Things change a bit in Hortus Tower after Alptraum's talk with Persal Hortus. While Trystle still has to go out and select a courier sow, once she and her brother smuggle it into the tower they're given a night off. "I'll take care of things, Seylen," he tells his son. "You take Trystle to the Plaza and have some fun for a change."
Trystle can't take Boartraum with her though, but promises to bring him a candied apple or similar treat from her excursion. Both of the teenagers are eager to leave, such that Trystle only tries on three different outfits before deciding on one. After they're gone, Boartraum is left to himself, but is aware of the sow nearby. Persal and Lester will be implanting the two stillborns that the Naga gravedigger had ready at any moment, most likely.
Boartraum, free to explore a bit, decides to do so in a form easier to think in. And that form ... will be Scourge. Granted it might scare anyone that spots it, but it is still simpler than being a hog. So, the hog flops down on its side and closes his eyes, letting shadow take the hog. Relaxing the hog is like releasing a stone from the hand. Becoming the fungus is ... well, hard to explain. Wishing to be a compost heap is a bit hard to describe in words, it is more a wish of smell and feel.
There's also a bizarre in-between moment, where the boar's truffle-hunting instinct collides with the growing truffle-like nature of Scourge. The urge to root itself passes once the transformation is complete though. Bioluminescent patches and patterns on Scourge's skin give Trystle's room a bit of color at least.
And doors are easier to open with the disturbing tongue of the creature. Or at least it should be. Scourge rolls upright and slinks its way to the door to work it open.
Of course, Scourge could always use its tail for the same thing, if needed more leverage. But anything the boar can do, Scourge can do better! At least when it comes to opening doors.
However not in satisfying needy sows; the lack of certain things is always very noticeable in the first hour or so of the shift. The only reason that came to mind, of course, is that it has to go sow hunting. Out of the room Scourge slinks, keeping low to the floor and slithering its way through the hallway, towards the fighting pit and pens.
There's still some activity in the tower, mostly up above in the kitchen. Nobody is in the arena though, it having been cleaned up the day before. The hogs are making plenty of noise though down in the pens. There's only one boar at the moment, and he's being kept in the cell farthest from the sow's and voicing his displeasure about it.
"Bah, men. Always thinking with their other parts," Scourge thinks, even though it is quite often guilty of the same thing when in any other form itself. It makes its way through the area, trying to stay out of view just in case. Down the stairs it goes to the pen ... then it follows the 'feel' to find the sow. It can't use scent after all, Scourge does not have a working nose.
The hogs do, however. The sow is very interested in Scourge, but likely in a more 'you look tasty' sort of way. She sticks her nose through the bars of her cell and snuffles furiously.
And Scourge licks the sow's nose. "Hello hello. I am afraid you are destined for something horrible; but no worse than anything I would do to myself," it hisses at the sow. Scourge draws back and inhales deep, preparing itself to breathe out. When it finally does, it's a draconic sort of exhale, one that involves things going with it. Namely its own spores of infestation.
The sow get a lot of it on her face, and this makes her squeal and rub along the walls a bit. The spores don't smear though or leave any traces. The just sort of melt into the skin. The sow eventually stops trying to sneeze them out once she realizes they no longer seem to exist. And then Scourge gets an impression of itself through the sow's eyes. She really does think of the creature as some sort of moving mushroom.
"There, now I should be able to find you wherever you go," Scourge tells the sow. It draws back and out to the arena. Once there it focuses back ont he sow, making sure it call still feel her and see through her eyes if needed.
It's dimmer.. but that's less a matter of distance than of the sow just not being very bright. But Scourge does know where she is in physical relation to it.
Scourge's head bobs. "Good, now it is a matter of waiting," it mutters to itself as it heads out of the arena area. Then it hits the creature he has time to head out the lower entrance ... and go have a talk with the Yodhsunala! Granted they may not like Scourge, but it can lead near the mountain and shift to Alptraum, then visit as that.
There's a bit of activity on Mount Sunala. There are a lot of pilgrims near the Yodhrinala run areas outside the Temple. Which makes it convenient to find a private spot to transform and don a cloak of shadow.
And into the shadows goes the fungus of shadows. And back into its own shadow it goes too ... to become Alptraum! Again! In less that twenty-four hours! This must be a special occasion as he gets to be normal! Well, mostly normal? As normal as he's ever been? In any event, it's back to being a shadow-cloaked Alptraum...
The only question now is.. would the surviving Srinala be with the other Srinalas, or in the Prevention Wing under Razaka's care? It seems unlikely that they'd keep her with the 'real' Srinalas though.
Alptraum decides to check with Razuka first. If it isn't there, she likely will know where it was moved. So, he walks out of the shadows and into the encampment, then to head up the mountain if need be. He's also sure the whispers will be interesting as he passes through, so ... listens as he walks. Somedays he likes causing a stir.
