<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=208691.msg10964365#msg10964365">Quote from: Autocad on 08-02-2015, 18:36:06</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">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.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Hanifa shook her hand happily.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">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.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>"Faliensk has quite a bit of privilege," Amvi answered.  "To both al-Samara and Roshul.  She gets showered with the finest gifts, has more leeway in where she can explore, and what components she can access for magic.  Naturally she uses these favors as currency by proxy for her 'friends,' and I'm not one of them.  I figure if you can upset her and claim the mantle of the Sultan's favorite, you'd remember who aided you to get up there."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">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></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Wool (Ghost Sound) and fleece (silent image) was easy enough to find as a part of the articles of clothing in her own room.  The palace garden had a jar of fireflies (light), although they were under close watch by Thorlev the apiarist, a wild-bearded male druid from the frozen reaches of northern Avistan.  Getting a single firefly from him was no big deal, whether by deception or truth.  "You ladies seem to have a fondness for bright, shiny things.  Just remember for feed her every once in a while; she is a living creature, after all."<br/><br/>A stick of butter could be obtained easily enough from the kitchen (grease), although if obtained by itself without any food to go with it the chef would look oddly at Arensha.  "Raw butter will go straight to your hips, dear."  Gum arabic (invisibility) can also be obtained, although it's kept in one of the closets to turn into gelato-like desserts.  It can't be eaten by itself, so Arensha will need to either fool the cooks into thinking she needs it for something (DC 12) or sneak back and take it (DC 15) from the cupboards.<br/><br/><em>Gain 200 experience points if you get the gum arabic.</em><br/><br/>The last three ingredients were harder to obtain.  A brass key (open/close) was hard to find which wasn't already owned by someone or other; useless keys were melted down to turn into something else, and the ones of use were already on someone's key ring.  However, such a key was lying in sight the next time Arensha walked through the courtyard, one for a small wind-up toy left on one of the tables.  Just her luck as well, she along with the other favored courtesans received some gifts in person the next time al-Samara came home; included among Arensha's gift box were several colorful gems and crystals (worth 200 gold pieces total), one of them a clear crystal for a read magic spell!<br/><br/>The final one (ground mica for glitterdust) could not be so easily found, and a trip to Bakr was in order.<br/><br/>The alchemist was in the middle of analyzing some strange red liquid in a bottle when Arensha arrived.  "Hello there," he said as he turned around to see her.  The catgirl's earlier thoughts were answered when she saw his eyes trail over her fine form, barely covered save for a few strategic bits of cloth.  "Is there something I can get for you?"<br/><br/><em>Asking Bakr about the herbs other girls take requires a DC 16 Diplomacy check to reveal.  The DC for Arensha to get some herself is DC 21 on that same check.  The DC for obtaining ground mica and an eyelash in gum arabic is also 21, for it counts as dangerous aid, and Bakr recognizes the material components for what they are.  Arensha gets a +2 bonus from the harem pants.  If you succeed on one check, you get a +5 bonus on the other.<br/><br/>If you don't get the herbs, Arensha can always try to sneak in later (DC 16).  She won't be able to identify the night tea unless Bakr points it out to her, though.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Success 16 on herbs</div><div class="spoiler_body">When listening to her, Bakr seems distracted by Arensha's delicate curves.<br/><br/>"Um, sorry!" he blurts out and bashfully turns away.  "Normally I'm used to this, but to see you in such clothes, and this close..."<br/><br/>"Forgive me, I wouldn't dream of touching you or Sultan al-Samara's concubines...as a violation of trust, I mean!  Not because I don't find you attractive!  Anyway, what was it you wanted again?"<br/><br/>"Oh, you mean Faliensk?  Well, you're probably going to find out eventually, but not all concubines wish to bear children.  That is their right, but ultimately that is up to Sultan al-Samara and whether or not he wants an heir.  Still, pregnancy is a risk, and although there are herbs to counter male fertility, having some for the women cannot hurt either.  As the Sultan's favorite, she's naturally the most at risk."<br/><br/>He takes out some tea leaves from the back closet.  "This is night tea, (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/EquipmentMiscDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Night%20tea) so named for the pitch black hue it creates when brewed.  