Nicora had no choice but to sleep on her side, since any other position just wouldn't work with over-inflated breasts. Blarf tried to keep up with the milk leakage, but with just five feeding tentacle-vines it couldn't cover all of the teats all of the time, meaning the bed was a sopping mess on one side by morning. When Sil came to check on the High Priestess, she gasped, which woke Nicora. Everything seemed to ache once she was awake.
"Ugh," grumbles the Yodhgorphat as she comes to, feeling all ... slimy, including her bed. The first thing she does is ... lay there and feel around on her gut to make sure the ovipositor and feeing puncture wounds have healed over well before she even dares try to move. She will also have to check on the new acolyte soon enough. "Do not panic, Sil," she also murmurs, "Gorphat requires this of me, and I serve her utterly."
"Udderly, Mistress?" Sil mis-hears. "I'll get.. I'll get help," the woman says, and hurries back out of the chambers.
While Sil is away, Nicora actually does try to sit up and then attempt to stand. "This is going to be ... difficult," she has to admit.
There just doesn't seem any way to stand that doesn't involve hunching over. It might be possible to go on hands and knees though, since the weight would at least all be hanging downwards.
One thing Yodhgorphat often lack is dignity. So, Nicora actually does go down on her hands and knees to 'hang' the weight. Granted this will make her look even more larval, but ... it is her own fault.
From this vantage, she sees a big pair of bare feet enter the room. Then there is a rattle as several buckets are set down. "Sil sent me to.. uh.. help.. Yodhgorphat," the familiar voice of Otto says. "I've been working with the Rughrats so.."
Nicora looks up and smirks. "Enjoying the show, Mother?" she ends up thinking. "Ah, so she sent you here to milk me? Well, go ahead," the Yodhgorphat says as if this situation is perfectly normal and that she feels no embarrassment about it at all. What she feels, though, is a little humiliated.
The big Skreek sets the first two buckets under Nicora's primary breasts, then kneels down behind and starts milking. He doesn't squeeze so much as stroke, and it seems to work - the flow definitely increases. There's a soothing rhythm to it all as well.
And this makes Nicora sigh softly; relief of pressure and it happens to feel nice to boot. "Ah, that does feel kind of good," she thinks to herself, eyes dropping just slightly.
What doesn't help, however, is that since Otto has to lean over her, he's rubbing up against her rear all the time. That should lessen as he works his way down the milk-line though.
And of course this stimulates the already normally swollen areas of the Eeee ... well, an appropriate phrase given how she looks right now is that she's 'in rut'. This goes on for a few minutes, then she says, "Take me, right now." It's blunt and commanding.
There's a slight pause in the milking, and Otto pulls his hands away. But a moment later it's clear that he needs to pull down his patchwork pants. The milking resumes, along with a bit more rolling of the hips. The Srkeek's somewhat mutant-sized manhood is just right for Nicora though. Otto even tries some thrusts, until it proves that it causes the milk to miss the buckets.
Nicora lets out a rather wanton and undignified sigh when she feels areas desiring to be filled ... nicely filled to the point of slight discomfort; the right size for her. So that he doesn't have to thrust, she rolls her hips slowly. Granted this reminds her how heavy her stomach is too, and the fact she's carrying six sacred horrib eggs in her abdominal cavity. She will have to make sure they aren't doing anything ... life threatening, later.
It's a challenge, then, to keep things from building up too much sway in one direction or another.. or distract Otto too much that he forgets to keep milking. Still he manages to drain the first pair to the point where they don't feel like small boulders anymore. The buckets are shifted, and the Skreek starts on the next set. Meanwhile, Sil returns with fresh beddings. She tries not to look at what her assistant and boss are up to as she peals away the slimy beddings.
"You are doing very well, Otto," Nicora claims as the sensations in both areas are keeping the 'lust' fires of Gorphat's blessing from becoming too intense. She also hopes she'll have enough left in her chest to feet the acolyte, too; since she decreed she was to b the only food source; acting as Gorphat's bosom.
The beddings are changed, and so are the buckets. Otto is shivering a bit now as he starts on the lower quartet, doubly-distended from the new blessing and the bulging belly. This puts them lower to the ground as well, making it a little hard to work with them without knocking over the buckets.
It also doesn't help that Nicora's hips are relentless as she tends to her other blessing at the same time. She doesn't care how odd or bad this probably looks, right now she's just focusing on how nice it feels and the lessening of pressure!
Otto is starting to whimper at the extra action. He at least has to try to handle the milk situation at the same time, but he occasionally squeezes or gropes amidst the stroking, showing the battle of instinct and duty warring in him.
And of course to make matters worse for the Yodhgorphat is ... that she wears a nose ring. Talk about looking like a rutting animal. But, she has some restraint as she stops her hips. "Finish your first task, then finish your second," she commands.
There's a moan from Otto, as if this is just as bad as the previous situation. Luckily, the location of the final pair of teats makes it just too awkward to both reach them and do anything else.. but as soon as they seem drained, he grabs Nicora's hips and really starts rutting. Everything that can flop about does so, and the impacts send waves through Nicora's fluid-filled belly.
And Nicora lets her eyes droop closed and enjoys. Even the rippling waves in her belly is a disturbingly nice situation. Granted she hasn't seen her chest to see how much the swelling has gone down after the milking ... so maybe the enjoyment will be short lived, but for now she pushes right back; the familiar painful ache of Gorphat's other blessing starting to make itself known now.
