During her last visit, Nicora had only encountered a single Yodhblakat and her harem of captured Barinalas. This time, it is Scourge who approaches - and is met at the entrance by that same Yodhblakat: Rizalka. The one whom Blakat herself would like to test, by having the next shoggoth hatched right inside the temple.
The Yodhblakat scowls, which seems to be her go-to expression. "Gorphat's monster, I presume?" she asks the shadowy-glowy-dragon-mushroom thing on the doorstep.
"Blakat's frail and unworthy daughter, I take it," Scourge counter-insults, smirking. "I am Scourge, and will be addressed as such."
"Oooo," Rizalka goes, exaggerating by waving her hands around. "Okay Scrunge, follow me. I had your delivery man put the thing in the Justice Pit."
Scourge licks Rizalka, split tongue and all. "A pit? And here I thought you would pick your own room to show how tough you are. Anyone can put something in a pit," the genderless dragon-thing remarks, amused. "Lead on."
The route is.. confusing, to say the least. Even Rizalka makes a few curse-inducing wrong turns, leveling epithets against fellow, now gone, Yodhblakat. Finally they arrive at a small arena. There's a circular sand floor (ominously stained), a four-foot high wall (no need for a higher one when those in the pit can fly) and several rows of benches rising upwards. The whole thing is domed over to prevent easy escape, and several braziers provide light. In the center of the arena is a curled up and very pregnant looking Eeee woman. "Delivery boy whined and whined about how he couldn't be here, blah blah blah, so I locked him up with the harem," Rizalka notes. "This is where people could challenge a Yodhblakat to get their family members or property back. Not used much so I don't care what happens to it."
"He best be unharmed. He is important to quite a few ... and I can arrange some lovely blessings from my Mother to fall upon you if he is hurt," Scourge notes as it circles the pit and eyes the pregnant Eeee. It thinks of Nicora's own situation; her gut is full of squirminess too, just hopefully not the kind that explodes and causes insanity.
"I don't see what the fuss is all about," Rizalka notes, and goes to roll the pregnant host around a bit with her foot. "This thing is oblivious! Are you just going to devour her whole or something?"
"Are you sure you want to be that close. Because when I get close, Dagh's domain will break loose," Scourge warns, eyes narrow. He now enters the pit and approaches the pregnant Eeee.
"Right, sure, whatever," the Yodhblakat says, throwing her hands up and walking over to lean against the wall. "Babies aren't that scary."
"Oh, I know of some scary babies,/" Scourge hisses. It doesn't actually feel bad for the Yodhblakat, even though it does like her to some degree. It lumbers forward on all fours, more animal and creature than real person thank's to Gorphat. It is probably fortunate Gorphat allowed to the ability to speak, really, even if it is a weird sound since it has no real throat. Soon the prone, pregnant, Eeee is prodded with its tail. "Time to wake up."
The Eeee rolls over and opens its mouth.. really wide. Too wide! It's full of fingers, all pulling their way out. But they're also a bit like tentacles since.. well, they just keep coming, knuckle-joint after knuckle-joint.
"Why can you not be nasty, just once?" Scourge thinks. Lacking any workable hands, it has to use its tongue to grab onto the fingers and pull, trying to pull the core out!
This.. pulls out more fingers. Then they start to stand up, making like a hundred-legged spider. The hosts body is still dangling down underneath. Her stomach splits open.. like an eyelid, literally, since there's a big red eye poking out now. This shoggoth doesn't seem inclined to expose itself as easily as the others.
Scourge releases its tongue, then takes a few steps back. Its wings spread, flap, and launch the dragon-thing onto the monster! It's tail, claw, and tongue to tear this thing apart! Gorphat didn't give Scourge any teeth, either!
There's no way even a hundred multi-jointed fingers can support the weight of Scourge! The abomination goes down, but not before it starts to scream! And not from the host's mouth, which is where the fingers emerge, but from her a repurposed birth canal. It also starts kicking with those legs.
One thing is clearer though: there's no insanity rolling off the thing. So long as it keeps from exposing its true self, that effect seems to be kept at bay.
