It's been a busy night for Nicora. She escorted Galand back to his townhouse, and despite the inevitable irritation spent some quality time with him (although judicious use of the soothing power of her shadow helped). Then it finishing her packing, trying to fit both male and female clothing into as small a space as possible. A few hours of sleep with Rosalind seems far too little, because soon it was dawn and time to leave.
"I'll keep a lantern lit in the balcony outside the library," Rose promised, and did give Nicora a kiss despite the whole twin-sister aspect. Too soon after, Nicora finds herself standing before the waiting carriage. The door is open, and Mave and Snow both are within. Time to become Nicora the Yodhsunala.
Nicora turns and looks upwards at the towers high above. "It may be the last time you see this place, you know," she thinks to herself, now garbed in the Yodhsunala robes she recovered from the old church. "You could die, or worse. Where you go is dangerous and full of hateful people. Still ... I guess I have left a legacy behind now, children. One who will grow up and protect this county some day." It doesn't exactly make her feel better, though, to realize this. The only silver-lining to the cloud that now covers her is it puts her in just the right mood for the role she must play. She turns and with her jaw set and her expression both tense and slightly angry, she climbs into the carriage.
"Good morning, Nicora," Snow says. "I'm going to accompany you to the border, at the Countess' suggestion."
Mave knocks on the partition to let the driver know they're ready, and the carriage begins to move. The Yodhinala is dressed in the same 'road gear' she wore when leaving the fortress of Smashengrab; very practical, comfortable and with no markings of Inala to be seen.
"It is morning, but good is subjective," Nicora remarks quietly as she takes a seat and folds her hands together in her lap. She can't help herself and looks out the carriage window towards the castle as it begins to move.
The courtyard vanishes behind the outer wall, and the drawbridge echoes as the drokars pull the carriage with eagerness. The town is barely awake at this hour, with little activity aside from the bakery.
"I fear I will never see this place again," Nicora says as she watches the drawbridge close its last few inches. "One of the few good things to happen in my life and I have to leave it."
"Don't think things like that," Snow says. "It will sour your journey. Be positive."
"The last time I walked this path was ... not pleasant," Nicora remarks as she continues to look out the window. "I was used, hurt, nearly killed, and someone tried to sell me into slavery. I slept in snow banks and had to escape demonic blood spiders."
"But you're better prepared this time, right?" Snow asks. Mave looks nonplussed, watching out of the window idly.
"I know places to avoid and places to stay and I have better funding," Nicora notes, "So I suppose so."
"It should be nice and dull then," Mave says, finally smiling.
"That depends on your definition of dull," Nicora notes. "One of the safer places to stay is a city called Worms, which is a trap for the undead and is ruled by spirits."
"Oh yes, I've worked with that place," Snow relates. "It's a good spot for luring monsters to. I was almost going to bring Sister Dusk there."
"I stayed there one night. Staying any longer is dangerous. Everything is illusion," Nicora notes, "And why would you bring her there? She is useful."
"Well, she still needs training. I will be checking on her after we part company at Crossroads," Snow says.
"I am glad you will not be alone, then, while we are gone. Will you continue to stay in Draco, or will you resume traveling and working?" Nicora asks.
"It will depend on Sister Dusk's progress," Snow admits. "If she's ready for field testing, I will be going with her. But I am assigned to Draco, so will still be based in the Castle."
"Mm, that is good. Rose has grown fond of your taste," Nicora says with an absolutely straight, if not downright dour, expression.
"I'm also along so you don't have to go out of your way for a snack," Snow says, with a hint of sarcasm. "We will make better time that way."
"I always have Mave if I need a snack as well," Nicora points out. "Where will you go once we part ways at the Crossroads?"
"East, towards the Shrine Maidens' hidden temple," Snow says. "I have a safe means of getting there."
"And you didn't invite me to go to the temple? I am female this time," Nicora remarks a bit sarcastically.
"It is out of your way, and in the wrong direction as well," Snow points out. "I doubt you'd find anything to interest you there anyway."
"Young women do tend to be a bit vapid," Mave notes.
"I find most things of interest," Nicora notes, though rolls her shoulders in a slight shrug. "But true, it is out of our way."
"I was tempted to have you change me back into a Sphynx so I could reach it quickly," Snow admits, showing a slight blush. As the carriage leaves the shadow of the castle and mountains, she pulls down the blind on her window. "But I don't know that I'd want to change back on my own, and there would be a lot of very awkward questions."
