A Guard's Ambition (PM Interest)

My name is Juur'khan, I am a guard in the city of Ruu'jak, the capital of the desert land of Theeri'lama, it is a crisis currently in the royal family, the queen, the sole remaining woman of the royal blood line, has been transformed into a statue of gold on her throne, a curse set upon our city by the evil sorceress Nivea. The mystics and sages of the city have banded together and tried to break the curse but it didn't work, thus they sought to research the curse and discover the cure for it, what they found was an ointment created by a mixture of certain beings, the list was a bit long, I could count at least thirty kinds of ingredients from animal species alone.

After the regular ingredients had been gathered was a reward for the more exotic ingredients put out, gold in your own body weight for every ingredient gathered would attract many. But once the queen was cured she would decide the reward for the person, or persons, who cured her of the curse. I had been a guard of the castle for over ten years since I turned sixteen, I had a hardened body, I was studious of the books of the castle's library and I knew a bit of magic, but not much as I had no natural talent for it.

Thus when the call for heroes to cure the queen was put out over the country I went and claimed a part of it myself, I was given a starting fee of one thousand gold, a backpack of supplies, a map and the list of the ingredients needed. And thus I went to the tavern to see if I could find myself someone to help me in curing the queen of the curse.

OOC: This will be an rp where the male hero teams up with a female hero to gather ingredients from monsters, plants and other things found across the desert lands. Through the journey they will endure sexual adventures of different kinds, while discovering more about themselves, the curse, the queen and hidden plots in the kingdom. Hope there will be someone interested, if more then one is interested then it will be hard to rp, but I can try.

She was sitting in the tavern, eyeing the foul smell that radiated form the ale in front of her. Green eyes glowered as they saw it changing color. From a pee yellow, to a chocolate brown. The eyes narrowed once more. This was the fifth time it happened! Damnit, it was supposed to turn pink! Lifting the magic book from her lap, she scanned the pages again. “Easy to understand,” she muttered under her breath, scanning the pages. “If I was a wizard, maybe. Or maybe it’s enchanted to make it impossible just for me!”

“Ah, young master Dobble,” a barmaid greeted her with a smile. The woman was of average size and a mother of four… no wait, six children. The last set had been twins. “How goes your quest in understanding the wizard’s tongue? Should I bring you another ale?” The barmaid treated the young female as one of her own. “Do not punish yourself so hard because you have not yet mastered your—“

“If my cousin can do it, and still be… neh and be encased in gold,” the girl snapped, “I can do it and get away from her. From them. From this whole damn place!”

Her name was Dobblikins (pronounced Dobble-kins). She was known as the jack-of-all-trades, generally picking up odd jobs around the city. The girl’s earthy brown hair complimented her bright green eyes and her somewhat tanned skin. Her boots were made of brown animal hide riding up to her knee, her grey pants hiding whatever curves she may have possessed. Her shirt was loose, allowing cool air to blow around her body. She wasn’t one to show off what ‘goods’ she had.

Of course, she had heard, obviously, what happened to the queen. Dobblikins’s reaction had been… rather disturbing. Instead of feeling awful or sympathetic, she actually said, “Damnit! And here was I cheering for that slimy git of a witch.” Needless to say, the few that knew of her actual origins, understood her attitude.

Dobblikins father had been cast out of the family, after breaking the engagement between him and a princess. The marriage would have brought more money, more land and more resources. Needless to say, majority of the family was pissed. But he had been the sort that once he did something, he did it. And perhaps, he had passed it down to his only child. At the time, no one had any idea that the ex-prince had taken refugee in their town. It was only after he passed away, that the truth came to be. Instead of telling on her, they kept their mouths shut.

Before she could insult the queen once more, she saw the doors of the Tavern open, revealing one of the palace’s guards. Dobblikins growled under her breath. “I swear, if he’s about my dear cousin—“

She cursed Luna who waved the solider over.

I had entered the famed Treasure's Pit, a place where adventurers, monster hunters, glory seekers, mercenaries and warriors come to drink and wait for work. My body was covered by the royal guard's armour, as a royal guard were I a warrior and not one to keep myself clean so my armour is not as clean and whole as you'd consider, edges of the cloak is torn, it is discoloured and my armour is not shining, only cleaned and repaired as to retain its powerful protection.

