Lord Tristian Seryl
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 210 
Age: 37
Physical Description: At 6'1", Tristian is tall and broad-shouldered, with a lean but muscled form. His features are chiseled and aristocratic, set with dark brown eyes and framed by shoulder-length brown hair; he does occasionally grow a beard and mustache, but most frequently, he is seen to be clean-shaven. Very little about him stands out, aside from his handsome features - he has a few scars gained during the flight from Medan, but few of them are visible to the casual observer, being hidden by his everyday attire.
------------------------------
Clothes and Equipment: As a nobleman, Tristian typically wears well-made tunics, breeches, and boots in a variety of colors, but as a practical man, he abhors silk - most of his clothes are simply made of fine, but sturdy, wool, though he does indulge in fur-lined gloves and cloaks in winter. On rare occasions, mostly just important state functions (given he is the head of the Black Tower) he can be seen wearing a full set of blue and gold plate armor, emblazoned with his family crest of the gryphon head. A lot of the time, Tristian carries with him his family's heirloom sword, and he always wears a golden signet ring with the Seryl family crest - he also wears a signet ring with the crest of the Black Tower, which allows him to maintain telepathic contact with his operatives.
-------------------------------
Player's online availability : Evenings. (EST)
Registered: Mar 18, 2016 16:46:29 GMT -8
|
Post by Lord Tristian Seryl on Apr 25, 2016 10:38:25 GMT -8
Indeed, Tristian's pause was a temporary one - just long enough to give a brief assessment of the facilities within. Then he was continuing on his way, trailing Naoki and doing his best not to admire the sway of her hips as he walked. She was his employer, now, and thus it would be highly improper for him to have thoughts of that nature about her, even if she was extremely attractive and nicely-shaped. Dragging his thoughts - and his gaze - away from the posterior in front of him, he focused instead on what Naoki was saying.
Perfectly content to let the woman talk and gesticulate, he mentally filed away the information she provided: Confirmation of various forms of lodging throughout the Tower, which meant that at some point relatively soon, Tristian would need to locate his own area of habitation. Number of troops this facility could contain, which was decidedly impressive. Tunnels, leading to gods only knew where.. that would require some investigation. Chances of a siege were low, which was always good information to have. When she abruptly stopped and turned to face him, then began speaking what he would almost call 'exuberantly' - and with her hands, at that - Tristian halted and gazed at her in mild puzzlement, right brow raised slightly. By the time she finished to her satisfaction, there was a most obviously amused tilt to his lips.. and then he chuckled softly.
"Forgive my mirth, Madame, but if I may be allowed to say so, your propensity for speaking with such intensity and gesturing as you do so is infinitely charming. In response, allow me to say that I find it perfectly acceptable for you to address me as simply 'Tristian' - it is my name, after all, and we will be working somewhat closely together. As it pertains to our professional relationship, you have no reason to worry. I am absolutely capable of keeping the nature of our interactions secret from all those who aren't need-to-know. Given I know you are quite a busy woman, perhaps we should restrict the tour to essentially the most pertinent items, and then I'll devote my time to investigating the facilities properly at a later point."
Resuming following Naoki as they walked, he chuckled again upon hearing that his delightful guide had no clue where they were headed. As it turned out, the hallway did lead them to a lift; Tristian considered this fortuitous, as it would perhaps enable them to do exactly as he suggested and head to a more important zone, so as to put this tour on the fast track. As they stepped onto the lift, he turned to face her and answer her questions. "Just a few things I've been pondering. You say this building can house twelve thousand men, is that how many are currently employed? Are there any particular members of this organization that you think it would be wise for me to meet immediately? And are there any locations within the Tower itself that you feel it important I should see right away? Much as I'm coming to enjoy your company, I have no desire to keep you from your business, and I have no objections to expediting this process."
|
|
Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238 
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
|
Post by Empress Naoki on Apr 25, 2016 13:12:33 GMT -8
Before beginning her response to Trisitian’s series of inquiries, Madame Naoki makes her way over to the lift’s rune panel, and bends at the waist to examine it. Thinking back to the last time she had used one of these lifts, the attendant had pressed on that inscription- the box-looking one in the top left. Cautiously, she applies the pressure of two fingers to the runic symbol. Immediately, the lift begins to move, creeping its way upward slowly. This development elicits a small grumble of frustration from Naoki, and she removes her hand. Of course it would move up; that’s the direction the attendant had meant to move the lift last time. Further thinking about it, Naoki realizes that she’s never taken one of these lifts down, always having teleported out from the top or teleported in from the bottom. Do the lifts even go down? They must, surely. Otherwise all of the lifts would eventually get stuck at the top. However… considering the intricacies of the panel of runes before her, Naoki realizes that she has absolutely no idea how to make the lift do that. There must be at least twenty sigils on here- what do they even all do? It’s a lift. It goes up, and it goes down. Why must it be so complex? Surely, a lever would do just as well, or simply just two inscriptions! With a short huff, she turns her back on the panel, and motions to Artemis. “Could you…?” Artemis is generally knowledgeable about these sorts of things, and even if she doesn’t know this particular panel, she is better equipped to figure it out, and should at least be able to make the lift proceed upward with a bit more expediency. “Goodness, no. Supporting twelve thousand men within the tower here would be enormously expensive. In times of relative peace, there’s no need to maintain quite so many as all that. Well. That, and it would be difficult to justify that many if anyone from Isra started asking questions. It might seem somewhat suspicious for us to maintain a garrison essentially as large as Isra’s own. Right now, I believe there are somewhere in the ballpark of one thousand, five hundred humanoids in residence here, in addition to some number of beasts, golems and the like.” “Don’t worry quite so much about my schedule; I’ve cleared it for today. There are other things, yes, but as far as my business goes, making sure you, of all people, know what you ought to be doing is rather high on my list, and I can justify spending the day on it. It’s very important that you be able to function essentially autonomously, and effectively command these resources I’ve allocated to you. At some point along our tour, we should probably touch base with Raikō . She’s a member of the Red Sisterhood, and the High Priestess of their Cult of Storms. She is primarily responsible for many of the runic devices you see around, and is directly responsible for the device on the top of the tower. I think I’ll let her detail that to you, I wouldn’t do it proper justice.” |
|
Artemis
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 205
Physical Description: Artemis is a sturdily built woman of medium height, with blonde hair tied back in a professional bun. Clad in a sharp black business suit, with black tie, dress shirt, and gloves, her appearance is utterly unremarkable; save for a single, flawless, purple gem, set on a simple black ribbon, worn choker-style around her throat. Her demeanor is such that she blends seamlessly into the background of any situation when her services are not required.
