Ladies Night (Scene/Episode 2) Tajuri/Jael/Kris

Returning to the guest suite level of the Octagon Tower, Tajuri and Kris head toward their respective rooms for a bit of downtime and to ready themselves for the rest of their free evening.

Coming out of a haze of inner reflections, Taj turns at the sudden flash of movement she sees in her right periphery. "Oh. Didn't see you there. Hi. Lady Amani. Nice work out there in the arena." She reaches for the handle to her room's door and pauses there with her slender hand on it. "You should come along to the tavern with Jael and me if you don't have any plans."

Kris looks over to Tajuri. "How soon are you thinking of going? There's a tavern nearby? I need to find where the baths are in this place first. I feel like I need one after my travels to get here last night and now the trial with Lucian."

Taj grins. "I was thinking of a nice bath myself. There's no rush. Yes. Jael and I found the tavern earlier. Its called The Runeblade." She replies and then gets a quizzical expression. "Your suite doesn't have a bath? How strange. Mine has an adjoining room. I found there to be a lovely bathing pool and walk-in closet inside."

She waves Kris over. "Come. I will show you. You're welcome to join us...if you'd a mind to."

Putting her hands on hips, Kris moves over to where Tajuri is. "Oh...really? You have a private bath? Huh. I've got to see this."

With her curiosity piqued, Kris accompanies Tajuri into her quarters, where the two are immediately joined by Jael, who hops off the large bed upon seeing them enter.


"Well. This is an pleasant unexpected surprise." She says, approaching Taj and kissing her lightly on the lips.

Looking over to the smaller door within Tajuri and Jael's room, Kris then turns and smiles at the pleasure demon's greeting. "Hello, Jael..isn't it? Lady Shadowmoon was just telling me about this luxurious bathing room you two have in your suite. Is it true? I have to see..."

With Jael close and affectionately at her side, Taj moves over to the smaller door and opens it to reveal the large bathing pool in the center of the room and the closet space that surrounds it. "Here it is! Take a look for yourself. I was considering a bath and outfit change myself before going out. If you'd like, you could join us? The pool is large enough to accommodate."

True to her word, as Kris peeks in through the open doorway she sees a private bathing pool and extensive closet.

Kris stares at the sight before her, hands on hips. "Well. Damn! You say you would not mind sharing a bath? I'd be grateful and not having to track someone down to locate another."

"I will ready the bath, my Princess." Jael says. "It will only take a few minutes." She adds, including Kris.

Kris stops and considers for a moment, then nods here head. "Yeah. Let's do this. Why not. We're all in this situation together, right? Everyone will eventually learn all of my secrets anyway."

With only a brief hesitation, Kris disrobes and places each of her garments carefully on a shelf in the huge closet. The last item is a rather plain appearing headband. When she pulls it off, she instantly transforms from the teenish brunette, into a still very youthful Human female with flowing white hair. Her features are relatively the same, but a slightly older version.

Taj openly admires Kris' form as she reveals it. "I hope you don't mind. I make no secrets about my interest in the Humanoid female, as my lover here can attest." She drapes a hand over Jael's shoulder.

Tajuri herself peels off the already revealing garments she is wearing and casually climbs into the pool. The steamy waters rise almost to her breasts.

Her eyes widen at Kris' last reveal. "Not to be prying, Lady Amani, but why the deception? Your true self is equally as lovely."

Kris carefully climbs into the pool and feels around for a possible seat beneath the water. Finding one along the side, she sits down submerging herself up to the shoulders in the steamy water.

"Thank you for your compliment, Lady Shadowmoon. It is much appreciated. I was mostly unaccustomed to positive words regarding my appearance, my intellect, or my abilities until leaving the world I had grown up in."

"My hair began to streak and change to white while I was in the academy. I suppose its a result of my studies of demonology and dealing with otherworldly beings from the profane reaches. I did not want more negative attention. So I began wearing magical disguises."

"You are among friends here, Kris. May I call you Kris? And..you can call me Taj or Tajuri. Its just us here. No need for formalities on my part." Tajuri comments. "At least in our company you should never have to worry about negative reactions for being yourself."

Kris, certainly not used to so much attention, glances down into her own reflection in the waters of the bathing pool. "Okay. Thank you, Tajuri and Jael. With your companionship this evening out, I will try to step out of my comfort zone and make an appearance as I truly am."

She washes thoroughly in the steamy waters, with cloth and some of the various scented soaps available along the edge of the pool, in shallow decorative trays.

