Three months ago. Heavensturn.
The chamber was dimly lit. Softly glowing formations of natural aetheryte crystal cast scanty illumination, producing more shadow than true light, barely enough to make out the rocky walls and floor. Far too little to reveal the ceiling, lost in the gloom above. Sufficient, however, to show that the ground did not reach the walls, save for tunnels at the opposing ends; ten fulms of open air yawned dark all around the large, central platform that made up the chamber's floor. Vertiginous, if one strayed too close, which the guards did not. Rather, they stood at parade rest, three steps behind and flanking the divan which sat near the center of the room. Upon which reclined a woman.
A lamp had been set up, a fancy model of the standing variety, and the light it cast was deep red. A sultry color, suggestive, basking alike the woman, the paired facing divans, and the pillows that liberally adorned the ground. Illuminating as well the small wooden table between the seats, where sat a neatly-wrapped box, one fulm in every dimension, gold-papered with silver ribbons.
The woman herself had fair skin, and hair of a gold to match the box, tied back in a simple ponytail. Her garb was less simple, a bliaud of some dark colour, possibly maroon, chased in gold and silver, silk, with an absurdly high thread count. Minute swirls of light in the cloth, sparkling when she breathed, would upon closer inspection prove to be an embedded sprinkling of diamonds arranged to emphasize her breasts. Nestled in her exposed cleavage, an elongated heart-shaped pendant, glowing with internal light.
The overall look was extravagantly rich, and somewhat slutty, an effect not in the least contradicted by the short black tube skirt - not quite reaching her knees - and the black-and-gold wyrmskin calf-boots which completed the ensemble. Jewelry sparkled on fingers, and ears, just enough to make the point, to emphasize the raw wealth at her disposal.
She sat on the divan, calm and collected, eyes hidden behind pair of gilded, tinted pince-nez, and waited.
The sound of inbound aetheryte travel in the far room. Once, twice. One of the guards shifted ever so slightly, but the woman herself made no motion, not even when the huntress appeared - one of the Fallen, X'vurr - and stared around the room for long moments. Only when the second figure arrived, did the waiting woman slowly straighten in her seat.
"X'zarann Silverfall Nunh. Welcome."
His presence seemed bright in the room, as though the reds and blues of lamp and aetheryte were not what revealed him. As though he stood in his own light, or perhaps produced it. It was a subtle effect, yet distinct in this place. An open vest and leggings with a sash in the Thavnairian fashion, ornately brocaded gold on black, revealing enough of the musculature on his upper body to ripple as he made his way over. His manner unhurried. Casually dominant, as reflected in his tone.
"Moiraine Astervane."
His lips quirked, as he came to a stop just before her, having moved past the table. "I was amused, you know, discover that the enigmatic Goldentail was one of your kind. A hyur."
Casually, he reached out and caught her ponytail in his fingers. She shivered, slightly, yet visibly. His teeth gleamed in a grin, and he let the hair slide away from his touch. "Amused, and curious. Especially once you went to so much trouble."
"It was not so difficult to arrange this meeting," she replied, self-possessed once more. The Nunh gave a soft laugh, shaking his head.
"Please. This meeting was one thing, interesting though your messenger was. But arranging the peace summit... involving adventurers, only to summarily shunt them aside afterward... the Immortal Flames, that mining company. Your... Order of the Aster. Claiming stewardship of this place. These things, and more." He tilted his head, regarding her. "Everything leading up... to this moment."
"As I said." The woman removed her glasses, and set them down on the table, before looking up and meeting his eyes. "It was not so difficult."
He laughed then in truth. A deep, rolling sound, casting echoes through the chamber and up into the stone corridor beyond.
"Such arrogance, and yet such... ah, what's the word. Wherewithal." He grinned, looking down at her, thick white tail dancing in an amused swirl through the air behind him. "You've managed to impress me, miss Astervane. That is no small thing." He reached out, cupping her chin with his fingers. Felt her pulse quicken. "Why?"
Her eyes upon his, flush now evident in her cheeks, pupils beginning to dilate. Minute cracks, in her composure, her tongue wetting her lips... but when she spoke, her voice was admirably steady.
"Have I earned... your Blessing?"
A faint, predatory grin, as he looked upon her, holding her just like this... letting his eyes trail now, finally, over her body, admiring the sight of her. Delighting in it. One of the richest, most powerful women in the land... trembling, under his touch.
As it should be.
"Is that your desire..?"
She swallowed, and gestured, and her guards bowed, turned, and left. He smirked, giving a slight nod over his own shoulder, and his own escort withdrew quietly. Then he turned back to her. Casually shrugging off his vest, smirking at her stare... then, as he shifted toward her, she quickly lifted a hand.