Registered: Sept 13, 2015 6:26:06 GMT -8
|
Post by Artemis on Apr 25, 2016 17:54:18 GMT -8
Artemis steps to the panel at Naoki's behest, and examines it. She has little formal education in runes, but has managed to piece together enough over the years to discern how to make the lift go down. A sequence of buttons is pressed, and the lift reverses direction, accelerating at a comfortable rate for a minute before leveling off. They are headed to the underground forges (she believes).
She takes a moment to telepathically tease Naoki, and send her an image of the sequence, then lounges against a railing to get comfortable for the ride.
|
|
Lord Tristian Seryl
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 210
Age: 37
Physical Description: At 6'1", Tristian is tall and broad-shouldered, with a lean but muscled form. His features are chiseled and aristocratic, set with dark brown eyes and framed by shoulder-length brown hair; he does occasionally grow a beard and mustache, but most frequently, he is seen to be clean-shaven. Very little about him stands out, aside from his handsome features - he has a few scars gained during the flight from Medan, but few of them are visible to the casual observer, being hidden by his everyday attire.
------------------------------
Clothes and Equipment: As a nobleman, Tristian typically wears well-made tunics, breeches, and boots in a variety of colors, but as a practical man, he abhors silk - most of his clothes are simply made of fine, but sturdy, wool, though he does indulge in fur-lined gloves and cloaks in winter. On rare occasions, mostly just important state functions (given he is the head of the Black Tower) he can be seen wearing a full set of blue and gold plate armor, emblazoned with his family crest of the gryphon head. A lot of the time, Tristian carries with him his family's heirloom sword, and he always wears a golden signet ring with the Seryl family crest - he also wears a signet ring with the crest of the Black Tower, which allows him to maintain telepathic contact with his operatives.
-------------------------------
Player's online availability : Evenings. (EST)
Registered: Mar 18, 2016 16:46:29 GMT -8
|
Post by Lord Tristian Seryl on Apr 25, 2016 19:32:17 GMT -8
A rune panel? Fascinating. Trying not to crowd Naoki too much, he moved in to peer curiously at the thing. This was something he would need to study. It simply wouldn't do for him to get stuck on a magical lift in his own home. That would be first on the list once Naoki and Artemis left.. find suitable quarters and have his meager belongings sent over from The Midnight Sun. Stepping away as she turned and gestured for her companion to fiddle with the panel, he nonetheless leaned to one side so that he could watch what the woman did, and committed the sequence of runes to memory as: Down, good speed.
That done, he moved to one side, surveying the two women thoughtfully as he listened to Naoki speak once more. She had quite a pleasant voice, he reflected absently. Nodding to show that he was listening, and that he understood, he filed the information away; fraction of the full complement of possible men currently garrisoned, as well as constructs and creatures. Interesting. Not for the first time, Tristian was glad he was a quick study, because it certainly sounded like she didn't have the time to spend making sure he was up to snuff for the position. Tristian vowed then, silently, that he would do everything in his power not to disappoint her. He realized he had begun idly pacing the lift when he suddenly came to a stop, and gave Naoki a curious look.
"..Device? Hmm, interesting. I am eager to meet this Raikō and learn about the device in question." You wouldn't think it to look at him, but Tristian was a bit of a tinkerer at heart; he liked to learn what made things tick. He looked considerably curious as he resumed pacing, waiting for the lift to come to its destination. He kept glancing at Naoki, however. She cut a very sharp figure in that military garb, the lines and color enhancing her curves in a most pleasing way that drew the eye instinctively to her.. assets. Every time he caught himself admiring those assets, he dragged his gaze away and looked literally anywhere else.
|
|
Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
|
Post by Empress Naoki on Apr 26, 2016 6:13:17 GMT -8
“Well, it’s basically a big sort of… I think they may have used the term ‘runic matrix’. It’s a powerful sort of magic casting tool... structure- to the best of my knowledge, the largest and most powerful in its class. It was enormously expensive- they billed me a ludicrous sum, but they tell me that it could- with some preparation and the right magitechs operating it- reduce Isra to ash, among other things.”
She pauses for a moment, in reflection of that somewhat unsettling thought, before continuing with a bit of dry humor.
“I would ask that you check with me before doing anything quite like that, though. I’m rather fond of the place, personally.”
The remainder of the ride down to the forge is relatively uneventful. Madame Naoki notices Tristian’s apparent interest in the intricacies of the uniform lift shaft, and suppressed a satisfied smirk. This is precisely the sort of man she was looking for to fill this position, and this seems to be exactly the sort of dynamic she prefers to have.
Shortly enough, the lift reaches their destination, and Madame Naoki leads the way off the lift, over to the forge. Rather than proceeding all the way down to the work floor, she opts to tour Tristian across the same catwalk Zurt had taken her across before.
The forge itself is a massive room, likely one of the largest artificial subterranean rooms within the Tower complex. Roughly cubical, perhaps five stories to a side, their catwalk cuts directly across the center. Below, all manner of metalworking apparatus, smelteries, anvils, and anvil accessories surround a large, circular forge in the center of the room, the smokestack for which extends upward into the ceiling, causing their catwalk to curve in either direction around it. Workers putter about below, going about their business, moving to and fro, carrying their projects around.
Naoki steps confidently forward across the slim bridge, knowing Artemis to be only a step behind. She gestures around and downward, and speaks up slightly to be heard over the hammering and crackle of flames.
“This is the forge! It’s one of the largest of its type, and the workers down there, the dwarves, they’re very skilled at their job. If you need something made, odds are that it can be made here. It’s not always as busy as all this, but right now they’re working on a project of mine. ”
The activity below seems somewhat chaotic, but an analytical look at the patterns of movement might suggest that the smiths are moving in a massively complicated, yet highly efficient sort of dance. Their activities seem to center around a series of structures in the far corner of the room, where one may be able to recognize a series of blast furnaces being fed by bellows being pumped by some manner of mechanical contrivance, crucibles filled with molten metal, and other bits and bobs related to the production of large metal plates and beams.