"You're a monster hunter, you could claim to have been cursed," Nicora notes and cracks a brief smile. "And I can change you still if you wish. But your concerns about changing back on your own are also valid."
"I should not give in to being.. spoiled.. by such things," Snow says, holding up a hand. "The sex is good, practical experience though."
"I am glad that I provide you a practical service, then," Nicora remarks and that frown returns, as does her looking out the window.
"Why are you frowning now?" Mave asks.
"Because I am not in a good mood," Nicora says rather matter-of-factly.
"Babel is still a long ways off," Mave points out. "There is no need to dwell on what might go wrong so early."
Snow puts a hand on Nicora's robe-covered knee and smiles.
"And what would you have me dwell on now, hmm?" Nicora asks as she tilts her head so that she looks at Mave with one eye.
"Your children, perhaps," Mave says. "I am often comforted by my memories of being a mother."
"The ones I may never see?" Nicora asks and returns to looking out the window. "This trip is for them."
"You can imagine them, can't you?" Mave asks. "Or if you like, we can pass the pipe around - although it may stir your appetite."
"I have appetite for little right now. A feeling I suspect will remain with me for the duration of this trip," Nicora says. "Sorry; I am not good traveling company right now."
The first leg of the trip is boring as predicted. The scenery changes, from town to farm to wilderness to farm to town and on around again. Mave would bring out the pipe every so often, which would relax the women enough to open up a bit. The Yodhinala would tell stories of her time as the High Priestess; trysting with the Sabaoth, hosting weddings and parties and orgies at the Temple for the nobility. Snow's tales were not so grandiose, usually involving an interesting spirit or monster she encountered, along with critiques of different styles of grave markers - a sharp contrast, given both women were beholden to Inala in some fashion. Even Nicora would tell stories of growing up with the gypsies; of almost being caught drinking blood, or performances that were interrupted by amorous creens. When the others were asleep (or meditating), she might practice shifting her right arm's appearance.
When a roadhouse or inn was available, they would spend the night there. The rooms were small, and the bed narrow - but when two of them could sleep by hanging from the perches between the high bed posts it didn't seem so crowded. And food was good, as Nicora further practiced her eating trick with the shadow (although this often meant biting Snow later on - which the girl claimed helped her get to sleep).
As they prepared for bed, Snow dropped her robe as usual and waited for Nicora's bite. "We should reach Crossroads in the morning," she notes, perhaps a little sadly.
"We do, and there we part ways," Nicora says as she delays her bite for the time being. She certainly has been more sedate these past few days. She did tell tales and tried to seem cheerful, but everything has been just more subdued than she usually is. "I'm not worried that you will be fine without me," she adds, "You survived and prospered long before you ever knew me. And if I don't return, well ... it was an honor to have met you, Snow. I wish I could have been ... better somehow. Instead of some easily manipulated mutant, I guess." She even demonstrates this by pulling the necklace from her left 'pouch to make sure it is safe, then tucks it back away.
"I'll still miss you," Snow says. "I miss the intimacy too. So you have to come back, because I'm not interested in another lover."
"I suspect you'll find a human lover some day. Perhaps even while I'm gone," Nicora says, "One thing I've always been good at, comfort until someone finds a better person to make them happier. The last time I took this trip, for example, I was the doormat for a woman I was trying to help. Sorry, I don't mean to imply anything about you with that. I'm ... just still a bit angry over it, I guess and the trip is bringing up a lot of old memories. Nearly dying for someone more than once and they never really cared."
"You know that I would never use you," Snow says, looking at the Eeee. Of course, Mave is not back from the bath yet, so it's just the two of them.
"It isn't you that worries me," Nicora admits, then shrugs. "At least this time I am a little more capable of defending myself. I won't be as much of the victim this time."
"Do you expect your father or.. Mave.. to try and manipulate you?" Snow asks quietly.
"Both," Nicora says, "Along with many others once I reach Babel. There are few you can trust there. Perhaps the Yodhrinala, but even them only so much. They do not trust me because of what I am."
"The Barsunala? I don't know how our mythologies differ. In Sylvania he is the patron of the Reapers, a respected and essential angel," Snow explains. "But in Babel, our angels are their goddesses, and not as.. kind. Is the Barsunala a bogeyman there?"
"There are factions and each believe the other a heresy and treat each other violently. They would be suspect I came to harm them. Though in truth I have harmed very few in my life," Nicora says, "Though I did help a small group of them once; perhaps they will remember. When I first went on this trip I was so much more optimistic about life; believing one person doing good things would inspire others. After the past few years, well ... I think I've lost a lot of that optimism. I doubt anything I did has been remembered."
