[Plot] TEP - Hero Treatment

[swaswj]

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The Emperor's Pleasure - Hero Treatment​

Anguis Trigon, Phase Two​

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The Geamhess cut gracefully through the sky, wispy clouds parting around the figurehead of Serpens before being drawn toward the humming engines under the protruding wings. Royal and beautiful from the outside, equally immaculate within. The forty-eight guests inside, renowned warriors and heroes from different battles and sponsors, were tended to night and day. The feast of that first night was the largest and most opulent, but none of the guest wanted for wine or spirits, and the tables were always filled with bread and fruit, cold cuts and cheeses, decadent and yet easily preserved. It could easily be mistaken for a pleasure cruise, despite the dire circumstances that had drawn them all together.

The Emperor's two younger children were frequent visitors to the common area; if their older sisters had any complaint, it never came up. Feartu Grace kept to herself, locked away in her own room somewhere else on the large airship; it would be easy to believe she had remained behind in Elata Spiritus. The alluring Venus, however, made sure her presence was known, sauntering through from time to time, always in new and wanton clothing, and always to teasingly slip away not long after. With each visit, the temperature of the room seemed to rise.

After one such visit, a member of the crew -- herself a lovely young velen woman -- approached Deniisis Perfide, respectfully offering a folded paper. The faint scent of perfume rises from the note. Without explanation, the woman smiles and then finds her way over to Dante, offering him a similar card.

Near the same time, an older velen man, smartly-dressed and groomed, makes his way over to Ignis and Aeria, bowing deeply. "My ladies, if it pleases you, our princess Grace would love to speak with you in her chambers. And please, do bring your companion." He flicked his eyes toward the leafy sprite nearby.

[320/320]

Note

This thread will have multiple break-points, where I will ask one or two of you to write a chapter or collab. These may or may not include Success Checks. I'd like you all to establish where you are in the airship, even if you weren't addressed directly.

Val and Thread, I would like you to come up with what the actual message in the note is. I feel like that will make it more interesting.

Those interested in performing Sabotage -- there was no clear opportunity for the first two days. This is now the third day (of four), and it's now easier to move around the airship without drawing too much attention.

 

[Deni Perfide]

Deni stared after the crew woman as she departed the dimly lit room. He shouldn’t have been surprised that half the crew knew where his little hideout was by now. Of all of the honoured guests of the Geamhess, he was one of the least subtle. Despite that, he spent a large portion of his time tucked away in a windowless room near the engineer’s quarters. There, the motion of the ship seemed less prominent due to the steady thrum of the nearby engines.

Truly, Deni hated flying. Ever since an airship ride as a child, his stomach had always disagreed with the less predictable motions of air travel. He had discovered that it was better when he couldn’t see outside, hence the dark room.

Once he was alone, he looked down to the folded paper in his hands. The scent was instantly recognisable. He turned his back to the door and flipped the note open with one thumb. Blue eyes scanned the flowing script, absorbed the content of the letter. A mischievous smirk appeared on the velen’s face once he finished reading, despite the internal conflict that the information in the letter burdened him with. Following the instructions could be dangerous.

He shrugged.

Everything I do is dangerous, he thought to himself and dismissed his concerns. Hopefully, the reward would be worth it in the end.

Deni tucked the note inside his sleeveless black jacket and departed the small room. Down the corridors of the ship he strode, back straight, exuding arrogance as he did on the first day.

[260]

 

[MoonlitRain014]

There was nothing like the sensation of flying. The Geamhess skimmed along elegantly through the scudding lines of cloud that crossed the deep cerulean of the sky. Aeria's face seemed to be on the edge of a smile at all times as the airship rocketed across the sky. However, she found herself interrupted by the older velen man who requested their presence with the princess.

Aeria glanced across at Ignis, raising an eyebrow and nodding in response to the request. There was a vaguely awkward expression on her face and it took her a moment to reply to the velen. "Of course, it would be our pleasure to have an audience with the princess! Do lead the way."

In spite of herself, the spurii looked rather ill at ease in the elegant surroundings of the airship. The rich fittings and sumptuous atmosphere seemed to put an expression on her face that hovered somewhere between disgust and awe. As they were lead down the corridor, she kept glancing around as though she couldn't believe that she was here.

[177]

 

[Ignis of Animi]

Ignis stood near her best friend, enjoying the breeze in her face and watching vague shapes the swirls of the clouds suggested to her imagination. Her wine was mostly gone between her idle sips and Amicus' thirst. She turned just after Aeria did, to see the older velen man bowing to her and her friend.

The enlil's brown eyes immediately sought out her friend's gaze, seeking Aeria's reaction to the invitation he issued. What could a princess want with them? Her feathery brows twitched together briefly in confusion before Ignis' expression smoothed. The avian turned back to the smartly dressed velen and smiled guilelessly.

