Never a slow moment, it seems...

4th Madidae, the 31th day of the month of Semens (Sem), the 3672nd year of Salvation's Landing

Nodding to the Cityguard that had taken up watch over the relatively nondescript carriage Reglin and his lovers were to take back to the palace, he held open the door for both ladies, earning lovely smiles as thanks. Getting into the carriage him brought a small surprise. Inside sat Yelena and Oliyah, looking at him with amused expressions.

“A surprise for you, Master Reglin?” Yelena said with just the right amount of propriety. Her pale lips formed a smile reminiscent of a cat getting the cream. Her handmaiden looked at him still with a strange expression, as though she was seeing something unexplainable.

Trying to coach his face, Reglin just raised a brow and offered a bow of his head, “A surprise indeed, Princess… A more than pleasant one for myself.” He let his eyes linger on the diminutive Princess, knowing what kind of effect he could have of women in general these days, let alone women who he had left passed out due to an exhaustive amount of please.

It worked, as his little blonde lover showed an obvious shiver and had to shift her vision away from him, “Anyways… Oliyah and I were to spend the afternoon with Tabitha, so we thought we might as well linger. Lessons to learn from a fellow magicker and all that…” She ended looking back at the guardsman with a wide smile. “Thank you so much… It’s a wonderous thing you did for me.” She spoke in just about a whisper to keep from any outside ears possibly hearing.

Giving up the ‘Imposing Sex Idol’ look, Reglin’s face shifted to a warm smile. “Think nothing of it, dear Princess… You are a someone I have grown to treasure.” His look then passed to all the women present, “You all have.”

Oliyah shifted a bit uncomfortably at the recognition. Her cheeks colored and her eyes fell to the floor. Did Reglin think that she was just some average girl? Perhaps that was just a flawed first impression given off by how clouded and jumbled his first days back in the palace had been.

Reglin hated to see the uncertainty in the young woman who had been through so much in her young life. He leaned forward and cupped her chin in his large hand, lifting her gaze to his own. “I mean you too, Oliyah… I know that we are just getting to know one another truly. Yet, you know the madness that is spinning around me, and you hold no reserve. I hate to think that you are just being caught up in this thing. But then again, I suppose that I too am just caught up in all this. I know your life has not always been sunshine and rainbows, but I would like to offer you as much in the way of free will as I can.”

She looked at him, eyes never wavering. By the end of his short monologue, Reglin could see water building up in those brown eyes of hers. Nodding very slightly, she only sighed in response. He supposed that she was heavy in thought at his words.

Nodding his own head in return, he continued, “And with that, perhaps it’s time to see what this scroll of ours might have in store for us. It has been a bit since we got to studying it…” He spoke of the artifact as a communal item, and in his mind it sort of had become such a thing. Sure, he was the focal. But that didn’t mean that it could not do wonderous things for those he cared for, namely those present.

The Magistricia had been given the message pouch that she had gifted Reglin before the matches this day. Inside it was the Affection Multiplier artifact and the mysteries that lie within that scroll. She pulled the pouch then and handed it over to her lover, “It might be wise to do so, given the sheer amount of change around you as of late. If the look that Oliyah has been giving you, there might be something rather substantial to address…”

Giving his eldest lover a suspicious look, Reglin then looked over to Oliyah, catching her staring at him with wide eyes. She quickly looked away, some small bit of embarrassment showing. The guardsman decided to let it go and pulled the scrollcase from the pouch and then opened it to withdraw ancient artifact.

Unrolling the vellum as he had done so many times before, what Reglin saw from the magically appearing script might have shocked him more than the very first time he laid eyes on the scroll.

The Affection Multiplier

~Mana: 9171 (+3798) 12,969~

This was the first thing he saw appear and his eyes shot open about as wide as they could possibly go. The other occupants of the carriage instantly became quite alarmed from the usually composed young guardsman. Well, not so much Tabitha, but that was to be expected.

It was Asha who was quickest to respond, asking a rather open-ended question of Reglin, “Uhhh… What is it?” Simple and to the point.

Reglin’s eyes came off the scroll and looked at Asha, before looking around at all there, “Uhhh… Yeah, uhhh is just about all I got…” He shook his head, attempting to clear his thought process. After a moment, he collected himself and spoke, “Well… I have more mana streams lashed to me then I had collected up to this point… By a lot.”

