Back Story

Looking back over her shoulder, she responds " No lice, I keep it pretty clean. You’re welcome to search if you’d like though." She turns her head back to take in her sights of both the ship and the sea.

"Beautiful hair" is mostly what he could say. "No lice. You have name though? My name is Te'opocatli. You still not used to Maztica names? Say the tli together like last beat on drum... or say it Poca like everyone else." He smiles as if relieved to say so much at once.

Not really understanding that he had asked a question, he does not wait and changes subject. He sees you looking around and tries to guess your question, being an inquisitive learner of magic himself.

"The sea the inner sea . The ship the Skulker in which we bunk. It new fashion, I design myself. I did not like the titens they make in Aum, from shores you come? This ship made by Yahca makers, those jungle folk who work wood like it is the One tree, and Tumqua melders who grow stone and metal from their thoughts. I cast teoalt magic, sea magic. Look at her!"

You follow his abrupt hand motions to watch the ship transform from its dock side manner where it looked rather mundane, into a moving shape of ship under sail. It wasn't just that her speed increased, but her girth had narrowed and the mast bent to scoop up the wind rather than tried to remain impossibly rigid like Faerunian made ships. And the ropes! You were very proficient at climbing the ropes at your old ships, but this one weaved its ropes to the new winds like water weirds would shape themselves to the forms of the cave they inhabit. Climbing these in the blue sky of morning would certainly be a new dance to learn. Never had you seen so much magic used so commonly. This new world would never cease to delight you. Ah here, you think, you can draw the magic out of yourself and find your power, be it persuasion or quickness or guile. You smile at the little creature in appreciation of the lesson and receive a smile in return. You can feel the power of your charisma, whether from your good looks or from your quickness to see how people think and anticipate them. You have always used this power in combat, but there are so many uses!

"There the first mate at helm. The captain, she prefers night. You not see her outside cabinet til dusk. The crew you will meet later as they busy setting sails." After passing his hands over your bag, he sighs a relief. "Should have checked this before going. Hate to scuddle things just because they diseased and have no time to repair. Such waste. But no. You good. Throw bag down hole and join others. I go to bow to feel winds."

Being excited as she looks around, she runs to put her pack away and then up to the rope runners and eagerly asks, "Put me to work, what can I do?"

"Well lass, we are full to the gunwales and the crew has already got her underway. Go round and tie the loose ends and set everything chock a block. The wind mage has made sure that we have a good east wind. Then see how ye climb the foremast and change the flags. If ye fall, then ye will at least not have had the shortest tenure under my command."

The first mate, young but confident, has an easy manner as if he understands sorrow as well as mirth. He greets you with work and a quick answer, but he grins, too, at the youth and beauty before him. You are well accustomed to that look and know what it means.

The rope runners point at the ropes that need work and off you go.

Work is good. It's been weeks on land but you know the ropes well enough having sailed the Trackless Sea for almost a year. You rolled ok on your acrobatics check and managed to climb the foremast with only a little hesitation. You could do better, but worse, everyone was watching. It was tough crowd.

As you whipped ropes into ties for stowing below, the mate again addresses you, "Do ye have a penchant for holding onto your name for fear that we would have some power over ye? You have not given your name to the quartermaster nor crewman one. We are pirates together and we share our names, sirrah. Mine is Dukalu, a former eagle warrior turned against the locks and cages of society and a soul who wants to soar free of the politics of the north. Yours?"

You have never shared your true background with anyone, certainly not for fear or pain. No, you did not have a tragic childhood. Your parents ran a tavern in the seaside city of Aum and were prosperous. You minded the drafts and cleaned tables when you were able, always listening and watching people, figuring them out. When once you allowed an older man to corrupt you, first in bed and then in crime, you did not hold the event as a shame or tragedy. You reveled in the experience. Your mentor taught you the con and the gamble, as well as some things in bed that you had never read in books. You did not even run from your mentor, may he rot in hell. You did not even run away from youth lost or the authorities. You were good at all manner of deception and was even tragic when the stooge wanted you to be. Yes, you were honest with yourself at least this far. You took to the sea to find yourself. You have a name.

She stops and looks at Dukalu, chuckling and says, "My apologies, too many weeks on land will make one forget their sea manners.
The name's Kitsune. I'm the child of human and elf tavern keepers with a desire to figure out who I am. It's wonderful to meet you," she ends with a smile that she knows has stopped his heart.

Kitsune knew she was beautiful and while it didn't always work, she knew it could get her almost anything she wanted... not that she was against that. Her natural beauty and charismatic charm has pulled everyone into her orbit from her mentor to Dukalu. To those she wasn't interested in, she enjoyed the flattery and to play a bit with their heart. But to see someone she deemed beautiful as well... it pulled out a different side in her. It wasn't something that she enjoyed, but she couldn't resist either. She knew the spell she had on others because she'd experienced the same spell herself, without the need for magic.

Your spell works well, whatever magic it was. Dukalu turns away for a moment and composes himself, "Good. Very well." he stammers as he adjusts his formatting to yours, his stance changing as if to a sudden movement in the ship. "Let us hope we can help ye find your desires ... to find out, who you are."

He did say he was an eagle warrior, which means he is a paladin in his faith, the god Qotal, the peace keeper, though he also said he once was. He still bears himself like a fighter, holy in duty to his god, but he he certainly responds to more than divine motivation. You can see in his eyes that he knows how to attract the ladies and feel that attraction, but he seems reluctant, as if he doesn't know what to do with them. "We are on voyage to the western side of Maztica, but we don't intend on going around the long capes. The Maxal have told us about an underground passage through to the other side. We steer for that and for Baya where we hope to gather riches for our trade goods of ipe wood and jade. you could find a home with this ship of ex-patriots. Everyone here has chosen to throw in together to find their path." He adds with a softer voice, "What could you possibly want more than the vivacious love of life that Qotal has already bestowed upon you?

Thinking for a moment, Kitsune responds, "To know where I fit in in this world, what's my purpose... Qotal put me on this earth for a purpose... I just wish I knew what it was... I've been on ships before but there still feels like something's missing..." she trails off, for a moment, letting her vulnerability show as she expresses the painful desire to find her way in this world. The start of her life hadn't been exactly picturesque, but she wasn't keen to share that instantly with someone she knew.

She turns to Dukalu and actually looks at him, seeing how attractive he is, she smiles shyly for a moment before straightening up. Remembering the pirate in her, she says "Well mate, we best get to running 'dese' ropes before we're thrown in the brig for lazing around. Tonight, we can talk more over some grog, aye?"

You notice that he was leaning down and toward you as you were showing your vulnerability. He is a protector. He would never let down a charge of his, and certainly not a true love. The boat sways and you try to keep your balance with the rope coils in your hands. Your shoulders just touch as you bear a spray of misty wind. You feel his warm breath on your cheek as he gasps. "Aye, grog," he straightens as well, embarrassed and flush with your closeness . "It’ll fill the evening after chow well enough. We have to ration it a bit so as not to tempt to fill the emptiness a pirate feels, what from pain or loves lost. We all carry it don’t we? That desire to be bigger than the ocean. By the Feathered Serpent, I wish we had some battle to distract us, but to the west where we are bound, there is little in the way of ships to blunder. We seek treasure in the magic of the land. The city of gold, the fountain of youth, the crucible of of the gods. Anything... Tomorrow we pass the three sisters, isles where we pickup more goods, mace, nutmeg and tamarind. That’ll be our last stop. Then as fast as possible past the southern beaches of the House of Tesca, the fire god’s domain, then not stopping in the mangroves or endless swamp. To a cave of wonder they say, the underground river to the other side of the world."

A silver dove flies to the rail beside you, landing with a coo and an inquisitive look. He doesn’t see it. Dukalu takes his leave. The bird watching you, you realize it had come into your orbit as well. It coos again, "Uhti. and flies away

The captain takes her place on the bridge. Proud with a feathers and sequined cap. She has a stern look but that same recognizable loneliness of a pirate. She doesn’t bark orders at all but the others around her immediately obey her ever wish.

Poca works a piece of bamboo into a circle at mainmast.

The cook prepares the meal for six bells, and the sailers mop up the deck. You must be off. Work is done.

"Mmmm, nutmeg..." Kitsune thought to herself, it reminded her of home. In the winters, her parents bought nutmeg to add to their dishes and hot drinks. The bird caught her attention from thoughts of home, the sound it made making her eyebrows forrow as she wonders what it meant until she noticed the captain.

She decides to walk up to the captain to introduce herself. "Ahoy! Name's Kitsune. Thank ye for letting me sail wit' ye crew. They been real welcoming!"

She maintains her grasp on the wheel as you make your greeting, her eyes fixed on the glorious but dulling colors of sunset on the western horizon. Her dress is flowing and long with many dark and rich layers of colors and lace. She seems immune to the tropical heat and a sharp contrast to the flirtatious, silky outfit you wear for comfort. Her skirt is split with layers of pantelones ending in tall black boots. She would look ready for the opera except for the wide stance she took, and the great scimitar and daggers that lined her belt.

"Aye.... I have noticed you. I see you have made quick friends of the crew." Her voice is deep but like plush velvet. She turns her head to look at you deeply. You feel her eyes peer into your brown eyes, pass over your soft lips, the hair upon your bare shoulders, your bosom, your flat stomach, lingering and leading down between your legs. She has no intention of falling into your orbit, but rather pulling you into hers. Her domination is palpable.

"You probably do have my mate tied around your finger already. He is naive and idealistic," she sneers. "I keep him that way. I see that I can tell you that, as you know how to handle men's hearts and not fall yourself. Real passion is in the taking. We are to go into the heart of this land and tear it out and gain our immortality. What say you to this?"

She grins and gives a light laugh to ease the tension, bringing you into her joke, though you suspect she is being very serious.

Kitsune laughs lightly with her and plays along, but inside, she's on edge. This woman has big, probably dangerous plans and she knows better than to speak up against it. She's very obviously skilled at getting what she wants given how the crew responds to her and how she's trying to pull Kitsune into this ideal she has... But this isn't Kit's first time playing the part, it's a skill she's become adept at.

"I say may ye be blessed with a very, very long life," she responds smiling at the captain. She looked back in the direction of Dukalu, this woman didn't seem to realize that while her statement was true, Kitsune did struggle with falling herself. She never could resist a handsome face. Not that she planned to expose that truth. She decided to ask her a bit more, "How are we going to accomplish this exactly?"

She smiles believing she has completely seduced you to her plans. Yes she has plans. You can see that in her eyes. She hesitates to say them though. But she needs you. You have the upper hand it seems.

"These caves that have the underground canal we plan to take, has more than that. It’s has greenfolk that are barely human anymore, who claim the caverns and worship the ancient bat gods. They hold a secret beyond measure. A treasure map if you would, to a hidden temple where life and godhood flows forever. And I need someone to lead the others to get it. Dukalu will not do. Interested? I can offer lifetimes of reward."