Otto keeps on going, ignorant of the aftereffects of the blessing. Eventually he shudders and gasps, and stops trying to split the Eeee in two. He then asks, "Can I.. uh.. pull out, High Priestess?" Nobody's ever asked permission to that before, at least not to Nicora or any of her forms.
And Nicora shudders along with him. Inala's pleasures ripple deep. On their tail is Gorphat's punishment, pain starts to set in, along with the deep internal itching as if she has the world's worst yeast infection. But, at least she is generally used to this and expects it. "Yes, you may," she agrees, "I need to stand anyway."
Otto withdraws, and pulls his pants up.. then tries to help Nicora stand up.
Nicora gets up slowly, unsure of her current weight distribution. "Help me to my mirror," she instructs as she rises. IT's not much of a mirror, but will allow her to see how much Otto's efforts deflated her.
There's deflated, and there's.. saggy. Nicora looks saggy, at the moment. It's almost like she's wearing a bizarrely ruffled dress. Things don't hang down too far.. but there's definitely overlap in the upper breasts. She's still potbellied as well, since she hasn't reduced everything there yet.
"Interesting ... look," Nicora thinks to herself. She turns to Otto and notes, "You are dismissed. If I require such services again I will summon," she notes. "I now have other duties to attend to."
The Skreek bows, and collects all of the buckets. They'll end up with the Yodhrinala and be used for medicinal purposes.
Nicora somewhat waddles over to her bed and sits on the edge. There she closes her eyes and focuses her shadow inward to check on the condition of her abdominal cavity, the size of the sacred horrib eggs, and if they've attached to anything yet ... if she can determine any of that at all.
Things are still.. free floating in there. There's no way to tell if the eggs were actually even fertile - the Queen is still young, after all. At least it doesn't feel like any have lodged in between organs.
Satisfied she is okay internally, she eases the shadow back out, leaving the floating goo for now since she did tell the Acolyte that she would be ensuring the same as her to be a symbol of faith. Nicora rises and makes her way back to the horrib layer to check in the condition of Penance.
Penance is still glued to the wall of her little alcove, wrapped in horrib resin. Her head wobbles a bit loosely, and she looks ill. It isn't clear if she's awake or not though.
Nicora goes and traces her hands over the other Eeee's distended gut, checking what is exposed and making sure her punctures have healed well. "Hello, Acolyte," she murmurs softly. "It is the first morning of your new life."
"Ungh," Penance replies. Her mouth looks dry, and her eyelids are a bit sticky when she finally opens them. "High Priestesss," she whispers. "Have I died?"
"No, you are alive and well," Nicora says. She rubs the Eeee's distended belly again, then adding, "And you are fully infested with your horrib brood challenge. Does it not feel good?"
"I feel.. like I'm dying," Penance says. "I had.. very vivid dreams.. I am afraid that I am weak."
"What kind of dreams, child?" Nicora asks as she caresses the cheek of the encased Eeee.
"Being eaten," Penance says. "Being.. the thing doing the eating. There was.. a huge maggot-woman who licked me.."
"Oh, you are not dying, you are just seeing images of Mother's other children; those who punish. You haven not shown you are weak yet, they will not come for you," Nicora claims as she continues to stroke Penance's cheek. She uses her other free hand to lift one of her upper sagging teats to hold it to Penance's lips. "Now, nurse from Gorphat through Her Daughter and calm yourself."
The girl's tongue is dry too. It feels odd being nursed by such, but there's milk - the suckling is enough to start it up again. Penance does cough a few times, and once looks like she might gag, but always goes right back to drinking.
"Good girl; your Mother only wants you to be strong. Drink deep from her," Nicora claims as she sighs softly. She also hopes that the condition has only started up in the one being nursed on!
Well, the twin breast also starts to leak a bit. It's never just one-or-nothing. But Penance's suckling is beginning to slow - while her distress also seems to fade a bit. She isn't so dry-mouthed and clammy now.
Nicora encourages her to drink as long as she can, then draws back when it seems Penance is done. She then leans in and kisses Penance, rather deeply at that. Mainly so that she can use her tongue to lean up the remnants of the milk from the Eee. When the kiss ends she draws back and asks, "Do you wish to remain in your alcove today and rest, growing used to how your body feels, child? Or do you wish to begin studies?"
"Studies?" the girl asks. "I would do anything to be released from this cocoon," she admits.
"Yes, I thought you could begin your studies in the Hall of Parasites, focusing on listing out all the types of skin worms that are actually beneficial to their hosts," Nicora coos and pats her cheek. "I will instruct Brutus, one of the horribs, to release you. Then when you feel strong enough, he can guide you to the Hall. I will be there making sure the appropriate books and jars will be out for you.
"Parasites?" Penance asks, with a slight twitch. "Very well, Mistress. I will do my best."
"No not worry, you will not be inflicted with any more ... yet," Nicora claims, "And all trials you endure I go through as well to be your example of faith."
"Brutus?" Nicora thinks and waves her arm to summon over her largest (and apparently most closely bound) horrib-child. "I need you to help her from her coccoon. When she seems strong enough, come to me in the Hall of Parasites. You can find it by following your link to me."
"Dud-a-chum!" Brutus replies, and flies to Penance - and starts eating her cocoon.
