A flame against the dark - IC
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Exotic Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Premier on 13-08-2017, 00:57:29</h2>
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				Title: <strong>A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Premier</strong> on <strong>13-08-2017, 00:57:29</strong>
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				Lyre's Rest is the Jewel of the East of the Confederacy and it came from nothing. Sandwiched between a forest and a river, the small town kept itself well fed until they befell a double tragedy. The river waters become stagnant and soaked with poisons and decay and powerless to do anything about it the villagers were driven deeper and deeper into the woods to find food. Their intrusions were not welcomed and they were soon beset by shambling moss giants and the thin spindly arms of the trees around them that would pluck them apart piece by piece. Such tragedies were just part of being part of the Raktine Confederacy, where those who lived there were forever at the mercy of monsters.<br><br>That's where it would have ended, if not for the wandering demigod Nadiya Sirvard who washed herself in the poisoned waters of the river and proved too powerful for the sickness that clung there, cleansing it. The forest still sends it's monsters and the rivers poisoner was never found, but Lyre's Rest is well prepared for those threats now thanks to their new Goddess. It's ivy covered walls can be seen from miles away and are manned by devotees and mercenary companies while waiting to hire themselves to the traders who come by Lyre's Rest grand river port. The streets are immaculately paved and artists have flocked to the city to style it, with a little influence from the Goddess if they're making a mess of course.<br><br>In a nation wracked by monsters, Lyre's Rest is a respite where you can find anything for sale and get quite a bit for free. Its residents are heart breaking beautiful and quite fond of outsiders, for that alone many travel here. Many even stay.<br><br>Today though the Goddess cannot indulge quite so freely because she is having to play host to a four visitors, all sharing a similar interests and concerns. <br><br>For Faustina and Imre, their travels have led them to many strange places and Imre has gathered scraps of knowledge along the way. One particular bit of knowledge is the rumour of a Night Road that leads to a Forest Paradise, a place of massive waterfalls, deep cool pools and secluded palaces spanning the tree tops where people could live as one with nature and no longer stain the world with smoke and steel. The monsters that occasionally assail Lyre's Rest match a small drawing of one from an ancient treatise on how Humanity has let their eyes wander and turned away from nature's grace. It's a perfect place to hide shards of heaven or other lost artifacts and Imre would quite like to explore it.<br><br>Faustina is there of course, because there's probably going to be something pretty horrible to kill in there.<br><br>Hafkar Arak-Mul has the largest reason to be concerned. His grand caravan was on the way to Lyre's Rest to see which Mercenaries could be convinced to join his armies and restock when the caravan had been beset by flocks of gigantic crows from the forests. His spells kept many of them from passing the barriers protecting his caravan but not all and while they had foolishly attacked in the day and felt the wrath of sunfire from his fingertips, he could not be everywhere at once. They'd flown away with his people, alive and screaming in their claws and he'd pressed on to the safety of the city walls before seeking out those who might know how to get his people back. Or at least let him unleash ruin upon those who'd taken lives from him.<br><br>Tomas Illisante is attendance too of course. Lyre's Rest has spies for the Shadow, word of the pairs discovery of a Forest Paradise traveled through whispered words to his ears and he's not about to be left out of a potential treasure trove. Especially if it means he get into the good graces of the Goddess of a rather important trading port. More importantly though this Forest Paradise was, as the thieves tales went, the final resting place of a figure of great renown, the old and withered mother of the forest who knew the secrets in the hearts of every man and would come for those who'd let their heart get too black. She'd long faded into legend, but there's evidence she was real and if so whatever gave her such powerful sight might well be in what you can only assume is her forest, ripe for the taking.
