Temple of Gorphat
The actual Temple area was never used much, as the Yodhgorphat preferred the natural caverns behind it, and it isn't like they had many pilgrims. As such, it could easily be mistaken for a ruin. The vaulted ceilings are hidden by mold and grim, the altar is covered in Chibix guano, and most of the offering bowls hold stagnant water - those that are dry are cracked, of course. Behind the altar is a tall blank expanse of wall, the plaster long since rotted away.

I wasn't that hard for Nicora to convince Tulani and Mave that she had to spend a few days in Gorphat's Temple meditating and fasting as part of her journey along the Path of Affliction. Neither of the other women were familiar with initiation rituals, which were kept secret - and the Yodhinala were all born into the order. Tulani seemed to sense Nicora's unease, and asked if she should check in on her, but was warned off. Too many traps and unpleasant things to risk exposing herself. "It's only for a few days," Nicora assures them. "I'll survive. Gorphat likes me."

Of course now that she's here, alone save for the parasitic eggs inside her, Nicora wonders just how she'll pass the two days she needs to wait before moving on to the next Station, the one Hosheb called Plague.

"We begin by cleaning up and securing a room." Nicora says to herself as she heads depper into the temple again to locate one of the rooms she can claim as her own, likely near the one reserved for the High Priestess. Having to clean and get organized will at least be a good distraction from thinking about she might be eater from the inside out in a few days. So far she feels okay, at least.

Cleaning the room of a Yodhgorphat is quite the exercise. After all, a lot of the molds and slimes are actually providing light. And probably some itchiness as well. There are plenty of old bandages, some stiff from dried in fluids and others just plain alive, and it isn't clear if the Temple has anything like a laundry facility.

Still, it does pass the time to get a room somewhat organized. It's almost as good as places she stayed when younger by the time she's done. It does have that old foot smell, at least. The bandages, well ... she'll have ot look for laundry of some sort. She isn't about to get something else. She also can't help herself and rub her gut now and then too, even if she can't actually feel anything.

It's eerie. The wounds are already gone, as is the soreness. In fact.. Nicora can't say that she's sore anywhere, even after the cleaning. Fingers aren't tense from scrubbing, knees are fine. Physically, she feels as if she's just been exposed to the Light of Nala.

"I guess you're rewarded with feeling great ... for the couple weeks before you die a horrible, gruesome, death," Nicora mutters a bit grimly.

There is a reply of sorts, this time - Nicora's stomach rumbles. She hasn't 'eaten' (that is, sucked the blood from) anything for a day. The only nourishment she supposedly received was the green goo from Hosheb - and whether or not she can even digest it or not is in question. Also, it may not have been real, since Hosheb is a spirit creature. So what was that stuff?

"And there's nothing really to eat here, so what? Go hunt? Call Hosheb?" Nicora asks herself as she paces through the temple. "I suppose I could try that form of feeding again, and if that fails, just go hunting later," she continues to talk to herself. A sure sign of insanity. So, she heads back towards the main room with the altar, all the while shaking her head at being crazy.

The altar is as familiar now as Inala's, and the shadows of ancient abandoned temple are still as deep as ever, able to hide just about anything.

Nicora grumbles to herself as she sheds her clothing next to the altar. Soon, she's climbing up on it, then laying back. She's sure spent a lot of time on altars lately. "Hosheb," she calls out in the temple gloom and spooky, then waits to see if anything responds.

"Yes, my bride?" the mixed voice of the demon replies, half Eeee and half insect. There is a clicking of pincers in the darkness as well.

"Bride?" Nicora has to wonder at that. "As part of my ... training, I have decided to spend the next few days in the temple before going to the next station," she admits, "And during it ... if possible I wish to be fed as all normal horrib hosts are fed ... force-injected directly with food." Even as she says that, she can't believe she said that. Even though it didn't hurt last time, it's still ... gross.

The demon is there next to the altar when Nicora looks again, looming over her. The great barb of his stinger-headed tail brushes lightly from her throat all the way down to the split of her legs. "Is that all you want from me?" Hosheb asks.

Nicora reaches up and touches the large barb nervously. With allies like these ... She swallows. "Well, mating with me is ... always welcome," the Eeee claims. "The pain that comes from it makes me feel closer to my new Mother."

