POOHEAD189

The Sunday Group

Yeah, I'm all for it.

The Elder Scrolls: Vengeance of the Deep

Rae and Al: A Whole New Deal

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Morning of the 22nd of Seed
Anvil

Of all the members of the company she had seemed to have fallen in with, Alim had been the one who she had made plans to see. She wasn’t sure what he’d been up to, but she wanted to see him before she would leave on the 24th. She packed herself a bag filled with oils and flowers, and today she brought her staff. She had noticed him suffering from some kind of back ache - and could think of no better way to bid him farewell than to put that right for him. She hoped it was early enough that he would still be in his room. She had already asked the Innkeeper where he was staying.

She made her way up the flight of stairs, and across the corridor to where Alim was supposed to be staying, and she knocked gently against the hard wood door; “Alim? Are you here?”

Within the room, Alim let out a soft groan as the knocks and the voice sent signals through his mind that his sleep was over. He had always been alert. He would have been killed in the hot streets of Skaven back in Hammerfell if he did not have that quality. But last night, he had stayed up far too late and it left him groggy. “Yes?” He asked aloud, before his mind caught up with him and he recognized the voice. It was sultry and lovely, much like the owner. “Ah, hold on one moment!”

Shifting his weight, he slid out of bed. He wore trousers to bed, but his toned torso and caramel upper body was bare. As he sat up, he felt his back was stiff. He didn’t really have time to do his morning stretches. He’d do them after Raelynn and he were finished with...he wasn’t actually sure why she was here. He grabbed a linen shirt, to cover up the scars along his chest if nothing else, and smoothed his thick mane of black hair before he opened the door. He still look somewhat rakishly disheveled and out of it, but he smiled and blinked the sleep out of his eyes. “And to what do I owe the pleasure, Raelynn?” His voice was smooth, as always.

Raelynn couldn't help but look him up and down slowly. She felt like being bold about it, “did I interrupt your sleep? I would say I'm sorry for it… But you're quite a sight right now.” She laughed a little and motioned to the satchel at her side before leaning against the door frame, tilting her head to one side; “you've been withholding something from me, Alim, and I'd like to put it right before I leave…”

For once in his life, Alim was speechless for a moment. Though he smiled that wide, playful smile. “Coming from someone as beautiful as you, I take that as a huge compliment.” He said, and it wasn’t flattery. He seemed to be speaking as if it was plain, scientific fact. “But I’m a bit confused. I didn’t steal something that was yours... did I?” As he asked, he stepped aside and allowed her into the room. He didn’t have many supplies, though there were some precious stones on the table, no doubt stolen. Along with his chainmail and his sword, along with the princely cloak he bore atop the chair.

“Ah, but you compliment me!” She wanted to keep up the flirting, and to brush under the rug how serious her feelings were, but she couldn't. It was her chance to speak to Alim properly. “You didn't steal from me, I doubt I have much that would interest…” Her blue eyes scanned the room as she entered, and she dragged a finger across the cloak set upon the chair. She leaned back against the table. Silent for a moment or two, unsure of how to say the words. She took in a deep breath and began, “I wanted to get off my chest… I, wanted to say thank you, for saving my life.”

Alim had leaned casually against the wall, but when she thanked him he regarded him. Gone was his smile, and he wondered if she was ok. “You’re very welcome.” He replied honestly.

It was possibly the most sincere she had been in her life, and she looked into Alim’s eyes as she spoke, feeling a strange tension build in the form of silence. She breathed out again, a smile across her lips “but yes, withholding… you've had a terrible back haven't you?”

And with that, Alim’s eyes widened considerably. He laughed guilty and ran a hand through his hair. “Uuhm...I wouldn’t call it terrible.” he began, and then halted himself. He sighed and moved to sit on his bed, caught. The mixed breed grimaced a bit and felt his lower back. “It’s an old wound from back in my early days of being a no-good rogue, you could say. I fell off a three story building and hit a fence with my lower back. My father’s riches still couldn’t find someone who could heal it permanently, but they healed what they could and gave my stretches to do in the morning and night to keep myself nimble. Are you...saying you can help me?” His look wasn’t suspicious, but he still thought of the idea being a bit too good to be true.