"You've done a lot here in Sylvania though," Snow points out. "It only matters who you touch, not how many. They will remember the person you are, more than the deeds you've done."
"There are times I question the person I am," Nicora says, then waves her hand slightly, "But it is not something I suppose I should talk about feeling the way I am. Sorry, Snow. I haven't been the same cheerful company I normally am."
"I'm supposed to be the gloomy one, you know," Snow points out. "I look like a ghost, after all," she adds with a grin. "Now, are you going to suck on me? And then share the bed instead of hanging? If we sleep face to face on our sides we can fit."
"Yes, I'm going to bite you," Nicora says and taps Snow's nose with a claw, "And if you wish it, I can give you one last night together ... though I will be female and you'll be the only person finding much, ah, pleasure from it. Not unlike back in Draco Castle."
"Oh, but then Mave would feel left out," Snow says. "I was thinking more of.. an all-night cuddle."
"Then I will have to see to Mave too," Nicora says as if it's 'normal'. And before Snow can really argue with her, Nicora takes a firm hold of the human, pulls her in close,, wraps her wings around her, then bites down firm, yet gently, on her neck.
"Ahhhh, I'm getting so used to this.. should I be worried about that?" Snow mutters as she melts in Nicora's mouth.
"Melusine did say you were my toy," Nicora manages to murmur out from her bite, "Now you'll be lusting after every vampire you meet." And with that, she settles in to carefully drink from the unusual human. As gloomy as she has been feeling; it does always seem to make her feel a little better when she exercises control over Snow. The feeling of dominance does seem to help chase away heavier feelings.
Mave is taking her time, and did mention that she intended to enjoy 'the last hot bath for some time' as much as possible. Snow sagged, and ended up pulling Nicora on top of her. Then she reminded the ersatz Yodhsunala that there was still one part of her that she could dominate: and having her tail inside Snow was very, very nice indeed - and didn't trigger the curse, perhaps because it wasn't as intense as she was used to feeling as a female. However, since there was no climax there was also no reason to stop. "We could sleep like this," Snow suggested. "Under my cloak, Mave might not even suspect.."
Nicora actually laughs slightly at that. She uses her toes to hook the cloak and pull it up enough to grab with her hands and then pull it over herself. "Fine, then it stays right where it is," Nicora says with a tone of finality. Her lips then curl up slightly as she adds, "Besides, I do know how good it feels to have something there. And even if I cannot enjoy the feeling right now, you can ... and it still feels good to me." She's an odd bat, to be sure, to just readily agree to such a thing, but. She leans in, kisses Snow on the lips, and says, "Goodnight. I will see you in the morning. You'll have to give my tail back then..."
Aside from being disturbed by Mave coming back and hanging from the perch, and the fact that the tail would wiggle and 'wake up' every so often, it was a very relaxing, dreamless sleep for Nicora. Maybe having a living bed isn't a bad idea - although that inevitably makes her think of Melusine! When morning comes (or premorning, as Mave always wakes before dawn) the bat is feeling much more refreshed and relaxed. "Time to wake up," Mave announces. "And be careful pulling out, as Toadstool is likely dry by now.."
Nicora just snorts a bit at that, since Mave is impossible to deal with. Still, she is slow to wake and even more careful when she eases away from Snow. It's then she does realize that scales go one way ... so pulling her tail free doesn't come without a little bit of scratching as the scales flex up a bit. It doesn't feel all that great on her tail, either. She's up soon enough, however, and going about getting cleaned up, brushing out her hair, and getting dressed.
Snow is quiet as she gathers up her own meager travel gear, and mutters something about raiding the kitchen. By the time they check out, the shrine maiden as procured some fresh bread and dried fruit for breakfast. The coachman is also drinking from a steaming mug when they get to the coach.
The partition slides open, letting in the midmorning glare through the overcast. "Far as I can go, ma'am," the Skreek driver announces.
"Looks like we're here. The middle of nowhere, smack center of desolation and nothingness," Nicora says in an ever-so-not cheery tone. She unlatches the door and slides herself out, then offers her hand to Snow to help the human down.
Editor note: Clean up Crossroads a bit.
Snow steps out, and looks around. "Town corpses are their own grave markers," she says, oddly.
"Well, which from here, Nicora?" Mave asks, as she steps out.
"There are far too many of them," Nicora notes as she goes about unloading their small amount of luggage from the wagon.
