Satyrs, she had found, had been known for their vigor seeing that they had chased after Nymphs on a regular basis. They were after creatures that were known for their sexual prowess and he had been no different though he was caged now their had been no “domestication” of him.

In many ways regardless of which hole she had chosen he would have likely pushed her to her limits, had her husband been holding out all this time? Pressing her to her limits but never beyond, always knowing just when to pull back.

Claudius just did not care as much, that loving nature of her husband was gone as he thrust away at her unconcerned about the gurgling sounds of the Queen as she struggled to breath, his dick large and full pressed against into the recesses of her mouth again and again as she tasted the sweetness of his precum as it formed against the tiny slit along the head of his shaft.

With his fingers settling at the back of her head he increased the pace of his thrusts as he fucked her face, groaning out though to her relief she could feel his warm member begin throbbing within the confines of her lips.

His fingers twisted and pulled at her nipple roughly with a hand as he pulled her against his rod. “UGH! AHH! FUCK YES!” He exclaimed while twisting a nipple. He then wrenched back in time to splatter her face with his viscous release as that sticky seed coated her features and he grinned at her as his gaze cast down at her.

“A royal blow job, I wonder what that royal pussy is like.” But he was left to wonder as the Fae were compelled to adhere to their deals. He had let her choose the hole after all, his essence still erupting from him like a fountain though as she cleared her eyes she found that she had not been their in that cell at all …



The door to the building was behind her, she had fled here to this place after all, the settlement searching for her, she remembered rushing in here … and then … she had seen the old man again as he entered the chamber and the two met gazes.

She did not know what had happened or had been going on but he showed no recognition at having seen her before. He was baffled and surprised at seeing an unblemished woman here of all places. “Who? Who are you?” Alarmed but not afraid, he might have been old but had not thought that he could not have taken her if push came to shove.

Perhaps not physically but he had means, or perhaps he had not been here alone. Yet he did not seem to be threatening her, not at all. Could it be because of his age that he seemed to be less of a concern in this crazy place?

Alynia blinked, clearly confused. A second ago she had been a victim and now it was as if nothing had happened... Her clothing was on properly, the wreath in her hair was only slightly skewed from running. The only sign that anything could have occurred at all was the feeling of arousal burning in her core and the flustered expression painted on her cheeks.

Then the old man entered the room once more, and as a striking feeling of déjà vu passed her they met gazes. The girl could still hear the faint sound of pounding and lecherous shouts of the men behind the thick locked door behind her.

Alynia remained rooted to the ground. The old man gazed at her with surprise. He seemed to take no ill will, but after that odd dream... Or vision... The queen was not feeling as trusting.

In her palm, she materialized a small ornate dagger, a pretty but cunning looking weapon. She gazed at the old man hard. "I'd like to thank you for letting me use the safety of your home..." She told him steadily. "But before I answer any questions, I'd like you to make your intentions clear." The weapon was pointed in his direction, but Algnia didn't appear as if she had intention to strike him. She seemed much more keen to defend herself.

An unexpected visitor … he could hear the pounding at the door as other “guests” were attempting to gain admittance though he could think of a few reasons why as he wasn't a stupid man, then again he had not ruled out the fact that she could have been a thief too and an angry mob tracked her down.

Oh, a spell caster … she conjured that weapon with some deal of skill which had him wondering at her proficiency at the craft. Good enough to pull off the mundane like this but not strong enough to deal with an angry mob or evade it through invisibility or the like.

“You should be the one answering questions. This is my abode,” he glanced at the dagger that she was holding though he seemed to ignore it for the time being at least. She was stuck at the door ensuring that it would not burst open after all and did not seem as if she were able to brake away from the task that she assigned herself without the doors bursting open.

No, there were no hoards of Undead out there he assumed, but those that were far more competent. “But I am not planning on harming you. You can take your chances in here or out there after all.” He walks into the room careful not to rush or alarm her in anyway.

He had questions after all and she had answers but in her current state he wasn't going to receive any. Shaking his head he takes a few more steps forward. “You do not wish to use that weapon though. Allow me to assist you. May I?”