"if you two of you would be interested, later, I plan on having a session with my Oracle cards?"

Jael busies herself soaping up her mistress and washing her, before attending to her self. She smiles at Kris' acknowledgment of their compliments and offers to scrub the young demonologist's back and wash the long white hair that has been revealed to them. "Please?! it would be my honor."

Kris nods. "Thank you, Jael. I don't remember anyone ever offering to wash my hair before or doing it." She glances down into the water again. "The old woman who kept me wasn't exactly the nurturing type."

End Scene

The three continue and then complete their bathing ritual. Perhaps an hour later, Kris, Jael, and Tajuri are ready and leave their rooms to rejoin and head downstairs for an evening out at The Runeblade.

Taj looks over as Kris exits her room and nods. "You look great. Don't worry. Ready? Let's go have some fun."

Dressed in black leathers and leaving her nature white hair visible, Kris does a half-hearted turnaround for her two evening's companions. "I am bringing along my Oracle deck in case we find the time and the right place to do a reading." She tells them and moves to join Tajuri and Jael on the stairs.

Retracing their footsteps of early in the day, Tajuri and Jael lead Kris and Blue the short walk to the entrance of The Runeblade. Several of the faceless denizens, common to T'Lorn it seems, are witnessed descending into the entry stairway, as they approach. At the bottom of the long steps they see Peri at the desk.


The freckled-faced Eldren girl's face lights up when she recognizes Taj and Jael from earlier. She whistles as they close to the counter. "Wow! You look even more lovely than before." She gushes and stands from her seat. "And...you brought friends I see. Who is this pretty and her little blue friend?" She asks. "I'm Peri. Welcome to The Runeblade! If there's anything you want or need...and I mean anything, I am here."

She turns back to Tajuri and Jael. "Perfect timing ladies. The night's events will be beginning soon. Grab a drink and enjoy!"

"This is the Lady Kris Amani and her companion, Blue." Tajuri introduces the new ones to Peri. "Don't let the youthful beauty of this one mesmerizes you too much, Peri. She is quite formidable an opponent in battle, I assure you."

"Hello Peri." Kris greets the easily excited woman. "Excuse us while we seek out that drink you mentioned."

Peri waves the three ladies and Blue on into the Runeblade. "I will catch up with you three later I hope."



Unlike in their previous venture to The Runeblade earlier in the day, the doors at the top of the sweeping steps into the VIP section are open directly into the bar. There is more ambient noise from the tavern's patron's this evening, but the sound of the violin is noticeably missing to Tajuri and Jael.

An unfamiliar, brunette server, holding a tray of drinks and food, crosses their path headed for the dining and pit area north or the bar, as Logan sees them enter.


"Welcome! Welcome back!" He calls out and waving them forward to the bar, wiping the counter down as they approach. "Nice to see you two back so soon...and with friends I see." He extends a hand to Kris. "Name's Logan. What may I get for you each tonight?"

In addition to the bartender, Logan, behind the counter is a young woman with auburn hair who is currently pouring drinks from tap, on a large keg, and placing them on a serving tray.



Seated around the L of the bar to the left are two very attractive females, both wearing quite diaphanous cover-ups and nothing else. They converse quietly to each other and occasionally cast furtive glances over at their fellow barmates. The nearer has pale blue skin and a long tight ponytail, wrapped in bows, that nearly touches the floor. The other, is a light-skinned Eldren woman with blonde hair, bound up in a high ponytail.

"A fine half pint of ale for me, please." Kris tells the bartender.

"And... two pints of the same." Taj interjects and takes in the presence of all the new faces nearby. She smiles at the two barely clad individuals at the bar and gives the server behind the bar and acknowledging nod.

The woman behind the bar serves up the ladies' drinks and leans slightly against the bar. "There we go darlings. I'm Em. Haven't seen you three..um four...in The Runeblade before. Are you some of the important guests to the palace I have heard rumors will be arriving soon?"

Tajuri draws the drinking vessel closer and then takes a sip. "Hello Miss Em. We are some of the contingent that Lord Orb and the Council have brought in. We arrived last night. At least I think it was night. Not easy tell really with the cloudy skies always over the city." She takes a quick glance toward the adjacent area with the table seating, then back to the auburn beauty behind the bar. "I am Tajuri and these are Jael, Kris, and Kris' companion, Blue. Jael and I were in earlier and have returned, curious to experience some of the night life that was teased us before. Will there be music and maybe fights tonight?"

