Chapter 44: Isekai Life & Lewd Mark
Voss was glad to be back. He joined us leaving the audience hall, and we were glad to have him back. The Theodore Esche Royal Harem was a pretty exclusive club, and I got the sense that as much as Enna found all the debauchery amusing to watch from the outside, it would eventually drive a wedge between her and the rest of us if she was the only one left out. Voss being in the mix made us a team which happened to include the harem, rather than the harem plus Enna.
Bekker not counting in this calculus as he was more or less mine and Katriana's personal servant, of course. I didn't forget him, he's just in a different situation.
Enna and Katriana had to support Voss coming back to our little courtyard, though. He got too tired to walking unassisted about two thirds of the way, and made jokes about how this was payback for Enna standing on his shoulders in the catacombs that one time. You wouldn't have known he was weak by the time dinner got served, though. We were served two roast chickens, steamed vegetables and fresh bread, and Voss ate most of a roast chicken just on his own.
It turns out he didn't remember much of the actual dying. “One moment, I was flying through the air,” in his own words, “Then the next I woke up in the temple of the All-Father. Nothing in between that I can recall.” The priests and priestesses were kind enough in nursing him back to health, although he was able to confirm that nobody who had died by fire was able to be resurrected, including the Lord Paramount's family. I guess they weren't that close, if Hawkins didn't seem particularly troubled, but I suppose that Hawkins mind have been covering for his emotional pain. I did know for sure that Sir Sylvan should thank his lucky stars that it was the impact that killed him and not the flamestrike.
Voss was also the first one to get his reward. Later that night, after he had gone to sleep, a servant came and dropped off a large shield, tinted dark green with a maroon hawk, wings outspread, emblazoned across it. Calliope did her thing, confirming that the shield was magical. Ashryn had a look, and said, “I don't recognize that combination and symbology. I think it was probably the personal heraldry of some adventurer, but whoever it was they're long forgotten.”
I guess heraldry is useful when it comes to deciphering symbolism and omens.
That night, I asked Katriana to join me in bed, and we enjoyed a long, slow session of lovemaking together. Giving her the gift of her choker didn't go as planned, though. I had saved the present for after, when we were lying in bed cuddling in the afterglow of our sex.
Her collar was inlaid with a simple geometric pattern on the black satin, and set in the centre with a green peridot, to match her eyes like the others. But when Katriana saw it, as I dangled it over her chest, she sighed. “I was hoping you didn't have one for me.”
I blinked, shocked. “Uh... sorry? You don't want to same kind of gift I gave Ashryn and Calliope?”
She rolled onto her side and looked me in the eyes. “Think about it, Theodore. You've been introducing me as your sister. We've agreed that it's best to hide the fact that you took your sister as a lover, and eventually a wife. You've also given Calliope and Ashryn these collars, implying your ownership of them, and if I happen to wear a matching one....”
“...It implies that we have a sexual relationship, or at least I have a very un-brotherly ownership of you.” I nodded glumly, “Yes, I understand.”
She took the choker from me, sat up in bed, and used the room's small wall mirror to put it on. She looked at herself wearing the choker admiringly. “It's really too bad, because my prince has excellent taste.”
I allowed myself a smirk. “In women or in jewellery?”
“Yes,” was her only answer as she lifted her thigh to straddle me, starting up a second session.
The night started a pattern. Katriana chose to take control of my sex life, to a degree, and the following night sent Calliope to spend the night with me. I didn't really mind, of course- I had three beautiful women who loved me, and if Katriana wanted to take responsibility of choice from me, well, that kept me from showing to much favour or fomenting jealousy. And so, from there it continued for awhile in that Ashryn-Katriana-Calliope order.
It wasn't always sex, either. Ashryn was insatiable- she was fine taking the “night off” if we were up too late or I was tired, but every night she was with me she wanted to have sex. Katriana was nearly as bad, but some night preferred to just lie in bed, dreaming together of our future together and discussing our plans of where to go next. Calliope liked having sex, sure, but she also liked discussion, talking about magic or catching up on what had happened to either of us since I left the Academy. She was interested in the history of our house, and actually had a suggestion regarding the choker situation.