Tabitha gave a thoughtful small nod, not looking terribly shocked by the news, while Asha and Yelena but continued to wear startled expressions. Oliyah showed more of a bemused expression, being newest to all that is the Affection Multiplier. She looked around the carriage, seeking some explanation it appeared. “I mean… You stand out like a beacon of blue to me right now. But is that a good thing?” A crinkle between her brow displayed her thoughtfulness on the matter.

Smiling softly, Reglin thought he would give Oliyah a bit of context, “Well, there are almost thirteen thousand streams currently tied to me. For reference, the most streams required for anything I have at this time was at five hundred… And those gave me the ability to change culture albeit in very small steps, the ability for everyone to see it as normal for me to have many love interests, and the ability for Yelena to use Magick. Sooo…” He let that hang there while Oliyah’s pinched brow was now coupled with a frown.

She looked at him with suspicion, “So that is why I think that way? So all of this is just some way for you go from dalliance to dalliance without any of us girls being upset by it? I should be more upset about this I think, but it is just so strange… Why?”

“Because it is not about just some ‘dalliances’ as you say, dear girl…” Tabitha responded, sounding a bit vex. They had explained a good deal of things to Oliyah, but when it was all laid bare like this in its bones, it did look quite odd, “If my hypotheses are correct, he is meant to gather an unknown amount of us to bring about something, well… transformational I think.”

Reglin looked at Tabitha quizzically. She was stubborn with the ideas and sharing too much with him. She felt like it could possibly affect a predestined order of events, regardless of the fact that if it was predestined if would be bound to handle anyways. But she remained stubborn about it. Everyone had their blindspots so to speak. When he looked to Oliyah though, the girl was already settling down.

These distractions did a well enough job of grounding Reglin after the initial shock of mana he had accumulated. He gave Oliyah a warm smile before stating, “Like I said, I would like you all to have as much say in what happens to you as possible. Now, let us see what we can make for ourselves…”

Reading over the scroll, the guardsman knew instantly that he could make himself the apex soldier, specimen, or lover immediately. Yet, there was no way to be certain that he would come across another massive influx of mana such as this. It seemed rather short-sighted to do so without investigating further. After all, he had seen new powers populate in the past. Why wouldn’t happen now?

Sure enough, there were plenty of new powers available at some rather exorbitant costs. Reglin had seen the ‘Consult the Council’ channel before, and it still interested him. It sound liked there were entities behind this artifact entrusted to him and that he may be able to ask it some question. If that was true, it sounded remarkable indeed. But at five thousand mana to ask a question a week, it was an incredibly steep price. Best to think on it further.

‘The Blood of Nobles’… In its description it said that anyone of a common bloodline would be seen as noble by all. No real description besides that. If he were to be awarded land, was it truly necessary? And for another five thousand. One to put in the ‘think about it’ pile.

Then there was the next step in ‘The Normalcy of Many Loves’. Instead of society seeing it as normal that Reglin not be tied down by a single lover, this made it sound like those that he took as lovers were looked upon with honor. That would make it more appealing for some of his thoughts for the future. That would require two thousand mana. He had to admit that it was high on his initial list of thoughts.

First and foremost though, he would do what he had promised Oliyah and tell her about what the scroll seemed to hold for her specifically. “A hefty number of interesting things, to be sure… But this is what I spoke of earlier Oliyah. ‘Weaver of Mana’ appears to be a translation for it. Unfortunately, the entries about these channels I think are left intentionally vague. Who knows… Maybe there is some amount of faith to be given. Regardless, all it says is that ‘Those that can see the streams will be able to do more than just see. They can become rocks in the river, diverting the current to where they would like’…” Looking up back at Oliyah, Reglin raised an inquisitive brow at her, “Interested?”

Looking to be mentally gnawing on that entry, Oliyah appeared to be agonizing on the words. Finally, she spoke in a very hesitant voice, “… I-I… I don’t know. I mean, it’s not like Princess Yelena’s obviously, right?”

Reglin shook his head but added no more, letting the handmaiden work through this. But after some moments it was Yelena who spoke, “Oliyah… You have been gifted or cursed with this power. I know you how you have seen it for so very long. Perhaps this open a new chapter? Perhaps make it for less oppressive in your own mind?”