He gestured towards the door to indicate that he had to draw closer to her. It was as if he had been approaching a wild animal cautiously as if not to spoke it. If he were allowed he would move towards the door and have her back away at his discretion. When he gave it he generated a wall of stone to thwart those outside forcing them to go around front but that way was sealed as he thought this was but she was proof that it wasn't.

There were no windows back here so it was easier than attempting to secure the front and he would close off the ay he had come if allowed, effectively cutting them off but at the same time securing them in the room. He had not seemed to be concerned about getting out of the room.

“Now do you mind telling me what is going on.”

"Yes." Alynia responded cautiously, "but I am the one holding the knife." She stated this in a much more matter of fact tone rather than a threat. Her brown eyes followed him as he carefully entered the room going to great extent not to scare her. Alynia's hand, clutching the dagger, quivered slightly. Her gaze was confident, and she was holding the weapon properly, but it didn't look like she had the heart to use it on anyone.

Her back was pressed against the door, she could feel the fists pounding against the door. Thankfully the wood was strong enough to hold at the moment.. But Alynia wasn't sure how much longer it would last.

Her eyes seemed slightly relieved as the man claimed he was not going to hurt her... But at the same time the dream... Or whatever she had experienced was still very vivid. Her hand tightened on the knife.

"I do not wish to hurt you, but I will if I must." Alynia responded defensively. But was this true? She wasn't sure. Hopefully it wouldn't come down to finding out.

It took a second to realize what he wanted her to do, but once she understood she stepped away from the door. Alynia watched as a stone wall was conjured to assist the door in holding off her pursuers. She but her lip nervously as he also sealed the entrance from which he entered the room. Alynia also realized who ever the man was before her could use magic.

Yes... she would not have to worry about the townsfolk outside... But the old man had also it cut off her escape routes. He seemed relaxed though, given the strange situation.

She was certainly cornered. With a bit of hesitation she decided to answer his question. "I'm searching for someone by the name of Orpheus. They started chasing me before I could make much head way shouting that I was some sort of gift and nonsense of that sort."

True she did have the weapon and seemed to know ho to use it but he did not let that bother him since her situation as dire and he felt that she wasn't going to chase him down to butcher. Those outside would see to that, not that any had been able to breech the house just yet.

He had shown that he was no slouch when it came to power seeing that the Wall of Stone was an intermediate spell effect that he generated without any real effort on his part.

Seeing that the woman had been uneasy about matters he sat a distance away so that she had a chance to get use to him without him smothering her any. The banging was diminished but with the walls no ordinary person was getting into the chamber and the old man had swung his attention to the young lady.

Perhaps if he were thirty years younger or so he would have had some interest in the curvacious Queen, that rich creamy skin called to him after all and such a full bosom that he would have found himself caressing and enjoying them thoroughly.

Though such a thought was fleeting at best, a fantasy of youth. “You seek Orpheus? It is not my business why those men are after you though they cannot get in here. I can get Orpheus for you but if it is as I expect he may be effected like those outside … maybe …

“He has lost someone dear to him recently so there is a good chance that he would be disinterested too.
Here on Olympus there is a horrible curse … I am near certain of one of two things. Either you are from a different Shadow or happen to be a Goddess unaffected by the curse. Not even magic can cover the scars so considering that you are a spell caster does not work, unless you are from another Shadow altogether and the curse does not have any hold over you.” He explained this to her though it was more likely that she was mortal and from another Shadow then a Divine being seeing that if she were the later dealing with the mob outside would have been mere child's play. The only thing she could have been doing if the later was attempting to fool him into thinking that she was a mortal …

“I am called Psy by the others,” he began, “and you?”

He shook his head wondering as to her next move as he contemplated things himself as to the situation as he considered … “Is there any particular reason that you seek out Orpheus?”

The man sat down, but Alynia remained on her feet. She bit her bottom lip as the man who referred to himself as Psy observed her. He seemed completely at ease in the face of a knife. The girl was even more surprised as she listened to his deductions.

She responded cautiously. "I come from Llynoria." The girl revealed. "Divine protection guards me from the curse." The silver bangle hung around the wrist of the hand grasping the knife. A pretty piece of jewelry it was.

