Exalted: Orgiastic Triumph of the Chosen

[HookerBoots]

Ivory Dawn hummed to herself as she dropped some of the vegetables they'd been able to grab from the Potentate's house into a pot, freshly chopped. This was kind of nice - no wonder people wanted to be chefs and such. She pirouetted to the table in the kitchen, and almost ran face-first into Tor. They both blinked at each other for a second before he smiled shyly at her. "Did you need any help with this?"

She shook her head. "No, no, it's all right. You should be resting, in any case." It was funny, she thought, watching his face turn stubborn, how quickly you could come to know someone. "But . . . okay, here." Ivory Dawn grabbed up a clean piece of stone that she'd been using as a cutting board and set it at the edge of the table, directly in front of a chair. "You can help, and rest at the same time."

As Tor settled himself at the table, Ivory Dawn brought over the sausages that had also been taken from the Potentate's palace - the servants had been generous once they were sure the group wasn't going to eat them. "Slice these up, please, and I'll find some herbs and such to mix in." He went to work with the knife she presented to him as she went to her medicine case and pulled out a few packets.

"Which ones are those?" he asked, his eyes following her hands as she dipped her hand into one. "I thought all the things in there were for healing."

"Well . . . mostly." She almost blushed, and then shrugged. "Here, taste." She held out the bag that she was working with, letting him dip a finger into it and taste the spicy powder inside. "That's good for colds, and the sniffles, but it also tastes good." Another pouch was opened, and the slender stalks inside were added to the pot as well, one of them going into Tor's mouth. "Those are like onions, right? Good for a toothache, but they work for onion flavor, too."

He looked impressed. "I didn't know there was that much to it." Thinking back, however, his mother had done a lot with the herbs she grew as well, cooking and herb-craft. "That's very interesting."

Ivory Dawn shrugged, actually blushing this time. "I suppose. So, what made you offer to help? Most men wouldn't have bothered."

It was his turn to blush. "I . . . owe you a lot for helping me with my back and leg. The least I could do is help with this." He went back to cutting up the sausages. "And you got hurt, by someone I'm responsible for. This is really the least I could do."

~ ~ ~ ~​

"I don't know," Ivory Dawn said, spreading her hands. She and Tri were shaking out the linens from the bed upstairs, ridding them of gods-knew how many years of dust and spiders. Actually, she was - Tri was walking with her but not helping, on doctor's orders. "It could just have been rough sex talk, but . . . ." She shrugged, grabbing another sheet and shaking it roughly.

"You don't think it was." Tri's face was thoughtful, her eyes looking past the motes of dust that flitted through the air.

Ivory Dawn sighed. "I don't think it was entirely. I think it was rough sex talk, but I also think she'd like it to be true." She roughly folded the sheet in her hands, handing it to Tri. "Just a feeling, though. Nothing concrete."

As Ivory Dawn started to shake another sheet free from its protective grime, Tri nodded. "It's something to keep in mind, though."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Sighing, Gunesh sat down on the front step of the farmhouse, his face a little embarrassed and bemused. "I really don't think this is a good idea."

Ivory Dawn beamed at him. "Of course it is! Even if you're a beginner, it's a drum! Anyone can keep rhythm!" Her smile turned sly and a little seductive. "And I know you can. Please?"

Tri sat down next to him, holding her own pan and stick that matched his. "I know you can too," she said teasingly, nudging him. They both held metal pans and wooden sticks, while Ivory Dawn wore one of the dresses from the farmstead, her kilted up to expose her knees and keep the hem from dragging in the dirt. "We should consider asking Scarlet next time - she's very musical, I think. So, on our count?"

The dancer nodded, taking up a classical dancing pose. She didn't want to tell Tri that she'd thought about asking Scarlet - but that the girl had looked so troubled and distant when Ivory Dawn went to approach her that she'd done nothing more than invite her to watch the impromptu dance rehearsal if she wanted to. "Whenever you're ready." Tri counted off the beats and speed quickly, and Ivory Dawn raised an eyebrow at her before moving into an intricate dance that hadn't been what she'd intended to do, but that fit the beat that Tri and Gunesh were keeping perfectly.

~ ~ ~ ~​

Pressing Tor into a seated position on the bedrolls in front of the fireplace, Ivory Dawn gestured at him. "Come on, Tor. Off with the shirt, let me change those bandages."

He was a little reluctant, but Tri's grin from where she was sitting was impudent. "It's all right, Tor. We've all seen it - and liked it - before right now."

As he flushed and yanked his shirt over his head, Ivory Dawn turned and winked at Tri, then pointed a finger. "Don't get too sassy, miss. I'm going to check you out after I'm done here." Her fingers found the seams in the bandages quickly and unwrapped them, exposing the young man's wounded back to the air and the rest of the room. "Oh, these look a lot better," the copper-haired healer murmured, her fingers moving over the gashes.

The wounds had scabbed over, and the skin around them looked smooth, if bruised. "They don't hurt as much," Tor offered, his hands clenched nervously on his legs.

"I bet they don't." Ivory Dawn turned to reach for her bag, and found Scarlet there, the bag in her hands and offering it to Ivory Dawn. "Thank you," the copper-haired dancer said, smiling warmly up at the beautiful young woman. "We'll do something different tonight, Tor."

His head turned slightly. "Oh?" There was a hint of worry in his voice, and she grinned soothingly.

Her slender fingers pulled out a small bone jar. "Yes. It won't hurt - lay down on your stomach, and I'll put this salve on your back." She opened the top of it, and the smell of astringent herbs and fresh aloe wafted around the room slowly. "Then we'll leave it be until bed, and wrap you up again then."

 

[Kinkerhell]

Scarlet polishes her sword blades, stopping every now and again to scrub off some of the gunk that one fair folk or other used for blood. Around her feet was a scattering of strange bits of effluvium; pieces of amber, bits of coral, flakes of rock and ash. She hums quietly as she works, cleaning until the black metal gleams with an oiled brilliance, the strokes of her polishing cloth moving in time with the simple little song she's keeping. In the kitchen, Ivory Dawn is talking to Tor about spices and the rest of the circle is elsewhere. Standing up and sliding her blades away, Scarlet hangs her swordbelt up by her cloak next to the door and goes into the kitchen to kibbitz.

~~~~~​

The early evening air is crisp and cool, and its no longer raining. Alone but able to see Ivory Dawn and Tri at the other end of the yard, Scarlet stretches and begins a very simple set of exercises, too basic to even be called a proper kata. She's not much of a martial artist, but she is flexible and quick, and the time may be coming where she'll need to be able to fight with more than just her blades.

As she moves through the exercises with increasing speed, her body starts to warm up and soon she's moving with her usual fluid grace. Spontaneously, she begins to depart the preset exercises, moving in ways that wouldn't have occurred to her were she to think of them even a moment before. She speeds up, increasing her movements into a dizzying whirl, and then, unbidden, her essence leaps forth.

Suddenly she's more than just another practicioner. Her every motion is graceful but sharp, each movement powerful. Her hands and feet seem shrouded in shadow and leave faint after images in their wake. There is none of the awkwardness or clumsy posturing that comes with being out of practice or poorly trained. Suddenly she looks as skilled and deadly as any immaculate monk.

Scarlet's movements carry her to an old fencepost, is brothers long since fallen. She spins on one daintily pointed toe and brings her other foot scything across in a black, lightning-fast arc. The glass toe of her shoe smashes against the post and continues through it with no discernible loss of momentum whatsoever. Completing the spin, Scarlet puts her foot down and stares at the post, broken off where she kicked it. The top of the post is missing, blown into flinders by the strike. Scarlet frowns and looks closely. The top of the post is smoking, just slightly.

