Homoventures Chapter 2, Part 5

[DiablotinNarrator] All right, you are still in the underground community/compound of Hlintarn, hangin' out.

[DiablotinNarrator] While Ghilana atar'Quil, the high priestess, has given you permission to stay, you soon find that you aren't given complete freedom to explore.

[Tazenir] fuckin' lame

[Tazenir] (what are we allowed to see/do?)

[DiablotinNarrator] There are certain sections of the complex that are barred and locked, and/or actually guarded by armed guards.

[Xan] (Do they have a library? ^-^)

• Xan will ask around and try and charm his way in if we're not supposed to be in there :3

[DiablotinNarrator] Oddly, you note that these sections seem to particularly be areas that would lead further down, not up to the surface, where (one would think) greater threats might be.

[DiablotinNarrator] You are, with Ranighar's accompaniment, allowed access to the library, however.

• Rhyl is quite pleased with that!
• Xan is happy to do lots of 'exploring' there, if rhanigar doesn't terribly mind >.>

[Tazenir] argh

[Tazenir] Justen, help me out here

• Ranighar can't hang out with you constantly, but he is happy to spend a few hours a 'day' there with you at least.
• Justen shrugs.

[Justen] I dunno - we could train? They have these guards, they must practice somewhere, right?

[Tazenir] yeah, that's what I was thinking

[Tazenir] better than sitting around for ages at a time :p

[Ranighar] There are training facilities, yes - I can introduce you to some of the guards, they can show you where.

[Tazenir] great!

• Justen is happy to go along with that.
• Ranighar will hook you up, then :)
• Tazenir is happy to do some training/showing off/whatever
• Tazenir is curious how much these guys are like other SK in that regard

[DiablotinNarrator] A lot of them seem to do unarmed combat, although there are a goodly minority who use spears and maces and such. No other spiked chain users though ;)

[Tazenir] (coo')

• Ranighar is also willing to answer questions/discuss theology stuff with you brainy types during library time.
• Xan has so many questions @_@

[Xan] (...is than an invitation to ask them? ^-^)

[DiablotinNarrator] (a few anyway - I don't want to spend hours on them, but I can try to handle any that are pressing :)

[Xan] Do you know what they did here before Serpent was freed?

[Xan] and I mean - what do they believe happened?

[Xan] I mean it's obvious something changed, right?

[Ranighar] Well, they still worshiped in the same ways, as far as I know. I wasn't here then, but as far as I know from people who were, the main changes were, the priests' powers grew. Before that, Ghilana was really the only one who had much beyond basic powers.

[Xan] has that changed anything here though?

[Xan] I wonder how she had any at all...

[Ranighar] There are more priests now - like me, and others.

[Xan] but she's still in charge of everything

• Ranighar nods.

[Ranighar] Her family always have been, at least here.

[Xan] are there more communities like this?

[Ranighar] There are other groups... we've reached out to them where we can, where we know of their existence, but I suspect there are more that are so well hidden, even we don't know about them.

[Xan] huh

[Xan] so, how much do you know about what happened?

[Xan] About Serpent being freed?

[Ranighar] When?

[Xan] But hmm, I guess, also I wonder what they.. or you, whatever believe here *before* too, why It's power was so limited

[Ranighar] (...could you clarify that into English? ;)

[Xan] (believed here)

[Xan] (I guess there should also be another comma after whatever :p)

[DiablotinNarrator] (you are asking why they believed its power was limited before?)

[Xan] (yes)

[DiablotinNarrator] (ok)

[Ranighar] Its power was limited before because of the injury inflicted upon it when the Well was broken. It withdrew to heal and renew itself, and when it was ready, it returned, bringing with it the stars.

[Xan] hah

• Xan grins

[Xan] that's cool

[Ranighar] I see you believe something different? :)

[Xan] well, sort of

[Xan] I can kind of buy that, I guess...

[Xan] just we know more details

[Xan] well, I do

[Ranighar] Oh?