Stepping over to the bar as I saw the barmaid waving me over I stopped and bowed my head in greetings to the woman. "I am Juur'khan of the Queen's Royal Guard, I was the one to ask you about a possible companion in my quest. I am now here as you requested and now I wish to meet here." I then grasped my helmet and pulled it off, revealing my stone carved pink skinned face, we imperial guards were more pale skinned then most people of the desert, I was particularly pale, my head shaved with a single black warrior ponytail sticking out with thick brushy brows and clear blue eyes.

(OOC: Sorry if it is short but I got to go.)​

Annie nodded, motioning him closer. "Yes, yes," she said her hand waving. "No need to be so formal." She looked over at Dobblikins and gave her... was that a smirk? The short female looked ready to pounce upon the woman. She felt Annie put a hand on her shoulder. "Well then, may I present to you Dobbikins. She may not be the best choice for your companion but, she does know the desert. And she has knowledge on how to deal with many a wild creature.” She leaned away from the girl and into the guard, mock whispering. “Rumor has it she’s a creature herself.”

“Hey!”

Dobblikins looked at the man, through narrow silted eyes. “So, you’re the one who willing went on this quest, eh?” She leaned back, crossing her arms. “What they did promise you? Anything you want?” She looked him up and down, not giving him a chance to speak. “Clearly—otherwise you would not be so happy to go on such a quest. I rather prefer she’d stay in gold but then, I’d be stuck here too.” She pulled her hair up into a ponytail.

Pushing off the chair, assorted weapons were revealed and her wizard’s book shrunk to be small enough to fit into her pocket. Her hand loosely gripped a staff. “Annie get my—“ A bag of coins was placed before the girl. “I hate you. I really do hate you.” She looked ready to spit and scratch.

“Of course you do,” Annie replied kissing the girl on the head. “It’s why you keeping coming back, right?” Both women stared each other before the shorter looked away. “That’s right. Now you listen to the guard, alright? He’s more experienced than you.”

“Fine, fine. You’re all against me anyway!” Grabbing the bag, she attached it to her belt and tapped her foot. “Ready to go now?” The look on her face said otherwise though. It was not the first time the girl had left, but this time it was for the sake of one of the people she hated most. Dobblikins wondered if she’d be able to take his money and ditch him, or just ditch him somewhere along the way. Maybe she could say she warned him and he went and got himself killed! Yeah yeah, that sounded like a great plan. But… studying his frame. Hmm, that would take time. No matter, she’d find a use yet.


(OOC: Don't worry about it.)

"While a few of the ingredients have been gathered are those few left too dangerous for normal people to approach. I shall seek the closest ingredient and then travel to the next and the next until all have been gathered and I shall return for the queen's restoration." I could understand the woman's hostility towards the queen, the royal family was a bunch of cut-throats and backstabbing cowards who will not hesitate to erase possible competition for more power amongst the ranks. The queen was a more down to earth woman with a cunning intelligence, probably the reason why the old king gave her the throne rather then the first-born prince.

"The closest of the ingredients to gather are naga scales, ten or more, which means the snake pit near the Temple of Slatz." The snake pit was a large open cave where all manners of snakes live, sometimes nagas come from the Temple of Slatz to gather snakes for their rituals. while Nagas aren't at war with any species is there an open contract on people wandering the desert as possible sacrifices for Slatz the Father of Serpents. Nagas care little for one another all their social structure stands for is the worship of their gods and the birth and protection of their eggs.

As we step out of the tavern I gathered the reigns of the camel I had brought, it was loaded with tools, supplies and some weaponry, while I kept my own personal weapons on my person would it be safer to have extras. "And as for my reason for saving the queen... I guess it's more of a foolish guard's ambition rather then a reason. It's not greed for gold that drives me it's love. Love is what drives me to take this dangerous journey. But I will speak no further of it, we have a long way to go and I wish to keep my mind in focus. We may speak of other subjects though if you wish to converse miss Dobblikins.."

