Pleasure Kingdoms: Second Attempt

[vbabe2001]

((ooc: I really don't know where all of you guys are but... I am just going to wing this ok? T-T; ))

- Hotaru, known better as firefly by her best friends and comrades, had been wandering around the area where the small group was currently staying. She waited nearby, cloaked, her petite hands folding neatly in her lap as she waited nearby on a grassy knoll..

She really had no mission right now, but to follow whoever she had stumbled upon. Afterall, she was just a young woman.. with the power of life and death at her fingertips. Surely she should of unlocked her potential power.. but she had not.

She searched for answers, and she hoped these ones would help her find them... -

((It was a reach, if I am totally off.. I'm sorry... Gomen Gomen!! Didn't want to read though 10 pages.. ))

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

Getting downstairs, he noticed that there weren't very many people up as of yet. Hmmm if this was home almost everyone would be up.

Seeing that everything was still quiet and there would be no way for him to go back to sleep, he heads outside for a walk in the predawn quiet.

Stepping out of the Inn, he stops and stretches some, runs his fingers through his hair to brush it out of his face and heads off towards the edge of town.

 

[Armphid]

Taren Orlandau

As it had gently rocked him to sleep, so did the wind wake Taren. His brow furrowed as the wind shifted direction, leaf green eyes opening slowly and taking a moment to survey the scene. The solidly built half elf hung in a hammock in the top branches of a towering oak, completely unconcerned with the distance between himself and the ground. The sun was just beginning to rise, it's light still hadn't reached the forest floor so far below. Best start moving soon. The map said a vilalge was nearby...maybe he could find someone to help with the trolls there.

He rose to a sitting position, uncrossing his arms as he did so, taking care not to accidently cut the hammock with either of the katars he clutched in his hands. It had taken his master a long time to teach him to hold the weapons as he slept, and he had forgotten about them upon rising once and ended up plummeting to a hard landing on a tree stump. He hadn't been so high that time. He rolled onto his knees and hopped to a branch in one motion, jumping almost too far and having to stab one of the punch dagger into the trunk to keep from falling. Taren sighed, "Rank Amateur, Taren." "You're lucky Gynan didn't see that."

After carefully taking the hammock down, a few acrobatic leaps brought him down to the forest floor. Unbuckling the katars from his arms, he returned them to his miraculous belt pouch, the weapons sliding in with no difficulty despite the fact that it shouldn't be able to hold even one of them. Ah, magic. After withdrawing his shotels, Overture and Finale, and his shield, Respite, he strapped them in palce on his back and strode out of the woods. He could see the village just ahead, smoke from a handful of chimneys showing how few of the people were awake. Someone was showing more initiative, a man about his age...though his half-elven blood made him look younger than he truly was. Perhaps this man could point him inthe right direction. Taren quickened his pace until he was about 100 feet from the man, "Good morning and well met, neighbor." "I don't mean to disturb you, but I was hoping you could spare a few moments to help me." Now that he thought about it...the man looked like a traveler himself. "I'm Taren Orlandau, and I'm looking for directions and some backup to deal with a den of trolls in the area."

 

[vbabe2001]

"Who is that?"

- Hotaru spotted the figure heading towards her, but the way his eyes were vacant... she suspected he had not noticed her yet.. so she walked towards him-

"Scuse.. scuse me please"

- Her voice was quiet, like a soft melody flowing from her thin lips. She rose to her feet, her face still shadowed by the hood of her cloak.. -

"Please, don't walk away... I need to talk to you..."

- Just before Hotaru could speak another word, she spotted another man heading towards the same guy she was.. -

" ... i wonder who that is?"

- As he introduced himself, she figured she should as well. She bowed politely and pulled back her hood..-

"I am Hotaru.... "

 

[Armphid]

Taren

He started at the sound of the woman's voice. He ahdn't noticed her at all! She was so quiet...but that was no excuse, that kind of inattention could get you killed. Then she took down her hood, offering her name and bowing to him and the unknown man. Taren took a moment just to look at her...Gods Above! She was lovely...and her voice was amazing, like music. Ralizing he was staring, his eyes widened and he returned her bow, though he kept both strangers in his field of vision as Gynan had taught him.

"Well met, Miss Hotaru." Manora had painstakingly taught him some manners as a child, and he recalled enough of them to know that he should not just use her name alone without her permission. "You look like a traveler as well, it seems this village just attracts them for some reason." "Though I doubt any of them look like her," he thought.