And that is when Nicora slinks off ... to go find the hall herself! She can't remember being there before. It will give her time to make sure it is safe enough for the Acolyte to work in. "She is doing well, Mother," Nicora thinks as she walks through twisty passages, "And I am facing your new challenge. It does make things difficult, but not impossible to do my duties. I thank you for the chance to grow in your service."
The tunnels and halls of the Temple seem endless and random. But most important chambers are deeper in. The Hall of Parasites doesn't seem apparent at first - since its shelves are covered in glass jars instead of books. It's only further in that there are scrolls (made of preserved skin, of course).
And Nicora walks down the rows of shelves, letting her claw tips tap against the glass as she tries to read out the various names ... and to see if anything living is still in them after all. "This seems safe enough for her," she thinks.
The jars clearly hold preserved specimens.. but often there is a number below the name. But the jars themselves aren't numbered.
"Hm." Nicora goes to the scrolls instead, pulls one out, and reads a bit to see what it says.
The first is an index, which points to other scrolls. It also lists a second set of numbers as reference to 'egg store' samples.
"Egg store? They have actual living ones?" Nicora wonders. She makes note of a couple of the egg store numbers to go check out after Penance begins her research here.
The egg store is apparently in another part of the Hall. Each parasite seems to get its own scroll.. often with multiple authors adding to them over the years, making corrections and additions (and occasionally insulting the previous writer).
This makes Nicora chuckle. As she reads over a particular set of rather insulting comments she makes her way towards the egg store section to check out if the numbers she noted earlier still match up and if the samples look alive at all.
The egg store is much smaller than the sample and scroll sections - it's really just an old cabinet with a lot of small drawers, each with a matching number to one of the sample jars. Inside each are.. eggs, apparently. At least for the parasites that can survive dehydration or can use spores. The ones that are airborne are kept in little bottles, while others are just piled in lose. Some of the drawers are empty, or filled with debris.
Nicora looks to the door to see if Penance has come yet, and if not, she pulls out one of the sample jars that looks reasonably 'safe'; not a powder that can go airborne for example. If she has time she will turn it this way and that in her hands to examine it. And if there is time still, she will dare to open the jar and fish out one of the eggs to examine up close.
The egg she finds is about the size of a grain of rice, and very shiny - almost like a gem (which probably helps to attract animals to it). It also has very tiny barbs on the surface. There's some buzzing sound coming from the corridor now, which is likely Brutus.
Nicora rolls this egg between her bare fingers a bit, then tries to put it back in the jar when she hears the buzzing!
The barbs aren't sharp enough to stick to skin, and the egg goes back into its jar without a problem. At the far end of the hall a glow-light heralds the arrival of Penance. She's got the light jar in both hands, and Brutus has his tail curled up under one of her shoulders to help keep her upright.
Nicora closes up the jar and puts it back into the cabinet. She also absently has to scratch herself in an area still 'itching' thanks to Gorphat's curse. Once she's dealt wit that a bit, she makes her way back down the hall towards Penance. "You look so lovely; swollen and infested, acolyte of Gorphat," the Yodhgorphat coos. "Are you feeling stronger?"
"I am recovering, Yodhgorphat Scourge," Penance says, and smiles slightly. "Brutus has been a big help.."
"He is at that. I expect him to look after you during your initiation; it is his duty to ensure your larva are safe," Yodhgorphat Scourge notes as she rubs her hand over Penance's stomach as a reminder of her condition. "And if you are faithful, you will survive them just fine, as I will," she adds, then rubs her own stomach to show she is not afraid.
"Survive them?" the girl asks. "What.. when do they..." She seems uncertain of how to ask what to expect.
"They will attach to your insides and grow. If you are faithful; you will be stronger than they are and they will be absorbed by your body in time. If you are unfaithful ... they will grow and eat their way out of you," Nicora explains simply, and mostly honestly.
"I will pray to Gorphat for.." Penance starts to say, then stops. "No, I can't pray for strength. I have to prove it to Her, not ask for it."
"Do your duties and do not let your condition hinder them, that is how you show strength. In time, you will come to enjoy how you feel; the bloating and weight. It will be a reminder of your path and focus," Nicora says. "Now, as for your duties in here. I want you to read through the scrolls and identify all the helpful or at least not too harmful skin parasites that secrete useful things. Make note of them. When you complete that task, I want you to organize the egg storage and make note of which samples we still have and which ones are missing. Is that clear?" she asks. "If you are especially good in this task, you will be rewarded."
Penance bows awkwardly, saying, "Yes, Yodhgorphat.. what counts as useful though, if I might ask?"
"Things that help soothe pain, or prevent infection," Yodhgorphat notes, "Things that benefit the infected or those that come in contact with the infected."
"Thank you, Yodhgorphat Scourge," Penance says. "I will not disappoint you."
"Do you need to feed again before I go?" Yodhgorphat Scourge asks.
"I should be fine, thank you," Penance says.. and burps.
"Are you sure? I have more than enough," Yodhgorphat Scourge offers. She also looks to Brutus and says, "Or would you?"
"Did-a-chick!" Brutus replies, and leaves Penance to stand on her own as he buzzes over to Nicora for a free meal.
And Nicora lifts and presents her other top sagging teat to Brutus. Might as well get some of its leaking under control too!
The Horrib can't really suck, so it's more about the mouthparts palpating the teat and the tongue doing the rest of the work.
"You may get to work," Nicora instructs Penance as she strokes her own chest like Otto did to help the horrib.