An interesting tactic to take with the somewhat moody handmaiden. One that appeared to be fruitful if Oliyah’s face was any indication. She looked troubled still, but there was a gleam in her eyes now. Maybe she was working over just what that could mean to her. Finally, she nodded, “You know what? Maybe it is faith that’s needed? Maybe this is there for a purpose? You all are sucked up in the current and riding it, maybe this is what I need to join you…”

With each rhetorical question, the girl’s confidence grew. She looked at Reglin with conviction brimming in her eyes and nodded more fervently. The Holder of the Scroll gave a single nod back, “Alright then… Manae Innectii!” But of course, there was no noticeable change.

Tabitha looked to Oliyah then, “Like Reglin said, it is hard to say just what will happen on what timeframe. But they have been true to their words, if in a roundabout manner. Just see if anything comes to you. Regardless, we have lessons in the library when we return. That should offer you time to see what may be seen in the moment…”

Oliyah only gave a brief nod, but a countenance of determination remained as she appeared to be looking inward, taking the advice quite seriously. Reglin had to smile to himself before looking to Tabitha, “So, being accepted as nobility seems like a somewhat worthwhile channel to open… But if I were to become a landholder, even a small one, would that raise me to a status as well?”

A thoughtful face came to his beautiful blonde lover’s face, “Perhaps…” She paused in thought, “But once again, we do not know what the artifact could provide. It very well could be something much more meaningful than an upstart soldier who proved himself worthy and was granted a small patch of land in a disputed territory…”

That was something to ponder as well. Would the scroll provide him a redundancy of sorts? Hard to say. It did seem as though this relic of his was looking out for his best interest. “Okay then, still a very viable option… What else?” He looked down at this scroll. He saw Asha get up and come to his other side so that he was flanked by both of his lovers, both attentively reading over his shoulders.

After silently reading some more of the entries, Reglin noticed with Asha pressed up against him that her breathing had sped up a bit. He looked at her sideways and saw that her face was flushed a bit. When she spoke, it was a breathy thing, “Some of those are quite… w-well, something…”

He snorted a small laugh at her excited state. He could understand though. Some of those powers were pretty straightforward in what they would do for him, or to him. And it was easy to let the imagination run wild with the possibilities. In less than a week’s time he had become quite adept in the lovemaking department, leaving all of his lovers quivering in states of bliss. But he could add further to some of those traits. What would that do to the poor girls? It seemed like Asha was more than willing to test it out.

“This is quite a list to whittle down…” Reglin said finally, “But I do think that I have the basis of the list. Let me know what you think, all of you…” He looked down and read, “’Blood of Nobles’ is five thousand. Seems like something to see what it does. For the price paid, it’s likely something of note.”

All the women nodded at this thinking with various levels of conviction, with Yelena oddly being the most ****, though still seeing its worth.

“To go on and shape culture further also appears to have merit. Given the amount of breastflesh you ladies are more and more willing to show on just the murmurings of something, I wonder what would be the next incarnation of it? That’s another fifteen hundred… ‘Code of Conduct’ would also be a nice trick to have up my sleeve. Especially if I may be interacting with nobility from the various regions more and more. The entry did a relatively good job of explanation. Hopefully it would keep me from any real major mistakes with the respective courts.”

Once again, more nods of acquiescence. Once more with varying degrees of approval.

“With Oliyah’s power, that would sum up to eighty-five hundred mana… I still have over four thousand to allocate…” He looked some more, “’Normalcy of Many Loves’ would be another fifteen hundred. That is one I want for certain. If it would make it easier for us, I think it is worth it.” **** nods again, “That leaves us with twenty-nine hundred… ‘Gifted Tongue’ could prove useful for similar reasons as ‘Code of Conduct’. Three hundred more off…

They were getting closer to the palace now. They would more than likely go their separate ways for a bit at least. Reglin wanted to get as much done together with his small cohort of those in the know. “This one I think would be beneficial for all of us to have. A means to keep properly groomed? If I am out in the field, perhaps it would provide a way to remain in a respectable fashion all the while. And to alleviate any issues for any of you, I would gladly pay for it.”

Shaking her head at the idea, Tabitha explained her thoughts, “I have no need. I know of magicks that can do something along those lines. So, I have no need and I will teach Yelena it as well. It is a minor trick in the grand scheme. Do not waste your precious mana on us. I agree with it for you. As for Asha and Oliyah? I suppose that is between you three.”

