A few hours prior to our interracial couple's first night of vigorous lovemaking, higher forces were at play in the northern region of the Pochoogen Empire. An elderly man with a greasy smile, a middle-aged man with the face of a fox, and a young man in his prime went to their respective employers. Each armed with knowledge that could put our honorable trio in chains, or six feet under.
---
Deep within the woods a long ways from the main road leading to the Capitol, the sleazy merchant drove his cart. His Bassard, annoyed at the unkempt side road, fussed whenever one of the cart's wheels rolled over a large exposed root or rock.
"Nee-haw!"
"Hey! Quit your bitchin'. The sooner we get there the sooner we can get paid."
-Mana take me! He had better pay out, else this delay will cost me too much!-
Indeed, Einar was taking a huge risk to both body and pocket to relay the information that he held. Out here far away from any Mana well was a dance with death to any who could not resist the blue death, whether from years of building tolerance or innately from enchants or one's race. Luckily, for Einar, his job as a merchant has let him build that defence
Though he may have good resistance, others, especially the local flora and fauna, don't; and that can be equally as deadly, if not more.
Nevertheless, Einar could be seen as a lucky man for the area around him has been cleared and maintained by his "colleagues", though that truly depends on your definition of lucky. A human clad in a mishmash of poorly maintained armor dropped out of the canopy and blocked further passage.
"Ey bois! Looks who it is. If it isn't our frendly merchant comin' to pay us an early visit. Einar, Whot's dis about you gettin' paid? Come to give us OUR share?"
On cue, six other similarly dressed individuals encircled the lone merchant and his cart. Einar let out a long-suffering sigh, despite working with these asshats for 6 weeks; they always pulled this show of force. He was honestly wondering if they were Aberrant enough to warrant the interrogation that accompanied the reporting of them, The 40 Gols would definitely help him retire early. -No, not before I can get the finders' fee from them first-
He threw on his salesman smile and extended his arms.
"Even better Rufus, I got information about a poorly defended Tiefling covered with more gold and silk than a royal whore!"
Rufus' eyes widened with delight. He stepped out of the path of the cart and bowed with practice befitting an officer in the Emperor's army; of course, Einar would never know this being a filthy peasant.
"Right dis way honorable guest!"
"Thank you kindly, Rufus."
Einar set his cart in motion again, unbeknownst to him Rufus' eyes turned wicked. Like a pregnant fly entering a spider's lair, Einar would never get the chance to claim that 40 Gol bounty.
-----
Back within the safety of O’Carón’s walls long past the Well's toll, the 6'4" young man known as Santigo stared at the unusual Silv held between his fingers.
After the incident with the drug smuggler, he rather glossed over what the enchanting Tiefling put into his mitts. Then again, what man wouldn't be enthralled by the rare site of a Doll outside of a high-class brothel? It was odd though. From the stories of his mates who have had the pleasure of being serviced by one, He'd assumed they all had sub-brick intelligence. Speaking in broken common, simple minded, klutzy, easily distracted, fragile, and more sex starved than bunnies during spring. Yet, she wasn't. She seemed perfectly coherent and quick-witted.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
"No! Stop it Santigo. Focus on the coin not the Tielfing."
Indeed the coin. The silver coin larger than a typical Silvs by half. One side, the head of a gorgon snarling, the other, a stylized "ML" with the L growing from the base of the M's right leg. He checked his reference sheet of known currency in the region.
"Fascinating. The closest coin would be the Woamani Denar, but the head on their coin is a hydra while the tail is just an L. Even the size is different."
If Santigo had state issued alchemy set, he would also have noted that the silver content was an impossible 100% pure silver. Despite the lack of chemical analysis on hand, he still had enough evidence to suggest that the coin was not a legal tender.
He went to Mateo's office and knocked several times. Knowing only native Porchoogens work government jobs He called out in his primary tongue.
"Hey Mateo! You in there? I got some news I think the captain ought to know."
He waited a bit before knocking again. After receiving no answer yet again, he decided to go in and check.