"You wish to feel things then?" Hosheb asks, and withdraws the barb and its gift of paralyzing numbness. "I can make you feel closer to me," the demon promises.

"At least once," Nicora says in another moment of insanity. "It helps in understanding if I experience everything."

"But if ... paralyzing me is safer, then do that. I leave the choice to you," she adds.

"You will learn then, and understand," Hosheb claims, before a sharp tube plunges into Nicora's stomach. She can certainly feel that, as well as her stomach filling up with whatever is being pumped into her.

The hiss of pain that escapes Nicora's clenched jaw is quite .... dramatic. As is the thin scratch lines left on the top of the altar. At least she can feel something flowing into her, which does hopefully mean she is able to eat this way, even if it does hurt. After she steadies herself, she brings her right hand up and curls it around the tube going into her gut. "I am probably the first to ever ask to be fed this way, aren't I?" she asks the demon with hints of pain escaping in her words.

"There have been a few who begged," the demon claims, and begins to caress the Eeee after a fashion. Bulky pincers are not the most elegant of appendages when it comes to subtle acts, so Nicora gets pinched more than anything else. Is Hosheb trying to be romantic?

"What am I being fed with? What does it taste like?" Nicora asks of the demon. She's ... mildly worried with out 'affectionate' he's being to her, even if it does end with her being pinched often. "The tube hurts, but it is not unbearable; and the sensations if being fed are ... different. I can feel my stomach filling."

"It is.. predigested food," Hosheb claims. When Nicora feels like her stomach is going to start shunting goo up her throat, the pumping stops and the feeding tube retracts. There's single bubble that rises from the wound, and then the pain just.. fades away.

Nicora makes a small squeak when the tube retracts, then she blinks. "Shouldn't it ... hurt more?" she asks. "But then I haven't felt the eggs within me, either. So far ... it hasn't been a bad experience being a horrib host."

"There are benefits," Hosheb claims, before he pins Nicora to the altar and begins mating. The Sabaoth Seven are not subtle creatures, and certainly aren't familiar with the concept of 'receptivity', but Hosheb seems to make a token effort by nibbling across Nicora's torso and face with his mandibles.

The horrib-Eee's body isn't exactly built for kind mating ... and that becomes apparent when the pain of insertion hits Nicora hard! Her body was most definitely not ready. "It looks like you will be feeding me for the next couple of days," she hisses out, toe claws spread and scraping the altar. "And I will be dressing as a Her daughter." At least the pain makes it hard to think too much on how bad of an idea this was.

The pain doesn't stay in one primary location, either. Nicora's back and ribs are burning, and not from friction. It's even getting hard to breath, and her jaw begins to ache.

Which makes it more disturbing that the guttural sound that comes form her almost sounds like she's enjoying it. Her back arches as her body presses against her monstrous partner. Her head arches back and that aching jaw falls open.

Sharp parts of Hosheb are scratching and cutting at her as a result, but.. something else is going on. Extra limbs burst out of Nicora's sides where her ribs ache, and her jaw splits apart at the chin. Where Hosheb tears away her skin and fur, chitin is revealed..

Nicora suddenly realizes what is happening, even in the haze of pain. Hosheb is making her into a female horrib-demon; a mate. She tries to say no .. but all that can come out of her mangled jaw is a horrible garbled sound! Her legs kick a bit, then stretch; and she fears a tail may be next. Or worse, her very own horrib-queen ovipositor.

The transformation is painful. Not like when she does things herself, or when Melusine does it. It's violent. And Nicora does being to understand how Hosheb sees the world once her eyes begin to segment into dozens and dozens of tiny ones on expanding spheres. At least one thing doesn't hurt anymore: where the two beings are linked together. Her tail becomes armored and extended, but the dragon-head remains - it just gets bigger.

And ... Nicora can't quite talk now, now with her misshapen jaw and head. All that comes out is a clicking gibberish. Sounds of pain and near-confusion. All she can think though is how long is she to be like this?! But, at least it seems to feel better, almost good, as they mate ... and her body now acts as a willing participant; welcoming the insect-like insertion.

It's easier to focus on the pleasant aspect, until Hosheb finishes. Once he abruptly disengages, however, the transformation rapidly and painfully reverses itself, leaving Nicora back as her 'normal' self but feeling as if she's been battered by boulders. At least for a little while - even that pain and ache begins to fade.