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				Title: <strong>Re: A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gilgameshian</strong> on <strong>18-08-2017, 22:48:07</strong>
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				Lyre's Rest was a city full of pleasures, relaxation, and a good chance to make easy money. Tomas had heard of, and been to, the city before though never quite in the official capacity that he was in now. Arriving ahead of time was just a part of who he was. The trip itself had proven rather dull excepting the single instance wherein a small bandit camp had made itself known along the road. It was rather amusing, actually, to watch them try to attack and overwhelm his small protectors only for them to flounder in the darkness while his Nightborne picked them off. Their very camp was left full of corpses though he allowed the captives, women, and children to leave. He wasn't heartless most of the time.<br><br>Besides that little deviation, however, the trip was remarkably smooth. In the company of five of his Nightborne and a few normal guards he arrived in Lyre's Rest exactly one day early. He made no contact with the Goddess who ruled because he was going to use the night as a chance to indulge himself as well as meet a few of his sources. Having arrived around midday he first took to a restaurant. A few messages were passed under the table and he got what little information he didn't already know. There was something about this forest that seemed to be worth his investgation. He was hesitant to send in his Nightborne, however, as it seemed there was likely a threat worthy of more divine attentions.<br><br>Still, however, he spent the rest of the night thinking less of the journey soon at hand and more on the three women whose company he enjoyed. All of them were courtesans and spies he personally hired so they gave their all to pleasing their lord. They achieved their goal and, in spite of their trained and exceptional stamina, they all eventually passed out into slumber around his bed for the night. The God of Shadows had no need for sleep nor rest but he enjoyed the soft comfort of three women as he let himself simply drift into a soothing trance until the light of day broke it.<br><br>Ushering the women off to their duties he gave his marching orders to his Nightborne. They were to remain mostly out of sight. Gather information if possible but otherwise enjoy themselves. Two would be his personal attendants to the meeting with the Goddess herself though they would remain outside the room when the meeting itself was to take place. It was less a show of force and more a show that Tomas was prepared for the upcoming journey. He looked rather unassuming albeit handsome himself. Dressed in a fine silken suit designed by a man supposedly from the Bright Republic far away he looked quite impressive he thought as he was guided to a room to wait for or meet the lovely goddess herself. And the others who she had summoned of course.
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				Title: <strong>Re: A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CeruleanSerenity</strong> on <strong>20-08-2017, 12:02:07</strong>
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				The goddess Nadiya had proven that pleasure can be found even in the darkest of times, to herself and the world, and Lyre's Rest was tangible proof of that. It was a city of comfort and indulgence where food and drink never seemed to run short, each building was a work of art, and every inhabitant twice as statuesque - and quite eager to share their blessings with the world. It was a place you could go to forget your worries and enjoy life like nowhere else, and none knew how to enjoy life quite like their goddess.<br><br>Some days couldn't be devoted solely to pleasure, however, and today was one of them. Today, Nadiya had a meeting with several important guests, and she didn't plan to be late. So much to the disappointment of her many lovers, she rose early that morning and, stepping carefully through exhausted masses of naked bodies so as to not disturb their much-needed rest, made her way out of her chambers. Last night's orgy would have left most sore for weeks, but for a goddess of lust, it was hardly a warmup. If this were any other day, she would have already started the second round.<br><br>Unfortunately, she had business to prepare for.<br><br>Nadiya's home was to Lyre's Rest what the city was to the rest of the nation; a palace of pleasure to put even the delights around it to shame. Her guests would be greeted at the entrance by one of her servants - a young golden-haired woman, maybe, blessed with beauty so luscious she could hardly be human. Her only garment would be a diaphanous gown so thin it hardly concealed her at all, serving more to decorate her voluptuous form than provide any modesty. She'd bow, careful to emphasize her considerable bosom with the gesture, and say in a silky voice, "My goddess has been expecting you. I will take you to her, if you wish. And if there is... <em>anything</em>," she'd say, her eyes hopeful, "You desire, please do not hesitate." No need to ask, everything about her tone and mannerisms made that clear. Any desire could be satisfied in these halls.<br><br>But if (or when) Nadiya's guests would allow - and each of them would be greeted similarly if they arrived separately - they would be guided through the palace and to the room where the goddess awaited them. Her palace was a place of wondrous beauty, its arches and doors etched with gold and studded with jewels, its halls lined with statues, and its walls decorated with engravings, tapestries, and other artwork. All of it was masterfully made, and much of it was erotic. Nadiya's reputation as a sexual goddess was well-earned, and nowhere was that more obvious than in her home. Giggles and moans of pleasure sounded throughout the halls, and the open architecture gave many chances to see her servants enjoying each other's company, each one as attractive as the last and all of them utterly without shame. <br><br>At the end of it all was the goddess herself. After bathing and preparing herself for the meeting, she selected a room, smaller than some but no less warm and comfortable, and set herself to the tremendous task of waiting. She'd be reclining on silken pillows when they arrived, deep in thought... but still quite ready to greet them with a welcoming smile. Nadiya was, not unexpectedly, wearing as little as any of her servants - only a golden necklace with fist-sized jewels around her neck and a slight silken robe left untied so that her body was quite bare. And she was truly a sight to behold: every inch of her divine form, from the expansive mountains and valleys of her breasts and hips, to the enticing curve of her ruby lips, down to her immaculate nails painted scarlet, was like lust itself had been made flesh. Even her servants couldn't compare.<br><br>And on any other day, lust was likely what would be on her mind. Today, though, would be her first time meeting others like herself... and she was honestly a little nervous. You'd never see it in her, of course; she was much too good at this to let her expression show what she didn't want it to. But the feeling was there somewhere, along with everything else she kept hidden in the back of her mind.<br><br>Today was the start of something new. Nadiya wasn't quite sure what sort of people these gods were, or where this meeting would lead... but she was determined to enjoy herself regardless. She only hoped the others would be thinking the same.