Smirking and shrugging nonchalantly, Kit responds, "Aye, I'm interested in leading your crew." She's always careful to pick her words wisely, so as to never say something she doesn't mean. Does she omit or alter how she responds to change the meaning? Yes. Not that anyone ever finds that part out though until it's too late. She's been called a charlatan for it, not that she's ever cared. But she felt something this time... she wasn't sure what to do yet, but she'd figure it out as she went.

Time to put the charms on, she thought to herself. "Do you have a strategy for this? Do you know where this map is? Are we to gain the greenfolk's trust or are you wanting... other means of handling them?" She needed as much detail as she could get to make sure she planned the proper way to either follow through or screw the captain over. She wasn't sure which she'd do yet, but she was going to be prepared for whichever decision she made.

Hold, Hold, Hold. That’s about all I know girl. I have been searching for a long time and finally have come across this information. I know more that you will need to know to use the map so don’t you be double crossing me.

She sighs. Perhaps she looks fainter than normal. The dusk is gone and her eyes were glowing yellow, until they weren’t. There was enough torch light on deck that you could see her eyes wink out and stare at you without pupils.

Uhti

The thin frame of the captain was rigid and her voice had turned raspy.

Uhti, bring ME the ivory codex you seek. Ask Dukalu about Nachilan.

The captain regains her composure and released the wheel, dizzy. She sees you standing next to her and ruffles her feathers, Now skoot!

Not wasting a second, Kitsune takes that as an opportunity to leave the captain's presence. "What in Qotal's name was that?" she wondered, trying to think of anything she might be able to recall about races who can do what she'd just witnessed. As she thinks, she slowly makes her way towards the ship's kitchen to see if dinner is ready.

Once in the kitchen, Kit sees that food is ready for eating. She grabs a plate and heads straight for Dukalu. She doesn’t know him, but instinct so far says she can trust him. She sits down beside him and smiles shyly, "Ahoy, I met the captain. She’s an interesting person." She leans closer as she asks, "What race is she? She looks human, but I saw some weird thing happening to her eyes earlier that was certainly not your typical human trait."

Good evening to ye. You could tell from his manner that he was truly pleased to see you come straight to him. His smile is contagious. No doubt he would tell all he knows without deceit or conceit.

Talking about race is a touchy subject especially on a pirate ship full of social misfits and bastards, eh boys?!?

Aye! came the cheer from the crew.

And I am sure there is some interesting story behind those yellow eyes of hers, but who dares ask her?

He gets up to grab the grog bottle off the peg, to another cheer by the crew. He passes you the drink and then hands it to each and everyone, conforming to his ration.

Kitsune looks around at everyone confirming what Dukalu was saying. She smiles as she takes the grog from him and begins to dine on her meal.

She giggled lightly before looking at Dukalu, "Ye make a good point. Why not tell me about yourself then?" she asked as she blinked slowly, letting her eyes slowly rise to meet his with a shy smile on her face. A well practiced look, but for once, it wasn't done intentionally. For once, she was genuinely interested in someone's story; not for the need to know to use information, but out of actual curiosity.

He melts into his chair. My story eh? Just a poor country poor raised in the city and then making his way back to his roots. What of it?

He smiles. He does enjoy the attention, especially from you. You immediately see the shy timid boy that you have seen in private conversation disappear and become the first mate, self assured, in front of his band of compadres. He uses his undeniable charisma well to be a leader, a protector of brothers, and a point of stability on this ship.

My country is Payit where I used to run joyously barefoot to the green song. Food forests of mighty kapok and breadfruit, papaya and banana abound in that country, swales collecting fertility and giving back all manner of fruit and vegetables. Qotal's gift of maize fills the fields and its other two sisters, the legume and the squash, they dance hand in hand together like the divine sisters Watil and Nula and Eha in the wild lands. Farming Payit is where I would be now had I not had a High Priest of Qotal as a father and a Priestess of Kiltzi, goddess of love and beauty, for a mother. I was sent to train as an Eagle Knight in Qotal's temples, though I never made it through the apprenticeship. They educated me though, and I can still do one trick of plumacasting.

He pulls out a feather from his bag and drops it from high onto the table, except that it floats down and hovers inches away from the cabu wood table instead. He then places his dagger's tip down onto the feather and let the two adjust until the feather was still, balancing the knife with its handle in the air. Polite but loving applause came from the crowd. They had seen this trick.. a few times.

He smiles at you, just because he couldn't help it. He perused your hair, and gazed at you every time you made that gentile lift of your dark eyes up into the light. His eyes were always there and darted away. Though he was performing, he was a captive audience. You knew you could get this reaction from a man in any number of ways. The genuineness of your request and its response in him was making a connection that you have always tired to resist, but have failed many times. Had he? Tried to resist? Or failed? You could not read him while he had his face with which he showed everyone everything, but one person nothing.

Dulaku turned to pass another round. An elderly fellow that may have been sipping his own drink from under the table got a bit too tipsy and leaned against you. He was sincerely apologetic in his stupor and goes to say he's sorry, but only manages to say Uhti with pupil-less eyes. He turns back and laughs, reaching his cup up for Dukalu to pour into. You quickly look around. No one saw what you saw.

"Uhti.... What in the world is this 'Uhti'??" she wonders for a moment. "The glowing eyes... the strange word... this man, the captain, even the bird all used it... could it be an enchantment the crew is under?" She pondered this thought and realized that if it was, she'd probably find out when she went to lead the captain's crew.

In the mean time, she shrugged off what happened and decided to enjoy the night with the crew, mainly Dukalu, chatting the night away until bedtime. Then... she'd have a late night stroll while the rest slept.

Awake my child into the night that tricks the mind but saves the soul. Welcome Uhti.

Startled and not knowing what's happening, she exclaims, "What is this? Who are you? What's happening?!" She almost frantically looks around trying to see what's going on. Typically, things don't catch her off guard often, but this was a whole new level of stranger things happening.

Where did that chant come from? How did she know it? Who is this person she sees? What is her body doing? Where are the two seamen? Can they hear and see this too? She doubted that last one to be possible, but at the moment, she was more scared than she'd ever been in her life. All calm and charm was gone and for a moment, she was almost like a child. She wanted to run and hide in a corner, she felt nothing like herself.

The fear didn't keep her from trying to understand what was happening though.

You have not been yourself your whole life, Uhti. Now you are indeed a child and I am here at your bidding to raise you into your power. You wished to find yourself and your power the very moment you stepped onto that ship, yes? Why child did you not ask Dukalu about Nachilan as I bade you? Are you protecting him from his pain? You were there to heal him of it, to aid the whole of Maztica.

"What.... what even is Nachilan? Why will it pain him?? What is this purpose you're referring to?!"

I’m sorry Kitsune. I’m rushing you into this. You have too many questions to accept it all. I understand. It is your choice to have the trickster powers or live your life free of its bonds. Uhti is not yet ready to rise in you.

Dukalu and I share a sad story in a way. Mine part is too old and sorrowful for you to comprehend right so I was hoping you could understand his part, so you could at some small part appreciate what we need to do.

I’ll leave you now. You know where I am. I love you as a part of me, but your body cannot stand this connection this long..."

You wake in a rush, your physical body being pressed up against Dukalu’s warm chest, his great arms protective and comfortable around you and under your knees, his hand firm on your hip. There is a rampage of activity as the crew, Poca and even the Captain are rushing you into the mess room Dukalu gently lays you in the table and Paco looks into your eyes with a gemstone at his forehead. "She back," he pronounces and the room sighs relief.

Kit is breathing fast, almost panting as she looks around and tries to grab her bearings. She tries to sit up... oh her head... her whole body! She feels as if she's been awake for a fortnight of rigorous activities, she's not sure if she's ever felt this exhausted! And it felt like someone took a maul to her head!

She finally focuses in on her surroundings and sees the whole crew in the room, even the captain, and is surprised. Almost nervous to hear the answer, she settles her eyes on Dukalu and says, "Not that I mind having all eyes on me, but this isn't exactly what I expected... do I want to know what happened?"

He looks at you with concern. You see he wants to assure you that everything is fine, but he tells you, The watchmen were having a good time with you. They say you were funny and flirtatious, that you were performing for them, doing imitations of the crew. They were totally enthralled. Then your jokes got serious. Even desperate, they said. You starting chanting and summoning.. He takes your hand in his, Kit, your eyes disappeared.

She looks back at him confused, still unsure of everything... but has a feeling she knows how the next question will be answered...

"My eyes disappeared... what does that mean? And what happened after that?"

You have dream walk, girl? That or bad bad makeup problem. What you see in far place?

"I’m not really sure... I think it’s a good time for everyone to get rest, let’s all get some rest. She ushers everyone out, but holds a grip on Dukalu’s hand as it’s still holding hers, not letting him leave. Once everybody leaves, she looks at him and asks, "Is it possible for us to talk alone? Either tonight or tomorrow?"

It's the middle of the night, Kit. I don't even know what tomorrow is. He winks, trying very hard to seem like these events are normal and it is appropriate to be flirtatious. I go on night watch soon. After the day and dinner, the Captain goes on watch and we can speak alone in her cabin. That's about as private as we can get on this ship.

Giggling a bit, Kitsune responds, "Tomorrow night it is then..." She gets up from the table, knees still a little wobbly. Was that because of the strange occurrence or because of the handsome man in front of her? She didn’t know. After a moment of gathering her stability, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

And with that, she went to rest for the rest of the night. There was a lot to process, but she was too exhausted for that.

Rising out of onto the deck of the ship, Kitsune walks to the edge and looks out over the horizon in awe. While there, she started to process everything that happened the night before. The woman, the pupilless eyes, uhti, Dukalu, trickster power. She had to admit, thinking about the trickster power was tempting... powers to support her already mischievous nature sounded like a match made in heaven.

Tonight... she’d learn about how Dukalu all fits in and try to summon the woman figure again. Until then, she’d enjoy the day and see what she can observe about the captain. She hadn’t forgotten about her desire to harm others because of a legend.

In good spirits I see, my brave Knight. Been kissed?

as I told you, I never made Eagle Knight. I was only a warrior.

Id still like to hear that story sometime, She coaxes him as she approaches and twirls her little finger in his chest hair. "A brave Paladin falls from grace. Shamed and a pirate."

He steps back. Stop. I need to speak with you. I could use your cabin at 8 bells tonight while you are on watch, if you would.

I see. Has the little vixen gotten her claws into you already? Ohhh, tonight eh? She’s beautiful. Is that it? Will it happen again?

Just stop! It’s not like that. She obviously needs my help on something and can’t talk in front of the others. It won’t happen again.

"What in Qotal's name was that?!" She watched the moment in disgust, was she seriously interested in him? Had there been something that happened between the captain and Dukalu?

She knew she'd speak with Dukalu that evening, so she decided to follow the captain around. She made her best attempt at being stealthy, but wasn't quite as successful as she'd have liked. Which was okay, if the captain noticed her, she had a plan.