~~~~~​

Scarlet sits on the back stoop of the old farmhouse, listening to Ivory Dawn try to teach Gunesh and Tri about rhythm. She smiles, remembering her own first musical lessons, and her tutor's frustration at her refusal to learn how to play the cithara. In abject defeat, he began to pick at the strings, and that's when Scarlet first raised her voice in song.

Like a clear glass bell, her voice rang out high and pure, doing nothing more than catching the notes of the cithara but creating a thing of beauty nonetheless. From then on, he would play, and she would sing. She learned ballads from the old realm, laments, sprightly songs from all over the empire. It was the first thing she was really good at.

Now, listening to Ivory Dawn stamp a beat, and hearing Tri and Gunesh do an inexpert but serviceable job of holding it, Scarlet begins to sing once more. Her skills have improved beyond measure since that day, and now she picks out an elaborate counterpoint and nails it to the air. Her voice isn't loud and soaring, but it still feels good to sing, even quietly. As she watches Ivory Dawn dance, Scarlet wonders if one day perhaps Ivory Dawn will dance for her, while she calls out the music.

~~~~~​

Scarlet sits by the hearth, its warmth feeling good on her perpetually cool skin. She watches the others go about their business, reading, cooking, cleaning, talking. Except for the fact that each and every one of them is under a mark of death by the Wyld Hunt should they learn of the circle's existence, it could be a scene from any commoner's home anywhere in the realm.

The only anomaly is Cunning Starfire, who stalks about the room as she works and plays, always looking like nothing so much as a great hunting cat, even when on two legs. Several times, Scarlet catches the Lunar staring at her, and the expression on her face isn't angry so much as calculating. Scarlet grimaces and checks to make sure her blades are in easy reach. She knows she's made an enemy of the Lunar, and she'd best be careful from now on.

Still, that is a worry for another day. Smiling for the benefit of the rest of the circle, Scarlet rises and goes to get ready for bed. Another day is ending, and with it will soon go the protection of the Fae noble. Soon, it will be time to be on the move again.

 

[Armphid]

By agreement they had risen barely after dawn, though Tor and Triumphant Mantis were awake the moment the edge of the sun broke over the horizon. The cool morning was still and quiet and there was little speech as a quick breakfast was prepared and eaten.

Though no one was likely going to use it again, by silent consent the circle went about cleaning up the small farmstead. It seemed to baffle Cunning Starfire, who merely watched as she sat on one of the fence posts, her head tilted to one side like a house cat who was not quite sure what she was seeing. Tor cleaned out the hearth and dumped the ashes before refilling the firewood tray both inside and by the kitchen door. Tri turned down the linens and put the ones they had chosen not to take with them away, while Gunesh swept and Ivory Dawn tidied up the kitchen.

The sun was fully above the horizon by the time they had finished their work and were ready to go, Gunesh and Tor leading their steeds out of the barn. Tri mounted and smiled then, "This was a nice little place. Perhaps we can return here someday. But now, we must be on our way."

There was no doubt of that. Even if tales of Anathema hadn't reached Cayir itself and the garrison been loosed to find them, any troops loyal to the lord could have followed the trail of dead grass to the edge of the raksha noble's veil. Tor pulled himself into a saddle, resplendent in his silver storied armor. The massive scythe was strapped across his back, yet it did not slow or hinder him, for he made light of such burdens. "Cunning Starfire and I weren't really going anywhere. I just felt I had to come this way." He looked down and flushed slightly before looking over the group, his eyes coming to rest on Scarlet, "I think maybe...I was supposed to come and meet you."

Gunesh smiled and kept himself from rolling his eyes. Young love. "Maybe so. What little I've been able to remember or dredge up suggests that we tended to work together in groups back in the First Age." He shrugged, "Either way I'd say there's safety in numbers."

"Agreed," Tri said. "I also think that for now, we should stick to the original plan that Gunesh, Ivory Dawn, and myself had. To go to Cayir and my temple there to figure out our next move." She shook her head, "The satrap has to pay for what he's been doing to the people; selling them out to the Fair Folk when he should be guarding them. But moving against him is something we're going to want to plan out."

Cunning Starfire yawned loudly. "We are going to this city, we all knew this. So while daylight we wasting we should not be talking, but going." She shook her head and leaped off of the fence post she'd been sitting on, "This place won't be safe for much longer, children. Better to talk somewhere else." The Lunar stretched, "I will keep an eye out above." She spread her arms out dramatically and her shape became flowing quicksilver folding in on itself as she leaped into the air and soared up and away as a black feathered raiton.

Gunesh watched her go and shook his head, "Charming. Not wrong though." He looked over at Tor, "Your wife is very, ah, direct."

"She's not my wife!" Tor gave the tall Dynast a hard look and shook his head, "Parts of us were married but that was a long time ago. I'm not sure what we are now, but...not that." The former farm boy said no more, simply pressing his horse's flanks and setting the beast into motion.

Tri sighed, "Honestly, Gunesh." The rest of the group started off at a brisk trot, quickly catching up to the youth. "Don't you have a betrothed back on the Blessed Isle yourself?" Gunesh coughed and reached back to adjust his fire wand. His cheeks were faintly red however, the first time any of them had seen the man blush.

There was no marker or sign as they crossed the threshold of the veil of glamour that had shrouded the farmstead but once there were a spear's throw out from the gate, there was a sudden sense of...not danger, or even apprehension, but awareness.

They could be seen now and everyone of them felt suddenly and oddly conspicuous. Tri took a breath, "Let's ride faster for a bit, shall we?" And so they did; urging their mounts into a canter as the wind rolled over the grass before them.

 

[SwordsOfTheDane]

As the sun crept above the horizon, Roaring Winds shuddered the dew off of his robes. It was a simple garment, wool bleached the purest white. He stretched his arms and legs languidly, relishing as his joints popped and settled themselves. It had been three days since he'd lost sense of his bonded mate. He'd yet to find a dead solar, piles of terrestrials or even blasted craters from a battle. He looked up to the tree he'd slept against, one of a ring of eight that bordered the clearing. As he munched on the remains of the deer he'd caught the day before he almost choked when he felt it. The stirring in his very being that had called him to this region.

He left the rest of the carcass, nature would take it. He shrugged off his robes and methodically folded them into a deceptively small parcel. He stood there in the middle of the clearing, naked as the day of his birth, his tattoos glistening in the rising sun's light. His edges seemed to ripple, his entire body distorting and shuddering before contracting and lengthening. In a hearts beat the man, Roaring winds, was gone, replaced by the splendid form of a Great Eagle. He carefully hopped over to where his robes were folded and gingerly picked them up in his left talon. He closed his eyes and concentrated on where the sensation of his bondholder was pulling him. He spread his wings and started flap, the thirty feet of wings throwing a horrible gale around the clearing, tossing leaves, sticks and other detritus about as he slowly ascended.

