Module:RpgPost/Example.json

[   {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond \u003Cem\u003EEight hundred and thirty-one years and a hundred days after the foundation of the Kingdom of Etrand, unexplained events were happening in the world of Artograch. Even in a world of magic, some things can be unexplained. People die agonizing deaths of causes that cannot be negated by even the best of Healing Magic all the time, but this time, it is even greater: in the Kingdom of Etrand, stone object resembling an arc has emerged unexpectedly on a piece of land nominally claimed by the Knights of the Blood Red Light, but otherwise untended and unowned. This arc is no ordinary arc, as it has blue aura filling it in, like a teleport gate. Maybe it IS a teleport gate! The only way to find out would be to step inside of it to see if there is enough on the other side...\u003Cbr\u003EBut the people of Etrand are no fools. After having received word from wandering sheepherders that such an object has emerged, the Knights of the Blood Red Light have ordered tan army of twenty-five mounted knights, thirty crossbowmen, ten longbowmen and fifty pikemen to assemble nearby the object in case something goes out of it. An army of one hundred and fifteen in total, all led by. The mounted knights on the left flank are led by the crusader Stephanus Tavilrond, who is a young-yet-seasoned knight. This area needs to be held until construction can begin and the gateway be barred or fortified. But what could be going on on the other side? A demonic invasion being prepared?*\u003C/em\u003E\n",       "date": "2016-07-28T00:40:34.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1469659234,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked at the portal of blue light which lay just beyond her reach with wide, awed eyes. Should she have stepped forward she would have been able to reach out and touch it had she wanted to, but it truth it was the last thing she wanted. The Knight mistrusted magic greatly, and that such a powerful force had come into their world she thought to be a warning from their Gods. On that count, Nerida didn\u0026apos;t mind the concept of higher powers or miracles. She was a devoted follower of the tetralogy, and as she stood before the open portal she questioned them silently in her mind. \u0026quot;Gods, hear me, what does this mean? What do you want of your servants?...\u0026quot;\u003Cbr\u003E\n\nHer thoughts were broken by the sound of a familiar laughter, an old, croaking rasp from an elderly man who had approached her and her company of Knights from behind. \u0026quot;High time you were off, Commander. The Gods might well grow impatient, and close this one chance on us forever.\u0026quot; Nerida turned and kneeled to the man, at which point the 50 strong company of Crusaders behind her followed suit. \u0026quot;High Priest.\u0026quot; she said in reverence. \u0026quot;What if the Gods lead us to our demise? What if nothing awaits us behind that veil but the death of 50 of our best men? I do not fear Oblivion, your Holiness, but the Kingdom would mourn for it\u0026apos;s best and want of us all. I can bring Asui no glory in death.\u0026quot; The High Priest coughed out another rasping laugh and shook his head, addressing her as though he were talking to a 9 year old child and not a woman of 19. \u0026quot;Then we lose you with a heavy heart but for the God\u0026apos;s great plan. It is time child. All of you. You have our blessing.\u0026quot;\n\nNerida said not another word as her instructions were given. It was a great honour to be seen off by all the assembled clergy and nobility of the Kingdom. She looked up to the dais that had been mounted to her left, a cold wind blowing through the open fields as she caught the eye of her Uncle, the King, and gave him a small smile of acceptance. Truly she was not afraid, but her mistrust was great at the task that lay before them. She had no choice now be to see it through.\n\nThe young Commander was the first to get to her feel, her armour chiming in the chill of the air around them as she gave the men their first order of the mission. \u0026quot;Knights, upstanding!\u0026quot; she called, her voice ringing through the air clear as a bell and with just as much authority. \u0026quot;Company, forward!\u0026quot; And with no further complaint, without flinching or question, Nerida took the first step into whatever it was that awaited them through the emanating heat of the blue portal.",       "date": "2016-07-28T01:10:37.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1469661037,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was already at the flank of his army, on horseback, with his own company of twenty-five knights, all well-fed, well-prepared, wearing gambeson, chainmail armour, and a bit of plate mail, carrying steel longswords, armed with the power of destructive magic that knights from other worlds would look down upon. They expected no one to come out of the gate, but instead be just waiting for the construction work to begin. Instead however, they had a great surprise. \u003Cbr\u003E\n\n\u0026quot;Sir Stephanus!\u0026quot; said one of his own knights. \u0026quot;I see something moving within the gate!\u0026quot; - \u0026quot;I see that as well. I believe that we are going to have to cut down some demons today. Five and a half hundred years ago, we have encountered similiar gates, and lost many good men as the result. We shall drive them back today.\u0026quot; But the final speech would not be held by Stephanus.\n\nOut of the portal came fifty knights. Out of the portal came fifty knights. No doubt, the Etrandish found them rather familiar-looking, but they were still foreign, clearly in the wrong place.\n\n\u0026quot;Pikemen! Assemble formation! Crossbowmen! Aim at the gate! Knights! Ready thunderbolts!\u0026quot; the orders were shouted by the leaders, only to be repeated by the leaders of the individual units. \u0026quot;Knights! Ready thunderbolts!\u0026quot; shouted Stephanus, and all the mounted knights carrying longswords would have their swords electrified. No, they weren\u0026apos;t enchanting their weapons with the power of lightning. They were using their swords as instruments of aiming. Aiming what? Aiming thunderbolts at their enemies. They point their hands or swords at their enemies, and thunderbolts go flying. But not yet. At first, the knights stood still. The crossbowmen all loaded their crossbows, and the pikemen made sure to assume the correct formation to fight off cavalry and infantry alike. The Etrandish outnumber the foreigners a bit more than two to one. But the Etrandish have only half the number of knights, the rest of their army being mercenaries.\n\nAnd there is silence. They wait for the foreigners to make their first move. If they are cavalry, the pikemen brace themselves for a charge, knowing that the foreigners are likely to be hostile and unlikely to want to negotiate - not that they even speak the same language to begin with. If the foreigners wield fifty cavalrymen, then the pikemen brace themselves for a charge, while the knights led by Stephanus aim for the foreigners, releasing their thunderbolts and the crossbowmen firing their bolts. If the foreigners are infantrymen, then they simply wait until it becomes obvious that these people are in no mood to negotiate, and then bring on the ranged weapons, before ordering the cavalry to charge.",       "date": "2016-07-28T01:21:25.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1469661685,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  The first thing that Nerida became aware of was shouting, voices echoing in her ears in a language she couldn\u0026apos;t make sense of issuing instructions she couldn\u0026apos;t decipher. What she did understand however, was war. There were the sounds of enemies getting ready to fight a pitched battle, weapons being readied and men bracing themselves for combat. War didn\u0026apos;t need any interpretation, and it was where Nerida truly thrived. She stayed at the head of the group, leading them away from the portal and into the hostile territory they had unwittingly strayed into. She had but 50 men, all of them on foot. Surely they realised that this was no invasion? What they realised or not was immaterial to the Commander, and she had to prepare her forces for immediate engagement with an enemy she did not know.\u003Cbr\u003E\n\n\u0026quot;Men, forward, now!\u0026quot; she barked at them, her voice being the only one to issue orders. \u0026quot;Split company! 25 with Lieutenant Rheiser and 25 with me, weapons at the ready!\u0026quot; Their weaponry was the finest that Asui had available, and just as their armour was had been crafted to a high standard. Nerida herself favour dual blades, two light swords which cut like razors and could be used in unison in combat. Other men with her preferred a sword and shield, some battle with morning stars and there were three archers to each group. Every man chose their speciality, and had ben selected for their remarkable talent with that weapon. Nerida could only lie in wait, and ready the men she had with her. One thing put their group at a great disadvantage; not one amongst their number wielded magic.",       "date": "2016-07-28T01:35:50.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1469662550,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  now saw fifty infantrymen coming out of the gate. This means war. War with an unidentified menace. All of them, moving forward towards their army. So Stephanus ordered his own knights to shoot out the thunderbolts. And so it went. Twenty-five thunderbolts began flying fast towards Nerida\u0026apos;s men, and the vast majority of them missed, only one or two hitting their intended targets, causing the unfortuante victims to get pushed back and electrocuted at the same time, the earlier of which also caused disarray among her own troops.\u003Cbr\u003E\n\nThen came the barrage of crossbow bolts - thirty of them - which did not seem to leave a lasting impression. Them crossbow bolts did hit their intended targets, but caused little damage other than minor dent in the armour of the enemies - no casualties. Then came the next wave of magic bolts by the knights. This time, the casualties were also as low as before: just one or two men, out of the fourty-eight. The pikemen walked forward. Fourty pikemen may be no match for fourty-eight knights with razor-sharp swords, but razor-sharp swords offer little advantage against the long range of spiked pikes. So, when the pikes and the knights collided for the first time, there were staggering casualties: at least ten knights. Is it not time to give up yet?\n\nThen came the charge. From the left flank, a surprising charge by Stephanus\u0026apos;s knights against the flanks and rear of Nerida\u0026apos;s formation, cutting down once again several of their men. Most of these casualties are not going to be truly lethal, but anyone touched by a sword from a horseback is going to be incapaciated for the rest of the battle. It does not take too long for the Knights of the Blood Red Light to succesfully incapaciate the foreign knights with no casualties on their own side, taking everyone who is still breathing prisoner - of war - and away. Perhaps this is the time when it all blacks out for Nerida and she gets to be taken along with all the other wounded and fainted men, if she does not surrender. But what if she surrenders? Then she\u0026apos;ll be taken in chains to the same place as her incapaciated comrades: to a fortress. Clearly, not a very good first impression. Not at all.\n\nBut regardless, she is going to either wake up in, or get taken to, what looks like a mixture of a prison cell and a field hospital. Chained down, yet given medical attention - the fate of her and all her comrades. Stripped of their weapons and armour, but also stripped of all their wounds, thanks to the wonders of Healing Magic, fielded by the knights they fought. And is it Stephanus, who gets to attend the leader of the knights, Nerida. Not just because he led the knights and it is only fitting that one leader guards the other, but also because he is considered a skilled interrogator. And there is a lot of knowledge to extract.",       "date": "2016-07-28T01:48:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1469663334,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  roused herself from the heavy mists of unconsciousness with a great deal of effort. It was a heavy blow to the back of her head which had knocked Nerida\u0026apos;s visor loose, and then a blunt object of some description had taken her by surprise and struck her in the temple. It was a well rehearsed move, and she could see it easily now, but it had laid her low nonetheless and now here she was. Her eyes were pleased that they awoke almost in darkness, the light not too painful for her eyes in spite of how her head seared with unreal pain. A groan passed her lips as the Knight came too and memories of what had come to pass came back to her. They had been thoroughly unprepared, and her men had suffered on her account. That was the greatest source of her pain. She had failed them as a leader, and some of them she would never see again as a result. It was a while before she even became aware of another presence in the cell with her, or of any of her other wounds. Her eyes shifted to the figure as they focused and her head turned to his side. It was a man, she assumed by his build, and likely of an age with her. She had been captured, then. Her fate was looking bleaker by the moment.\n",       "date": "2016-07-28T02:01:06.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1469664066,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  watched with little patiance as the one he got assigned to woke up. He was wearing his full armour, with the exception of a helmet. His sword was put into his scabbard. Never know what skills do these foreigners might have, and what are they capable of. He, first and foremost being an adventuring knight who went out to missions from his order - mainly to retreive items or kill wrongdoers - was not very fond of being given the brief mission of being a prison gaurd and an interrogator, but at least he was rather skilled at the latter. Besides, annoyed or not, it is supposed to be an honour to be the one interrogating their leader. And that\u0026apos;s what he had to do. So he simply walked towards that strange piece of furniture that looked like a bad mixture of a bed and a chair that Nerida was chained to, and he took his gauntlet-clad metallic \u0026apos;hand\u0026apos; onto her chin, and looked with no expression at all.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Thou art their leader, aren\u0026apos;t thee? I want a bit of information, and it would be a shame if I had to resort to unethical and sinful means to extract them out of thee, so... it is best if thou beginst to sing right now. Who art thee, and what was why army looking for here? Make this easier for both of us, do not waste my time, and do not make me do something that will hurt thee...\u0026quot; he said, making it clear that he was the interrogator, even though he did not look the part. What? Some young knight in his early twenties, who had a few scars that could have made him look older. Long, wavy, shoulder-length brown hair, azure-blue eyes, considered too handsome for someone to be performing an interrogation... until his deep voice was heard. Now that is something that makes him sound quite a bit older - possibly by a decade or two - than he actually is: 22.\n",       "date": "2016-07-28T02:09:45.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1469664585,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  groaned as she tried to pull herself into a sitting position, only to find herself chained to the bed and set upon by her jailer. As the man held her chin he\u0026apos;d find himself staring into bright blue eyes, hazy in their confusion but otherwise full of life and intelligence. Her golden blonde hair which had been shook loose from her visor framed her pretty, delicate features almost perfectly, and her beautiful face only belied the talent within her that made her as a warrior. Nerida tried to contain her panic and her gasping breathes as she came to realise she was restrained, looking into handsome features that had she seen them at court she would have struggled to believe they could cause her any harm. She was taken with his looks, but not stupid enough to underestimate them. The real surprise for her came when her jailer spoke in an archaic version of her own tongue, a language long since waylaid by modern speech and idioms. It was as though she had been pulled into one of the plays she had been forced to study in her girlhood, the actors reciting the lines in old speech. \u0026quot;Y-you speak our tongue...\u0026quot; she managed to say, her words a little weaker and more rasping than she\u0026apos;d have liked to believe. \u0026quot;H-how do you know our words?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-07-28T02:21:26.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1469665286,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shook his head at her. \u0026quot;I could be asking the same question. Where did thou learn Etrandish?\u0026quot; he asked, only to regret asking the question a mere moment later, as it will only cause more confusion and sidetrack them from his real questions. So he took her by the chin again. \u0026quot;However, I asked a few questions, and thou did not answer me yet. It would be unknightly of me to slap a lady, or commit worse acts, but if thou darest to waste my time, I will have no other choice. So tell me... who art thee, and what were thy men looking for? Were thou looking to plunder or conquer my beautiful Kingdom of Etrand? Were thou on a crusade against the believers of the one true god Titanius? Tell me!\u0026quot; he yelled in the way he was taught to yell. An intimindating tone of voice with implied threats. \u0026quot;It would be a shame if I, sworn knight and protector of the defenseless, were to be forced to resort to violence against someone who could be smart enough to know better...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-07-28T02:26:28.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1469665588,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  seemed completely unfazed by his yelling and confident motions. Her body never once shrunk away from the man and her gaze did not retreat in fear. Perhaps it was the concussion that made her foolish, or brave, but the Knight truly didn\u0026apos;t seem to care much for the mans manner. With her chin still in his hand she looked at the man calmly even as he raised his voice, her large, blue eyes never once leaving his and her features as still as a cup of water. Only when he had finished did she slowly, but surely, grace him with an answer. \u0026quot;I am Nerida of the clan Talori from the empire of great Asui. Our Gods opened up the... rift that we passed through on the outskirts of our major city, so my men and I were sent by the King and our Priests in order to ascertain what had taken place. Such magic is rare in our land, we knew this was no humans doing. We were sent to investigate, nothing more. You may stop shouting now, Sir. I\u0026apos;ve no intention of raising my voice back at you.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T00:40:52.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470696052,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  took his hand away from Nerida\u0026apos;s chen and looked away for a little to consider. The last time he was told something akin to this, it was almost certainly a lie, so no doubt, he had the expression of suspicion on his face. The names did not sound familiar, the Empire of Great Asui sonded completely foreign to him, but he did not see any proof of truth in Nerida\u0026apos;s eyes. If she was being sincere - which she indeed was - he did not really see that. He even ignored her beauty, focusing on the subjects at hand, but now, he had other considerations. \u0026quot;We gave a warning to thy army. Thou could have retreated, but thou did not. What did thou expect? Our surrender? If thou were really here to investigate, a diplomat would have been enough... No, I do not believe thee. If thou art not a liar, tell me a bit about this... Empire of Asui, and this Clan Talori thou were speaking about... I need further proof that thou and thy army are not demonic impostors.\u0026quot; he said now in a calmer voice than before, but it still had a certain firmness to it, like someone who knew - or at least, thought he knew - who was in control of the situation. \u0026quot;If thou art not speaking the truth, I am going to be very angry...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T00:46:38.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470696398,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  \u0026apos;s eyes narrowed at the man as he accused her of demonic alignment, her anger rising to the point where she could not keep her countenance any longer. \u0026quot;How dare you!\u0026quot; she interjected loudly, the calm slowly slipping from her face. \u0026quot;A demon? I? I am niece to the King of our Nation and a Holy Knight in service of the Tetralogy! The only demon here is you. Only 50 men passed through that portal to your realm and you set on us immediately! 50 men! How could we hope to launch anything other than a scouting mission with so few of us? If there was warning given it was not understood by I, your words are foreign to me and my men. We took position and defended ourselves when attacked. It is you who is in the wrong! That rift could have sent us all to hell itself, what good would a diplomat be to us there?\u0026quot; He had angered her with that insult, and his previous requests for information had been all but forgotten. \u0026quot;No, Sir. If anyone is the demon here then it is you!\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T00:57:06.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470697026,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  at first looked completely astounded, surprised even, and made the face of someone who just looked at something that was both funny and disgusting at the same time, as well as surprising. The was, the face of backing up while having one\u0026apos;s eyes widen, mouth slightly open, tongue just barely prevented from going out. Then, after a few seconds, he regained his cool and comprehension, coughed, and came up with his reply. \u0026quot;Accusing us of being of demonic alignment is arguably as mistaken as the formation of thy men. Thy \u0026apos;scouts\u0026apos; walked into a foreign lands, refusing to give up on the sight of an approaching neutral army, lacked cavalry support, lacked archer support, and the list could go on... How many wars has thy Empire of Usui won recently? Minus ten?\u0026quot; he made the mocking comments, clearly mispronouncing the name of Asui - likely unintentionally, not remembering it correctly - then suddenly, assumed a serious expression again. \u0026quot;We are the followers of the lord Titanius, God of Light, extinguisher of Darkness and Chaos, bane of Demonic creatures... and thy people are tresspassing. I assume thou were not aware that sending an army - no matter how small - into a foreign state meaneth war. Regardless...\u0026quot; he made some mental notes. \u0026quot;These are news that my master will want to hear.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T01:03:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470697409,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  strained against her restraints as the man in front of her insulted her Nation, the one way to truly rile the girl. She wanted to strike him so hard across his smug face that it would silence him for a lifetime, but still she was bound and chained and unable to do anything other than move. It was infuriating and a deep wound to her pride, but even she recognised that she must tolerate it for now. \u0026quot;How many times must I repeat this for you, simpleton? We had no notion where that portal would lead us, that is why we were sent. We had no notion if it would lead us to the middle of a battlefield, the deep blue sea or the four hells themselves. Better to send well equipped and armed men than useless clerks in silks, wouldn\u0026apos;t you agree? As for your God I care not a jot for him. My vows are with the Four Gods. I know not of your heathen religion.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T01:14:01.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470698041,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  raised his eyebrows once again. \u0026quot;Heathen? What did thou call us?\u0026quot; and his prompted him to use telekinessis, to raise Nerida\u0026apos;s cheek. It must have felt like having an invisible hand raise her cheek. \u0026quot;The heathens are history. Our wise king, founder of our state, pride of our nation, hath extinguished the stink of heathenry eight centuries ago!\u0026quot; - and he even had a thunderbolt appearing in his other hand. But before he would get all emotional, he mentally reminded himself to his duties. So the would-be-thunderbolt disappeared, and the holding by telekinessis did as well. \u0026quot;I will inform my superiors of these discoveries.\u0026quot; and with that, he left the cell, leaving the keys on the door. And for how long did he leave? Little more than a quarter hour, or even twenty minutes. In that time, another one of his comrades made an appearence in the cell. A bald male who looked slightly overfed, maybe even too fat for a knigh. The awkward-looking male would leave the necessary supplies in the cell, by the bed - but far enough from the restrained Nerida\u0026apos;s reach - so that when Stephanus finally comes back, he will have what he needs to feed to the prisoner. And afterwards, the fat knight just disappears, just like how Stephanus did. And not so long after, Stephanus makes his return, opening the door, closing it once again, and looking at his defiant prisoner.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;I was granted permission to take thee out of the cell, under strict surveilance. The masters said that thou art too valuable of a prisoner to be kept in a dark cell, but before that...\u0026quot; and he looked at the food and water that the fat knight has left. \u0026quot;I believe it is time to make sure that not even prisoners starve.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T01:21:44.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470698504,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked at the fare that had been left in the cell by the overweight Knight, and turned her nose up at it. It didn\u0026apos;t seem to be anything that Nerida had even seen before, let alone anything she would have eaten willingly. Her tongue was sharp but and her words were clearly spoken, showing her disdain through the look of disgust on her face. \u0026quot;Unchain me then, and I will see whether or not I choose to eat such a... paltry meal. Truly I wasn\u0026apos;t sure whether the smell came from that Knight or the food but now he has gone I can only assume it was the cuisine he left behind.\u0026quot; Before him was a woman who was clearly not used to the predicament she found herself in. Her claims to Royal blood could not have been more valid. \u0026quot;You will release me, and you shall tell your Masters to send me back home this very instant. You could not have made a worse choice of prisoner.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T01:30:41.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470699041,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  decided that any facade at playing nice was fruitless. She clearly did not understand the situation she was in, and - from his point of view - was out of touch with reality. If he was in her boots, he would be actually thankful for even the least and most meagre amount of food and water provided, knowing that despite being free people who had most likely never seen prison, his lowborn parents were starving and freezing - which is the reason they had to give him up for adoption. But instead of the typical \u0026apos;tsk tsk tsk\u0026apos;, he continued to assume a more serious and cold expression.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Thou clearly dost not understand the position thou art in. I will not unchain thee, and neither will anyone... As a matter of fact, thou will be chained to me, thou will be under my supervision...\u0026quot; he gave her the plain facts seemingly nonchallantly, like a machine. Give her the facts, let her add her own emotions to it. And then he looked at the food that was left. It looked completely allright to him, he had seen worse. So he took the spoon that was left with it, and took part of the food, took it towards Nerida\u0026apos;s mouth, hoping she will take the food. Etrandish food is more often than not misleading... very often, it looks terrible, smells questionable, but actually tastes pretty good. Just one example is a type of cheese that is fermented by insects... quite disturbing to hear, but it tastes very good and spicy. Granted, that kind of cheese is expensive, therefore, completely absent from this particular meal that is about to be fed to the squeamish Nerida.\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T01:38:02.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470699482,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  balked at his offer of the food and turned her head to it when he lifted it to her mouth to feed her. It was an insult above all else! Where was her dignity, where was self-sustainability in all this? \u0026quot;Unhand me!\u0026quot; she said, soon closing her mouth so Stephanus could not find an excuse to force it between her lips when her mouth was opened. \u0026quot;I am a Knight, not a child!\u0026quot; she continued to protest, turning her head away from the mixture of gloop that he threatened to force feed her if needs be. If he was trying to deliberately shame her than it was working. All Nerida could think was that she had no intention of continuing to exist under this mans supervision and in fact could not conjure a worse fate for herself. His heathen Gods, his awful food and his superior attitude... none of these offences were lessened by his handsome face or deep voice. She hated him in that moment and swore that she would continue to do so. Had she not been shackled and manacled then Nerida would have happily beat him to death in the confines of her cell.\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T01:44:25.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470699865,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  instinctively tried to imitate the disgusted face Nerida made, and put the food back where it originally belonged. Unhand her. Never! Not only would he end up getting in real trouble because of such a thing, but even if Nerida got through him... it would only ensure her inevitable demise. He ought to tell her that.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;If I did that, then thou would die. Thou would attack me, right? Then most likely, my sword would end up causing thy untimely demise. Or a well-aimed thunderbolt. Or just a sufficently strong punch to thy pretty face. But even if thou somehow got through me, thou art no match for several hundreds of knights... My supervision is thy only method of survival... Unless thou intendest to sit in this dark cell for the rest of thy life, never ever seeing the sunrise again. Hmmmm? If thou wantest to see the sunrise, thou will need to accept my supervision...\u0026quot; Ah, all the deadpan snarking. He was not sure whether to actually \u0026apos;transfer\u0026apos; her bondage from the room to himself or not. Probably not yet.\n\n\u0026quot;Thy arrogance is the very reason why thy army was defeated so easily, with zero casualties on my side. What was its composition again? Ah yes, fifty heavy infantrymen, with zero archer support, zero cavalry support, not even a pikemen to keep hostile cavalry in bay... Or wait, was it fifteen? I don\u0026apos;t remember!\u0026quot;",       "date": "2016-08-09T01:50:32.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470700232,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  could take his taunting no more, and as the last of his words left his lips Nerida lunged forward to bite at him. She would miss, or so she assumed, but still she was angry enough to try. \u0026quot;I would rather die than be held captive!\u0026quot; she shot back at him, her anger plain to see. \u0026quot;I am no prisoner, and I will tell you and your people no more! You have slaughtered my men and robbed me of my freedom, why on earth should I want to live now?!\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T01:54:21.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470700461,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shaked his head as he evaded Nerida\u0026apos;s attempt to bite him, even though it was completely unnecessary - he had his telekinessis to \u0026apos;gently\u0026apos; push the prisoner to the wall, so that she would not be able to just lunge at him. \u0026quot;Thy men are all alive. All kept under similiar conditions such as thyself. Or rather, in better conditions, because unlike thy royal majesty, they actually eat and drink. I have no doubt that they were far more considerate of their comrades\u0026apos; well beings than thou art, and far more co-operative with their captors, which no doubt greatly increased the likelihood of their survival...\u0026quot; or, he was just bluffing, and there was no need for anyone to do anything, as the knights never intended to execute or slaughter the prisoners in the first place: every single one of those who did not die in the battle were alive. And how many actually died in the battle? One or two? The rest had minor wounds that were treated by the captors.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;To throw away life is to throw away thy belief in the divines. I have no idea what do thy heathen gods teach thee, but my god, the one true god Titanius teacheth that until one is dead, it can always get better. If one is to die, it will never get better. Besides... hast thee considered what would be the fate of thy men if thou died? Slavery, perhaps execution, instead of the same kind of captivity that thou art in condition of right now? A true commander always considers the implications of his actions, especially the consequences that have to be suffered by his men.\u0026quot; But there was one last taunt left. \u0026quot;But I guess that a princess who would have gladly led fifty men to the slaughter will find such honours alien...\u0026quot;\n\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T02:01:33.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470700893,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  listened to him intently, her cheeks flushed with colour and her rage only contained by the shackles which restrained her. If what he was saying was true, regardless of the insults he flung at her, then the lives and comfort of her men depended on her behaviour. In Asui it would have been different. People were either killed or ransomed when they were imprisoned. There was little to no Mercy to be had. Here, it seemed that they were suspiciously keen on rehabilitating her, for what reason Nerida couldn\u0026apos;t fathom. With this in mind she called her body to order and tried to make it calm. Deep breaths eased her rapid heartbeat and tried to drain the adrenaline in her system, and after some long moments Nerida found herself once again in control of her reactions. She much disliked the telekinesis he possessed and didn\u0026apos;t want to give him yet more reason to use it. With the greatest of self-control the Knight decided to open her mouth. Let him feed her, for all she cared. If this was what her men needed then she\u0026apos;d have to submit herself willingly to this humiliation. It didn\u0026apos;t stop her eyes giving him hateful glares.\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T20:52:27.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470768747,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  took another glance at Nerida, once again making that surprised expression that he made several times before - one that involved wrinkling his forehead and acting as if something went too close to his eyes, rather than opening his eyes wide. So, she wants to be fed? Now that she has opened her moth, maybe she will be more open to being fed. And surely enough, he took the spoon into that food, and gave it towards her mouth. It was what can be called leftover - leftover of what the knights usually eat. Which meant that it was probably not as bad as one would expect, despite the suspicious looks of it... Some spicy and hot thick soup or stew of some sort, containing beef, cheese, pepper, and... apples? The people in this world sure have a strange taste.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;The sooner thou acceptest thy fate, the sooner I will be freed from the tedious duty of feeding thee with a spoon...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T20:58:16.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470769096,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  swallowed the curious mixture down, her face contorting in distaste as she finally ate. He looked at her as though she was something he\u0026apos;d stepped in and it irked her beyond all belief, but she must tolerate it. In the same way she must tolerate the soup. She\u0026apos;d had to admit that it wasn\u0026apos;t all so bad, but it wouldn\u0026apos;t have been her first choice to sate her hunger. It was his words though, and not the soup that caused her the greatest concern. \u0026quot;You talk about me accepting my fate as though I know what it is yet. Tell me, what do you know about my fate. What\u0026apos;s to become of me?\u0026quot; She briefly looked around her cell, wondering if there was a sign that her men might be alive and well.\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T21:02:48.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470769368,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  sighed. \u0026quot;I believe I have already told thee about that, but then again, thou might have been too busy raging to listen... Thou will be under my supervision, as a captive. Thou will be removed from this cell, but will be chained to me. Tho will not be able to walk for more than five meters of distance from me. Most of thy other high-ranking men will suffer the same fate. The lower-class ones will be put to menial work, as much need be done...\u0026quot;\u003Cbr\u003EThe Etrandish idea of treating mundane prisoners of war was a very straightforward one: put them into a camp of sort, and put them to work. \u0026quot;However, if thou would prefer to sit in this dark cell all day long, I guess I could arrange for that as well... thy choice.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T21:06:57.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470769617,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked the man up and down, her features considering the man as getting the measure of him. She\u0026apos;d not seen him in battle so she didn\u0026apos;t know of his prowess of a fighter, but she was certain that he\u0026apos;d live to rue her fate far more keenly than she would. Nerida only reacted well to authority when she was in a position of it herself, and to be chained to this man like a slave would be almost impossible for her to tolerate. Still, she needed to try did she not? For the sake of her people. \u0026quot;Fine.\u0026quot; she replied simply. \u0026quot;You have my word that I\u0026apos;ll comply. I ask only for the fair treatment of my men. They are good, blessed and skillful. Do not waste their lives, I beg you.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T21:10:51.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470769851,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  sighed once again, but attempted to smile. \u0026quot;It is not for me to decide what is the fate of thy men, as I am a simple Crusader, not the Grandmaster. However, I know the Grandmaster well, and he doth not like executing prisoners. He will have them treated fairly, of that I can assure, but not guarantee. Now, about that...\u0026quot; and with that, he looked at the chains that were used to keep Nerida tied to that bed-esque thing she was sitting on all along.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Do not try anything stupid, as that will only ensure thy untimely demise.\u0026quot; he said as he began using his telekinessis to partially unchain Nerida, to hook one end of the chain towards a handcuff, and tie it to himself, then fully unchaining Nerida, hooking the other end of the chain to another handcuff, and putting it onto Nerida\u0026apos;s hand. That way, she will not be able to get enough distance from him. \u0026quot;I was asked to treat thee fairly, however, do know that I will not hesitate to resort to regretable means if thou triest anything stupid. Understood? Now, thou will have no choice but to follow me...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T21:16:14.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470770174,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  rolled her eyes at him, but nodded her head. That archaic Asuian was going to grate on her she just knew it. It was so strange to hear, but at least they understood each other. Wherever she had ended up, she was pleased that they could form each others words. The relief of being unchained was unspeakable to Nerida, but it didn\u0026apos;t last long as soon she found herself once again chained to him. \u0026quot;Oh please, cease with your threats.\u0026quot; she demanded of him. \u0026quot;It\u0026apos;s awfully tedious. I told you that you had my compliance not 5 minutes ago. Nothing has changed between now and then.\u0026quot; She was bound to him inextricably now, and had to follow him regardless of where he went.\n",       "date": "2016-08-09T21:20:50.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470770450,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  just silently stood by, as she reminded him of the fact that he had threatened her before, and unlocked the door, leading her out of the room. Now, she would get her first confirmation that her men were indeed alive, although most of them were either sleeping, eating, or being interrogated. They were all in their cells, although visiblity was limited, due to the walls and the small windows on the doors. He would lead her out of the prison building, into the outdoors of the fortress they were in - which is likely going to be a spectacular sight even for the brief minutes she is going to be able to look around before being dragged into anoter building.\u003Cbr\u003EKnights jousting and sparring, all those stone walls, people carrying supplies, halberdiers and crossbowmen guarding doors, all the neat-looking buildings, and last but not least, a building that clearly looked like a church. There were even children too! Would-be-knights?\n\nStephanus would lead Nerida into what could be arguably called the most luxurious barracks ever, because it was not a barracks - it was more like an appartment, for knights who lacked their own estate. Stephanus would eventually get an estate - as he has already arranged for it - but being granted a landed estate was not as simple as buying land, being granted land or being granted nobility. All three involve lots of tedious paperwork that will drag on for a long time... The \u0026apos;barracks\u0026apos; are quite neat too, albeit rather small, and therefore, not the most comfortable.",       "date": "2016-08-09T21:27:48.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1470770868,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  took in her surroundings in silence and with an intense gaze. For all intents and purposes these people seemed to be much the same as her. Human, without a doubt, and though there were differences in dress and language Nerida recognised most of the day to day items she saw around her. She knew not how she had come to this place, and knew full well that there was no country on the Hassier with the name that had been given to her by Stephanus. All she knew what that their lives seemed to share a similarity with Nerida\u0026apos;s own, and this was enough to put the girl slightly at ease. The building she was led into give Nerida pause for thought, and at first she had indeed mentally likened it to some religious edifice, though that was not at all the case. The girl was almost mesmerised by what she saw around her, though if any of it caused her surprise she gave no outward sign and no vocal indication at first. She simple let Stephanus lead her through the Barracks until she was ready to give him her question. \u0026quot;... What is this place?\u0026quot; she finally asked. \u0026quot;Your accommodations? Some lodgings?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T23:40:37.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471556437,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  led Nerida around into the barracks he happens to live in, and nodded .\u0026quot;Lodgings? Thou could say that... These are our knightly barracks. Arguably, the most comfortable barracks a person can ever think of... Separated rooms for every knight, with a decent bed, a shelf, and a door... Not the best form of accomodation, but it still doth beat what ordinary foot soldiers have...\u0026quot; he said, as he slowly led her to his room. And surely enough, it was as it can be expected. Wooden facade, a bed with actual curtains on it - no hay at all - a wardrobe that is for the storage of clothes and armour, and a case for the sword. And two night tables. As he said, it is not much, but still better than nothing. Not that knights spend any time here to begin with, except to sleep.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Not that I sleep here very often to begin with... Usually, I am away. But, I guess this is whre thou shall be sleeping as well, until things change...\u0026quot; which he did not mention at all how would change.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T23:46:09.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471556769,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked at the room for a few good, long moments, nodding her head at everything he had said. His room truly was to be envied. She thought jokingly that if her men had seen these conditions she might well have a mutiny on her hands, and the thought gave her pause to smile. There was but one thing the Stephanus had said which had thrown her, and out of pure confusion she was forced to ask the Knight to clarify his statement for her benefit. \u0026quot;Forgive me, but where should I sleep? Is there a bed to be made up for me on the floor? I\u0026apos;ve no complaints, anything would be better than that bench in the cells... but truly I do not see another bed.\u0026quot; Perhaps he was teasing her, or there was a room free? His bed looked like the most comfortable thing Nerida had ever seen at that point.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T23:50:38.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471557038,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  pointed at his own bed. \u0026quot;Thou can sleep at the one side of the bed, facing the wall. Then I can sleep at the other side of the bed, facing the opposite wall. It is big enough for two people to sleep without coming to contact with each other.\u0026quot; he pointed it out. In fact, there was but one more thing designed to keep two persons away. \u0026quot;When there is a shortage of rooms, people who sleep in the same bed may separate it in two with a wooden plank.\u0026quot; He was not teasing her at all. He was dead serious, which was evident from his tone of voice and expression.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Thou doth not need to worry about what thou may be thinking about... I am saving myself until marriage.\u0026quot; he said, as he had thought that normal people would people have similiar thoughts if they looked at a bed.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T23:55:34.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471557334,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  \u0026apos;s cheeks turned pink with embarrassment at him having even mentioned such things; clearly this was not a conversation that Nerida was used to having. She thought on how she might further excuse her rather unseemly behaviour, and inclined her head in apology. \u0026quot;I beg forgiveness, in my home rules on such things are strict. I would be cast out for so much as sharing a room with a man. I.. I took Holy Vows, as a means of escaping the threat of marriage.\u0026quot; Nerida was never quite able to meet Stephanus\u0026apos; eyes as she spoke of these things, but still she thought it best to proceed. If they were to share a room she should at least need to explain this simple fact to the man.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T00:11:37.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471471897,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shaked his head and made the same surprised expression he made in the cell once. \u0026quot;Sharing a room doth not equal fornicating. Peasants families do it all the time. Mother, father, brother and sister all sleeping in the same bed. Comrades in arms also share beds without any carnal thoughts... How doth thou even go on a campaign, if thou art forbidden from sleeping in the same tent as any of thy comrades?\u0026quot; he asked, pointing out another one of the big cultural differences. But then again, what he failed to mention was, that in his world, marriage is not only perfectly acceptable, but encouraged for most knights - especially the female ones. In this world, a sexually arranged woman is pressured to get married, no matter her talents.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Ah well... I guess I should keep my mouth shut as well... My future wife, whoever she may be, will probably not want to hear about me having shared my room with a prisoner...\u0026quot; he laughed. He never really dealt with the other sex like normal people did. Not to say that he does not like women, but he was always married to his work. No woman in his mind.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T00:16:31.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471472191,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  tried to divert the topic of conversation as quickly as she could without leaving Stephanus without an answer. At last, years of dealing with lackeys at Court and pompous noble posturing had served her well. This was a far cry from the refinement of castle life which she would be used to, but Nerida saw no reason to be rude to a man who evidently did not intend to mistreat her. \u0026quot;My religion places great value on purity. Those who forsake the more.. carnal aspects of life come under great blessings and protection from our Gods. I.. am aware of how strange that must sound to you. Even other cultures on the Hassier find it difficult to comprehend.\u0026quot; She had never met a man more at peace with the idea of selling himself off into marriage. It was certainly not something Nerida had come across before.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T00:25:59.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471472759,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  fully comprehended everything she was saying. His religion was not without celibate monks and nuns either. In fact, being forced into celibacy is a common punishment for certain kinds of deviants - such as so-called \u0026apos;sword-swallowers\u0026apos; - and being unmarried and celibate is all but an unwritten requirement for all the higher ranks in priesthood. So he knows very well what is celibacy, but does not say so, which may make it look like he has a difficult time comprehending her.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Well, now that thou knowest which room thou shall be sleeping in, it is time for us to get moving again... I don\u0026apos;t want to miss the evening mass. Thou might hear real wisdom out of the words of the priest there...\u0026quot; he said, yanking the chain a little and opening the door. \u0026quot;Thou shall sit next to me in the chapel. I hope thou can keep thy mouth shout during the mass. It is very rude to interrupt a religious liturgy, even among thy enemies...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T00:31:12.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471473072,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  almost literally dug her heels into the ground, and was not moved by Stephanus yanking at the chain she was bound to. Her face went from embarrassment, to shock, to displeasure. She intended to fight him on this one point if nothing else. She had spoken so highly of her Gods only five minutes ago, how dare he think she would abandon them now? Still, Nerida saw no need to be unpleasant with him. With all the manners she could muster, Nerida responded to his demand whilst trying to maintain a calm demeanor. \u0026quot;I thank you I will not. I have no wish to go to a mass I am not sincere in hearing and consorting with Priests whose words hold no eight with me. I am your prisoner, but I am still a believer in the Tetralogy and my own Gods.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T00:34:57.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471473297,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  glared at her with the expression a senior soldier would have towards a disobedient junior. \u0026quot;Thou art my prisoner, thou art bound to me, so thought must follow me where ever I go. I do not expect thee to follow everything I order thee to do, but at least, keep thy mouth shout in the chapel...\u0026quot; and if she did not go, he would give him a reminder of the powers he had - namely, a bit of choking on the neck while raising her up in the air. Out of the two, he is likely the physically stronger one, so no matter how she resists, he will eventually get her to follow him, with or without magic.... unless she does something crazy, like amputating her own arm.\u003Cbr\u003ESo, one way or another, he leaves the room, leaves the barracks, and goes for the small chapel. If she attempts to yell, he has no choice but to pull her closer and cover her mouth. The chapel. Another relatively beautiful but simplistic stone building from the outside, but so well decorated in the inside, if not a little dark, even with all the means of illumination, mundane and magical alike. There is much to see in there.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T00:39:28.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471473568,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  glared back into Stephanus\u0026apos; eyes, and did indeed resist when he tried to pull her with him again. For her disobedience and petulance, she suffered the humiliating strangulation at the Knights hands, and this alone was enough to subdue her. Choking and gasping, she was pulled to her feet and dragged away to the chapel, her hand still around her throat and her voice to hoarse to call out. As he pulled her inside to their place of worship, Nerida id her best to fall silent again. She was in no mood to suffer another choking, and didn\u0026apos;t want to draw attention to herself or her chains. The men gathered would not see her beauty or her rank, they would see only a prisoner, and this was intolerable to Nerida given her pride.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T00:46:44.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471474004,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had finally managed to get inside the chapel, and he may have been early, and paranoid about being late, as there were plenty of seats. He took one of the benches in the front. A long piece of furniture that people sit on, remeniscent of the kind of table universities have. The symbol of his religion was everywhere. That sun-eye combination symbol. The same symbol he was wearing on his tunic over the armour. Although, the order\u0026apos;s logo had it in red, while the church had it in gold. The priest, a long-haired elderly-looking man with pointy ears and clothing that Nerida\u0026apos;s people would surely consider funny or ridiculous, was preparing the book, and dealing with some other issues. A person with pointy ears. In this world, they are called elves.\u003Cbr\u003ESome of the other knights and soldiers too began gathering in the church, but the mass would not begin until at least ten minutes later. And what was that large wooden monstrosity with the white and black bricks on it? And why were the stained glass works depicting people with pointy-ears either killing dragons and lizardmen, or reenacting strange events? Such a strange religion...\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T00:51:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471474303,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  remained stalwart in her silence, her eyes darting around the room to take in every strange sight that she could lay eyes on. She marveled at the Elf\u0026apos;s ears, having never before seen his kind or come across them even in legend. It was such a strange set up, and not how Nerida was at all used to conducting worship. Her people knelt on cushions and bowed their head in lengthy prayer, sermons were short and impassioned, not read from some book like a bedtime story for a child. If she had been honest, Nerida would have said she felt dirty even remaining in the Chapel for any given time. It\u0026apos;s heathen symbols and strange customs made the girls skin crawl, and she would have given anything to bolt and run. Instead she contented herself with closing her eyes and saying her prayers to her own Gods, begging forgiveness. If only she had been stronger. If only she had sent some of her men back through the portal.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T00:57:17.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471474637,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  remained still at the place where he was sitting, and after the chapel got filled up, the sermons have began.... with a song. A human with short hair, almost a boy rather than a man, pressed the strange white and black bricks on the wooden monstrosity... and sound came out. Musical sound. That wooden monstrosity is... an instrument. A water organ, to be precise. As everyone present - except Nerida, and probably some other prisoners who happened to be here - recognized the melody, all began singing, as they all knew the lyrics. And that included Stephanus as well, whose voice was just as deep as before. His singing voice was... acceptable. Truth be told, he does not like singing at all, but this is a religious ceremony - duty is duty.\u003Cbr\u003ESo he sang along with the priests and all the other believers who were present. A surprisingly peaceful song. Then, after the song has ended, the real sermons have begun.\n\n\u0026quot;We have gathered here today, to pay our respects to the almighty Titanius, the one-true god of all the living, originator of the life-giving sun.\u0026quot; said the Elven priest with a voice even deeper than that of Stephanus. \u0026quot;For this occasion, I shall read a scripture from the Book of Visions, to remind us that sin is always with us, and that we always must do everything, to fight it. Let this quote be an inspiration for all, who wish to cleanse themselves of sin.\u0026quot;\nAnd so did the priest began telling a story. A story of a woman, who lived a terribly sinful life, fornicating with women, shunning men while at the same time living on food given to her by her hated men. Then one day, she was attacked. She was saved by a man, who took care of her. But the man got mortally ill one day, and his last dying wish was that the woman become a moral person, find herself a husband and live a moral life. And so she did. She lived as a housewife until her husband died, then she became a nun. All her children became priests. She lived her younger days a sinful woman, but lived her elder days as a sinless saint. So she died a saint.\nAt least, according to the story the priest was telling. But to disbelievers, this is nothing but fiction...",       "date": "2016-08-18T01:05:50.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471475150,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  tried not to listen to the sermon that was being forced upon her, but as the tale wore on Nerida could no longer hide her disgust at what she heard. It was a despicable tale, one that told that a woman\u0026apos;s virtue came only from laying with men and launching children into the world. If that was salvation then Nerida wanted none of it, she would rather have died drowning in her sin. She thought long an hard about the dismal nonsense that comprised this religion and knew she hated it immediately. One God? One creator? Then how could he have created balance? How could one being have made sun and moon, preside over war and peace, bring times of plenty and provide succor in times of hardship? The Knight was finding it hard to keep her countenance but did so with remarkable poise and grace. She was a veritable statue throughout the entirety of these ridiculous proceedings.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T01:16:57.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471475817,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  could not even notice Nerida\u0026apos;s disgust. Despite the chain linking them together, he, being a religious knight, was clearly well-immersed in the sermon. He liked the tale, just like any of the true believers. It was a cautory tale. Then the elf began another tale. Arguably, a more interesting one, and intriguing...\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Three millenia ago, our common ancestors have left their islands of paradise. For they have turned to sin, and they have been cursed. No more eternal life, no more island of paradise, said our almighty Titanius, and he banished them by making the island gradually sink. But our ancestors passed his test, left the island for our Artograch, and populated it. Centuries later, they would split in two. The Wood Elves of Dragoc in the south, who fell to dualistic heathenry of two \u0026apos;gods\u0026apos;... the Humans of Etrand in the northeastwho continued to worship heathen gods until eight centuries ago... and last but not least, the High Elves of Froturn in the northwest, the first people to find the light of Titanius, and gladly share it with other peoples... such as the humans. The Light of Titanius doth not simpyl get extinguished. It spreads, and will do so until the end of times. The candle never burneth out.\u0026quot;\n\nWhile filled with clear religious propaganda, for the uninitiated, it was important exposition on the true origins of Stephanus and his people... they are humans, but their ancestors were elves? How does that even work out? At least, a very close relationship with the elves, sharing common ancestors that only split up two millenia ago.\n\u0026quot;I would like to continue this sermon with another cautory tale of how sin corrupts and people can be always saved from sin, no matter what. But before that, I would like us all, to say our prayers.\u0026quot;\nAnd the room felt silent. Every one of the believers bowed their heads onto their held-together hands, whispering very quietly, and unintelligibly. Perhaps another opportunity for Nerida to pray to her own gods.",       "date": "2016-08-18T01:25:35.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471476335,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  Nerida did indeed pray to her own Gods, and with a fervor that only the most desperate and trying of times could bring out in a man or woman. She prayed and begged them to hear her, not knowing whether or not her Gods could catch wind of her words in this strange realm. She prayed to be delivered from this trial, prayed that her home and family were safe, prayed that she would be spared the humiliation of forever remaining a prisoner. It was a desperate plea foe the Knight who was used to not needing to request anything of her Gods other than that her purity remained guarded. She was at the mercy of these strange, heathen people now but she could not give up her faith. It was all she had left of her home, save for her blade, and she would cling to them both desperately, like a life raft in the middle of a violent sea.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T01:31:53.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471476713,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  still completely oblivious to what Nerida was doing, remained immersed in the sermon. The uninitiated could assume he was even attracted to the priest in the wrong way... But no such thing was true. He was merely immersed in a sermon of his own religion, and considered the tales interesting, even if he has already heard them likely a hundred times before. He was happy and proud to have been born to this religion, and shared most of the priest\u0026apos;s sentiments... except for his regard of the Wood Elves. He considered the Wood Elves good people, good but misguided. Still mostly good.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;There was once a man in the north-eastern land of Etrancoast, once land of the heathens, Frythild Shairskwynn. A controversial and dividing man even to this day, whose writings have aroused much contreversy. When he lived, he was accused of heathenry, but he denied all those accusations, claiming to be a faithful worshipper of Titanius. In fact, he wrote many books, in which he has confirmed his devotion to Titanius...\u0026quot;\n\nAh, even more juicy exposition for the uninitated. Paganism, the worship of multiple gods, still alive in certain lands... and Etrancoast? That sounds similiar to Etrand... the coast of Etrand? Looks like religious diversity does exist in this land.\n\u0026quot;His first and likely most well-known book was a cautory tale. The tale of a brave woman, who refused to succumb to sin, who hath overriden her own bodily impulses, and became a woman of virtue, living happily, and making the man she loved happy at the same time. She was a woman whose body was burning with a sinful desire to shag her fellow women... Most unacceptable, one of the worst sins in the eyes of Titanius. But in her mind, she knew it was wrong. Her best friend, a Wood Elf, descendant of heathens who have converted to the one true faith of Titanius, one day fell ill. When she tried to nurse him, he confessed his own sin: he loved her. She did not know what to do. Live a sinful life of debauchery, or live a more virtuous life that is likely more difficult, less enjoyable in the short run, but happier in the long run? After falling victim to attack, having her friend fall ill, confessing her sins to the priest, she made up her mind to defeat her body, and let her mind rule her life. Mind over matter, my good folk. She has defeated her own impulses, and became his wife.\u0026quot;\nSuch a tale that would surely disgust peopels from other religions. Titanius surely is an intolerant god, who deprives people of happiness unless they conform to his rules.\n\u0026quot;Her tale is the tale that proves that being born into sin does not equal living in sin. All of us, are capable of abandoning sin, and living without sin. Willpower, is the key to being a true believer. And just like that woman, we mortals can too make Titanius happy, and make ourselves happy at the same time. Or die trying.\u0026quot;",       "date": "2016-08-18T01:43:42.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471477422,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had heart quite enough. Her own morals and good standing could no longer permit her to listen to this sermon and these hateful rules any longer. Quite forgetting that the shackles still impeded her, Nerida stood and tried to walk away from the service and the bigoted Priest who preached it. She kept her head held high and her eyes cast to the floor as she left. She did not shower the Priest with angry derisions, or try to kick some sense into him as was her wont. She merely could no longer tolerate to hear misguided words and intolerance for so many things. The Knight was sick of people who thought their was the one, true and only way, she was tired of people using a book to justify their own dislikes and narrow-mindedness. It was only the pull of the chains, still attached to Stephanus that stopped her from going anywhere. With her exit now impeded, Nerida gave another tug at them in an attempt to escape.\n",       "date": "2016-08-18T01:49:38.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471477778,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  only now started to notice that Nerida was trying to escape. He looked at her, clearly glaring at her. But he had to keep it silently, lest he may disturb the sermon. So he pulled her closer to him, and whispered aggressively.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Now listen up, thou heathen. Stay put, stay silent, or thou may get hurt.\u0026quot; And luckily, the priest continued to preach without noticing what was going on. Besides, it is not really a smart idea to try to leave, given how she is surrounded by knights. Stephanus sitting left of her, and some other nameless knight right of her. And plety of other knights surrounding them. What the priest would say next was unimportant: religiously worded history of Froturn, the legendary Queen Salvia who united the tribes, and some other boring history lessons. But ten minutes of now, and the sermon would be over. Everyone would stand up, and walk out of the church. But at a different pace. The priest did notice Stephanus, and as he was about to leave with his prisoner, the priest stopped him.\n\n\u0026quot;If it isn\u0026apos;t a familiar face... Sir Tavilrond, is it?\u0026quot; asked the priest.\n\u0026quot;Father Caederus?\u0026quot; asked the knight, knowing the priest\u0026apos;s name.\n\u0026quot;Ah yes... And who might be this beautiful lady with thee... Don\u0026apos;t tell me that thou art finally getting married...\u0026quot; laughed the priest.\n\u0026quot;No, no, not at all... \u0026quot; the knight replied. \u0026quot;A sword-swallower?\u0026quot; laughed the priest, clearly making a joke. \u0026quot;Not in this world, or the next, thy holliness... Such transgessions are not to be tolerated, after all.\u0026quot; the knight cracked the joke. Only that their exchange was anything but funny to disblievers. Joking about accusing a knight of not liking women, then making a joke of how it is a sin in their religion... how is that even a source of a joke?\n\u0026quot;I have to get moving, otherwise my... prisoner... might fidget.\u0026quot; said the knight, as he would yank the chain. Now it really is their time to leave the chapel and return to the room, and in no world would he let Nerida to have a vocal exchange with the priest. At least, not unpunished.",       "date": "2016-08-18T01:59:51.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471478391,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  stormed out of the chapel ahead even of Stephanus, her strides fast and angry as she tried to drag herself as far away from the \u0026quot;Holy\u0026quot; man as she could possibly be. A hatred burned in her, an anger that she had but rarely felt in her lifetime though now it threatened to consume her. Once they were once again out in the open and no longer under the gaze of Stephanus\u0026apos; God\u0026apos;s Nerida turned to aim a quick, angry kick of little skill at the Knight\u0026apos;s shins, her beautiful features twisting in anger and disgust while the girl repeatedly tried to kick the mans legs out from under him. She didn\u0026apos;t care if the chain took her down with him, it would have been worth it for the pain she was about to inflict. \u0026quot;You disgust me! Your people disgust me! Your religion disgusts me! Such intolerance, such prejudice and bigotry. You\u0026apos;re no better than insects, or the beast tribes! If you ever dare to drag me to one of those sermons again I shall scream for every second of the service!\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-19T00:12:28.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471558348,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  looked just as shocked as the priest when he heard Nerida say such foul things, but before that, he had to resist the kicks. The first kick landed in, and although he felt a bit off-balance, the pain was minimal to zero - his legs were covered in armour, after all. First gambeson, then chainmail, then some plates at the vital and static parts. It can even defend against swords, a kick or punch would do more damage to the instigator of the attack. So his legs remained intact. After Nerida screamed her lungs out enough, he would reply stoically, but only to her last sentence.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Then I will tape thy mouth the next time. Now come back with me, heathen, or else I will have to drag thee back to the dungeon.\u0026quot; he said, and would begin to yank the chain to go to the barracks, with his hand on his sword just in case. \u0026quot;Heathens should know when they are defeated...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-19T00:18:59.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471558739,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  railed against his accusations, her anger making her brave even in front of the public at large as he dragged her through the streets. \u0026quot;Heathen?! You preach nothing but intolerance and bigotry! If my Gods are heathen then I\u0026apos;m glad they are so, because I would rather die coated in my sin than renounce the Tetrology for -that- abomination. Your one God is a joke, a farce and a dangerous one at that. Send me to the cells for you\u0026apos;ll have no peace from me until you do. You are no Knight. There is no goodness or light in your heart! I\u0026apos;ve nothing but pity for the people and cities that live under this society and it\u0026apos;s laws!\u0026quot; She resisted as he tried to pull her, though her strength was all but sapped. In silence Nerida began to plot how she might make good her escape when an opportunity arose.\n",       "date": "2016-08-19T00:24:28.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471559068,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  has decided that he had lost his patience with the woman for now. No comfortable bed for tonight. No food. Even if he is a man of honour and mercy, someone with a soft spot for any being that is suffering, even he has his limits... and his triggers as well. And Nerida just happened to pull it. This means he is not going to be his usual self, but instead assume an uncharacteristically emotionless face and silence, grab Nerida\u0026apos;s arm strongly and roughly, and drag her all the way to the same prison she was held in the first time, walking rather fast, disconnecting the chain once in the cell, pushing her to her uncomfortable bed-chain thing that he still doesn\u0026apos;t know what is called, and leaving the cell as fast as he can, after locking it.