Exhausted. That was the word that floated through the Paladin's mind as he slumped into a chair, shield clattering to the ground beside him. It had truly been one hell of a day for him. Not literally of course, he was not insane enough to brave the gates of the hells yet, but after the hours of negotiations and nearly dying by magical fire he was quite confident they would seem quite pleasant in comparison. No, exhausted didn't quite do it justice... he was sore, certainly, but he still had energy. More than exhausted, he was frustrated. He needed the kind of carnal comfort his companions couldn't provide. He needed an outlet, and badly.
As the meeting finally wrapped up, allies for their impending battle against cultists secured, the Paladin rose once more to his feet and donned his shield. Though tall by dwarven standards, at only 5 feet and surrounded by the likes of humans and elves he certainly seemed far shorter. But if his many lovers were to be believed, this did nothing to hurt his good looks. The many hours a day of training and travel in heavy armor had done wonders for his physique, his long auburn hair and beard were neatly braided, and his brown eyes radiated warmth and compassion--at least, when he wasn't in the midst of battle.
Striding out the door onto the streets, he was struck by a fierce wave of heat from all sides. The city of Blacktide, underground both legally and geographically, was built very close to an active lava flow. Dwarf though he may be, the Paladin was not a fan of this sort of heat. As his companions filed out of the building and prepared to return to the Inn they had been staying at, he cleared his throat and spoke up.
"You all go on ahead," he spoke a bit awkwardly. "I have some things I'd like to take care of in the city, I'll meet you all at the inn later." His companions merely shrugged and continued on. Watching them leave for a moment, the Paladin turned and began to walk in the other direction, winding through the streets of Blacktide until at last he saw it: the Ember Palace.
The exterior of the brothel was not nearly as garish and over the top as some of its competitors--no large signs lit up with magic or posters plastered over the facade--because it did not need to be. The red and dark brown front of the building was tasteful, understated. It didn't need gimmicks, it could thrive on quality alone. And it was this quality that the Paladin had come to sample.
As he entered the foyer of the Ember Palace, he was greeted by a sweet subtle hint of incense and the twinkling of a distant piano. Here and there patrons sat on velvet cushions or stood chatting with Tiefling girls, either too poor or too indecisive to purchase a room yet. As he stood taking in the atmosphere, a woman swept across the floor towards him. The Madame was a Tiefling of course, like all the girls she employed, her skin a reddish pink and her eyes a mysterious golden color. Her horns curved slightly forward giving her a somewhat more aggressive look, but her tail swished around her in a graceful, almost playful manner. She smiled at the Paladin as she curtsied.
"Welcome my lord to the Ember Palace. What will be your pleasure this evening?"
"Good evening," the Paladin replied with a smile. "I wish to occupy one of your rooms, and one of your ladies."
"Of course," the Madame nodded graciously. "Do you have a particular preference for this visit?"
"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like a girl with curly horns like a ram's. Can this be arranged?"
"Absolutely! I have the perfect girl in mind, I have no doubt she will more than satisfy."
Moments later, the Paladin found himself in the room the Madame had designated, his armor, shield, and sword-belt all lying in a pile against the wall. He sat upon the silk sheets of the bed, waiting with anticipation for the girl's appearance. He was not left waiting for long, as suddenly the door opened and a tiefling girl stepped into the room.
She was not too much taller than him, and he wondered if the madame had chosen a shorter girl intentionally or if it was pure luck. As requested, a set of curly horns sat next to her raven black hair, while the rest of her infernal heritage manifested in deep red skin, amber colored eyes, and a thin tail that whipped back and forth with anticipation. Her thin silk robes were nearly transparent and hung loosely on her thin frame, leaving very little to the imagination. She was on the more petite side, though her breasts still had a wonderful fullness, and the curve of her hips led to smooth and toned legs.
"Please, come and sit," the Paladin broke the silence, gesturing to the bed beside him. The tiefling nodded, approaching the bed and sitting beside him.
"What do you wish of me, sir?" the girl asked, putting on a husky voice dripping with desire.
"Your name, for a start," he replied with a small smile.
The girl seemed a bit surprised at this, but quickly responded, "Kara, my lord."
"Kara... a beautiful name," he mused.
"I'm told it's not the only beautiful thing about me," Kara replied, once again turning on her seductive voice. "Don't you want to find out?"
"Oh I very much do," he replied, smirking. "But we don't have to rush into it right away. I want to savor this moment. I want to know you a little first."
Kara was bewildered at this, and just a bit frustrated. It was already uncommon for clients in Blacktide to ask for her name, but for one to ask her to sit and talk before sex? Unheard of!
"Alright," she finally answered flatly, abandoning her attempts at sex appeal. "What do you want to know? Just don't expect me to give my entire life story. You're cute, but I don't feel like getting too personal with a stranger."
"No, nothing like that," he replied gently. "I understand wanting to keep certain things to yourself. As for what I want to know... what are you looking for?"
Kara was taken aback by this. This client, this man she had just met, was asking a very deep question... one she couldn't remember ever being asked. She knew she should be defensive, should tell him to just get with the sex and let her move on with her night. And yet, in spite of the brashness of the question, something about the dwarf's demeanor made her feel like she could open up. Like she could trust him. "I... I don't really know," she finally answered, searching for the right words. "I'd like to leave this miserable place eventually, settle down somewhere quiet. But... more than that, I guess I'm looking for a way to feel intimate again. Sex has lost all meaning for me... after doing it with so many people who don't really care, I can still feel physical pleasure from it but it's really not the same anymore. I.. why am I telling you all this?"
"Because," the Paladin replied gently, taking her hand in his, "I think deep down you've wanted to say this to someone for a while. I'm here to be that person you need. And I hope I can give you that intimacy you desire, right here and now."
