Part 2: Katarina's Midnight Temple Visit: Session 5+

[23:32] <Daroskt> -Bonus Session-
[23:33] <Daroskt> Katarina's Midnight Temple Visit
[23:33] * Katarina decides against going asleep after some thought, and instead decides to visit Madam Pamodae. She quietly sneaks out of her room, careful not to wake the others as she makes her way back to the temple.
[23:39] <Daroskt> The streets are no less active at night in Riddleport, and in some cases moreso, with prostitutes and pimps more readily plying their trade at night. Fortunately, the night is also the domain of the House of the Silken Veil for that reason, and very few people would willingly cross Madam Pamodae and her working girls. As such Katarina makes it to the temple without incident.
[23:40] * Katarina gets more nervous and timid than usual, seeing all of the prostitutes out at night. It is... new. She opens the temple door, looking around for someone to direct her as the last visit.
[23:42] <Daroskt> The temple door is really just silk curtains, and upon their parting, Katarina is instantly hit with the overpowering scent of exotic incense once more. She is again greeted by Lavender Lil, who smiles upon recognizing her, "I take it you got the Madam's note?"
[23:43] * Katarina nods her head lightly. "Y-y-yes... Uhm... d-do you th-think you c-could show me to her a-again?"
[23:44] <Daroskt> Lil nods, "She invited you, so I've every reason to abide by her wish. I'm Lil by the way," she notes, offering a hand to shake. "Lots of folk call me Lavender Lil."
[23:45] * Katarina shakes Lil's hand and smiles lightly. "K-katarina... It's n-nice to meet you..."
[23:45] <Daroskt> Lil smiles, "Nice to meet you as well." She turns around beckoning Katarina with her tail and leading her up the steps to the steeple.
[23:47] * Katarina follows, taking a few short glances around the temple, though averting her gaze with a blush at seeing any of the more scantily-clad priestesses.
[23:50] <Daroskt> Lil leads Katarina back up to the steeple, where Madam Pamodae is filing her nails into points with an emory board held in her rather dexterous tail. She sets the board down and smiles at Katarina, "Welcome back darlink, are you here for business, or pleasure?"
[23:51] * Katarina blinks. "W-well... y-your letter... N-not business," she blushes, "but n-not that k-kind of pleasure..."
[23:53] <Daroskt> The sultry tiefling chuckles breathily, "Relax darlink, you are too stressed. Would you perhaps like a massage? Normally, we charge for that, but given what I saw in your eyes, I am willing to be generous." She plucks out the brooch she had taken for payment earlier, "As well, this is quite a nice trinket to have been paid with, dunt you agree?"
[23:55] * Katarina looks to the brooch and nods. "I-it is... I'm g-glad you like i-it." She takes a deep breath, trying to stave away some of her nervousness. "A message?... Uhm... O-okay?"
[23:56] <Daroskt> Pamodae, "I never like to have conversations when me or my companion is feelink stressed, dah? We relax you a bit, then we talk about why you came back, yah?"
[23:57] <Daroskt> Pamodae rings a little bell with her tail and a masseuse joins them a couple minutes later. "Now, lay down on table and take off your armour."
[00:01] * Katarina nods and timidly strips out of her armor, still wearing her smallclothes. "O-okay, th-thank you..." She moves to the table, laying down.
[00:03] <Daroskt> The masseuse is not used to working on dressed clients, but makes due, setting aside and oils or lotions and simple kneading Katarina's back and shoulders. As she works, Pamodae walks around the table, looking Katarina over.
[00:09] * Katarina sighs, her tight muscles relaxing slightly as she is messaged. As Pamodae looks her over, she can notice Katarina's muscle, her arms and legs still slender, but obviously strong. Her face looks beautiful and relaxed at the moment, fair and defined in a state of content due to the massage, with her dark red hair falling well beneath her shoulders. She doesn't have any other oddities pertaining to her heritage, none visible through the clothes, at least.
[00:10] <Katarina> --through the clothes, at least.
[00:14] <Daroskt> Pamodae returns to her seat, "How do you feel now darlink?"
[00:16] * Katarina smiles, sighing contentedly. "...Wonderful."
[00:17] <Daroskt> Pamodae smiles, "I am glad of this. Now we can talk without hesitation."
[00:20] * Katarina nods and looks to Pamodae. "Lil... you both are Tieflings. I... I am not, I only have my e-eyes, yet... my childhood was awful," she sighs. "or nonexistent. How... was yours? O-or... how do you handle it now?"
[00:23] <Daroskt> Pamodae, "My child, I am now high Priestess of Calistria. She teaches us to submit to our natural instincts, as that is what they are, natural. She also teaches to seek vengeance against those who wrong us. Tell me darlink, what happened when you were child?"
[00:26] <Daroskt> Pamodae also notes, "Indeed, there is only the scarcest trace of infernal influence within you that I can see. Present, but exceptionally diluted. Very much unlike myself and Lil here, as you no doubt have noticed."
[00:27] * Katarina frowns and twiddles her fingers nervously. "M-my... my parents did not kn-know what to make of my e-eyes... w-we were simple farmers. They paid for a c-cleric to help them though... where they were t-told of what they really meant." She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. "Th-they t-tried to k-kill me... I ran away. Th-that was n-nine years ago... I've lived i-in n-nearby forests e-ever since..."
[00:31] <Daroskt> Pamodae strokes Katarina's hair, "Their fear speaks poorly of them. From what I can see, you are a lovely young lady, and as I haff learnt, our heritage does not control us. Granted, we may have certain... inclinations, but ultimately, your destiny is your own."
