Come, sit down with me…”<br/><br/>After getting more comfortable, she continued the conversation, albeit having to relive what she saw wasn’t easy.<br/><br/>“Valeria and a few others managed to escape,” Ellen began, fists balled up, “although they retreated into the jungles, and that was the last I’ve seen of them. Chelsea, Sophia,  and Mrs. Vargas were enslaved, although they were sold and shipped to a city across the sea to the east.”<br/><br/>She sighed. “I...I hope they’re all okay. Seems like you and I are the only ones left here. But it’s not all bad! I was purchased by the priestesses of Ishtar, and I learned many things while there! It’s not that bad...for a slave, I mean.”<br/><br/>Natasha could tell that Ellen wasn't looking at her face in general, but rather a specific area on her face. "I hope it's okay to ask, but...what happened to your eye?"<br/><br/><em>Here are some likely questions and answers. Feel free to ask any others.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Natasha explains how bad things are for her</div><div class="spoiler_body">Ellen’s facial expression veered between sorrow and white-hot rage. “Ugh, those bastards! Doing all of that to you…and your eye...oh I'm sorry!”<br/><br/>Ellen hugged Natasha again. “I know this isn’t what you may want to hear, but...I’ll see what I can do in asking a senior priestess about buying you for the temple. Errr, I know you weren’t the best in gym class, but...unless you submit to the Initiation Rites, you’re probably going to be cleaning floors all day.”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">What are they having you do as a slave?</div><div class="spoiler_body">“Well, first they’re instructing me in learning how to read and write. I can, obviously, although their alphabet is different, as though studying Latin was hard enough! And then I recite the Sacred Songs of Ishtar for an hour or two until I memorize them fully. There’s a lot of songs about love and joy, but also war, which is kind of weird. Getting mixed signals.”<br/><br/>Ellen started to blush. “And well...Ishtar’s a goddess of pleasure, so I also have to…<em>entertain</em> men. I thought I’d hate it, but...it’s hard to explain. I feel freer now, like there was some part of me that’s been locked away for so long, a part of me that has been denied and lied to. I know I must sound like a slut, but...it’s kind of nice, in a weird way.”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Are you serious?! You’re a slave, you have no choice!</div><div class="spoiler_body">Ellen frowned. “I...I know that, but I realize I got it easy. And I’d much rather do this than stacking bricks all day or working the fields. Some of the guys can be rough, but I’m being taught how to handle them.”<br/><br/>Ellen smirked. “And I learned firsthand that anyone stupid enough to harm a prietess of Ishtar doesn’t walk out of the temple in one piece if you know what I mean, heeheehee.”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">The Initiation Rites?</div><div class="spoiler_body">”Oh yeah!” Ellen exclaimed, hopping on the balls of her feet. “It’s what they do when someone becomes a sacred prostitute! They get you to talk to Ishtar and all, where she gauges your worthiness and stuff! And if she approves, you get magical powers! Watch this!”<br/><br/>Ellen performed a chant in an unknown language. A harmless tremor passed through the ground. Continuing to chant, her eyes changed color, from her natural hazel to yellow before settling on a crimson red. Nearby flames in hanging lanterns dimmed then brightened in alternating flickers.<br/><br/>“And that’s not all she taught me! I can demonstrate more...once I get my holy symbol!”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Natasha questions the sinful nature of magic/having other gods before Him/etc</div><div class="spoiler_body"> “Oh please!” she blurted out. “I’ve been a good lil’ Christrian girl for way too long! At least Ishtar answers my prayers and doesn’t tell me to hide who I am! And even if I didn’t want to, what choice do I have? To end up dead in the streets, or abused like a common whore, or-”<br/><br/>Ellen stammered, at a loss for words. Eventually she gulped down air.<br/><br/>“I...I’m sorry Natasha. <em>I shouldn't have said that (if Natasha told her how she suffered).</em> Letting my anger get the best of me again. It’s like Cardinal Schmidt says: ‘You have to take it on faith.’ Maybe if you take the Initiation Rites, you can see what I mean. And although I don’t mind it, I have to commit to my new role here. Don’t worry, when I climb the ranks I’ll be sure to help you out, and we’ll find the rest of our friends in no time!”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">The Temple of Ishtar, what’s it like there?</div><div class="spoiler_body">“It’s a big building in the Dancer’s Ward. Has a nice garden outside, a statue of the goddess in front: naked winged lady with a sword in one hand, an eight-pointed star in the other. We have small rooms and beds for all the priestesses, and larger rooms for the Initiation Rites, gardening, ‘making art and love’ as the others call it, and a small gym for learning how to fight. It’s well-defended and pretty spacy, and certainly looks a lot better than the smaller houses and slums surrounding us!”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">I heard about the god Set. What gods are worshiped here?</div><div class="spoiler_body">“From what I hear, Set’s nothing but trouble. He’s the god of snakes and promises rewards for devotion and prayers to avoid his wrath. Apparently this city is one of the few places he’s worshiped openly, which says a lot.”