Penance tears her eyes away, and begins to walk down the aisle of jar shelves, occasionally wiping away dust as she makes her way to the scrolls.
"Is she satisfactory, Mother?" Nicora thinks as she helps the feeding until Brutus loses interest or acts full.
There seems to be a sense of satisfaction that briefly comes over Nicora in reply.
"And when you are done here I expect you to leave your notes in my chambers, then go take a back in the worm pool. Brutus will go with you," Nicora calls out to Penance.
"Yes, Yodhgorphat," Penance replies.
After leaving the Hall of Parasites, Nicora waddles her way back to the chambers of the High Priestess. There's no sign of her earlier leakage.. although Blarf does seem to be reaching the limits of his flowerpot - but then, there's always the bathtub to transplant him into if necessary.
Nicora chuckles and goes down to all fours; that position is most comfortable to 'hang' weight in anyway, which should make shifting less distracting. Pushing the shadow out is easier now, it flows like ink from every pore, putting the Eeee into darkness. Then comes the shifting; adding muscle, rearranging bones, particularly in the pelvis, back to being male. Then the soft tissues; this proves a challenge since there are six eggs to not damage in the shift, along with a copious amount of 'goo' left from the horrib. This ends up being spread carefully throughout the male form torso, filling in any gaps where it can safely. This also takes ... considerable time. It is quite difficult to move around parts that are not part of the body without damaging them. It more involves moving parts that are and using them to gently push things about. The sensations are ... unique to say the least. When the shadow finally draws back, a furred male is left in its stead, complete with bright blue hair. He ris
He rises slowly to check himself out ... and to extract all his body jewelry; he didn't have that the last time he went out like this.
The mirror shows a bit of thickness from the added fluid. It also makes him feel a bit congested. But that could also be advantageous, since it makes him slightly less recognizable as the Barsunala.
"It will have to do," Al remarks as he digs out the set of male clothing he keeps on hand here in the chamber in one of the chests. Time to do some dock scouting!
About a dozen Yodhrephath patrol the docks - which isn't many, given the sheer amount of area to cover. There isn't any oversight of the ground below either, should things 'drop over the side' of airships. But then, the airships themselves are likely closely watched. Different levels seem to specialize in different sorts of goods as well. The high end luxuries and spices are at the very top, just above fruits and vegetables, while livestock take up the bottom-most levels.
A Sphynx dressed like a sailor (that is, Tulani wearing her normal clothes) leans against the side of a food truck with a blue-haired Eeee. "I have an odd urge to pinch you," Tulani notes to Al. From their vantage they can see the big Naga, Absssel working to unload cargo from a small freighter - crates of purple, annoying Yiffles.
"I adjusted my body to be less like my normal one," Al claims in defense of looking slightly different; Tulani doesn't need to know he's carrying 'cargo' himself. "So, any new news about the docks? Who are the players we are interested in?" he asks Tulani.
"See that girl over by the pens?" Tulani asks, and gestures slightly. The holding pens are not very full at the moment, and currently hold a few Rughrats. There is a teenaged Eeee girl resting her arms on the railings and apparently scrutinizing each animal.
"Yep, see her," Alptraum agrees as he squints, making her out and also using ambient sound echoes to 'fill in the blanks'.
"Trystle Hortus," Tulani says. "I'm not sure if she's the daughter or granddaughter of the clan head, Persal Hortus. She always scouts out the livestock though. Never seen her buy any though. When one goes missing, it's likely because she's picked it out."
"Have you talked to her at all? I'm curious what she's looking for. It would be helpful to know in terms of sneaking in," Alptraum notes to Tulani as she watches from afar, focusing his ears on her for any further cues.
"I've chatted enough to learn her name, that's about it," Tulani says. "The Hortus Clan have a lot of local business contacts though, including those who raise and sell livestock. A minor business, as far as I can tell, but maybe there's more to it than I know."
"Think I could talk to her for a few minutes?" Alptraum asks as he glances over. "I might be able to get a little hint or two." He grins, noting, "Being an actor and all."
"According to Absssel though.. it's always the biggest that manage to wander off when nobody is looking," Tulani notes, and nods. "Not sure if that will help you any, but it's something."
"Give me a few minutes. I might be able to confirm that," Alptraum says, smiles winning, then slips off to make his way down to the level Trystle is at.
There isn't much activity at the holding pen. The Rughrats are waiting to be picked up, but the the airship is still being unloaded. A big boom arm swings over the deck, with Absssel coiled around it. He grabs a crate, and then the boom is swung back out over the unloading area so he can place it. Thystle doesn't seem interested in the Yiffles though.. and only barely interested in the Rughrats. All the same, she doesn't even notice Al's approach until he's right next to her.
And Alptraum is walking and looking about like a tourist. It isn't until he bumps into Trystle hard enough to almost knock the girl into the pen! Fortunately for her he has fast reflexes and moves quick to grab her before she calls in. "Sorry, sorry, sorry!" he says quickly and apologetically. "I didn't see you! You okay?" He does a really good nervous babbling tone, it turns out. Also known as 'the dufus voice'.
The girl squeaks, then quickly checks all of her pockets to make sure she hasn't just been robbed. Up close she looks.. unremarkable. She'd be utterly plain if not for a single pink streak dyed into her hair. "Watch where you're going," she replies, but not harshly. "The docks ain't the place to be gawking and not payin' attention. You could get squashed."
