[labprotocol]

In the land of Helora the inland continent made a deal with the water demons. Because Helora's economy was tied to the amount of rain they received they offered the demons known as nagi a bride every year in exchange for rain. The nagi, both male and female, are all seeders so they require humans to bare their children.

In the last few decades Helora has prospered and has forgotten the promise they made to the nagi. In retribution the nagi have dried up all the rivers and lakes and caused the sea levels to dip. Helora has decided to send a bride every month for the next year in hopes that the nagi will forgive them.

One such bride was being prepared to be taken out to sea and dropped into the ocean at the "Alter" point where he would be weighted down by heavy jewelry.

Notes:
The nagi keep their carriers in an underwater city that they can't escape from without drowning.
A kiss from a nagi gives the receiver the ability to breath for up to three hours underwater.

Name: Orion
Species: Nagi
Age: 21
Appearance: 6'3 as a human. When in merform he has a black shark tail. He is a warrior in training ambitious to rise in the ranks. He needs a mate as a status symbol to help him with his goals.

Orion swam impatiently waiting for the new bride to be delivered. He glanced at the other nagi waiting as well, sizing them up. He was pretty sure he could take any of them single handed in a fight, but there were over a dozen of them all desperate for a bride. It had been five years since the last offering. Hopefully this year things would change.

[Seedful]

Name: Damian
Species: human
Age: 19.
Appearance: 5'10, with short black hair and green eyes.

Damian shivered against the harsh ocean breezes that lashed the ends of his robes around. Between the incipient motion of the waves churning his stomach around and the knowledge that before long he would be thrown into the water to drown or be torn apart (because surely the nagi only ate the 'brides' they were given!) by monsters he was quite miserable indeed. More so as the little boat reached the point of the reef known as the Altar. He tried not to shake too badly as the attendants helped him step out onto the marble platform. There was no longer anywhere to run; the spears in his escorts' hands ensured that. All he could do was stand helplessly as the high priest blessed him with the ancient words and then began to apply the ceremonial jewelry----it amounted to little more than golden shackles, but was sufficient to its purpose. These alone would be retrieved in three days' time, ready for the next young unfortunate to be sacrificed. Thick chains adorning his neck, wrists, ankles and shoulders, it was time. A 'gentle' prod in the back had him trundling forwards toward the choppy black sea.

"Tell my mother I love her..."

The priest nodded solemnly, then reached out and pushed him in.

The chains did their work; immediately Damian was dragged under. Almost instantly he started to panic---no light, he couldn't breathe! He was drowning and he couldn't even see! His fear would roll off him and lace the water around him with a delicious scent that would draw the Nagi in schools. Easy prey.

[labprotocol]

Orion saw the boat pull up and he raced forward eager to take his prize, ripping the other nagi out of his way. He grabbed one by the shoulder his claws digging into the skin, red painting the water and shoved her behind him. He grinned when he saw Damian start to sink. He grabbed the human's arm pulling their bodies flush together, his other palm burning his name into the human's shoulder, officially claiming him. Now he was his and none of the other nagi could fight his claim.

Orion admired his work, the sharp red lines and curves painting the human's skin. Then he slid his hand up into the boy's hair and pulled. He thrust his tongue into Damian's mouth, giving him the brief gift of breath.

He unlocked the gold chains, letting them sink into the sea. One of the other pathetic nagi would retrieve it and return it to the humans above, hoping that next time they'd be lucky enough to claim a bride. He admired his bride, brushing his fingers down his cheek. The boy was beautiful with gorgeous green eyes. Orion wondered what those eyes would look like later when he took him for the first time. The boy was a virgin, after all. That was part of the deal. Nagi didn't accept used goods. He smiled, showing rows of pointed teeth. He couldn't wait to bring him home.

[tjopj44]

Name: Sam
Species: human
Age: 19
Appearance: short and thin, skin as white as snow, hair as black as a crow's feather, eyes in the color of chocolate.

Sam was in the "Altar", wearing a completely white tunic (according to the priest, it was a reminder of how "pure" he was - as if he needed someone to remind him that he was still a virgin). Sam, by the way, was feeling devastated -and furious. Understandable: his father was friend of the priest, and yet, there Sam was, giving up on his life to spend it with someone he didn't even know. He was hoping that it was a woman, but he doubted he would ever feel happy again under the sea, so why would he care about his mate's gender.

