<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Day 85, Race of Eight Winds Prelude</span></span></div><br/>“Oh, wow, I’ve never seen it from above before.  There’s so much detail you never get to see--oh!  Sorry, let me, um, hold down here…?”  Trying to get out of the way of Lillin reaching her supply pouch while grasping her back with arms and legs, Kleris let go of a shoulder to reach under around the bust, but all the maneuvering tended to throw Lillin off-balance.  As they spun and hurtled, almost running into the tower, Kleris could just try to lean too and fro to help guide their descent.  Bouncing in a heap, they rolled to a stop, Kleris dizzy and dazed (http://i.imgur.com/RvoiIjZ.jpg) for a moment before recovering from vertigo and picking himself up.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I'm such an idiot! I ruined this nice little outing because I didn't think ahead and took a stupid risk! I...if you're mad at me, I understand."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Holding his head steady, he gave Lillin a reassuring smile, “Hey, don’t worry about it.  We’re okay, and it was fun.  I have to admit, I couldn’t have expected a better landing for my first flight, and now I have my flying virginity out of the way I don’t have to worry about it next time, heh.”<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Hey, is someone crying up there?  Looks like you two could use a little help."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>“Oh, uh, hey Marcus!” Kleris waved nervously.  Every time he saw Marcus around classes his belly got butterflies and he got nervous, remembering their threesome.  He glanced at Lillin, wondering if she ever thought the same.  He gratefully accepted the minotaur’s hand in stepping gingerly from the roof to window, but needing both hands, wasn’t able to hold his skirt down in the breeze up here, blushing even more.  Talking about classes and magic was a good diversion, and it was genuinely interesting to see what he’d been working on in illusions.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Well, it's kind of silly…  Kleris and I were flying in the air and partaking of Redhurst from above, and then well...I kinda wanted to...sketch the Sun Tower, from an aerial angle..."<br/>"That's not silly at all!  But next time, if you need a bit of vertical viewing, just ask me for help!"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Kleris grinned at Lillin’s uncharacteristic shyness and Marcus grabbing her up, but when he turned and his huge meaty arm came for Kleris, he squeaked before suddenly finding himself held tight to the minotaur’s side and spun high in the air.  A moan of pleasure escaped, and he forced himself to turn it into a laughing bark of excitement.  Looking over to Lillin, he found himself looking at her legs and ass as she laughed and kicked through the air, and realized she’d be treated to much the same view on his end.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I...well, we had lots of time to hang out during play rehearsal, but...are either of you free later this week? I finished my studies today, and wanted to know if you were planning on doing anything sometime. Maybe study together, you know, or go see an opera or...or whatever it is you two like doing."<br/>"I'd be up for anything really, and i should be free this weekend.  How about you?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Kleris tried to tamp down the butterflies and blushing again as naughty thoughts came to mind.  He didn’t have to have sex with everyone all the time, he tried to remind himself.<br/><br/>“S-sure!  That would be fun to hang out together, study even, or, whatever…” he left the last ambiguous offer open as well, wondering if they’d end up doing anything or just retiring to a bedroom.<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Day 86, the Race of Eight Winds</span></span></div><br/>Kleris listened to everyone’s comments and counsel, nodding and pondering.  It seemed everyone was in agreement about investigating the homunculus, but differed on precisely how, or who.<br/><br/>“I’ve been able to go to Professor Yarminda with delicate issues, and she was mostly concerned with how to help, rather than school rules and protocols.  But yes, I hesitate to tell just anyone and everyone about our concerns and plans.  I wonder if it would be prudent, however, to leave a note to be found or delivered if we don’t return from an exploratory excursion into the catacombs within a certain time.  