• Xan glances at Rhyl because he doesn't know how much time he has spent going through father's old notes

[Xan] well

[Rhyl] (probably less than you ;)

[Xan] It was weakened when the well here was broken

[Xan] that's definitely true

[Xan] but it... well, I suppose you could debate its *intent* in the matter

[Xan] but it was trapped in the gate on the colour plane

[Xan] and that happened after

• Ranighar listens intently.

[Xan] after it was weakened, the priests there tried to gain more power for themselves and failed, and the Well there was destroyed...

[Xan] after that new gods arose and over threw the Court of the Stars

[Xan] and Serpent was trapped in the Arch

[Ranighar] The usurpers.

[Xan] yeah

• Ranighar nods.

[Xan] The Seven, the gods of the wheel

[Ranighar] We know of them, yes.

[Xan] oh?

[Xan] I bet Alma would love to hear about that @_@

[Xan] what do you know of them?

[Ranighar] Well... I should say, we have a legend about them. But it is very old, and probably .... up for interpretation.

[Xan] well

[Xan] I'd love to hear it anyway

[Xan] don't worry, you're not going to offend us or anything

• Xan grims eagerly
• Ranighar smiles.

[Xan] (grins)

[Ranighar] I wasn't too worried about that - I more meant that I don't know if anyone really understands it.

• Ranighar will go and retrieve an old scroll off one of the shelves.

[Xan] oh

[Xan] okay :)

[DiablotinNarrator] (just checking in my notes for something ;)

[Xan] (n/p)

[DiablotinNarrator] (ok, this thing is long - he will let you read the entire scroll, but maybe it's easiest if I email it to you :)

[@BalthCat] (and meeeeeee)

[DiablotinNarrator] (I thought I could c/p it but it'll flood)

[DiablotinNarrator] (hee, ok Cat)

[Tazenir] (^-^)

[DiablotinNarrator] (yay!)

[DiablotinNarrator] (sent)

[Tazenir] (reading)

[DiablotinNarrator] (kk)

[DiablotinNarrator] (it's long, I'll hang out while you read :)

[DiablotinNarrator] (you may be able to tell where I scammed bits of it from, perhaps ;)

[DiablotinNarrator] (thank you Sumerians for your crazy-ass mythology)

[Xan] ...can I copy this? @_@

[Ranighar] If you wish, certainly.

[Ranighar] I don't really know what most of it means.

[Xan] well... some of it sort of makes sense, a bit

[Xan] But I'm not a priest

[Xan] but wow

• Xan keeps reading

[Ranighar] It's very old. Probably parts of it are lost.

[Ranighar] One of the things we hope we might find if there are other groups like us, is that they would have other writings we don't.

[Xan] yeah @_@

[Xan] I mean this is pretty disjointed

• Ranighar nods.

[Ranighar] That's why I think probably there were other parts. Or maybe it's pieces of different things, put together.

[Xan] I'm guessing the latter

[Xan] the styles are different

[Xan] some of it might go together

[Ranighar] Obviously this scroll is a later copy.

• Xan looks at the handwriting

[Xan] yeah

[Xan] its really interesting that you have this at all, though

• Ranighar nods.

[Ranighar] (The handwriting appears to be from several different scribes, you would say)

• Xan will make notes on that stuff too

[Xan] I need to think about it more though, thanks :D

[Xan] hell

[Xan] that was probably worth the whole trip out here on its own @_@

[Xan] but I have a question

• Ranighar smiles.

[Ranighar] Of course.

• Xan should probably not swear by hell >.>

[Xan] what's down below that all the guards are, uhm, guarding?

[Ranighar] Oh... Well, sometimes there are attacks.

[Xan] from who?

[Xan] or what?

[Ranighar] There are creatures that live in the darkness below... the Eyeless.

[Xan] nice

[Xan] what are they like?

[Ranighar] They infest some of the lower caverns and tunnels... we block them out where we can, but sometimes they slip through.

[Ranighar] Individually, they are fairly weak - but they tend to swarm.

