Making friends (part 2)

[Horu]

(Morrigan please)

Horu was glad to be out of the chapel. it seemed that Avaren's religious community was not as welcoming as he had hoped. He had only just met another religious envoy when she was threatened for the mere act of worshiping another god. Horu did the right thing in leaving with the newcomer. He was guilty of the same crime, not worshiping Avaren's god.

He and the girl, who's name was Morrigan, walked into the tavern that was not too far down the road from the chaple. Horu looked to her and asked, "I would you like anything to drink fair lady?" And as he asked he pulled up a chir at an empty table for her to sit at.

[musicachick]

Morrigan Nephthys, Priestess of Moresina, had just been denied the right to complete the task set forth by her by the goddess. Well, at least, she'd been denied the most direct route to the information she seeked. She frowned as she followed her new aquaintance down the street and into a tavern.

She sat in the chair proffered by her benefactor, a nameless paladin. "A red wine if they have it. And your name if you'll give it." She thought for a moment that she might be able to ask her new friend about the god of this land, but then she recalled that he worshipped a different god...Bahamat, or something like that. Perhaps she could ask him about his god, and return that information to her order, as well as the information that any Priestess of Moresina who happened into an Avarean chapel would be cut in two by a scythe.

[Horu]

Horu was puprised to be remined that he had not yet given his name. "Of course, on both accounts. My Name is Horu, Horu Rahl. I'll be right back with your drink. " He went up and asked for red wine and decided to have it brought over rather than him taking it to the table. that way they could serve themselves from the bottle if they wanted to. he put a hand into his money pouch and pulled out a coin of pure platinum. He had no smaller coin. His god was the one that provided his money and he only provided platinum coins. He also whispered to the bar keep to have a round of drinks on him to cover the rest, and to keep the change as a tip.

He returned to the table. "They will bring the..." The waitress was only just behind him, and placed a tray with a bottle of red wine with to wine glasses on the wooden table. She the pour them their first glass and left them to their drink.

He smiled and decided he'd start the conversation. "You said earlier that you where wanting to learn of gods from other lands. I have no qualms with teaching you about Bahamat. That is if you wish to know about him." He said wondering, hoping if this would lighten her mood.

[musicachick]

Morrigan rolled the name around in her head. Horu. Rahl. It fit, somehow with the young man's demeanor. Presently, he was back, followed by a waitress bearing a bottle of wine and two glasses. It was strange, the world. She had known nothing but Moresina since she was a child, and now she saw why the other members of her order both liked the world so much, and said it was dangerous.

"I should be delighted to learn of anything you can tell me of Bahamat." The smile on her lips was genuine and happy, and very unlike the one she'd practiced to be alluring and seductive. "But in exchange, I shall tell you some little bit of Moresina. Is that okay?" She sipped the wine. It was a little dry, but that was okay because sweet wines were for desert. Besides which, sweet wines weren't her favorite anyway. She liked them like this, a little dry. It would have been better chilled, but it was alright like this.

[Horu]

Horu nodded "That's alright with me" He said bringing the glass to his lips. Befor taking a sip however he had an idea. He let out a soft breath. breathing lightly on the surface of the red liquid. There was suddenly tiny flames dancing on the surface of the wine Consuming some of the alcohol and drawing heat away from the liquid itself. The clear glass even became a little foggy with condensation. He smiled as the flames on the water quickly vanished and took a sip.

"Bahamat is a Dragon, his scales are of pure platinum and he is a deity to all dragons that serve the side of light, and protects those that are on his side." He said he wondered if his Small show of Dragon's breath would impress her. It was a small gift but it did seem to raise eyebrows when witnessed. "And what of your god? I'm curious to know what kind of god has their women dress so... revealingly."

[musicachick]

Morrigan watched his small demonstration with wonder and awe. It never occured to her to be the tiniest bit afraid of him. She listened to waht he said as well. He worshipped a dragon god? But, he was a human, right? Her face bore a puzzled look. At least, Bahamat seemed friendlier than the local deity. The order would be pleased by the information.

