[b][u]Vaelan, Aeieal[/u][/b] - [i]An Aristo, Iso, Paper, Spleen Collab[/i]

The air was filled with a clamor and the chaos of a big city in the prime of life. The entire city seemed to bob and sway in a way that would make someone who was not used to it queasy and the docks swarmed with activity as herds of thrulls overseen by Vaelie performed maintenance and worked the docks, unloading cargo, loading cargo, and generally performing every task imaginable. There were almost no whip cracks, the thrulls had no thought of independence or revolt and such tension spoiled the meat. It was a grand sight, but the most stunning part was probably the people themselves. The bestial thrulls contrasted with the angelic creatures that commanded them, figures who drew the eye and fogged the mind with their beauty. 

As the ship docked one of the Vaelie, a woman dressed in ornate clothing made from many strips of wrapped cloth, approached it. Behind her trailed a number of thrulls in working smocks and a pair of Vaelie wearing suits of armor. She came to a stop before the boat and waited, clearly expecting those within to make their presence known.

"Ling never been southern lands" The Otnemarcasan commented, staring over the ship's side at the dock below. "Heard stories of petty.... pretty...? Yes, pretty girls though. Ling wish he knew southern tongue..."

Petarch moved up to look out and responded in Otnemarcasan, “Aye, I passed through this country from the south once before.  Be wary of them Ling, their beauty is as much physical as it is a sickness that seeps into your veins.” 

Choi waved his crew around the deck of the vessel, directing them in preparation to dock. The slaves below deck followed the commands of the signal drum, easing the ship into place with strokes of their oars, procedures long since drilled into muscle memory. Topside, the Hokksulgugae crew flung out mooring lines onto the berth, where they were secured into place by thrull slaves.

"Ho there!" the Hokksulgugae yelled with a wave of his arm. He climbed to the side of the ship where the expectant Vaelie and her attendants stood. "I am captain of this vessel, Lord Seung Choi." He sincerely hoped the woman understood some Hokksulgugae at least - he'd had his share of headaches listening to his companions on the water. Just in case, he repeated himself in the common tongue, used by the Dominion, Somnus and other more mundane human realms. It was the only other language aside from his own he had mastery over.

The Vaelie woman spread her arms wide and gestured to the expanse of the city and the sea of human and inhuman beings that dwelt inside of it, a motion that also showed off certain attributes before she replied with a voice that rang out like music. "Welcome Lord Seung Choi to Vaelan." As she spoke her arms lowered again and she bowed her head slightly, her golden tresses swinging in the gentle breeze in an entrancing fashion.

"Before you may disembark, I ask that you state the purpose of your visit to our city for these are dark times." 

Choi gave a hesitant look at his allies before giving a simple reply of "We're just passing through. My friends and I are explorers, you see. Aeiael is our first stop before we head deeper into the mainland." The noble fidgeted with his hand, tapping on the wooden monster head of the ship's prow. "Once we unload the ship, we'll be resting and making last-minute preparations. I'll need to entrust her to your care until our return."

Choi was bothered by two things; the first being his abandoning of the vessel and the second by the form and attire of the Vaelie on the dock. The strands of silver-trimmed fabric draped over her figure complimented it well. Patches of bare skin dotted their way across the Vaelie's body, and Choi found it hard to focus. He'd met their kind before on just two occasions, and never got used to the lust that seemingly exuded from their being. He forced himself to tear his eyes away, watching the ripple of the water against the dock to escape the carnal thoughts that danced in his head.

"You are welcome to enjoy our hospitality as long as you wish Lord Seung Choi." The Vaelie's musical voice sounded again as she replied. "I trust you will find our land pleasant." There was a slightly odd element to her voice as she said that last part. "But you will need to offer payment for the docking space when you return." As she finished her words the Vaelie turned away and gestured to the thrulls in a fluid motion. 

The herd broke up with no task to perform and the woman turned back to the ship. "This land is beautiful, but outsiders often fall prey to misfortune when they wander alone outside of the cities. You may wish to find a guide." There was something strangely predatory about her gaze in the long moment after she had finished speaking before she turned away again and walked away with her two guards following. The ornate but revealing clothing left little to the imagination as she left, leaving the ship full of explorers alone once more.

Petarch was unsettled as he always was in these parts.  For most he could declare himself above the temptations of flesh, but the creatures of this land were another thing altogether.  Calm composure and hiding whatever feelings might surface had never been his strong suit before he journeyed through this country all those years ago, but it was a skill he learned quickly once he did.

Taking his mind off it Petarch flicked the back of Chois head, “when dealing with those folk perhaps focus on more than the breasts?  You might find a face less erotic, maybe  even be able to keep your wits about you.”  Petarch looked out and added more seriously, “be careful Choi.” 

The Hokksulgugae swatted Petarch's hand away, letting a grunt escape his nose. "It's these darned Vaelie," he grumbled. "Can't look one of them in the eye without loosing some semblance of focus. Whatever god planted them on the earth must have had a sense of humor."

"Ling remember one time... friend stared at pretty lady's breast too much. She broke his nose." He shook his head, his face a few shades more red then it had been before they had left the ship. "Good times."

[b]Later...[/b]						

The trip to the inn had been relatively uneventful even if the city was certainly breathtaking and unique. The beautiful beings who populated it were omnipresent and their many auras overlapped in a layer of presence that was difficult to ignore at the best of times. The trip had included sights like the thrull market where those same beautiful beings had been seen buying and selling the omnipresent slaves, and if the garbled translations of their language were right, many of the slaves were being auctioned off as food.