Kit wasn’t expecting the sudden turn, but it doesn’t shake her. Without missing a beat, she responds, "I needed to see how you run the crew. You want me to lead them for you, but I don’t know the first thing about leading. I thought the best thing to do would be to observe how you work, see what you do... I was hoping to get an idea of how to be as strong of a leader as you.

"I mean, your crew obeys your every command without a second guess or criticism. How do you do that?" Flattery, she learned, works wonders on others, especially ones with a position of power. She made sure to accompany her statements with the appropriate body stance, eye gaze and avoidance, and tones to show that she was being as shy but sincere as she could.

You didn't deceive her and you can see that your lying is making her angry. What exactly is she capable of? A pirate captain in front of her crew. Lying to her face was a fatal mistake to make, you are beginning to think. You can image that she easily outmatches you for strength, but you do not expect such unnatural strength as she tries to lift you up onto the rail above the ocean waters. The goons with their blades circle you.

She is taller than you and stronger. She lifts you onto the rail so only your toes rest on the rail. The only thing that prevents you from falling backwards into the drink are her hands on your calves. The cruelty on her face is intense. Talk sister.

"You kissed him..." she said quietly enough that only the captain should be able to hear her. It wasn’t her only reason, but it was one of them. "Dukalu seemed so honest and sweet and interested, and I was going to sneak up on him but I saw you. And you kissed his cheek... I was trying to see if there was anything going on between you two and I just..." she trailed off, unsure of how to continue.

"I was going to admit that I like him tonight, but if he's just playing with me, than he deserves so much worse than what I'd planned to say."

Her enraged face exhaled a poisonous hiss, then a smirk, and then an undeniable giggle. She relaxed just enough to laugh completely out loud, so loud the goons started to laugh, though on them, it was even more awkward than hers. The whole ship erupted in laughter even though only the captain knew the joke.

She stopped as quickly as she started.

It’s already happened.

Kitsune looked around as everyone laughed loudly, feeling really uneased. "My apologies. May I go now?" she asked Elena.

Yes, my dear, my beautiful, innocent girl. He is falling in love again. She pulls you upright and speaks slowly and quietly to you, You go ... and break ... his heart again. She shoved you hard backwards. Doubling over and falling, you hear her cackle, and THAT’S for lying to me. She exits stage left and closes her cabin door behind her.

You hit the salty water of the Gulf of Qotal with a reverse cannonball dive. The foam and bubbles of the impact clouding around you.

Kitsune feels her breath leave her as she hits the water surface and falls under. Quickly, she swims to the water surface and sees the boat. She calls out the best she can hoping that someone on the crew will hear her. As she does, she looks around for anything hanging on the boat that she can swim up to and use to pull herself back on the boat.

"Don't you all have jobs to do? Get to it, this ship doesn't run itself," she says to the crew standing around her. She looks at Poca, "Thank you for rescuing me, I owe you a debt for that."

Kit takes a moment to squeeze water out of her clothes and hair as best as she can before going to her backpack and pulling out her disguise kit and using it to freshen up her face and hair. "What a b..." she thinks to herself as she does. She resolves herself of her opinion of the captain, using many not nice words as she does. The captain has made an enemy she didn't want....

Once freshened up, she decides to lay low until it's time to eat and then talk to Dukalu.

She was used to the performance. She kept calm on the outside, but deep down, her heart soared at his touch at at his gaze. She knew they needed to have some distance, but she still needed to speak with him. At 8 bells, she went to the captain's quarters to find him, assuming that Elena wasn't going to stop them from using it because she expected Kitsune to break his heart... which she had no plans of truly doing.

She stayed there in his arms, holding him just as tightly, for what felt like an eternity. The moment, for the first time in a long time... very long time... no, she couldn't recall ever having a moment that felt as perfect as this one did. With her head rested against his chest, she realized two things: she was short enough to him that he was resting his head on top of hers; she'd never felt safer than that moment; and that she could feel his heart pounding in time with hers.

Perfection was a word she only used when she'd created documents for an alternative identity, but this... this was perfect. He was perfect. She was falling, and she knew it. She'd never fallen hard or fast for anyone. She always enjoyed a pretty face, but she'd always just admire or enjoy them for a time until she moved on to the next thing.

She pulled away long enough to look at him in the candlelight. Well, the captain had been right, he was falling for her and she could see it. She could feel it in his embrace. She enjoyed the moment of just the two of them a bit longer before her mind reminded her of why she'd asked for the private meeting.

Every part of her body told her not to, but she ignored all of it and pulled herself out of the embrace, taking his hands into hers. "As much as I don't want to cause this moment to end, there is a reason that I requested to talk with you." She guides him over to the table for two, where they both sit down. As he looks at her with concern in his eyes, awaiting what she's going to say, she squeezes his hands reassuringly before saying, "Last night, I came up to the deck to talk to the crew." She spoke quietly hoping that if someone did decide to eavesdrop, like she felt Elena would, only Dukalu would hopefully be the person to hear her.

"I've always had this ability to charm just about anyone that I spoke to. Reading people for me is like a fish swimming, it's second nature. I was intending to try to learn some information when I zoned out. It's not something I've ever done before and I didn't remember what happened first, but it seems something took over me and I started singing a song I'd heard at the docks as a child. I thought it was just something a sailor had created, seems it was a chant." She watches his face the best she can in the dim room, trying to read his reactions to everything she says as she decides to tell him everything. What was it about him? It was like he'd used a charm spell on her, no one was able to see the real side of her but something told her that she was able to trust him wholeheartedly.

"I somehow knew that my eyes were pupil-less as I stood there just like the captain's eyes had been when I spoke to her, but I didn't see the crew... I saw a womanly figure shrouded in darkness. She called me 'Uhti' and told me that I'm here to aid all of Maztica and that I have a power that she can help raise me into. I didn't, and still don't fully understand what all happened to me or who that figure was, but she told me to ask you about something painful." Kitsune held Dukalu's hands tightly to reassure and convey that no matter how painful the impending question and memory was, she was still here with him. She leaned forward slightly as she asked, "Who is Nachilan?"

He sat still listening to you, the only person to listen to in the whole world. Each time you said something strange, he would curl up his eyebrows in the slightest and cutest of ways, but he would not interrupt you. It was one of his many tells and one of his strongest behaviors. You knew how to read those in people. He would never be good at lying, but then again, he may have never tried in his life. He was that one dimensional at times, but it was growing harder and harder to pigeon hole him each time you talked to him and tried to read him. Were you that blinded by love? or was it something else?

You did notice something about his face and body. Had you not noticed? Or was there just more detail there than ever before. His cheeks had the stubble of the remains to a knife cut shaving this morning. The scraggly hair was more neatly combed, but they had a blue feather tied into a braid and clasped by beads of various colors and patterns. The leather gherkin he wore, did little to hide his chest hair and only partially covered a colorful tatoo of a feathered dragon that draped over his right shoulder and fell down his right side. He had jade handled daggers in their sheathes at his belt and a soft fur pouch that held his personal items including a wooden flute that protruded from under the flap. He carried no money on them as pirates dealt only in barter, but none of this compared to the smile lines on his face that you must have ignored before... before you were interested, before you made him into more than what he was before.

You had your speech prepared, but his constant glancing at your lips and your hair was distracting. He hadn't even had a chance to say anything to you. Maybe you should have started with some conversation or compliments. No. Not now, you remind yourself. You needed to be direct. You have surprised yourself on your own growth as a person in the last day or so. You were never direct before. Your dialogue has gone from "yo dude =)" to something much more serious and dare you think, eloquent. You could not explain it. You were still playful and jovial. You still wanted the power and to find yourself. "What if I didn't like myself when I did find myself?" you think. "What if he didn't like me?" You keep pushing these thoughts back. You had the training to do so, but it wasn't that as much as you were held captive by his gaze.

That is, until you asked your question. You heard his heart skip a beat, but his face remained frozen in adoration like a mask or a shield to hide some thought or feeling inside. He pulled back a little on your hands. It was easy for you to read his thoughts despite his defenses. He wanted to pull back away from you, to flee, to plan an escape route, maybe the long boats, maybe a spell from Poca, hide, run, disappear. You dared not change your question at this point, but your heart ached like you feared it would to see him like this. Was the name really painful?

Dulaku sat there in terror. It had happened again. He had fallen in love with an impossibly beautiful woman. You must have known that he would. It was written in his character. He was there on the ship at exactly the right time for you to practice your skills of persuasion. He had the pretty face that would attract you and draw out your abilities. That was his only trait. All his story, he would fall in love with beautiful women, again and again, and each time, they would be the women who deceive him and manipulate his feelings and ultimately break his heart. You were just such a woman. It was as unavoidable as the writings of the stars and the will of gods.

He fought the feeling. Would he end up drunk at some seaside town and be picked up by another sleazy pirate captain to be her first mate again. "Would this go on forever?" he laments. You could see his determination. The same power that had brought him to take you in his arms, was struggling to assert itself behind the mask, and it would break free and he would run. His facade weakened. He freed his fingers from your grasp and curled them back. He pushed his palms against yours, and continued to push them up your wrists. His and your skin rubbed against each other as he slowly pushed against you, his palms powerfully pushing against the inside of your slender arms. He was panting quietly. The cropped fingernails were held above your skin, but brushed closely against the tiny hairs on your arm, his muscular arms sliding against your subtle arms. He kept going with both of his seaworn hands until they grasped your elbows. He looked at you, but still panting, he looked into your eyes to see where that question had come from, he looked at your lips to see how you could have formed that question, and he waited until you looked at his lips, too. Pulling you forward, he kissed you, a deep and long kiss that matched the desire and the triumph of the moment. It was written in his character that he was to be passive and allow you to decide whether to tease, to torment or to kiss him. He was off the script. Your tongues touched, the hair rose on the backs of your necks, and your arms grappled you in time.

Reluctantly, he releases you and holds your hands again, the sweat on your arms suddenly cooling your arms as a breeze passes through the window panes, the chill going up your spine. "I have fallen in love with you, Kitsune. But you know that. You knew I would. I have fallen in love before, many times, but always I have broken my heart. Lani, I called her Lani. She was my first love."

He wasn't speaking quickly, nor looking off the right or left. He wasn't making this up or trying to remember it. This heart ache was ever present. It explains a great deal of what you have seen before in him, but not his latest behavior. He did not look in pain now at all though, as if he has layered over his heart ache with something more wonderful. "To understand, you have to understand the gods," he says, stoking your hand with his forefinger and keeping his face close to yours. "Here in Maztica, the gods walk amongst us. They made us for playthings and bind us to them to maintain their divinity. The high priests are particularly bound and become avatars of the gods, so that the power that the gods have, so have their priests. Trouble came to gods when the trickster god from Faerun came to seduce Qotal. Her name is Shar, and she tricked Qotal to give up half of his power. Qotal's brothers drove out the foreign god, but she left with one spiteful curse. She gave Qotal a vision of his sister Kiltzi, the goddess of love, so that Qotal was charmed into lusting her in the same way that he had lusted after Shar. After centuries of trying to deny the charm, he had his way with Kiltzi. She fled to Zaltec's protection, and Qotal, in shame, left Maztica to the east, his priests all bound in silence not to tell the tale."

