"Commander, if I could make a suggestion? Maybe we should get her back to base before guaranteeing anything?"

If she's a whore that means she'll have lots of facades. If we pretend we aren't the commander we might be able to get to know her better before we do anything here.

>>16720465
We should find out how she was captured by that man first of all.

>>16720500
Make sure she's isolated and nobody talks to her. I really don't want a possible High Priestess of Lust and Destruction doing anything particularly Lustful or Destructive in our camp.

>>16720573
second

Inwardly, you smirk, outwardly, you remain impassive, and turn to Gaius "COmmander, if I might suggest that we see this woman safely to the barracks before guaranteeing anything? Though, I would like to know how she was captured."

Gaius blinks once, then, slipping into his newly assigned role, replies to the whore "You heard the man, we will make our guarantees once we are safely in the Docks. And we will depart once we know how you were captured."

The whore sighs "I came here to inspect my purchase, before I started gathering girls to work for me." she shudders "When I entered, I was knocked out, and when I woke up, the... things you just killed, were holding me down, their leader, was chanting something in a language I didnt recognize, then he stopped and started mumbling about 'new victims'." the whore crosses her arms and huffs "There is no need to leave my brothel, as you men clearly dealt with the problem."

Fezeroth chuckles "Yes, I must agree with the whore, as I tend to slip closer to oblivion whenever this building is abandoned."

Aurelius staggers over to the group, standing and looking like shit, but otherwise no worse for the wear. "No deaths on our side." he announces. You glance over to a peacefully passed out Sansa, and a raggedly gasping, wincing and cringing... but live, Finian and agree with his assessment."

>>16720716
let's send someone to bring jayne here to do some healing while we set about converting the whore

>>16720716
If she has any proof of her purchase we should check it, at least for appearances sake. We should also at some time have these bodies brought back for examination. We should check the bodies for anything unusual as well.

>>16720750
I think Lamnyus is converting or has converted her. Getting some more medical attention for the wounded is also a good idea.

>>16720750
Woah, woah, woah. We're not converting anyone yet. We don't even know her name.

I think it would be prudent to point out to her that she doesn't have a whole lot of say in the matter here. As for the demon, well, just tell some of those street urchins they can sleep inside but we expect them to guard the place. And tell the demon not to mess with them or we will be rather angry in the "pull the place down board by board" way.

Then we make a quick trip back to camp and we get the whore into isolation. She's going to freak when she finds out we're Legion, but as the japanese say it can't be helped. Afterward we continue and scout out the remaining places as planned.

Obviously we give these orders out of earshot or sight so as not to blow our cover and send someone ahead as we approach the gate to clear the way so that none of our own men blow the cover on accident since they won't know.

This is from the last thread.

"Tonight, in this city you will find my new high priestess, and convert her through your meeting. By this act, after the battle that rages outside the walls of the dock, will our pact begin to be fulfilled."

Just so we know what Lamnyus said to us.

>>16720750

I like the sound of this, minus the street urchins. squatters will likely enter on their own for the night.

"And what will you do when thieves, murderers and starving, desperate men enter after we've left? Fend them off with your looks? And if you have interest in purchasing this building, you and the commander may need to do some negotiating on the subject."

or something like that

>>16720876
I'm fine with waiting on the conversion, though by the looks of brick's post we may have already sent her down the path of conversion, but I think we should get healed up before risking the streets of fluemenos

In Roman Numerals, you only use each letter three times at the most, you have used X four times.

>>16720968
Why are you assuming we will convert her at all?

We never agreed to that, this is just a goddess trying to force our hand to get what she wants. We'll convert her if we want to, not because she demanded it like she was entitled. This is a woman's life we are talking about, and resident of the Empire.

>>16720948
whoops... that post should be quoting >>16720876

>>16720997
I'm for converting her because it would be better for us to have the high priestess of Lamyus in debt to us, we just saved her life. Of course we aren't going to force her into anything, we should try to convert her but if she is completely against serving a deity then there is nothing we can do to stop her.

>>16721055
I don't see how you can be advocating that when we literally know nothing about this woman. For all we know she could be the WORST pick ever.

also, I'm against bringing any life elementalists out of the dock area. We're better off hobbling back injured and denying any further ambushers extra time to gather men than to allow them to ambush either the person(s) we send or giving them a chance to assault us with extra forces before they return.

YOu nod "Commander, as your aide, it may be presumptuous of me, but perhaps you should request to see this... womans, Mark of Ownership? I know that you had intended to start a venture here, and it would be a good way to pass the time while we await our medic to return."

