Arensha opened her mouth, about to speak out when she rounded the bend and recognized Hanifa, but seeing the finger-on-lips gesture she kept her voice low so as not to be overheard by Roshul or anyone else. "She's got a point," she said, after Alfreldi chastised the silent girl for sneaking about. "You've been actinya strange around me - no, to me, lately. What's going on?"<br/><br/><em>(Sense Motive: 16) (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=71949)<br/>(Sense Motive: 5) (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=71953)</em><br/><br/>The catgirl tilted her head as she tried to parse Silent Girl's meaning. "Assassins... attackinya me? And you'll protect me? Look, I'm not doubtinya your skills, but I don't really know you all that well. Not to mention that al-Samara was the one the assassins were after, not me, and besides, you can't possibly stick around all the time..." She paused a moment. "Actually, even if you could, I'm not sure I'd want that." Arensha saw tears welling up, and quickly added, "No offense or anything, but-"<br/><br/>Her words were cut off by a sudden hug. She froze, feeling the warmth of the embrace and wet tears against her skin. Finally, after a few awkward seconds, Arensha returned the hug. It just felt right, somehow, in a way that she couldn't explain.<br/><br/>"Hanifa," Arensha whispered at last, a ploy to make her look up - and then she captured the girl's lips with her own. The kiss didn't last long before they broke apart. "Sorry, I wasn't sure if we were close friends, or<em>really close</em>friends, and I wanted to make sure," she said apologetically. "I guess I was curious too, whether it would trigger another flashback, but I guess not. Um, can we pretend this didn't happen?" Her ears suddenly perked up and her tail stiffened. "They're coming!" she hissed with urgency. The interruption was almost a welcome relief - almost.<br/><br/><em>(Perception: 24) (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=71954)</em><br/><br/>As Hanifa dove into the nearest bush, Arensha leapt back a little too, a blush on her cheeks and her hair slightly mussed up, looking for all the world like she had been caught red-handed disentangling herself from an illicit encounter.<br/><br/>"I saw her around the western courtyard. Can't say I blame her, the citrus trees this side are some of the tastiest ones!" It was amazing, in a twisted way, how Alfreldi could say that - a truth only in the most technical intepretation - with a straight face.<br/><br/><em>(Bluff: 28) (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=71955)</em><br/><br/>"Oh Alfreldi, you've got to teach me how to be as shameless as you," Arensha sighed. Turning towards Roshul, she continued, "She's probably right. I, um, was too distracted to notice. By you know, threesome practice and stuff, to cheer up our Sultan when he's in the mood again." She placed a hand on the other catgirl's rear, giving a squeeze for good measure, and pulled her closer until their breasts were pressed against one another's, to suggest what threesome practice involved in case somebody still didn't get the message. "Actually, we were hopinya for some privacy for... our practice... so if there's nothinya else, then...?" she trailed off expectantly.<br/><br/>Thankfully Roshul seemed to buy the act and leave. Arensha noted, with hidden interest, how flustered the naga had appeared when the possibility of girl-on-girl action was involved, and filed this tidbit away in case it could come in handy in the future. She let Faliensk rant, retorting when she was finished, "Why don't you mark 'Samara-pie' as your territory so the rest of us know to stay off your turf? Oh wait, that's somethinya dogs do, right? Then it should be perfect for a<em>bitch</em>like you."<br/><br/>She managed to retain her composure until Roshul and Faliensk and the rest of their posse had finally left out of earshot. Only then did she let go with nearly uncontrollable laughter, nearly doubling over. "Samara-pie? Really? Is that what she calls him in bed too? Does he know - seriously, does he know about this nickname?" She wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye as she regained control of herself. "Looks like we both have our share of enemies, huh? Let's watch each other's backs, Silent Girl." She offered her hand to seal the deal.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>The next morning, Arensha was wary when Amvi approached, half-expecting it to be some plot of Faliensk's as revenge for yesterday, but she relaxed a little as she heard out the Vudrani's proposal. "Thanks for your help, I'll take it, but I'm curious... what's in it for you?" she asked.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>After breakfast, Arensha went straight to work - she had a busy day ahead. A nagging voice at the back of her mind reminded her that the research on Azlant was still to be wrapped up, but she ignored it, justifying to herself that what she had managed to dig up thus far had been promising and more importantly the library wasn't going anywhere soon.<br/><br/>She changed into her bellydancing outfit for the first part of the day, grace and stealth needed for the challenges that lay ahead. Arensha intended to find out exactly what kind of herbs the high elf was receiving from Faliensk, or even better to get her hands on a sample somehow.<br/><br/>The other task for the day was a visit to Bakr - to identify what kind of herbs they were, if she managed to get some, but more importantly to stock up on various ordinarily worthless knickknacks she would need to make full use of her magic. Arensha tried to think back if the palace alchemist had any attraction towards the female sex, or whether he was as detached as Garetz and the eunuchs. She couldn't figure out which way he swung... so it couldn't hurt to put on the harem pants when visiting him, just in case.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spell List</div><div class="spoiler_body">Mythweavers has some issues displaying spells on the character sheet, but Arensha's spells known are:<br/>Level 0: Detect Magic, Ghost Sound*, Light*, Mage Hand, Open / Close**, Read Magic**<br/>Level 1: Charm Person, Disguise Self, Expeditious Retreat, Grease*, Silent Image**<br/>Level 2: Glitterdust*, Invisibility*, Mirror Image, Seducer's Eyes<br/>Level 3: Charm Monster, Dispel Magic, Terrible Remorse<br/>Spells marked with * require a material component and ** require a focus.<br/></div></div><br/><br/><hr/><br/>An orgy of concubines... Faliensk would be trying to reclaim her spot in al-Samara's good graces, and sure enough Arensha saw that she was putting up an admittedly good show up front and center. Now was the time to use all means at her disposal - while the view of her was being blocked and the others were preoccupied, she took a few seconds to cast a spell on herself that imparted upon her figure and her movements a sultry, seductive quality. (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/seducer-s-eyes)<br/><br/>"Alfreldi, Zelda, Silent Girl, I need your help," she gathered them together. "Each one of you distract one of Faliensk's minions, sexily of course, while I go up against her myself." With her friends separating the half-elf's minions, Arensha slid her naked body up against Faliensk's and immediately went on the offensive, nibbling her long pointed ears, cupping and squeezing her heavy breasts, and wrapping a naughty tail high up around a creamy thigh where it could brush against private spots with deniability. And that was just the beginning - the catgirl intended to bring orgasm after orgasm to the half-elf, with tongue and tail and fingers and fist and whatever it took, until Faliensk passed out from exhaustion - and of course, she would be putting on a show for al-Samara all the while, seductive eyes looking longingly at the mirror as though she could see him in the glass.<br/><br/><em>(Slave Girl perk: 40 non-lethal damage) (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=71957)</em><br/><em></em>