As he straightened, his eyes began to wander over her face, then to inspect the rest of her. Then, realizing the impropriety of it, he tore his gaze away, a faint blush on his cheeks. "If you are travelling alone, you must be capable." "As I was about to say to this gentleman, I'm on my way to the Wizard's College, and as with all applicants, I need more deeds under my belt before I'll be admitted." "I heard there were trolls around here,a nd was hoping I could find a few people who would want to work together to get rid of them." He looked up at the inn, shifting his feet nervously. He was feeling on edge..since Gynan had taken him from Manora, he hadn't been around girls much..and definately not ones this pretty. "Ah...perhaps we could go to the Inn and discuss it over breakfast?"

 

[vbabe2001]

"Wizard's college? Is that where you men are going?"

- I heard about that college, from my father.. he said that is where the gifted go... am I gifted?... -

"Then I will follow you both, if that is alright with you guys..."

- Hotaru bowed respectively and took in a raggred breath.. she was tired, and hungry... and both men seemed capable enough to handle their own. They might be able to even offer her some.. protection....

Though these days, Hotaru had learned that by keeping to herself, in the shadows, not many would bother her.. but sometimes she wondered, if the shadows were really where she belonged.. -

 

[Armphid]

Taren

Her request struck him as odd somehow. It hadn't been what he expected...she seemed to trust him and the stranger right off the bat. He watched her carefully as she bowed to the two of them, there was fatigue in her movements...and her eyes were hungry. As Hotaru rose from her bow, he exchanged a look with the other man who inclined hishead to the Inn on the hill. He had to admot part of him liked the thought of being around her more...that voice was just amazing. The rest of him wasn't so sure...he didn't really know how to treat a girl, was he supposed to treat her differently as a traveling companion?

He inclined his head to her as she straightened, brushing a few locks of his dark green hair back from his face. "Well, Miss Hotaru, two on the road is better than one, and three better still." "I would be glad to have you." He took a few steps forward, gesturing to the Inn where the first hint of smoke was coming from the kitchen chimney. "Why don't we go have something to eat and we can talk about you, I mean it, more." He grinned sheepishly as his faux pax. "Though I suppose we should know something about each other if you want to travel with me." "That goes for you too, sir." "Though if you wish to commune with nature first, I understand." "We'll wait for you at the Inn." He took a few steps up the hill, pausing to see if she and the stranger followed.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

"Scuse.. scuse me please. Please, don't walk away... I need to talk to you..." He looked towards the cloaked figure as she stood a short distance away.

He was startled a moment, not having heard the man approach, but it didn’t show on his face. "Good morning and well met, neighbor. I don't mean to disturb you, but I was hoping you could spare a few moments to help me. I'm Taren Orlandau, and I'm looking for directions and some backup to deal with a den of trolls in the area."

Then before he could speak she spoke again, recapturing his attention. Bowing she pulled back her hood, he was instantly drawn to her eyes such a deep shade of violet. "I am Hotaru.... "

He was still in the process of clearing the sleep from his head, he had always hated to get up this early but after years of doing so it was now habit and couldn’t be avoided. “Morning to you both, I’m Logan Kaine." He looked back briefly to Taren. "Trolls you say? Well….”

He smiled slightly as he looked towards Hotaru. He heard Taren mention something about the town attracting travelers. “That it does, and pretty ladies as well it seems.” He listened as Taren spoke of the trolls and the Wizard’s college. "As a matter of fact there is a small group gathering there to try and deal with the troll problem in the area, and we are headed towards the Wizard’s College as well. I can not speak for the others, but I am sure they won’t mind more help.”

"Wizard's college? Is that where you men are going?Then I will follow you both, if that is alright with you guys..."

He looked towards Hotaru and smiled, “I wouldn't mind."

"Well, Miss Hotaru, two on the road is better than one, and three better still. I would be glad to have you. Why don't we go have something to eat and we can talk about you, I mean it, more. Though I suppose we should know something about each other if you want to travel with me. That goes for you too, sir. Though if you wish to commune with nature first, I understand. We'll wait for you at the Inn."

He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes from wandering to Hotaru as he spoke. “The inn is a good place to start others may finally be waking. It was fairly quiet when I stepped out." He paused then and glanced back towards town then back to Taren. "I wasn’t communing with nature, just up early out of habit and needed to take a walk. Well we should definitely head back, the trolls and such would probably be looking for breakfast about this time too.” He turned with Taren and Hotaru as they started back to the inn.

 

[vbabe2001]

- Hotaru followed the two men, keeping her head down as she watched the ground pass underneath her petite feet. It had been awhile since she had been on her own, and definately a long time since she had been around men...

Both were dashing, handsome.. and oddly enough she felt something special from both of them. But now was not the time to think about such things...

If they ever saw her transform, they might think differently of her.. or even shun her...

