#nuria yr ashemmi el kacem

[twistedapple]

Her hands of gold and jewels

Another Hellfire Storm smut that'll be part of my main fic, A Tale of Brimstone and Storm. It has been purposefully decontextualised to minimise spoilers. @adevilyoudo you requested, I delivered.

Also available on AO3.

BGM: 1, 2. Full playlist here.

CW: anal sex, rimming, anal fingering, pegging, prostate massage, multiple orgasms, bondage, soft femdom, handjob, cunnilingus, squirting. +18 CONTENT, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR CLICK.

It had become a habit between them, since their first game. A lanceboard was now permanently installed in Nuria’s salon and each of them would make a move, Raphael appearing on occasion regardless of her presence or absence in the apartment. She found that way of communicating considerably more refreshing and  interesting than anything she had experienced before, and enjoyed taking the time to read the board and try to figure out the potential moves and tricks the devil could attempt or that she could herself play. Such silent and prolonged fights, examples of patient strategy, contributed to them getting to know each other better outside of the contractual matter associated with the Palace.

Over time, Nuria noticed that Raphael would prolong his stays when she was around – and when he had time for it. Taking into consideration his nature and age – surely, his perception of time was wildly different than that of a mortal -, she was pleasantly surprised by this rather quick turn of event. They would at times share a meal, at other times Nuria would play the kanun for him, but what struck her most was the evening when he decided to read her a bit of his personal writing; she took it as a subtle sign of comfort – or maybe a form of trust? Whatever it meant, she let him know her appreciation in the focused silence she’d give, as well as the commentaries they’d exchange. The one thing she considered off-limit, however, would be anything pertaining to his deals. At times, he would also be working on his contracts and she considered that none of her business. Raphael never expressed any desire to get her involved either, and seemed keener to work in a sort of comfortable silence.

Still, there remained a more physical aspect to their encounters as well, heated nights of skin against skin and whispered pleasures. Raphael had taken the habit of leaving notes similar to that very first limerick to notify her of these moments – Nuria had made it clear that she liked being well-prepared, and he certainly seemed quite enthusiastic in that aspect as well, although he never clarified whether it was for the pleasure he’d receive or provide, or even his habit of taking her in all of her youthful, disheveled beauty. That sweet evening on a clear Spring day was an example of such situation. When Nuria got home, she checked the lanceboard out of habit and noticed a small note next to it. After having taken the time to look at the newest move and go for her own strategy, she read the short text, written in an elegant handwriting. A giggle and a bottom lip bitten later, she put it away in a drawer with the other notes, and went on her merry way to pamper herself. She already had a program in mind.

When Raphael appeared in his usual fire and brimstone, he found Nuria comfortably installed on her low couch, with a warm cup of tea in one hand and what looked like a report on the other. Immediately recognizing that slight frown she had when she was focused, he slinked next to her and waited for her attention with a smug smile. He had a comment ready and was waiting for her to raise her pretty eyes away from the document to fire it. As soon as long eyelashes moved to let grey-and-violet meet his amber, he took it as his sign.

-Well, and here I thought you had taken interest in my note. Or was its content not to your liking?

-Then you were too focused on what I was doing, and not on how I am looking.

She chuckled and didn’t miss a single beat to offer a retort – oh, how he liked this sort of game between them. She looked lovely indeed, as she leaned to put her now empty cup and report on the table – when she closed the document, its cover gave a subtle sign of enchantment that made it look like a nondescript book. Even in such a simple look as the one she was wearing, she managed to give the impression of being the graceful subject of a painting, with her elegant silken robe in a lilac tone and her slender waist cinched by a large golden sash. The silk was of a lighter quality meant for warm weather, and Raphael took notice of the subtle shape of her breasts through the fabric. She scooted closer to him and leaned forward, a delicate hand covered in stylized patterns of flowers and vines reaching out to leave the ghost of a caress on his cheek.

-Don’t worry, the note has been read and its content duly noted.

Raphael caught the elusive hand before she could fully pull back and brought it to his lips, leaving kisses on each finger between words.

-I caught myself thinking about you during a meeting, and that thought stubbornly stuck through it.

-Was that meeting so tedious, that you had to work yourself up to endure it?

-Not exactly, but Haarlep was involved at some point. It made me miss these pretty hands of yours, and your crafty touch.

At this Nuria gave a cheeky, almost smug smile. Her dimples appeared.

-It certainly is a pleasure to know I meet your expectations to that point. But tell me more about how you felt.

She was right next to him now, and he could catch the sharp floral and musky incense of her perfume – one of her many weapons, yet he was willing to fall into the trap and closed whatever remaining distance there was between them to steal her lips and pepper her shapely neck with hungry kisses, the taste of rose and tea lingering on his tongue. His hands started running along her back and waist and hips, illustrating the details he provided with his touches.

Nuria leaned her head back to give him better access, while her own hands ran over his shoulders and chest, teasing him by playing with the buttons of his deep ruby doublet.

-My guest was keen to take things in their own hands while I was attending other matters...

His curls tickled her as she felt fully surrounded by the sweet yet powerful musk of his own perfume, and she couldn’t contain a smile when she felt a thumb brush a hardening nipple and softly draw the curve of her breast before sliding away.

-They found enough sweet spots to convince Haarlep to not be in charge of everything.

Another hand, large and warm, ran from her waist to her lower back, teasingly caressing her spine. The kisses in her neck turned into nibbles and a lewd gasp escaped her lips when he sucked on the smooth skin offered to him.

-Of course, I’d rather have Haarlep remain fully in charge, but it was way more distracting than expected and – What do we have here?

-How about I let you discover that?

Chuckling, Nuria slipped from his embrace and got up in front of him so he could start his exploration. She knew exactly what it was that made him react, and bit her lip to contain her excitement – she was quite pleased with her latest investment and was eager to see his reaction.

Raphael let her leave his arms and readily accepted her invitation, composing himself to not just snap both of their clothes away and get between her thighs. All of this teasing would make it all the more worth his while, after all. He merely had to comply with some of her rules. Taking a long look at her, he tried to make a guess before verifying.

-You do go by the belief that jewels and perfume are well enough to adorn someone...

He reached out to the golden sash and slowly undid the knot, letting the robe loosen progressively to reveal more of her golden skin. Then more gold shone, delicate chains decorated with amethysts running around her breasts. He followed the chains running from the space between her breasts all the way down and around her waist and hips. His eyes lingered on her slightly rounded belly and all the way to her thighs, where more golden chains were visible. His attention was then drawn to her oh so delicious mound and its darker hair, before getting back up to meet her eyes, his mouth already watering.

-Well, aren’t you a lovely sight.

When he reached out again, it was to take her back into his arms, his hands fully pushing the robe away to have it join the sash on the thick carpet as Nuria let out a joyous squeal and followed his motion to straddle him, now fully naked save for the harness of gold and amethysts. Raphael resumed his hungry exploration, his tongue joining his lips to add licks to his kisses as he left her neck for her chest. His attention focused on the round breasts he enjoyed so much, enthusiastically sucking on a nipple while his hand would tease the other. He wanted to make them go from their pretty pink colour to that lovely reddened and puffy look they’d take when she was excited.

While one hand was busy with a breast, the other kept wandering over her curves and playing with the delicate harness, fingers sliding under the chain to follow its path while caressing her skin, teasingly tugging slightly on the ornament at times before resuming the touch.

Nuria let out a shaky moan when he sucked harder on her breast before leaving it for the other, her fingers playing with his curls and gently holding the back of his head. She wasn’t sure what she wanted more at that point, undoing his clothes or waiting for him to slip a hand between her legs – she could already feel a pleasant knot form in her lower belly.

The devil kept going a while longer, before breaking his ministration to take yet another look at her. There was an unmistakable flush on her cheeks, and he couldn’t resist going for her parted lips again, this time lowering her hips against him and tightening his grip when he felt her grind teasingly. He could feel himself get hard again, just like earlier during the day – except this time, he would be able to have his fill differently from the usual voyeuristic tendency he’d adopt in the House of Hope, when Haarlep was at work with a guest. And when he felt her start working on the buttons of his doublet, he snaked one hand between them to undo his trousers, teasing her with his knuckles at the same time.

Nuria was pleased. Raphael could have simply snapped his clothes away – and he would occasionally do that -, but decided to follow her rule on the matter this time again. In fact, he had been doing so for a while now, and the Genasi suspected he had acquired a taste for that sort of teasing. She ground against his knuckles and started going for his shirt, without bothering to remove the doublet. Everything would go away later anyway, now it was the feeling of his skin she wanted, its infernal warmth and the soft planes of lean muscles. She gasped again when she felt his member against her inner thigh, fully hardened by arousal.

Not willing to get into the meat of the matter too fast, she pressed her breasts against his now bare chest, feeling the radiating heat and the hair tickling her nipples, while she snaked her hands under the clothes to caress his broad shoulders and slowly slip the doublet and shirt away. Their noses and lips kept brushing against each other and she arched her back when his fingers dug into her rear.

The mutual teasing kept going a bit longer – Raphael could have been impatient, but she had such a specific way of making him feel desired and desirable that made him greatly enjoy the moment, that he allowed her to dictate the leisurely rhythm of their heated evening.

Their lips met for another languid kiss, tongues dancing and teasing. Raphael moaned in the kiss and demandingly pushed her hips against his, as he almost instinctively sought her heat. Nuria chose that moment to break their embrace, leaving her signature peck at the corner of his lips.

-Is there anything specific you’d like to do?

-Hm... Maybe, however something tells me you already have a plan.

-More than one, although I admit I do have one preference. Still, your pleasure is also mine.

-In that case... Make me last. Carte blanche for the method.

-Your generosity is appreciated, and will be fully rewarded.

-I have no doubt, dear. Now let’s switch to another place.

As he got up, the devil held her firmly and she found herself unable to restrain a youthful giggle – despite her very nature making her lighter than she was supposed to be, it was not often that she found herself carried in such a fashion. She found it incredibly charming, and eagerly locked her legs around his waist while he took her to the bedroom. She wouldn’t have minded another place – the bathroom and the kitchen were also among their choices, even the balcony when Raphael felt like indulging in his voyeuristic tendency -, however her program would require tools that were stored in her bedroom. Besides, with what she had planned, Raphael would be more comfortable on the bed too, there was no doubt about that.

Once in the bedroom, he let her back down and finished removing his clothes while she was taking what she needed from the small cupboard next to the bed. A pot of pink, purple and dark blue hyacinths on top of it left the room filled with a fresh, dewy floral scent. Taking in the sultry atmosphere of the room, Raphael made himself comfortable on the bed and picked at what Nuria was bringing with her when she joined him.

-Quite the plan indeed, but please pray tell, who will be on the receiving hand for that?

She had brought a basket, and the devil nodded at a partially visible item that looked suspiciously like a rope.

-Well, it’s been a while since one of us has been tied up, and I thought about giving you a little something to match my harness, fully tailored to cater to your request of course. I’ll need you to remain in that form however, if you don’t mind.

The way she played with the golden chains and amethysts while replying was way more titillating that it should have been, and Raphael failed to repress a smile.

-Go on, then. I’m all yours.

Raphael was a man of order and control. Yet, relinquishing it in such a manner felt exhilarating, and he trusted Nuria to not disappoint his expectations. If anything, she had a knack to meet them in her own way, which he found all the more enjoyable. So he gave her the reins and complied when she guided his position so he would be on his knees and turn his back to her. Then, she took the thin, long rope – he noticed it had been dyed in a deep, ruby red colour, and wondered if she had picked him specifically for him – and started a delicate work of knots around his chest and arms. He could feel her pressed to his back and realised how well practiced she was with that exercise in the way she peppered his neck and shoulder with kisses instead of looking at the knots she was tying. He felt the rope sliding around his shoulders and arms, then back around his chest while it was being tied in an elaborate pattern. Once it was below his elbows, she pulled on the rope to gather his forearms behind his back, and tied his wrists before guiding the rope around his waist.

When she pushed him forward, she guided him gently and used a thick pillow so he could comfortably rest his hips. Her hands went all over his body, closely followed by her lips as she got back to her work, spreading his thighs and guiding them towards his bust. He felt the rope slide above his knees and weave in some parts through the knots at his waist, locking his legs in place. Once she was done, she sat back on her calves and he heard her let out a low gasp.

-What a sight you are.

Nuria was dying to touch him, but decided to feast with her eyes first, letting them trail and linger over the graciously cooperative devil. She liked the way his broad shoulders looked a bit tighter, the red rope elegantly contrasting against his copper skin, how it snaked around his waist and arms and kept his beautiful hands nicely bound together, how the position fully emphasised his pleasantly full and muscular backside. He adjusted his position a bit and gave her a partial view of his pucker in the process.

-Is it ok for you? Do you need another pillow?

-I need you to touch me.

-Eager, are we? Just let me know if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Laughing at his impatience, Nuria closed the distance between them and started running her hands over his rear. She couldn’t deny that he matched a lot of her personal preferences – maybe too many -, and getting to know each other the way they did certainly contributed to her dangerous attraction. Yet there he was, letting her exercise full control over him. She could have met worse devils, really. And this one, oh was he fun to share the bed with. She started running her fingers along his thighs, teasing with her nails while she started kissing his lower back, slowly dragging her lips to his backside as her fingers slipped towards his inner thighs. The entire time, she carefully avoided the places she knew he’d want touched the most. It was funnier this way and he had, after all, asked her to make him last. She would oblige him in her own way, and he had forfeited his right to complain the moment he gave her full permission.

When Raphael started sighing, Nuria slipped a hand between his legs and tugged gently on his cock to keep it accessible. It was rock hard, and she gave the devil a quick look when he moaned from the feeling of her cool fingers on this utmost sensitive part. She released him and went back to her basket to fish one of her favourite items from it.

When Nuria started caressing and kissing him again, Raphael quickly started to bask in the pleasant contrast between his warm skin and her cool hands. One could have thought a habit would start settling in, however he never failed to greatly enjoy that incidental play on temperatures – and all the more when she was busy showing her appreciation for him. Every touch, every kiss not only caused pleasant shivers down his spine, but also made him feel like he was the only one who mattered to her.

When she tugged on his member, it took all of his focus to not immediately jerk in her hand. Yet, she promptly released him, and he felt her move behind him. Then something clamped around his cock and balls, a pleasurable tightness he recognised. She was indeed going to make him last. Chuckling in approval, he tried to turn his head more to look at her, failed and chose to throw his words on their own instead.

-Are you enjoying seeing me tightly bound that much?

-How could I not?

Before he could even reply, a wet sensation on his pucker made him swallow his words. He was familiar enough with it to recognise a finger covered in oil, and arched ever so slightly to get more of it.

It had barely started, and Nuria was already enjoying herself immensely. It was always so much better when she was dealing with someone comfortable with their desires, and there was no doubt that it was the case for Raphael. She kept circling his hole with her thumb, occasionally adding some drops of oil before resuming her teasing. The way he arched just from that was delightful and made her want to go a step further. Her thumb slid further down to press that soft spot men had between their hole and balls, while she started teasing the tight ring directly with her tongue instead.

Raphael reflexively arched again under the combined sensation of a cold finger pressing so deliciously on a soft spot, and a warm and wet tongue circling his hole in the most tempting manner. Each touch sent a shiver running down his spine and all the way to his loins, pooling in an increasingly heated desire. He could feel the slight pull of the rope weaved around him as he moved and revelled in the restrictive sensation, moaning under the effect of her ministrations combined with his complete inability to do anything but be on the receiving hand of her care. He could still give her orders, and knew she’d likely comply, yet he allowed relaxation to take precedence over his usually more imperious behaviour. Before he’d even realised it, his eyes were closed and moans and sighs kept flowing while his hips occasionally jerked.

Then he felt his pleasure crest, slowly, inexorably, and it was accompanied by a wave of emotions much more intense than anticipated – a mix of wanting to come, wanting to last, enjoying everything and being annoyed because he had expressly requested her to draw it out. It was too late to react however, and his hips jerked again, stronger this time, as he came with a shuddering moan. Nuria ended her attentive care to gently feather her fingers over his rear, waiting for him to be done. As he came back from his high, Raphael felt something was off. It took him a few seconds to realise that the tension was still present in his loins – of course it was. So used he had been to using Haarlep for a more immediate release, he had almost forgotten who was currently taking care of him.