The whore sighs, and hands Gaius the proof, after pulling it from her dress as Aurelius jogs towards the entrance. "I'd like'tae know how'ye knew we were Legion, girl." Collin interjects as you and Gaius hide smirks at the clearly fake Mark of Ownership.

The whore chuckles lowly as she replies "I've had more than a few Legionaires between my thighs... you all walk and act the same in this city. Barely disguised disgust and contempt. At least one of you is a local though."

Fezeroth interjects "If you have no questions, I will leave. This form is taxing, especially when I am working to repair my body."

>>16721142
"We might have questions later but for now you can go. Make sure that we are no longer sealed here."

Well... not a whole lot more to do here. Do the plan from before?

>>16721142

we should take a moment or two to undo our elementalism attacks from the battle so that the sentient building can repair his floors more easily.

as for the whore...

ask what plans she has for this building! also, give her a quick scan with the crystal. I wonder of Lamynus has a penchant for fire elementalists...

>>16721208
Man. Questioning can happen once we are OUT of the demon-infested whorehouse and safely back in camp.

>>16721189
>>16721208
These sound good to me.

Yes. Let's talk some more in the middle of Flumenos, and give the slumlord more time to set up ambush #2!

We have wounded. Sansa is knocked out and we don't even know how to treat Finian.

Retreat. To. Barracks. Heal up and come back to do the talking later.

Also, we're not converting anyone until we check with Raynha. This is way over our head. We don't want to unwittingly give Lamynus some advantage over the Sun Panetheon. For all we know, SHE could be the demonologist!

Supressing a snigger, but not as well as you normally would, you reply "No, if we have any questions we will call for you, brothel. As to fading away when left alone, there's a good chance some squatters or urchins may enter the building tonight, do try to not eat them."

The demon nods "I will keep an ear to your conversation then, and, without the devices that made this a torturehouse, I would not be able to consume any occupants of this structure, unless they were truly stupid, at least." You nod in response, and retract the earthen spikes, wall, and any other damage you did as the demon fades back into the building.

Gaius turns to the whore and asks her "What are your plans for this building then?"

The woman scratches at her chin "A whorehouse, of course. Soft beds, only clean girls, fair rates. Nothing spectacular aside from the barkeep that the building comes with, he will make quite the attraction."

Collin scoffs "Thats assumin' that'e agrees tae work for'ye insteada just watchin'."

The whore shakes her head, as you point the arcane ability detecting crystal at her, a very, very weak red glow. Fire elementalist, if trained. "He has no choice, I own him. If he does not earn his keep, I will slay him and that will be the end of it."
>cont'd

As the woman trails off, Aurelius returns to the room with Jayne. Almost immediately, a sweating, trembling Lena drops to rest against the wall, panting for air. You fall as well, your legs once again incomplete "Justinian, love, are you allright? I brought some of Vi's brews, so, if you are patient, I will be able to restore your leg before we return home... Commander."

Unnable to form a propper response without adrenaline keeping your mind focused, you simply nod to Jayne. The whore steps forward, looking rather angry and confused "Enough about me though, tell me what the fuck is going on. I didnt see any arcana being used during the battle. The red-haired bitch replaced the... which fucking one of you is the Commander anyways? And how did Red replace that ones leg?" she asks, pointing at you angrily. "And what did that arcana you pointed at me do aside from glow red? I may just be a whore, but I'm no fool. If I was, I wouldnt be buying my own brothel."

Gaius laughs "Actually, you have been duped my little harlot. Your Mark of Ownership is a bad fraud." The whore freezes, mouth agape, her expression of shock and anger growing deeper by the second.

>>16721515
"I'm the commander and I would appreciate it if you didn't refer to Lena as the red-haired bitch. She did help to save your life after all. As to the lack of arcana and what I pointed at you, I assume you've heard the Emperor's recent announcement. Magic and elementalism. While it seems you may be out of luck in terms of owning this building and starting your own business, I might have another job offer for you but it would be better to have that kind of conversation in a safer and private location."

>>16721515
Focus and use our Commander Voice;

"Enough. Your warrant is obviously fake and you are in the presence of Imperial Officers on official business. We are going to be escorting you back to our compound, and were I you I would take it as a favor. Whoever sold you that warrant now has your money and is done with you. Now that the one they probably expected to kill you is dead and you are not they will, unless I miss my guess. likely be sending a few people along to make sure you don't cause them any trouble by spreading word of their bad business practices.

But they won't be attacking you in the middle of an Imperial encampment, no matter how powerful they are, and I have a few plans of my own that might well involve bringing large amounts of pain to whoever hoodwinked you. If this interests you then quiet down and come along peacefully."

A Wild Charizard Appears.