"What a terrible use of that part! It isn't fair. I have none and it abuses hers!" Scourge thinks, growling. Its weird ear-tendrils flick back, trying to close its own ears so it doesn't have to hear this thing scream. Its tail, tongue, and claws continue to pull and scratch, trying to dismember it!
It's like fighting a curtain made of sticks. Severed fingers fall away, only to be replaced by fresh ones! And the fallen ones.. try to burrow into the sand? Rizalka is yelling now, and attacking the thing with a whip! No.. not a whip, just one of the ridiculously long fingers that she's acquired.
Scourge doesn't worry so much about the fingers. It is going for the core. And it does so in a disgusting way now. It's tail forms up, then spears the body through its re-purposed birth canal! It'll rip the core out!
This.. feels strange. Not just because of the entry method, but because of what it feels like once it makes contact. The tail is not the same as the tongue, it seems, and the unreality of the buried shoggoth strikes it hard. It's impossible to tell where Scourge's tail is in there. It feels twisted and warped around, and there's way too much space. It does, however, force the shoggoth out. The eyeball bursts and the creature begins to spill out onto the sand.
Scourge doesn't waste time with pulling its tail out, instead it cranes its head around and tries to grab the core with its tongue!
"Wwwwwarrrrrr!" Rizalka screams, and begins attacking everything.. even biting one of Scourge's wings! The sand begins to shift and hump, the stained areas beginning to take on disturbing shapes.. but then the exposed fetal core is grabbed by Scourge's tongue. It resists.. perhaps the longer they 'cook' within their hosts the more resilient the creatures become.. but is still too soft. It shudders and stops, its shoggoth flesh boiling away under unrelenting normality.
Scourge's tongue tightens and the dragon-thing tries to consume the shuggoth! As for the Eeee on his wing, well, he rips his tail from the body and wraps it around Rizalka! "Ow, you crazy bat!" Scourge thinks. He doesn't want to hurt her, not seriously, but bruises and scraps ... fair game! After all, she beat Nicora and stripped her bare.
Rizalka is still going a bit berserk. Even when in their midst, Alptraum never saw one of the slakash actually go into berserker mode (even when they had Mave to make the potion for it) but this might be what's like. The Eeee is all screaming and gouging and biting! And the destruction of the shoggoth isn't making it stop.
Scourge's current focus is to make sure the monster is dead! Until then all it can do is try to restrain the Yodhblakat with its tail!
The fingers still twitch, and the host shudders, but the core is most certainly destroyed now. The rest of the body isn't dissolving away though - which means the arena is still littered with.. disturbing fingers.
Scourge's tongue flicks, flinging the remains of the creature out of the pit! Now it has to focus on Rizalka ... and that means overpowering her! So, it tries to thrash and beat her about the pit, slamming her into the walls to daze her! If she becomes stunned, it can try to pin her to the dirt.
The Yodhblakat is rather tough it turns out. Even beating her against the wall isn't doing a lot to calm her down! She's gone beyond 'berserk' to 'I am the onion god, fear my vapors'. Her head is a blazing purple flame to Scourge's sussing sense.
Scourge tries to pin the Yodhblakat to the floor ... and this time wrap its tongue around her head and eat down some of that insanity!
This also muffles Rizalka somewhat, since it's hard to take in a full breath with the full weight of Scourge sitting on her. Slowly the flame dies down as Scourge feeds.. but it never goes away completely. There's an ember that refuses to die.
"She would not be Yodhblakat were she not slightly crazy," Scourge realises and slowly releases her head from the grip of its tongue. It also has other horrible ideas of what it could do with her ... but maybe another day. "Has horrible sanity returned to you, tormenter of Yodhgorphat?" Scourge hisses.
"Blah! You taste like a foot!" Rizalka says after catching her breath, somehow coming up with an accusatory tone. "And what about this thing's remains? It's all Eeee flesh, isn't it?"
Scourge kisses the Yodhgorphat for that. Long and lots of tongue. "Yes, it is all Eeee flesh," Scourge agrees once it does finally stop kissing her. It is still laying on top of her, however.
"Uh, I'll see if can drag a Yodhsunala over to deal with it then," Rizalka complains. "Are you going to get off of me or do I need start poking you?"