-Is that how you’re going to play? Rendering me immobile was not enough for you?

-Well, you asked me to make you last, you didn’t elaborate on the method.

-You little vixen –

A new, wet sensation stopped him in his track. While she had been distracting him, Nuria had gotten her hand on a bottle of oil, and had just let some run over his now sensitive hole. Without giving him more time to recover, she started teasing him again and he quickly felt a finger slide in him. A muffled moan escaped him despite a bitten lip, when she started thrusting. Heat was yet again slowly pooling in his loins, and he could even feel a flush forming on his cheeks.

-Aren’t I a little vixen indeed... But you enjoy it, don’t you, Raphael?

Nuria made sure to purr his name, and enjoyed seeing him squirm in reaction to both her touch and her question. She didn’t really expect an answer though, whatever Raphael could reply would be met with a simple comment on the fact it was merely the beginning for him, and that the night would be long enough for his wish to be answered. Still, the knowledge that she could even get a devil such as him into that sort of debauchery was undeniably exciting and, she hoped, would play in her favour later on.

She added a second finger after some time and started thrusting again, at a purposefully slow and steady pace, inching towards his sweet spot without fully going for it. As she teased him, she let her eyes wander over his silhouette, fully taking in the view until her attention went back to his now neglected member. The ring that circled the base of the shaft and balls kept him from fully coming, and she could see his balls getting engorged from the pressure while some precum was tentatively leaking from his tip. Truly, this was the most entertaining part of her little exercise: seeing men get harder than they ever hoped to be, women wetter than what they thought possible, and yet unable to do anything about it – not unless she graciously relented. The sight alone aroused her in turn, as she entertained the thought of feeling his twitching and desperately leaking cock in her as she was getting ravaged, an idea arousing enough for her to feel desire surge and course through her to end in a delightful tingling sensation between her legs.

His pleasure kept growing, a pool fed wave after wave until he came again, his hips jerking and thighs quivering under the effect of the second orgasm. This time however, Nuria didn’t stop what she was doing and kept thrusting as he rode his new high, extracting a louder moan from him in the process. For a moment, the stimulation felt like too much, and yet it wasn’t enough. He was coming, yet without reaching that delightful point of complete release. Even now, he could feel arousal build up again as Nuria relentlessly added a third finger and kept working on him. The way her other hand rested on his backside and drew tender circles over it, before going back up towards his hips and then back on his thigh, made him all the more needy for her. His thoughts trailed towards the tight heat between her legs and he could almost feel her taste on his lips. As much as he wanted to watch her come undone under him now, he knew her well enough to expect it later on. Pleasure surged once more in his loins as he arched yet again under the effect of her rapturous touch.

She worked him through the third orgasm, gently caressing his lower back and praising him the whole time. Seeing him unravel in front of her so shamelessly, gasping and moaning the entire time, was a privilege Nuria took the time to savour. There was no doubt that few persons could boast such a position as far as he was concerned, after all. Once his thighs stopped trembling and the twitching of his cock ended, she carefully removed her fingers and turned to the basket once again to retrieve the last object it contained. Before using it, however, she decided to give Raphael a short break. With a hand still resting on his lower back, she made sure of firmly planting a small idea in the back of his mind, in a sweet almost-whisper.

-How are you feeling? Are you still fine with the rope?

-Intoxicated would be the closest word. The bindings are fine, I am more concerned with what you’re about to ask.

-Well, tell me then, have you ever wondered how it feels to be on the receiving end of your... Thrusts?

Her hand had slowly gone from his lower to his inner thigh while she was talking. When she asked her question, he felt a finger drag teasingly over his now oversensitive sex, and an intense shudder ran through him. What a vicious little thing she was. She knew about Haarlep, although Raphael hadn’t told her everything. Yet, she had still managed to hit a delicate point. Was it a wild guess or something she had carefully pondered? Raphael wasn’t sure he wanted to know, at least not now. What was certain was that he wasn’t just using Haarlep for his personal satisfaction, no. Haarlep also gave him a glint of what he dreamed to be, a taste of what it felt to be on top of everybody else. Archduke Raphael – no, Archduke Supreme Raphael.

Then, he caught the subtlety in her question. Haarlep was acting on his order, but rarely received back. Nuria, on the other hand, always found herself on the receiving hand one way or the other. He failed to contain a low chuckle, darkened by the desire the Genasi elicited with her suggestion.

-You will not be allowed to call me a pervert after that.

Nuria giggled excitedly at his reply – ever the indirect man, he had given her his agreement, in his own way.  Then, she fiddled quickly with the object, sliding leather straps under the golden chains around her waist and thighs, tightening them to secure everything. The idea of what she was about to do pushed her into a state of euphoric arousal, heat rippling between her legs and radiating through her body. Raphael wasn’t the only one who had to demonstrate patience, but she was almost there, just one last thing before she went ahead with her plan. Biting her lower lip, she detached the pleasantly curved appendage from the leather harness.

Raphael felt something harder and slightly larger than Nuria’s fingers press against his hole. It wasn’t the first time they had done that, so he merely took a breath and let her insert the sculpted member. It was not just a toy, but almost a work of art in itself, with the fine details of the head, skin and veins carefully recreated. Raphael suspected it was a special order – it was very much been like Nuria to request such a minutely crafted object. Once the pleasantly tapered head was in him, he moaned once more and moved his hips on reflex. She had teased his sweet spot so much, now he craved for it to be properly touched. A pleased groan escaped him when Nuria pushed the toy further without teasing him – had she done that, he would have lost it out of sheer want. But she knew when to push his buttons and when to step down, and he certainly intended to reward that diligence later on. For now, his focus was on the sensation of member in him – it was larger now and stretching him pleasantly, while he felt the head push further in. When her knuckles brushed his cheeks, another shudder of pleasure went through his body and shot straight to his loins in the realisation that the toy was almost fully in, now.

She started pulling back, slow and sweet, engaging in shallow thrusts that made his member twitch yet again against the pillow, staining it with drops of leaking come. Then, he felt the toy fully slide out and tentatively tried to turn his head. From the corner of his eye, he noticed her fiddling but couldn’t see more. He felt a new dip next to his calf and gathered that she had adjusted her position. Cool fingers pressed on his hips as he felt yet again the head push and smoothly enter. The angle felt different this time and when the rest of the member followed suit all the way to the hilt, he let out a shivering moan. Nuria placed both hands on his hips and started thrusting in a smooth yet firm roll of her hips, reaching deeper than he expected and, each time, pressing against his sweet spot as she rolled her hips. The whole situation was electrifying, she was truly imitating his own way of moving and if he had initially expected something not too dissimilar to what he would usually do with Haarlep – minus the doubled sensations, there was an undeniable and thrilling novelty still. He did treat Nuria slightly differently, after all, and now she was offering him a complete demonstration of how it felt – how he felt. Despite not having all the sensations he’d usually have with his incubus, he relished in the situation itself and the thought that he would feel this good when he was taking her.

Nuria could have contented herself with her reactions everytime he was in her; however she’d decided that a practical demonstration would be more memorable. And pleasurable, of course. Raphael never really hid his hungers from her, at least as far as sex was concerned, and she was more than thrilled to share them. After all, ever since she had left the Festhall of Eternal Delight, she may have put some of her more specialised knowledge to good use, but few people had the courage to even open up about whatever it was that got them truly going, a cowardly dullness that felt incredibly boring at times to the Genasi. Right now, however, she could fully express herself without any complaint. If anything, Raphael’s reactions clearly indicated a now heightened state of pleasure, which she had been carefully building up specifically for the result she was now observing.

Whatever attempt at maintaining minimal decorum had been thrown out of the window now, and Raphael let waves after waves of pleasure radiate through him, unrestrained moans leaving his lips in full abandon while he could feel his whole body quiver. If the previous, repeated orgasms had felt increasingly good, this time it felt like he was going what seemed like a never ending climax. It kept building and rushing and building again, cresting waves crashing in his loins. It was definitely different from his usual experience with Haarlep. Used to intense but quick peaks with the incubus, he had rarely been subjected to such a state of prolonged orgasm – he had been aware of it from consulting the Quarta Sune, but had never really gone through with it. And now, right now, between loud moans he found himself spilling some good words to Sune and Sharess for what he was experiencing. Nuria’s youthful laughter felt like music to his ears when she caught him praising the goddesses, and it was enough to send his body into a full tremor. Nuria ceased her back and forth and he felt her angle the head so it would firmly press on his sweet spot as she waited for him to go through what was probably one of the most intense and prolonged orgasms he’d ever felt.

Finally, the crashing waves receded and he felt his hips go limp, his body still trembling, but not as maddeningly as before. The pressure in his backside left when Nuria carefully removed herself, and he let out a sigh when he felt the crown of the head give a pleasurable tug on his now overly sensitive hole, as it slid out. He was still trying to find his breath when he felt the ropes binding him loosen up – Nuria was carefully undoing her elaborate weaving, massaging his arms, waist, back and shoulders as she went. Ever the considerate lover, she took the time to inquire about him while he was coming back from his intense high.

-Are you alright? Do you need more time to recover?

-What do you mean, more time to recov- Oh.

A finger brushed softly against his still hard member, neglected the entire time. Raphael rolled his shoulders and wrists before tentatively moving his arms, changing his position slightly to finally have a good look at the Genasi. She lazily threw the rope back in the basket, along with the leather harness she had worn. She studied him before talking again, of that sweet almost-whispering voice of hers, a voice made to convince even the most suspicious of her utterly innocent intentions.

-Let me set that aside for cleaning, and move a bit. Leaving you in such a state would make me a terrible host.

She moved the basket to the side and out of the way, and quickly left the room with the toy. While waiting for her return, Raphael carefully kept rolling and stretching his muscles, making sure no unpleasant soreness had settled in. Clearly, she knew what she was doing – he felt some stiffness from the prolonged position, but no discomfort. The ropes barely left marks on his skin as well. He pushed on an elbow to roll on his back, wincing slightly when his engorged and still neglected manhood brushed against the pillow meant for his hips. Nuria came back at that moment, and sat next to him on the bed, discarding the pillow in the process.

-Now now, I won’t leave you in that state...

She reached out and delicately removed the ring holding his shaft and balls – the release from its pressure got him to release a shuddering sigh. Cool fingers went back to caressing his inner thighs, an introduction to what was about to happen next – whatever Nuria had in mind was fine with him, at that point, he trusted her expertise and common sense enough to expect an appropriate handling of the situation at hand.

-You know, seeing you come undone again and again was quite the sight. And being patient certainly was worthy of everything, too.

She opted for some transparency – a rarity, even between them, obsessed as they were with mind games and personal agendas. But now, she really wanted to make him aware of how arousing the whole experience had been for her as well. Again, she straddled his hips and carefully took his erection in one hand. While she had been penetrating him, she had felt drops of her own arousal run down her thighs, and she had been craving him the whole time. Finally, oh finally, she would be able to be filled in turn. She could feel her heart beat faster from the sheer expectation, and in one smooth roll, she went down his length, throwing her head back and letting out a trembling moan out of the sheer satisfaction she felt as she went down all the way to the hilt. It probably wouldn’t take Raphael too long to come now, but she knew she wouldn’t need much effort either.

When he felt her get down on him, felt the slick, hot tightness, Raphael bit his lips to muffled a moan, taken by both the sensation and the realisation that she had, indeed, been waiting for that moment as much as him. Instead of the usual thrusts he would usually accompany – if not control directly -, she opted for a softer back and forth. The heat that had receded awoke again in his loins, and he savoured it as much as he did the pleasurable feeling of filling her. Resisting the urge to close his eyes and fully take the moment, he set his attention on her, now that she was finally facing him, and what a pretty sight she was with her bitten lip and flushed cheeks, a hand playing with her bud as she was riding him. Soon enough, her breath intensified - a now familiar sign of her own impeding climax.

Raphael simply felt too good, and his current state preventing him from his usual intervention, on top of what he had given her moments earlier, was way more arousing than she had expected. They had both reached this precious moment of ecstasy where they simply lived the moment for it sheer, shared enjoyment. A hand reflexively snaked down and she started touching herself, feeling pleasure radiate from her core all over her body. Emboldened by the entire situation, she dared utter a single-worded order, not caring about whatever potential consequence could befall her for that act.

-Come.

A single word, worthy of an entire hymn, was enough to push them both over the edge. Raphael took a firm hold of her hips while both of them finally let the much awaited release wash over them, her core quickening and dripping all over his own twitching length. Once their trembling muscles became steadier and they came back from their high, Nuria leaned down against him and nuzzled his neck, while enjoying his now blissfully spent member in her. They stayed like that for a moment before she moved away from him, the sensation of his softening yet still sensitive shaft eliciting a low hiss as she lifted her hips. She sat next to him and he lazily rolled on his side and propped himself up on one arm, wanting to look at her shapely silhouette still adorned with elegant chains of gold and amethysts a bit more.

-Will you stay here a bit longer? I can run a bath for you, while I get everything sorted out.

She gestured vaguely around the room, and it made Raphael snort. Yet another side of her that had grown on him, so used that he was of using Haarlep and then seeing them leave once he was done: she always offered further comfort. He wasn’t sure where the traditional Calimshan hospitality ended and the genuine preference for aftercare began, but just as he had taken the habit of leaving her notes, he had also started making sure to keep his own time clear in anticipation.

-You’ll be pleased to know I have no further engagement until tomorrow.

-A well-deserved bath it is, then!

 As soon as he heard water running, Raphael got up and rolled his shoulders and neck further before joining the Genasi in her bathroom. A delicate, slightly powdery floral scent characteristic of jasmine and lavender reached him before he even took a step in the room, which was slowly getting filled with steam from the hot water. The deep tub, that looked seamlessly integrate into the room and had two steps at the front for a comfortable access, was taking a subtle periwinkle tone as hot water and scented oils were being mixed. Without even waiting for it to be filled, Raphael climbed the steps and let out a contented sigh as he sank in the raising water. On the other side of the room, Nuria was at the vanity, and he could see a soft light reflecting in the tall mirror as she used magic to clean the toy. Then, she proceeded to undo her thick braid and run her fingers in her hair to quickly detangle it, before putting it up and hold it with a scarf. She gave him a smile as she passed by and left the room, likely to clean up the bed and gather that had been strewed between the living room and the bedroom. That habit of keeping everything tidy was also appreciated.

When she came back, she headed towards the semi-open alcove next to the bathtub, and Raphael closed his eyes, letting the sound of running water and the scent of lavender and jasmine lull him into a soothing relaxation. When he opened his eyes again, Nuria was sitting next to him, right on the edge of the tub, which was now filled. She wasn’t wearing the golden chains anymore, and for a moment he felt disgruntled at the idea that he hadn’t removed them himself. He cut her as she was about to say something.

-Join me.

Nuria obliged him, and the night went on peacefully as she kept tending to Raphael and washed him, before they lounged a bit more in the warm water. Once back in the refreshed bed, he leaned in to be cradled in her arms, and both of them drifted to sleep.

***

Nuria’s eyes shot open, the sensation of feeling observed putting her on guard and ready to strike.

-Easy, my dear.

The violet shine in her eyes and coming from charged sparks around her slowly dissipated when she heard a familiar voice with a smooth depth. Raphael was still next to her, some of the early morning sun illuminating amber eyes and copper skin as he was propped on an elbow and looking at her with an amused smile. She surmised that feeling observed by him was what had startled her, and relaxed.

-For how long have you been observing me?

-Long enough to request a breakfast before going on my merry way.

-Ready to empty my kitch- Oh, you sir, are debauched!

-Not that you were complaining about it last night, now, were you?

Raphael had rolled over her and cut her feigned scandalised quip short to steal her lips, before following the line of her jaw and reaching for her neck. She reflexively spread her legs to make room for him, and felt a hand caress her breast before snaking all the way down and between her legs while he supported himself with the other arm, partially kneeling to keep his hips up and get better access to her mound. She let him claim her, arching under his touch and reaching down herself to take him in her hand. They kept teasing each other for a moment, then he left her neck and a trail of delightful kisses along the way before he hungrily mouthed at her bud, tongue licking, mouth sucking and fingers breaching lustfully until her juices gushed over his mouth. Both of them moaned when he penetrated her, gilded nails digging his back as he rolled his hips into hers in a most toe-curling manner.

