Lords will be Ladies!

[Neale]

Please see the OOC thread, http://www.literotica.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=644620&t=5776#post644620
(Knights will be Ladies?) for more info about this storyline, as well as a full character listing.

Setting:

Our tale is initially set in the small city of Oakhurst, a trade town in the Savage Frontier area, south and east of Icewind Dale. This town exists solely to provide a well-defended rest-place caravans headed toward Waterdeep, as well as river trade. This area is not claimed by any major power or government, so the only rules are what the town council chooses to enforce.

Lady Erin Rathe has come to Oakhurst to rest up after successfully chasing down a murderer.

Nara Wyvernspur is building a power base here, gathering wealth and personal power while she forwards the cause of her god, Mask.

Alpha Lyrhea has lived here for a few years, enjoying the freedom the lack of an alchemist's guild breathing over her shoulder offers.

Gilliad seeks a special kind of fruit, known to heal any wound, injury, or disease, which he has traced to kobolds living in the area.

Cole Corinson is passing through, acting as a caravan guard.

Andreas D'Imaka chases rumours that have his vampiric progenitor lairing in one of the noble's castles, secretly controlling it.

Reidrann Mossadin found life a bit too interesting near Cormyr, and decided to pick off Zhentish caravans as they pass near this town. She lives in town solely to gather information.

LittleWart is making a living as a ranking member of the local thieves' guild.

Trychaea's family farm supplies much of the local foodstuffs for the town.

Rana's father is another farmer supplying much of the locally grown food for the town.

Princess Mel's father lives in a small castle just outside town. His fortune is largely based upon commerce in the city. He acts as the mayor's 'advisor,' and is in fact an agent of the Zhentarim, supervising their growing interests in the area.

 

[SpectreT]

Erin Rathe

Well, it's not Cormyr, but it'll do for now, I thought as I made my way through Oakhurst, blasted rain'll rust out my armor if I'm not careful.

The armor in question wasn't really likely to rust; I'd given it a hearty coat of dull black lacquer less than a tenday ago, and there were no chips to speak of in it yet. The pale blue tabard I wore over it, though, was very nearly on its last days. I sighed as I made my way back to the inn. This lot was sometimes a bit rough, though most of them calmed down once I entered the tavern area. Between my eyes and my arm wrestling, none of them was anxious to upset me. I smiled as the barmaid made it over to the table I'd just thunked myself down at.

"Bread, Cheese, and a bowl of that stew, please. And a stein of warm mead." I locked eyes with her. "Rain's a bit chilly."

She nodded and turned away just as the door opened again...

 

[MrSand]

Princess Mel

"So, this is what peasants do?" sneered Mel as she entered the tavern. The Princess had left her castle earlier in the night, on the intention of going "slumming" in the poorer district of the town. Of course the practice of slumming was completely lost to her, as she had taken along three of her rather hulking bodyguards with her. They followed the Princess into the warm pub, rainwater dripping off their black cloaks.

Mel plopped herself down at a stool next to the bar and shouted, "Hey! Waitress! Gimme a large venison, cooked in white whine and stuffed with red onions and potatoes! I also want a glass of your finest champagne, and make it snappy!"

She then took out her bulging coin purse, in full view of everyone, and plunked it onto the counter. One of the bodyguards sighed in disbelief.

 

[Imoen]

Zariel Nailo

A figure draped in a heavy black cloak enters the inn, stepping forth from the shadows of the night, although the darkness lingers with him. A low hood casts a shade over his features, shadowing all but the ebon-skin of his lips and narrow jaw. Yet, even still, his eyes can be felt penetrating through the veil, hard as shards of rubies - the reddish hues of the orbs glittering ominously. They survey all around him, sifting through the faces with a keen consciousness of every one, like a falcon piercing the flock to single out the weakest target.

Though it is not the weak he searches for now, but rather the low, the guilty, the one who disguises the honesty of their dark trade with a distracting charisma. Moving further in, his cloak flutters about his heels in velvety rolls, the heels of his travelling boots clacking soundly against the floorboards.

He weaves through the crowd with an innate grace, and a distinct elegance seems imbued in his every movement. Yet his presence is unsettling - dark and carnivorous, as if the language of his body were a secret cant being spoken to those attuned to it's nuances.

Still, he searched, with eyes and with hidden ears, listening and looking.

 

[Neale]

Nara Wyvernspur

Nara did not want to meet the dark elf openly, even in such a place as this. Too many tongues might wag, requiring far too much effort to still. Therefore, she had one of the lesser members of the guild wait downstairs while she waited in a trysting room upstairs. Her church owned this tavern, and much of the business here wound up being done in secret in these tawdry rooms.