"I've always wanted to meet a princess, I never dreamed I'd get an audience. We would love to meet her."

Similarly, the sprite riding her shoulder perked up at being invited as well.

The enlil trailed after Aeria and the still unnamed velen, a hand coming up to run through Amicus' leaves for reassurance. Although not outwardly suspicious, Ignis empathized with Aeria's unease. Everything around her seemed like it had been ripped straight from one of the books of her teenage years and the enlil wasn't sure she liked it. Dragons had been a major disappointment, part of the pale woman wondered if royalty would disillusion her too.

[212]

 

[Keydis Lysistrata]

Everything is shrouded in thick white vapor, so thick that she can't even see her hand in front of her face. Wind rushes past, tugging at her hair, pulling her clothes. The metal beneath her feet hums, and that hum rushes through her entire body. The smell of the air, crisp and clear and with a hint of sea-salt, mingles with the tang of metal and oil. It's an indescribable rush, and she leans forward into the gale, holding her arms out to the side.

All at once, the mist breaks around her. She squints against the brilliant sunlight, a giddy grin spread across her face as the wide, blue sky opens up before her. Wisps and streams of cloud trail from the bow of the ship and the balloons on either side. She giggles, eyes bright and merry as she stands alone atop the airborne vessel. Even standing still, it feels like she's soaring ahead at a breakneck speed, basking in the warmth of the sun, reveling in the pull of the wind. Her dress whips and whirls wildly.

"What are you doing--?"

With a start, Keydis sat bolt upright, laboring to catch her breath, regain her bearings. Her skin glistened with sweat in the dim light. Her stomach lurched and Keydis clutched at her left arm, biting back a hiss of pain as her fingers tightened on the mangled flesh. Slowly, she pieced together where she was, aboard the Geamhess, heading to Pelagia. Aboard an airship, like the one… Keydis scowled and forced herself to her feet, stumbling in the dark. There was someone else laying down nearby, asleep, their breathing calm. Red. Slowly, Keydis fought down the panic, sitting back on the mattress. Now that her eyes were adjusting to the darkness, she could make out the shape of Red's body, turned away from her and facing the wall. However spacious the rest of the ship was, the sleeping quarters they had been given were tiny. Letting out a held breath, Keydis sat back on the mattress.

The specter of her dream memory gradually faded and Keydis loosened the grip on her arm. Most of the time, she could keep the panic down, but each time she woke up on the airship, it returned in full force. In the dim room, Keydis traced her fingers over her left arm, wincing even at the light touch.

The corruption of Caeancora had once only covered her elbows, coating them in a violet, metallic substance, a calling card of the vistra she had defeated. On her right arm, it had spread slowly, claiming a millimeter at a time, leaving the skin at the transition red and sore. Her left arm, though, had nearly been overtaken. Most of the limb, from wrist to bicep, was covered in Caeancora's plating, with deep veins of cracks exposing raw, red flesh. Keydis reached under the cot for gauze, pulling old dressings away before beginning the daily task of wrapping her arm tightly. Moving slowly, trying to avoid waking Red, she pulled her long red sleeve over her bandaged arm. After that, she slid into her smallclothes, put on the rest of her clothes, and finally donned her armor. Lastly, she pulled the leather straps tight over her right arm, flexing her arm once they were in place.

Keydis grabbed her sword and then stood, placing a hand against the wall to steady herself as nausea and dizziness washed over her. Pausing only to give her companion one more look over, Keydis slid open the door and stumbled out into the hallway. She carefully closed the door back and tried to regain her bearings. The main room of the ship would be loaded with food, every hour of the day, but eating would have to wait. Instead, the brunette wandered down the carpeted corridor, looking for somewhere with room to stretch, exercise, something that didn't require a lot of thought.

[680/1000]

Note

A turn will come later with the different princesses. Ignis and Aeria are ready, as is Deni. I'd like to see a Dante turn, also.

 

[Shadowthread]

There was a familiar sensation when flying even if it was on a airship instead of through the sky like he did in games which brought a smile on the athletes face.

He was surprised to say the least when he was presented with the perfumed letter, though he did not show his emotion. Back in his small room, the athlete played with the thought of just discarding the entire thing, after all it would just distract him from the true purpose as to why he was on board the vessel to begin with. After a while of pondering, Dante opened the letter and viewed its contents, smiled and tore it apart, leaving the pieces on the ground. Taking a deep breath, the athlete stepped out of of his room into the corridor and began to walk towards the main hall.

Now where is she? He thought as he searched with his eyes to catch a glimpse of her.

 

[Aelflead Kirastes]

So early in the morning, much of the Geamhess' passengers were still asleep. The relaxed atmosphere of the ship made nights, for most at least, restful and fulfilling. And while there were clearly some unfortunates among the Geamhess' number who found themselves trapped at the, "uneasy," portion of "uneasy peacefulness" for one reason or another; they were few in number, so finding a place that required little thought was an easy task in the morning.