\u003Cbr\u003EThen he would return to the barracks and his own room. He needed some hot tea to unwind himself and sleep calmly, after the sudden adrenaline rush he had. And even then, this night might be just as sleepless for him as it will be for Nerida.\n",       "date": "2016-08-19T00:28:46.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471559326,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  grunted as her petite frame hit the back of the unforgiving stone, cell wall, her teeth clenched and her mind doing all it could to stop the dull ache of pre-existing bruises that the impact had once again given her pause to remember. She glared at him the entire time he unchained her from his side and locked her in like an animal, her eyes strong and her glare unforgiving. She didn\u0026apos;t regret a word of what she\u0026apos;d said to him, and she knew deep down that she was right. She had been raised with a very different ideology, the ideology of balance. She did not believe that love could be wrong, she did not believe that women should marry to be virtuous; quite the opposite in fact. Knowing she would be left there to rot Nerida literally lay in the bed she had given herself. It was an uncomfortable, basic plank, more of a bench if it was anything, but Nerida was by now sat too tired to care. She curled up, tucking her legs up to her chest as she tried with all her might to close her eyes and allow her exhaustion to take her.\n",       "date": "2016-08-19T00:35:28.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471559728,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had returned to his own room. He undressed, he took down all his armour changing it for a much more simpler set of clothing he primarily used for sleeping. Then, he took drinkable water out of his flask, poured it into a mug, put the mug over a strange-looking piece of iron that would head up seemingly at command, then put several herbs into the water. After it all went boiling hot, he waited for it to cool off a little, then drank it all. Only after that he would collapse to the bed, and begin his long sleep that will last at least until the morning. It seems the tea mixture he drank worked: it turned a man with adrenaline rush into a man who slept like milk. The morning, he would wake up, exchange his clothes for his regular set of clothes combined with armour, go towards a part of the barracks that had food in it, mainly for the purpose of having breakfast, then take that food with himself and head straight to the prisoner, where he had locked away Nerida. Then he entered it withot any words.\n",       "date": "2016-08-19T00:41:13.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471560073,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had passed an uncomfortable night, but even as Stephanus entered the cell the clamour and clanging of the bars was not enough to stir her or rouse her from her deep sleep. As it turned out the Knight had slept like the dead. A mug of water had been pushed through the bars at some point but it was left where it had been placed and was entirely untouched by Nerida\u0026apos;s evidently parched lips. Immobile and still dreaming, the only indication she gave that she was even yet still alive was the gentle rising and falling of her chest. Whatever the reason might be, clearly the girl had desperately needed this sleep.\n",       "date": "2016-08-19T00:44:58.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471560298,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  glared at the sleeping knight for a few seconds, then poked her with his armoured fingers, which must have felt like being gently prodded with a metal prod. No matter how gentle it is, it is still metal. \u0026quot;Wake up. We have a place to be.\u0026quot; he said, and waited for the knightess to wake up. In the mean time, he looked at the mug that must hav egotten passed to her. Then he wondered... What must go on in her mind? Why does she think it is worth it to insult him and his faith, when she could have slept in a more comfortable bed? He knows, that people of his own religion also died for their faith, plenty of martyrs to list. But he also believes that his religion is true one, one worthy to die for.\n",       "date": "2016-08-19T00:48:17.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471560497,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  stirred slowly, so slowly in fact that for a few brief moments she had entirely lost track of where she was and whose custody she was now in. For a few brief, blissful seconds Nerida was once again at home, waking in her bed, being roused by some overly noisy or intrusive servant. As such, she responded as only a Royal had reason or right to do. \u0026quot;Hush, piglet. Rouse me once more and your life shall pay the forfeit.\u0026quot; In the next few seconds her brain began to process what was taking place. That voice was not a stewards voice, but the voice of her captor. This was no longer Asui, but some gods-forsaken cell in an entirely different realm, and this bench was a far cry from the soft pillows of her bed. Brief seconds past before Nerida pushed herself up to sitting, still dazed and confused, but far more alert than she had been only mere seconds ago. \u0026quot;Wh-what do you want?\u0026quot; she demanded of the Knight. \u0026quot;You may have places to be but I have no such engagements. Leave me here to rot as you promised.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-19T00:54:19.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471560859,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shaked his head and put the piece of bread down next to her. \u0026quot;Art thou not hungry? Eat up. Thou art going to get bathed....\u0026quot; he mentioned. \u0026quot;I am taking thee to the capital city, where thou shall no longer reek. However, about that outburst yesterday...\u0026quot; and he went silent for a moment.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;It would be best if thou kept thy mouth shut about such things, lest I \u0026apos;accidentally\u0026apos; hand thee over to the Inquisiton, which will convert thee one way or another... It is not very ladylike for a woman to yell anyway.\u0026quot; he made his remark, but did not rechain Nerida to himself just yet. He waited until she gave some sort of reply, and only when it looked like she would not try to attack him, he unchained her from the wall and chained her to himself. And if she wants to eat and drink before that, he will help her to that, off course. Not that she has much choice in the matters: either do as he says, or be forced to do magically.\n",       "date": "2016-08-19T01:00:13.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471561213,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shaked his head and put the piece of bread down next to her. \u0026quot;Art thou not hungry? Eat up. Thou art going to get bathed....\u0026quot; he mentioned. \u0026quot;I am taking thee to the capital city, where thou shall no longer reek. However, about that outburst yesterday...\u0026quot; and he went silent for a moment. \u0026quot;It would be best if thou kept thy mouth shut about such things, lest I \u0026apos;accidentally\u0026apos; hand thee over to the Inquisiton, which will convert thee one way or another... It is not very ladylike for a woman to yell anyway.\u0026quot; he made his remark, but did not rechain Nerida to himself just yet. He waited until she gave some sort of reply, and only when it looked like she would not try to attack him, he unchained her from the wall and chained her to himself. And if she wants to eat and drink before that, he will help her to that, off course. Not that she has much choice in the matters: either do as he says, or be forced to do magically.\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T23:49:15.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471729755,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  glared at him as he mentioned handing her over to some form of \u0026quot;inquisition.\u0026quot; It had been a long time since she\u0026apos;d heard such a word, people of her home country even as fervent in their religion as they were had long since ceased using inquisitions or other such tactics in order to force people to comply. With every drop of sarcasm intended in her voice she pushed the point, hoping her non-compliance would at least rile her captor. \u0026quot;Oh? And what horrors might they subject me to that you already have not? More sermons? A lecture on how to be a good and virtuous woman?\u0026quot; The thought almost made her roll her eyes, but Nerida soon picked up the bread and took it off him. It was the first thing she\u0026apos;d had since the soup he\u0026apos;d fed her the day before, and she could not have been more pleased to eat it. It didn\u0026apos;t take long until she succumbed to her thirst as well and drank of the water that had been left to her. \u0026quot;And for your information I do not \u0026quot;reek.\u0026quot; I bathed but a day ago... a bath house and some proper clothes would be welcome, though.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T23:54:48.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471730088,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  continued with his emotionless glare and let her speak her mind out, completely ignoring her snide remarks about his religion. After all, Titanius teaches mercy, compassion and forgiveness... Maybe it is high time for him to actually follow those principles of his faith. \u0026quot;I know not about the standards in thy country and her royal court, but in this realm, a person who doth not bathe for two days is considered a reek... even among peasants.\u0026quot; and he would proceed with unchaining her from that nameless piece of furniture that he can still not identify - to the point where his inability to identify that futniture is turning into a running gag - and chaining her to himself.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;It is going to take at least half an hour on horseback... I hope thou can keep thy mouth shut better this time. In the capital city, my authority is lesser than that of a city guard or an inquisitor.\u0026quot; he mentioned. \u0026quot;So if thy eyes see anything that offendeth thee... get used to it instead of complaining. That is the best advice I can give. Now get moving... we have a bathhouse and a marketplace waiting for us.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T00:01:08.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471644068,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gave the man a sneering, sarcastic smile as if to thank him for the utterly useless information he\u0026apos;d given her. \u0026quot;Then maybe you should bathe your prisoners more often, it would give us less of a reason to hate you all the more.\u0026quot; she retorted as he chained her to his side again. Nerida stood from the plank-of-wood-bench-with-chains with all of the grace that she could muster. She hoped, nay prayed that cleaner and more flattering clothes awaited her if she complied, and considered that possibility a good enough reason to appease her captor with her silence for now. She had no notion of what might await her in the capital of such a strange land, and in her thinking longed to see her own home city once again. Asui\u0026apos;s capital was a glory of white stone and marble. From what little she had seen of the buildings in this outpost she expected no such beauty to await her there. The thought caused her heart to sink a little as she was led silently out of her cell.\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T00:08:12.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471644492,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  began leaving the cell, yanking the chain when ever Nerida seemed to want to stop. He had no intention of stopping, after all. He would exit the prison, if not a little bit too fast, with the exception that Nerida should have the same amount of stamina as him, when she probably does not. However, when he began walking towards the stables, he was greeted by an unknown face. A boy of early teens with red hair and modest clothing. That boy simply asked \u0026quot;Art thou Stephanus Tavilrond?\u0026quot;, prompting the knight to respond \u0026quot;Yes? Dost thou have something for me?\u0026quot;, to which the boy only responded by giving him what appeared to be an envelope containing a letter. He took it into his haversack, deciding to read it later - while on horseback.\u003Cbr\u003ESo he continued his journey to the stables with Nerida, where he would find his way to his horse. A snow-white female horse, named Cathrin, with minor armour on her, and what appeared to be a \u0026apos;backpack for horses\u0026apos; to carry some supplies.\n\n\u0026quot;This is my trusty steed, Cathrin... She has served me for at least five years by now. Still as fast as the lightning.\u0026quot; he remarked, mounting the horse and attempting to help Nerida to the same, to land in front of him. This may be an awkward and embarrassing moment, as it is likely impossible to mount the horse separately while chained together, and it is difficult to mount the horse together at the same time without causing someone to blush.",       "date": "2016-08-20T00:14:26.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471644866,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  was thankfully used to horses, an animal which these two worlds apparently shared. With Stephanus already mounted Nerida used the limited strength she had remaining to her in an attempt to do the same. Her first attempt led to her falling short, her height impeding her progress, but one her second attempt and with a helpful pull up from Stephanus Nerida found herself quite comfortably on the horses back, seated in front of him. She blushed at their physical proximity, but said no more. After all the Knight had asked for her silence and he was likely to get it. It was then that Nerida realised how slight she was in comparison to his muscular frame. Nerida was a strong and capable fighter, but he almost towered over her by a foot. She had to wonder what kind of advantage in battle this might give the man to distract herself from thinking of how improperly close he was.\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T00:21:47.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471645307,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  by this point had gotten used to having close contact with people without any erotic subtext getting involved. Erotic subtext? He was a virgin who has never even kissed a woman, let alone slept with one. He never even really fancied anyone to begin with, which is why the priest yesterday joked about him potentially being a \u0026apos;sword-swallower\u0026apos; - a slang word for a man who shags other men... illegally, off course, as their religion forbids it.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Jiah!\u0026quot; he said to the horse, which was an order: the horse walking fast or running slowly in the direction he drove her into. And first it was out of the stables, then out of the gates of the fortress, allowing Nerida to see the outside world for the first time.... Flat lands. And then onto the road. A well-maintained stone road which seemed endless, surrounded by grassy flatlands, with occasionally a peasant walking onto somewhere. Then he felt that it was appropriate to read the letter he was given. So he took it out of the haversack, opened the envelope, and read it to himself - the letter was informing him of being granted nobility and being given the Barony of Stattelbarn. Since Nerida was seated in front of him, she had no chance to read it all - and Stephanus was someone who knew how to read silently.\n\nSo started the half-hour long journey to the capital city. On boring grassy flatlands, which were being grazed by wild musk bisons - a unique kind of animal exclusive to this region - and herds of sheep, cattle and goats.",       "date": "2016-08-20T00:27:57.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471645677,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked around the flat lands and fields almost disappointed. It was a different world to the one she had grown up in entirely. She saw no hills as far as the horizon, no sweeping mountain ranges in the distance and no forests that threatened to swallow whomsoever stepped into the whole. It was undramatic, serene, and thoroughly underwhelming. With nothing to see Nerida instead settled on her thoughts, and as was her wont her thoughts soon turned to curiosity. What was the letter he had been handed, she wondered? From a friend, family, a lover perhaps? Somehow she couldn\u0026apos;t quite see the straightforward, stern Knight at her rear seducing a woman, or even a man for that matter. His religion would probably burn him alive for such a \u0026quot;sin.\u0026quot; She began to wonder what would happen if she lied about her sexuality, and confessed that she preferred the company of women? Death, more than likely, if yesterdays sermon had been anything to go on. The church here seemingly tolerated no such open-mindedness. Still, if the opportunity arouse than Nerida might well say it just to spite all of those around her.\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T00:34:19.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471646059,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  put the letter back onto the haversack, and while en route to the capital, he quenched his boredom with whistling music. Some songs that were familiar to him, mostly folk songs from this region that while did sound pleasing, they were nothing out of the ordinary. That\u0026apos;s all the music that can ever come out of him - he whistles, but does not sing - except at sermons. That\u0026apos;s all that he could do during the slow ride, other than re-reading the letter to make sure he read it all correctly. And he sure did.\u003Cbr\u003EHalf an hour passed which must have seemed like a whole day for both of them - with nothing interesting to see - and they found themselves at a large open gate, huge city walls made out of stone, with men with bows and crossbows walking atop th walls, and some of the towers having strange thick cast-iron barrels on them with men behind them. Cannons. Now, all the soldiers were wearing chainmail armour. Not the most cutting-edge, but it does the job well. And the city... So far, it is nothing out of the ordinary. Stone houses with thatched roof. But there is more.\n\n\u0026quot;The city is divided into three parts.\u0026quot; Stephanus explained. \u0026quot;First, we have the Industrial Quarters. Home of the craftsmen and merchants. Second, we have the Inner City, at the very centre. Home of the cream of the crop, the Mages Guild, the Cathedral of Light, the most fancy resorts, and most importantly, the bathhouse. The third one is... the Shanty Quarters, and the less I talk about that, the better...\u0026quot; he gave Nerida the exposition, with an implied \u0026apos;you can open your mouth if you want to ask questions\u0026apos; that he did not pronounce.",       "date": "2016-08-20T00:43:50.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471646630,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  tried to turn to face him as she spoke, but obviously could not meet his eyes exactly as she might have hoped. \u0026quot;And for a bath you have brought me to the Capital? Why not simply leave me to bathe in your own barracks? I am capable of not drowning myself, I assure you.\u0026quot; she retorted, but said no more. One thing she had noticed above all else was that every uniform she\u0026apos;d seen, every position of power she had encountered thus far, had been a man. This country obviously did not think highly of giving women much say in how anything was run. It irked her, but she stayed silent about it. They were passing the city gates after all. The worst thing she could do now was draw attention to herself from the guards.\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T00:49:41.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471646981,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had the astounded expression when she asked the question. \u0026quot;No, I brought thee to the capital to have a proper bath and a proper meal.\u0026quot; and to make her understand that this kingdom is not as wicked as she claims, despite her earlier outburst yesterday. But he did not go that far with saying things. So he just rode the horse towards the centre of the city. And that likely included hearing some things. For example, at one part, they saw a man dressed in red yelling \u0026quot;Orcish slaves for sale! Cheap and fresh!\u0026quot;, with some half-naked tall green-skinned men with ugly faces on display, and in chains. Those green creatures... orcs? Then well-dressed bald men - inquisitors perhpas - restraining a horrified girl and forcing her to drink some sort of potion. Then a group of plate-armoured mercenaries marching to a random destination, led by a curly brown-haired woman. And obviously, there were men and women selling their wares, but those are not what Stephanus was interested in at this moment. He was more interested in going to the centre, the part of the city were stone was eschewed in favour of marble, where all the buildings are shiny, a place that may seem eerly familiar to Nerida. And there are just about to arrive there.\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T00:55:20.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471647320,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked on in horror as the capital played out its daily scene before her eyes. Slavery was evidently still accepted here and living beings were sold in apparently good commodity. It was an eye-opener for Nerida, such practices had been labelled barbaric and abandoned long ago in Asui. She had never witnessed it with her own eyes. The girl she had seen restrained was what stuck with her the most however. She had seemed terrified, closer to tears than Nerida would have liked, but it was what they tipped down her throat which piqued Nerida\u0026apos;s horror. \u0026quot;Those bald men we saw... what was it they forced that girl to drink?\u0026quot; she inquired as calmly as they could as they approached the inner city. She could see it\u0026apos;s beauty not far in the distance, and it seemed startlingly similar to her own home. Perhaps she had been deceived by the near-savage life the commoners had lived. But still, the capital had already left a sour taste in her mouth.\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T01:14:46.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471648486,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  kept on riding his horse towards the direction of the bath house, seemingly knowing it by the heart. And he was compelled to answer Nerida\u0026apos;s question. \u0026quot;Those? Those men were Inquisitors, enforcers of the Church\u0026apos;s laws. The girl was a sodomite, so they made her drink the sodobane. A potion that makes a woman attracted to men, a man to women.\u0026quot; a potion to change someone\u0026apos;s sexual orientation... Brainwashing? \u0026quot;It was invented five hundred years ago. Ever since that, we stopped burning sodomites.... at least, the ones who agree to drink the potion. Those who refuse still have to die.\u0026quot; Useful information for someone who just considered pretending to be a sodomite just to smite people. And he said it so casually that \u0026apos;they have to die\u0026apos;. So casually that it would be beyond creepy for someone with a different cultural and religious background... like Nerida.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;The Yanus Protocol compelleth the state and the Church to pay lip-service to each other and stay out of each\u0026apos;s business. The state agrees to let the Church enforce her laws among commoners, and the Church agrees to let the state veto any of the laws, and vice versa. Off course, they do not always see eye to eye on some sensitive issues... like slavery. Slavery has always been legal in Etrand, and the Church doth not approve. Titanius teacheth that all innocent creatures who can talk and feel must be free like the bird.\u0026quot; And that may be that religion\u0026apos;s only redeeming quality for Nerida - disapproving slavery. \u0026quot;But, because of the Yanus Protocol, sensitive subjects like that one are never ever brought up in discussions...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T01:22:07.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471648927,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  spat her words out before she could stop herself, her mind every given over to inquiry and knowledge. \u0026quot;Then what use the Yanus Protocol if it is never actually used? I despise such falseness...\u0026quot; She looked around her, around the city that was starting to so closely mirror her own in all but it\u0026apos;s values and it\u0026apos;s people. Stephanus spoke her words, that much was a relief to her like no other, but the words she could not read, some races she did not recognise, and the practices in society felt almost alien to her own. It was these thoughts that caused her to venture a question that she was almost too scared to ask. \u0026quot;..Will I ever be allowed home?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T01:35:06.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471649706,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shaked his head. \u0026quot;I do not know.\u0026quot; and by this time, they have arrived at what appeared to be a marketplace. He dismounted his horse and tried to get Nerida to do the same thing, and would lead both Nerida and the horse on foot, in order to look at the wares of those who were selling goods. And goods they were diverse in. But the people were diverse too: normal humans; pointy-eared elves; blue-ish grey-skinned pointy-eared dark elves; green-skinned muscular orcs; green-skinned small goblins; human-looking dwarves, gnomes and halflings; and even lizard-people. Humans were selling goods of all kinds. The elves were mainly selling fancy clothes, fancy-looking weapons, jewellry and potions. The orcs and dwarves were mainly selling armour. The gnomes were selling alien-looking artifacts that emitted steam. The lizardmen were selling what looked like age-old artifacts even to the uninitiated. \u0026quot;So, before we go bathing and swimming... What kind of outfit would thou prefer? Something regular, or something fancy elven-style?\u0026quot; he asked, as he pointed at some of the vendors selling all the clothes of different colours. Granted, some are more expensive than the others.\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T01:42:48.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471650168,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked at the clothes with a discerning eye, making it evident that none of them were to her tastes. The elven clothes covered so much of ones body in cloth that it reminded Nerida of something an old woman might wear. The clothes for the common folk were so plain Nerida wanted to burn them all on sight. The clothes were distracting her from Stephanus\u0026apos; answer at least. Would she ever see home again? Or would she be forced to live and dress like this until the end of her days? \u0026quot;..Is this it? These are... vile. No jewels? No hair pieces? How do you suppose I am to show my face in public?\u0026quot; Nerida asked the question all too loudly and in front of the shopkeeps at that. Her position in life ensured that she wasn\u0026apos;t used to holding her opinion to herself. \u0026quot;I\u0026apos;ll not wear these. I\u0026apos;ll look positively wretched in them, moreso than I do in my current state.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T01:53:32.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471650812,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  sighed. \u0026quot;Art thou a child? Jewels and hiar pieces are brought separately... But take a look at \u003Ca href=\"http://medievaldressmaking.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/2/2/14226373/1265601.jpg?188\"\u003Ethat\u003C/a\u003E one. That one might suit thy tastes more.\u0026quot; he said, and then pointed at some vendors that were selling necklaces, earrings, rings, hair decorations and so on. All of them results of masterful craftsmanship - or craftswomanship in some cases - and very often containing emelards and diamonds... all very expensive, and likely cost the knight a lot. So he probably regretted showing her those vendors. \u0026quot;If thou cannot choose a piece of clothing, we will go straight to the bathhouse. Is that what thou would prefer?\u0026quot; he asked for the last time. \u0026quot;Make up thy mind and either choose something, or yank the chain.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T01:57:37.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471651057,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  turned her attention to the dress is red and gold, almost swooning at the sight of it. It still covered far too much of ones body for Nerida\u0026apos;s liking, but there was little to be done in that respect lest she tear chunks from the clothing herself. She tried to hide how pleased she was with the piece but none the less picked it up and pressed it against herself to see if it was to her liking. Already she seemed to befit the noble titles she claimed to hold, and she\u0026apos;d not so much as yet washed her hair. \u0026quot;It suits me well enough I suppose, this once will do nicely.\u0026quot; Handing the piece over the Stephanus she quickly flagged down the shopkeep. \u0026quot;You there, how much? And don\u0026apos;t think to fool me, this piece is barely in season.\u0026quot; While the elven woman recited the prices at her, Nerida was already busy trying pieces of jewelry against the dress. Stephanus lost the contents of his wallet to the tune of a dress, a ruby necklace and a gold hair chain that day, but it contented Nerida into a smile at knowing she possessed even a little finery once again. Apparently off the battlefield she was content to wield her femininity like a sword, and she was equally well practiced with such a dangerous weapon. \u0026quot;It\u0026apos;s a good thing you haggled.\u0026quot; she mentioned casually as they stepped towards the baths. \u0026quot;I\u0026apos;ve no idea what currency you use but that seemed like a considerable amount.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T02:04:26.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471651466,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  appeared to have temporarily lost control over what was happening, as one moment he was threatening Nerida that they are going to go to the bathhouse empty-handed, and the next moment, he was much poorer than before, and Nerida was richer with clothes and jewellry. The knight, despite having a normal memory, had trouble recalling what just happened. Maybe he was spacing out too much? Or maybe he was too focused on making sure that his prisoner does not escape, that she managed to sneak around him. He sighed and tried not to glare, trying to pass it off as normal...\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;I will rememer that one...\u0026quot; he said with an annoyed tone, implying that he will one day make her pay the money back, one way or another. And then he was finally in charge again, but leading the horse to the stables that is located right next to the tavern that happens to be in opposites with the bathhouse, the two buildings separated just by the road. Then finally the bathhouse. An elven-style building with columns and fancy decorations. And the inside is also reasonably modern and ahead of its time. Rooms where people can undress and bathe privately - all with their own keys - as well as one large public bath, with what appeared to be a small bar attached to it. Here comes the time to get into one of the rooms and undress.\n\n\u0026quot;I know the place well, so follow me. We must first get into this room...\u0026quot; he said, as he led her into one of the private bath rooms, which had two chairs and one bench inside, as well as a small hot \u0026apos;swimming pool\u0026apos; that was large enough for five people. Quite private.",       "date": "2016-08-20T02:10:55.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471651855,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  followed him obediently, her eyes taking in as much of the beautiful architecture and unusual people as she could. It was only when she was led into one of the private rooms that she began to realise exactly what a bath entailed. As keen as she was to be rid of them, Nerida realised that sooner or later she needs must shed her clothes, and by the looks of things Stephanus didn\u0026apos;t seem to be going anywhere. She was quite certain that, if anything, the handsome young Knight was almost intent on sticking around. \u0026quot;..You can unchain me now.\u0026quot; she said rather hopefully, looking at him with a shy smile. \u0026quot;I\u0026apos;ll not run, I swear it. Where would I so much as go?\u0026quot; It was a good point, put poorly. The last people to see her naked were her own serving ladies and even then it was a source of embarrassment for Nerida.\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T02:22:34.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471652554,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  did in fact intend to unchain Nerida. He first locked the door, then unchained Nerida, then began to undress.... which was not very mundane, as he employed magic - telekinessis - to shed his armour - something that would in normal circumstances take several minutes at least, if not half an hour. So many layers... All put onto the bench, along with the haversack that contains his letter... And now he is as naked as he was born, and goes into the small pool full of hot water.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;The bathhouse is the house of equality. There is but one rule to bathhouses: all are equal. Men, women, children and elderly; nobles, commoners and slaves; all are equal in the bathhouse.\u0026quot;\n\nAnd it would appear that Stephanus is used to being naked and being seen naked. The fact that he knew this quote was further to drive to the point that he was a regular visitor of this building. But after having seen so many naked women, he still was a virgin and had no experience in romance... pretty suspicious.",       "date": "2016-08-20T02:27:06.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471652826,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  turned around and averted her eyes as the man undressed, letting a slight gasp past her lips as she stared diligently at the wall. She could hear him shedding his layers, and see the clothes piling up on the benches, but she was entirely frozen in place. Years of chastity had not prepared Nerida well for this moment. She had never seen a naked man before, or had one see her naked for that matter. It was more than she could bear. \u0026quot;Please. I cannot do as you ask. I am a woman, I cannot simply undress myself in front of you!\u0026quot; Was it really so unreasonable to think that she would be hesitant. \u0026quot;I am no slave to be commanded so.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T02:32:12.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471653132,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  just shrugged while in the bath, facing away from her, in fact, backing her. \u0026quot;Everyone is born naked. People are created naked by Titanius. If one doth not get naked, one may nor remove the source of the reek. Men and women have bathed together in public baths for centuries. They never had any problems doing it. Even monks and nuns bathe naked in their own baths. What is stopping thee?\u0026quot; he asked, and remained in the water, using one of the two soaps that happens to be on the floor to rub himself with it, then using the sponge. \u0026quot;I am not going to do anything to thee... I am sa- I mean... I\u0026apos;m a sword-swallower, remember?\u0026quot; he made the joke. Off course he wasn\u0026apos;t a sword-swallower. But previously, he considered saying that he was saving himself for marriage, but considered it redoundant - besides, ever since that brief meeting with the priest, he wanted to make this joke.\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T02:36:36.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471653396,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  was not one for joking in this new land. It was a joke that went almost entirely over the confused, startled girls\u0026apos; head. \u0026quot;Aha! I thought as much! So that\u0026apos;s why the Priest joked so with you...\u0026quot; To Nerida it seemed to make sense. He was young, handsome and entirely unattached from what little she had witnesses. He showed no interest in a woman\u0026apos;s beauty and even less in her assets. It made sense to the girl that he preferred the opposite sex. Too much sense. Sense enough for her to begin undressing now she no longer felt under threat. \u0026quot;Gods alive, I will keep your secret. You harbour tendencies towards men, so of course you must act as though you despise those who do. It is the only way to keep you safe...\u0026quot; Within moments the thin cotton that had shielded her skin was off, and she was headed towards the pool, even facing Stephanus as she slipped herself into the warm embrace of the waters. \u0026quot;At your age as well and with no wife to speak of... it all makes perfect sense now you mention it.\u0026quot; Her words did little to detract from the sight of her figure. For a warrior, she was truly a beauty and a feminine one at that. Generous breasts swelled against her chest before slimming into a feminine, slender waist. Her waist gave way to sloping hips and shapely legs, her skin all but occasionally marred by scarring. It was obvious why she had chosen the dress. She knew she would look well in it.\n",       "date": "2016-08-20T02:45:03.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471653903,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  couldn\u0026apos;t help but to snicker at the fact that she bought his lie. And it was hard, because even after he finally suppressed his snicker and desire to laugh, he still was grinning widely, which had the likelihood of giving it all away... which was too late, given how Nerida was already sitting in front of him, facing him. And boy, she had glorious assets... He has seen several naked women before, but none so... perfect?\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Maybe I should have called a sculptor as well? I think most noblemen would kill for a wife so beautiful... even the prince.\u0026quot; he mentioned it quietly. Should he finally give it away? Then he sighed and confessed. \u0026quot;Fine, I admit it... I am no sword-swallower. I was simply devoted to my order and was always too busy to chase women... Granted, now that I am being granted nobility and an estate, I may need to start looking for a wife...\u0026quot; and he said all of that so casually, remaining completely still, except to stratch the back of his own head, which was still bone-dry, along with portions of his hair. But his hair being breast-length, parts of it obviously got wet. But at this point, it was likely once again too late and his confession may have freaked out Nerida... and if it did, he would playfully splash water at her, like a child, provoking her to do the same.\n\n\u0026quot;Thou art a beautiful woman lady... what was thy name again? Nerida of Talori? It would be a great shame, if thou remained a prisoner forever... Thy kind is blessed with this beauty for a purpose.\u0026quot;",       "date": "2016-08-20T02:52:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471654374,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  wrapped her arms around herself as he spoke, a blush rising to her cheeks. She might pass the colour on her cheeks off of the heat of the bath, but in truth she had bought his explanation wholesale and was now feeling the embarrassment that her naivety had brought her. She had not been called beautiful by anyone other then family before, least of all by a stranger who now held himself in the position of her captor. If she was thought as such it was a fact entirely lost on her and she had no wish to pursue the issue in conversation. \u0026quot;Forgive me. I thought your words sincere. I will learn to be more cautious next time.\u0026quot; It was a testament to how uncomfortable she was in such situations that the Knight had still not removed her hands from covering her breasts. \u0026quot;Whatever beauty you see it serves no purpose. It will not win or end wars, unless my family chooses to sell me off. I took my vows to prevent this. My only true assets are my swords. You as a Knight should know this. Not that I have seen many women amongst your ranks.//\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-21T01:20:08.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471735208,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  just remained in the water, enjoying that hot bath that most likely had several herbs added into it to make it so alluring. \u0026quot;Vows? Only monks and nuns take vows. We, the Knights of the Blood Red Light take no such vows... And there are plenty of women among our ranks. They are not discouraged from marrying... quite the contrary. They are encouraged to marry fellow knights. A knight, whose parents are both knights, can be a very efficent blade...\u0026quot; he explained his - and his order\u0026apos;s - position on celibacy. What he failed to mention however, was that being celibate - or at very least, old and unmarried - is an unwritten requirement for the highest rank - grandmaster. Same goes for priests in his church: marriage is technically allowed, but the higher one goes up in rank, the more discouraged it gets, when it eventually becomes an unofficial and unwritten requirement at a certain rank.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Out of four hundred Knights of the Blood Red Light, seventy-five are women...\u0026quot; he once again corrected Nerida. But then again, she hardly even saw hundreds of knights at the compound to begin with - most of the knights being on missions or away for other reasons. \u0026quot;I still say, thou should have gotten married to someone rich and easyhearted... that would have prevented thee from getting into thy current situation, and then thou would not be my captive. Marriage is more than just sharing a bad... It is a stable settlement, a vow to settle down for a more stable, and arguably boring life... Something I\u0026apos;ll probably never have, arguably...\u0026quot; he contemplated.\n",       "date": "2016-08-21T01:28:15.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471735695,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gingerly reached for the soap when she was content that Stephanus was lost in his own thoughts and the easing waters of the bath. He wasn\u0026apos;t looking at her and had no desire to, making him as good as a \u0026quot;sword-swallower\u0026quot; as he kept so delicately putting it. Even Nerida had to concede that after a day of having gone without this bath was heaven. It had been prepared to almost perfection and she could feel that smoothing salts and herbs had indeed been added and steeped into the water. When she brought close the tonics and lotions that were available to her Nerida finally found the courage to dip her head under the water and drench her hair, something she had been wanting to do since she woke up in the prison. How could she complain at this generous hospitality? \u0026quot;Married or not I still would have led the expedition. I\u0026apos;ve no intentions of dying chained to some fat, aging noble whose only interest in me is how many heirs he can wring from my body. If you\u0026apos;re so keen on the idea then just ask some girl of equal rank to you and have done with it. Personally I see little attraction in such an arrangement. By it\u0026apos;s design it makes women weak and miserable.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-21T01:35:12.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471736112,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  did the same as Nerida, going to the effort of getting his own hair wet and cleaning it, which was something he simply had to do. He has already had his body cleaned, but this bath is not just a cleaning bath - it is also taken by people who are already clean but want to relax... or want to simply mingle. After all, all are equal in the bathhouse. Granted, right now, neither of the two are doing very much mingling... they would have to go to the public room for that to happen.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;I could say the same to men. If marriage maketh women weak and miserable, it maketh men tied down and miserable as well... I could tell a tale of many men of rank, who were not just influenced, but outright controlled by their wives... Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. I could begin with the tale of Warrior Queen Salvia or Froturn, the first ruler of the Kingdom of Froturn... I don\u0026apos;t even remember the name of her husband, but he must have been a weak man. So weak, that only his wife is remembered. Or from the contemporary... Princess Gina of Artaburro. Both she and her husband are former members of my order. And I have a strong feeling that she is the one wearing the pants in that marriage...\u0026quot; which all made sense. The contemporary example was a materlineal marriage, one where the children inherit the surname of their mother, which, in this feudal world, has a very high significance - it means they are legal heirs of their mother regent, while their father is recognized as little more than the mother\u0026apos;s consort.\n\n\u0026quot;Queen Salvia... now she was a true warrior. Not even pregnancy prevented her from going into battle....\u0026quot;",       "date": "2016-08-21T01:43:36.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471736616,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  laughed a little at the story, thinking on the sight and how ridiculous it must have been. \u0026quot;She sounds like a woman I\u0026apos;d gladly learn more about. It\u0026apos;s as it should be, of course. I would rather wish myself dead than allow my husband to steal my glory and honour. I will fight until the end of my days.\u0026quot; Nerida became aware that she was enjoying this all too much. Her hair soaking in lotions and her skin cleaned by a mint scented soap. Perhaps she had even found one corner of Stephanus culture that she might begin to actively enjoy. Baths in Asui were more often than not solitary affairs. \u0026quot;As I said, find a woman of equal rank, as you\u0026apos;ve recently had nobility bestowed upon you. To your people it seems a virtuous thing to do. Have it arranged by a mediator and then pray on the wedding day you end up with someone handsome enough to tolerate and intelligent enough to occasionally converse with.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-21T02:05:19.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471737919,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shakes his head at her suggestion and just laughs it off. \u0026quot;Unfortunately, the lowborn side of me still wants me to marry someone I can love... I do not have aspirations for higher rank, after all... Besides, no self-respecting noblewoman would ever want to marry a lowborn man, even if he has been made a noble.... Unless he had something special going on. Like the blood of dragons...\u0026quot; and then one more series of sweeps at himself with the sponge.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Besides, if I get married... I doubt my wife will be fond of the idea of me holding a female captive. So they would assign thee to someone else... someone less... generous than me...\u0026quot; And with that, he pointed on the bench, the one that had all their clothes packed onto it. Including the ones she recently brought from the money that is actually owned by him. And the necklaces.\n\n\u0026quot;I may have a soft spot for people in low positions, even among my enemies, but not all of my comrades share such a position... And they may be right. Perhaps I take the word of Titanius a bit too literally, and too much compassion may be a weakness rather than a virtue...\u0026quot;. Compassion, a virtue of the religion Nerida vilified long ago. \u0026quot;In the stories from the holy book, they often talk about virtuous men sparing their foes, feeding them and treating them generiously... But when doth ot happen in history? Titanius wiseth that it happened...\u0026quot;",       "date": "2016-08-21T02:12:23.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471738343,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked to her left as she spoke her next words, her eyes avoiding his gaze as best as she was able. It was an uncomfortable conversation, one that Nerida felt she had to tolerate rather than contribute to. In this world, anywhere outside of this bath house she was not the equal of the man sat in front of her. Nerida felt no different than a slave to be passed from owner to owner, powerless to rectify the situation, and powerless to even return home. She began to see why he had avoided her earlier question. She was probably never to see Asui again. \u0026quot;Then release me.\u0026quot; she asked of him, as though it were the most simple thing in the world. \u0026quot;Send my back through that portal and say I escaped you somehow. You yourself have admitted it would be a shame if I were to remain a prisoner forever so ensure that I don\u0026apos;t. With me gone it will be easier for you to wed. You could do us both this favour.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-21T02:19:16.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471738756,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  looked dumbfounded at her suggestion, but he was not entirely suppressed... still, not impressed at all. He knew where she was coming from - asking to be freed... which prisoner wouldn\u0026apos;t want to be freed? But he also wanted to ask where did she get the audacity to do so. Still, he had to give her a truthful answer - after all, that is the least she deserves. So he cleared his throat first.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;With all due respect... I may not have vows of celibacy, but I still have quite a few vows to uphold. I have swore to my life never to betray my order, never to relinquish what belongeth to the order, never to lie to my superiors. If I dishonoured myself by releasing thee, it would be forever a black stain on my honour. The best I can do is to do what I can to protect thee.\u0026quot;.\n\n\u0026quot;Besides, thou still hath a debt to pay off... Clothes and jewellry are not free, thou knowest? By travelling back to thy world with those clothes and necklaces, thou will have robbed me of a portion of my wealth... Should I be the good knight and let it be?\u0026quot; he asked without any seriousness, as if he was making a joke.\n\u0026quot;Refresh my memories... were thou not a princess, if I remember correctly?\u0026quot;",       "date": "2016-08-21T02:25:41.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471739141,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked at him with questioning eyes, her lips pursing before she asked her question as though she sought to emphasise her point. \u0026quot;So then what is to become of me? Am I to follow you around in chains like an animal for the rest of my days? I have no skills, how might I work to repay my debts when I\u0026apos;ve nothing to offer other than my sword and I\u0026apos;m to be constantly at your side?\u0026quot; Her question was spoken in all seriousness. Of course she was happy not to be rotting in a dank gaol for the rest of her days, but she had know way of paying him for clothing her, or housing her for that matter. \u0026quot;Why must I be made to suffer the consequences of a situation I cannot rectify?\u0026quot; If this was justice in his lands then it was meager and she was left wanting. When he had asked about her previous station, Nerida knew not how to answer without blushing. \u0026quot;It is as you say, I am a Princess of the Blood in my own realm. My Uncle is the King, but first and foremost I am a Knight.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T01:37:19.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471909039,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  looked at her once again, clearly a bit busy thinking up what to reply to her, as he was unwilling to respond with a simple \u0026apos;I don\u0026apos;t know\u0026apos;, like before... even though he was definitely tempted to do so. \u0026quot;Unfortunately, I can not give a concrete and guaranteeing answer... only paint clouded and blurry possibilities on the wall that might get drowned out in a rain. If the gate openeth up again, then the Grandmaster will surely let thee and thy people leave in peace, with all thy belongings... although, the King might hear words bout the incident and make the proccess slow, or likely halt it altogether for an indefinite amount of time... But, if the gate never even opens again to begin with... Then yes, thou art to remain chained to me until the grandmaster makes a decision to free thee. However, that one is complicated...\u0026quot; and he put one finger towards his lip, while began stroking his chin with another finger.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;I am not sure how willing would the grandmaster be to release foreign fugitives out into the wild... If thou had a suitor, it would make things a lot easier... even if that is clearly out of the question.\u0026quot; But he neglected to answer to her supposed lack of skills. \u0026quot;Ah yes... about thy skills... Thou art a princess. Thou must have experience with administration. I do not. So thou might be useful to me once I go to my estate...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T01:44:53.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471909493,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  rolled her eyes with such desperation that she was sure he would know her meaning. \u0026quot;Administration? Yes, I am capable of administering an estate. Of course I am. Though it is a task I do not relish. When in Asui I dealt with the staff personally but employed a steward for accounts and other such trivia.\u0026quot; Clearly given her family\u0026apos;s status and wealth she had never needed or wanted to attend to such matters personally. \u0026quot;Surely, given my status as a prisoner a suitor is not a very likely outcome. Who would sell themselves so low? No decent man, in which case I\u0026apos;d rather take no man at all.\u0026quot; The Knight began to wash the lotion from her hair, taking in it\u0026apos;s scent and appreciating it. Some things she recognised. Rose hips, lavender, honey... it was feminine and refreshing, enough so that it brought a smile to Nerida\u0026apos;s lips. \u0026quot;If you wish me to help administer your Estate then I should be happy to do so. I suppose I\u0026apos;ve not much choice and at the very least it will keep me occupied. I hate to be idle.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T01:53:32.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471910012,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  listened to her, and took one more time to scrub himself with the sponge. \u0026quot;Oh, but quite a few people do sink that low... It is an old custom. When a prisoner hath a suitor and accepteth the proposal, he or she must be freed... at least, with the condition that the marriage gets to be performed legally, and with the condition that the prisoner is not a murderer, traitor or rapist.\u0026quot; then he forgot why was he even mentioning this useless information. \u0026quot;Oh, right... Well, thou appearest smart and plucky enough enough to make a good wife... And with thy new clothes and lack of reek...\u0026quot; but he decided to switch the topic back to administration. \u0026quot;Well then, after this day, I will ride with thee to my newfound estate, to see the condition it is in. It may or may not be suitable for living at this moment...\u0026quot; which he was correct about. After all, in a kingdom that hasn\u0026apos;t expanded its borders for at least five centuries, the only kind of land a landless person may get a hold of is land that no one wants. Uninhabitable, worthless, or just ugly. Or, land that someone wants to get rid of fast.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;I almost forgot... there is a public bath as well. Should we not go into it and mingle with the common folk? They have food and drinks as well... Mostly drinks. Maybe thou could have thy first taste of Elven wine.\u0026quot; he suggested.\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T02:02:01.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471910521,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  talk of the estate was forgotten as Stephanus made the suggestion, her cheeks blushing as though she were the most innocent of maidens and not a warrior with a body count to her name. \u0026quot;I.. do not think it proper that I am seen naked and in public like this...\u0026quot; Tellingly she covered her chest by folding her arms over her chest again, a shy gesture that she had not even realised she had made. \u0026quot;I am not fit to be seen.\u0026quot; When she thought about her predicament Nerida realised she had little say in the matter. If Stephanus was at the helm of her life now then she must go wherever he guided her, up to and including the public baths. His words regarding her beauty and her figure were still fresh in her mind. If other men looked at her in a similar light then she was not sure she could tolerate the shame.\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T02:07:17.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471910837,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  made a \u0026apos;tsk-tsk-tsk\u0026apos; noise while stroking his chin, and once again, reminded her to the rule of the bathhouse. \u0026quot;Remember the rule of the bathhouse, dear Nerida, the only rule... All are equal in the bathhouse. Nobles, commoners and slaves; men, women and children, the devout and the wicked; the monk and the heressiarch... Granted, monks and nuns are not fond of mingling with the common city folk, unless for charity.\u0026quot; correcting himself in the end, and then sighed. \u0026quot;Well, fine, if thou really wishest to stay, we stay... However, there is nothing interesting in this private room... \u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T02:11:12.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471911072,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  stood from the bath in spite of her blushes and the hands still covering her breasts. The rest of her was bared, as naked as the day she was born and glistening thanks to the waters of the bath. The girl made a concerted effort to speak normally, despite wanting nothing more than to hide herself and cover her shame. Her body was sinful, a liability. Had she not been taught such since she was a young girl? How could she think anything else now? Her Gods still held a strong hold over her. \u0026quot;I will join you.\u0026quot; she said determinedly. \u0026quot;I only ask that you leave me unchained. I do not think I could bear the shame of being both naked and chained in public.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T02:17:39.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471911459,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was really tempted to simply say no to not-unchaining her. After all, he still did not trust her completely. But then again, being a foreign fugitive means that she does not really have much options other than do as he says, so... even without the literal physical chain, figuritavely she will be still chained to him. So he sighed, and gave his answer. \u0026quot;Fine, but do not attempt anything stupid.\u0026quot; and that is all he said before getting up from the pool, and taking the key to door - which happens to come with a necklace to hold it to open it, waiting for Nerida to do the same. Only after she comes to him and leaves the room with him does he lock the door and put on the key-necklace, and lead her from the main hall to the public pool, which surely enough is loaded with naked people: men, women, children and elderly, many holding goblets and drinking wine or other mostly-alcoholic beverages.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;There it is... the bath. Kings and queens bathe with common townsfolk in these parts. Treat this fine piece of architecture with respect...\u0026quot; he said as he accompanied her to the public bath.\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T02:23:33.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471911813,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  followed him dutifully, but was forced to avert her eyes to the floor. There was nakedness and sin everywhere, her eyes couldn\u0026apos;t settle on one piece of the baths without causing her to blush furiously. No matter their bodies people of all walks of life had gathered her, and not one of them seemed to care a jot about the others state of undress. It almost made her laugh, such a sight in Asui would have been unthinkable. No such institution would every have existed. It was something of a comfort, however. With every single person so exposed no one seemed to notice her own nakedness. She didn\u0026apos;t raise her eyes to see if anyone was looking specifically at her as Stephanus had done, she merely lowered herself into the warm embrace of the waters and kept herself quiet. She began to worry about something else altogether. Would people realise that she spoke with an accent? Would people know she was foreign by the way she moved or styled her hair? She didn\u0026apos;t want a single thing about her to make her stand out, her body and beauty included.\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T02:27:58.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471912078,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  settled into the water along with Nerida, tryin to stick close to her. He grabbed two wooden goblets from the floor, and swam towards a part of the pool that had a barrel of wine nearby - he got the wine into the goblets, he carefully navigated back to Nerida, and handed one of the goblets to her.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;There we go... Elven wine. In Froturn, they say that wine floweth out of even the sewers...\u0026quot; and with that, he tasted it. Fine vintage, as to be expected from the High Elves. \u0026quot;Fine vintage. All the finer things in life... Dost thou not wish to settle down into such a life? Drinking wine, sleeping in comfortable bed, looking at the field...\u0026quot; he asked from the knightess. \u0026quot;This always feeleth good after missions...\u0026quot; leaving something open to interpretations. Is he a regular of this building? What does he mean by missions?\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T02:32:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471912363,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  took the cup from him with a shy smile, perturbed by his proximity but doing her best not to let it show. With a tip of the goblet she took a sip of the wine he had handed to her and found that it was very much to her liking. It was certainly better than she had expected to be served publicly. The Knight herself was no strong drinker and made a note to keep her intake minimal in spite of how she liked the taste. It was enough that she was a prisoner, she did not also want to appear drunk and lush out in society, counselling herself that it was best to appear demure to spare Stephanus and herself any embarrassment. \u0026quot;I.. never thought about life after war. I suppose I thought I would fight until one day I fell in battle, just as generations before me had done. Now that shall certainly not come to pass I\u0026apos;ve no notion of what I want from my existence, but a life of such comforts is surely easier than a life of abject poverty. Until I am freed, if I am freed, I have no cause to think on such matters regardless.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T02:39:26.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471912766,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  noticed that his predicament was arguably similiar to hers. \u0026quot;Before I received the estate that I am yet to see... I wondered about the same. About my fate. I never considered myself fit to teach, so taking an apprentice was never my idea... So, what else? Either continue going onto missions until one day I die in one of them... or live until I am too old to fight, and then retire. Or, just do what almost every knight doth and get married... Which is a possibility I never consorted with.\u0026quot; and one more drink from the red wine. \u0026quot;Granted, now that I have an estate, I do have more responsiblity... A responsibility to make sure it can regain its former glory. Ha.... Maybe my wife will be someone like thee...\u0026quot; he mentioned. He already mentioned previously that he considers Nerida \u0026apos;smart enough\u0026apos;, and wants to employ her for administration. So, what could he be hinting at?\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T02:44:58.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471913098,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  blushed at his statement, her cheeks having been flushed with colour a great deal more than she had ever been used to before. It was a compliment, she supposed, and not one she expected to hear from a captor. As such Nerida dealt with this they way she dealt with all compliments she received - denial and humour. \u0026quot;You flatter me, Sir, but for your sake I hope you do not. No man deserves a wife such as I. I was never meant to be a wife.\u0026quot; In spite of her honest words Nerida couldn\u0026apos;t help but think on what he\u0026apos;d said. It was clear that unless she found herself a way out, a suitor being the most likely of all the scenarios, she needs must live the rest of her life as a prisoner to his estate. She could expect whichever wife he took to dislike her on sight and have her sent away to crueler hands, which according to Stephanus was most likely every other potential Lord in the land. Compared to these things would marriage be such an awful sin? Would her Gods ever forgive her for breaking her vows? Not likely. Nerida knew full well that death or banishment faced those who turned their backs on the order, and that death was the kinder of two options. All of these thoughts swam in her head as the wine made her feel warm, even relaxed.\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T22:42:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471984949,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  looked at Nerida a bit confused, not sure why was she so embarrassed. But then again, having no experience with women meant that he was likely completely unware that such compliments have a tendency to make women blush and feel embarassed. Still, he felt like maybe he should tease her a bit more. After all, he saw her blushing and embarassment as somewhat childish.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Or maybe my wife would be thee...\u0026quot; he laughed, and pat Nerida\u0026apos;s head gently, like that of a child, while finishing up the red wine. Then afterwards, he put a finger to his lip, and mused a little. \u0026quot;Although... there would be one obstacle to that. And no, that is not thy status as a highly valuable prisoner of war...\u0026quot; he pointed that out. But he did not intend to make the blushing Nerida bite off his ear, so he remained silent after making that observation, instead of naming that one obstacle: her status as a heathen.\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T22:48:38.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471985318,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  felt so much embarrassment boil inside her that she literally couldn\u0026apos;t speak or so much as move. Words failed her, her eyes staring straight ahead even though she still tried desperately not to catch anyone\u0026apos;s eye when she did so. Eye contact in this place would be embarrassing enough in the first place with Stephanus goading her on. Eventually she found her voice again. \u0026quot;Then what is it? This discussion is hypothetical at best, you cannot mean to be serious in your words. If it is not my status then what? My lack of wealth? Is my appearance strange? Is it because I bring no lands or possessions to the couple?\u0026quot; There could have been a million reasons, but Nerida\u0026apos;s curiosity was well and truly piqued.\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T23:12:08.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471986728,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  stopped the heatpatting and got to the point. \u0026quot;The fact that thou hath no wealth or lands is irrelevant. Minor noblemen marry landless and wealthless women because of their beauty all the time... granted, sometimes the opposite happeneth and landless merchants marry into noble families materlinearly. Thy appearence? Do not be silly, sweet one, thou art a beauty that all princesses would be envious of... No, it is not any of those.\u0026quot;\u003Cbr\u003EThe time has come to tell her the dreaded truth: \u0026quot;Thy faith. Us knights, nobles and priests are forbidden from marrying heathens... Interfaith marriage is a luxury reserved for common folk.\u0026quot; plainly and simply he pointed it all out with one simple sentence. But it had a little bit of euphemism in it - he did not spell out that \u0026apos;you have to convert\u0026apos; - he simply silently implied it. Or, pretend to convert, if she is a smart and plucky girl, and be a crypto-pagan...\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T23:17:18.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471987038,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked at him with mistrust in her eyes and at first let out her misgivings with a sigh rather than her own words. Somehow she had thought that her faith might be a barrier somewhere down the line, the only thing she had clung to all of her life like a life raft in a violent sea now threatened to turn her to the waters if she did not let it go. It was a painful realisation that the faith of these lands was so militant, so all consuming that it allowed for no flexibility when it came to the nobles who might wish to wed outside their faith. She thought less and less of the religion the more she heard of it, but this information did indeed bring about something of an all-time low in opinion for the girl. \u0026quot;Then I can never marry here.\u0026quot; she surmised. \u0026quot;And my future shall be a bleak one indeed.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T23:23:36.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471987416,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  sighed and had to carefully consider what would he say next. After all, it was difficult to come up with a good answer to her this time. An answer for a female who is just as militant in her faith as he is, who is just as pious and zealous as he is. He can not come up with any compelling reason for her to convert - she is the same as him, a person who would rather die than abandon his or her faith. The only other thing he considered is something he thought of as dishonourable. It is one thing to lie - which he considers unknightly to begin with - but to encourage someone to lie... He feels that he would give no credit to his faith if he encouraged her to lie and pretend to convert, but also considered that maybe, just maybe, he could gradually win over her soul for Titanius. And that small hope is what finally decided what he answered to her, after the long silence.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Then just pretend to convert. I will assure that thou can worship thy deities in private, for as long as thou can keep thou can keep it a secret from anyone but me, for if we are discovered, both of us will burn on a stake. Still, better to take the risk then live thy life in chains, no?\u0026quot; what he failed to mention is that she could also pretend that her four gods were local saints... Graned, that is something they would have to come up with later.\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T23:30:55.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471987855,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gave him another glance, though this time her eyes lingered on his. It had never occured to Nerida to simply lie about her faith, to go through the motions of religious conversion rather than submit to them fully. Dishonesty was not in the girls character and though the thought may have somewhat disturbed her she too saw it\u0026apos;s merits. There were things she needed however, promises and assurances that would put her mind at ease and convince her that what she was doing in order to survive was necessary and even righteous. \u0026quot;...I would be granted my freedom? Any my status would be equal to yours?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T23:35:37.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471988137,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded. \u0026quot;Aye... Thou will be a free person freed from any prisoner status and bondage, a citizen of Etrand, my one and only wife and consort, and my regent in my absence. However, the ability to keep secrets is not optional, as the lives of both of us will depend on it...\u0026quot; which may not have meant the kind of equality she asked him about, but given that she will gain her freedom and have a lot of influence... Especially considering how often he will be absent.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;In fact, thou might be actual ruler in all but name... I have little knowledge of administration, and despite being able to read, write and read silently, I am no good with paperwork... So... I\u0026apos;ll let Baroness Nerida of Stattelbarn handle those...\u0026quot; and he ended it with a quiet laughter, a man\u0026apos;s equivalent of a giggle.\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T23:42:50.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471988570,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  thought on his words long and hard. Such terms were indeed favourable and offered her a security in this new world that she dared not even begin to dream of possessing only hours previous. \u0026quot;My debts will be cancelled then.\u0026quot; She said as a statement of fact rather than a question. \u0026quot;Given that these are the stipulations which you lay before me then I would accept your kind offer. I will keep my peace until the end of days regarding my beliefs but...\u0026quot; she hesitated, taking another long sip of wine and swallowing hard before she found the courage to speak. \u0026quot;I can only apologise that you would not wed someone that you loved as you had confided to me you wished to do.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-23T23:51:52.