>>16721614
>>16721591
Second both these. Be sure to emphasize that we just saved her from a probable fate worse than death and she can damn well show some appreciation.

>>16721591
>>16721614
Both are acceptable to me. Its time to get the hell out of here.

>>16721591
second

You sigh, and, after the pain in your leg subsides as Jayne does her job, you reply "Enough of this farce. I am the Commander. What you saw was exactly what the Emperors recent announcement was pertaining to, magic, elementalism, and the arcane. I am an officer of the Imperial Legion, and you, are a whore who has been used, and not in the manner you normally charge for. You were no doubt supposed to be killed when you came here, and, if word gets out that you are alive, and unprotected, you will most certainly be silenced." you pause to breathe, as the whore takes a timid step back from your prone form "Now, my designs on this building are not terribly different from yours, however, I cannot discuss them here. You can choose to show some respect, come with me, and hear my offer, or, we can leave you here, and you will die penniless and forgotten."

Aurelius shakes his head "I would accept the Commanders offer, it is quite generous."

The whore ponders for a while, leaving the room in silence. As Jayne moves on to Finian, the whore breaks the silence "I am Jesia, and yes, I will accept your offer... provided that I will be able to have revenge on the men who tried to kill me here."

You grin, knowingly "I would be most inconvenienced if you would have wanted it any other way."

-----CQ-----

Nearly an hour later, you make your way back into your barracks, looking terrible, a whore strutting behind you as if she belonged with you. Of course, Malcius and Gabriel harass you. You are not surprised by the disapproving glance that Captain Doran shoots you either. However, when you settle into a private room with Jesia, Catalina, Gaius and Sansa, things calm down nicely. "Now, what is it that you were unable to tell me at the building you plan to purchase?" Jesia asks as the door closes, clearly more than a little nervous, despite the show she put on as she walked through the docks.

So the prostitute has "ownership" over the ex-demon? Or not? This is confusing. I still think we ought to talk to someone from sun pantheon first. I'm leery of Lamynus getting more out of this deal than we bargained for.

Take the women into custody, for her own protection, of course.

>>16721838
"And so he braved the streets of Flumenos to pick up a whore!"
"Why?! He has five wives! Five!"
"The man's insatiable!"
"By the ten! He's not human!"

>>16721843
I agree talking to the sun pantheon but perhaps we should tell her something, not necessarily a lot but something, since we said we would tell her our proposition when we got back to barracks.

>>16721843
her documents were faked and sold to her as genuine.

>>16721838
"Firstly, let me say that I owe a certain Goddess associated with whoring several favors for past grievances. One of these favors was setting up a pair of temples to her within this city. Another was meeting the person she intends to be her head priest here. I'm almost certain she means it to be you."

>>16721838
"Firstly, that arcana I pointed at you earlier senses those with talent. With proper training, you'd have the ability to manipulate fire. The more important issue though, will probably be hard for you to accept and there's no way to say this lightly so here it is - a goddess wants you to be her high priestess and I was sent to rescue you. I'll give you a moment to call me crazy now."

>>16721870
lol

>>16721887
We should speak to Lamnyus as well. Altering our deal doesn't sit well with me.

>>16721838
....First I think she needs to understand that she's really in no position whatsoever to be demanding answers. Honestly I'm a bit shocked she would say something like that at all. Maybe she's just nervous and acting out.

Regardless, let's ask our own questions first. Who exactly she is, not just in name. What does she do, where does she work, who sold her the deed and for how much. Things like that. Try to find out, roughly, what her position in the city's social structure is.

Then I say we inform her of why we are buying the buildings and... hell, I suggest we even tell her the other properties we are looking at. They are all probably whorehouses and she probably knows all about them and what they would sell for or if they would sell. Inform her of her ability and demonstrate exactly what elementalism is by hovering a rock in the air or something... though she already saw no doubt, this will drive home exactly what it is I guess.

Don't mention the gods yet. I'd like to get a feel for what she's like first. After the meeting is over let's put her in isolation and bring her some food ourselves. Ask her about her history, life here, things like that... pry what we can from her, though obviously she won't tell us everything she might be much more forthcoming since we did save her life and are friendly.

>>16721911
Yes. This. Isolate her, treat her respectfully, and wait for Stockholm Syndrome to settle in.

How about we do not talk with any of the gods yet until we get to know the woman.

You sigh "Once again, I do not believe that you are in any position to be making demands of me, as I mentioned before, you are peniless and relying on my goodwill. However, there is plenty I am willing to tell you, first, the arcana I pointed at you, it told me, in short, that you have arcane potential, specifically the talents of a fire elementalist."

