<strong>Eshalu - Reliyian's return</strong><br/><br/>Eshalu's musings on the apparition and the richly fertile landscape of Dra Sirdu were brought to a sudden halt when she noticed the scrambling in the undergrowth. The footfalls were familiar, if a little hurried. It was Reliyian, but much less composed that she'd expected. Her intuition told her something was wrong. She reached for her sheathed shortsword and moved swiftly in the direction of her noise. Though conscious she was still naked, if anything was pursuing Reliyian, it would be surprise and a swift cut to the belly, not armour, that would bring it down.<br/><br/>When Reliyian appeared from the foliage and faced the riverbank, Eshalu was taken aback. The sorceress's ethereal, diaphanous gown had been rent, the gossamer fabric in vivid blues and violets torn and stained, revealing creamy, voluptuous flesh below. A dense, cloudy fluid still clung to the sorceress's skin, looking to Eshalu like sap from an unknown vine. Reliyian was visibly weakened and unsteady on her feet, though unhurt.<em>The Great Mother has preserved her.</em><br/><br/>Ignoring the throbbing pain in her calf, Eshalu rushed to lend Reliyian support, curling a strong arm around the mountain elf's waist. "Kin-Sister..." Eshalu paused, a little lost for words, "what has done this to you? Did it follow you?" she cast her sharp gaze on the thick verdant wall framing the riverbank. "Here, lean on me," Eshalu continued, inviting Reliyian to rest her weight on the ranger's tautly muscled frame. Reliyian's skin was cool and soft, with a liquid suppleness that seemed to belie her magnificent curves. But something wasn't right. Whatever predator she had encountered had clearly meant her no great harm, but Reliyian almost seemed exhausted, her muscles languid and strangely free of tension.<em>That smell,</em>Eshalu noticed it immediately, a foreign odour emanating from the fluid that still clung to Reliyian's skin, infused with an almost otherworldly quality - a forbidden aroma from hidden, forgotten places deep in lightless caverns. Not unpleasant, but deeply strange and unsettling. And then, a subtle undertone, the unmistakable rich muskiness of arousal tinged with a sensuous, floral note. A scent not quite as wild as a wood elf's passion, but still deeply elven. Eshalu found herself wondering what manner of encounter Reliyian must have had. She had enjoyed many casual couplings in the forest - some playful dalliances with pretty, silver-haired druids and some fervent and frantic in the ecstatic ritual celebrations of a successful hunt. But none had ever left her like this.<br/><br/>She led Reliyian to where her armour and weapons were laid out by the embankment and helped her companion settle by the smooth, damp rock where she had been sunning herself. "Catch your breath, clear your mind and look at me," Eshalu said soothingly, "you are safe here. The Moon Huntress guides my hand - and<em>Amihurin</em>She Who Strides the Canopy will preserve us."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">TUP - what's Eshalu's status game mechanics-wise now?</div></div>