Leaning to look down over the railing, Madame Naoki spends a few moments silently observing the proceedings. Turning her head slightly to speak to Tristian, she keeps her gaze trained downward.
“I’ve always found it interesting to watch large, coordinated groups do things. Though I understand each of the individual processes they’re accomplishing, I’m not sure how they do it all so quickly and fluidly, in such a large group. How do they know where to move next? How do they time it so none of them are waiting, bumping into each other, or anything like that? I would assume that practice plays a large role, but it’s still fascinating to watch.”
|
|
Lord Tristian Seryl
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 210
Age: 37
Physical Description: At 6'1", Tristian is tall and broad-shouldered, with a lean but muscled form. His features are chiseled and aristocratic, set with dark brown eyes and framed by shoulder-length brown hair; he does occasionally grow a beard and mustache, but most frequently, he is seen to be clean-shaven. Very little about him stands out, aside from his handsome features - he has a few scars gained during the flight from Medan, but few of them are visible to the casual observer, being hidden by his everyday attire.
------------------------------
Clothes and Equipment: As a nobleman, Tristian typically wears well-made tunics, breeches, and boots in a variety of colors, but as a practical man, he abhors silk - most of his clothes are simply made of fine, but sturdy, wool, though he does indulge in fur-lined gloves and cloaks in winter. On rare occasions, mostly just important state functions (given he is the head of the Black Tower) he can be seen wearing a full set of blue and gold plate armor, emblazoned with his family crest of the gryphon head. A lot of the time, Tristian carries with him his family's heirloom sword, and he always wears a golden signet ring with the Seryl family crest - he also wears a signet ring with the crest of the Black Tower, which allows him to maintain telepathic contact with his operatives.
-------------------------------
Player's online availability : Evenings. (EST)
Registered: Mar 18, 2016 16:46:29 GMT -8
|
Post by Lord Tristian Seryl on Apr 26, 2016 9:59:22 GMT -8
Runic matrix. The fascination Tristian felt was increased exponentially by hearing that phrase.. or perhaps it was Naoki's description of what it could do that made such an openly intrigued expression cross his face. There was, however, the slightest upward tilt at the corners of his lips at the woman's obvious joke. "There are other places far more deserving of such a fate, and I shall be sure to warn you should I decide to raze them in a fit of pique." It was hard to imagine the mild-mannered and solemn Tristian experiencing any such thing, but it was most definitely a possibility; there were hidden depths to the last son of House Seryl, but his upbringing kept them mostly hidden under a polite facade.
As the lift came to a stop and they proceeded outward into the forge, that blatant curiosity became evident once more as he leaned to peer over the catwalk's railing at the bustle of activity below. He hadn't the slightest idea what they were doing or what the end goal could be, and he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to know. Naoki had big plans, it was clear from the ambition of both this tower and the scale of whatever was being constructed, and he got the feeling that he was better off not knowing unless she chose to inform him. Her words reached his ears - not difficult, given he was standing close to enable him to better hear over the ruckus - and Tristian turned his head to look at the woman.
"I once read a book which suggested that there is a group consciousness in existence, spanning between all living things. The author wrote that herding and flocking animals access it more easily than humans, given their need to be cohesive in order to more readily protect the whole, but he also said that sapient beings such as the various humanoids can achieve the same goal by working closely together, for long periods of time, especially in a manner which is repetitive and requires great precision." His earthen eyes turned back downward, resting upon the collective of Dwarves going about their business with all the efficiency of a well-oiled machine. It was rather impressive, he had to admit. "It was simply a theory, but I find it rather interesting, and the possibilities were it to be true are relatively endless."
|
|
Raikō
Established
Roleplay posts: 29
Physical Description: Raiko’s typical appearance is a set of close-fitting robes under a deep-hooded cloak. Her garments are pure midnight black, all overrun with electric blue lines. The arrangement of the lines is vaguely reminiscent of a pattern, but none is obvious. On close study, it seems almost as if it took pains not to be a pattern. The lines glow faintly, a fact only evident in near-total darkness. In the dark void of her hood, a single thick band of blue glows, even in the daylight.
In combat, she wears a heavy, angular set of black armor. The eye-slit of her visor glows with the same unholy blue residing under her hood.
Registered: Dec 8, 2015 17:40:58 GMT -8
|
Post by Raikō on Apr 26, 2016 17:11:25 GMT -8
"... and hurry production on the type five quicksilver, for the love of the Goddess!" As Naoki and her entourage observe the forges, a voice becomes audible. A look around would reveal the source to be a short figure in a black cloak and hooded robes, haranguing a much taller woman in a similar, albeit more plain, attire. This second individual was all but jogging, trying to keep up with the first's rapid pace.
As the pair draw near to Naoki's group, the hooded mage's attention turns to the figures in front of her. "That will be all, Sakura," she tosses back over her shoulder, setting the acolyte free to fulfil her recently lengthened list of obligations.
"Unusual to see the Madame at the Tower, let alone down here. I assume you are the cause of her presence, then." she addresses Tristian, without preamble. "I had heard rumors that we were getting a new head, but I hadn't expected it to happen so soon. I'm Raiko, High Priestess of the Red Sisterhood's Cult of Storms, and I'm the head of the magical crafters here. Whether it's a spell scroll, an enchanted sword, or runic padding on your new chair, I'm the one that makes that all happen."
She never stops walking as she talks, approaching and then breezing by the trio towards the lift. "If you're finished gawking at the short musclebound men down below, come along. I'm a busy woman, but I haven't gotten many chances to show off my toys yet, so I'll forgive you for making me give you the tour."
A gesture over her shoulder waves them to follow her to the lift.
|
|
Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
|
Post by Empress Naoki on Apr 26, 2016 18:18:23 GMT -8
Naoki doesn’t even bother trying to get a word in edgewise as Raiko approaches and continues past. She knows the woman means no intentional disrespect, and no geniuses are without their eccentricities. Letting Raiko speak her piece is but a small price to pay for the extent of her skills. Well. That’s not to say she’s not being paid well, but Naoki figures it best not to make a fuss.
“Right. Well, it seems like our next stop is the top. Let’s go have a look at the device.”