"The gods can be forgiven for even these atrocities, though they can be more reckless with morality than even humans. We are dependent on them for protection and the magic they give. But the gods have not been kind to me. The high priest of Qotal and the priestess of Kiltzi at the time, as avatars, felt the same feelings as their gods and fell in love. They gave birth to my older sister and soon thereafter formed a family and had me. I was marked with the sign of Qotal and educated to be an Eagle Knight, until I felt my mark and fell in love with an acolyte to Kiltzi. She was named Nachilan and she was beautiful, as you are. However, she was two faced and encouraged my love only to crush it. I lost faith in the gods. I ran from the temples, I ran from society, as a pirate I have been running still. Perhaps I am running into your arms."

Seeing his face go from heavenly to tortured broke her heart. She regretted asking the question as soon as she did, but she knew she had no choice... that power was calling to her and she needed to get the whole picture. Her mind was thrown out of this thought as she was pulled into his deep kiss. The passion, the love, the urgency, she felt it all as they shared that moment, melting into him as they did.

When he pulled away and shared his story, the pained feeling returned. He was so hurt, the mistress of darkness hadn't exaggerated at all about it. She wanted to run and hold him, wrap her arms around him, but she resisted the urge as she paid attention to his story. It was a lot to process after all. Once he was done, she sat there with him for a moment. She knew he could see how pained she felt having to ask and cause him to relive this story, but she still cracked a small smile at him as she took her right hand out of his and placed it against his cheek, rubbing is slowly and softly with her thumb before pulling him forward into another deep kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck as they both leaned across the table, locked in a second, passionate kiss. She felt every emotion he did and once they finally parted lips, she quietly but seriously told him that she never intends to hurt him... having never said words this true before.

"I trust you," he tells you without any degree of doubt in his decision. He was dying to hear about your day, and listens to your stories intently. He had heard much from Poca, but feared it was worse than that. "Elena is not to be messed around with, without serious consequences." He smiles at you with an idea, and rushes back to the cabinet from where he got the light globe and pulls out a glass piranha, setting it on the table. He carefully opens the teeth and withdraws two small glasses for the table. He then lifts the glass fish and pours out dark liquid from its mouth. "Rum," he tells you. "When you are as old and evil a vampire as Elena, you acquire some sophisticated tastes in drink, as well as other pleasures." He motions up to the ceiling where manacles are suspended. "The rum is about as dark and sinister as this room, but so very sweet." He drinks and then kisses you playfully with the wet rum on his lips. You grin and agree. You see that this wonderful man could not be happier to be a couple with you, sharing jokes and rum and kisses. He pours two glasses and you drink together, savoring the alcohol and the love."Please trust me when I tell you there is nothing between Elena and me as you suspected. Never has been. She saw me as a fallen paladin, trustworthy and controllable. I did nothing to correct that assumption. I keep her ship running while she hides from the sun, and I turn a blind eye to the visitors she entertains and to the thralls she control for blood, as long as the humans aboard are not molested. It's a balance we have maintained, but your news about the caves disturb me. She was right that I could not do this for her. She cannot grow in power. She has been tracking legends for a century. She cannot find them. Do you actually plan to help her?

Kitsune shakes her head strongly, "I would never, but she doesn’t know that. I plan to go along with it and find a way to make sure she doesn’t get what she wants. Just, make sure to be careful please... both when the time comes and now. She thinks she’s scared me away from you... it’d only anger her more if she saw us stronger than before. We have to play the part, I’d be devastated if she harmed you because of me!" Tears formed at her eyes thinking about Elena possibly harming Dukalu, or worse.

"I have played the part for my whole life. When do we find our freedom to not, Kit? When do the gods not choose our fate, or we can be rid of them all?

But this questionsing is useless. Now we need some edge to deal with Elena, some plan. Are you even well enough? You haven't mentioned anything about your attack last night.

Dukalu sees your eyes and furls his brow again. He kisses the edge of your eyes to solve it all for you.

"We will have our day, even if we have to run for it. But first, we need to make sure Elena doesn’t become more powerful. And of course I’m well enough.

"I wasn’t attacked, she didn’t hurt me." Her eyes furrowed at his use of the word "attack" but figured his traumatic experience made it seem that way to him. "She told me that me being here on this ship, searching for my place, that was supposedly leading me to her... I’m not sure how much I believe her, but... I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tempting."

...on this ship, this ship that is leading to these caves, with the ship's captain looking for this map codex, with this captain finding information about these caves from somewhere, this map codex that the mistress of darkness wants as well, that this mistress wants to enlist you to get the codex, and the ship's mate shares a story with the mistress, you and the first mate fall in love, a romance that was marked and destined to happen by inference by the gods hundred of years ago? Yes, indeed. It all sounds like gods playing with our lives alright and we won't be able to untangle any more tonight. The captain will be done with the first watch soon and I need sleep before the third. You said you were going to contact this mistress tonight? If you are, I want to be there to protect you while you are in your trance. Don't think this is too forward, but I have a private bunk where you can call her and stay safe. I'll be a perfect paladin.

She looked at him surprised, she surely hadn’t been expecting that offer. Her surprise turned into a grin of excitement, more time with him. She couldn’t get enough of him. "I have no doubt you’ll be the perfect paladin. Come and wake me when you’re ready for me to go into the trance."

And with that, they both rose but before they could leave, Kit grabbed his arm and looked up at him. "If that’s true and our lives are entangled due to the gods... I can’t believe I’m about to say this... then I’ve never been happier with what the gods have created. She looked at him with all of the happiness and love she felt for him. At this point, if it was divine fate that brought them together, she wasn’t about to let it tear them apart. She wasn’t ready to quite say it yet, but she loved him already. It was such a new and vulnerable feeling for her, which she didn’t like being vulnerable as it was a weakness for others to target in her eyes, but when she stood beside him, touched him, or just felt his presence, she didn’t mind one bit.

"I think it'd be interesting, the noble, goodhearted girl who believes in her gods alongside the fallen paladin with a questionable past who has turned (I think) his back on the hope and good of a higher power," he says with a grin. He replaces the globe light and rum and heads toward the door with you. Before opening the door, however, he presses your soft body against the rough wood, nuzzles his face into your neck under your hair and finds purchase on your ear, nibbling up to its top tip, kissing the spot of skin just behind the ear, breathing hard and then says "I only promised to be a perfect paladin once we got to the bunk."

Kit feels her breath leave her body as her skin feels the wood and the warmth of his lips. She closes her eyes as he works his way around her ear and whispers to her. Opening her eyes, she leans up and bites him gently on his jawline. Smiling, she says, "I'd love for this to go further, but we have to be careful, Elena will be back. I don't want to be caught in her bed with you. I think she'll do a lot worse than throw us overboard."

Kitsune was concerned, but also a bit frightened by Elena's sheer power. She also knew if she didn't tear herself away, she'd never leave his side.

He leads you outside and back down the ladder to his bunk in the rear of the ship. Here, crawl in first and I'll sleep in front and let nothing disturb you. He closed the hatch and secured it. He was a fighter and knew how to defend himself and his loved ones. The sheets smelled vaguely of him. There was no light, but your Elvin heritage allowed you to see his muscles as he took off this gherkin and laid down his back toward you. You were afraid to wake him with your chants, but he was already asleep, having had a short night of it for two straight nights.

She felt horrible knowing she might accidentally wake him, but she needed to talk with the mistress. She leaned over gently and kissed him lightly on his shoulder before sitting up against the wall behind her.

She tried to chant as quietly as possible, attempting to maintain as much control as possible over her volume. Speaking softly, she chants, "Uhti, come to me. Bring me your powers and show me my destiny. Uhti, come!"

"Welcome child. Did the name open him up to you? Can you now bear witness to the plight of mortals here in Maztica?"

"I can. The gods are deciding our lives based on events that happened outside of us mortals' control. It's heartbreaking in his case."

She gives you a smile, hardly perceptible in the darkness, one that even your eyes can not see through. Would you believe me if I told you that if it were possible to unravel every mortal's woes, you would not find the same thing? I am glad you could hear his tale. It has driven the events of the last hundred years and will drive the events of the next hundred years. Including your own, Uhti. May I call you that now?

"You may... what do I call you?"

"Uhti as well, but that may be confusing. For now call me Mistress. The name Uhti means nothing to either mortals or gods, it doesn't exist in any language, and is used when people do not have a name for something or cannot name it." She pauses waiting for you to comprehend everything. She is showing you much more patience than before, as if she is immortal and time matters not. "Uhti is made of two words in the ancient Nahualti language of the old gods, Ul and ti, and can mean 'that which comes forth' or 'issued' or 'going to the end' As you see, the name means little, but in that, there is much power."

She processes what was said for a moment before nodding, "I can understand. Onto business if that's alright, I know that I can't stay in this phase for long so I'll be direct. What do you need the codex for and why me?"

"Yes. Let's. The codex will unlock the key to a map hidden in Elena's office and will mark the spot of the Hidden Temple of the First Man in Far Payit. You will recognize the map. You must go there with the map and codex and retrieve the Crucible of the Gods that the First Man stole at the beginning of time. It is the same thing that Elena seeks, as it will give forth precious blood endlessly to ensure her immortality. The entire Church of Dusk seeks it to establish its kingdom. But it can do so much more than that.

You are chosen, because you are in incarnation of the goddess of love, whom Dukalu falls in love, as he has done throughout the ages. Please do not ask me to explain the spiral of time to you right now. It is enough that the god Kiltzi's name is pronounced Kitsune in Faerun?"

She looks at her surprised. When she'd told Dukalu earlier that day that she was happy with the gods putting them together, she wasn't really realizing how true that was. "I... I didn't know that... does... does that make our love any less real?" she asked quietly, unsure if she was asking the Mistress or herself.

You may be a master of illusion and deception, my little one, but remember your godhead. Kitsume is the fox of sexual desire and trickery, as Kiltzi is that of love and empathy. Are not your charlatan skills the lessor side of empathy?

Everything that you manifest will be real. She fills you with the warmth of the love and trust that you have for Dukalu. "Hold onto what is real.

I am your patron. Make this pact with me and we shall end this vampire abomination and eventually all strife. I will grant you my fey presence and spells to cast, and more as you become more like Uhti. For this mission, I grant you a one time spell that negates all special abilities in everyone in a 5o' radius. Use it wisely. Goodnight my child. You must go."

Kit sees the darkness of Dukalu's room, exhausted once again. She has a patron. Well, life has certainly taken another interesting turn, the girl who didn't want to serve anyone now serves a godly figure.