Dobblikins listened, her eyes glazed as she took in the information. He… loved the Queen? She almost felt over laughing. Oh, this was good. But the girl coughed, to hide her snickering. Oh right, the Nagas! They would be a little problem, but, she'd could always use him as sacrifice. She looked up at the camel and frowned slightly. The girl was used to walking on foot... she had no talent for riding those creatures. Not at all. "Love..." the girl said then shook her head. She didn't think he'd like to her what she thought of it. "Don't call me miss. I'm not a miss. I'm just Dobblikins." She remembered her father telling her tales of court. He had always been somewhat of an oddball, avoiding court and rarely 'healthy' enough to do his princely duties to aid the King.

"Right, for the Nagas, we can't give them a sacrifice but..." she thought starting to walk forward thinking. Hmm, what could they offer? She blinked. Social... standing? Perhaps they could use that to their advantage. Of course, if they had to lie- nope, not gonna work out too well. The Nagas were smart. Stretching her arms out, she looked over her shoulder. “The scales are going to be a hassle.” She continued to think aloud to herself. “Maybe we could find some from when they shed… perhaps when they… no, no.” She frowned, thinking of her wizard’s book. Could they be swayed by spells?

She looked at the guard. Well… there was always him. She could… ‘accidently’ leave him behind and ‘forget’ to grab the scales. Oh, how lovely would that be? And perhaps, she’d have a huge feast and watch as the Queen and her cronies all crumble and turn to dust! Yeah yeah, that sounded like the most perfect reven- uh… accidental coincidence that ever happened! Her green eyes had on a distant gaze, that of one too lost in their own thoughts to see the fact they were about to collide into post made of wood.

As we walked along the desert road, with the camel acting as pack animal, I watched the surroundings, nagas were known to keep tame beasts for guarding their temples. I have little time to wait as I spot something around the size of a horse moving in the sand like it is water. Drawing my spiked battle mace I point at the moving sand. "Sand Crawler, take out its eyes before it can get a proper look on us." Sand crawler are giant centipedes who lives in the sand, they love warm temperatures, they have excellent eyes which can see through sandstorms. Another thing about sand crawlers is that their brains can be tuned with objects of glass and used as a conduit to show what the sand crawler sees, a very popular way of security.

The beast lurched out of the sand, its jaws aiming for our legs, its eyes are closed as sand crawlers are sensitive to sunlight can they only open their eyes after a couple of minutes after emerging from the darkness beneath the boiling sands. I swing my mace as the thing almost bites off the left foot of Dobblikins and I crush the head, but that does little, Sand Crawlers have two heads and do not die unless both are killed. A spray of acid rains towards me from the sand but I leap to te side and watch as the green slime melts into the sand.

I swirl the mace around and I chant out a moderately powerful ice spell, Sand Crawlers detest the cold more then they do bright lights. With a final word I smash my mace into the sand and a wall of jagged ice grows out, it repels the sand crawler as it digs towards me and it starts to dig around the ice. "Quickly take out the head while it is slowed down while turning!" I shout as I lure the sand crawler into circling around the ice after me, seriously reducing its speed through the sand as it demands more effort to swim through the sand and turn around then straight forward.

Just as the sand crawler gets taken care of I can see the shape of the mountains nearby, along with the temple, we were not far away now. Though the distraction costs me as the Sand crawler in its death cramps sprays acid towards me and Dobblikins and I quickly tackle her out of danger, getting a bit of acid on my cloak but that does little as it is acid proof. Though the acid which hits my left eye is more serious. Clutching my left eye ball I grit my teeth and quickly scoop out a handful of water and press it into my eye and I can feel the acid subsiding as the water clears it out. "Are you alright Dobblikins?"

Dobblikins really wanted to help the man. She did. But… she didn’t want to go near that blasted beast! Six times it had already tried to eat her… failing each time. That particular Sand Worm had it out for anything on two legs. She growled, muttering a few spells which had barely any effect. “Damnit!” When the thing when for her left foot, the young female was ready to bash its head in—until the damn guard knocked her to the side. And even managed to knock all the breath from her lungs. She bit the inside of her cheek from uttering curses at the man. Literally, she had five of them lined up!

"Quickly take out the head while it is slowed down while turning!"