"Ah.. w-wait."
He arched his brows. "I am not one to be teased. Female." His demeanor remained languid, but there was a dangerous edge to it now, the air seeming heavy with it. She nodded, perhaps somewhat more hastily than she intended.
"Of course. But first..." She gestured to the box, upon the table. "I wished to give you a gift. For Heavensturn." His gaze was.. skeptical. She flushed a little, but raised her chin. "Before I... become distracted."
"Distracted." His grin was sudden and sharp, and he chuckled, straightening. "Fair enough." Turning to inspect the wrapped box, taking his time, patient and predatory. "Heavensturn, yes. That is tonight." His fingers drummed lightly upon the surface, then paused. A warmth seemed to come from within the box, something... evocative. He glanced her way. Her returned gaze was steady.
"I have heard you enjoy... strange trinkets, and objects of power."
His ears flicked up, then, and for the first time a measure of his domineering alpha mien was replaced by another side.. a curiosity, questing and insatiable. His tail swished as he looked back to the box, and, with a measured tug, tore loose the wrapping. A wooden box inside, finely crafted. To which he opened the lid, and reached in. Pulling out...
"A lamp?"
A desk lamp, made of some dark metal. Finely-wrought, ornate... and inside the elaborate mesh cage, what looked like some sort of bracketed crystal. Markings gleamed upon it, dimly visible. Runes?
He turned it over, slowly, in his hands, inspecting it ilm by ilm. More runes, set on fingertip-sized panels, on the outside. Goldentail opened her mouth to speak, but he raised a hand in a silencing gesture. He set it down, played his fingertips over the outer runes some more... and then smiled in inspiration, touching three specific ones. Light blossomed from within the lamp, golden and steady, and the woman's brows rose in surprise. The Nunh looked smug.
"An interesting gift... suitably elaborate, to come from you. The power source..." He frowned “...familiar. Allagan? No…†He turned it some more in his hands, inspecting the facets, the swirl of golden energies. It seemed almost alive.
“Fascinating. What else does it do?â€
“I will show you.â€
Something in her voice, and he looked up, to see her touch the locket dangling, glowing between her breasts. Felt a sudden surge, as the golden light from the lamp turned a jagged, snarling violet. Filling the room, roaring, roaring…
The chamber was dimly lit. Softly glowing formations of natural aetheryte crystal cast scanty illumination, producing more shadow than true light, barely enough to make out the rocky walls and floor. Far too little to reveal the ceiling, lost in the gloom above. Sufficient, however, to show that the ground did not reach the walls, save for tunnels at the opposing ends; ten fulms of open air yawned dark all around the large, central platform that made up the chamber's floor. Vertiginous, if one strayed too close, which the guards did not. Rather, they stood at parade rest, three steps behind and flanking the divan which sat near the center of the room. Upon which reclined a woman.
A lamp had been set up, a fancy model of the standing variety, and the light it cast was deep red. A sultry color, suggestive, basking alike the woman, the paired facing divans, and the pillows that liberally adorned the ground. Illuminating as well the small wooden table between the seats, where sat a neatly-wrapped box, one fulm in every dimension, gold-papered with silver ribbons.
The woman herself had fair skin, and hair of a gold to match the box, tied back in a simple ponytail. Her garb was less simple, a bliaud of some dark colour, possibly maroon, chased in gold and silver, silk, with an absurdly high thread count. Minute swirls of light in the cloth, sparkling when she breathed, would upon closer inspection prove to be an embedded sprinkling of diamonds arranged to emphasize her breasts. Nestled in her exposed cleavage, an elongated heart-shaped pendant, glowing with internal light.
The overall look was extravagantly rich, and somewhat slutty, an effect not in the least contradicted by the short black tube skirt - not quite reaching her knees - and the black-and-gold wyrmskin calf-boots which completed the ensemble. Jewelry sparkled on fingers, and ears, just enough to make the point, to emphasize the raw wealth at her disposal.
She sat on the divan, calm and collected, eyes hidden behind pair of gilded, tinted pince-nez, and waited.
The sound of inbound aetheryte travel in the far room. Once, twice. One of the guards shifted ever so slightly, but the woman herself made no motion, not even when the huntress appeared - one of the Fallen, X'vurr - and stared around the room for long moments. Only when the second figure arrived, did the waiting woman slowly straighten in her seat.
"X'zarann Silverfall Nunh. Welcome."
His presence seemed bright in the room, as though the reds and blues of lamp and aetheryte were not what revealed him. As though he stood in his own light, or perhaps produced it. It was a subtle effect, yet distinct in this place. An open vest and leggings with a sash in the Thavnairian fashion, ornately brocaded gold on black, revealing enough of the musculature on his upper body to ripple as he made his way over. His manner unhurried. Casually dominant, as reflected in his tone.