Looking intently at Asha, she a way of making everything seem very frivolous and entertaining with that smirk of a smile of hers, “Well, I suppose it would be something nice to have. I guess I could rely on Tabby here to help me with her ‘magicks’, but I won’t deny liking the idea of having the capacity independently…”

Reglin then looked to Oliyah. Her face looked distracted by concentration still. She had only partly been involved in much of the decision-making process. His attention brought her focus though, “Hmm? o-oh… Well…” She thought about it with more intent, “Well… I suppose it could be nice… If you have it in your mana bank of yours. If not, no real big loss…”

These girls were always so selfless when it came to the scroll. It appeared as though they were taking their own sense of responsibility of it. It made the big guardsman smile. “I think I can make it happen…” He looked to Tabitha and Yelena in turn, “If it’s a major boon, I would not hesitate to give it to both of you. Not being a magicker I don’t know if there could be a situation in which you might not have access to mana… Just something to think about.” Tabitha gave him a patient smile and Yelena only looked to her mentor for her own reaction. So Reglin said the words and six hundred more mana slipped away to bind itself in its unusual manner around the owners of the newly open channels.

“Oh! It’s coming to me!” Oliyah exclaimed excitedly, her eyes wide. “I’ve always seen it swirl about and even come to me sometimes! But this is different… it acts with a purpose…” She looked as though she was watching something though nothing was visible. Reglin was not attuned to see the streams at the moment. “Ha! I moved it!” More excitement in her voice. “Well, more deterred it for a moment… But still interesting. Before I was only a witness to these tendrils.”

Everyone in the carriage smiled widely at the handmaiden, but none wider than her Princess. Yelena was absolutely beaming with joy. “A new voyage for us both, my dear friend…” Her eyes began to water, and she wiped away at the corners with a hand. It really was touching, the relationship the two women had. The two had shuttered themselves away from most the world for so long, but now something new and adventurous looked to be on the horizon.

“Roughly two thousand left.” Reglin said. “Sooo… I can become more effective on the battlefield. I think that would probably help myself in regard to my ‘mystique’.” He looked at the scroll, then looked to Tabitha. She shrugged and raised a brow, a nonverbal passive affirmation. “That will put me down to sixteen hundred…” He said the words necessary, then looked out and saw that they were approaching the palace.

A smell caught Reglin’s nose, and it felt like a bolt of lightning went through his loins. The smell was a blend of flowers and an evening of passionate lovemaking. His eyes popped open wide and looked over at Asha. Her cheeks were rosy and her modest bosom rose with deep breaths. “Reglin, Love…” She whispered in a husky tone that even made the big man blush, “Not to sound like a Harlot, but… Well… You already take such good care of us. But I feel like you will have more on your plate soon enough.” She snuggled closer to him, her presence and aroma intoxicating. “Well… m-maybe you could get that one power we saw. ~It might be a loooot of fuuunnn~” Her last line was lustrous and sing-songy and succeeded in making it very difficult for Reglin to not just ravage his bouncy-bottomed brunette lover.

Having to say it through gritted teeth, Reglin spoke with no reservation, activating the new power that would further enhance his bedroom proclivities. “You! You evil woman, are in serious trouble come later!” He glanced about and saw that Asha’s mood was contagious. There was nothing but hard nipples in the cabin to go along with flushed cheeks.

His second lover purred at his words, rubbing herself against him like a cat as well, “Threatening me with a good time? Whatever shall a lusty woman like me do? I suppose I will take my licks and count myself lucky…” She leaned upward and gave him a lingering kiss on his cheek, very close to his lips. “Hope I don’t have to wait too long…” Her throaty chuckle was just more kindling on the fire.

“Ahem!” Tabitha spoke quite deliberately, “We are on the grounds. Perhaps a bit more decorum from the two of you?” She looked passed Reglin at Asha, “Young lady, if that is how you use your new gift, well…” She blushed prettily at that, “Well, there are worse way for certain. But I really do not want to be challenged by the guards with how sharp you’ve made my tips…” She glanced down at her breasts in the somewhat risqué dress before muttering with a bit of humor in it, “Hussy…”

Reglin wasn’t content just yet, “For this little bit of tease, prepare yourself… ‘Limbu Infinitae’…” His smile was a one of mischief, “Hope you are ready for a bath afterwards… You’ll need it. But, do not say I am not a benevolent lover… ‘Divinae Gustatum'." His grin only intensified then, "You will enjoy it a bit more now, even though I am not sure you deserve it."