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				Title: <strong>Re: A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>20-08-2017, 18:45:28</strong>
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				To say that Lyre's Rest was beautiful was an understatement. He'd heard rumors of course, up in the restored city that was his home. But it was hard to credit such things without seeing them in person. Clearly, the resident Goddess took care of her people. And she was a Goddess, from all that he had heard, not just a mortal woman. He doubted any regular person could have made all of this in such a short time. It reminded him in some ways of Solstice's Flame, the great castle-city that oversaw the valleys he called home. And in many ways it was different. It was hard to credit all the beautiful people roaming about. Imre had seen pretty people before in his travels to learn the low magical arts, but never so many concentrated in one place. It was enough to make him feel a little self-conscious about the scar over his left eye. <br><br>His left eye. He reached up and felt it unconsciously. The scar came from the Dragon of the End Days, a great and mystical beast that had haunted the vales of Raktia for years. The creature had taken his eye, and he was the lucky one. So many had died that day, fighting the creature hopelessly as it rampaged and shredded through the forces arrayed against it. Those memories had haunted his dreams for years. But the pain had been exorcised later. He looked to the woman at his side. Faustina was an odd one, to be sure. But a good one. She'd helped him bring down the Dragon, and even forge a new eye for himself from it's remains and those of other beasts she'd helped him hunt. The most dangerous component though had been the hardest. Shards from a celestial engine. They'd acquired them, though it'd been an adventure.<br><br>And really, that's what brought him to Lyre's Rest. He'd discovered another pocket realm, one of great potential. It could serve as a secondary home for the order of knights he was forming. Solstice's Flame was a good place. Strong, high walls. A position on the confluence of two rivers. Fertile fields in front and backed by mountains behind. It was a good base. But Imre knew it wasn't invincible. It had been taken once before, when he was a child. And even though he'd returned and rebuilt it stronger than ever, it never hurt to have a place to fall back to. More importantly, this realm might be used to house and feed more people than his valleys could provide for. Not to mention the possibility of more celestial engine shards. Creating the Unveiled Truth had been an eye-opening experience (pardon the pun). He was curious to see what else he might be able to make. After all, he might need such things to unify Raktia one day.<br><br>"Well, Lyre's Rest certainly is an interesting place, wouldn't you say?" He chuckled at his companion. They'd actually arrived the night before and stayed at an inn. Imre had paid, and given an extra tip in the form of fixing a sagging rafter in the roof free of charge. This morning he'd come dressed in something suitable to meeting a Goddess. His well-worn travel clothes had been left at the inn, replaced with the white tunic and blue pants he wore as Lord of Solstice's Flame. A stylized flame was engraved on the right breast. He'd throw on a silver cloak and black boots. The Unveiled Truth gleamed a crystalline blue, chased as it was with gold and platinum. The iris was black and glittered with stars inside. <br><br>"That is...quite the offer, young lady." The black-haired Curse Eater appraised the woman who had come to greet them. "I will certainly have to remember it." He wasn't averse to a bit of fun in his travels, though he usually was focused on making his small kingdom more prosperous than on sating his lusts. When he was led to the Goddess, both eyes blinked. She certainly was a Goddess in appearance. He couldn't help but stare, and hoped he wasn't being disrespectful. "Voivode Imre Soldos, of Solstice's Flame, here to see you as you requested Lady Nadiya. And this here is my companion Faustina. We've traveled far to meet you. The tales do not do your beauty or your realm justice I fear." He smiled.<br><br><br><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Petrus02</strong> on <strong>22-08-2017, 10:54:49</strong>