Alynia paused. She hadn't really considered in detail the fact it would be her responsibility to convince Orpheus to accompany her. Before it was decided she would approach that challenge when it arrived. More so, she had not considered that the musician would treat her like the men outside. She was quiet for a moment, but then spoke "I still wish to meet him. It's the sole reason I came to this village."

"I need to find him to undo the curse very curse you speak of. Could you please show me the way? The sooner I can fix my mistake the sooner I can return home." She left out the part of how dearly she missed her husband.

Alynia lowered her weapon, asking Psy very sincerely.

"My name is Alynia." She added as if it were an after thought.

Llynoria … he appraised her anew as if she were familiar though he did not pay particular attention to other Shadows. She was a beautiful young lady, hi eye attracted to the silver bracelet she wore as she explained the protections she had been placed under.

Such beauty, he was caught in thinking that it was both a protection and a curse seeing that once the Gods, particularly the males found out, well …

That was something that his mind could fill in as needed, he need not get caught up in the feel of that creamy skin, how soft or warm it was … his days of such things had been long since over but the very thought, however brief, had brought him back to how it was in those younger days.

But she seemed to be determined to meet with Orpheus which only made him curious as to what business she had with him. Was it to learn the craft? No she had mentioned making things right as if the curse had been her fault though he did not see how that was.

“Very well, I shall bring you to him,” he announced. He had noticed the lowering of that weapon and had been pleased there. Of course he could have been attempting to get her to lower her guard though that had not been the case here.

Standing back up, it had seemed to him that she was willing to take the risks involved though he thought that if Orpheus was alone then maybe it would not be so bad, unless he had been entertaining guests but with his recent loss he doubted that he would have been doing so. He thought about it, Orpheus may not have even been out and might not have even known of the curse though they were soon to find out.

“Alynia. It is a pretty name, lets go.”

He made a gesture opening up a portal that would jaunt them a short distance. He was skilled, she would realize. Corte could do the same with his magic ring and a few others could walk the Shadow but dimensional magic was intermediate magic on the lesser end so he was at least practiced. Unarmed he was probably still armed if he knew the correct spells though their were casters out there that knew only utility magic rather than offensive and defensive magic too.

Psy brought her to what looked like a basement of another home. There were various instruments arranged here of a variety of styles collected from various Shadows. Psy turned to her. “Wait here, I shall bring him forth, Alynia.”

He would depart for about ten minutes returning with a young man with curly brown hair and a wiry build. He was attractive though clearly not in the league of Eros or Hermes, though at his hip he had a pouch containing smaller instruments.

Brown eyes full of sorrow found hers and for a moment he seemed to be taken back until Psy introduced them. “This is the woman I told you about. Alynia, this is Orpheus.”

The man extended a olive hued arm towards her as if to embrace it ...

She was hesitant, but followed him anyway through the expertly cast portal into a basement. At the memory of her strange encounter with a lusty satyr, Alynia's fingers tightened once more around the dagger. Unlike in her dream, polished instruments lined the walls. It was amazing to think that one man could play them all.

Alynia furrowed her eyebrows as Psy left her alone. Though still a bit suspicious, there was nothing she could do but wait. Keeping the knife close to her, she walked around the room slowly examining the instruments with great interest as well as checking for any hidden rooms or things of that sort.

Psy returned with a wiry tan young man. The queen blinked in surprise. This was Orpheus? He was much much younger than she expected. Alynia observed his eyes with sympathy. Psy had mentioned the musician had recently experienced a loss. She could see grief and sorrow. It didn't seem wise to ask what ailed him.

"Hello." She greeted him cordially. Orpheus seemed much more surprised at her appearance as she was at his. For a moment his grieving expression was phased as he gazed at her. Her was reaching out at her as if he didn't believe she existed.

She blinked at his arm a bit confused, her fingers tightening around the knife out of instinct. Alynia took a casual step back of of Orpheus's reach.

(Btw, love the picture)

(Thanks, I think Calidare found it for me some time back and I saw it while looking over images recently)

As the Queen had been left alone to her own devices she was able to look around some. Some of these instruments were from her own Shadow or that of Llyndoria or even those of the ancient world. There were magnificent pieces too.