"Oh! That's so exciting." Em responds to the confirmation. "Yes. Yes, Our featured minstrel will be starting her first set of the evening very shortly and then, between the musical sets, pairings of the House's Deathdansers will be performing in the pit, for those with a taste for a bit of bloodsport."

Scene Cutaway

Kris discreetly gestures with one hand for Em to draw closer to her across the bar. "Not to seem too nosy or naive, but those two women over at the other side of the bar: Are they—well, prostitutes?" She is very careful not look over or make movements as a tell to anyone who may be looking her way at the moment. "No judgement. I am simply looking for validation that my intuition is correct."

Tajuri takes a drink of her ale and looks toward the opening into the dining and fighting pit area. In the distance she sees the vaguely familiar figure of Sanguinor seated at a table. As her eyes continue to search the spacious area, they meet that of the closer of the two females at the bar briefly, before moving back to focus on her lover, Jael. She smiles and casually leans over to place a light kiss on the demoness' perfect lips.

Em leans in across the bar and takes Kris' hand lightly in her own. She whispers into the young Champion's ear, "Nothing wrong with your intuition, Miss. Those two are Almondynne and Nym. They're Master Kleg's girls. He runs the flesh trade within the establishment. Both are high coin mistresses and willing blood dolls as well."

As Em withdraws her hand and straighten up again across the bar, the air over the whole area is suddenly immersed with the sound of a violin. The tune is familiar to Kris and immediately floods her mind with fond memories of her days at the academy.

Taj perks up and grabs her drink off the bar. "Let's move into the other room closer to the music. Jael and I heard this violinist practicing earlier. She is amazing."

Kris allows herself to be swept up by Tajuri's enthusiasm. She picks up her own drink and follows in the gliding Moonfolk's wake.

Entering the dining and event area of the elite portion of The Runeblade, Tajuri and Jael see the same young Human female playing violin, as they had seen earlier. She has pale skin and jet black hair, except for a couple long white streaks in her forelocks. She is playing near a table to their immediate Left.

💀

Kris, on the other hand, sees her friend, Tamblyn, in the violinist. She has not seen Tamblyn since graduating the academy nearly five years ago and thought she would never see her again. The realization of the familiar tune now makes complete sense.

Stopping dead in her tracks, Kris stares in disbelief. 'Tamblyn'. The name falls from her lips. With all her restraint to keep from rushing directly to the playing minstrel, Kris moves forward and sits down at the table closest to the young violinist.

Tajuri takes Jael's hand and they join Kris at the table. 'I have the feeling the two of you have met before?' She whispers, leaning in to the young woman's ear. 'Call it intuition.'

Kris nods. She is all choked up and fighting back tears. Seeing Tamblyn again is a miracle. Kris expected to never see her roommate from the academy ever again after the teleportation incident that had transported her to from the realm she had been brought up in with the hag and flung into the one where she had met Killian. It had been nearly five years since she and Tamblyn had said their goodbyes the night after the graduation ceremonies.

Now, here in this city out of time, the impossible was reality. Tamblyn was standing only feet away from her and playing as sweetly as always. She looked up and tried to catch the violinist's eyes in her own. Would her old friend recognize her?

While the violinist is performing, Tajuri and Jael notice the occupants of some of the other tables in the dining area. Two of these groupings stand out. The first comprises the vampire, Sanguinor, in conversation with a bald and tattooed male who also appears to be a vampire and behind this individual stands a female tiefling, arms folded and leaning against the wall. The second group consists to two more barely clothed females, a tiefling and a pale humanoid, fawning over a bald unattractive human male with a long nose.


As quickly as her number is finishes, Tamblyn turns to Kris and throws her arms around the young Champion. "Kris! Is it really you?! You've changed—well, a little bit. Love your hair!"

Kris returns Tamblyn hug and holds her tight for a moment. "You look the same as remember, dear friend." She responds in kind. "I didn't know at start whether you'd recognize me with the white hair. Do you really like it?" She releases her old friend and brushes a hand along her own temple and pulling back a lock of her hair. "I have missed you. We should catch up when you have the time."

"I would like that very much, Kris." Tamblyn agrees. "After my sets? Maybe? If you have some time?"

She forces herself to pull away, straightens up, and moves a short distance to begin her next tune.

"I will make the time for you." Kris promises. "I would love nothing more than to spend some quality time with you after the performances."

