- Joined
- Apr 22, 2010
- Messages
- 1,493
- Reputation score
- 203
- Thread Starter
- #21
Re: An Empty Confessional (Hafnium) GMed by Takimaru
Status:
One gold coin. It was all that Tessa had left to her name by the end of that day. Money had been tight, to say the least, and no one had donated to her little chapel in quite some time, let alone paid a proper visit, save for the drunkard and a few others too stingy to drop a coin or two into the alms box. Times like these were more of a test in her faith in Erion than ever. Provided, she would likely receive her pitiful share of the church's tithe sometime within the next several days, but that may as well be an eternity to stretch a single coin out with. It could be spent on only the simplest of meals--perhaps a loaf of bread and not much else... one that she would have to ration out.
The nun's stomach growled at her. Despite her thin frame, her body still craved sustenance the same way a ravenous beast might. She had just broken her fast from earlier as part of the church's tradition on certain days, but already she was hungry. It seemed that the bit of exertion she made in torturing the drunkard played a part in bringing back her appetite. On the other hand, she was still better off than the prisoner in the room. Perhaps the lack of food would take the vile man closer to Erion's light.
But whether or not Tessa cared to keep her ragged prisoner in mind, the scenes in Cerawal come nighttime provoked all sorts of thoughts about the state of the world. The number of guards on duty naturally dwindled, and so many of the city's less savory types came out to play during these hours. The main roads were still relatively safe, being part of the constables' occasional patrol routes and being properly lit, but even a glimpse into the alleys and smaller streets would say much about the sorts of activities that occurred at night. Some deviants even had the nerve to do so on more well-traveled avenues like the one Tessa walked upon. The nun was reminded of this when she spotted a fairly attractive, dark-haired woman making her approach towards a lone male traveler, probably a tourist of some sort from the looks of his clothes.
"Hello, sir... care for some sweets? I know the best dessert shops in town," she greeted towards him in a sultry voice.
Tessa was not quite a native of Cerawal, but she had lived there long enough to know what it meant: this was a proposition made by a prostitute. The slave trade was prominent, especially in settlements near Elynsor's southern border, as such activities were openly legal in Greybourne. And yet there were women who would willingly volunteer their bodies of their own free will--though whether or not it was really a choice might be a tough issue for Tessa, as her own monetary situation would remind her that making ends meet was not always the easiest of matters.
While walking along, she would spot a variety of hints to other activities illegal under Elynsorian law; gambling, drug use, extortion. Provided, they were relatively subtle indicators, such as conversations and odd-looking meetings between individuals, but enough for the cleric to have a good idea of their true nature. If Erion had blessed the Kingdom of Elynsor as his own, then this place hardly counted.
Besides the one coin, she did have a proper set of weapons and a body, though putting either of those to use as a cleric of Erion was probably out of the question. However, it was a matter made more complicated by the fact that she had already broken one of those rules earlier. Bringing harm to others, especially by way of torture, was considered a grave sin in church doctrine, but surely Erion would make an exception for Tessa, who had only done so for the purpose of enlightening a darkened soul. Wouldn't he?
Had she been wearing her nun's habit, then Tessa might have earned different reactions from those around her, for better or for worse. But tonight, she was a citizen like any other. Without her robes to communicate her purity in the eyes of Erion, Tessa was also subject to many of the temptations and vices that regular people underwent every day.
She didn't earn any propositions from the ladies of the night, nor did a random thug try to extort her for money just yet. However, she did get a man, one with spiked, flaxen hair and dressed in fairly fashionable clothes. He looked her over while standing just outside the door of a dive bar, and beckoned her towards him.
"Hey," he greeted her in a friendly yet low voice. "Need something that'll bring you up? I've got some good drinks for real cheap." While he might have made it sound like he was advertising for the bar, the way he shifted his hands around in his pockets told another story. Tessa knew what he meant; drugs. Ballweed, tullgrass, bitshrooms, or something along those lines. The guards had just made their pass, so he took the opportunity to be more bold than usual. Perhaps it was the rings under her eyes, or something made her look the part of someone interested in his wares. But was she?