"Yeah, I'm gathering that," Alptraum admits as he rubs the back of his neck in a sheepish gesture. He then looks at the hog pen for a few seconds, "Man, these things are huge too. If you had fallen ... er, I wouldn't want to get squashed by them. I heard they eat anything. Never seen any this close before."
"These aren't that big," Trystal says, sounding a bit disappointed. She finishes brushing herself off and finally gets a good look at Al. "Hey.. do you dye your own hair?"
"They aren't? They look huge. They can be bigger? Why would anyone want them any bigger?" Alptraum has to ask, head tilting. The question then causes him to shake his head and look back to the woman. "My hair? Yeah, I dyed it. I was bored with being all one color," he admits.
"They can get a bit bigger.. the rams, anyway," the girl notes, then smiles and tugs on her own pink lock. "I'm jealous. This is all my family will let me get away with. I wanted a different color even. But my brothers tease me that if I don't go with pink, nobody will know I'm a girl."
"Your brothers are nuts, anyone can tell you're a girl regardless of the pink stripe," Alptraum notes as he pulls a bit of his own blue hair down to look at it critically. "Sometimes I think I overdid it, though; the single stripe is more unique."
"Doing your whole head though.. it makes ya' stand out more," Trystle says. She then holds out her hand. "I'm Trystle, by the way."
Alptraum takes it and shakes. "I'm Al," he replies in kind. "And you would be surprised; you are the only person who has ever commented on it."
"I have an interest in this stuff, though," Trystle admits, and glances back at the unloading. "You a ship spotter or something? Not the most touristy place, the docks."
"Nah, looking for work, honestly. I'm kind of big, and that makes the jobs I qualify for smaller it seems. Too scary for sales and such as I've been told, so I'm stuck with heavy lifting or bodyguarding," the bat complains. "I'm tired of getting punched in the face, so thought I'd look and see if there is any jobs open here. I was trying to spot the foreman's office. Do you know where it is?"
Trystle looks around a bit, and points further towards the center of the dock's arch. "I think the offices at all around there," the girl says. "You could probably get a night-guard job, if you aren't freaked out by the Yodhrephath."
"The Yodhrephath? I don't know, I'm big ... but they're mean," Alptraum says, voice low as if one might hear him. "Drunks are one thing to have mad at you ... those are something completely different."
"I hear they'll interrogate ya for any position to apply to," Trystle claims. "Make sure you ain't a plant, or easily bought off.. and are properly scared of them, too!"
"Err, maybe I should reconsider this job thing," Alptraum has to admit. "I could probably survive a few more face punches." He doesn't sound too thrilled by that prospect, however.
"Work is work, I suppose," Trystle says. "We all gotta.." she starts to say, then stops as there's a loud squeal. The hogs are being unloaded now, and the girl has a laser focus on them.
Alptraum pats her shoulder. "Hey, well, thanks for the chat, it was nice to meetcha. Maybe I'll see you around sometime if I do decide to get a job here," he tells her, then steps back to let her work. He does keep an eye and an ear on her as he moves away, watching for any 'tells'.
The girl doesn't even seem to notice Al's departure. Her eyes and ears study each beast as it's unloaded. Any that make Absssel grunt with effort get special attention. Especially the big sow that's just been unloaded. Trystal actually sends a sonar pulse at it.. and the sow responds by trotting over to her at the fence.
Alptraum continues his way along, keeping an ear and eye on the girl as he tries to make his way back to Tulani.
With the sow at the fence, it almost looks like Trystle is having a conversation with it. Tulani nods to Al when he returns. "Find out anything?" she asks.
"She does look for large. Then I also think she looks for responsive," Alptraum notes to Tulani. "Also ... she seems nice. I'm not sure this family deserves to be wiped out, just stopped if they are smuggling for the General. And worse ... if I take this job I'll have to spend some time as a hog, lifted off that ship ... and respond to her when she pings me."
"We'll need to arrange something with Absssel then, to sneak you into the pen with the others. There'll probably be another drop tomorrow. Why do you think size matters, though? What's special about a big hog?"
"I'm not honestly sure. I couldn't get that far in the conversation; I had to play dumb," Alptraum admits, "And either way, I'll also need to arrange things with the Yodhrephath so that they don't cause problems with the slip-in."
"That much you can probably do now," Tulani notes, and points with her chin to two armored Yodh making their rounds. "There should also be one in the management offices, I think."
"Management offices should be the safe place, I can drop disguise there," Alptraum notes. "Point the way and I'll go speak with them."
Tulani points in the same direction that Trystle did. "There's one on each level," she explains. "So you've got a selection."
"Right, well, I'll go back to the lower level in case Trystle sees me again," Alptraum notes and gives Tulani a little kiss on the cheek. "Which me luck in dealing with a crazy woman instead of just being one." He grins.
"You mean you don't think all women are crazy?" Tulani asks in mock surprise. "Go on then.. don't get stabbed."
"Well, I know you are crazy, and Mave is crazy..." Alptraum says, grins, and darts off!
There are a lot of people going in and out of the dock offices, but there also handy signs. One of them is 'Job Seekers' and hangs on a plain looking door within the office maze.
Alptraum dips and dodges through the crowd all the while keeping eyes out for pickpockets and the like (never mind he brought no money with him!). When he reaches the Job Seekers door, he knocks lightly on it. "Ah, hello?" he calls out.
