Starts just like any other...

4th Forumidae, the 28th day of the month of Semens (Sem), the 3672nd year of Salvation's Landing

Jokes, banter, and dressing. All the norm for every morning in the Watch room, it seems. Though this time there is less joking and more of the guys asking Reglin questions, seeking advice in a roundabout way so as to not demean themselves in each other’s eyes.

So, when Grahm entered the room and heard the conversation, he had to give himself a shake of the head, “Gods’ balls… Am I hearing right? Are you shitpeddlers actually talking about work? Pray tell, what brought about such a miracle?”

Lim took it upon himself, being the overly gregarious one of the bunch, to tell the Sergeant of the Watch about the five guards’ getting some practice in. He even played up Reglin abilities a bit, a bit of pride coming through in his voice. Grahm listened intently, along with the others on their watch that hadn’t come. Shockingly, none of them had any snipes to interject with either. If anything, a look of determination came onto their faces.

Grahm noticed the look in those eyes, “You lads want to get in there, eh? I won’t ever say no to you all gettin’ some extra training in. As it stands, it sounds like Day watch has their contestant for drill day in three days. Nimit was last time, so seems like he’s been knocked back a step. You sorry bags of dung want that shot, take it from Goldy here.”

It was agreed upon that the rest of the watch would head out to the yard after their shift was over and supper was had. With that settled, Grahm got into the orders of the day. A slow day, or so it seemed. Looked like Reglin was going to be able to carry on his training uninterrupted finally.

In just a minute or so, Reglin saw the door open and out came the impressive Nordling woman. Her lips were curved up in an incredibly amused looking smile. When Reglin inquired about what was so funny, she shook her head, “It’s nothing… Maybe you will find out some time.” The blonde did have a glass of wine for herself though, he noticed with a smirk. “So… Why would your fellow guardsmen expect you to take the opportunity to come to a noble woman’s quarters?” She sauntered her way toward him, making exaggerated movements of her hips while doing so.

Making the slightest shrug of the shoulders while standing at his post, “I think that they would tell you that since I came to work in the palace that I have had the fortune to gain the attention of a few very comely women.”

Taking a sip and lowering the glass, Freighla’s brow rose with a small smirk on her lips, “So, does that mean you are now courting someone?” The made the question sound light, but there were some interrogative tones in it. “And relax… please.”

Doing as he was told, Reglin lost some rigidity in his stance, “I would say… I would just leave it at I am courting…” giving her a sly look. “The subject of my courting tends to be in flux as of late…”

Not believing that they could climb any higher, straw blonde’s light brow proved him wrong by doing just that. “Oh? Does the subject vary due to a lack of interest on their part?” Another small sip and smirk.

“Lack of interest? No mistress. I have been fortunate in that they have found me intriguing enough to grace me with their presence.” He squinted his eyes, looking at her. “May I ask why your interest in the company I keep?”

The large, curvy handmaiden looked down at her glass, looking out of sorts for the first time that Reglin had seen. “I-I’m… I’m not quite certain. But as the lady has said before, you are…” the bold woman’s face let some color sneak into her cheeks, but then cleared her throat, “As the lady said, you are a properly set up man… And you carry yourself in a way. You’re dangerous…” she turned away from him then and strolled away, less salaciousness in her movements, “We Nordlings appreciate someone such as you…”

Seemed as though some of his mana channels were doing their work on Freighla. Reglin voiced his appreciation of her, well… appreciation, and they talked more of the Nord ways. The conversation came easily and as Freighla finished her glass of wine, her demeanor became even more friendly. So much so that when she caught Reglin taking in the vision of her enormous breasts, she smiled, “Do you know why we wear our clothing in such a style?” A simple question. Reglin, however did not think the answer would he be so when given like that.

Reglin shook his head with a smile, “I have a couple of ideas to say the least, but I will not soil what is probably an honorable reason with my perverted notions.”

The large woman giggled at that and shook her head, “No… oddly enough, it’s not meant to draw the eyes of men. That just happens to be a welcome byproduct of it.” She gave him a sultry smile at that, and he thought she might have even winked at him. “No. In the north we do not have nobles in the way that you down here do. The ‘nobles’ we have are those who have earned the right to lead in battle and rule with jurisprudence. And they must be able to do both, lest the governed decide that they do not wish to be so any longer.”