Gesturing for Trisitan to follow, she starts after Raiko, proceeding at her own- considerably more reasonable pace.
|
|
Lord Tristian Seryl
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 210
Age: 37
Physical Description: At 6'1", Tristian is tall and broad-shouldered, with a lean but muscled form. His features are chiseled and aristocratic, set with dark brown eyes and framed by shoulder-length brown hair; he does occasionally grow a beard and mustache, but most frequently, he is seen to be clean-shaven. Very little about him stands out, aside from his handsome features - he has a few scars gained during the flight from Medan, but few of them are visible to the casual observer, being hidden by his everyday attire.
------------------------------
Clothes and Equipment: As a nobleman, Tristian typically wears well-made tunics, breeches, and boots in a variety of colors, but as a practical man, he abhors silk - most of his clothes are simply made of fine, but sturdy, wool, though he does indulge in fur-lined gloves and cloaks in winter. On rare occasions, mostly just important state functions (given he is the head of the Black Tower) he can be seen wearing a full set of blue and gold plate armor, emblazoned with his family crest of the gryphon head. A lot of the time, Tristian carries with him his family's heirloom sword, and he always wears a golden signet ring with the Seryl family crest - he also wears a signet ring with the crest of the Black Tower, which allows him to maintain telepathic contact with his operatives.
-------------------------------
Player's online availability : Evenings. (EST)
Registered: Mar 18, 2016 16:46:29 GMT -8
|
Post by Lord Tristian Seryl on Apr 26, 2016 18:52:23 GMT -8
Tristian looked a tad blindsided as the woman walked up to, into the midst of, and then past the trio. Well, that was an interesting introduction. "Ah.. of course. Let's." Well, shit. Not a whole lot to say to that, was there? He simply moved to catch up with the rapidly-striding Raiko, then hung close to her and Naoki as they entered the lift. He watched the activation of the rune panel, whenever it happened, to memorize the sequence. Other than that, he simply crossed his arms and leaned back against the rail. He glanced at Naoki with a questioning tilt of an eyebrow.. then attempted to use the ring that she'd given him to communicate silently, his thumb presseing against the slick black stone while he thought vigorously in the Madame's direction.
"Shou.. (garbled)..duce m.. (garbled)..e honors?" Oh, that was laughable. Would she even be able to figure out what he was asking? His lips pursed slightly to one side in an expression of consternation. He got the feeling he hadn't done it quite right.
|
|
Raikō
Established
Roleplay posts: 29
Physical Description: Raiko’s typical appearance is a set of close-fitting robes under a deep-hooded cloak. Her garments are pure midnight black, all overrun with electric blue lines. The arrangement of the lines is vaguely reminiscent of a pattern, but none is obvious. On close study, it seems almost as if it took pains not to be a pattern. The lines glow faintly, a fact only evident in near-total darkness. In the dark void of her hood, a single thick band of blue glows, even in the daylight.
In combat, she wears a heavy, angular set of black armor. The eye-slit of her visor glows with the same unholy blue residing under her hood.
Registered: Dec 8, 2015 17:40:58 GMT -8
|
Post by Raikō on Apr 27, 2016 13:28:13 GMT -8
As the gate closes behind her new entourage, Raiko's fingers fly over the sigils on the panel. The lift accelerates quickly upwards to a good pace - and keeps accelerating. Floors streak by in a blur, and throughout it all, Raiko lounges against the railing, drumming her fingers in strange ghosts of rhythms. As the lift finally begins to decelerate, she moves to the edge by the door, exiting the instant the platform comes to a stop. They emerge into a rectangular, high-ceilinged room, in the middle of a set of formidable defensive fortifications, currently deactivated. Metal and stone bulwarks topped by strange-looking contraptions zigzag around, ringing the lift shafts, which are revealed to be in the center of one short wall. Past the entrenchments, the rest of the room is a flat, open space, terminating in a ladder leading to a hatch in the ceiling. The ladder is flanked on either side by large square lift platforms. On the long walls to the left and right, wide, heavily-locked doors sit sit silently.
Raiko breezes through the defenses, talking back over her shoulder the whole time. "This is the primary defensive position preventing lift access should an intruder breach the roof. To the left and right we have projectile storage, maintenance areas, and the command and control facilities serving the Kami."
She breaks left abruptly, and heads for one of the doors. Her left hand grips a handle, she mutters a passphrase, and with the sound of gears, the door slides open. The inside is filled with neat rows of hexagonal monoliths, columns of glossy black metal over six feet long resting on low trolleys. Some of them have a variety of silvered runes embedded in the exterior, flush with the surface. Raiko turns to address the trio.
"From your appearance, new head guy, I'll assume that you have seen catapults and ballistae in action, or are at least familiar with the concepts, but you get the copper piece lesson anyway. They hurl projectiles to crush castle walls, pierce enemy ground troops, etcetera. The Kami works on the same basic principle, except it uses magic instead of weights, tension, or torsion, and it fires these." She indicates the metal obelisks with a sweeping wave. "The projectile it hurls is smaller than that thrown by some trebuchets or large siege engines, but it's heavier, and due to the magic involved travels much faster. This gives it far greater range, and it hits like the fist of an angry god. Some of the projectiles have also been specialized. I can spread flaming potion over a company-sized group of enemies, pierce army-class shielding, take down dragons, you name it. As far as range and accuracy go, when properly crewed, I'm confident in the Kami's ability to put a bolt through a doorway damn near anywhere in the Free Plains within a few seconds of firing."
The breakneck pace slows for a moment. "Any questions before we move on to the device itself?"
|
|
Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
|
Post by Empress Naoki on Apr 27, 2016 17:26:22 GMT -8
Madame Naoki gives Tristian a curious look as he makes his first attempt at telepathy. She raises a salacious eyebrow, and responds mentally with a high degree of clarity, even managing to infuse the thoughts with an inflection of affected embarrassment.
“Not in the lift, Tristan. Goodness. Have you no shame?”
With that said, the lift comes to a halt, and Naoki wastes no time in following Raiko out, punctuating her statement with a chastising tail poke. Artemis follows close behind her, leaving Tristian alone to reflect on his forwardness and follow at his own leisure.