She arrived in disguise, appearing to be nothing more than one of the many whores plying her trade upstairs. Deftly off-putting the few men who wanted to hire her, she made her way into the room reserved solely for her use.

A short while later, downstairs in the tavern proper, her lackey, Weasel, waited nervously. Drow had a fearsome reputation all over the Realms. Unfortunately, running away would only annoy Nara. The thought of an annoyed Nara caused him to break out in a cold sweat, as he remembered her vengeance on Bullneck. He had taken days to die, since she would hurt him horribly, then use the powers granted her by their dark god, Mask, to heal him.

Finally, his wait was over. The dark elf, cloaked, yet arrogantly showing enough to make his heritage plain, entered the tavern. The drow's eyes swept the room, coming to rest on Weasel, who gulped and looked away, but not before baring his teeth in the closest approximation of a smile his fear would allow, as Nara had ordered.

When the elf had made his way over to Weasel, the nervous thief whispered to him, "Th-the boss is upstairs, room farthest b-back on the left." Chilled sweat dripped down Weasel's face.

 

[MrSand]

Princess Mel

"Hurry up with that order!" shouted Mel, pounding her fists impatiently on the bar top.

"Coming miss!" said the annoyed tavern wench.

 

[poohlive]

With a wipe of her hair, Rana finally put the towel down. In less than an hour that towel went from pearly white to an ungly gray. It was unheard of how much dust was in this house. Well, maybe not so unheard of, the floor was made of dirt after all.
Still, she didn't want to do it anymore.
"Rana," he mother called. She had come to loathe that call, it was like someone was pulling the chain she was tied to.
"Coming mother," her dull flat tone answered back. She threw the towel into the laundry, and made her way outside.
"Here's a list. I need you to go to town and get these thing."
Rana looked at her mother, "But MOM! I've just spent the entire day cleaning. I'm tired, and hungry, and I want to go to bed."
"As soon as you go to the market, and cook dinner, and go down to the creek with the laundry, and clean up after the boys when they get home, you may do just that."
Rana rolled her eyes, grabbing the list. She began the two mile journey into town. Her dress in near ruins, her hair matted, and slightly sticking on one side, her face showing as if she had spent the day with a gopher. Rana smelled herself, even worse than how she looked. Stealing a glance to the deserted road, she made her way to a small pool that she knew of. Hardly anyone ever went there. Just a small little bath to get her looking a little more ladylike ought to do the trick.
Discarding her clothes she leaped into the cold pool. It felt wonderful, after a day like today, she needed a good swim. Rana started with her skin, cleaning to perfection, at least as perfect as it could get. She then made sure her dress was good and clean. As it hang out to dry, she began to work on her long hair. Tangles, split ends, fringes, just about anything and everything to make it better.
It would take a good hour or so before the dress was dry, so to pass the time she thought she would actually try relaxing for a change.

 

[SpectreT]

Erin Rathe

I sighed and rolled my eyes at the loud, brash display near the bar. The silver must have just caught the light as a hush came over the table next to my own.

"Just the sort that give royalty a bad name," I muttered conspiratorially to the barmaid, who nodded.

She needs to be taken over someone's knee, I thought, not likely to happen with all those bodyguards around, though.. I shrugged it off and tucked into the stew, sponging some of the excess gravy with the bread.

I wondered absently who the fidgety man was, but until someone did something obviously wrong, I couldn't step in.

 

[THEBRAT]

LittleWart

ooc I'll try to post later Today RL is icky

 

[horneylilalley]

Andreas

He come down the stairs after a restless night in His room, The voice of the bastard Vison had echoed in his head the entire night, Vison was near he could feel it. Andeas took a table in a shadowed corner. A comotion from one of the tables was garnering the attention of the serving winches. Andeas saw a cloaked figure dressed as one of the many whores in the town pass quickley through the tavern. For an instant he face showed

"Nara"

HE deaftley slide out of the table to follow the drow. to see what ever illdeed she was up to now.

 

[BadForm]

Reidrann Mossadin

Reidrann looked up from her pint to survey the potential marks in the tavern. Unfortunately, with those body guards protecting the princess, tonight was unlikely to be profitable. On the other hand, she could always... liaise. Meet people. Have fun. Learn. And there was someone already here she had wanted to have fun with since she'd first seen her. The woman's name was Erin, Reidrann had heard. A knight-to-be. Knights were always fun. All serious morals and strictness on the surface, and underneath a seething tumult of carnal debauchery waiting to escape. She strode over to where Erin was sitting and plopper her tankard on the table.

"Can I buy you a drink, butch?" she said with a wink.

 

[THEBRAT]

LittleWart

I wonder what the next job The Guild will have for me to do!