A woman will be unable to become pregnant as long as she drinks at least one serving of the tea once per day."<br/><br/>He then puts it back.  "Technically I'm not allowed to give this to anyone without Roshul's permission, so if you want some yourself I'm afraid I can't oblige for the time being.  But don't worry, Sultan al-Samara has taken precautions to avoid seeding any of you right now."</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Failure on herbs</div><div class="spoiler_body">"I'm afraid that I have a strict confidentiality with anything I give to palace residents," he says.  "If you're concerned about Faliensk's health, don't worry.  Doctor Garetz will tend to her, and I'll supply anything, if she does get sick.  Now, is there something else you needed?"</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Success DC 21 on herbs</div><div class="spoiler_body">When listening to her, Bakr seems distracted by Arensha's delicate curves.<br/><br/>"Um, sorry!" he blurts out and bashfully turns away.  "Normally I'm used to this, but to see you in such clothes, and this close..."<br/><br/>"Forgive me, I wouldn't dream of touching you or Sultan al-Samara's concubines...as a violation of trust, I mean!  Not because I don't find you attractive!  Anyway, what was it you wanted again?"<br/><br/>"Oh, you mean Faliensk?  Well, you're probably going to find out eventually, but not all concubines wish to bear children.  That is their right, but ultimately that is up to Sultan al-Samara and whether or not he wants an heir.  Still, pregnancy is a risk, and although there are herbs to counter male fertility, having some for the women cannot hurt either.  As the Sultan's favorite, she's naturally the most at risk."<br/><br/>He takes out some tea leaves from the back closet.  "This is night tea, (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/EquipmentMiscDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Night%20tea) so named for the pitch black hue it creates when brewed.  A woman will be unable to become pregnant as long as she drinks at least one serving of the tea once per day."<br/><br/>He mixes the tea leaves in with some white flowers with pink spots in a small leather pack before handing the contents to her.  "Here, the white night tea leaves will be mixed in among a majority of catnip flowers.  Nobody will question you carrying around that, all the catgirls here love that stuff.  Just make sure to not inadvertently share it with anyone who's not supposed to know."  He gives Arensha a wink.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Glitterdust material component failure</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Now why would you want ground mica?" he asks.  "There are plenty of prettier-looking minerals, and its main use is-"<br/><br/>His face darkens.  "Glitterdust?  You can cast it?"  He pauses a bit before continuing.  "You're a spellcaster?  Do you receive your powers from a deity?  Study?  Inherent?"<br/><br/>Bakr seems suddenly interested in Arensha's arcane background.<br/><br/>"But glitterdust...well, I'm afraid that I can't give anyone who isn't part of security material components or weapons which can be potentially dangerous.  I understand your fears, really I do, but my hands are tied.  Plus I'll get in trouble if I do so, especially with all the heightened security in light of the assassination."</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Glitterdust material component success</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Now why would you want ground mica?" he asks.  "There are plenty of prettier-looking minerals, and its main use is-"<br/><br/>His face darkens.  "Glitterdust?  You can cast it?"  He pauses a bit before continuing.  "You're a spellcaster?  Do you receive your powers from a deity?  Study?  Inherent?"<br/><br/>Bakr seems suddenly interested in Arensha's arcane background.<br/><br/>"But glitterdust...well, I figure you're looking for some means of self-defense.  That's understandable, but that's a job for the eunuchs.  Still, I'll grant it to you, as it's not a deadly spell directly.  Just be sure only to cast it when you're sure your life is in danger, but hopefully that never happens."</div></div><br/><em>Gain 500 experience points each for getting ground mica, finding out the secret of Faliensk's herbs, and obtaining some for yourself.  Also, even if a failure, Bakr can give Arensha 10 doses of catnip, whether with the night tea or just as a parting gift.</em><br/><br/><strong>Catnip</strong><br/><strong>Type</strong>inhaled;<strong>Addiction</strong>none<br/><strong>Price</strong>2 silver pieces per dose<br/><strong>Duration</strong>5-15 minutes (1d3 x 5)<br/><strong>Effect</strong>A sense of playful aggression (rubbing against someone, pawing, rolling on the ground, leaping about, purring), +2 on saves vs. fear, anger, and other negative emotions for the duration<br/><strong>Damage</strong>Sleepiness (fatigued condition) plus loss of Scent ability for a duration equal to the drug<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"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/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Hanifa nodded wordlessly along with Alfreldi and Zelda, who were just as eager to see Faliensk taken down a peg.  