Nicora lays there, sprawled out, panting, and wide-eyed. "That was not what I expected at all," she admits as she slowly recovers and prepares to sit up. "At least the eggs do make things ... hurt less. Pity I can't keep them without the risk of, well, death."

"What makes you think that you can't?" Hosheb asks, his mandibles arranging themselves into something that might be a smile.

"Because they will eventually hatch and kill me," Nicora says as she looks oddly at the demon. "I'm nervous enough just waiting to feel them ... squirm now and then."

"In order to hatch, the host must be paralyzed - the eggs need that poison to develop," Hosheb says. "Few know this, since those that are used as hosts seldom escape."

"So, wait. They're not developing in me?" Nicora asks. "But if you poison me, they'll develop some?"

"Only a true female horrib can provide the needed poison," Hosheb clicks and hisses. "I am a creature of spirit. My poison acts on such."

"So, are you saying I'll just ... be a carrier for the rest of my life?" Nicora says dubiously.

"If your body does not reject and destroy them, possibly," Hosheb says. "For a few days, at least. Not all of the Yodhgorphat can carry them. Some have allergic reactions that kill the eggs, others simply have the wrong chemistry or metabolism. You are the first vampire to be implanted as a carrier."

"I guess I could get ... implanted again if these die?" Nicora asks. She rubs the back of her head, still very confused. "I don't know what to think about this. I'm torn between being relieved, and being a failed parent."

"There is no second chance," Hosheb says. "If the eggs die, your body will not accept new ones. If they live, they will do what they can to preserve your life. Protect you from illness and minor injury. They can die from doing this as well, if the injury or disease is too much for them."

"Ah," Nicora says, looking thoughtful. "That is disappointing it would be a one time gift ... but I guess I don't have any reason to be worried any more." She motions for Hosheb to come in closer again.

The horrific face of the demon comes closer as he leans over Nicora as beckoned.

And Nicora kisses him, horrible face and all. It's certainly a unique kiss. "What did you mean when you called me bride?" she asks once she pulls back (and confirms her face is still there!).

"You are the Shrine Maiden," Hosheb rasps. "The Sabaoth is the High Priest for the Sisters. The Shrine Maiden belongs to us, the Guardian Monsters."

Nicora looks the creature up and down. "So my fate is to mate with all of you when you desire it?" she asks. "Do you wish to help me dress as Yodhgorphat?"

"Do you want to see me dressed as such? Or am I being silly?" Nicora asks honestly as she slides off the altar onto wobbly legs.

"I do not know if it is appropriate or not," Hosheb admits. "I did not interact with the Yodhgorphat. You seem fine as you are to me."

"Naked," Nicora remarks dryly. To the temple she asks, "Do you wish me to dress in your honor, Mother?" she asks of it, presumably addressing Gorphat herself.

"It is appropriate when following the Path," is the reply, being heard inside and outside Nicora's head.

"Where can I find some appropriate for me to wear, Mother?" Nicora asks the room.

Perhaps the Yodhgorphat used hand-me-down bandages? Or else they were donations and offerings. It isn't like anyone would have been brave enough to loot the Temple of Gorphat, after all.

"Right," Nicora says. She looks to Hosheb, then asks, "Do you wish to help, do i need to serve the other demons ... or am I now left to myself until I call again for food?"

"You are left to yourself," Hosheb claims. He is looking a bit more transparent. "Manifesting is strenuous."

"Until next time, then," Nicora says to the fading demon, leaving her alone in the temple; perhaps with just the presence of Gorphat. "Time for me to look in your image," she tells the now empty room .. and heads back into the temple to scavage enough reasonably usable bandages to dress properly in the temple.

Bandages aren't hard to find, even if they aren't in the most pristine conditions. There are also bottles of green stuff, that might be what the Yodh used for their fur and hair.

Apparently feeling adventurous, and quite likely bored, Nicora actually applies some of the green stuff to her body to see what happens.

It goes on sticky, and coats the fur rather than dying it. It certainly doesn't make for an inviting texture - no wonder the Yodhgorphat seemed jealous of Phlagaea, who got to keep her 'soft' fur. It also hints that it would not be too difficult for a Yodhgorphat to simply vanish into the civilian population by washing out the green.