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471989112,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had listened to Nerida\u0026apos;s words about love, and decided to comfort her a little about it, by starting to rub her head gently, and telling her what he thought. \u0026quot;At least I know thee... And perhaps, by time, I can grow to love thee... One of our kings has grown to love his arranged wife. One of our queens has grown to love her arranged husband, after a month of resenting him...\u0026quot; he told her. \u0026quot;But then... I believe it is discussed. When we return, we will have it all arranged. Then thou will have the freedom thou hast aspired for all the time...\u0026quot; he told her, and stopped the head-rubbing. There were a feq other questions flying in his head - such as what of to become of her men... But those questions are for a different time.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;So, now that we have discussed that... shall we mingle more, or have some sleep at the tavern?\u0026quot; he asked.\n\n((And this shall be it for today. I\u0026apos;ll head to bed. Good night ^^ ))",       "date": "2016-08-23T23:57:55.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1471989475,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  almost immediately replied, certain of what it was that she wanted. \u0026quot;Sleep. Please...\u0026quot; she asked of him. \u0026quot;It\u0026apos;s not that I do not enjoy this bath house, but I am weaker than I thought I might be and have slept ill the previous night. If we could rest then I would appreciate it very much.\u0026quot; Nerida also wanted to try her new gown and jewels, to see how these strange fashions may or may not suit her. More than that she knew what she must do. If he was serious about arranging the marriage and freeing her from captivity then she needs must be sensitive of his needs and wants also. She might be a reluctant wife, but she had no plans to become a bad one.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T07:15:42.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472102142,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded. \u0026quot;Very well. Follow me back to our room.\u0026quot; he said, and took Nerida\u0026apos;s hand, trying to guide her out of the water, then walk into the halls, and onto their own private bathroom, which is fortunately locked. He opens it with the key that happens to be on his temporary necklace, and allows Nerida to go inside, then once inside, he locks it again, to make sure no random bycomer thinks that this room is empty yet.\u003Cbr\u003EAnd comes the drying with one of the two towels, and finally one of those rare occasions when a man takes longer to dress up than a woman: after all, armour is armour, and armour is made to protect people, not to be taken on fast and worn comfortably. Even with the help of his magic and telekinessis, it takes a little bit of time for him to take on his chainmail armour and the plate pauldrons that go with it. Taking on the underclothing and the gambeson is one thing, but any armour that goes over them tends to make things last longer.\n\nAh, and that red dress with the jewels he bought for Nerida... or rather, Nerida bought with his money. Now that must be a sight to behold...",       "date": "2016-08-25T07:20:30.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472102430,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  dressed without fuss or bluster, a dress being a dress no matter the realm you resided in. It fit her like a glove, and a beautiful one at that. Now dressed as a lady rather than a prisoner it was clear that Nerida\u0026apos;s boasts about her station in life were no lie at all. The reds and golds brought out the natural warmth in her skin whilst the soft silks and beautiful brocade decorated her as though it had been made for her and her alone. The full, feminine shape of her figure was pulled into view by intricate ribbons that stretched up the back of the dress. She had done most of it herself by this time, including having adjusted the necklace and placing the hair piece just right across her golden tresses. She looked herself, felt herself and even managed a smile as she turned her back to Stephanus and asked him sweetly if he\u0026apos;d mind tying the panel into a bow at the back. Given that the dress would not be closed until he finished lacing it, he could still see most of the exposed flesh on her back peeking out from between the ribbons. Even after having just been naked together it would be an enticing sight.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T07:26:45.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472102805,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would only take a look at Nerida once he himself was finished with taking his armour on, his jaw dropped almost immediately. She was beautiful. She was beautiful. No, that is an understatement. She was goddess-like. It really does look like the dress was made for her. It looked almost as if she was made out of solid gold... Like a princess. But then again, she did claim to be of royal blood. She really did look lovely and beautiful.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Thou.... thou art beautiful...\u0026quot; he only muttered, but then he had to shake his own head to get himself out of the mesmerization, and snap out of it. She was asking him to tye the panel into the bow at the back. He just nodded and obediently walked behind her and did exactly as he was told.\n\n\u0026quot;There, over and done with... Thou art truly a beauty to behold...\u0026quot; he said, once again getting mesmerized by her. This makes him not-regret letting her buy the dress and necklace with his money. Aye. She is someone he can grow to love.",       "date": "2016-08-25T07:32:12.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472103132,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  inclined her head towards him in silent thanks, her words having stopped in her mouth from her inability to process anything witty or charming to say. Her lips were however still curled into a smile, and it would be easy to think of her in that moment as girlishly demure or shy, certainly not a warrior with a military record and men under her command. He was at least, if nothing else, pleased with her looks. Perhaps this arrangement would not transpire to be quite the disaster she feared it might. Plaiting her her to the side and letting it hang over her left shoulder, Nerida finally raised her large blue eyes to look up a Stephanus whilst she awaited his instruction. \u0026quot;I will be ready to leave when you are... what should I call you? My Lord? Sir? I can\u0026apos;t very well just call you by your name.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T07:36:36.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472103396,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  patted Nerida\u0026apos;s head like that of a child before telling her what to call him by. \u0026quot;Just Stephanus... or Steph is alright as well.\u0026quot; he told her, and have finally done something he did not dare to do previously - kiss Nerida\u0026apos;s forehead. In this land, it is a minor form of affection: siblings, parents and sisters, friends regardless of sex kiss each other\u0026apos;s forehead all the time. Such irony that in a land where sodomy is punished with that, things that are considered romantic or sexual in other lands may be considered little more than just friendly gestures: such as the forehead-kiss. But surely Nerida does not know it yet, so he will have to explain it to her... if she even asks about it in the first place.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Well then, let us go...\u0026quot; he said, and opened the door, leaving the key nearby for any future visitor. All was ready, and he would take the chains into his haversack, appearing to trust Nerida enough not to chain her down again. Then he takes Nerida\u0026apos;s hand, and accompanies her outside of the bathhouse, where it appears to be transitioning into evening already, as the sky is a darker shade of orange now, gradually turning into an even darker shade of blue. Luckily, the tavern is just in the opposite of the bathhouse - just a throw of a rock of a distance, really. And it looks fancy even from the outside.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T07:43:03.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472103783,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus would have been able to tell from Nerida\u0026apos;s very obvious reaction that it was no simple, friendly gesture. The girl covered her pretty little lips in shock as she came to realise what he did, her eyes widening at the touch of his lips. Though she said nothing the look in her eyes made it evident that she didn\u0026apos;t need to. Her culture was clearly not one for overt displays of affection. Regardless of her feelings on the matter Nerida followed him dutifully from the bath house, her steps slow and easy and her posture flawless. It was the way in which she carried herself, her poise and her regal demeanor which truly left no doubt as to her heritage. Out of her soldiers slacks it was easier for Nerida to both look and feel the part, and after a good nights sleep she was willing to wager that her mood and capabilities would have been greatly improved. It was not that the spark or the fire inside her had died, it was only that the situation had now changed that she no longer directed it at Stephanus. The man was doing her a great favour in freeing her and wedding her, even granting her lands and titles in the process. She would do her best not to be hostile with him again, possibly until the end of her days if she never again went home.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T07:50:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472104254,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  led Nerida into the tavern, still holding her hand. And that tavern... It is about as fancy as it can get, for something made by humans for humans. Made out of stone in the outside, with a wooden facade in the inside, along with carpets whose red-gold combinations heavily resembled the colours Nerida herself wore this time. There was a relatively large number of people who were at the various tables, drinking and dining. Fortunately, the vast majority of them came into this building for exactly that reason: to drink and wine, nothing more. Nevertheless, these people were surely enjoying the \u0026apos;night life\u0026apos; of Etrand, even though it was not even close to night yet - only late afternoon, or very early evening. All the chatter, all the rumours and tratsch that people kept saying to each other.\u003Cbr\u003EMaking their way up to the bar to speak with the bartender, the pair must have heard more than a couple of \u0026quot;Hey, did you hear that...?\u0026quot; from the patrons, usually followed by some juicy rumour about a love affair, a new piece of property, a sword, a death, or any irrelevant piece of news. But what must have surprised Nerida the most is the fact that the bartender appeared to have known Stephanus, as he greeted him first, before Stephanus even said anything.\n\n\u0026quot;Ah, Stephanus, good to see thee again... May I offer some of our fresh mulled wine? Oh, and who is this woman with thee? Don\u0026apos;t tell me that thou art finally setting down like the rest of us old folk...\u0026quot; teased Stephanus the bald and one-armed one-eyed bartender, whose fancy clothing when combined with his disabilities made him look like a stereotypical pirate: eyepatch, one wooden arm... Who can think of anything but a pirate?\n\u0026quot;I think I\u0026apos;ll be content with a room for two, for one night.\u0026quot; sighed the knight, immediately getting his fingers into the haversack, to take out the necessary money. Looks like he was a regular of this building as well, as he knew the price by the heart.",       "date": "2016-08-25T08:00:49.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472104849,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  regarded Stephanus with a look of intrigue for a moment, wondering exactly what business had brought him here so many times before that the barkeep knew him and the price of a room was etched in his mind. While he paid the bartender Nerida tried her level best not to stare at him but she couldn\u0026apos;t help it. His dress sense was intriguing, as were his injuries. She imagined him perhaps as some military veteran or an old school mercenary, the type who wasn\u0026apos;t afraid to get their hands dirty. The girl quickly averted her eyes from him when she thought the barkeep might look up, hiding her inquisitive eyes by casting them to the ground. She waited to hear if the barkeep would wonder at why his regular would purchase a room for two, or if Stephanus was often accompanied in this tavern. If her husband-to-be had a penchant for whores then Nerida would like to know it sooner rather than later. If the whore were as pretty as she then she might even have more cause for concern than she\u0026apos;d like to admit.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T08:07:00.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472105220,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  soon received the key from the bartender, and received a few coins back as well.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;The price of a room for two is not twice the price of a room for one.\u0026quot; laughed the bartender, as he handed back a few coins to Stephanus. Looks like the knight overpaid. He always bought a room for one, and he was fairly certain that a room for two was twice of that. How silly of him. But that answered Nerida\u0026apos;s question - while the knight is a regular, he always buys a room for one.\n\nAnd now, he would once again take hold of Nerida\u0026apos;s hand and lead her upstairs, to the room whose number was etched into the key. Room fourteen. Now that was something. While the halls between the rooms were nothing out of the ordinary - just empty halls with literally nothing but stairs and doors - the room that they got was surely something. A room not to different from Stephanus\u0026apos;s room in the barracks, but even more fancy... and with a much larger bed - one where even three people could fit. And overall, the room was larger. However, it did not contain much more: just the bed, two night tables, a wardrobe, and one paper lantern which was little more than a thin paper box containing an unlit candle. And obviously, windows and a curtain. Not that those provide much light when it\u0026apos;s getting darker.\n\u0026quot;I could swear that a room for two was twice the price of aroom for one... But given that I always buy a room for one, how could I know?\u0026quot; he asked himself out loud, as he was taking his armour off.",       "date": "2016-08-25T08:15:37.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472105737,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  \u0026apos;s relief was inexplicably palpable when she heard it from Stephanus himself that he\u0026apos;d no idea of the price of a room for two. He had at least been honest and sincere in his barely-concealed confessions of innocence and chastity. This made Nerida\u0026apos;s body and mind ease significantly, visibly even as she slipped off her jeweled slippers and instead went barefoot in the room. \u0026quot;You seemed to know him rather well, I wonder if given that the bartender knows you always take a room for one the next rumours that we hear might be with regards to yourself?\u0026quot; Nerida said her words with a smile and in truth she was half teasing him, but given the way the locals gossiped she couldn\u0026apos;t be entirely sure that her small prediction wouldn\u0026apos;t come true. \u0026quot;Will you have to petition with anyone in order to achieve the permissions to wed? Your King, or Earl perhaps? In my country all such petitions from nobility must go before the Queen...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T08:21:25.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472106085,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  gave Nerida a small as soon as he was down to only his gambeson and his regular clothes. How did he not overheat in all those armour? After all, it is summer in this land, and they are in a part of Etrand that happens to be characterized by bone dry and scorching hot summers and freezing cold and snowy winters. Yet not an inch of sweat. \u0026quot;Ah yes, Francus Salashi... He is a man of man stories. I hope they won\u0026apos;t be spreading rumours about me though...\u0026quot; and the next question was regarding the petition to marriage. \u0026quot;Oh no, not at all... Every free subject of the king hath the right to marry freely according to the law... unless they are monks and nuns, off course...\u0026quot; so much for legalities. Legally speaking, they could get married here and now, if she converted. But in practice, daughters and sons of noblemen have arranged marriages - arranged by their parents, that is. While the laws do not prevent a noblewoman from marrying for love, a vote from her parents sure does. But right now, none of them have any parents to begin with, let alone parents who could object.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;While petition is not a necessity, to notify the authorities is... After all, paperwork. A marriage is more than just a ring and a kiss. One of the most sacred vows in the eyes of Titanius is a vow that warrants an official certificate of authenticity, which is once again, pesky paperwork...\u0026quot; he explained.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T08:29:01.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472106541,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  listened carefully as he spoke, her mind absorbing the laws of his land, or what she could at least remember of them, and soaking them into her mind in order to sate her want and lust for more knowledge about this strange place. As he spoke and removed the heavy armour which she was sure more have sorely plagued him, Nerida undressed herself one piece at a time. Her slippers were already removed, but then the ribbon that he\u0026apos;d worked to tie at the back of her dress was pulled loose as well until the frock fell from around her hips and melted into a pool of silks on the floor. Her hair piece was removed and placed on the nightstand and the silk stockings she\u0026apos;d bought with the dress too were slid down her shapely, feminine legs until all she was left in was the silk bindings that constituted her panties. Had Stephanus let his eyes linger for long he would have noticed that the girls body was shaking, though her expression remained rather demure and unchanged. Her thighs trembled as she slipped herself onto the sheets of the bed and lay flat on her back, perfectly still. She\u0026apos;d never in her dizziest daydreams thought she\u0026apos;d have to complete this task without her most trusted lady-in-waiting or a witness to hand, but needs must. If she\u0026apos;d have continued her life home in Asui, Nerida would never have gotten into this position at all. Waiting for Stephanus to follow her, Nerida tried her best not to look at him or stare, and merely rested her eyes on the canopy of the large bed. She didn\u0026apos;t dare look anywhere else.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T08:38:55.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472107135,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  did not really understand why Nerida undress herself almost completely naked - after all, he never really sleeps completely naked. But to teach their own... Most people in Etrand sleep with at least their trousers on, and many even leave a shirt on. He undressed himself so that only his upper body became bare - he still had his loincloth, and his trousers on, which were comfortable enough for him. And what would he do next? Something similiar to what she did. Get onto the bed and under the sheet. Unlike Nerida however, he was not fond of the idea of sleeping completely flat on one\u0026apos;s back - he slept sideways, which no doubt will mess up his hair in the morning. He did not linger like the girl that much. He kissed Nerida\u0026apos;s cheek if she did not commit to actual physical resistance, and then just whispered \u0026quot;Good night\u0026quot;, before finally closing his eyes for the long slumber.\u003Cbr\u003ELuckily for Nerida, Stephanus was a silent sleeper who did not snore at all. The only he could have made was quiet breathing. And this fact may make their future married life a lot more palatable. The lack of snore. The knight would sleep backing Nerida, sleeping sideways. No touching at all from his part, which must be a relief for the shaking girl. And this may make him suspicious again - not reacting to the beautiful feminine body of Nerida with arousement abd attempting to have his way with her, but instead complete self-restraint and just pecking one small kiss on the cheek. No, he is still not a sword-swallower, but clearly, he is not like the others and seems to really lack a sex-drive.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T08:48:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472107723,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  lay there in shock and bewilderment as the Knight turned over and drifted off to sleep. Such a mixture of anger and shame was she that her shallow breaths and trembles turned to angry sighs and shaking. Had she done something wrong? No. It was just as she knew it should have been, as it had been for thousands of years. She had offered herself to him, offered him the chance to seal the corporeal contract and cement their commitment and... he had been entirely disinterested. Tears stung at the corners of the girls eyes and she\u0026apos;d had to bite her lip to keep herself from quiet sobs. Perhaps he had not been serious? Perhaps in spite of having professed to finding her beautiful he did no such thing at all. The Princess had never been so rudely rebuffed in all of her life, never having offered herself to anyone at all until this point only to find out she was not wanted. With Stephanus drifting off to sleep she could not bear to spend another minute in the bed, launching herself to her feet, back into her dress even though it was only half tied and out of the room. She would rather live as a penniless fugitive that suffer such humiliation. The girl had never felt so wretched in her life.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T08:56:25.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472108185,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  may have been a silent sleeper, but he was not deaf. He was not even a deep sleeper, and hearing things moving got him awake, fortunately before Nerida could leave the room - not that she would be able to leave so easily to begin with, given how the door is locked. In this darkness however, it was difficult to navigate - he had to use magic to lighten up the room, and walk towards her as fast as he can, and take her hand. All before she could leave the room. He saw tears, and he did not know what did he do wrong.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Nerida...\u0026quot; he looked at her, trying to get closer to her, while holding her hand, not anticipating that she might even attack or try to run away. \u0026quot;Nerida, what is wrong? Tell me...\u0026quot; he said to her. \u0026quot;Why art thou so intent on leaving? Dost thou not intend to be my wife?\u0026quot; he asked, still clueless about why would she want to leave so much. \u0026quot;Art thou... unwilling to become my wife?\u0026quot; he asked her once again. It appears that he was serious about marrying her. But he was also serious about no-sex-before-marriage. And if Nerida does not attack him, he makes an attempt to hug her, for the first time ever.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T09:03:10.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472108590,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  tried to pull away from him at first, still struggling to hold the tears in her eyes so that she didn\u0026apos;t cry them onto her flushed cheeks. \u0026quot;Y-you.. you have no right to say such things to me. It was you who just refused to take your matrimonial privileges, not I!\u0026quot; When Stephanus made it clear to her that he would not release her from his grasp much less release her from the room Nerida finally stopped fighting and let him pull her into his embrace. \u0026quot;In a thousand years of our history not one Asuian princess has been refused by her intended. For I to be the first is a shame more than I can bare! How could you be so callous?\u0026quot; The ritual among her people would certainly have seemed strange to Stephanus, but it was easily explained should one think of the consequences. The physical contract sealed the deal between the couple and preemptively consummated the marriage, thus making sure that the Bride and Groom would be unable to change their mind on a whim. Should a child be conceived during the night it only enhanced the ties that would bind them together, thus ensuring the marriage went ahead. It meant a great deal to back out once the arrangement had been consummated, and much more to refuse to do so in the first place. None of this would be known to Stephanus of course, unless Nerida could calm herself in an attempt to explain it. The only thing that would be evident to him would be the breadth of her despair.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T09:11:18.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472109078,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  continued to hug Nerida and with one hand, he even rubbed her head. \u0026quot;I did not refuse thee, my beautiful Nerida... After all, I promised that thou will be my wife. However, we do not consumate a marriage pre-emptively, and we do not engage in carnal pleasures before the ring is put on the bride\u0026apos;s finger....\u0026quot; he explained, although it was likely fruitless. \u0026quot;There is no shame here, my sweetheart...\u0026quot; he said, and although he was unwilling to engage in her custom of pre-emptively consumating the marriage, he would be willing to go through with it if that is what she wanted so much. So he kissed Nerida\u0026apos;s lips, if she did not pull her head away or headbutt him in response - and if it did happen, then that would be the very first kiss in his entire life, certainly special. \u0026quot;But I suppose if that is thy desire, we could do it here and now...\u0026quot; he reassured her, not sure if that would calm her down - after all, in her mind, he already refused her once. Accepting her now may not be the way of rectifying things for women.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T09:17:19.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472109439,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  found it so easy to be soothed by his words, the first kind comfort Nerida could remember hearing for a great many years now. He was warm and calming, sincere in his objection that he had not truly meant to embarrass her. As Stephanus words eased over her worries and fears Nerida was forced to look at the situation from a different perspective, namely his. It had not even once occurred to her that the traditions here would be different, in spite of the vast differences in religion and worship. Nerida had only been able to assume that that was how everybody went through the process, that it was the most logical and intelligent way to bind the intended couple. As he words purchased her piece of mind, she found herself leaning into her first ever kiss, her soft, cherry lips enveloped by his firm and handsome mouth. Tbe girl closed her eyes as though she had kissed for all her life, and only opened again when he pulled away. It certainly silence the torrent of inner thoughts that raced through her mind. Silently, Nerida looked back at him, and then with the tracks of tears running down her cheeks she began to explain. \u0026quot;It is a great shame for the couple not to seal their arrangement physically.\u0026quot; Nerida uttered calmly. \u0026quot;Often it breaks the engagement entirely, the woman subjcted to scorn for her poor looks or her family\u0026apos;s low status. It did not occur to me that your people might not.. seal contracts in such a way.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T09:26:45.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472110005,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded to Nerida. Ah, that kiss of hers... that was very mesmerizing... he felt like he could do anything that Nerida asked him to do. First her impressive beauty, and then her kiss. This was a woman he could truly grow to love. He has chosen a good woman to be his wife, despite her differences in faith. \u0026quot;We do seal arrangements physically too, for it is mandatory here to consumate a marriage in this land too... but only after the wedding ceremony. It is considered a grave sin to give a way to the pleasures of the flesh before a ring is put onto the bride\u0026apos;s hand.\u0026quot; he explained once again. \u0026quot;I do want thee... but... it is a bit early. I need to buy a ring for thee, and we need a wedding...\u0026quot; he explained. He was not even sure if she knew what he was talking about - wedding. Does it even exist in her lands? Or do people simply seal the deal with one bedding, and then they are considered married, without any formal ceremony necessary? That intrigued him. Nevertheless, to break up all the explanation, he leaned in for another kiss with his would-be-wife - after all, he greatly enjoyed the previous one, thinking her lips even more delicious than the sweetest of honey.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;They say that the first night is such a special occasion, that it must be one the same night as the ceremony.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T09:34:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472110494,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  leaned in to relish in his kiss once again, her heartbeat finally calming and the sting of shame leaving her wounded pride. So he did want her, thank the Gods, and the soft caress of his lips against hers more than proved it. That one, simple gesture of close physical proximity was unlocking something in Nerida, a part of her she\u0026apos;d forgotten existed in her years of devoted service and chastity. It almost made her long for him in a way that she had not when she flatly presented herself to him onto top of the sheets of the bed, though she dared not think any further now. It was a deep and dark sea that Nerida had just started to uncover, and the girl was not entirely sure that she was ready to explore it just yet. \u0026quot;These.. are your lands. We must do as your customs command.\u0026quot; she conceded. \u0026quot;After all, I would not have you called heathen at the risk of your own life. We shall wait until there is a formal ceremony.. though it will be strange with so many people there to watch.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T09:54:51.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472111691,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled and nodded to her. \u0026quot;That\u0026apos;s the spirit, my love...\u0026quot; and took her hand, leading her towards the bed once again, so that they can begin sleeping. Love. It sure was bold of him to call her that, but being a man of honour, he had no choice. As an unmarried knight, once you kiss a woman, you are expected to make her happy and keep her happy.\u003Cbr\u003EHe did not know what made him so attracted to the blond woman. She was a heathen, she was someone he defeated in battle, and most importantly, she was his prisoner. What made her so attractive? Beautiful she may be to the point of even goddesses envying her looks, surely it was not her looks that made him like her, as he has seen his fair share of beautiful maiden, even if he did not get into close proximity of any of them. It must have been her spirit. The fact that she has a potential to be endearing, and that she is so innocent, like him. Possibly the fact that they are exploring the yet-unknown world of romanticism together, both being just as lacking in experience with it as each other.\n\n\u0026quot;Good night, sweetheart...\u0026quot; he told her before kissing her cheek for a second time, and shutting his eyes to begin the long slumber.",       "date": "2016-08-25T10:00:42.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472112042,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  accepted both the gentle goodnight of his words and the soft kiss on her cheek as they settled down for the evening together. Night now hung heavy over the skies and Nerida was content to finally shut her eyes and be taken over by a long and deep sleep. The tears had barely dried on her cheeks but already Stephanus had managed to rein in her notoriously volatile temperament, calming the girl by a means no more magical than soothing her as though she\u0026apos;d been a skittish horse. She could see for the first time why he was a Knight to be trusted, trusted so much that even in his young age he\u0026apos;d been given the use of a prisoner and now his own estate to administer. He was calm, capable and empathetic. He had known what worried her even with such little coherent explanation on her part. These were qualities to Nerida that redeemed him so much in her view that his religion became a secondary concern even to her. Her dreams that night were soft and sweet indeed.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T10:07:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472112474,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  \u0026apos;s long slumber has just began, and he was dreaming of things to come. The wedding ceremony, the castle they will live in, the land they will overlook and the dreamy life they will have. Alas, life is rarely like the dreams. The wedding ceremony will likely not be as grand as he imagined, depending on where will they hold it. The castle he is now a proud owner of - but he is yet to visit it - is in tatters, the land around it abandoned and full of ruins - meaning that he will have to pay up to restore the land he owns to its former glory. No wonder the previous owner was so intent on getting rid of it and passing it to him.\u003Cbr\u003EBut the knight was not dreaming of the reality. Dreams are rarely made out of reality. Especially sweet dreams. What he might dream about as a sudden turn of events will in reality be a slow process, involving a lot of paperwork and travelling. And the most important part is, how will he make his estate profitable, is yet to be explored...\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T10:13:08.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472112788,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  woke the next day long after the sun had risen, a rarity for her but given that this had been her first comfortable bed in over a week she was not desperate to free herself from it\u0026apos;s confines. The sounds of morning could already be heard coming from the rooms around them, and the chatter of the streets below had risen to a level so loud that the Knight was surprised that it hadn\u0026apos;t roused her. Everything about this moment was something that she wanted to freeze in time. The soft wrap of the sheets around her bare skin, the warm streak of the morning sunlight heating a piece of the sheets and the easy breathing of the man she woke next to, a man she\u0026apos;d decided to commit herself to until the end of days... or however long such things lasted in this society. In that moment and for the first time in a long while Nerida felt truly cherished, wanted even, and was almost willing to forget that she needed to travel to a different dimension in order to experience such things. She didn\u0026apos;t dare move for fear of waking Stephanus.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T10:19:09.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472113149,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would only awoken gradually. Yawning at first, struggling to get up from the bed to finally wake himself up. So that explains why he is a regular of this building: being (soon formerly) married to the job and completing missions means that he is normally sleep-deprived, meaning that it is in occasions such as these, when he gets a room in the tavern, that he can finally sleep himself out. And when that happens, he struggles to get up. Even as he stands up, his eyes remain half-closed, unable to open up fully. He stretches his arms out and yawns, but he still feels very sleepy. He wants for Nerida to do the same and stand up, so he can greet her with a morning kiss on the lips, but if she chooses to remain on the bed, he gets back to the bed, crawls near her and gives her a morning kiss on the lips there. \u0026quot;Good morning, my sweetheart...\u0026quot; he told her after the kiss.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T10:24:41.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472113481,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  watches him stand and remove himself from the bed, her features still half covered by the sheets until he crawled over to give her a kiss on the lips. It was still an incredibly intimate gesture, one that Nerida at least no longer had to force herself to accept but still one which made her blush nonetheless. Even his language with her was soft and loving. \u0026quot;My sweetheart.\u0026quot; The girl had to repeat the words to herself mentally a few times over before she could absorb the fact that she\u0026apos;d heard them. With an almost shy smile she opened up her eyes and looked up into the face of her husband to be, her girlishness startling compared to the angry young woman he\u0026apos;d first encountered in the cells. \u0026quot;Good morning, my Lord.\u0026quot; she responded in soft tones, her voice still muted after the hours of sleep. \u0026quot;I hope you slept as well as I did.\u0026quot; Even in her affection Nerida was slightly restrained, though she\u0026apos;d been raised knowing no other way to be. Perhaps in the future this would melt away too as she assimilated to life in this strange new realm, but until then it was a mystery.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T23:09:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472159369,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  just smiled at Nerida and even went as far as rub her cheek slightly, until it was time to fully wake up. So, temporarily departing from Nerida, but not without a kiss on her forehead first, he got up frim the bed fully, and began to dress himself up fully - and take his armour on. First the shirt, then the socks, then the boots, then the gambeson, then the chainmail, and finally those pesky plate parts - such as the breastplate and the two pauldrons - that take so damn long to take on. And finally, the belt, which holds the scabbard that in turn holds his sword. There, over and done with... at least, disregarding the fact that washing his face could do wonders to fully wake up, despite not being an option.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Well... shall we have our breakfast? We are to travel to south, to take a look at my future estate, before going back to the order, and announce our marriage...\u0026quot; he proclaimed. Future estate? No, he did not mena it in the sense that it is not his yet. He meant it in the sense that it is most likely in tatters and will take a lot of effort to make into an estate proper.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T23:14:09.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472159649,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had been so caught up in her thoughts that she had almost entirely forgotten that she was starving as well as exhausted. She\u0026apos;d had nothing the previous day but the bread, water and wine that Stephanus had seen fit to grace her with and now at the mere mention of food she realised that she was indeed starving. Not that her most urgent needs of cleanliness and sleep had been fulfilled, Nerida was all too happy to accept his offer of food. Seeing that Stephanus was already dressing Nerida hastened to do so herself, replacing all of the clothes she\u0026apos;d removed last night. In spite of having offered herself to him outright the night before Nerida now guarded her modesty with a little more fervor. She changed with her back to him, slipping on her clothes so that he might not see everything he had in the baths the day before. It was as though she were trying to reassure him that she had no intentions of giving herself over to him again, at least not until she absolutely needed to. With a shy look of apology she asked him once again to lace up her dress, her exposed back all he\u0026apos;d seen of her since the previous night. When done she\u0026apos;d slip on her shoes, only stopping to check that the plait in her hair was still in place.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T23:23:52.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472160232,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  did as yesterday - just after taking on his armour, he laced up Nerida\u0026apos;s beautiful dress, waited for her to be fully ready, then took her hand and accompanied her to outside of the room, back to the ground floor, where a tavern with a moderate amount of people awaited them. A bit crowded, but not as nearly as much as yesterday\u0026apos;s night. Most people visit this building for night drinking and dinners, after all. Going downstairs, downstairs, then straight to the bar, where the bartender Salashi is already present, cleaning the counter.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Well-well, look who we have here...\u0026quot; remarked the bartender. \u0026quot;We are in need of a breakfast, Salashi... no time for jokes.\u0026quot; the knight responded. \u0026quot;Well then, chief, just cut to the chase and tell me what to bring, and I\u0026apos;ll record it to the payroll...\u0026quot; Salashi responded.\n\n\u0026quot;For me? Just bread with cooked bacon and fried eggs. And mulled wine from yesterday. And that will be enough. As for Nerida...\u0026quot; then he poked Nerida, trying to pressure her to come up with what she wanted. Just hopefully nothing too fancy.",       "date": "2016-08-25T23:28:57.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472160537,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  glanced at the floor with pink cheeks as Salashi tried to make his jokes, a girlish smile across her lips. She didn\u0026apos;t dare to pass comment on what had actually gone between them, but still to anyone with eyes to see and half a brain would be able to see how meek the subject matter made her. She hadn\u0026apos;t been expected to be asked for what she wanted, and wasn\u0026apos;t even sure what would pass for normal in this realm. Thankfully the differences weren\u0026apos;t too marked. \u0026quot;A-ah! Um, the same, please but with tea instead of wine.\u0026quot; She addressed her order directly to Salashi himself, though she was polite enough not to raise her eyes to the man. Apparently this was what passed for politeness amongst her people.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T23:34:01.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472160841,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had looked at all the tables and finally found an empty one... right next to the bar. Completely deserted, and so close to the bar that Salashi himself could bring their food there personally. So he gently dragged Nerida with him to sit down at that table and wait for the breakfast. \u0026quot;All the finer things in life... This is why I became a regular of this place. I will miss visiting the capital so often once we settle down at my estate...\u0026quot; he sighed, and the long waiting for the food began.\u003Cbr\u003EOnly around ten minutes later would a boy and a girl come, carrying two wooden plates and two mugs. Both wooden plates full of bread, fried eggs and cooked bacon, and one of the mugs full of hot tea, the other of hot mulled wine. The boy told Stephanus of the price, who immediately went for the coins to pay it all in one shot. And so would the boy and the girl make themselves disappear.\n\n\u0026quot;Well, we might as well dig in... but not before saying our morning prayers, thanking whoever we worship for the meal...\u0026quot; he said. In his land, it is a known custom to pray before eating, thanking Titanius for gratting this meat... He had no idea whether such a custom existed in her land. So he said his prayers silently, just holding his hands together and silently uttering some untelligible sentences for no longer than half a minute, before finally digging in.",       "date": "2016-08-25T23:39:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472161194,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  watched him curiously. No such tradition existed for her people, all of their prayers were said at the temple and in moments of desperation if needs be. Still she observed her husband-to-be closely. Soon she would need to practice all of these strange, heathen rituals whether she liked it or not, but for her freedom and his safety Nerida was prepared to do so. It was the least she could offer him in return. Only when Stephanus was ready did Nerida see fit to tear into her own breakfast, the hunger almost making her forget her propriety. She took a long sip of tea first, almost immune to the heat of the boiled water before she placed an egg and some bacon on top of a slice of toast and ate them together with her bare hands. It was not how she would have done it at home, and certainly not in company in normal situations, but her body was in need of the food and it overrode almost anything else she might think of. When she\u0026apos;d had her fill of the first mouthful she finally parted her lips to speak. \u0026quot;How far away is your new estate, my Lord?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T23:56:18.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472162178,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was already in the proccess of eating his food, albeit in a much more elegant manner - namely, using a knife to cut the bread into small pieces that can be ingested and swallowed in one shot - instead of having to be chewed - mixing that with the bacon and eggs, and eating with a wooden fork. Then a bit of wine, then some more food again, then some wine, and... question time.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;It is deep south. It may take a few days or so on horseback, although... I heard there is a quicker way.\u0026quot; he answered to her question. \u0026quot;It is in one of the more southernmost regions of the kingdom, where there are many age-old ruins, where wooden castles are the norm, where cultures meet... and where the locals speak in a very liquid manner. The landscape is romantic, but... it is not exactly the safest part of Etrand. It is also very likely that whatever is on the estate is in tatters of ruins and has to be restored to be of any use for us.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T00:02:01.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472076121,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  listened carefully to this but seemed largely unperturbed by it. She continued to eat with her hands, taking the large mouthfuls in her stride and chewing them for a long time before she swallowed and replied. \u0026quot;Then I ask that I am at least armed. I\u0026apos;m not sure if you\u0026apos;re yet comfortable with the idea but if you are to take me to a dangerous part of your lands then I would like to be able to protect myself.\u0026quot; It was such an obvious statement that Nerida could barely believe she was having to bring it to his attention. If they were set upon by brigands she would be no use to him without a sword or two at her side. \u0026quot;I do not wish to be a hindrance to your journey, much less a liability.\u0026quot; Was all she could manage to say. Perhaps women in this country did not carry arms at all? How was she to know.\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T00:07:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472076449,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had to scratch his own chin a little in response to what Nerida said before continuing his meal. Maybe she is right and he did not really think this through. \u0026quot;Then perhaps, it is a better idea to inform my grandmaster of our future marriage then. The order can initiate thee to the rites of my faith and provide thee with some information, in addition to granting thy belongings back to thee... But that remindeth me... We should visit a goldsmith as well. A ring is necessary.\u0026quot; he mentioned. In this world, it is customary for men to buy a ring for their fiancee, who will wear it after being wedded as a sign of loyalty. These rings can be made out of anything from plain wood to diamond-decorated gold, depending on the wealth of the man who is involved. Granted, this custom is not religiously canonized - it started out as a fad among the nobles, and everyone started jumping on the bandwagon and immitating it: including the peasants with their wooden rings. \u0026quot;After all, no marriage can be full without the bride receiving a golden ring beforehand...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-25T00:12:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472076749,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  blushed and looked down to her plate, seeming suddenly very interested in concentrating on her breakfast. Her people had no such tradition, but to Nerida it made sense in a way. \u0026quot;A mark of ownership, I presume? We have no such things at home. I am happy to comply, however. My religion only insists on a bride price which in my current state I cannot give you. However, can I ask that we do not return to inform your Grandmaster so soon? I would keep my Gods, even for a few days more. I am aware I must give them up soon, but... If you can vouch for my safety then let us away to your estate today.\u0026quot; Nerida was keen to see the condition of the state she would soon need to administer and whip back into a working shape. She was practiced at the art, of course, but she had also never taken on a task larger than a place need a few repairs.\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T23:05:09.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472245509,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  just continued to eat, not noticing Nerida\u0026apos;s blush. A mark of ownership? That sounded preposterous. But before rectifying her sentence, he he had to mentally come up with an explanation first. Why do men buy women rings? Because they look good, that\u0026apos;s why. In this land, women fancy jewellry, that\u0026apos;s why.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;A mark of ownership? Nah, how preposterous... The story goes, that women love jewellry. So one day, a smart lady came up with a convenient excuse to \u0026apos;persuade\u0026apos; her husband to buy her jewellry, and the wedding ring was born... Or, so goes the legend, which is obviously different from the reality. Bride price? Dost thou mean dowry? Oh yes, that is kind of a tradition here too, at least, if a rich-but-lowborn girl is marrying a highborn-but-poor noble boy... However, if a wealthless woman is to be married, it is her husband who must provide a dowry for the family of the woman... provided that she hath a family to receive the money, off course.\u0026quot; he explained, kind of getting into it and getting carried over with it to the point where he almost forgot about his food... to the point that Nerida could easily steal parts of it without him even noticing.\n\n\u0026quot;Well, very well... We can go to our would-be estate, but thou better stick close to me. If we encounter brigands, I will handle them... Not that they would be foolish enough to attack us anyway. It is suicide for even a larger group of them to take on a knight like me. One whisper, and I can blast them into oblivion...\u0026quot; he boasted, still being carried over with it...",       "date": "2016-08-26T23:12:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472245963,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looks at him confused, thinking he was teasing her with fanciful stories as one might tease a child. There was no annoyance in her features at the fact, however. She was content to listen to him and let him lead her down whichever path of fantasy he had chosen. \u0026quot;A single word and the mighty, brave Knight can sweep away the evil-doers? Which powers have your Gods... God, blessed you with that allows you such sway over the arcane?\u0026quot; There was a light in her eye, and a coquettish smile on her lips as she tried to ease more information from him about this fanciful power he made it seem like he held. \u0026quot;My brother once told me that he could eat sadness when I once started crying as a girl, is it much the same?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T23:16:56.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472246216,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  laughed a bit, thinking he may have made himself look a bit more powerful than he actually is. \u0026quot;Dost thou remember the battle my army fought against thine? The first thing us knights did was not to charge, but to point our swords at our targets, and shoot out thunder... With the blessings of Titanius, all knights and priests associated with his worship have magical powers. With our Clerical Magic we can heal the wounded, cure the sick, and incinerate our foes with a diverse roster of destructive spells... And, last but not least, we can move objects towards ourselves or away from ourselves... or choke our foes while holding them up in the air. But that is a power all users of magic have. Including those who immerse themselves in the ever-confusing mysteries of Arcane Magic, instead of the consistency of our Clerical Magic.\u0026quot; he explained oh so seriously, like a teacher would. He said that he does not have an apprentice and does not intend to get one, because he views himself as too inexperienced, still having much to learn - and the belief that doing and teaching how to do are two different things. Yet here he is, explaining all of this so clearly...\u003Cbr\u003EThen he realizes that he forgot about his food, and looks down, and after a moment of silence, resumes eating.\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T23:22:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472246549,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  stared at him in disbelief as she realised that he was quite serious, and that they had indeed used magic against her and her men when they first wandered into the realm. The flashbacks came to her quickly, how could she have forgotten? Perhaps now that her mind was rested and her body fed she was able to fully function once again. In this realm magic was a reality, and not some strange hallucination. \u0026quot;Gods be good...\u0026quot; she whispered \u0026quot;You are serious. You have magic at your command?\u0026quot; Stephanus may as well have told the girl that night was day and day was night. Judging by the look on her face command of magic was a rarity amongst her people, and was treated with great suspicion. It was either a high blessing or a low curse, not that he was to know. \u0026quot;You say it so easily as though it flows through you like blood. I.. not one of my men either possess knowledge of such tricks.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T23:38:42.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472247522,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  responded to her all casually,as if magic really flew among his veins. \u0026quot;Off course I have magic at my command. Every knight doth. Any sentient mortal with the ability to utter coherent words can learn how to cast spells... granted, there is a lot of difference between lighting up a candle and making fireworks... the difference beings years, if not decades of rigorous learning. Knights, Clerics and Druids receive their powers from the deity or deities they claim to worship. Us knights, priests, monks and nuns who worship Titanius receive our powers to heal the wounded, cure the sick and incinerate our foes from Titanius. The heathen tree-worshipping knife-ears of Dragoc have their Druids who supposedly draw their powers from nature itself. The even more heathen greyskins and their matriarchs claim to receive their powers from \u0026apos;the Dark Gods\u0026apos;, whoever they may be. And last but not least, we have Arcane Magic... the magic of magicians, wizards, witches and warlocks, who learn how to use their magical powers in guilds, like schoolchildren learning how to read, write and count. Granted, any mortal human, elf, or orc, or even dragon can learn how to use magic... but that requires years, if not decades of learning and study...\u0026quot; he explained. Magic, in this world, is a common reality, and the potential to use it is in every single mortal who can speak: it\u0026apos;s just so that that potential takes years of learning to unlock and utilize.\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T23:45:37.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472247937,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had long since finished her breakfast, her plate now clean from having done nothing but eat and listen to him. \u0026quot;Greyskins? Knife-ears? What are these? Beast-men? We have tribes of those sorts as well, though they sound not so... we all try to live in a loose harmony with each other.\u0026quot; It was the best explanation Nerida could offer. Politics with the beast-tribes was complex, but a lasting peace had presided since her Grandfathers rule and she was pleased that at least in Asui things were being kept that way. \u0026quot;Magic can drain you and kill you, Stephanus...\u0026quot; she eventually settled to saying before taking a long sip of tea. \u0026quot;Please, exercise caution. Without you in this land I am alone, and alone I am nothing.\u0026quot; The girl looked away once she realised how affectionate and sweet her words sounded.\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T23:51:56.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472248316,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  slowly finished up his own plate, much slower than Nerida, due to the fact that he often interrupted his act of eating to explain things to Nerida, only to get carried away with it and forget about eating. \u0026quot;Beast-men? No, no... The knife-ears are the elves... there are two kinds of them, but they look identical. Wood Elves and High Elves. Both look like humans, but are taller, have sharp, pointy and long ears. The Wood Elves and High Elves look identical, and the main difference is culture. The High Elves of Froturn are a race of architects, engineers, poets and priests. They invented bathhouses, and they gave us their alphabet, their religion, and the bathhouse... before we began learning from them... us Humans of Etrand were heathens, just like the Wood Elves of Dragoc, who live in forest-cities, building thier houses on top of trees...\u0026quot; so much for knife-ears... \u0026quot;The greyskins? They are the Dark Elves... they look similiar to the knife-ears, but are shorter, have blue-ish grey skin, some unnatural eye colours, live under the ground in their cave-cities and clans, worship the \u0026apos;Dark Gods\u0026apos;... their ancestors were High Elves and Wood Elves who were banished for worshipping forbidden kinds of magic...\u0026quot; So, forbidden magic existed in this world too. Not all magic is legal.\u003Cbr\u003EThe knight then had some of his wine. \u0026quot;Please, my love... I have been training for this since infancy... The last thing that would happen to me is to be destroyed by my own magic. That\u0026apos;s why the ancestors of the greyskins were banished... they practiced forbidden magic, such as spells that can destroy their caster... Here, we use no such spells.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T23:58:24.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472248704,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  nodded her head silently, thought her face seemed a little pale. She cared, whether or not it was because this man was all that stood between her and slavery, or because she was developing something of an affection for him. That care was present, and it almost frightened Nerida to think that it might blossom into something else. He even called her \u0026quot;my love...\u0026quot; was this for the sake of their sham marriage, or because he was beginning to soften towards the girl as well? \u0026quot;As you say, my Lord. I am left with no choice but to trust you.\u0026quot; Nerida was one of the few people in Asui who had seen the forbidden arts. The girl had watched on helpless as a man had immolated himself in protest during one of Asui\u0026apos;s many crusades. The sight had never truly left her mind. \u0026quot;I am under your protection and place myself in your care and kindness completely.\u0026quot; Words of subordination like this were something Nerida feared she might soon need to adjust to.\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T00:27:51.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472164071,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond , after having finished up the wine and all of the food, stood up and patted Nerida on the shoulder. \u0026quot;Worry not... I will do my best to protect thee... But don\u0026apos;t just forget how to swing a sword yet. After we make our vows and take control of the estate, thou will get thy sword and armour back...\u0026quot; he said, and expected her to stand up as well, and exit the building together with him - hence, he took her hand as soon as she stood up, and began leading her outside of the building, to the stables where he would get his horse back, mount the horse, trying his best to help Nerida mount the horse after him, once again seated in front of him. \u0026quot;Well, our direction is the goldsmith then... In the Industrial Quarters... Let us hope that he hath a few pieces ready.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T00:33:14.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472164394,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  climbed onto the horse with little discomfort, though his proximity once again made her blush. There was a time the previous night when Nerida had woken from her deep slumber but briefly to find the two of them quite close on the bed, arms wrapped around each other and bodies entwined. In the cold light of morning she wondered if perhaps she had dreamed of such a thing, but she couldn\u0026apos;t forget her pounding heart or how her breath had quickened in her chest. It had been a warm, lazy embrace, one Nerida would not have been sad to see repeated. Had it been a dream it was one she would gladly sleep on again, though of course she dared not tell her husband to be of such sinful, improper thoughts. It was these thoughts that kept her occupied as the rode through the town, her silence testament to her active mind. She did keep a lookout for all the other races however, some of which she did not so much as recognise.\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T00:39:08.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472164748,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  rode the horse into the Industrial Quarters, which were depressingly less classy than the Inner City they previously spent almost all day in. While the Inner City had a bathhouse, buildings made out of marble and golden decorations, the Industrial Quarters was plain stone. Buildings made out of plain, depressing grey stone, with smoke coming out of several houses, loud noise of fire and men hitting things with hammers, people dressed in less impressive and more plain clothes, men and horses alike pulling carriages and hand-drawn rickashaws carrying supplies in chests and barrels. The place of residence of the working class and middle class of Grandfolk. Overwhelmingly human, with a few surprisingly short bearded men here and there - Dwarves. And most strangely, there were apparently some statues made out of metal moving on their own. Some of them had people sitting atop them, once again, those extremely short bearded men.\u003Cbr\u003EBut they were not at the goldsmith yet. Oh no. That would take several more minutes to reach.\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T00:45:30.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472165130,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gave a fright the first time she saw those moving statues, flinching and burying her head as one particularly close to them came even to their side. Nerida could have reached out and touched one had she wanted to, but she certainly did not. The whimper and the yelp she gave were feminine and frightened, not one that Stephanus would have expected from a world-class warrior as she hid her eyes from the sight of those metal creations. It did not however hurt her, the horse did not startle and her intended paid them no mind whatsoever. Based on these facts alone Nerida came to the conclusion that they were of no threat, but determined to keep her eyes shut until at last they reached their destination. Something about them simply.. frightened her.\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T00:49:25.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472165365,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  has finally reached the goldsmith. It looked like a neat place of business. A small, but tidy house, with all the tools necessary to craft jewellry, to forge metal, and to display them. However, there might have been one flaw with it, from Nerida\u0026apos;s perspective: it had those moving metal statues in it. The building was owned and operated by one of those extremely short and stout bearded men, whose height was that of human children, if not shorter.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Good morning!\u0026quot; the knight seed, and the dwarf simply replied with a glare. \u0026quot;Are there any golden rings available?\u0026quot; asked the knight.\n\n\u0026quot;For what occasion?\u0026quot; asked the dwarf, seeming to lighten up and turn the glare into a simple natural look. \u0026quot;Why is that relevant?\u0026quot; asked the knight from the dwarf.\n\u0026quot;Doth it have to be made quickly, or can it wait? I don\u0026apos;t usually make rings just to display them with the hopes of possibly selling them one day...\u0026quot; said the dwarf. There goes the hope of him already have a few spare rings that the knight could buy.",       "date": "2016-08-26T00:54:58.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472165698,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had unfortunately frozen outside, glaring at those moving statues that loomed over her from inside the shop. She had the wide eyes and alert expression of a startled cat, but one that was ready to pounce should one of those confounded things come anywhere near her. She didn\u0026apos;t pass the threshold of the building, and much refused to even as the two men conversed. Had Nerida not looked foreign before, then she certainly looked foreign now. Their words barely passed her ears.\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T01:01:36.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472166096,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was still in discussion with the dwarf, until he has decided that he is going to order a ring. \u0026quot;Fine, I will order a ring for the next week. I will pay half the price up front, and the next part when I come back to it. Agreed?\u0026quot; the knight asked, to which the dwarf only replied with nodding. So the knight handed over to the dwarf a considerable sum of gold, and exited the building. Nerida looked almost frozen to him. Like lightning struck into her that petrified her. So he poked her while right in front of her, facing her eyes, as if she was sleeping or something. \u0026quot;Nerida, art thou there?\u0026quot; he asked, and if she \u0026apos;woke up\u0026apos;, he would tell her that \u0026quot;I have put an order for the ring. We will receive it next week. Let\u0026apos;s go. We have my would-be-estate waiting for us, after all...\u0026quot; as he took her hand and began to accompany her back to his horse... who happened to be right there, almost right next to Nerida.\n",       "date": "2016-08-26T01:06:38.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472166398,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was still in discussion with the dwarf, until he has decided that he is going to order a ring. \u0026quot;Fine, I will order a ring for the next week. I will pay half the price up front, and the next part when I come back to it. Agreed?\u0026quot; the knight asked, to which the dwarf only replied with nodding. So the knight handed over to the dwarf a considerable sum of gold, and exited the building. Nerida looked almost frozen to him. Like lightning struck into her that petrified her. So he poked her while right in front of her, facing her eyes, as if she was sleeping or something. \u0026quot;Nerida, art thou there?\u0026quot; he asked, and if she \u0026apos;woke up\u0026apos;, he would tell her that \u0026quot;I have put an order for the ring. We will receive it next week. Let\u0026apos;s go. We have my would-be-estate waiting for us, after all...\u0026quot; as he took her hand and began to accompany her back to his horse... who happened to be right there, almost right next to Nerida.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T21:58:02.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472414282,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  subconsciously took a step back, her eyes wide and never once leaving the strange, mechanical statues that Stephanus seemed so oblivious and impervious to. It was a horror to behold to her, and in her eagerness to escape it Nerida accidentally walked straighteners into Stephanus\u0026apos; horse. This must have been normal to him, to all of them. The conversation regarding a ring between the short man and her husband to be seemed to go almost entirely over her head.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T22:04:27.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472414667,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  sighed, as he saw Nerida walk straight into his horse. What got into her just now? She seems to be genuinely scared of those golems that he considers completely normal. so the knight leaned sideways to grab Nerida\u0026apos;s hips on both sides and help her mount the horse in front of him. While her feet may not go into the stirrup like his do, being seated in front of him means that he can get hold of her any time to prevent her from falling off.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Jiah!\u0026quot; he said to his horse, who began going on the street relatively fast, out of the sight of the building. Now Stephanus felt it was appropriate to ask his would-be-wife. \u0026quot;What got into thee, Nerida? Thou seemed almost frozen at the sight of those golems... Why did they scare thee? They are like carriage-carrying mules... just in a more human-like shape. And made out of metal or stone.\u0026quot; he said.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T22:08:45.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472414925,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked at the man as though he had lost his faculties. She truly couldn\u0026apos;t comprehend how this was normal for anyone. \u0026quot;But how are stone and metal wrought to life? How are such things made to operate and move like mammettes? This is a strange kind of witchcraft you have shown me, my Lord and I am unable to trust it.\u0026quot; She felt safer for being in front of him and astride his well trained horse, but for all other intents and purposes she was spooked beyond belief.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T22:21:04.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472415664,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  laughed a little bit. Truth be told, he never really wondered about how golems were made, but for all practical purposes, they have been known to the people of Etrand for at least four centuries, and people consider them harmless. So he did too, never really questioning anything. But off course, he was a well-educated man who wasn\u0026apos;t stupid. He knew where did golems come from.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Those things are called golems, my dear. They are built by dwarves and gnomes, for the purpose of lifting up weights that humans normally aren\u0026apos;t comfortable with. They are machines... soulless slaves. From what I know, what makes them move like humans is not magic, but some clockwork machinery inside the body of the being. Like a clock, tick-tock... Hence their movement is stuttered, and not as seamless as that of us humans. Not all golems have the shape of man, though... some have the shape of a dragon, and are controlled by human beings who sit inside them. Or so I was told. \u0026quot; and so he told, just as one of those \u003Ca href=\"http://orig01.deviantart.net/efae/f/2013/116/9/2/heroes_iv__mechanical_dragon_dragon_golem_hi_res_by_xdboss-d6339p6.jpg\"\u003Edragon-like golems ridden by an actual person\u003C/a\u003E slowly walked along on a different lane of that street. Much more bare than the human-like one, and actually visible controlled by an actual person, who is sitting on a seat of sort. And Stephanus rode the horse to the city gates, where they would leave the city, and go down the road that leads to the south.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T22:27:20.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472416040,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  listened to his words carefully, fascinated by what he had to say. It was truly a wonder to think that such a thing might have been brought into existence. A deep but silent respect went to whoever had thought of such an intelligent solution in the first place. As they exited the gates Nerida thought upon how else the technology and innovations in this Realm might differ from her own. At first it had seemed so similar, but now Nerida was beginning to feel that perhaps, maybe they had reached and advancement if not a refinement that her people were yet to achieve. If such machinery could be controlled and expended for the use of war then her Empire would have been unstoppable. Such thoughts were of no use to her now, however, and she could only watch the road before them as the city retreated into the distance behind. A sigh came from her lips after some considerable silence. \u0026quot;It seems that there is much I must educate myself on.