Swimming through the air, Zelda plucked away the high elf by the shoulders, Hanifa grabbed the Cheliaxian mage by the waist with a deep kiss before rolling onto the ground, and Alfreldi whispered something in the blue-haired Taldorian's ear which lit up her eyes and caused the two of begin making out.<br/><br/>Faliensk, realizing that something was afoot, turned to face Arensha, not even betraying the slightest hint of anger as she willingly let herself into the arms of the catgirl.  "You think you can outdo me?" she whispered into Arensha's ear.  "I've pleasured more men and women for decades since you were but a drooling babe swaddled in her mother's sling! I can-ooooh!"<br/><br/>Faliensk turned to putty in Arensha's arms as she futilely tried to bring her rival to orgasm first.  Her formally purposeful moves of seduction turned to an almost primal desire, to bask in the catgirl's luscious body and ride the waves of pleasure.  She gasped as she locked lips, her womanhood grinding against Arensha's own, her hands on her butt, electric tingles from her nice furry tail making her jump...<br/><br/>"This...cannot be!" Faliensk gasped as she fell back onto a pillow. Arensha cupped a breast in one hand as she fisted her with the other, the elves' body jerking and writhing helplessly as orgasm after orgasm crashed through her body.  By the time Arensha was done she had a half-lidded, drooling smile on her face, panting in exhaustion before falling asleep.<br/><br/>"Ah, Samara-pie," she moaned as she slumbered.  "Ah yes, come inside me..."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Nonlethal Damage</div><div class="spoiler_body">Arensha was lucky enough to drop her to 0 hit points exactly with nonlethal damage!</div></div><br/>Out of the corner of her eye, the high elf pulled her face up from Zelda's breasts to catch a glimpse of the scene.  Faliensk was brought low in a mere minute by one of the new girls!  She heard the rumors about her amazing sexual prowess, on account of all those visits to the Sultan's bedchambers, but they were true!  At that point her mind was made up: if she found a way to free herself from Faliensk's thumb, she'd try to earn the friendship of Arensha once she rose to the spot of favored concubine.<br/><br/>But the elves' trail of thought was lost as Zelda drifted downwards to give her a deep kiss; Hanifa let out as moan as the Cheliaxian's soft pubic hairs brushed up against her own vaginal lips; Alfreldi and the Taldorian crawled up to Arensha, their wandering hands brushing against the victor as they took up the best spot in front of the mirror.  The sight of the orgy continuing to go on, with a limp Faliensk cast off and ignored, was enough to let out a brief laugh from her.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><em>Another Alliance?</em></div><br/>After the orgy ended, the girls ventured to the baths to clean themselves up.  With no need for modesty, Roshul led them all naked to the chambers.  "No need to get another pair of clothes covered in sweat if we can help it," the naga said.  "No need to be harder on the servants, after all."<br/><br/>Arensha and a few of the others figured that Roshul had other reasons for keeping them nude, especially considering that she was leading from the rear and sneaked more than a few peeks at their glistening, sweaty rumps.<br/><br/>Poor Faliensk awoke being carried in the arms of a pair of eunuchs, and the wood elf let out a yelp as she mistaken their efforts for less wholesome purposes.  She crashed to the floor and dashed down the hallway, followed by two very embarassed-looking guards trying to assure her they only had the purest intentions at heart.<br/><br/>"Oh for Lamashtu's sake!" Roshul swore as she departed from the main group to chase down Faliensk.<br/><br/><br/>Back at the baths, (http://i.imgur.com/7bZVRFD.jpg?1) Alfreldi, Zelda, and Hanifa were drinking some chilled fruit beverages from a floating platter in celebration.<br/><br/>The merfolk was giddy with laughter.  "Did you see the look on her face?" Zelda asked, "as she woke up in the arms of those two eunuchs?  Oh I can only imagine what was going through her mind!"<br/><br/>"Yeah, and it looks like Roshul's rather pissed at her for that, too!" Alfreldi replied.  "Faliensk is going to think twice before trying to mess with you again!"<br/><br/>Hanifa was smiling just as much, but did not speak, instead giving Arensha and company friendly pats on the back for jobs well done.<br/><br/>"Ummm...hello?"<br/><br/>The high elf from earlier, part of Faliensk's crew, swam up to the trio.  "I hope you don't mind."<br/><br/>"What do you want?" Alfreldi asked.<br/><br/>The high elf blushed a bit.  "Well, you could say that I was...an ally of sorts to Faliensk, but over time I've been doubting our relationship.  Arensha, you were one of the few who openly stood up to her in such a brazen way.  Humiliating her like that, I haven't seen such an incident in years, like that time Amvi poured a jar of honey mustard onto her hair from a balcony one floor up!"<br/><br/>"For all we know you might be trying to feign friendliness on her behalf," Alfreldi replied, still not trusting her.