Being rescued by faculty and then punished would be better than some fates.<br/>In the case of funds, um, there is a business venture that I’m helping to organize…”  He was trying to be discreet and low-key about the calendar in a group setting, but had a few potential models right here, and Lillin was also there to help convince them.  “Well, it’s a modeling job for some of the girls, and also some work capturing some of the images.  Rensha?  I think you might be very helpful with setting up shots and taking some images, I trust your eye for this.  And Zull?  I think you would be pretty popular as a model, if you’d be a subject?<br/><br/>[Kleris tries to cast<em>glamour</em>before each conversation for maximum sparkle and shine, either showing the girls how good they can look made-up for a photoshoot, or just dazzling them into agreeing.<br/>Day 85, Lillin DC 16/21, Diplomacy 10+21+2 relationship = 33<br/>Day 86 Rensha DC 16, Diplomacy 19+21+2 relationship+2 Lillin aid = 44, woo<br/>Zull DC 16/21, Diplomacy 20+21+2 relationship+2 Lillin aid = 45, critical Diplomacy! *airhorn.wav*]<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Calendar Hunt</span></span></div><br/>[I hope I’m rolling these right...]<br/><br/>Day 85<br/>Scouting, DC 15<br/>[Perception 14+10+4<em>alter self</em>+2 Lillin aid = 30]<br/>Preparing several instances of<em>alter self</em>, Kleris and a few alter-egos spend the day in the showers or prowling the dorms peeping on the girls of Redhurst--not for the usual reasons, but actively scouting and looking for “talent.”  Sure, most of them were pretty, but he needed to find bikini models, and those that could bring something special:  unique color tones, particular dimples, and yes, perhaps an over-developed bust would do well selling calendars.  Fortunately the hours of scrubbing and pruning in the showers yielded several interesting candidates, and he made sure to get a long list in case several dropped out of actually signing up.<br/><br/>Day 86<br/>Convincing (DC 21/26, or 16/21), can prepare<em>galmour</em>nine times that day for each conversation.<br/>Done:  Lillin [“There may be photos of you, yes, but obviously any calendar would be incomplete without you.  And I’m sure a group shot would be one of a kind; I’d love to be a part of it.”]<br/>Rensha (photographer) [“Baby, I want you on this side of the capturing.  You have a good eye, and we can take all the private images we want together.  I’m not sharing you with anyone…”]<br/>Zull [“It’ll kill to have a drow in the shoot, you’re going to be gorgeous.  And I will definitely look into bringing Nalia into the project.”]<br/>Automatic:  Elmira, Rachel?<br/><br/>Aikaterne DC 21<br/>[Diplomacy 5+21+2 Lillin = 28, pass, nude automatically]<br/>“Yeah, I guess it is weird that society tries to hide our bodies and not talk about sex, when its a natural part of life and everyone is constantly thinking about it.  But I think you could learn a lot about human society by participating, and others could learn a lot about centaurs, just by seeing you as a person, and not just reading about non-humans in a text.”<br/><br/>Asma DC 21/26<br/>[Diplomacy 7+21+2 Lillin = 30, pass, agrees to nudes]<br/>“No, I’m sure that these are going to stay very firmly with the students, especially the ones who know what we have cooking on the back end.  I’m sure your dad will never hear of it, and certainly nothing about the secret edition,” he finishes with a wink.<br/><br/>Evgenia DC 21/26<br/>[Diplomacy 11+21+2 Lillin = 34, pass, agrees to nudes]<br/>“It will be a challenge, but that’s what I want.  Limitations force us to expand our ideas about what is possible, and you are going to rock this, even if I have to sew you into that bikini.”<br/><br/>Filomena DC 21/31<br/>[Beguiling Touch for a 3-round<em>charm monster</em>effect, DC 18 Will save, to lower DC to 16/26; Diplomacy 20+21+2 Lillin = 43, another critical *airhorn.wav*]<br/>“After seeing you dance, I just knew you would be a perfect model for this.  Plus, with the extra money we can make from a special edition, we’ll definitely have the funds to fully investigate this danger to the school and its students.  It may be unorthodox, but this calendar is really the best way to fulfil your duties as a prefect…”<br/><br/>Nalia DC 16/21<br/>[Diplomacy 9+21+2 Lillin = 32, pass, agrees to nudes]<br/>“Yeah, this is going to be a blast, and you don’t have to worry a thing about what some boy may get up to with his calendar, that’s between him and it.  All I know is Zull asked specifically for you, and I will be right there to capture your image myself!”