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				Entering the City was a trivial affair. He was disappointed by the lack of security here, surely his people wouldn't be able to rest here well enough, feel secure enough to live here for a while. But it WAS a place of abundance, he could not deny that. Of course he had used his blessed sight to first search for any sign of ambushes, but as he could not find such, and so he lead his people into the decadent city. His caravan was a sight to behold, a single line of horse- or ox-drawn carts, four riders, or eight people on foot, of which the majority consisted. And then the almost 50.000 people entered the city in a long procession, almost seeming to perform a weird kind of ceremony with not even a single person exiting the line before their god commands it. Suddenly the air was filled with the exotic smells of the spices and drugs his people brought with them from the oasis pyramids, the smell of burned camel dung, the sound of hushed voices invoking ancient spells to ignite fires here and there... and of course the lighthearted chatter of 50.000 voices.<br><br>But of course "his" people did not only consist of desert-dwellers anymore. Roughly half of his current great caravan were truly his, the other half he had picked up on the way here: desert bandits, refugees from plundered village ruins, even the odd whole village population who decided to travel with him for protection... or that he had forced to travel with him as a punishment for attacking him or his.<br><br><br>He was greeted by an unearthly beautiful women, but more than her beauty he was interested in the one she served and so, to cut the time needed until he could return to his people, he just lay a single finger on her soft, promising lips, gently urging her to fall silent.hush now,feeble child. I did not come here for useless procreation. Show me the way to your queen.<br><br>And with that he simply walked past the stunning, and now stunned woman, having memorized the way to where the powerful beings had gathered. Simple walls such as were built here were no match for his superior vision.<br><br><br>Arriving last, and quite late he still offered a magnificent view: He had donned the ceremonial war-robes of an warlord of the Oasis states, something he knew that wouldn't protect him here and against these being, who where close in power to himself, even if still inferior in the greatness of their vision of the future, their ambition and of course their claim to rule. Hafkar entered through the designed door and , wishing to display but a tiny fraction of his power of the sun, he surrounded himself in a nimbus of bright sunlight. It shouldn't be enough to be completely blinded, only enough to be dazzled by the magnificence of his appearance. He raised his hands - palms to the outside to show his goodwill - as he raised his voice:<br><br>Greetings, fellow gods. my name is Hafkar Arak-Mul, Ruler and first guard of the great caravan of the Sun, and rightful King of the Oasis states... and soon of the whole world. I came to you through many perils. The flames of the oasis- sorcerers could not burn me. The scorching Sun of the desert could not break me. Death itself could not hold me. But now i am seeking a place to rest. Not for me, as a Guard never needs rest, sleep, he should not even stop to eat, and that's what i am, the Guardian of my people, whom i would wish to show mercy upon by allowing them to rest and heal their wounds now, after the most recent attacks by giant ravens.