So ... for now Nicora covers herself head to toe in it ... then applies the bandages one by one. She's covered mostly head to tow, except she's actually leaving her midriff exposed. Also amusingly, the nose ring looks very appropriate on a Yodhgorphat. "I don't recognize myself," Nicora admits as she holds out her kick-looking hands and wiggles her fingers.

It's not surprising that the Temple of Gorphat is lacking in mirrors. And since the bandages and goo are external, they'd likely stay in place if Nicora had to shapeshift for whatever reason.

"Do I look pleasing as your daughter?" Nicora asks the emptiness. Maybe staying by herself was a bad idea.

There's no reply this time.. maybe Gorphat's presence only works in the altar room.

"You shouldn't talk to yourself so much," comes the less divine voice of Kaira in Nicora's head.

Nicora heads back to the altar room dressed such as she is. "I'm alone, it keeps me from feeling alone," she mutters. "At least I'm less terrified now. I'm fine. The eggs don't do anything other than keep me healthy without proper poison. At least that's what Hosheb claimed."

"And if you can't trust hybrid-monster demons, who CAN you trust!" Kaira notes, with a bit of humor. "How much more of this Gorphat stuff do you have to get through?"

"Five stations. I'll survive. Probably," Nicora admits once she's back in the main room. She hops up on the altar to sit. "But I can't go to the next for another day. So I thought I would check in with you. Maybe even visit Vorg and pry him for information on hereditary possession."

"Well.. half of that sounds reasonable," Kaira notes. "There is always a price when dealing with Vorgulremik, you know."

"What can he really charge me?" Nicora asks. "And do you want me to visit?" She lays back on the altar. They're almost comfortable.

"You haven't visited in some time," Kaira notes.. with a bit of a 'pouty' tone. "I could use the interruption."

"When am I not having problems?" Kaira notes as Nicora opens her eyes again, finding herself on a thick cushion inside of a strangely decorated tent. It might be elfin in style, but seems a mish-mash of elegant and primitive. Kaira is sitting across from her, with a pot bubbling between them.

Nicora sits up and stretches. "Then why haven't you contacted me for help? I figured you were either tired of me, or didn't need me," she remarks as she looks about; glad to feel relatively normal again. As normal as she ever does. "Where are we this time?" she also asks ... then peers into the pot.

There's a particularly ugly looking purple toad in the pot. It looks back impassively at Nicora. "I don't need to add to your concerns," Kaira notes, waving a hand. "It's mostly just.. math and logistics and the occasional dispute. But beings are mostly falling into line. Verminous's whip-demons help."

"Am I supposed to kiss this toad?" Nicora asks as she eyes it oddly. "My days are just spent wondering when it was I went insane ... and why I'm doing all of this. Supposedly to make things better, but." She shrugs.

"I have no idea what do with the toad," Kaira admits. "I didn't want to mess with it. You shouldn't be worrying about going insane, either. You just have to ask yourself: Am I insane enough to deal with this?"

Nicora actually tries to kiss the top of the toad's head. Why? Why not? It's been that kind of day. "I guess I must be since I'm still doing it. Do you know anything about generational possession, by chance?"

The toad inflates its throat and croaks at Nicora, then disappears under the water. "That's where a demon or similar entity possesses people within a bloodline, correct? Like with the Countess?" Kaira asks.

"Right. Only in this case it is how Amenchitli continues on. There is only oen surviving member of the line; a young girl. I have no desire to see that fate befall her ... and I can't kill her either to end it. Even if that's simple ... it's wrong," Nicora remarks as the Toad vanishes.

"Hmmm, I'm not familiar with that sort of possession," Kaira admits, and taps her cheek with a claw. "There's no pact involved, as with a demonic creature. It's ancestor possession, which.. is odd. Generally even then there's a ritual involved, where a parent would swap souls with a child. There should be a ritual involved, I think."

"My understanding is ... it just happens on a specific birthday," Nicora says. "I can't say I completely understand it."

"What happens to the possessed person?" Kaira asks, almost rhetorically. "There's a problem that I see with this: for the bloodline to continue, the 'host' has to have children. And from what we've seen, being possessed or bound makes reproduction rather difficult."