I was talking... okay, I was complaining about what Katriana had said one night, as she sat in a nightgown, reading a book borrowed from the palace library, when she replied with, “Wizard's Mark.”
“Pardon?” I said.
“You clearly have some desire to mark us as your property,” she continued, a blush spreading on her face, “Which, I don't really mind... but rather than giving us chokers to show our allegiance, why not learn Wizard Mark, and put a sigil somewhere on our bodies in a discreet place?” She shifted a little, “It even seems naughtier that way, to me, as the Mark lasts a long time, and it's in a secret spot. We'll know we belong to you, but it'll be hidden from others.”
I gave what she said some thought. As a power gamer, Wizard's Mark always seemed idiotic- why would you waste a precious spell slot on a cosmetic vanity? But what she said did make sense, and it held a certain appeal. All I needed was a teacher.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
The day after our audience with Hawkins, a servant came and dropped off three scrolls. One was the written royal pardon for Enna. The other was a signed and sealed missive absolving the Starlit Order of anything wrongdoing on Mariska's part. And the last was a treaty, promising military support to House Esche from “the Lord-Paramount of Tresens”, a bit of future-proofing on Hawkins' part that I appreciated.
For mine and Voss' part, our days were spent idly. Voss wasn't quite up for joining Katriana on her morning calisthenics and drilling, so we spent a lot of time hanging out, wandering around the city to help Voss build his strength. Of course, all of us made sure we only left the palace in pairs- after all, there was still an entire Thieves' Guild who were probably still cross with us, in spite of our being honoured guests of the Lord Paramount.
Everyone else though was fully engaged with wedding preparations. Evidently, Katriana shopping for a dress was an all-hand-on-deck activity that not only required all three of my fiancees, but Enna and Bekker as well. The only responsibility that had been offhandedly foisted onto me was gathering the rings, something which I already had well in hand.
Two days after receiving the treaty from Hawkins, Voss turned to me after dinner and said, “Hey, let's go out tonight. It's been awhile since I've been able to go out and enjoy myself, and I think you could use it, too.”
I shrugged. I didn't particularly not like being a guest of the Lord Paramount, although some days could get a little slow, but I didn't quite know what Voss meant. “I guess so, sure. At least, I shouldn't leave you alone.”
He grinned, then turned to Enna. “You're coming too, right? I bet you'd know all the best drinking spots.”
Enna smirked back. “Aye, I suppose you'd be needin' someone to babysit ya. Let's go.”
And so, we went.
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Character Name: Theodore Esche
Race: Human
Class: Transmuter
Level (XP): 2 (4608/5000)
Hit Points: 5
Ability Scores
Strength 11
Dexterity 17
Constitution 8
Intelligence 17
Wisdom 13
Charisma 14
Weapon Proficiencies: Darts
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Direction Sense, Etiquette, Reading/Writing, Swimming
Spells Per Day:
1st Level- 3
Spellbook:
(1st Level): Armor, Burning Hands, Detect Magic, Detect Undead, Enlarge, Featherfall, Magic Missile, Mending, Read Magic, Sleep, Tenser's Floating Disc, Wall of Fog
Spells Prepared:
(1st Level): Burning Hands, Sleep, Tenser's Floating Disc
Equipment: Backpack, Bag of Fine Sand, Belt, Belt Pouch (Large, 3), Belt Pouch (Small, 4), Boots, Darts (43), Hand Mirror, Hat, Hooded Lantern, Pearl (worth 100gp), Robes (3), Signet Ring, Small Tent
Money: 100 gp
Languages: Common, Elven, Dwarven, Orc, Goblin, Draconic, 1 additional.
Companions: Katriana (Level 3 Fighter, sister & fiancee), Ashryn (Level 3 Cleric, fiancee), Calliope (Level 1 Invoker, fiancee), Voss (Level 3 Fighter), Smokey Enna (Level 4 Fighter/Level 4 Thief), Bekker (Butler)
Sexual Partners: 3
Storage Chest: Runed Greatsword, Alchemical Steel Broadsword, Alchemical Steel Bastard Sword, Magic Arrows (12), Oil of Acid Resistance, mint green potion, Potion of Rainbow Hues, 299 pp, 4187 gp, 4 ep, 15 sp, 50 cp
Voss was glad to be back. He joined us leaving the audience hall, and we were glad to have him back. The Theodore Esche Royal Harem was a pretty exclusive club, and I got the sense that as much as Enna found all the debauchery amusing to watch from the outside, it would eventually drive a wedge between her and the rest of us if she was the only one left out. Voss being in the mix made us a team which happened to include the harem, rather than the harem plus Enna.