Taking wing towards the impulse, he was vaguely aware of how strange a Great Eagle would look. He rode the air currents, occasionally banking tighter than needed or diving too deeply, he'd never dreamed of feeling this sensation the wind around him knowing his flight is under nothing but his own strength. He indulged himself in a single cry.

Roaring Winds felt himself drawing very close, a part of his soul almost was quivering. He started to follow the road spying a group of horsemen. As he drew closer, he noted there were five and closer, two men and three women. He started to ascend again, not wanting to seem too obvious. As he did he noticed there was a raiton that seemed to be following them.

It would seem that one of them has a familiar... Winds thought to himself as he continued to rise.

He continued past the riders and on for a quarter mile before he noticed the stirring pulling him back, He'd found who he sought. He lazily banked around and started made his way back towards the riders, staying high above. He'd follow the riders and from there narrow down which was his partner.

 

[Kinkerhell]

It was good to be moving again. They'd left the farmhouse early that morning, riding toward Cayir. The rains had left and the world seemed new again, scoured clean and brightly lit by the sun. In the light, Scarlet's silky armor shimmers, and there are darker lines within it. Close inspection would reveal the catechisms for the dead in seven languages picked out into tiny letters all over the armor. Her hair seems aflame, glowing in the light, and her skin seems as pure snow, shining and white.

As they ride, the circle talks and jokes. Scarlet even sings a bit, delighting the others with a bawdy tune from the west, eliciting much laughter. When the great shadow passes them by, Scarlet barely even notices, too wrapped up in the simple delight of riding with her new friends. Her horse, a dappled grey mare named Stormcloud, shies suddenly and Scarlet looks round in alarm. Ahead, just passing them and ascending into the blue, is a great eagle. Scarlet's pretty eyes widen as she sees the magnificent bird. It is huge even for its breed, and is a pale color she'd never seen.

Scarlet's eyes narrow then. Great eagles are native to the northern forests. This one is awfully far afield. So why is it here? It circles around and continues on and Scarlet shakes her head. Her paranoia is getting out of hand.

Then the thing banks, turning a slow circle, and Scarlet's eyebrows climb her brow. For the next hour she watches the great raptor, noting its movements. It seems, ludicrous as it sounds, to be following them. She's heard of Haltans taming the creatures. Was this more than just a bird? Quietly, Scarlet hands her reins to Tor without a word, then swings off her saddle and walks back up the road a bit. Behind her, she hears the horses halt and turns around, waving them on. Then she turns again, facing the direction the Eagle had just circled toward.

Scarlet flexes her shoulders in a precise manner, and the great red-feathered wings burst from her tattoos. She gathers herself and leaps, beating her wings, and shoots into the air like an arrow from a bow, gaining speed and altitude. She heads straight for the great eagle, and is relieved hat, as she gets closer, she sees no rider on the bird's back. The bird itself seems a bleached version of a normal great eagle, but with eyes shining as yellow as her own. Suddenly there's a flash of memory, blotting out the world...

Her blonde hair ripples in the wind. Vaznia Yozibane, Kal Bax, and the rest of their circle had departed for their hidden fastness, but she, Iria Sunfire, had refused to go. Now she would face the terrestrial usurpers alone.

Well, not totally alone.

She reaches down and strokes the neck of her lunar mate, who carried her toward their doom as a great eagle, his silvery pinions flashing underneath her gold-gauntleted hand. They may die today, but they would die together, as celestials, as exalts, as mates.

The flash of memory is so strong that Scarlet blacks out for a second, losing her concentration. Just then, she crosses through a thermal updraft and the sudden change in condition upsets her delicate control over her flight. She screams as she is thrown into a sudden rolling spin, whirling like an upset top, and begins to fall to earth.

 

[SwordsOfTheDane]

Winds' eyes widened seeing the wings sprout out of the tiny woman's back. He wasn't expecting anything like that, these were very definitely the group he needed to be following. There was an animal thrill, the hunt was coming to it's climax. His heart began to race, he was a predator discovered. He tried to look natural but that was like trying to parade a Warstrider through Nexus unquestioned.

He looked down towards the woman as she shot up towards him. He wasn't expecting any kind of violent confrontation but he mentally began to prepare for the closing woman to try and attack him. She stopped and he didn't know why.
There was a flash, a surge through his mind and spirit, this woman was his bondholder.

Did Belladonna lie? Do both ends feel the bond? Was that why she flew up to him? or was it because he was less than inconspicuous? His mind swam with questions as he tried to focus on the potential upcoming confrontation.

His body immediately sprang into action. His talon opened to loose the robes as he tucked his wings and dove towards the woman. He felt the wind wrapping around him as he sped towards to his Solar. Unable to restrain himself, he loosed a keening cry as he was scant feet from her, talons forward in a raptors dive. His wings flashed open as he wrapped his talons around the slender woman's arms just below the shoulders trying to avoid digging into her flesh with his claws. His wide span immediately redirected his, and her, momentum away from the rushing earth below them.

Winds banked gently, trying to leave his recently caught load as unjostled as possible. He circled, slowly descending. When he was about two yards above the ground he released the young woman and flapped above her hovering.

 

[Armphid]

"What's she doing?" Tor frowned as Scarlet waved them on and her wings burst into life on her back, leaping into the air like an arrow fired from a bow.

"She noticed the eagle," Gunesh said, pointing. "That's not an animal native to this part of Creation and she thinks it means trouble, so she's going to check it out." He pulled a metal chevron from his belt, "But she shouldn't go alone. I'll-"

Before he could go on Scarlet suddenly tumbled through the air and she screamed. Tor's horse leaped forward as soon as the sound hit his ears, the beast's hooves tearing up grass and great clods of earth. The youth urged the beast on as best he could, "Scarlet!"

He wasn't going to be fast enough to catch her! His heart seized and he felt a sudden burst of a feeling well known from his life before Exalting, furious impotence. Helpless rage.

He could hear the others riding hard behind him but it didn't matter. None of them would be in time. Cunning Starfire! Where was she? She could-

But then the eagle dove and snatched her up. Tor cried out, fearing that the bird would kill her if the fall wouldn't. But it seemed to try and break her plunge, swinging back in their general direction with her held in it's talons. He couldn't see if those terrible clutches held her or had speared into her.

She fell to the earth, the vast bulk of the enormous raptor hovering above her. Tor thundered up and came off his horse's back, half of his will and half thrown by his mount. The beast neighed and reared up, galloping away madly. He hit the ground hard and rolled, grunting at the impact, rising to his feet immediately, never ceasing moving towards Scarlet and the huge avian form of the eagle.