Surprisingly, on such ship designed with comfort in mind, there were very few places with significant room to move, save for the ship's deck. Because the vessel had been built for carrying passengers in massive number, much of it's space was dominated by passenger rooms save for a few, and one in particular that boasted especially ornate double doors.

Double doors that were cracked open enough to grant a purview of the room beyond, and bid the sounds of a woman's voice, heavy and somewhat breathy, counting to escape from it.

Further inside of it, this room boated relatively high ceilings compared to the rest of the ship's rooms though not much more than a meter. Every wall inside of it painted with exquisite craftsmanship so that the artwork shimmered softly and seemed to move across the interior. Glossily finished tile made up the entirety of the hard floor inside; and atop it a figure clad in a black cloak, who's dark scarlet hair followed her fluid, spinning movements like a ribbon following a stick.

Aelflead it seemed, was having just as much trouble finding peace on the Geamhess as a certain brunette.

 

[swaswj]

Aeria, Ignis, and Amicus were escorted respectfully through the Geamhess, stopping in front of the ornate white oak doors of Princess Grace's chambers. Even with the paintings and small sculptures in the hallways, the doors themselves stood out as works of art, with intricate carvings of the sea's bounty and matching images of Serpens on each side, her face left blank out of deference, pouring life-giving waters into a central pool. The two escorts, in practiced symmetry, pulled open both sliding doors at once to allow the two women inside.

Grace's room, in contrast to the rest of the ship, was a display in elegance rather than extravagance. The walls were a brighter pink and white rugs lay over the pale wooden floors. The room was not large, and the princess herself perched on the edge of the luxurious divan, it and a small table being the only furniture within. Books and scrolls were piled high on the table, a small mountain threatening to collapse. A single tapestry hung on the rear wall, with the flag of the empire upon it, while the rest of the walls were bare. Bright, warm light filled the room, a clean light clearly created by magic and nothing so plain as fire or electricity. As before, Grace stood to greet her visitors, bare feet upon her rugs, and offered a warm smile. Her long, deep-red 'hair' framed the warmer pink of her face, pristine blue eyes taking in the two women. She wore a sleeveless dress of pale blue, but still adorned herself with no jewelry. She had no guards inside and the escorts who had led Aeria and Ignis to the room remained outside after closing the doors.

"Thank you for accepting our invitation," Grace said, inclining her head ever so slightly and placing a palm to her chest. "We are pleased to welcome you to our humble chambers." The princess then sat on her divan once more and swept an arm toward her guests. "Please introduce yourselves, and your friend." She was smiling charitably; the request was a courtesy, since she clearly knew who they were.

[350/1350]

 

[Princess Venus]

Princess Venus, third child of the Emperor, fell in step behind Dante, her sharp crystal stilettos clicking on the tiles of the floor.

Her red silk dress had been exchanged for something even more revealing, if possible. Blue this time, the dress seemed to start just under her arm pits and end halfway down her thighs. Anyone looking would wager that it was held more on static cling than any sort of fabric or strap.

"Hello, my sports star." Her voice, thicker than her age would suggest, purred. "I trust you received my letter." *She wrapped her arm around his, pressing herself into his side as she "allowed" him to direct their path. From here, it was easy to tell how soft the dress was. "Lead the way, my darling."

 

[Shadowthread]

”Your?” the athlete repeated in disbelief.

”Shove it, I am not interested,” Dante ripped his arm away from her and briskly walked away from the princess.

 

[MoonlitRain014]

Once again, Aeria had climbed into all of her finery, donning a pair of richly dyed green leather pants, a cream-coloured silk shirt with billowing sleeves over which she wore a green leather vest that had twining patterns tooled into it. The pants were held up by a thin leather belt with an intricately designed brass buckle.

As the little party swept into the elegant room, the ingenarius glanced around, eyes moving across the fine fixtures and over the books that stood as if they had just been left after being consulted. Eventually her gaze settled on Grace as the princess rose to greet the companions.

Aeria bowed as she had been taught, for a contigeri never curtsied. “My name is Aeria Luxus, your highness. It is an honour and a pleasure to meet you.”

After bowing, she returned to a relaxed but formal stance, allowing Ignis to introduce herself and Amicus.

[329]

 

[Valero]

“That’s no way to treat a lady,” echoed Deni’s voice from further down the corridor. He had arrived just in time to hear Dante’s objection. Upon the sight of them both, the proud velen strode towards Princess Venus with his back straight and his head high.

“Are you forgetting who you address? Princess Venus is royalty. You would do well to show a little respect.”

Those blue eyes shifted from from a deliberately hard glare to a soft gaze with astonishing swiftness as they passed over the barely dressed Princess. Deni arched his elbow and offered her his arm, with the intention of allowing her to loop hers through as she had with Dante.

“If I may?”

[377]