• Xan makes a face

[Xan] I haaaate swarming things -_-

[Xan] Ask Justen about that -_-

[Ranighar] They don't see - they sense through... smell, movement, things like that.

[Xan] although he just sets them on fire :p

[Xan] makes sense, with the name...

[Ranighar] Hopefully you won't encounter any.

• Ranighar says, trying to be reassuring.
• Xan nods

[Xan] hopefully not

• Rhyl also nods hopefully.

[Xan] I sorta wondered if there wasn't more of the complex down there, swarming monsters is much less awesome

[Ranighar] There is going to be a ceremony later - would you be interested in attending?

• Xan eyes Rhyl

[Xan] what kind of ceremony?

• Rhyl looks intrigued

[Xan] I mean I geuss that is sort of what we are here for, so probably yes, I'm just curious :)

[Ranighar] A gathering and release of sexual energy.

[Ranighar] (had to think for a sec how he would describe it ;)

[Xan] oh, could be fun

• Xan smiles

[Xan] . o O (Figures, Serpent @_@ Justen will like that though ^-^)

[Ranighar] Well, you are welcome to attend - I don't mind guiding you if you wish.

• Ranighar says with a smile.

[Xan] sure!

[Xan] I'll let Justen and Taz know

[Ranighar] Very well. You should fast until after the ceremony, then.

[Ranighar] I have to go and begin preparations, but I'll come collect you when it's time.

[Xan] Fast as in don't eat or uh, don't fuck?

• Ranighar chuckles.

[Ranighar] I meant don't eat, but you might also want to save your energy.

[Xan] no promises >.>

[Xan] but I have a lot of energy ]:D

• Ranighar looks amused.

[Xan] why do we fast?

[Ranighar] To purify our bodies.

[Xan] fair enough

• Ranighar rises to go, then.
• Xan eyes Rhyl after he's gone

[Rhyl] Um... do you want me and Taz to stay away, then? Or should we go too and just... I don't really know what it'll be like, but ... if you think it would be awkward, we can ...

[Rhyl] I mean, I'd like to go, but ...

[Xan] so we'll all stay on different sides of the room, right Mr nipple chain I didn't need to know about? ;p

• Rhyl blushes

[Xan] Taz may not be into it anyway

[Rhyl] Yeah, maybe not. it might be more chanting and getting into complicated poses than he's interested in.

[Xan] I mean if it's a really small ceremony it could get awkward I guess, but hopefully there will be enough people that it won't be an issue

• Rhyl nods.

[Xan] heh

[Xan] I have Justen, anyway ^-^

• Rhyl nods.

[Rhyl] I'm sure we can probably keep our distance >.>

[Xan] works for me!

[Rhyl] (back to your room then?)

[Xan] (yup!)

• Justen will get back a bit after you do, all sweaty from training ;)

[Xan] mmmmm

• Xan licks him

[Justen] Heh. Did you have fun with your books?

[Xan] yes!

[Xan] Ranighar showed us this super old scroll about the seven that will make people back home flip their shit!

[Justen] Oh?

[Justen] Why?

[Xan] also he invited us to an orgy later

[Justen] ... well, that's MUCH more interesting than some old scroll ;)

[Xan] yeah I thought you'd say that ^-^

• Xan breathes in your sweaty boysmell

[Xan] mmph you need more workouts like that

[Justen] I do, actually. Taz handed me my ass :p

[Xan] I bet he did

[Xan] dude he has been training since he was what... ten?

[Xan] ;p

[Justen] Yeah, and he has poor social skills so he expresses himself through violence, unlike me, who prefers diplomacy ;)

[Xan] with the Radmachers, even, before Niki, anyway, bah

[Xan] heh

[Xan] I like diplomacy

• Justen kisses you.