<br/><br/>Utari DC 16/31<br/>[Beguiling Touch for a 3-round<em>charm monster</em>effect, DC 18 Will save, to lower DC to 16/26; Diplomacy 11+21+2 Lillin = 34, pass, agrees to nudes<br/>Misc scouted girl(s) DC 21/26, Diplomacy 9+21+2 Lillin = 32, pass, agree to nudes]<br/>“Listen, it only matters what you think of it.  I’m sure Arturon will support whatever decision you make.  And while I can’t name names, I can tell you I have another prefect already scheduled for her own shoot, so you won’t be alone in this.  This is actually going to raise funds to help protect the school and students, so it would be a big help if you were a part of this, both financially and morally.”<br/><br/>Carson DC 25+Cha/30+Cha? (unfriendly target?  Or “hostile”?)<br/>[Suggest a Course of Action, Bluff 6+21+2 rival+2 Lillin-10 far-fetched = 21<br/>Diplomacy (vs indifferent now? DC 20+Cha/25+Cha) 9+21+2 rival+2 Lillin = 34]<br/>Having a wicked thought come to mind, Kleris visited his favorite hated rival, Carson.  “Oh Carson, I’m not sure how we’re going to succeed in this mission.  We’re making a calendar to raise money, but I just don’t think we have enough girls to fill it out.  Not enough pretty ones in any case.  I mean, even<em>I</em>find myself forced to join as a nude model, as ridiculous and unappealing as that might be to anyone.  I just don’t know how we’d find another girl strong, handsome, and brave enough to show us how easy it all is<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;">to tie me up and dominate me…</span>” he finished trailing off suggestively.  Of course, if he managed to trick Carson into volunteering to become a female model, of course they'd have to try some fun "alternative" shots of Kleris being the dominatrix too.<br/><br/>Day 87<br/>Kleris poses DC 15<br/>[Concentration 5+11+2 Zull aid = 18]<br/>Prepares plenty of<em>alter self</em>and a<em>levitate</em>, with some<em>disguise self</em>,<em>grease</em>,<em>mage armor</em>,<em>silent image</em>, and even several castings of<em>summon monster III</em>for a giant constrictor, leopard, 1d3 wolves, and 1d3 squid for various artistic or hentai shots draped across them, or them upon “her” as the case may be.  A bit nervous, especially only being able to be nude about six minutes at a time, but with Zull’s encouragement and Rensha herself taking the images, Kleris was able to put on a good show, both in a bikini, and stripping from lingerie to show off “her” lithe body, whether dripping with grease, glowing with insubstantial force armor, or being “ravished” by two medium demonic squid.<br/><br/>Day 88<br/>Shooting images DC 15/20/25<br/>[Spellcraft 2+14+4 Rensha aid = 20, good shots, less so for Aikaterne and Asma]<br/>Again, Kleris prepares some extra spells to spice up the shoot, whether it be illusory backdrops, fantastical costumes impossible to create on short notice or that could actually stay on a model’s body were they physical, summoning extraplanar beasts to pose next to, and of course copious amounts of grease to get that shine, or even dripping effect.  It is more challenging for Aikaterne and Asma, however.  While the centaur is perfectly comfortable nude, the problem was it was much to matter-of-fact, and lost much of the magic and thrill.  She was perfectly pleasant, pretty, and photogenic, but it didn’t pop for the image.  On the other hand, Asma was also exotic, and had some runes to show off, but with her light hair, dark skin, and mystic tattoos, it was difficult to capture a clear shot that was both accurate and sexy.  “We have some more time tomorrow, we can take a break and try again fresh with some new ideas.  Thank you everyone!”<br/><br/>Day 89<br/>Shooting images DC 15/20/25<br/>[Spellcraft 4+14+4 Rensha aid = 22, good shots, even for Aikaterne and Asma]<br/>After the difficulties of finding a way to eroticize the habitually nude centaur, Kleris helped her try some lingerie: bras borrowed from other girls, or illusory bustiers, corsets, babydolls, and the like.  By adding a little mystery and flair to her scanty wardrobe, it actually helped give her the extra umph when she coyly slipped a nipple or side boob for the image.<br/>With Asma too, there were problems trying to get her to look right in the light.  Too much and her hair and tattoos washed out; too little and the image wouldn’t be clear.  It took some dancing lights and filtering to make sure they could capture a good image of her runes glowing deep into her cleavage, while balancing the light on her face, skin, and hair.