"I could make love to you," Scourge remarks, grinning toothlessly. "I have no gender of my own, but that didn't stop me with your Mother."
"Sorry, what?" Rizalka asks, canting an ear forward. "Yodhblakat do not make love! We don't make anything! And I know where you stuck that tail.."
"I could stick it in the same place on you," Scourge suggests, looking quite evil, too.
"And I am sure the Yodhgorphat you beat and skinned would appreciate me returning the favor," Scourge adds.
"Hah, you have to do that to Yodhgorphat! For hygiene," Rizalka says, then grins. "Was she your stable-girl or something?"
"She tends to me at times. She is still completely bald," Scourge remarks, "And her Mother plans to keep her that way."
"Whatever, are you going to get off of me now?" Rizalka demands. "I have to get ready for a party!"
"Maybe I will keep you as a pet. We have stables vacant in the Temple," Scourge comments, still not moving.
At this point, Rizalka checks to see if Scourge is ticklish. "Get off!" she demands.
Scourge still doesn't move; its odd flesh not all that ticklish. Eventually, it does finally get off. "I like you," it tells Risalka, "We should play more often."
"Play?" Rizalka asks, standing up and dusting herself off. "Don't tell me you're a Blakatball fan too? Sometimes I think our Goddess is a bit too whimsical!"
"I enjoy violence and rough at times," Scourge says as it goes to leave. "I will escort your guest out."
"What? Who said anything about letting him go?" Rizalka asks. "I'm keeping him!"
"He makes love to a Yodhgorphat," Scourge remarks dryly. "Still want him?"
"Then he can clean up after the Barinalas," Rizalka claims. "A slave who isn't afraid to work with filth is useful."
"He leaves with me. Argue and I will ensure you are blessed to the point you will be able to do nothing," Scourge remarks, its voice low and final.
"Yodhblakat do not just give up something they've taken," Rizalka claims. "And no calling on the sex-madness woman as a distraction!"
"I have already beaten you," Scourge points out. "I have the right to take him". Scoruge hits the Yodhblakat with its tail, hard, for emphasis.
Rizalka staggers to the side, and growls. "You'd have to find him! He came to the Temple without an offering, so his freedom is forfeit! Unless you want to claim that abomination was an offering!"
"It was. It was to test you. Blakat's will," Scourge notes as it slithers itself out of the room. It'll use its sussing sense to find Soldano.
Rizalka seems stymied by that argument. "Well, why test me?" she demands. "What did Blakat say about me?"
Scourge has a good idea of what direction the captain (and the Barinalas) are in, but getting there through the maze of the Temple is still a challenge - especially with Rizalka right behind her being unhelpful.
"She questioned your fitness. But, you proved yourself to be quite insane. I am sure you pass,/" Scourge remarks.
"Always they question me!" Rizalka growls. "Even Barba, the deserter! I stayed! I kept the Temple from being looted! I will reestablish the Yodhblakat!"
"Prove it," Scourge taunts. It looks over its shoulder and grins, adding, "And good, more playthings for me."
"Hah! I'll have a daughter, the first of many!" Rizalka claims. "I just need a man who is strong enough, not all.. girly.. like the Barinala."
"The Barsunala is taken," Scourge claims.
"I mean someone real," Rizalka notes. "The delivery man had a certain bearing.. what can you tell me of him?"
"The Barsunala is real. Neither Barba, nor Roogi, could contain him," Scourge notes, smirking. "As for the other, forget him; he is taken."
"Taken by me," Rizalka points out. "Has he sired many children then? That creature back there wasn't his daughter was it?"
"No idea, and no. And do you not have a party to get ready for?" Scourge asks.
"Yes, but must choose which to take, the man or a Barinala," Rizalka notes. "Which would make a bolder statement? I assume the Barinala, since there are no Yodhinala attending. It will show who is the stronger Sister certainly."
"True, it may. Though it may start a new feud," Scourge remarks. "Who would you rather take?" Scourge realizes it might actually be good to get Soldano there, and he may not have an invitation.
Scourge tilts its head. "Take the man. His name is Soldano. But, you must release him at dinner's end," it says.