Status:
Tessa: HP = 58, PP = 38, EP = 26/36, Status = Fine
One gold coin. It was all that Tessa had left to her name by the end of that day. Money had been tight, to say the least, and no one had donated to her little chapel in quite some time, let alone paid a proper visit, save for the drunkard and a few others too stingy to drop a coin or two into the alms box. Times like these were more of a test in her faith in Erion than ever. Provided, she would likely receive her pitiful share of the church's tithe sometime within the next several days, but that may as well be an eternity to stretch a single coin out with. It could be spent on only the simplest of meals--perhaps a loaf of bread and not much else... one that she would have to ration out.
The nun's stomach growled at her. Despite her thin frame, her body still craved sustenance the same way a ravenous beast might. She had just broken her fast from earlier as part of the church's tradition on certain days, but already she was hungry. It seemed that the bit of exertion she made in torturing the drunkard played a part in bringing back her appetite. On the other hand, she was still better off than the prisoner in the room. Perhaps the lack of food would take the vile man closer to Erion's light.
But whether or not Tessa cared to keep her ragged prisoner in mind, the scenes in Cerawal come nighttime provoked all sorts of thoughts about the state of the world. The number of guards on duty naturally dwindled, and so many of the city's less savory types came out to play during these hours. The main roads were still relatively safe, being part of the constables' occasional patrol routes and being properly lit, but even a glimpse into the alleys and smaller streets would say much about the sorts of activities that occurred at night. Some deviants even had the nerve to do so on more well-traveled avenues like the one Tessa walked upon. The nun was reminded of this when she spotted a fairly attractive, dark-haired woman making her approach towards a lone male traveler, probably a tourist of some sort from the looks of his clothes.
"Hello, sir... care for some sweets? I know the best dessert shops in town," she greeted towards him in a sultry voice.
Tessa was not quite a native of Cerawal, but she had lived there long enough to know what it meant: this was a proposition made by a prostitute. The slave trade was prominent, especially in settlements near Elynsor's southern border, as such activities were openly legal in Greybourne. And yet there were women who would willingly volunteer their bodies of their own free will--though whether or not it was really a choice might be a tough issue for Tessa, as her own monetary situation would remind her that making ends meet was not always the easiest of matters.
While walking along, she would spot a variety of hints to other activities illegal under Elynsorian law; gambling, drug use, extortion. Provided, they were relatively subtle indicators, such as conversations and odd-looking meetings between individuals, but enough for the cleric to have a good idea of their true nature. If Erion had blessed the Kingdom of Elynsor as his own, then this place hardly counted.
Besides the one coin, she did have a proper set of weapons and a body, though putting either of those to use as a cleric of Erion was probably out of the question. However, it was a matter made more complicated by the fact that she had already broken one of those rules earlier. Bringing harm to others, especially by way of torture, was considered a grave sin in church doctrine, but surely Erion would make an exception for Tessa, who had only done so for the purpose of enlightening a darkened soul. Wouldn't he?
Had she been wearing her nun's habit, then Tessa might have earned different reactions from those around her, for better or for worse. But tonight, she was a citizen like any other. Without her robes to communicate her purity in the eyes of Erion, Tessa was also subject to many of the temptations and vices that regular people underwent every day.
She didn't earn any propositions from the ladies of the night, nor did a random thug try to extort her for money just yet. However, she did get a man, one with spiked, flaxen hair and dressed in fairly fashionable clothes. He looked her over while standing just outside the door of a dive bar, and beckoned her towards him.
"Hey," he greeted her in a friendly yet low voice. "Need something that'll bring you up? I've got some good drinks for real cheap." While he might have made it sound like he was advertising for the bar, the way he shifted his hands around in his pockets told another story. Tessa knew what he meant; drugs. Ballweed, tullgrass, bitshrooms, or something along those lines. The guards had just made their pass, so he took the opportunity to be more bold than usual. Perhaps it was the rings under her eyes, or something made her look the part of someone interested in his wares. But was she?