She was already chanting a spell, her staff in her hand, pointed at the Sand Worm’s head. Her mouth moved with ancient words, her eyes taking on a vacant look. She shouted out something and for a moment, everything around her was pure ice. Then it shattered and sliced through the air, embedding themselves into the head. Seconds later, upon another word leaving her lips, a small sound of glass breaking could be heard. There was a brief silence before the creature finally stopped moving. Before she moved, mini explosion was heard. The deed was done. “May your body return to the sand,” she blessed the beast.

Then the guard tackled her to the ground again, once again knocking all the breath from her lungs. He was lucky she had trouble breathing. She would’ve cursed him so he would never be able to bare children. Or if they did, they’d be dumb. Real dumb. Sickeningly dumb. But then, she wasn’t that strong. Dobble looked up to see that acid had gotten into his eye. Sitting up, she pushed him next to her and removed his hand from his eye. “Stop, stop, the water won’t take out what’s already in your eye,” she muttered and put her hand on it. Closing her eyes, she let the soft words once again take over. While she couldn’t full heal his eye, she was able to make sure the acid didn’t spread into his blood.

“Are you alright Dobblikins?”

“Fine, fine, considering the fact you knock air out of me, twice. You got acid in your eye and the fact that worm has been after my ass for six years now!” she looked at it and rolled her eyes. “Hm, now that’s its gone… sorta miss it. Oh well, I’ll just go annoy another one!” She stood up, not offering a hand to help up the muscle man. He could get up on his own. His legs still worked. “Come on, I can see the Temple from here!” She took the camel’s reigns and began to walk. Dobblikins could be considered rude, but to those that knew her, they understood it was just a part of her.

As she neared the Temple, she could almost feel the Nagas watching them. Using her free hand, she opened it, mentally chanting a spell. It was something that all snakes seemed to dislike. It generally distorted their few of heat and made their senses dizzy.

(Dobble calls Sand Crawlers, Sand Worms—as for her, they’re just like worms.)

(OOC: Hehe she doesn't seem to like the things.)

I knew the acid would make my left eye useless for a couple of hours until my body's immunity system cleared it out, we Royal Guards were given potions and ointments to use daily to make sure we couldn't be put to sleep, poisoned and be resistance to minor forms of magic attacks. "I apologize but the acid would have done more to you then to me, as my body can resist the touch of the acid."

Though I hate to admit it I find myself wondering why Gobblikins and the queen are so similar yet alike, both have a temper worthy of a sand dragon when it is disturbed and yet the mercenary is more of a wild card while the queen is more of a order freak who wants everything to work out as she commands, though she accepts not everything can go to plan.

I walked through the sand alongside her and we soon reached the snake pits, I could smell the stench of dead snakes and snake poop even from above it, and lucky lucky us so where there a young naga slithering out of the pit with a bag of snakes just as we arrived, it was a male, four arms, obviously only around a century old or so. I calmly stepped forward and with a swift blow to the creatures neck as it was trying to pull up the sack as it got stuck on the edge of the pit, with my large hand it fell down unconscious. Using a knife I pulled off a large piece of hide from its back, easily fifty scales in that handful.

"That's the scales, the thing is a stinger of a giant scorpion. But I think we should move towards the Star Oasis and get some rest before we start hunting for those buggers." Putting the scales inside a specific compartment of the camel's satchels we began to move towards the oasis, around two hours walk from where we stood. It was a relatively safe spot unless there were nomad raiders and giant scorpions around, as giant Scorpions are one of the few creatures of the desert to drink water. As we walked I tried to make a small talk. "So that magic you used, it wasn't a professional healing but it was still a very refined technique, have you been practising it often?" I found myself staring at her as we talked, making me feel a bit nervous, she was so like the queen yet so different, it was rather frightening really, and, though I hate to admit it, arousing.

"I apologize but the acid would have done more to you then to me, as my body can resist the touch of the acid."