Of hidden rooms she found one feeling a draft from the wall and soon there after a switch by pulling on a scontz her that opened up a small room with a writing desk and chair. In a draw in the desk there was a thick tome, to the likes she could not read, not without magical assistance words reforming in her mind and becoming more than gibberish.

Penned on the vellum bound pages were lots of entries though with time being of the essence the last had been flipped too …

'… she will come from afar seeking assistance to right the wrongs of the King of Kings. It is inevitable that the Fate's only snip the thread of life, long for some and short for others. Beware the Ciconian women for they are the end …'

What was this? It seemed that she had discovered a book of prophecies as she had time to read a little more before she had been forced to tidy up least she had been discovered here though she had been able to do so without drawing suspicion to herself.

“Yes, I am he.” He took her hand and must have sensed how skittish she was for he released her hand after one pump of it. “I have been expecting you though the visions never were clear and I had assumed even after coming this long distance that the curse would affect you as well.

“You're stunning if you do not mind me saying so. How may I be of service?” He gazed at her, his grief set aside for the moment as if he had been expected to do this … in a way that was spot on since there was only one God he revered this late in his stage of life for Apollo had blessed him in so many ways.

The gifts of music, poetry, prophecy … not to mention that the years had been kind to him for he had been given something akin to ambrosia that kept him youthful in appearance. Though he regarded the Queen he ceased making contact with her, glancing to Psy as if for answers then back at her.

"Thank you." She responded modestly at his compliment. Her head tilted downward shyly as she felt rather girlish. No matter how many times she heard words praising her beauty, she couldn't help but blush.

Alynia had let go of his hand quickly, as if not wanting to touch anyone. Not wanting to be grabbed. Not wanting to be overpowered. Psy had warned her that Orpheus might have been crazed or deluded as the other men who sought her, so she decided to be careful. Thankfully, the musician was behaving very civil as of far. Still, better safe than sorry.

Alynia took a moment to gather her words and formulate a request. Her mind wandered to the book she had skimmed before Psy returned. She had guessed it was a prophecy, and there was a bizarre suspicion that it might have been about her. Of course Alynia knew nothing of the threads of life or the Ciconian women... But perhaps as one who came from afar she would be able to convince him.

"I have travelled from afar to seek your assistance." Alynia began deliberately using language from the prophecy. She watched his expression to see if she struck and familiarity with him. "I must right the wrongs of the king of all kings." She continued.

Alynia glanced at Psy. "To break the curse that has plagued the women of Olympus, it has been determined I must travel into the underworld and it would be a great comfort to depend upon your music to lull the mighty Cerberus to sleep." Her words were steady and intelligent. Her eyes pierced Orpheus a determined glare.

"Accompany me to Hade's lair, and help me restore beauty to Olympus."

Orpheus had not seemed as if he were caught up in a frenzy and Alynia may have had recalled why if she recalled some of the tales that she had heard about the musician, poet and prophet from her own Shadows legends … of course in her time amongst the Shadows she had come to realize that not everything was the same as it had been recorded in the legends and myths that had swept over her though they were often similar enough.

For instance, while not an old man his years had been greater than his appearance had indicated. Of course, the tales she would have heard had not mentioned anything similar to ambrosia or any other gifts that he received.

Similar. Though what had been recorded may have caused her to wonder as if they were truths or prophecies that had yet to pass in the events of the things that the Queen had been blessed with foe knowledge of.

She had noted that his eyes had not seemed to study her with the lust that inflamed the other men though it was more like a connoisseur appreciating a master piece in an art gallery, as if his tastes had been refined by studying the works of the masters for years.