"The man whines about having to be back to his tower," Rizalka notes. "'They'll kill my crew' and so on if he doesn't return. As if I should care about such things, even if true! Why are there no men who act like men anymore? At least by Blakat's standards! Everyone left in this city is weak."
"What is he? Is he really a captain?" the Yodhblakat demands. "Noble? What is his tie to the Yodhgorphat?"
"Captain, former noble. Ally of those trying to save Babel. Working to defeat the General. He is important. If his crew dies and Babel is over-run, you, and Blakat, will be destroyed by Diphath. Is that enough for you?" Scourge explains. "The Yodhgorphat saved his life from a curse."
"A curse?" Rizalka asks, focusing on just that part. "He is tainted then? Bah! Bring me one to take his place then," she offers.
"You have many. Pick one of them," Scourge remarks dryly. "I have other things to tend to."
"Fine! For Blakat I will allow you to take the man," Rizalka says, as they finally arrive at the 'harem' suite. There's a scene of Soldano, stripped naked and standing in a small tub as the Barinala try to wash him with rags and.. very very scented soap.
"Are you sure you do not wish to take him? I imagine he looks cute in a collar," Scourge remarks, probably not helping the situation. Scourge can't really smell; no nose either thanks to Gorphat. But, he does recognize the bottles from the bunker and when he could smell.
"He isn't ready yet, Mistress," the lead Barinala says, bowing to Rizalka - while the others manage to huddle behind Soldano at the sight of Scourge.
Scourge licks its lips and eyes the huddling Barinala.
"It doesn't matter, the monster is taking him," Rizalka declares. "He doesn't have to smell nice for the Yodhgorphat after all. You.. uh.. Fruit?" she asks, pointing to the one who isn't huddling away.
"Frua'teo," the man corrects.
"Yeah, Fruiteo or whatever, you're coming with me to a party, so look your most trophy-ish."
"You need to return to you men. You are not bound to tend to the Yodhgorphat anymore," Scourge remarks to Soldano as it approaches him.
"As the mistress commands," the man says. "Should we dry and dress our guest?"
"Eh, roll him in a rug and chuck him out the door for all I care," Rizalka says, waving a hand. "Not my problem anymore!"
"Get dressed and lets go," Scourge says simply.
"Of course," Soldano says in a slightly squeaky voice, and hurries to gather his clothes despite his fur being not quite dry or combed (but boy does it look glossy).
Scourge licks Soldano's backside as he scurries off to dress.
"Aah, no grabbing!" the bat pleads as he hurries to get his pants on.
"He really isn't much fun," Scourge laments to Rizalka.
Of course, three of the Barinala immediately present their own backsides for licking. Kink overcomes fear.
Scourge actually licks them, too. All at once since the tongue splits.
"Men are only good for one thing," Rizalka claims. "Two if you count sex."
The Barinala are emboldened by this and come in close to examine the strange creature, even going so far as to stroke the glowing designs on its skin.
And Scourge ... well, seems to like it to some degree! Because his tail and tongue get a little exploring of their own with the Barinala. "They'll be disappointed when they find I have no gender." it thinks.
Rizalka watches on in.. amusement? Then Soldano announces he's ready, and looks uncomfortable at what's going on with the Barinala and the dragon-thing. But then, they are Barinala. They're not so worried about gender.
Scourge continues to play with them for a bit, until a few start making quite the squeaky noise. It's then that he untables himself from them and looks to Soldano. "What? You refused me," it points out. "Time to go."
"Do you know the way out of this labyrinth?" Soldano asks Scourge as he hurries to the door.
"Well enough. You may ride on me," Scourge offers.
"There's nothing implied by doing that, right?" Soldano asks before gingerly sitting atop Scourge's shoulders. He's still a bit damp. "And you won't go too fast?"
"It just means we are mated now," Scourge claims as it lopes off slowly. "And no, I will not go too fast."
"Oh, wonderful," Soldano says, sounding resigned. "One more of these things. And.. I thought I could feel it this time, when it hatched. It nearly made me sick. The other men didn't like it either. And really, a party? Who would invite a Yodhblakat to a party, unless they wanted to get rid of a lot of junk?"