They basked in each other’s company a bit more afterwards, cold and warm melting into one another before Raphael readied himself and left to attend to a client. Still feeling sluggish, Nuria rolled over and buried her nose in the pillow he had used, now smelling like his signature cherry and peppery musk. As reprehensible as it was, she did enjoy their private arrangement.

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #hellfire storm #smut #I really went ham with that one lol #my filthiest work so far #literally took me a week #finally i'll be able to fully yell about it on Discord lol #restraining myself was so hard but I didn't want to spoil people on the entire content

[twistedapple]

Kiss me more

As announced in an earlier post, I'm unleashing the smut chapter of my fic as a semi-stand alone. It's nicer in the bigger context of the fic of course, since the relationship is a build up, but if you're just here for the smut, well I hope you'll like it.

@kikisgate @fruitypies tagging you two since you asked for the full chapter, have fun with almost 6k of filth. @kiss-inferna you wanted to be tagged on Nuria-related content so here you go lol

Quick meta context: This exchange regarding Raphael's sexuality and how some people view it.

Quick story context: [SPOILER ALERT] in the previous chapter, Nuria infiltrates a private event and get her hands on her target. Raphael happens to be there for business, he knows what she's doing and finds it hot. They leave together, the following text is a turning point for what started as a professional relationship.

BGM over here. Full OC Playlist here.

THIS IS +18 EXTRA SPICY CONTENT, IF YOU READ THAT AS A MINOR DON'T ACT SHOCKED, I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR CLICK, YOU WERE WARNED.

CW: orgasm denial, bondage, blood, alcohol, size difference...

The cambion already knew what her home looked like, but being directly inside was another matter. As he stepped in, the characteristic sillage of carnal roses and incense could be felt. It wasn’t the biggest place – by his standards, it was in fact quite small, however the apartment had a crucial detail tied to a cultural aspect inherent to the Calimshite: wealth itself wouldn’t be enough to display one’s social status, the way wealth would be used for comfort was the real deal, and Nuria’s apartment clearly showed her own status, despite being a woman. The striking element was the sheer amount of convenient magic items. A snap of her fingers and the whole place, bathed in pale moonlight, lit up with the warmth of multiple candles, which shone brighter than normal – of course they would, it seemed Nuria preferred quiet places and had secured a comfortable home in Quill Ward, the district of scribes. This ward had enjoyed special, secret magical wards for centuries – clever wards, really -, that prevented fires and illnesses from spreading, made candles shine brighter, and kept paper and parchment in pristine condition. However, they weren’t the only wards affecting Nuria’s home. Raphael could feel a faint but unmistakable trace – a security ward, maybe? She was careful and meticulous, after all, so it would be very much in character for her to protect her abode against unwanted intrusions with discreet wards.

A soft breeze passed through a slightly open window, and the fresh scent of jasmine filled the main room, adding its dewy scent to the already present feminine perfume. The entire place clearly wasn’t just luxurious by the presence of magical items; it was also tastefully arranged in the local fashion. Walls and tiled floors displayed stylised floral patterns, wooden furnitures had elegant carvings, richly ornate carpets partially covered the floors – which seemed to be Nuria’s preferred place, as low seats and thick cushions were organised to form a pleasant living area. Two short hallways led to other places, and Nuria kicked her shoes off by the entrance before going to the one on the left, dropping her mantle on one of the seats as she passed by.

-Shoes off inside, please.

Amused by the request said in a rather matter-of-fact tone, as if Nuria knew he’d followed through, Raphael did as requested and left his boots at the entrance in a snap of fingers before proceeding further. As she turned to check behind her, she held her hands up, coaxing him towards her with a cheeky smile as she guided him towards what quickly revealed itself to be the bedroom, which proved just as elegant as the rest of the apartment, with a delicate sahnisin – the classic latticework of Calimshan - at the large window. Under his feet, the wide carpet was soft and pleasantly thick. Nuria’s hands felt small and delicate, her fingers feeling even cooler against the heat of his own palms. This promised an interesting night.

-How straightforward of you to directly take me here.

-You didn’t have your fill of banter for the night? How greedy.

-A perfectly fine virtue, my dear. But allow me to indulge in it more.

Without any warning, Raphael snapped his fingers again, leaving Nuria in a state of delightful undress. She gasped, then took a scandalised look.

-I’ll have you know the striptease is part of the fun! At least you left the essentials – jewels and perfume...

As she shared her thoughts on Raphael’s decision, the genasi smiled brazenly and gently guided him towards the bed, having him sit in front of her. As soon as he took place on the bed, the cambion pulled her closer and started running his hands over her body, taking pleasure in finally being able to touch the slender waist and follow the pleasant curve of her hips and rear. Her dress, carefully draped to cover yet show everything, had been teasing him all evening and he had been more and more itching to get it off her back. She giggled under his touch and it made him want to press his face against her breasts, round and pert and oh-so-inviting for a mouth to run across them and leave a flushed mess. Nuria had other plans however, as she ran fingers down his cheek before reaching the chin and gently make him look at her – he could have been offended by the gesture had it been more commanding, but one of her more impressive skills was definitely to obtain results with a velvet glove, and even a devil like him could appreciate that.

-Oh you’re eager, aren’t you...

And there she was with that exceptional charm of her, leaning towards him, their noses brushing as their eyes met, honeyed brown facing grey-and-violet – her eyes truly were like a moody sky. His fingers teasingly played with the delicate golden chain decorating her waist in a sultry display. She really had been expecting something happen, hadn’t she?

-Would you be patient enough to let me handle your clothes?

It was more like a tease than a question proper, really. She was already playing with the buttons at his neck, undoing them slowly, one by one, while he felt her lips brush against his. Nothing had really happened, yet there was already a feeling of sin in the air and Raphael basked in the seductive inflection of her voice, the cool feeling of her skin against his palm, the temptation of her lips still glistening slightly from the murderous tint she’d worn during the evening. Until she’d aimed for her target, that is. The caress of her plump lips caused a pleasant shiver to run down his spine and the next thing he knew, he’d crashed his own against hers. He too wanted some of that assassin mouth and he was quick to run his tongue against her lower lip, as much to request entrance as to gather the remaining poison – it wouldn’t harm him anyway. Much to his delight, Nuria was prompt to react, deepening the kiss with a moan as he guided one of her legs on the bed, right against him, before allowing her to push him on the bed. When they broke the kiss, she left a smaller one at the corner of his lips and it was enough to feel warmth shooting to his loins as she straddled him, teasingly pressing against his hips.

-I’ll take that as a yes, then.

-How very generous of you to do that for me.

-What can I say, I enjoy being of service.

Now his doublet was unbuttoned and open, and he could feel her touch through the cotton of his shirt as she ran her fingers against the planes of his torso, taking the time to feel everything through the fabric while she kept an attentive eye on him. Clearly, the plan was to slowly uncover what would make him react and he couldn’t deny that she had a pleasant approach about it, teasing him with the movements of her hips against his, and yet having him wait. Again, she managed to walk that very fine line between pleasing and offending him, a wonderful display of subtlety that convinced him to lean into her care and enjoy the attention while she was at work on top of him.

With the same deliberate gestures, Nuria slowly unbuttoned his shirt, working her way down while running her hands over him, always at the limit between the fabric and his skin, maddeningly teasing. Raphael only sat back up to fully remove the doublet and the shirt, abandoning them on the floor and stealing sloppy kisses down her neck in the process, a hand reaching up to play with a breast before he felt her push him back down again, playfulness all over her face.

-Tu-tut. We’re not done yet.

As she spoke, she furthered her point by rolling her hips against him, feeling the forming bulge against her core.

-Quite bossy, aren’t we?

-And you’re enjoying every second of it so far.

-I’ve been having a fine night, I’m in an indulgent mood. But keep going, who am I to interrupt your fun?

She swatted at him, chuckling at his retort. It wasn’t her first time with someone like him, they’d act all high and mighty and in control most of the time, but would be inclined to give up on some of that control in private. All it took was the right words, the right gestures. They were her favourite, it was fun to have them turn to putty under her touch, lost in the pleasure she provided, and it was even funnier to keep it all secret and use that to keep them on their toes. Seeing the effect she had on this devil when she had barely started was exciting.

Switching to the next step, she reached back to his lips for a kiss followed by a trail down his throat and towards his chest. One of her hands would go first, the other being used for support, and then her lips would follow to warm up the cool trail of her fingers. Her mouth and fingers lingered on his nipples, eliciting a low moan from Raphael. Ever since they’d met, Nuria had found his voice treacherously pleasant, but that was music to her ears. Smiling in the trail of kisses she left on her way to his crotch, she took the time to appreciate the lean muscles beneath her hands and the way his copper skin contrasted with the golden of her fairer olive – he had the lined face and greying hair of a middle-aged man, yet he remained quite the sight, although considering what he was, she felt appreciative but not surprised. Being attractive was, after all, part of the deal for devils like him to better charm their clients.

The genasi slipped smoothly between his legs, her hands now running on his still clothed thighs before aiming for the bulge in-between, teasing with her knuckles and mouth as she started undoing his trousers to uncover the rest of him. Suddenly, she felt Raphael’s hips roll under her, then long fingers ran through her hair, tousling it as he held her so her mouth wouldn’t leave the bulge in his underwear. Impatient.

Raphael felt dark eyes on him, as she was giving him quite the look under her long lashes. Supporting himself on an elbow, he chuckled darkly as he ran his hand from her hair to her cheek, before settling his thumb on her lips as he forced her chin up.

-That sweet tongue of yours certainly knows how to keep someone waiting, dear.

A voice like velvet and a carefully crafted tone – alluring and threatening in equal parts -, as he pushed his thumb in her mouth. No resistance, she took the finger without hesitation and licked and sucked, looking at him directly with half-lidded eyes the whole time. When he released her from his grasp, she chuckled in turn and straightened back up, her hands back to caressing his inner thighs. She took a long look, before offering his a bright smile that illuminated her features in a deviously innocent way.

-I merely aim to serve... A little deal, maybe? Something nice, easy and simple. Let me finish there, then I’ll let you take the reins.

-You’ll let me? How generous of you.

-My house, my rules. You won’t regret it.

It was Raphael’s turn to chuckle again. The nerves of that woman, simply amazing. Yet she knew how to speak to him, and he was in too good of a mood to reject the offer. Besides, she clearly had an idea in the back of her head, and her proposal had made him curious.

-A fair argument, but you’ll have to hold your end of that bargain.

-Oh, don’t worry about that. Now, back down please, let me tend to you.

He felt a hand gently push on his torso, encouraging him to lean back before slipping over his body to settle at his hips. Both hands held his trousers and underwear and he followed through the soft pull by lifting his hips, allowing her to remove what was left of his clothes and make it join the rest somewhere on the floor. Then her weight disappeared from the bed as she reached for the closed compartment of her bedside table. He didn’t immediately see what she had retrieved from it, as she had taken it in a manner that purposefully concealed the object. He was quick to find out, however, when she sat next to him and cupped his cheek in her dainty hand while making a rather filthy request with the sweetest voice and an equally angelic smile.

-Would you kindly put your hands up, please?

Replying with a knowing smile and intense look of his own, Raphael couldn’t help yet another quip as he complied – they did have a little agreement, after all.

-Bold choice for a first time, I must say.

-Only because I trust you can take it in stride.

-But it’s not the only reason.

-Indeed it isn’t...

As they talked, Nuria slipped the bindings around the bedpost and bound his hands, finishing her reply with a firm tug to tighten them just enough. She was used to that exercise. Heat ran along Raphael’s spine at the thought, racing all the way to his hardened cock.

-You’ll get full use of your hands later, among other things. Just focus on yourself for now.

She slipped back between his legs, and he noticed too late that she had taken something else from the side table. However, he found himself momentarily distracted when she pushed with her thigh to hook his left leg over hers, giving herself better access and making him need her touch. When her hands were on him again, he almost let out a sigh of relief – a tight feel at the base of his cock stopped him in his track. A ring, its pressure points pressed all the right spots. She really was prepared.

-Now we’re talking...

Her angelic smile turned amorous and she bit her lips while openly checking him out, cheeks flushed and clearly enjoying the view, before diving right in to finally take care of the teased then neglected member. She was starting the second delicate operation of the night and needed him fully focused on his own pleasure to handle it. Finally, she gave in and started running her fingers on his length, delighting in the feeling of the veins and the soft curve upward as she took him in one hand, the other on his inner thigh to caress him with her thumb.

Raphael threw his head back and let out an unrestrained moan when he felt her lips on him, the feeling of the sloppy kisses trailing all the way to his tip, followed by one hand going from the root to that delightfully sensitive part right where the skin was pulled and a palm over his tip for more teasing. Her years of learning at the Festhall of Eternal Delight had born wonderful fruits, which he was now fully savouring as she started licking and sucking his balls while working a skilful hand on his arousal. The restrictions of the ring made every single touch feel more intense, even causing his hips to jerk from the surge of pleasure when she took him in her mouth, working him one way with cool fingers steady at the base and another way with the soft and warm touches of her tongue further up his length.

Heat pooled in his loins and his breath picked up the pace as he was more than ready to coat her mouth – then he felt a pressure and the heat receded. He gave Nuria a frustrated look, but was met with a wicked grin in reaction.

-Not now.

Her voice was sweet and sing-song, bearing more innocence than her smile did. Without breaking the eye contact, she slowly got back to work, this time avoiding his now sensitive head to focus on the shaft as well as the softer skin of his inner thighs, which were peppered with gentle kisses. Her boldness would have been irritating if it had not been so erotic to feel and watch. He had spent too much time using Haarlep, in a way her actions felt charmingly refreshing to him. Besides, she had given him carte blanche once she was done with her little fun.

His train of thought was interrupted when she straddled him again, teasingly rubbing herself against him; she was sopping wet. So that was what got her off. This realisation elicited a chuckle from him that quickly turned into a purring moan when he felt her slide down on his length with a practiced roll of her hips. The heat came back in waves more intense than before, an exhilarating feeling taking over as he stirred under her, while her hips kept rolling in a slow and deliberate rhythm, grey-and-violet eyes set on him in an almost feverish gaze that he decided to hold as he silently appreciated the way she took him, how felt around him. His hips started jerking again, the sound of skin against skin echoing softly in the room as they slapped against her rear. He felt close, oh so close, heat pulsating almost painfully as his thoroughly teased manhood felt engorged and strained against the ring. He moaned when he felt the heat cresting... And then Nuria couldn’t be felt around him anymore, and the crest broke again.

-I knew you’d do well.

At this point, her eyes had this dark glint of excitement he’d already seen before, when she was after a target. Back between his now spread legs, she delicately removed the ring, then moved up to untie him. When she leaned forward, Raphael used the opportunity to get his mouth over her breasts – immediately eliciting a gasp in response -, tasting her skin and basking in its sensuous scent while she gently massaged his wrists.

She had dared deny him his pleasure, delightful vixen that she was. He could have been annoyed by that display of audacity, yet he found himself even more aroused and willing to give chase. His half-lidded eyes stayed on Nuria, now sitting on her side in a lascivious manner, sculptural in the warm, low lighting of her bedroom. Finally released from the cockring and unbound from the bedpost – he could have broken the ties she had used if he wanted to, really, but preferred indulging her request for his own pleasure -, Raphael seized the opportunity to pounce on her, once he had his fill of leering. He may have indulged her, but he still couldn’t decently let her get away with it, otherwise she’d start overreaching.

-Oh my dear, that was quite naughty of you.

Welcoming his approach, Nuria straightened herself and closed the gap between them, allowing him to wrap his arms around her slender waist and press her against him, hungry for her pretty mouth.

She felt his arms tighten around her waist as he had her turn her back to him before drawing her close again, heat suddenly intensifying against her ever-cool skin. Then, his chest felt different against her back. Opening the eyes she had closed to bask in his warmth, she couldn’t help a chuckle when she saw his copper skin had turned scarlet, and felt the air around them being moved by his wing, black claws pressing her sides. His diabolical form. That explained the new feeling, his skin hot to the touch and textured like scales, his increased height as well.

-It may have been naughty, but judging by your reaction, it has been appreciated.