Though as she began her tale there had been recognition in her words … he was not readily aware that she had read his prophecies wither, for he had recorded what he had witnessed and it had been hearing those exact words …

There was a mix of fear, his own warnings had swept into his mind making the Queen wonder if the warnings were a way of warning himself of impending doom, and yet there was the mixture of having a useful skill too …

“On one condition ...” He mentioned. He recalled his trip to the Underworld, Hade's realm … how could he forget the three headed dog that Hercules once abducted as part of his Labors? The pet of the Underworld's ruler …

“I will do so for some Ambrosia ...” And there it was, he was fated to die, like Cassandra and her accursed prophetic visions though Orpheus understood that just because he saw something that perspectives could not be changed. No matter what he did he would die, as a mortal he was fated to death but dying would not be so bad, Ambrosia would have him attain the ranks of the Gods, his death would allow him to ascend to Olympus as a Demigod instead of suffering in bleak obscurity as a shade in the Underworld.

“It is a steep price, though meddling in the affairs of the King of Kings is not to be taken lightly either. There is no living creature that can resist the allure of my music, I have dealt with Cerebus once before and can do so easily again. Though a word of free advice if you proceed without me. Cerebus guards against souls leaving the Underworld, not entering it so you would only have to deal with him once and others, such as the legendary half deity Hercules has had dealings with him too though his assistance would be questionable if he was aware that he would be going against the aims of his own father.”

Alynia felt shy under Orpheus's gaze... Whether she was being admired or whether she was being fantasized about it made no difference as the coral hue stained the apples of her cheeks.

Ambrosia... Alynia pondered. The nectar of the gods. A drink that could spurn true immortality. In a way, almost similar to the nectar of her king which gave Alynia extra years upon her lifespan.

Dear Oberron... what was he doing at the moment, what was he thinking of? His queen missed him dearly. Her mind wandered off for only a short moment. After all, her longing was only motivation to complete her mission sooner.

"If it is in my power." Alynia responded with a steady voice, but for some reason she could not look up with meet his eyes. She stared timidly at her feet. "If it is in my power to obtain Ambrosia in return for your noble services, I will do so." She hoped this was enough...

"I am not on the endeavor alone. There are powerful gods who guide me. They are the ones who protect me from the curse." Alynia's fingered instinctively touched the bangle in her wrist. "Perhaps I am not fully understanding as what you mean by fated to die... After all men must die."

She clear her throat and found he courage to meet irises with Orpheus. "I cannot guarantee your safety or your life..." Her lovely honey eyes were deep, intelligent, and sincere. "While I wouldn't know how the gods will behave in your presence, I don't intend to accomplish my task without you."

"My terms are anything save for concrete. My only hope is you will find it in yourself to depend on my good faith. Unless the gods tell me otherwise, I have no intention of finding Hercules. I want just you. And if you can accept this, we should leave at once."

“Oh, I have already had a little peak at the cliff notes and know how this will likely end. Seeing the future is a gift of mine. Prophecy and music, I have been blessed by Apollo himself it would seem. Though you tend to see that interpretation is key in such things. When events don't fall into place it's often the fact that something was not interpreted in the right way.”

Instead of attempting to avoid his fate he had sought to change the interpretation of it. If he was ordained to die, well that could be a new beginning though he had seen nothing along the Ambrosia route.

Without a doubt Orpheus was fated to die, he could not change that fact though the way that he perished would be the same or because of the same event in attempting to avoid fate. But his thread was cut and measured already by the Fate's since he was born and there was no hanging that. His mortal life would end at the same time regardless of what he did about it.

The Queen looked embarrassed as her gaze fell down to her feet, the answer she supplied was honest, their were no guarantees made and that was probably the best he could hope for. The Gods were not about to give up Ambrosia easily after all though he could get a handle about this curse thing just by thinking it through.

Zeus, being King of the Gods would not permit it, it was his curse, even though the other Gods would favor the end of the curse. But Orpheus was practical as he moved to the wall seizing a flute that he wished to bring with him.

“No guarantees … it is the best I could hope to do I suppose. You do not have the authority to offer such a prize up. Hercules is probably still mourning Ioleus so getting him to come would be tough. I will get you past Cerebus on the way out of the Underworld. There is no living creature that I cannot pacify with my song.”

Well … they existed though Orpheus had not given it much thought simply accepting when his time was up rather than struggling against it. “Alright, Psy.” The old man nodded as Orpheus moved to her side. He made a gesture jaunting the three of them from this place outside of the city, which they could see in the distance.