As Raiko leads the way out through the entrenchments, Naoki casts curious and calculating glances all around. Though she had reviewed the plans for this uppermost section of The Tower, she hasn’t returned since the installation of the device. To see all of the heavy equipment and advanced artificery… It’s impressive, to say the very least. However, Naoki has no comment to offer, simply shaking her head in response to Raiko’s inquiry and continuing to examine the equipment all around.
|
|
Lord Tristian Seryl
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 210
Age: 37
Physical Description: At 6'1", Tristian is tall and broad-shouldered, with a lean but muscled form. His features are chiseled and aristocratic, set with dark brown eyes and framed by shoulder-length brown hair; he does occasionally grow a beard and mustache, but most frequently, he is seen to be clean-shaven. Very little about him stands out, aside from his handsome features - he has a few scars gained during the flight from Medan, but few of them are visible to the casual observer, being hidden by his everyday attire.
------------------------------
Clothes and Equipment: As a nobleman, Tristian typically wears well-made tunics, breeches, and boots in a variety of colors, but as a practical man, he abhors silk - most of his clothes are simply made of fine, but sturdy, wool, though he does indulge in fur-lined gloves and cloaks in winter. On rare occasions, mostly just important state functions (given he is the head of the Black Tower) he can be seen wearing a full set of blue and gold plate armor, emblazoned with his family crest of the gryphon head. A lot of the time, Tristian carries with him his family's heirloom sword, and he always wears a golden signet ring with the Seryl family crest - he also wears a signet ring with the crest of the Black Tower, which allows him to maintain telepathic contact with his operatives.
-------------------------------
Player's online availability : Evenings. (EST)
Registered: Mar 18, 2016 16:46:29 GMT -8
|
Post by Lord Tristian Seryl on Apr 27, 2016 19:56:05 GMT -8
A shocked look came across Tristian's features at Naoki's response, partially because he wasn't accustomed to hearing a voice in his head, but mostly because of what she had to say on his fumbling attempt at responding, and his cheeks even colored ever so slightly. What did the woman think he meant? It seemed his haste to assure her that he didn't mean anything inappropriate gave him the mental clarity to properly convey what he'd been trying to say in the first place. Apparently, he worked best under pressure. "I apologize, that didn't come through as well as I thought it would. I simply meant to inquire whether I should introduce myself, or if you would prefer to do the honors?"
The lift came to a stop, and Tristian pushed away from the rail, moving to follow the women out of the contraption - and visibly jumping at the unexpected prod from Naoki's tail. He had to fight the urge to reach out and grasp that wayward appendage, and settled for giving Naoki an inquisitive yet slightly reproachful glance as they emerged into the fascinating room. He turned in slow circles, trying to look at everything at once, even as he listened to Raiko's explanation. His attention zeroed in on that door when she pulled it open, and his jaw dropped slightly as he wheezed out a lone comment. "Gods above..."
That was the only proper response to both the sight of the weapon and hearing about its capabilities. He looked almost like a child presented with a particularly interesting toy as he peered this way and that, trying to inspect it as thoroughly as he could without physically climbing onto the thing and crawling around on it. He barely managed to withdraw his intense desire to investigate it long enough to respond to the question posed by Raiko, looking at the woman with eyes alight and shaking his head. "No, no, I'll come back and learn how everything works in my own time. Please, let's proceed."
|
|
Raikō
Established
Roleplay posts: 29
Physical Description: Raiko’s typical appearance is a set of close-fitting robes under a deep-hooded cloak. Her garments are pure midnight black, all overrun with electric blue lines. The arrangement of the lines is vaguely reminiscent of a pattern, but none is obvious. On close study, it seems almost as if it took pains not to be a pattern. The lines glow faintly, a fact only evident in near-total darkness. In the dark void of her hood, a single thick band of blue glows, even in the daylight.
In combat, she wears a heavy, angular set of black armor. The eye-slit of her visor glows with the same unholy blue residing under her hood.
Registered: Dec 8, 2015 17:40:58 GMT -8
|
Post by Raikō on Apr 27, 2016 20:22:51 GMT -8
Raiko claps her hands together. "Fantastic, I love it when that happens." With no further comments, she exits the armory, sealing the door behind her when everyone has exited. From there, she mounts the ladder, and turns a wheel on the hatch several times. Gears turning and metal sliding against stone is heard, before a loud thunk echoes throughout the room. With a burst of strength, Raiko pushes the hatch straight up. It rises several feet, then falls to the side, the sound produced by the action leaving little doubt that those feet of travel were solid stone. The way clear, Raiko scampers up the ladder onto the roof.
The wind whips at them as they exit the shelter of the tower. The flat space on top of the tower is ringed by large glowing crystal orbs, but those are not the primary focal point. The eye is instead inextricably drawn to the device resting in the center of the area. A huge hexagonal pyramid of gray stone, inlaid with gold and silver runes and lines, supports an enormous rectangular block of similar gray stone, three meters square on the ends and approximately thirty meters long, with an elongated hexagonal beveled projection on either side near one end. The stone is covered in channels and runes, some tiny, some huge, and all filled with gold or silver inlay. Even dormant, the assembly warps the magical aura around it, manifesting in a perceptible feeling of power.
"There she is!" Raiko shouts over the wind. "The Kami, in all its glory. Well, at least as much glory as you can get without explosions involved. It was an absolute bitch to get up here, believe me, but worth every gust of wind and associated moment of sheer terror."
After allowing her tour group a few moments to gawk and be appropriately impressed, she gestures to the orbs ringing the roof. "These are casting devices, designed to provide remotely-controllable or autonomous precision spellwork to defends against flying threats to the roof and the Kami. You'll see variants of them all around on the ground level too, they're right handy for defense in general, but these are specialized to take on airborne targets."
Raiko lets out an exaggerated shiver. "Alright, enough of this wind. Going down! I'll handle any questions inside!"
With that, she darts back into the warm confines of the tower, where she waits at one of the doors on the side of the defensive foyer.
|
|
Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
|
Post by Empress Naoki on Apr 28, 2016 3:21:18 GMT -8
A slight smirk worms its way across Madame Naoki’s face as Tristian jumps. On the list of her favorite pastimes, ‘teasing’ is very near the top. Naoki continues to follow Raiko as she leads the way toward the ladder.
“You go ahead, if you would prefer to. She’ll probably continue to refer to you as ‘new boss man’, though.”
For Tristian’s benefit, she follows directly behind Raiko up the ladder, and up onto the roof. After taking a moment to move aside from the hatch, she begins to take in the sights. First and foremost, the aforementioned Kami. Though Naoki possesses no form of magesight or magical sensitivity, the power is quite palpable. And this is its dormant state, even. It would probably be highly dangerous to stand where they’re standing when the device is firing, she figures.
