[Riverfall Location]Godiva Refuge

[Baku]

Found at the center of the second tier of Riverfall, Godiva’s Refuge stands as a tall building, elevated slightly over the others. Its stone walls reaching tall and wide for most passing by to see. Steps lead up to it’s entrance, giving a sheltered feeling for those approaching. Less exotic than other buildings, the Godiva Refuge acts mainly as a haven for women. Females rescued from slavers on both land and sea and brought to the city, eventually find their way here for the beginning of their stay. As well, their doors are opened to females simply visiting the city for whatever purposes. Inside women are greeted by warm fires and soft beds, as several small rooms spanning over three levels can be found. Each room is not overly large, offering enough space for a bed, dresser and small desk. However, luxury isn’t the main purpose of the Refuge. Instead, it acts as a place for women to find their bearings while staying within Riverfall. While there, they learn of the Akalak culture, of what the race will offer them in exchange of what they can offer them. Literature written in common is left in each room for the women to read. The literature covers what can be found in Riverfall as far a shops, supplies, training and learning. As well, it covers the laws and rules of what to expect should an Akalak court a lady with the purposes of siring his child. In essence, aside from offering shelter, Godiva’s Refuge is a place of enlightenment for the women who visit Riverfall, educating women who might have any misconceptions towards the Akalak race. The first two weeks of stay within the refuge is free, whether the woman be a visitor or Nakivak, giving the female time to learn and seek out opportunities of employment should her stay be a long one and she has not yet been approached by an Akalak for siring. At the end of those two weeks, however, rent will start being charged. A woman is charged one gold miza per week of stay at the Refuge, making the Refuge an ideal place if she has no money and skills that won’t bring much in. Food and supplies, however, must be covered by the female herself, whether it be bought at the refuge or one of the shops within Riverfall. While Godiva’s Refuge is a haven, that does not mean that it can run completely on charity.   Mosrila Name: Mos'rila Race: Human DoB: 15th of Spring 474AV (Age 39) PoB: Syliras Position: Proprietor of Godiva's Refuge, Martial Arts Expert Skills: Unarmed Combat 65; Massage 58; Business 45; Singing 40 Gnosis: 1 Wysar There once existed a complete lack of organization in Riverfall when the Council first started sending out patrols further into the Grasslands around Riverfall. At first, it was to keep the youth in practice at their training when they encountered slave caravans and raiders. Later though, it was discovered that there was a side benefit from these trips, for more females started coming into the Riverfall community. Mos'rila was among the first of these ladies and saw an opportunity not only to provide a much needed service for the inbound, but to expand her skills. Petitioning to the Council, she was able to secure a facility and opened Godiva's to both provide housing for newcomers free of charge and long term housing for individuals that were under contract as Nakivak (but who did not reside with their contractees).

[Candira]

Season of the Summer, Day 25, 511 AV Candira rose that morning with the tide, squeezing from her tight underwater hovel, constructed through sleep-dazed eyes the night before. The woman frowned at her barely functional creation in disappointment; the morning light certainly did the home no service. Though she could continue escaping below the surf each night, she was a visitor in Riverfall. To experience its wonders, the Charoda would have to sleep within its levels and among is people. The Akalak greeted her at the docks, and she explained her purpose in quick Common. "Where can I find a temporary room?" He grinned in expectation; perhaps she would stay permanently. "The Godiva Refuge should be of help," he said, waving upward with his wooden clipboard. "It's in the middle of the second tier. Do you need guidance?" She following his direction with her filmed eyes. "No, thank you." She left, climbing higher. The streets criss-crossed each other, and the woman found it discerning to remain stuck on the ground. The pebbles hurt the squishy underside of her webbed feet; she added shoes to the list of items she needed. Candira came upon the Refuge almost by accident. It dominated its small plot with thick walls and raised front door, giving the air of a safe home with thick, sturdy - and flat walls. She stared at it for a moment, knowing almost instinctively: whatever would happen in this place, Candira would be safe from harm. She ascended the front staircase, pulling her hood down once inside. She was self-consious of the sea-water she dripped on the floor, and shuffled to hide the marks. "Hello?" A pleasant enough woman emerged from a back room. She had a bright smile, and Candira easily responded in kind. "Hello! Are you looking for a room to stay?" She nodded. "Yes, but I don't know how long ..." The woman waved her hand. "We offer the first two weeks free of charge, and if you are still with us, we can discuss prices then," she said. "I have a spare room this way." Candira followed her up a tight flight of stairs to a small, simply furnished room. A window was propped open, blowing cool air around the space. She placed her wet bag onto the wooden floor, itching to explore under the bed and in the draws for trinkets of the previous guest. A book was placed, tauntingly, on the desk corner; her fingers fiddled the cover as she said to the woman, "This is perfect, thank you."

[Rosela]

Timestamp: 89th of Summer, 512 AV

Top priority for Rosela, even before finding a place to sleep, was her face. As much as she tried to preserve the makeup she’s put on before she left, she knew it was fading fast. Her hair was too, but that would have to wait. She stopped into a small beauty shop and purchased a basic makeup kit, fixing her face right there in the shop. There was also a pretty little necklace on sale that she just couldn’t resist…

Back outside, feeling significantly better about her appearance, she sat down on a bench to peruse the map. The city didn’t have the ancient charm of Ahnatep, but it would do. Various advertisements fell out, a particular one catching her eye.