"They won't be happy about this," one of the barsunala guards whispers to his companion. "I mean, I know Sunala is taking on the duties of Rinala, but these pilgrims are here to worship Rinala. Shouldn't they be worshipping Sunala?" All attention seems focused on the crowd outside, and the Yodhsunala milling about at the fringes of it.
"Are you questioning Sunala's choices?" Alptraum asks, loud enough for the guards to hear. "If she has no issue with it, perhaps you should respect that."
"Augh!" both guards jump. Alptraum recognizes them, too. They're the pair that got lured by the Shrine Maiden. "It's not that Sir!" the first one yelps. "It's the Yodh! I mean, we don't think the Yodhsunala will like it. Not all of them."
"If they are faithful to Sunala, they will accept it even if they do not like it," Alptraum notes. "Which ones concern you the most?"
"The ones that.. well, aren't very happy with the incarnation of Sunala in the first place," the second one replies. The first nods, and says, "It's because she didn't smite them, I think. But nothing's happened. It's like we're all waiting."
"There is much going on only a few know of. Waiting is for a reason," Alptraum says vaguely. "Now, I need to find Razaka," he adds, "On important matters to do with real violations that warrant a severe response."
"Are you going to kill her?" the first barsunala asks, eyes wide. "Because she's down in the Prevention Wing.. where she always is." "I don't think she likes all the activity up here," number two notes, gesturing towards the gathering and the Yodhrinala medical tents.
"Of course not. She has done no wrong; she is dealing with something on my request related to some severe transgressions," Alptraum says as he waves his hand. "Thank you, I will go speak with her now. When I come back, I will visit with the tents here as well."
"Should we tell the Yodhsunala you'll be coming?" the first guard asks.
"Mm, no. I am more curious how they will react to my appearance; it gives a more honest reaction than if they knew," Alptraum says.
"Of course.. just please don't mention that you told us ahead of time, sir?" the second one asks.
"Mmm, what is in it for me if I do not?" Alptraum inquires, brow arched.
"Uhhhh.." the guard goes, gaping a bit. "Do you like cookies?" he finally offers.
"They're pretty good," the other claims. "They're in the shapes of little skulls."
Alptraum actually laughs. "You have made me laugh, that is enough," he notes and pats the guard on the shoulder. "Relax a bit; I don't bite. Well, unless you ask me to." He waggles his brow, then heads off to find the Prevention Wing.
It's been a long time since Alptraum visited this part of the Temple. It still seems more like a prison, with heavy doors and long corridors. There's also something new: Sunala's symbol on the wall glows when he passes by it near the entrance.
"That's interesting," Alptraum comments, running his hand over the glowing symbol. His fingers tap a bit on the stone, then proceeds through the entrance.
After the first one glows, the next one does too, and so on, leaving a path of glowing Corpses.. right up to the first cross junction, where they seem to stop.
They all just light up on the left side of the corridor, however.
"Is this a path?" Alptraum asks the room. He tries to follow the symbols as they light up to see if they lead somewhere.
They do turn the corner ahead, but stop at the fifth door along it.
And Alptraum follows along, curious as to why they are lighting up for him. Is Sunala herself down here? Was it a path left just for him? Something else? Well, perhaps what is behind the door will answer it ... so, he opens it!
Razaka is there, looming over a patient.. or inmate. It's the last Diphath Srinala that Legion spared. "Ah," Razaka says. "You've finally come. I won't have to keep recharging the guide ritual now."
"I have been busy dealing with things related to this," Alptraum notes as he walks over and looks down at the 'sleeping' woman. "Specifically Diphath has been collecting stillborn twins. It has to be twins. Do you know of any specific old rituals that relate to that?"
"Twins?" the Yodhsunala asks, looking perplexed. "I do not see the significance of needing twins.. but as for the rest.." She gestures to the sleeping form on the bunk. "This creature.. is troubling. It is not a srinala, and not an undead. It is.. a reverse zombie, I suppose."
"A reverse zombie? Explain?" Alptraum inquires as he leans in close. "Is it perhaps to act as a vessel for a soul to take? Something to possess?"
"Yes, instead of a spirit animating dead flesh, this is.. living flesh with no spirit. None at all." Razaka says. "All living things have some sort of spiritual presence. But this does not. It breathes, its heart pumps.. but it is difficult to say it is alive rather than simply living. It is.. like a machine made of flesh."
"So, disposable armies?" Alptraum says, frowning, as he circles the corpse. "Or maybe replacement bodies for the General's servants. Then why would twins matter? Perhaps twins have a weaker soul binding due to the dual nature?"
"Or maybe it is just the General wishes to have a living body again and this is an attempt," Alptraum muses.
"You mentioned stillborns," Razaka says. "A dead body has no spirit. But.. if you could restore life somehow, you might have this as a result. A flesh golem. They were used as incubators or.. insulators.. weren't they?"