Even though he was feeling terrible, Sam had decided he wouldn't let anyone see him crying. So, there he was, in the Altar, ignoring what his father was saying about honor and all. When his father asked Sam to talk to him one last time, the boy just said "you have made your decision, man. You are offering me as bride to someone I don't even know. There is nothing else to be said" he looked at the priest "let's go on with this, shall we?". Sam was impressed: he almost convinced himself that he was bored, instead of sad. He continued walking until the end of the reef, and then jumped in the sea, without saying a word. He sank into the cold ocean, holding his breath.

[labprotocol]

Name: Kiera
Species: Nagi
Sex: Female
Age: 23
Appearance: Freckles along cheekbones. Deep brown skin. Full lips. Dimples. Shoulder length white hair. Blue-gray eyes. Gray tail with a purple tint. 5'11.

Kiera shot forward grabbing the new bride by the arm and burning her name onto his upper bicep before the other Nagi had barely noticed a disturbance in the water. She was one of the fastest Nagi of her generation. She was still upset that she had lost to Orion at the last offering. She pressed her lips to the boy's mouth and letting out a burst of magic that would help him breath until they got to Sar, the underwater city.

She smiled against his lips and said to him telepathically, Hi. I'm Kiera. He didn't reply, but that was understandable. It was hard for first timers to learn to communicate back through telepathy. Personally Kiera liked to speak out loud, but sound didn't carry right in the water.

She unlocked the cuffs, then placed them in the net bag tied to a hook in one of the coral reefs of the Alter. She kept one arm around her bride the entire time, making sure he didn't drown. She wasn't sure if he knew how to swim or not. It seemed like so few humans could.

She arranged him so that his back was to her chest and she had her arms wrapped around her front and started to swim deeper into the sea. We can talk properly once I get you home.

[Seedful]

((Hey just a heads up, I will post tomorrow so don'y think I've forgotten you!))

[tjopj44]

Sam's eyes went wide when he saw, in front of him, a beautiful nagi woman. She was so beautiful that, for some seconds, he could just look at her, until she burned a name on his bicep "ouch" he said, shocked, which made him lost his breath. but then the woman kissed him, and he forgot everything when he realized he could breathe.

He, of course, was shocked again when she spoke with him in his mind, telling him her name. A lot of thoughts filled his head, such as "she spoke in my mind. Does that mean she can read my mind too? How do I do to,let her know my name is Sam? "

Once they started to swim again, he calmed his mind down, just a little bit, now curious about the city under the sea. He was a bit nervous, too, because he didn't know the woman he was now married to. He hoped that she would be q nice person.

[labprotocol]

The two guards on duty outside the entrance to Sar gave Kiera envious looks as she swam by. She took Sam in through one of the airlocks that ended in a small room with the entry pool in the middle and cubbies lining the walls. She let go of same once they surfaced and shifted, her tail splitting into two legs.

"Hey," she said climbing out of the pool, her breasts bouncing. She dried herself off with a towel and then threw it into a chute in the wall.  From one of the cubbies she pulled out a long embroidered length of fabric which she wrapped around her waist.

"Come here," she grinned crooking a finger at him. "I'll help you take your clothes off," she said with half lidded eyes and a sultry smile.

[tjopj44]

Sam admired the place. It was different from everything he believed to be an underwater house. When Kiera called him, he blushed, his cheeks went pinker than a rose's petal "T-take off my clothes?" He asked, surprised. "I... I mean, what are we going to do?" He supposed it lt would be sex, but he was nervous. He had never done that before and he wasn't sure if he was ready for it. Actually, no one had told him what was the function of the brides for the nagis, so he didn't knew what was he supposed to do.

[labprotocol]

"Come on," she said putting a towel and some fabric down on a bench. "Your clothes are soaked. Definitely not appropriate dress to see the elders in. I still have to stake my claim on you officially." She rolled her eyes. "Formalities. Yeah? Now come over here and tell me your name. I'm Keira, but I told you that already." She shuffled through fabric, deciding which loincloth she liked best.

[tjopj44]

"oh... See the elders" Sam said and sighed, with relief "oh, sure, you are right" he let her help him to take off his clothes. When she asked his name, he said "oh, right, sorry, I completely forgot about it. My name is Samuel, but you can call me Sam, everyone calls me that" he smiled at her.

