There was a bit of alarm when Nicora returned to the Temple of Inala, stuffed horrib tucked under her elbow and still bandaged. For one thing, neither Tulani nor Mave recognized her, and the Sphynx pulled a dagger on her! "Who are you and how'd you get in here?" she demands.
Nicora rubs her forehead and eyes the dagger. "You know me. I'm Nicora. Granted, I look horrible; but this was the outcome of the last trial. It put me through a physical ringer," she admits as she looks at the ceiling. "I have no body hair left. None. Bald as Mordecai is."
"That's.. ugh," Tulani says, making a face, but still puts the dagger away. "And the bandages? They look stained.."
"I'm a bloody, cut up mess," Nicora admits. "I need to remove these and probably use the light to fix my body. I can't afford to rest long enough for it to heal naturally."
"It's not unusual for the Yodhgorphat to have.. skin issues," Mave notes. "Is it just the wounds or is there a curse as well?"
Nicora casts a glance to Mave. "I'm surprised you haven't started laughing at me for letting a Goddess do this to me," she remarks
Tulani draws the Light of Nala. "Yeah, heal up before taking off those bandages," she urges.
"Did Gorphat actually do any of that to you though?" Mave asks.
"I don't have any new blessings; just the same ones on my ... altar," Nicora claims, shaking her head. "And I had to go through this to pass; or face her curse for failing."
"So you did it to yourself," Mave states, and grins slightly.
Nicora then draws closer to the light and Tulani to let it flow into her and accelerate the closing of the scratches, cuts, and bruises. "Either way I would be messed up; either by choice or by failure," she adds to Mave. "It feels really strange to be completely bald. Even the Snow form isn't completely bald."
With the Light exposed, Nicora can feel her cuts and bruises healing, at least. It doesn't do anything to skin or lack of fur, but soothes the itchiness for now.
"Ah. That feels a lot better," Nicora admits, eyes closing slightly as she basks.
"I'm not sure I want to see what you look like under the bandages," Tulani admits. "I mean.. that's Rosalind's body, technically."
"Too bad, you're going to. If I have to suffer this, so do you," Nicora says with a smirk ... and starts unwrapping herself. "And even worse ... Gorphat has made me into her new 'pet demon', kind of. I have another form she made just for me."
"Another form?" Mave asks, while Tulani covers her muzzle with one hand, muttering, "At least maybe wear a wig."
"Problem, Tulani?" Nicora asks the sphynx, and even puts her hands on her hips for a few seconds before finishing the unwrap so she can see what her healed up body looks like.
"And yes, another form," Nicora adds as she inspects herself. "I can show you in a minute."
The skin is smooth now, and evenly colored with the bruises gone. It does look like Mordecai's skin, except for the breasts of course. "That's just.. it's okay on Mordecai because he's decorated, and Snow.. well, humans look normal like that. But you look.. not right. I hope I never lose my fur. Or scales.."
Tulani notes.
"You could use a little firming up, but I have creams for that," Mave adds.
"I could always have this body tattooed. Would it help?" Nicora asks Tulani. She also shakes her head and glances to Mave. "And Mave, I have a question for you ... are there any rituals of Inala to simulate pregnancy? I've been thinking about the cults. They like to eat children, and an affective lure might be a pregnant woman. Finding the covens is going to get more difficult, especially the powerful ones; so I've been thinking of using myself as bait."
"Well.. not fake pregnancy," Mave notes. "But making a body think it is pregnant is not hard. Making it show, however.. hmmm."
"You're lucky you didn't see their ritual feasting table it was ... awful," Nicora admits. "I could probably use the shadow to mak emyself look plumper and maybe pregnant looking, if that helps?"
"I will have to research some things," Mave notes. "And certain bodies will work better, I imagine. I assume that are trying to get into one of the fallen nobles' homes with this ploy?"
"Right. Something that looks harmless. I have a lapi doe memorized that might work well and they're known for breeding," Nicora notes.
"And we've seen that these.. people.. go in for 'exotic' types like that," Tulani notes, still looking disturbed by the whole concept.. but also calculating. "I may need to talk to Cricket about some of this."
"I'm pretty certain there is a powerful coven in the northern city section. I intend to find it," Nicora says, "By whatever means required. I mean, look at me. Seem slike I'll do anything." At that she sticks out her tongue
"You want the one that's making slaves of the undercity people," Mave says. "You were working with Cyprian to prepare yourself."
"Correct. The one with the creature from the forbidden zone that is mindraping people," Nicora agrees, nodding her bald head.
"And this new form Gorphat has given you; is it anything to do with the sudden miraculous return of sanity to our former guest?" Mave asks.
"And I have to use a different body, because no one would find this very attractive, yes?" Nicora asks Tulani ... then siddles up to her and rubs her bare body against the sphynx.
"It does. She gave me the power to devour insanity," Nicora admits. "It comes with ... some unpleasant changes, though."
"Ack!" Tulani sputters. "What? Poor pregnant Eeee are easy to come by - you won't get any special attention as one."