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				Title: <strong>Re: A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Knarfy</strong> on <strong>23-08-2017, 06:45:59</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://s6.postimg.org/59pkrt11d/Earth_Sky_Sword_Purp_Bust.png)</div>Faustina walked through the extravagant city with an expression of tired bemusement. It was one of a very few expressions regularly seen on her face, the other main one being boredom. She trailed slowly after Imre, often stopping at seemingly random places as though she was listening to something before chuckling to herself and moving on. <br><br>It was nice to visit Lyre's Rest again. It had been quite some time since the last time she'd visited, and she'd almost forgotten just how quickly life moved for the city folk. Before Imre had hunted her down to ask for her help, she'd been napping at the bottom of a freezing lake up in the mountains, as she often did. The chill of it still hadn't left her, though it never really did these days. Not that it bothered her of course. She hadn't felt the cold ever since that time so long ago, when fate saw fit to infuse her with divine power and set her irreversibly apart from mortal kind. <br><br>Regardless, Imre hadn't had to work to convince her that it was worth going out and about. He'd been good for some excitement in the past, and the mention of the more recent reputation of Lyre's Rest certainly piqued her interest. It had been quite some time since anyone had even tried to warm her up <em>that</em> way, much less succeeded. Now that she was here, it definitely seemed encouraging. Maybe she would nip off and see about falling into an orgy somewhere once they were done...<br><br>"Hm?" She glanced over at her travelling companion as his question percolated through the slushy filter of her perception. "Oh, yes. It's much different than the last time I was here." Unlike Imre, Faustina hadn't done anything in particular to make herself presentable. She wore the same worn down jumble of clothing and armor that she had for ages. Truth be told, it was tougher than it looked. It had once been one of the finest sets of regalia armor Vissian mage-smiths could produce. Now, however, it's magic was reduced to simply holding itself together in the face of years of mistreatment. In spite of her lackadaisical grooming, Faustina was undeniably beautiful, if in a cold and slightly wild sort of way. The Vissians had called her the Caryatid Killer, on account of her alabaster skin and the stone-like expression she'd worn when she took a life. Her connection to stone and sky had only made the nickname more apt. Her skin was smooth and pale like marble, and her sleek, perfectly defined musculature looked like the anatomy study of a master sculptor. Were it not for her hair, and the slight sparkle of life in her eyes, one might think a stone statue had come to life and started walking down the street.<br><br>She thought briefly of taking the girl up on her offer. She still hadn't managed to fall into that orgy she'd been looking forward to... But no, not right now. Imre would probably want her there when he met the goddess or whatever. She gave the goddess Nadiya a curious look when they entered. Now there was a woman who knew how to enjoy herself. Although... Faustina looked around, listening to the sounds of pleasure coming from the rest of the palace. No... She wouldn't be able to stay here forever. It was almost certain that she'd get bored and feel like crawling under a rock somewhere for a nap eventually. Even so, this was definitely somewhere she wanted to enjoy now, and likely again in the future.<br><br>Just then, Hafkar arrived, announcing himself with both light and wind. Faustina squinted at him like someone cranky at being awoken by the morning light. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Premier</strong> on <strong>24-08-2017, 01:50:03</strong>
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				The young golden-haired woman with the translucent gown tailed in after Hakar looking more than a little flustered, she didn't really have a form for running and the bouncing of her chest had slowed her down in time to prevent getting the door for him. She'd never been shushed before! She'd been chosen at her role for not just her beauty but her exceptional grasp of protocol and politesse almost none of these people had even the least bit of it!<br><br>She'd be lying to herself that she didn't find that just a little bit attractive, nobility and the powerful had a casual disregard for the rules that was always thrilling.<br><br>"This is all your guests my Goddess" she said breathless from the running, one hand over her heart and giving a quick curtsy. The servants had adopted the gesture as a substitute for a bow a good while ago, the goddess was in all their hearts after all. <br><br>Whether Nadiya wished to explain the history of the forests herself or have her comely servant do it the explanation isn't a hard one to grasp. The forests have always been dangerous, they've always hated people and they've always spat out the occasional (Usually moss covered) monster to be dealt with. As long as people stayed out of them there was little issue, it had no malice for animals only men and any monster it threw out was a half hearted punch that barely made a dent on Lyre's Rest's high walls and went down to a few flaming arrows or well placed axes. Occasionally something nasty like the giant crows was thrown out and the forest took a few people, but retaliation had never been an option before.<br><br>Cutting back the forest was a slow process due to the toughened old wood of the trees and setting fire to it was completely out of the question, it'd burn the city with it long before it. Nadyia was a powerful goddess, but her alone against the forest was simply a task beyond her not inconsiderable power. The forest had no mind she could seduce or reason with, just it's misshapen animals and hateful monsters. The mortal soldiers were also of little useless, the forests terrors were endless and any force sent in would be slowly whittled away until it collapsed from the assault or retreated. It was a place best left alone, an annoyance Lyre's Rest could cope with.<br><br>With this gathering though, something could finally be done about it. As long as they could agree on what they were all there to do.... 