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T22:33:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472416423,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded to Nerida. \u0026quot;Well, once we have our estate and thou and I are husband and wife, thou will have plenty of books to read... Oh, I forgot to mention... these... golems. We don\u0026apos;t usually use them for war. Maybe as bodyguards, but for an open-field battle, they are unreliable. They are predictable, their clocklike stuttered tick-tock movements make them unsuitable for an all-out serious battle. They still make good pack mules though... And cold-resistant two-legged mounts for those who are too lazy to walk.\u0026quot;\u003Cbr\u003ESo their technology may not be as cutting-edge as Nerida might think. \u0026quot;Printed books are cheaper than ever, so we might just be in luck for thy... education in th future. Still, the Book of Visions... now that is the book I\u0026apos;d like to get my hands on. Too bad that it costeth the same as expensive jewellry.\u0026quot; Ah, the Book of Visions. The holy book of his religion.\n\nAnd by this point, they wer already out of the city, on their long journey to the south, where for hours, they would see nothing but pastures and plowed fields, but no cities.",       "date": "2016-08-28T22:38:45.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472416725,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  disliked the remoteness and silence of the place he was taking her to already. Fields passed them by, flat fields with no sign of the sea or even so much as a large river. With all this flat land surrounding her Nerida was truly beginning to feel at a loss. She was used to ports and harbours, tall ships and sweeping sails. This was almost intolerable, she couldn\u0026apos;t help but feel entire landlocked and trapped. There was nothing to be done and it barely warranted a mention to her fiance. Casting her mind to the more immediate future Nerida poured over what the days to come might bring. How much repair would this estate require and how were they to acquire the money to do so? She doubted that a Knight made noble truly struggled for coin, but repairing an estate was no small undertaking. She would have to balance the books and balance them well.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T22:49:07.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472417347,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  continued casually riding his horse towards the destination. He did mention previously that the journey was going to take days. \u0026quot;Sooner or later, we will arrive at the walled town of Talon, which is divided in two by the river Golea, the river that separatheth Central Etrand from Southern Etrand. Our future estate is south of the river, so Talon is going to be our first stop. There, we will be able to sleep, wine and dine, possibly even buy supplies for the rest of the trip. I have a few old friends in Talon, but given their constant adventuring, I very much doubt I will run into them...\u0026quot; he mentioned, speaking of the very decent settlement they are going to encounter... several hours later, that is. Horses may be fast, but even they have their limits.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T22:53:17.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472417597,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  feeling a little morose asked a question that she wasn\u0026apos;t sure she was ready to have answered. \u0026quot;And what will you introduce me as, my Lord? Your fiance or your prisoner?\u0026quot; She wasn\u0026apos;t sure that without proper dispensation from his church she\u0026apos;d be anything other than his prisoner, much less his intended. Her mood soon improved though the more she thought on his words. A river, at last. This was sure to feel more like home to Nerida at least. She even began to look forward to staying there the night. But first she must provide him with some conversation at least. \u0026quot;My Lord... when you first came across me you were not shocked at finding a woman in command. Are there other women such as myself in positions of military power?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T23:00:58.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472418058,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  \u0026quot;My fianc\u0026#xE9;, off course... In the unlikely event that I run into them, that is. That Gnarog, Ildor and Nemezish are always up to something, always looking for some treasure in an ancient ruin... I barely even remember how I got mixed up with them in the first place.\u0026quot; he mentioned. And there she brought up women in command. \u0026quot;I was not shocked to find a lady in command. There are women in positions of military power, it\u0026apos;s just that they are... rarer. Other than knightly orders, men have an absolute monopoly on military. While one in four knights in my order may be ladies, outside of the knightly orders, women are drafted only in times of emergency. We first draft the men, and save the women and the children, for they are the foundations of our future generations. Only when our very existence is in immediate danger do we order women to take up arms as well... if they don\u0026apos;t already do it on their own, that is. There are many mercenary bands and gangs led by women though.\u0026quot; he mentioned, as the horse kept on galloping.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T23:05:31.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472418331,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  lit up at this information, happy that she could expect a modicum of respect. If nothing else at least her talents on the battlefield would be taken seriously. \u0026quot;I\u0026apos;ve no wish to be treated as anything other than equal. It is an insult to my capabilities.\u0026quot; the Knight said almost defensively. Had she not fought enough battles of such a kind in her own world than to have to come to a new one and start all over again? It would not do and she would clearly not tolerate it. \u0026quot;My Lord I hope you are in agreement with me... the only difference between us is that you will never bear children.\u0026quot; It was a crude way of putting it, but it got her feelings on the matter across perfectly. There seemed no need to lecture the man on the subject however. The fault lay with the place she had come from, and not the place perhaps that she was in now.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T23:23:14.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472419394,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had to think for a few moments on what she said to answer her properly. \u0026quot;An equal thou may be on the battlefield, but thy capability to bear children maketh thee more valuable and less disposable, less expendable than a man like me...\u0026quot; he put it mildly. \u0026quot;It would be for the best if thou exercised caution much more than men. The loss of a woman is much more fatal to a nation than the loss of a man...\u0026quot; he gave her what could be called a crude \u0026apos;biology lesson\u0026apos;. Men are expendable, men are disposable, there are always more than enough of them... except during war. Women on the other hand, are considered much more valuable.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;But, I suppose, unless thou art pregnant, there can be no harm in letting thee accompany me to battle and join me in a charge against the enemy...\u0026quot; he smiled, although unless she looked back, she could not see it, given how she is seated in front of him.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T23:28:58.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472419738,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gasped in both surprise and glee as he offered he the chance to join him in battle one day, her eyes lighting up. She tried to turn to speak to him and look him in the eyes, but unfortunately she couldn\u0026apos;t so much as glimpse at him. Instead she tilted her head back and looked up at him, given that he towered a whole foot taller than her this was much more easily achieved. \u0026quot;Thank you... you\u0026apos;ve no idea what that means to me.\u0026quot; she stated quite simply, her lips evidently curled into a small smile. It might even have been considered cute. For Nerida to be astride a horse like this and the one not wearing armour was strange indeed. Of course she had dresses and such at home and given her station was required to wear them. It still made her feel exposed to be without her armour casing and weapons. She might spend days on the estate which would come to be theirs in such a manner, but still she would only be permitted to carry perhaps a small knife. The thought of perhaps learning the ways of magic in this land slowly began to creep over her mind. \u0026quot;How long did it take you to master the ways of magic, my Lord? You said extensive study was required.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T23:40:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472420443,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  scratched his head a little at what she asked of him the last. How long did it take for him to master magic? Now that was a tricky question... \u0026quot;Hmmm... let me see... I twenty-two years have passed since I made my exit from my mother\u0026apos;s womb. I remember casting my first spells when I was seven years old, but all I could do was to move objects around, and only weakly... By the age of seventeen, I was roughly as powerful as I am right now, so I could say... about ten years? But then again, my attention was divided during that time... During those ten years, I also learned how to swing a sword, ride a horse, speak four languages, the history of my kingdom, theology, poetry, and a few more... I suppose someone with a less divided attention may master the ways of magic during a shorter amount of time... or not. They did say I was a prodigy who learned exceptionally fast.\u0026quot;\u003Cbr\u003EIn other words, his answer is rather vague and can not really provide anything concrete. But then again, it is difficult to say. An illiterate boy may be transformed into a spellcasting priest or monk during the relatively short span of five years, but with obvious costs, including religious indoctrination. The users of Arcane Magic take it slightly slower, and the lack of ideological indoctrination may make the minds of learners less inclined to take in the new knowledge.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T23:48:07.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472420887,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  \u0026apos;s next question was short, to the point and almost eerie. It was something she had asked them on their first meeting and something now more than ever she wanted, no needed to know. \u0026quot;..How did you learn to speak archaic Asuian?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T23:49:47.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472420987,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  blinked. Asuian? So he replied with a similiar question. \u0026quot;How did thou learn to speak Etrandish?\u0026quot;. That is all that he asked of her. After all, he thought this was his language, the language of his kingdom.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T23:50:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472421054,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked up at him again, her eyes somewhat widened. \u0026quot;No, my Lord. You speak to me in a tongue that our playwrights and wordsmiths used hundreds of years ago. Your alphabet is different, but your language is the same. How has this come to pass?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T23:53:01.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472421181,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  blinked and just tried to think of something better to answer, as he honestly had no idea. \u0026quot;I do not know. What I do know that our kingdom was established eight hundred and thirty-one years ago, and we have always spoken this language. Before those times, us Humans of Etrand were splintering savage tribes with no unity. And before that, our ancestors were the Ancient Elves, who split up in three. The High Elves of Froturn in the Northwest, the Wood Elves of Dragoc in the Southwest, and last but not least, the Humans of Etrand and Etrancoast in the North-East. They came from a legendary island that has sunk because of their sins.\u0026quot; he explained, giving a little bit of exposition on their origins - exposition that was already given to her by the priest at their chapel, who did mention the common origins of Elves and Humans in this world. \u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Before this Kingdom of Etrand was founded, we spoke a savage tongue that lacked the sophisticated words for sophisticated things and concept. We borrowed words for such sophisticated things and concepts form the High Elves, the same time when we borrowed their alphabet for use of our own language, their religion, and the bathhouse... Remember the bathhouse, sweetheart? That\u0026apos;s their invention...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T23:57:26.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472421446,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had never felt such confusion before in her reasoned, adult life. In Asui elves were non-existent, spoken of only as a fantasy from a time gone by. To think that they shared a language somehow, that was either an unbelievable coincidence or there was a link between their worlds like that of the portal which she had stepped through only a few precious days ago. Nerida was no elf, that much she knew. She was the most human of humans and nothing besides. Accepting this as coincidence would save her countless sleepless nights no doubt, but the Gods were never so lazy as to allow for such grand coincidences. Something was afoot. \u0026quot;And before that humans were no better than savages and animals... why then did the elves not enthrall you entirely to their rule? It would have been a simple task to do so.\u0026quot; Nerida was aware that she sounded like a child, and probably seemed no wiser than one in Stephanus\u0026apos; eyes. Her curiosity was far reaching and now she were healthy and rested again she refused to stop in her thirst for more knowledge.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T00:03:46.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472335426,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  made a \u0026apos;tsk-tsk-tsk\u0026apos; noise first, but remember that she was ignorant of their history. \u0026quot;Because these savages that were no better than animals were ferocious... Eleven centuries before this kingdom was founded, a man named Fathred briefly unified the Human tribes of Etrand. The High Elves invaded, but Fathred repelled them. Savages that were no better than animals repelled an invasion by a civilized nation. Although Fathred eventually died in illness rather than battle, after his death, the High Elves invaded again. There was a succession crisis going on, but the warring tribes momentarily united to repel the invaders. In the final battle, the Queen of the High Elves, the revered Salvia herself was cut down.\u0026quot; he started with it. Salvia. He mentioned her before. The warrior-queen whose husbands name he does not remember... and for a good reason.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;After Salvia\u0026apos;s death, Froturn fell into disarray and would not be truly united for another three centuries... As for Fathred\u0026apos;s short-lived confederation... It fell apart as well. Only eleven centuries later would Etrand be once again reunified by the great and magnificent Corlagon, who has converted to the religion of the High Elves, and started war with the other tribes with the pretext of spreading the new religion at the point of the sword. The final result was this... a unified Kingdom of Etrand that we are walking in right now, an important ally of the elven Kingdom of Froturn. In fact, we Humans have become much more pious Titanists than the High Elves, they say...\u0026quot; he laughed at the end.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T00:09:06.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472335746,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  was almost enraptured by the story. It sounded so similar to Nerida, but it was not ancient history to her. To the young woman she was living it. For the first time ever she willingly ventured forward information about her home realm to Stephanus. She wondered if she would ever be able to speak about it without feeling a lump rising in her throat. \u0026quot;My Kingdom is an island nation off the coast of the Cyral continent. Worship of our four Gods has spread wide, thanks in part to missionaries and great teachers but also by the sword. An\u0026apos;nai, Shalla, Hi\u0026apos;tel and Akhal... the Tetralogy, in short. My Gods...\u0026quot; This seemed to be giving her pause for thought. She had never questioned the campaigns she\u0026apos;d been sent on before, or their real purpose. Was it to spread the salvation of her Gods? Or was the expansion of her countries boarders the true reason. \u0026quot;Now our small nation has become an empire, our Gods civilizing those whose lands we claim and bringing them salvation. I suppose even in another world conquest and religion are driving forces, are they not?\u0026quot; She felt uneasy, even unwell. For what purpose had she shed so much blood?\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T00:17:41.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472336261,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded to her in agreement. \u0026quot;In all worlds, conquest and religion are driving forces. Faith is an integral part of a man\u0026apos;s identity. Faith, language, and loyalty. A nation without a language is not a nation. A nation without a faith is not a faith. A nation without loyalties is a weak nation. And the people of Etrand have chosen the Church of Titanius...\u0026quot; or, were \u0026apos;persuaded\u0026apos; to choose it, at the point of the sword and the tip of the arrow. \u0026quot;Before that, the savages that called my homeland their home worshipped... Wait a minute, let me remember...\u0026quot; he had to think for a few moments to recall them. \u0026quot;Ah yes... Hr\u0026#xF3;thward, Thynfirth, Clod\u0026#xE9;na, M\u0026#xFD;rr, W\u0026#xFD;rtha, Eozawak and Yerica... That must be all of them, I believe. The priests who worshipped these false idols did many savage things, such as burning crops and animals as \u0026apos;sacrifices to the gods\u0026apos;... it is said that the Priests of M\u0026#xFD;rr were even into cannibalism and human sacrifice...Such barbarism. But thank Titanius, the glorious and magnificent Corlagon hath brought civilization to the savage tribes and abolish the worship of their equally savage idols. He brought us stone walls, literacy, a god who forgives the sinner and never demands the blood of innocent, and last but not least... the bathhouse...\u0026quot; That bathhouse is turning into a running gag at this point.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T00:24:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472336694,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  giggled a little at his enthusiasm for that bathhouse, her laughter soft and feminine to the ears. \u0026quot;Well, my Lord, you\u0026apos;ll need to suffer when we arrive at your estate. I\u0026apos;m not entirely certain we\u0026apos;ll find functioning shelter, never mind a bathhouse or anything of the sort.\u0026quot; For all of this civilization, dilapidated housing and abandoned fields seemed to yet plague the place. Nerida wondered what could have happened to make the place so undesirable a seat that no descendants contested it? Plague, perhaps? A natural disaster... Asui was no stranger to those. It would remain to be seen when they arrived there. \u0026quot;Perhaps fire has gutted the place, or a miasma permeates the air yet still. You would be wise to be cautious, my Lord.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T00:29:25.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472336965,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shaked his head. \u0026quot;Nay, my lady... There is no fire or miasma here. Just the steppes. These are lands where the musk bisen graze, and peasants and lords alike go out into these steppes to hunt them down. And, more often than not, sheepders, cattleherders, goatherders and so on come here to let their flocks graze. These parts of the kingdom are pastorial, while the parts were about to visit in the south... those parts are dominated by farmers, not animal herders like here. Farmers who work the land to grow wheat, wheat that turns into bread at the hands of the millers and bakers.\u0026quot; he said. \u0026quot;Dost thou have any idea how wheat large a field must be, to produce enough wheat to feed a city\u0026apos;s population... It must be huge...\u0026quot; he said. And surely enough, occasionally did they see wheat and grape fields in the distance, being worked by peasants. Yet still, a low population density, mostly musk bisons and similiar animals rather than humans.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T00:33:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472337209,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked out across the fields. \u0026quot;We have such farmable lands in Asui, but...\u0026quot; It was different somehow, wasn\u0026apos;t it? Everything was so different. \u0026quot;Mountains and forests sweep our lands. We farm on the hills and in the valleys more often than not. I don\u0026apos;t think I have ever seen land as flat as this in my entire life. It certain makes for dull traveling. Save for your company, my Lord, I might just have lost my sensibility by now.\u0026quot; It was flat, almost colourless save for the blue of the sky and the green of the fields. Thoughts of home were twisting in her stomach and making her feel all the more bereft at the family and friends she must mourn. There were still fellow compatriots though that were here, and that she might be able to offer some salvation to. \u0026quot;As part of my marriage contract I require one stipulation...\u0026quot; she stated, almost out of the blue. \u0026quot;I want my countrymen to be freed and given their full civil rights. Please tell me that that much at least is possible, my Lord, or I think I might well lose myself to grief.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T00:40:07.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472337607,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  did the same as her to look accross the fields. \u0026quot;Etrand is a large country. Largest in all of Artograch. In these lands of Western Etrand, the land is as flat as a piece of paper. In Northern Etrand, mountains reign supreme, mountains so high that it is winter all year long. In Eastern Etrand, hills take precedence, while in Southern Etrand, there is a mix of hills, swamps, forests, giving ways to mountains in the far south. Our estate is in Southern Etrand.\u0026quot; he enlightened her about the geography of Etrand.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;I can negotiate for that. However... there may be a price for my acceptance. They will be most likely be forced to convert to our religion if they want to be given full civil rights. And they will likely be asked to become serfs of any local lord... Possibly me. Let me hope that thou art not planning to use them to overthrow me...\u0026quot; he laughed off his final sentence.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T00:44:57.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472337897,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  took umbrage at his small joke, her head once again tilting back to give him an angered look with those pretty features. \u0026quot;My Lord, those men are the best of Asui. They are Godly, well-trained, intelligent Knights of their word and their loyalty to me is unrivaled. They.. we are not snakes such as that, to end a Lords life as he sleeps easily in his estate.\u0026quot; His answer had not satisfied her entirely however. She wondered how many of them upon her word would be willing to convert. Nerida was to be given her freedom proper, after all, that her Gods wanted her to live as more than a serf she was certain. But her men. \u0026quot;They will never accept mere serfdom in exchange for conversion. I know of some that will end their lives when even faced with the prospect. You must negotiate with more fervour my Lord. Let them settle where they will, take up professions that they are suited to. Not serfdom.. it is as a death sentence.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T00:49:31.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472338171,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  sighed. \u0026quot;I will try my best... But I cannot guarantee anything. Their ignorance of our customs, history and geography is even greater than thine. Remember when thou were startled by a harmless golem? Imagine all thy men trying to destroy such a golem, breaking the law and provoking the town guards to arrest them... I might negotiate for their fredom to lose their shackles and bear their weapons and armour freely, but anything that happeneth after that is not my responsibility. If they use their newfound freedom to become unruly mercenaries that ravage a city and provoke being put down like rabid dogs... Not my responsibility.\u0026quot; he said. \u0026quot;If they came to my estate, they could work as my guards. After all, when I will have my serfs to defend, just one man will not be enough to protect an entire village from a thousand bandits, orcish raiders and natural disasters. However... I will need workers as well.\u0026quot; what he forgot to mention that a serf does not equal a farmer. A serf is merely a taxpaying subject of a feudal lord. And that also includes a soldier who is somehow forced to serve his lord.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T00:55:25.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472338525,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  was vexed beyond belief by the unanswered challenge of what might become of her men. She needed to speak to them, desperately, but such conversations would have to wait. A deep, reflective silence fell over the girl as she looked forward, wringing her hands in her lap. For a girl of nineteen she held the lives of 50 men in her hands, and their future health and happiness. It was a heavy burden regardless of how she had been conditioned to prepare for it throughout her adult life. Nerida needed to do right by her men after all, but in accepting Stephanus\u0026apos; proposal she also held a responsibility to him and now his line. Suddenly she felt tired, and heavy. She leaned back against her fiance and closed her eyes, a deep sigh of thoughtful pause passing her lips. If he supported her, perhaps she might sleep again.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T01:00:33.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472338833,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  noticed how Nerida was starting to get very sleepy and dizzy. However, at this point - when it was getting dark - he noticed a river behind a hill, and a town with wooden walls, indeed separated into two by the river. \u0026quot;Hey, don\u0026apos;t fall asleep on me just yet, my love... We have arrived to Talon. We are to get a room here in one of the taverns.\u0026quot; he said to her, poking her gently to get her to wake up, as he rode the horse towards the town gate, where the guards relucantly let the knight in after seeing the logo on his armour. And there it was. A wooden town with wooden buildings - save for a church made out of stone - with a wide river that split it in two, almost every house having a garden of sort next to itself, or an animal pen, or stables... Such a rural, village-like town, is it not? Well, yes it is. People still have a hard time deciding whether Talon is actually a town-proper, or just an oversized village. So they call it \u0026apos;field town\u0026apos; or \u0026apos;rural town\u0026apos;.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T01:04:33.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472339073,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  stirred at his encouragement and opened her eyes as the town came into view. She spent the rest of her time on horseback taking in the houses and businesses that she saw in the village. To Nerida it was quite charming, and the cooling breeze the swept along the river only served to improve her condition. She smiled a gentle, easy smile at the gardens and planting plots she saw in the village. After hours of flat landscape she drank in the presence of humanity as though she had been long since starved of it. \u0026quot;It\u0026apos;s beautiful here.\u0026quot; she remarked in an almost wistful way. \u0026quot;I feel better next to the water. I always have.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T01:21:10.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472340070,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  led the horse towards what appeared to be the tavern and the stable, while telling her. \u0026quot;Well, this is as urban as it can get in Southern Etrand. Talon is the largest settlement in the south. Every other settlement in the south is either a village, or a hamlet. Or a ruined castle that belongs to a recently ennobled knight.\u0026quot; he cracked the last joke, as he led the horse through the bridge to the stables, dismounted the horse, took hold of Nerida - or even dared to attempt to carry her in his arms bridal style, if she wanted - with himself to the tavern, which is completely wooden. \u0026quot;Well, we might as well order a room for the night... This is one of the few villages that actually do have a tavern.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T01:24:15.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472340255,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  normally would have protested at being carried in his arms like some sack of goods but today, at that moment at least, she felt too tired and too weak even to argue. He was warm, she noted, or perhaps it was the blush that covered her face which kept her temperature raised. Either way she was lifted without complaint into his arms, and for the first time the Knight might consciously feel how light and slender her body was. That she could march for days with heavy armour and supplied on her person seemed almost miraculous to most that met her, let alone the only man to have actually held her in his arms. Whenever the breeze picked up and eased off the heat of the day Nerida felt contented and it served well to soothe her. It was almost as though she were not quite herself.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T01:50:55.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472341855,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  carried Nerida into the tavern, getting a few strange looks from the very few patrons inside, but not from the barkeep, who seemed to have recognized him. As the knight walked up to the barkeep, he asked him about the price of a room for one night, and after receiving his reply, he struggle to reach for his haversack and take out the apropriate amount of coins. Much more difficult when one is carrying another person in his hands. After having received the key to the room, he walked up the stairs to find it, struggle to unlock it while holding Nerida in his hands, enter it, and then lock it. And then light up with a spell temporarily, and put Nerida on the bed that... wasn\u0026apos;t as comfortable as in the tavern in Grandfolk. But still better than nothing, arguably. Then he began taking off his armour, some of his clothes, and finally snuggled next to Nerida on the bed, and kissed her forehead. \u0026quot;Such a long day, is it not, my love?\u0026quot; he asked.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T01:54:53.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472342093,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  lay on the bed still except for her breaths and how her head began to loll to the side. She looked up at Stephanus with eyes half open, her breathing deep and her temperature quite elevated. She didn\u0026apos;t feel right at all. Perhaps it was the travel, though usually she traveled so well. Whatever the cause Nerida neither looked nor felt right, and the persistent flush across her cheeks might well have conveyed such to her husband to be. Still, she managed to smile at him as he kissed her warm forehead. \u0026quot;Forgive me, my Lord.\u0026quot; she uttered. \u0026quot;I think I am quite tired.\u0026quot; She hadn\u0026apos;t so much as stirred herself from the bed to undress, and it didn\u0026apos;t seem as though she was in any fit state to do so.\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T02:22:19.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472343739,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  kissed Nerida\u0026apos;s lips one last time before the slumber would begin, and then said \u0026quot;Well the, let us sleep...\u0026quot;, while stopping the lighting spell, making the room completely dark, pitch black. And the long slumber begins on his part, and most likely hers as well. He dreams once again of riches to come, of his future estate and land, of how happily will he be able to live with his wife, and of the weddig with Nerida. Ah, sweet dreams, very sweet dreams...\u003Cbr\u003E((I think this should be it for today. I have only half an hour left until sleep time, and let\u0026apos;s just end it for today before Internet screws me over again xD ))\n",       "date": "2016-08-28T02:25:24.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472343924,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  woke the following morning, though woke isn\u0026apos;t the correct word to use perhaps. Nerida\u0026apos;s condition had only worsened in spite of her having rested. As a warrior she was aware of what was going on with her body, and this was induced by no injury or untreated wound. This was illness. Something her body had not before come across in her home realm. Her stomach was too empty for her to retch, which she couldn\u0026apos;t have been more glad of in the moment, but her temperature was raised and she even began to see things which she knew full well ought not to have been there. The girl turned her face to Stephanus and meekly thought of asking his assistance, but he seemed to be resting so well. Instead she closed her eyes and tried to find some comfort so that she might sleep. She was still in her dress but had soaked the silks through with sweat. What could she do now but sleep?\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T22:49:47.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472676587,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  woke up the following morning, albeit he woke up much more calmly than Nerida... before recognizing that something was amiss. He kissed Nerida\u0026apos;s forehead as his way of saying \u0026apos;good morning\u0026apos;, but he couldn\u0026apos;t help but to notice how warm it was... And she appeared sweaty...\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;My love, art thou allright?\u0026quot; he asked from her while placing his hand onto her forehead, pre-emptively whispering some sort of unintelligible chant while his hand was starting to glow like a lamp. He was pre-emptively casting a spell that cures minor diseases, such as common cold. Given that he does not anticipate using his magic any other time this day, he saw no harm in wasting his magical energy in case Nerida had an illness of magical or exotic origin going on. The knight would sit on the bed and make Nerida lie her head on his lap, if she did not resist. \u0026quot;Nerida, what\u0026apos;s wrong? Thou art scorching hot...\u0026quot; he said.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T22:55:05.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472676905,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  did as she was bid and lay her head on his lap, her previously strong and vigorous nature all but missing in that moment. She felt weak and frail, and utterly at a loss. \u0026quot;F-forgive me, husband.\u0026quot; she said mistakenly in the moment, her confusion showing in her words. \u0026quot;I know not what this is. Some sickness but nothing else.\u0026quot; The eyes she looked up at him with now were as gentle and helpless as he had ever seen them. Whatever it had been Nerida was evidently not used to feeling unwell. \u0026quot;My body aches husband, and I\u0026apos;m so tired I feel I can barely move. Do you know of such a malady?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T23:04:14.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472677454,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  did not know whether to shake his head or nod to her. After all, most illnesses and diseases do in fact make the sufferer of it feel tired. But are any of them so specific? \u0026quot;Many maladies make one feel tired beyond belief, my lady...\u0026quot; he said. Apparently, the spell he used on her had no effect, it seems. One thing for certain, it was definitely not common cold. After all, if it was common cold, or something akin to it, the spell he used would have cured her... or maybe it just takes some time before the effect kicks in, and his spell does not cure something immediately.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;I must take thee to the priest... He is likely more knowledgeable on maladies and remedies than I am. If my magic cannot cure thine ailment, the the priest\u0026apos;s spells must be able to...\u0026quot; he said, although with a feeling of a crisis.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T23:08:26.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472677706,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked at him with a sudden and rising fear in her eyes, reaching up to grip at his chest with what little strength she had left. \u0026quot;No... no magic. Medicine. Medicine!\u0026quot; she insisted. It was almost an incredible fear that gripped her. A terror. \u0026quot;Not magic, no spells...\u0026quot; Was all she could utter over and over again. Her lips were parched and dry, though there wasn\u0026apos;t another inch of her that wasn\u0026apos;t covered in sweat. Even in this state she knew full well that magic couldn\u0026apos;t be trusted, that medicine and herbs were what was needed. \u0026quot;Forgive me...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T23:14:11.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472678051,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  \u0026apos;s forehead has grown temporarily wrinkled, as he raised his eyes. No magic? Well, no magic is one thing, but... Herbs? He does not have herbs. All he has is some healing spells that he knows. How can he answer her on that? Perhaps the only way he can, is to reassure her of the professionalism of her would-be-doctor.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;I must take thee to the church, or call the priest here... He is an expert on the body, he will know how to cure thy maladies, my love... Thou needest to trust him.\u0026quot; he said, while gently rubbing his would-be-wife\u0026apos;s head, to try to calm her... \u0026quot;Now, I should try to get thee dressed up...\u0026quot; he said. What Nerida may not know is that in this world, priests are also doctors. Not just because of their access to healing magic, but also, because anyone who wants to become a priest must also study medicine inaddition to theology. \u0026quot;The local priest is an expert on medicine... I must either take thee to him, or take him to thee...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T23:18:35.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472678315,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  would have been unable to resist no matter the decision her fiance took. She was unable to walk, or even think entirely straight as the fever gripped her. She was trying, Gods was she trying to regain control of all her faculties but she had been weakened beyond any previous comparison that she knew. All she was aware of was her husband to be\u0026apos;s threat of using magic to cure her and the immediate comfort she found in his lap. She tried to give him a smile, for his comfort more than her own, but found it impossible to make it last. It was an exhaustion the likes of which she had never known, and within moments she was only semi-conscious again.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T23:27:12.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472678832,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  sighed at the sight of Nerida seeming to lose her consciousness, so he took it upon himself to dress her up, dress himself up as fast as possible, take Nerida up into his own hands and rush out of the tavern with her in his hands - not returning even the key to the innkeeper, telling him that it is an emergency - into the church, the only stone building in this oversized village of a small town. Fortunately for him, there was no mass going on, but the priest was still present. In a small, humble stone chapel, with one priest whose modest clothing made him look more like a poorer monk. The knight, after having found his way into the church, began to slow down, carrying Nerida slowly. The scent of incense must have hit Nerida\u0026apos;s even semi-conscious nose, as it was apparent.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;What is thy business in such time of the day, Knights of the Blood Red Light?\u0026quot; asked the priest first, not seeming to notice that the knight must have been carrying a sick person. \u0026quot;Oh... a person who hath fallen ill, is she not?\u0026quot; Stephanus only replied to the question with a nod.\n\n\u0026quot;Follow me. We have a room just for that.\u0026quot; said the priest, prompting Stephanus to follow him from the modestly decorated halls of the church into a warm-looking little room with comfortable looking single-person beds that were tied to the ground completely, using stone frames instead of wood, but still normal, comfortable mattresses. Apparently, the church also serves as a small hospital of sorts.",       "date": "2016-08-31T23:34:33.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472679273,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  whimpered and winced in pain as she was set down on the bed, her face still red with the exertion of staying conscious though the rest of her skin was pale and clammy. Briefly she opened her eyes, taking in the sight of Stephanus and then the priest. The smell was overpowering, and in an instant she knew where she was. At the sight of the priest Nerida seemingly tapped into a reserve of strength she previously had not know she possessed. She propped herself up on her elbows, turned to her side and tried to unsuccessfully escape the confines of the bed she\u0026apos;d been laid on. \u0026quot;No...\u0026quot; she protested incoherently. \u0026quot;No priest... no magic.. the Gods..\u0026quot; Fortunately Nerida was unwell enough for her mutterings to be mistaken as fever, thought whether the Priest would heed her words or heal her remained yet to be seen. \u0026quot;Husband no...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T23:43:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472679809,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  remained silent, as he let the priest do what he saw right with her. Which involved taking his hand onto Nerida\u0026apos;s forehead, as it began to shine and glow when the priest uttered words that cannot be comprehended by her. Just like what Stephanus did in the morning. However, the priest was casting a different spell, not the same spell that Stephanus has cast earlier. The priest was not casting a \u0026apos;Cure Disease\u0026apos; spell on Nerida. No. He was casting an \u0026apos;Identify Disease\u0026apos; spell on Nerida, whch scans though her body to see if she suffers from any malady that the caster of the spell can identify or has heard about. And surely enough, after a few moments, the priest took a sudden step back and his hand emmited no further glow.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Oriental fever, also known as the Bane of the East.\u0026quot; the priest uttered quietly.\n\n\u0026quot;Oriental fever?\u0026quot; the knight asked, raising his eyebrows in disbelief. \u0026quot;Is is an illness known among Oriental merchants visiting us Occidental people... Those who stay among us occidentals for a prolonged period of time go home only to suffer from an illness very similiar to fever... It is never lethal, except maybe among weak and old people, and curing it is almost childplay, but it is considered tedious...\u0026quot; the priest responded.\n\u0026quot;Any spell to cure it immediately?\u0026quot; asked the knight.\n\u0026quot;No spells, no magic.\u0026quot; the priest replied while shaking his head, almost echoing Nerida. \u0026quot;There is a way to cure it however... Two methods in fact, although one is only temporary and can be better described as symptomatic treatment... The other one however, eliminates the problem at its root. At least, theoretically...\u0026quot; the priest continued. At the same time, the knight was right beside Nerida, rubbing her head to calm her down, listening to the priest with only half an ear.",       "date": "2016-08-31T23:50:58.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472680258,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  smiled in relief as she heard she was to be spared the spells and magic. There was a diagnosis at least, which was more than medics in her own realm would have been able to ascertain. She had no idea where she\u0026apos;d encountered this disease, and certainly didn\u0026apos;t remember having visited any oriental merchants, but then how was she to know? What even passed for a person from the orient in this strange world. Whatever the cure for this malady was she was content to endure it. In that moment she would have endured anything other than the pain of fever and the ache of her muscles. Her very bones felt as though they\u0026apos;d been bruised. Nerida opened her eyes and looked to Stephanus, nodding her tacit agreement to anything the priest was about to suggest. She did not care how. She only cared that it was done.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T23:57:17.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472680637,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  kept on rubbing Nerida\u0026apos;s head. \u0026quot;Don\u0026apos;t worry my love, thou will be safe...\u0026quot;\u003Cbr\u003EThen the priest coughed a bit. \u0026quot;The cheaper way is wine, or beer, or tea. It will not cure her, but it will suppress the symptoms... Oriental merchants have reported, that among those who spent enough time among us Occidental people to catch a disease we must have a collective immunity to, those who drank wine or tea temporarily regained their consciousness and ability to move... It is said to have an immediate effect. According to those writings, if we made her drink red wine, she could even jump out of the bed full of vigour...\u0026quot;. So apparently one does not get Oriental fever from Oriental merchants: quite the opposite - Oriental people get Oriental fever by being in close proximity with Westerners - Stephanus\u0026apos;s people, apparently - for too long, due to some disease that Westerners have immunity to and appear to be carriers of. Quite the confusing name then.\n\n\u0026quot;And the other one?\u0026quot; asked the knight.\n\u0026quot;The other one is slow... But, there is a certain kind of herbal tea that will eliminate the disease altogether, may even grant her immunity to it... However, it taketh its effects during the course of a time between half a day and a whole day. Unless she is patient enough to remain bedridden for a day, she must be given wine with it.\u0026quot; the priest responded.\n\u0026quot;What of the ingredients??\u0026quot; asked the knight. The priest then smiled. \u0026quot;They are very common. I reckon that even the alchemist from this village may have all of them. However... even without treatment, she will recover in the course of three days. Will thy journey tolerate no delay, milord?\u0026quot; asked the priest. The knight then just only said: \u0026quot;I should go get the herbs...\u0026quot; to which the priest responded. \u0026quot;Thou should wait here with her. I shall send a choir boy to do the deed...\u0026quot; responded the priest finally.",       "date": "2016-08-31T00:06:28.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472594788,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  laughed a little at her predicament, her exhaustion only granted relief between weak, rasping breaths. It was a gasping laugh but one nonetheless. She was a Holy Knight, had been on campaign in the far flung corners of the Hassier. And here she was brought low by an illness that could have been resolved with a brew of herbal tea. It was one of the most pathetic things she\u0026apos;d ever been subjected to in her life, and Nerida couldn\u0026apos;t help be raise her voice in apology once more. \u0026quot;Forgive me, husband..\u0026quot; she said once again, as though her vocabulary had been limited to just a few words in her illness. She tried to reach up and stroke at the side of his face, and her touch was so gentle that Nerida began to wonder if she would ever regain her lost strength. \u0026quot;I meant no delay, no disrespect.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T00:11:55.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472595115,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  continued rubbing Nerida\u0026apos;s head, and even went as far as kissing her forehead. That was about as intimate as he could get with her in the confines of a church, while the priest exited the room, only to return about two minutes later, with nothing to say, except that he would start boiling water in what appeared to be a very small heat-resistant vase of sort... Something made out of clay, but the type of clay that resisted fire. Only around fifteen minutes later would a little boy come in, giving a package to the priest, a package the priest would examine first, then pour its contents into the mixture. At the same time, he would bring red wine, and attempt to feed it to Nerida. Should Nerida take it, she will immediately feel better, as if all her energy came back, but still feel the disease lingering on, likely forgetting that it is but a symptomatic treatment, an illusion that makes her body temporarily forget that she is sick. But should she refuse the wine, all she can do is to wait for the herbal tea, which will likely take an even longer amount of time than the waiting for the little boy to bring the ingredients. \u0026quot;It is allright, my wife...\u0026quot; Stephanus said to Nerida.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T00:17:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472595474,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  wasn\u0026apos;t foolish enough to refuse the wine. She took it and within seconds a relief washed over her body that she could have kissed the Priest for. The ache soon disappeared from her body and her temperature was brought to heel. Though a little of the tiredness remained in her Nerida was able to ignore it, turning onto her side and reaching for Stephanus\u0026apos; hand. \u0026quot;Stephanus...\u0026quot; she whispered so as not to disturb the priest. \u0026quot;Thank you. It was... I haven\u0026apos;t been unwell since I was a little girl and...\u0026quot; Her cheeks were still full of colour, but she did not look as flushed with fever as she had done only a minute before. \u0026quot;I\u0026apos;m so sorry... \u0026quot; She looked up at him, hoping he might forgive her for the hold up she would doubtlessly cause. Drenched in her own sweat, the Knight felt disgusting in her own body. She would have poured the water of the kettle over herself rather than use it for a cup of tea, but such things would have to wait. \u0026quot;I should have told you last night.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T00:25:15.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472595915,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled widely as he saw Nerida rise from the bed, but he exercised caution. Memories of Nerida being unable to walk were still as recent as one fraction of a milisecond. So he remained close to Nerida, and had to tell the blushing female. \u0026quot;Easy there, my love... Thou art not cured yet. This is but symptomatic treatment, so that thou will feel better until the real cure arriveth...\u0026quot; he said, reminding her. Off course, pouring water over to her own body had to wait, after all, this is a church.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Thou still needeth to rest, my child... After all, thou art not cured yet.\u0026quot; The priest\u0026apos;s words echoed those of Stephanus, at least in their meanings. \u0026quot;Perhaps thou could make a confession or ask for a blessing in the mean time, while the tea is being prepared...\u0026quot; the priest said. To Stephanus, this was a golden opportuniy. An early attempt to convert Nerida to his religion. But at the same time, the knight couldn\u0026apos;t help but to fidget. If Nerida spilled the beans on the secret pact they made, and the fact that she - an unbeliever - is (getting) married to a nobleman, something which is against the law... Part of him wished that the priest did not say what he just said, and he hoped that Nerida could pass her first test at pretending to be a Titanist.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T00:32:14.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472596334,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gave Stephanus a knowing look, her eyes filled with trepidation as she gazed into his hopeful glances. She knew what she must do, that she needed to pretend that she had converted and not only that but had done so fully and in the gravest of sincerity. It was time, and she knew it, but still she felt as though she was not ready. Half of her screamed silently in protest, half of her submitted to her logic and knew what needed to be done. \u0026quot;Yes father...\u0026quot; she replied, her voice adamant and even keen. \u0026quot;A blessing might be just the thing to aid what ails me.\u0026quot; The Knight could have cried, in all honesty she wanted to. This would be her first step on the true path to conversion. \u0026quot;I am new to the worship of Titanius, but perhaps in his goodness he might hear even me.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T00:57:04.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472597824,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  sighed in relief as Nerida gave him a look of a person who knows what to do. So the priest walked closer to Nerida, and once again took his hand onto her forehead. \u0026quot;Fear not, for even those who find the light of Titanius at such a late stage of their lives, salvation awaits. Make thy husband happy, abandon selfish desires for what others lack and embrace peace and order, and Titanius shall judge thee as a woman of virtue, well worthy of his heaven...\u0026quot; the priest said to her. \u0026quot;May Titanius guide thee and make thy road straight on the journey of life, where thou hast decided to walk the Path of Light until the day of thy demise...\u0026quot; the priest told his blessing, and for the first time, coherent words were accompanying what looked like magic: after all, while the priest was saying that sentence, his hand did start to glow, indicating that magic was in the work. \u0026quot;May the light of Titanius accompany thee where ever the journey of life may take thee...\u0026quot;\u003Cbr\u003EThis sentence was repeated by Stephanus. But just a single blessing will not pass the time needed to boil the tea to its necessary temperature. Surely there is more that the priest can \u0026apos;offer\u0026apos; to Nerida, if she pretends to wish for it.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T01:04:39.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472598279,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  \u0026apos;s eyes widened in fear as she watched the magic worked on her. She was scared, terrified even, but still she made no effort to run or fight. She gripped Stephanus hand a little tighter, nothing else, and watched as the Priest worked hard to complete the blessing. When it was over, she presented her gratitude with an enthusiasm Stephanus had not seen in her before, even for her own Gods and her own religion. \u0026quot;Thank you, Father, you are too kind. Would that you could bless me one thousand times over and properly induce me into your faith. Titanius truly is compassionate.\u0026quot; All her words were an elaborate lie, of course, but Nerida was willing to play the part. Even she had to admit that a sense of comfort and ease spread through her after the priest had blessed her so. Perhaps there was something to his religion after all.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T01:30:28.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472599828,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  kept as close to Nerida as it was apropriate, while the priest only said \u0026quot;Titanius is with the unyielding.\u0026quot; before moving away to look at what is going on with the tea. It appears to be ready. So the priest extinguishes the flame, wraps leather around the clay container to make sure that the heat will not effect those who wish to touch it, and finally goes over to hand it over to Nerida. It is boiling hot, but time will make it cooler, and she may try to begin drinking it slowly. \u0026quot;This is the cure to thy ailment, my child...\u0026quot; the priest said. And Stephanus would say \u0026quot;Slowly, my love, slowly...\u0026quot; while rubbing her head gently and slowly. While the vessel way designed to be used for drinking sa well, it may not be that easy to drink from it slowly, despite the necessity. The tea may not taste good at all - in fact, it is almost completely literally tastless, possibly a bit sour if anything - but it is the cure.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T01:35:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472600143,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  ||As though she were a child taking her first medicine Neirda\u0026apos;s face winced at the taste but she soon learned to tolerate it. She drank slowly, as instructed, eased by Stephanus\u0026apos; words and the Priests\u0026apos;s kindness. She wondered on his instructions to be a good wife. What would that possibly mean in this place? Perhaps she would need to ask of her fiance later. In this place where her Gods were heathen and her tolerance for others a weakness and a sin, she wasn\u0026apos;t sure what was what any longer. She only had her fiance keeping her from the abyss of the life of a slave.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T01:56:02.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472601362,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  continues rubbing Nerida\u0026apos;s head, which he thought was much-needed. After all, memories of her being weak and fragile were still fresh in his mind. He wanted to be a good husband, even if he had no idea what it meant. In this world, many books were written on how to be a good wife, but never on how to be a good husband. It was always implied to be something as straightforward as being a brave and seductive man who appears strong in the eyes of his wife. Obviously, desireable human qualities such as kindness, endearment and helpfullness are also considered disireable in a husband... But not so much as in a wife. And what is expected of a wife? Well, to be attracted to her husband and his gender, for one thing, but also to be available to her husband, to be able to cook and clean after her husband, to be endearing instead of nagging, and to be \u0026quot;rewarding\u0026quot;... Some wise men even joked about it. \u0026apos;A good wife should be like a cat. It is irrelevant if she has ulterior motives, so long as she is endearing and purrs when her head is rubbed.\u0026apos; - which, while is definitely not meant to be taken literally, implies that being affectionate is seen as number one priority.\u003Cbr\u003EBut Stepanus suddenly had another though... Nerida got this disease because she is not from this world... Did her men get it too? Did her men catch it too, as they are still in the headquarters of his order... The thoughts never crossed his mind until now.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T02:03:48.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472601828,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  finished the medicine and shook her head, the sourness leaving a tinge on her tongue which was possibly the most unpleasant taste that Nerida could recall in her living memory. Still, she tolerated it as best she could. She had already been brought before these two important men feverish and incoherent. She did not wish to shame herself or her fiance any further. \u0026quot;Thank you, father...\u0026quot; she said in a weak voice, coughing as even her words have her a start reminder of the taste. \u0026quot;I can never repay you this kindness.\u0026quot; Though she did expect to have to repay him of some coin. Coin which she lacked. She was already indebted to Stephanus for the clothes and jewels she had acquired, and had paid for it with her maidenhood and her hand in marriage. How could she possibly repay him or the church the cost of medicine? Thoughts of her men had not yet crossed her mind. She was not yet aware enough to know that it might have effected them as well.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T02:17:50.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472602670,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  suddenly realized that he should pay the priest, at the very least. So he took his hand into the haversack, but was stopped in doing that by the priest. \u0026quot;We the Church require no such compensation, my son...\u0026quot; the priest said. \u0026quot;An innocent soul is an innocent soul, regardless of her purse\u0026apos;s weight... Besides, thou art already paying us by protecting us and fighting in the name of our symbol, honourable knight.\u0026quot;\u003Cbr\u003EAh yes... Kindness aside, knights like Stephanus at the end of the day were still church militants, at least on paper. Church militants who happened to fight on horseback, have a strong sense of brotherhood, close ties to nobility, and functioned almost like a university of sorts. Yet still, this only proves that even those are people. \u0026quot;The Light of Titanius will make its return to Stattelbarn very soon...\u0026quot; the knight smiled, referencing the estate they intend to visit to rebuild. But not today, as the medicine only takes its full effect between twelve and twenty-four hours after being drunk. Until that, wine may be used to suppress the disease.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T02:26:03.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472603163,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  sat herself upright on the bed and even swung her legs over the side of it to drag herself from her comfortable rest. She wasn\u0026apos;t about to set Stephanus back a second longer with her foolishness and silently resolved to be up and about her business before the day was out. \u0026quot;I will need a bath, my Lord...\u0026quot; she said readily to him. \u0026quot;But if you can fill a waterskin with wine then we may continue on. I shall ride to your estate with you in my nightdress, if needs be, but we must go. I will not have you delayed.\u0026quot; The wine had steeled her while the medicine cured her innards, and though she was still not as strong as she would have liked she wanted to be an asset rather than a detriment to the man who\u0026apos;s saved her from slavery. \u0026quot;I am well. There will be no harm in putting me on horseback now I have drank some wine.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T02:32:06.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472603526,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shaked his head a little. \u0026quot;We are not going to set ride today, my beloved Nerida... thou will need rest until tomorrow. The best we can do is to get a hot bath for thee, and a warm bed.\u0026quot; he told her, while taking her hand. \u0026quot;I will buy some wine for thee...\u0026quot; he continued. Then he looked at the priest. \u0026quot;Thank thee for all thy help, father... is it allright if we leave now?\u0026quot; he asked, to which the priest only responded with a silent nod. Then Stephanus said to Nerida - \u0026quot;I will pay to extend our stay at the tavern, and get a bath for thee... One day of a delay will not hurt a single soul, my love.\u0026quot; he told her, while starting to rub her head once again.\n",       "date": "2016-08-31T02:36:28.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472603788,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  awoke the next day with the weight of sickness lifted from her and the tiredness which had hung over her like heavy mist entirely diminished. She was amazed at the alacrity with which the sickness retreated, and wondered at the strength of the medicine and the knowledge of the priests as she lay awake on the bed, not moving lest she disturb her sleeping fiance. In her sickness Stephanus had shown genuine concern and kindness, and had even offered the priests money which they\u0026apos;d refused on her behalf. It was a kindness she\u0026apos;d had no right to expect, and the thought of how he\u0026apos;d cared for her pulled her lips into a smile. The sickness itself had been torture, but it had taught her much.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T20:14:21.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472926461,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  woke up the next day, a bit later than Nerida, yawning heavily and struggling to get out of the bed, as usual. He was a heavy sleeper when the circumstances allowed him to be. As usual, the morning routine consisted of kissing Nerida\u0026apos;s cheek, getting out of bed, taking in hos clothes and his armour, then waiting for Nerida to dress up and start following him, outside of the room, onto the ground floor, where they can have their breakfast. The knight knew that there should be no delay today and that this time, they are going to leave this village without any diseases delaying them.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T20:18:00.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472926680,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  followed him quietly, compliantly even. Her clothes washed clean and dried of their sweat from the day before, she was glad to have them on. Nerida usually had a little more fight and sass about her, in the way she carried herself and in the way she spoke. Today there was nothing that was abrasive or confrontational about her, and as she sat down opposite Stephanus to enjoy breakfast she\u0026apos;d not said so much as a word. Perhaps it was after having fought off a painful and persistent sickness, or perhaps it was that she\u0026apos;d decided to accept her fate and even embrace it. There were much, much worse men to be tied to in life. Stephanus was fast proving himself to perhaps be the best husband a woman might hope for if she were to sell herself into marriage at all.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T20:23:13.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472926993,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  \u0026apos;s head was not occupied by afterthoughts of Nerida\u0026apos;s sickness. In this world, events pass fast. People fall ill, people either get worse or get better, and life goes on. He has ordered the same kind of simple breakfast he would normally order: fried eggs and bacon, with bread and red wine. A modest and humble breakfast, but he liked it. Breakfast fit for a lord was not an option to them just yet, and would not be for a while. Having quietly finished his breakfast - and likely having done so a bit later than Nerida did - he would stand up, and silently ask Nerida to follow him outside of the building, mount his horse and begin the journey to the south, outside of the town. \u0026quot;Today, we shall reach our future estate... Do not get thy hopes up, though. There is a reason a lowly lowborn knight like me could acquire it. It is most likely in tatters or complete ruins, covered by green moss... and likely a bit hot.\u0026quot; he said, noting that they were going southwards - if the Mediterranean weather of Talon was already hot to Nerida, it is not going to get any colder, given how further south is what could be called pseudo-tropical: mediterranean-ish, but with really thick swampy forests that qualify as jungles, inhabited by lizardmen, all kinds of insects and man-eating plants that inhabit no other regions.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T20:29:06.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472927346,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  sat a little easier on the horse today, though she seemed to tolerate the heat rather well. It was a testament to the climates from which she hailed, dry heat and easy summers followed closely by harsh winters and biting frosts. Nerida acknowledged his words with her own. She was no fool, she guessed that the Kingdom had not seen great expansion in its boarders. Truth be told she wouls be grateful if even part of the manor or even the stables were still standing. \u0026quot;Worry not, I don\u0026apos;t so much as expect to sleep with a roof over my head tonight. Trust me, between us we can organise it back to full working capacity but it will take time. Time, money and hard labour. None of this is new to me.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T20:37:51.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472927871,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded to what his fianc\u0026#xE9; said. \u0026quot;Indeed... it is going to take a long time. And likely, it is going to be dangerous as well...\u0026quot; he continued, as the horse began galloping southwards, slowly making Talon disappear from the horizon. And indeed, Nerida was right: the Kingdom of Etrand had stopped expanding centuries ago, except for the very slow, very sluggish and very gradual colonization of the southern swamplands by peasants, which is not relevant at all to the country\u0026apos;s higher-ups: untaxable or barely taxable farmers who carve out an independent existence in the south give nothing to work with for the nobility, unless they want protection. But those peasants are usually not the typical docile farmers who get raided by various tribal peoples, but instead hardy men and women who are geared up for war.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Hopefully, we will arrive before sunset... They say that the south is truly a romantic place during sunset, perfect for feasts on the ground...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T20:42:53.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472928173,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  giggled contrarily, teasing her fiances words. \u0026quot;If you enjoy being eaten alive by blood-sucking insects and having your food stolen by wild animals. I imagine this climate doesn\u0026apos;t allow for much else.\u0026quot; Nerida was many things, but perhaps romantic was not one of them. She only corrected herself and her demeanor when she thought that perhaps with his words Stephanus was making another effort to be sweet to her. \u0026quot;Forgive me, I spoke in jest. I\u0026apos;m sure it will be beautiful, my Lord.\u0026quot; He might have been recently raised to the nobility but nobility he was, and she would afford him all of the respect that came with such a position. That at least was something that their worlds had in common.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T20:47:27.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472928447,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  laughed at her assertions, knowing that she was not very knowledgeable with the south. \u0026quot;I was not speaking of the far south, my love... I was speaking of, well... the near south? Those yellow grassy hills and plains, like the ones near Talon... Those are the romantic sight. I can\u0026apos;t blame Gnarog and Nemezish for settling down there.\u0026quot; he said, mentioning his old friends once again - the ones who supposedly live in Talon, but are constantly absent from it. \u0026quot;It is highly likely, that even once we settle down to our estate, we will be commuting between it and Talon a lot, to buy supplies and such... Until we acquire our workers. Then we will need to gain serfs... Which will be anoter challenge, unless we open our gates to all sorts of questionable elements...\u0026quot; he said. By questionable elements, he meant Dark Elves who may or may not be former criminals willing to rehabilitate themselves in a rural area as farmers. But then again, they did discuss that they will be most likely employing Nerida\u0026apos;s former soldiers as their guards. Still, workers are necessary and... \u0026quot;Ah, the future...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T20:54:59.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472928899,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gave a confused look and tilted her head backwards and up, trying to discern his meaning from his features. She was a little uncertain of where the conversation was headed. \u0026quot;The future? What of it, my Lord?\u0026quot; Several things came to mind when Nerida pictured her future, but since their betrothal Nerida had tried to think of it as little as possible. She would become all that she had sworn not to be. A wife, a Lady of an estate, a mother... she hadn\u0026apos;t previously entertained such ideas and not that her thoughts were turned to them she found it almost overwhelming. She was forced to stop her mind from going any further. Thinking on such issues would do her no good.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T20:59:50.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472929190,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  immediately gave answer to what Nerida asked of him. \u0026quot;Well, like, how will we get farmers who will plough the land and produce our food and taxes?\u0026quot; he laughed. \u0026quot;After all, it\u0026apos;s not just the castle being in tatters, my love... The land is abandoned as well, no one lives there... supposedly. Or at least, so I was told. Us taking the estate will be like colonizing a new piece of land... which, I admit, sounds adventureous...\u0026quot; he said. In other words, they will need to get peasants to \u0026apos;break up the land\u0026apos;, to start producing food. Not just because they will need to feed, but also because wheat is where most taxes come from. They will also need artisans, and so on... \u0026quot;There is a certain group of people who are adamant at settling down far south, but they... They don\u0026apos;t exactly have the best reputation, and I don\u0026apos;t trust them.