My Cloak hides all of me except for my Ears.As I'm walking down the Street to meet with my contact from The Guild I am to meet that person at The Tavern to learn of my Next Job.

Neither of us really likes meeting out in public places it is to Dangerous.

As I walk into the Tavern I spot Someone Guarding the Stairs.It could only mean that the person that I am to meet is already here and upstairs.

 

[SpectreT]

Erin Rathe

I elevated an eyebrow at the interruption. Kind of cute, I thought, then shook my head for a second to clear it. What was I thinking? She blinked as she saw my eyes, glowing silver where whites once were, the ice green irises luminescent in the light of the tavern. I took in her appearance at a glance; battered, travel-worn cloak, large pouch dangling from a bandoleer and looking like it held a book. Checking her fingers, I saw they were light and nimble enough for a mage, but she didn't have the aura, or the slightly acrid, cloying scent that follows wizards around. There were ink stains on her hand, but sword calluses as well. I smiled at her.

"By all means, have a seat, neighbor," I pitched my voice carefully in the crowded taproom. "However, I must confess to some confusion. What do you mean, 'Butch'?"

 

[MrSand]

Princess Mel

"God, this place is so boring!" said Mel, her voice carrying around the tavern. "I thought commoners would be more interesting, but they're about as stuffy as any noble's ass!"

Many of the tavern patrons glanced at the young girl with intentions of doing wicked things, but a second look at her formidable body guards stopped their violent intents.

The Princess's order finally arrived, and she let out a loud "About time!" before digging into her meal.

The bodyguards merely stood by the girl, their forms silent and still as their eyes scanned the area for any sign of trouble.

 

[THEBRAT]

LittleWart

Oh Bloody hell Princess Mel would just have to pick this very day to see how us Commoners lived what a spoiled Little Brat.

The man at the stairs is talking to me I am afraid that you my fine Man have the wrong person and I whisperto him That Princess Mel is here so I consider it to Dangerous and walk out of The Tavern thanking my lucky star for a very close shave indeed.

 

[Isolde]

Cole Corinson

OOC: Sorry for not posting sooner but I have been on the road.

IC: The tavern doors opened again and a tall man entered. He was lean but muscled, a large bastard sword strapped to his back and a whip curled at his hip. His hair was as black as a moonless night and his eyes were the same color. Cold, hard and moving around the room too take in the scene before him.

A scowl fell upon his face as his eyes lite upon the obviously royal person with the less than royal manners surrounded by bodyguards. He had seen the type before. He had guarded the type before in the past but that life was over. Now he was as apt to take his sword to her as he was to rescue her depending upon his mood.

A snarl lifted the corner of his mouth as his eyes fell on the drow and other inhabitants of the inn. Something uneasy was going on in this place there was no mistaking that but Cole was not interested in it. He had left that kind of work behind when he had left his last sword in the middle of his commander's chest...the second that he learned it was he who had betrayed himself and his brother and almost gotten his brother killed.

Now he simply escorted caravans for a living. He had just finished a job today and gotten paid hansomely. Though his money was put away better than her royal brattiness'.

Moving to the bar, he nods to the barkeep and orders wiskey. Taking the bottle and glass to a table that permits him to watch the goings on in the inn but not have his back exposed, he sits down and proceeds to do just that.

 

[BadForm]

Reidrann Mossadin

Reidrann grinned at Erin. "Ah come on, I've seen you about town. A real hotspur, eh? Tough and beautiful and not afraid of it. Definitely a butch, eh, Tomgirl? Now, what can I get you to drink?"

She supped her pint as she looked at the shifting emotions in the woman's face. It wasn't hard to see. Desire pushed down behind knightly frigidity. Oh, such a prize worth plucking - sweeter than the capture of the heaviest purse. And those eyes. So strange, but so intriguing. She had, in her time, seen more bizarre things, from the two-headed albino kobold she had fought six months ago while escaping Burrow Lair, to the six-armed guardians of the Temple of Ikla. Even so, there was something different about those eyes, almost magical and certainly seductive. Well, in time she would know more.

 

[poohlive]

Rana got out of the water, letting the warm air touch her skin. It felt good, but she couldn't afford to be naked all day, she had things to go buy. Putting on her now dry dress she went back to town. She didn't look beautiful or anything, but at least she looked better than before.
At the small town Rana went into the only store there. It was stuffy, and dark inside. She saw only a young man catering the store in the back.
"Excuse me, I need these things," she handed him the list.
The boy glanced in the back, "I'm sorry my father is getting dinner, you'll have to wait until he comes back."
She cocked her head to the side, "Where is he?"
"The tavern across the street."
Taking her list she easily made it across the street and walking into the tavern. It was dark in here as well, she could see it fairly crowded today. Walking up to the store owner, she sat down looking at him.
"I'm sorry, I'm just terribly busy. I need these things from your store. Could you just?"
He waved his hand, finishing a bite, "Look, I'll be done in a minute. Ok?"
Rana sat right there, looking at him, "I can wait."
His eyes raised slightly, he simlpy shrugged his shoulders and continued eating.