"Sure you ladies don't want to come back to civilization?" the Skreek driver asks, looking about nervously.
"We will be fine, young man," Mave says. "You may return without fear for our safety."
"West," Nicora says and actually points west ... though she does it with a shadow-tendril. Wilderness living has at least given her a good sense of direction, if little else. "We will reach Worms first, which is a haven. From there we will then reach the Church, another save waypoint. Past that we will reach a small town with an inn, then we should head south towards Blackshire." She then offers Mave her pack of supplies.
"And as Mave says, we should be fine. All of us are experienced travelers. We know signs of danger andd where the safe places are here. You need not worry," Nicora says with a brief smile to the skreek driver.
The Yodhinala straps on her pack without complaint, while the Skreek looks like he's about to say something more, then just closes his mouth, tips his hat, and pulls the carriage around to head back to Draco County.
Nicora offers Snow her pack, then also straps on her own. It feels heavier than she remembers from her first trip; but then she is also weaker than she was then too. "So, I guess we part ways here," she says to Snow.
Once the carriage is out of sight, something large moves out from behind a ruined building to the east: an armored Lapi riding on a Vykarin! "You are late as usual, Sister," the oversized doe calls. "That is my ride," Snow tells Mave and Nicora. Then she bows formally to Mave and Nicora. "Fair travels and good fortune in Babel," she says.
Nicora dips her head slightly to the armored doe; she's used to such strange sights having visited the temple briefly before. "Be well," Nicora says to Snow and returns her brow. "May our paths cross again in this life before our Journey's end."
"Count on it!" Snow says with a smile and a wave, before she goes to be hauled up onto the back of the shelled wolf-horse thing.
Mave stretches, and then flexes her wings. "It will be good to fly again," she says. "I have been exercising in preparation."
"Well, it looks like it is just you and I now," Nicora notes to Mave as Snow mounts the creature. "We had best move as quickly as we can. We do not want to be caught outside when night falls. That is when the dangerous creatures hunt," she notes as she stretches her own wings.
The pair arrive in the necropolis at twilight, when the light is caught between showing the place as it truly is and what it will look like come evening. It isn't difficult for Nicora to pick out the central mansion-like mausoleum that Alptraum visited what seems like a lifetime ago.
"Worms," Nicora says as she glides in closer to Mave and gestures towards the mausoleum. "At night, the spirits awake and celebrate as though they lived again. It is a place of magic and Gods. We cannot stay more than one night ... and while food there may taste good, it will not nourish us. So ... just be mindful. The illusions are attractive and they do inspire one to wish to stay." She also briefly remembers meeting Inala here, but doesn't mention that little fact to Mave.
"A cemetery not consecrated to Sunala," Mave notes, quirking an eyebrow. "Please lead the way, Nicora."
"It is a prison of a sort," Nicora remarks and shrugs. Her wings pull in and she swoops down gracefully, gliding right towards the main gates! Her legs flip out and she lands upon then gracefully, then folds back her wings and adjusts her robe. A single nod and the Eeee strides forward as if she had nothing to fear in this place. She even throws the doors open and marches straight into the grand ballroom.
"Welcome to Worms, travelers!" Cryptopher the satyr says, coming out from behind the bar on cloven hooves. For a moment, Nicora's vision blurs, and she feels.. a rush? Some sort of change, that seems to wash through her skin and make her feel exhilarated.
"Good evening!" Nicora replies in kind. As she lifts her arm to wave to the lapi, she suddenly stumbles when the rush hits her. After a few staggered steps, she blinks a few times and tries to clear her vision. A sudden surge of worry follows that feeling and she quickly checks herself for actual changes.
Everything seems to be in place at first glance. "Are you alright, miss?" Cryptopher asks, placing a steadying hand on Nicora's shoulder. Mave also looks at her with some concern.
"I'm ... fine. I just felt a bit strange when I walked through the door," Nicora admits to the tall satyr. She checks one more thing, does she still have a tail?
Something is squirming against her butt.. so it had better be her tail.
"Yes, I'm fine. It must just be from the long trip," Nicora tells the satyr and then smiles to him. "We would like to stay the night, if you do not mind," she says.
"Of course! Do you wish separate accommodations?" the satyr asks. "We've never had a Yodhsunala visit before," he notes, perhaps a little nervously. "This.. isn't an inspection or anything official is it?"