He held out his hand and Hope flew from the cunning setting on the back of his breastplate and into it, the long, cruel blade gleaming in the light of the risen fun. "Get back!" He advanced on the bird and the fallen girl, and his Caste Mark burned like fiery gold on his forehead, "If you hurt her, I'll kill you!"

"Tor!" Triumphant Mantis reigned in her mount not far away, holding out a hand towards him, "Wait! The bird saved her! Calm down, it's all right."

"Such excitement!" Cunning Starfire was human again, nude as almost always, sitting cross legged on a white stone that reared up out of the tall grass. Her moonsilver tattoos gleamed on her dark skin and her smile was wicked. "Tor, give them space. It's a private thing, finding your other half. You remember, don't you?"

Of course, she might be wrong. But she wouldn't bet on it. The eagle had not behaved like any animal would in this situation; certainly not like an actual raptor. Which narrowed the field of possibilities dramatically. "Perhaps her mate has come to carry her off to live happily ever after, won't that be nice?"

 

[HookerBoots]

Ivory Dawn dismounted, her eyes traveling over the pair that just fell from the sky. "You know," she said to Cunning Starfire as she passed, "being a panther part of the time doesn't mean you should be catty all the time." She pushed a coppery curl from her forehead and walked her horse slowly towards the scene of the action.

That was the biggest bird she'd ever seen. Dangerous. "Scarlet," she called, coming up behind Tor. "Are you okay? Should we try to scare this thing away?". Her head tilted, and she looked at the bird again, her eyes searching. "Or are you what Cunning Starfire says you are?"

If it was true, it was getting kind of crazy! Next thing, they'd find out that the stories she'd heard about men made of jade coming from the south was true.

 

[SwordsOfTheDane]

Wings slowed his flapping and dropped to the ground, his body rippling and blurring feathers falling away from his body in a flurry revealing a well formed man underneath.

When his feet touched the ground he was fully human. His hair was a platinum blonde that splayed wildly in a slightly unruly mess around his head, some bits seeming to defy gravity and styling. His eyes were a hazel, with golden yellow flecks in them. His features were very decidedly northern, the far north.

He was tall, well over six feet, maybe six-eight if he stood entirely rigid. His body was, beautiful, it was not a mass of rippling muscles and sharply defined tendons, but all soft edges and undefined lines. If one examined him closely they would note that there was definition in his abs, arms, legs and chest, but there was a layer of mass over them that softened his form to look as though he would be pleasing to touch. His tattoos glinted in the morning sun, they started at his collar bones and traced paths down his musculature and along essence lines. His arms and legs ended in broad hands and powerful feet, both showing evidence of years of bare handed and bare foot living.

He very quickly eyed the group of people, giving the copper haired woman only a cursory look and glossing over the other man and woman. His gaze lingered on the red haired woman he'd just plucked out of the air, She was his mate, that much was certain to him, he'd give her more inspection later. His eyes flashed to the Lunar woman, Cunning Starfire. He would, unless things turned very poorly very quickly, speak with his elder sister later. Her presence complicated things. Which brought him to the one that held his gaze the longest, and the hardest, the young Solar boy with the scythe. He'd directly threatened him; This Lawgiver spoke to him like he was some beast to be cowed by shouts and a hard stance.

"It is as the two women say, This woman," he gestured to Scarlet, "holds my bond." He looks Tor in the eye, it's a hard thing, like permafrost in the middle of a winters midnight, his pupils beginning to change ever so slightly pointing at the top and bottom, irises yellowing. "And you, Lawgiver have no right to order me."

 

[Kinkerhell]

There are certain points at which the mortal mind can no longer handle the stresses of a given situation. When this limit is reached, some go catatonic, ceasing to react to external pressures. This is common in such cases as rape victims, who retreat inside themselves to escape their torment. The other dominant reaction, however, is that a person snaps, lashing out.

This reaction is most common in cases of militant godlike super-beings.

"ENOUGH!!" Scarlet thunders, getting a surprising roar out of her small body. Her blades flash free but she doesn't know who to turn them on. First, she looks at Tor.

"Tor, please. He saved my life. There's no need to harm him. Yet." Her tone turns a little miffed. "And if he needed harming, believe me, I'm certain that I'm up to the task." Then she turns to the newcomer.

"You, sir, I thank. You've saved my life, and I believe you when you say you are my bond-mate. I...remember you. We will talk about this, but perhaps we should get going and talk as we move. But you will respect my companions. You are the intruder here, not they."

She turns last to Cunning Starfire. "You know, I'm beginning to feel that you don't particularly like me. Yes, this man is my bond-mate, but I'm not going anywhere. If you don't like my presence here, either leave or fight me, but quit your passive-aggressive whining either way. It doesn't suit an exalt, even one as pathetic as you. If you can't be civil or hold your tongue, let me know, I'd be happy to remove it for you."

Scarlet deliberately turns her back on Cunning Starfire and begins walking back to her horse, waving for the huge lunar to follow her.

 

[Armphid]

"My name's not Lawgiver, stranger." He felt power flowing through him and the might of his body growing; the hard gaze of the big man and the threat in his words apparent. "And it wasn't an order; it was a chance for you." If this man wanted a fight, he'd have one. He knocked Scarlet out of the sky, even if he had managed to catch her afterward. "My name is-"

He would have said more, but then Scarlet cried out. The force of the shout startled him; cutting through the air to strike almost as if it were a physical thing. Her words after stung him; his shock at the mild rebuke in the last sentence she addressed to him plain on his face.

He wanted to hit the bird-man even more now. Tor closed his eyes and his hands tightened on Hope's handle with a force that would have cracked and splintered mere wood. Yet as he gripped it harder and harder, Scarlet's dreams sang to him in the vaults of his mind.

For her.

Tor took a deep breath and choked his anger, his desire to fight down. But it didn't go away. He could almost feel it crouching under his stomach, simmering and eating at him. His eyes opened and he nodded silently to Scarlet as she walked past him. He was stung by her words, by her assumption that he thought she couldn't fight. That wasn't it at all...he wanted to stand up for her like she had for him. But he'd done it wrong, it seemed.

Cunning Starfire listened to Scarlet and as she did so, her smile grew and grew. When the girl turned her back to her, the Lunar just threw her head back and laughed. She laughed long and hard, her hands on her belly and her breasts shaking.

Gunesh and Tri shared a long look. The Dynast's expression was wry and long suffering. Tri gave him a bit of a reproving look and nudged her horse forward, "Thank you, sir, for saving our friend," she said to the strange man. "We're heading to Cayir, please join us. I won't request it, but if you'd be willing, I would be glad to host you at my home when we get to town, as thanks."