\u0026quot; he mentioned.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T21:05:28.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472929528,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  thought on the matter at hand a few moments, pursing her lips in the tell-tale sign that meant her thoughts were occupied. \u0026quot;Tempt serfs from other Lords. There must be something there worth cultivating otherwise no estate would exist there in the first place. Fertile lands, large yields of crops. Of course the crown will allot you some serfs to start with so that will work to your advantage. Even if they\u0026apos;re not the best of men to begin with it\u0026apos;s better than beginning entirely empty handed.\u0026quot; Her words were sincere, thought out. \u0026quot;We\u0026apos;ll just have to see what we can offer that other lands can\u0026apos;t and draw people in with such promise.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T21:10:18.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472929818,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  scratched his head a little. \u0026quot;Well... I\u0026apos;m still not entirely sure. Not many would want to give up the safety of their homeland for an entirely new land occupied by some fresh upstart... Unless they are landless and have no hope.\u0026quot; he said. \u0026quot;If no genuine human peasants come to me, I may consider opening the gates to the Dark Elves... But I fear the moment I do it, I will regret it immediately.\u0026quot; he continued. Or, the lizardmen, alternatively.\u003Cbr\u003ETime passes on as the two travel, and it approaches noon, and starts to go from beforenoon to afternoon. Perhaps it may be apropriate to temporarily stop and have a rest, maybe even a drink, before continuing? \u0026quot;I guess we won\u0026apos;t be commuting to the capital city very much after we settle down..\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T21:15:23.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472930123,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked a little saddened to hear this, but still could not pass much comment. It was her lot in life after all, and there was nothing to be done about it. \u0026quot;Unless official business calls you there I can\u0026apos;t see why you would regardless. It would be tedious to spend too long in such a busy city when you\u0026apos;ll have your home in order and your lands productive. Perhaps if we\u0026apos;re truly successful a small town will arise around the estate?\u0026quot; She offered the information helpfully, trying to offer him some hope that she wasn\u0026apos;t completely upset by the idea of living her days out in the middle of nowhere. \u0026quot;We needs must tempt engineers and clergy to the lands as well. I know a few of my men are well versed in engineering though none in agriculture....\u0026quot; A list in her head of the 50 men brought with her began to form, of their strengths and capabilities. \u0026quot;We must bankrupt ourselves of your allowance at first. It will be difficult but it will be worth it to pay builders and practiced field hands.\u0026quot; Living hand to mouth was no issue for them both surely, as Knights and experienced combatants. Nerida had never been afraid of adversity.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T21:22:41.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472930561,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was tempted by what Nerida prophesized, but he had to wake up from such dreams. A town? In the south? The only village that was about to become a town - twice - was razed at that point - twice. He believes that the idea of establishing a town around their estate is completely hopeless. However, once they can make it self-sustaining, they can in fact make a comfortable life around the estate... if they can fight for it.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;None in agriculture... But well-versed in engineering. Can they design buildings that are cheap to build? Can they build them as well? Employing them to rebuild the castle would save us a lot...\u0026quot; he said. \u0026quot;Besides... even when we will not be at war with the orcish raiders who occasionally come to \u0026apos;visit\u0026quot; the south.... Thy men will need an occupation of sorts. If not farmers, then artisans, or blacksmiths. Blacksmiths...\u0026quot; then he started considering it a genius idea. \u0026quot;Perhaps if they knew or learned how to craft weapons and armour, they could maintain their own weaponry, and even earn us a little money... And they could make the lives of farmers easier as well.\u0026quot; Granted, a village needs only one or two blacksmiths, not fifty. \u0026quot;Are thy men as well versed in at archery and horsemanship as well as swordsmanship? In the beginning, we might need to rely on hunting to feed ourselves...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T21:31:07.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472931067,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  turned to Stephanus with a look that spoke of indignity at the very idea her men were not at all capable in horsemanship, archery and armed combat, though she was prevented from showing him the full extent of her fury by being in front of him and on horseback. \u0026quot;Are you suggesting that 50 of my best, hand picked men would not know the most basic skills of knighthood?\u0026quot; she scoffed. \u0026quot;Of course they are well versed. We can fight and hunt as well as any man. There are those who can smith among our number... but I am reluctant to have my men operating beneath me in such a way. I am their commander, not their Lady. And they will think less of me for having sold myself to you as though I were some cheap branded cattle. Having them heed my words now might prove more difficult.\u0026quot; It was fair warning, and she\u0026apos;d be sympathetic to the feelings of her men. They\u0026apos;d been left to rot in cells while she\u0026apos;d been cleaned, dressed and afforded every courtesy. She\u0026apos;d need to remind them that part of her accepting Stephanus proposal was that she might free them as well as herself.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T21:39:52.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472931592,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was surprised that she considered archery a basic skill of knighthood. In his lands, archery is considered dishonourable for knights, and they are forbidden from using ranged weapons - except magic. The opposite of Nerida\u0026apos;s Asuian knights, who seem to be well-versed in archery but distrust magic. \u0026quot;Tell them, that their only way of survival is to adapt... If they come to my estate, they will be allowed to live and work, become citizens, in exchange for converting to my religion and following my orders. They will become my subjects, and those who do not like that will not be welcome...\u0026quot; he reminded Nerida of the ordeal they agreed on. \u0026quot;In exchange, I will do my best to vouch for them and petition for their release.\u0026quot; he said.\u003Cbr\u003EYes, she would need to tell them a lot. \u0026quot;It looketh like we are almost there... I can already see some of the landmarks. A mossy triangle-shaped building to the east... Our estate is to the southwest.\u0026quot; he said. Yes. A huge mossy pyramid. An ancient building once occupied by an ancient civilization, not Etrandish.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T21:46:11.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472931971,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gazed at the moss covered pyramid in wonder, her eyes transfixed on that one sight. It was a structure to her that was entirely alien, but somehow hauntingly beautiful at the same time. She kept her attention on it as long as she could until it faded out of view and she would need to strain to see it. She could see the appeal with the estate already. The heat of the day was fast leaving them and the night would be balmy and comfortable. It would be a difficulty for her, but she would need to adjust to calling this place home after all. She would need to find beauty and respite in the few places that it made itself evident. \u0026quot;I have not forgotten our agreement. And I do not intend to. I will maintain my side of the bargain so long as you maintain yours. I do not sell myself cheaply, Stephanus.\u0026quot; Part of her was beginning to wish he\u0026apos;d hurry. She was beginning to dislike the feeling of tension that had briefly risen between them.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T21:51:26.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472932286,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  remained silent and got the horse to gallop faster towards the estate, already visible on the horizon: from afar, it looks like a big mossy blob, but as they approach closer and closer, it looks more and more functional. Rather than a blob of rubble and debris they were expecting, it is an abandoned castle build out of now-mossy stone. Even the iron gate - with comes with a drabridge made out of rotten wood and a dried-up moat - is as mossy as it gets. All green. Green, green, and more green. \u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Well, here it is, in its full glory... Castle Stattelbarn... or, Castle Greenrock, a name much more apropriate for it at this moment, dost thou not agree?\u0026quot; he remarked. The castle was not very big, but it is said that the smaller the castle, the better it is in combat. Or is it even a castle in the first place? It\u0026apos;s just a single keep so far... A stone keep: an individual building, but no walls or towers. Granted, the keep is big enough for a couple to live in it, a kitchen, an armoury, a working room, a dungeon, and more... and if it is not, then it can be extended.\n\n\u0026quot;Should we try to enter?\u0026quot; he asked.",       "date": "2016-09-03T21:57:48.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472932668,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  let out a small laugh at his remark. The name certainly was more appropriate, but Nerida didn\u0026apos;t mind it one bit. It was in it\u0026apos;s own way beautiful, and there was nothing to be done for the moss which seemed to be holding the castle together in some place. A perfect union of nature and structure. \u0026quot;Yes, lets enter.\u0026quot; she affirmed. \u0026quot;I would want to see it for myself. When we learn where the most work needs to be done we can begin in the employment of masons and craftsmen.\u0026quot; It\u0026apos;s colour was so vivid that Nerida was half in love with the place already. Her mind was already ticking over with what would need to be built and how it would be best to fortify the place. \u0026quot;I still struggle to understand why it was so readily abandoned.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T22:18:53.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472933933,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  walked over to the drawbridge, and used his magic - telekinessis - to force it open, there is no way to open it from the outside without such force. Besides, given how rusty and mossy everything was, it is likely impossible to open with mundane, non-magical means to begin with. The drawbridge was forced down, the chain gates were forced up, and now they could enter. The inside is dark due to the lack of larger windows - the ones that do exist are covered in spider webs anyway - so it is required of Stephanus to light up via magical means: a magical ball of light accompanying them.\u003Cbr\u003EThe insides of the castle consist of mossy stone walls, and ceilings held by fragile-looking rotten wood that looks like it could break any moment; spider webs, dust and mold everywhere, yellowish and brownish looking paper, faded old tapestries, but... as a positive, the architecture looked convincing. The entrance looked like the type of room where there really is nothing, except doors and stairs that lead to every other room in the building... such as the kitchen that contains rusted kitchenware and moldy plates, the small grannary that somehow preserved rotten food that stinks so bad, the small armoury that contains rusted weapons and armour, several bedrooms that seem to have no beds anymore, but rotting and fragile wooden frames of what used to be beds, stairs leading down to what must be the dungeons - arguably with rusty bars and skeleton prisoners - and even more...\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T22:26:20.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472934380,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  was mentally cataloging everything as the passed the rooms, taking note of what was needed and what would need throwing out. Maids and scrubbers would need to be employed before all else, and a heavy gang to clear out the place. She saw the potential behind the mess, however, and thought to herself that the place had once been quite beautiful, but larger windows would be needed to make it livable. It would be hard to rear a family in dark and dank conditions such as these. \u0026quot;The rooms are plentiful, but there is but one keep. It\u0026apos;s small and manageable, but... we\u0026apos;ll need to see to much construction during our time here. If it please you, my Lord, you would be wise to petition the crown for extra coin. I would happily do so myself, on your behalf should you permit me...\u0026quot; In her mind Nerida could almost smell the size of the bonfire that would be needed to rid the place of the dilapidated furniture and furnishings. \u0026quot;I will do my best to make this place habitable for you, my Lord.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T22:37:27.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472935047,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  pat Nerida\u0026apos;s shoulder. \u0026quot;It would indeed make me happy... But I believe the king doth not grant money to any random beggar, even if that beggar is a nobleman. In this country, we take loans if we lack money... We take loans, and we promise to pay them back. But yes, it would please me if thou furnished this keep...\u0026quot; he said to Nerida, once again patting her shoulder. \u0026quot;However, we will need more than just refurnishing... We will also need walls outside to defend against raiders, we will need to refill the moat, among other things...\u0026quot; he mentioned. After all, this keep was built with defense in mind. As in, defense against invaders from the far south - orcs, most likely, but also the mountain tribesmen. \u0026quot;This castle must have had castle walls back in the days... Yet all that remaineth is this keep. We cannot afford to build stone walls outside, but wooden walls will do fine, I believe... even if they do not mix well with the stone keep.\u0026quot;\u003Cbr\u003EBeing a knight meant that he was thinking more of military things than comfort and everyday life. Such is the way of a knight. And such must have been Nerida\u0026apos;s way as well, before her presence in this world...\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T22:43:15.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472935395,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  inclined her head towards him, biting her bottom lip as she tried to pull back more of what she wanted to say. \u0026quot;Tell me what needs to be done and I will see to it. We shall balance the books but I shall not go begging to usurers and conmen. I will petition the crown in person if needs be.\u0026quot; She stalked away from him and walked a little further ahead, her eyes adjusting to the dark so as not to worry too much about slipping from the grasp of Stephanus\u0026apos; magically rendered light. She looked into one of the rooms briefly. More ruined furniture and broken windows. Moldy books on one of the shelves. She much doubted that the last person who owned this land had even so much as visited it, a thought that made her oddly sad. It would be good to see this place revived to full life once again. Until it was livable she assumed they would need to remain in the barracks.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T22:48:01.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472935681,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would inspect the dungeon while Nerida was looking at the other rooms, and he has found little interesting: just skeletons laying around in cells. What crimes must they have commited to be not even given the basic human right of a proper burial and a clean death? Most likely, they were left to rot and die by the last owner of the estate... or the last owner who actually happened to visit the estate, as opposed to the last person who claimed this estate as theirs. The cells looked like complete rubbish compared to those in his order\u0026apos;s headquarters: they were basically carved into the ground. They were essentially artificial mini-caves with prison doors, having no artificial man-made ceiling or floor, but instead just ground, hard dirt, from which a patient prisoner could simply dig himself out, if patient enough...And if the guards are too incompetent to notice. Almost like inside a mine, just with prison doors.\u003Cbr\u003ESo he went back upstairs, to check back on Nerida and she was looking at, if she did not come down to him to begin with. \u0026quot;The dungeons are terrible. What crimes must have those poor souls lying there commited to not even be given a proper burial?\u0026quot; he asked, referring to those skeletons.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T22:55:46.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472936146,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gave him a sad smile and shook her head. \u0026quot;Possibly no worse crime than I committed, being in the wrong place at the wrong time.\u0026quot; She approached him again slowly, taking his hands. \u0026quot;We must see to an honourable burial, or whatever passes for that amongst your people. I won\u0026apos;t have ghosts roaming your estate. A member of the clergy will need to attend when you move in proper regardless, I imagine.\u0026quot; Leaning in Nerida placed a light kiss on his cheek, trying not to feel too much sympathy for the departed that lay in the cells. In the wrong circumstances, that may well have been what would become of her and her men. \u0026quot;Is there anything else you wish to see, my Lord? Or should we be on our way?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T23:07:32.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472936852,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  gave Nerida a light hug after she kissed his cheek, and pat her bac kbefore letting her go again. \u0026quot;Indeed, we will have them burried at a proper place. I believe we have nothing to see here until we return once again. We should head back to the place of my order.... Or rest. After all, the journey back to Talon is going to take us half a day once again, and we would arrive by tomorrow morning. And then the journey to Grandfolk would take us yet another day. Are we willing to take such a journey in one piece?\u0026quot; he asked. He had only a small amount of food and water with him, and not much of campaign supplies other than materials that could be converted into a primitive tent. And even then, it is not safe to sleep in the open... especially in the south. Never in the south.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T23:10:44.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472937044,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  thought on his words briefly before she responded. \u0026quot;I will bow to your superior knowledge. You know these lands far better than I after all. If you think we should stay then stay we shall. If you think we should leave then that is what will happen.\u0026quot; Nerida expressed no particular preference either way. Had she had a sword on her she would have been more confident in her decision making, but as things were it was Stephanus she relied on for protection.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T23:13:42.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472937222,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had to scratch his head a little. \u0026quot;I have no superior knowledge, my love... I myself am as clueless as thou art. If we ride, we will not get any sleep, and we will possibly get ambushed by brigades... But if we stay, who knows what will pass here.... And art thou willing to sleep in such a... ruined keep?\u0026quot; he asked of her. \u0026quot;Well... I guess we have no choice. I will pitch our tent right here, in the keep. I will close the gate, so no one will even know we are here.\u0026quot; he said, going briefly outside to bring his horse and tie him near the wall, taking off the limited amount of campaign supplies from the horse\u0026apos;s back to pitch his makeshift tent, which is rather small, has two thin mattresses that are not comfortable at all, but still better than nothing. And then he forces the gate and the drawbridge to close, in an effort to make sure that no one who even passes around knows that someone is here.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T23:18:33.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472937513,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori   busied herself in clearing a spot on the blackened floor where both of them might rest. Starting a fire was easy, the wood indoors had been kept dry and would only need to be scrapped anyway, so in one of the previously grand fireplaces Nerida lit a fire from the pages of books and the wood from a chair she\u0026apos;d kicked into pieces and stacked. The smell it gave off was almost unpleasant, and Nerida didn\u0026apos;t much trust the chimney not to drop soot all over them both, but there was little other choice to be had. From the kitchens she found two wooden bowls in a passable condition, and a well outside still fed by fresh spring water. When Stephanus returned he would at least have a fire, plates and boiling water awaiting him. There was no food of which to speak of, however, much to her despair.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T23:24:22.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472937862,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had decided to take his leather flask full of wine and give it to Nerida, as well as his small haversack that contained a relatively small but full piece of bread that is for both of them, together with salted pork bacon - very salty - and a hardened pork sausage. He did in fact have some food with him, which he was now giving to Nerida - or at very least, sharing with her - along with the wine. \u0026quot;Well, at least we are not going to sleep or start tomorrow\u0026apos;s journey with empty stomachs...\u0026quot; he said. \u0026quot;We might have to camp again in the future when we start restoring the estate... But, by that time, we will have supplies, and we will have men guarding us.\u0026quot; he said. He waited for Nerida to react to the food before taking any of it himself. He also took out his dagger and handed it over to Nerida, if she wants to cut some of the food to pieces before eating it the way it is, or boiling it in water, or just putting it to the fire to fry it...\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T23:28:40.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472938120,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  ate little of the food raw and without complaint, leaving the lions share for Stephanus in order to shore up his energy. He would need it more that she did, sitting on horseback was no great task after all. For long moments there was nothing between them other than the crackling of the fire, Nerida falling silent as she drank and ate, passing Stephanus some water in the bowl she\u0026apos;d found. \u0026quot;It\u0026apos;s cool, and clean\u0026quot; she reassured him. \u0026quot;There were no insects around the well and I heard the water beneath it flowing strong. Irrigating the land here will be an easy task when we find the source of the spring.\u0026quot; It was small talk, but in all truth Nerida knew not what else to say. What little Stephanus knew about her seemed to content him, and perhaps it was for the best. He had never questioned her for details on her life, or quizzed her about her former life in Asui. She took his disinterest slightly to hard, but said nothing of it.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T23:39:21.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472938761,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  ate a little of the bread and the bacon, and drank from the water, thanking Nerida afterwards. \u0026quot;Then it looketh like we may have our first task once we return to this land once again...\u0026quot; he said. Nerida is very smart, and he values that, even if he does not speak about it and does not vocalize this fact. She has experience with governing, and she also seems to know more about agriculture than he does. This land must be fertile, and he may not have such trouble attracting peasants after all. So he takes one more bite off the bacon. \u0026quot;Thou must eat as well, my love...\u0026quot; he said, passing the sausage to Nerida, along with the bread. He cares about her well-being, and even if he seems to be disinterested in her former life, he makes it known that he cares about her well-being.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T23:44:05.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472939045,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  smiled and refused his kind offer, breaking off only a little of the bread to eat as a token gesture of accepting his kindness. It was good of him to do so, and that fact was not lost on Nerida. \u0026quot;I have eaten well enough. I\u0026apos;m quite well, my Lord.\u0026quot; The girl stared at the fire, he mind working hard to process what would need to be done. She knew that the sooner they returned to her men the better; they had much to discuss between them after all, but most of all Nerida thought to the conversion to Stephanus religion that awaited her upon their return to his barracks. She gulped hard, almost choking on the water she\u0026apos;d taken a sip of. Perhaps in some twisted way and for some unknown reason her Gods had abandoned her and left her to this fate. Perhaps she had slighted them in some way. She must accept this and live regardless.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T23:52:04.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472939524,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled back at Nerida, taking just one more bite off the bacon and the bread before taking the meat back to where it belongs - but not before putting a bit of extra salt on it, to preserve it - then kissing Nerida\u0026apos;s cheek and patting her shoulder. \u0026quot;When we restore the armoury, I will have thy old armour and weapons brought here as well, restored to their old glory... In fact, a new set of armour with a horse might be an apropriate wedding.jpgt, wouldn\u0026apos;t it be?\u0026quot; he asked, temporarily disregarding the financial difficulties they may have to face in the future when restoring the castle. Even so, he might just reduce this to a promise that he will fufill once they have enough money. \u0026quot;After all, I will need every men I can get to defend this estate from men of the further south and orcs...\u0026quot; he was half-joking half-serious and laughed, but still... the prospect of being able to fight again must excite Nerida. \u0026quot;Where will thou wish to set up the working office? After all, we will need a dedicated room to handle the nasty paperwork, set aside from the bedroom...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T23:58:35.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472939915,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  shook her head at the very notion of paperwork anywhere near the bedrooms, the thought causing her cheeks to blush. \u0026quot;No, nowhere near, not even an adjoining room. It isn\u0026apos;t... it isn\u0026apos;t proper...\u0026quot; she thought on the subject quickly and decided. \u0026quot;There was a room on the ground floor, it looked like it was a library once and full of books at that. We shall place it there. When there\u0026apos;s enough money we needs must hire a steward to keep accounts...\u0026quot; Pleased at how she\u0026apos;d moved the subject on Nerida\u0026apos;s posture finally eased, and her blushes began to subside. Nerida knew nothing of pleasing men, nothing at all, but she did know that business and pleasure should never be mixed and men needed distracting from their work in their chambers, not reminding of it.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T00:04:20.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472853860,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled nad kissed Nerida on the cheek for a third time today. \u0026quot;Well then, it is decided... shall we head to sleep?\u0026quot; he asked, having already prepared their thin and not-at-all-comfortable mattresses on the floor some time ago - in fact, they were most likely already sitting on them. If she did in fact agree to sleep, he would kiss her lips softly being laying down with all his chainmail armour - which will no doubt make his sleep uncomfortable, but safe. In this time changing clothes before sleep is a luxury they cannot afford. Not that they are not already safe to begin with, but it is better to be extra-safe.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T00:08:33.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472854113,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  returned his kiss before they went to sleep, Nerida now no longer shy of sharing such close proximity with her husband to be. She turned towards him as she closed her eyes and drifted off, keen to see him and take comfort in his presence before she closed her eyes. Nerida was never one to rely on anyone other than herself for whatever she needed, but seeing him there in his armour, young and strong, did make her feel all the safer in his presence. An expert fighter herself, she never need worry with Stephanus around. She thought at least that he was fond of her, cared for her, and would even protect her if needs be. The former Knight just hoped that it never came to pass. These were the last thoughts that came to her mind before she drifted off into sleep.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T00:19:34.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472854774,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  woke up the next morning, and after having packed everything, he and Nerida would travel back to Talon to sleep there, before once again making their way to the city of Grandfolk, from where they would make the two-hour ride to the fortress that served as the headquarters of the Knights of the Blood Red Light. All that travel must have made the couple weary, but at least the time came for Stephanus to anounce his marriage, and to convince the grand master of what would happen. So before letting Nerida go and talk to her own men, he took her with himself to the building with multiple floors on it, the ground floor serving as a sort of one-classroom school for underage would-be-knights, and the upper floors serving as libraries and offices for those in upper positons: including the grandmaster himself.\u003Cbr\u003EHe would walk up to the grandmaster\u0026apos;s office and would be greeted by him.\n\n\u0026quot;Good morning, Sir Stephanus... I trust that thou art keeping a good eye on the prisoner.\u0026quot; said the grandmater, to which Stephanus would say. \u0026quot;Master... I have come to an agreement with the prisoner who is standing right next to me. She is to convert to our faith, and I am to take her as my wife. I also wish to...\u0026quot;\nThe grandmaster\u0026apos;s eyes opened very wide. While he would not refuse him the right to do as he pleased, he was still vastly surprised by the decision. So he let out a laughter. \u0026quot;Having grown quite fond of her, have we not?\u0026quot; the grandmaster laughed, then got serious again. \u0026quot;Very wel, what of thy other wish?\u0026quot; asked the grandmaster.\n\u0026quot;I wish to have her equipment and her men transported to my estate, granting them citizenship with the condition that they convert to our faith as well. I will be responsible for them.\u0026quot; he said. Then the grandmaster put one of his fingers near his lips, and strokes his own beard with his hand.\n\u0026quot;Well-well... it is not that I oppose thy ideas, however... All of this, including thy marriage to her will require more than just a golden ring. Paperwork. Art thou patient enough to wait for all the paperwork to be done to certify thy marriage to her, to certify her citizenship after her conversion, and to identify her men?\u0026quot; asked the grandmaster.",       "date": "2016-09-03T00:28:25.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472855305,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had inclined her head to the Grandmaster in greeting, and taken to her knees as Stephanus and the man spoke. It must be an odd arrangement to hear tell of, and Nerida could well understand the look of surprise in the Grandmasters eyes. Thinking it wise, Nerida finally spoke up in answer to the mans questions towards her husband to be. \u0026quot;Forgive my impudence, Grandmaster, but I feel I must interject. Sir Stephanus has not only shown me the error of my heathen ways, but also shown me great kindness and consideration. I have a deep and abiding affection for him, one that will serve me well no doubt as I assist him through the paperwork that is to come. I am not useless, Grandmaster, and educated in many facets of administration. I will do all I can to assist him.\u0026quot; Throughout her words Nerida kept to her knees, her eyes cast down towards the ground. Stephanus would never have seen her so deferential and demure. In those brief moments she truly was a picture of piety and virtue.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T00:39:47.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472855987,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled at Nerida and pat her head after she spoke, while the Grandmaster scratched his own head.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Very well... I allow it to happen. Tomorrow, she is to come to our chapel and be baptized by our priest. Until the ring is put onto her finger, she will learn what it meaneth to be a worshipper of Titanius... Then I will consent to the marriage between you two.\u0026quot; the grandmaster responded. \u0026quot;As for her men... I will allow thee to take those who convert, but as thou thyself said, thou will be responsible for their behaviour. Should they wreak havoc, it will be thee who will have to pay for the damages they do, and it will be thee who will be burdened with the duty of punishing them and forcing them not to break the laws ever again... provided that they commit crimes that are too petty to warrant the capital punishment.\u0026quot; the grandmaster continued.\n\n\u0026quot;Thank thee, master. I bow to thy wisdom.\u0026quot; the knight said and bowed down to the grandmaster, who did not tower over him - the grandmaster was sitting at his table, handling paperwork. But how can he even handle that quill with his armour on? The mysteries of life.\n\u0026quot;I would like to remind them however, and I would like thee to remind them as well, that apostates are punished harshly. Should their conversions be little more than sham and fake... The same fate awaitheth them as anyone who abandoneth the one true god.\u0026quot; - reminded him the grandmaster.\n\u0026quot;Off course, my lord. I will personally make sure that they will take their faith seriously and become pious children of the mother church. May Titanius punish me with eternal flames if I fail to do that.\u0026quot; Stephanus responded.",       "date": "2016-09-03T00:48:37.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472856517,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  hadn\u0026apos;t realised the true extent of the burden which Stephanus had taken upon himself up until this point. To know that he was willing to take on the fates and lives of all of her men personally... she could have kissed his feet there and then. Nerida had to fight to keep her composure and not expose herself to ridicule by being seen to be moved. \u0026quot;My conversion in sincere, Grandmaster. I wish to live under the tenets of Titanius and to bring honour and renown to my husband-to-be.\u0026quot; The girl only briefly glanced at him, raising her eyes swiftly and then soon lowering them again. \u0026quot;My men are good, solid men and as reasonable as I. I can assure you they will bring no trouble. I will accept their lashes myself if I am wrong.\u0026quot; She hoped that she was serving in Stephanus interests. How could she be sure?\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T00:59:47.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472857187,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  remained still, while the grandmaster clapped his hands slightly. \u0026quot;I need no more reassurance, my child, thou hast already told me that thou art sincere. I will authorize the conversions, the marriage and the freeings, everything in order. The two of you can go now. I will have a messenger send reports on the progress of the paperwork. Thou however...\u0026quot; and he pointed to Nerida. \u0026quot;Thou will need to report in the chapel tomorrow, where thou will be baptized. Go speak to thy men, as they will have to go through the same ordeal.\u0026quot; the grandmaster said. Then he looked at Stephanus.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;I will have a special offer regarding thee and thy estate, an offer of something in exchange for something, if thou may... I will notify thee about it tomorrow as well. Thou can go with thy wife-to-be now.\u0026quot; said the grandmaster. Stephanus reacted with a silent bow, then took Nerida\u0026apos;s hand and began leaving the building.\n\n\u0026quot;Well, we are done with our duties for today... Apparnetly, thy men are in that stockade of sort. Should I accompany thee, or just head back to the barracks? Thou will need to speak to them today, my love...\u0026quot;",       "date": "2016-09-03T01:05:11.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472857511,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  took to her feet once again and followed him out, her hands shaking in his as they walked. \u0026quot;I will see them alone, my love. I have a favour to ask of you however, something small. Will you furnish me a dagger before I go? I know not if I\u0026apos;ll need it...\u0026quot; Stephanus may have thought she meant to protect herself from her angry men, but it was not so. She knew full well that some of them would not accept the offer, and literally rather perish. She wished to give them the option to at least die honourably, as nobility did, by their own hand. \u0026quot;Tell me.. what will become of those whom I cannot convince?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T01:11:40.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472857900,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  took his own dagger and handed it over to her. \u0026quot;Thou can borrow my dagger.\u0026quot; then listened to her other question. \u0026quot;The ones who refuse to convert will be staying here, working as servants. Heathens cannot be let free, but any prisoner of war who accepteth the true faith must be released, and any slave who accepeth the true faith must be freed.\u0026quot; he said. \u0026quot;I did my best to vouch for them, but even that has conditions. I am sorry in advance about those who refuse to see the light.\u0026quot; he answered.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T01:14:46.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472858086,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  took the dagger with a curt nod, her lips turned down in sorrow and displeasure. It disappeared into the folds of her bodice where she pushed it between her breasts, and then with a brief kiss to his cheek she was gone. She stalked to the stockade at first with meek, uncertain steps, steps which grew more confident as she neared the place where they were held. They still needed to see her as a warrior, a leader of intelligence and deep strength. Weakness would not be permitted, and by the time Nerida was permitted to speak to her men she had regained her previous composure and the fire in her eyes. Her change was chameleonic in nature, and for Nerida it was no more difficult than replacing one mask with another. As she entered the room, all of her men stood and it was a sight that pleased her. They would still listen, she was still be respected by them.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T01:22:48.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472858568,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  stood still for a few moments near the wall, but then decided to walk closer to the stockade, so that he could at least make out small bits of what was going on between Nerida and her men. He knew that it would be hard for her to talk her men into making a choice between abandoning their gods, servitude or suicide, but what has to be done has to be done. He knows full well that her men might not view her with the same respect as they did, and that her getting married and bearing children might make them disillusioned with her, or worse, outright despise her... But he trusted that they still had loyalty towards her, and would follow her commands. He was also not sure if they would accept him as their new liege lord, but he hoped that they had the honour that Nerida promised. If they really were men of honour, then their words are meant to be golden.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T01:27:04.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472858824,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  parted her lips to speak without hesitation, showing more courage and confidence than in that moment she\u0026apos;d any right to feel. Nerida had opted to by honest with them at least, she owed them that much. They needed to know their leader was no coward who turned from the truth. \u0026quot;At ease, men.\u0026quot; she bid them. \u0026quot;I fear I must explain the dress... and my absence. Prepare your ears men, what I say will not be an easy thing to hear.\u0026quot; At those words Nerida began to explain the events of the previous days. The capital, what she\u0026apos;d seen, what little she knew and of course her betrothal. \u0026quot;We have all been offered citizenship here, and with the portal now closed if we ever wish to taste freedom again we must seize this chance. You lucky 50 will not be required to marry a Lord in order to do so either. You will be free men on the condition you accept my betrothal... and accept this strange, new faith.\u0026quot; Murmers of disbelief ran through the gathered men, but still she was able to quiet them with a word. \u0026quot;Silence! No one gave you leave to speak! Now you may refuse this offer and live in servitude the rest of your lives, or accept it and live yet able to hone your martial skills whilst following a trade, or whatever you wish to take up. For those of you who wish for neither I offer a more honourable alternative...\u0026quot; At this Nerida removed the dagger from the bindings around her breasts and held it before them. \u0026quot;If my life and my need to continue living it were not what was needed in order to ensure you all your freedom I would have driven it into my own breast by now. But for you to be free I must sell myself. I beg you, all of you, to heed my sacrifice and live. It is the only thing your Commander asks of you. I do not fear death. But I fear losing good men like yourselves to the Abyss. Let us not be parted. Convert, and live. You commander wants you to live.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T01:43:04.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472859784,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  continued to wait for any possible interesting things to hear, but so far, he only heard Nerida speak. He was expecting her men to be divided, and had no idea whether they would lean towards converting with her, servitude or suicide. Given how Nerida first reacted to his religion, and how she first reacted before he enlightened her about Etrandish marriage traditions, he expected her men to lean towards suicide. But, given their loyalties, it is likely that every one of them would take up her offer. He dared not to interfere and make his presence known, as that would have likely sabotagted the entire mission. Instead, he would just wait, wait, and wait, until he eventually got bored and began walking back to the barracks, where he would wait for Nerida... unless Nerida finished fast enough to catch Stephanus en route to the barracks. He honestly was curious about the results of this... speech of hers, and hoped that she would be able to save all of them, but at the same time he also conceded that had he been in their boots, he would have chosen suicide. Rather an honourable death than a life of servitude and heathenry - such was the view his people held, which made him a little bit of a hypocrite, expecting Nerida and her men to convert.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T01:50:36.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472860236,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  returned to him half an hour later, making her way to his chambers with blood covering her dress and tears in her eyes. It was a heavy greeting with drawn features that she gave him, an incline of her head and nothing more before she moved away from the doorframe. Clearly she had lost men, but who and how many would need coaxing from her. She held the dagger in her still trembling hand. Before him was a girl of 19 years, and not the commander he had seen standing before her men not 30 minute prior.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T02:00:50.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472860850,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  looked at the tearful Nerida and immediately rushed to her to take away the dagger and hug her as tight as possible, saying no words for the moment. Only several moments later, would he speak to Nerida once again. \u0026quot;What happened, my love? How many of thy men have decided to do the unthinkable?\u0026quot; he asked, although it was ambigious what exactly was he referring to when he said \u0026apos;the unthinkable\u0026apos; - was he referring to conversions, or was he referring to suicides? He actually meant the latter, but he could be easily misunderstood to mean the earlier. \u0026quot;It is alright, my love... thou did the best thou could.\u0026quot; he said to her while attempting to comfort her by rubbing her head slightly.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T02:03:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472861034,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  \u0026apos;s shoulders shook, her breath shaking before she could speak. \u0026quot;Three... three good men who loved me with all their hearts... loved our Gods more... One asked me to push the knife in myself and I held them all as they died...\u0026quot; She fell into his arms as though it were the easiest thing in the world. In that moment, it was all that she needed. She had lost and would mourn her men deeply for the longest time. \u0026quot;Gaddes, Thenn, Rossley... I recruited them myself. I am not.. I cannot... I should have been able to convince them, it wasn\u0026apos;t enough...\u0026quot; she was almost given over to weeping, but did her best to keep strong. \u0026quot;Forgive me, my Lord. I am tired and not myself.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T02:14:10.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472861650,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  continues holding Nerida and rubbing her back, trying to be understanding with her. His life was not without sorrows as well. He never knew his parents - neither of them - and he lost his master four years ago. And even then, he had to witness men who were on his side die. To him, it was a lamentable loss of life that needs to be avoided... but he has also grown to accept death as a fact of life, risk as part of the job, and partially lose his ability to cry. In this world, men are in fact allowed to cry just like women... They say that a strong man has nothing to hide, not even his feelings. But they also say that a heart of stone is necessary to bear the lunacy of war.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;It is alright, my love... Thou needest rest...\u0026quot; he said, slowly taking Nerida to the bed, putting her down onto the bed, then partially undressing himself and laying next to her. \u0026quot;Thou did the best thou could, my love. They had the freedom to choose, and we should respect their choices, even if we do not agree with them. Thy Gods are most likely busy rewarding them for their undying loyalty.\u0026quot; he tried to calm Nerida down even further.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T02:20:24.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472862024,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  \u0026apos;s hands trembled as she undressed herself, shedding the bloodstained silk and letting it slip to the floor. Half naked she stood before Stephanus wash bowl and cleaned herself of the blood that stained her skin, still trying to remain stoic and strong. Death was no stranger to Nerida but her men, she would rather have plunged the dagger into her heart. It was no consolation to her now however. After long she let him lead her to the bed and fell into it next to him, no longer caring for her nakedness and half mad with distress. \u0026quot;The rest will come with us, want to work for your estate for me. I receive more than I can ever repay from them. I have no right to call myself the commander of such good men. I tried to save them. I did.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T02:27:15.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472862435,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  rubbed Nerida\u0026apos;s face a little, before pecking a kiss onto her forehead. \u0026quot;The rest will be joining thee in the chapel tomorrow then, my love... \u0026quot; he said to her. \u0026quot;We should sleep now... a good night\u0026apos;s sleep is the best remedy for sorrow.\u0026quot; he told her the good lesson, closing his eyes. There is a double standard in military in order. Soldiers are encouraged to, often expected to, sometimes even required to view thier commander as a father figure... or mother figure, depending on said commander\u0026apos;s gender. On the other hand, the reverse, viewing one\u0026apos;s subordinates as sons and daughters and treating them as such is discouraged. It is considered proper for soldiers to honour their general, mourn his or her passing and even vow to avange his or her death... but for a general to shed tears for individual soldiers and break down over them is viewed as a clear sign of poor leadership skills. In this world, however, being prepared for stoicism, being prepared to deal with death and being condition to be stoic is not restricted to commanders - even ordinary footsoldiers receive a bit of training in the art of remaining stoic when one\u0026apos;s friends die left and right.\u003Cbr\u003EPerhaps Asui is different in this respect. Perhaps in Asui, soldiers are encouraged to form bonds with each other for the sake of smoother co-operation, despite the detrimental effect of intensifying the damage casualties do to morale, and the sanity of leaders and individual soldiers alike. But perhaps both of them are wrong about it, and a golden middle-ground should be sought after, a healthy balance between bonds and stoicism.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T02:35:55.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472862955,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  could not close her eyes and could not sleep that night. She thought too long and too hard over the men she had lost. Their lives gone forever, their families bereaved even though they would never know it. It was too much, the guilt too heavy and her own experience too lacking. Nerida lay very still so as not to disturb Stephanus peace, having greatly appreciated the comfort he tried to show her before. When the sun broke through the windows of his chambers Nerida had still not rested, and it showed in everything about her. Her demeanor, her paled featured. She no longer even stood and held herself in the way she did the day before. She was sure of only one thing, that she would never wear the dress she had been given again. It was too heavy with the blood of her own men.\n",       "date": "2016-09-03T02:45:02.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472863502,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  seemed like a typical man, being able to sleep even in such a situation. Honourable he may be, those were not his men, he did not know any of them, so he had no reason to lose sleep because of them. They chose a warrior\u0026apos;s death over conversion, and that is a decision he is obliged to respect - at least, so he views. However, he was sure of one thing - today is the day it would all begin. The day Nerida formally agrees to what has been laid down for her - conversion today, marriage one or two weeks later, motherhood a year or so later. He would wake up the next morning, taking on his armour and waiting for Nerida to take her clothes up. He does not know yet that she is determined not to wear it again, but should he know it, he would not be happy, for he paid a lot for that piece of clothing that only needs washing.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T20:09:11.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473012551,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had been up since the break of dawn, sitting silently in Stephanus room and drinking a little water every now and then, but nothing more. She couldn\u0026apos;t stomach the thought of food, and her sleep had been insufficient to say the least. Between bouts of tears and dark moments when she contemplated fleeing, taking her own life even, Nerida had not managed much more than having closed her eyes for a while. And now she must try to function, on no sleep and less food, at her best. She needed to attend the chapel with her men, begin the process of her conversion and start to walk down this heathen path with her own men\u0026apos;s blood on her hands. Though it was not cold Nerida had already lit a fire. The dress she\u0026apos;d had purchased for her was the kindling.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T20:25:46.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473013546,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would get dressed and armoured and look at Nerida. \u0026quot;My love... thou must dress up.\u0026quot; he said to her, waiting for her reaction. One thing is for certain, he would likely not take no for an answer. After all, she cannot attend the chapel naked, and the garb she used to wear before he bought the clothes for her... that garb is unsuitable, people would raise their eyebrows after seeing her in her more expensive dress, and is it even here to begin with? Should she obey and dress up, he would take her hand and begin leading her to the chapel, making sure to accompany the sleepless former knightess carefully. But should she make remarks about how she will never take those clothes on ever again... he would have to remind her about its price.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T20:29:42.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473013782,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  shook her head, hugging her knees and resting her head on them. \u0026quot;I\u0026apos;m not... I can\u0026apos;t. I won\u0026apos;t wear that dress every again, my Lord.\u0026quot; she seemed resolute in her defiance. It might have been her imagination, it more than likely was, but she could still smell the blood, still see it staining her hands. And it had certainly stained her clothes. \u0026quot;I will wear anything you bid me but I will never again wear that dress.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T20:46:00.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473014760,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  glared at Nerida in response. \u0026quot;Thou must wear it. Dost thou not remember how much I paid for it? Thou must wear it.\u0026quot; he spelled it out for her. Even his patience has its limits. But if she must insist never wearing those clothes... \u0026quot;If thou refusest to wear that dress, then I will not buy any clothes for thee for at least a year. Clothes are simple garments, but they are not free.\u0026quot; he made his threat. He felt like an adult trying to educate a child. \u0026quot;If those clothes are too heavily ridden with bad memories, than thou will have to wear that garb for at least a year. Or be naked, which... would be problematic.\u0026quot; He was no-nonsense. He wasn\u0026apos;t even sure if that garb he mentioned was even available in this room to begin with.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T20:51:03.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473015063,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  took to her feet in her anger and despair and shoved him, albeit weakly away from her. \u0026quot;As you wish then, \u0026quot;husband!\u0026quot;\u0026quot; she retorted with fire and anger in her voice. \u0026quot;I will wear yesterdays dress over and again, I will wear the blood of my men to your chapel with pride and hold them like a badge of honour in the face of your heathen Gods! And if you so much as attempt to wash the stains away or have it laundered for me I will stain every single piece of clothing you own in blood of my own!\u0026quot; Fraught, distraught and exhausted, Nerida had reverted to her most base and confrontational self. It was improper of her, she knew, to yell at and shove a man who had shown her such kindness, but he was doing her no such kindness now.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T20:55:18.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473015318,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  frowned. \u0026quot;Thou art not helping me at all now. I paid a large sum of money for those clothes. Thou art being childish for throwing it away. I expected thee to be more mature, much more mature...\u0026quot; he sighed, then opened the wardrobe, to find some of his own spare clothes. Men\u0026apos;s clothing. That\u0026apos;s literally the only alternative to the clothes he brought for her. \u0026quot;Take those then. Thou will be wearing them for at least a year, until thou will learn that clothes cost expensive gold, gold that I will not be able to spare for a long time...\u0026quot; he made it clear for it. \u0026quot;I thought thou were more mature than this...\u0026quot; he repeated once again.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T21:01:59.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473015719,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  took the clothes, still unhinged in her response and tired from the previous days. \u0026quot;I would gladly rather wear these for a year than give you the satisfaction of following your orders!\u0026quot; Without another word she dressed in them, the fit loose and far too baggy on her to be proper. She could never be mistaken as male, even now with her long hair and beautiful features she looked every bit a woman. If the shirt slipped from her shoulder just an inch more to expose the bindings around her breasts then the entire town would find out just how much of a woman she was. \u0026quot;There, are you now content? See how pretty your heathen wife looks in your own clothes?! I hope we have many happy years together, husband!\u0026quot; And with that she stormed out the door.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T21:07:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473016063,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  sighed and just remained silent, refusing to answer her. \u0026quot;What must have gotten into her?\u0026quot; he asked himself only after she stormed out, not realizing that she was gone at that point. Suddenly realizing it, he also exited the building and began running after her. He must catch her, before she does anything stupid. And that, he is determined to do so, hurrying up to get her hand.... if he could. And if he could not, he would simply see to it, that she goes to the stockad to get her men to come to the chapel. But should he manage to get her hand, he would force her to come with him to the chapel.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T21:11:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473016289,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  felt Stephanus try to take her hand and attempted to pull it away from him just as quickly. She was unsuccessful, Stephanus\u0026apos; grip strong and firm as he pulled her towards the chapel. She had no choice but to follow, even if she let her protests be known. \u0026quot;Let go of me! Release me this instant!\u0026quot; If Stephanus had ever doubted her nobility and the Royalty in her blood, now would be the time he saw it for himself. She was not used to quibbling over the price of a dress, and less used to being ordered about and instructed in any manner such as this.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T21:18:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473016723,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  cared little for then oble origins of someone. He would force her to follow him, one way or another, regardless of her protests. Just like on day one, she will come with him to the chapel, whether she likes it or not, as he can be quite forceful. What must be done must be done. If she does not learn now how to co-operate, she will never learn it Yet she seemed so docile a few days ago. \u0026quot;Thou better behave properly this instant... The chapel is a holy place, not for such vulgarities...\u0026quot; he glared at her will forcibly taking her to the chapel. She was so lovely a few days ago, and now... What must have changed? How can he make her grow up?\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T21:22:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473016963,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  followed him through force, dragged to the chapel like some impudent toddler. In that moment she hated him, she\u0026apos;d never felt a hate like it in fact. Even as he pulled her through the doors she continued to protest. \u0026quot;Who do you think you are? My Father? I had no notion I had a third parent!\u0026quot; From the weakened, vulnerable girl who\u0026apos;d come to his door the night before to this angry and fierce creature he now had with him, much had changed. In her grief Nerida was unsure that she might ever again calm her anger.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T21:27:40.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473017260,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was still entirely clueless what got into his would-be wife, but he would see to it that she would do her part... of he would be forced to renounce her and disavow her. Her only chance of going down the path she was already walking on was to convert and accept what she had coming due. If she pulled her antics in the chapel, she would get thrown out, her would-be husband would be forced to break off the betrodal, her men would continue to live in servitude, and all the plans they made would go down the drain. Granted, she must have been too angry to even think about those, but Stephanus sure knew about those facts. He also knew that if that nightmare turned into reality, he would become the laughing stock of the order for at least a year. Even the thought was humiliating.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Behave properly, or else there will be dire consequences...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T21:30:57.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473017457,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  seethed at him in hushed tones. \u0026quot;Oh please, enlighten me. What consequences would those be? Am I to be hung? Thrown back into slavery, perhaps? What horrors do you think you can frighten me with that I did not see last night?\u0026quot; She kept her voice quiet, at least aware that her words would echo around the chapel if heard. \u0026quot;Nothing you can say to me or threaten me with can hurt me now? Three of my men are dead and I must live with that knowledge the rest of my life! If only I had been so brave as to follow them!\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T21:36:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473017789,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  dared not to respond. He genuinely had feelings for Nerida, but part of him wanted to remind her that he was doing her a big favor by marrying her and letting her live at his estate, and that her death would be of little consequence to him - his life would go on, and despite his current feelings for her, he would likely forget about her within a year or two. That is what he was tempted to tell her - even if it was not so and his feelins for her were genuine - but he chose to remain silent. Silence was his choice of words at this moment, as he would keep pulling her towards the altar, where the priest would await. The same priest who held the sermon on day one.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Come my child, thou art about to see the light...\u0026quot; the priest said, while Stephanus remained silent.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T21:40:08.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473018008,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  glared at Stephanus, the look of a woman about to step into combat rather than the sacred space of a holy church. She took his silence as a form of betrayal, as all women were wont to do at moments such as this. He didn\u0026apos;t care enough to comment, and evidently considered that his words were unimportant. Instead she turned to the Priest, doing her best to compose herself silently even if she couldn\u0026apos;t quite erase the anger from her face. \u0026quot;I am ready, Father. I will do as you require of me.\u0026quot; It was a simple statement, a fact more than an affirmation of her faith, but its meaning was vague. She was no more ready or willing to convert than the men who had died on her the previous night had been, but the difference between them and herself was that she needed to live. 47 other lives yet depended on her doing so.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T21:45:12.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473018312,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  remained still, standing at a distance from Nerida, assuming the role of the witness, while the priest took his hand onto Nerida\u0026apos;s forehead.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Good. Thou must understand that accepting the light of Titanius is no easy task. Titanius demandeth and rewardeth. Thou must obey the rules he hath laid down for us mortals to abide by, and thou must assume the path he hath laid down for thee to walk. The faithful shall be rewarded.\u0026quot; the priest said out loud.\n\n\u0026quot;Now, I want thee to repeat these sentences after me...\u0026quot; said the priest. \u0026quot;I, Nerida of Talori, swear by all my heart to respect the name of Titanius, to never curse his name and never to blaspheme.\u0026quot;\n\u0026quot;I, Nerida of Talori, swear by all my heart not to live a selfish life, and to serve the community of Titanius with all my heart.\u0026quot;\n\u0026quot;I, Nerida of Talori, swear by all my heart that order will be the most important part of my life, and I shall never give in to the temptations of chaos.\u0026quot;\n\u0026quot;I, Nerida of Talori, swear by all my heart, that should order be broken, I will do all I can to restore it.\u0026quot;\n\u0026quot;I, Nerida of Talori, swear by all my heart, that I will respect everyone who is devoted to the Path of Light.\u0026quot;\n\u0026quot;I, Nerida of Talori, swear by all my heart to try my best to convince people to start following the Path of Light.\u0026quot;\n\u0026quot;I, Nerida of Talori, swear by all my heart, that should anyone turn to Darkness, I will use all my strength to punish him or her for such a blasphemous act.\u0026quot;\n\u0026quot;I, Neridao f Talori, swear by all my heart that I will use all my strength to destroy the creatures of chaos and darkness, should they threaten those who walk the Path of Light.\u0026quot;\nThe priest fed these sentences into Nerida\u0026apos;s mouth, forcing her to repeat them after him. And this is just the beginning.",       "date": "2016-09-04T21:53:08.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473018788,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  listened to the Priest\u0026apos;s words and bit into her cheek so hard to keep herself from rebelling that she physically drew blood and tasted it on her own tongue. By the time the Priest had her repeating the words, the heathen oath that felt strange on her lips, she had needed to force herself to stop thinking. She was too tired, too angry. It would be better for her to accept this and do as she was bid.\u003Cbr\u003E\n\n\u0026quot;I, Nerida of the Talori, swear by all my heart to respect the name of Titanius, to never curse his name and never to blaspheme.\u0026quot;\n\u0026quot;I, Nerida of the Talori, swear by all my heart not to live a selfish life, and to serve the community of Titanius with all my heart.\u0026quot;\n\u0026quot;I, Nerida of the Talori, swear by all my heart that order will be the most important part of my life, and I shall never give in to the temptations of chaos...\u0026quot;\n\nAnd so on it went, until her mouth felt like sandpaper and her lips were dry with her empty words. She never once shifted her eyes from the Priest, hoping he would take her vacant stare for sincerity. He hadn\u0026apos;t stopped her, or asked her whether or not she truly intended to convert just yet, so perhaps there was something in her manner that appeased both him and her intended.",       "date": "2016-09-04T22:01:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473019289,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  listened intently, as Nerida uttered the oath of the baptized. The priest took his figers onto a an ewer full of some kind of glowing water, and he put his hand onto again onto Nerida\u0026apos;s forehead, effectively applying the hole water to her forehead. Then his hand would glow - just like when Stephanus first attempted to cure her sickness, and when the other priest blessed her - and the priest would utter incoherent words in a language Nerida can not comprehend. Then he would begin speaking coherently to her once agian.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;But accepting the rules that Titanius is but the first step on the road one must take to truly embrace the light, for the laws must be interpreted correctly, and the meanings behind them must be understood.\u0026quot; the priest preached. \u0026quot;Thou must shield thyself from sin with absolute devotion to Titanius. Murder, fornication, stealing, cruelty... All mortal sins we must shield ourselves from.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T22:09:19.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473019759,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  watched carefully at these strange rituals, her lips pursed but her eyes fixed on the priest in confusion. When he laid his hands on her in blessing however, that same calming warmth that the priest who had healed her in Talon washed over the girl, and her anger and rage seemed to dissipate. It was as though for a moment she had stopped thinking, her emotions calming and soothing. She knew not what to say in response to the Priests preaching, she\u0026apos;d even lost the compulsion to punch him. Her words calmed, her body relaxed, and from her lips came a simple \u0026quot;Yes, Father.\u0026quot; in the compliant, educated tones Stephanus had grown so used to hearing.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T22:15:35.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473020135,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would keep on listening to what was going on. The Nerida he knew and loved was returning. He was sceptical if it was because she was sleep-deprived and not fully awake, in the process of being awake in the name only... Or was it because she was genuinely easing up. Nevertheless, he continued to silently listen.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Good. Thou art a good daughter to the mother church. I hope thou will always remain so. Should thy heart be in ache, or should thy wounds be in need of mending, or should thou be poisoned, the church will always come to thy aid. In return, the church asks for devotion. Go now, my daughter. Tomorrow, thou are expected to return for lessons. Until then... thou can call in thy comrades.\u0026quot; said the priest, effectively dismissing Nerida. It is over... for today... but so fast? How can it be?\n\nNever the less, Stephanus stood up, in order to accompany Nerida to the outside. He is sighing in relief, sincerely hoping that Nerida\u0026apos;s anger has gone down.",       "date": "2016-09-04T22:21:35.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473020495,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  seemed to be in a great deal of confusion as she stood and walked away from the altar. The blessing had somehow mended something in her. Had she been unwell? Defective without knowing it? One again, for whatever the reason and however briefly. she had found comfort in the strange blessing she\u0026apos;d been given, and was almost force to acknowledge that for whatever reason, be it simply in her head and nothing else, Stephanus\u0026apos; God held a real and tangible power that Nerida could not deny. She emerged into the day from the Chapel and turned, briefly giving Stephanus a look of bewilderment, before heading towards the stockade to fetch her men. \u0026quot;I... that blessing. Does it always feel so...?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T22:28:20.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473020900,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded to Nerida. \u0026quot;It doth... for ordinary believers. For us, those who preach borrow the powers of Titanius... the feeling grows weaker.\u0026quot; he explained. \u0026quot;Thy men will experience something similiar as well.