"It is some sort of party for Yodh, nobles, and merchants. A test if they can all work together," Scourge explains as it tries to find its way out of the building. "The Yodhgorphat may attend. It may not. It depends on the will of Gorphat."
"Oh, that sounds just wonderful," Soldano says. "Yodh at a party. They'll probably all stake out a corner and avoid one another if the hosts are lucky. And they certainly won't be expecting a Yodhgorphat to show up! Hah! How'll they react to her I wonder?"
"They will shun her, naturally. It is how the Yodhgorphat live. You have seen and smelled her; you know her," Scourge points out. "They accept this when they are reborn from Gorphat's womb."
Once outside, Soldano notes, "She's not all that bad. I mean, she doesn't cackle nearly as much as you'd think. Actually rather humble for a Yodh. The last shoggoth.. I have to bring it to a specific place, an old shrine on Mt. Sunala.."
"No surprise. It is there you are to kill the Barsunala," Scourge remarks dryly. "And you really like the Yodhgorphat? She is .. slimy and her stench is noticeable. She is ... Gorphat's project."
"And if you have a map to the specific shrine, please leave it with me," Scourge adds.
"Well, she's also all alone, which I can.. sympathize with," Soldano says. "I did bring an extra map. How was this one? Are they all the same?"
"I imagine she lines you; and you touch her. You are intimate with her," Scourge remarks and rolls its shoulders slightly. "Each are different. They seem to be getting worse. so, I expect the last to be a possible problem."
"And what then, after the last one?" Soldano asks. "They're supposed to release me and my crew after that last one is delivered - I don't know if they're in actual contact with the General at the tower though."
"It is unlikely they will release you unless you present proof of the Barsunala's death. So, we will have to arrange some suitable proof," Scourge explains. "I imagine the rat first of your first mate's will then hunt him down and the two will break all sorts of decency laws."
"I think we'll leave Babel as soon as we can," Soldano admits. "I.. want to do something, but I'm not sure what I can manage yet, and the crew needs to decide for themselves as well."
"Mm. You had at least say goodbye to your friends here. I know you have a few," Scourge notes, "Myself included." It grins widely at that, too. "Even if you will not permit me to touch you much."
"We'll have to find someplace safe to do that," Soldano says. "One of the Temples, maybe."
"Indeed. That will be dealt with when the time comes. I am sure the Barsunala hopes you will ally with him," Scourge comments as he turns a corner.
"Allies need to be able to bring something to the fight," Soldano says, and chuckles. "That's what I need to find."
"Trust me on this; a friend brings a lot just by being," Scourge remarks. "Even demi-gods have moments of doubt."
"I'd hope to be more than a cheerleader, but if that's all I can do.. I'll find a nicely fitting skirt," the captain laughs.
"Then he might kiss you," Scourge warns. It laughs too, but it's rather disturbing. "It can be discussed when the time comes."
"I can make my own way now," Soldano notes as they reach the bottom of the mountain. "Unless I'm needed.. elsewhere?" he asks, a bit suggestively.
"And where else would you be useful?" Scourge asks, smirking.
"Visiting the Yodhgorphat? Going with her?" it asks.
"I should check up on her," Soldano admits. "The.. exorcism.. or whatever it was.. was not easy on her."
"She is alive and fine. She has some issues to tend with from the exorcism, though. An infection. She is to speak with Gorphat on that. You may wish to check in at the Tower first, and suggest going to spy on this party," Scourge suggests.
"They.. might go for that," Soldano admits. "I get the impression that there is tension, jockeying for power. Having an inside agent would be seen as valuable.."
"Then see to that and I will ensure the Yodhgorphat can have a visitor," Scourge remarks. It then eyes the captain. "You are fond of her, aren't you?"
"In other circumstances.. I would probably shun her as tradition demands," Soldano admits. "Meeting her as a man with no future though.. was very liberating. It opens the eyes to what's there and not what you only see."
"Just remember. She belongs to Gorphat," Scourge says. "Body and soul. If you can accept of her, then I am sure she would appreciate your company."
