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- One post per day
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- It varies day to day!
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- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- Primarily Prefer Female
- Genres
- Modern, Medieval, Odd Pairings
Kadar was at a peculiar place for the center of an empire to be built, it seemed to bring four worlds together with itself at the center. To the north was an expansive and thick forest, that itself sat at the foot of the stone mountains from the west. Eastward looked out towards the ocean whose shore was occupied by several miles of Kadaran docks. There were warships as big as castles, and merchants sailing in and out as frequent as drunkards at a tavern. The south was a grassy highland though, which was the path used by most travellers who were en route to the Kingdom. In the center of it all, the walled city of Kadar was home to countless citizens, workers and warriors with a shadow cast over them, the shadow of the massive keep the city surrounded. It was known as the Spiral Keep for it's dizzying upward climb. At the top sat the ruling family, with their patriarch, King Janos Ravenholdt ruling over it all.
King Janos was an intimidating man, as one approached him on his throne through the large and ornate great hall, it could almost feel like approaching a giant. Guards lined the throne room, all of them with steel armor and crossbows, but the King, who stood at least a foot over all of them, dwarfed them all. His hard, unflinching face framed with it's windswept grey mane and heavy beard was unnerving enough to command respect, but it was hardly enough. Along with a suit of armor that took three men to equip, and twin claymores that hung at his hip like daggers, the King was also known for his brutal reputation. He was a veteran of a hundred battles, who had more scar tissue than skin.
His reputation made some think of him as a God, while others thought he the devil. Janos knew the upsetting truth though, he was only man, and man was only mortal.
Kadar was on high alert that came at a time of conflict. Ongoing battles between the Kingdom and her rival to the south, Linead had been taking place since before King Janos assumed the throne. Their rivalry was bitter, but culminated mostly in skirmishes, but it seemed like that was changing. It had been a year now since their last battle, the battle claimed the life of the eldest Prince, Damon Ravenholdt. It was a period of long grieving not only for their family, but their subjects. While the King was hard and brutish, Prince Damon subverted that behavior; he was gentle and charming, while still excelling at what Kadar was known for, warfare.
There was likely some exaggeration, but it was said a man twice the size of his father, with ungodly speed and strength, had killed Prince Damon. People believed this, it was hard to imagine a man who was touted as the best swordsman in Kadar could be defeated by anything but a mythical sounding warrior. But that was only the first of the sins by Linead.
The King had gathered the denizens of the Spiral Keep to address the lingering fear left by an assassination attempt. A man now screamed in the dungeon, his "brave" attempt to put an arrow through the King's eye foiled by his most vigilant guard, his daughter, Alannah. He expected the people to continue, business as usual, and dismiss any fears that the crown would come under attack again. While people were not exactly calmed, they were all smart enough to avoid asking questions to the King. He dismissed them with a nod, and they dispersed after a militant salute. Business as usual.
"You." There was one person King Janos stopped though, pointing his gauntleted finger towards a guard with who's face he was familiar. It was the Captain of the Guard, Alexandra he had to speak with her.
For you see, it wasn't entirely the fact that Damon died that shook the people of Kadar. And even if their King died, that wouldn't be the most damning part of this chain of events. The thing that frightened people the most, that made the council to the King shake collectively in their boots, was that upon the death of Damon, the heir to the throne became his brother: Valdred Ravenholdt.
---
"You're beautiful, you know that? I just can't stop looking at you."
"Oh Val, give it a rest."
The sun was now beaming through the balcony into a disorganized, mess of a bedchamber. Strewn across every surface, were bottles, some empty some full, but all contributing to the stench of alcohol lingering in the air, that combined with scented oils and human sweat to create the aroma of a high-class whorehouse. There were several plates of fruit, some fresher than others, and a plate with nothing more than the bones of a chicken.
Undisturbed in bed despite the sty around them were two people. A pretty, short girl sat at the foot of the bed, drawing a velvet robe around her naked body, brushing her brown hair over her elbow and sighing pleasantly. Her name was Mika, with an innocent face and enough jewelry to indicate wealth; it came as a surprise to some when they realized she was a whore. She wasn't just a whore though, she happened to be a whore in service to a very special client. The man in bed beside her, attempting to woo her with his hangover words was a Prince, Valdred Ravenholdt. Mika referred to him affectionately, as "Val."
"You know, Mika. For somebody who claims to be the best at what you do, you're not really that great at selling the experience." Prince Valdred propped himself up against the headboard of his bed. His black hair had gotten tangled and wet from sweat, which was also making his pale body glisten. Mika laughed at the Prince's protesting, and spun around to give him wide eyes like a puppy, inching back towards him.
