Some shady characters...

The streets of St. Marmelise, like many of the cities ruled by Grand Cardinals, were a colourful and gregarious place, especially for those who walked them bearing a holy symbol, cassock or vestments. Women threw open their shuttered windows to call out homilies, and tradesmen respectfully paused in their labors to make gestures of piety whenever they passed. Simply meeting one of those commoners' eyes was enough to get them offering them anything they needed.

Of course, these days, there were more reasons than just good will and devotion that traveling holy folk attracted attention, particularly if priestesses or holy sisters were involved. A new consensus had swept through the ranks of the Grand Cardinals and Grand Crusaders, and following it was a wave of rather bold aesthetic changes, particularly where the prescribed vestments of the fairer sex were concerned. Such change had been well underway for some time, and the fact that Claudia was chosen in St. Marmelise, a trendsetter for these daring new styles, was taken as a sign of divine favor for it. From the occasional prickles on the back of her neck, Claudia knew that more than a few of them were feeling some small measure of lust when they saw her.

Being deaf, Donna wasn't responding to most of the salutations. Still showing her lack of tact, the nun was swinging her gilded staff back and forth in front of her as she walked, knocking loose stones or other debris out of the way instead of doing the polite thing and stepping around. Normally, Claudia would have enthusiastically called back to those who were greeting her. But not only was she tired - in her current state, seeing all those happy couples beaming in her direction was a bit annoying.

To her great embarrassment, Claudia found that properly riding a beast of burden was not so intuitive as it looked. Even though the paladin was wearing pants and not a skirt, unlike Donna, and thus didn't need to ride side-saddle to avoid getting her undergarments filthy, she found the swaying jackass difficult to stay atop even with Donna walking in front and guiding it. And aside from worrying about falling and cracking her head on the cobblestones, Claudia spent the whole ride wincing as the pressure riding up between her legs got to her. The oblivious brown-furred animal's backbone was unfortunately positioned and frustrated any hope she might have had of cooling down and clearing her head.

Idly as they traveled, Claudia glanced down at Donna, and watched both her and the crowds. Despite being rather "cutesy", the high-riding hem of Donna's dress and the long white stockings underneath could've seamlessly fit into the wardrobe of one of the girls back at the house of ill-repute where Claudia had been raised. And sure enough, more than a few of the pious men greeting the two girls seemed to be looking at her rather than Claudia with her cleavage-baring 'breastplate'. A few times when a a breeze blew past and momentarily revealed the slender blonde initiate's panties, Claudia saw dirty old men stop in their tracks and clench their hands greedily. Clearly, at least some males had an appreciation for the Sister. But when Claudia looked at her new companion, she felt only bemusement, not desire.

How different Yvonne, and that elegant foreign liaison of hers, were though; especially Yvonne. Claudia thought back to her formative experiences at Prudence's. Sometimes Claudia had gotten excited and had thoughts of sex fill her mind when she saw one of the working girls in an enticing new outfit, but assumed that was just natural well-wishing and appreciation of the outfit itself. She'd learned some years ago that female clients sometimes came around requesting female company, on account of the discussions among the girls who worked there. Since Prudence (the madam) hadn't been one to micromanage her girls and allowed them to connect with clients on their own, there'd always been plenty of "shop talk" about what prices to charge and what acts to allow. Among the dozen or so girls working there, a narrow majority had said that they wouldn't do women, while a substantial minority said that they would, but charged extra for it.

Claudia had never met a girl there who said it was her preference, but then, she knew that the girls there were a bit cliquish and liked to peer-pressure each other over frivolous things - something which their children (Claudia wasn't the only result of a failed contraceptive technique; there'd been 5 other children and adolescents of various ages working there when she left, none of whom had been born outside the establishment's walls) enthusiastically picked up on. They were a close-knit group, and picked on anyone who didn't abide by the group consensus... Claudia reflected that, even though her former friends and schoolmates were all eminent citizens now (the surviving prostitutes at Prudence's having been deluged with marriage offers from eminent families after the miraculous events there), she didn't much care for the idea of meeting back up with them.

Well, she didn't have to care what they thought anymore, did she? There was no reason not to pursue the... thought of Yvonne's body and all its most intimate pleasures if it was amusing.

As a result of having been successfully aroused by the erotic images before, Claudia chooses to shift her sexuality attribute. The default two attributes which most characters will have are 'Straight' or 'Gay/Lesbian', which are worth 0 character points. The effect of this in terms of game mechanics is that they are treated as having the 'Frigid' attribute towards a particular gender. A character with no interest may be 'Asexual' which is treated as an advantage and carries a points cost, since no-one can seduce them. Conversely, 'Bisexual' is a 5 or 10 point disadvantage because more characters can target whoever has it. The 10 point disadvantage befits a 'true' bisexual who is fully and equally attracted to both sexes. The 5 point version means they can be aroused by both sexes, but modifiers from appearance use the lower of their 2 values when dealing with a member of the sex normally "opposed" to their sexuality. To start with, Claudia takes the 5 point version. Since this is a "disadvantage" (don't read too much into that; it's just how the system works) she gains 5 extra character points, which she'll hold onto for now.