\u0026quot; he said, before letting Nerida to fetch her own men, but before that, he said. \u0026quot;We must carry the ones who died to our estate. Once we return, our first job will be to give them a proper burial, along with the nameless skeletons...\u0026quot; he said, obviously meaning well, trying to give respect to those who died, although it may not have been the most apropriate time to bring that one up. \u0026quot;Now go, fetch them.\u0026quot; he gave her the implied order, starting to wait near the chapel afterwards. \u0026quot;This is going to take a long time...\u0026quot; he remarked.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T22:32:44.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473021164,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  left his side without another glance or word, heading to rally the men. When she returned the followed her, 47 of their number at least, almost all of them as red-eyed and mournful as Nerida. They had taken no pains to distance themselves from their commander however, and stalwartly stood in formation behind her. The girl seemed positively diminutive compared to some of them, though there was no question that she was in command. Her martial prowess must have been second to none in order for her to secure such loyalty, that or nepotism had secured her rank for her. Without another word she led them inside the chapel. They were only missing a disciplined march to seem military, through none of them had the energy or strength to muster their bodies to co-ordinate. The men simply shuffled in behind her.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T22:39:58.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473021598,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would once again enter the chapel, to act as a witness, just in case Nerida\u0026apos;s men would get any ideas on what they could do. The long and boring wait would begin, as the priest would begin to proccess the men just as he had processed Nerida, forcing them to repeat the oath, forcing them to accept Titanius, blessing them, and then letting them join the Nerida and the other already-converted as spectators. But for all 47 to be processed individual by individual, it is going to take quite a bit of time, most likely an hour or more to do so, by the time the formerly mourning soldiers and Nerida might become tearful not because of their mourning, but because of boredom, being literally bored to tears. Halfway through, it seemed like even the priest was loosing bit of his enthusiasm, his tone of voice becoming more and more robotic with each passing individual.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T22:44:12.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473021852,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had taken a seat in the same spot that Stephanus had dragged her to during her first full day as his prisoner in this strange realm. She had curled up a little and began to nod off, her head tilting to the side and her eyes closing as the droning continued to fill the room. It was a tedious task, but a necessary one. This was the first step in guaranteeing her men freedom and peace, at least until the portal reopened. Should that day ever come? It was these thoughts that filled Nerida\u0026apos;s mind as she drifted towards sleep. Her men might leave, return to friends and family as was their wont. But Nerida would be a wife by then, no longer pure enough to return to the life of a holy knight. Her responsibilities in this world would far outstrip those she needed to return to. Perhaps she might never return to her people for the rest of her days.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T22:57:27.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473022647,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would listen the \u0026apos;sermon\u0026apos; - the conversions - until it lasted, arguably being rather bored despite his religious zeal by the end. It took such a long time, that Nerida even fell asleep. Stephanus would not listen to it to the end - as soon as Nerida fell asleep, he began carrying her out bridal-style, back to the barracks, which may have been a mistake, but he deemed it necessary to do. She needs her sleep, and she better wake up in a comfortable bed than among a bunch of people. By the time the sleeping knightess would wake up, Stephanus too would be absent from the barracks, somewhere... else. But still in the headquarters.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T23:01:07.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473022867,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  awoke with a start after long hours, her mind rested and her mood improved. She looked first for Stephanus, naturally, and hurried out of the room and tried to find him, but had no luck in the living quarters. She emerged blinking into the sunlight, wondering if perhaps he had returned to the chapel and decided to head there. For all she knew her men would still be present, and the more she thought on this, she thought more about simply returning to his room and awaiting his return. She did not want to bear witness to their conversions wholesale, and she also did not wish to interrupt the priest in his work. Feeling a little defeated, she slinked towards the headquarters and decided instead to look for him there.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T23:09:08.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473023348,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was still in the headquarters, but not in the barracks - he was in the jousting field, which was rather close to the barracks. If she asked anyone about Stephanus Tavilrond, most would reply that they saw him heading to the jousting field, where he was indeed practicing hitting targets from horseback, alongside a host of other knights of the same order. For the first time, Nerida would be able to witness him practice, to see him do what he usually does. Except that he was practicing with the sword, not with a spear, and he was practicing against straw targetsm testing his own accuracy and reflexes. Since he was not actually jousting, he was not wearing a helmet, making him recognizeable by the face. His white horse was also easy to recognize. The number of spectators was rather few, but that was understandable, as this was practice, not a tournament.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T23:12:16.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473023536,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had indeed taken her directions from another young Knight who she didn\u0026apos;t recognise, and headed towards the jousting field. She had been given the freedom to move about without impediment or so it seemed, and was allowed onto the jousting field without so much as a murmur of complaint from any of the other Knights. She recognised him immediately and then his horse soon after, and a brief smile came to her face. It would be interesting to watch him at practice, and as such she made no effort to draw attention to herself. She merely observed from a distance and tried to ignore the itching in her hands that begged her to take up arms again.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T23:18:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473023934,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would finish off his last round before he looked at the other side of the field, recognizing Nerida. She is here, and she is smiling. The girl he fell in love with returned, in her full form. The knight would slow his horse down, put his sword back into the scabbard, and slowly walk towards the part where Nerida is. \u0026quot;Thou hast returned...\u0026quot; he said. \u0026quot;Art thou feeling better now?\u0026quot; he asked from Nerida, without any references to anything else. Then all of the sudden, out of complete blue, he asked an unexpected question.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Thou seem bored. Would thou like a duel with wooden swords? I can bring thee a gambeson for safety...\u0026quot; He didn\u0026apos;t even know why did he ask her this question, but perhaps he just wanted to see the skills of his would-be-wife.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T23:22:47.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473024167,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  \u0026apos;s eyes lit up, and before she could respond to either of his previous questions she gave him an emphatic \u0026quot;Yes!\u0026quot; when asked about a spar. It was all too easy to read the delight in her eyes, and wearing a man\u0026apos;s clothes gave her a little more freedom to move how she would have liked. \u0026quot;I need no protection, but place a wooden tourney sword in my hands and you have a deal. It\u0026apos;s been too long since I was last allowed to hold a weapon and I am keen to do so again.\u0026quot; In truth perhaps she had wanted to watch him train a little longer, but it was of no consequence now he had tempted her with the joy of practiced combat.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T23:27:31.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473024451,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  just said \u0026quot;Follow me\u0026quot;, and would lead Nerida to the armoury, where he would take down his chainmail and plate armour - he was already wearing gambeson underneath, so he did not need it - and take a gambeson into his hands, handing it to Nerida. Once again, it was one of those situations where he does not take no for an answer. A gambeson is an absolute necessity, and she better get used to it before being given back her real armour. Then he would take two wooden swords, give one to her, accompany her outsode of the armoury while carrying his own armour with himself, putting it down on a lone piece of rock, waiting for Nerida to take up the gambeson over her clothing. \u0026quot;Ready?\u0026quot; he was asking afterwards.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T23:30:16.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473024616,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  rolled her eyes and took the gambeson from his hands, feeling much like she was being instructed once again by her master at arms. The gambeson fit her well, though it irked her to wear it, and soon the straps were tied and she was protected once again. The sword was what she was truly most keen to take, and when offered it she reached for it without hesitation. It was heavier than she was used to, her redwood practice blade feeling much lighter than this, but she was in no mood to complain about that when she was about to take up arms again for the first time in over a week. Tossing the sword from hand to hand she tested the weight, along with her speed and reaction times and found them lacking. A week without practice had somewhat dulled her, but she hoped that this would rectify it. \u0026quot;As I\u0026apos;ll ever be.\u0026quot; came her response.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T23:35:50.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473024950,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  then just nodded in response. \u0026quot;Good.\u0026quot; then he attacked her without mercy, \u0026apos;aiming\u0026apos; for her vital parts, as in... Trying to poke her chest or neck with the sword, saying \u0026apos;Thou art dead\u0026apos; when having succesfully done that. But that moment would hopefully not come any time soon, as he expects Nerida to put up at least some resistance, to fight back against him, to force him to dodge, or at least have herself dodge his attacks. His strikes however are disciplined. He is normally in a defensive position, he does not make big openings, but instead atacks quickly and momentarily, immediately pulling back or parrying when being attack, making no rotating-swings or anything fancy, but instead resorting to boring-but-practical moves, looking for any opening.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T23:39:48.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473025188,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had the reactions of a cat when Stephanus attacked her, her sword swift and her blocks precise. She seemed to have no issues matching his speed or deflecting his movements. He had, however, caught her on the hop, and after a minute of solid blocking and parrying Nerida felt the blunt tip of the sword stab at her chest and she let out a light, girlish giggle. It had been a long time since she\u0026apos;d been bested in sparring, but in her defense it had been a long time since she\u0026apos;d needed to sparr. She was determined not to let it happen again, and this time when Nerida went on the defensive Stephanus was about to see just how different their styles were. Nerida\u0026apos;s attacks were relentless, and nigh on unpredictable. Her stance changed often, her motions fluid and light and her speed was uncanny. One moment she\u0026apos;d be crouching and swiping at his lower legs and next she\u0026apos;d have her back turned to him, her sword aiming at his temple and gathering speed as she swung it towards him. She seemed to move constantly and in circles. It was more like an exotic dance than a practiced swordsmanship. She swung again for his neck as he was still reeling from parrying a strike to his midsection, and Nerida knew that she had him.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T23:55:37.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473026137,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had to concede defeat once - once, when Nerida took his neck. \u0026quot;Thou fight like a northerner...\u0026quot; he laughed, then went into attacking once again. His style was more southern, which involved keeping distance from the opponent, looking for any opening. It was a fast, nimble and elegent style of combat, compared to the more brutish, savage and strong style of the north, which urged its swordsmen and swordswomen to get as close to the enemy as possible, and keep attacking. Even though he did not kick just yet - as he deems it inpolite during sparring - his style of swordsmanship put extensive emphasis on footwork, incorporating unorthodox moves like kicking to dissolve a blade lock. Still, he would have to get her one more time, and realizing what kind of style she is using, observing her while fighting with her, is going to be key in getting his rematch.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T00:02:01.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472940121,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  \u0026apos;s graceful and liquid movements would be trying for Stephanus, but not impossible. Her style seemed to combine a form of physical flexibility with light footwork and certain movements. Her blade was no less deadly for it, however, and every strike she had aimed at him had been true and possessed a pinpoint accuracy. Even when slashing she had aimed for veins, arteries, tense points on the body and not one motion had been wasted. This made her equally as hard to hit as a moving target when she was on the defensive. She preferred to parry rather than outright block an attack and waited for him to move when she needed to be cautious. Hard to read, but again not impossible.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T00:13:10.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472940790,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would make an attempt to parry all of her attacks, he himself getting a little bit tired. However, he kept fighting on in the southern way, putting emphasis on footwork, avoiding her attacks, and attacking when an opening would be found. He started to realize that the people of Asui might have had a more advanced style of swordsmanship than his people, but still believed that his experience would lead to him outmatching Nerida. So he would attack carefully, only making his moves when she would seem to open herself. Step aside, and stab... or rather, poke, because this is sparring. Not very easy, but he must do this to win.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T00:18:53.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472941133,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  was eventually after tiring and long minutes of combat struck against the neck by his sword, having presented him with an opening where she had not meant to create one. Slightly breathless but with a colour in her cheeks, Nerida looked up towards him with a smile, her words light and almost teasing. \u0026quot;You sod...\u0026quot; she commented quite simply. \u0026quot;I literally would have had you beat in just a few more seconds.\u0026quot; She wiped a little sweat from her brow, but didn\u0026apos;t care to comment on her exertion. Her eyes were clearly brightened by the exercise. This was Nerida in her element.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T00:24:06.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472941446,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled and wiped off his own sweat. \u0026quot;Well, thou did not have those seconds..\u0026quot; he laughed. \u0026quot;In Etrand, we have two schools of swordsmanship. I fight in the southern one, primarily, as that was one the I grew up with... but I learned a bit about the northern one as well.\u0026quot; Then he would begin taking his armour back, and motioning her to hand back the gambeson and the sword, so he can take them back to the armoury. \u0026quot;I promised, when get the estate back in business, thou will get thy armour and weapons back... but I hope thou will learn about the value of clothing.\u0026quot; he teased her, teasingly prodding her hip with one of the wooden swords while carrying all of them back to the armoury.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T00:31:03.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472941863,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  pouted a little at his playful reprimand for her earlier behaviour, striking him lightly on the back of his legs for a swift retribution and \u0026quot;punishment\u0026quot; for his teasing. \u0026quot;I will best you next time. And when I do my price will be a brand new dress.\u0026quot; She was much returned to her usual self, a combination of the blessing and the sleep perhaps, and steeled only by her ability to spar once again. \u0026quot;Asui\u0026apos;s style is unique to our kingdom. It looks like a dance until it\u0026apos;s cut you into a thousand pieces\u0026quot; she was able to joke, removing the gambeson and handing it back to Stephanus. Her animosity towards him had almost entirely disappeared.\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T00:40:18.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472942418,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  did not know how to respond to that sentence, other than being potentially impressed. \u0026quot;Well then, I wonder what can we do for now... We should have a snack and a tea before sparring some more... Then thou can join me in the evening sermon. If I can count correctly however, we will have to revisit the capital, to get the ring I had ordered for thee... In four days. Then we can hold our wedding.\u0026quot; he patted her. \u0026quot;Doth that not sound wonderful?\u0026quot; he teased her, while trying to accompany her back to his room. \u0026quot;Maybe we should start making plans already...\u0026quot; he laughed.\u003Cbr\u003E\n",       "date": "2016-09-04T00:45:22.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1472942722,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  the weeks flew by for Nerida in such a rush that she struggled to keep up. Some days she was so occupied that she could barely keep her eyes open by the days end. So many things to organize, so many things to do and at last it had come to this. It was the evening before the wedding and Nerida found herself alone in a rare moment, the moonlight streaming through the window\u0026apos;s though she couldn\u0026apos;t quite bring herself to light a candle just yet. Her dress was ready, her husband willing and now with nothing left to sort the former Knight found herself staring out of the window in a precious moment of solitude and reflection. It was hard for her to recall just how she had come to this point in her life, and harder still to believe that out of all women it was happening to her. To Nerida, sometimes it didn\u0026apos;t feel real, but it was. Tomorrow she would be married, a wife with a different surname and a new set of duties. Stranger still, she was not upset or distraught at the idea.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T22:52:45.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473627165,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would spend a lot of his time attending to his duties. One or two days, he would be away from Nerida to do a mission of sort, as he does not get paid just for laying around. He had gotten the golden ring for Nerida, her white wedding dress, and everything that was necessary. All the arrangements were made, and when the time finally would come, the wedding would happen at the appropriate place: the Cathedral of Light, in the capital city. This might be the last time they are going to be spending so much time in the capital city. As it is going to be the wedding of a knight, a small march was organized by other knights of the same order in honour of the couple, and the grandmaster of the order was a special guest - an offer no one can refuse.\u003Cbr\u003EBut it was not the day of the wedding yet, only the night before. The knight would be in the room that he owned. He would not reflect so much. Marriage may bring with itself the necessity to celebrate, but it is also a simple affair: a march is made, a church service is attended to offeciate the wedding, then drinks are drunk and food is eaten... Then comes the wedding night, and possibly the honeymoon for the affluent.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T23:00:14.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473627614,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  finally tore herself away from the window and the sight of the streets beneath her. She pressed herself to light a fire and then the candles to follow, on odd calmness in her movements given the gravity of her her life was due to change. It was a necessary change, of course, and a change that had secured Nerida and her men their freedom but that didn\u0026apos;t make it any less of a drastic turn of events in Nerida\u0026apos;s life. In the hours in between she seemed to be at a loss for what to do with herself. She had tried to read but couldn\u0026apos;t concentrate, tried to look over the accounts regarding their estate but found no distraction there either. The former Knight couldn\u0026apos;t quite figure our what to do with herself.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T23:06:13.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473627973,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was not having issues like Nerida did. To him, this was not a drastic turn of events, but the course of nature. Men and women get married. Men and women bear children. Men and women settle down and live their life. It is the order of nature. He did in fact contemplate some of the implications of this inevitable change, but not as much as Nerida did. Concerns were mostly around the fact that he will be \u0026apos;forced\u0026apos; to start growing a beard as per local traditions, the fact that this is most likely the last time he is visiting Grandfolk - his city of birth - like this, and the fact that from now on, he is going to begin a new life on his estate, which will need serious fixing. Honeymoon? Fixing the estate and getting it back to shape is going to be his honeymoon.\u003Cbr\u003EHe is not at all at odds with the idea of calling Nerida his wife. However, even for him - someone who considers this change a course of nature rather than something dramatic - it will likely take some time to truly adjust, and start calling Nerida Nerida, instead of \u0026apos;my love\u0026apos;, or \u0026apos;you\u0026apos;. But she will most likely have even more trouble starting to call Stephanus Stephanus, or \u0026apos;my husband\u0026apos; instead of \u0026apos;my lord\u0026apos;.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T23:12:04.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473628324,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gave up on all thoughts of entertaining herself and instead fell onto the bed in a near state of agitation. Stephanus had been characteristically calm throughout the preparations, she noted. It was almost irking, she would have even possibly preferred him to be agitated. His coolness was easily misinterpreted as disinterest. On a quiet night like this and given the day that had to look forward to, Nerida considered trying to sleep even given her restlessness. She considered going to speak with her husband to be, but quickly pushed the thought to the back of her mind. It would be improper, even though she had a million questions about the service and how it would take place. Instead she closed her eyes and listened to the crackle of the fire.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T23:21:27.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473628887,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would take a final look on the clothing he would wear next day, and fell into the bed, with the clothes he normally wears the nights he sleeps on. The bed is comfortable, like always. But this may be the last time he sleeps on it. This may be also the last time he meets with that bartender as well. A new life... and he is just laying there, nonchallantly.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Thou art already looking beautiful, my love...\u0026quot; he said to Nerida, while on the bed. He would not convince himself to commit any lewd or even romantic acts just before the wedding. No. After all, the time for that will come next night. Not this night. The wedding night. \u0026quot;I never thought thou could look any more beautiful than this... But maybe tomorrow, I will be proven wrong.\u0026quot; he cracked his affectionate joke, his own way of complimenting Nerida\u0026apos;s appearence. \u0026quot;We are going to be man and wife from tomorrow on. Art thou prepared for it?\u0026quot; he asked.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T23:26:18.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473629178,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  inhaled deeply before she answered, filling her lungs with air before she found the courage to answer. She too wanted to appear unperturbed by the events, as cool as Stephanus seemed himself. \u0026quot;Yes, my Lord.\u0026quot; she replied. \u0026quot;Though I still think it highly improper that we share a bed the night before the ceremony.\u0026quot; This truly had irked her, but the culture she lived amongst was no longer her own and she would need to tolerate its eccentricities. \u0026quot;I will do my best to be beautiful and presentable for you.\u0026quot; She spoke out of duty, and not affection in spite of now holding feelings for Stephanus that she had never foreseen herself developing. \u0026quot;You are so calm, my Lord. It is reassuring to me that you don\u0026apos;t hesitate. I am glad of it.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T23:32:04.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473629524,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  just smiled - even though the levels of light probably prevented Nerida from seeing it - and would have pat her head if the mood was set for it.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;My love... We shared a bed already twice, without anything happening. It is true, it is improper to do the bedding before the wedding... But two people sleeping in the same bed is not the same as bedding. For as long as no acts of the flesh take place, it is not bedding.\u0026quot; he explained. \u0026quot;Thou needest to enjoy thyself... A wedding is about love and happiness. It will be about us, my love... Thou will be beautiful abd presentable in any shape or form, my love...\u0026quot; he tried to assure her.\n\n\u0026quot;It is a man\u0026apos;s duty to not to hesitate.\u0026quot;",       "date": "2016-09-11T23:35:49.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473629749,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  nodded as she listened to him, replying with a soft voice. \u0026quot;I know, my Lord, and you are doing your duty well.\u0026quot; She even managed to crack a smile in spite of her unease, happy at the affectionate gesture of him patting her head. \u0026quot;Are you not nervous, my Lord? I have never lain with a man before. I don\u0026apos;t know how to..\u0026quot; Nerida hesitated and tried to find her words. \u0026quot;I\u0026apos;m not sure you will enjoy your first night with me\u0026quot; Or any other night following that. Noble girls were not well trained in the arts of love. That was not their duty. Now that her eyes were closed and she was warm in the bed, Nerida could feel sleep creeping up on her. She risked falling asleep very shortly.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T23:41:16.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473630076,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shaked his head. \u0026quot;No, I am not nervous. This is the course of nature, and I am condition to accept it, no matter how drastic changes it will bring about in my life... Oh right, laying... Well, I am just as much of a virgin as thou art. I have a few vague ideas on how to, I read them from books, but otherwise...\u0026quot; and he went silent. He only knows about pleasures of the flesh from books. He read about it in books, but never have done it ever before. And even the books he read tended to rely on euphemisms instead of giving readers a clear picture of what was going on. Hence, he was hardly any smarter in the subject than Nerida. But then again, he also assumes that since humans are primal creatures at the end of the day, in the time of need, instincts take over. \u003Cbr\u003EAh, and the bed was so warm... Stephanus himself was about to fall asleep as well. In fact, he would linger on in the bed for about five or ten minutes after silence hits the night, then fall asleep like Nerida.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T23:45:51.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473630351,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  drifted into a blessedly dreamless sleep. Nothing disturbed her and Nerida was lucky to be granted the rest she needed, only rising when the sun rose and filled the room. For the longest time she lay still, not yet ready to rise and begin the laborious process of preparing for the ceremony. She had been designated ladies to assist her at least, owing in part to Stephanus\u0026apos; position as a Knight and now owner of an estate. Her eyes didn\u0026apos;t move and neither did Nerida until she absolutely had to, shifting out of the bed and onto the rug that protected her feet from the wooden floor. A copper bath tub had been placed in front of the fire the Knight previous, and soon it would be filled with hot water and the fire relit to keep her warm. Nerida was glad of it. She would at least be clean when her clothes were removed. Would she need to consummate the marriage before prying eyes in an opened room as was the tradition in Asui? Nerida had been too frightened to ask and kept the question to herself even now. She didn\u0026apos;t want to know.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T23:54:05.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473630845,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was a silent sleeper like always, but also a heavy sleeper. By the time he would wake up from his long slumber, Nerida would be already having her bath - something the knight already did the night before. It is the privilege of men that they have to spend much less time preparing for special occasions then women - he needs to dress up, make sure it is nice and tidy, brush his long hair, make sure his face is all clean and his eyes aren\u0026apos;t red, and he is all set to go. Meanwhile, women like Nerida have to fit into their much less loose dresses, have to get their hair right - brushing and combing is not enough, decorations are in order - and the list goes on. Granted, it is not as much of a hassle as in certain other worlds, women are still obliged to put more effort into their looks then men. But then again, Nerida is already beautiful to begin with - they say that shining diamonds need only a minimal amount of - if any amount to begin with - of polishing. Stephanus would get dressed fully, and leave the room, allowing the various ladies designated to assist Nerida to enter the room and help her put all the necessities onto herself... which don\u0026apos;t include any make-up to begin with, only flowers and ornaments put onto the hair.... or decorations for her wedding dress, which is snow white.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T00:02:20.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473544940,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  wasn\u0026apos;t even given leave to scrub herself, the ladies attending to her very carefully and treating her hair. They were the wives and daughters of men with station equal to Stephanus, and in spite of her previous status as a prisoner and a heretic they chatted to her kindly, a small social courtesy but one that Nerida was very happy to be on the receiving end of. Soon the room was filled with chatter and soft laughter, a great distraction from Nerida\u0026apos;s nerves. When the bath was over she was given leave to dry herself and her hair by the fire whilst a fine array of accessories and trinkets were laid out for her on a dresser. Some she now owned,.jpgted to her by Stephanus or purchased for the needs of the ceremony, others were on loan from nobility, a gesture of goodwill and consideration given that the couple were also readying their estate to the south. As she dried scented oils were rubbed into her skin; jasmine, lily, fresh plum blossom. It was feminine and light, not too overpowering and perfect for a bride. Her hair was then fixed up and styled, jeweled pins and clamps holding it in place when needed, sapphires and diamonds laid into her hair. Then came the dress. It took two ladies to lace her petite frame into the gown, and then the veil was fixed over her hair. She looked like royalty, and more of a woman than she felt. One of the older ladies grabbed her cheeks and twisted them harshly, bringing a blush of colour to them in place of cosmetics. With a small bouquet of flowers placed into her hands, Nerida was ready to go.\u003Cbr\u003E For reference :))\n",        "date": "2016-09-11T00:16:59.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473545819,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would not have to scrub any parts of his own body, or treat his hair with care. He was already clean, he already had his wedding clothes on, he had his sword on his belt and a rose in a pocket in his relatively fancy - at least to his taste - shirtt. The final augmentation to the clothing he considers fancy - despite being very simplistic, compared to what Nerida has to wear - is the red cape that indicates his status as one of the Knights of the Red Light, as well as his nobility. Nobles always wear coloured capes when attending such events. This is what truly sets them apart from commoners. While he did in fact use a perfume of a sort, lttle thought was given to it otherwise. A man has to smell nice, but not with the same amount of emphasis as the same \u0026apos;duty\u0026apos; is given to by women. His hair was in its natural shape, without anything specific - it was allowed to flow down to his shoulders and beyond, like always.... except that this time, it was combed a bit more meticulously than before. For him however, the time Nerida would spend getting herself ready would be spent getting everything else in order: making sure in advance that his wedding is going to go on undisturbed.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T00:29:27.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473546567,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  was helped from the room and down the stairs assisted by two ladies to either side of her. The fashion for platformed heels in the realm was well known but difficult for Nerida to walk in, especially when taken down the stairs and out into the streets. Nerida knew little about the rest of the day, only that she was to be escorted through the town towards the Cathedral where the ceremony was to take place. It did not seem to be such a task, but the idea of such attention being on her was embarrassing. She could only pray that those who stopped to observe would be few and far between. Nerida had no notion of how often nobility wed in the capital, but perhaps the procession would draw more interest from passers by than not. As she prepared to leave, two ladies still either side of her, Nerida felt her hands and shoulders begin to tremble. She was offered a small bite to eat but refused it. She was nervous, she realised, and would need to fight to maintain her composure.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T00:35:04.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473546904,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had already managed to make sure that when Nerida would be escorted out of the building, she would not be disturbed or stopped by anyone. After having reached the streets, he reunited with his would-be-wife and took her hand, as it is the custom of the Etrandish. The couple would \u0026apos;lead\u0026apos; the march towards the Cathedral, and all the guests - and everyone else who wanted to be a guest - would have to follow behind, in a neatly organized column very similiar to that of actual militaries and armies. They are marching towards the cathedral almost exactly like an army. Commoners would look every once in a while, but a wedding march - at the end of the day - is viewed in the same light as an army\u0026apos;s march, or even as a guard patrol by the uninitiated commoners. People marching towards a certain location, nothing out of the ordinary.\u003Cbr\u003EA beautiful bride and a handsome bridegroom, those two are out of the ordinary however. And accompanied by knights none the less. No matter how much Nerida will tremble, this march will have to reach its destination.\n",       "date": "2016-09-11T00:41:09.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1473547269,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  was both thankful and apprehensive to have reached the Cathedral without incident, however her trembling would not still itself. Nerida could not for love nor money ascertain what was wrong with her. She had spent long weeks with the man to be her husband, and found him to be neither cruel nor ill-tempered. He had shown her every kindness, and yet she was hesitant still. In Asui she had taken the holiest of vows to avoid the marriage state, determined not to be used as a pawn in political games, yet here she found herself. In front of a foreign altar, having sworn allegiance to one strange God and going through with the ceremony willingly. It was but the strangest turn of events. Her dress and veil trained behind her, picked up by her ladies to help her as she walked hand in hand with Stephanus. She hoped silently that he did not take her trembling for displeasure, though her throat was so dry that she couldn\u0026apos;t find the strength to open her mouth and say so. Instead she remained silent throughout, unless called upon to speak.\n",       "date": "2016-09-17T23:42:57.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474148577,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  not seeming to really notice Nerida\u0026apos;s trembling - or misinterpreting it as a tremble of joy, the little brother of tears of joy - would continue leading the way while holding his bride\u0026apos;s hand, And surely enough, the march did end up and its destination - the cathedral. The cathedral door would open, and another - now much shorter - path would lead into the cathedral itself, which looked like a much larger and much more decorated version of the chapel she used to visit at the headquarters of the knights. It was huge... huge. And it was fancily decorated as well, filled with so much gold and so many tapestries. And there he was. A priestly-looking bearded figure dressed in a mix of yellow and white. That is the person who is going to feed the necessary words into their mouths.\u003Cbr\u003EThe march would lead the couple right in front of the altar, but no words would be uttered until everyone found their seats and everyone sat down, or found a place to stand still without making a noise. Once all the noise would quiet down, the ceremony would begin.\n",       "date": "2016-09-17T23:48:28.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474148908,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori:  \u0026apos;s trembling was only stilled by the opulence she saw inside the cathedral itself, her steps even slowing so that she might take in the beauty that she saw before her. It was as grand as anything she\u0026apos;d seen back home, and they offered their God the same as the Asuian\u0026apos;s offered theirs; great works of art and craftsmanship that even a Kings purse might struggle to afford. Were the city ever to be sacked Nerida could well guess where the offensive would first head. Churches were often good targets for plunder, as rich as a manor and with less protection. Perhaps even on her wedding day Nerida would be unable to still the warrior inside her. Sooner than Nerida would have like the two were stood before the altar and the breaded priest, listening to their entourage sit and wait. The former Knight took a deep breath. There was no turning back now.\n",       "date": "2016-09-17T23:54:15.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474149255,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  stood still, completely calm, as to be expected. He was lacking in the trembling and the sudden impulses that Nerida may have had. On the other hand, he, like his wife-to-be had to listen carefully to what the priest had to say.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Today, we have come together to witness the union of two children of Titanius before our very eyes.\u0026quot; started the priest. \u0026quot;When Titanius created our ancestors, he made us into men and women, so that we may complement each other and find an antidote to loneliness. So that we may come together, and experience one of the most beautiful emotions that life has to offer: love. And here we are, witnessing the very same before our eyes: two young souls have come together to bond themselves together in an everlasting union in front of our god.\u0026quot;\n\nAnd the speech went on. \u0026quot;The sancticity of marriage is such an important building block of life and civilization, that it is known to even the most primitive of savages. From the beginning of times, history has been made by men and wives. And here we are, witnessing a moment such as that. A moment that will hopefully lead to a happy union and lay the foundations of a happy family.\u0026quot;\nThen the priest turned to Nerida. \u0026quot;Nerida of Talori, will thou accept Baron Stephanus Tavilrond of Stattelbarn as thy husband?\u0026quot; he asked Nerida first.",       "date": "2016-09-17T00:03:08.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474063388,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  listened to the Priest\u0026apos;s words and found herself left impressed by them. If nothing else he was a fantastic orator. It was so impressive that when it came to Nerida\u0026apos;s turn to speak she didn\u0026apos;t miss a beat. The girl had almost forgotten her nerves in listening to the eulogizing. Nerida of Talori? It was a clan, she\u0026apos;d wanted to protest, not a city, but still it was a Clan from an entirely different realm. It would be wrong of her to expect these people to recognise the weight the Talori carried at home. In light of this, she said nothing but the words expected of her. \u0026quot;I do.\u0026quot; she managed to say clearly, and much more confidently than she felt.\n",       "date": "2016-09-17T00:08:32.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474063712,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was asked next. \u0026quot;Baron Stephanus Tavilrond of Stattelbarn. Will thou accept Nerida of Clan Talori as thy husband?\u0026quot; he priest asked him, adding \u0026apos;clan\u0026apos; for some reason... probably to forehead something he is going to say a bit later on.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;I do.\u0026quot; Stephanus replied without any hesitation. \u0026quot;Then the two of you shall be known as Baron Stephanus Tavilrond of Stattelbarn and Baroness Nerida Talori of Stattelbarn from now on. The bridegroom may kiss the bride.\u0026quot; the priest said out loud, and it sure did hpapen: Stephanus immediately faced Nerida closer, to peck a kiss onto her lips, if she didn\u0026apos;t do that first. The priest would then patiently wait for the couple to break from the kiss, and continue.\n\n\u0026quot;I pronounce the two of you husband and wife from now on. May Titanius bless you two with happiness, fertility and success. May your happiness echo from the far reaches of the grim northern Zorod mountains to the warm rainforests of the Southern valleys.\u0026quot; the priest proclaimed, very loudly, and the crowds were just clapping. Clapping, as if they have seen a good act. And while the priest\u0026apos;s speech seems to be over, the whole marriage ordeal is not over yet.",       "date": "2016-09-17T00:16:03.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474064163,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  managed to give Stephanus a shy, even demure smile before she kissed him on the lips, her own lips soft and smooth as she pressed them against his. She did not linger, after all they were in a church not a brothel, and before long Nerida heard those who had gathered clapping for them. When Nerida turned to them with a blush on her cheeks and that same demure smile on her lips she was surprised to see they had drawn in quite a crowd, most of whom she did not recognise, some she\u0026apos;d known but briefly as Stephanus\u0026apos; fellow Knights, fewer still were nobility she\u0026apos;d been introduced to in passing. Now his wife in name as well as by oath Nerida considered that she\u0026apos;d probably need to get to know them a little more intimately in the coming months and years. Having been pronounced, surely this was the end of the service? Nerida knew not what lay in wait for her afterwards, however.\n",       "date": "2016-09-17T00:23:23.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474064603,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  keeps holding onto Nerida\u0026apos;s hand. While the priest has nothing more to say, Stephanus will need to talk with Nerida about what follows next. And what follows next? A feast at the tavern where they were staying. That is also the place where the bedding will take place. But before he could even say a word, the witness came to the couple - and the witness happened to be the grandmaster of the order. That grey short-haired, short-bearded man with a long mustache, and that imposing figure. He would pat Stephanus\u0026apos;s shoulder.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Congratulations on thy wedding, crusader... Now thou art a real man.\u0026quot; the senior knight laughed. \u0026quot;The two of you should get ready to march back to the tavern. I will get the crowd ready to march back.\u0026quot; he said, to which Stephanus could only respond with a nod. After all, at this point, the feast\u0026apos;s preparation must have gotten started.\n",       "date": "2016-09-17T00:28:56.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474064936,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  managed to give the Grandmaster her sweetest smile and incline her head towards him though he had spared but few words to her. When he had left Nerida lowered her voice to a whisper, only following wherever Stephanus led. \u0026quot;Forgive me, my Lord, but the tavern? I had no idea we\u0026apos;d be returning there before the night.\u0026quot; Now that she thought of it, it made the most sense. The tavern was able to accommodate the numbers after all and though Nerida had seen to the foods ordered and drinks prepared she\u0026apos;d never actually inquired where they were to be delivered to. With hindsight, perhaps she should have done. Perhaps it was the shock of actually having submitted herself to marriage, these last weeks had been quite the blur.\n",       "date": "2016-09-17T00:35:37.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474065337,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded to Nerida. \u0026quot;That tavern is our accomodation for today. We feast there, sleep there, and this is the last time we visit it... probably. Well, at least we can give it the honour, can\u0026apos;t we?\u0026quot; he asked, smiling. And indeed, he did think about it. He really liked that tavern, and he personally knew its owner, Salashi. It might not be easy to say goodbye to it, but all things must end in life - even the good things. The best they can do is to honour that tavern by holding their feast and bedding there. It will make the farewell towards it easier.\u003Cbr\u003EAnd so would the march to the outside of the cathedral begin, and then towards the tavern. It is going to take the same amount of time to walk so far, and ordinary bywalkers may stare once again. But what of about the part after the bedding, and after the night? Will they travel down to the estate immediately? That is something they will have to decide today...\n",       "date": "2016-09-17T00:41:00.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474065660,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  || When Nerida arrived at the tavern the first thing she did was pull over a serving girl and ask that wine be brought to her. Nerida was a lady, a noble of royal blood in her home country and she had the dignity and wherewithal to know that getting blind drunk on her wedding day was simply not an option. However at this point, after the ceremony and following the processions, she needed something to help sedate her. The girl could already tell that the food she had spent a month planning and consulting over would barely be touched, she felt far to nervous yet still. There were a million questions in her mind, but now she was a wife she was in no position to ask them; anything important her husband would surely tell her, and if she was not informed then it was on account of his wisdom. The chalice of wine came and Nerida drank deep. It was something of a relief, however to feel it ease it\u0026apos;s way into her system.\n",       "date": "2016-09-17T00:46:49.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474066009,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  ordered wine, just like Nerida did - although, just like Nerida, he would be given a minor reprimand, for it is considered inproper drink excessively before the first meal, if the first meal happens to be soup. He liked drinking, in fact, he may have been even a bit of a heavy drinker when the situation allowed him to be. The food that was ordered and planned would come cooked and baked, arguably some of the finer tapestries of Etrandish cuisine... at least, as far as Nerida could ask for them to be prepared. Being a foreigner meant that she had to judge them before even having a chnace to eat them based off their names, or vague descriptions.\u003Cbr\u003EThe first meal would be soup. Spicy fish soup with pasta in it. The second meal would be a mixture of fried bacon and pasta, with sour cream and cottage cheese added to them. Food that requires care when eaten - lest the clothes or one\u0026apos;s face may get dirtied -, but apparently the people of Etrand love it so much, that it\u0026apos;s a must-have at special occasions, such as weddings. The third meal would be all sorts of sweet things... pastries that had a fruity taste, apparently.\n",       "date": "2016-09-17T00:53:48.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474066428,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  was pleased at find that she had chosen well as she ate her way through the feast, or what little she could manage of it. Just as with her first impressions, when Stephanus had tried to force that stew into her when she\u0026apos;d first been taken captive Ertrandish food seemed to be deceptive. It never looked like it was much but the taste was delicious. She had refrained from alcohol after that point, choosing wine or fruit nectar to get her through proceedings with enough energy and it served her well. Stephanus always seemed almost too busy with discussion to spend much time talking with her, but he\u0026apos;d not abandoned her entirely in conversation and for that she was glad. So far all had passed without incident. No one had started a fight, plenty were in their cups but none too inebriated yet. It might have been too early to say but given how packed the tavern was, Nerida was willing to call that a success\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T20:52:36.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474224756,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would off course talk to Nerida. \u0026quot;This is the beginning of a new happy life, my love...\u0026quot; he said to her. While Nerida and Stephanus were given a minor reprimand for daring to drink before eating the soup, drinking became mandatory after the food was gone. Wine, mostly wine, even though this kingdom was a kingdom of beer-drinkers. It will be hard to get used to beer after moving to the estate. Music would play, played on the fiddle and the flute. It seemed to be specific wedding songs... songs written about kings and queens, but with a wedding theme. Still, by the melody and rhytm, they sounded no different than any song musicians would play at a feast in a tavern: upbeat and relatively fast.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Say my love... Even though it may be early to speak of it, will thou wish to visit our estate immediately tomorrow, or will thou suggest that we spend a little bit more timed being spoiled by the city of Grandfolk?\u0026quot; he asked Nerida, while drinking red wine. It will be hard to get used to beer in the countryside... unless they will start cultivating grapes to make wine out of them. That might be the first thing they will start doing.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T21:00:40.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474225240,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  took a sip of the water and listened to him with a smile, hearing him just over the music and the chatter of their guests. It was quite the conundrum he presented her with, but it was a necessary question to have answered. Though in her heart Nerida would have wanted to celebrate at least a few more days in the capital, sorting through their.jpgts and taking in the sights as well as a few more well deserved soakings in the bath house, the former Knight knew that time was of the essence. The sooner they traveled to their estate the sooner they could start to make it look presentable. \u0026quot;We should go with haste, my Lord. As much of a burden as it seems now it will be easier on us in the long run. I would gladly stay a few more days in the capital but your estate must be the priority.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T21:07:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474225663,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  patted Nerida\u0026apos;s shoulder gently and kissed her cheek. \u0026quot;We will stay for one or two more days after the bedding... Then we shall make haste.\u0026quot; he said to her, and downed the last parts of the wine in his goblet. \u0026quot;Oh, and... It\u0026apos;s no longer my Lord. Just call me Stephanus, or just Steph...\u0026quot; he said to her, once again patting her back. \u0026quot;We are man and wife now, my love. We should call each other accordingly.\u0026quot; he continued. He would order for one more goblet of wine for himself, and he seemd to be able to drink it without getting drunk. He must have had quite the experience with and resistance to alcohol, if he managed to bear it so well. \u0026quot;I will miss Grandfolk... The baths, this tavern... I have quite fond memories of all of them.\u0026quot; he reminded Nerida.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T21:12:24.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474225944,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  took in his words though they seemed strange to her. It was not customary for her to ignore a mans titles, married to him or not. Even her own mother called her father by his name but rarely, and the rest of the time it was always been... well... \u0026quot;My Lord\u0026quot; or \u0026quot;Husband.\u0026quot; To abandon this seemed eminently strange to her, but she would try to at least desist as best she could. \u0026quot;Y-yes, Husband.\u0026quot; she replied. Well, it was a start. At least the two days would give her time to order and prepare things they would need. Furniture, for a start, though some had been kindly granted to them as wedding.jpgts it would not be enough to fill up the Manor, and what Nerida didn\u0026apos;t want was to ask Stephanus to permit her to make several trips back and forth from the Capital in their first few weeks at the Estate to order or collect things she had forgotten. \u0026quot;We shall make the estate so comfortable that you have no need to miss it too sorely. Baths can be arranged in time, and when business calls you to the Capital you can always revisit. I would not begrudge you this at least.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T21:25:11.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474226711,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled once again and kissed Nerida on the forehead. \u0026quot;Very well... We shall have a good time.\u0026quot; he said. And as the day seemed to turn towards evening, the leader of the knights would go up to Stephanus and tell to him - \u0026quot;It seems it is darkening... it might be time for the bedding. I will tell the guests to disperse, if thou will accompany thy wife to the room upstairs... The.jpgts have already been transported to their proper place.\u0026quot; the leader said to Stephanus, although loudly enough so that Nerida could hear it too. So, what would it be? Enjoy the music for a while longer - which cannot be more than ten or fifteen minutes - or go upstairs immediately? Stephanus would take Nerida\u0026apos;s hand, but the choice would be ultimately hers, and it would be her wording that would decide if the knight woudl start accompanying her upstairs, or stay here. This is a serious action to consider, as the bedding involves taking away from Nerida what she has always treasured so much - her virginity. And for the knight as well, his own virginity will be taken away that moment.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T21:30:04.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474227004,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had heard the words of the leader of the Knights and though at first she pretended not to, she soon realised they must be acknowledge. Nerida looked around the room, at the people gathered. None of them seemed to so much as notice and by now perhaps a good many of them had drank so deep of their cups that nothing would rouse their interest regardless. Even the Knight had announced it in such a casual fashion that he treated the event like it were no major occurrence. Was it commonplace in this realm, she wondered, to just allow the bride and bridegroom to slip away? She dared not hold out hope, but perhaps none would be required to stand and watch and inspect their bed sheets. Regardless of her thoughts on the circumstances, the time was now and it would not do to delay. The trembles soon returned to her hands as she took Stephanus\u0026apos; in hers. \u0026quot;B-by your leave then, my L- Husband.\u0026quot; When she had first offered herself to him he had refused her, some conflict in their culture being cited as the reason. What if he were to look on her again and refuse her even now? Nerida would have died with the shame.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T21:47:05.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474228025,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  seemed to not see any problems at all with the situation. The bride and the bridegroom would slip away, the third person would tell the guests to disperse and leave in an organized manner, and the bedding would start. Stephanus did not just take Nerida\u0026apos;s hand, no... He took her into his own arms, to carry her bridal style. This, to show that he is capable. The road would lead upstairs, where the key would open the door for their room, and lock it.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Well, here we are...\u0026quot; he said, and as soon as they entered the unpeopled room, he locked the door and began to undress, expecting her to do the same. \u0026quot;This shall be our first time...\u0026quot; he said, arguably being just as embarrassed as Nerida might be. However, he will not reject her. Not at all. He will do what his duty is, and she will do what her duty is, hopefully. The bed is big enough for the two of them, and there is plenty of space to put away their clothes to. He would undress to nakedness, and expect her to do the same. Once they are both naked, he would walk towards her, kiss her on the lips, lead her towards the bed, and wait for her to get into her position first.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T21:51:59.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474228319,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  could well have cried with relief as Stephanus locked the door behind them, knowing that as scared as she was it would be just the two of them. Nerida might have been a great warrior but when it came to matters such as this nothing frightened her more. A fire was lit, she noticed, and waiting for them. Someone then had at least anticipated their retiring to bed. She just hoped that none would disturb them as they prepared to consummate their marriage. With shaking hands Nerida unlaced the dress it had taken two other women to fasten her into, the bodice and the skirts soon loosening enough to be removed entirely. It was like this that Stephanus approached his shaking bride; with her stood in nothing more than her stockings and underwear. It was obscene to the girl, almost to the point of disgust that she should partake in such an act, but thankfully her Husband was content to ease her into it, and for the first time they shared something of an intimate kiss. Uncommonly pliant, Nerida allowed herself to be led towards the bed, where she sat herself for a moment before laying down entirely. The girl was as tense and stiff as a plank of wood.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T22:00:28.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474228828,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would lay next to Nerida, knowing that he still has a lot of easing to do. He would rub Nerida\u0026apos;s cheek, and kiss her lips again while on bed, trying to use that kiss for a \u0026apos;strategic advantage\u0026apos; - to change his position while kissing Nerida, to get above her, so he can get her to open her legs and allow him to insert into her sacred womanly cave the snake that all men possess. But before that could happen, he seemed to be in the need of having to make Nerida loosen up... and what better way to do it was to rub her cheek and kiss her once again? Except, this time kissing her more deeply, licking her tongue while doing that, rather than just letting her lips touch. Only after that he can reduce the tension and allow for the deed to take place, and for the veil of virginity to be ripped apart in the mound of womanhood.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T22:04:55.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474229095,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  could not slow her hammering heart as she felt Stephanus atop her body, his lips pressed to hers and their arms now entwined she reached out to him to hold him close, a loving embrace as their respective shyness began to melt and their instincts gradually took over from their senses. Her soft, cherry lips parted to welcome his tongue inside her, hers in turn toying with his, licking it, finally tasting the man who had rescued her from certain slavery after weeks of chastity and restraint. Nerida had never sensed any great longing for her in Stephanus. Even one such as she who was a veritable simpleton when it came to matters of the heart had been able to ascertain which men felt partial to her because of her looks. With the man who was now in her arms this had never been the case, and she had reconciled it with herself weeks ago that he held no desire for her. As their kiss began to deepen, Nerida was slowly beginning to think that perhaps she had been wrong.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T22:21:20.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474230080,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  continues to kiss Nerida\u0026apos;s lips and tongue very gladly, and it would seem like she has managed to loosen up enough for him to do the deed: she was no longer stiff, her legs were able to open. That is when he would do the deed, by forcing his male instrument into her womanhood, and letting out a groany moan while doing that. It was inside. The soft walls got breached, and now they were virgins no more. But this is not as long as it takes. So he took it out and pushed it back in, having previously read in books that this is what man is supposed to do: pull out and push back over and over again with great speed, until something comes out and he feels released. And that is exactly what he was beginning to do, anticipating Nerida\u0026apos;s moans in the same time. The deed is being done.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T22:26:03.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474230363,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  \u0026apos;s legs parted for him though her thighs never ceased quivering, whether it was out of nerves or anticipation she would leave Stephanus to decide. She felt she wasn\u0026apos;t able to speak in any case, her throat dry and her body seemingly still unsure of how to move. Before she could make sense of it he was mounting her, and with her panties now discarded she felt him press his member against her slit, surprised as he was to find it slick with her honey and waiting for him. He pushed passed her lower lips with ease, but inside she was tight, her walls clinging to his shaft as he pushed inch after turgid inch into her cunt. When he strained against, and eventually tore past her hymen Nerida\u0026apos;s virginity was rent asunder for the rest of her days, though the pain that came with it was unlike anything she\u0026apos;d ever experienced before. Her lips let slip a whimper of pain, though her husband seemingly had no intentions of stopping to allow her to accommodate him or even of slowing. Nerida winced, and tried to put her mind elsewhere as the pain tore through it. Only time would numb it.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T22:36:46.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474231006,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would not stop right now, that much was said to be true, but given that he is a virgin with no experience at all, he was bound to expire and erupt very soon. In fact, if Nerida stopped feeling pain and began feeling pleasure - which is bound to happen the first time, intense pain followed by mild pleasure - she might lament that her husband has expired too quickly to give her time to enjoy and feel the lighter side of what they were doing right now.\u003Cbr\u003EAnd as such, he kept going into her, and sure enough, just after barely more than a minute... It happened. Transparent, sticky white-ish liquid erupted from him into Nerida\u0026apos;s womb, while he let himself go, feeling great amount of pleasure, and a sense of satisfaction and easiness, relaxation. And with this, there is already a chance for Nerida to get pregnant right at this moment... However, what would follow would depend on Nerida. Stephanus breathed heavily, and looked at Nerida from upwards. \u0026quot;A...a-art thou allright... my love?\u0026quot; he asked, breathing heavily.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T22:44:14.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474231454,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  had not been prepared for the sensations that followed her pain, as the agony was replaced by a numbness that spread throughout her loins. A life of chastity, prayer and denial of all that physically bound a person meant that as Stephanus continued, his hips grinding into hers as he took his pleasure from his wife, all of the sensations that Nerida had denied herself throughout her short life came bubbling to the surface and boiled over in the heat of the moment. She could feel him deep inside her, his member impressive enough to stir even her deepest point as he plunged himself in and out of her tight snatch over and again. Her lips parted and let out a moan, a soft sound that unwittingly indicated her enjoyment to Stephanus as her flower gushed it\u0026apos;s nectar over his member. Even in this clumsy attempt at lovemaking he was rousing something inside her that she\u0026apos;d long since thought dead. And then, all too soon it was over. She felt something warm and thick filling her passage, seeping through into her very core. His member undulated inside her as she tried to make sense of what it was that she was feeling, though on some instinctive level she knew he had reached his limit. It felt so good inside her, though, she didn\u0026apos;t want it to end. Slowly her eyes fluttered open, her own gasps for breath short in comparison to his. \u0026quot;I.. it felt.. why did you stop?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T22:57:45.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474232265,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  did not reply to her with words, but encouraged by her moans of pleasure, he went back inside her, trying his best to continue pleasing his wife. However, he could only delay the inevitable, and a few more minutes of going inside her would end up having him lose his stamina and lose his stiffness eventually, no matter how hard he tried. And for his first time, being able to remain stiff and keep going inside for up to three or four minutes after erupting could be considered a very valiant performance. However, he will have to get into practice, and will have to do this a lot more often with Nerida to get into practice. After those few more minutes would end, he would lose his edge and succumb over to the fact that he has come and already erupted. He would remain without seeds to release for now, and at a loss of stamina, breathing even more heavily, collapsing next to Nerida to huff himself out, only to kiss Nerida on the lips to assure her - he loves her. He needs at least a few moments to catch a breath if his wife wants yet another round.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;This... is this what being a man is like?\u0026quot; he asked, although likely from the wrong person. But then again, Nerida could have asked a similiar question - is this how a girl becomes a woman? Is this what being a woman is about? And likely, there is no true answer to either of those questions.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T23:05:22.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474232722,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  the extra minute or so was all that was needed to coax Nerida\u0026apos;s body into accepting the pleasure that the act was giving her, and Stephanus would be able to feel it even as he softened inside her. Her cunt began to contract and pulsate around his manhood as slowly, tellingly her body began to writhe, to melt into his. It was as though she had forgotten herself entirely, thrown shame and caution to the wind as they mated safe in the sheets of their bed. Her hips rolled longingly into his as those small gasps of pleasure became loud moans, and her tender touches became insisting holds. \u0026quot;S-something\u0026apos;s h-happening... to me...\u0026quot; she managed to say to him between panting breaths. How could she describe that which she didn\u0026apos;t understand? She felt herself rising, something uncoiling inside her, and then bliss. Nerida fell off the precipice Stephanus had built her up to and into an intense orgasm, years of repressed longing unleashing themselves on the unwitting girl\u0026apos;s body. Her twitching passage convulsed around Stephanus\u0026apos; weakened manhood as her moans of bliss filled his ears. Her body writhed and coiled on the sheets beneath him, unable to contain the experience or the pleasure as her core drank deep of the seed that he\u0026apos;d already pumped inside her. It took her long moments to settle from the experience, and when she finally did she felt the warm embrace of not only her husband, but the afterglow wrapped around her. She heard his question, barely, but giggled at it. \u0026quot;How am I.. to know?\u0026quot; she gasped between breaths. Given they were both so new to the experience at least the Gods had blessed them with pleasure.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T23:23:59.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474233839,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  needed no more extra turns this time. This was lot of pleasure, but it was enough for him for today, for the first time. Unlike Nerida, he did not suppressed his desires during the years, because he was oblivious to them, not knowing that he even had desires in the first place. While he has always managed to appreciate the aesthetic beauty of ladies, he never felt himself drawn to anyone before, man or woman. And until just minutes ago, he was a virgin as well. He was not restrained, his religion did not force celibacy on him - quite the contrary, he was always nudged by his peers, by his fellow knights to pick up a girl - but it was that was workoholic until he met Nerida. Utterly devoted to the other.\u003Cbr\u003EBefore he would close his eyes, he kissed Nerida on the lips once again, embracing her warmly while pulling the sheet over both of them. Even if they are not to start departing from the city tomorrow, much needs to be done that day, and they have to recover from today\u0026apos;s busy day of feasting and mating. Much sleeping needs to be done, and Stephanus closes his eyes, expecting Nerida to do the same, falling asleep around half hours silently after pretending to be asleep, just to coax his wife into literally sleeping with him. The deed is done, and it cannot be undone. Today begins the life of a married couple.