"Come in," a voice all but snarls from within, making it hard to tell if it's from a man or a woman.
Alptruam opens the door just enough to slip through and enters.
Alptraum
Put a naked Yodhrephath next to a naked Yodhblakat and you probably couldn't tell the difference between them. The clothes make all the difference, and the fact that a Yodhrephath would actually sit behind a desk and do paperwork while fully armored. There's a loaded crossbow pistol next to the papers as well, pointing right at the single chair before the desk. "Sit down," the Yodh says.
"/Well, they have the intimidation factor down," Alptraum thinks as he sits down in the chair and eyes the crossbow. "So ..." he says, fidgeting.
The Yodh holds up a finger, and finishes whatever she was writing down first. She sets that page atop a pile of others, then clasps her hands together on the desktop, looks up at Alptraum and.. smiles. "Now then, why do you want a job on the docks, mister...?" she asks, prompting the candidate to supply a name.
"Al," Alptraum replies simply and quickly. "And yes, I do," he continues. "I want a job because I need the work; and this place seems suited at this particular time for someone with my skills."
"And what are those skills, Mister Al?" the Yodh asks, still wearing the odd cheerful expression.
Alptraum leans forward, looking right into her eyes. "You still have a smuggling problem, though it is just not in the open," he begins ... and his hair seems to bleed out the color, going from brilliant blue to stark white as he relaxes his 'facial' disguise; fur changes are easy after all. "And I intend to put a stop to it. I am Alptraum, you might know me as the Barsunala." The last part comes with just a touch to the draconic aura to still any sudden moves for the crossbow; though he is ready to move should she move.
The plastered on grin fades, and the Yodhrephath returns Alptraum's gaze with all seriousness. "Are you going to cause a mess? Are there going to be burning airships and monsters and glowing naked women involved?" she asks.
"Not here, no. I simply need to get a 'plant' in place to be picked up by the smugglers and taken back to their base," Alptraum replies. His brow then has to arch as he asks, "Is that really what people say about me? Burning things and naked people?"
"No, that's just what we suspect," the armored woman says. "And when you find out who is behind this smuggling and the other details, will you turn that over for us to deal with, or is someone going to be melted?"
"It depends on the level they are involved as to the fate dealt out," Alptraum notes, "I cannot say until I am able to examine them closer; Rephath's scales do not work at long distance. Do you wish to be the ones who deal with them?"
"If it involves smuggling, it would be nice if we could be seen dealing with it, since we need to keep the peace in this area," the Yodhrephath says. "We are a visible presence, after all. Will the Yodhbarada be involved in any of this?"
"Indirectly, yes," Alptraum agrees, "The livestock ship, the one that primarily deals in hogs ... that is the one I need to place a plant on, a hog that isn't a hog, so to speak. A way for me to track. I know the lifter of the ship indirectly; he is trustworthy and not a part of this. I am also fairly sure I can have an agent of mine convince him to slip the hog in. The main thing I am asking of you is that you do not try to stop it or threaten him during this. I wish to cause him no trouble and I respect your jurisdiction, hence why I came here to explicitly ask."
"When and where is this to take place?" the Yodh asks next.
"That I still have to arrange. Within the next couple of days, I think. I can send you more definitive word once I make the final arrangements so you know when 'something strange' will be me acting and not some criminal event," Alptraum says. "Are you agreeable to the arrangement?"
"Yes, but you should not contact us directly," the Yodh notes. "We have an agreement with the Yodhbarada. They have many informants on the docks. They report to the Yodhbarada, and the Yodhbarada let us know of things that fall under our purview. It isn't proper for Yodhrephath to spy or conduct investigations, after all." She writes something on a fresh sheet of paper. "This is the name of the Yodhbarada to give any details to. I'm sure your friend knows her."
The page is folded and passed across the desk towards Alptraum.
Alptraum reaches over to take the paper. "I should also note this; if you happen to be acting with the Smugglers and warn them ... I can do a lot worse things to people than melt them," he says, "Now I do not believe that Yodhrephath are generally corruptible in such fashion, but I had to give the warning." He nods towards the crossbow on the desk and adds, "Just as you give implied and direct ones to those you interview."
"Please don't insult my loyalties," the woman says. "I was part of the Yodhrephath delegation to the Coalition meeting that you turned back before we could be massacred. If not, I probably would not trust you now. And because of that, I will not be angry at the suggestion that I could be corrupted."
"No insult intended," Alptraum points out as he takes the note with the name and reads it. "What you have said confirmed all that I have heard of your order; honest and true. Thank you. Diphath has her servants everywhere, so I have to be careful. Her most immediate agent is the General herself. She also has ways to control people from a distance."
"We are blessed against mind control," the Yodh says, grinning. "We even deal with the Yodhbarada without fear. Unlike other orders, we were not broken and scattered. We are not mercenaries like the Yodhblakat, who cannot be trusted. Don't worry about us. Just point us at what needs to be dealt with."
"All of that may come in handy when the General leads her army of the undead and monsters on its assault on Babel," Alptraum admits rather grimly. "Did any of that training also include managing during an assault on your sanity? Some of her creatures are capable of it."
"We're familiar with the berserker potions of the Yodhblakat, and the lust potions of the Yodhinala," the Yodh claims. "We know how to mentally counter each, and whatever the Yodhzakaro might throw at us. Rephath has always defeated Diphath. If you know of some other form of attack we must defend against, then please go to the Temple with it. We'll train to resist that too."