"I just want to stop it. I've met the girl. I've talked with her," Nicora says. "I'm not sure precisely what happens. Maybe it's expected to have many, and only the eldest is taken, leaving the others to continue the line. So if it does take her, the line dies anyway. Maybe it'll try to wait until she has kids." The bat shrugs.

Nicora rubs her forehead. "Why couldn't I have been born a tree. It would be easier," she mutters.

"Grooming," Kaira suggests. "Was this girl raised to take on the role of avatar? That could be critical. After all, if a religious order controls your life, it's easy to have lots of offspring to keep things going."

"She was at one time, yes," Nicora admits. "Her mother was the last avatar. She was killed and this child rescued."

"Do you know if she remembers her mother before she was the Avatar of Amenlichtli?" Kaira asks. "Without being raised to take on and accept the role, and with nobody to perform whatever rituals are needed, it may not be possible for her to become the Avatar. It may require cultists to abduct her, brainwash her, and so forth so she'll accept the possession. Forced possessions seem to lead to.. well.. zombification, from what I've gleaned. It's difficult to say for sure since I'm not as familiar with the magic of this world."

"I think her mother was a zombie at that time," Nicora admits, frowning. "But I really don't know for sure. I could try to summon her here, but ... I'm not sure Sunala would approve of that."

"It helps to get permission first, yes," Kaira notes. "I'm not sure children react well to being abducted to a dreamworld where a dragon interrogates them about their family issues." She reaches into the pot and pulls out the toad, holding it up and asking, "Now show me using the toad just where your mother got possessed.."

And Nicora reaches over and pokes the toad, making it croak at Kaira! "I'm ... too soft hearted. I just ..... I can't turn my back on someone. I can't do the logical solution like killing the last host, either. It would solve it, but ... I just couldn't," she says. "I know I've done a lot of crazy stuff lately, but who I am hasn't really changed. The rest is just ... trying to hide."

"You can't be certain she's the last host," Kaira notes, returning the frog to the pot. "In your own past, you've encountered the Cult of Amena. If the cult exists outside of wherever this girl was rescued from, then it's possible that others of the bloodline also exist."

"They all look exactly the same," Nicora notes. "Sort of like savanites. Same spot pattern."

"But.. aren't the Gigi's the same breed, just with spots lightened to the same color as their body fur?" Kaira asks.

"Don't know. The original was from Aztepa," Nicora notes. "I'm not sure how close the Gig are to them now."

Nicora shrugs again and flops on her side. "I guess there is no reason to talk to Vorgy-poo. He probably wouldn't tell me anything more useful and he had a portrait of one of the Avatars."

The dragon looks thoughtful, and then says, "Here is my thinking on the issue. The girl, as she is now, is not in danger of being possessed, for if she truly is the last of the direct line that can serve as a host, being possessed would just as surely end that line as if she were killed. This goddess isn't like Melusine: she doesn't need to have an Avatar to survive. If I were her, I would have my followers kidnap the girl once she was old enough for breeding. Her children would be raised in the cult, groomed for their roles. However, I do not have any experience with Amenlichtli or her influence. But Vorgulremik does." She frowns at the end, apparently displeased with that realization.

"So, you think I should go to see him. He'll probably try to seduce me again," Nicora notes from her side. She even holds up a finger as if making a point.

"Do I look seduced?" Nicora asks. "It's not like I spend all my time as a steel dragon."

The dragoness twitches. "I really don't like that you're being intimate with him," she claims. "And it's not just jealousy. But.. do you spend more time with him like that than with me?"

"Not even close. You're bound to me, sort of. He isn't. You know and share far more about me than he does," Nicora says as she rolls on her back. "And it's not like I really want to be. He sort of forces me."

"HE doesn't try any harder if he thinks he already one," Nicora answers simply.

Nicora holds up her hand with two fingers an inch apart. "Maybe a little," she admits.

Kaira smirks. "Well, that's something at least. Are you using any tricks you picked up from me?" she asks, quickly followed with, "Not that I try to manipulate you with tricks!"

"And I'm just a great lover," Nicora remarks dryly. "I can't even pick a shape."

"Oh, so you would make love to me right now, with me looking like this?" Nicora asks.

"Does the green stuff taste like avocado?" Kaira asks, head tilted to one side. "Who would lead? Do I have time to conduct research first?"