But there was beauty too, the buildings were mastercrafted, many street corners featured musicians and other entertainers who all seemed to be skilled. And at one point the throngs in the city had parted and the travelers had been forced to do so as well. A procession passed by carrying beings that even put the other Vaelie too shame, they lounged atop great platforms carried by the thrulls, clad in clothing of similar style the woman who had greeted the travelers at the dock but far more ornate and shot through with gold as well as silver and crimson. 

The Inn wasn't a place that would seem too strange in any other nation, there were people of many races and nations gathered there and the smell was mostly the familiar reek of alcohol and poorly washed masses. But like the rest of the city there was a faint odor that was similar to the scent of roasting pork, but different, and those Vaelie within the inn who were dining fed on a meat that was difficult to identify.

"(Petarch, my friend)" By the time the group had found a seat Ling's face was a deep crimson. His eyes remained glued to either the floor or the table directly in front of him, essentially the only places one could look without seeing a scantily clad woman. "(Would you mind ordering me a drink? Something strong? I would do it myself but.... well I obviously can't speak the language.)"

Petarch was wary of the natives, but if Ling wanted a strong drink he would end up getting one.  Better to have him drink something Petarch was fairly sure wouldn't send him into a coma.  Probably.  With that in mind he called out in Hokksulgugae, “Inn keep!  My friend here wants...  Err, get him some Seros Ale if you have it.”  

After the innkeep took the order Petarch laughed as he turned to Choi, “Bets on how long till Ling's under the table then?  I'd wager two drinks!  Never knew what they used to make that drink but first time I had it  it didn't take much.”

Switching back to Otnemarcasan and still smiling he looked to Ling, “Think you'll enjoy this one Ling, be careful though.  We still need you with some semblance of intelligence.”

It was only a few moments before one of the serving girls approached the table carrying a rather small seeming tankard of ale. Though it was unlikely to be the tankard of ale that drew the looks as she threaded her way through the throng of people. If the travelers had found the normal Aeiaelan attire to be revealing and provacative it was likely this should be even more so. 

The many strips of crimson cloth that made up her clothing left little to imagination. Generous amounts of silver skin showed through the holes between the strips and her golden hair was long and coiled into several braids that hung down over her shoulders. She had a smile on her face as she reach the table and looked at the three men. "Which of you ordered the Seros Ale?" She asked in her musical voice speaking the Hokksulgugae language, smiling at each of the three in turn.

"Ling did" Ling made a point of not shifting his gaze from the table. Only after his drink was placed before him did he shift his gaze, at which point it locked on to the Seros Ale. He grabbed the drink and in one swift motion brought it up to his mouth and tipped it back, not placing it back down until after the tankard was empty. He winced before saying "Ling would be... gracious for another."

"Of course." The woman bowed her head slightly at Ling, perhaps a bit taken aback by the speed at which he had downed the drink. "Do you desire anything further? Do any of you?" She looked at the others again as she said the last part, her smile still etched on her face as she picked up the empty tankard again.

Petarch eyed Ling and just stated, "I think he'll be drinking enough for us all tonight, a lighter ale will be fine for me."

Choi waved his hand to earn the girl's attention. He pointed to another table on the far side of the room, occupied by a few locals. In front of one of them sat a brutish-looking skull, which had the top hollowed out and the gaps plugged shut so it could serve as a vessel. "A Vaelie Death's Head!" he croaked, relishing the novelty of the drink. Hokksulgug's tastes for exotic pleasures and new sensations played a great role in the goods it imported, and Choi had been privy to many Vaelie concoctions at parties beforehand. He shot his companions a vulpine smirk as the serving girl noted his order.

For a moment the girl seemed taken aback and her eyes flickered over to the table Choi had pointed too. But the momentary expression of surprised quickly faded and with the practiced smile still on her face that girl nodded. "Of course. I will bring those to you right away." With her musical words fading the girl turned away and walked, threading her way back through the crowd in a motion that was likely enchanting to watch. 

A moment later she returned, setting down the two tankards first and then placing a large hollowed skull before the man from Hokksulgug. Inside the skull swished a hot red liquid that steamed as she slid it over to Choi. 

"Will there be anything else? Any other services that I can provide?" The girl spoke again.

"Services?" Ling and Choi cooed in unison. Ling downed his second tankard as fast as the first. He leaned towards Choi, his eyes narrowing as he gazed into the... concotion before the Hokksulgugae.
"Blood, booze and bones," the nobleman laughed, tapping the skull chalice. The ensemble took both hands to lift, and Choi threw it back, letting a gulp of its contents rush down his throat. He waved a hand to the Vaelie, indicating to lean in for a whisper.

The girl obliged, leaning in across the table in a way that even Ling who kept trying to look elsewhere likely had to see. Her ear eventually ended up close to Choi's mouth, waiting for him to speak. The Hokksulgugae hissed behind the back of his hand, maintaining whatever his words were at a volume low enough to keep his companions guessing.

The sudden introduction of a skull filled with blood alcohol, and Choi preparing for what would obviously be a night of... Vigorous exercise had Petarch conflicted between nauseous and exasperated.  With little to say as Choi promptly disregarded his advice Petarch simply rested his forehead on his hand and sighed.

The girl drew back across the table and flashed her winsome smile at the group against, this time her gaze lingered on Choi and Ling for a long moment as something other than the desire to serve flickered onto her features but then she just nodded it was gone. "Of course. I should be free to accommodate you in an hour. Will your friend require an additional companion or will I suffice?"

"I'm sure Ling here can handle his own," Choi replied, giving the Otnemarcasan a flash of his teeth. "And I never liked sharing anyways!" He threw back another mouthful of the ichor.

"If I can be of any further assistance call for me again." The serving girl said with a smile and then walked away from the table once more, stopping at several others on her way back to the bar.