<br/><br/>"You might believe that, but after that and last time she's not going to give me peace for failing her in such a way.  I want out, and want to team up with you folks instead.  My name's Sharisa Moonblade, by the way."<br/><br/>Hanifa folded her arms and tilted her head at the offer.<br/><br/>"I know you don't trust me," Sharisa said, "and you have every right to be, but I can prove it."<br/><br/>She took a deep breath before continuing, took a look around to make sure there weren't any eavesdroppers, then whispered.  "That grease on the stairs, Arensha, was meant for you.  Faliensk views you as a threat for the position of Sultan al-Samara's favored concubine."<br/><br/>Alfreldi and Zelda's mouths dropped open.  Hanifa only glared.<br/><br/>"If I were still loyal to Faliensk, would I have said something like this to you all?  But we can't let her know yet.  I'm risking enough already, talking to you."<br/><br/>Unless Arensha had anything else to say to her, Sharisa swims away.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Arensha offers her birth control herbs</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Wha-how did you-" Sharisa gasped.  "No, I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.  For enough doses of night tea I'll even punch Faliensk in the face for you!"<br/><br/>She extends out a handshake.  "Thank you for accepting me; I promise you won't regret it."<br/><br/>Arensha gets 500 experience points.</div></div><br/>"Faliensk can be a cruel woman, even to her so-called friends," Zelda said once the three were alone again.  "I believe her.  What about you, Arensha?"<br/><br/>"We should still be on our guard," Alfreldi responds.<br/><br/>Hanifa nods to Alfreldi's response.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Twelth Day in the Gilded Cage</span></div><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Al-Samara's Worries</span></div><br/>Judi al-Samara, (http://i.imgur.com/HxRAA4g.jpg?1) one of the Sultan's four wives, is paying the palace a visit.  Like the other three, the marriage is more a political one than one of mutual love, so they're usually more or less free to travel about to their own devices.  But after hearing the dire news, she traveled all the way from the planar city of Axis to check up on him.<br/><br/>Blue, beautiful, and nude, she slowly crawled over her husband, kissing every inch of his chest along the way.  Al-Samara was erect, but having not seen her in years the situation was awkward for him; he turned away slightly as she sat up, playfully slapping his cock against the back of her ass.<br/><br/>"If we're going to make an heir, we can at least have some fun with it, don't you think?" Judi asked.<br/><br/>Al-Samara groaned in dissatisfaction, only reluctantly moving his shaft between her lips.<br/><br/>"Hmm, what if I were to take the form of one of your whores?  Would that help matters?"<br/><br/>Her form changed to that of Faliensk, then Roshul, then Alfreldi.<br/><br/>"Let's just get this over with," the Sultan replied.<br/><br/>"Honey, darling, I know this isn't easy, but we need to look towards the future.  Even the mightiest of marid can fall, and we need one of our blood to continue our dynasty.  We need another al-Samara to stand stalwart against the sahuagin; we can't let an assassin snuff out your brilliance.  Now quit moping around and fuck me!"<br/><br/>Judi was right about one thing; al-Samara had to make an heir, but according to Marid law only the eldest could take the throne, with pure marid taking preference over half-breeds.  But the cloak and dagger nature of genie politics meant that women like Judi would only be a target.  Future killers would not just be going for him, but her and any of the other wives he impregnated as well.<br/><br/>Al-Samara knew that he couldn't rely upon the cowards and hypocrites in the Council of Leviathan to stand up to the sahuagin; only an heir guided by his wisdom could follow through this mighty task in the defense of geniekind.  And even though it wasn't proper, he couldn't rely solely upon his four wives.  To maximize his chances, he'll need his concubines to bear his children as well.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Thirteenth Day in the Gilded Cage</span></div><br/>That next morning he stopped taking the redthaw leaves, its herbal residue responsible for keeping himself sterile so as not to deal with too many unwanted offspring.  To avoid the temptation of retaking it he leaned over Judi's sleeping form to the nightstand, grabbed the pouch of leaves, and froze them with a ray of frost, shattering them into pieces.<br/><br/>That day, throughout the day, he chose several girls to bear his seed.  He did not tell them of his plans, fearing the possibility of an internal agent who might sabotage the impregnation process once word got out.  Amvi, Arensha, Alfreldi, Zelda, Faliensk, and when he finally got to Hanifa he felt so drained of stamina he fell asleep right after he came inside her.<br/><br/>"Isn't it just me," Alfreldi began as she did cartwheels in the gymnasium, "but doesn't it seem that Sultan al-Samara is hornier than usual today?  Especially now that his wife Judi is here?  What do you think, Arensha?"