Not sure what all this had to do with northern women nearly exposing their breasts in their fashion, Reglin just nodded and listened to the reasoning further.

“If you did not know, it’s ridiculously cold up in the north in the winter. And that’s not even speaking of our islands that are our domain as well. But leaders are expected to be the first out into the cold and the last in. They may not do much in the way of work, but anyone can but look around and see their Yarl standing stoically to show that the weather is not too much to endure.” Freighla looked at her empty glass and frowned in disappointment. “With this in mind, Yarls began to wear less and less to show how hardy they were to their subjects. It then carried over to the ladies. The began to call it ‘Showing your heart to the storm’. And ever since, women of Yarl blood make it a point to show their ‘hearts’ all the time…” a wry smile on her face.

Nodding in comprehension, Reglin stated, “So, not to lure men to lose their sense. Just what comes with the territory.” Squinting a look at her, “So, should I find myself in the north, I should attempt to go around with as little clothes as possible if I want to impress?”

That got a chuckle from Freighla as she looked him up and down, “I would suggest you do that not just in the north. I think you might impress more than us Nordlings. I’d recommend you show just how hearty you are to any who’d be interested in seeing.”

The woman’s frankness was a definitive shift in her behavior. Sometimes the behavior of women was hard for Reglin to understand. He hoped with more exposure to them, he might get better at it. “Whether people would be inspired such an action is moot point. I have a uniform that I must adhere to daily.” He thought for a second and figured he might as well give it a shot, “Now if you’d life some uniform modifications done, your liege lady is not without sway. Perhaps she can tell the significance the showing of skin means to you Nords. It could an offer more inclusivity of your ways. We have some Nords in the palace guard. They’d probably appreciate it. Doubt that my word has any sway, but if you want to base it in my argument go right ahead.” Reglin knew that his words did actually have some influence, just not sure how much.

Staring off into space with those stormy blue eyes of hers, the statuesque blonde appeared thoughtful. For more than a few moments she was silent before snapping out of it. “An idea… Something that the lady might be able to tout as a reflection of influence that she has won to show those back home.” She looked at him quizzically, “Would you be willing to model some ideas if we were to come up with something? A Northern uniform for the guard? Perhaps when delegations from the Northern Duchy the guards could wear it as the uniform of the day.”

Considering it was a passing notion, Reglin was impressed with the spark it seemed to have lit in Freighla. Interesting to see it take hold. Was that the shaping of culture? He nodded to her with a wide smile, “Of course! You need just call on me and I will help in any way I can.”

A sultry smile formed on her pale lips, “That is, if you are not helping some other woman at the time, of course.”

He bowed his head in acquiescence, “I’m afraid I cannot be in two places at once. But those that I have been ‘helping’ know that I am a very helpful young man with enough energy to help more than just them.” His flirting was a bit heavy-handed he thought, but she had pushed it there. He was more than willing to roll with the tide.

Just when the conversation might lead to possibilities for the future, Reglin’s attention was diverted by the sound of the door to the sleeping chambers opening. Coming out of the room was Lady Wilmyna. Reglin felt a bit of shame when the first thing he noticed of the gorgeous noblewoman was the plunging neckline of the shimmering brown dress. It plummeted down so far that he thought he saw the hint of her bellybutton. The cut was also wide enough that if she were to breathe too deeply, she may have areola peek out. However, those wonderous globes on her chest were restrained and pushed together by faint lacing pulled tight enough that they bit into the supple flesh.

Striding in with a sense of obliviousness carrying the bottle of wine that Freighla and Reglin had got from the kitchens. The bottle looked to be half empty which would give a strong hint as to why the lovely Nord lady had a blush from cheeks to bosom. Wilmyna did not even glance in his direction as her eyes found Freighla immediately, “Frei, if you’d like another glass, you better get it quick. I’m afraid I can’t guarantee that you’ll get any…” Freighla had looked at the lady when the door opened, however when she started speaking, the handmaiden couldn’t help but give a glance over to the guardsman. And that glance was noticed. She may be ****, but not so much as to not see that…

When Lady Wilmyna turned to regard who was in the room with her and her handmaiden, her eyes widened in surprise and her mouth fell open slightly. Reglin wasn’t certain of what to do exactly, so he went with his gut and made the proper bow and greeting to a noble. She relaxed slightly then, so the guard added on, “My lady, I must say that your bravery infects me. You need but command and I will follow…” He had meant the words to be professional, but replaying the words in his head, he cringed at the other way they might have been taken.