As she spoke in this smooth, breathy tone that felt like a warm whisper borne by the wind, she rolled her hips against him, feeling a hardness against her rear that elicited a clear hiss from the devil. Nuria attempted to turn around and get a full look at his new appearance but found herself denied and locked in his hold. His hot breath tickled her ear and neck as he leaned in and replied, velvet voice alluring enough to warrant more wetness between her legs.

-It’s only fair that I answer back in kind, then, sweet Nuria. A deal’s a deal.

Raphael firmed his hold on her, enveloping her and basking in the delightful hot-and-cold sensation of her perfumed skin and hair, the increased cool feeling of her skin contrasting against his own, sending pleasant chills to his loins. He answered to her rolling hips with a movement of his own, sliding a hand down between her legs and enjoying the soft feeling of her skin in the process. Two clawed fingers reached her wet core, caressing her nub with the soft pads while he purred an appreciative moan, before firmly spreading her legs apart.

-Besides, if you deny me my wants, I will take them myself.

In any other circumstances, it could have been an open, sinister warning. Here, it was closer to a game of pretend – Raphael knew she’d provide, he had been well aware of her habits even before deciding to share her bed. But he had an image to maintain, and besides, with the introduction she had just given him, speaking such imperious words to Nuria in that manner was likely to arouse her. The chase was too delightful for them both to refuse indulging in it, shamelessly.

He felt the genasi lean against him, her delicate hand, ornate with tinted patterns and golden rings sliding along his arm and wrist to join the hand between her legs, gilded nails digging his skin in provocation. She rose her head towards him, an impertinent smile on her face.

-What are you waiting for, then?

Even when he was reclaiming control over her, she had a way of slipping away somehow, in a manner that was more exciting than infuriating – just one very tempting step forward and calling him to her still. He shut her up with a harsh kiss, lip-biting and tongues fighting, his free hand sliding up her waist to cup her breast, its round flesh filling his palm perfectly. Without any form of warning, he lined himself and entered her in a single, firm thrust that made her moan loudly in the mouthy kiss.

Nuria had suspected it when she had first rolled her hips against him, but once he thrust into her, it was confirmed: ridges pushed in her, stretching her more than the penetration while he had been in his human form. She barely had time to adjust however, her stifled moan seemingly being used by Raphael to signal that he could start chasing his pleasure. And chasing he certainly did, leaving her lips for her neck, breathing her avidly and biting the supple skin. Nuria let herself go against him, eyes closed, taking in the multiple sensations as they came, heat coursing through her body in waves that pooled between her legs. The hand on her breast kept teasing her now taut and sensitive nipple, while the hand between her legs snaked back up, long fingers playing with the ornate golden chain around her waist and black claws rubbing against her skin, her own smaller hand still holding it, caressing its bulging veins. Her other hand reached back tentatively. If he wouldn’t let her face him, then she’d explore him in another way. Her deft fingers sled against the burning hot skin, feeling the scale-like texture, the ridges at his waist and hip.

Her cool touch pushed yet another button in him, and while remaining on his knees behind her, Raphael angled his hips a bit – a decision he was immediately most pleased with, considering the loud moan Nuria let out as she seemingly gave him full control, basking in the new sensation while her hips matched his thrusts with an almost liquid rhythm that he had previously witnessed, much earlier in the evening, while she was dancing. It was enough for him to feel absolute pleasure shooting straight to his loins, and he went all out, showing her what he was all about.

He lost himself in the tight-hot-slick sensation, his wings unfolding as waves of pleasure kept coming, his hands clawing at her chest and belly when he felt her tighten against him, her entire body trembling in ecstasy as he rubbed against that oh-so-sweet spot with each thrust. His hiss mixed with her moans, before transforming into a moan of his own when his burning seed started filling her. They rode their orgasm fully, and Raphael took pleasure in pushing it further, taking in the overstimulation in her now overly wet cunt. When he released his grip, he felt their mixed fluids drip along his balls, and the idea of having put his favourite in such a state of undress filled him with additional pleasure.

Finally, he let her drop on the mattress and face him, see him in full diabolic glory as he towered over her, his eyes burning like Hellfire. She flopped on her back and winced slightly, noticing the long nicks on her chest before raising her dark eyes to him – he recognised the peculiar shine in them, excitation. It made him want more, it made him want to fully indulge her.

-An enlightening demonstration, I must say.

Chuckling at her quip, he leaned in with a smug smile.

-Red suits you so well, my dear. You should consider wearing it more often.

-Wouldn’t you like to make me?

-Hm... Is that a request I am hearing?

Every word he said was carefully purred as he slowly closed in on her, a predator with his precious meal. As she was considering pulling him in for another kiss, Raphael straightened himself again and tilted his head.

-All of that made me thirsty, however... Would you care for some wine?

Before Nuria could even give an answer – was she even supposed to answer that -, a bottle of sweet trika appeared with a flaming snap of his fingers. Just a bottle. She’d have wine alright, just not the way it was usually drunk.

With a smooth gesture, Raphael opened the bottle and pulled her closer to him.

-Yes... Stay just like that, while I have my fill.

Propped on her elbows, Nuria felt the wine trickle between her breast, the cool feeling replaced by a burning sensation that made her wince as it reached cuts pearled with red, this feeling immediately replaced by the wet warmth of Raphael’s tongue, who leaned in to lap. He let out a shaky moan as he reached a gash and savoured the mix of wine and blood there. He kept getting lower, licking and even drinking from her belly button, before reaching what had pooled at the crossing between her mons and her thighs. While he kept having his fill there, Nuria could feel the rough texture of his horns pressing into her. Changing her balance a bit, she reached out to run a hand in his curls and tightened her grip when she suddenly felt clawed fingers push her legs apart, tongue on her cunt. She saw Raphael’s tail swish and thought of an excited cat, then a renewed wave of pleasure made her throw her head back and close her eyes, taking in the overstimulation with a shaky sigh as he was licking and sucking.

Raphael stopped right before she went over the edge, however, and pulled back with a smug smile – this had been the answer to her opening ministration as well. His newfound energy hadn’t gone unnoticed, as he felt a small foot provocatively rub against his thigh, teasing his hardened manhood without even touching it, while Nuria made a show of her wet cunt with eyes full of laughter and mischief. She was, without a doubt, quite the piece of devious work, this one. He wanted to keep her close. He wanted to indulge her all the more, and have her commune in depraved ecstasy with him.

The devil guided her as he sat and leaned against the headboard, letting her take a seat on his laps. Nuria set against him, an arm snaking around his shoulder to settle at his neck, her hand yet again running through the curls at the nape, while the other hand explored his torso, feeling the muscles and bulging veins, teasing a nipple as she pressed herself against his ridged hardness. Raphael used the opportunity to guide her hips and entering her again. This time, the passion was languid, both of them wanting to savour what was seemingly the end of their shared meal. As her soft breasts were pressing on his chest, as her mouth was peppering a string of delightful kisses from his lips to his neck, he grabbed her rear and tightened his grip, digging his claws in the pleasant flesh while he was fully taking in her wetness and losing himself in her ride. Soon enough, they moved in unison, drowning in the way they felt against each other, how his enticing cherry sweetened her storm-damp rose, how her voluptuous incense perfumed the pepper of his smoke, how everything was being tied together by the intoxicating scent of hot sex. They rode their orgasm one last time in unrestrained, shared moans.

As they basked in the afterglow, silent fell save for their own breath and the sound of crickets outside. After a while, Nuria seized the initiative and straightened back on his lap. With her hands still roaming on his chest, she gave him a long look.

-So… Do you have other places to be, or do you want to stay until morning?

-Hm… I shall extend my stay for the night – or rather, the end of it.

The reply seemed to please her.

-Alright then, how about a cleanup first? There’s also food in the icebox and I have some tobacco blends if you enjoy smoking from a hookah.

-My, you really mean it when you say you enjoy being of service!

-Let it never be said that I am an unpleasant host. Wait here, I’ll take care of you.

When Raphael slipped out of her, the feeling of his softening manhood against her core elicited a soft hiss from her – she remained sensitive. The genasi got up first and crossed the bedroom to go to what she revealed to be the bathroom. Raphael got back to his human form and waited a few minutes before getting up, enjoying the calm and paying attention to the sound of running water. Then, he went ahead and joined Nuria in the bathroom as she was detangling her tousled hair and putting it up again to get ready for a bath she was running, moisture slowly clinging in the air. She had also used the opportunity to remove the remaining makeup on her face. He’d been used to seeing her at least with khôl, so seeing her like that offered a new level of intimacy. She had her back to him, and used his reflection in the tall mirror to address him.

-Oh, I was about to get back to you. Let me clean you up first, then how about we relax a bit?

-Only if you get in the bathtub with me, dear.

-That can be considered.

-You tease.

Nuria picked a washcloth from the washing basin, as well as a bar of scented soap, and proceeded to take care of him – cleaning the beads of sweat on his face, the sticky mix of sweat, trika and blood on his torso and then further down to his member, the pleasant feeling of the warm, damp cloth making him fully relax under her touch.

-And after you.

She directed him towards the bath while she was putting a stop to the magical amphora that had been filling it. A perfume indicated the addition of oils in it – lavender and orange blossom, and a hookah was next to it, ready to be lit and used – a fine habit, that was for certain. Raphael sunk in the hot water with a delighted sigh, before signalling Nuria to join him in the large tub. As she was entering however, he had her stay up, in front of him, while he ran his fingers over her, where his claws had cut. Light shone from the tip of his fingers, as it usually did when he used magic, and for a second a searing sensation made her wince silently. As he finished healing her, he left a kiss on her hips, his lips lingering just enough before he let her take place between his legs, leaning against him while his fingers ran over the biting marks on her neck and shoulder, repeating the process – which he ended this time with a kiss right below the ear.

-What a gracious guest you are.

-Merely matching the energy of the gracious host.

-Cute.

-Always, when I want to show my appreciation.

Nuria reached to the hookah to distract herself from the various feelings his words elicited, and lit the charcoal up with a snap of her fingers, lightning sparks flying momentarily, and pulled on the first drafts of smoke before lending the tip to the devil at her back. They kept going a little while longer, the scent of lavender and orange blossom mixing with the round and earthy scent of tobacco, then patted themselves dry and headed back to the bed, this time for proper rest.

Raphael settled against her, his head on her chest and an arm around her waist. Taken aback for a second, Nuria decided to allow it and took him in a sweet embrace, fingers running as gently as ever in his hair. 

When morning came, Raphael couldn’t tell when he had fallen asleep. What was certain was that despite the rather short and lively night, he felt well-rested. Nuria was still fast asleep next to him, her face displaying a truly innocent look for once. His eyes kept sliding back to her while he was putting his clothes back on – the morning sun was shining through the sahnisin, its shadow drawing an elegant pattern that invited him to follow the curves of her back, hips and rear. The scene inspired him and he decided to leave a little note for her before leaving. Back in the living area, he found an unused piece of paper as well as a glass pen and ink pot. With a lingering thought for the events of the previous night and the view he had just enjoyed, he penned a few lines before leaving with a sulphurous snap of fingers.

A couple hours later, when Nuria woke up, she found herself alone and quite sore. As she covered herself with a silk robe and went to the kitchen area, she noticed the papers had been moved on the table of the living area. She first approached it with suspicion, then noticed a note in an elegant handwriting that was distinguishably not hers. So he had left a note instead of leaving like a thief. A few seconds later, she was caught in an unrestrained laughter, the note in hand.

-Sharess takes me, what a pervert.

“O apple of my eye,

More seeds for your cry

That I’d happily supply.

-R”

Their next meeting promised to be most interesting.

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #hellfire storm #smut #bg3 smut #Now I'll be able to fully focus on non-smutty content lmao #the opening chapter of the fic is a bit of a doozy to write but it's fun

[twistedapple]

In reaction to kiss-inferna's post regarding devils' and cambions' ability to feel fear, which was very interesting to consider, I'd like to share a bit of draft from my fic.

It is set right after the smut chapter. I suggest you read it to understand what's happening with Raphael's introspection.

* * *

The smell of sulfur told him that he was in Avernus, back to his House of Hope, yet he paid even less mind to it than usual. The mix of cold rose, incense, sweet orange and lavender was lingering, one last trace of his debauched night. He could have thought that he had been too far, but he was quite pleased by the turn of event with the sweet little genasi. His thoughts trailed back to her delightful ministrations, the ghosts of her moans still ringing in his ears. His name hadn't crosser her lips however, and he felt it needed to be corrected. A part of him replied that it was merely an excuse to keep indulging, and he didn't deny it. But having an excuse helped reducing the impression he was being too generous.

Still, he couldn't help but notice that he had a fine night, and not just from the activities he had enjoyed. He was used to agitated nights, dreams that felt in turn encouraging, in turn threatening. It was common for him to toss and turn, and document the dreams as soon as he woke up - putting them into words helped him clarify the visions, helped him decrypt the hidden meanings and put his thoughts and emotions back in order.

He wasn't sure if it was because he had been well spent, or fully relaxed from the care Nuria had lavished him with afterwards - maybe both -, but no strange dream came to agitate him that night. The memory of her arms gently wrapped against him and their legs getting tangled as he fell asleep, how he had woken up sprawled - taking most of the place in the bed, as he usually would - yet with the light weight of her arm across his chest as she was fast asleep next to him, momentarily tricked him into feeling the lingering traces of her touches. Nuria's apartment was softly lit by the morning sun, and he remembered the feeling of peace that had momentarily taken him, in that space that was so different from the House of Hope, the silence of Quill Ward only broken by the song of a nearby bird.

This was the strangest part. He was used to be the one giving orders, the one owning everything around him. In his house, the only song in the fiery mornings of Avernus would be the moans of the souls he had trapped - a sweet and familiar sound, a reminder of his power that was music to his ears. Last night, things had been turned on their head - yet in a way that never really felt offensive. Nuria had a way of doing things that was terribly enticing, and it came to him that he had given himself to her almost as much as she had done so for him. Almost.

Then, as it was coming to him that he wanted more of that, he corrected the thought: she had to be reminded that he was the one calling the shots.

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #yes raphael she made you feel hot and bothered and you liked it you hypocrit

[twistedapple]

Many thanks to @valentjin for this amazing work! I present you Nuria in her practical travel outfit with a short sleeved caftan, a simple turban to keep her hair neat and out of the way and hidden, long gloves going all the way above her elbows and tall riding boots going past her knees. A belt at her waist holds a knife, it can be used to hold pouches as well.

While she is often described as having dark eyes and grey-and-violet eyes (I do picture them with a dark tone and the colour pops more in the light - think Young Griff from ASOIAF: "Like his sire, Young Griff had blue eyes, but where the father's eyes were pale, the son's were dark. By lamplight they turned black, and in the light of dusk they seemed purple"), once she starts using her magic, her Air Genasi racial traits pop more and one of her most telling signs is her eyes, which take the same bright violet tone as her lightning spells. It also serves to hint at her actual class, which she usually hides for cultural reasons (that class is among the least accepted in Calimshan - it didn't stop her from raising through ranks though, because she is particularly shrewd when it comes to her job).

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #what a wonderful commission

[twistedapple]

Blog update and publication

Hello!

Quick update, since I kinda disappeared after the New Year. I got into slight slump and went on a break, however I remained active on Discord. I have much to catch up to over here and will try my best to do so in due time.

This aside, I have excellent news: I am out of the slump now and worked to drop more writing. I had said that I'd focus back on my fic, A Tale of Brimstone and Storm, but I guess it was a semi-lie, because more smut is incoming later today. If you're interested, please stay on the look out for it, it'll be available here and on AO3.

I'd also like to announce I am part of @mslanna's Dick Challenge, watch me also treat it as "Crow shall stay under 3k words this time" challenge, because that'd be a good writing exercise for me.

As for A Tale of Brimstone and Storm, worry not about it. CH2 is still quite the big worm in my head, and I can't wait to go back to the WIP I have previously shared (see my BG3 masterlist, link in the pinned post), which will be reworked to meet the energy and writing style I currently have. It should be an interesting chapter as well, since it'll be entirely from Raphael's PoV.

With that said, see you later once my smut is out in the wild.

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #a tale of brimstone and storm #crow speaks #crow is giving you an update

[twistedapple]

SPOILER ALERT FOR MY FIC

But I need to muse about it openly because ngh there's some interesting stuff so...