Tor's shoulders tensed even more as he heard the offer. But it was fair, and Tri was a generous woman with what she had. He couldn't be mad at her for that. "You should ride on. I have to catch my horse." He'd driven the beast beyond his ability to control in his attempt to reach Scarlet and it had run off a fair way now. He set the heart-forged scythe back in its place. "Don't worry, I'll catch up and be able to ask the way on my own."

Cunning Starfire's laughter finally stilled and she sat back up on her rock, "I'll stay and help him. We will come quick once the steed is calmed." She hopped down into the grass and gave Roaring Winds an appraising glance and then inclined her head respectfully to him. "I would like to talk with you as well, Beloved of Luna, if you are willing." She could have demanded it likely, but she wouldn't. There wasn't need and it didn't hurt her to show a fellow Lunar courtesy. And he didn't seem to like the Sun Children.

How marvelous!

 

[HookerBoots]

Ivory Dawn sighed and ran one hand down her braid - one long copper plait this time. It just wasn't in the cards for their group to have a peaceful journey, superhuman abilities or no. "My horse dashed off a bit, too, but in the other direction." She gestured to the four-legged shape grazing near a tree. "I'll grab it and catch up with you all."

As the other hour headed off in the direction of Cayir, and Tor and Cunning Starfire headed off to catch his errant steed, Ivory Dawn stood for a moment, watching the others before turning and marching off after her horse. The beast hadn't traveled very far, but it was still a good walk for her, letting the dancer stretch her legs. She mounted up easily, then decided that, instead of running after Tri and the others, she would meet back up with Cunning Starfire and Tor and head back in a group. Less chance of being separated on the trip, that way.

As she neared where they were, trudging through tall grass towards his horse, the wind shifted and she caught a snatch of conversation between the two of them. ". . . really, my Tor. It was easier on our own."

Ivory Dawn couldn't tell for sure, but she thought she saw the young man shake his head. "I . . . don't know. It seems like it would be safer with the others."

Cunning Starfire shrugged. "You're still so new to your power, and they're so . . . strange from you, it's no wonder if you feel confused and frustrated." She put a hand on his shoulder, turning to look at him. "I just want you to be able to grow the best way." Her head turned a bit more, and she smiled. "Hello, Ivory Dawn."

Nudging her horse into a trot, the copper-haired Solar caught up with them. "Hello. I thought it would be safer if we all caught up at once instead of in small groups. I didn't mean to overhear."

Tor seemed flushed, his eyes downcast. "It's all right. Starfire was just asking my opinion on something."

The dark-skinned Lunar nodded and looked up at the stunning dancer. "I think that Tor and I should leave the group - it's gotten so large so fast," she said, forgetting that they'd only joined up a few days before, and had been the biggest addition so far, "and I don't like the way that Scarlet talked to Tor back there." Her eyes turned a little sly. "You've noticed, right? She's a little . . . off-putting, sometimes."

Ivory Dawn tilted her head. "She's different from anyone I've met, yes." She shrugged. "But then, so am I, and so are both of you." She nudged her horse again, and he moved forward slowly. "I don't know that it's a choice to be made in haste, or anger. That's all." She tapped her heels against the gelding's side, and rode up to the loose horse, making a deft grab for the reins before it could bolt again, lulled into confidence by the presence of one of his "herd".

As she handed the reins to Tor, Ivory Dawn looked at him with a small, sincere smile. "At least wait until we get to Cayir. It's a city, and there will be a lot of options, if you decide you want to leave us." He mounted slowly, and she added, "I'd also feel better being sure that those wounds on your back are as healed as they can be before I let you go off on your own."

Tor looked at her for a moment. "All right. That sounds good." He glanced at Cunning Starfire. "Does that sound like a good compromise?"

Her eyes were hard as topaz, but she nodded. "Very well, my Tor." She spread her arms again and shifted into her raiton form. The bird shape crawed at them, and headed off the way they'd came, clearly meaning them to follow.

Ivory Dawn smiled at him, and heeled her horse into a canter. "Come on, we don't want to lose them!"

 

[SwordsOfTheDane]

Roaring Winds felt torn, Cunning Starfire has asked him to go with her and the gutsy child-solar, but he felt it was more pressing to sort out what kind of, if any, working relationship he night have with his mate. It was twisting him, He felt he could trust his sister implicitly, and she would have nothing but his best interests at heart. Another part of him was telling him to go with the red tressed woman he'd plucked out of the air. It was slightly maddening.

He looked at his hands, and then to the two groups, His mate walking towards her horse, still back turned to him, and his sister and the boy. He closed his eyes, That boy, he was alright, willing to charge to what could have very well been his bloody and violent death. The Sun-child had honor to him, if not wisdom. He was strangely happy to see that there was someone willing to throw away their life for his mate.

He turned over the last few seconds of exchange behind closed eyes. Cunning Starfire apparently had some kind of distemper towards his Bond-mate. His mate was in a foul mood and willing to attack him if she felt he needed it. He'd been invited by the copper haired woman to come with them, and then waved on by his mate. This was not what he'd expected, not by any extent.

When he opened his eyes and looked around he immediately felt embarrassed. The copper haired woman went with Cunning Starfire and the boy, the other three had started to ride off, and he was just standing there like a statue. He quickly melted into the form of a large canine and took off into the woods, returning seconds later carrying the robes in his mouth and running to catch up with the horses.
Sister, I hope you'll forgive me this, but I need to find out about her,

 

[Kinkerhell]

Scarlet is just remounting her horse, her wings banished and her blades re-sheathed, when she hears the soft footfalls of an animal coming from behind her. She looks down and to her right just in time to see a huge dog come padding up beside her horse. For a moment she's surprised at the sudden presence of a large, friendly canine. Then she sees the yellow eyes and notes the pale color of its fur. The pieces all drop into place and she says, "You're back."

The dog turns its head to regard her with one glinting yellow eye and she meets its gaze stare for stare. Then it nods once and keeps trotting along as Scarlet nudges her horse into a walk. The dog remains a dog and Scarlet begins to speak.

"All right then. Well, you can't talk like that, so just listen for a while as I give you the details of our merry band." Scarlet points first to Tri. "That's Triumphant Mantis. She's a priestess of sorts, very friendly, and I owe her a debt of protection for a past wrong." She points to Gunesh next. "That's Tepet Gunesh, a Dynast-turned-Exalt and a craftsman of no small skill."

Next Scarlet points behind her. "The young man who challenged you is Torasin. He used to be a peasant until he came into the fullness of his power. He's young and brave, and that scythe he carries is forged by the fair ones." She doesn't add what its made out of. "The copper-haired woman is Ivory Dawn, a dancer. I don't know what else she does, but there's more to her than just dance and a pretty face, heartstopping though it is." Scarlet quirks a small smile and looks down at her saddlebow.