[00:33] <Daroskt> Pamodae touches a single finger to Katarina's heart as she says this
[00:34] * Katarina smiles lightly as she opens her eyes. Her eyes clear, before looking filled with worry and now with slight relief. "...Th-thank you."
[00:38] <Daroskt> Pamodae smirks, "When I first saw your eyes, I was thinking maybe to invite you to join our sisterhood," her eyes glance at the Desna necklace, "But as I said, your destiny is your own, and you already seem to have chosen a path. Just be careful around Vancaskerkin."
[00:40] * Katarina raises an eyebrow. "...V-vancaskerin? Saul? ...but, he's been so kind to us..."
[00:41] <Daroskt> Pamodae nods, "Well, perhaps he truly is turnink over new leaf, but perhaps Lil here should tell you about his past."
[00:42] <Daroskt> Lil was busy fiddling with her tail and blinks when suddenly drawn into the conversation
[00:43] * Katarina looks over to Lil, not realizing she was still there. "H-his past?"
[00:44] <Daroskt> Lil nods, "Well, Vancaskerkin likes to think his disgrace isn't quite as public as it is. Dunno what he's told you already though. I imagine he left out certain things for certain though."
[00:46] * Katarina frowns. "W-well... all I really know is that he's a old, washed-out crime lord..."
[00:48] <Daroskt> Lil nods, "Indeed, but did he ever tell you why he was washed out? I happen to know why first hand, but I was wondering whether or not he told you."
[00:50] * Katarina shakes her head, "N-not that I can remember..."
[00:50] <Daroskt> Lil smirks, "Figures. Well, the real reason he got disgraced is because Clegg Zincher, who I'm sure youre familiar with by now, used to have a brother who fancied me."
[00:53] * Katarina nods. "A-and I t-take it something his brother did disgraced him?"
[00:53] <Daroskt> Lil shakes her head, "Nope. The fact of the matter was I had another suitor, by the name of Orik. Orik Vancaskerkin. He challenged Clegg's brother to a duel over me and cut him down."
[00:55] * Katarina blinks. "W-wow. S-so... the two crime bosses...?"
[00:56] <Daroskt> Lil nods, "Clegg was understandable outraged, so he had the Overlord exile Orik and chopped off Saul's hand to appease his own anger. Saul's other son left him not too long after that, went and joined the Korvosa Guard I think."
[00:57] <Daroskt> Lil looks away slightly, "Although, he was rather tiffed at me too, so I had to seek out protection from Madam, and I've been here since. This all went down a little over a year ago."
[00:59] * Katarina frowns sadly. "I am... sorry to hear that." She sighs. "Though is Clegg still angry with you?"
[01:00] <Daroskt> Lil nods, "I'd say so. If I ever leave the temple, I run the risk of having my throat slit, which I don't altogether fancy."
[01:02] * Katarina winces. "O-oh..." She shakes her head. "P-perhaps C-clegg will not be around for m-many more months..."
[01:03] <Katarina> "H-he has been... aggressive, towards Saul. I-I h-have a feeling the two will c-come to fight. Myself against C-clegg, o-of course..."
[01:04] <Daroskt> Lil chuckles, "If you or your friends can deal with him, you'd have my thanks, but I don't wager you'll manage to get too close to him. He rarely does anything himself, and is usually flanked by cronies or guards."
[01:05] * Katarina giggles. "M-maybe, m-maybe not... We'll see."
[01:07] <Daroskt> Lil nods, "Well, if Saul has really learned something from the loss of his sons and hand, then all power to him, but I gotta wonder how he managed to get back on his feet in the first place. Granted, it's been said you and your friends have really been doing good work for him, but what happened between his disgrace and meeting you I wonder?"
[01:10] * Katarina shrugs. "I-I'm not sure... though, I know he took out a loan of 2000 gold, so perhaps that helped." She stands up, starting to put her studded leather back on, along with her other equipment.
[01:11] <Daroskt> Lil shrugs, "Yeah, but that was after he got the Goblin, since the Goblin itself was the collateral. How'd he afford it in the first place do ya think?"
[01:13] * Katarina frowns, thinking as she finishes gearing up. "mmm... Not sure. D-did he always have that... Old S-scratch before? I-It could do with that..."
[01:16] <Daroskt> Lil shrugs, "I have no idea where that imp came into the picture, so if could be."
[01:16] <Daroskt> Pamodae chuckles, "Indeed, I know much of what goes on in the city thanks to my girls, and the odd boy or two, but even I have blind spots."
[01:17] * Katarina nods. "Th-then perhaps I will look into the i-imp. I could pass the information along, if you'd like?"
[01:18] <Daroskt> Pamodae, "I would be appreciative. If Saul is truly on the up and up, then none of us need worry, but I do not like going uninformed. Still, you and your friends needn't worry, I've no quarrel with them and was very glad to have this chat with you."
[01:19] * Katarina nods and smiles. "I... best go. I-I would rather my c-companions not wonder why I was gone."
[01:21] <Daroskt> Pamodae nods, "You are welcome here any time darlink, although the freebie was a one time offer, dah?"
[01:21] * Katarina giggles and nods. "R-right. Th-thank you both, truly."
[01:22] <Daroskt> Lil flicks her tail, "Ciao."
[01:22] * Katarina turns to leave, making her way back to her bed, eager for some much needed rest.
[01:23] <Daroskt> Pamodae stands up and picks a leash up off the floor, "Now that business is done, I desire a bit of fun. Good night darlink." She leads away her seat, which is in actuality a male member of the temple clad only in a collar, a leather codpiece and a hood that prevented him from making any noise.
[01:23] <Daroskt> -End Bonus Session-