[Xan] but I have a wider definition that just 'make them want to sleep with me' ;)

• Xan kisses back

[Justen] And yet, you always seem to manage that - you're the one who got invited to an orgy after all ;)

[Xan] it was a general invite I think

[Xan] Though Ranighar did offer to 'guide' me. or us, not clear on that one

[Justen] "Guide"... what? Your cock up his ass? ;)

[Xan] hee, possibly

[Xan] everyone want it ;p

• Xan kisses you again

[Xan] do you wanna fuck now or save it for the orgy

• Justen grins.

[Xan] we're not supposed to eat anything

• Xan remembers

[Xan] we can just have sex for dinner ^-^

[Justen] oh, bah. I hope I don't pass out. I can at least have water, right?

[Xan] no idea

[Xan] supposed to keep our bodies pure

[Xan] I'm not gonna tell on you ;)

• Justen gets some from the pitcher, then.
• Justen gets his sweaty shirt off to let it air out ;)

[Justen] ...do you think whatshername, Eletyl will be there?

[Xan] huh

[Xan] I always forget about girls >.>

[Xan] maybe?

[Xan] (oh, girls, right, they have sex too...)

[Justen] (heh)

[Justen] Well, I'll defend you if she tries anything ;)

[Justen] I'll take the blow for you if necessary ^-^

[Xan] I guess it is a ritual and her mother is the high priestess

[Xan] mmm, maybe you should stay away from her too, just in case, if you can

[Xan] I don't want you to get hurt, or in trouble, or anything

[Justen] Okay.

[Xan] ugh man maybe it is a bad idea if she's going to be there :/

[Xan] I don't wanna fuck her but it's kind of weird with her around

[Justen] Could you ask Ranighar?

[Justen] if she's likely to be there, I mean

[Xan] yeah

[Xan] I should have thought of that

[Xan] bah, girls >.>

• Justen snuggles you.

[Xan] mmm

[Justen] It'll be okay. Ranighar said he'd guide you, right? So that probably means he'll stick with us.

[Xan] yeah...

[Xan] but she's probably more important than him

[Xan] well, we'll see

[Xan] I can leave if I have to

• Justen nods.

[Justen] I should probably take a nap, honestly... >.>

[Justen] but if you want to cuddle up, we can do that :)

[Xan] I like cuddles

• Xan says in an innocent 'I'm definitely not going to try and seduce you after we're in bed voice

[Justen] I just would be embarrassed to faint during an orgy ^-^

[Xan] are you really that worn out?

[Justen] I don't know how strenuous this is going to be! I should save my strength ;)

• Justen says in an 'I could probably be seduced' voice

[Xan] well you do have a *lot* of strength ...

[Xan] but Ranighar said it would be good to save our energy

[Xan] but that really just made me want to fuck you >.>

• Xan admits
• Justen laughs.

[Xan] I can be good though

[Xan] I don't want you to pass out either

[Justen] Everything makes you want to fuck me. Toast makes you want to fuck me ;)

• Xan cuddles

[Xan] mmm, toast

• Xan grabs your butt
• Justen steers you over to the bed.

[Xan] mmm how about you just lie there and I can send you off to sleep ^-^

[Justen] All right :)

[Xan] mmm

• Xan will do so then, and curl up to nap with you after
• Justen enjoys his nap ;)

[Xan] (hee)

• Ranighar will arrive to escort you what feels like a few hours later.

[Xan] hey :)

[Xan] is there anything we should wear, or not wear?

[Xan] also - do you think Eletyl will be there?

[Ranighar] Something loose, easy to remove?

• Xan nods

[Ranighar] Oh... no, she never comes to these.

[Xan] oh okay, good.

• Ranighar looks a bit puzzled.
• Xan bets the colour stuff is too hard to explain

[Ranighar] Why do you say 'good'?

[Xan] oh

[Xan] heh >.>

[Xan] I don't really like girls

[Xan] she came to see us, though

[Ranighar] Ah. Well, there will be women there...

[Ranighar] oh, she did?

• Ranighar seems surprised by that.

[Xan] yeah, I just didn't want things to be weird >.>

[Ranighar] Perhaps she was curious about you...

[Xan] yeah

[Ranighar] She doesn't normally ... mingle.

