NationStates Jolt Archive

It was a beautiful day in Neu Berlin. The sky was clear, the sun was shining, there was a slight breeze and the temperature was at a comfortable 25 celcius. The crystal blue ocean was calling out to beach lovers and the palm trees offered shade to people.

The Julius Heide International Airport was crowded as usual. Businessmen, families going for vacation and even slaves being transported to the mines in the south. In the middle of the crowded international arrivals terminal there was Claudia zu Gernstein-Ackermann waiting for her husband Arnold's flight to arrive, with her slave to carry Arnold's luggage. "Be sure to make a good first impression Heinrich. I want you two to get along." she said to her slave. "Yes, master." was the reply.

Finally, the flight Claudia had been waiting for was announced to be arriving at gate 17. She picked a spot where she could see Arnold the minute he came in to the terminal and watched the people pouring in, waiting.

There was nothing else that Arnold could think about then how much he wanted to be with Claudia and how much he wanted to do everything with her including the "meetings" they'd always enjoy having. He had finished his employment at the Foreign Ministry of Ixania and was now free to apply for Puritanian citizenship but he wondered if dual citizenship was possible. When he saw Claudia, he looked at her with a smile on his face and sensed that she'd be running at him so he spread out his arms and awaited to feel the warmth of his new's wife's slender and fit body which many men back home envyed; not all men are immune to the bodily charms of women.

"Claudia, my love, I'm here now. I'm glad that our reunion was not delayed."

Claudia did indeed run into Arnold's arms and kissed him. "I'm glad too. I've planned a little something for us to do today." Claudia let go Arnold, and gestured for Heinrich to come over. "This is Heinrich, my slave." "Greetings, master Arnold." he said.

Claudia did indeed run into Arnold's arms and kissed him. "I'm glad too. I've planned a little something for us to do today." Claudia let go Arnold, and gestured for Heinrich to come over. "This is Heinrich, my slave." "Greetings, master Arnold." he said.

"I look forward to seeing what you have planned for us, my love."

Arnold smiled before looking at Heinrich. "It is nice to meet you."

Bump.

ooc: Didn't forget about this.
ic:

At the luggage claim Heinrich grabbed Arnold's suitcases. Claudia took Arnold outside, where the city's skyline could be seen in the distance. The taxi took them to a massive skyscraper, almost 800 meters tall according to the construction company, in the heart of the city. "I'll let you get settled in before we go out." she said to Arnold and after a brief moment continued, this time speaking to Heinrich. "Take his things to the bedroom."

ooc: Didn't forget about this.
ic:

At the luggage claim Heinrich grabbed Arnold's suitcases. Claudia took Arnold outside, where the city's skyline could be seen in the distance. The taxi took them to a massive skyscraper, almost 800 meters tall according to the construction company, in the heart of the city. "I'll let you get settled in before we go out." she said to Arnold and after a brief moment continued, this time speaking to Heinrich. "Take his things to the bedroom."

Arnold smiled. "I must say that you have a great home here, Claudia. Perhaps you could show me around? I'd like to have a snack or two before we go out by the way."

"Of course... Heinrich, make us something to eat. Nothing too heavy." Claudia took Arnold's hand and showed him the apartment: two bedrooms, a bathroom, the living room, her office, the dining room and the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Heinrich had made them a light lunch and opened a bottle of wine. He took the food and the wine to the dining room and asked "Is the anything else you need? If not, I'll be returning to the slave quarters in the basement."

"Of course... Heinrich, make us something to eat. Nothing too heavy." Claudia took Arnold's hand and showed him the apartment: two bedrooms, a bathroom, the living room, her office, the dining room and the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Heinrich had made them a light lunch and opened a bottle of wine. He took the food and the wine to the dining room and asked "Is the anything else you need? If not, I'll be returning to the slave quarters in the basement."

Arnold politely thanked Heinrich for the food before kindly sending him away so he could focus his attention on his new wife, Claudia. He complimented Heinrich's skill at making some good food before he began to talk to Claudia. "How have you been, Claudia? I have been fine but I've been anxious to see you."

"The usual, the occupation of our 'beloved' neighbor has proved to be a thorn in our sides... Also, I've missed you. Other than that, I've been fine." Claudia had finished her glass of wine and poured some more for hersel before asking "Would you like some more, my love?"

"The usual, the occupation of our 'beloved' neighbor has proved to be a thorn in our sides... Also, I've missed you. Other than that, I've been fine." Claudia had finished her glass of wine and poured some more for hersel before asking "Would you like some more, my love?"

"I would like some more wine but not too much; and please tell me more about the occupation of your 'beloved' neighbor. How has it become a thorn in your side?"

"Well, the war itself was quick. People who opposed the democratic government leaped over to our side when it began. But now there are guerillas everywhere and they're terrorizing the populace and inflicting casualties. Our neighbor was a group of provinces from the 1500's until the late 1800's when they declared independence. They supported the Christian rebels during our civil war, took the most wanted war criminals under their wing and refused to submit them."

Claudia finished her wine and filled her glass and Arnold's.