"Unpleasant?" Mave prompts.
Nicora kisses Tulani, on the lips. "Strange. In that form I have no gender; or any sort of physical digestive tract," she explains to Mave soon after.
"So, it's automatically house-broken," Mave notes, nodding in approval.
"Automatically house broken?" Nicora has to ask.
"No digestive tract, you said," Mave notes. "So no poop to worry about."
"Yes, but I will also miss sex," Nicora admits, smirking. "I'm guessing you actually want to see it?"
"Of course," Mave says. "Why wouldn't I? I need some entertainment while I'm cooped up here.."
"I could entertain you like this," Nicora offers, and even tries to lick her lips suggestively.
"Well, we'll have to see about that later too then," Mave replies with a grin.
"Eww," Tulani notes. "I'm surprised she's not freezing to death already.."
Nicora blinks. "You mean you actually find this somewhat attractive?" Nicora asks and motions to herself.
"I am Yodhinala, Nicora," Mave points out. "Attraction really doesn't play a part in it, so much as novelty."
"You could have lied and called me pretty," Nicora grouses.
"Do you want to feel pretty in that form?" Mave asks. "That is Inala's territory, not Gorphat's."
"Well, Tulani makes me feel hideous," Nicora complains. "Even if I am, she could be nicer about it."
"Maybe if you didn't tease me about it, and let me get used to it.." Tulani says.
Nicora snuggles up to Tulani, just because. Of course it's also then that she tries to find Scourge ... and draw its form to her own; and become Gorphat's champion; and second demon."
It's an odd sensation, unlike the other transformations. And this time, there's an added layer of oddness because of the jewelry. By the end of the change, the nosering is actually piercing the middle sussing tentacle that runs from the back of Scourge's skull. The more intimate rings are now in a single line along its belly, and the internal implants are at the tips of the tail-tentacles. The tongue-stud ends up in the center of the lower lip, rather than on the thick multi-tongue itself.
"It's a giant salamander.. dragon.." Tulani notes, apparently less offput by this form than the naked Eeee one.
"The glowing markings are quite nice though," Mave notes, and reaches out to rub Scourges's snout. "Fascinating texture.."
Scourge's wider mouse smiles toothlessly, then licks Tulani with its three foot long tongue, as it drops down to all fours, as standing on two is really awkward, the long, flatish, body isn't really built or balanced for it. "Gorphat also decided I didn't need any teeth, since I don't eat," Scourge notes as it leans up into the rub. "And she named me Scourge."
Mave hmmms. "Yes, that is appropriate," she notes, gazing thoughtfully at the creature. "A Scourge upon madness."
Scourge's thick tail whips around and its end splits into three yard-long tentacles. They grab a hold of Mave's libs! They don't force, or crush; it seems more like it's trying to tease her.
And to make it worse, Scourge licks Tulani's hand ... then its tongue splits four ways and wraps around her hand and forearm.
"Can you swim?" Tulani asks. "You look like you're meant for water more than air.. AUGH WHAT'S THAT!?" She bounces back behind a chest.
Mave laughs at the Sphynx's reaction.
"I can probably swim," Scourge slurs around it's own large split tongue. It doesn't let go of her hand, either.
"Leggo!" Tulani pleads. "The tentacle monster at the Shrine Maiden temple was bad enough! I don't like tentacles.."
"Not even on me? Your best friend?" Scourge rumbles, then its tongue releases. It even tries to pout.
"Just.. it's something from my past, okay?" Tulani says, curling up a bit. "You surprised me with them."
"You should know by now I would never do anything that would actually hurt you," Scourge remarks as it sits back on its rump; and looks vaguely puppy-like.
"And maybe this form will help you get past what happened to you," Scourge suggests and waves its stubby forefingers at Tulani.
"Sorry, it's just.. ah.. I'll tell some other time, when I'm less freaked out," Tulani promises.
"You can tell Pierce. I'll become him after this ... and Mave is done examining me," Scourge remarks. To Mave, it then asks, "What would you like to see?"
"Oh, what can you show me?" Mave asks coyly.
Scourge actually rolls on its back so Mave can check its body out in detail. "Come closer and find out," it tempts.
The curious Yodhinala comes over to investigate further. She tests rubbing behind the 'frills', belly sensitivity and so forth.
"That feels ... nice," Scourge rumbles as Mave pets over it. It's disturbing to be this sensitive; it wants to rub all over the Yodhinala. Its tail gives this away because when it splits apart, it grabs her lightly and starts caressing her all over.
Mave grabs hold of one of the tentacle tips (which has the gold studding) and sucks on it a bit, which feels very nice even if it's not quite a sexual sort of stimulation.
"We will have to explore this later," Scourge rumbles to Mave, then looks to Tulani. "After I comfort a friend." And at that, its tail withdraws and its rubbery brow ripples. It's not going back to Nicora; instead it intends to become Pierce ... and comfort the sphynx. Hopefully she will forgive it for scaring her.