"In other words ... no," Nicora concludes with a smirk. "So, shall I look in on ol' Ironhead?"

Kaira twitches again. "He will know more about this," she admits. "Just.. don't forget that he's going away eventually."

"I know, I know," Nicora says as she pushes herself back upright. "What should I go as?"

"You're asking me?" Kaira asks, blinking. "What.. what does he respond best to?"

"I didn't think they had.. relationships at that level," Kaira notes. "Have you been teaching him things?"

"Yes, you'd try to corrupt him," Kaira claims, crossing her arms over chest and sitting up proudly. "You corrupted me after all."

"No.. maybe a little proud," Kaira claims. "You're changing us to moves things more in your favor, rather than trying to change yourself to compete."

"Or a simpler explanation is I have no idea what I am doing," Nicora quips ... and tips over again.

"So, should I just wake up now, or actually go bother him?" Nicora asks. "Turns out staying at the Temple was pointless; I'm perfectly healthy."

"I don't know if I should feel relieved, disappointed, or annoyed," Nicora admits, shrugging while on her back, "All the effort to stay by my self and ... no reason to. Maybe I'll feel better if I go drive him crazy."

"According to Gorphat," Nicora admits. "So far the path isn't that bad. It seems bad at first, then turns out fine."

"Maybe it just wants you to think that way," Kaira notes. Then she looks upward, as if wondering if what she said actually makes any sense.

"Well, look at the last one. Apparently all it does is make me heal faster; but I'm in no danger of any sort," Nicora explains. "So, it was just useful, under the guise of being scary as hell. Scary enough that I wanted to be alone ... and now I am, and there was no point ot it."

"And they'll probably die in a few days and just be absorbed back," Nicora adds. "So a lot of scary ... and it ends up fine."

"Spying. Working at the salon. Hunting down more cult temples, any number of things," Nicora says and shrugs a bit.

Nicora shrugs again. "Because I'm now doing stuff at the temple," she answers. "And it's now just a day to the next station. And I feel like a fool, too. I was taking it seriously, and it ... wasn't."

"Well, I imagine you were supposed to take it seriously," Kaira explains. "There's a lesson in it, after all. That's the whole point of something like this, to teach you lessons relevant to the religion."

"I know but it really was sort of a 'oh nevermind', you're fine, thing. No more sense of urgency, frankly," Nicora says.

"On which part? If I had to guess now, it is because I'm building resistance to deal with the 'plauges' of the next part; if the eggs themselves strengthem my body," Nicora says. "It's fairly easy to reason out."

"And they always work?" Kaira asks. "No worries about you being a shapeshifting shadow-infused vampire?"

"As opposed to the fear I had they were going to be growing in me now. They require specific poisons to be in my system to grow," Nicora says and waves her hand. "And that is also probably part of it. As I said, time to settle in."

"But otherwise, there was no reason to be as scared as I was," Nicora says. "Sorta frustrating in that sense. I over-paniced, as usual"

"After the next one, I expect the eggs will be dead. Over-taxing the need to heal often kills them. And that is that. You can only be a host one time; after that, body rejects," Nicora explains. "I feel so dumb to have reacted the way I did."

"And are they going to be as bad as this last one?" Kaira asks. "Do you know what they are? Well, what was the lesson of the last one? What happened?"

"I have no idea what the others are. The last one was about empathy; I did see someone die from implantation. She deserved it. It was hard to watch and yes I felt bad, but she did deserve it," Nicora comments.

"So was your panic from being implanted, or from.. worrying about being guilty enough to deserve it?" Kaira asks, crossing her legs.

"I did feel guilty. I wanted to endure what she did," Nicora remarks. "And I know I won't be and, meh. It's frustrating and you don't understand."

"You don't feel relief," the dragon says. "But.. cheated out of the experience, no matter how horrible it would be?"

"And yes, it's stupid to be upset to find out I'm not in any danger. Something like that, I guess," Nicora says. "It's not like I wanted to die, but having at least had to face some of it ... would make me feel better if I had to condemn others to that fate. That I better understood it."

"Hmmm," Kainudy goes. "That is a level of empathy that I admit is.. beyond me. Although, I do know of one culture where.. ah.. hmm, maybe I shouldn't mention it.."