Bekker not counting in this calculus as he was more or less mine and Katriana's personal servant, of course. I didn't forget him, he's just in a different situation.
Enna and Katriana had to support Voss coming back to our little courtyard, though. He got too tired to walking unassisted about two thirds of the way, and made jokes about how this was payback for Enna standing on his shoulders in the catacombs that one time. You wouldn't have known he was weak by the time dinner got served, though. We were served two roast chickens, steamed vegetables and fresh bread, and Voss ate most of a roast chicken just on his own.
It turns out he didn't remember much of the actual dying. “One moment, I was flying through the air,” in his own words, “Then the next I woke up in the temple of the All-Father. Nothing in between that I can recall.” The priests and priestesses were kind enough in nursing him back to health, although he was able to confirm that nobody who had died by fire was able to be resurrected, including the Lord Paramount's family. I guess they weren't that close, if Hawkins didn't seem particularly troubled, but I suppose that Hawkins mind have been covering for his emotional pain. I did know for sure that Sir Sylvan should thank his lucky stars that it was the impact that killed him and not the flamestrike.
Voss was also the first one to get his reward. Later that night, after he had gone to sleep, a servant came and dropped off a large shield, tinted dark green with a maroon hawk, wings outspread, emblazoned across it. Calliope did her thing, confirming that the shield was magical. Ashryn had a look, and said, “I don't recognize that combination and symbology. I think it was probably the personal heraldry of some adventurer, but whoever it was they're long forgotten.”
I guess heraldry is useful when it comes to deciphering symbolism and omens.
That night, I asked Katriana to join me in bed, and we enjoyed a long, slow session of lovemaking together. Giving her the gift of her choker didn't go as planned, though. I had saved the present for after, when we were lying in bed cuddling in the afterglow of our sex.
Her collar was inlaid with a simple geometric pattern on the black satin, and set in the centre with a green peridot, to match her eyes like the others. But when Katriana saw it, as I dangled it over her chest, she sighed. “I was hoping you didn't have one for me.”
I blinked, shocked. “Uh... sorry? You don't want to same kind of gift I gave Ashryn and Calliope?”
She rolled onto her side and looked me in the eyes. “Think about it, Theodore. You've been introducing me as your sister. We've agreed that it's best to hide the fact that you took your sister as a lover, and eventually a wife. You've also given Calliope and Ashryn these collars, implying your ownership of them, and if I happen to wear a matching one....”
“...It implies that we have a sexual relationship, or at least I have a very un-brotherly ownership of you.” I nodded glumly, “Yes, I understand.”
She took the choker from me, sat up in bed, and used the room's small wall mirror to put it on. She looked at herself wearing the choker admiringly. “It's really too bad, because my prince has excellent taste.”
I allowed myself a smirk. “In women or in jewellery?”
“Yes,” was her only answer as she lifted her thigh to straddle me, starting up a second session.
The night started a pattern. Katriana chose to take control of my sex life, to a degree, and the following night sent Calliope to spend the night with me. I didn't really mind, of course- I had three beautiful women who loved me, and if Katriana wanted to take responsibility of choice from me, well, that kept me from showing to much favour or fomenting jealousy. And so, from there it continued for awhile in that Ashryn-Katriana-Calliope order.
It wasn't always sex, either. Ashryn was insatiable- she was fine taking the “night off” if we were up too late or I was tired, but every night she was with me she wanted to have sex. Katriana was nearly as bad, but some night preferred to just lie in bed, dreaming together of our future together and discussing our plans of where to go next. Calliope liked having sex, sure, but she also liked discussion, talking about magic or catching up on what had happened to either of us since I left the Academy. She was interested in the history of our house, and actually had a suggestion regarding the choker situation.