"That would require sending a creature of Gorphat to that temple; a beast called Scourge. Would it be allowed inside?" Alptraum asks.
The woman's mouth ticks for a moment. "I'm sure arrangements could be made," she says.
"Then send word through your Yodhbarada associate when it is permissible and I can pass it on to Gorphat's Priestess," Alptraum claims. "One more question, if I may. I would like to know your name. I know everyone's name eventually, but I prefer to learn it under better circumstances."
"Yodhrephath Garoul," the woman says. "Or just call me The Wolf, as I am mostly known on the docks."
Alptraum actually extends his hand to the woman to see if she will take it. "I am honored to know your name, Yodhrephath Garoul," he says.
Garoul stands and reaches across the desk to take Alptraum's hand. "I hope this will be a productive endeavor, Barsunala," she says.
And Alptraum does something probably no one has ever done before. He draws her hand up and kisses the back of it. "It will be," he promises, "And I am grateful you survived the assault years back. Most other temples did not and I witnesses many of their deaths firsthand. While it is my duty to do so, it can weigh beyond description."
"You saved enough," Garoul claims, and seems slightly charmed by the kiss. "Don't forget to look shaken up when you leave."
Alptraum smiles as blue flows back out through his hair as he rises up. "I can play many parts," he claims, "Never fear. Until we meet again. And we will meet again." That last part is probably something many would expect him to say in his role as escort of souls, so he does. It's also impressive how quickly he can widen his eyes, slack his jaw just so, and even tremble slightly as he turns and open the door to leave.
Back at the food truck, Tulani smiles to Al. "So, how'd it go? Get the job?" she asks.
Alptraum hands over the note to Tulani. "Know her? We're supposed to send word through her when we're ready to place the plant and they'll stay out of our way," he notes.
"Hmmm," Tulani says, then knocks on the side of the food truck. "We're closed until dinner!" a voice calls from inside. Then Tulani knocks again, in a slightly different pattern, and a shutter opens on the side of the wagon. The girl is wearing a hairnet, and an apron too it looks like, but is certainly a bit young to be running a food truck. "What?" she asks.
"Zishy, this is my friend Al," Tulani introduces.
Alptraum waggles his fingers at the girl. "Yo," he says with a grin.
The girl squints for a moment, then says, "It'd work better if you got some dark glasses, Barsunala. What can I do for you, that doesn't involve a sandwich?"
Alptraum smirks. "Not that many people know me," he points out. "I mainly just need you to relay a message for me to people who keep things in some semblance of order when the time comes. Their alpha, is waiting for my word on the when and where something will occur so they can look the other way."
"Oh.. gotcha.." the girl says and winks. "I'm always here if you need to find me. Everyone comes to this truck."
"Well, the food must be good as I haven't gotten any work from this truck specifically," Alptraum counters with a grin.
"Anything else you want?" the Yodhbarada asks. "I know everyone on the docks, after all."
"Trystle. Is she, other than helping with some questionable things, a good person?" Alptraum asks quietly.
"Well.. she's a bit shy normally, even stand-offish and moody at times," Zishy dishes. "Other times she's friendly and perky. So.. you know.. a teenager. She doesn't hang out anywhere though. Comes to talk to the pigs, then goes home. My impression is that she is generally unhappy."
"I got the feeling she is not happy with her family. Do you know what she says to the pigs?" Alptraum asks, "Or how she expects them to respond?"
"And unhappy people are capable of being bad as well as good, in my experience," the girl concludes.
"Alas, I do not know what she says to the pigs," Zishy notes, making it seem overly dramatic though. "I know that she only talks to the biggest sows, and the roughest looking boars. I have no idea why they listen to her though. She's a Hog Whisperer or something. But the ones she talks to the most tend to be the ones that disappear out of the pen."
"Does she prefer sows or boars?" Alptraum inquires next.
"That is an odd question, hmmm," Zishy ponders. "I don't think she has a preference. The sows are always the biggest ones, and the boars the roughest looking ones. If there were boar-fights for people to wager on, those are the types she seems to attract."
"It matters mainly for the plant. I suppose either will work then and both can be arranged," Alptruam notes and rubs his chin. "So I suppose whichever is easiest for me to procure then. Now, the lifter, the naga. He seems trustworthy. What do you know of him and if there is anything he would wish in return to help us?"
"Absssel?" Zishy asks. "He likes his yiffles ungagged. Always pays.. never asks for credit. Tight-lipped, frankly. He lives with his crew in one of the dock hostels. Not known as a big drinker or anything, but then he does go outside the docks for such things, which makes him harder to track. No outstanding gambling debts that I know of. The Yodhrephath like him because of that. Don't look over his shoulder as much as with the other cranes."
"Mmm. Not sure how to approach him for this, then. He knows me as this, but it would be an odd request from me," Alptraum notes, then looks to Tulani. "Thoughts on how to approach him? You'll be the one handing the hog over after all."
"I might offer to hook him up with a date," Tulani notes. "He's social enough, as we've seen, but seems a bit lonely. The big ones are usually all males - hard to find a big Naga girl."
Alptraum snorts. "Oh sure, find more work for me. You know I can locate such," he mock-grumbles. "Fair enough."
"I was actually thinking of Sephia, or one of her sisters," Tulani notes with a grin. "They're big enough.. and personality matters."
Alptraum actually looks hurt. "Yes, they would possibly do it," he has to concede.