She listened intently, taking a mental note when Alim alluded to his family wealth, she shouldn’t have been surprised - the cloak was a dead giveaway. She nodded in acknowledgement of the story, as he explained the origins of the injury. Raelynn stood up from the table and walked towards Alim, holding out her hands to indicate that she would begin touching him. Gently she placed her hands on his shoulders, channelling Magicka through her palms. “I can’t promise you that it will be fixed, but I am very good at what I do…” she smirked at him in a somewhat arrogant way. She pushed down on his shoulders, and he would feel the stream of healing energy curl around his spine.

She removed her hands, and rolled up her sleeves. “Alright then, shirt off and lie down please,” she spoke in a commanding and serious tone, pointing to his bed before reaching for her satchel as she waited for him to do as he was told.

Alim had to admit initially he believed she was doing something else until he sensed the magicka, and then he felt his spine tingle somewhat. In respect to her, he didn’t make any playful comments. “Thank you,” was all he managed. Instead, he did as he was told and took his shirt off. Raelynn would see faded scars along his abdominals and his back, though, with one curving onto a shoulder. His skin in the dim light was almost chocolate, though his breton features stood out. He turned around and lay on his stomach, trying to calm his breathing. He closed his eyes, and tried to not think of any thoughts that might give him ideas.

While he lay down, Raelynn worked her oils into her palms and made her way over, sitting across his body in a comfortable way that wasn't overly intrusive to him. She looked across his back, noticing the scars creeping over his shoulder. She said nothing as she began working the oil against the small of his back, kneading his flesh, using her Magicka alongside it, trying to feel out where the problem was. “So, what have you been doing in Anvil? I haven't seen you since we arrived…” she pinched tightly at individual vertebrae in Alim’s spine, knowing that it would cause him discomfort, her chatter would hopefully take his mind off it.

He felt the pinch and grunted, his next words breathless. “Having drinks with a few of the newer members of the group. I think I stayed up-” he grunted again, and shuddered. “-a bit too late last night doing so. Other than that I mostly won some money in knife throwing. Bets and the like.” He arched his upper back a tad, his head tilting back as she worked. Alim’s dark mane covering the nape of his neck for a second until he head went back down again. “And what have you been up to since we made it here?” he asked. “Actually, I have another following question. Why seek me out now?” He sounded as if he was more confused than stand-offish. “I’m grateful and I’ve wanted to speak more but, you know me. I’m a curious guy.”

He closed his mouth and pressed his face into the cushion, silencing himself to listen.

She applied more pressure to his spine, stopping the Magicka for a while. She didn't want to deplete it entirely. She paid close attention, still unable to find the problem spot on his back. She was listening to him talk, and even gave a soft chuckle in response to his activities. As he arched his back, she nipped hard where his skull met his neck. “I'm sorry if it's uncomfortable…” to ease the discomfort, she began working her palms across his shoulders - knowing it would be far more relaxing for him. “Me? Not a great deal… I’ve rested, and have been to the markets…”

She brought the Magicka back to both palms again, pressing down flat on the centre of Alim’s back. Finally able to feel something wrong. “There you are…” she muttered under her breath. She didn't quite know how to answer his second question. “Well… I guess really I… wanted to thank you and do something for you. I'm leaving for High Rock on the 24th…” her voice trailed off. She had said too much, she went back to work on his back, pouring her Magicka into him, feeling herself grow more tired as she concentrated her efforts on the bad spot, feeling it ease up. “I’m not good with… emotions and being truthful. It would just weigh heavy on me to leave without squaring up with you and saying goodbye.” She sighed, almost annoyed that she was honest with him, and dropped her wall just that little bit towards him.

He felt a knot in his back loosening, like a rope that had been tied for years that was finally being unraveled. He didn’t know how to feel other than strange, at the moment. Though he chuckled in disbelief and weakness. He felt nearly as tired as she did. The work on his back somehow taxed him slightly, and that along with the discomfort made his movements weak. “You seem to be doing just fine with it, now.” he said with a friendly grin, though he didn’t know if she could see it past his hair. He shuddered one final time, and felt something slip from within his lower back. He let go of the bed covers he didn’t even realize he had been gripping, and his body grew lax.