I was talking... okay, I was complaining about what Katriana had said one night, as she sat in a nightgown, reading a book borrowed from the palace library, when she replied with, “Wizard's Mark.”
“Pardon?” I said.
“You clearly have some desire to mark us as your property,” she continued, a blush spreading on her face, “Which, I don't really mind... but rather than giving us chokers to show our allegiance, why not learn Wizard Mark, and put a sigil somewhere on our bodies in a discreet place?” She shifted a little, “It even seems naughtier that way, to me, as the Mark lasts a long time, and it's in a secret spot. We'll know we belong to you, but it'll be hidden from others.”
I gave what she said some thought. As a power gamer, Wizard's Mark always seemed idiotic- why would you waste a precious spell slot on a cosmetic vanity? But what she said did make sense, and it held a certain appeal. All I needed was a teacher.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
The day after our audience with Hawkins, a servant came and dropped off three scrolls. One was the written royal pardon for Enna. The other was a signed and sealed missive absolving the Starlit Order of anything wrongdoing on Mariska's part. And the last was a treaty, promising military support to House Esche from “the Lord-Paramount of Tresens”, a bit of future-proofing on Hawkins' part that I appreciated.
For mine and Voss' part, our days were spent idly. Voss wasn't quite up for joining Katriana on her morning calisthenics and drilling, so we spent a lot of time hanging out, wandering around the city to help Voss build his strength. Of course, all of us made sure we only left the palace in pairs- after all, there was still an entire Thieves' Guild who were probably still cross with us, in spite of our being honoured guests of the Lord Paramount.
Everyone else though was fully engaged with wedding preparations. Evidently, Katriana shopping for a dress was an all-hand-on-deck activity that not only required all three of my fiancees, but Enna and Bekker as well. The only responsibility that had been offhandedly foisted onto me was gathering the rings, something which I already had well in hand.
Two days after receiving the treaty from Hawkins, Voss turned to me after dinner and said, “Hey, let's go out tonight. It's been awhile since I've been able to go out and enjoy myself, and I think you could use it, too.”
I shrugged. I didn't particularly not like being a guest of the Lord Paramount, although some days could get a little slow, but I didn't quite know what Voss meant. “I guess so, sure. At least, I shouldn't leave you alone.”
He grinned, then turned to Enna. “You're coming too, right? I bet you'd know all the best drinking spots.”
Enna smirked back. “Aye, I suppose you'd be needin' someone to babysit ya. Let's go.”
And so, we went.
---------------------------
Character Name: Theodore Esche
Race: Human
Class: Transmuter
Level (XP): 2 (4608/5000)
Hit Points: 5
Ability Scores
Strength 11
Dexterity 17
Constitution 8
Intelligence 17
Wisdom 13
Charisma 14
Weapon Proficiencies: Darts
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Direction Sense, Etiquette, Reading/Writing, Swimming
Spells Per Day:
1st Level- 3
Spellbook:
(1st Level): Armor, Burning Hands, Detect Magic, Detect Undead, Enlarge, Featherfall, Magic Missile, Mending, Read Magic, Sleep, Tenser's Floating Disc, Wall of Fog
Spells Prepared:
(1st Level): Burning Hands, Sleep, Tenser's Floating Disc
Equipment: Backpack, Bag of Fine Sand, Belt, Belt Pouch (Large, 3), Belt Pouch (Small, 4), Boots, Darts (43), Hand Mirror, Hat, Hooded Lantern, Pearl (worth 100gp), Robes (3), Signet Ring, Small Tent
Money: 100 gp
Languages: Common, Elven, Dwarven, Orc, Goblin, Draconic, 1 additional.
Companions: Katriana (Level 3 Fighter, sister & fiancee), Ashryn (Level 3 Cleric, fiancee), Calliope (Level 1 Invoker, fiancee), Voss (Level 3 Fighter), Smokey Enna (Level 4 Fighter/Level 4 Thief), Bekker (Butler)
Sexual Partners: 3
Storage Chest: Runed Greatsword, Alchemical Steel Broadsword, Alchemical Steel Bastard Sword, Magic Arrows (12), Oil of Acid Resistance, mint green potion, Potion of Rainbow Hues, 299 pp, 4187 gp, 4 ep, 15 sp, 50 cp
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