"Not god. Goddess. Moresina, the Goddess of Lust and Pleasure. The Golden Peach is her symbol, and she doesn't grant her followers neat powers like that...except the youth thing. I'll live the average span of years for a human woman, but I will never grow old. Moresina preserves us in our loveliest stage of life." Morrigan smiled her guiless happy smile again. She liked Horu. Perhaps later, she could show him the proper way to worship Moresina.

[Horu]

He could se the slight confusion in her expression about him worshiping a draconic god and thought it would be best to explain. "It's probably odd for a human to be worshiping a dragon god. But I worship him because there is a Gold dragon that lives in the mountain range that surrounds our home. Paying such respect to that Dragons god builds us favor and protection." He explain.

upon hearing what her goddess was patron of he had to keep himself from showing what any uncivilized man would show. She was pretty well more the pretty she was beautiful. Any sane man would probably have wanted to be with her. And the idiotic ones would have started making advances. If she was going to practice her religious patronage with him; He was going to earn it without being blatantly forward and in fact would try to get her to offer rather than ask.

That would come if if it came. "Oh Bahamut can bestow more than that little magic breath trick but it comes at a cost." He said off offhandedly. "but i do not up hold the dragon deity's name because he gives me coins or because he can make me strong. If I did I wouldn't be his Paladin, this armor would probably be red." he said seturing at the scale mail like plate aromor he was wearing.

He smiled, "Where Morisina make you into the beautiful creature, Bahamat transform a human into a Dragon. or at least something close to it. Personally i would prefer to stay human. I think I like your god's benefits more." That lost comment was meant to be thought but he spoke it instead. It seemed his plan wasn't going to work perfectly, the plan of not hitting on her. Oh well.

[musicachick]

Morrigan was happy. Apparently, Moresina's gift of youth and beauty was affecting him the right way. "Bahamat sounds like a kind god. Moresina is kind in her own way too. Not only does she keep us young, she keeps us beautiful too. There is no such thing as an ugly, or even plain, priestess of Moresina. The better to spread pleasure at seeing us, you see. But that kind of pleasure is not the only thing she governs. She's in the pleasure you get from a good meal. She's in the longing you feel to posses something. She's the goddess of addiction and bloodlust too. The Goddess is many-faceted."

She took another sip of the drink. It really was quite good, and she silently thanked Moresina for allowing her the pleasure of drinking it. "Of course, there are many ways to worship Moresina. The best way is to derive pleasure from every moment of your life. We don't build chapels or temples to her. We build taverns, theatres, and brothels to honor her. In fact, I could show you the supreme at of worshiping her later, if you want." Of course, Morrigan, having been raised by the order, didn't think of her behavior as forward at all. To her, it was normal to speak like that.

[Horu]

The goddess she worshiped was indeed intriguing. Horu was one to be open minded, he knew how to read people. He could tell from the way she had offered that she saw no fault in what she was asking. She hadn't even hesitated it was almost as if it where her duty to do so. Part of him, the civilized knight found her behavior a little discomforting.

He would not be shamed for indulging. Bahamat was a dragon after all, and when it came to the sort of pleasure she was suggesting there where very few rules. And from a certain point of view it was encouraged. Dragons where wild and saw humans as no less wild. So there was nothing against him other than him wondering if it was right to take advantage of her, or if that's what it could be defined as.

Then there was her beliefs to think about. It didn't take a genius to see that her goddess More than encouraged giving 'pleasure.' Part of him wondered if declining would be offensive to her or her deity. Plus it wasn't like he didn't want to. He did want to. He made a decision.

"I do worship a different deity, but he allows us to pay our respects to other gods. If it would please your goddess, who it seems would be in alignment with my own, I would be more than happy to... learn how to worship the goddess of pleasure." He said with polite smile. He meant what he said in respect and hoped he wasn't being rude. He tookanother sip of his wine.