Paying attention to her surroundings, she realizes that she at some point fell over on the bed and Dukalu rolled over and wrapped his arm around her, which she instantly melted into him. "Everything that you manifest will be real. Hold onto what is real." she replayed in her head. Their love was destined in the stars and it was theirs to do with as they chose.

She went to roll into him when she realized there was something in her hand. In the dim light her eyes have, she realizes she has a crystal in her hand that hadn't been there before... and she feels power in it. "Ahhh, this is so I can cast the spells she gave me access to... how do I know that? Because she gave me this knowledge. Oh gods, this is weird!" She shakes her head a bit before rolling over to lay against his chest and letting the exhausted feeling take over and she was asleep.

Kit sits quietly, avoiding answering the knock out of fear that it could be Elena and sits and waits for some sign of who’s knocking.

"Kits. I know you in there. Whole ship know you in there.

Well so much for being careful... Kit opens the hatch and awkwardly smiles at Poca. "The whole ship? Even Elena?" she asks.

Yes. Small ship. Two watchers every three bells. She wants see you her cabin. She says, ‘She know way.’

What going on? Dukalu making me do inventory of weapons. Make more grog. Ask about goon schedule. He only talk to me. He no tell anyone. I no tell."

Letting out a few quiet curse words, she looks at Poca, tries to size him up and see where his allegiance lies. "How do you feel about the captain, honestly?

His eyes grow wide and wider. "You try mutiny? She kill us. Too many goons.

She looks at him, showing every bit of seriousness, fear, concern, and bravery she feels at that moment, "She’s possibly going to have others killed just to get access to even more power, power that is too great for her to possess. What do you think she’ll do with it once she does have it..."

Is it possible that the halfling’s eyes could get any bigger?

"I come from land of first vampires. Have to fight. No let souls of mothers who die in childbirth go to First Vampire. I fight. "What I do?"

"For now, take any and all orders that Dukalu gives you. Are you sneaky? If you feel comfortable doing so, one of you needs to be the distraction or lookout while the other sneaks into her office and takes the map that’s hidden in there. She wants me to steal the key to unlock the map’s location, we need to find the ‘treasure’ before she does."

I’m going to go meet with her, see what I can find out about the codex’s location. Once you have the map, whatever Dukalu says, goes."

"I be ‘nisible. You open door for me? What map? Captain has lots of maps.

"More questions. What do with map. When we need map? She miss map?

Kitsune just remembers that her patron had told her she’d recognize the map, but recognition doesn’t mean she knows immediately what it looks like. "You know... I’m not sure. I know if it’s Far Payit, I should be able to recognize it when I see it. Let me go speak to her, maybe I’ll come out with it myself. Go check in with Dukalu, and give him my regards please.

And with that, she left. She didn’t have a full plan yet, she was winging it; something she was very accustomed to doing. The part that was new was having others in on her shenanigans. She wasn’t sure how to have them help yet. She didn’t have much time to debate it as she arrived at Elena’s office, knocking and patting her left pocket to make sure she had her crystal on her.

You do know the way to the cabin. You go knock and it opens. It is as dark inside as last night except for the light you let in from the door. That light blinds you to what else is inside as everything is in shadow.

"Do come in, dear."

Kitsune walks in and looks around. "Thank you, you wished to see me?"

The door shuts behind you without a sound, so as to not have anyone on ship know that you were in the lair of a vampire. Though, they knew. They knew she had summoned you. No one said a word to you when you walked by. They did not greet you. It was as if you were walking to your own funeral.

Everything was in its right place, Even Elena looks perfectly natural in this red and black room with the jungle flowers. She sat at the same table that you and Dukalu sat last night. She gestures for you to sit. The only difference in the room was that the velvet drapes over the windows were closed and the glass piranha sat at the table.

"Yes, Kilsune. You are fitting in with the crew well. How are you getting on with the ship's mate?"

The unease was felt, but she remained her calm, collected self. "Don't lie, but don't be open," she reminded herself as she walked over to sit at the table by Elena. "I'd say things are going well... he trusts me and anything I say to him," she gives a sly smile. She knew the words she spoke were true, but the intent she was trying to convey through her body language was different. She wanted Elena to think that Kitsune was playing with Dukalu, that he was just a pawn in her heart's game of chess.

"Excellent. He is preparing arms. I take it you have chosen him for the first wave attack?

"I have. Can you explain to me exactly how this is going to happen?"

"Why? It's simple, Kitzune. You go in and kill every last bat in there and get the codex in their temple."

Pure death... that checks out. "Ah yes, then I would like Dukalu at the front lines assisting me. He’ll listen to me and the crew will listen to him. What is this codex used for?" she asked, pretending that she didn’t already know, hoping that Elena will pull out the map for her.

Your luck is strong. You cheated the dice. She doesn't notice your "forgetfulness," but for her to pull out a treasure like that is unlikely. Nice try.

"Good! We shall use the codex together to unlock the map. Victory over death is ours. Pour us a drink, Kiltzun."

She starts to reach for the bottle, but pauses. "What did you call me?"

She smiles her smile that says she is in control, not you. "We understand ourselves, don't we ... Kiltzi?"

"How do you know?"

"There we have it. That's the most forthright and honest statement you have made to me yet. Did I not tell you that I know my first mate and his tragic story well? You have destroyed his heart every time. I just want to profit by the knowledge this time. Tomorrow we will take the ship into the caves and you and Qotal shall go in and retrieve the codex. Then bring it back to me. I'll be your only ship and means of escape. I'll keep all my thralls here to protect the ship. You will come to me for the grand revealing of the codex. Otherwise, I'll be sure to make this your shortest incarnation ever. Now go Missy. You have a lot to think about." She stands up and nods to the door.

Kitsune stands and leaves. After taking a few steps away from Elena’s office, she starts shaking, fear is sweeping over her, the uncertainty of it all is hitting her. She’s playing chess with someone five moves ahead of her. She doesn’t know what to do.

She holds back the tears she wants to shed, still shaking, and starts wandering the ship. She’s not really paying attention to her surroundings or location, she’s too distracted fearing for her life, and for Dukalu’s as well. She doesn’t doubt that any crew who see her are looking at her with pity-filled eyes, but she couldn’t care less at the moment. She needed a new plan... that her exhausted, fear-filled brain couldn’t formulate.

"Kit!" Dukalu runs up to you on deck and puts an arm around you. "Are you ok? Did that vile thing do anything to you?" He looks around and says quietly, "We have 8 humans and Poca and half the arms ready for anything. That leaves the 8 goons and Elena."

She looks up at him, not fully processing what he said yet. "She knows. She knows who we are. She knows your story and that I’m the reincarnation of Kiltzu. She thinks that I’m going to betray you and she wants to kill me once I have the codex and probably you too." She starts crying, "I don’t know what to do yet."

He stumbles over his words, "An incarnation of Kiltzi? You are my Kiltzi and my beautiful woman, but an incarnation is a lot to ask for in a girlfriend." He draws you into his arms and kisses your head.

"Don't worry. So Elena and we know each other. We still have to work together to get the codex, and when we have it in our hands, we will have the upper hand. Then its talk or battle. Either way I will be there for you.

Kit, I do not have any real excuse to ask, but I cannot bear to live to not have you under my watchful eye again tonight. It doesn't matter now who knows, I want you with me."

"I would love nothing more than to be yours," she said as she leaned up and kissed him passionately. Girlfriend, he called her his girlfriend. Her heart soared at this! She was so in the moment until... Kitsune pulled away suddenly and looked at him smiling. "I have an idea," she says as she grabs his arm and pulls him in search of Poca. Once she finds him, before he can finish asking what's wrong, she grabs his wrist and pulls them both to an area where there aren't many seamen around.

Not even thinking about how red her eyes are or the tear streaks on her cheeks, she looks at them and starts speaking somewhat excitedly. "Okay, we need to convince the people who live in this cave to let me have their codex. I'll probably tell them who we are and who I am in history to appeal to the "save humanity" side of them. Once we do that, we come back and deal with Elena.
If we inevitably end up having to fight Elena and her thralls," she shows them her crystal, "I'll try to put them magically to sleep. If all goes perfect, we can rip a piece of wood off of the ship and stab her in the heart with it. If she doesn't fall asleep, then we'll only have one person to focus our efforts on... or her and a few thralls... this is the best idea I have so far!"

"Good spell sleep. But. Not many hit points of people sleep. No vampire sleep." He sighs and dropped down to ground. "If only we break charm on goons.

Kitsune starts bouncing in place with a mischievous smile on her face, her true trickster nature is showing as she recalls what the Mistress had told her. "We can! The Mistress gave me a one time spell to negate special abilities in people within a 5-degree radius of the spell location!"

"Good! How long last? 5 degree? That strange. Hold on. You have spells? Mistress? Does Mate know about you have Mistress?" He looks back up to Dukalu.

"See? Everything will be fine."

Kit stops bouncing, realizing she hadn't talked to him about what happened in the trance yet. "Heh well... Are you okay with that?I don't want you to be uncomfortable." She walks up and kisses him, "I won't make the same mistake that those before me made... I won't betray you."

He answers your kiss like he doesn't want to let go. "Stop listening to these gods spinning legends and ruling our lives. There are no ones before you, because you are unique to the heavens, my only love, my Kitsune." He tilts you back in his arms, so he can suspend you in his kiss.

"Hmmm ... I go now."

She wanted to tell him that while the gods did write our story, he was right in that they weren't ruling our lives and that it was our fate to do with as we choose, but she didn't get the chance. She knew there were some unaddressed issues in what he said, but it wasn't at the front of her mind anymore. She got lost in his embrace and his kiss. She stayed there as long as he held her, lips locked on each other.

They had a romance that would easily make those around them nauseous from the pure love they exhibit for each other. With a plan in hand, they spent the rest of the day preparing, with Kitsune getting a short nap so that she wouldn't be so exhausted and would be ready to head off for the caves.

Upon arrival at his cabin, Kit giggled excitedly as she felt her love for Dukalu wash over her. She’d spent the night watching every time that Dukalu prevented a fight and fell in love even more. He had such a skillful way with people and her hand in his made her grin uncontrollably all night.

Sparing no time from when he finished locking their cabin door, she pounced on Dukalu and locked him into a deep, passionate kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She knew that she'd be in charge come morning, but for tonight, she couldn't be happier to surrender herself over to the Mate that had her heart. Tomorrow, they were risking their lives, so they made sure every touch, every kiss, every embrace, every second was pure passion between the two as they expressed they love before getting a long rest in each other’s arms.

Your pounce on him surprises him. You hved transformed into the hungry fox that you had previously so controlled within you even in your most passionate kisses. He accepts your advances with a hunger of his own. The movement of your hands on his body excite you, but he takes hold of them and moves them down so that they grasp the throbbing hunger in his pants. There are no boundaries anymore. You have given him permission to touch your body as your hearts have touched, and he has given his.