"You mean like, Oh, oh, My Lord. Ravish me again, and whisper sweet nothings in my ear. Whisk me away Lord Ravenholdt, make me your Queen!" Mika put on quite the performance; the grand finale was a swoon and fall back into Valdred's lap, who caught her and tried his hardest not to look amused, rolling his eyes to hide the smirk that crept out.
"Alright Mika, give it a rest. And that would be Prince Ravenholdt, not Lord." The Prince propped her back up, and got out of bed himself, not realizing how bad his headache was until he was hit by a dizzy spell upon standing. "Fuck me," he muttered to himself; hoping one of the cups in his room had water in it.
"No time, Val." Mika teased with a wink. Valdred rolled his eyes, again. His time with her for the week had come to an end, which made his hangover feel even worse. He liked Mika; she was good company, for more than just sex. She was clever for a commoner, when he first met her she wouldn't stop expressing gratitude every few minutes. Now that it had been a few years, she seemed to be quite comfortable picking on him, despite the fact he would be King one day; it should have annoyed him but it didn't, it just meant she could be herself in front of him, which was a good thing, right?
But as a Prince, whoring was generally frowned upon. His father despised the women he brought back, so much so Valdred began sneaking the girls in to avoid his father's wrath. He wasn't just a Prince now. Damon, Valdred missed his brother, but cursed his name at the same time. Damon had to go and die, leaving the position of ruler up to him now, once his father passed on. Valdred had always been happy to know his brother was before him, he couldn't handle his own girl problems let alone run a Kingdom.
"My Prince!" There was a knock at the door, and the squeaky voice of one of the servant boys, Toby. Mika and Valdred exchanged a look, and Valdred shrugged, he wasn't going to make her hide behind a curtain. He wrapped a robe around himself, and opened the door. Toby looked out of breath, and kept his eyes on the floor. There was nobody with the boy, at least that was good.
"Well? What is it Toby?" Valdred asked.
"It's Alex, My Prince." Toby said, as Valdred quirked his eyebrow. Alex, Alexandra of course. She and the Prince went way back, to childhood. They saw less and less of each other now that she held the title of Captain. Why would Toby come running to talk about Alex? Was she hurt?"
"What? Is she alright?" Valdred asked.
"Yes My Prince but, I heard her talking to the King. He, uh, he reassigned her. She's gunna be y-you're guard now. A-after the attempt on…" The little boy continued to stammer on, but Valdred heard all he needed to.
"Wait, my guard?" Valdred asked, Toby nodded. "Instead of Captain of the Guard she is going to be, like, my bodyguard?" Again, Toby nodded. Valdred shut the door. He couldn't imagine she would be too happy about her reassignment.
"Shit." Valdred thought.
King Janos was an intimidating man, as one approached him on his throne through the large and ornate great hall, it could almost feel like approaching a giant. Guards lined the throne room, all of them with steel armor and crossbows, but the King, who stood at least a foot over all of them, dwarfed them all. His hard, unflinching face framed with it's windswept grey mane and heavy beard was unnerving enough to command respect, but it was hardly enough. Along with a suit of armor that took three men to equip, and twin claymores that hung at his hip like daggers, the King was also known for his brutal reputation. He was a veteran of a hundred battles, who had more scar tissue than skin.
His reputation made some think of him as a God, while others thought he the devil. Janos knew the upsetting truth though, he was only man, and man was only mortal.
Kadar was on high alert that came at a time of conflict. Ongoing battles between the Kingdom and her rival to the south, Linead had been taking place since before King Janos assumed the throne. Their rivalry was bitter, but culminated mostly in skirmishes, but it seemed like that was changing. It had been a year now since their last battle, the battle claimed the life of the eldest Prince, Damon Ravenholdt. It was a period of long grieving not only for their family, but their subjects. While the King was hard and brutish, Prince Damon subverted that behavior; he was gentle and charming, while still excelling at what Kadar was known for, warfare.
There was likely some exaggeration, but it was said a man twice the size of his father, with ungodly speed and strength, had killed Prince Damon. People believed this, it was hard to imagine a man who was touted as the best swordsman in Kadar could be defeated by anything but a mythical sounding warrior. But that was only the first of the sins by Linead.
The King had gathered the denizens of the Spiral Keep to address the lingering fear left by an assassination attempt. A man now screamed in the dungeon, his "brave" attempt to put an arrow through the King's eye foiled by his most vigilant guard, his daughter, Alannah. He expected the people to continue, business as usual, and dismiss any fears that the crown would come under attack again. While people were not exactly calmed, they were all smart enough to avoid asking questions to the King. He dismissed them with a nod, and they dispersed after a militant salute. Business as usual.