"Moiraine Astervane."
His lips quirked, as he came to a stop just before her, having moved past the table. "I was amused, you know, discover that the enigmatic Goldentail was one of your kind. A hyur."
Casually, he reached out and caught her ponytail in his fingers. She shivered, slightly, yet visibly. His teeth gleamed in a grin, and he let the hair slide away from his touch. "Amused, and curious. Especially once you went to so much trouble."
"It was not so difficult to arrange this meeting," she replied, self-possessed once more. The Nunh gave a soft laugh, shaking his head.
"Please. This meeting was one thing, interesting though your messenger was. But arranging the peace summit... involving adventurers, only to summarily shunt them aside afterward... the Immortal Flames, that mining company. Your... Order of the Aster. Claiming stewardship of this place. These things, and more." He tilted his head, regarding her. "Everything leading up... to this moment."
"As I said." The woman removed her glasses, and set them down on the table, before looking up and meeting his eyes. "It was not so difficult."
He laughed then in truth. A deep, rolling sound, casting echoes through the chamber and up into the stone corridor beyond.
"Such arrogance, and yet such... ah, what's the word. Wherewithal." He grinned, looking down at her, thick white tail dancing in an amused swirl through the air behind him. "You've managed to impress me, miss Astervane. That is no small thing." He reached out, cupping her chin with his fingers. Felt her pulse quicken. "Why?"
Her eyes upon his, flush now evident in her cheeks, pupils beginning to dilate. Minute cracks, in her composure, her tongue wetting her lips... but when she spoke, her voice was admirably steady.
"Have I earned... your Blessing?"
A faint, predatory grin, as he looked upon her, holding her just like this... letting his eyes trail now, finally, over her body, admiring the sight of her. Delighting in it. One of the richest, most powerful women in the land... trembling, under his touch.
As it should be.
"Is that your desire..?"
She swallowed, and gestured, and her guards bowed, turned, and left. He smirked, giving a slight nod over his own shoulder, and his own escort withdrew quietly. Then he turned back to her. Casually shrugging off his vest, smirking at her stare... then, as he shifted toward her, she quickly lifted a hand.
"Ah.. w-wait."
He arched his brows. "I am not one to be teased. Female." His demeanor remained languid, but there was a dangerous edge to it now, the air seeming heavy with it. She nodded, perhaps somewhat more hastily than she intended.
"Of course. But first..." She gestured to the box, upon the table. "I wished to give you a gift. For Heavensturn." His gaze was.. skeptical. She flushed a little, but raised her chin. "Before I... become distracted."
"Distracted." His grin was sudden and sharp, and he chuckled, straightening. "Fair enough." Turning to inspect the wrapped box, taking his time, patient and predatory. "Heavensturn, yes. That is tonight." His fingers drummed lightly upon the surface, then paused. A warmth seemed to come from within the box, something... evocative. He glanced her way. Her returned gaze was steady.
"I have heard you enjoy... strange trinkets, and objects of power."
His ears flicked up, then, and for the first time a measure of his domineering alpha mien was replaced by another side.. a curiosity, questing and insatiable. His tail swished as he looked back to the box, and, with a measured tug, tore loose the wrapping. A wooden box inside, finely crafted. To which he opened the lid, and reached in. Pulling out...
"A lamp?"
A desk lamp, made of some dark metal. Finely-wrought, ornate... and inside the elaborate mesh cage, what looked like some sort of bracketed crystal. Markings gleamed upon it, dimly visible. Runes?
He turned it over, slowly, in his hands, inspecting it ilm by ilm. More runes, set on fingertip-sized panels, on the outside. Goldentail opened her mouth to speak, but he raised a hand in a silencing gesture. He set it down, played his fingertips over the outer runes some more... and then smiled in inspiration, touching three specific ones. Light blossomed from within the lamp, golden and steady, and the woman's brows rose in surprise. The Nunh looked smug.
"An interesting gift... suitably elaborate, to come from you. The power source..." He frowned “...familiar. Allagan? No…†He turned it some more in his hands, inspecting the facets, the swirl of golden energies. It seemed almost alive.
“Fascinating. What else does it do?â€
“I will show you.â€
Something in her voice, and he looked up, to see her touch the locket dangling, glowing between her breasts. Felt a sudden surge, as the golden light from the lamp turned a jagged, snarling violet. Filling the room, roaring, roaring…
![[Image: MBLxxyE.gif]](http://i.imgur.com/MBLxxyE.gif)