While working on my fic, A Tale of Brimstone and Storm, I've been reviewing the relationship chart between Nuria and the main BG3 cast.

I initially thought that Nuria would get along well with Astarion quite quickly but.

But I remembered Astarion's age. There is a high chance he'll be among the characters who identify Nuria as Calishite based on her look/outfit (the other two being Wyll and Gale). He was also there when the Spellplague happened. And there's NO WAY he wouldn't have heard about the whole mess in Calimshan with the Second Era of Skyfire because it literally turned a whole country into DnD's Slavers' Bay and it was one of the major consequences of the Spellplague that is still in effect 100 years later when the Second Sundering starts.

Like. This is literally why I insist about Raphael looking human in CH2 of my fic: "The first move was thus to make it clear that he was their better and most certainly of the Infernal sort while maintaining his preferred, deceiving human appearance – surely, it would have a deeper effect in a country where humans were treated like second rate citizens at best, and more often than not enslaved ". He does it on purpose, for the fun of making his Djinn/Genasi petitioners squirm.

By the time the events of BG3 take place, the Glorious Revolution of Calimshan is a recent event. Astarion identifying Nuria as a Calishite may cause trouble, at least at first, because she may pass for a human when you look at her, but she still has Genasi traits that can betray her, and people like Gale, Wyll and Astarion are, again, the most likely to have at least seen Genasi folks in Baldur's Gate and Waterdeep, thus they are more likely to acknowledge her as such based on what they know/have experienced.

Now, what's in common between a Calishite Genasi and someone like Astarion? Slavery, and putting 2+2 together means Nuria will be associated with slavers (and even though she is no slaver herself, she was in the privileged cast and very much benefited from that nonetheless), while Astarion has been effectively a slave for 200 years.

I think it's gonna make for a highly interesting relationship between them because clashes are 100% bound to happen, at least during the events of Act 1.

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 oc #bg3 oc nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #bg3 astarion #bg3 gale #bg3 wyll #dnd lore #also known as MENTAL GYMNASTIC TO HAVE 4E AND 5E MAKE SENSE TOGETHER #lore dives are among my special interests but holy fuck this one is gonna be fun to handle #insane rambling of someone invested in their writings

[twistedapple]

A Tale of Brimstone and Storm

Me in CH1: I need to be more consistent

Me in CH2: Welp it's been more than 3 months!

Anyway, here we go. AO3 link here. Previous chapter here.

BGM: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Full Playlist here.

CW: General violence, blood, injuries, deaths...

Chapter 2 - The Devil is a Handsome Man (part 1)

The sun was slowly reaching the end of its course when a silhouette broke the horizon, a black and white stain breaking the harmony of a deepening blue sky and dunes bathed in the lowering golden light. The horse was dancing, froth at the mouth from the recent exertion, but the relaxed seat of its rider betrayed experience with agitated horses. Amidst the deep blue wrapped around the rider’s face for protection, dark grey-and-violet eyes shone dangerously. With light hands and a firm press of the calves, the horse took a feather light canter. The domes and spires of Calimport were finally in sight, and the duo seemed pushed by the urgency of the last miles – the scent of home and the need to report immediately.

Comfortably installed in the Chamber of Egress, Raphael leaned back in his tall chair, lazily swirling a fragrant red in an ornate silver cup while he enjoyed the pleasant evening scenery unfolding before his eyes, dry heat and sea salt borne by the evening wind all the way to Avernus through the portal facing him. That little Genasi certainly had a knack for handling orders in the most entertaining fashion – her boldness with the dune hags had been especially remarkable, and so had been her shrewdness (ruthlessness could be equally appropriate, really) as she prepared the field in anticipation of the events in Mardun in the simplest ways: striking a secret bargain, spiking drinks in the most unassuming fashion...

Few things were as amusing as witnessing betrayal at the climax of what was believed to be a carefully laid out plan, and the execution had been flawless. With his throat slit, the fire Genasi named Kartal had been left limp on the floor, his heated blood spreading in the thick dust while Nuria hid the ritual dagger in an inner pocket of her mantle. She repeated the words they had convened upon to undo the arcane lock and left the room at a leisurely pace as she joined the field of combat, which had turned awfully one-sided. Nasir had been ripped open from top to bottom, while Munir laid next to him, eyes gouged out and mouth distorted in a silent, terrible scream. Raphael could smell the scent of sun-baked sand and iron from his seat.

Crawling on the weathered mosaics with what little energy she had left, Defne had looked at Nuria and her surprise quickly turned to rage once what had just happened dawned on her.

-You traitorous whore! Demon in Genasi sk-

One of the hags gave a final stab that cut the curses short and left a distorted rictus on the nomad’s tattooed face. Nuria didn’t even bother with the insults and sauntered out of the ruins while politely wishing the hags an enjoyable meal. She untied the horses and let them free before getting back in her own saddle. Her solitary voyage to Calimport hadn’t been without problems – she needed to deal with the pursuers from Dashadjen, who had managed to track the group somehow, and a few days later with some fire Genasi affiliated with Iskanda and laying in wait in the vicinity of Calimport. Finally able to unleash her sorcery without the cover of being a wizard, Nuria brutally took them down and left their remains for the carrions to feast upon.

Raphael emptied his cup and got up. He had been following her long enough, and this was the final assessment to confirm his next steps. She proved a fine candidate for his plans, and now he had to put the cogs in motion.

***

A pleasant breeze from the Northeast was lazily blowing over Calimport, softening the usual heat of the region. The delicate scent of orange blossoms and jasmine crossed over from the Palace’s gardens all the way to the Chamber of Egress, giving Raphael an introduction to his day – and what a day it would be! He even had a dream about it the previous night, a silhouette black and white emerging from a sandstorm (or leading it?) and a wind howling like a heartbeat. When their eyes met, violet-like lightning took over, overwhelming and... Raphael pinched his lips, stopping the reminiscence of that dream and focusing back on the task ahead.

It wasn’t in his habits to even bother meeting with his petitioners – he had enough daily requests as it was and besides, he wasn’t keen on wasting his time over every single mortal begging for his attention. Yet, he was willing to make exceptions when the petitioner was of interest to him or when he felt like indulging a bit (sometimes both, even). This time, however, it was an even rarer case: the opportunity to advance his personal plans, offered on a silver platter. Not one to waste that chance, he had gone for it without hesitation. After all, it wasn’t everyday that people of such stature were willing to bet the way the lords of Calimport intended to. Better still, the devil felt particularly excited over this contract; the average petitioner was decent enough but wouldn’t always satisfy his desire for a chase. He was willing to admit that it was one of the reasons that had pushed him to not only accept the request, but also agree to an in-person meeting instead of sending an associate as he usually would.

After all, what chase would be more promising than one involving no mere merchants and persons of law, but ones with genie ancestry? Even better, having this assembly led directly by a djinn, fellow master of forever binding words! Raphael, ever willing to welcome resistance for the sole pleasure of breaking it in the end, was delighted by the challenge this contract would present. Furthermore, this would be the perfect opening to bring him closer to his true goal, while providing him with an ever-so-soon access to souls of quality. What these petitioners planned on doing to protect their own interests mattered very little, since the conclusion of that affair would undoubtedly be in his favour. He merely had to weave it all carefully in the terms of the contract.

Perfectly groomed and wearing fine silks to set the tone and match the luxury of the Palace, Raphael switched to his preferred unassuming human appearance. Once his clients had arrived and settled down, he snapped his fingers to make his own entrance; a pleased smile already etched on his face.

***

The potent scent of something burnt, sulphur and tar filled the large room when Raphael appeared in a cloud of burning smoke. A first point had to be made in order to keep control of the situation, especially since he was about to face no less than 11 men with a similar knack for contracts and agreements. The first move was thus to make it clear that he was their better and most certainly of the Infernal sort while maintaining his preferred, deceiving human appearance – surely, it would have a deeper effect in a country where humans were treated like second rate citizens at best, and more often than not enslaved. Besides, such an entrance was the perfect way to catch his clients off-guard for a second and read them for what they truly were in the process.

Some of them raised their eyebrows in surprise, others frowned in annoyance, others yet twisted their nose, all too used to musky florals to tolerate the perfumes of Avernus. As expected however, Vizer Shahrokh did not let anything show on his face. Less expected was the smaller and quite familiar silhouette next to him, dressed in the twilight silks and silver threads of the Palace’s servants; standing at attention and not batting as much as an eye. Raphael contained a delighted gasp at the pleasant surprise brought to him on a silver platter and redirected his attention to the men sitting around the large oval table, offering them his scrutiny as a silent reply to their various reactions.

All of them were Genasi, with various traits expressing their djinni ancestry – lightning and wind-like swirls on the skin, beards like clouds, eyes of azure... Vizer Shahrokh, sitting – or rather, floating gently over the tall chair - at one end of the table, distinguished himself by his very obvious nature as a Djinn, the only other person not from the Material Plane in the room. Whereas the Genasi had certain signs of their elemental heritage, the Vizer was a rare example of it: he seemed both solid and gaseous, bright swirls formed patterns over his bluish skin, his beard bore golden ornaments and his eyes had a shine akin to the lighting would could see amidst the darkest storm. Contrary to the Genasi, who favoured layered outfits that covered most of their bodies, he let his own on display and seemed to content himself with golden bracelets and rings, and an equally decorated turban. These displays of opulence gave Raphael the confirmaton that matching them had been an appropriate move, perfect to make them squirm while they would be having their arm twisted by an awfully human looking devil.

The devil held Shahrokh's stern look and they gauged each other for an instant before The Vizer’s expression broke into an amicable smile. When he spoke, his voice seemed to be borne by the breeze, both hushed and booming, his vowels warbling in an Alzhedo flavoured by relaxed Auran inflections.  

-Please, take a seat. And let’s enjoy some refreshment first.

Shahrokh directed him towards the other end of the table with an elegant gesture, reclaiming control of the room in the process.

Raphael obliged his host and took his place on the other end of the table. While Shahrokh started presenting of the other contractors, Raphael felt an oddly cool presence next to him made of a sharp rose wrapped in fragrant incenseand rainstorm. Schooling his expression, he let her serve him peppermint tea in the theatrical manner of Calimshan while keeping an ear on the discussion. As per the rules of Calishite hospitality he was being served first, and with no less than the highest quality blend. The meeting may have started with a stare down, but Raphael couldn’t deny his appreciation for the ability to graciously host in full respect of decorum that was a staple of Calimshan. The serving woman quickly left his side once he was served, her steps smooth and silent while she tended to the other participants. He’d have time to give her a proper glance once she’d be back to Shahrokh’s side.

Then, negotiations for the forging of the contract started, the initial petition establishing support in various aspects: first, to undermine Memnon and his own supporters; second, to more generally undermine the influence fire Genasi and Efreets may gain; third, support in the summoning ritual to bring Calim back from the Elemental Chaos; fourth, support to build safety measures so such a banishment never happens again.

As the Vizer laid the terms down, Raphael fully appreciated the hefty request that was being made and, this time, he failed to repress an amused chuckle. The terms were both precise and purposefully vague – clearly, Shahrokh and his ilk had given themselves some room for the negotiations.

-Well, that certainly is an ambitious request, although not unfeasible. I do hope you have conditions to back them up.

The devil let his eyes trail over the assembly, neither able nor willing to hide the predatory twist in his polite smile. The subtle expressions he noticed delighted him, many cues of an inner discord that could be turned to his advantage. Of course, the bigger obstacle in the room wasn’t the Genasi advisors, but the djinn facing him. Still, one of the advisors, one presented as Erol yn Tamer el Gürkan, broke the tense silence that had fallen around the table with a hushed voice that felt like a cold wind, his beard floating like a cloud as it followed the movements of his jaw.

-Our souls will be the payment, devil.

Oh Shahrokh, how wicked you are. The souls in question were definitely the councilmen’s souls. A genie’s soul, much like a devil’s, was also their body, and Shahrokh clearly knew better than gamble with his entire being. Besides, the clenched jaws Raphael had picked up on likely betrayed the Vizer’s desire to keep his own council in line as his schemes unfolded. He couldn’t restrain a chuckle as he replied.

-A commendable awareness, advisor Erol yn Tamer el Gürkan. However, there is a point I wish to clarify, just to make sure we are all in agreement. Calim’s historical presence in Calimshan hasn’t been just a political move. The land itself has been transformed because of it, the land itself has taken his name as well. And when the Spellplague caused the breaking of the Calimemnon Crystal that imprisoned both him and Memnon, everybody in this part of the world witnessed the consequences.

Shahrokh tilted his head slightly, waiting for him to get to the point he already knew he was about to make. Another councilman, not as patient as his genie master, groaned.

-Do you intend to give us a history lesson about our own land? To the point, devil.

-Ah, but a history lesson is precisely what is needed right now, advisor Ohran yn Vural el Ercan. See, both Calim and Memnon have been promptly banished back to the Elemental Chaos after having rekindled their little feud. Now, here lies the issue: why would I bother to help you get Calim back in the Material Plane in the first place, if he is to be potentially trapped or banished once again? I could at least do it for the sheer entertainment of it, but I’m afraid 10 souls, not matter how noble they are, is a rather low price for the service.

Without wasting any second, Shahrokh gave a reply. His reaction was fast enough to even surprise Raphael for a moment.

-The next first born children as well, in your service.

Immediately, the table erupted with outrage, as the men jumped back on their feet here, shook an angry finger there, raised voices mixing together and quickly rendering the complaints inaudible. Unbothered by the disturbance, Raphael sat back and slowly intertwined his fingers while holding the djinn’s piercing gaze. Shahrokh really wanted this scheme of his to work, didn’t he? While the devil usually preferred a bit of a chase with his petitioners, the sudden chaos was just as amusing to him (and more importantly, it told him everything he needed to know about Shahrokh’s will and the way he held the advisors under his rule). The Vizer’s hushed-yet-booming voice resounded in the hall, putting an immediate end to the mayhem.

-Order!

At once, silence fell over the room and the Genasi sat back, their shoulders and back in a varying state of tension. Shahrokh discreetly signed the servant, who promptly started a new service around the table. Raphael was rather impressed by her composure and the way she stood in silence despite the increasingly stuffy atmosphere in the large room. The control she had over her own expressions was of particular note. She remained a model of cool neutrality even while offering him more refreshments.

Raphael took a moment to appreciate the tea, before breaking the silence first.

-An interesting proposition, pages would certainly be a welcome addition to my household. Now, surely you’ll understand that every base needs to be covered, so allow me to offer you my own proposition...

An easy snap of his fingers was enough to make a parchment appear, with a quill floating next to it. Both hovered gently towards the Vizer.

-You may verify the terms.

The most amusing part when striking bargains was the fine prints, and Raphael would be lying if he were to say he wasn’t having fun with the on-going discussion. The bargain itself was fair, truth be told (some might even say generous), but the crux of this agreement wasn’t in what was being said. He had observed the reactions of the advisors and saw them all miss the easy bait he had thrown, too preoccupied they were with their descendants being taken to the Nine Hells. They failed to realise that what seemed unpleasant now was nothing compared to what was in the balance if Shahrokh failed to fulfil his contract regarding the coming of Calim from the Elemental Chaos. Based on the reactions displayed by the djinn so far, Raphael chose to keep the conditions in case of failure between them as well, but not out of compassion. The truth was that Raphael really didn’t care about this contract in the first place and would be satisfied with any outcome, based on the conditions for failure, so he had enough room for some personal indulgence. He’d either end with 20 souls or with 70, since failure to fulfil the contract and not only summon but maintain Calim in the Material Plane would add the five next generations of each family. Even if Shahrokh were to succeed in completing his end of the bargain without ever being caught dealing with a devil, Raphael would still receive a decent payment for his assistance.

Raphael’s true aim was indeed in Calimport, but it wasn’t a djinn and his ilk. It was a Genasi present since the beginning, one he had been watching over for long enough, evaluating the potential and merely using the bargain with Shahrokh as an excuse to get closer to the object of his desire. His gaze remained on the Vizer as he read the contract and took the time to examine its details – something rare enough to be noted, considering his own tendency to favour urgency as a deciding factor. Finally, the serene mask of the genie broke, the faintest wrinkle in his brow as he went over the contract. But it was already too late, he had a juicy agreement that would leave him free of charges, based on the terms established (Raphael certainly did take that into account, although what it meant in regard to the actual execution of the contract was another matter). Shahrokh’s piercing gaze went back to the devil, the faintest hint of hesitation in his gaze. One final nudge was required, and Raphael was all too pleased to oblige.