[labprotocol]

Kiera let her fingers linger on Sam's skin as she helped him from his clothes and dried him off. She grinned handing him one end of a dark green loincloth. "Hold this please," she held it to his chest and grabs the other end, squatting down and running the cloth between his thighs, nudging his balls to one side. Kiera gives his hip a quick kiss, smiling against his skin, before she started to pull apart his ass cheeks. She twisted the fabric into a rope and threaded it through his cheeks, her finger brushing his pucker. She placed a hand on his back anchoring him and wrapped the rest of twisted rope around his waist and the part he was holding to his chest, until it looped around his front and she tied it off quickly in the back. She stood gently touching his arms. "You can drop that now."

[tjopj44]

"Wow" Sam said, dropping the loincloth end. "well, it's different from everything we have up there in land, and I feel kinda naked. But is very comfortable, though" he said,,trying to smile again. He didn't know what Kiera meant when she said about meeting the elders, but he was nervous about it

[labprotocol]

Kiera tried to give him an encouraging smile. She grabbed his hand and led him from the small room. They headed down a hall. There were a few brides, in several different stages of pregnancy walking around and going about their business. They all had red stylized markings on their skin, some on their face or necks, others on the backs or shoulders. One heavily pregnant woman had a mark slashing across her belly. They looked like calligraphy painted on with a delicate paintbrush dipped in red ink. The brides all seemed to be busy. Some of them were carrying baskets of clothes or food, others walked with a brisk pace.

Kiera led into a wide room. The ceiling was made of thick glass and in the bright light of the city one could see several yards into the darkness of the deep ocean. A shark glided overhead. At the far wall was a platform were five Nagi were seated on the floor, their legs crossed. She nudged Sam forward. "This is the new bride," she said. "I have claimed as my husband."

One of the Nagi, an old woman with a shark tooth necklace crooked her finger at Sam. "What's you're name child? And what province are we to bless for your presence?"

[tjopj44]

Sam followed his new wife, observing the town with wide eyes. Everything was so new to him. He saw lots of pregnant men, and at first it was something strange to see, but he knew he would get used to it, specially when it was his turn.

When they finally arrived at the elders place and a woman spoke to him, he bowed at them and said "My name is Samuel, milady, but everyone calls me Sam. I came from the Skyland province, a seaside town in the land of Helora." He said, using his most polite voice. He wasn't sure what should he do now , so he just held Kiara's hand.

[labprotocol]

The woman nodded than looked to Kiera. "Proof of the claiming?"

Kiera nodded and turned Sam so that the elders could get a good look at his upper arm where she had used magic to brand her name. The old woman nodded, then motioned for them to leave.

Kiera bowed to the elders and followed a bride down a hallway. Kiera grabbed Sam's hand and led him along. "Every new bride get's their own living space. Ava is going to your new living quarters."

Ava was a small woman around thirty, with thick black hair and an abundance of freckles and large brown eyes. She was wearing a bright floral wrap around dress that mostly hid the slight bulge at her stomach. Under her right eye was a red slash like a lightning bolt and three random paint splatters. She smiled at Sam encouraging. "So you're from the Skyland province? I grew up in Verna to the south. If you have any questions about," she made a vague gesture encompassing everything "just ask me."

The three walked for a while through the hall of the city until they got to an area that looked like the hallway of an apartment complex. To the right of each door was a red symbol similar to the one's on the brides' skin. When they got to the fifth door on the left, the wall was blank, Ava grinned and handed Kiera and Sam a key each. "Here you go. If you need anything I live a floor down from here. Just look for my husband's name," she tapped her cheek.

"Thanks." Kiera opened the door and motioned for Sam to proceed her.

Inside was small living room with glass walls looking out into the sea. There was a kitchenette in one corner and a little circular breakfast nook in an adjacent bubble that was mostly surrounded by glass. Outside one could see the shining lights of Sar and the metal and glass structures of the city. Nagi of all colors were swimming about.

The far wall also had a circular metal door. "That leads to the air lock and outside." Kiera glanced at Sam nervously. "But don't even use it without me okay? I don't think your body can handle the pressure without magical interference." Kiera let go of his hand and began to explore the apartment. There was a nice size bath, with a huge tub. There was also a room with a medium sized pool. There was also the bedroom, which was small and cozy with white and sea foam green walls. "We can go shopping later for the essentials, make this place feel a bit more like home." She came back into the family room and flopped down on the couch. "So Sam," she patted the seat next to her. "Tell me about yourself."