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				Title: <strong>Re: A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CeruleanSerenity</strong> on <strong>30-08-2017, 11:50:29</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6e/0d48c942f81e9c77ddcf7f599cd85b00.jpg)</div>Nadiya greeted her divine guests with a smile that was at once warm and sensual. There was no shyness or subtlety about that sensuality at all, even without speaking; her eyes traveled appreciatively over each of them, and she encouraged them to do the same, giving a knowing wink to anyone she saw staring and, with a shake of the hips or pushing her breasts up just a little with one arm resting under, gave a little nudge to those that seemed unsure if it was okay to look. Every piece of art on display in Lyre's Rest was meant to be enjoyed... including its goddess, the greatest of all.<br><br>This was an interesting group, she thought... and realized she expected. Tomas seemed the type she'd be a fool to trust too quickly, but their relationship could only be more entertaining for it. Faustina had a harsher air about her, a cold sort of beauty... but that was something Nadiya could certainly appreciate, and when she sensed the woman's interest in the pleasures around her, that only attracted her more. Hafkar seemed he had taken to the mantle of godhood more eagerly and naturally than any of them, great and untouchable in his divinity, and she couldn't deny that his stunning display impressed her as well... oh, but she'd enjoy teasing him out of that shell. And next to all of them, Imre seemed the most... well, ordinary wasn't the right word, was it? He was undoubtedly someone special, and she doubted anyone could mistake him for otherwise, if he wasn't trying to hide it. But he struck her as humble and approachable for one of his power, and his compliments made her smile.<br><br>But they were all quite welcome in her home, even putting aside her desires. <br><br>"Please, sit wherever you want... and let yourselves relax as long as you like. Everything you and your followers needs will be taken care of as long as you are here. Now..."<br><br>But she let her servant explain the circumstances as she had been taught... or, begin to explain. Nadiya swept the girl into her arms once her last guest had settled in, and the blonde's explanation was increasingly interrupted by little gasps and giggles at the goddess' playful hands. Nadiya filled in the gaps herself as easily as if they were one, and as her hands moved lower and became less teasing and more pleasing, she finished the grim tale herself while her servant writhed in her lap. Nadiya was quite serious about this matter with the forest... but she firmly believed that you should never let darkness drown out pleasure. Well, that, and she was having fun.<br><br>"So as you can see, while I am quite happy to accommodate all of you here, as long as you like... my city is not <em>quite </em>without problems. And I imagine we could all benefit from settling this one in particular, one way or another... and perhaps more from a partnership beyond. What do you say?" She flashed another smile at the group just as her servant screamed ecstatically, this smile pure eroticism in contrast with her formal tone. "You can see that I have plenty to offer, I hope?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>31-08-2017, 00:43:55</strong>
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				The young Voivode squinted at the brilliant presence of Hafkar as he took a seat. One from the Oasis-states? Interesting. He'd studied the secrets of the fire magic there once before but the intrigues of the pyramid-cities had not been to his taste. He could be a powerful ally. As he looked around, he considered that they all good. Perhaps there was hope of unifying Raktia against the threats of Patria and Dulimbai after all, depending on how things worked out. Which brought him to Nadiya.<br><br>Imre could not help but feel his cock begin to harden under the knowing gaze of the Goddess. It was becoming apparent in his well-fitted pants. Imre was not a plain man. His physique was one honed by years hiking the wilderness and battling monsters from the Uncreated Night. God he might be, but also man, and he did not resist giving the Goddess and her servant long and appreciative looks. Especially when Nadiya began to play with her servant openly. It was a little hard to focus on her words, but the part of him that was a professional Curse Eater absorbed the situation neatly enough. When she finished speaking, he tore his eyes from her display long enough to look her in the eyes.<br><br>"Lyre's Rest is clearly a jewel of Raktia. It has long been my hope to unify my homeland, both against the threats of the monsters, and the threat of annexation by Patria or Dulimbai should the monsters be subdued. Protecting your home against these creatures would hopefully be the first step in an alliance between your lands and my own. I am a Curse Eater by profession. I am willing to assist in protecting your lands. It's what I and mine do." He considered a moment. "If you or your servants could arrange to give me all the current information on the monsters threatening you, it would help me come up with a plan of attack." He looked around. "What do you say, friends? A unity to bring down the monsters, and perhaps we shall all profit by working together?