Yes, For Now; Just Married; Dorna-A-Vunkesh [The Old Volcano's Peak], Arms, Armor, And Steel-Work; Yes; And, In The Guest Wing Of The Royal Palace.

What a few weeks it has been. Today marks the two week anniversary of your ascension to the rank of Count, and will forever after be your Wedding Anniversary as well.

In that time you have done much, hired a reputable company of 50 Dwarven Mercenaries known as "The Hammers of Brage" to be your "Men-at-Arms", lined up a team of 100 workers to rebuild the castle once it is cleared along with 7 Dwarven Stonewrights to lead them, and formally taken your seat in the House of Lords: but nothing could prepare you for the daunting yet exciting task before you at this moment...

You look at the beautifully polished mahogany door straight ahead and try to summon the courage to open it. Inside is your lovely Lady wife, Rusilka Gemheart-Highslate, who even now awaits you in preparation of ending your mutual status as virgins. You have faced many fights, several battles, and two full-blown wars, but nothing in all your experience has excited and frighted you more than this.

Your father, King-Under-Mountain of Dorna-A-Vunkesh, an old and mighty volcanic peak in the mountains of the south east whose slopes are rich with hematite; has sent you and Rusilka suits of rune inscribed full plate armor as a wedding gift, but you will not receive them until you are properly wedded: and that means sex.

For all you have been looking forward to this moment since you were scarce 40 years old, you now are paralyzed by indecision. What if you disappoint Rusilka and she becomes stiff and cold to you? What if you HURT her and she never wants to lie with you again? What if... The haunting thoughts crash around your head in endless succession: but at last you screw your courage to the sticking place and open the door.

The room beyond is a study in scarlet, the walls, floor, and bedframe made from redwood, the bed spread with red satin sheets, pillows, and blankets, the huge and ornate four poster draped with curtains of sanguine silk, and in the midst of it all, Rusilka, her hair dyed with henna, and her body painted with the runes of motherhood in red ocher. You slip inside quickly and close the door behind you, your Dwarven Men-At-Arms having dispersed to guard all the approaches to this room before you came to the door.

Rusilka looks at you strangely, almost as if something is wrong...