<br/><br/>“As for the other gods…who were they again?” Ellen tapped her chin for several seconds. “I know that there’s seven others, although I can’t remember their names. Been busy enough learning about Ishtar, ya know?” (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=151467)</div></div><br/><br/>Once Natasha’s curiosity was sated, Ellen patted her on the shoulder. “I know things may seem grim, but you gotta chin up! You’re the smartest girl in school, and between the two of us we’ll come up with something!”<br/><br/>“Natasha?”<br/><br/>The call came from Faizah. Assembled with the other slave-girls and guarded by a trio of bald men with clubs, it was clear that their time at the baths was at a close.<br/><br/>With a heartfelt goodbye, the last Natasha saw of her friend before leaving was a hearty thumbs up.<br/><br/>“We’ll get through this, together!”<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Gain 1 point of Inspiration for good role-play.</div></div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: papyrus;"><strong>Back at the Brothel</strong></span></span></div><br/>It was uncertain to what extent the city’s bureaucracy was built for the exchange of slaves, and the priesthood’s pull among the red tape. Days passed without hearing a word from Ellen or a representative from the Temple of Ishtar. During that time Natasha entertained more clients, although without the hobbling effect of drugs she was more nimble and self-aware. Enough that the trainers saw fit to place her up on one of the dancing tables in the common area. Natasha had less men to deal with than on her first night, but that was hardly a respite as she felt them eye her like a piece of meat, grasping hands desiring to touch her flesh. They could never get away with more than a pinch or spank; anything more demanding required renting her out for a ‘private dance.’ Which in practice translated to her being taken to a room and worked over.<br/><br/>Fortunately she did not have to handle each and every man alone. It became apparent that Senfra had her own fanclub among the regulars despite not being one of the dancing girls. What she lacked in grace she made up in endurance, and it was less tiring than usual when a bronze-skinned merchant chose her and Natasha for a threesome.<br/><br/>The man passed out on the bed before the hour-candle melted, giving Natasha some breathing time alone with the Atlantean. Senfra opted to gaze out the balcony, people-watching as dusk fell.<br/><br/>“Before I came here, I lived in Katagia,” Senfra said, elbow resting on the rail and hand on her chin. “Although we’re a minority there too, that city is the last great bastion of Atlantean culture. It’s easy to look around Thule and think that monsters of the wilds are now its true rulers, but once we were a more civilized age.”<br/><br/>She looked down at a pair of Neanderthal-looking men dragging a cart. Apparently slower than their master cared for, as the man sitting atop was eager with the whip. A blockage of traffic soon formed, and people began to shout.<br/><br/>“Atlantis was a human empire, and its language and coins spread far and wide. That’s why people as far away as Quodeth speak the same tongue as here, give or take some changes in phrasing. We had temples to Asura whose flames shone unshielded even in the strongest storms, and our ships sailed to lands beyond Thule and back again. I don't have much to show you of this besides my words. Perhaps a song will do?”<br/><br/>Senfra sung a melody, in something that sounded like English to Natasha’s ears but was not, nor did it have any other notable similarities to other Earthen tongues like Latin or Spanish. Some words she could recognize here and there, but not enough to grasp the full meaning of the music.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/69/85/3b/69853b8e6d0ecc2138ed13161be5cd82.jpg)</div>However, not all those listening to the song were friends. Via a carved bamboo shoot from a higher floor dropped a pair of ebony black snakes. Both fell upon Senfra, biting her each on the shoulder and the breast. The Atlantean girl screamed, stumbling back. Time seemed to slow down in the ensuing chaos, and Natasha's remaining eye spotted something: the scales of the snakes audibly glowed with runic markings...markings she could somehow read! In spite of their brevity they<em>told her so much.</em><br/><br/>Scene Music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm5hcOyYhdg)<br/><br/><strong>INITIATIVE!</strong><br/>Swamp Adder 22 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=151470)<br/>Natasha 7 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=151468)<br/>Senfra -1 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=151469)<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Combat &amp; OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Due to being a wizard, Natasha can read the runic markings on the snakeskins as though it were a spellbook, and thus gains access to spells!<br/><br/>Natasha's Passive Perception notices that the snakes came via bamboo shoot one floor above and to the left. Not a straight descent directly above as one would ordinarily conclude. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=151474)<br/><br/>The two snakes are Swamp Adders, venomous serpents common in the marshes of Dhar Mesh. They each have 18 hit points and 13 AC. The monsters and Senfra stumbled backwards towards the door, so attempting to escape means going through their squares and thus risking opportunity attacks. The sleeping merchant has a dagger and a gladius (treat as a shortsword) among his belongings, which can be retrieved and equipped via movement and an Action.<br/><br/>First Swamp Adder hit Senfra for 1 damage. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=151471)<br/>Second Swamp Adder also hit for 1 damage. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=151472)<br/><br/>Senfra fails her Constitution save and takes 3 poison damage while also suffering the Poisoned condition. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=151473)</div></div>