She didn't say anything, but she kept to herself... she would speak when spoken too.. it was safer that way -

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Flesh)

He used his weight to keep her from ppushing his out. He pulled on his trousers and baggy shirt quickly, snatching his back and bowl of fruit from where he'd dropped them next to the table that had her pay on it. He didn't touch a coin of that, though.

It was close to morning, and she'd certainly earn it. He let her push him to the door, and turn, a hand reaching in his pack as he kissed her hard and lustfully. He pulled back, and dropped a few golden suns into her cleavage.

"G'night. Hope ta do that again soon, I can afford it."

He smiled as she closed the door, and went to his own room. He dropped his pack, and got undressed. He spent a few minutes scarfing down the fruit quickly. He gave himself a quick cleaning, and then crawled into bed with Lavastine.

He smiled, and wrapped his arms around her, tugging her naled body to his and smiling at the feel of her body against his as he fell off into sleep, quite content.

 

[Armphid]

Taren

"Good suggestion, Mr. Kaine." Taren's eyes took in the distant treeline as if looking for movement in the green. He didn't know much about trolls....but this was the time for the larger beasts of the forest to stir. Why would trolls be an exception? The trio proceeded up the hill in silence. Taren usually didn't mind quiet, there had been times when he and Gynan would go days without the need to speak. But he felt he should somehow be trying to involve the somber girl walking behind him in conversation. Maybe it was vague recollections of the etiquette Manora had taught him...or maybe he was just nervous around a pretty girl.

As they entered the Inn, Taren smiled. The common room was not large. The wooden furniture looked welcoming and well-worn, the low but intense noise of breakfast preparation from the back gave it a comfortable, home-like feel. Though being in the warmth of such a place was bittersweet...how long had it been since he had a home like this? Gods...nine years...and likely decades more before he had a place like this he could return to.

A mousy girl peered out from the kitchen at the sound of the door opening, and came out to meet them, wiping her hands on an apron. "Good morning, Mr. Kaine." "Good morning sir and lady." "If you please, breakfast is not ready just yet, but I can bring drinks if you would like."

Taren nodded, mentally going over how much money he had. Less since he had bought the war fans off that merchant...but he couldn't pass them up. Such unusual and lovely weapons...he'd trained with them but it had been a rare opportunity to get a pair of his own. "Yes...tea for me, please miss." "Bring these two whatever they want as well, my treat."

Taren pulled a chair out for Hotaru, removing his weapons and sitting in a high backed wooden chair after the violet-eyed beauty had sat down. "Ah...if you don't mind my asking, Ms. Hotaru, Mr. Kaine, what brought you here?" "Any reason you're on the road?" Taren leaned on the table, chin in his hands. "I don't mean to pry, so don't feel like you have to say anything." "I just thought we should know about each other if we're to travel together."

 

[vbabe2001]

- Hotaru sat down in the chair, keeping her legs close together and her hands on her lap as she looked at the young girl -

"Green Tea please, with honey.. "

- She turned her attention to Taren as he spoke, a soft blush crawling over her pale cheeks as she searched for the right words.. -

"I am here because, I was journeying out to meet new people.. and to see new lands. My father didn't want me to be stuck in a rut I guess.. so he encouraged me to go out on my own.."

-and to also discover the meaning for my powers... but I cannot reviel that to them.... they would think differently of me... -

".. thats about all... "

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

Once they entered the inn and were greeted, he ordered hot tea like the others so as to not make too much extra work for the girl. He went to hold Hotaru’s chair, but was beaten to it barely by Taren. He took a seat at the large table. He looked to Taren, “Please just Logan, Mr.Kaine is what they called my father when he was alive and well.”

He sat quietly listening as the girl spoke softly. “Well Hotaru, getting out and meeting new people is good, but these woods are not safe to travel alone. Well for most people that is.” He smiled then. “As for me I am traveling to see what life has to offer, before going home and settling down, and quite possibly to find out more about my family background at the college.”

He looked to Taren then, “Hopefully the others should be waking soon. How about you, Taren? What’s your reason for traveling?”

 

[Armphid]

Taren

Taren smiled at Hotaru's blush, but quickly wiped the expression away. "Logan is right, Ms. Hotaru." "I'm impressed at your ability to come far alone." "And I can't imagine anyone not being thrilled to meet you." Damn. What had made him say that? "Um, well, as for me, I'm looking for my past." He took a long drink of tea, savoring the hot bitterness a moment before going on. "I know my family name only because I tricked it out of my master as I was leaving him to journey on my own." "I know one of my parents was a human, and one was an elf." As he spoke he pushed back his hair, allowing the slightly elongated and pointed ears to be seen. Not as tapering or long as an elf's, but clearly non-human. 'Other than that...nothing."