The rose in her chest deepening unfortunately did not give him any hints as to how she took it, but she did bow her head and averted her eyes. Apparently, he had embarrassed her in some degree.

Freighla snorted a laugh at that, “It only took a little over half a bottle to gain such courage from the looks…” That earned her a glare from the white-blonde lady, but the handmaiden had looked at Reglin and gave him a smile and a nod that reassured him that he had done okay at least. Freighla then walked over to Wilmyna, giving the lady a quick summary of what Reglin and formidable blonde had been discussing and took the bottle from her liegelady. The Nord noble smiled widely and looked at Reglin with any hint of embarrassment gone when the subject of him suggesting that they come up with a Norden Palace guard uniform for occasions to honor those from her home duchy.

Reglin bowed his head in acknowledgement of the idea being his. Wilmyna surveyed him with a calculating look, “So you offered to be the representative of the garb that we come up with?”

Bowing again, “I made the offer, my lady. I meant it of course. If there’s anything you need of me, you’ve only to ask it.” He looked from one blonde Nordling woman to the other and noticed that they both had a similar look. A wry smile and a raised brow from Freighla, whereas Wilmyna topped her handmaid by raising both of her light brows.

“Frei, bring the bottle. Master Reglin, follow me please…” And just like that, the blonde beauty turned on her heel, wavered slightly, and then headed into her sleeping chambers.

The hairs on the back of Reglin’s neck stood up and he knew the whites of his eyes would be standing out. He looked to Freighla for some sort of hint, but the tall woman only wore a wide smile and gave him a small shrug. He had **** but to follow, he realized. After all, he had just made a promise. So, he did, following the lady into her bedroom and being followed by her handmaid. He thought he heard Freighla mutter something along the lines of “… should be entertaining…” as he passed the threshold.

~This is knowledge for the Reader~

The Affection Multiplier

~Mana: 60 (+36) 105~

~Mana Channels: ~Labiae Passionii (Lips of Passion) free, ~ Corpu Vigorii (Vigorous Body) 100, ~ Uirtau Proelium (Martial Prowess) 100, ~Mensu Lucidae (Bright Mind) 100, ~ Tactu Beatae (Blissful Touch) 100, ~Plurem Amatrixae Normalii (The Normalcy of Many Loves) 500, ~Corpu Libidaem (Lustful Body) 100, ~Corpu Spectabilum (Intimidating Body) 100, ~Mentulae Potencii (Potent Cock) 150, ~Limbu Infinitum (Endless Loins) 100, ~Voluptae Gustatum (Delightful Flavor, Gratify the Appetite) 100, ~Figurae Cultura (Shaping Culture) 500, ~Vulgum Venerae (The Love of the Masses) 500

~Tabitha~ Affectionae: 100 Erosii: 100 Libidae: 100 (Effective 41)
~Lim~ A: 52 (+3) 55 E: 2
~Boll~ A: 33 (+1) 34
~Grahm~ A: 33 (+3) 36
~Halpern~ A: 21 (+2) 23
~Nimit~ A: 15 (+2) 17
~Day's Shift Guards~ A: (+9) +4 (+13)
~Lina~ A: 44 L: 3
~Asha~ A: 100 E: 100 L: 100 (Effective 39)
~Princess Katya~ A: -52
~Maiden Caterina~ A: 18 E: 1 L: 2
~Maiden Gwynfuir~ A: 15
~Maiden Erynna~ A:5
~Lady Wilmyna~ A: 17 (+4) 21 L: 5 (+4) 9
~Maiden Freighla~ A: 11(+12) 23 L: 3 (+10) 13
~Lady Falina~ A: 12
~Maiden Deela~ A: 9
~Lady Vidala~ A: 6
~Maid Camilla~ A: 6 L: 4
~Night's Shift Guards~ A: (+6)
~Govren~ A: 2
~Princess Yelena~ A: 66 E: 3
~Maiden Oliyah~ A: 9