"Then there's me, and apparently I'm your mate. Well, I've got news for you, Luna's Chosen. First, I'm not even sure I'm a solar. My powers are...different, somehow. Second, no one has a hold on me. Not your demon-spawned moon sister Cunning Starfire, not the Raksha, no one. I am my own woman. If you don't like that or can't deal with it, you'd best leave now rather than be disappointed later." Scarlet's voice goes icy cold. "And you will never, ever do what your sister did and hurt any member of this circle. If you do, I'll kill you myself, and the bond be damned!"

With that proclamation, Scarlet thumps her heels against the sides of her horse, nudging it into a canter down the road to Cayir.

 

[Armphid]

Tor could have kissed Ivory Dawn when she came up on he and Cunning Starfire. She'd interrupted a conversation he wasn't at all happy with, and given him a way to respond that was far more diplomatic than what he'd been about to say to his Lunar mate about the subject.

Cunning Starfire probably did have his best interests in mind; she'd come so far to find him and help him get his feet under him, after all. But he was also sure that her jealousy and dislike of Scarlet were the main reasons why she wanted to separate from the others. He'd been about ten seconds away from reminding her of what she'd said back at the farmstead about her age, and that it should mean that she didn't behave like a jealous child.

Which would have gone pretty badly, he was sure. So he owed Ivory Dawn one more.

Within a few hours ride, the city of Cayir and it's high walls could be seen in the near distance. It was not a large city, just on this side from simply being a large town, and if it did not have the port and docks would never have gotten that large.

They angled back towards the main road; pausing where it joined to take a brief meal of their provisions and rest the steeds before continuing. Tri looked over the group as they were in the middle of eating and softly cleared her throat, "While we're taking a break, I thought we might talk a bit." She smiled winningly, "I'm happy to host you all when we get to town, of course, but I just wanted to make sure of everyone's intent when we get there."

The blond woman looked at their newest addition directly, "Particularly yours, sir. I don't want or need a full account of your business, but I would appreciate at least your name." Her smile became a bit lascivious, "You were willing to show us a good bit earlier, so I presume that something like that wouldn't be too much, would it?"

 

[SwordsOfTheDane]

Roaring Winds had had his tail low since he was spoken to by His mate, his pace slowed for moment until he was padding behind the horses. He replayed the little speech in his head, matching names to faces and body types.
Did she just order me? He felt indignant, almost outright insulted for some reason. He knew it was within her power, but it hurt for some reason. He was not some beast to be ordered. Sure, he wore the skin of a dog at the moment, but he was a man.
When they came to a crotch in the road and stopped, while the rest quietly ate Roaring Winds had leaned himself against a tree, not removed from the group but not participating. He did his best to conceal it, but he knew he must look like a petulant child. When the blonde woman, Triumphant Mantis as she was identified, spoke to him, he looked over, his face a porcelain mask. "My name is Roaring Winds. And my business is with her," He gestured to his mate. "though it would seem, some things are already known to her..." His voice trailed off, his body shifting almost imperceptibly under the white robes.
He knew it might be difficult, but this was not something he was able to easily deal with. His muscles were tensing without his will.

 

[HookerBoots]

Ivory Dawn almost rolled her eyes at the pale man's response to Tri's question. Were all Lunars such unabated, tunnel-visioned asses? That wasn't fair, but given that Cunning Starfire seemed convinced that she and Tor were sufficient alone, even after they met the Fair Folk, and this fellow's fixation on Scarlet and downright rudeness to anyone else, it certainly seemed that way.

But she managed a languorous smile, and took a sip of water. "You know my intentions, Tri," she said, her voice pitched to carry around the group. "I'm traveling with you, because you and Gunesh and I were working towards the same ends before we ever met. And I plan to continue to do so in the future, barring any catastrophic betrayals or capture by the Hunt," she added jokingly.

Gunesh looked over his shoulder at the road, shaking his head. "You shouldn't joke about them," he said in a low voice. "I saw one once, before I . . . you know," he gestured to his forehead. "They're terrifying, and they wouldn't capture you, or any of us." He made a peasant's gesture to ward off evil, something that seemed incongruous with what she knew of him. "They don't take prisoners."

Her expression was chastened. "I've never seen them, so I didn't . . . I didn't know." Now she wondered if the Exalt that had been killed in the Hunt he'd seen had been someone he knew. She couldn't ask, of course, but it was possible. Unsatisfied curiosity was so frustrating, and dangerous! "In any case, that's my intent. My path would have lead to the satrap eventually, and Cayir is where he is." She shrugged, brushing crumbs from her front.

Cunning Starfire yawned languidly, stretched out on the ground. "I travel with Tor, and he has told me we will go to Cayir," she said, glancing at Ivory Dawn. "We will make further decisions then, but we are with you to Cayir, at the least." The silver-tattooed woman examined her nails for a moment, then said, with convincing sincerity, "And I thank you for your offer of lodging, Resplendent Sun."

 

[Kinkerhell]

Scarlet is about to reply to Roaring Winds when Ivory Dawn speaks up, and the conversation turns to the Wyld Hunt. Scarlet hadn't really thought about them before, but she should have. She is comfortable in her killing prowess, but without seeing the others in a full-blown battle, she can't speak as to their ability to hold their own. If the hunt came, would they be ready?

Scarlet cocks her head as Cunning Starfire speaks, and despite her best efforts, her expression sours. She doesn't know what to make of her supposed "mate," doesn't even know the lore behind such a bond. She'll have to ask Gunesh, as he seems the most learned of the group. Her own talents lie in music and killing, nothing more.

Scarlet stands, and says, "Well, staying or going, we'd better get moving. The farmhouse may have been shrouded from mortal sight, but the hunt will be in the area by now, and every moment we tarry is one more that the shikari can use to find use." Turning to Cunning Starfire she adds, acid sweetness dripping from her every word, "I'm sure that we are all delighted to keep your company as far as Cayir. I myself just wouldn't be able to bear leaving you alone." She looks from Cunning Starfire to Ivory Dawn and back meaningfully, then turns and walks toward the horses.

"Let's move, people. A city means hiding, and hiding means safety."

 

[Armphid]

Tri raised an eyebrow at Roaring Winds brusque reply. Did the Beloved of Luna respond to everything with snappish hostility? She'd offered him hospitality, which meant something in most cultures. Not his, apparently.

Scarlet was unhappy with events as well. Inwardly, she sighed. This kind of friction between everyone could be very bad if enemies caught them. They would need to work together then and now...well, she didn't like to think of the odds of that.

But as the lithe redhead was correct about the city being an easier place to hide, the group rose and prepared to make off again. Tri pulled herself up onto her horse and looked over at Roaring Winds, "As you have dressed and it may be a bother to keep doing so and holding your clothes, if you wish, you can ride with me." She patted her horse's neck. "I think I'm light enough that the two of us won't bother my friend here."