He shifted in his seat. wondering if he should say this much to these strangers. It was worth the risk...one of them might know something. "The purpose of my journey was to find my own path in life, to push my skills and my power to the limit, to rise above my training." "Now...I'm looking for me past." "There's an old elven saying..."Those without a past cannot have a future," so I'm trying to find out where I came from to help point out where I'm going." HE took another drink. "The Wizard's College trains most of the powerful Trance Fighters and Sorcerors, so it's a good palce to look." "Plus, I know I can test what I've learned there..and along the way to get there."

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

He looked to Taren. "Well it's better to travel in numbers, we have a good sized group forming with our end goal to get to the college. If there is anything to learn about your past, maybe you can learn it there."

He sipped the tea, he had never really cared for the stuff, but this morning it seemed a good choice. "I think it'd be good to have you both along." He smiled softly then, he actually had this sort of friendly small town guy attitude about him.

"I let the others know so it would surprise any of them. I am a shapeshifter. I come from a family of them, they had thought the ability gone from the blood, or so I was told... Well that's what they thought until I was born."

He took another drink of the tea. "If we had met along the road things would have been different. For I travel in my family's other form."

 

[Armphid]

Taren

"Interesting." The forest green eyes seemed a bit brighter as they considered Logan. "I've never met a true shapeshifter before, though Gynan told me about them." "I seem to remember someone telling me it was bad manners to pry further, so I'll let it be." "Thanks for telling us though...it would have been a shock if you hadn't." He was tempted to ask the other man for a quick sparring match...he wanted to see this other form, to try himself against it. However, he did know enough to realize that it would not be terribly appropriate.

Taren took a moment to watch Hotaru sip at her tea before speaking. This talk fo their abilities was bothering her...at least he thought it was. Probably not...who was he to read people other than in a fight? "My gear screams warrior, I know." "I'm gifted in Trance, though I have a lot of potential to get stronger." "I also have weak Earth Magic...nothing really great, but useful stuff." He shrugged. "I only know a few spells, but they're good ones."

He leaned back in his chair, letting silence take up the room for a long minute. "Logan...do you think your friends will mind Hotaru and I coming along?" "I don't know if you had all agreed to split treasure, if there is any, and I don't want to cause trouble."

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

GOOD MORNING! ^_^

Shizura opened her eyes, yawning loudly and rubbing her eyes sleepily as she reached up to stretch, the sheet falling away from her body slightly to show a little more young flesh than was decent. She shook out her dark, tangled hair and smiled sleepily to herself, holding the sheet up to her chest with a limp hair, an air of relaxed modesty about her. It was the perfect picture of an innocent maiden awakening from a sweet slumber...

Except, of course, for the other innocent maiden in the bed with her. Shizura glanced over, blinking a few times in confusion. "Evee...? What...?" She stopped abruptly.

Oooh, right.

Blushing self-consciously, the magician girl gingerly got out of the bed, walking over to the bath on tiptoes and dunking her face in the now cold but still clean water, her hair softening and straightening itself out nicely. She immediately felt refreshed.

I guess I'm getting used to waking up early. Or maybe I'm just more relaxed now. Was it Evee who made me feel this way? I feel great...

Still, I shouldn't make a habit of it. I have to be disciplined, and control myself, if I want to be strong. Hopefully she isn't one to talk...

Toweling off her hair with a mild smile on her face, enjoying the light of the rising sun filtering in through the window despite her odd circumstances, Shizura pulled on her clothes silently and snuck past the still-sleeping dragon-girl, walking down the stairs before yawning loudly and putting her moon-and-sun enameled headband back on, shaking back her wet hair with a radiant smile. She looked down, brightening when she saw Logan already awake.

Ahh! It's the unicorn! But who are they...?

"Logan!" the pretty magician said, walking forward confidently. "Good morning! I see you met some other travelers..." She turned and smiled at the man and the young lady. "I'm Shizura Relawell, a magician in training. Logan's agreed to travel with me -- after all, we all benefit from Quest Awards." She sat down at the table next to the other man, still looking at Logan. "You know, I hear there's been research done at the Wizard's College about allowing normal magic-users to shapeshift, without the help of Totems. But I imagine they do everything there."

We humans are always advancing. That Macite called us all "fae"... I've never considered humans to be fae, but since that just means "Lightfolk" in the old tongue, I suppose it must be true...

Too bad we aren't all as pretty as elves.

Though good-looks do seem to be a prerequesite to adventuring...

She glanced from Logan to Taren and flushed a little.