Dobblikins rolled her eyes. Sure it was true, but really, she had it under control! ... alright,mostly under control. Closing her eyes, she rubbed her temple. Oh, Annie was dead when she got back. Annie would be suffering a horrible and painful death. As she saw a small Naga come out, the girl was about to ask about any scales that had been shed. Really, they would probably love to get rid of it. And if she told them it would... increase their standing with the Queen... well, that probably would've gone over a little better. She didn't know how much, but still. Instead, she watched as the guard knock the Naga out and cut a piece of hide of the creature. She winced, feeling back and went over to it, hopefully the spell would dull the pain when he woke up.

"That's the scales, the thing is a stinger of a giant scorpion. But I think we should move towards the Star Oasis and get some rest before we start hunting for those buggers."

"Well, maybe it won't be so hard. They owe me a small favor and I do know that if there is a recently dead, the stinger will work just fine," Dobble replied with a shrug. Still, those ones were temperamental. And could easily forget such a simple and small favor. At least, she thought, it was better than those damn worms. A shiver ran down her back.

Two hours later, after walk under the sun, the girl making sure they weren't walking in circles, they stopped near a drinking hole. She didn't say anything as she sat down and pulled out some bread for her to munch out. Dobblikins didn't eat as much. "So that magic you used, it wasn't a professional healing but it was still a very refined technique, have you been practicing it often?"

She looked up and shrugged. "My mother taught magic to me," she responded. "She came from a faraway land where magic is still tied to their old roots. It's not like the magic here, where it's very organized and neat. But I don't mind it at all. I like its wild quality, even if it makes difficult for me to learn from flaky old fools." She had been taught that magic wasn't just a tool, it was like a wild animal who could easily turn on you. Dobble had never knew of her mother's origins, but it suited her just fine. It wasn't that big of a deal anyway. "My father knew some spells, but he's a funny teacher. Hard for him to focus."

She watched him and tilted her head. "You realize, my dear cousin will probably never return your affections, right?"

I smiled, many a times had I heard those words from my fellow guards and the nobles of the palace. "Heh that's why it's a foolish guard's ambition. I will do what I can to free her of the curse, if she accepts my emotions or not does not matter as long as I can free her." Sitting down I pull off my cloak and chest plate, revealing my muscular torso covered by a white tunic ,which I take off as well. I trace a blue liquid over my chest and focus my mind and then a blue flash emits from the ointment and it is absorbed into my skin and I can feel my body stiffens for a moment as it reacts to the magic I had used to release the tension of my muscles and soon it relaxes.

"Your magic is a bit similar to my own, I never learned magic though, I had it with me since I was a child. It is what made me a member of the Royal Guard for one who can wield the forces of magic is a powerful protector. I do not chant to shape the spell, the chants are more of a way of focusing my will to shape the spell. It is a crude but effective way of casting battle magic, I can do it without chanting though it makes it harder to focus." Taking a loaf of bread myself I chewed on the sweet dried fruit filled bread, feeling the sweetness of the fruits and the dry wheat flour mix together with my saliva.

Swallowing I can feel my body still being aroused after watching the beautiful cousin of my queen. It makes me a little ashamed but it is hard to not look at such a beautiful woman and not appreciate her beauty. And her wild nature also had an exotic appeal. "If it isn't too much of a bother, why are you an adventurer? I'd have excepted a woman like you, intelligent, cunning and beautiful, could make herself a grand life within the city walls or maybe even amongst the other kingdoms of the realms outside the desert."

"Heh that's why it's a foolish guard's ambition. I will do what I can to free her of the curse, if she accepts my emotions or not does not matter as long as I can free her."

Dobblikins rolled her eyes, muttering something about 'love', 'roast beef' and 'the end of the world.' Or that could have been the sounds of her thinking up some new curse. "As long as you can free her, eh?" she muttered once more. "I personally we should all leave her like that. Then again, everyone knows that." There was more to the store, but she wasn't going to think on it. Of course, before the cure would be given, she would first make sure the wizards did as they promised.

"I don't think there's anything as crude magic," she shrugged. "You adapt it to your own style is all. For a few complicated spells I need to chant to focus, otherwise I do it in my head." Magic was, as she learned, pure energy. Not energy, it was a badly chosen word. But she couldn’t think of a better one.