 

[Imoen]

Zariel Nailo

Little obvious notice of the man is taken by the cloaked dark elf, yet those shadowcast ruby eyes can be felt fixing on him, following him, scrying his intent, his usefulness.

A sharp tinge of adrenaline rushes through his veins at the unanticipated voice as he proceeds to pass the stranger. The drow tenses, unnoticeably, within the confines of his heavy travel cloak. Yet, he forces himself to relax, allowing the defensive impulse to ebb.

When the elf had made his way over to Weasel, the nervous thief whispered to him, "Th-the boss is upstairs, room farthest b-back on the left." Chilled sweat dripped down Weasel's face.

Fear. His lips took an upward turn into the semblance of a smile, albiet cruel. "The boss?" He queries flatly. "Your's perhaps, not mine."

Turning on his heel, with a purposeful stride he ascends the stairs. Deftly shouldering his way past the man at the base, a telling glance silencing any protests. Two quick taps on the door announce his arrival. To his suprise a sultry distinctly feminine voice intrudes upon his conciousness.

"Come on in, Stud, I'm ready for you."

A frown creases his forehead, "What the - ?" He thought to himself, his mind filling with the torments and contrived tortures to inflict upon the man below should his information be proven false.

He opens the door in trepidation, fully prepared for disappointment.

 

[SpectreT]

Erin Rathe

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"Why does everyone assume, just because I'm a Knight, that I'm...." I shook my head. "Not that they're far off the mark, but that's unimportant." I leaned forward, and felt a smile begin to form. "To go with this meal, I'd think a pint of stout might be nice," Finally accepting her offer of a drink.

"We both know who I am," I added, smile still present, "Where you have the advantage of me, however, is in knowledge of you."

I asked the barmaid if they had a chess set in the place. I'd have been surprised, but then again, all kinds of gaming might go on in here. My own father had hooked me on the game as a child. looking back to the newcomer, I asked, "Do you play chess?"

 

[HippieChick]

Trychaea

Several boxes of vegetables and an entire basket of eggs still remained on the table, but it was getting dark and no one remained in the marketplace. Trychaea always waited until well after the last customer left before departing for her home.

She sighed and pulled her hood further forward around her face. A full box on each shoulder and a stack of empty baskets clutched in her right hand, she walked back towards her wagon. The boxes landed with a loud thump on the bed of the cart. She slid them into place and returned to the stand to get more.

A thin figure, cloaked as herself walked purposefully past the marketplace towards the tavern. That familiar urge stirred deep within Trychaea, and she was forced to steady herself against the table. She would have to be satiated by another, and soon. Perhaps she could hold out one more day with self-pleasure, but that was dangerous.

She returned to loading the cart, keeping an eye out for a lonely soul, wandering alone in the night. Someone from whom she could get what she needed.

 

[BadForm]

Reidrann Mossadin

Reidrann shrugged. "Chess? Not very well. I never did get on too well on the flat. I'm happy to offer you a game if you wish though." She turned to summon the barmaid, and asked for a chess set and a pint of stout before looking back at Erin with a grin. "You know, some say you are what you drink. I guess in your case it's true, eh my stout knight?"

 

[THEBRAT]

LittleWart

As I am walking down the street back to my home I see Trychaea she is a Beautyful Woman if you like them towering over you!

Trychaea how has you been on this nice and Sunny Day?I would rather have a really Gloomy Day for Myself!

 

[mfucker]

Graham Spencer:

I entered the busy marketplace, scanning the crowd for my regulars. From a passionate and courageous young man two years ago, I was fast degenerating into a shrewd and wily merchant. I had to. Such was the complex world of business that the most hard-hearted would rule.

A few young lasses walk buy, almost scowling at the sight of me, and I could feel an old part of myself returning to me. Perhaps this was not what I wanted in life.

 

[HippieChick]

Trychaea

Ah, Little Wart. Now there was a person who could make the friendliest greeting seem like the lewdest insult. Perhaps he would be of service. Or possibly that other man...the merchant's son. He was certainly attractive. But Little Wart might be an easier target.

"Good day to you, little one. Perhaps you might aid me in the lifting of these troublesome boxes. I have been working all day, and I am not possessed of your strength and endurance."