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T23:30:35.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474234235,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  needed no encouragement to rest, the days activities having taken quite a toll on not only the girls mind, but her body as well. She was a woman now, and she could scarce believe it herself. All of those years spent guarding her purity seemed to have been such a waste. It was not anything especially sinful that she had felt. Base, perhaps, instinctive but never sinful. Her Priests and minders had warned her against so much as touching herself there, even as she\u0026apos;d blossomed into a women and the natural heat in her body had risen as it always did. It almost made her laugh out loud again as she lay there in her husbands arms, that such a fuss had been made over so simple an occurrence. Nerida had not known what to expect, but thought she would gladly while away many future evenings with Stephanus experiencing the same. The sky had not come falling down, nor did she feel that her Gods had abandoned her any less than she did as she walked through the portal for the first time. As she drifted off into sleep she placed a light kiss on Stephanus\u0026apos; chest. Perhaps this life held more to it than Nerida had given it credit for.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T23:40:57.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474234857,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would let the slumber commence and continue. He slept without making any sound, which is a trait considered desireable by wives. The bane of all women is a snoring husband that warrants the acquirement of earplugs. The Church of Titanius was never against the carnal desires: they consider desire between man and woman to be natural, encouraged and good. Titanius created man and woman for a reason, after all... and he made it feel good for a reason, after all. The foudners of the faith argued, that it feels good because their god made it so, because it pleases their god.\u003Cbr\u003EThe knight laid with little to no thoughts on his mind. It can be safely said that for today, his mind went numb by what has happened, and not just his body, but his mind also needed rest. In his dreams, he would see himself living happily with Nerida at his estate, well-furnished and with a vineyard, where he can drink red wine while bathing. Not much else. He was a simple man with simple desires. But what reality has to offer is dfferent... perhaps not as desireable, but much more exciting and adventureous.\n",       "date": "2016-09-18T23:48:37.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474235317,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  woke slowly the next morning with a blissful smile already on her lips, exactly the same way she\u0026apos;d slept that night. Nerida couldn\u0026apos;t remember a time when she\u0026apos;d slept so well, her body and mind were entirely relaxed, content with their new situation in life and released from a lifetime of repression and need that she\u0026apos;d never been able to put a name to. Now that Stephanus\u0026apos; seed rested inside her, warm and safe in it\u0026apos;s new home Nerida knew exactly what it was that she\u0026apos;d been needing, though her pride would never allow her to say so. She shifted lightly on the bed, trying her best not to disturb her yet sleeping husband, wanting to hold him close a few moments more in the still quiet of the morning.\n",       "date": "2016-09-19T19:52:18.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474307538,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would wake up much slower than Nerida would, being a heavy sleeper when the situation allowed him to be. Only at least tens of minutes after Nerida, would he wake up as well - unless she woke him - and only then would he wake up fully. There is much that needs to be done for the day. The wedding dresses - unless they intend to spend the money to keep them - need to be given back to the person they borrowed them from, they need to take a bath in the bathhouse to relax after yesterday\u0026apos;s eveningful day, and last but not least, they will need to get prepared for the inevitable ride out of Grandfolk onto their new estate. Much to be done.\u003Cbr\u003ESo he would wake up, and take up his old clothing: shirt, gambeson, chainmail armour, breastplate and plate pauldrons, regular pants, minor leg padding, plates onto the leg to protect them, then finally a short chainmail \u0026apos;skirt\u0026apos;. Then his belt and the sword. Then finally the tunic with his order\u0026apos;s symbol over all of these. Then he is finally ready. Such a long time to dress up, and such a waste as well - especially considering how he will have to take all of these down before the bath.\n",       "date": "2016-09-19T19:58:02.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1474307882,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  wouldn\u0026apos;t dare to wake him, feeling that he needed the sleep perhaps as much as she did and instead was content to lie by his side until he awoke. She didn\u0026apos;t jump out of the bed with the alacrity that Stephanus did, the experiences of the previous night had left her still rather dazed and in an elevated mood. It was only when he started with gambeson that Nerida herself slinked out from between the sheets, slipping her waiting dress on and sitting to clean through her hair in a nearby mirror. There was still a blush on her cheeks and the traces of a smile on her face. Not once did she speak, she didn\u0026apos;t know what to say, and any words that she might normally have said to him felt difficult and out of place.\n",       "date": "unknown 21.26.33",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  got himself dressed in his armour, and afterwards would turn to Nerida, smiling to her... but at least giving her the privacy of letting her dress herself and look away while doing that. He would wait for her to dress up, and only then say - \u0026quot;Good morning, my love.\u0026quot;, while smiling, taking her hand and walking with her downstairs. Before they go return the clothes to the original owners, or take a bath, they must eat and drink. Breakfast is first, that much can be said.\n",       "date": "unknown 21.29.44",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gave Stephanus a shy smile as she took his hand and walked to breakfast with him, her eyes held fast on the floor rather than rising to meet his. The girl was still in a state of disbelief at what had come to pass the previous day. The marriage, their decision to stay in the capital a little while, how intimate they\u0026apos;d been... all of these thoughts buzzed through her head as he led her to breakfast and they were placed at a table. For possibly the first time in her life she felt truly shy, the bar staff at least must have known what had passed between them, or they would do later when their sheets were cleaned and changed. This shyness caused the elongated silence from Nerida, not rudeness or even a hint of displeasure.\n",       "date": "unknown 21.35.28",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  did not seem to understand why Nerida must have been so shy... in his land, men are normally proud when losing their virginity, and women are normally supposed to be happy and proud... unless it is rape. But he knew, that different cultures exist, and that she vowed to protect her virginity previously... Only to have lost it yesterday evening. Still, the shy silence of hers reminded him of a little girl.\u003Cbr\u003ENevertheless, he would lead her down to the bar, so that he can order the breakfast. Beer, bread and pork sausage. That is also probably what they will be having at their estate in the future, so they better get used to it. This time, Nerida has to open her mouth, if she wants to eat...\n",       "date": "unknown 21.39.55",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  kept her eyes to the bar top as she ordered, unable to look the man in the eyes as she repeated Stephanus order with as composed a voice as she could muster. \u0026quot;T-the same please, though I\u0026apos;ll take tea instead of wine.\u0026quot; Another strange custom she couldn\u0026apos;t quite understand. Though it had been part of her life for long weeks at this point wine at breakfast was simply too indulgent for her. Nerida had noticed that Stephanus was regarding her strangely, his glances towards her sometimes confused though he was too much of a gentleman to mention anything. Instead it was she who raised the subject with him. \u0026quot;I-is aught amiss?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 21.43.51",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded to Nerida. \u0026quot;Thou seemeth embarrassed. I do not know why thou must feel embarrassed, but... What happened between us yesterday, and last night... Is natural. It is the course of nature. Nothing to be embarrassed about.\u0026quot; he said to her. \u0026quot;For a woman, it is a source of pride to bear children and please her husband. We\u0026apos;re man and wife now. We should be honest with each other.\u0026quot; he said to her, smiling and patting her shoulder, before paying for the food that will only come five minutes later, at the very least.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Thou art very beautiful, my love. Do not be embarrassed.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 21.49.27",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  flustered a little at his direct manner of speaking, a flush of pink coming to her cheeks though otherwise she tried to remain calm and composed on her surface. \u0026quot;Forgive me, husband. It is not embarrassment. That is... I mean to say I am not ashamed to be your wife. It\u0026apos;s only that things are different here.\u0026quot; The food arrived, and Nerida finally found her voice again having been eased into conversation and losing at least a little of her shyness thanks to Stephanus\u0026apos; words. \u0026quot;I am happy that you find me beautiful. I don\u0026apos;t care for how others perceive my beauty. Yours is the only opinion that matters.\u0026quot; She picked up her tea and took a short sip to taste the temperature.\n",       "date": "unknown 21.54.46",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had drank from his mug of beer. \u0026quot;Different things might be, but thou art in Etrand, my love... What has happened is the course of nature, and is only the beginning of a much happier life for the both of us.\u0026quot; he said, and used the knife to slice off a piece of the pork sausage, and ate it. Then some of the bread. \u0026quot;Thou art the most beautiful flower that has ever blossomed. That, is what I perceive.\u0026quot; he laughed, responding to her statement about perception of beauty. \u0026quot;I hope our children will be as beautiful as thee...\u0026quot; he said, and then continued the feasting.\n",       "date": "unknown 22.00.23",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  has not in the course of her life dealt with many compliments. She had commanded men in her home realm and taken vows which made her untouchable. Flattery had but rarely found it\u0026apos;s way into her ears, so at this sincere and loving compliment from the man she now called husband the former Knight\u0026apos;s face flushed bright red and she lost her ability to think. He spoke of children with such ease that the only audible words from her lips were. \u0026quot;I hope they make you proud...\u0026quot; before she started poking at her breakfast. She was joyous, ecstatic almost, and found the prospect of food most uninviting. She merely picked at things and pushed them around her plate, unable to fake an appetite as she struggled to contain her happiness.\n",       "date": "unknown 22.06.04",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was surprised to see Nerida having such difficulty eating. She seemed very happy, that much he could tell, but having trouble to eat? He almost forgot to eat himself, watching Nerida fiddle around with her happiness and pushing around the food like a child. If he didn\u0026apos;t know any better, he would have thought she is drunk - or so he thought. \u0026quot;My love, hast the tea made thee drunk?\u0026quot; he laughed a bit, as she poked the food. \u0026quot;Here, this is how we eat pork sausage...\u0026quot; he said, and sliced it up into small pieces one can eat with a single go, then stabbed one with his fork and put it into his mouth. Then came the bread. Then the beer. \u0026quot;See?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 22.10.25",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  finally raised her eyes to him, a girlish giggle passing her lips as he cut her sausage into pieces as though she were a child. Perhaps this was a childish reaction, but Nerida couldn\u0026apos;t help it. All of her life she had been a sharpened weapon, a devout of the Gods and deft, sharp politician. She had looked down with scorn upon the idea of marriage and children, thinking she was destined for greater things. She was fast coming to realise that no victory on the battlefield, ecstatic prayer or hard-won debate had filled her with the joy that she felt now. She was... happy. Happy in the protection of a good and strong man. She was even beginning to feel that he might truly love her, and that she in turn returned this affection. \u0026quot;I know how to eat, husband.\u0026quot; she answered in soft tones. \u0026quot;I lack appetite, that\u0026apos;s all.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 22.18.59",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  pat her head playfully before returning to eating and drinking. \u0026quot;That is no good. Our stomachs must be filled before we do our business for the day. And we have much work to do, much work that one doth not simply do with an empty stomach.\u0026quot; And another playful headpat followed. \u0026quot;So eat up, Nerida, allright?\u0026quot; he said to her, and returned to his sausage, beer and bread. \u0026quot;We are going to return the borrowed clothes to their owners... And then we have a bath to relax after all of the business. Then we will have sleep, and tomorrow, we may return to my estate... We will have to evaluate how much damage we must repair, and then return here once again, to buy supplies, and get thy men to migrate with us, among other things...We have much business ahead, and goiing with an empty stomach one morning is no way to start it.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 22.23.39",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  listened to his words and once he was finished speaking she began lifting pieces of food to her lips, eating if only to please him rather than herself. The more she filled herself with the more she found that she was hungry, famished even. She had managed to eat little the day before, her worry preventing her from truly enjoying all of the food that she had ordered for the celebration, so once she had started she didn\u0026apos;t finish until her plate was almost fully cleaned. When she was finished she sipped on her tea, letting the warm drink sooth her shyness. \u0026quot;We\u0026apos;ll get it all done I\u0026apos;m sure. I\u0026apos;m looking forward to the bath more than returning the clothes, however.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 22.28.19",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  had frowned a little. \u0026quot;If only I was rich enough to permanently buy a white dress...\u0026quot; he contemplated a little, about the clothes they borrowed for the wedding. Then returned to his natural expression \u0026quot;Well, life doth not always go in the direction we want it to go. And the one thing that mattereth the most is not appearences, but feelings...\u0026quot; he mentioned, trying to comfort Nerida about the wedding dress - the fact that they love each other and are happy with each other shoud render the future absence of that dress irrelevant. Besides, she still has the wedding ring to show that she is his.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;A slow and calm warm bath is what we truly need, after all the excitement...\u0026quot; he said, finishing his meal and beer.\n",       "date": "unknown 22.33.14",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  shook her head at his suggestion, a well-meaning smile on her lips. \u0026quot;Purchasing the dress outright would be such a waste. I would never wear it again besides. We have all the momentos from the day that we need, and I am content to bring them with us.\u0026quot; At these words she gestured to her ring, an almost cute reassurance on her part that truly the loss of the dress would not be mourned. The girl finished her tea, cleaned her hands and waited for Stephanus to stand.\n",       "date": "unknown 22.42.57",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  stood up and went towards Nerida, to take her hand, so that they can go upstairs once again, only in order to take the clothes they borrowed from their room, so that they can take them with themselves and ride towards the person they borrowed it from. Such business may be tedious, but it is necessary to be done urgently. And once again, they will have to ride Stephanus\u0026apos;s horse towards certain locations,\n",       "date": "unknown 22.45.18",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  sat side-saddle on his horse as Stephanus steered them through the busy capital. Nerida was comfortable riding on her own but this seemed to have become the norm for them both. Nerida loved the capital, except of course for the worst of the areas, which reminded her in parts so much of Asui\u0026apos;s capital Antendieu that she could barely tell one street from the other some times. It was a great, sprawling city that even a relative stranger such as herself could lose herself in. Still, she doubted it was the ideal place for a young couple to settle and find some peace together. Raising a family would have been even more difficult. The date of the wedding had been set around her cycle, for reasons which had been explained to her in embarrassing detail by an elderly wife of a Baron of some standing. Fertility was prized above many other female virtues in this culture. Nerida\u0026apos;s greatest disgrace would be if she found she could never provide him with a family to raise. She found herself physically wincing at the thought.\n",       "date": "unknown 23.04.23",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would ride with Nerida towards the shop of the person who has borrowed them the wedding dress, giving it back to the person, only to begin riding back towards the tavern afterwards, which is extremely close to the bathhouse. His thoughts dwelled more on the future of their estate. The castle is in tatters to the point of literally everything being covered in moss or mold. The area around it is uninhabited - or so they think. It will cost them a lot to have the castle brought back to its former glory, let alone fit their very specific tastes. And how will they attract settlers to a desolate land constantly at the risk of orcish raids? They might have fourty-six warriors that Nerida brought with herself at their disposal, even a chicken knows more about farming than they do - helping at restoring the castle they may be able, but to farm the land they are utterly clueless how to. Stephanus\u0026apos;s three friends could move in, but those are adventurers, and they need farmers, not even more warriors with mouths to feed. He has considered letting the Dark Elves take refuge at his estae with the condition of farming the land and paying taxes, but... That may not be such a bright idea.\n",       "date": "unknown 23.09.35",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  could see the bath house in the distance, and audibly heaved a sigh of relief. She did not feel as dirty as she expected to, or even physically used, but the chance to wash away the days dirt was always welcome and she knew that it eased Stephanus greatly as well. A strange through struck her as they approached. Perhaps she should, you know, -talk- to her husband about her concerns. He knew more about his culture than she did after all, and he was forever the voice of reason where she lacked such a skill. The only barrier to this easy solution was one that she found impossible to over come. He was a man, and her husband now. Men didn\u0026apos;t involve themselves with such concerns ever and that wasn\u0026apos;t about to change.\n",       "date": "unknown 23.15.21",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would ride towards the stables, dismount the horse, let Nerida dismount as well, then smile at her, patting her shoulder. \u0026quot;Here we are, my love. Now we shall have a bath.\u0026quot; he said, taking her hand once again and leading her inside the bathhouse, where they would once again take a room, so that they can remove their clothes, immerse themselves in hot water, and so on... But first things first, he would lead her towards the room they would take and lock. And afterwards, he would lock the door, and start unequipping his armour, then his clothes, undressing himself, as usual, looking away from Nerida in the mean time to give her privacy in undressing - even though he would see her naked afterwards,\n",       "date": "unknown 23.18.58",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  smiled as he gave her space to undress, happy that even now he respected her space and recognised her privacy to be important to her. She had lost many of her inhibitions during her time as his captive and then fiance, perhaps one day she might dress in front of him as though it were entirely normal. For now though she stripped herself bare and stepped into the warm waters of the nearby pool, a blissful sigh of relief escaping her lips. He was sure to follow sooner, though his armour was a little more effort to remove than her dress and stockings. \u0026quot;This is the first thing we need in our estate. A nice, warm bath.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 23.28.08",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded in agreement. \u0026quot;Yes, but for a warm bath, we must have either a tub made out of metal, and large quantities of firewood to warm it up... Or carve out a space for water, and something to warm it up from underneath...\u0026quot; he said, reminding her of the complications. What he failed to mention however, is how they will have to at least clean up the ruined castle before adding anything to it... remove all the dust, mold and moss, and let\u0026apos;s not forget to mention, to clear away all the rubble that may exist. Only after that they can modify the castle, add or remove things, such as a bathroom... \u0026quot;Ah, so many things to do with the castle...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 23.31.20",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  reached out for his hand and would give it a reassuring squeeze as she held it. She knew the thoughts that were running through his mind and sought to ease them. \u0026quot;Dearest...\u0026quot; she spoke in soft tones. \u0026quot;Believe me, Castles in much worse states have been made livable by couples much less capable than we. We shall pull it to order again, I promise you. I am not a simpleton.\u0026quot; She pulled him closer, wanting him to join her in the water. It was a stark contrast to her first visit.\n",       "date": "unknown 00.37.34",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled and joined Nerida much closer, pecking a kiss onto her lips as soon as he had the chance. \u0026quot;Then we shall make that castle of Stattelbarn great again. But how will we support it?\u0026quot; he asked next. And by that, he was obviously referring to... agriculture. Agriculture is the ultimate basis of everything. No agriculture equals no taxes. No agriculture equals no food. No taxes equals no money, no food equals starvation. And not just that... But who will work the castle rule over? Who will be farming the land to feed the owner of the castle? Who will be paying taxes to the lord of the castle? Who will be living under the lord of the castle? Right now, the whole area is uninhabited... even though it used to be inhabited.\n",       "date": "unknown 00.40.57",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  considered these questions, struggling to admit that she had wrestled with these questions herself. \u0026quot;If we could find but one capable tradesman to retrain the men we have and offer them these skills then it would come with ease. I suppose we could renovate only a single floor of the keep to begin with and then set the money we\u0026apos;d save to hiring capable hands.\u0026quot; It was a tough thought, but one worth considering. \u0026quot;That the crown has not sought to help you with these things is... unthinkable in Asui. A land must come with serfs, usually foreigners granted, but serfs none the less.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 00.45.04",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  did not know what to say for a moment. \u0026quot;Well, I think there is a reason why the land was so cheap... Castle in tatters, uninhabited and abandoned desolate land full of man-eating plants, poison-spitting insects and lizards, living bull statues that supposedly stare people to death... It is not exaclty the most inviting land to live in, fertile or not.\u0026quot; he said. The land will have to be broken, cleansed of these... khm, khm... anomalies. \u0026quot;There is a group of people who would be more than happy to settle in any land... But they don\u0026apos;t exactly have the best reputation, and for good reasons. The blueish-grey--skinned pointy-eared gypsies who call themselves Dark Elves are known for being... morally lax, to say the least. Only a fool would allow them to settle down on farmlands.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 00.50.35",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gave him a strange look, her eyes narrowing slightly. \u0026quot;Husband, you speak of these... people as though they are convicts! They still have their liberty, perhaps they are not quite as hopeless as you imagine them to be.\u0026quot; The idea of the elven races was new to Nerida, she had no interaction with them before coming to this realm, and as was the case she was more open minded then her husband. \u0026quot;If there is no other alternative then we needs must accept the solution. Dance with the devils, as it were.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 00.56.09",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shook his head a little. \u0026quot;Convicts they may not be, many of them are willing to escape a monster they themselves created... in the heart of the city, that monster\u0026apos;s influence may not penetrate, but I have heard terrible stories about the Shanty Quorters of the city... Organized crime led by ruthless Dark Elven gangs running rampant, who engage in the illegal trade of drugs and slaves, ruthlessly and lethally eliminate competition, and collect protection money from those who are unfortunate enough to live in those neighbours... These Dark Elves are nothing like their surface cousins, the High Elves and the Wood Elves.\u0026quot; he explained. High Elves. Nerida did in fact meet a High Elf before. The first Titanist priest she ever met, the one she considered intolerant and bigoted. That was also the same priest who baptized her into Titanism. A High Elf. But Dark Elves are completely different.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Needless to say, not many of the Dark Elven diaspora in Etrand don\u0026apos;t want to live in Grandfolk anymore... either out of fear of the monsters they themselves created, or out of a desire to not be associated with those figures. Or, to run away to somewhere far away, where they can be as distant from their former lives of crime as possible... Many don\u0026apos;t have a choice but to migrate to a distant village, or go back to their homeland. Except, if they choose the former, they aren\u0026apos;t exactly welcome anywhere... As I said, for reasons I have stated previously, they don\u0026apos;t exactly have the best reputation...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 01.02.44",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  took the soap with a handful of oils and started to wash herself as she listened to her husband speak. \u0026quot;I will be lead by you in this, naturally, but it might be worth finding those families who mean to escape. Surely there are families of these Dark Elves, husbands and wives just as we are who wish to escape the city and the marks they\u0026apos;ve been tainted with?\u0026quot; Nerida had hope, but then there had always been this softness to her. She was a conqueror, of course, but she never let the people of lands taken by her army suffer under the rule of the expanding empire. Towns, cities, keeps she had taken honoured the rights of their existing citizens, they needed a loyal and happy populace after all. \u0026quot;Truly the situation in these... slums sounds awful. I am willing to trust who we can. If I am wrong then we have my men already, they will be able to keep order.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 01.10.39",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  sighed. \u0026quot;Very well... I was unwilling to let heathens live on my estate, but perhaps I can come to a compromise with the most desperate ones... Although, I am certain that they are just as clueless about farming as thy men... And if they have knowledge, they probably only know how to farm those mushrooms they eat down there...\u0026quot; so, Dark Elves live underground, and primarily farm and eat fungi, rather than wheat like humans do. \u0026quot;Besides farmers, we will need a priest, people who can make pottery, blacksmiths, masons and lumberjacks... Only then can our estate turn into a booming and prospering settlement. And then we will have to defend it. No doubt once the neighbouring orcs realize that people live there, they will attempt to raid. But we will not let them.\u0026quot; he said, while getting a soap into his hand and washing himself with it.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;But yes... the slums are terrible. A hotbed for all things illegal and immoral... murder, drugs, prostitution, necromancy, heresy, demon-worship, and all the dark things that our government prefers to sweep under the rug rather than eradicate for good, to avoid stirring things up...\u0026quot; except that Stephanus forgot that the government has a good reason to tolerate this crime. The government wants the middle-class and upper-class to live unmolested, so they isolate and force organized crime into the poorest sectors of the urban landscape. They let the mafia groups have their ways in the slums, where the government turns a blind eye. In return, the criminals stay away from the parts that the government considers important. There is an unofficial agreement between the authorities and the criminals - the authorities tolerate a little bit of crime, and the existence of organized crime, as long as the organized crime gings limit their damage and regulate crime, as well as help the authorities stamp out unorganized crime. This is a fact that Stephanus is either ignorant about, or deliberately sweeps under the rug to fit his moralistic and order-loving world-view.\n",       "date": "unknown 01.20.59",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  listened to his arguments, but took them with a pinch of salt. She had been in the business of government before, after all, and truly understood why the government chose not to mete out justice to the slumlords and crime bosses. This, however, was a discussion for another time, not the morning following their wedding night. She would consider her words carefully when the time came, but for now she only wanted to enjoy her husbands company. \u0026quot;These people can be employed. Any man can chop a tree and there are men amongst our number who know full well how to smith a sword and engineer a siege. There are those from farming backgrounds too, no longer of course but they may remember their skills.\u0026quot; It might prove to be small consolation to him. Time would tell. In the meantime however she took some oil into her hands and slinked her slight body behind his, warm hands moving to his back as she tried to soothe and rub his stresses away. Her hands worked at the muscle beneath his skin and with a smile she worked the knots of tension away from his body. \u0026quot;All will be well, my L-, Husband. You worry too much, but every problem had a solution and together we shall see to it.\u0026quot; The scent of lavender filled Stephanus\u0026apos; nose. She was skilled indeed at massage.\n",       "date": "unknown 01.31.41",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was highly surprised at what was happening next. His back was rubbed by his wife! This had never happened before, and it is quite understandable, that the man who asked for her hand in marriage all casually, the man who slept with her and deflowered her all casually without any fidgets and shakes... the man who lost his own virginity all casually, without a single blush... was now blushing. It was unexpected to him.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Thou can just call me Stephanus, or Steph... Nerida.\u0026quot; he smiled. \u0026quot;We\u0026apos;re man and wife now. We better get used to calling each other by our first names.\u0026quot; he laughed. Stephanus has many nicknames... Steph, Stephy, Steve...but Nerida? It seems to be short enough not to warrant an affectionate nickname being present... But still, it seemed like Nerida insisted on not calling him by his first name. But who is he to talk? Even he is struggling with calling Nerida Nerida, rather than \u0026apos;my love\u0026apos; or \u0026apos;my wife\u0026apos;...\n",       "date": "unknown 01.36.20",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  gave a small laugh at his words, happy that he was no longer speaking of his worries. It was a great term of endearment to address someone by their name, and on occasion doubtlessly Nerida would. She seemed to feel the need to ease this other worry of his as well. Their cultures clashed in so many places, but Nerida was starting to understand that communicating these was key. \u0026quot;It is not out of coldness that I call you Husband, it is out of respect.\u0026quot; she said in soft, light tones. \u0026quot;You are my husband, and before all others you will be addressed as such lest they forget. Titles are the norm where I come from.\u0026quot; She could only hope that her gentle words were working. \u0026quot;My immediate family used to call me \u0026quot;Neri\u0026quot; when alone, but truly? I adore it when you call me \u0026quot;my love.\u0026quot; I have never been addressed with such affection before.\u0026quot; Even though they were alone, her voice still dropped to a whisper as they conversed between themselves. \u0026quot;Though alone in our chambers, I look forward to hearing you say my name.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 01.44.51",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled and kissed Nerida on the lips once again, as a response to her whispers, beginning to rub her head afterwards. \u0026quot;Well then... I believe we shall settle with our titles, my love.\u0026quot; he said, patting Nerida\u0026apos;s head. Truth be told, first names are the norm among people of either equal status, or if one is addressing someone of lower status. However, it has been since ancient times that wise men suggested husbands and wives to call each other by affectionate words, as they believed that these words had magical quantities that prevented relationships from going sour.\u003Cbr\u003EHe dared not to ask if they will do \u0026apos;it\u0026apos; once again in their room in the tavern, thinking it is not very polite to ask to, even when married... But it was strongly implied that they will.\n\nHe splashed himself with some water and went towards Nerida, continuing to be as close to her as possible. \u0026quot;After all, what else can I call the most beautiful flower that has ever blossomed?\u0026quot; he asked, rubbing Nerida\u0026apos;s cheek.",       "date": "unknown 01.51.50",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  blushed fiercely at their proximity and the his affection. She couldn\u0026apos;t process his compliment either, though this time she at least tried to answer it. \u0026quot;You don\u0026apos;t need to flatter me so much, my love.\u0026quot; she responded, nuzzling her hand into his cheek with a contented purr. Did he really think so much of her beauty? \u0026quot;It is your own good looks that are worthy of so much praise.\u0026quot; These words at least she truly meant. Stephanus was uncommonly handsome, and she had thought so since their first meeting, even when she found herself bound and chained. \u0026quot;If it please you then I will call you by your first name, Stephanus.\u0026quot; At this Nerida gave a happy smile, proud that she had tried to use his name in a normal manner. \u0026quot;Will you.. will you lay with me again tonight?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 02.01.21",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded to her. \u0026quot;Aye, Nerida. I will lay with thee again this night.\u0026quot; he responded, and kissed her on the lips once again. He however - despite indeed being relatively handsome - did not really think of himself as handsome. He had some scars on his face, for example. Granted, women often find a minimal amount of scars attractive rather than detractive. It should be also added, that he is still young. Just three years older than his wife. Time will take his handsomeness away, eventually. Or time may be merciful to him and let him keep it.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Laying with thee is the most... excellent feeling I can have.\u0026quot; he did not really know what words to use.\n",       "date": "unknown 02.09.23",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  seemed almost relieved by his answer, as though his not wanting to do so would be taken by the girl as a personal affront. It was a strange mixture of feelings that rose in the girl at his answer. Relief, joy, excitement and yet all of these things were tempered still by trepidation. She had cast aside her Gods and even her own culture in order to experience these things, and somehow felt that she should not be allowed to enjoy them. The pleasure that had overcome her the night before had welled up from somewhere inside her more instinctive than she\u0026apos;d ever touched on or discovered before. That was not to say that it was shameful, but it was sinful. Nerida chased these thoughts from her mind as her hands left her husbands skin and she started to wash herself. \u0026quot;I want to order some things for delivery to the estate while we\u0026apos;re still in the city, but I\u0026apos;m happy to wait for that to happen tomorrow. I at least want to hire you some staff. You are a Lord of the Manor after all, it is time that the title befit you and you heard it from the ears of others.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 23.35.31",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  wanted to give Nerida an answer that suited his original plans much more. And what were his original plans? To return to the estate just the two of them for now - maybe with a few others, but not the whole army that they will be bringing to the estate - and inspect what exactly needs to be repaired, what needs fixing, and where can the men who will come with them during the second trip settle down temporarily, or permanently. That was his plan. \u0026quot;I thought just the two of us would visit the estate to evulate what may need fixing, then return here once again, so that we can buy the necessary supplies and hire the necessary staff... But maybe thou art right, and we need skilled men to see the scars of the castle and approximate how much we must buy.\u0026quot; he replied, and turned towards Nerida, going towards her and placing his hands onto her shoulders. This time, it is him who touches her skin, and rubs it. Such softness, such niceness... hard to believe that she is a seasoned warrior like himself. He has scars, his skin is more rough and coarse than that of Nerida\u0026apos;s, and he even has a few premature wrinkles showing up, just at the age of twenty-two.\u003Cbr\u003EHe may have healing magic at his disposal - just like all of his comrades - and he may be able to grow back a cut-off arm, but it seems that otherwise, circumstances are less kind than in Nerida\u0026apos;s world.\n",       "date": "unknown 23.41.09",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked at him with smiling eyes as he touched her skin, letting his touch rather than his words ease her fears and calm her. Her was so gentle with her, always, as though she were made of glass. A peck to the cheek here and a soft touch there, but never anything rough or hard and he\u0026apos;d never once raised his hand to her, even when she was his prisoner. Nerida truly considered herself to be lucky among most others in this regard. When one married more often than not you couldn\u0026apos;t be certain regarding the countenance of ones husband to be, but at least in this regard Nerida had no fears. She was certain that the calm and measured man she saw before her would endure, even in old age and though trying times. It gave her strength to see her chosen path through to its conclusion, regardless of what that might bring them. \u0026quot;A fine idea, Husband.\u0026quot; she said with a softness in her voice. \u0026quot;But we will need to live on the Estate regardless and the sooner there are workmen on the scene the sooner we will have it functional. This is not idea, I know, but the sooner we start sinking money into the place the sooner we can stop.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 23.59.31",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded and began rubbing Nerida\u0026apos;s cheek, then kissed her forehead. \u0026quot;Well then, perhaps we should bring thy men as well... I hope my trust in them is not misplaced, and they will not try to run away once there.\u0026quot; So, bringing craftsmen towards the estate, it is. But for that, they will once again need money. He does have money with him, but is it enough to pay for the craftsmen? Is that quantity of gold enough to convince them to follow him to the estate? Or does he need to borrow money? Then again, he will have to borrow money when buying supplies anyway... He will likely be in the negative for a long time, financially.\u003Cbr\u003EHe kissed Nerida on the lips softly. \u0026quot;Well then... what were thou thinking about, my love? Carpenters? Stonemasons? Interior designers?\u0026quot; he asked the question. At this point, they might as well bring a pack of migrants with themselves too... even though there is no guarantee that people won\u0026apos;t just run away, loot or raid. Establishing an existance at the estate will not be easy.\n",       "date": "unknown 00.05.10",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  answered with alarming ease, as though the question had been posed to her before. \u0026quot;Stonemasons and Carpenters. The inside of the house can wait, first we must secure the outside. The walls will need fixing, the moat filling again... I will not look to start a family in a place where I would be hard pressed to defend them.\u0026quot; It was almost second nature to Nerida to assume that the coin would come easily. She had grown up in a palace after all, funds were easily found the expand the empire and with that expansion came new wealth. With new territory came new positions and lands to claim, fortify and renovate. \u0026quot;I hope you don\u0026apos;t think me brash, husband, but it needs to be done. I can manage the finances well enough, for now, and the place was not in such squalor that we couldn\u0026apos;t live as we did that first night we arrived there. First we must give our men time to fix their own abodes and lodgings. Then we can concentrate on our own comfort. They will thank us for it in the long run.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 00.14.44",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded at first, but had to question her last sentences. Her being used to money coming by easily, and the fact that she even threw away an expensive piece of clothing she bought... She probably has no idea how hard money must be to come by. \u0026quot;But my love... We do not have enough coin to pay for everything at once. We must take a loan, if we intend to hire carpenters and stonemasons as well as buy supplies. Then we will be obliged to pay the loan back with interest.\u0026quot; He meant no disrespect, but he was unsure if Nerida even comprehended the concept of loan and interest. She did warn Stephanus previously that she should be careful and should not take loans from conmen and loan sharks... But are those two really a thing in Asui? Do loan sharks exist in Asui the way they exist in the Kingdom of Etrand, especially the city of Grandfolk? Not that he would want to take a loan from any no-name loanshark to begin with. No. If anything, he will take a loan from a well-respected dwarven banker - the sort that loans gold to nobles and monarchs, not the sort that preys on financially troubled commoners.\u003Cbr\u003EStill, he knows not if Nerida understands that borrowing money may be necessary, unless they intend to steal - something he would never do - or live in discomfort and try to produce something to sell... Taxing is not an option yet, as they have no subjects to tax, no one to collect taxes from.\n",       "date": "unknown 00.22.03",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  blushed a little, as gentle as he always was it sounded as though he was admonishing her slightly for her naivety, though it was an admonishment she well deserved. Nerida broke off eye contact with her husband quickly, her gaze darting away so that he wouldn\u0026apos;t see how ashamed she\u0026apos;d become of her own ignorance. Money had been such an easy thing to come by in her previous life. The purchase of mythrite armour, a necklace inlaid with rubies, a dress from the best of western silks. It had all meant nothing to her. Now she could barely afford to refurbish an estate. \u0026quot;I will be guided by you in this, my Lord. It is your estate and your coin, naturally. Only inform me of your decision and I will see it done.\u0026quot; It wasn\u0026apos;t much of an apology, but for now it was all Nerida had.\n",       "date": "unknown 22.50.54",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  once again patted Nerida\u0026apos;s head. \u0026quot;I will, my love, I will... just don\u0026apos;t throw away another expensive piece of clothing.\u0026quot; he laughed, referring to the one she blodied. However, it was also an allegory for their spending policies in general: buy only what is necessary, save money for anything else for later. Perhaps taking a loan is the only way to do it. And even with that, they will have to live rather harsh lifestyles for a while... hunting and foraging, most likely, until the swampland can be turned into a farmland, until the irrigation can be used... And that\u0026apos;s not even mentioning of the castle itself. Is repairing the castle even worth anything, if its inhabitants are likely going to be starving? \u0026quot;Once we lay claim to our land, we must get our men to work it... After all, we don\u0026apos;t want to starve while our castle is being refurnished. But even then, money will no doubt have to be borrowed from people who will want it back with interest. We will need to think of something to make money off the estate, if we wish to pay the loan back...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 22.56.22",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  sighed and shook her head, a rather despairing look crossing her features. She didn\u0026apos;t want to think about how tough the struggle would be. \u0026quot;Lets set what we can in order while we\u0026apos;re still in the Capital. There\u0026apos;s little else we can do, my love. I would rather not borrow and live sparsely, after fighting on the field it is something I\u0026apos;m rather used to.\u0026quot; This much was true, at least. \u0026quot;In order to raise some coin in the meantime I\u0026apos;ll sell the jewels and the dress. I won\u0026apos;t be needed them all the way out in the country. If I try to help in the fields my things will only be ruined.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 23.03.54",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  went closer to Nerida, and kissed her neck. \u0026quot;Thou needest not to sell the clothes and the jewellry... I will think of something. Besides, the price of repairing a castle is much more than thy clothing and jewellry combined. Not to mention... To sell the ring I bought for our marriage would be sacrilage.\u0026quot; he reassured her. \u0026quot;Borrowing money is the only way, for now. Perhaps if we make concessions, we may get a decent deal...\u0026quot; and by those, he meant promising to give the dwarves something they asked for in exchange for reduced burdens via the loan. Such as handing them over caught orcish raiders. Or by letting them establish their institutions on his estate - not that they would want to - or something similar. If they cannot pay it back, they will not be effected as negatively as they might think - bankruptcy is always an option.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;If we cultivate grapes, we could sell wine... That would earn us money... But just like wheat, to prevent our starvation, would require hard work, to turn the swampland into farmland. We will be likely living from hunting and foraging for quite a while...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 23.08.43",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  let his kiss on her neck soothe her, her body shivering in a brief burst of momentary pleasure. She wanted to reach out and hold him, though it would be far too overt and improper. Not only were the in public, but they were both naked as well. She would need to have some restraint in such issues at least. \u0026quot;We\u0026apos;re so newly wed that we don\u0026apos;t even have daughters to sell or promise...\u0026quot; she lamented, an all too common practice in her native Asui. \u0026quot;And given how little money we have...\u0026quot; No, Nerida stopped herself there. She wasn\u0026apos;t sure of the laws in this realm, or if such a thing were even possible, but she doubted that her intention to make herself temporarily barren would be well received by her husband. Men knew nothing of such things, and it was best kept that way. \u0026quot;...I just worry, though worry will solve nothing.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 23.18.53",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  kissed her cheek. \u0026quot;I will simply take the loan for a long time. We will get our men to cultivate the fields, then from the wine and wheat, we will make the money back...\u0026quot; he did not even want to reply to the idea of \u0026apos;selling the daughter\u0026apos;. He thought, he would simply do it the straightforward way. The land is very fertile. They may be able to make enough money out of it. Although repairing the castle may take a long time, even more so with the land around it being prioritized, it should be worth it...\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;If we are fast enough, we will be welcoming our firstborn into a refurnished castle with parents who drink domestically grown wine...\u0026quot; referring to the idea of growing grapes to sell wine. At least, that is what he is considering. \u0026quot;But first, we may have to fight to keep the land... Orcs will no doubt take notice, and have to be fended off. If we can catch them alive, they might fetch for a nice price.\u0026quot; Ah, slavery. Green lives matter not to the Etrandish, after all.\n",       "date": "unknown 23.24.24",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  let him know of her disapproval of the idea with the frown on her face, her lips forming into a pretty, but obviously displeased pout. It had been so long since such things were even legal at home. That he was genuinely suggesting them to her here and now seemed truly absurd. \u0026quot;No.\u0026quot; she adamantly. \u0026quot;No slaves! The practice is inhuman and beneath us as a species. I find it alarming the alacrity with which your people accept such things. Would that there was no such practice...\u0026quot; It had agitated her, though she didn\u0026apos;t expand on why. Clearly slavery was going to be something of a contentious issue. His comment about any potential child between them was what truly brought Nerida to speak up. \u0026quot;I.. Perhaps it would be wise not to bring a child into the world just yet...\u0026quot; she ventured. \u0026quot;We\u0026apos;ve no money, and I\u0026apos;ll be less able to assist with a babe in my belly and then in my arms. There are teas I can drink, concoctions that will render me barren. Would you consider this?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 23.34.16",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  frowned as well, but only after Nerida made the suggestion of rendering herself temporarily barren. \u0026quot;Unacceptable, my love. The true delight of a family is children. Such unnatural nonsense may destroy one\u0026apos;s life for good...\u0026quot; he said. Clearly, he was displeased with that idea. When he sleeps with her, he intends to make her pregnant. He intends to become a father. Preventing unwanted pregnancies that way might be seen as an acceptable thing for peasants, it is considered vulgar and unnatural by a pious man like him, someone who considers reproduction and pleasure of the flesh interconnected and sacred.\u003Cbr\u003EAs for her protests at slavery. \u0026quot;If green-skinned raiders come from the south with the intention of taking away from us everything we hold dear, we cannot just let them free. We must give them a harsh reprimand... Selling them to the highest bidder may not be the most honourable act, I agree... but it may be necessary. What else can we do with them?\u0026quot; He dared not to mention the possibility of killing them - as that would be a waste of potential money - or cannibalism, as he is no savage, and hopes that none of his would-be-subjects are savages either. Besides, he said selling the orcs, not keeping them. Sold to a family in the north, they may fare better than an upstart noble in the south constantly under attack.\n\n\u0026quot;Worry not, my love... After the first storms, the rainbow will always come...\u0026quot;",       "date": "unknown 23.43.02",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  remained silent on the matters, Stephanus words feeling like they would truly be all he had to say on the subject. Nerida dipped herself back into the warm waters of the bath and let the lotion out of her hair and the oils off her skin. It was not she that was head of the family now, but Stephanus, and if he decided to sell the orcs to slavers then there was little she could do on the matter that it stung at her pride and wounded her sense of right and wrong greatly. Though orcs and their tensions with men were not subjects she was all too educated on in this realm Stephanus was not the type of man to lie to her for a few extra pieces of coin. If what he said was truly the most acceptable way to handle orcish raider then she had little choice but to accept it as the fact of the world. In the same way that if he wished for his seed to stir inside her then she had little other choice in the matter. She could always go behind her back and trick him, but to Nerida that was unacceptable. Her word was her honour, and she would never lie to the man that she called \u0026quot;husband.\u0026quot; It didn\u0026apos;t mean she had to be pleased with the decision however. \u0026quot;As you say, Stephanus.\u0026quot; she replied simply, saying no more.\n",       "date": "unknown 23.50.30",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  went back close to Nerida. \u0026quot;Thou finally said my first name Neri...\u0026quot; he smiled and kissed her cheek. He knew that this may not have been the best time to act all affectionate towards his wife, but this... this moment had to be \u0026apos;celebrated\u0026apos;. \u0026quot;I know that some of my decisions may not be to thy liking... but I am doing it for our mutual benefit. I do what benefits us, and what is right. Once we have our existence secured, we can live as a happy family... With thou as the mother, me as the father, and our children...\u0026quot; and while saying that, he tried to go around and rub Nerida\u0026apos;s head, if she even allowed it at this point. \u0026quot;Thou art everything to me, Neri... Remember that.\u0026quot; and even though he meant it in the here and now - infatuated with his wife and clearly having strong feelings for her - he was partially lied there, albeit unintentionally... as his order, his religion, all those things also mean a lot to him, none of which he would abandon, even for the woman he loves so much. Nevertheless, in the here and now, she is what he thinks about, she is the one he claims to be for.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Remember, I love thee very much...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 23.58.11",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  If Nerida had been blushing before than she was beet red now, her heart hammering in her chest as she listened to his words and understood them to be sincere. Affection, compliments, love... all of these things had eluded Nerida in her short, 19 years of life but to hear them now caused her a joy she wasn\u0026apos;t sure she could contain or react to. In matters such as this Nerida had always been cold to a fault, but as he kissed at her cheek and stroked his hand over her hair, she couldn\u0026apos;t help herself. At first the former Knight had not wanted to believe herself in love, given the arrangement which had brought about their marriage such a thing hardly seemed likely to ever occur, but she could no more deny her feelings for Stephanus than she could deny the smile that she was fighting to keep away from her lips. She found her head nuzzling into his hands, and her body drawing in yet closer still to his. It was a strange thing, to want to embrace someone so, but nevertheless she felt it appropriate and right. \u0026quot;As... as I love you, Stephanus.\u0026quot; It would be the first time she\u0026apos;d said the words to him, but each one of them was meant.\n",       "date": "unknown 00.11.49",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  responded to Nerida\u0026apos;s confession with a kiss onto the lips. Not just a simple short kiss like the one they had at the marriage ceremony. No. It was a longer kiss. A tongue-kiss, one that involves making one\u0026apos;s tongue invade another person\u0026apos;s.... \u0026apos;territory\u0026apos;... within the mouth, to lick the other tongue. All while one of his hands lands onto her cheek. That is how passionate lovers kiss in not just Etrand, but all around the world of Artograch. He kept himself as close to Nerida as possible,even after the kiss was let go, remaining in what is closely related to a tight hug.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Then perhaps we shoud name our first child Haerus, if boy, or Haera, if girl... That name meaneth \u0026apos;Child of Love\u0026apos;, in the language of the High Elves. A child born to parents who truly love each other, from all their hearts.\u0026quot; he made the suggestion. Such a custom may be considered the cutest aspect of Artograchian cultures. A specific name to mark the child as one born to truly loving parents.\n\n\u0026quot;We shall be happy, Nerida... very happy.\u0026quot; He made the promise.",       "date": "unknown 00.18.49",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  beamed a smile at his as he made the suggestion, her features the picture of happiness as she looked into the eyes of the man who had just tasted her lips and found himself to enjoy them. She very much wanted to stay in the moment forever, to keep it with her and freeze it, though of course time waits for no man. \u0026quot;Haerus..\u0026quot; she repeated. \u0026quot;I like it, I can pronounce it... It think it\u0026apos;s a beautiful idea, and I shall strive to make you as happy as you make me.\u0026quot; In any other situation those words would have sounded trite and vacuous to Nerida, but with Stephanus it felt so much different. She was sincere in the sentiment, her heart now openly his, a new bride eager to make her husbands life with her nothing but bliss. Though she knew she could be difficult at times, she truly hoped he could forgive her for it. \u0026quot;First the estate, then.\u0026quot; she conceded.\n",       "date": "unknown 00.25.32",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded to her. \u0026quot;Well then, shall we get out of the water then?\u0026quot; he asked her. \u0026quot;And if we do, doth our first journey take us to the bank?\u0026quot; he asked. The bank. As if there was only one bank in Grandfolk. There are actually many. Most ran by dwarves. The dwarves have a de facto monopoly on the banking business.\u003Cbr\u003EBut they do not have to exit the water just yet. They could spent a bit more time swimming around, or rubbing each other. He felt that he had a woman he loved. He had a faithful wife, who would do anything for him, as he would for her... save for extreme things, such as abandoning his other loyalties.\n\nBut should they exit the pool, where doth the next road take him? One of the banks, off course, and then a guild of engineers to hire carpenters, although they exist in the south as well.",       "date": "unknown 00.31.58",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  let out a heavy sigh, her bro furrowing at the thought of the task which lay ahead of them. It was unthinkable to her that Stephanus should find himself in such a position, especially considering that the crown itself was offering him no helo in establishing himself which was counterproductive at best. Asui had been expanding for a great many years before Nerida\u0026apos;s birth and time she was born into was a prosperous one for the empire as a whole. Loans and so on were a foreign concept to her, not because they didn\u0026apos;t exist in Asui, but because she\u0026apos;d never needed one. \u0026quot;Forgive me, my love. I had not accounted for the differences in circumstance. I will be more careful with my words from now on.\u0026quot; Barely married a day and she was already making him feel less a man with her talk of money. Nerida had always known she would be poor material from which to make a wife. \u0026quot;I leave the decision in your capable hands, of course. I\u0026apos;ll see to it that the loan is paid off with speed.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 20.55.19",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  tried to comfort his wife with a pat on her head, but he knew that even as someone with acumen in administration, she had a long way to go. She is in need of... retraining, for lack of better word. Retraining, to suit her skills to these new circumstances. \u0026quot;Thank thee, my love... I will do my best to ensure that we will not have to resort to such drastic means in the future.\u0026quot; he proclaimed. \u0026quot;Let\u0026apos;s just hope that those dwarves are not very greedy. It is not very knightly to be in debt...\u0026quot;\u003Cbr\u003EAh yes. Knights may be good on the battlefield, and may be enthusiastic advocates of the faith, but finances they are more often than not untrained in. All he can say is that he will \u0026apos;find a way\u0026apos;. Nothing else he can say that would make any sense. So he just splashed some water on himself. \u0026quot;Perhaps we could take care of the loan right now?\u0026quot; he asked, in case Nerida has gotten bored with the bath.\n",       "date": "unknown 21.02.02",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  slipped herself in closer to him, her cheeks turning pink just moments before she reached up to give him a light kiss on his lips. \u0026quot;As you say, Husband. Let me dry myself.\u0026quot; Not that she waited for his permission, Nerida was already out of the water and wrapping a towel around herself before Stephanus had the chance to speak. Talking finance did bore Nerida so, but what else could be done? Stephanus knew how things worked in this world, and Nerida could at least run an estate. Surely together they would be able to muddle through. Their case for a loan seemed strong enough as well. In short, Nerida refused to let herself worry over such trifles, at least for the time being. PIece by piece she dressed herself once again, slipping the silks over her body until once again she was clothed. The girl was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn\u0026apos;t even stopped to notice if Stephanus would be doing the same. She assumed he wouldn\u0026apos;t be needing her assistance,\n",       "date": "unknown 21.09.14",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  would return Nerida\u0026apos;s kiss, and then be taken by surprise to notice how Nerida was already out of the water, but there was nothing else he could do. He just went out of the water himself, and did the same as his wife: dry himself, and then dress up. Except that for him, it would take a little bit longer, as there was more to take on: not just silk, but also steel. He may have known how things worked in this world, but his knowledge of the south was less stellar than his knowledge of these parts. The swamps that he would have to conquer were just as alien to him, as they may have been to Nerida.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Well then... I suppose we should get it over with as quickly as possible...\u0026quot; he said, and would open for the door with the key as soon as Nerida consented, led her out of the building, onto the stables, over to his horse, where they could begin their ride to the bank... or rather, a bank. Any bank. Surely, they are bound to run into one by just wandering around the streets, as those have symbols of bags full of gold.\n",       "date": "unknown 21.14.32",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  browsed the streets that they rode through, though in all honesty Nerida wasn\u0026apos;t sure what she was looking for. The names and symbols would be unknown to her and as strange as the races she saw trawling through the streets. There was something about being out in public in this strange land that Nerida found disconcerting. She had grown used to the barracks that Stephanus had first taken her, where they had spent so much time before leaving to start their married life proper, but these bustling streets with these strange people and alien races... Nerida knew it would take time to adjust. She found herself longing for the rolling, green hills, imposing mountains and rolling waves of Asui, the cultured and marble streets of Antendieu still causing her heart to ache as the memories were still fresh in her mind. As though to cheer herself up her mind presented her with one comforting thought; at least she had married a young noble as her parents had wanted her to. Sure, he was from another realm and spoke as though he were from some archaic play, but wouldn\u0026apos;t they be happy? It was a little thing, admittedly, but it made her giggle as she sat in front of Stephanus, legs side-saddle on the horse. If they had passed a bank at all then Nerida would have failed to notice it.\n",       "date": "unknown 21.22.18",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  on the other hand had no such sentimental feelings going on in his head at the moment to be. Grandfolk is essentially his place of birth. He was born here, this is the city where his parents - whom he never knew - gave birth to him... granted, they did so in the slums. He was raised by the knights in the barracks very close to the city. He always had his chances to know this city. Not to mention, when he was younger, he used to travel a lot to foreign lands on diplomatic missions. He was never really tied to one place. He was exposed to foreign cultures and alien races from early on in his life. It did not surprise him to see even red-skinned or blue-skinned people with three eyes... who actually do not exist in this world, but if they did, it would not surprise him at all.\u003Cbr\u003ENo. What he was focused on instead was to find a bank. And surely enough, after several seemingly wasted minutes spent wandering the city aimlessly, he would at least locate a building with the proper symbol: a wooden sign, with a bag full of yellow coins painted onto it. That. That must be the bank. And what a coincidence - dwarves again. Another building guarded by a moving metal statue: a golem. The owner must be very short.\n\nSo it is time to dismount the horse, gulp, swallow the pride and make it clearly known that they want to borrow money.",       "date": "unknown 21.28.41",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  only watched as Stephanus dismounted from the horse, still eyeing the golem warily. Gods but she hated those things, Stephanus had explained to her how silly she was being but they still made her wary, they didn\u0026apos;t sit right with her at all, Still, there was nothing to be done. No sooner than she was off the horse Nerida practically grabbed at Stephanus\u0026apos; arm, clinging to him as they made their way past the metal statue. Like some frightened child Nerida forced herself to look away from the thing, almost burying her head against his chest. It wasn\u0026apos;t the most dignified of poses, but this was how they went to greet the dwarven bankers together.\n",       "date": "unknown 21.33.46",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  couldn\u0026apos;t help but to play along with Nerida\u0026apos;s childish - at least from his point of view - phobia of golems and just let her have her way, let her bury her face onto his chest and just accompany her into the bank. If nothing else could be done, then this was necessary.\u003Cbr\u003EOnce inside, the couple would be greeted by... as they had expected, a bearded dwarf with a very throaty voice. \u0026quot;Greetings, welcome to Bavghardh\u0026apos;s bank, come along, come along!\u0026quot; so said the dwarf, who clearly seems to be the type who drinks liberal amounts of booze on a rather frequent basis. Red hair, swollen eyes, freckles, a beard that would make even an elderly wizard jealous... Definitely a typical dwarf. \u0026quot;The golem dothn\u0026apos;t bite... only the need for loans does!\u0026quot; he tried to make the joke, but Stephanus did not really get it. He always knew that dwarves had a rather crude humour that was alien to humans like him, but this... this was simply lame - at least, according to him.\n\n\u0026quot;I would like to take a loan, is there-\u0026quot; the knight tried to ask, but he was stopped in his tracks by the dwarf. \u0026quot;Hold on there, young adventurer... I do not just loan out my money to anyone who asks for it. Who art thou, and why doth thou need a loan?\u0026quot; asked the dwarf. Now he is a tough one. And very inquisitive as well.\n\u0026quot;I am Stephanus Tavilrond, new owner of Castle Stattelbarn, and a man with a desire to restore the castle to its former glory. I require funds to do that, but alas, I am severily lacking in gold and silver.\u0026quot; Stephanus tried to explain himself... but how will the dwarf reply?",       "date": "unknown 21.41.58",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  regarded the dwarf silently, though her disbelief might have been betrayed in her eyes. She tried not to stare, truly she did, but this man was the quintessential epitome of a dwarf, almost exactly the image she would have called to mind had she been asked to pain a picture of one for someone from her own realm. His tongue was quick, his manner robust though the rest of his manners seemed lacking entirely. It was a mercy that Nerida made these observations in silence. Had she spoken she would have certainly offended. In order to stop herself from speaking up, Nerida decided to raise her voice in defense of her husband. \u0026quot;That\u0026apos;s not to say that gold can\u0026apos;t be made. We believe the Castle will be the perfect site for a thriving vinyard, and the estate has no shortage of fresh water and fertile earth. Surely there will be money to be made once we\u0026apos;re both as settled as we\u0026apos;d like to be.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 22.23.59",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  silently thanked Nerida for the defense by a silent gesture, then paid attention at what the dwarf would say next. But the dwarf only stroked his beard, humming. \u0026quot;Hmmmm... Hmmmm...\u0026quot; is all what came out of the dwarf for now. Is it better or worse than just awkward silence? Not that it matters, as the dwarf would break his silence soon after.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;And what would be the guarantee that I get my money back, other than a man and his wife trying to sweet-talk me into giving them a loan? What happeneth if I do not get my money?\u0026quot; asked the dwarf, while at the same time seeming to... play with some random stone figures? The audacity...\n\n\u0026quot;If I do not receive the money back in the time I reasonably demand it to be back, what then? Will the two of you come here again to sweet-talk me into being more lenient and forgiving? And if I say yes, but you two come empty-handed again, then what? Hmmm?\u0026quot; he sure has audacity.\n\u0026quot;We are going to...\u0026quot; the knight wanted to say, but was stopped by the dwarf once again.\n\u0026quot;Loans do not come and go freely. I need something I can take away from you in case I do not get my money back.... What will you offer, should the money not go where it needs to be?\u0026quot; asked the dwarf. And that is a very serious question. What will they do if they cannot pay the money back? Sweet-talk? He, the businessman believes that if he does not get his money back, he is entitled to something the client happens to own: such as the estate. \u0026quot;The estate. Would you give up the estate, if you failed to give the money back to me?\u0026quot; asked the dwarf.",       "date": "unknown 22.32.09",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori:  \u0026quot;Not the estate.\u0026quot; Nerida was quick to intercede. \u0026quot;Are you run mad? If you want the vinyard to be successful in order for us to pay back what is owed, you would need our workers to be assured that there will be stability in their lives. Surely there must be something else we can offer you that would be just as beneficial as repaying the loan in its entirety?\u0026quot; Nerida tried to think fast, about the lands surrounding their estate and what else she might possibly give that meant herself and her husband wouldn\u0026apos;t fall asleep with an axe hanging over their heads every night.