"Why am I an adventurer?" she repeated the question, letting out a small sigh. "Because I wish to live free. Free from all expectations and obligations." For her it was a simple answer. Had her father stayed or had she been born before he had been cast out from the family, no doubt she would be in that castle now. Or some other.

"I'd have expected a woman like you, intelligent, cunning and beautiful, could make herself a grand life within the city walls or maybe even amongst the other kingdoms of the realms outside the desert."

"You praise me too much," she replied once more. "I do not wish to be trapped within stone walls. I suppose I’m much like my parents, wanting to see the world for the same view as everyone else. I like being like a bird." She looked up and reached her hand to the sky. "Someday, I'm going to go through all the blanks spaces on the maps, through everything that's not there." Her eyes sparkled as she thought of her dream. "I'm gonna be the first adventure ever to find the forbidden place." There were always places like those in story books and Dobble intended to find them.

“So tell me, why did you become a guard? Surely there must be another reason than… the Queen,” she smiled, tilting her head to the side. Her eyes studied his frame once more. He was really fit, a lot of muscle. But she could tell, as she witnessed with the worm, he was quite agile. He must’ve gone though some harsh training.

"My life is not one of honey and roses. I was a slave at birth, my mother a slave servant of a lord who got rape during a raid by some pirates upon the city. When I was born I was sold off to a local merchant who worked me to the bones in carrying wares back and forth between wagons and warehouses day and night with little food or rest. I was twelve when she came, the queen, she was still a princess back then but she was still as pretty as she is now. and though she doesn't show it, she is kind, for she brought me from slavery and had me made a servant of the palace. When my talents of magic were discovered I became a Royal Guard and I have sworn to protect her in anyway I can. I failed to protect her form the curse, though I shall break it." After my little story I looked up at the skies and smiled a little.

"I guess in a way I am a bird... a caged one content to enjoy its gilded cage and food then to feel the winds I have never known." Pulling out a bag of dust I blow a handful into the air and murmurs a prayer, it is a prayer for good fortune by the nature spirits, a worship few publicly follows in these days with the gods being seen as the superior forces. "My training was harsh as a guard, more so then most as I was a former slave. But I learned much from those days, though, as the queen constantly teased me with when I was guarding her, I have not felt the touch of a woman. So even if I have the training to kill a giant with my bare hands, so am I certain that the queen, should she even consider, wouldn't be satisfied by me. She is still a virgin as ordered by the imperial laws, but she has enjoyed the company of many women instead as to release her frustration."

Feeling slightly flustered I think back to those days when the queen would openly seduce or take a girl to her bed chambers and openly make love to her in the open. Giving a clear sight of her lovemaking to us the royal guard, she often did it when I was doing watch duty, which was almost every time she did this and thus I had seen the queen's body more so then most men could claim as the other guards mostly look away, I was almost certain half of them were gay or eunuchs. "A dream to discover the forgotten and the forbidden, it is a worthy goal which I think you will fulfil ,you have the drive and the passion. I can tell you will succeed."

Dobblikins only leaned back, closing her eyes as she listened to him. So, he had been a slave before? That explained a lot. She bit back a crude retort about the Queen ever being pretty. She wouldn’t interrupt him. She was kind? The female tried to think when the female had ever been kind… for the sake of being kind. Hmm, well, at least it didn’t happen while she was around. Puffing out her cheeks, she continued to listen, crossing her arms over her stomach.

A small breeze danced around them, bringing them the blessing of cooled air. Opening her hand, she could feel the air flow through her fingers. To… never be able to fly in the wind? For a moment she pitied him. It was almost a crime—it should be a crime— and it was something she was going to fix. While he was with her, whether she hated him or not, she would let him feel the wind. For the most part, they were going to make a deal to not think of the Queen’s no no regions.

“…I have not felt a touch of a woman…”

Dobble coughed harshly, her eyes wide in surprise. “Seriously? Are you blood kidding me?!”

He continued on with his tale. Oh right… royal women took on that law. Dobblikins could only be thankful as it didn’t replay to her. (She had been born after her father’s status as royalty had been taken away. So, she may be the cousin, but she wasn’t of the court.) She frowned thinking about it. “You sure it was just for the frustration? Rumors has it she no likey man,” Dobblikins attempted to cheer up the man. A half smile was forced upon her lips. “Sorry, sorry, bad joke. Won’t attempt at one ever again.” Ever again. The adventure could not tell a joke, ever.