Looking on the thing inspires a strange mix of emotions for Naoki. For one thing, it’s incredibly dangerous. Even though she knows that it doesn’t pose any threat to her, it could. Mistakes have been made before, and to stand so close to it… a somewhat frightening experience. Secondly, the power. The Kami positively radiates power, and it is hers to command. To think... She could, at any moment, point to something- anything, issue an order, and have whatever the object in question is utterly obliterated in a matter of seconds by this terrifying weapon… Such power, literally at her fingertips, equal parts satisfying and terrifying to contemplate.
Lastly, the fullness of the situation strikes her. Here she is, standing atop this Black Tower. Easily one of the most powerful military installations in the world. To one side, one of the foremost geniuses in the fields runic magic and artifice- responsible for the terrifying weapon before them. To her other side, an (admittedly deposed) Medanese nobleman. Both of them, her contractually bound employees. To consider the fullness of this situation, in the context that only a few year prior, Naoki had been scrubbing the floors of a crummy bar to earn food for the day… It’s almost humorous, in a somewhat frightening sort of way.
That blend of emotions aside, the Kami is undeniably an impressive feat of engineering. Even though she cannot begin to grasp at the principles behind it, the stated capabilities alone are worthy of admiration. However, while they’re up here, Naoki decides to turn her back on the Kami to admire the view from atop the tower.
In a manner quite reminiscent of that view from the mountainside, the landscape of the Free Plans stretches before her in all directions. Travelers on the roads are as ants, and far to the west… the ocean is almost visible.
However, before Naoki can spend too much time admiring the view, a particularly stiff gust of wind strikes her from behind, ruffling her peplum in ways it was never meant to be ruffled, nearly causing her to lose balance. She regains her footing easily, but that’s quite enough of that, thank you very much. She wastes no time in following Raiko right back down the ladder, and into the relative safety of the indoors. Again, she has no questions, and after straightening her attire, looks to Tristian, figuring he must at least have some manner of inquiry.
|
|
Lord Tristian Seryl
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 210
Age: 37
Physical Description: At 6'1", Tristian is tall and broad-shouldered, with a lean but muscled form. His features are chiseled and aristocratic, set with dark brown eyes and framed by shoulder-length brown hair; he does occasionally grow a beard and mustache, but most frequently, he is seen to be clean-shaven. Very little about him stands out, aside from his handsome features - he has a few scars gained during the flight from Medan, but few of them are visible to the casual observer, being hidden by his everyday attire.
------------------------------
Clothes and Equipment: As a nobleman, Tristian typically wears well-made tunics, breeches, and boots in a variety of colors, but as a practical man, he abhors silk - most of his clothes are simply made of fine, but sturdy, wool, though he does indulge in fur-lined gloves and cloaks in winter. On rare occasions, mostly just important state functions (given he is the head of the Black Tower) he can be seen wearing a full set of blue and gold plate armor, emblazoned with his family crest of the gryphon head. A lot of the time, Tristian carries with him his family's heirloom sword, and he always wears a golden signet ring with the Seryl family crest - he also wears a signet ring with the crest of the Black Tower, which allows him to maintain telepathic contact with his operatives.
-------------------------------
Player's online availability : Evenings. (EST)
Registered: Mar 18, 2016 16:46:29 GMT -8
|
Post by Lord Tristian Seryl on Apr 28, 2016 10:10:00 GMT -8
Naoki's response to his question drew a smirk to Tristian's face, and he shook his head slightly. Might as well not even bother introducing himself, then. If Raiko wanted to know his actual name, she could ask. Turning toward the ladder, he watched Raiko ascend onto the roof.. and studiously pretended that he was not, in fact, ogling her posterior as she climbed upward. He was following close behind, though, and looked around with blatant awe at the sight before him. The massive construct, the glowing spheres, the runes.. and the sight across the open lands of Isra to the faintest glimmer of ocean at the furthest edge of the horizon. Truly breathtaking.
Naturally, he listened to Raiko's explanation of the device and what it was capable of, but when an exceptionally strong burst of wind made Naoki waver visibly, Tristian's response was immediate: He stepped forward the feline woman with arms outstretched in preparation to steady her, at best, or catch and right her, at worst. It turned out she didn't need him after all, which was a relief, but it was hard to ignore a lifetime of being raised with a strict code of chivalry and honor. All part of being a nobleman, at least in his House. Clearing his throat and suppressing his embarrassment, he waited for the trio of ladies to precede him down the latter, then followed. Using Raiko's earlier example, he pulled the hatch shut behind them and sealed it, then dropped down off the ladder and turned to join the rest of the party.
"I'm immensely impressed, Lady Raiko. This is quite a feat. I have many questions as to the operation and construction of this wondrous creation, and would very much like to sit down with you at a later date, to be properly educated on the intricacies of this device and its capabilities." Although his steps didn't cease, his speech did, as Tristian tilted his head slightly in a purely unconscious expression of his current thought process. "In a more immediate sense of necessity, I would also like to be given a full understanding of the proper operation of the rune panel on the lifts, but once again, that can wait for another time, though soon, given the practical importance. Regardless, shall we continue? Or is the tour at an end?"
|
|
Raikō
Established
Roleplay posts: 29
Physical Description: Raiko’s typical appearance is a set of close-fitting robes under a deep-hooded cloak. Her garments are pure midnight black, all overrun with electric blue lines. The arrangement of the lines is vaguely reminiscent of a pattern, but none is obvious. On close study, it seems almost as if it took pains not to be a pattern. The lines glow faintly, a fact only evident in near-total darkness. In the dark void of her hood, a single thick band of blue glows, even in the daylight.
In combat, she wears a heavy, angular set of black armor. The eye-slit of her visor glows with the same unholy blue residing under her hood.
Registered: Dec 8, 2015 17:40:58 GMT -8
|
Post by Raikō on Apr 28, 2016 12:06:30 GMT -8
"I think talking about that later would benefit both our schedules. Speaking of schedules, mine calls to me. Until then!" She starts to walk away, then stops and turns back. "Oh, by the way, that commission you ordered is coming along nicely, Madame. We should be ready with the first prototype within the month." With that, she departs for one of the lift shafts, leaving the trio to their own devices. An audible wooshing noise accompanies the platform's departure, indicating that the breakneck pace of their ascent was actually one of significant restraint from her normal velocity.
|
|
Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
|
Post by Empress Naoki on Apr 28, 2016 18:31:03 GMT -8
In response to Raiko’s status update, Madame Naoki nods. They certainly do work quickly. Afterwards, she addresses Tristian’s inquiry about the tour.