"Mateo you better not be drinking again, what would Marlissa say when I tell her you're binging again?"
He expected Mateo legs up and bottle tipped, messy desk covered with unfinished reports that would more than likely be shoved onto him. To his astonishment, not only was Mateo missing but also his desk was neat and tidy. Even more surprising was the stack of reports all filled out neatly set on the corner waiting to be delivered to the Lieutenant. He sighed, grateful that he at least didn't have to fill out even more forms. -Would it have killed him to deliver them as well? Who am I kidding, of course it would.-
Mateo's reports and his own in hand Santigo set off to report the illicit currency and deliver his boss' work.
-He's probably excited to bed Marlissa raw, now that he's been deemed sterile. Thank the Gods, I don't think sis can handle taking care of another kid and Mateo's drunken ass.-
---
Across the city, in the bowels of Castle O’Carón, was a lavishly decorated bedroom with three occupants. Each occupant was of a different generation and each in varying states of dress with each their own position.
The Eldest of at least 70 sported a baldhead, wizened eyes, and a curly beard that reaches his navel. He sat on a comfortably plush chair fully clothed in purple silk robes with mirth painting his face.
The youngest was a boy barely a day after 14th year. He had curly black hair and emerald eyes that one might say looked similar to the elder, if not matching. He had his back planted on a luxurious bed fully in the nude, aside from a blindfold and leather bindings on his ankles and wrists, and having the time of his life.
The last was a middle-aged Lady with dark curls that framed her heart shaped face and her buxom bosom. She was partially dressed in negligee and was straddling the boy's lap as she bounced, disinterest colored every word she spoke.
All three knew of some piece of information that if exposed to the others would cause blood to be shed.
The elder knew that the act the woman was currently doing would NOT give her an extended youth.
The Lady knew that there was no reason for the Geezer to be a witness during the ritual as she had read the sources the man provided, thoroughly.
The boy knew that he was actually the grandson of the elder, though he does not know who exactly is in the chamber with him.
Both adults knew what they were doing would cause outrage if the public found out, and that is why the boys are typically urchins and thus wouldn't be missed. A shame the boy decided that this night was a great time to sneak out of his family's estate and wander the streets near the harbor, and it would be the best night of his life, after all, it was his last.
The boy finally felt a pressure growing in his loins, one that he had never felt before. Not being experienced in such matters he neglected to inform the Lady that was bouncing on him. With a grunt, he let loose the pent up feeling into the Lady, though before anything else could happen a knock came at the door that was followed by a gruff voice.
"M'Lady a man is here to see you. He said it is important."
Feeling like the deed was done Duchess O’Carón got off the boy and quickly put on a conservative robe. She went to the door while glaring at the old man. Opening it, she walked out and closed it behind her.
"What is it Jean?"
"It's Mateo from the guard M'Lady. He says he found an interesting Tiefling. Says zat she has ze appearance of a Doll wizout the negatives of a typical one."
"Did he say if she was claimed or not, if so by whom?"
"Unfortunately, yes M'Lady. Says it was some wood-elf, very protective of her."
"Hmmm... That is very unfortunate. No matter, tomorrow get four of your men to pay them a visit. Offer them 50 Gols to join my house as servants. It's a shame that she's already claimed but if what he said is true then I can be patient for 14 years for their child to become old enough."
"What if zey say no, M'Lady?"
"Then arrest them on charges of treason. They either can join us willingly or by force, does not matter to me. Just don't kill them."
"Right away, M'Lady. Anyzing else before I leave to send Mateo off?"
"Yes, pay Mateo 10 Gols for his information. And Jean..."
"Yes M'Lady?"
"Make sure you dispose of the boy in there properly. We don't need another urchin body found amongst the pigs slop."
"Of course M'Lady. My apologies M'Lady, I'll make sure to personally dispose of the urchin, properly"
"Thank you Jean. That is all."
Duchess O’Carón sauntered off to her personal bedchambers, smiling a mile wide at the fact that she finally got lucky. After all a good Tiefling breed can extend a person's life, so what was 14 years when she would be getting back 30 or more?