During Tamblyn's set, the dark-haired waitress who had been seen earlier, bringing out drinks to the dining area on a tray, approaches the table and crouches down between Tajuri and Kris. "Is there anything I can get for you ladies at the moment?"

"Another round of drinks, please and one for the minstrel as well." Tajuri conveys to the waitress and gestures for the woman to draw closer. "Who is the bald one with Sanguinor? We're new to T'Lorn and have never seen him before."

Without giving a tell by turning to look in the direction of the table with Sanguinor and the other vampire, Megan answers, "That is Vryth Streck. He is the major partner in The Runeblade. The female standing behind him is Daashar, our head of security and his chief enforcer."

The waitress resumes her upright stance and smiles. "I will be right back with your drinks. We do have food stuffs as well, if you get hungry."

Kris attempts to stay aware of her surroundings, but in truth, her attention is focused on Tamblyn and the memories of their past moments together at the academy. She engages in light conversation with Tajuri and Jael while awaiting her friend's next break.

Between her sets, Tamblyn rejoins Kris and the others at the table. "Thanks for the drink." She says, holding it up toward them all, as she is not sure who to thank personally. "I have another set coming up and then the pit fights begin." She looks over to Kris and places her free hand lightly over that of her old friend. "We could ditch then and catch up, if you'd like?"

Kris nods. "Let's do that. Spending some time with you means more to me than satisfying curiosity about all the offerings available here at the Runeblade. There is always another night to explore, should events allow." She grasps the tips of Tamblyn's fingers lightly that are lain over her hand. "I have a room at the palace."

"That sounds prefect, Kris." Tamblyn agrees, with a smile. "You don't think it will be problem if you bring a guest into the palace, do you?"

She casts a glance toward Tajuri and Jael, as if to include them in her question.

Tajuri enjoys the company of Kris and her friend, Tamblyn, and the music while they wile away the evening with drinks and conversation. She occasionally steels a glance to the others in the posh VIP areas of the Runeblade, because she generally likes people watching. In particular, she gives some focus to the table with Sanguinor and Streck, as well as the one with the intimate companions-for-hire and, what Taj assumes, is their handler, Master Kleg.

The evening moves along without incident and soon Tamblyn has finished her sets and returns to the table with her violin. She places it in its case and smiles to Kris, before turning to both Tajuri and Jael. "It was good meeting the both of you. I have a feeling we will cross paths again during your stay in the city."

She looks again to Kris and Blue. "I am ready, if you are?"

In agreement, the two friends and the familiar depart, leaving Tajuri and Jael at the table.

No sooner had Kris and Tamblyn departed from the dining area, when a small man with a mustache appeared from the doorway nearest the arena seating section and stops near its center. Tajuri and Jael recall his name is Tom. Tom opens his arms wide and holds them up, while announcing loudly, "Ladies and Gentlemen! Sluts and Monsters! Behold! The fights begin in five minutes. Everyone grab a seat while you can! Bets can be taken my yours truly before each match! Enjoy!"

The Tiefling standing against the wall behind the bald male at the table with Saguinor moves and exits the room by way of a door along the northwest and the rest stand and begin migrating to the seats overlooking the pit.

Eager to see what's next, Tajuri takes Jael's hand, picks up her drink, and follows along to the viewing seats to find a good couple of them together to watch.

With everyone settled in for the first match, the Tiefling enforcer, Daashar, steps out onto the sand of the pit and holds out her arms and hands in a gesture for quiet. As the room goes nearly silent, her voice carries over the entire amphitheater. "Runeblade! Bloodfight enthusiasts! Enjoy!"

Two robed combatants enter from opposite sides of the pit and toss off their concealing garments to reveal their near unclothed forms. Their hands and feet have been fitted with gleaming wicked claws.

Somewhere out of sight of the crowd, the rhythm of deep drums begins a slow cadence and the Deathdansers take starting positions.

Taj's eyes widen slightly, as she watches the combatants reveal themselves. "Oh MY!" She utters, while squeezing Jael's hand. "Bloodfight indeed. This is certainly shaping up to be interesting." She looks up and raises her hand to get the attention of any wait staff looming or passing by. "Another couple drinks, please?"

The two combatants whirl into action to the rhythm of drum in their deadly dance of seductive bodies, gleaming blades and blood. Midway through the match, Tajuri catches sight of two newcomers to the spectators in her peripheral vision. They proceed into the viewing seats and join Sanguinor and Streck: A light-skinned blonde with a brace of pistols and a slight figure in a white robe and wearing a blue and white mask.



End Scene