Jesia leans back in her seat "Fire... elementalist? I'm a whore, I earn silvers, and sometimes a dragoon, for letting important criminals sons slake their lusts in me. Please, extrapolate."

Catalina levels a frigid glare on Jesia "It means that with training, you can bend fire to your will. Fire being the elemental domain of Jogra and Lamynus, who also govern lust, destruction, friendship and retribution, the first two of those domains belonging to Lamynus, the second two to Jogra."

The whore tilts her head "Lamynus... Jogra?"

Gaius sighs "Commander, are we telling her everything, or waiting for her powdered brain to figure it out?"

Jesia glares daggers at Gaius "I havent had pynra once, thank you very much, and, I cant do you much good if I dont know what is going on. Now, about my revenge, I can take you to the bastards that claimed to be selling me that whorehouse, if you wish. Though I am curious as to what your doing with it."

>>16722095
"Simply put, Lanymus wants it to be her new temple, and I happen to owe her favors for a past slight. She made it known to me that I would be meeting the person she intends to be the temple's head priestess tonight. I assume she intends that to be you."

>>16722095
We should at least tell her what we are planning on doing with the brothel.

>>16722095
"That depends on you. It's entirely possible I'll give it to you to operate. I will buy it, hold the deed, and take a share of the profits but it will be yours to operate as you see fit. Though it will not be just a whorehouse."

Have some dinner brought and dismiss everyone, this will take a long time. Once-a-fucking-gain: Isolation and start controlling the information she fucking receives. Why the fuck did we let Catalina just blurt that out? God fucking DAMN it, we've only been saying this the entire thread.

Sigh. Whatever. Over dinner tell her about the various gods and Lamynus in specific. Describe their domains and tell her how Lamynus might have taken an interest in her. Tell her about the rewards possible as the High Priestess of a god and how she will oversee the operation of all the temples we create here in our name as landlord and her goddess's name as patron. And then be sure to tell her EXACTLY how cruel and terrible Lamynus can be, as well as how fickle, spiteful, and hateful. Let her know exactly what she is getting into here and let her chew it over, weigh her options.

Post guards with specific instructions to not speak to her and not let her out or anyone but us in. ANYONE, including our wives. I don't want Laelith getting involved in this, she's been burned (hah hah) by this goddess enough already.

>>16722166

Pretty much this then

>>16722166
I'll second this plan. Although we were told to convert her, there's no point forcing her.

>>16722166
This sounds acceptable to me.

>>16722166
Also, I do think we should have a chat with Nyetini soon. Like everyone has been saying for several threads.

1. We just need to chat her up since we are wooing her.
2. We need to take Vi in to talk with her so they can get to know each other better. Nyetini is sort of her "mom" I guess after all, and she's a nice person in general who in patron of Vi's area of expertise. Even if Vi doesn't want to be her priestess it can't hurt for them to know each other.
3. We can talk about this girl. Lamynus brothels are, IIRC, pits of debauched lust and low class whores. This woman was trying to make a good "upright" establishment rather than that. It could be she's more inclined towards Nyetini and we might be unknowingly working against her. Lamynus can be WAY sneaky I imagine since she's lived so long. We don't want that.

>>16722239
It might be worth telling her about her decision and then let her think on it. While she's thinking on it, we go have a chat with Nyetini?

>>16722252
Sounds fine. Be sure to end with, "You have plenty of time to decide and I'll have more to tell you tomorrow." or something so she doesn't jump to a decision too quickly while we are still gathering information.

>>16722239
We are obviously going to be giving her full disclosure when we talk to her about the gods and I don't think anyone here is against allowing her to make her own decision.

You chuckle "The brothel, I plan to open it, take a cut of any profits it makes, but otherwise, leave it be." You motion first for food, then for the others to leave the room, and finally, that the room be placed under guard "Of course, it will be a Temple to Lamynus, what I need now that I have a place, is a convert to Lamynus who could lead that temple."

The whore balks as the food is brought in "And why would I want to work at a Temple to a dead goddess?"

You chuckle as you begin to eat "Because the gods are returning, and religion can be lucrative. On top of that, the goddess of lust, well, you are already in her line of work."

The whore eats for a while in silence "I will need to think on this, and, if possible, speak with my employer before I accept the offer you are relaying to me." YOu glance the woman over again, amble bust, unblemished skin, long brown hair... it truly is not difficult to see how she had done so well as a whore.

"There are ways to commune with the gods, and they are not difficult for the strong-willed and focused." you reply levelly.