"It's stupid. I actually want a female horrib to sting me," Nicora says and flails her arms, So that I can say I've faced what I may condemn others to."

"It's easy to condemn people to stuff you don't understand. It's harder for things you do understand, but then makes the descision, when made, feel more right," Nicora tries to explain.

"But, would it make you more or less likely to condemn them then?" Kaira asks. "I can see that it wouldn't be something done very often as a result."

"Although.. you can also use the same method - a nasty parasitic bug - to potentially save someone suffering injury or disease," the dragon notes.

"It would likely make me seek other options first, and save it for the worst people," Nicora explains, shrugging yet again. "I'm stupid and crazy. No one would willingly ask to be taken partway to term with a horrib infection."

"Well.. the Temrin culture required their leaders to undergo.. ah, ritual torture," Kaira notes. "For years. Ending in blindness, loss of limbs and an complete inability to take care of themselves. Only then were they given the authority to make social decisions."

"Sadly, it probably worked well," Nicora says. "But that's not my situation. I'm fine. Not in any danger, and I physically feel great. And I'm sure you're tired of hearing the grumping of me. I should let you get back to the others."

"Well, I wouldn't recommend going to Vorg without feeling confident," Kainudy notes, nodding.

"And honestly, I'm not sure there is any value in it anyway," Nicora adds, "You've told me a fair amount, and it's unlikely he'd be that helpful or know much more. He never met the real one, just lived in the castle for a bit."

"He.. was in contact with her," Kaira notes. "I'm pretty sure. He was sleeping on top of her weapon."

"That doesn't mean much. I've been in contact with her too," Nicora points out, "And I carry her weapon. I'm sure from his perspective she was just an insignificant little annoyance."

"He might have insight that I do not," Kaira notes. "After all, I'm not an evil god or know how they think."

"Honestly, I doubt it. Look at me. Anything I first think or seems a good idea or whatever turns out to be pointless," Nicora says, "So the fact I thought of asking him should tell me: Bad idea. No value."

"Like the toad in the pot. It's just sort of there. No real point to it," Nicora adds and points at the pot.

"That's a pretty extreme conclusion to jump to," Kaira says, looking worried. "You react based on the information you have available. You modify your behavior as new information arrives. That doesn't mean the initial reaction wasn't valid for the situation."

"It's been the result of everything I have done for weeks," Nicora says. "In the end, it ... was pointless."

"I'm confused now," Kaira says, tilting her head the other way. "What is pointless? Being afraid?"

"For zero reason," Nicora says. "Take something seriously, when it just didn't matter."

"Anyway, I know I've overstayed my welcome now," Nicora says as she sits up, "I should get going."

"But.. it does matter," Kaira points out. "There was a reason for it happening. Part of the path you're on.."

"To who?" the dragon asks. "I'm sure that panic was to drive you to.. something."

Kaira frowns. "I worry about you when you're like this," she says. "Will you visit me again soon?"

"Like what? Accepting of just the way the world is? That I'm often a fool?" Nicora asks. "You can contact me just about any time you want, as you've shown."

"I don't forget about you. You're really lucky you don't have to deal with me regularly," Nicora notes.

"Tulani mocks me, Mave does subtlety. You question everything I do. And really, given everything it makes me question everything too. Nothing I ever think turns out right," she adds.

"Do you want me to just agree, and not offer other options?" Kaira asks. "Isn't that why you ask me anything?"

"I didn't say that either. I'm just tired of constantly being made to feel stupid," Nicora remarks. "But maybe that's the point, I am."

"Have I been doing that, really?" the dragon asks, sounding upset. "Tell me what I've been doing wrong."

Nicora waves her hand again. "Anyway, sorry. Things are what they are. There's plenty waiting for me to deal with it. I don't know if I can coherently even explain things right now. I'm sure your charges need tending to soon or they'll start rioting or something," she says.

"I think you're projecting now," Kaira claims. "I don't think of you like that anymore. I continue to exist because of my confidence in you."

"That remains to be seen. There is a lot still to do and I have a talent for screwing it up," Nicora says.

"You don't have to make all the decisions in a vacuum, either," the dragon reminds. "You have me, and even Tulani and Mave... and Vorg. We will all have different ideas of the outcome of something."