[musicachick]

Morrigan's happiness blossomed on her face. She was so pleased that Horu would allow her to at last practice the greatest act of worship. So, she had been told truthfully that her destiny lie in Avaren. "Thank you. I take pleasure in the mere idea of it," she said. It was a little prayer to Moresina, the way others might convey the blessings of their own god.

"Excuse me for my ignorance, but are their any customs in this land that dictate how this practice goes? Where I come from, one only has to suggest the idea with a time and place, but I have heard that other lands have different customs." She had a room at the inn if it was needed.

[Horu]

Her joy was infections, and he couldn't help smiling at her. Part of him felt awkward fo0r the way they where going about this but another part really didn't care. "Well you where told true aboutother peoples have different customs, especially when it comes to what your offering. Most the places i know are monogamous. Meaning its customary for men to only have one mate. To have any relationship out side marriage is usually discouraged and deriving pleasure from any one other than ones spouse is wrong." He explained.

"However I see nothing wrong with what you want. You are doing it to please your goddess by pleasing yourself and others. And I haven't been with a woman in a while so I might as well take the opportunity while it lasts." He said explain his opinion. "As for time and place i can pay to sleep in one of the rooms here for tonight, and we could go up there and worship any time you please."

[musicachick]

Morrigan nodded at his suggestion in agreement. She was glad to have it settled. "Tell me, Horu, what's it like where you come from?"

[Horu]

Horu had to think about how he wanted to answer. "Peacefully boring." He said with a smile. "The mountains are beautiful, especially later in the year, and at sunset. The people there are not much different that the people here. Our art is a bit different. We have Statues of dragons outside our chapel, which is chiseled out of the side of one of the mountains. It is mostly an honorary structure. Something to remind us of who protects us and to remind our draconic friends that we are their friends. And what is it like where you come from?"

[musicachick]

"Oh, home is wonderful. I was left as a babe in Moresina's temple, and the order raised me. I had every pleasure that could be afforded a child. The place where me and my brothers and sisters live is very comfortable. Of course, every wants to be a priest or priestess of Moresina. A comfy place to live, a chance to travel regularly, but Moresina picks only the ones who desire service the most. I was a shoo in, really because I had no where else to go. If I hadn't passed the test to be a priestess, I'd have had to live on the street. At least, that's what they told me. I like to think they said that to boost my desire to serve."

Her mouth twisted a little. "I didn't come into contact with the common people much. When I return to my home I'll have to serve for two years in a brothel before I get another quest. That's why they send us out on quests first, so we see the outside world and desire it. Two years home, one abroad. I was hoping to finish the quest quickly so I could enjoy the rest of my year. Oh well, I suppose there are worse places to be than Avaren."

[Horu]

Horu nodded, "There are worse places would imagine and it's not like Avaren is all that bad. though it is probably more dangerous than where you come from." he said. he was sort of thinking out loud. He had been thinking the part about Avaren being dangerous. He smiled and taking his drink moved to the seat that was next to her so that they where closer together, which he actually like more than sitting across the table from her.

He wanted to give her something. "Like I said it's dangerous in town if you ever need any help I want you to know you can trust me to help. he untied something from his belt and put a hand on her lap. from the way she acted he hopped he was good enough of a judge of character to figure such physical contact was not unwelcome to her. But he hadn't laid his bare hand on her lap. He had untied a dagger and its scabbard from his belt. The Scabbard, handle and cross guard where all made of silver so it had blended in with his armor. He was giving her something to protect herself with. He didn't need it, he had his sword at his other hip and that was more than enough to protect him. and for close encounters he had dragon's breath. "This may help you if you ever get into trouble." He said, leaning closer and whispering in her ear.

He only had wanted it to look like they where merely courting, but his hand slid to the side of her leg and he could feel her soft, warm skin, then remember who and where he was he pulled away. He wondered if his embarrassment, at having touched her like that, had registered. And he wondered why he was suddenly acting so weak he should have more control over himself.