"You shameful brute!" Claudia heard a deep male voice behind her and looked around - before after a moment she remembered the bizarre company she was keeping and looked down at Angelo. At first, Claudia thought the intelligent dog had been getting angry at one of those fellows stealing a glance at Donna's panties, but she saw he was actually speaking to the donkey. "You are clearly giving Sin-Taker Claudia an uncomfortable ride! Her unease is so strong I can smell it. Don't you understand the honor you're being given, idiot? I cannot believe Saetolus insists on making other domesticated beasts so obstinate and primitive... all the labors that humans put into raising such creatures, only for the beasts to serve so poorly, or not at all."

"Excuse me, Mr. Dog?" Claudia said, concerned. "Could you please... keep your holy blessings from Norvaskr to yourself when we go to this pavilion? It sounds like there may be suspicious would-be witchhunters around and they might mistake you for a witch's familiar."

Angelo's tail dipped and he whined piteously. Donna immediately took note of this and rushed over to comfort him, hugging him around the neck. "Ohhh, I know boy, it's a big, scary new city for me too. Um, excuse me, Claudia?" she said, clearly making an effort to manage her usually-garbled speech pattern, "Would it be okay if we stopped to get Angelo some biscuits? I was a little too generous and already gave him all of the 'holy hound wafers' that the cathedral provided me with when he was assigned..."

False, the intrusive voice in Claudia's mind said again - once again, searingly jabbing into Claudia's ears like a physical blade and making her rock on her seat... not as intense as last time, but still nearly knocking her over. The girl consumed TWO of the sacred dog wafers herself, the first because she was curious about what it tasted like and the second because she liked it - a serious transgression against her vow of temperance and a betrayal of her holy guardian animal...

This is another "strong lie" and causes damage due to Claudia's weakness disadvantage. It isn't as intense as the last one so it deals 1/2 a damage die. 1d6=1. because of the 1/2 divisor this means Claudia suffers no actual hit point damage, this time.

"FUCK! IT WAS A DOG BISCUIT, NO ONE CARES!!" Claudia shrieked, raising a hand and letting a single tear roll down her cheek. Angelo stared at her - Donna didn't notice, of course. "Can I... can I ask Jaris to shut that off, if only while I'm around HER? Hello? Jaris?" Claudia heard no response, nor was any divine sign forthcoming.

Jaris is a "patron", however, despite being highly accessible, for legal and religious reasons, he cannot speak to her directly or answer informal requests. To do so would defeat the entire purpose of worshiping him in the first place; anything that violates the principle of free will is anathema to him, even more than for most gods. Claudia's theology skill is not yet high enough to intuitively understand this.

She sighed. Confronting Donna about her apparent habitual dishonesty (which Jaris, seemingly, judged much more harshly in a nun than he would in others) would be an awkward ordeal. Claudia grimly pursed her lips and mused that the best thing she could do for now was to cover her ears with her hands whenever Donna started talking about herself and try to keep the foolish girl from straying off-topic. "Ahem, faithful citizens of St. Marmelise... could one of you direct me to the nearest sweetroll stand? I could really use one..."

Claudia uses her 'carousing' skill to find a nice place for a quick rest. 3, 2, 5 = 10, success. 20 minutes of rest, plus food, means that she recovers 3 fatigue points and is no longer 'tired' (less than 33% of fatigue, giving penalties to move, dodge, etc).

After fear of the possibilities motivated Claudia to finally leave her comfy bench and move on again, they arrived at a large canvas structure in the midst of a fairground, covered with emerald-green turf and little white daisies (it would have been a beautiful sight if not for the sprinkling of horse shit). There were many riding horses hitched up outside of the sprawling purple tent. There were several recently-used jousting fields and equestrian courses that had been left empty - and more commoners were streaming into that tent even as Claudia and her entourage approached, speaking to someone at the entrance one by one before being admitted. "Angelo. Tablet." Claudia said with a weary snap of her fingers. The dutiful dog nudged Donna's hip, and the sister responded by handing the chalk slate to Claudia, who swiftly wrote LET ME DO THE TALKING.

After hitching up their humble mount, Claudia strolled up to the pavilion entrance looking as casual as she could manage. It opened, and Claudia was confronted with two sets of beady eyes staring directly at her steel-cupped bosom... not just because it attracted the eye, but because the two fellows who greeted her were naturally at eye level with her tits; dwarves, both of them.

Rather than elaborate ceremonial armor like the dwarf priest who'd taught her the language had spoken, these two wore shabby oilskin suit jackets, complete with oilskin ties. Their heads were covered in flat-topped plaid bonnets with a little fluffy ball at the top of each one. Their reddish beards were scraggly rather than well-groomed and braided, and an odor of pipeweed and whiskey hung about them. They both bore quite a few scars, and one had a menacing false nose, the scar suggesting he'd caught an axe full to the face; as for the other one, it was hard to say if an axe to the face could make him any less handsome than he was now.