“Why are you leaving?” he asked. “You don’t have to answer, but…” His voice trailed off. It seemed to indicate that he felt like he would be losing something with Raelynn leaving the company. He’d not talked to her, or seen her much since after he, Raelynn, and Jude had bonded. But he was endeared to Raelynn, and after doing this for him. It seemed bad poetry or an anticlimactic story, a friend leaving like that without giving reasoning.

“I… I guess because it's wartime. I'm scared, I want to be somewhere familiar.” The words flowed so quickly, she surprised herself by saying them and being so honest. She gently shifted herself from her position on Alim, getting back to her feet. “I hope it feels better. I'm sure if I took another shot another day you'd feel brand new.” Raelynn smiled at him, looking at him laying on the bed, relaxed and pain free. It did bring her pleasure to do her work. It wasn't often that she allowed herself a moment to appreciate her gift and feel proud of it, but this was one of those times.

She walked back over to the table and began gathering her things, before she playfully retorted back to Alim; “want me to stay with you and your friends, do you?”

Alim sat up, lifting a leg up to lay his angle across his knee, and resting his hands on his legs. His back felt...incredible honestly. He did not know if it would stay that way, but he sincerely hoped it did. “I do,” he replied. His tone playful yet ringing with an honesty that spoke volumes. “Mostly because I consider you a friend.”

He grabbed his shirt and slipped it over himself, whipping his hair back and forth to frame his face, and he stood up and strode over to her. He stopped just as he got to her however, parting his lips as if to say something. He hesitated for a moment, and the words flowed out of him. “I haven’t been home in many years. To High Rock I mean. I would love to see it again sometime…” He took a deep breath, and he took Raelynn’s hand in his, gently. If she pulled away he wouldn’t stop her. “I have a lot of problems with my family, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to protect them, or the place I grew up in. And this, that’s happening now…” Alim shook his head and looked into her eyes. “This war won’t go away if we ignore it. You’re not a soldier. Hell, neither am I. But…” Alim had a way of talking, shifting tones in his voice to bring out a certain charisma. “This is what tales are made of. This is how riches are found and legends are born. But most of all, if we don’t stop this here, I fear that the war will reach Highrock and destroy both of our homes. Plus, I kind of have a knack for saving pretty women and if you were gone, I couldn’t catch you.” He grinned.

Alim let go of her hand, and held himself to his full height. “You’ve shown me right here that you’re not only a friend, but a valued member of the team. Can you stick around a bit longer? We, and High Rock, needs all the help it can get right now.”

I never did achieve knighthood, but here I go. Alim bended down on a knee, looking downward. “I humbly request that you stay. Please.” He wanted to pledge that he would protect her, but he felt that was 1, going without saying, and 2, a bit too far to say vocally. But still, there it was.

She listened to Alim’s words again. He was kind, and an optimist. She had been joking when she initially asked the question, she hadn't expected such a big show. She didn't know why he cared so much about what she did. They were squared now after all. She furrowed her brow and sighed, leaving it all too long in an awkward silence before saying anything to him, “I guess I’ll have to think about it…” was about all she could muster up to say. She had blown it, shown him too much sincerity and she felt worse for it. She didn't like to have ties to people, she didn't like to be held down for too long. He did happen to speak of riches - and that was something she couldn't deny she would have access too.

Suddenly the thought of being alone without those who could protect her on the way back to High Rock filled her with fear too. She would be putting herself in danger if she got on a passenger ship right now. Maybe it was best to stay with the group, and hope - no, convince them to travel to High Rock with her. She had no idea of their plans, but veering from them now may end up being a mistake. Alim was a capable fighter and so were his friends. They had numbers too. Yes, strength came in numbers.

She felt all too uneasy having been so soft with Alim. Yet she couldn't bring herself to say something twisted to him. “Thank you Alim, I hope you'll enjoy the day. Please excuse me now… I should rest and get ready.” The way she left was awkward and hurried. She felt angry at herself, still, it was how she had been feeling at the time. Her debt to Alim was squared, and that was the end of it. She had the rest of the day to shake off the feelings, perhaps a trip to the markets was in order. Maybe a bottle of wine. She just wanted to be alone and stop herself from finding more trouble, and tripping into emotional territory again….