“Ah, I don’t think the tour is over just quite yet.”
With a wave of her hand and a slight smirk, Naoki gestures toward another lift, and leads the way into it. Once aboard, she takes a posistion leaning on one of the rails toward the rear, and gestures to the panel.
“We still haven’t visited your quarters, after all. One of you- take us down a few floors.”
|
|
Lord Tristian Seryl
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 210
Age: 37
Physical Description: At 6'1", Tristian is tall and broad-shouldered, with a lean but muscled form. His features are chiseled and aristocratic, set with dark brown eyes and framed by shoulder-length brown hair; he does occasionally grow a beard and mustache, but most frequently, he is seen to be clean-shaven. Very little about him stands out, aside from his handsome features - he has a few scars gained during the flight from Medan, but few of them are visible to the casual observer, being hidden by his everyday attire.
------------------------------
Clothes and Equipment: As a nobleman, Tristian typically wears well-made tunics, breeches, and boots in a variety of colors, but as a practical man, he abhors silk - most of his clothes are simply made of fine, but sturdy, wool, though he does indulge in fur-lined gloves and cloaks in winter. On rare occasions, mostly just important state functions (given he is the head of the Black Tower) he can be seen wearing a full set of blue and gold plate armor, emblazoned with his family crest of the gryphon head. A lot of the time, Tristian carries with him his family's heirloom sword, and he always wears a golden signet ring with the Seryl family crest - he also wears a signet ring with the crest of the Black Tower, which allows him to maintain telepathic contact with his operatives.
-------------------------------
Player's online availability : Evenings. (EST)
Registered: Mar 18, 2016 16:46:29 GMT -8
|
Post by Lord Tristian Seryl on Apr 28, 2016 18:54:50 GMT -8
"I look forward to this discussion, Lady Raiko." Tristian nodded his farewell to the woman, then turned to face Naoki, a dark brow arched inquisitively. The tour wasn't over? Curious. Where were they going, then? Without speaking the questions aloud, he followed the women over to the intended lift and boarded. Oh, his quarters? "Excellent idea. If I may?" This question was aimed at Artemis and, assuming she was amenable, he would approach the rune panel with a notable excitement.
Remembering the sequence of buttons Artemis had pressed made it fairly easy to figure out what to do, and after pressing a few of them, the lift began to glide smoothly downward. Tristian seemed quite pleased, an exceedingly rare wide grin on his face, as he moved away and approached the rail, leaning against it with arms crossed. He was most eager to get settled in here. He'd have to have someone retrieve his belongings from The Midnight Sun at some point soon. Not that there was anything wrong with the inn, but after living a life with a suite of rooms all to himself.. living in an inn was a bit.. taxing. Albeit greatly preferable to the refugee camp.
The lift came to a stop shortly after, and Tristian assumed this was the correct stop. Gesturing for Naoki and Artemis to precede him, he then followed the pair of women off the lift and into the awaiting hallway. Doors lined either side, although they were spaced quite a distance apart. There also seemed to be very intricate runes inlaid into the doors themselves and the walls around them, and while Tristian was no mage or runescribe, given the nature of the area he supposed they were in, he figured they were probably a combination of scrying and otherwise protective spells. There were also small plaques on the wall beside each door, bearing the name and title of whomever it belonged to, stating whether it was personal quarters or office. That piqued Tristian's interest. He got his own office? What was it like, he wondered? The answer would come eventually, as it seemed his rooms and office were tucked off into a little alcove all by themselves, labeled simply, Lord Tristian Seryl, Head of the Black Tower, with the proper room indication, beside each door. This alcove was across the hall from another which, he noticed with some curiosity was labeled, Sauna. His brows shot upward in surprise. "..I will most certainly be coming back to investigate this in the immediate future. But for now..."
He moved back across the hall to the alcove that bore his designation beside the doors. On a whim, he pressed his hand to the door leading to the office, and felt a small jolt as magic warding the room assessed him. The runes inlaid into and surrounding the door flickered with an intense glow, before the door whooshed open before him. Stepping into the room, Tristian looked around with an openly impressed expression. Either the prior occupant of this office had excellent tastes, or things had been redecorated to suit the perceived interests of the new leader. There was a plush carpet laid across the floor between the door and the heavy mahogany desk that displayed an old-world map of the Overworld, and there were bookshelves lining the walls, filled with tomes and scrolls of all sorts that he itched to investigate. Two chairs of the same material as the desk sat before it, upholstered in dark blue fabric that looked soft to the touch. A larger and much more imposing chair sat on the far side of the desk, its tall back crowned with the sigil of the Black Tower in slick ebony wood that gleamed slickly in the light of the magical lights set into the open portions of the wall, not to mention the one perched upon the desk. "I approve wholeheartedly, and shall explore later."
Abandoning the office, he moved back out the door and across the small alcove to the door across the way, clearly labeled as his living quarters. Repeating the process of pressing his hand to the door and letting the wards recognize their new master, he then moved into the suite of rooms which were his. The sitting room was decorated in a similar fashion to the office, albeit missing the map-rug, and replaced instead with a large rug with an exotic pattern that spanned a range of blues and golds. There were two plushly-padded wingback chairs in dark blue before what appeared to be a magical fireplace, just to the right of the door upon entry, and a small table between them. Against the wall just past the seating area was a rolltop mahogany desk with a smaller but equally comfortable-looking chair set before it. On the other side of the room from the desk was a wall of bookshelves, also stuffed near to bursting with books, and near that was a large chaise lounge upholstered in the same dark blue fabric, with its own personal mahogany table set before it; tucked into a corner near both the lounge and the books was a well-stocked liquor cabinet, complete with decanter and a quartet of tumblers set atop its gleaming wooden surface. The whole room was gently lit by the same magical lamps which had inhabited his office, crystals exuding a warm yellow-white glow that was easy on the eyes but perfectly comfortable to read by.