Gunesh grimaced as he mounted but the expression was momentary. He didn't like the man because he was rude to Tri but he also knew that there was sone jealousy mixed in as well. Which didn't become him, nor was it wise. He knew his partner-in-crime well and didn't even pretend to think that he had any exclusive claim to her attentions. "Either way, we're off. If we keep to the road, we should make the city an hour before sundown, I think."

They set off down the road. There were others on the path as well, and many seemed nervous about something. Most seemed to be putting on speed to try and make the walls before dark fell.

Most of them had not been to Cayir before but even those who were strangers noticed the heavy guard at the gates. In addition to standard looking guardsmen, two fangs of Imperial Legionnaires lounged about the gate as well. Their group drew a few strange looks from guards and legionnaires alike but Tri spoke with the one who stopped them. His gaze seemed to glaze slightly as she spoke to him, her words simple but tinged with a teasing, hinting allure.

She smiled as he waved them all along after nothing more than just a cursory look over. "Welcome, my friends and guests, to Cayir. Follow me and we'll get to nice place to relax and have some of the many talks I am sure we will all have."

They went through the streets of the little city for some time before coming to a long, wide street that seemed dedicated almost exclusively to various temples and shrines. Largest, of course, was the Immaculate Temple, its iron bell ringing out the hour as they rode past. Triumphant Mantis led them to the farthest end of the street to an elegantly constructed building that was perhaps two stories in height, though it was built as a central pyramid shaped structure with a quartet of plinths about it. They were draped in clothes of blue and gold. As they approached, a voice rang out in greeting and cheer.

A small group of men and women issued forth from the building, greeting Triumphant Mantis and Gunesh with joy. The blond dismounted and went among them, exchanging embraces and a few kisses. She turned back to the others and smiled, "I'll introduce everyone at dinner, but come in, all of you. They'll take care of the horses."

The building was appealing from the outside but nothing special. However, that changed once the Exalts entered the main building proper. There was a feeling of power; tapped, controlled, and steadily flowing but subtle power. A pair of the temple's acolytes waited for them with smiling faces. Tri gestured, "If you'd like, these two will show you to the rooms we have open. Please, feel free to look around or talk, ask any questions. I need to go catch up with them and see what's going on. But you are all my guests, so please make yourselves at home."

 

[SwordsOfTheDane]

Winds was conflicted. As he sat on Tri's horse for the rest of the ride to Cayir he was silent, to any around him it was clear it was focused, contemplative. As they rode up to Tri's home he was in awe, it was magnificent. And powerful.

After they dismounted and Tri was extending even more hospitality, Winds felt his thoughts were indeed correct. They were not all bad. It was a second, but the longest second in Winds' seven years of memory. He slid up next to Triumphant Mantis, his face contrite. "Ma'am, I wish to apologize for my behavior. Until today I had rare dealing with those outside my own family, and then I was always in the position of power." his voice was a rasp. "I know that does not excuse my actions, I was not expecting to find her with others." He shifted on his feet, very clearly uncomfortable. "You, all but Cunning Starfire, what you are, it makes me nervous, a Sol-" He did not know how much Tri knew about the Bond, his nerves were making him sloppy. "Solars and Lunars have an interesting dynamic, and some of us are extremely uneasy about it.The boy, Torasin, he, for lack of a better wood, spooked me."

That sounded weak, even to him, it was the truth, he hated that it was. He, regardless of the respect he had for charging the unknown, hated the boy for triggering that part of him, only made more prominent by his Exaltation. He wanted to stop what he was doing and chastise the cub for what he'd done. He wanted to strike the red haired woman for making him feel like he has been. There were warring factions in his mind between striking down sweet Tri for all of her hospitality and to throw himself on the ground to plea for forgiveness. He wanted to temporarily abandon his quest, to forget his mate, he wanted to ask his Elder sister what he should do, she'd apparently been with this group long enough to have already established a rapport.

No, He would not go to her about this, he was a Chosen of Luna, exalted for his strength and his drive to survive, he would weather this. He cleared his throat and took a rasping breath. "I would not hold it against you to retract your invitations to me. I have been the kind of monster that the Immaculates accuse me of. I am sorry for how I spoke to you and I meant no offense." Winds stood there, head hung, feeling like a child.

 

[Armphid]

Tri's smile was genuine and beautiful and she almost seemed to glow as she shook her head and beamed up at Roaring Winds, "I would never refuse you hospitality after offering it. And considering that you didn't rape and eat me, I don't think you acted like the Immaculates say you would," she teased.

The Sun's priest put a hand on the pale young man's forearm, "Please, be at peace. I understand that the situation isn't what you expected, and I think I"d be spooked too stumbling into the whole group of us without knowing what was going on." She chuckled, "You did your fair share of spooking too, you know. It happens."

"But whatever you know about us and how we...once interacted," she shrugged, "That's not anything we know about anymore, Roaring Winds. To us, your people and even ourselves...it's all new and unknown. You're welcome here, and I would love to talk to you more about what you know of us, of your own folk, but...for your own sake, judge us by what you see, not what we're "supposed" to be like. That's all I ask."

Tri gave his forearm a squeeze and let go. My, he was strong, wasn't he? She'd have to ask Scarlet first if they were mated like Tor and Cunning Starfire, but she could think of another way to make the Lunar feel welcome. "Your apology is accepted, and it shows that you are wise enough to admit that you were wrong. May the same be said of all of us."

Tor watched the interplay between the two from the mouth of the hallway that he and the others had been beckoned down. He couldn't make out what was said...but he could get an idea. He wasn't sure what to make of it. Of any of this, really.

"Come on, kid." Gunesh and the others were further into the manse. The artificer waved for Tor to join them. "Let's get everyone settled in and I'll give you all the tour of the place. It's not much as manses go, really, but very smartly hidden." Which suited their needs perfectly right now.

Tor blinked. "This...isn't much?"

 

[HookerBoots]

"Well," Ivory Dawn said, coming up beside him, "from what I can gather, manses, by and large, are First Age relics. This, by those standards, is sort of a . . . country house, something nice when you feel like being rustic." She looked at the surprised expressions on Tor and Gunesh's faces and grinned impudently. "You aren't the only person who can read a book, Gunesh."

He shook his head. "It's not that. You just never said that you knew anything about this sort of thing." He started walking, motioning for the group to follow. "Come on, we'll cover the basics of this particular 'country house'."