-A desert mouse told me Calimport is being pressured by fire Genasi who’d rather see Calimshan be rebranded as Memnonnar... Your plans have been going well up until now, but it really takes one unfortunate twist of the knife to see everything fall. The guidance I offer could prevent that. Besides, you’ll hardly find a more generous offer.

Shahrokh’s eyes squinted before sweeping over the room and going as far as discreetly eyeing the servant next to him. Without any further addition, he took the quill and put the first signature on the contract.

The devil quietly drank the peppermint tea, emptying his second cup while the advisors followed Shahrokh in signing the contract, each name blazing on the parchment. While they were being distracted, his eyes trailed on the small servant, her almost feline features and elegant posture, the way the silks draped over her – and for the first time, to his delight, their eyes briefly met.

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #bg3 fanfic #bg3 fanfiction

[twistedapple]

Ok, with my current rhythm, I think I'll be able to release the final version of the first chapter of my fic tonight! You'll also be able to find the chapters in my BG3 Masterlist.

Now question: considering the issue of OTW kicking pro-Palestine members out...

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #bg3 raphael #the chapters have a title but I have yet to find a definitive title for the fic as a whole lol

[twistedapple]

Baldur's Gate 3 Masterlist

OC Content - Nuria yr Ashemmi el Kacem

Tags: #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #hellfire storm

Main fic: A Tale of Brimstone and Storm - AO3 link

1, 2, 3...

Fic content:

Kiss Me More - Raphael x Nuria, NSFW, semi-standalone fic that'll be a chapter of my BG3 fic. Its decontextualised version posted earlier, is here. AO3 link.

In the Sand of Calimshan - Excerpt from the first chapter of my fic. The fic will be posted here and on AO3.

Untitled early sample - An early sample to present Nuria and the frame of the story.

Untitled WIP - Sharing the untitled WIP of what has now been shuffled to CH2.

Untitled WIP - Post-first smut chapter, from Raphael's PoV.

You'll never be pure again - Raphael x Nuria, NSFW, semi-standalone fic that'll be a chapter of my BG3 fic. Decontextualised version to avoid spoilers. AO3 link.

Her hands of gold and jewels - Raphael x Nuria, NSFW, semi-standalone fic that'll be a chapter of my BG3 fic. Decontextualised to avoid spoilers. AO3 link.

OC Meta:

Musings on how to depict Calimshan - Personal ramblings on how to present the setting without falling into the traps of Orientalism.

On Hellfire Storms - Musings about the dynamic between Raphael and Nuria, and how their respective nature affects it.

Nuria's Playlist

OC Ask Meme - 16, 21 and 25

Tav Ask Meme - 10, 16 and 18; 1, 4 and 30

OC Ask Meme - not so nice: desire, guilt and skin; bound, hide and midnight

Random OC asks: favourite memory

Commissions:

Spell at the ready, by @valentjin

BG3 General Meta - Canon characters

Tags: #bg3 raphael #bg3 [character name] #bg3 meta

The Perfume Rant: On cherry and musk, On bergamot and aged brandy, On rose and incense (my OC Nuria but parallels with Raphael)

Raphael's sexuality: Some musings,

References and other meta: Devils' and Cambions' ability to feel fear,

Petition: Make Raphael Romanceable by @/dmagedgoods

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #bg3 meta #bg3 masterlist

[twistedapple]

With all of this renewed talk of Raphael Romance thanks to the recent interview with Andrew Wincott (who would be on board for it one of us one of us), reminder that my latest smut, Her hands of gold and jewels, is out!

At this point, I think it's more like a character and relationship study disguised as smut lol but it was really fun to work on it! And don't forget to check the linked playlist, because I curated it recently so it can reflect not only Nuria, but her environment as well with Calimshan and Calimport, as well as actual Turkish kanun music.

As for the next plans, my focus will be on Chapter 2 of my main fic, A Tale of Brimstone and Storm, to start kicking the actual intrigue and finally reveal Raphael's goal and what he wants from Nuria! So stay tuned for that, my inbox remains open for questions and comments as well!

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #andrew wincott #make raphael romanceable #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #hellfire storm #a tale of brimstone and storm

[twistedapple]

On Hellfire Storms

So while I keep working on my fic to have at least a few chapters ready in advance (because I'm a slow writer, especially atm), i've decided to ramble a bit about Raphael and Nuria, their dynamic, and how their respective nature affect it.

Devil x Mortal

The devil/mortal dynamic is what we're generally working with in the frame of Baldur's Gate 3, and it's also the frame I picked for the Hellfire Storm ship. You'll see it unfold in the fic, but to put it simply, it's complicated.

There is a lot of mixed feelings on both sides - Nuria has enough self-awareness and self-preservation to understand that Raphael is preying on her - he wants something from her specifically, even before the plot of Baldur's Gate 3 - by the time the events of 1492DR happen, they've known each other for 10 years. It may only be a decade by Raphael's standards, but by Nuria's standards it's enough to note a lot of things about him and learn to navigate in a way that prioritises her safety without putting their relationship at risk, because it still comes with some perks. Meanwhile, Raphael may lean on his diabolic side considerably more to demonstrate his power and use it as a tool for temptation but sometimes, these pesky feelings that mortals have start showing their face.

I wouldn't call their relationship "love". It certainly isn't love in the usual sense. Raphael does play favourite with her, to the point of even making her his mistress, because it's part of his courting process to obtain what he wants from her - but still, playing favourite is playing favourite, and Raphael truly is his father's son with his own contradictions. Nuria knows how to handle powerful but bratty middle-aged men, and she sees enough patterns in Raphael to figure out how to smoothly push his buttons.

This very situation causes a lot of mixed feelings for Raphael, because in one hand how dare she try and take the lead, on the other hand this is the sort of action he can respect as a show of power play - especially since Nuria is so devilishly good at toeing the line. She knows when to assert herself and when to take a step back, she understands the rhythm - she is a particularly skilled dancer after all. And compared to what we can see in the House of Hope, she's a refreshing change of pace in a way. There's also a calculated decisiveness in her actions that makes her all the more attractive to him, because it plays into his preference for ambition. And ambitious Nuria is, although not in the classic "I want to rule the world" style. She has very precise personal goals, and Raphael is quick to pick up on that as a fellow resolute person (resolute and arrogant, both of them).

There is also a parallel between them that creates an odd sort of relatability while having very different outcomes: both of them are outside the norms of their society. Being a Cambion, Raphael isn't fully part of the Infernal hierarchy, and while he's well-placed thanks to his sire being Hells' #2, he remains stuck in a sort of grey area - gaining power would help with that. Meanwhile, Nuria is also an odd duck by Calishite standards. A proper Calishite woman gets married at 15, has children by 20, stays at home to take care of the family and more importantly: is likely to stay in her strat of the social hierarchy (although Calishite women have more chance of climbing the social ladder than men through marriage). Nuria is none of that. It's a bit spoilery but I guess it's ok: at 15 Nuria was working at the Festhall of Eternal Delight and learning how to entertain as a cover and charm to reach her goals as part of her preparation to be a professional spy. Festhalls are basically glorified brothels (think Sharess Caress, where you can also drink and have pleasant entertainments. Sharess Caress is also a festhall), this is what she was dealing with (though don't you dare pity her, she was there of her own volition). By 20, when Raphael officially meets her, she's a spy and a hitman and she lives outside of Calishite hierarchy - it's not a handicap for her though, it's a freedom that allowed her to be more mobile: she literally lives in Quill Ward even though she isn't technically associated with the businesses there - but being closer to forgery specialists and libraries is incredibly useful for her.

To sum it up without spoiling anything: Nuria displays traits that could annoy Raphael if they weren't mixed with his favoured traits, and gods be damned if she's clever enough to know how to use that to her advantage to flirt back and soften him a bit, little by little, creating a sort of intimate spot both of them can lean into, in a paradoxical safety compared to what a devil/mortal dynamic should be. This safety is very subtle, but I've displayed it in the smut I released some time ago: it's in Raphael sleeping in her arms, in Nuria leaning against him as they share a bath. She has also obtained the social freedom Raphael seeks, he sees the "after" of it in her and it tugs at his subconscious: if she did it for herself, surely she'll understand his ambition and will accept to become his little MVP in the process.

This relationship could almost be cute with its quiet moments, if it wasn't so venenous at the same time.

2. Mortal x Mortal

As a mortal, I think Raphael would still be a power-hungry, magnificent bastard, but he wouldn't have the struggle of dealing with what he may perceive as mortal nonsense, because he'd live life in a mortal frame.

They'd be just as venenous though, but with more of an open Gomez and Morticia Addams energy. Venenous but as a team, if you will. So the poison would mostly be everybody else's problem, really, because they'd be functional as a couple to a disturbing level.

One major detail would remain though: the 45yo married to a 20something vibe. I tried to keep it discreet because I think it's funnier if people pick up on it on their own and start yelling... But I've already mentioned that Raphael has been keeping a eye on Nuria even before he started proactively going after her - he starts doing that when she is 20. At that time, he already looks like a middle-aged man with greying hair and a lined forehead. What do you think this looks like, really? I'll let you put 2 and 2 together and tell me, just to see the reactions.

3. Devil x Devil

I think this dynamic would be The Worst Timeline, at least for Raphael. Dealing with someone like Nuria when she's a human? Fine, he has the upper hand on the power balance as a devil, despite Nuria's interpersonal skills, and as the Much Older Person In The Relationship if he were mortal.

With Nuria as a fellow devil, though? Oh, the power would be more balanced, it would also mirror the energy between Mephistopheles and his consort Baalphegor because the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and Nuria happens to have good people skills even as a devil.

I think that this dynamic would create a lot more distrust on Raphael's side, especially since I imagine Devil!Nuria would get along quite well Haarlep of all people, which in itself could be infuriating. Now add that to a devil that has her hands in the politics of the Nine Hells, and you have a recipe for a high voltage type of relationship, with considerably heightened toxicity.

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #hellfire storm #I think that of all the OCs I've had the Hellfire Storm ship is among the most entertaining dynamics #I'm usually into cute and healthy relationships but Raphael really is my “this better not awaken anything in me” moment lmao #Let's just say I made a friend proud with that lol #now I too enjoy playing dolls with horrible characters in a toxic relationship that has become my favorite type of dynamic to explore! #also yes Nuria is 100% a CHA-based class btw

[twistedapple]

In light of this interesting exchange regarding the way some people perceive Raphael's sexuality (and how it snowballs into certain patriarchal heteronormative views) , I am considering releasing the full smut chapter, with more of its context (which had been stripped down + I had removed the whole first part of the fun as well lol), to further make my point on the matter).

Is anybody interested?

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #bg3 smut #smut #crow talks

[twistedapple]

I have decided to share the beginning of my BG3 fic! Keep in mind it'll be subjected to an editing process so it's not necessarily matching what you'll see in the final product (especially since I'm still working on getting Raphael's tone right).

A BGM for the vibe, as well as a sneaky peek into the WIP playlist I have for Nuria, my OC. After that post, get ready for Part 3 of my Perfume Rant, which will be about Nuria and give us more insight into the type of character she is.

@kiss-inferna since you requested a ping for the Nuria content :)

* * *

Something was brewing, the echoes of change running through the Planes as a great change was starting to unfold. The Mortal Plane needed to be mended, and superior forces were hard at work to put some order back into the giant mess caused by the Spellplague and the death of too many Gods. While mortals would be able to find relief in this resolution, in the years to come, this entire process was not exactly to everybody's taste, and agitation could be felt in the Nine Hells. With Gods dead and their portfolio rearranged, devils had notoriously benefitted for the straying of souls to strike many a valuable deal, however it seemed that Ao's intervention was going to slow things down a bit.

Not all of them worried, though. For all of his dislike of chaos, Raphael still had hope that mortals would behave as they usually did. It was a matter of waiting, observing, and striking at the right time to obtain worthy deals and snatch valuable souls. Besides, certain lands on the Mortal Plane were a proof that no matter how much higher divinities could intervene, chaos would always find a way.

The cambion was standing in front of a tall mirror, one among the many in his Chamber of Egress, that facilitated his travels around the Mortal Plane. Through it, a warm wind could be felt, sand rustling under a burning sun. Calim Desert displayed its expense through the mirror, its quietness a complete lie. While many a land had been ravaged through the various catastrophes that had erupted in the wake of the Spellplague, Calimshan had been embroiled in a chaos of its very own making, old history rearing its violence-inclined head to take hold of the country again. In the years following the Spellplague, the Calimemnon Crystal holding genies Memnon and Calim sealed in the desert shattered, resulting in the genies coming back to fight for control of the then wealthy mercantile nation. In the process, genasi of various elements, having lived hidden for generations and passing as humans, had revealed themselves and picked a side, Air against Fire, Djinn against Efreet, once again for the Second Era of Skyfire. The devastation that followed had been a real feast, feeding opportunistic devils for decades in a process eased by the notorious absorption of Azuth, the God of Magic revered in Calimshan, by Asmodeus himself. Anybody wishing for more magical power became an easy target. This decades-long conflict kept going even after Memnon and Calim's banishment to the Elemental Chaos, the once prosperous kingdom being turned into slavers' land as numerous genasi proclaimed themselves rulers and maintained the fights, while the human stronghold of Almraiven felt like the last place of decency in a sea of unabashed decadence. The latest event in a long series of miseries had been the murder of Pasha Marod el Arhapan by his own son, leading not only to the destruction of the fighting arena of Calimport by way of floating palace that had fallen on it following the aforementioned murder, but also the political fall of the city in the hands of Marod's Vizar, the scheming genie Shahrokh.

The place was a vile and incredibly lucrative nest of vipers, that was for certain. However, Raphael had been focusing on a highly specific type of soul - one directly associated with the noble djinns from the Elemental Plane of Air. One that could be in the best position to provide him with a mighty tool if mentored in the right direction. Before Calim's banishment, some of his retainers had joined him to support his efforts against Memnon. Noble djinn Kacem was one of them, and he had graciously left something behind with his departure. His half-elemental progeny, Isham, had then mingled with an air genasi sorceress working for Shahrokh, a spymaster named Ashemmi who in turn blessedly provided Raphael with what he had been hoping for, without even needing his nudge. He allowed 20 more years to pass before aiming for the soul he was seeking to obtain.

Now, the 20 years had just passed, and it was time for him to make his move. He had made this precious soul wait long enough, after all.

* * *

After the murder of Marod and the subsequent chaos caused by the fall of his floating palace over the arena, Shahrokh found his duties doubled. As a vizar, he had to keep the city reined in in the wake of the brutal destruction, however he also had to keep an eye on both allies and foes, the whole lot of them vultures ready to scavenge what had been left after Marod's brutal rule, ready to take over and use the opportunity to frame themselves as saviour of the city. The genie would not allow such a thing to happen, and strenghtened his own political position by increased use of spies and assassins to keep everybody in check.

What he had not seen coming - although, in hindsight, he should have anticipated it - was to see one of his advisors entangled with a devil to support his cause - not just the political one, but also the more personal goal of figuring out how to release the mighty djinn Calim from the Elemental Chaos so he could restore his righteous rule over Calimshan.

That was how he found himself indirectly involved in the diabolical deal as well, as the devil in question, Raphael, had requested a meeting to clarify certain points.

Shahrokh floated through the old Palace, shunned by the late Marod but so much more appropriate for ruling. He had a devil to meet.

* * *

The circular room was ample and pleasantly cross by a breeze. In classic Calimshite fashion, it was covered in ornate tiles and elaborate carpets, its arched ceiling shining with golden mozaics. Raphael did have a soft spot for lavish displays of wealth, and Calimshan never failed him in that regard. He was seating in one of the richly carved chairs surrounding a round table and settling the negotiations with the genie Vizar and his genasi advisors. No matter the state of this country, one couldn't remove the mercantile part of these Calimshites, who were definitely set on getting the best out of this bargain. Raphael did enjoy it when his potential clients were playing hard to get and entertained himself in the process, keeping his own personal goal well under wraps.