"Finish your food quickly, we'll be leaving soon."

"Well, the war itself was quick. People who opposed the democratic government leaped over to our side when it began. But now there are guerillas everywhere and they're terrorizing the populace and inflicting casualties. Our neighbor was a group of provinces from the 1500's until the late 1800's when they declared independence. They supported the Christian rebels during our civil war, took the most wanted war criminals under their wing and refused to submit them."

Claudia finished her wine and filled her glass and Arnold's.

"Finish your food quickly, we'll be leaving soon."

"I can understand why you would go to war against them; hopefully you will be able to end the war as quickly as possible but, then again, peace is sought through war as they say. Also, I am already finished my food; I ate it as an anxious husband hoping to explore the city with his smart and sexy wife."

Claudia took Arnold outside. The street was busy, pilgrims who had walked all the way from the south, businessmen, soldiers... After walking for a while, they came to a large square with a statue represting a snake. On the other side of the square was the temple of Apophis.

"I wanna show you the temple. First though, you should hide anything that would tell you're Christian. The Serpent Guard doesn't seem to accept the fact that we're allied with a Christian nation."

Claudia took Arnold outside. The street was busy, pilgrims who had walked all the way from the south, businessmen, soldiers... After walking for a while, they came to a large square with a statue represting a snake. On the other side of the square was the temple of Apophis.

"I wanna show you the temple. First though, you should hide anything that would tell you're Christian. The Serpent Guard doesn't seem to accept the fact that we're allied with a Christian nation."

"I am not really Christian, my love, so I do not think that there will be anything to worry about concerning that. My nation is Christian but we also have many people who still like to read the ancient myths."

Entering the temple with his wife, Arnold smiled. "I am sure you or one of the priests could give me a tour of this temple. I am sure that many men and women have come here with supplications to give unto their God."

"Indeed, people from all over the country come here. Would you like a tour? I'm sure it can be arranged."

"Indeed, people from all over the country come here. Would you like a tour? I'm sure it can be arranged."

"It would be a pleasure to have a tour of the temple; especially with you at my side, my love."

A priest in a black hooded robe came up to Arnold and Claudia. "Blessings upon you. Is there anything I could help you with?" the priest asked. Claudia told the priest about the tour. "Well, I suppose we could start from the altar then."

The priest took them to a large room where there was a golden altar in front of a huge black snake, carved out of obsidian and had rubys for eyes. "This is where we conduct sacrifices, like goats, money, food and even our own blood. Questions?"

A priest in a black hooded robe came up to Arnold and Claudia. "Blessings upon you. Is there anything I could help you with?" the priest asked. Claudia told the priest about the tour. "Well, I suppose we could start from the altar then."

The priest took them to a large room where there was a golden altar in front of a huge black snake, carved out of obsidian and had rubys for eyes. "This is where we conduct sacrifices, like goats, money, food and even our own blood. Questions?"

"How are the sacrifices conducted? Why do you sacrifice your own blood to Apophis? Also, I must say that the altar and snake statue looks quite well made; aethestically presentable."

"It all depends. Money is sacrificed by just simply leaving it on the altar and saying a prayer. A goat is sacrificed by impaling its heart with a dagger like this." The priest reached inside his robe and pulled out a long dagger whose handle looked like a smaller version of the statue in the room. "Usually the High Priestess has the honor of sacrificing for herself, though. Oh, you asked why we sacrifice our own blood... We used to sacrifice humans until the early 1800's but gave it up when the High Priest of the time decided it was wrong and that we should just simply offer our blood instead."

The priest took them to the next room where men in Serpent Guard uniforms were practising hand-to-hand combat. "This is one of the many places where the Serpent Guard practises its self defence arts. The one they're practising now is Kung Fu."

Bump.

It all depends. Money is sacrificed by just simply leaving it on the altar and saying a prayer. A goat is sacrificed by impaling its heart with a dagger like this." The priest reached inside his robe and pulled out a long dagger whose handle looked like a smaller version of the statue in the room. "Usually the High Priestess has the honor of sacrificing for herself, though. Oh, you asked why we sacrifice our own blood... We used to sacrifice humans until the early 1800's but gave it up when the High Priest of the time decided it was wrong and that we should just simply offer our blood instead."

"I assume that the common belief among your kind is that it is the piety of the act that reaches the deity you worship and not the blood or whatever you have sacrificed."

The priest took them to the next room where men in Serpent Guard uniforms were practising hand-to-hand combat. "This is one of the many places where the Serpent Guard practises its self defence arts. The one they're practising now is Kung Fu."

"How many self defence arts do they practice?"

"I assume that the common belief among your kind is that it is the piety of the act that reaches the deity you worship and not the blood or whatever you have sacrificed."
"In short, yes, but there are rules of what can be and what can't be sacrificed."



"How many self defence arts do they practice?"
"3 compulsory ones and in addition they can choose 2 additional ones. We'll be going to see the High Priestess' quarters. It's a rare opportunity, mind you, as she is rarely absent."

ooc: Bump.