Psy took his leave of them and Orpheus was about to ask her a question when Eros materialized at her side. “Great, he's on board?” He cast his glance towards the city in the distance sensing such discord from it before he looked back first at Alynia, sensing her longing for her King as affairs of the heart had been in his portfolio and what he knew. His eyes slide to Orpheus sensing an absence in those feelings, they were there but different, much different. Lost love and longing had similar feels but it was clear that he had not generated any new feelings in this realm … it would lead to his demise, though Eros did not know this. Of all the beings that could change this he probably had the easiest time of it.

“It has been awhile Orpheus, though when I last say you, you did not see me.”

She glanced upward, her eyes blinked in innocent surprise. He agreed? Alynia hadn't even believed she was very convincing. She had answered honestly and had rather been unsure of recommendation means for the famed musician. She had originally came to him on the hope that his good will would be enough motivation.

In fact she was still in a mild state of shock when the three of the were transported out if the city in a blazing glow of light. Alynia let out a sigh of relief, very glad to be out of the city seemingly filled with unsatisfied men. She thought about the strange dream she had before she had met Psy. Could the curse have by any chance been related to her vision? Alynia found this unlikely, but she still though strangely of the whole situation. But never mind, it was behind her and she had much more pressing issues to tend to.

In fact she had been looking around for her guardians when one appeared right in their midst. "It appears so!" She chirped happily as he offhandedly commented on her success. Her glee was, as Eros knew, a tad bit forced. Her mind had previously been on her dear king. The god's deep eyes bore into her soul and her true feelings were every so easily revealed to him. Her heart was a book, one of the infinite Eros had access too. A very pretty book indeed.

It was just about midday when Eros greeted the musician, it had seemed they were aquatinted... Of rather at least known to each other. Orpheus of course had questions following Ero's statement but Alynia also had questions of her own.

The queen was quite keen to continue her quest and see it through. But she had little clue what came next. Was it off to the underworld? Or was there more to be done? Of course she was certain that Eros would fill her in eventually, she was brimming with curiosity.

“Excellent. I could not enter that place, not now, not with all that discord,” Eros looked to the city off in the distance. Even the Gods here were not all powerful and Alynia was realizing that they had been strengthened and weakened by their portfolios. Perhaps Eros found it difficult to go to places lacking in love or where other emotions like despair and anger were far greater. Perhaps it was as simple as the people having no particular love at the moment being hit with a curse, regardless the task had been performed and Eros had been pleased.

Sensing what was in Alynia's heart he had thought to do something about that as she reflected upon it. He only had a vague sense that something had troubled her, that she was afraid of something but such a swirl of emotions had been difficult for him to read.

“It is probably best to proceed in small numbers for now. A ship and crew will be collected before you get out of the Underworld but finding those willing to go there will be difficult. You have already been there,” he said the last to Orpheus who nodded then he looked back to the Queen. He had pondered again granting her a small reward that he decided against. When she finished with the Underworld perhaps.

Four gold coins appeared in his palm that he present to the Queen. “Pay the ferryman one coin a piece to cross the River Styx before you get into Hades, one on return. At any peer he can be summoned with a simple recitation.”

“I called him last time with my flute.”

“Simple. Good.” Eros nodded then a jug materialized that he presented to Alynia. “It is blood wine. The shades of the Underworld have no memory unless they are made to drink from this wine or blood where there memories will return briefly. This will allow you to question any shades r Medusa.”

“MEDUSA!”

Eros nodded. “To break the curse we have to find where her sisters are but they have been hidden from Divinations, either they are doing something or more likely Hera is. She does not have the power to petrify loosing it while she is a shade, though she would regain that quality if ever escaping from the Underworld.

“Hades suppresses unnatural powers in most cases save for when necessary, though they are diminished in such cases. Some of the torments of the Titans has left them with just enough juice to carry out their punishments. Well, Prometheus is not there and nor is Atlas. Atlas retains his strength seeing how he holds up the Heavens but that is pretty much all he can do.”

Eros summarized for them as he lead the pair along. “There are some caves nearby, one will lead you into the Underworld once you cross the River Styx and pass Cerebus on the other side of it. Are there any questions or concerns before you begin your journey into the depths of the Earth?”