With awkward desperation, you and he lock your kisses and grasp blindly at each other's gherkin and blouse. He runs his hands politely around your slender waist like a dance partner would, but then pulls the layers of silky blouse up over your head. Even while your arms are crossed over, your head and your hands still bound in the silk, he is running his hands over your breasts and stomach. When you free yourself, you feel his wolfish gaze. He is staring at your breasts. You have captivated the beast. He sees how athletic and trim you maintained yourself, your more-flat-than-not breasts are caramel, but the prominent nipples are dark brown like cacao, their auroras still fleshy and pink having not yet borne a child. He glories in your breasts, all ripe to fill full with milk to suckle his young, to let him share your essence with a babe and sustain own his desire with his own lips and tongue on you, sucking you until the milk drops and you swirl into submission. You finish pulling off his gherkin and see the glory of manhood, a broad frame with tight muscles, not so over pumped that he is a caricature of a man, but definitely strong and virile enough to be your mate. The moonlight that showed off your breasts, also shows you the fine chest of hair that was always showing itself in part on the decks, imagined in your thoughts, now complete before you, the colors of a quealtascoatl feathered dragon tattoo emblazoned on his dark skin. He mounts you and draws your hard nipples through his chest hair as he reaches his hands between your legs and touches where your excitement is building most. He is panting like that wolf when he comes up for air, arching his back to feel the excitement of the moment. He looks again at your deep brown eyes in the moonlight. You see the desire, but he holds back. Why! Kit wants to be taken, you say!! "I can't," he gasps as if the oxygen has been depleted in the bunk. He takes his palm off your vulva, and with both large hands grasp your cheeks and neck, moving his thumbs across your cheekbones. "I can't just do this without knowing." Out of breath still, he draws in a great draw of air and holds it. He kisses you lightly on the lips and looks in your eyes. "I love you, Kitsune, with my heart that climbs the mountain, with my soul that flows down the mighty river, I love you. It's all been my fault. All those loves before, I refused to love them because they weren't perfect, they weren't the one. All those heartaches I suffered, I did to myself. There is no Kiltzi that continually breaks my heart. I know. I know myself. I love all the way and never part, but I have never found anyone else who could do the same. They would have a pretty face or fine figure, but the heart,... the heart is what I want. Someone to have adventurers with, to raise children, to grow old with, to never fail to say I love you and hear it back each time. I need to know from you Kitsune. I love you."

You don't react immediately, though the sexual desire courses through your body, or perhaps because of it. Lust is the illusion of love and you know the difference too well. What he is offering is foreign to everything in your back story. You do not know love taught from early loves. Your experiences are vast compared to his, but never picturesque. You can't love him as that would make you vulnerable, subject to exploit by anyone who looks in your eye. You think to yourself, you can still tell him you love him, and get the fuck you wanted. You can say it with the precision of a thespian and the eloquence of a poet. But here, lying on top of you, is the paragon of truthfulness. What point would lying be? Tell him you will never love him, and break his heart. He admitted it himself, he was the cause of his own heart break. Do you play the charlatan the rest of your life, or do you become something else like what the higher authority gods are pushing on you? He wants you to know yourself. To find out who you really are... Wasn't that the point of this journey anyway?

She sat up and looked at him in the moonlight, seeing the anticipation of what will escape Kitsune's lips on his face. Vulnerability is something Kit's run from her whole life, but this man makes her vulnerable, both to external threats and to her own emotions. This has obviously been lust... I'm just looking for a good time... that's what every one of them before has been... "Everything that you manifest will be real. Hold onto what is real." The words of her patron and the feeling she allowed Kitsune to feel in her trance rush back to her. This isn't lust... it never has been. She's never felt so strongly before, it's such a foreign feeling! She knows who she has been her whole life: a person who hides behind an identity that isn't her own, running from moment to moment. Stepping onto that ship changed her. She knows that her skills as a charlatan will always serve her well, the skill of reading people and drawing out their true desires is second nature... but she grew up with the ideal that bonds of friendship last forever, an ideal that she's run from since she was a young adult. Why couldn't that apply to her love life? She had been someone who hid from anything truly positive and worthwhile in life... she was done hiding.

The realization melts Kitsune, her heart feels so full for the first time in her life. She finally opens her mouth and says, "Love is such a foreign experience... every relationship has been lustful and my feelings have been separated to protect myself. I'm good at what I do, I know how to hide who I am, how to play someone else, be who I need to be so that I can get what I need without revealing who I am... maybe that's why I haven't known who I am. I know that I have a tongue more silver than the most inspiring bard's speech," she pauses to chuckle lightly, "almost every word that I've said to Elena has been deceitful and untrue, which she's only realized once fortunately... but with you..."

She takes his cheek into her hand and prepares herself for what she's about to say. Taking a deep breath, she adds, "I can't bring myself to be dishonest with you, not even from the first conversation. I would've never told Poca or Elena about being on the boat looking for who I am, but you pulled that out of me without even trying. Maybe there is a Kiltzi, maybe not. Considering I spoke to a literal higher being, I'm a lot more inclined to believe that our love, our meeting, our connection was written in the stars before either of our first breaths. What we have could be predetermined... but you are right too. While it's not your fault that they didn't love you the same way in return, it was still your choice to love them, just like it's your choice to love me. I could easily tell you that I don't love you the same just like every girl before me, like every one before that legend says betrayed you, but what we do with this life, our fate... it's our choice. The gods created doors for us and led us to them, it's up to us mortals to walk through or run from it.

"I've spent my life running from that door... but I'm done." She takes his face in her hands and kisses him passionately, longingly. After a moment, she pulls her lips away and looks him deep in his eyes. "I love you, more than I knew possible to love someone. I never want to leave your side, every moment away is just a moment leading up to being with you again. My heart sings your praises with every look, every word, every touch... Some things about me probably won't change. I'll always be silver tongued, I'm mischievous as hell, I see humor in everything even when I shouldn't, and I know how to get what I want out of people... But how I see my life certainly has. I don't want to hide behind an identity that I'm not, I don't want to avoid attachments, I don't want to be alone anymore. I won't lie to you, loving you is scary, especially right now because anyone could use you as a pawn against me and I would lose all sanity if you lost your life because of me... but despite that, I want you, I want you by my side always. I want to face every adventure and challenge together, I want a family with you, I want to hold your hand when the gods decide to take our souls into the afterworld. I love you with everything in me! I'm going to make mistakes, you are my first love after all, but I want to work through those moments with you. You want my heart, but you don't realize that you've had it all this time. I love you Dukalu, I love you!" The emotions of the moment have overpowered her and a steady stream of tears are quietly streaming down her cheeks.

The truth has set her free, this journey has changed her heart. Her background was a life as a charlatan, but her future... it was far from it.

He sits listening intently to you, to your every sweet word. He cries with you and looks concerned about your crying. You finished your speech and saw how your 'I love you' sent his heart into the sky and how he scribes his tiloni and yours onto a cloud for all to see.

You want to hold onto the epiphany that opened your mind and heart and set your tiloni onto the same path as his. You stop time to watch it all happen so slowly. A millionth of a second goes by, and another. You crave his kiss, but he looks at you frozen in time. Another millionth and another and an hour passes. Your chest felt huge but your loud beating heart sounds deep inside. It is so empty without him there. You went on a dream walk, seeing your crew mates, your forever friends, your family, but they did not recognize you. You are different. You would say, "Look! Look at my beautiful man!" but no one hears you. The skin on your forearms crawl with tingling waiting to feel again his touch. You are short of breath all day though you floated everywhere. Your temples throb, awaiting for his response. A day seemed to pass and still no response. You are love sick and don't care, ill beyond healing except for his ministrations. You feel his hand on your vulva with every thought. Again you wait. The panic of never seeing him kiss you pains you beyond belief. You have never felt this way before, ... except for one ancient memory where you felt this way, the way that a god feels when it is being worshiped. Dukalu was wrong in that Kiltzi doesn't exist in this world. You know in that instant that you ARE the incarnation of Kiltzi. It was she that gave you the chant. She sought out Dukalu, for a twin soul always finds its mate or goes through many incantations lonely. Dukalu felt that pain, but you hid from it. Dukalu is also incorrect about the legend of Qotal and Kiltzi. Men misunderstand the passions of gods. The gods have no notion of brother and sister. There was no shame, only loneliness and separation and lost love. Gods just are. The tale is about forbidden, hidden from all, denied love. Dulaku was Qotal unrealized, as you were Kiltzi the manifested and made real. True, the first Kiltzi rejected Qotal's love, but you are together at last. The vampires were ever jealous and corrupted even the legends. You knew the legend and it was beautiful, eternal love. You recall your love for him and know that the illusion of it that the Mistress gave was merely a trick, but still she has moved you to your power so there is thanks in that. "Enough," you say, and time returns to its normal pace.
Dukalu bent to you with all the concern of a true boyfriend, but he did not want that title. He cherishes you and it pains him to see you cry. With lips and kisses and tongue, he dries your tears and kisses your eyes. He looks to you with reverence and kisses you on the lips with possession. This is not the frenzied passion of before. He kisses your forehead as you let him do what he will, as long as touches you and makes your heart ache with his instead of by itself. He lowers his gaze and kisses the base of your throat. He is doing rites. His hands have taken yours and pushes your fingers against his as he holds your arms back on the pillow. This is not for you to touch him. He wants to worship you in the way that you deserve. Slowly he pushes down to your breasts and kissing between them. His rites are one of husbandry for which no rite of ceremony in a temple can compete. He draws his hands down your arms and reaches his tongue into your navel, pressing in the depth until a thrill runs up your spine. He is swearing alligence to you and doing it slowly and purposefully. his finger reach your skirt and it gives way over your ample hips. His finger press into the buttocks and lifts you so he can strip the clothes off of you, pulling them over your toes as he squats at the end of the bed. Then he looks to see you watching as he stands to remove his own pants, his cock proud and wanting. With that, he genuflects and claims to be your man forever. His hand on your thigh, he opens you up, admiring, looking at your beauty, the sacred passage for his offspring. The kisses the fine hair mound and he hold his mouth here until you gasp. He finds your cliteras and you wonder if this is the time to tell him, that you inherit the little know Elvish trait, that of having two cliteras. Never mind, his tongue has found you out, while you feel his fingers moving up and down and between your lower lips, until he reaches inside you and finds your most sensitive spots. Lifting his head from your mound, he moves up you slowly like a jaguar hunting, only he already has found his prey and it is willing to be taken. You legs wrap around each other as he kisses you and places his cock on you, tracing all your edges. Your hand has found his ass and pulls him into you, but he goes slowly, ever so slowly. It penetrates deeper you think than any man could, because you know him, you have always known him, and you receive his offering with gladness. Then, as his body fits into yours and you gently rock back and forth to each other, his passion grows beyond his own bounds. The rite must conclude with both participants as mates, as husband and wife would to consummate their bond. He doesn't have the face of a priest now, nor paladin, for he takes up the dance of worship that have proclaimed the gods' divine plan. He rocks you until your back sweats with excitement, his hands under your hair to hold onto to something in his saint's ecstasy. With a flash of excitement, he cums into you, without concern about making you pregnant, for he is already your husband and will be your protector forever and ever and ever.