-Thirty souls in exchange for the Ritual of Return? Considering the importance of that book, I am afraid you are being a low bidder right now. Surely, you have souls more valuable than those of thirty slaves...

-Add the soul of whoever is holding one of the books on top, in that case. If it is hidden even from my sight, it must be kept by someone who can at least be considered competent.

-Hm... And what about the security, then? Who among you will sign this deal?

As the negotiations were taking place, polite but sharp exchanges over the conditions of the contract, a small and slender figure was moving around the table and serving the men. Dressed in twilight, she moved silently, each one of her gestures poised and elegant. Raphael occasionally set his eyes on her, drinking in the sight of her golden earring dangling softly, hands covered in tinted patterns skillfully serving hot tea in the theatrical fashion of the country. Her clothes would rustle softly, the light and high-waisted trousers providing a subtle view of her shapely legs, the golden embroideries of her short, purple jacket catching the sun. She kept her hair up and under an elaborately tied scarf, strands of dark air still coiling around her heart-shaped face. Their eyes met at some point, and she was quick to lower her own dark doe eyes, prettily lined with khôl, with the deference of a servant.

When she approached to serve him, however, he noticed a very different story. As she leaned right next to him, he breathed in a metallic rose, damp from a storm and something else. When she left, the ghost of her perfume lingered, turning into an enticing pepper-and-incense, along with the slight feeling of a fresh breeze.

The negotiations kept going until a common agreement had been reached. Whatever Raphael would get from this contract, he considered a gratifying bonus to his own plans. What he hadn't been expecting, however, was the way the meeting concluded. Suddenly, Shahrokh turned to the serving woman, and all eyes turned on her.

-What do you think of that, Nuria?

Maintaining her elegant composure, a faint and polite smile lighting up her face, Nuria took a second to choose her words before replying in a soft, breathy voice that effortlessly carried through the room.

-I'm afraid the clause regarding assistance in the various tasks hasn't been clarified, oh my Vizar.

Her smile never fully reached her eyes, which suddenly went from quiet deference to alert calculation. She had the look of someone who already knew the reply to her own comment. Shahrokh turned to Raphael, crossing his fingers before speaking.

-With our current occupations, you may understand that not all hands can be on deck. Nuria yr Ashemmi el Kacem will remain available for you as a consequence. Anything relating to this contract will pass through her - I personally vouch for her trustworthiness and discretion.

With that, Nuria bowed respectfully in agreement to the task. When their eyes met again, all trace of the quiet servant had disappeared. Raphael had to contain his own exultation. The first step of his plan was well underway and served to him on a silver platter.

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #reminder that the story starts 10 years prior to the events of BG3 #So it's 1482DR in Calimport #and things are about to get WILD in Calimshan lol wait for it #feedback is welcome so feel free to reply and reblog! #You're also welcome to guess Nuria's class and background!

[twistedapple]

SO it seems the perfume rant has won! I had prepared myself for depravity from my fellow Raphael stans, it seems curiosity beat it!

Thank you for the votes, I'll set the perfume rant in my queue, it should be set for 2am CET/8pm ET/9am SGT.

#not twisted wonderland #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #I think I'll post the smut sample tomorrow at around the same time #it'll include Nuria's perfume reveal as well hehe #bg3 OC #bg3 OC Nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem

[twistedapple]

A Tale of Brimstone and Storm

Wew it merely took me a month to finish that chapter, I need to be more consistent.

Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy it, feedbacks are welcome! And worry not, Raphael will show up in chapter 2! Next chapter here.

BGM: 1, 2, 3. Full playlist here.

AO3 link here.

CW: General violence, blood, injuries...

Chapter 1 - In the Sand of Calimshan

The sun was yet to rise when five riders left the outskirts of Memnon, heading South-Southeast on the light steeds typical of the country. At this time of the year, it was easier to start any travel in the desert at the hour of the wolf, to cover more ground without suffering from the heat. The riders had left well-prepared as well, with saddle bags full enough to last a week, bivouac gear and outfits meant to protect from the burning sun and sharp wind.

They’d follow the Trade Way going all the way South to Calimport, but would head East to the Skyfire Waste one quarter of the way through. Travelling with a caravan could have made the ride simpler – safer, too – but the utmost discretion was required. They were on a secret mission ordered by Vizer Basri el Levni and Warlord Harun yn Ilhan el Mardin, the leaders of Memnon, each of them carefully selected to complete the order quickly and quietly. As they left the Scarlet City behind them, the group could be seen moving swiftly, their mantles and head scarves not letting much on about their respective identities – except for two pairs of twisting horns jutting from two scarves: Munir and Nasir, the twin tieflings. Nuria looked at their silhouettes while mentally reviewing the informations she had on them. They were hired swords, one favouring archery while the other had the classic scimitar and round shield fighting style of Calimshan. Even though they weren’t Calishites, they were definitely born and raised in the country –their name, behaviour and even the choices of weapons were typical. Then again, tieflings weren’t that uncommon in the region of Memnon. Fire genasi and Efreets had an affinity with them as fellows with a fiery disposition, and so they were easily accepted and a common sight as mercenaries. This sense of kinship could be seen in the friendly way they were interacting with the fire genasi, a certain Kartal yn Haberal – a wizard by trade, but an adventuring one who seemed to like putting his knowledge to the test by taking on missions, doubling it as a mean to climb the social ladder a bit as well. A clever way of doing things, Nuria admitted to herself. It was a decent mean to get good credentials and create a fine network to climb the social ladder – not the easiest feat, especially with the Calishite habit of staying in one’s lane. The last member of the party was Defne el Onur, the oddball of the group. Humans would usually be trapped into slavery, however this one was very much moving around freely. She was valued by Warlord Harun, most likely. After all, she was a Jhannivar nomad and a notoriously good ranger. The perfect person to act as a scout for warbands, especially in the desert she hailed from, and that status meant in turn that she could remain a free human, paid for her services at that. She was silently opening the way, her falcon circling above their heads as an added watch to her own vigilance.

Nuria herself was closing the march and keeping an eye out for any potential pursuer. The operation was based on a confidential cooperation between Vizer Basri of Memnon and Vizer Shahrokh of Calimport however, in the fashion of Calimshan, both of them were also secretly coveting the object of this collaboration for themselves, as it meant a potential for more power. For this reason, in a gesture of good will, Shahrokh had sent her as well to keep everything balanced. And now, she was currently known as Gamze, an Air Genasi mage in the personal service of Shahrokh – she hadn’t missed the telling looks when she had presented herself as such, but ignored them. It was, after all, very much true that she was in his service, no matter how they interpreted that. Basri accepted her almost immediately and Nuria found him a bit too eager at the idea of potentially holding a valuable hostage to pressure Shahrokh. Gamze, however, stayed silent on the topic. It wasn’t her place to comment on any of that, nor fully understand the scope of the situation – she was, after all, just a mage.

Now, they were crossing the desert and heat kept rising as the day went on. Their outfits protected them from the heat and the sun, but they still paced their rhythm to preserve the horses. Better be a bit slower and get back alive than find themselves stranded by foot in this hellscape, created millennia ago by the very genies that had later been imprisoned at its center – the same center they were targeting, as the location was near the now empty Spinning Keep that had held the Calimemnon Crystal up until about a century ago. The area was dangerous, both in its very nature and in the amount of armed bands skirmishing to maintain some form of territory. As for the place this little group was aiming for, well, it was in the Stone City of Mardun – “City” being quite generous considering the place, carved in a local mountainous basin about as barren as the larger general area, had been allegedly abandoned for gods know how long.

The first night was welcome, as they had spent the entire day riding – the heat made it difficult to stop for a break during the day, so they had eaten while still in the saddle. The horses weren’t suffering however, as they were of a sturdy breed meant for such climate and could even endure three days without water. Each took a turn to guard their small camp that night, although Gamze suspected it would be uneventful. She used the peace of her turn to focus intensely in the quiet of the night. Grains of sand rustled under the now cool wind, the nocturnal breeze almost like a whisper. Calim’s Breath was its name, and Gamze lent it her most attentive ear as she was starting to feel her suspicions being confirmed. But they wouldn’t be attacked now, it would be in poor timing.

The second day hadn’t been different from the first one, with the exception that they would be able to rest in Dashadjen, the only town in the area. It was an old city, its fortified walls of clay and sand almost camouflaging it in the middle of the desert if it hadn’t been for the perpetual agitation of the caravans and travellers of various flavours passing by for a quick stop. Gamze was fine with it, urban centers had always been her preferred terrain anyway, and now the night promised to provide more entertainement – at least for her. The small group left their horses to rest in the large stables close to the entrance of the town, before finding some decent beds to spend the night – although Munir and Kartal also had made a point of finding the local festhall to get themselves some bedwarmers and have a good time before things got more serious. This in turn had Nasir raise an eyebrow.

-Are you two serious? Don’t you think we have better to do right now?

-Well now, now? Not really, no.

-Gods brother, are you gonna be that type of person?

-We’ll be able to enjoy all of that once we’re done with that trip! Can’t you two keep it in your pants for a few more days?

-Well Mr. Sourpuss Downer, it’s our money and we’re doing what we want with it.

-Yep, and what if we spend a couple of bicenta here anyway? It’ll be fine, the place is secure! Besides... Defne, you will look out for anything suspicious, will you?

Defne, who was on her way to the roof to take care of her falcon, rolled her eyes before sharing a look with Gamze.

-I guess both Gamze and I will have to do that.

-It seems we will, aren’t you lucky, boys? You’ll owe us though.

-Wait you’re opening a tab on us? Aren’t we good friends already?

-A service is a service, love.

Gamze gave Munir her sweetest smile, all dimples and crinkling eyes – a pinkish shade dusted his blue-grey skin.

-Alright, alright. Next night you two will have a full sleep.

-Nasir, you coming with us?

For all of his protests, Nasir seemed to feel challenged by his brother’s insult and nodded to Kartal before following the two other men outside. So much for acting like a reasonable person. Gamze kept her thoughts to herself and made herself comfortable on her bed while Defne left to spend time with her falcon on the roof - she needed to rest, her own entertainment would happen when the moon was high; she had some mice to swat away.

She left the shared room only after Nasir, Munir and Kartal had come back and crashed in their respective bed, not in the freshest state but at least they hadn’t disappeared for the whole night. She used her natural ability to move swiftly and silently, sliding out of sight and earshot in a few seconds. Her goal was the stables – more specifically, the path leading to them, that she intended to watch from the Thieves’ Highway. With a ring allowing her to speak to animals, she gathered information from a local tabby cat, trotting swiftly nearby with its tail swishing in annoyance.

-Ah, for once the bipeds are exploring the rooftops!

-Rooftops are the most interesting places there is! I trust you know your way around here, to say such a thing.

-Indeed I do, and it seems we’re both on the prowl tonight...

-That we are, both for a mouse or two.

-Hm, they certainly are making things compelling near the stables, although not tonight – some of your kinds have been sniffing around and scared them away.

-How about I avenge your failed hunt, then? With a little service in exchange?

-Hmmm... A refreshing proposition, what would you like to know...

As the tabby cat accompanied her to the stables, it provided a quick description of what it had seen: a man and a woman both smelling like smoke, checking a bay and a black horse before looking at five other horses a bit further. This didn’t please Gamze, who followed the cat to investigate the stables. Her first target was her grey mare, Banu - her beloved personal horse. She took some time to inspect her, then check her saddle and bridle. Thankfully, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The tabby cat haughtily complained that she was also making mice run away by walking around the way she did. Gamze told it to go back to the roof of the tavern, she’d give it a bit of jerky and some water as a thanks once she’d be back. Then, she used the ring again to have a little chat with her mare – using the second of the three charges she had available on her ring. It wouldn’t be a waste of usage, however. Banu was prompt to complain in her usual moody manner, shaking her head while Gamze petted her neck.

-Took you long enough! I thought about causing some ruckus to attract your attention.

-The kitty told me about some suspicious happenings in there. Were any of you presented food? Did you eat it?

-Well I had to stop that foolish chestnut over there from eating things given by strangers, but otherwise, no.

The mare scratched the straw with a hoof, uncovering a visibly spat carrot. Gamze crouched to pick it up and inspect it. The center had been emptied, and there seemed to be some sort of powder filling it  - not necessarily to kill the horses, but at least to weaken them and strand her group in the desert. It certainly wasn’t a prospect that Gamze was looking forward to.

-If there’s one thing I dislike, it’s when humans think I’m a fool. I took it, but waited for them to go away before spitting it. Made sure none of the others ate it as either.

-As clever as ever, well done darling. The equipment hasn’t been tempered with? Hm let me check...

While she checked each saddle and bridle, Gamze picked the carrots, not willing to leave them lying around like that. Besides, there was an easy way to get back to these two thanks to their gross negligence. If they had been sent by Iskanda Farahmand, the fire genasi warlord vying for the control of Calimport against Vizer Shahrokh, Gamze found her choice of personnel rather disappointing.

-Banu... Have you seen these two handling their horses, by any chance? The cat mentioned a bay and a black one.

-Near the other entrance, 3rd and 4th stalls.

Gamze had a rather short night, but the little bit of peace her nocturnal outing bought the group was worth it. Besides, she could nap on her mare if needed; they were on their last leg of the voyage to Mardun and should arrive by the end of the afternoon if they kept their pace. In truth, they all had been various shades of foolish, Kartal was clearly nursing a hangover while the twins were also having naps on their horses. Defne’s falcon was still flying high, circling above them while she was opening the march yet again, now on full alert – they had left the relative security offered by the path to Dashadjen and were in the deeper parts of the desert now. A little trouble could easily turn into bigger ones.

The afternoon sun was baking the sand and stones when trouble indeed started. Nothing the group couldn’t handle, but keeping as much strength as possible for their tour of Mardun was essential. Still, it served as an efficient hangover cure for the twin tieflings and Kartal. Luckily for them, Defne’s alertness and her falcon’s keen eyesight saved the group from a bad surprise when the sand moved, six kruthiks violently bursting out of it, the spikes and chitin on their back and legs shining threateningly in the sun. Defne and Nasir quickly jumped off their horses and drew their weapons. Defne wasted no time and immediately cast a spell on the closest kruthik before jumping forward, one blade in each hand and aiming for the part of its neck that wasn’t covered by chitin. Blood spurted, but the hit had been too low for a clean kill. Nasir followed suit however and, with a swing of his scimitar that shone with a green flame, finished Defne’s work. The green flame immediately jumped and burned the closest kruthik, which let out an ear-piercing shriek that made Banu rear and side step. Gamze tightened her calves and held her back and shoulders, letting the mare know that she was in control of the situation. Holding her reins in one hand while she was trying to calm her mare down, she cast her spell, shaping it as three lightnings that flew straight into the burned kruthik. Two of them fell right at the articulation of one leg, however the kruthik moved as the third one was about to hit and the chitin got hit, leaving just a crack. Munir promptly followed suit however, well-sat in his saddle and aiming his arrows, visibly undisturbed by the movement around and under him – Gamze knew he was an archer, but hadn’t been made aware he was also a mounted one. Two arrows flew in quick succession; one got stuck in the crack made by Gamze’s spell, while the other lodged itself deep at the base of the neck, adding a new injury.

Banu hadn’t been the only spooked horse however, Kartal barely had time to cast a magical armour on himself before getting thrown off his horse and open to one of the kruthiks, who seemingly decided that the four others were too much trouble. As Kartal was getting back on his feet, the kruthik launched itself at him, its front legs ready to strike. The first stab missed, but Kartal lost his balance and got hit by the second, that left a gash in his left arm, blood running and staining the torn fabric of his kaftan. Wincing in pain, he still managed to cast a spell and the sound of a bell resonated in the desert. The kruthik immediately reared and shrieked, while a gloomy burn appeared on its chest.

Defne quickly assessed the situation. She could focus on the bigger group with Nasir, Kartal would need some assistance, Munir was mobile.

-Gamze, stay with Kartal, we’ll switch once we regroup! Munir, Nasir, keep these fuckers grouped and busy for a second!

The ranger’s falcon shrieked in turn and plunged, aiming for the eyes of the creature already injured by Gamze and Munir. Meanwhile, she started running towards the injured wizard and the threatening kruthik. Nasir and Munir quickly reorganised themselves.

-Finish the injured one, I’ll take of the one on the left!