"I am on a pilgrimage to Babel. This place is a safe place to rest, even if it is under the auspices of Inala," Nicora says rather formally, "As your role is to contain wayward spirits, I do not find too much to take offense to, so no, it is not an inspection or official. I merely wish to rest and relax. Separate accommodations are also fine, as my companion, Yodhinala Mave, may wish to entertain more carnal pursuits here."
Mave seems to be amused by the host's reaction. She's clearly noticed the huge statue of Inala, after all.
"Ah, so.. ducking out of the boss's sight for the night," Cryptopher says to Nicora with a wink. "After all, there is no Death in Worms." A familiar blue imp appears, and takes Mave's hand. "This way, Mistress," she says, as she leads Mave towards the guest suites. Cryptopher offers his own hand to Nicora.
Nicora lifts her hand and places it lightly in Cryptopher's. "Tell me, have any of my Mistress' Sisters been visiting as of late?" she asks the large buck. "Or have things largely been peaceful?"
"Oh, nothing every changes in Worms," Cryptopher notes, guiding Nicora along. "Except when we have guests, of course!" Nicora feels.. something happening! And it isn't unfamiliar, but unexpected: she's changing! Her wings are shrinking, and her ears are altering. When her legs begin to shift, she knows exactly what it is, from her experience in the dagger; she's turning into a Lapi doe!
"What are you doing to me?" Nicora suddenly demands of Cryptopher and pulls her hand from his. She takes a step back on wobbly, now malformed, legs. "Are you turning me into one of your kind?" she demands. The tone of her voice is more one of worry than anger, though.
The satyr blinks in surprise, his mouth hanging open. "I.. can't do that," he says. "But.. you are a most beautiful Lapi. I did not know you were a shape-shifter!"
One thing that hasn't changed is Nicora's tail - no heart-shaped fluffy nub, but still a scaly serpent. She's black and white, with the same markings as Tara, the bunny masseuse she kenned back at the spa.
"I am not ... normally," Nicora insists as she hugs herself since feeling her own flesh squirm is disconcerting. It's not long before she can feel her nose twitching away regularly and her fangs traded for a pair of buck teeth. "It appears that you may have a 'date' for the evening," she finally comments to the red-furred buck as she relaxes her own grip on herself and offers him her hand again.
Even the hidden pouches are still in place (thankfully, since they weren't empty). Cryptopher takes the offered hand again, and says, "I suppose we could start early if you like." The way his bar apron hangs shows his intent.
Nicora looks the buck up and down ... and then wonders if her curse will affect her in this place. Knowing better, she then decides she may as well find out since she can soothe it. "It looks like you have a few ideas on how to spend some time," she now remarks to the buck. Her left hand goes to brush against his covered 'intent'.
"Right this way!" Cryptopher says, and then scoops up Nicora into his arms and jogs to one of the rooms - which appears to be nothing but pillows, including the quilted and padded walls. There's diffuse light, but no obvious source.
Nicora lets out an indignant squeak when she's lifted up! Still, she doesn't exactly stop him (and he is considerably larger than she is!). "You don't see many does, do you?" she asks of him as she looks over the amazing collection of pillows.
"I have /never/ met one in the flesh," Cryptopher admits. "I have heard tantalizing rumors about a vampiric Lapi somewhere to the south, but those are very old, and no such creature has ventured to Worms yet," the buck admits, laying Nicora down and shedding his apron. Even at seven feet tall, he'd be well endowed if he was simply proportionate. But a satyr.. and servant and/or pet of Inala.. can do better than that. It's a bit intimidating!
Nicora's eyes go wide. She's never seen anything quite like that ... and yet she can almost hear an inner voice telling her to 'go for it anyway'. Nicora rolls to her knees to make herself comfortable and eases off her robe, then her simple undergarments, leaving the doe bare (as well as giving herself a chance to check that she's still intact after the change). "I may have to be creative with you; I am not a large doe," she notes.
"Do not worry," Cryptopher laughs. "My magic wand is one-size-fits-all, and I understand that Lapi does are very flexible. Plus, I have my tongue and fingers, which I can use like this.." And then he shows Nicora just we can manage with tongue and fingers alone.
Nicora now laughs and rolls to her side so that she lays just so to show off the rolling curves of her legs to her hips, to her upper body. She then motions for him to join her with a curl of her fingers. "Join me then and lets explore what a lapi and a satyr can do together, hmm?" she offers. Part of her worries, and expects, pain to soon come. Plus with her as a doe, she knows it also means she will ovulate ... so she cannot linger at Worms, or as a doe for too long, without risk. But of course, her hormones tend to cloud over the worries when faced with something attractive ... and right now he is very attractive.