Ugh! I blame Seth and Evee for this. Though, admittedly, sometimes I wonder if it's the restrictions I put on myself that make me so embarassed...

 

[vbabe2001]

Hotaru and I?

- Hotaru looked up from her tea, a soft smile forming on her face...

How nice to be included as such.. its a warm feeling..

Hotaru had parted her lips to speak, when another woman walked in and introduced herself as Shizura.. her violet hues fell upon the young magician and she looked up with a gentle smile -

"I am Hotaru... Taren and I were hoping to join your group on the quest. Well, I can stay behind if it is just Taren you would like.. "

- Hotaru blushed and looked at the bottom of her empty teacup, she saw the way Shizura had looked at both men and had seemed to dismiss her... -

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Shizura blinked, looking over at Hotaru, and only barely managed not to sigh despairingly when she noticed the girl's beautiful violet eyes.

Ohh... another pretty girl... every time I see another I feel self-conscious!

"You're an adventurer?" The magician girl immediately blushed as soon as those words came out of her mouth. "Er, I mean... I-I'm sorry." She seemed genuinely ashamed of herself. "That's not what I meant. I just didn't realize you were interested." She leaned forward, her embarassment slowly being replaced by curiosity. "So are you a magician then, too? Or maybe a healer? It's always nice to have another girl to adventure with. We have a few who are thinking about joining us, but..." Shizura tilted her head slightly, smiling softly. "They seem older, somehow. Well, they probably are. Here I am, eighteen and leading an adventuring party! To fight trolls, no less! I'm excited -- scared too, of course, but we've got a lot of help. Even more, if you two want to join us..."

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

He listened to Taren speak. “I don’t mind telling, especially if I am going to be around someone as it can be confusing if there is a reason I have to change without warning.” He paused a moment, he could see Taren wanted to say more, but held back.

He hoped they weren’t making Hotaru too uncomfortable, it seemed as if they were sizing each other up in front of her. He hated that feeling, never had been one for showing off for the girls. He listened as Taren mentioned his abilities. Then asked if our group would mind them joining.

“No I don’t think they would, if there is a big of a troll problem as the town says then we may need all the help we can get.” He looked up as Shizura came down the stairs and called to him. He waited as she made introductions and then looked to him.

“I’m sure they do. Maybe everyone will be able to find answers there, well those that are looking.” He smiled then. “I hope you don’t mind Shizura, I told Taren and Hotaru, that I was sure we wouldn’t mind having more companions on our journey.”

He then shifted his gaze to Hotaru… “No don’t think that way, Hotaru. I think it would be nice to have you along as well.”

 

[vbabe2001]

"I.. oh.."

- She blushed herself when she realized Shizura was talking to her... -

"I am a healer.... "

- She gulped, not wanting to reviel her other identity yet... -

"And.. "

- She looked at Logan and smiled warmly -

"I would love to join your group... "

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

He returned Hotaru's smile. "Well being a healer it will definitely be good to have you along." He had let his tea sit and get cold and pushed the half empty glass away from him.

"Well Shizura, I don't think the others are ealry risers. Hopefully though we won't be waiting long for them so we can decide on what our next steps will be on our quest."

 

[katalynn]

Lavastine ~

Smiled to myself as he crawled up beside me, holding me close. Never really having anyone hold me to sleep like this was extremly new, I love it. Relished the warmth and embrace. A few hours went by of me waking up every so often, my mind was to restless to really sleep. Felt it was about time to wake Zarl, he didn't seem to move at all last night, with me still in his arms as if he wasn't about to let me go anytime soon.

Squirmed a little inching my way to roll over without distrurbing him to much. Once on my other side, layed faceing him watching him sleep for a few moments, running my fingers lightly in his silky hair, slowly began to kiss his chest up towards the neck, to his lips. Waking Zarl up gently and pleasantly.

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Flesh)

His eyes opened, and he yawned. He'd only gotten a few hours of sleep, but it was enough. After all, he hadn't done anything too hard. In fact, his biggest workout had been. He smiled, noticing Lavastine right in front of him.

He pulled her tight against himself, his lips pressing to hers in a deep kiss. He pulled back, smiling. "Mmm, mornin', lover." He gave another small yawn, and a hand ran across her back.

"So, did your guest entertain you last night?"

 

[katalynn]

Lavastine ~

"Did you sleep well m'love?"

Smiled returning his kiss while drapping a leg over his hips.

"Oh, you mean my savior? hmmm yea he was entertaining..... How was your entertainment?"

Giggled slyly at him, teasing his neck lightly with my nails.

"What shall we do about the party that .... interupted us yesterday?"