"But if you have your heart set on it.." Tulani says suggestively. "I just thought he'd like something that might lead to a more long-term relationship."
Alptraum waves his hand. "That is a good point," he also has to concede. "We can work out the particulars later."
"And if he likes guys, there's always Malagast," Tulani says. "I'll talk to him tonight, and see if we can't get things ready in a day or so."
Alptraum nods. "Right. Well, let me know when you do how you want to work it," he says. "And I didn't know maga guys would like other naga guys. Huh."
"It's all squirming," Tulani says. "And when you're big and there just aren't that many compatible females.. well.."
Alptraum looks to Zishy. "Well, thank you for your information. We have a few particulars to work out , then we'll let you know when to, you know," he says.
"Sorry I can't give you a sandwich," the girl notes. "I don't think you'd enjoy it though."
Alptraum chuckles. "No, no I wouldn't. Tulani would though, so feel free to give her one," he suggests, "I'll see both of you later."
"I'll contact you at the usual place," Tulani says, meaning the Temple of Gorphat of course.
"Of course. I'll be there dealing with the usual, you know," Alptraum counters. But before he leaves, he dips Tulani back and snogs her right in front og Zishy. Let the rumor mongers deal with that one!
"Now everyone will want to snog me," Tulani complains once released.
"You're not all that!" Alptraum counters ... right before disappearing into the crowds. Always a pain in the but, he is.
Alptraum sneaks back into the temple through passages only he knows about. Before anyone spots him he manages to make it back into the High Priestess' chambers. Off goes the clothing and back down to hands and knees he goes before even attempting to shift. Shadow is released and this normal form disappears into its inky embrace. The disturbing part of the shift back is ... that it is really all just relaxing. Nicora is the mostly natural form ... so things just sort of slip back into place. Fur disappears, weight shifts about; chest growing heavier and her gut feeling bloated and heavy ... and the tail extruding from her spine as the other one disappears up and in, leaving only her 'wound' in its wake. The shadow then draws back inside, leaving YodhGorphat Scourge on the floor. Her eyes open and she takes stock of her body.
Her belly seems a bit less distended than before. This could be from fluids still being in other parts of her body cavity.. or from the Shadow actually consuming some of the nutrient to power the transformation.
Nicora rubs her belly. Everything still seems intact, so she rises up slowly, checking how much weight and leakage she has before she goes to check on the acolyte in the Hall of Parasites.
Things feel a bit more full, breast-wise. And the need to waddle is still there, or course, so it takes time to get there. Nicora finds more glow lamps have been set out, and Penance at the desk with several scrolls spread out. She looks like she's asleep though. Brutus buzzes towards Nicora, chirping, "Dud-a-chum!"
"Hello, Brutus," Nicora purrs at the horrib. "Has she been a good student? Your mommy might need a refill sometime." God, the woman is insane.
"Did-a-chick," Brutus replies, landing on Nicora's shoulder and then clinging to her back in his favorite perching manner.
Nicora makes her way over to Penance and taps her lightly on the shoulder. "Acolyte, are you sleeping?" she asks the Eeee. Her tone is firm, but not overly harsh.
The girl jerks and wakes up, hastily wiping some drool from her cheek. "Forgive me, Yodhgorphat," she croaks. "I.. don't remember falling asleep.."
"Mmm. I could punish you for falling asleep," Yodhgorphat Scourge notes, "But as you are new, I will let this time go. How has studying been going? Are you hungry?"
Penance shuffles parchments around, and produces one with fresh writing. "I have been noting the skin parasites as requested," she says, already having a list of about ten with their various side effects.
Nicora takes it and skims over it quickly for anything that stands out. "Ah, good, you have been tending to your duty, good," she notes.
Some of the listed effects include 'repelling other parasites' and 'cooling the skin' so far. Others seem more medicinal, such as causing the infected person to sweat antibiotics.
Nicora sets the sheet back down. "You can continue your research later. Since you seem tired it is time for your worm bath," she says as if it were the most perfectly normal thing in the world, "Then I will have the horribs return you to your cocoon for rest." And scarily, none of that is intended as punishment.
"Yes, Mistress," Penance says, and stands up. She has to hold her belly to do it. "I.. don't know the way from here to the pool."
"Close your eyes," Nicora instructs as she places her hand on the other Eeee's distended gut. The goal, a quick shadow-ken of it to ensure at least her eggs have begun to implant themselves so she gets the protective effects. That is important for things she may be exposed to later, after all.
It feels like the eggs are attached to interior surfaces, if not fully embedded and linked to the circulatory system yet.
"Good, your larvae are progressing well," Yodhgorphat claims as she withdraws her hand. "Now come, I will bathe you myself and Brutus will cocoon you. Your studies will resume in the morning after breakfast," she says as she guides the other woman out of the room and in the direction of the pool, "Now tell me, do you regret your decision to pledge yourself to Gorphat?"
"No, Mistress, I do not," Penance claims. "I want to be stronger."
"And you will be. Remember Goorphat will never bless you with more than you can endure ... unless you deserve it," Yoghgorphat Scourge claims. "Some day, perhaps you will even learn to endure all that I have." And with that, the sagging and hideously bald Yodhgorphat leans the pregnant-looking and temporarily bald Eeee to her ... bath and rest. No, sanity does not exist in the Temple of Gorphat. 'We're all Weird Down Here...'.