As the Carriage came to a halt, the occupants were more than a bit riled up and were looking for an excuse to sequester themselves away somewhere for some debauchery. Even the usually reserved Oliyah had a sense of panting about her. But it was Tabitha that provided a modicum of control, "Reglin, you need to find Shonda and see if she might have something finished that you could wear tonight. The Ladies and I will retire to the library and do our best to conduct some sort of lesson, frazzled as we may be... Thank you, Asha." The girl could not pull off a sheepish look for her life. She seemed more than a bit proud actually. "Meet us in the library once you are finished." She looked around and saw only some househands nearby not paying attention. In a hurried manner, the Magistricia rose on her tip-toes and gave Reglin a lingering peck very much in the vein of Asha's. Apparently she was rather effected by the ride to the palace. "Go..." She said with a bit of embarassment.

Smiling at the situation, Reglin bowed his head to each woman in turn, "Alright then... Ladies, I will return as swiftly as possible." With that, he rose and made his way into the palace and toward the seamstress's quarter.

~This is knowledge for the Reader~

The Affection Multiplier

~Mana: 12,969 (-12,050 +10) 929~

~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 Inmoderitae (Excessive Loins) 100, ~Voluptae Gustatum (Delightful Flavor, Gratify the Appetite) 100, ~Figurae Cultura (Shaping Culture) 500, ~Vulgum Venerae (The Love of the Masses) 500, ~Corpu Vigorii Magii (A More Vigorous Body) 400, ~Fluxii Magickae (The Flow of Magick - Yelena Polivander) 500, ~Manae Innectii (Weaver of Mana - Oliyah) 500, ~Princepsum Sanguinae (Blood of Nobles) 5000, ~Aedificiae Cultura (Building Culture) 1500, ~Codecii Moresum (Code of Conduct) 1500, ~Plurem Amatrixrae Beneficidae (The Blessing of Many Loves) 1500, ~Praeditum Linguistae (Gifted Tongue) 300, ~Manae Munditae (Cleansing Mana - Reglin) 200, ~Manae Munditae (Cleansing Mana - Asha) 200, ~Manae Munditae (Cleansing Mana - Oliyah) 200, Uirtau Peritumii (Martial Expertise) 400, Mentulae Culmenii (Apex Cock) 300, ~Limbu Infinitae (Endless Loins) 200, ~Divinae Gustatum (Divine Flavor, Bountiful Feast) 250

~Lovers~ A: 300 E: 300 L: 300
~Tabitha~ Affectionae: 100 Erosii: 100 Libidae: 100 (Effective 93)
~Asha~ A: 100 E: 100 L: 100 (Effective 93)
~Princess Yelena~ A: 100 E: 100 L: 100 (Effective 90)

~Royal Polivander House~ A: 57 L: 34
~King Oren~ A: 23
~Queen Delliah~ A: 24
~Princess Katya~ A: -4 L: 23
~Princess Cirsha~ A: 42 L: 11
~Crown Prince Tilan~ A: -6

~Nobles~ A: 176 E: 16 L: 122
~Lady Wilmyna~ A: 89 E: 16 L: 77
~Lady Falina~ A: 37 L: 21
~Lady Vidala~ A: 37 L: 24
~Archduke Hanval~ A: 5
~Duchess Romana~ A: 4
~Lady Nimina~ A: 4

~Royal and Noble maidens~ A: 332 (+5) 337 E: 43 (+3) 46 L: 248 (+2) 250
~Maiden Caterine~ A: 39 E: 3 L: 24
~Maiden Gwynfuir~ A: 25 L: 5
~Maiden Erynna~ A: 19 L: 5
~Maiden Oliyah~ A: 92 (+5) 97 E: 27 (+3) 30 L: 72 (+2) 74
~Maiden Iridia~ A: 19 L: 4
~Maiden Freighla~ A: 96 E: 13 L: 81
~Maiden Deela~ A: 23 L: 6
~Maid Camilla~ A: 38 L: 51

~Day watch~ A: 282 E: 16

~Evening watch~ A: 32

~Night watch~ A: 16

~Palace Staff~ A: 92 L: 16
~Lina~ A: 55 L: 11
~Govren~ A: 18
~Shonda~ A: 19 L: 5

~People of Polivandria~ A: 12,138
~Cote~ A: 24
~Seeri~ A: 22
~Stin~ A: 26
~Arn~ A: 29