\n",       "date": "unknown 22.54.19",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  watched intently, as he seemed to fall out of the debate. It was the dwarf versus Nerida now. And the dwarf only said \u0026quot;Tsk, tsk, tsk. Not much can be salvaged from the ruins other than the ownership of the land itself.\u0026quot; and with that, he meant that the reality is that risks have to be made to gain money. He may not have said it out loud, but he he is risking his slowly-earned money over two uncertain individuals who claim to be owners of an estate. He needs a guarantee. And if he is about to take the risk, he will not let them not take a risk.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Or, the two of you could just try out all the other banks, but I doubt any of them would be very keen on giving money to two unknown individuals who could be liars and actors rather than people of nobility...\u0026quot; The dwarf continued.\n\n\u0026quot;It is illegal to offer up a landed estate as a pledge for a loan. Giving up the estate in the event that I cannot pay the money back would be against the law. Both of us - thou and me - would end up in chains.\u0026quot; The knight claimed.\n\u0026quot;Is that so? Then tell me, law-knowing knight, how did thou acquire thy estate? How did thou suddenly come to be owner of a castle that is in desperate need of refurnishing? Estates get sold and bought all the time, and it is very legal...\u0026quot; the dwarf replied.\n\u0026quot;It may be legal to buy an estate, but to take away one is another thing. The laws are aware of it as well.\u0026quot; The knight tried to conclude.\n\u0026quot;Oh, but taking away the estate in case of thy inability to pay up is an act of buying... I buy the estate, giving thee the money to pay back the loan. Very legal.\u0026quot; the dwarf argued.\n\u0026quot;The act of buying and selling requireth consent, dwarf.\u0026quot; The knight interrupted. \u0026quot;Which is why I am not giving a loan without a guarantee that I will get something out of the deal, no matter what...\u0026quot; the dwarf continued. It seems there is no arguing with this person. He really needs a guarantee that no matter what happens, he will get something out of the deal. Typical banker. Very calculating, but also rather harsh. But, as he said, they could try other banks too, and would likely have less luck. After all, the fact that he wants guarantees and gives warnings is a proof of him being legitimate. A loan shark would simply trick people into taking loans and send hitmen to failing payers, while a legitimate banker like him simply refuses to deal with those who cannot give guarantees.",       "date": "unknown 23.06.03",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  looked to her husband with pleading eyes, shaking her head. She would much rather have gone without the comforts that life might afford them the months on end than deal with the parasite that stood before them, but in the end the decision was not hers. It was not her estate and it was certainly not her money with which they gambled. If Stephanus was correct and the business was indeed illegal then no matter how the dwarf tried to glaze over the facts it would be better that they walked away from it entirely. Her affection for Stephanus demanded that she never lived to see her husband in chains on some trick of legality. \u0026quot;Husband, please. The decision is yours but I beg you choose wisely. You have worked so hard for this estate. Would you give it up on some ignoble deal which benefits none but those that already have their pockets full? Is there nothing else we have in exchange?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "unknown 23.16.45",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  looked at Nerida, and patted her head. \u0026quot;Thou art right, my love. This man is not worth it.\u0026quot; he said.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;I do not need thy money. Thou might say that it is better to live with risk than live with patience, but I choose patience. I will not risk my hard-earned estate on some risky loan that may ruin me...\u0026quot; he said it, looking at the dwarf now. The dwarf clearly frowned, having trouble keeping his mouth shut, feeling very tempted to respond in the same manner as a spoiled child who is not getting what he is wanting.\n\nIn the end, the dwarf only sighed, and stopped playing with that stone figure he was previously toying with. \u0026quot;Very well... if the two of you are that craven and afraid of heights, let it be. Go and return to that ruined castle of yours. May the gods ensure that the roof doth not cave in while you are sleeping.\u0026quot; Ah, the audacity again. But he did make sense. Without the money that the banker was offering, they would have no money to pay for the carpenter(s) to fix the castle. They would have no money to pay for stonemasons to fix the walls. Unless they forced some of Nerida\u0026apos;s men to work for free. And even then, they still don\u0026apos;t have supplies, and neither do they have the money to buy supplies. Maybe they should compromise, or try a better bank?\n\u0026quot;There is, one other way however, if thou needest money so badly...\u0026quot; the dwarf said. \u0026quot;I can give a minimal size loan, but if thou failest to pay it back, thou will be put on a black list, forbidden from ever taking a loan from me again. But I can only give a small loan. Probably less than half the money thou art in need of...\u0026quot; A small loan is almost as bad as no loan. What can he do with half the money he needs? He can not buy what he intends to buy, and he still would have to pay it all back with interest. It sounds bad to him.",       "date": "unknown 23.26.51",        "streamlinedDate": false,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  stopped Stephanus before they could both leave, tugging on his arm in a bid to halt his tracks. The dwarf was right, the money would afford them nothing, not the tools nor the manpower needed to fix the castle. Carpenters and stonemasons would be vital to rebuilding what had rightfully become Stephanus\u0026apos; estate and it could not be done on a meager loan offered to them by a greedy dwarf. His wife would lean in close to whisper into her husbands ear, her words carefully chosen and politic. \u0026quot;It is unwise to think that we might live on such a pittance, never mind that we might hire workmen and materials. If you will negotiate with this creature, then my most humble advice is that you accept the larger loan and agree on a timetable that is most favourable to you. The repayment schedule must be on your terms, not his, lest he steal away your own estate from underneath your nose. You have worked so hard for all of this, my love. Please don\u0026apos;t throw it away now.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2017-05-30T20:36:47.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496169407,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  listened first to what Nerida had to say. He listened to her whisper, nodded to her, and then turned to her face, and kissed her cheek. Then he turned to the dwarf.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Very well... I will agree to the loan, but I can not guarantee repayment in anything less than ten years. In fact, even ten years sound a little bit short for such an investment. How about twenty years? Maybe thirty?\u0026quot; he knight said, seeming to irritate the dwarf.\n\n\u0026quot;Fifteen.\u0026quot; he dwarf retorted to him. \u0026quot;Fifteen. No more.\u0026quot; the dwarf said, and Stephanus look at Nerida, waiting for her to nod. He was happy with fifteen years. \u0026quot;Fifteen? Fine by me...\u0026quot; said the knight, and the dwarf would begin working his way around his office to get a piece of paper, and a bunch of pieces of paper. Royal letters of credit. He points at one of them.\n\u0026quot;This is a Royal Letter of Credit. You can exchange it for real golden coins. It is money.\u0026quot; he dwarf said, and then he asked the knight.\n\u0026quot;Speaking of which... how much did you want to loan in the first place?\u0026quot; the dwarf asked the knight. The the knight turned to Nerida.\n\u0026quot;My love... can you list again what will we need?\u0026quot;",       "date": "2017-05-30T20:42:38.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496169758,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  smiled as the men came to their agreement, and following in Stephanus\u0026apos; footsteps she strolled back towards the desk that the creature currently occupied. ending money was an act so distasteful in of itself to Nerida that in truth she wanted no part of it, alas there was little else to be done. They needed to rebuild, to make not only a livable Keep but a successful settlement as well. The girl needed to remind herself that she was no longer royalty, and that swallowing her pride was necessary. \u0026quot;Lets see..\u0026quot; she said, her eyes rising to the ceiling as she tried to mentally list their requirements. \u0026quot;Stonemasons, carpenters, sundries and raw materials, seeds and some tools for farming and irrigation. I am happy to act as Steward until the land is profitable enough to afford one.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2017-05-30T20:50:25.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496170225,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  listened to Nerida\u0026apos;s list of requirements. \u0026quot;Five hundred crowns.\u0026quot; Stephanus said to the dwarf the amount of money he was loaning. That should cover everything: the raw materials, the seeds, the tools, and the salary of the workers for quite a while. At least, for now.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Alright, five hundred... Since you are here for the first time, I will give you a discount - instead of the usual ten per cent interest rate, you will only pay five per cent. Normally, when I loan out five hundred crowns, I expect back five hundred and fifty in return, but from you... only five hundred and twenty-five.\u0026quot; the dwarf made his sly smile. Then he began counting the letters of credit, making sure that the numbers would be correct. \u0026quot;Now, if you will sign right here, the owner of the estate...\u0026quot; the dwarf asked from Stephanus, who would then write down his own name, and the name of the estate on the paper - both copies of the piece of paper. One for himself, one for the dwarf to keep. Then he took the envelope with the letters of credit within it.\n\n\u0026quot;A pleasure doing business with ye... one last thing: in the capital city, they may accept letters of credit as payment, but in the rural areas, they prefer real gold. You might want to exchange some of those letters of credit to actual golden coins at a bank... such as mine, right here.\u0026quot; The dwarf made the suggestion. So they were still not ready!",       "date": "2017-05-30T20:58:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496170709,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  listened to the words, but the practicalities of the situation were far beyond anything she knew. True Nerida had administered her own estates before but she\u0026apos;d always had stewards to rely on and sound advice from those more sage than she. The monetary system of this strange world was nothing less than a mystery to her, credit notes an unknown entity that she had never before heard of, and the exchange of notes for coins quiet frankly a foolish system that surprised her when she learned of it. Though she understood the concept of interest well, she felt helpless to assist with much else. Still, for the benefit of her husband and the man they brokered business with she remained as calm as a cup of water in her outer countenance. \u0026quot;What benefit to you then? Why, you are merely exchanging paper for coin, and in any case the amount must be exact. What difference would it make if we took your papers to another bank and exchanged them for gold there?\u0026quot; Nerida\u0026apos;s tone and wording made the question seem like she was examining him, rather than seeking information which she did not know. She was determined not to reveal to the dwarf her innocence in matters of commerce in this place lest he attempt to pull the wool over their eyes.\n",       "date": "2017-05-30T21:05:46.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496171146,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  looked at Nerida and smiled, intrigued by her question. She sure had a way of asking questions. The dwarf scratched his head, and decided to reply. \u0026quot;No, it makes no difference at all... or does it? Well, you seem like a smart lady, so I\u0026apos;ll let you in on a dirty little secret, on the condition that you tell no one...\u0026quot; the dwarf began, and waited to Nerida to nod, so he can begin saying it. Even Stephanus has to listen closely, because as a paladin, he knows little about money as well.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Golden coins are heavy. You cannot just carry around five-hundred golden coins in your pocket. There is no space for them, and it is just heavy. So, we invented banknotes. Pieces of paper you can exchange for real gold. You see, it all began with safes. We have safehouses. People generally don\u0026apos;t always need all of them gold immediately. So they deposited some of thier gold into our safehouses, where we kept it safe for a small fee...\u0026quot; the dwarf explained to Nerida.\n\n\u0026quot;In exchange, we gave them pieces of paper that indicated that they remained the real owners of the gold that was in our deposits. Everyone jumped on the business, and nowdays... everyone gives out these banknotes. They call it \u0026apos;I owe you\u0026apos; papers, because at the end of the day, that paper is not real gold - it is an indicator that whoever gave you that paper owes you real gold. If I give you five hundred banknotes, it means I owe you five hundred pieces of gold. But if you give those pieces of paper away, I will owe it to them instead of you. Sounds simply enough? Quite convenient, eh?\u0026quot; the dwarf explained, explaining how it is a thing of convenience.\n\u0026quot;In other words, it makes no difference at all... but still, why would you want to go to another bank just to exchange paper into gold?\u0026quot; the dwarf asked. \u0026quot;And as I said... in the capital city, this paper is as good as real gold. You only want to exchange it for real coins, when you go outside...\u0026quot;\n\u0026quot;Hmmm, that kind of makes sense...\u0026quot; the paladin replied to the dwarf. \u0026quot;That is somewhat convenient...\u0026quot;",       "date": "2017-05-30T21:17:26.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496171846,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  nodded her head, impressed at how the monetary system had evolved here. It laid to waste the need for heavy coffers or investment in jewels and land. \u0026quot;This is truly an impressive method of commerce, but it is as you say, such notes will be of little use to us the further we take ourselves from the capital. We should pay the men we intend to hire using the notes, allow them to convert it at their leisure, and for the money we intend to take with us convert it to the gold we require. It may not be so much to carry after all if we return to the tavern tonight and study the sums rigorously.\u0026quot; As she spoke Nerida always looked to Stephanus, his approval necessary for everything she had said. It was not simply her decision to make any longer, he was her Lord and Husband and though she administered his state the final say with such things would always rest with him. \u0026quot;What say you, dearest?\u0026quot; she asked once again, awaiting his confirmation. Nerida was learning, and learning fast the way things worked in this strange land, adjusting as her husband had need of her to do. Her intelligence was an asset, and one she hoped that she might soon put to good use for him.\n",       "date": "2017-05-30T21:24:26.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496172266,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled at Nerida. \u0026quot;I already signed the papers, my love. We are to take these notes and use it to pay men to repair our estate and buy the materials.\u0026quot; he said to her and kissed her cheek. But before he could move on any further, the Dwarf had to say something.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;One last dirty secret... These banknotes are still just pieces of paper. For as long as whoever printed them has a reputation of a credible man, they are as good as money. But if the person giving you those banknotes turns out to be a fraud, it turns utterly worthless. Should my reputation as an honest banker be tarnished, all the people I gave loans to would immediately want my head. Which is why every loan I give out to people - including to you - is a big risk I take. Use that money well.\u0026quot; the dwarf said for last.\n\n\u0026quot;We will...\u0026quot; Stephanus said. The dwarf then winked and smirked at them, as Stephanus took the envelope full of banknotes, and started taking Nerida out of the building, holding hands with her. They had the money. Now it may be time to actually go buying what they need. Nevertheless, the last sentence of the dwarf may make Nerida see things a bit differently, and see the dwarf as something more than just a parasite - someone who actually takes great risks.",       "date": "2017-05-30T21:29:59.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496172599,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  dutifully followed Stephanus from the bank, her misgivings about the banker now somewhat eased by his words. It was a strange thought, that this modernisation of the nations coinage need come at such a risk to the bankers who attempted to enforce it, but nonetheless Nerida found herself impressed by their resolve all the same. Her home realm was advanced, her nation prosperous, and yet she\u0026apos;d still never come across something quite as impressive as what she\u0026apos;d just seen. \u0026quot;It\u0026apos;s fantastic, when you think of it though, really.\u0026quot; she confided to her husband in a whisper as they left the bank. \u0026quot;i think it\u0026apos;s a marvelous idea, and these notes certainly are far more lighter than coin. Perhaps if our settlement becomes successful enough one day we too should adopt the system and enforce it\u0026apos;s use? \u0026quot; It was something to at least think about as the couple attempted to establish themselves in the world. \u0026quot;Should we return to the Tavern, dearest?\u0026quot; Nerida asked with a smile still painted on her lips. \u0026quot;Or is there more business you needs must attend to?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2017-05-30T21:39:36.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496173176,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled at Nerida, and rubbed her head. \u0026quot;Yes, it is a fantastic idea, quite convenient indeed. If our estate grows to be a success... maybe we should have a bank too... Wait, maybe we should also loan money to those who need it.\u0026quot; he smiled and kissed Nerida\u0026apos;s lips afterwards, accompanying her.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Not so sure. We could go to the tavern and have some fun, then rest... Then we can hire the workers and buy the resources tomorrow.\u0026quot; he said and kissed her on the lips once again, accompanying her to the tavern on horseback after exiting the bank, albeit now much more slowly. \u0026quot;Or... should we have a hot bath, like did during one of our first meetings?\u0026quot; he asked, rubbing her head while riding towards the tavern with her. While riding with her, he kissed her neck. \u0026quot;You are so sweet, my love...\u0026quot; saying that completely out of blue. She is a very smart woman, he has to give it to her. A lot smarter than him, even. Not just a loving wife, but a worthy asset.\n",       "date": "2017-05-30T21:43:19.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496173399,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  remained as close to him as she could as they both rode back towards the tavern, her mind swimming with the possibilities that awaited them now that they had the coin and the resources at their disposal to truly have Stephanus\u0026apos; estate thrive. Nerida swore not to be idle, whatever backbreaking labour the other settlers involved themselves with she too wanted to be a part of, assisting wherever she could and letting them now that she was not above hard work. More importantly, letting Stephanus know that she was capable given the tasks that lay ahead of them. \u003Cbr\u003E\n\nHis words took her slightly aback, but Nerida could only smile and blush rather than complain at his out of the blue compliment. \u0026quot;I am only so to you, dearest, and it is only a moments like this. Soon I may turn into a bitter, venomous harridan, nagging you and telling you off!\u0026quot; she teased. \u0026apos;But since we bathed this morning I feel it would be more prudent to return to the inn, enjoy each others company and rest. Nothing else would make me as happy as being together and alone with you.\u0026quot;",       "date": "2017-05-30T21:49:58.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496173798,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  gave Nerida yet another kiss on the lips before responding to her latest sentence. \u0026quot;I love you.\u0026quot; he said to her, and took her hand after dismounting the horse at the stable, marching towards the tavern, where he would do the usual bit of business - check in, get the key, walk upstairs for his room, claim it with Nerida, and sit down with her near the bed. Then he would begin rubbing her cheek, going for yet another kiss on her lips, but this time with the intention of deepening it into a tongue-kiss, one where he would have his tongue penetrate Nerida\u0026apos;s mouth, lick her tongue, suck on her tongue, all in the name of love, while simultaneously doing other things to her - such as rubbing her cheek, or rubbing her head, or her back, or even trying to undress her and himself - the possibilities were endless, provided that she played along.\u003Cbr\u003EAnd surely enough, he would try all of them - rubbing her cheek while kissing, his hands traveling down to other body parts of her, with the intention of beginning an undressing.\n",       "date": "2017-05-30T21:55:24.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1496174124,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "In spite of her shyness Nerida couldn\u0026apos;t help but return the kiss he\u0026apos;d graced her lips with, her mouth parting to welcome his inside and though she acted on sheer instinct alone rather than years of practice or tutoring she began to trust that she knew what to do with her body, her trepidation fading quickly. She couldn\u0026apos;t help the small moan that left her lips and was muffled by his own, and her hands did nothing to hinder him as he began to undress her. Nerida too saw the opportunity and shyly did away with the first few buttons on his shirt, giggling at the sudden, unabashed affection they found to show to one another. \u0026quot;A-are you quite content, husband?\u0026quot; she asked him in gentle tones, her dazzling blue eyes looking up into his before shyly turning to the ground again. \u0026quot;I-I don\u0026apos;t want to appear improper, o-or presumptive.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T20:36:25.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587494185,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded. \u0026quot;I am very much content, my dear wife.\u0026quot; he said, giving her neck a kiss as they were undressing each other without much further ado. The undressing continued, and before long - with each other\u0026apos;s help - they found each other naked. Now with both of them undressed, he put his hand onto her torso, giving it a touch, while one hand of his went behind her back to touch it, planting another kiss onto her lips as he was doing all that. This was merely just the beginning, as the two would be doing much more tonight than just kissing and cuddling after all - they were showing each other affection unashamedly, with him giving a gentle touch to her torso, a very much underrated part of someone\u0026apos;s body when it comes to display physical and erotic affections. He did not carry her to the bed yet, and in fact did not even pick her up just yet - they had all the time in the world, after all.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T20:41:10.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587494470,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  found herself longing for his lips and his taste almost in the same instant that he pulled them apart to speak, an unintentional whimper passing her lips. Nerida hadn\u0026apos;t imagined that she would find herself craving his touch again so easily, or that her body would become so wanton and aroused at the thought of taking him inside her once again. Her breath began to deeped, her breasts heaving on her chest as the two used their inexperience and what little it had taught them in an effort to bring pleasure to each other once again. When their lips once again met Nerida held herself as close to Stephanus as she could manage, relishing the feeling of his skin against hers and not least how heavy and tumid his manhood seemed to grow. Nerida blushed, not knowing how best to use it, or if to try at all. \u0026quot;Will we do this often, do you think? W-would you want to? I-I don\u0026apos;t know what would make you happiest...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T20:48:09.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587494889,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  cherished the fact that their skin was in contact so closely, still finding her blush cute, still being absolutely enamoured with the sight of her, with everything she has to offer. \u0026quot;I think we will... But only if it pleases you, my love.\u0026quot; he said, kissing her, laconically reminding her that love is a two-way street, and he cares for her wishes and desires almost as much as she does for his. He depened the lips-kiss into a deep tongue-kiss, greedily sucking on her tongue as he allowed his own to pass to her mouth, while the hands would travel, with one hand migrating to her butt, the other to her sideboob, both rubbing the respective area of influence with affection, while the lovers were letting their tongues dance in a dance of love and passion, The feelings of love and affection were overwhelming for the knight - even as a married man who was now enringed with the beautiful Nerida, he still almost felt like he was in a good dream. Is this what they call the \u0026apos;honeymoon phase\u0026apos;?\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T20:53:30.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587495210,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  \u0026apos;s instincts took over once again, the Knight letting herself be guided simply by what felt right rather than by what she should or should not do. A moan reverberated against Stephanus\u0026apos; tongue, the sound light and girlish as Nerida felt that excitement rising in her lower abdomen and spreading through the rest of her body. Her hands moved down his back and settled instead on his lower back, close to the flesh of his rump as she kissed him and held him close. \u0026quot;I-I want to do this with you every day\u0026quot; she confessed, her kisses growing more hungry. \u0026quot;Wh-whether that\u0026apos;s bad or sinful or not, I don\u0026apos;t know... I-it just feels right.\u0026quot; It was the best way to describe what Nerida was trying to tell him - that this felt natural and right and that the girl\u0026apos;s affection for her kind husband only seemed to grow.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T20:59:52.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587495592,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  too wanted to do this with her every day. Whether this was sinful or not. \u0026quot;It is not.\u0026quot; he smiled at her, giving her yet another kiss, before he decided to exploit the situation and lift her up while kissing her, almost as if he tried to distract her from the fact, that she was being lifted up by him, and then carried to the bed, where - not wanting to let a single second go without a kiss between them - he went crawling towards her like a tiger towards its victim, planting his lips on hers as soon as humanely possible, putting his arms besides her shoulders, and his legs spread around hers, in a perfect position to begin lovemaking - if she opens her legs to him, that is. But there was still time for that. They could still spend their time kissing and kissing, with him being more than strong enough to suspend himself up above her with just one hand, as long as they delayed the main course, he could use the spare hand to rub her belly once again.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T21:04:22.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587495862,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  giggled as she was lifted into his arms and again when he placed her down on the bed, her consent obvious by her mirth and her actions towards him. She thought of some of the ageing, ugly dukes back home she\u0026apos;d been introduced to, who\u0026apos;d attempted to court her well aware of her vows and offered her nothing but a life of boredom and loneliness save for when they wanted to put another heir in her. Perhaps it was indeed the Gods design that she ended up in this strange world, with a handsome, strong Knight as a husband who brought to her a happiness and a pleasure that her soldier\u0026apos;s mind could barely process. Nerida noticed, perhaps for the first time, how his palm spanned across her lower abdomen and stroked her there leaving her skin feeling tender. It was such a simple thing, and yet she could feel it making the bud between her legs twitch in pleasure. \u0026quot;...Are you quietly asking me to lose weight, Husband?\u0026quot; she asked almost shyly. It was strange to think that before long his child might well be growing there, inside her.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T21:11:23.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587496283,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shaked his head, but he knew that the question itself was a joke. \u0026quot;No, not at all, my love.\u0026quot; he replied to her chuckling, Neither of them were particularly heavy eaters, and if their night-time activity is anything to go by... well, they\u0026apos;ll have their workout regimen today. Such a strange twist of fate, that fate introduced a beauty like her to him. He never thought of himself as particularly special, yet here he was, blessed with the person whom he considered the most beautiful woman in the world. \u0026quot;Now, my love.... would you open thy beautiful legs for me?\u0026quot; he playfully asked her, but it was a rather rhetorical question - given how it was pretty much obvious from the very start what they were going to do, he did not even need to ask her. Yet he still did. And he kept rubbing and tickling her as long as she abstained from answering, pushing his hardened manhood into her feminine cave of wonders as soon as she opened up, with both hands next to her. Of course, that would be obviously followed by moaning and groaning, as expected.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T21:17:00.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587496620,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  teased him by answering with a coy \u0026quot;no\u0026quot; at first, even as she did as she was asked and parted her legs for him, letting him slide between them and then just as swiftly inside her. Stephanus would find his bride already wet, her silken divide ready and waiting for her husband to complete her and fill her since he\u0026apos;d placed that first kiss on her lips. Still she felt him need to push, still her insides felt just a little too tight, but the discomfort was nothing to the pain she\u0026apos;d experienced the night that he deflowered her. Her hands wrapped around his strong torso and her legs entwined with his, almost instinctively looking to keep him close as inch after hard, hot inch slid inside her tunnel and rubbed against her walls. She\u0026apos;d feel him there against that soft spot buried deep inside her before his member could go no further, kissing against her deepest point while Nerida tried to adjust to the sensation of having a man deep inside her once again.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T21:28:17.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587497297,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  definitely appreciated the aid Nerida provided him, as it allowed him to simultaneously go in fast, and go in hard. And that he did, albeit not so hard. He knew that speed was more important than deep penetration, so he focused on fitting well inside her as fast as possible, albeit struggling with it a little until he developed a consistent rhytm of sorts - then it took little effort to go in both fast, and effective. The fleshy battering ram kept ramming the gates of her sheath, lubricated by her wetness, aided by her closeness. He too, made sounds of pleasure as he made love with her, enjoying every moment of having her so close. This was not the first time of them making love - yet it just did not get old. It felt fresh, like it was a new experience. Of course, he eventually settled into a rhytm, mechanically ramming her silky sheath with his meat-staff, hoping that he was being a satisfying lover to her.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T21:33:41.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587497621,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  lay still beneath him at first, not entirely sure whether or not it was the right or wrong thing to do. Stephanus seemed to enjoy how her insides and body felt so much that in truth she was afraid that moving too much might ruin the sensation for him, steal his rhythm away from him or somehow outright hurt. As the moments passed however and she felt Stephanus\u0026apos; manhood still held inside her Nerida found it was impossible to still her hips. In sensual, serpentine motions her body began to writhe beneath him, his sex eliciting soft moans and more of her honey as his cock mined and probed her insides. Nerida was in a trance, the bliss she felt overpowering and freeing at the same time and before long she began to learn what her body liked to feel. She placed her hands on his rear and pushed Stephanus in, deep and probing, the tip of his cock stroking against that spot inside her that brought her so much pleasure. \u0026quot;S-slow...\u0026quot; she begged him gently, looking into his eyes with eyes clouded by lust. \u0026quot;I-I want to feel you there. I-it feels so good, h-husband...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T21:43:31.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587498211,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  got the message - he did not need to say any words, just smile at her and take the lesson: do it deep, not fast. So he had to start all over again: go in deep, as deep as possible, savour it, don\u0026apos;t try to be fast. Even though speed was the road of quick eruption, he heeded her pleas and started going in slower and deeper, even a bit rougher. Of course, this also meant more groans. But he didn\u0026apos;t mind. She was helping him by holdnig his back and by having her legs wrapped around him. It seemed that for the time being, the noises he made were even louder than the ones she made. A rhytm developed once again, hopefully more pleasing than before - focusing on penetration, rather than speed, they were sure able to feel each other and hold off erupting for a long time, which was for the best. He kept ramming into her, yet there was no sign of the climax anywhere near in time. No. It has to go on for at least twice as long now!\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T21:48:27.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587498507,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  felt the years of her untapped, repressed needs bubbling to the surface again, her desire to let Stephanus know every inch of her body and enjoy it accordingly overtaking any sense of shame or religious guilt that she felt in the moments before he used her. His impassioned groans were music to Nerida\u0026apos;s ears, the desire he had for her and admiration for her body and looks evident in how he took his time to enjoy her and exorcised his pleasure through his lips. It was a heady experience, lust a drug that Nerida had never before known and now she was mixing it with genuine affection for her husband that seemed impossible to deny. Beneath him her hips rose and fell, her body helping him to keep his pace, encouraging him to go deeper, to kiss against that vulnerable entrance to her womb and seed her body with his heirs. Her own soft cries of pleasure only seemed to grow in intensity.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T21:57:26.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587499046,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  did not waste one moment to savour the flavours of true love, Of course, seeds were not ready to fall out yet - not yet, as it would take quite a bit of more ramming to get to that part. He still felt great joy at mechanically assaulting her feminine wonderland, feeling truly united in love with her, wanting every inch of their skin to touch and rub against each other. And sure enough, no longer content with just ramming her, he planted a passionate kiss on her lips and tongue, deciding to mix pleasure with business. After all, why not? If they can do two simultaneously, they might as well. And sure enough, five minutes filled with moans, groans and passionate kissing later, sure enough, he would erupt into her womb, but also begin breathing heavily, due to the kiss they shared. Except that it was not over yet - for every play, there can also be an afterplay, and with that, he\u0026apos;d remain well inside her even after having climaxed, still suspending above her, now using one hand to gently rub and tickle her cheek as a form of afterplay.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T22:04:25.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587499465,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  didn\u0026apos;t take long to lose herself in his kiss, the only sounds in her ears those of their wet kisses, wet lovemaking and mixed, needy moans. Just as before she felt that pleasure building inside her, the result of her body begging her to be bred and have Stephanus sow his seed inside her, but rather than the desperate, virginal rush of pent up need she\u0026apos;d felt the first time, this was the result of her husbands careful ministrations and the motion of her body as she began to learn what it was like to please and be pleased by a man. Her cunt gave soft, needy throbs around his manhood as those sensations began to grow more intense and she lost herself in the moments where she felt truly at one with her husband. \u0026quot;S-steph...\u0026quot; she let slip his name as she drew closer, her budding climax now almost too powerful to ignore up until the moment where she felt him erupting inside her, his balls churning against her sex as he unloaded glob after glob of his virile seed deep into her sex, her womb drinking deep of his essence. She felt her body tense and coil, all of her growing restless until the moment her restraint snapped and flung her deep into a writhing, melting climax that washed over her body and mind in waves. Her tight little tunnels massaged and undulated around her cock as her moans filled the air between them. The look of bliss of her pretty face was undeniable.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T22:15:51.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587500151,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was also looking as blissful as it gets - and why wouldn\u0026apos;t he? Still, instead of suspending himself in the air above her, he eventually landed next to her on the bed, immediately placing his hand onto her belly to rub it as a form of afterplay, using his other hand rub her cheek, before giving her yet another kiss on the lips. How many times have they kissed so far? He lost count. But did he even need to count? Love is uncountable after all. Uncountable and priceless, precisely what their affections for each other are. With his seed planted within her - at least, as far as he was aware - and with much of the passion in betweem them, the one question left to answer was what will they do after this? Well, of course, rest. Their lovemaking session took place in the inn after a long day, and even longer days await them. Whether it was the evening or just afternoon, affectionate resting was the apropriate answer - but he did not rest just yet, and instead administered her with more doses of affectionate touching. \u0026quot;Nerida.... I love you....\u0026quot; he just casually spoke.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T22:21:07.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587500467,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  lay beneath him still, catching her breath and recovering from the powerful sensation that had washed through her body and mind and left her reeling from the pleasure. Gods, how good it felt to have him inside her. Nerida could well understand now with the benefit of hindsight why her priests had warned the young women of the world away from the pleasures of the flesh. It was far too easy to lose oneself within them. With a blissful smile and rose coloured cheeks Nerida stilled his hand over her abdomen and placed hers over his, girlish and docile as they embraced each other in the afterglow. \u0026quot;Y-your baby will grow in there soon...\u0026quot; she reminded him gently before kissing at his lips yet again. \u0026quot;A strong son or a beautiful daughter. I... I thought I hated the idea, but in truth I don\u0026apos;t. I-I think I love you too, husband. I want to grow gravid with your child.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T22:27:48.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587500868,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  kissed her back on the lips - \u0026quot;That he will, my love...\u0026quot; he smiled at her, giving her yet another kiss. \u0026quot;I wish that every one of our evenings go like this, my love. Just us in our room, showering in our love for each other...\u0026quot; he said, giving some rubbing to her cheek. His religion did not forbid or stigmatize carnal pleasures like this. Yes, it was very restrictive in what kind of couplings are allowed to partake in such pleasures, but the carnal love itself wasn\u0026apos;t stigmatized - quite the contrary, celebrated instead. Family is the one and most important thing in his religion, family - something he lacked throughout all his life, with his order being a surrogate family of sorts so far, and now with him starting a true family with Nerida. Truly, they complete each other, as Nerida is giving him the very thing he lacked in his life - someone to be treated as his own flesh and blood. \u0026quot;A strong son or a beautiful daughter... if it\u0026apos;s a girl, I hope she inherits your beauty, my love. Your golden hair, your piercing diamond eyes...\u0026quot; given how he too had blue eyes, the eye part was at least very much likely.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T22:34:54.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587501294,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  giggled at his compliments and blushed a little deeper to hear them, though she tried once again to deflect them with humour, of all things, her barriers growing ever lower around Stephanus the longer she spent in his company. \u0026quot;As do I. Perhaps she will have your hair, my love, and your jawline and stubble to go with it.\u0026quot; She laughed a little at her own joke, lovingly cupping his cheek in her hand as she stared deep into his eyes with an affection she struggled to put words to describing. She felt wet and sticky between her legs, his seed so copious and her honey so well used that it began to escape them both and pool on the sheets beneath them. Nothing, at least not to Nerida, had felt so right in her short life aside from the warm sensation of his seed deep in her belly. \u0026quot;D-do you want me to look away? I-I don\u0026apos;t mind. I\u0026apos;ll wash and change and come to bed if you\u0026apos;d rather I didn\u0026apos;t see.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T22:48:23.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587502103,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  shaked his hand. \u0026quot;Of course not, sweetheart. Just say here, with me.\u0026quot; he said, putting his hand onto her cheek once again, giving a kiss to her lips. \u0026quot; - the deities they worshipped sure had blessed them, if they felt such love for each other. They say love can be found in all the places, but in another world? Well, now that is brazen. \u0026quot;How long, have we been together, my love?\u0026quot; he asked the question jokingly, mostly as a sort of joke to remind her, that he had intended for them to see everything together. Indeed, their love for each other started as a plan for a sham marriage, that turned into a real love-marriage. It makes him chuckle to remember, that he had to explain the concept of a wedding to her. \u0026quot;Have you already thought of a name for our little one, my beloved?\u0026quot; he asked, wondering how much of the future did she think already.\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T22:54:42.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587502482,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  paused at his question, her eyes giving him a look that almost requested clarification. Did all men get sentimental, almost philosophical once they\u0026apos;d emptied themselves inside their wives? She tilted her head to answer him, smiling a little and giggling at his demeanour. For want of a better word, Nerida found it truly adorable, an endearing trait she hoped to see much of over the course of their married lives. \u0026quot;I-it has been near a year, husband, has it not? Since you first took me into your custody. As for names, I-I confess I\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T23:11:40.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587503500,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  I\u0026apos;ve yet to think of any...\u0026quot; She paused a moment, looking almost ashamed of herself as she blushed and averted his gaze. \u0026quot;O-our names aer very different. You accent and language is similar to mine, b-but different. I don\u0026apos;t know what names befit the son or daughter of a noble in these lands, my Love, and I know no other ladies to ask.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T23:13:09.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587503589,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  just smiled at her - \u0026quot;Well... why not name the first son after his father, and the first daughter after her mother? Stephanus and Nerida... or maybe.... we could even play around with it.... Stephania for the daughter, Neridius for the son.... How does that sound?\u0026quot; he chuckled a little, meaning the latter part more as a joke of sorts. Still, even as they were talking, there was still room for affection - and affection he gave her, still rubbing her cheek, and giving her yet another kiss on the lips. \u0026quot;I did not think of much else either, much to my shame....\u0026quot; he smiled to her, kissing her cheek afterwards. \u0026quot;But we might as well improvise, when the time comes, right?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-21T23:15:52.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587503752,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  made a look at Stephanus suggestion that told him she hated the idea, physically wrinkling her nose before she shook her head. \u0026quot;Naming the son after yourself and the daughter after me? No, Gods, I cannot stand the thought, and calling for someone in the house would simply become more complicated.\u0026quot; A small laughter passed her lips again, but it seemed that in this Nerida was resolute. \u0026quot;No, I think not, and definitely not Neridius for a boy!\u0026quot; She threw a pillow at him in jest, but returned his kisses when he offered them. \u0026quot;You\u0026apos;re right, lets think of this another time. A time when we\u0026apos;re at least certain a child is coming.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-22T18:18:09.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587572289,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  couldn\u0026apos;t really understand why would she be against such a common custom, but in the end, the secret of a harmonious marriage is communication - and they communicated. Sure, they did so jokingly, and their kiss proved that even such arguments and disagreements, they loved each other. \u0026quot;We\u0026apos;ll have plenty of time... at least nine months, if not more.\u0026quot; he said, taking his hand onto her belly. He wasn\u0026apos;t sure if their sessions of lovemaking resulted in a pregnancy just yet.... but at the \u0026apos;worst\u0026apos; case scenario, they still had nine months to come up with a name for a child. \u0026quot;Got any other spicy subjects on your mind, my love? Such as where to put our....\u0026quot; but he just laughed. The sentence bled into a laughter of a sorts.\n",       "date": "2020-04-22T18:23:08.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587572588,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  embraced him, hand hands tracing gently over his skin as her eyes looked deeply into his. There was a smile on her lips that spoke of her utter contentment even if she herself didn\u0026apos;t truly have the words to express it herself. \u0026quot;Where to put our what, husband?\u0026quot; she purred happily to him. \u0026quot;Please don\u0026apos;t tell me you\u0026apos;ve something unsavoury. I knew a Knight of questionable sanity who once kept a cache of his opponent\u0026apos;s teeth. Do you too have something as macabre that I shall need to find a place for?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-22T20:56:43.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587581803,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  embraced her, making his hand find its way accross her body, while he listened to her quite happily. \u0026quot;Well, our everything.... Like, furniture, for example. Or personal belongings of any kind.\u0026quot; he smiled. He was not much of an interior designer, and he was hoping that his wife would be better equipped to deal with that job than he was. He wasn\u0026apos;t hiding anything unsavoury - in fact, he wasn\u0026apos;t hiding anything. Before their marriage, he barely even had any personal belongings to his name, other than his sword, his armour, his clothes, his horse, and currency. Truth be told, even with him being the proud owner of a decprecit castle in a desperate need of rebuilding - something Nerida\u0026apos;s former comrades will eventually get to - his personal property still doesn\u0026apos;t expand to much more. \u0026quot;I have nothing of that sort, my love... Truth is.... I don\u0026apos;t even think I have much that we can put at any place.\u0026quot; he laughed.\n",       "date": "2020-04-22T21:00:52.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587582052,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  cupped his cheek as she looked up at him, giggling a little at his assertion that his possessions were minimal. So too were her own, after all everything she had to her name was something he had given her since she\u0026apos;d first arrived in his world. \u0026quot;Between us, my love, we have nothing. There is nothing I own that you have not seen. Even my armour is in your possession, as was I when I was your prisoner. It seems there are more things than not that we will need to ask of the carpenters. I\u0026apos;m not certain we have so much as a bed to sleep on...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-22T21:17:47.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587583067,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  smiled at her, \u0026quot;Besides the most beautiful wife in the world, a title that would mean little without the land attached to it, my sword, my horse, my armour, my clothes, and a decrepit castle in desperate need for repair.... what do I have, my sweet love?\u0026quot; he asked her smiling, rubbing her cheek, giving her a kiss on the lips after he completed uttering his rhetorical question that was not really meant to be answered. \u0026quot;Have we gotten your armour repaired already, darling? My memory sometimes gets a little fuzzy.... if we have not, I think that will be in order as soon as possible. It will be as good as new...\u0026quot; he rubbed her cheek reassuringly. \u0026quot;Well, perhaps when we get back, both you and I, as well as your men, shall be sleeping in bedrolls and tents for a while... Let\u0026apos;s savour our comforts for as long as we have them, my love.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-22T21:21:52.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587583312,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori tried to recall the whereabouts of here armour through the haze of bliss and loss of tension she felt but it was somewhat impossible for her in the moment. Her focus was on solely how good she felt, the proximity of her husband and the soft sheets of the bed beneath them. Whenever might she feel a bed again after they left the inn that night? Nerida almost didn\u0026apos;t want to think on the answer. \u0026quot;A bedroll will do nicely so long as I\u0026apos;m to share it with you... and in a different room to the tradesmen who\u0026apos;ll shortly follow us. There is so much to think on husband that sometimes I wonder if we\u0026apos;ll ever see it through to completion. Things seem to happen so slowly in this realm, and I am not used to a shortage of money hindering my efforts in getting these things done.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-23T17:23:40.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587655420,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond kissed Nerida\u0026apos;s forehead. \u0026quot;Well.... we like to take things slowly here. If you hurry up too fast, you\u0026apos;ll get grey hairs, my love. Life is best spent savouring the good things.\u0026quot; he just made the last sentence up to have something catchy and quirky to say. \u0026quot;But relax, my love... once we are through with it, it will feel like yesterday. Remember our wedding? It still feels like it happened yesterday.... Our meeting still feels so recent.\u0026quot; Stephanus was being rather optimistic. He was the type of person whose main idea was to take things slow and let things sort themselves out. A worryingly common mentality in this world, but not the ideal one for actually getting things done. And Nerida was wise to remind him of that. \u0026quot;Besides, we have the money now. Quite a few letters of credit, enough to pay for the materials, the missing tradesmen, and for some accomodation for your comrades.\u0026quot; Yes, but they\u0026apos;ll be still living in tents for days - if not weeks - and will be hunting and foraging for food most likely. \u0026quot;We shall have our own tent, my love...\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-23T17:29:40.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587655780,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori laughed a little and wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to pull him in closer through the pillow talk. She adored his warmth, the feeling of him there, bare and so close to her. She never imagined she\u0026apos;d become a woman grown leaning into her husband\u0026apos;s chest just to listen to his heartbeat and holding him to force him to linger a few more moments. But here she was, and here they were and before long Nerida lay her head against his broad chest and closed her eyes to the thumping of his heart. \u0026quot;Good... some moments after the worst days that are to come I imagine I shall want you all to myself. Please don\u0026apos;t deny that one thing.\u0026quot; She felt her eyes closing, her body unwound to the point where she felt herself drifting off still bare and at his side, using the man as a pillow.\n",       "date": "2020-04-23T17:35:03.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587656103,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond happily embraced her touch and closeness, putting his hand onto her back to rub it. \u0026quot;I will never deny that, my love.\u0026quot; he reassured her, still rubbing her bare body, He felt really good with her so close to him. He never imagined once, that it would come to this... but he welcomed it. From someone who used to be his foe, to someone who was his dearest love, someone whom he cherished above all else. Someone with whom he swore to unite in soul and body - which he did, having married her, and having implanted his seed within her womb, having pressed his lips on hers so many times before, that he lost count. He said nothing more, just kept rubbing her, closed his eyes, and began to rest. Even if it was not quite dark just yet, the soothing presence of his beautiful wife compelled him, to devote these moments to being united with her in mind and body - that is, laying so close to each other, with so much affection.\n",       "date": "2020-04-23T17:41:09.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587656469,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori slept with a great deal more peace than she could ever have recalled doing so, her eyes reluctant to open even as the sun came streaming through the windows and broke through the into the room to settle on the bed. She was accustomed to rising early but on this one occasion it seemed she hadn\u0026apos;t truly tried to force her habit. A smile passed over her lips and, still half asleep, Nerida cuddled in close to Stephanus. They\u0026apos;d obviously shifted a little in the night and now she found herself encircled by him, with him at her back as she woke on her side. Immediately her rational mind began to go over the list of things that she needed to do. Get up, get washed, clothe yourself, find some food, ready yourself to look for tradesmen to accompany you back to the ruin that was to become your home. Surprisingly enough Nerida shushed herself, halting these thoughts for the peace of laying perfectly rested in her husband\u0026apos;s arms even if just for a little longer.\n",       "date": "2020-04-23T18:02:36.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587657756,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond was - as usual - the heavier sleeper, sleeping silently, yet also heavily, waking up much later than Nerida. Having his arms around her, he kept sleeping while cuddling her, and he slept peacefully, like the milk, with absolutely no worries in the world. Unless Nerida wakes him up manually, he\u0026apos;d only wake up later than her - by the time she\u0026apos;d already be out of the bed, probably -, and would do so by slowly rising from the bed, yawning, raising his hands and stretching his body, but overall with a similar routine in mind as the one she had in mind. Of course, if she just kept herself in the bed to cuddle him in the morning, he did not rise up either, irresponsibly spending as much time cuddling her as possible. He was just as attached to her as she was to him, and it showed. As soon as he opened his eyes, his mind was on her, and if she was close by, he\u0026apos;d make an attempt to kiss her. Maybe they should spend their morning doing exactly what they did before sleeping? Another lovemaking session?\n",       "date": "2020-04-23T18:10:12.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587658212,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori had no idea she\u0026apos;d cheated herself out of more of her husbands time and lovemaking by rising and washing, but be that as it may Nerida was dressed by the time that Stephanus woke to find her, sitting by the open window of the inn with a cup of water on the table in front of her and a book in her hands that she\u0026apos;d largely ignored in favour of watching the street below. There was far more going on down there than on a page of symbols she couldn\u0026apos;t read or understand. She\u0026apos;d styled her own hair yet again, the golden blonde strands plaited and then styled up into a low chignon that sat just above her neck. Until such a time they could afford servants, if that time -ever- came, Nerida figured she may as well get used to styling her own hair rather than requesting the services of a coiffeur. \u0026quot;Good morning, husband\u0026quot; she cooed softly at him as he woke. \u0026quot;You looked so peaceful I was loathe to rouse you.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-23T18:55:47.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587660947,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond sadly went through no lovemaking this morning - not necessarily the saddest matter of affairs, but still... He woke up slowly - with Nerida trying to read something as he woke up - and also dressed himself slowly, after a quick wash. The luck of being a man - no need to style himself much. Even his hair wasn\u0026apos;t styled - he mostly wore it combed down, primarily combed backwards, towards his back, but also towards the sides. He didn\u0026apos;t wear a ponytail while acquinted with Nerida so far, and he had no intention of starting that habit right now... or so he thought, until he looked at Nerida styling her hair - which compelled him to take out a little rope of sorts, and put his hair into a ponytail. Then he approached her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. \u0026quot;Good morning, my beautiful wife.\u0026quot; he said, \u0026quot;And you look so beautiful that I.... that I\u0026apos;m glad that it is the first thing I see in the morning.\u0026quot; he replied to her, rubbing her cheek a little. He got fully dressed, effectively ready to go downstairs.... except that Nerida seemed to be busy styling her own hair. Looks like he does need to wait a little after all.\n",       "date": "2020-04-23T19:08:58.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587661738,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  let this kiss warm her cheek as her husband rose to start his day, closing the book as she could no longer pretend to understand whatever information was held within. \u0026quot;You slept so well, it gladdens me. So, what now? I hope you\u0026apos;re about to suggest food because that is precisely what we need.\u0026quot; There was a sigh and then a small pout on her lips as she looked out towards the streets, the world already bustling having started long ago without them. \u0026quot;...Where are we to find tradesmen and crafters in this city? And what level of skill can we afford? I would know precisely who to turn to back home but here I fear I am useless to you.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-23T20:16:57.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587665817,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  nodded to Nerida - \u0026quot;Oh yes, food. I was about to suggest roasted pearl hen with almond cream, served with roasted potatoes and the Snow-White Sugary.\u0026quot; Pearl hen? He actually meant domestic guineafowl. Then he began to scratch his head. \u0026quot;Hmmm... let\u0026apos;s see... tradesmen... We need carpenters and stonemasons to make the building inhabitable to begin with, then we need to buy furniture, unless we want to hire woodworkers, tailors and metalworkers. I presume each of these have their own guilds, but I\u0026apos;m not entirely sure where is the Carpenters\u0026apos; Guild or the Masons\u0026apos; Guild. We will have to ask the locals, or scout around. We\u0026apos;ll need a wagon to transport the building materials, but we can\u0026apos;t be sure how much of what we need until we actually get to the castle. We\u0026apos;ll also need a wagon to transport your men, as well as the tradesmen. Speaking of your men - were any of them carpenters or stonemasons by chance before enlisting into the army? If so, that is money spared. As for what level of skill we can afford... I believe we should pick the chapest of options even if we have money. Never know when will misfortune strike and plunge us into debt.\u0026quot; he went through with it, effectively thinking out loud as a response to her question. The alternative would be.... \u0026quot;... the alternative would be to just hire a stonemason, and look for the carpenters in Talon. That\u0026apos;ll spare us some personnel-transportation expenses, as well as food expenses.\u0026quot; that was a long sentence by him.\u003Cbr\u003EMaybe it would be better to head downstairs for food?\n",       "date": "2020-04-23T20:24:51.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1587666291,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "The length of the explanation took Nerida by surprise, even she had to admit that it was possibly the most she\u0026apos;d ever heard her husband say in one go. The look on her face was a mixture of bemusement and acknowledgement, though she said nothing to his face about the detailed explanation he\u0026apos;d given her. \u0026quot;A fine idea, husband\u0026quot; she\u0026apos;d conceded. \u0026quot;I imagine there are carpenters of talent in Talon as well as the capital. Then we\u0026apos;ll take things from there.\u0026quot; Nerida took to his side, leaving her book and the window behind as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed gently at his chest. \u0026quot;As for breakfast, I\u0026apos;ll let you choose. You\u0026apos;ve always steered me right thus far. I have no reason not to trust you now.\u0026quot; This much was true. Ertrand had been full of culinary surprises for the Knight and she\u0026apos;d relied heavily on Stephanus to steer her through them. She wasn\u0026apos;t about to stop now. \u0026quot;Shall we go down before the staff begin to think that the bed has swallowed us both?\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-28T18:45:01.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1588092301,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  kissed Nerida on the forehead once again, letting her take his hand as he began leading her out of the room. \u0026quot;I believe they shall have no such fears to worry about, my dear love.\u0026quot; he said, rubbing her head gently as he led her out of the room, then locked the door with his key, going down with his being hugged by her. All the while, he was giving her pats and rubs, stopping for one second to kiss her on the lips before going downstairs down the stairs. Then down they were hit by the music, and then they had to go to the bar to place their order - Stephanus told the bartender that he was having Snow-White Sugary for drinks, and roasted guineafowl with almond cream and roasted potatoes for eating. He paid for it with his coins, then found an empty table for him and his beloved Nerida to sit at - even if Nerida kept hugging his arm the whole time, he didn\u0026apos;t mind. In fact, it made him constantly look back at her with a smiling, giving a little rub to her cheek, or even a kiss to her forehead, not caring about what others might feel about it. When sitting down, he expected her to sit right next to him, so that they could siddle each other on the chairs.\n",       "date": "2020-04-28T18:51:08.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1588092668,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  pouted a little when she was forced to relinquish her embrace entirely, having rather enjoyed the attention she\u0026apos;d received from Stephanus the entire time, but soon comforted herself by taking his arms and making sure she didn\u0026apos;t let it go for much longer than a second. She\u0026apos;d felt so close to him the previous night and every small touch, kiss and chuckle shared between them was a reminder that she found herself wanting more. In her own worlds, had she been back in Antendieu and not yet consented to a marriage she\u0026apos;d have ran to the nearest temple to throw herself at the mercy of the Gods, begging forgiveness for having become a wanton and a whore. Here, however, sanctified by even a heathen marriage and with Stephanus at her side, Nerida was content to show him her affection in the hopes it would be returned later that evening. \u0026quot;H-husband, please...\u0026quot; she cautioned him softly, hoping she wouldn\u0026apos;t be heard by any others over the strange music that filled the inn. \u0026quot;Too much affection might be improper in public, even if we are newly wed. I know it would be frowned upon at home. I don\u0026apos;t know what your people might think on the subject and I don\u0026apos;t want to attract unwanted, negative attention.\u0026quot;\n",       "date": "2020-04-28T18:59:14.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1588093154,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  just laughed a little, nto taking her caution seriously - \u0026quot;Worry not, my sweet love.... I can handle things.\u0026quot; he said, trying to reassure her. And sure enough, no one was paying attention to them as the couple sat down by the table - except that the waiting game began, with them being forced to wait for the food and the drinks. Of course, with them being affectioante newlyweds, there was much to do before food would arrive, so he put his arm over her shoulder, not caring one bit that people might get jealous. After all, as long as they weren\u0026apos;t engaged in sexual intercourse in public, or nudity, there was no harm done at all. \u0026quot;I believe the only worry we will have, is people being jealous that I have such a beautiful wife...\u0026quot; he chickled, complementing her. \u0026quot;... or such an affectionate wife. You\u0026apos;re such a lovely one, that even poets would fail to find words to describe your beauty and lovingness....\u0026quot; he made his attempt to complement her.\n",       "date": "2020-04-28T19:05:27.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1588093527,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  leant in towards his embrace, blushing ever so slightly at his compliments and continued attention. Mere months ago she would have found it impossible to foresee such an outcome, especially at first when he had led her about in chains and she\u0026apos;d plotted most fervently to find a way to kill him and escape with her men. Now if the portal ever reopened Nerida wasn\u0026apos;t sure she\u0026apos;d want to go back through it with them. \u0026quot;That\u0026apos;s not what you used to say...\u0026quot; she teased him. \u0026quot;Was I not to you a heretic, a witch and a demonic imposter? I was happy to accept your proposal just to hear those words die on your lips so that you might never speak them again.\u0026quot; By now Nerida was close enough to climb into his lap, her lips pressing hungrily against his. She should have followed her instincts that morning, she realised all too late, but there was nothing to be done about it now.\n",       "date": "2020-04-28T19:31:39.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1588095099,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  was a rather simple talker, and responded to her teasing rather simply. \u0026quot;Times change, don\u0026apos;t they, my love?\u0026quot; he teased her back, by the time that happened, it was already too late - she climbed onto his lap, and kissed his lips with greed, to which he responded by kissing her with his eyes still wide open at first, open to embrace it and close them, taking his hand onto her hip, and taking the intiative to turn the lips-kiss into a more passionate tongue-kiss or french kiss. \u0026quot;Love can come from even the most unexpected places... and you are proof of it.\u0026quot; he said, kissing her on the lips once again, while his hand gently grinded against the cloth she wore on her hips. Was there such a thing as \u0026apos;overlove\u0026apos;? As \u0026apos;overloving\u0026apos; someone? Because their lust for each other was so great, that it might have impeded upon other things. Still, as the food they have ordered takes time to be cooked, there is nothing wrong with spending that time enjoying themselves - no harm is done when they just kiss each other, and do nothing more. So he kissed her.\n",       "date": "2020-04-28T19:43:15.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1588095795,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    },    {        "content": "Nerida Talori  pulled away from the kiss only to catch her breath, realising too late that she was fully in his lap with only her dress protecting her modesty. Thank all four Gods that she was still a stranger in these lands. \u0026quot;....I should have done my duty by you this morning\u0026quot; she whispered hotly into his ear, clearly flustered and swept away by the unspeakable need she felt for him, for more. \u0026quot;I am sorry that I did not make my desires known more clearly to you. Will you forgive me? How might I ever make it up to you?\u0026quot; The stonemasons and carpenters wouldn\u0026apos;t wait forever and the labourer\u0026apos;s guilds would doubtless favour those who arrived swiftly and with ready money.\n",       "date": "2020-04-28T19:55:29.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1588096529,        "user": "Nerida Talori"    },    {        "content": "Stephanus Tavilrond  simply smiled at her, and rubbed her cheak. He still wasn\u0026apos;t sure why was she assuming that he wouldn\u0026apos;t forgive her, when throughout all the time he had known her, he made his forgiveness abundantly clear, nearly always forgiving her for any perceived wrongdoings - if viewing them as wrongdoings at all. Which he didn\u0026apos;t, at this time. \u0026quot;What are you sorry for, my love? You know that I always forgive your mistakes... but you did not make a mistake.\u0026quot; he said, still pressing a kiss onto her lips one last time, before the food suddenly arrived, being brought to them by a barmaid. Well, the food, and the drink - white wine. Of course, the wine wasn\u0026apos;t the real deal - it was basically white wine with added sugar that made it overly sweet, while the real thing had a more refined taste. But neither of them could have known - neither of them had ever tasted the real deal before. So this cheap imitation probably will come off as real good wine to both.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026quot;Well, it looks like our food arrived, my love.... shall we.... dig in?\u0026quot; he asked from her. He was hoping that she\u0026apos;d climb back to her stair, instead of having to be spoonfed like an infant - but maybe Nerida has a surprise for him?\n",       "date": "2020-04-28T20:00:52.000+02:00",        "streamlinedDate": true,        "unixTimestamp": 1588096852,        "user": "Stephanus Tavilrond"    } ]