Taenya’s eyes fluttered open as a soft moan escaped her lips and she struggled back to consciousness, her drug fogged mind laboring to recall recent events; then she bolted upright, the memory of the dire wolf and its drow rider snapping her back to reality. But, surprisingly, she wasn’t bond… or chained… or caged. She sat on a comfortable bedroll beneath a softly shimmering dome of magical force that bathed the area within in a soft light, her bastard sword lay within easy reach at her side and a strange, fair-haired, ruggedly handsome, human man sat casually a few feet away. Recognizing the stars and eyes symbol of Selune, the good aligned goddess of the moon, on the amulet hung about his neck, she allowed herself to relax a bit, but kept her hand close to the hilt of her sword… just in case. “Welcome back to the living,” he jested pleasantly with a warm smile, his hungry eyes roaming longingly over her naked charms and stunningly beautiful features, then introduced himself with feigned formality. “Coran Dundragon, at your service, milady.” “Taenya Aendryr, daughter of the Dark Maiden,” she replied, referencing her goddess’ most common nickname, then inquired in a confused tone; “What happened? I remember being ambushed by a dire wolf and its drow male rider who shot me with a hand crossbow bolt that was obviously coated in knock-out poison, but who are you… and how did I get here?” “I was just passing by when I heard the commotion and went to investigate,” he explained in casual tone, as if discussing something as common as the weather. “I was able to subdue the wolf without harming it, but the drow… I don’t take lives if I can avoid it, but sometimes there’s little choice.” “Eilistraee teaches us to show them a better way, but they’ve only known violence and cruelty at the hands of Lolth and her matrons all their lives, so now that they have freed themselves from that oppression they know no other way to treat others. I doubt he would have hesitated to kill you… and enslave me,” she mused compassionately, sensing that he truly did regret having to kill her assailant, even though she was sure he didn’t have any alternative. However, since she didn’t see any weapons or armor, she wasn’t sure how he’d managed to not only subdue the monstrous wolf but slay the drow warrior at the same time. In fact, based on his dress, he looked more like a common traveler or dalesman than the any type of adventurer or hero… although a decided handsome one. “If you don’t mind me asking,” he queried, his eyes still lingering on her delightful, nude form, “what are you doing out here alone… naked… with that sword?” “I was on a High Hunt… a ritual in which we hunt a dangerous creature with nothing but a sword and our faith in Eilistraee to protect us… usually we do them together, but I’m also on a Run… another ritual that has us venter to a strange place, to test our faith and dedication,” she explained, seemingly completely comfortable with both her nudity and the attention it garnered from him. “I see,” he considered thoughtfully. He had encountered other priestesses of Eilistraee during his travels, but those encounters hadn’t revealed anything about their rituals… certainly nothing about running around the forest naked. Then he added with a sly smirk; “So, does this Run also require that you go naked? I imagine that you would certainly get the attention of everyone you met that way.” “It’s not required,” she replied with a coy smile, knowing very well how the sight of her naked body was received by most men… and more than a few women, despite the general prejudice against her race, “but as a servant of the Dark Maiden, I do strive to bring joy to others whenever, wherever and however I can.” Then she surprised him by lunging forward with inhuman grace to clamp her succulent lips on his!