Worms is a piece of Inala's Paradise, and there is no pain that does not bring pleasure, no death or discomfort, and certainly no disease or curses. It is a haven for the cursed, even if it is only an illusion. So Nicora discovers that Gorphat holds no sway.. at least, not at this moment. Surprisingly, Cryptopher is not as skilled as Galand, but is certainly enthusiastic, and in this realm pleasure is amplified as well. Time stretches and contracts as needed, so that despite what seems like hours, Cryptopher tells her they will not miss the nightly feast. There are a few moments where Nicora's body seems on the verge of changing, but it holds to a Lapi doe until the two are finished. Then she can feel her wings and Eeee features returning.
Nicora found herself trying a few things with Cryptopher that she would dare not have tried beyond these walls for fear of pain, or worse. New positions are explored as well as new techniques. For what seems like hours, the room is haven to the mating of those of lapine heritage. IT's only when both seem to equally agree that their union ends and the shape of an Eeee slowly returning. She feels oddly relieved (in that there is no concern of pregnancy now), but sorry to see it leave for a doe's body is one of her current favorites. Still, all things must come to an end and as Eeee returns, Nicora dresses herself once more in simple undergarments, then her robes. "There is a feast yet, and after that I already feel ... full," she jokes with the satyr.
"And before we rejoin the others, is there a mirror I may use to check that I am presentable?" she adds.
Cryptopher pulls away some of the wall padding, to reveal a full-length mirror. A spotlight seems shine before it, and the satyr picks up black velvet pillow and shakes it until it becomes a black velvet evening gown.
Nicora approaches the mirror to look over herself and make sure she is the Eeee she remembers. "Ah, I am required to wear something more elegant than my robes, is it?" she comments as she sees the dress in the reflection.
"Something to match your beauty would be preferred," Cryptopher notes. "The robes of a servant of Death might not go over so well here." Aside from a certain afterglow, Nicora looks as she should, right down to her dragon-headed tail. It's probably the first time she's gotten a really good look at herself when she wasn't feeling bloated or irritated in some way.
Nicora sheds her robes again and neatly folds them. She eyes the dress for a moment, noting its lines, then also sheds her undergarments for fear of the dreaded panty-line. With a slight nod of her head and a smile, she takes the dress, then eases herself into it. after having experimented with much of Rosalind's wardrobe, putting on a dress has become rather easy for her. "Tell me, when you looked at me, were you desiring a lapi at the time?" she asks as she pulls the shoulder-sleeves up and adjusts the front to highlight her chest.
"I was desiring you, but.. I didn't think of a Lapi," Cryptopher says, now wearing something like a formal uniform. "I assumed you did it to seduce me!"
"Well, perhaps we can do more after the feast," Nicora offers the buck. "And I did not intend to seduce you, so I am not sure why I changed. I am not complaining, though."
The satyr offers his elbow. "Shall I escort you to the ball then?" he asks.
Nicora reaches up, cups his chin, draws his head down into a brief kiss, then says, "Yes, you may." She slips her arm lightly around his and rests her hand on his forearm.
The ball is much as Nicora remembers: crowded and full of conversations and laughter, along with a sea of glowing eyes from creatures of all shapes and sizes. It takes a moment to spot Mave sitting at a table near the stage, dressed in what is best described as formal lingerie. A huge, hulking figure blocks her view of the rest of the table, but she can tell Mave is talking to someone. Then the hulk begins to move, revealing a blue and gold dragoness wearing a golden evening gown sitting across from the bat. Neither have yet noticed Nicora, and as the hulk shambles further, she notices a thick silver bracelet on the dragon's left wrist.. and what might be a silver chain connected to it. The hulk keeps moving, now blocking the view of Mave but revealing a third guest. Dressed in a tuxedo, scales buffed to a shine to match the silver shackles binding him to Kaira, Vorgulremik does notice Nicora, and smiles to her in a very disturbing manner.
"/Dear Gods, it couldn't be /him/. I didn't want him to /ever/ see me this way. The things he might try! Sure it hurt a little when Kaira changed into his form and we ... oh, don't even /think/ about that. He's evil. He's not your friend!" Nicora finds her mind racing when her eyes lock on Vorgulremik and her stomach sinks. She tries to think of anything that would cheer her up given whom she must /face/ tonight. All that comes to mind is, "/At least it isn't Gorphat?/" That's when you know your life has gone to Hell, when the only thing that could make a situation worse would be the /Goddess of Disease/!