"I suppose if I survive all of this, then Gorphat must love me too, eh?" Soldano notes and winks. "I can use all of the love I can get after all. I'll go and see if I can be let free as a 'spy' for the party."
"Be careful. Rizalka may make another grab for you," Scourge warns. It grins toothily, then licls Soldano's cheek before taking to the air!
"I can take her!" the captain claims, and flies off in a different direction.
The Temple is quiet, as usual, save for the ever-present dripping of water (and other liquids that really shouldn't be considered water by any stretch of the imagination). To Scourge, the place glows faintly - not with minds, but with life. Fungal life, specifically, some of which literally does glow to provide light.
Scourge walks on all fours to the altar. There it sits back on its haunches and closes its eyes. In its mind, it focuses on the form of Nicora and nudges the shadowy part of itself to initiate the transformation. IT should be easy, since that is the default body, after all. It seems a Yodhgorphat will be needed this night.
Little things signal the change. The ability to smell again. The realization that the source of the smell is herself. A sense of clamminess that didn't actually change, but now just feels more clammy. Nicora finds herself at the altar, facing the ruined wall.
Nicora sniffs herself for a moment, then makes a face. "I have become quite fragrant," the Eeee mutters to herself. She remains kneeling, semi on all fours, and bows her head. "Great Mother, owner of my body and soul. Giver of the blessings which encompass me, your daughter has news. There is a party tonight. The Yodh are invited. It is some sort of experiment. Do you wish me to attend as your representative?" the Yodh asks the room softly. "And ... I must ask for your forgiveness. I have ... become pregnant from the exorcism performed on the man who was here. One of the demons infected me, and some work eggs within me. They now grow within me. If this is a punishable offence, then I await your judgment and punishment." And there she grows silent, her left hand running her lower stomach, kneading it.
"No wonder you like this one," a voice replies.. not to Nicora though, and not Gorphat. "There is more to her than merely showing me respect," Gorphat counters to who could only be Blakat! And then, Nicora feels dizzy and fall over.. onto grass?
Nicora blinks and tries to sit up. "What the ..." she tries to say.
The breeze caresses the Eeee's bald head. There are trees.. although they don't seem like normal trees, being rather pink with black leaves. And the grass is also a patchwork of different types and colors. The sun casts shadows randomly around as well. Then a hand wraps around the back of Nicora's neck and lifts her.. until she's tossed over someone's shoulder. She can see Gorphat, sitting on a blanket and surrounded by a small feast (some of which is trying to escape), just before Blakat swings around so that the poor Yodhgorphat is looking back to where she arrived. There are some very noisy butterflies about as well, all in dark, bruised colors.
"Where am I? Why am I here?" Nicora asks from where she is draped over Blakat's shoulder. "Mother? What is going on?"
"It's just a picnic," Gorphat says. "You were in my Sister's temple, and these little episodes of.. mutual cooperation.. allow us to catch up with one another. And before this it was raining intestines, so I wouldn't complain about the setting overly much."
Nicora is deposited onto the blanket, not roughly but not gently either. "I like her, she's fun!" Blakat claims.
"Be that as it may.. the last time the Yodh were summoned to a party did not fare well for them," Gorphat points out. "What makes you think this time will be different?"
"It is merchant arranged," Nicora says as she rubs her gut again. "And it gives me a chance to stop anything bad should it possibly occur." She crosses her legs, which makes her ooze more, so she ends up uncrossing them and just stretching them out.
As Blakat pokes at Nicora's exposed belly, Gorphat says, "Your pregnancy is not a concern of mine. You will overcome whatever ordeal it presents. Do you wish to attend this party as My daughter then?"
"You do not wish to punish me for this?" Nicora says, surprised as Gorphat pokes her gut. "And yes, I thought I should attend as Your daughter, if it pleases you."
"I see no reason to punish you," Gorphat says. "You were not trying to circumvent me in this, and it was part of the purpose for you becoming Scourge. Any action taken against Diphath has my favor. And I imagine your arrival will cause quite a stir - and remind people that I am still around and making a difference."
"Yes, you should go," Blakat chimes in, grinning madly. "Imagine the spit-takes! The panic!"