As Raelynn left the room, Alim lifted his head up. “Was that a yes?” he thought aloud. Realizing he’d get no answer, he began to think. He enjoyed Raelynn because she was so...conniving wasn’t the right word, but as a rogue he could appreciate the lust for treasures and the planning. But her she showed genuine sincerity and when returned she went back to how she was. To say he was confused was an understatement. Maybe he’d blown it out of proportion. Usually he was far more flirty and laconic in wit, but he guessed lack of sleep and a miraculous healing of his back opened up his heart a bit. This was already turning out to be a weird day. But as he twisted his torso back and forth and realized Raelynn just might stick around, he felt that sometimes weird was needed.

“Oh, I’m good.” he joked.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations: A Modern Fantasy Adventure

Perhaps

Dogs of War: Old World Mercenaries

The Ostlander had to keep himself calm. His sword howled in his mind so loudly he was almost afraid others would hear it. He heard Camilla but was too overwhelmed by instinct borne of his sword to reply immediately. Cyrdic sniffed the air, his keen senses trying to penetrate past the scent of spices and sweat that permeated the room. The room. No, the tapestries. The markings along the tapestries in blood. They were miniature portals that led to the realm of Chaos. No wonder he hadn't sensed the demonic temptresses before.

The sudden insight opened his eyes essentially, and he was suddenly aware of the twisting horns and curled tails of the succubi who writhed, tasted, and bucked against the last remaining men and women who tried to fight against them, their screams turning to moans of erupting pleasure as they began to cling and begged for more. Cyrdic wanted nothing more than to hack his way through and escape, but despite his strength and runic sword, there were too many of them. He did all he could to keep the magic of the Ulrican blade contained and not give away their position.

"Cyrdic," Camilla whispered harshly, trying to gain his attention to what she had said. She tugged at his arm fiercely.

Cyrdic took his mask off, tore Camilla's mask off and suddenly kissed her roughly. Camilla blinked in surprise, and after a moment she tried to push him away, thinking he had been bewitched as the others had. Instead, Cyrdic lifted her up in his arms and carried her to the wall, pressing her into it as if he was lost in a world of lust, his huge bulk forcing her to comply. That is, until his hand on the wall slowly slipped over and found the door handle.

The mere turning of the knob caused the succubi to screech in their minds, but the two were already gone and nearly tumbling down the stairs, Camilla no longer trying to fight and Cyrdic running as fast as he could down the twisting steps until the two suddenly burst into the main dining hall. Multitudes of men and women looked up from their dinners to see Camilla's leg's around Cyrdic's waist and Cyrdic holding Camilla up, their hair disheveled.

With a slow dignity only a royal princess could muster, Camilla climbed off of Cyrdic and straightened her clothes. Cyrdic tried to brush his unruly hair with his fingers, and the two strode out of the Hussar's Hooves as quickly and silently as they could muster, glaring at any who dared watch them too closely. When they made it out into the night air, Cyrdic rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry." he whispered, meaning his forceful kiss upstairs. "I didn't know how else to get out..."
@Penny

Grim Galaxy: Shots and Chances

The Pilot laughed. "Don't worry, with our luck I'm sure we'll shoot something real soon." he said with a wink, snapping up the trunk and lifting up the near-priceless object. He shook his head as he relayed the scene that had just played out. "Acting like we'd just give them the stone. They idiots?"

"I think they think we're the idiots." Sayeeda said, hands on her hips.

"How could we be idiots? We have some fucking Aestimobium."

"And how did we get it?" She asked Neil, raising an eyebrow.

He sighed. "...By being idiots." Sayeeda smirked. Taya's voice rang over the comms. "If you two are done, let's get in here and discuss what exactly we plan on doing." The hanger was still empty, but Neil realized it was probably for the best they talked further inside. A devil in the back of Neil's head made him say. "Yeah, before the Captain shoots somebody." He felt a woosh of air behind the nape of his neck right as he leaped forward, and he ran into the Highlander with Sayeeda right on his heels until Neil spun and held the Aestimobium in front of himself. Sayeeda hid a smile, and just pointed at him.