Ecstasy. All she could feel was ecstasy. Every sense screamed out in joy. She'd never experienced lovemaking before and she could tell from the moment he started. She knew that the morning sun would bring danger to both of them, and she knew she'd fight to keep him safe just as strongly as he'd fight to protect her, but she didn't focus on that right now. They were one. Two souls, transcended across thousands of years, perfectly aligned, and finally united.

After a moment of embracing each other, Dukalu pulls out and lays down beside her, which she instinctively rolls over to rest her head on his chest. She'd found her mate, something she never expected to have. She beamed with joy feeling the emotions crashing over her as their lovemaking had come to an end. She sat her head up and propped it up on her hand as she looked down at Dukalu fondly, feeling her innate sense of humor come out. "I probably should've warned you love, I hope you're prepared for a lifetime of terrible jokes at terrible times," she said grinning mischievously.

He wrestles your naked body around so he is holding you from behind and spoons into you, his soldiers body fitting perfect around your slight frame. He right hand falls over you and cups your breast possessively, lightly stroking your nipple with the side of his forefinger. "Like twice the cliteras Twice the fun?" He laughs at his own bad joke and then sleepily says, "I love you, Kit."

She laughs with him as she settles into his hold and sleepily responds, "I love you too, Duk." Then, they both drift off to sleep, happy for their new bond, oblivious of the intense day ahead of them.

Sleeping with your love is wonderful. Normally sharing a 4' wide bed would not, but you are new to this relationship and could not be happier spooning and turning softly into one another and sharing breath with your tiloni mate.

Just before his watch, you see that his manhood had swollen. He must commune with that nature plant god they have here named Nula. She gives him the wood of the One Tree said to grow deep in the jungles from the foundations of Maztica to the Great Skyhome. You stroke it and then curl your back up next to him, so that you can place his cock between your legs and touch its padded head against your vulva.

He stirs from slumber and hugs you, sliding his cock along your vagina and into you. His hand on your stomach holds you against him as you share the thrill of his movements matched by yours. His teeth bite your ear to hold you in place as the rhythm of his moans grow louder. His hand curls under your breast. He fills you with his width and his seed. His kisses grow softer, "Good morning, love," he whispers.

You fall back asleep sated. When you come out on deck to the morning light, you see him on the bridge, shining with silver chain mail against the red sky, the sword at his side, a shield thrown over his shoulder behind him. The blue feather in his auburn hair tosses in the light breeze. You turn and go to don your leather armor. What does Dukalu see of you, when you come back up to greet him?

The world is beautiful. Even the swamps of the western Gulf of Qotal look beautiful. The Caves up head, ominous and threatening, look beautiful. The ship folds her masts and broadens her beam. Poca is working hard to make transformations in the ship to pass under the great arches of stone and swamp and predators. Pockets of light are still ahead in the cave mouth, as cenotes in the land above provide sinkholes for beams of brilliant light to break the darkness. The ship passes into the heart of Maztica and sails for some time without hearing any sound. The day passes and still you sail. Oil lamps have been brought out to steer the ship by, rocky outcrops threaten more than the thought of monsters, and on and on the ship sails until 8 bells when anchor is dropped. You cannot proceed in the dark caves without everyone on board watching. The ship sleeps once again.

What a night they had! For someone who's about to face death, Kitsune's never felt more revitalized, more elated than that morning. Looking up at her soulmate in his armor, she felt such pride. This man is going to protect her. He's definitely more than capable, but seeing him, she could've cared less about his abilities as a paladin, as a warrior. She relished in the fact that from that day on, he'd be guarding two hearts just as she would be... the one that beats for their own life as well as their lovers that symbolizes their bond. She stood admiring him for a moment before going to don her own armor. Once changed, she takes a moment to view her surroundings, she'd never been anywhere so beautiful! This cave looked nothing like any cave she'd ever seen back home, despite the knowledge of what awaited, the view was so captivating that she felt calm as she took it all in. A few moments of enjoying the view, and then she decided to join her love.

As she walks up and takes her place beside Duke, she smiles lovingly at him. As he looks over, he sees her in her armor. As he looks closer and lets his eyes trail down her body, he notices the dark brown armor top that accentuates her figure as it wraps around her stomach, under her breasts, and up to her shoulders, making her look like she's grown a cup size from the push-up of her armor. Her black shirt underneath her leather top keeps her decent and covers her skin up to her neck and a strap that holds her crossbow onto her back. Her black, form-fitting pants cling to her as bands of leather belts circle both thighs with daggers secured in both. There appears to be a small bulge at the right side of her hip, that has to be her crystal he thinks. Her lower legs are covered by black over-the-knee boots that hug her form just as tightly as her pants. She would appear easily restricted by how fitting her outfit is, but she's actually quite limber in it. As his eyes come back up to her, he notices for the first time, she's taken a black ribbon and pulled her hair into a ponytail to keep her hair out of her face, a tactic she learned was necessary after getting caught picking a pocket once when she was young after her hair covered her line of sight between herself and the nearby guard.

Noticing Dukalu taking her form in with his eyes, Kitsune grows hungry for him again. One night of pleasure wasn't enough, she didn't think that any amount would ever be enough when it came to him. Once he looks at her again, she bites her lip playfully to express how much she wants him without saying a word. Then suddenly, her mood shifts. She stands up tall and makes a show of over-acting like she's in duress. "Oh dear! I need assistance! For I, a damsel in distress, am faint and may fall at any moment!
Oh, if only there were a brave warrior who would sacrifice a kiss to save me!" She over-exaggerates her movements as she pretends to fall against him, then looking up at him playfully with a huge grin on her face, asking, "Do you think you might help a poor damsel?"

"My lady, do not distress yourself for I am a hero of renown and will move the world for ye. I am your Paladin.". He draws you in and looks down upon your form and stares lustily at your perky breasts and how form fitting your outfit is. "But lady, you do deceive me. You are a vixen and a siren in disguise here to tempt me," He kisses your neck, "I am pledged to another." He reaches his right hand down and around your back and grabs your right hand, at the same time open mouth kissing the cloth of your voluptuous breast, "my kisses are hers alone." He spins you out until you are at arms length, takes your visage in savagely, and then spins you back into his arms, "But as long as you won’t tell," he kisses you hard and fast to where you stand.

Looks up from his work in disgust.

She kisses him back with the same fierce desire as his own. "My hero with good eyes, for I am in fact a siren... just wait until you hear me sing," she grins at him. Oblivious to the disgust that Poca feels, she comments to him, "Greeting Poca! Might I say you have done a fantastic job orienting this ship to make it through the cave!" There's something about young, new love that makes everything seems a bit more wonderful than before, she didn't realize her rose colored eyes were that strong, but she meant the compliment.

She turns back to Dukalu and finally asks, "Are you ready for today?"

"Gives us more time for other things too," she says with a big grin on her face. "Although now that I think about it, you may not want to refer to them as ‘the bats’. I figured getting the codex won’t be too difficult, at least once I mention my reincarnation status and that the gods sent me. I should be able to speak their language, I hear they’re akin to myself," as she points to her short but pointy ears.

She turns to him with a serious face, "The real problem will be Elena, I don’t see her going down without a fight no matter how persuasive or intimidating we are..." She places her hands on his cheeks, holding his head in her hands, she pulls his face down and gives him a light, loving kiss. "I have no doubt she’ll resort to using you against me, but I won’t let her hurt you."

This was the most serious she’d ever been about anything. The pure determination in her eyes and her voice made a statement into a promise. Kit wanted to protect him as much as he wanted to protect her. She has always been patient and calm, it was the only sensible way to get out of trouble when she’d bend the rules, but with that, she learned on the very rare occasions that even it had a limit. And once her anger was pushed to release... it would take the strength of the gods to rein it back in. If Elena hurt him, she knew that anger would be unleashed without a moment to stop it. She had to be calm, she had to be focused, she had to keep him safe.

"I love you, too."

She squeezed his hands smiling at him before walking over to Poca. "I hear there’s trouble reading the map, anything I can do to help?"

"Hi Kitsune. You done sucking face? I have no problem reading map. It short map like chicken soup without chicken. It show where long canoe go through, but not ship. No soundings. No nothing. Can’t tell what under deep for ship. We have to prod and pull. It dark. No guide. No pilot. You know how make ship sail mud puddle? ". He smiles. He likes you. You have been nothing but kind to him and he is on your side.

She laughed as she liked Poca as well, he’d been kind to her and even helped her. "Can’t say I’m proficient in sailing through mud, but I do have darkvision, if you need a pair of eyes in the darkness, I can help with that."

"That would be very lovely dear. You can hang on to the foremast sprig like a mermaid statue and see our way clear. "She smiles as she walks by and pulls Poca by the ear back to the map table on the bridge. You may go now Duke. Duke? That’s a Faerun name isn’t it? How charming."

Kit smiles at Duke as he leaves. She feels the pang in her heart as she hates being apart from him, but she was focused. Walking over to the map table, she says, "I'm genuinely trying to help Elena. Because the way I see it, you can continue to struggle and risk this ship getting stuck before you can even get close to your codex... or you can let me help and we can work together to get this ship to its destination. Personally, I'd enjoy the good laugh I'd get seeing the ship stuck and watching you angry because you can't get your precious treasure."

Kitsune was finally herself again. Elena creeped her out and scared her, but she wasn't going to show it. In fact, she felt like she had more cards in her hand now. Elena needed her, she was the key to get the codex. Elena couldn't do much without her and she knew that granted her some leadway.

"Bravo! Bravo. That’s the leader of little men that we have all come to love. I hope that godhead helps you out there in the dark. There Poca. Give the missy a long boat and have her lead the ship by rope. She can sound the depths. "There were oil lamps everywhere on ship especially in the bridge but the pole would not reach the lamps too far ahead. The canoes has a lamp and a ten foot pole to "sound" the depths.

Kit comes out of the cabin, ready for the day. As with the day before, she finds Dukalu. "How’s the journey looking today?"

"You know, you are beautiful." He says as you approach by oil lamp. Always oil lamp. It has been absolutely dark for more than a day now. "The way is open to us, we just need to find our path, as usual. You were great at leading the sounders yesterday. Perhaps I’ll let you do Elena’s bidding today without me trying to jump across and slash her throat while four goons pull me down to the floor," he cricks his neck. "I promise to choose my battles better today." And he smiles the smile of absolute sickening love and devotion.