[Xan] no kidding

• Xan nods
• Xan eyes Justen, wondering about his thoughts on full disclosure
• Justen shrugs.

[Xan] It was just weird, we felt really drawn to each other for some reason.

• Xan shrugs

[Ranighar] Hm.

[Ranighar] I don't know.

[Xan] anyway, if she's not going to be there, I'm not going to worry about it :)

[Ranighar] It might be something to speak to Ghilana about, if it persists.

[Xan] well, I'd like to talk to *her* more about it too, but.... not at a ceremony >.>

[Xan] I think we're ready though

[Xan] If Justen will crawl out of bed :3

[Ranighar] Very well.

• Justen pries himself up and tugs on a shirt.
• Justen runs his fingers through his hair, trying to make it semi-presentable at least.

[Justen] All right, I'm ready.

• Rhyl also emerges from his room, raring to go :D Is Taz coming too?

[Tazenir] yeah sure, I like fucking

[Tazenir] off the clock even :V

[DiablotinNarrator] heheh

• Ranighar will lead you all to a room you haven't been in yet - it's a large chamber with a number of smaller alcoves jutting off it, and you would certainly say it's set up for orgying.

[DiablotinNarrator] There are a fair few people there already, and more arrive after you do.

• Xan informs Taz of the splitting up so as to avoid awkwardness plan
• Tazenir rolls his eyes

[Tazenir] oh whatever, I'm not gonna slip and stick it in you :p

[Xan] :p

[Tazenir] this from the guy who fucked half the pleasurehouse in the common room

[Xan] Oh shut up! :p

• Justen can't help smiling at that.

[Tazenir] heh heh ]:D

[Tazenir] Fine though, I don't particularly want to watch you chase after half the boys here anyway

• Tazenir looks at Justen

[Tazenir] I'm calling all the hot chicks on this side though :V

• Tazenir designates half the room

[Xan] Ugh

[Justen] Fine with me. I promised to protect Xan anyway, in case any ladies tried to touch his naughty bits ;)

• Xan leans up against him

[Xan] my valiant hero ^-^

• Tazenir rolls his eyes
• Justen puts an arm around your shoulders.

[Xan] :D

[Xan] Should we mingle or what?

• Xan asks Ranighar

[Tazenir] I'm off

[Ranighar] The ceremony will be starting soon - there will be a chance for... mingling later :)

• Tazenir will go start chatting up girls on his side of the room ;)

[Xan] okay

[Xan] is it okay if I translate for Justen, quietly?

[Ranighar] it might be distracting during the ceremony itself.

[Ranighar] after the drawing-in, though, it should be all right.

[DiablotinNarrator] Ghilana comes into the hall about that time, escorted by several other priestesses.

• Xan nods and squeezes Justen's hand
• Rhyl also shifts off to the other side of the room, to avoid potential awkwardness
• Rhyl is now known as Ghilana
• Ghilana steps up onto a slightly raised platform, flanked by her associates. The crowd goes quiet, watching her. You notice that one of the other priestesses is carrying a large cup.
• Ranighar sticks close to you and Justen.

[Xan] (all priestesses?)

• Xan watches

[Ghilana] (yes)

[DiablotinNarrator] (sorry, writing up some mystic claptrap ;)

[Xan] (hee, n/p)

[Ghilana] The cloak of darkness is upon us; within its folds we struggle. But it is merely our own shadows that darken the path before us. The shadows part before us like the stretching of the Serpent's coils.

[Ghilana] Before you can approach the wisdom of the eternal, you must learn to part your body from your mind, to dissipate the shadow, and to live in the eternal. For this, you must live and breathe in all things, as all that you perceive breathes in you; to feel yourself abiding in all things, and all things abiding in you. To be one.

[Ghilana] Gain mastery over your thoughts, strivers for enlightenment, if you would cross the threshold.

[Ghilana] Hold mastery over your soul, seeker after truth, if you would reach your goal.