"You." There was one person King Janos stopped though, pointing his gauntleted finger towards a guard with who's face he was familiar. It was the Captain of the Guard, Alexandra he had to speak with her.
For you see, it wasn't entirely the fact that Damon died that shook the people of Kadar. And even if their King died, that wouldn't be the most damning part of this chain of events. The thing that frightened people the most, that made the council to the King shake collectively in their boots, was that upon the death of Damon, the heir to the throne became his brother: Valdred Ravenholdt.
---
"You're beautiful, you know that? I just can't stop looking at you."
"Oh Val, give it a rest."
The sun was now beaming through the balcony into a disorganized, mess of a bedchamber. Strewn across every surface, were bottles, some empty some full, but all contributing to the stench of alcohol lingering in the air, that combined with scented oils and human sweat to create the aroma of a high-class whorehouse. There were several plates of fruit, some fresher than others, and a plate with nothing more than the bones of a chicken.
Undisturbed in bed despite the sty around them were two people. A pretty, short girl sat at the foot of the bed, drawing a velvet robe around her naked body, brushing her brown hair over her elbow and sighing pleasantly. Her name was Mika, with an innocent face and enough jewelry to indicate wealth; it came as a surprise to some when they realized she was a whore. She wasn't just a whore though, she happened to be a whore in service to a very special client. The man in bed beside her, attempting to woo her with his hangover words was a Prince, Valdred Ravenholdt. Mika referred to him affectionately, as "Val."
"You know, Mika. For somebody who claims to be the best at what you do, you're not really that great at selling the experience." Prince Valdred propped himself up against the headboard of his bed. His black hair had gotten tangled and wet from sweat, which was also making his pale body glisten. Mika laughed at the Prince's protesting, and spun around to give him wide eyes like a puppy, inching back towards him.
"You mean like, Oh, oh, My Lord. Ravish me again, and whisper sweet nothings in my ear. Whisk me away Lord Ravenholdt, make me your Queen!" Mika put on quite the performance; the grand finale was a swoon and fall back into Valdred's lap, who caught her and tried his hardest not to look amused, rolling his eyes to hide the smirk that crept out.
"Alright Mika, give it a rest. And that would be Prince Ravenholdt, not Lord." The Prince propped her back up, and got out of bed himself, not realizing how bad his headache was until he was hit by a dizzy spell upon standing. "Fuck me," he muttered to himself; hoping one of the cups in his room had water in it.
"No time, Val." Mika teased with a wink. Valdred rolled his eyes, again. His time with her for the week had come to an end, which made his hangover feel even worse. He liked Mika; she was good company, for more than just sex. She was clever for a commoner, when he first met her she wouldn't stop expressing gratitude every few minutes. Now that it had been a few years, she seemed to be quite comfortable picking on him, despite the fact he would be King one day; it should have annoyed him but it didn't, it just meant she could be herself in front of him, which was a good thing, right?
But as a Prince, whoring was generally frowned upon. His father despised the women he brought back, so much so Valdred began sneaking the girls in to avoid his father's wrath. He wasn't just a Prince now. Damon, Valdred missed his brother, but cursed his name at the same time. Damon had to go and die, leaving the position of ruler up to him now, once his father passed on. Valdred had always been happy to know his brother was before him, he couldn't handle his own girl problems let alone run a Kingdom.
"My Prince!" There was a knock at the door, and the squeaky voice of one of the servant boys, Toby. Mika and Valdred exchanged a look, and Valdred shrugged, he wasn't going to make her hide behind a curtain. He wrapped a robe around himself, and opened the door. Toby looked out of breath, and kept his eyes on the floor. There was nobody with the boy, at least that was good.
"Well? What is it Toby?" Valdred asked.
"It's Alex, My Prince." Toby said, as Valdred quirked his eyebrow. Alex, Alexandra of course. She and the Prince went way back, to childhood. They saw less and less of each other now that she held the title of Captain. Why would Toby come running to talk about Alex? Was she hurt?"
"What? Is she alright?" Valdred asked.
"Yes My Prince but, I heard her talking to the King. He, uh, he reassigned her. She's gunna be y-you're guard now. A-after the attempt on…" The little boy continued to stammer on, but Valdred heard all he needed to.
"Wait, my guard?" Valdred asked, Toby nodded. "Instead of Captain of the Guard she is going to be, like, my bodyguard?" Again, Toby nodded. Valdred shut the door. He couldn't imagine she would be too happy about her reassignment.
"Shit." Valdred thought.