He placed the mineral down on the table after she sat down, and he sat down too, thinking he was safe. The boot that stomped on his foot relieved him of such notions, but they were both laughing after Neil cursed. In a moment however, Sayeeda went back to business and began. "So..." she said, her tone brooking no room for anything else but making a plan worth executing. "we go to the Golden Nebula. Did either of you see any good places for guns to hide in the Cantina?"

"I could barely see anything." Taya said, the cloak that had been wrapped around her head now snug on her shoulders once more.

"There's probably plenty of places to the left when you enter, where the crowds and dancers are." Neil pointed out. "But on the right, the sit down bar and tables are probably where we'll do the transaction. We can't exactly flank or hide either, they've seen both of our faces and Taya isn't the best gun, no offense."

Taya's face gave a clear 'none taken, seriously' as if she wanted to be as far away from any gun as possible.

"Then we'll just need to sit in the corner near the door, and wait. Or if they already have a table for us, we don't sit next to each other." She said to Neil, and he nodded. They needed eyes everywhere. "Taya, give us your cloak." The girl blinked, but did as she was told, and Sayeeda wrapped it around the Aestimobium container.

Neil spoke up next. "They'll never guess we have a container now."

Needless to say, he had to dodge Sayeeda again.
@Penny

Into The Dark: Tales of Maroleth

@Gardevoiran don't 'complete' the birthing yet since we need at least one priest there. But yeah you are fairly free

Into The Dark: Tales of Maroleth

@BCTheEntity Note: Settione can also try to implore Geradin to take his place because he might be a better...er...'priest' for this sort of thing. Then again, if you feel spry go ahead.

Warhammer Fantasy: The Guild of Esteemed Sellswords - An adventure in the Warhammer Fantasy world! [REBOOTED] [FULL]

The Dwarf stood there, eyes stern and beard bristling with barely suppressed violence. Even with his armor on, he had managed to get the jump on a few of them. Now whether or not he would need to cleave them into bits was their choice, though in truth the Dawi did not think he would need to hold back from the way things had been shaking up. He noticed a halfling practically pissing himself shuddering and stepping to the side. It would be comical to the halfling's companion, because the Dawi would be eyeing his every move as he sidestepped, clearly trying to gain a sneaking advantage that seemed an exercise in futility.

The violence the Dwarf had predicted did erupt, but not in the way he had expected. A braying noise filled the woods, and the familiar sound of grunting and hoofbeats reverberated off the trees. "Grimnir's wrath," Balgrim cursed, giving his previous foes a glare before yelling a warcry and practically pummeling his way out of the roots and brush to enter the fray. The first Ungor out of the remaining 10 did not see his demise, only felt a terrible ripping in its collarbone as Balgrim eviscerated the beast of chaos.

The young Brettonian looked like he had made a good accounting for himself so far. It seemed some manlings did have skill and honor, as the histories had stated. Two of the beasts lay dead with precise cuts in their bodies, and the squireling's blade was bloodied. A beastman leaped at Balgrim, but the thickly muscled Dwarf grabbed it by the throat before it even landed. The Longbeard then began to squeeze, and the air and life began to leave the Ungor as it kicked futilely. A second attacked Balgrim as he crushed the windpipe of this spawn of Chaos.

Its axe hacked at the Dwarf's armor, barely penetrating and nearly bouncing off the Dwarf. "Ye think ye can get the jump on me, ye sorry excuse fer cattle!?" Balgrim headbutted the thing, bloodying its snout as he began to cleave into its stomach, intoning prayers to Grimnir as he continued, a veritable armored tank, fueled by booze rather than steam.

Into The Dark: Tales of Maroleth

"Argon," Beren called to the Lizardman, and the bestial warrior slithered over and stood tall. Beren was not short, but Argon towered over him just the same. "Yessss, friend?" he asked. The Saurdraxes tongue slipped out for a moment to taste the air. Beren pointed around them. "We need to protect the village at all costs, right?"

"Yessss."

"Then don't stray too far from the village. If you catch a scent, keep the others informed but stay close. Lead them well and I'll see you soon." Beren told him. Meanwhile, as Settione began to draw his prayer circle, Calanon breathed in through his nose and approached Aeryn, giving a bow. "I...I apologize. But I have a duty to the group." he said, giving her a reassuring smile. "We'll return shortly. I know you know of what you speak, but this is how I contribute."