"A dream to discover the forgotten and the forbidden, it is a worthy goal which I think you will fulfill ,you have the drive and the passion. I can tell you will succeed."

Dobble smiled brightly. “Well, that’s two people with the confidence in me,” she replied as she put her arms under her head. “Was four but…” she shrugged, not caring. “Things happened. Anyway, let me deal with our stinger friends. I can probably work out a deal that’ll stun them.” Dobblikins then looked up at the sky. “For now, rest. No doubt your body needs it. But then again, what do I know?” She took a clothe and put if over her face, a soft sigh leaving her lips.

They would need to get an early start in the morning. Those scorpions were not exactly… morning creatures. It would be the best time to get the stringers. Dobble didn’t want to get the guard into unnecessary danger.

"Aye, I am a virgin. Being a royal guard with constant training, guarding and physical manipulation has made me unable to seek a proper relationship, few royal guards are capable without quitting." I listen to her words and nods, rest is needed, though for me there's no need for sleep, I use meditation to entire a resting but yet aware state which allows me to be on guard. But I am embarrassed to admit that sometimes I lose focus and truly fall asleep.

Leaning back upon a rock, with my robe and a blanket beneath me I let my body arch over the boulder so that my head faced the skies, my body long enough that my rear rested on the soft sand even as I closed my eyes and began to meditate. My mind began to wander only a few hours later during the moon's rise and I feel my body lure itself into a deep sleep where my imagination starts to burn forth an intoxicating dream, or more like a memory, of the queen during one of those parties when every noble and rich person in the country came to another nameless ball to celebrate another nameless thing.

She had been drunk and some nobles were attempting to court her in her drunken stupor, I had intervened and had the nobles taken to the garrison for some water and bread in a cell to sober them up. The queen had been drunkenly happy and giggling, thanking me with a kiss before falling asleep in my arms, I carried her to her bed and kept a watchful eye as I stood by her bed, hearing her mumbling things about her not wanting to marry lord Lorge, an older noble who has been attempting to court the queen for years. I knew of the apparent price for the queen's heart and loins, a big cash of coins and large piece of land. But I knew she wouldn't want an of them, she hated them all, and I often heard her crying when in her personal chamber after a particularly frustrating day at the court.

Even if she was an intelligent and cunning woman was she still sometimes the lonely girl I knew as a child who wanted nothing more then to play in the garden rather then go to boring lessons of politics. The next morning I wait by the royal bath as she is cleaning herself when suddenly a wave of energy knocks me and every guard over and we only get enough time to stand up and see the queen's body turn to gold as a beam of yellow light emerged from the ceiling and faded away, the witch's taunting laughter fading away.

My eyes open ,the sun have yet to rise but I can't find the will to rest, I just lay there, watching the slowly fading stars as I ponder about the events of the past.

Dobblikins curled into a small ball as she dreamed, her hands clasped behind her neck as her knees barely graced her face. She did not dream of nightmares or of horrible deeds. In fact, was she dreamt was utter blackness. A deep sleep in which sometimes, none rose from. But for her, it was a common comfort, allowed her to be in tune with her surrounding areas. This wasn’t some great magic, and this did not indicate she was all powerful. In fact almost anyone could do it, once they learned how to mediate.

Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. Breathe-!

Her eyes snapped open as she accidently got sand in her mouth. Sitting up, she wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth. “At the next down,” she decidedly said, “we are going to get you laid.” There was a finality in her voice that said he had no choice. Either he was willing or… he was willing. With that off her chest, she stretched her arms out and smiled. “Have a hard time sleeping?”

She looked over at the water, smiling at the reflection of the night sky.

Dobblikins studied him once more. Well, he wasn’t as bad as she first thought he was. Still a stupid royal guard, but not as stupid. But still stupid. Her mind wandered to her cousin once more. What had that dastardly female done to all the guards? Her father said that once, they were allowed to indulge in the flesh, as long as said flesh was willing and not of royal blood. Oh well, once again, it wasn’t her problem, and unable to ever inherit the royal crown, she would never have to deal with it.