Godiva Refuge…

Rosela balked at needing a refuge, but noted the two weeks free and made her decision. She had to start somewhere, afterall. Packing the map away, she admired the scores of delicious Akalak men wandering about as she weaved through the alleys towards the refuge. Who knew blue was so flattering?

The refuge itself had a comforting antiquity to it, and she climbed the stairs already feeling safer. The woman at the front was human, and quite fit. Rosela toned down her pheromones and went for the innocent look.

”Hi, I’m new in town, and the advertisement said this was a place for women…”

“Welcome. Yes, this is a safe haven for women like yourself. The first two weeks are free, and there’s plenty of literature in the room about Riverfall and the Akalak culture. Follow me, you must be tired.”

”Thank you so much.” Rosela smiled gratefully but inwardly balked at being called ‘tired’. She did her makeup less than an hour ago!

“Here’s your room. Let me know if you need anything at all.”

Rosela only smiled in response, but collapsed on the bed as soon as the door was closed. Everything in the room was well-worn, and reeked of second hand use. Folding a pair of arms behind her head, she flung another over her head to push the pillow out of the way, and another lazily slipped the piled of pamphlets off the side table. She may as well read up about where she’d thrown her lot in.

It wasn’t like she was on the run, but it had the same feeling. If anyone ever found out what she’d done… Oh well. No sense dwelling on it. Opening the first pamphlet, she settled in for a late night. She'd buy a cottage in the city when her stay was over, but at least she could relax for the time being.

[Rinya]

Day 16 Summer, 513 AV Glaring at the map in hand, Rinya traced the route from the Labor Aid office, to the Refuge. This would be so much more simple if I had a layout of the land from above. Rinya was trying desperately not to be bitter at the moment. She was exhausted from her lack of sleep on the boat, and with a recommended letter of jobs she would be eligible for in hand, all that was left was finding a place to stay. The map had several choices to choose from. She wasn’t entirely broke by all means, but she was unfamiliar with Riverfall, and one of the passing Akalak suggested that the Refuge had quite a bit of reading material for her to get acquainted with. While the building was simple, Rinya couldn’t help but find it beautiful. It seemed like a wonderful spot to start off her life here. Perhaps she would stay longer than the two free weeks, especially with that view of the bay. Climbing up the steps Rinya took in the view, she could only imagine what it looked like from the sky. Smiling a little to herself, she stepped inside. The woman at the desk looked busy, and Rinya almost felt bad about interrupting her. “Excuse me, would you happen to have a room open?” The woman smiled at her and stepped around from behind her desk. “Yes my dear, come with me and I’ll show you to a room.” Rinya couldn’t help but smile in return, following the polite woman through the halls. “The library is right down this hall if you’d like to read up on the city and it’s culture. The first two weeks of your stay are free, and should you like to stay longer, we can certainly discuss it when the time comes. Ah… here we go. This will be your room for the duration of your stay.” ”Thank you, I… appreciate your hospitality.” Coming up with kind words was a little difficult for Rinya, but the woman just smiled and left her to settle into her room. Tossing her backpack at the foot of the small bed, Rinya took far more caution with placing down her bow and quiver on top of the dresser. Sighing heavily, she let herself fall onto the bed. It was more comfortable than the ship that was for certain. With her job applications still in hand, Rinya sighed and let herself relax for the first time in weeks.

[Malla]

Summer, Day 70, 513 AV Malla squared her shoulders as she looked to the door of the building, tempted to run back down the stairs. You can do this. You plan to stay at Riverfall, so you should better live in the city. Maybe you can find a bigger place once you have the mizas, she thought to herself. She really disliked the thought of living in a building, especially since the only time she really had were the years she spent as a slave. She shook those thoughts off quickly enough, then walked inside, adjusting her bag and the small tent she was carting around. "Ah, not running out this time? Does this mean you are looking for a room now?," Malla heard a woman ask. She smiled a bit towards who was apparently incharge of the refuge; the woman who she had run out on at least five times already. "Yes...but I don't know how long I'll be staying...," she replied slowly, before chewing her lip. The woman nodded and gestured for her to follow, explaining that the first two weeks were free and that there were books about Riverfall and Akalak in common. Malla wasn't so sure about that since, while her speaking of common wasn't that bad, her reading and writing was worse and only the bare basics. But she nodded anyway as she continued to follow the woman up the small staircase to the third floor and a room. "We can speak of pricing if you decide to stay longer than those two weeks," the woman ended with and smiled towards the Konti. Malla simply nodded and smiled a bit in return as she set her packed up tent down by the wall, her bag soon following. The woman soon left, closing the door behind her, while the blonde woman looked about the room. It was simple with a bed, dresser, and desk. There was also an open window, letting air move throughout the room. She soon moved over to the desk, idly picking up a book, but setting it down a moment later. "This could work...just...just for now. Just for now," she assured herself, speaking in Pavi as she often did when alone. She just had to get used to the idea of living inside walls inside of more walls.