Settione had just finished his circle and intoned the God of luck and trickery, and all who chose stood within the circle. Geradin chose not to, muttering his God already gave him protection. clutching his hammer tightly in his strong fist. Beren was an Eru'Dai, and could not in good conscience give too much homage to any deity other than the EverGod above, but he did not leave the circle. Calanon stood within as well.

"We'll see you when you get back." Beren said to Calanon, drawing the Wood Elf's gaze. He gave a smile of camraderie back to Beren, the two clearly having been friends for many years, even before they had been called to adventure in RiverDale all those weeks ago. Geradin nudged Beren, and motioned for him to get going with him and get to work. They needed to finish the palisade and the ditch while the others scouted.

There were no horses save three privately owned ones in the town, but Calanon assured them he and Brogach would be sufficient, and Argon offered to let Alice ride atop his back if it came to it, or if she wanted to now. He was far too friendly for a hulking reptilian warrior. Alice, Calanon, Argon, Ann-Hasst, and Nicademus had the time to gather their arms and a small bit of rations before they headed out, following Argon as Calanon and Brogach disappeared into the brush to be their eyes for the small excursion. The ground was at it had been when they had found the village. A sea of vines, brush, trees and roots that jutted out of the ground, with islands of bushes. Soon they lost sight of the village, Argon creeping along the ground on all fours, though his back still reached waist height on a man.

At the village, Beren and Geradin had stripped off their shirts and armor, and had begun to dig. It was an odd pairing, both heavily muscled and scarred, clearly fit for manual labor. However while Beren's torso was slim and sculpted at the waist and broadening at the chest and shoulders, Geradin was barrel chested and far hairier. They began to dig at the fore of the town. A man, looking to be one of the more well off people in the village (not that it was saying much) approached Settione, whom he saw had little to do after he had called for the prayer circle.

"'Scuse me sir." the man said, tapping Settione on the shoulder. "You the priest, yeah? You got a moment to held the elder man, bear looking fellow? You see it's my wife, she's in labor. Though a prayer or two might help her..."

Ursaren had already washed and bandaged a guardsmen who had been attacked by a beast, but he now found himself warming water and setting it to boil to get ready for the baby that was apparently forthcoming. Aeryn had found herself where she had been, caught between various things to do.
@Fetzen@Gardevoiran@BCTheEntity@The Fated Fallen@Stormflyx@Mortarion

Grim Galaxy: Shots and Chances

Neil regarded the woman for a moment. At first he thought she reminded him of Sayeeda, her hair short and her body lithe but fit, and a dangerous quality about her. But on second glance, he realized that was not the case. There was a competence, but a lack of command or confidence. She must had been bought as a slave and had served Gnorlaac well, or she had risen through the rank for gathering intel, etc. Either way, he would be respectful. Dangerous or not, she seemed to be his eyes and ears at the moment.

"The D-15 Landing pad near sector 8." Neil replied, giving the ships HLNDR designation number. He had the slightest notion that Taya had tensed up when he gave the information, but one had to look for it to notice. It seemed like no one did, thankfully. As the woman placed the information in her datapad, Neil spoke up. "Will you accompany us or will one of your agents?" Behind Yrla, a door whisked open to reveal two heavily clad warriors. Their races unknown, though they seemed man sized, encased in full Dyrelian battle-armor, leaving even their faces covered in las and bullet resistant armor.

"Both," she replied curtly. Her datapad 'pinged' aloud, and she holstered it onto her utility belt as she motioned for Neil to lead the way back to the ship. The guard's guns were not pointed at them, but they were slung within their hands much like Neil and Sayeeda's guns had been when they had dealt with Sven.

Through the rusted streets, the blood and excrement on the walls giving off a very pervasive sense of mild disgust, Neil strode ahead confidently and never did look back. He had his hand close to his revolver if he heard even the slightest thing amiss, but all was quiet save the calls of the low-life merchants and the growls of various Xenos that prowled. Once they entered the landing pad, Neil told Taya to open up the ship. She didn't make a noise, and simply pushed a button within her clothes that activated the bay doors.

"Wait here, would you?" Neil asked them. All of them, and he went up to retrieve the most valuable mineral in the galaxy.
@Penny