"Good. Less sucky face. Maybe less dying for love sake too?" He says to Dukalu. "Your long boat is ready for you"

She smiles lovingly at Dukalu, "Great, I'd really appreciate it if you did." She kisses him deeply after hearing Poca's comment. Once she pulls away, she turns to Poca, "Let's set sail then!"

"Set crawl more like." He tries to pull you away from another kiss to Dukalu and starts to pull on your feet and drag you, only letting you get up when you reach the ladder over the gunwale to the long boat. It’s has an oil lamp in it already as the water is calm inside the cave. Your vision allows you to see shadows within 60’ As yesterday, you row to the front of the ship to tension the tether and start your sounding. The pole helping you with your vision. As long as the pole doesn’t touch anything, neither will the ships hull that Poca has flattened as much as possible but not enough in these shallow shales. You sit in the dark as you have extinguished the lamp. Dukalu has had to get used to not seeing you, not forever protecting you. You have a job to do and it needed your concentration and in the end he respects your ability and gives you latitude as much as he takes pride in you.

Still, the dark frightens you, as well it should. You already see a singular wave coming straight for you.

Working as hard as she can with all of her focus, Kitsune spends the day expertly navigating waterway.

Kit stands up and grabs her crystal. She doesn't have time to be scared. Swiftly, she feels the power that her patron gave her as she moves her hands forward as if they were slithering like the serpent in the water. As she does, she shouts "Smite!" at the creature. As soon as she does, she sees a streak of lighting make its way towards her target.

For a second, her heart stops. "Oh no..." Without thinking, she dives into the water and looks around to see if she can see the monster and/or Dukalu.

Right as Kit surfaces, she sees the monster crush his shoulder. She fights against the panic she feels as she climbs in the boat and wasting no time, repeats the same spell at the monster.

"I’m hit. My chest!"

No! Oh no! Dukalu is hurt, the one thing that could turn a bad situation worse... Without warning, Kitsune explodes in anger at the monster, screaming in rage and causing an aura to radiate off of her and filling the air with her vengeance.

Dukalu hopes for another strike if energy to know that his Kit is still alive and fighting. Instead a sudden dread fills his heart. She is dead. There is no hope. No reason to live! He believes he can do nothing to change his fate now.

Duke swings and hears the crack of the monsters neck. It falls dead at his feet. He sees nothing still but hears nothing either. The steam of the monsters neck sends a wave of heat to his nose. He calls for you still having not heard from you. Still he fears you are lost to the waters.

"I'm here love, I'm right here!" she responds as she touches his cheek. She clutches her crystal, knowing if she can make an auditory illusion, she might can get help. She speaks the words, "Paco help!", and while her voice is quiet, the spell turns her words into a scream that reaches as far as her ability will let her extend it. She helps him lie down in the boat as she looks over him. She begins asking, still trying to suppress the panic she feels, "Where are you hurt? How bad is your pain? Just hold on, help is coming."

You awake to a thought that touches your mind. "the oracle had finished her divination. Go. Go see her vision. "

As the sun rises, so does Kitsune. She looked over at Duke as he slept, immediately looking at his shoulder and chest, knowing he'd been hurt the worst there, and sees that he's recovered. Poca makes quite the horridly magical brew it seems. She feels the sense of relief wash over her. She'd maintained her panic, but she'd been so worried for her love. She figured she'd have another day on the long boat and wasn't about to waste a second near him.

She gently climbed on top of him and started slowly kissing his cheek. As he began to stir, she gently and lovingly kissed him, holding him there, feeling him kiss her back more as he wakes up. As she pulled her lips away, they shared a look, expressing both their deep love and their deep hunger for the other. Duke starts to say something, but is quickly cut off by Kit's finger over his lips. She then begins to kiss and gently bite his neck, lightly pulling on him as if trying to devour him. He'd kept her safe. He'd risked his life for hers. She planned to worship him just as he'd worshiped her during his rites.

Slowly, oh so slowly she kissed and nibbled from his neck, across his shoulders, down his chest, to his hips. Having left her hands on his shoulders, she slowly drags them down his chest, scratching him hard enough to excite without causing harm as she does. At this point, she finally focuses on the hard wood in front of her. His tree stood tall and ready. She proceeded to slowly take it in her mouth while holding the base. She sucked on it lightly but forcefully as she watched his head tilt back into his pillow. She began to move up and down as she did, at first slowly, but steadily increasing her speed until he was gripping the sheets tightly. At this moment, she stopped and sat up to see the burning desire in his eyes as he panted like a wolf staring at his prey.

That look made her heart stop. For a moment, she didn't breathe, her heart didn't beat, time stood still, but the need in her burned hotter than a thousand fires. She moved up his body and they kissed feverishly. All desire to take it slow and passionately went out the window and into the breeze as animalistic desire took over both of them. She pulled him up into a sitting position, never leaving his mouth as she placed her knees on both sides of him and sat down, allowing his firmness to fill her tunnel completely. Quickly, she begins rising and falling like the most chaotic tide as she tries to satiate the burning need inside her. She starts to lose her focus as she gets lost in the sensation, only noticing what she can feel. She feels Duke's arm wrap around her holding her close as his other hand grabs her breast. She feels the walls closing in around him as they both feel the sensation building until it finally explodes around them and their juices mix together.

With that Duke falls back against his pillow, pulling Kit with him. As she laid on his chest, trying to catch her breath, all she could feel was love for the man she was with. Soon, they both feel back to sleep for a short bit more.

The vision jolts her up, also waking Dukalu. When asked what's wrong, she explains that she believes she was given a vision and that they needed to go outside. With that, she sprang up, quickly dressed, and exited the cabin to see what was happening outside.

"You will not rid me so fast today. I am going out on the long canoe with you and you will say nothing of it. We keep the oil light on." He was firm, but it came from his heart. He did not want his heart to break again with you out in the dark alone.

The soundings went well and the ocean that looks...

"Bu..." she starts to speak but he's already walking towards the ladder. She hated the idea that he could be putting himself in danger again, but she understood why. She could see better when the light wasn't hampering her darkvision, but if the light was out, he'd be blind in the darkness again. Instead of arguing, she shook her head smiling as she followed him to the canoe and kissed his cheek before setting off again.

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Looking at him fondly as he shares his own awakening, tears come to her eyes. She's so proud of him for being able to come to terms with a topic that had been so sensitive for him, and she's elated that she was able to help albeit through no real intent to. One of the perks of being a reincarnated god. She moved her hand from under his wrist and into his hand, interlocking her fingers with his own. "I'm so happy for you love," she said grinning from ear to ear. "It seems you've been walking the path that has led to his moment. You completed your training, and then when you were ready to make the commitment, you were able to swear your oath to the gods. You have always been a Paladin. And you are so much more than my Paladin, you are truly my everything."

Typical Kit brain had her witty thought to tell him, "I'm glad you realized this but I'm not sure yet if it's a good thing that you're essentially married to two women in one, might be a handful for you," but she decided this moment was too precious and wholesome to insert her humor for once. So instead, she told him, "I love you so much Dukalu."

hugs her with both arms around her waist and a kiss on the ear and says, "Love you twice."

He really didn’t know he had become a Paladin until he saw the lights and just felt it. The oath had come so natural. He didn’t even believe that it was anything but a statement of his absolute love form this child of man, this beauty of women. How could love be so transformational except with a goddess of love like Kit, then it struck. Yes of course. She was a goddess of love. I’m speaking as Lyric thinking, writing out what Dukalu would be thinking. Lyric was the love sick one. Dukalu was absolutely and awe inspiringly fulfilled in his love. It was so confusing! Makes Lyric wonder what his back story is lol.

She widely grinned at his statement in her ear, knowing he'd read her mind. They embraced for a moment, their love made them both feel whole and as the other person made each of them a better individual, their bond made their powers stronger. Once they realized they couldn't keep embracing, they got back to the task at hand and resumed rowing.

Noticing the island, Kit pointed it out. She sounded her warning to Poca, but urged Dukalu to approach it cautiously. She wasn't sure what was there, but she needed to know if the codex was on it.

Looking up, she can see the bats on the ceiling with her vision. She quietly says, "Duke, they’re here..."

As he stands ready, so does Kit, but she places her hand in his chest. She feels the tension in the air but something is calm about her. She can’t explain why, but she jumps out of the boat and follows the trail, using her magic words to tell Poca they’re going on land. Duke catches up to her and tries to get in front of her asking what she’s doing, but she stops him and says, "I can’t explain it, but I feel things are working out as they should."

Dukalu is focused. He acts unaware of a super beta identity supposedly making decisions about his ever move and casting doubts about his own reality. Duke is master of himself and Paladin to his love. He marches on with you through the strange growth of this subterrain. He learns to trust you when you are sure about things like this. He knows you know supernatural things. The trail breaks into a pasture of sorts and there are burst of air on the leafs around you. "Down! Darts!!!" The two drop to their knees behind a rock outcropping. "Tell me this is part of the plan. "

"It wasn’t, but we can work with this." She thinks for a minute before telling Dukalu to head back and get Poca and the crew just in case they’re needed to help. She wasn’t planning to fight, but she hadn’t thought past the pull she had from the island and didn’t factor that they’ll be needed later on.

"No. In the face of attack is never the time to split the party. I stay with you. " He will obey you. He will love. He will not forsake his Sacred oath to protect you.

She nods, understanding. She thinks for a moment, then slowly begins to stand, with her hands in the air, holding a non-aggressive stance. As she does, she starts speaking in the language of Elvish. "Ua matou o mai ma le filemu! Aua le fana! O aʻu o le toe fanauga a Kiltzi ma o laʻu Eagle Warrior lea. Na auina mai matou e le atua iinei e puipui le codex saogalemu. E mafai ona matou talanoa ma lau toeaina?"

She immediately repeats her statement in common trying to make sure they can understand her no matter which language she uses. "We come in peace! Don't shoot! I am the reincarnation of Kiltzi and this is my Eagle Warrior. The gods have sent us here to keep the codex safe. May we speak with your elder?"

She looks at the bats above her, hoping strongly that they'll hear her out as she's not looking to fight them.

She lets out a sigh of relief, not realizing she'd been holding her breath. Grabbing Duke's hand, she tells him what they said and they walk into the green folk's village.

She squeezes Duke's hand before kneeling in front of the elder as they and the fairie talk, waiting and not interrupting for fear of disrespecting the elder.

Kitsune stands and speaks, "Elder, Sir, let me tell you a story." She proceeds to explain that when she boarded the Skulker, she knew nothing of the vampire or the treasure. She explains learning of it and being asked to retrieve it. She elaborates that she's never had any intent to hand it over to Elena. Kitsune goes into the threats, the realization of her reincarnation, and what the gods have asked her to do.

"So you see, it was never my intent to torment any of you. I was already aboard her ship before the gods asked me to retrieve this. My mission is to retrieve the codex and the vampire's map and take back the once stolen Crucible of the Gods. I believe that if I'm unable to complete this mission, the world could suffer. Will you help us?"

Duke looks reluctant.