Munir nodded to his brother, and Nasir jumped to block the passage of another kruthik, cutting its way to Kartal, Gamze and Defne.

-You’ll have to try me first!

The kruthik reared and went to stab Nasir, but he managed to parry with his round shield before striking once, twice at its open chest and legs. The stabbing front leg gave out and the creature fell, furiously trying to bite the tiefling in retaliation. At this exact moment, a thunderous sound came from the back and the isolated kruthik attacking Kartal got blown back momentarily while Gamze jumped down from her horse and helped the injured wizard back on his feet. The sound distracted the remaining kruthiks and Munir used that opportunity to aim once more, this time taking the already injured creature down.

-Two dead, three to go for us, brother!

While Defne rushed towards Kartal and Gamze, the kruthik standing between them shook its head and turned around, initially attempting to go back to its pack yet finding the ranger in its path. As it raised its front legs to attack, Defne’s falcon landed on its head and started pecking at its eyes, allowing its owner to strike again by using the opening the bird had created. One slash to open the chest at a visibly rotting point, then Defne plunged her other short blade in the opening, before jumping backward to avoid getting caught under the now dead kurthik’s body. Kartal joined her, pressing above the injury on his left arm in an attempt to reduce the blood flow. Leaving the fire genasi to Defne’s healing spell, Gamze joined the twins to help deal with the remaining creatures, jumping off Banu to keep her out of danger. One injured, two still in good shape. She didn’t have time to cast an armour spell to better protect herself, so she’d have to focus on her mobility and distance. Light on her feet and feeling the wind raise around her, she slid on the sand, firmly leaned on one leg and extended herself in a gracious movement, while an orb of concentrated lightning formed itself in the palm of her open hand. She blew on it, and the orb flew towards one of the uninjured kruthiks, which was trying to catch Nasir in a pincher attack while he was handling the injured one. The air cracked with electricity, then a bright explosion ensued. When the dusty blast caused by the explosion settled, Munir noticed the targeted kruthik down, with half of its legs torn off. Not missing the opportunity presented to him, he shot two more times, once while passing by the kruthik his brother had already injured, then to finish the one severely injured by Gamze.

Nasir, momentarily blinded by the dust, furiously yelled at Gamze while barely dodging one last attack from the injured creature.

-Seriously? A blast when we’re surrounded by san-

A golden bolt flew between Gamze and Nasir, before lodging itself in the head of the kruthik, which fell heavily. Kartal approached with Defne, a light scowl on his face and golden embers dancing around his fingers.

-You’d have been skewered by two of these bastards, stop complaining.

Defne didn’t waste any time and lunged towards the remaining kruthik, however it managed to escape her slashes and turned towards an approaching Munir, visibly annoyed by the mounted archer. His first arrow struck true, however the second shot missed as Munir’s horse suddenly side-stepped to avoid getting stabbed and made him lose his balance for a second. At that moment, three lightning-shaped bolts flew towards the creature, cracking its chitin and injuring a leg. As it fell, it almost bit into Munir’s horse, but Kartal hurled a firebolt that hit right at the base of its neck. Defne immediately followed through with her short blades, beheading the creature.

As the excitement caused by the fight fell, Munir jumped down his horse to salvage some of his arrows. Meanwhile, the others went to look for their own mount. The horses had gathered a bit further, out of danger. With the agitation caused by the kurthiks, no other creature seemed to get the idea of getting to them, and none of them seemed injured. As she petted Banu’s neck before getting back in her saddle, Gamze nodded at Kartal.

-How’s the arm?

-Eh, fine, it wasn’t that deep so Defne could heal it. I’m still displeased with that fall, it was quite a waste of time.

-Well, she barely had time to warn us, overall we did well and –

-And even while injured, you still threw spells left and right, wizard.

Defne tapped on Kartal’s shoulder amicably as she passed by him, returning to her position at the front of the group. With the agitation and the afternoon heat, the rest of the travel felt more sluggish, and while the arrival at Mardun had been estimated in the evening, another stop was judged safer to explore the place in a fresher state. Besides, something started worrying Defne when her falcon perched on her forearm after having circled further ahead, which agitated Nasir.

-I guess that was to be expected... But it seems we won’t be alone in Mardun. Forget letting us sleep, guys. We’ll have to set up a proper guard.

-Is it other people? Maybe, I don’t know, a group sent by Iskanda?

-I am not sure... We’ll have to investigate, at least to keep our camping site safe.

Buttes could be seen, gaining in elevation as the group got closer. There was Mardun, an ancient city carved in the stones, long abandoned for reasons lost to time, although Gamze suspected the Genie Wars of yore to be one of the causes – the incessant battles for control of the peninsula by either Memnon or Calim had been violent enough to permanently change its climate and alter its geography. She’d read up a bit about the place before leaving, to have a better picture of what she was being sent for. Her bet was that the city hadn’t been that abandoned, over the millennia. It was hard and dangerous to access, the perfect place to act in secrecy.

The sun was slowly ending its course when they entered the ruins. The silence was complete, except for the everblowing wind. Saying that the place had been carved was an understatement; sculpted would have been a much appropriate word.

-Imagine all the money that could be made if the path to this place was cleared and made safer...

Kartal’s voice rang across the stones, his marvel tinted with practical greed. This was the main reason why he’d been brought here, he had the academic background to offer guidance, as well as provide further notes about the place once they’d be back. Defne took some advance with her falcon to find a decent spot to spend the night, and quickly found an elevated area in a broken wall. They’d be properly shielded from the wind while still having vision on the area.

That evening, as they were having a light meal, they all studied the plans that had been given. According to Shahrokh’s personal researches, they had to seek a front carved with palms and passing lions. Not an easy task, with how weathered the stones were, but they’d have to manage with what they had. Besides, considering the size of the sculptures, their general shapes could likely still be guessed in the stone. From that point onward, Kartal would become the guide.

As they settled for the night, they established a guard tour for each of them in order to remain as safe as possible. The warm smell of kaeth enveloped the camp as everybody set for the night. When Gamze was awaken to take her guard duty, Munir let her know that nothing of note had happened so far, before crashing in his bedroll. The night was indeed quiet, aside from the breeze and the sound of insects. Gamze served herself a small cup of kaeth and drank slowly, letting the beverage warm and energise her for her turn. As the flames from the small camp fire were making her thoughts stray, a change in the surrounding noise got her attention. When danger was near, noise usually stopped, but it wasn’t the case this time. It took her a good minute to realise that there was more noise. It was very discreet, hidden among the insects and other nocturnal critters. It felt like a call, somewhere in the shadows, further away. She made sure her jambiya was well set at her belt and left her position to inspect the sound. Step after step, she reviewed the chapters she’d read detailing the various monsters that could be encountered in the desert. Only one sort of creature in the area could do that, and Gamze could very well attempt a high risk high reward gamble on the situation. So she kept going, a bit further, until she found what she suspected.

When the sun rose, Gamze offered Kartal to rest a bit while she took over his breakfast duty – he had been the last to guard the camp, after all. A simple meal composed of hard cheese, dry figs, flat bread and freshly brewed kaeth was served, everything being portioned carefully to manage the food. Then, the camp was cleared and the riders started their research of the entrance with the palms and lions.

They had to go deeper amidst the buttes to find what they were seeking. The entrance had been eroded by time, yet it remained impressive, twelve meters tall and carved in the reddish stone of the area. The palms and lions had been partially erased, but their silhouettes could still be read on the façade. All five of them jumped off their horses and readied themselves to enter, the mages casting a protective spell over themselves to compensate for their lack of armour. Nasir opened the way, his round shield up, accompanied by Defne. Munir and Gamze handled the back, and Kartal was kept in the middle. They entered a large room, its ceiling almost lost in the shadow. There was nothing of value in it, however some elaborate decorations made of bones had Defne swear under her breath.

-Shit, hags. Stay on your guard, don’t let them charm you.

They went deeper in what seemed to have been some sort of palace, once. With the lack of sun and wind inside, elaborate tiles and frescoes could be seen, representing pastoral scenes, certain historical events lost to time... A cackle stopped their contemplation of the place, as a tall shadow moved to meet them. As it approached, they realised her silhouette had hidden the fires from the next room the entire time – she had been waiting for them. Defne let out a shaky breath and steadied a hand on one of her short blades. The hag may have noticed the ranger’s perceptive comment and matching attitude, because she didn’t bother to hide herself behind an illusion. As she took a step to meet them, the fires behind her partially illuminated her emaciated physique, with a large but tattered mantle, long and wispy white hair, and hands that were too large and too long, nails as sharp as claws. When she spoke, it was in a saccharine tone that didn’t match the sharp crack of her voice.

-Sister Beren, look! We have visitors! It’s such a rare sight in these parts...

Her voice trailed in a chilling manner. Defne and Nasir immediately took position, hand on their weapons and ready to draw. Gamze felt Munir ready some arrows in his left hand, holding them in front of his bow – a technique typical of mounted archers, meant for quicker shots. A second ominous silhouette appeared, quite similar to the first.

-Well, Sister Afet, how about we give them a warm welcome! Life here is so terribly lonely, let us take a good look at you, will you?

With a snap of her fingers, the hag named Afet lit more fires in the room they were in. More sinister cackles resonated.

-Aren’t they lovely, Sister Beren! Now younglins, let us take a closer look!

The sand under their feet started moving, bringing them closer to the hags. Defne was the first to unsheathe one of her short swords, trying to use the opportunity to land a first attack. The movement of the sand under her feet was enough to mess with her balance and she missed the first hit, barely giving her time to duck a set of sharp claws trying to grab her, and then went for another strike. Nasir was prompt to follow suit, his scimitar out and his shield up to protect him against the reach of the hags. Munir launched a first arrow after having deftly jumped from the moving batch of sand, while Kartal quickly cast an almost blinding scorching ray that made one of the hags yelp from the pain. Gamze quickly pulled him to the side and pointed at the area behind the hags.

-Look, it’s there, we need to get there!

-You two, go! We’ll cover for you!

Munir’s voice resonated amidst the growing chaos, and Gamze didn’t hesitate. Pulling Kartal with one hand, she started rushing, running next to the on-going fight between the hags and their three comrades. While she pushed Kartal through the next chamber so he could be out of the hags' reach and unlock the door, she cast an orb full of lightning that exploded in the general area of the hags, before rushing to Kartal. He made a quick work of the door, detecting and dispelling the spell blocking it. They entered, and he immediately cast an arcane lock to block the access, if only momentarily.  

-The password to get out shall be... Bright fire, crisp wind. Alright, now where are we...

In the darkness, Gamze could distinguish Kartal’s silhouette, but the only light came from the ember shine of his hair, short beard and eyes. Soon after, a flame broke the dark, partially illuminating the rather wide room. With the flame swaying in the palm of his hand, Kartal made a round throughout the room, before finding two large braziers. Some old wood, partially consumed, was already present in them and allowed for more light. Gamze took a turn at inspecting the place, noticing the disturbed dust everywhere that left a cleaner trail leading her to the heavy set of bronze doors at the back of the room.

-It seems our ancient friends have been trying to open that before us...

-Yeah... Wait for the other three to deal with them before calling them “friends”. Let’s see these doors...

Kartal grimaced as he passed by her, before focusing on the millennia-old engravings, occasionally dusting them with a quick swat of his hand. Behind them, the faint sound of infighting could be heard, although the heavy door muffled it. Despite the early chaos, the fire genasi had been able to regain his composure with a swiftness that impressed her – it clearly wasn’t his first time, despite him not being the most apt at fighting. While he was busy, details in the floor attracted Gamze’s attention, swirling patterns partially hidden under the dust and sand. Using the movement of the soft breeze that seemed to perpetually surround her, she carefully cleared the patterns step by step and noticed an occasional shine. The maze-like pattern reminded her of something, but her train of thought was interrupted by Kartal, who took a step back from the bronze doors with his hands on his hips.

-Alright, this is a chant in Primordial. Come check it out.

Gamze approached him and read the ancient text, which was a praise of the wide sky and the warm flame. Suddenly, she gasped.

-Oh I know what the pattern on the floor is! Look how it’s organised. This is some old temple thing to encourage meditation or something like that.

-Hm... I think there’s something like that still visible in the oldest part of Saint Liwan’s Blessings. So we have to follow the maze... Maybe while reciting the text on the door?

-We’ll need to channel our magic a bit, I think. There’s was a shine when I used some of mine to clear the floor, and the text is about Air and Fire.

-Alright, let’s do it like that, it seems we must start in the corners opposite both to each other and the doors, it looks like the paths are slowly joining in front of it.

Both of them took place as suggested by Kartal and proceeded with the agreed method. It was not easy to synchronise both of their reciting of the text while moving at the same pace, but Gamze put her dancing abilities to good use in order to adapt her movements to Kartal’s. The labyrinthine pattern shone fully as they both reached its end, and the magic infused the doors, which opened with a heavy creak.

Kartal turned his head to the locked door behind them with a concerned look, before pinching his lips and take a first step inside the newly opened room, which lit up with magical fires.

-Let’s go, the faster we’re done here, the faster we’ll be able to help the others.

Gamze nodded quietly and followed him. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, fully carved in the rock just like the rest of what seemed to have been a temple. A dagger was floating over it, surrounded by a magical shine – a protective spell that secured and preserved the object, Gamze guessed.

With little hesitation, Kartal went to the pedestal and inspected the old spell, before figuring out how to dispel it. He reached out for the dagger, took it firmly and turned back towards Gamze. After having taken a few steps, he felt something warm running along his throat. Passing his fingers over it, he noticed blood and raised his horrified eyes to Gamze, who had approached him without a noise. He tried to speak, yet only blood got through his lips. As his knees failed him, Gamze accompanied his fall, letting his head rest on her laps while she gently cupped his cheek and offered him an almost maternal smile.

-Don’t worry love, it’ll be over soon. You did really well, you know? Calimport is grateful for your sacrifice.

Kartal’s last look was full of hatred as he tried to mutter a spell but choked on more blood, while Nuria retrieved the ritual dagger from his weakened hand.  

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem #a tale of brimstone and storm #bg3 raphael #hellfire storm #chapter 2 is gonna be fun hehe #although full of politics and contracts lol #nuria is not a nice person #guess her class and subclass! #Banu means Princess btw she's literally A Mare Named Princess #Banu is beauty Banu is grace she will kick you in the face

[twistedapple]

Since my fic will start 10 years prior to the events of Baldur's Gate 3, in Calimport, I've been brushing on my lore to make sure everything makes sense, but man. I'm lowkey afraid lore nerds will get on my ass, even though I'll be working with what is known of Calimshan at the moment (which uh isn't too great omg it's gonna be a FUN place of PAIN and MISERY. I'm definitely not planning some priestly shenanigans with the Church of Azuth (who's been reclaimed by Asmodeus so I think that'd be a fun way to introduce some very good reasons why devils can leech on the place).

Will political bullshit happen? Yes, because this is what gives me life. Will I keep my OC, Nuria, in a good light? Come on, she's gonna start as one of Shahrokh's hands. I'm intending some Atomic Blonde level of shenanigans, but she's not gonna be an angel. One of the main reasons she occupies her current place in Calimshanite society as of late 15th DR is because she's an air genasi, so part of the slaver class rather than the enslaved, it comes with its own unpleasant baggage. Once I reach the events of BG3, there's gonna be some mega cultural shock between her and the other party members. However, from a meta perspective, it means I'll have to partially pull on 4e lore because 5e doesn't do a lot beyond basic information when it comes to Genasi. I am considering homebrewing the Mingle with the Wind ability as well to play more on Nuria's djinn ancestry and contribute to her mobility considering what she's gonna be in terms of class/narration.

So, while I think her association with Raphael will be particularly funny to work on, I do expect lore nerds to akshually my ass, even though I'm currently trying to balance everything, so it makes sense. And if I greatly enjoy mulling over this whole Hellfire Storm business, I certainly don't have the energy to deal with people yelling at me because they personally take offense about a detail in my content lol

Anyway, guess I'll share a first sample this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

#not twisted wonderland #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #bg3 OC #bg3 OC nuria #not gonna reveal her full name yet hehehehe #istg if someone drops in my notes to akshually me instead of bringing proper constructive criticism #i will block on sight #the crappy twisted wonderland fandom made me work on that wonderful habit so I will not hesitate lol #nuria yr ashemmi el kacem