Not stopping to think about the women accompanying him and excited at the prospect of seeing his sleeping area looked like, Tristian proceeded toward the door set into the wall between the bookshelves and the rolltop desk, which slid open at his approach. The theme of mahogany wood and dark blue fabrics was continued in this room, exemplified in the monstrosity of a king-sized bed which dominated the far wall, its headboard inlaid with the sigil of the Black Tower in that same slick ebony wood. There was a small mountain of pillows at the head (Odd; how had they known he liked lots of pillows?), and another rug spread across the otherwise bare stone floor. Against the right wall was an expansive armoire, as well as a clearly-designated dressing area, that even bore a sturdy stand for his armor and a rack on which to hang his sword, with a short dresser meant for the smaller non-hanging items and a full-length mirror. A doorway to the left likely led to a private bathing area that he was perfectly assured was entirely up to par with the rest of the rooms, and which he would investigate later at his leisure.
"I am immensely impressed." Speaking that comment aloud was what made him realize that he was, in fact, in his bedchambers. With two women. Somehow, he managed to keep the blood from rushing to his face as he turned about to face both Naoki and Artemis, his features twisted into a chagrined half-frown. "..And even more embarrassed. Forgive me, ladies; in my excitement, I didn't consider how improper it was to forge ahead with the two of you present. Please, why don't we exit and conclude our tour with the sauna?" Ushering the pair out of his bedroom and through the sitting room, back into the hallway, he led the way to the sauna across the hall. He'd never actually seen a sauna before, and assumed this one was magically powered, but he wasn't sure what to expect as the door slid open and he stepped inside.
|
|
Empress Naoki
Famous
Roleplay posts: 2,238
Physical Description: =========================
Empress Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed. Amber eyes glisten in the shadows cast by her hair.
Clothes and Equipment: =========================
Naoki's wardrobe is to her as a frame is to a painting. Sometimes embellished with detail to be attractive in its own right, but never the focus. Usually simple but elegant, tightly fitting and highly revealing, used only to frame the beauty within.
Additionally, Naoki is, when clothed, often adorned with a small collection of accessories. She wears an earring, a brilliant cut amethyst, in her right ear. The silver signet ring of Isra is worn on her left pinky, marking her as High Lady of Isra. Directly adjacent, she wears the golden signet ring of The Isran Empire as its Empress. On the inside of her left thigh, there is a tattoo depicting a rose entwined with tentacles.
Allegiances: The Isran Empire
Player's online availability : Excessively often. Timezone: ET (-5)
Registered: Sept 12, 2015 13:02:17 GMT -8
|
Post by Empress Naoki on May 1, 2016 11:30:15 GMT -8
A short exhalation follows Tristian’s comment about embarrassment. Though she had never had the opportunity to observe the noble families of old Medan, they must be the very proper sheltered sort, she presumes. It’s endearing, how Tristian becomes embarrassed at the mere presence of women in his bedchambers, even as fully clothed as they are. As he makes his suggestion, her smirk curves wider. Does he know what a sauna is? Seems strange of him to propose such a thing, but it works well enough for her.
“Yes, let’s.”
Allowing Tristian to usher them from the room, Naoki takes the lead as they re-enter the hallway, pushing open the door to the sauna, and preceding her companions into the room beyond.
A wall divider shields the interior of the room from the hallway beyond, but once around it, rather than leading directly into the sauna itself, the room seems to be something of a preparatory room. A thin curtain separates the left side of the room from the right, though it doesn’t quite stretch from wall to wall, and stops shortly before the single stone door, presumably leading inward to the sauna itself. The far left and right walls are dominated by large shelving units, filled partially with towels. A smattering of benches serve to fill the floorspace in the center of the room.
It is upon one of these benches, on the right side of the curtain, that Naoki seats herself, and directs her attention downward to the double columns of buttons holding her jacket shut. One by one, they come undone, and the garment slides from her shoulders. The rest of the uniform soon follows, the shadow cast on the screen providing tantalising impressions of her figure.
|
|
Lord Tristian Seryl
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 210
Age: 37
Physical Description: At 6'1", Tristian is tall and broad-shouldered, with a lean but muscled form. His features are chiseled and aristocratic, set with dark brown eyes and framed by shoulder-length brown hair; he does occasionally grow a beard and mustache, but most frequently, he is seen to be clean-shaven. Very little about him stands out, aside from his handsome features - he has a few scars gained during the flight from Medan, but few of them are visible to the casual observer, being hidden by his everyday attire.
------------------------------
Clothes and Equipment: As a nobleman, Tristian typically wears well-made tunics, breeches, and boots in a variety of colors, but as a practical man, he abhors silk - most of his clothes are simply made of fine, but sturdy, wool, though he does indulge in fur-lined gloves and cloaks in winter. On rare occasions, mostly just important state functions (given he is the head of the Black Tower) he can be seen wearing a full set of blue and gold plate armor, emblazoned with his family crest of the gryphon head. A lot of the time, Tristian carries with him his family's heirloom sword, and he always wears a golden signet ring with the Seryl family crest - he also wears a signet ring with the crest of the Black Tower, which allows him to maintain telepathic contact with his operatives.
-------------------------------
Player's online availability : Evenings. (EST)
Registered: Mar 18, 2016 16:46:29 GMT -8
|
Post by Lord Tristian Seryl on May 1, 2016 12:47:07 GMT -8
Entering the room in Naoki's wake, Tristian peered around curiously. The concept of a sauna wasn't foreign to him - desert tribes tended to do something similar because lack of water didn't allow for baths - but he'd yet to see one. What confused him was the thinly-separated changing area. Surely this wasn't right. There had to be a separate one for the two genders, didn't th-- Oh dear gods what was she doing. Having turned to address this subject verbally with Naoki, his eyes widened upon seeing the silhouette of the disrobing woman. Quickly whipping around and putting his back to the screen, Tristian studiously pretended he was not blushing like some young boy presented with his first sight of a woman's bare skin.
"Um, Madame? I appear to be somewhat confused, and forgive me if this is a stupid question, but might I ask why you are removing your clothing?" The glimpse of her bared curves cast upon the screen in shadow stuck with him, and he quickly dredged up the most unpleasant mental images he could think of to quell his stirring libido. Picturing his mother's severed head stuck on a spike seemed to do the job, but he was very careful not to even ponder turning around. What the hell was happening here?
|
|