The whore nods "THat may be something I need to learn then. Now, the two who tried to kill me. A Dwarf and a man, the man had the coin, the dwarf did the talking. A strange pair of criminals, with a large group of followers. I can show you where they work from, if you wish. I realize that you have no reason to help me crush the dragon-fuckers, but, it could prove to be profitable for you, depending on what they have to pry from their corpses."

>>16722308
"I'll be in this city for a while, so I'll have time to have that done. As well, I have a little shadow that could get all the information I need on them, but I'll take what you can give."

>>16722308
I think we need to go a bit more in-depth than that. We can spend a few hours of timeskip laying out in exacting detail both how she will benefit from Lamynus and how much of an evil bitch Lamynus can be. Full disclosure.

Also during the conversation make smalltalk. Get the details of her current employer and ideally her past. What her dreams are for the brothel. Things like that that are no big secret and will get her more comfortable around us while letting us learn more about her personally.

Then move on to the dwarf and the man. Don't show that we have any specific personal interest in them -- this is awfully convenient. Just get who they are, where they can be found, things like that. There's no need to have her personally lead us there when she can just tell us.

>>16722308
What did this pair look like? I may know of them.

You nod slowly as you continue to eat "So, describe this pair to me." you order the woman.

She shakes here head "They wore masks, but I knew that they were new to the city, only a few months at the very most. Rumor is that they fled from the capitol, but I cannot be certain."

You nod slowly "I will set one of my subordinates to investigate them, now, back on the subject of the gods..." you begin, before launching into a much more in depth description of the divine.

-----CQ-----

You spend the rest of the day teaching the whore about the gods, and how to commune with them. By the end of it she is wary of Lamynus, but at the same time adamant that she doubts she would be able to properly serve any other gods. You learned from her that she has been a whore since she crawled from the gutters of this city. Clean, but only by luck, the same luck that killed her closest friend. All she really wants is to live comfortably, and to her, the best way to achieve that is to open her own brothel, and, after what happened to her friend, she is set on keeping the girls there as clean as she can.

As you leave the room that is now Jesias, you encounter Catalina, and have a sinking feeling that Daeseu is nearby. "Commander, I do not like that... whore." she spits the word, and, for the first time in your memory, does not flinch after taking a confrontational tone.
>cont'd

You sigh as you reply "And why is that?"

She looks at you, confused "Because she is a whore, a harlot, those women destroy households and leave only strife in their wake."

You shoot the girl a quizzical look "I assume that you have learned this from experience somehow?"

She glances down and off to the side "I... yes, Commander. I realize that it is my personal experience that is causing me to feel this way towards her, but please... do not trust that woman. Find someone else to take over the Temples to Lamynuis you must build."

"In Flumenos? Dear Catalina to find a woman who would submit herself to Lamynus in this city who is not already a whore would be impossible." Daeseu interjects from behind Catalina, causing the girl to yelp, whip around and leap back, neatly crashing into, and nearly knocking you over. "Would it be safe to assume that you have a task for me, commander?" he asks, not skipping a beat.

>>16722529
"Indeed I do, Daesu. I have a lead on 'Those Two'. Apparently, they've taken to wearing masks and selling phony property deeds."

>>16722556
Pretty much this. Give him the information we have and... I dunno? Vi and the gods? Or save that for our boat trip and do something else?

>>16722609
I'd be up for having a mutual chat with Vi and Nyetini.

>>16722529
"What Daeseu says is true, I am afraid. And yes Daeseu, I do have a task for you. It appears that the slumlord and his patron have started a criminal enterprise in the city. I don't know the extent of it but they are making money selling fake property deeds. If you could gather information about their operation it would be greatly appreciated."

>>16722609
Worth talking to em now to see if getting converting Jesia might be a bad idea. I guess we could also see if any of the gods want to talk to us.

Best to get everything done now. We need to commune, finish this deal, and hopefully crush "those two", before we leave.

Our time on the warships will probably be spent planning military operations, and socializing with the captain.

>>16722670
Seconded

You sigh again "Daeseu is correct, Catalina, as unfortuanate as that is." after helping Catalina back to her feat you turn to the assassin "Jesia has provided us with a lead on our... friends, from DragonsReach. If you would be so good as to investigate."

Daeseu accepts the sheet of parchment you hand him, all of the information the whore provided you written down on the sheet. The assassin nods "I will have a plan of action for them at least three days before you will be departing." and at that, the assassin is gone again.

>with the late start, I think this is all the further we're gonna make it today, I'll start the next session with Vi/Nyetini
>I'll be back Tuesday at 9pm server time. If not, the same time on thursday
>Someone archive please
>If you have any CQ/setting questions just e-mail me at: paxcomquest@yahoo.com

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