[Xan] . o O ( blah blah blah Mystic claptrap )

[Ghilana] Have mastery over your body, frail vessels. Let them draw in the power of the Serpent and release it back to the universe as tribute.

• Ghilana 's priestess associate with the cup offers it to her, and she holds it up - carefully, it looks like it's heavy.

[Ghilana] Receive this offering, Great Serpent, from your humble followers. Let our bodies sustain you, as you sustain us.

• Ghilana sips from the cup, then passes it back to the priestess, who begins to circulate, offering it to everyone.
• Xan wonders what's in it @_@
• Ranighar sips from it when it comes by, and then the priestess offers it to you.
• Xan will sip
• Xan looks and sniffs first :3

[DiablotinNarrator] It's a dark liquid - smells and tastes sort of honeyed-sweet and almost a little sickly.

• Xan bets its drugged, but that's okay
• Justen takes a drink too when it comes his way.
• Tazenir will also, cynical but secretly hopeful >.>

[DiablotinNarrator] You do feel a certain ... focusing of your energy. Like everything is boiled down to this moment, like the past and future are less important. and also, you have to admit, although maybe it's just you, like you're pretty damn horny.

• Xan eyes Justen
• Justen winks at you.

[Xan] ^-^

• Xan sidles closer wondering when the boning starts

[DiablotinNarrator] Once the cup has finished circulating, Ghilana begins a chant. It sounds very old to you, full of archaic phrases and pronounciations, but it's quite hypnotic. Others join in, evidently knowing the words, but not everyone is, and you don't seem too out of place for not singing along.

[DiablotinNarrator] People are also beginning to mingle, as promised ;)

• Xan tries to understand the words, but also have his hands down Justen's pants ;3
• Ranighar smiles at that.

[Ranighar] I guess you're ready to proceed.

[Xan] oh yeah ^-^

[Xan] do we need to do anything special?

[Ranighar] Well, it's up to you. You could just have sex as usual, or I could try something more... challenging, but possibly also more interesting.

[Xan] I like sexy challenges

• Xan says, squeezing Justen

[Justen] It's true, he does ;)

[Ranighar] Very well, then.

• Ranighar beckons for you to come with him, over into one of the smaller alcoves, which are nicely set up with cushions and such to make them comfortable.
• Xan follows
• Justen too.

[DiablotinNarrator] Within the smaller space, the sounds echo weirdly, or maybe that's whatever you just drank kicking in more strongly...

[snipped for some ritual sexytimes]

• Ranighar gets up, though, and begins putting his robe back on.
• Justen snuggles closer to you.

[Xan] carry me back to the room? ;p

• Xan snuggles back though

[Justen] If you want, I will ;)

[Justen] I might die when we get there, but I'll try.

[Xan] maybe not right this second

• Xan flops across his sweaty chest

[Ranighar] You can stay as long as you need.

[Xan] thanks again

• Xan smiles up at him

[Ranighar] I'll speak with you again soon, I'm sure.

• Ranighar smiles back.

[Xan] I hope we aren't' expected to be anywhere tomorrow though @_@

• Ranighar just chuckles and leaves you two to your snuggling.
• Justen grabs a blanket so you aren't shivering at least, and will warm you up a bit with his own heat as well.

[Xan] mmmmcozy

[Xan] I love you Justen

[Justen] I love you too.

[Justen] ... what was that you said, when you were coming?

[DiablotinNarrator] You don't remember saying anything more coherent than moans.

[Xan] I don't remember saying anything @_@

[Justen] It wasn't in shadar-kai, I don't think, but I have no idea what it was.

• Justen kisses you some more.

[Xan] what did it sound like?

• Justen doesn't seem overly concerned about it, just mildly confused.

[Xan] I can ask Ranighar later

• Xan says between kisses

[Justen] ... words? I dunno. you were coming, you sounded like a guy who was coming ;)

[Xan] I meant what did the words sound like

• Xan pinches him

[Xan] dummy

[Justen] well it wasn't a language I recognized, I don't know.

• Xan says affectionately, and kisses him again

[Xan] okay.