The house itself was bigger than what most of them had experienced personally, and set up as a temple in parts of it. There was a small section set aside for the 'clergy' and servants that seemed to attend Tri, better furnished than the house that Ivory Dawn had grown up in. The grounds were extensive, statuary and sacred places set up in surprising places that seemed to have a pattern that the copper-haired dancer couldn't put a finger on. But the private areas of the house were impressive as well, for their simple beauty and the feeling of power that seemed to emanate from them.

When the tour reached a large room filled with a few pools of steaming water,, Ivory Dawn stopped. "Oh, my," she said distractedly. "Are these . . . baths?"

Tri grinned at her. "They are, yes. Unisex baths, actually." She looked at the group curiously, a glint of wickedness in her eyes. "You're all welcome to use them, of course, whenever you like."

Before she'd finished talking, Ivory Dawn was walking into the room, working the buttons on her leather riding clothes. "That sounds grand." She glanced over her shoulder at the group, one pale arm snaking free of the leather. "Of course, anyone can join me if they wish," she added, tugging the jacket the rest of the way off, leaving the top half of her body clad in a simple linen undershirt that quickly was removed and tossed on top of the leather.

 

[SwordsOfTheDane]

Roaring Winds looked longingly at the baths, they looked positively wonderful, warm, comforting and relaxing. When Dawn started to strip to jump in Winds had to restrain himself to keep from shrugging off his robes and running like a child into the baths. He made and indistinct noise, something in between a cough, clearing his throat and a restrained snort at seeing the dancer stripping.

He padded over towards the baths removing the robes and putting them in a neat pile away from the edge of the pools. He put one of his feet into the steaming water, it was hot and heavenly. He let out a sound that was in between a purr and a sigh of relief. As he slid more fully into baths he closed his eyes, it had been weeks since he'd had a warm bath, or even had warm water. He had been washing himself in cold streams and he was in rapture.

The water was heavenly, this entire place was heavenly. He submerged himself up to his neck and let out a groan of pure and unadulterated pleasure. He felt every care, worry, ache and pain, woe and trouble melt away in the baths. He closed his eyes and sank down to where his nose was just above the water. Tri was right, He though, Be at peace, get to know them before you judge. He sank down until he was totally enveloped in the water. A little smile in the corners of his lmouth.

 

[Kinkerhell]

Scarlet looks at the baths, looks at the circle, looks at the lunars. The steam feels fantastic, and she just knows that the baths would feel sublime, allowing her to wash the accumulated dust and grime and gore from her too-pale, too-perfect skin, but...

...she's afraid. The realization hits her like lightning from a clear sky, sudden and totally surprising. She likes the solars, all of them. They've been nothing but friendly and welcoming, and while she is far less enamored of the lunars, Scarlet is confident that certainly Tor, and probably Dawn and Tri as well, wouldn't let anything happen to her. So why is she so afraid to set aside her armor, put up her blades, and take a damned bath?

Scarlet looks around uneasily, her fear being all the worse for being apparently groundless. The manse is small, as manses go, barely a quarter the size of her own Abode of Ravens, and relatively, well, quaint. It is comfortable and welcoming, decorated with subtle scenes venerating the glories of Sol Invictus.

Ah. That's it.

Scarlet realizes that she is in a home of the Unconquered Sun, small and unassuming though it may be and she as a creature empowered by and born of death and darkness does not belong here. She feels uncomfortable because of what she is, she realizes, and its not going to get any better.

Scarlet shrugs. Of course, its not going to get any worse, either. At least, hopefully not. Moving to the other end of the baths, away from Roaring winds and the rest of the circle, Scarlet disrobes, folding her essence-silk armor and setting it by the edge of the baths. She sets her shoes next to the armor and pulls off her swordbelt, arranging it so that the hilts actually hang over the edge of the baths, within easy reach. Then she gingerly sticks one toe in the water.

Finding it pleasantly warm, Scarlet lowers her slim form into the water up to her neck, letting out a small, soft moan of pure tactile bliss. For a moment she doesn't move, simply letting the water warm her ever-chilled body. Then she closes her eyes and slips completely under the water, letting it sweep the grit and blood from her hair to wherever the pool deposited its detritus in order to stay as perfectly clean as it did.

When she surfaces again, her pale skin is flawless and, for the first time in weeks, completely clean. Her hair shines a brilliant red not found in nature, and the purple gemstone at the small of her back and silvery lines on her shoulders gleam as she slowly twirls, reveling n the sensation of weightlessness. She turns back toward the circle with a delighted, uncomplicated smile on her face and says, "Thank you, Tri, for sharing this with us."

 

[Armphid]

Tri had moved into the bathing chamber as well; her deft hands slipping to undo the ties of her leather gauntlets before pulling them off. She beamed at the obvious enjoyment the others were taking in the baths. "They're my favorite part of the whole place, actually," she said with a grin. "And you're very welcome, Scarlet dear. Feel free to use them anytime while you're here."

Tor's eyes had moved from one woman to the next as they'd entered, even watching Roaring Winds disrobe as well. Which made him feel odd as well...he didn't know he had any interest in men. But it was really Scarlet's shining skin, her brilliant hair, and that smile that made his heart beat faster.

He could almost feel Gunesh grinning impudently at him. The Dynast gave him a nudge, "What do you think, kid? A bath sounds, and looks, pretty good right now."

"It," his voice was thick and husky and he had to cough to clear his throat, "It really does." He licked his lips and took a deep breath. But what he was wearing wasn't just cloth or leather. His armor would take several minutes to take off and he shouldn't leave it in the damp air. "But I value this," he rapped the breastplate with one gauntlet-clad hand, "too much to just pile it on the floor or put it in danger of rusting."

Gunesh quirked an eyebrow, "I'm not sure it can rust, actually."

Cunning Starfire smirked. The Lunar was again wearing the purloined farm dress and her tattoos had faded and could not be seen; some minor magic she'd used after they entered the city. "Better not risk it, my Tor. Very courteous of you, after all the trouble gone through for that armor." She looked at the baths with no small amount on interest herself but then shrugged, "Perhaps later. Too much luxury can make you soft anyway, best to ration it."

Tor looked up quickly, "Why would you say that? I'm sorry if you're uncomfortable here, Starfire, but you don't have to side ways insult everyone all the time." He shook his head, "All this...this wealth makes me nervous too."

Cunning Starfire's eyes were wide and she blinked as though he'd hit her in the face with a fish; something unexpected that she was not sure how to respond to.

The youth sighed and inclined his head, "I'll try them out later, thank you. Um, Gunesh, could you show me where the rooms are?"

The tall man was looking at him witha measuring gaze. "Sure, kid. Right this way." He gave a little wave to those in the baths, "Don't have too much fun without me." Then he led Tor and the now glowering Cunning Starfire further into the manse.