“Do you think we’ll encounter the witch?” she asked offhandly. “I wonder how strong she is and all. Must be someone to be respected. Evil, but respected.”

"...Why the sudden shift towards my virginity?" I ask as I lay there watching the fading stars as the sun's first rays began to rise beyond the mountains border-lining the desert lands and the jungle lands of Listra, an unmapped region which splits the northern lands of the continent from the hot sand-lands, leaving only the sea as the safest way of transportation.

"If we do encounter her then I shall try to make her break the curse, or die trying and/or killing her in the process." My response was clear and honest, I'd punish those who dares to harm the queen. But I know the witch, while the curse caster, isn't the one to cast the curse upon the queen. The witch would do anything if her price was meet, often it was rare animals, monsters and slaves to magical items, piles of gold, jewellery and gemstones.

As the sun rose from the mountains I straightened myself up and began to stretch my body, warming up my muscles for the long walk. I flex my muscles and twist my body, bending and turning in ways people wouldn't think a man of my size could do. With one final arch of my arms behind my back, my chest pushed out, along with my hips, I bend my back for a good minute before letting go and begin to dress myself in my armour. "The scorpions shouldn't be too far away, and since you know more of them you better lead the way."

They neared the scorpions and she could almost hear their claws clicking. Probably thinking of the prey to come. Reaching into her shirt, she pulled out a small flute and put it to her lips. Her fingers just stilled as she blew softly into it. No sound came out. She shook it then blew it again. Still no sound came out, but she looked rather satisfied. Putting her pack down, she shrugged off her coat, showing another layer of shirt. This one have no sleeves. Strange markings and scars could be seen. They all happened when she was out on her adventures.

“Hmm, let’s see,” she muttered under her breath as Dobble lifted her hand, palm down and muttered some chants under her breath quickly. Out of the sand, a small plant grew up to her knee. Kneeling down, she took its stem and ripped it from its magical roots. This was no hard spell. It was an illusion, to so speak, taking some sand and forming it look like a glass flower. The moment they got what was needed, the glass would turn into sand once more. But the scorpions wouldn’t go after them because of that. No, she and the creatures had a… treaty of sorts. As long as she did no acts of violence toward them, they would not mind her.

Frankly, it was all for the best, in Dobble’s mind. “Ah, here they come,” she said with a smile, pointing toward a fleet of about ten or twenty of those huge buggies. She waved them over and they circled the two of them, stingers at the read, claws clicking against each other. Presenting the flower, she bowed slightly, an ease smile on her face. “I apologize for disturbing you—“

One of them clicked loudly, obviously displeased.

“But no doubt you’ve heard of the queen’s…”

Another sound of clicking.

“Yes, yes, I was wondering if you could spare a stinger. Just one will do,” she continued to smile. “No doubt, once the cure is administered, you all shall be rewarded for your kind sacrifice.”

A loud chorus of clicks echoed around the two. Dobblikins could pick out here and there of what was being argued. But they were clicking to fast for her to understand. She waited until the biggest, the one she had been talking too, snapped his two huge claws together. Crawling forward, its stinger touched her face, but almost like a lover’s caress. A claw lightly clamped upon her hand, but Dobble showed no emotion, just staring into its many eyes.

Then with its other, singled for something but did not know what. She looked at the corner of her eye and winked at the guard… what’s his name. The key to these irrational creatures was to remain calm and not show any form of dominance. After what seemed like eons, a good sized stinger was brought forth. The leader released Dobblikins who inspected it and nodded, a smile on her face before she wrapped it up. “Thank you. You have helped us greatly,” she bowed deeply and strangely placed a kiss on its head. “I owe you much.”

With that, the scorpions moved away and back to their dwelling, not wanting to be bothered anymore. She turned to him, with a soft smile on her face. “What an experience! I so do want to do that again. But not right now. What’s next on the list? And you get to deal with them.” In truth, Dobble had been afraid. When she felt the stinger near her face, she wondered if this was the end. Her body started to sag slightly, with relief. ‘Almost pissed my pants, ‘ she mentally thought.