"One of them is probably right, too. Mine never are," Nicora mutters. "Anyway, really, I should go."

"You kissed him," Kaira notes. "I just don't know what its purpose is.. not that it has none."

"Then don't. Anyway, I'm going to wake up now," Nicora says. She grabs the lid to the bubbling pot and just whacks herself over the head to wake up.

As she wakes on the altar (with a slight headache), Nicora notices that she isn't alone. Someone is sitting at the foot of the altar, wrapped in bandages and exuding a truly unique odor.

Nicora sits up slightly. "Hello?" she says, curious and blinking as she tries to focus on this person and see who it is.

"I have forbade Hosheb from seeing you again, until you have completed the Path of Affliction," the figure gurgles with authority.

"He has undermined my Path, by treating you as the Shrine Maiden," Gorphat says. "A true candidate would not have his aid." The goddess turns to look at Nicora now, and says, "And I do not appreciate his coming between you and ME."

Nicora rubs her head. "I don't know if he has aided me that much," she admits, "But please forgive me and him. I did not wish to become separated from you and have strived not to. I have followed the path willingly, and thought by having him feed me in my condition, it would better teach me of what the fate of those who cross you endure so that I might better understand it. You are still the most important thing to me on this Path, and is why I came here for the next couple of days as the brood of your sacred creatures acclimated to me as their host."

Suddenly, Gorphat is right there in Nicora's face, and her damp hand is holding the woman's chin. "You don't see, Nicora," the goddess hisses. "He gave you comfort. Told you secrets you were not meant to know. This is my Path. When you are afraid, or weak, or in pain.. you pray to me. Is that clear?"

"While you walk this Path, you are not the Shrine Maiden, not the Barsunala and not the Sabaoth," Gorphat spells out. "You are Nicora, my Acolyte. I will reward or punish you as I see fit. You will not seek help from any but me. You will prove your faith in this manner."

Nicora nods her head once again. "I understand. I will not fail you in the same way again," she says softly. "I was reborn from your womb and wish to be accepted as your daughter. I will make you proud of me."

Gorphat's demeanor shifts suddenly, as she smiles and moves her hand to Nicora's cheek. "That is all I ask for, my child. All any mother wants. But you must still be punished," she says sweetly, and then kisses Nicora on the lips. It feels like she's drooling into her mouth.

Nicora accepts the kiss, lovingly so out of devotion to Gorphat. It's only after a few seconds she comment about being punished comes to her ears ... then she feels the drool in her mouth. The urge is to cough ... but part of her fears it would make things worse. So, what does Nicora do? She swallows it, even as her stomach sinks.

She feels the eggs then. They swell, and become disturbingly active. Gorphat releases her then, still smiling, and even gives her another kiss on the forehead. "Have faith in me, Nicora. That is all you will need to finish the Path," she promises.. and then she's gone.

Nicora twitches She's not sure what just happened. Or how she was even punished. "What did? What was?" she asks, reaching down to her gut, feeling it, then looking at it.

Placing a hand there is rewarded with.. movement. Slight, perhaps, but certainly not from something dormant. The area even looks a bit more swollen now..

Nicora eases herself off the altar. "Mother?" she thinks, "What did you do? Are they growing in me now?" She feels around the area more, trying to ... count how many there might be. Also, standing now she tries to get a better look; how swollen her gut is.

There are at least four in there, but possibly more. Once they settle down, it's difficult to tell. There's is a lumpiness to the abdomen more than a distinct swelling.

"Mother," Nicora says in a nervous voice as she kneels down before the altar, bowing her head and closing her eyes., "Your sacred brood seems ... to be growing. I don't want to die, Mother. I want to serve you faithfully. Please forgive my trespass. I will be going to the next part of the path in a day. Will you keep them from hatching before then? Please? Will you release me from them after that station?"

Nicora suddenly has to wonder how she would get them out after the next part, other than if they do die off and are absorbed. The Eeee then rubs over her gut, nudging the lumps within. "Thank you, Mother. I am honored to carry your sacred brood within me. I will make you proud," she says. With each touch she feels her insides squirm. That fear that hit her in their lair; it's back again. Now she even looks infested ... and it's likely with half a dozen incubating larvae, or more. And if they keep growing ... she'sin trouble.