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gilgameshian</strong> on <strong>01-09-2017, 06:17:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He was one of the first to arrive and that gave him the benefit of seeing the others walk in. He had another benefit too, of course, being that his identity as Eclipse wasn't out yet either. "Tomas" was merely the priest or the emissary for Eclipse. He'd still need to tread carefully. If he was forced to use any divine power in front of them it would make keeping his secret a bit more aggravating. Lying to fellow gods was much more of a pain than the layman. <br><br>The first sight he was greeted by was the goddess herself. He kept his gaze tacitly on her breasts or the other curves of her body. It was annoying to have to act like a fool staring at the height of beauty but, in the same breath, she was fairly close to the height of beauty. Divinity only made her slightly less attractive to him. There was a level of raw attraction that he could only truly find in mortals. Their tenacity in the face of something greater. He shook his head as if to collect himself as more people entered.<br><br>The well dressed Curse Eater and his valiant but somehow taciturn companion came next. Their talents were a known quantity and having them along for this particular journey would be most useful. Both of them being talented fighters meant he wouldn't have to worry nearly as much about being in the frontlines. He did hate getting his hands dirty unless he had to though he rarely used his hands as it was. Why would he when the shadows answered his call?<br><br>The last guest to join them was the one called Hafkar who seemed quite eager to showcase his own talents. Ah, the Oasis States. That would explain the attitude to some degree. Perhaps it was the fact that he covered himself with light that irritated him so naturally. The night couldn't exist without the day, however, so he couldn't afford to offend the man who decided to introduce himself with quite the list titles or near titles. King of the Oasis and never sleeping guard of his people. With an ego like that it might not be too hard to manipulate him. All he would have to do is convince him that something was his idea or helped his people and he would be eager if his first guess wasn't wrong.<br><br>Unlike Imre, who had an apparent reaction to the goddess's teasing, Tomas stood straight and stared almost dispassionately. Having collected himself after the first semi-forced ogling he saw no further need to pay homage to her attractiveness. She asked if they were convinced by what she could offer. Her city offered a great deal of carnal delights and safety, to be certain, but it was the underbelly he was interested in. People came to Lyre's Rest to, well, rest and that made them prime targets. Her city was a font of information waiting to be gathered. Even putting that aside the rumors of an artifact in the woods was what his primary goal here was.<br><br>"Perhaps," he said after the Curse Eater spoke "but Eclipse doesn't work simply for the sake of the people. You speak of profit but what profit is there to be had?"<br><br>He took a few steps forward.<br><br>"The pleasures of this city, while they might be enough for me, they will not suffice for Eclipse. Something more must be offered for the God of Shadows to lend his aid," he said with a slight bow.<br><br>He made his smile apologetic. Tomas Illisante was just the messenger after all and he'd help if he could. But what man could defy his god right? Perhaps this request for something to be offered would shed light on what the others were seeking. Imre could be in this simply for the bonds between his people and Lyre's Rest. Faustina could be here simply for something to do. But what exactly was Hafkar in for? A place to bring his people to settle? That would be the obvious choice for all of them but people were rarely as obvious as they seemed even if they didn't know it. He couldn't risk using his divine power to examine their motives without risking giving away that he was, indeed, Eclipse himself.<br><br>What a bother.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Knarfy</strong> on <strong>02-09-2017, 19:23:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://s6.postimg.org/59pkrt11d/Earth_Sky_Sword_Purp_Bust.png)</div>Faustina watched Nadiya molest her servant with interest. <em>'That looks fun...'</em> She thought, though she wasn't sure whether she would rather be in the place of the goddess or servant.<br><br>She only half-listened to Nadiya's proposal. Faustina trusted Imre enough to decide whether it was worth their time. Speaking of Imre...<br><br>Faustina slipped around to wrap her arms around him from behind. She ran her hands over his chest, partially mimicking Nadiya's treatment of her servant. "Hey Imre..." She murmured in his ear. "Why don't we ever do stuff like that?" Her breath was cool on his cheek.<br><br>Her hands explored down his body, slipping under his clothes and quickly finding the evidence of his appreciation for the display in front of him. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A flame against the dark - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>03-09-2017, 19:06:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Imre was about to make a well-reasoned argument about how working with Nadiya would benefit Raktia as a whole, but then Faustina made her move. He gaped like a landed fish. "I..err....Faustina?!" He turned to look at her in surprise. He'd known her a long time but he'd never really thought of her in that way before. She was beautiful, but she was also cold and somewhat distant, so he'd always thought of her as a friend and a capable warrior and not so much as a woman with sexual desires. <br><br>Not to say her touch was a bad thing. He found him hardening even more in her hands.<br><br>"I didn't think you were interested in such things Faustina. And I didn't want to impose on our friendship."
			</dd>
		</dl>
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