"Hah! Heard about this afternoon's show, did you? You're just in time, lasses." The one with the nose said. "Bets are still being taken. But then, I'm guessing that you're not here to wager yourselves, but to give the lucky winners something to spend their newfound coin on?" He made a sweeping gesture with his hand that Claudia, with her life experience, recognized as pantomiming slapping someone's ass.

"Yeah," the menacing dwarf continued, "Dunno if you've heard but us in the Haugan family control this fairground; it's us who hired the rafflers and criers who spread the word and led you here. Don't worry, it's okay if you want to 'work' in here, we shan't demand a cut from ye or anything. Just don't go leading any of the spectators off to a private room until after the betting's done with."

"Hang on a moment, Voggi my good lad." The other, even scruffier dwarf said, glaring at the two girls in a less friendly fashion. "I know those symbols. It's a Jarisite paladin and some girl with a temperence ribbon, probably from some order... you know how vestments for priestesses and sisters have gotten over these past few years."

Claudia pouted. She had just been proud of herself for realizing that it wasn't technically a lie to say that she was a prostitute, and she'd been coming up with a way to reassure these ruffians they should let her in, and to tease some information out of them while she was at it. She couldn't deny it now though, so she cleared her throat and held her chest forward confidently. "Yes, you suspect correctly!"

Donna glanced over, blinking and looking worried. "What was that about, Claudia? Can we go in? I couldn't understand anything they said, those funny beards make it impossible to read them..."

"Funny? FUNNY?!" the false-nosed dwarf balled up his fists. "and... hold on a moment... temperance?! Bah! By Bruudalf's hairy back! Of all the mad notions humans have ever come up with... forget the paladin, I refuse on principle to let a bloody cultist of that sick creed set foot in our pavilion! Away with you, bitch! Unless you want a spanking - and I'll nae be gentle!!"

A deep growl welled up from Angelo's throat - heading that off, Claudia gave him a rude sideways kick with her heel, driving him back behind her, as she continued. "I AM in the service of the priesthood of Jaris - a living icon of the lawbringer himself! I have authority to go anywhere in the whole of the alliance in pursuit of my divine mission!"

Reaction rolls. Because these are criminal lowlifes, Claudia and Donna's social status ranks provide a penalty instead of a bonus, and Donna's vow of temperance gives a massive -8, while Claudia's legal enforcement powers give her a -5, cancelling out her bonus for beauty and fashionable clothing. For Claudia: 4, 3, 6 - 2 = 11, 'fair'. For Donna: 5, 4, 1 - 6 = 4, "very bad".

The scruffier dwarf thug spat on the ground not far from her heels. "Authority? My cock to your human authority. Scamper off now if you know what's good for ya, lass." he gave the middle part of that response emphasis by crudely grabbing himself with one hand.

Claudia decides to try and use theology. Since she doesn't specialize in Bruudalf's theology, she is at a -3 penalty. 2, 4, 3 = 9, a narrow failure at her effective skill of 7.

"Wait. Does not Bruudalf say... uh... let none among you... bar a thirsty young woman from your tent?" The two dwarves didn't dignify her words with any response save a laugh.

Trying to stay confident, Claudia folded her arms over her chest and put a high-heeled steel shoe forward over the threshhold of the tent provocatively. "Well, in any case, I am here by rightful authority! You little mountain goats may not know this, but manhandling a servant of the church on a mission is utterly forbidden - in any way, shape or form. I could show you the body of law in question if I but had the time - the list of all the things you AREN'T allowed to do to me if I disregard your warnings and go into your squalid little tent, goes on for three whole pages!"

'Voggi' chuckles again. "Oh, is that a fact? Well, how clever it was, then, for us to hire on some muscle from the Tribe-states who doesn't know how to read." He gave a shrill whistle over his shoulder into the tent. "Hey, Botha! Get out here! We got another job for you lad, yew'll like this one!"

From behind the tent, a beefy fist emerged, followed by a throaty grumble. By this new fellow's physique, a dumbstruck Claudia thought this new fellow was an orc concealing his green skin with makeup - or a half-orc, at the very least. A veritable wall of pectoral muscles and rock-hard abs, with a wolf-pelt loincloth and a leather chest harness the only concession to decency, emerged and regarded Claudia, Donna and Angelo with mild amusement. Unkempt black hair reached halfway down his back.

"Mmm," this 'Botha' grunted, nodding and placing a thumb under his lantern jaw thoughtfully. "I think I see. Friends of the family of that girl knight who has decided to make a show by interfering in a trial." He seemed to be weighing his options a moment, shamelessly looking at every detail of Claudia, then flicking back to the racketeering dwarves, back and forth and back again. At last, he spoke, with a hint of regret. "Sorry, girls. Gold speaks louder to me than gods. You going to leave the fairground on your own, or do I need to carry you away?"

"Ooooooh!" Donna cooed, leaning forward, her nose and cheeks pink with excitement and her big blue eyes glittering. "They have a strongman act! These are my faaaavorite! Miss Claudia, can we please, please rest just a bit longer so we can see him perform, before we go try and talk to Miss Sterling? I'm sure she'll be fine!"