"Yes, for monsters that could not survive outside of the mists," Alptraum says.
"That could explain other anomalies," Razaka says, and puts her palm on the not-srinala's forehead. "I could not accurately ascertain the age of this girl. Growing a creature like this from a fetus, at a natural rate, would of course take years. Impractical, especially if the process can only be done within the Mists. The General has not been in there long enough."
"So this body is not actually as old as it looks," Alptraum remarks as he touches its forehead now. "That still doesn't explain why, though. The creatures die once released. So even as for carrying cargo, it all seems impractical for anything useful on a large scale."
"You do not need a large supply of bombs if the few you have are powerful enough," Razaka says. "Assuming these were grown from stillborn children. They could be something else entirely. They could come from seeds for all we know."
"I suppose that is possible. Still, it seems to have something to do with twins. Why?" Alptraum muses as he steps back. "I could go back into the mists and look, perhaps. Though I will also be finding where they are being delivered to, so that may be enough."
"Twins are common enough among Eeee," Razaka says. "Although it is also sometimes the case that only one survives birth, due to it simply being the stronger of the pair. Not all women can afford the necessary nutrition to support growing twins."
"You won't like this next part. The source of the dead twins is this Temple," Alptraum says flatly.
"The Yodhrinala?" Razaka asks, looking genuinely shocked.
"They are being stolen from the Temple. It is not them willingly doing it," Alptraum corrects.
"I know the thief, and why. They are being forced into doing it and are aiding me in finding the true culprit behind it," Alptraum notes.
After calming herself, Razaka looks.. angry but thoughtful. "That is the key then. That they come from here. Sunala and Rinala, death and life. One twin lives, the other does not. That is what is needed. These creatures are a blasphemy against both goddesses."
"But why? There has to be a reason beyond just Blasphemy. Does it give them power to attack this Temple?" Alptraum inquires.
"There is nothing for Sunala to claim if this thing dies," Razaka notes. "For Sunala, it therefore does not exist. It is invisible to us. How do you hunt it down? Only you were able to detect these things."
"So yes.. if brought here, we would not know it," the Yodhsunala replies, regarding an attack on the Temple.
"I'm only half alive by such counts," Alptraum notes rather dryly. "But I can sense them. I suppose they are not factoring that in, or they don't realize it. And yes, actually, you can detect it, you are just not thinking about it properly."
"We can detect spirits.. which this does not possess," Razaka notes, looking frustrated. "The Yodhrinala can detect life.. but this thing is only as alive as a vegetable. It would be nearly invisible to them as well. How can we detect them?"
"You're thinking about it wrong. You speak of detecting spirits and life. Invert it. Look for what is missing. You sense these things by the hole they leave, not by what they provide," Alptraum says. "It is how I sense them; they are a hole in the feel of the place they occupy."
Razaka ponders this, still holding her hand to the.. thing. "Shadows and beacons," she finally mutters. "I will have to experiment. To see if this casts a shadow in the spiritual landscape, as you say. Then, placing people to act as beacons, and watching for eclipses.."
"It should work if my experience is anything to go by," Alptraum says with a nod. "This also tells us another bit of information; they intend to strike here. That's where the assault on the city will begin, I suspect. I suggest that you start checking the catacombs once you develop a way to sense the hole. Slipping them amongst the already dead and you have an army on the inside, so to speak."
"We cannot assume we are the only target," Razaka notes. "We have a large concentration of people on the mountain. There are other places with such concentrations as well. All are likely targets. Cenesta Plaza, the Coalition Tower, Mount Gorphat, Mount Rephath.."
"True, but you are the most dangerous at this point," Alptraum points out. "You can undo the undead; their primary army source. Defeat you first, and the others fall easier," Alptraum points out.
"And take out Srinala, and you have proved your power over the Kindly Ones," Razaka adds to that list, nodding. "I will supervise preparations and testing using this specimen. And then.." Here, she sighs, and closes her eyes. "And then, I suppose.. I will share with the Mages."
"I can handle talking to the mages if you prefer, I know and trust one of them," Alptraum offers.
"If you know the thieves.. then you should be able to find out how many potential creatures we can expect, as well, yes?" the Yodhsunala says, showing a bit of relief at not having to deal with the Mages. "And for how long they've been doing it?"
"Absolutely. And I also know the thief wishes for forgiveness; and is helping us now even with the risk it entails," Alptraum adds, "It was hard for me to even consider such given ... this. But, there is more to a story than the surface reasons and they are already suffering in their own hell. I can find forgiveness; and I am asking that the Yodh and Sunala here do too."
"I am the Chief Preventer, not an enforcer or assassin," Razaka says. "Although just knowing that it is happening, I can guess at the thief. I will report to Sunala, and ask that nothing be done should the thief actually be caught, assuming he is still active. I would hope you will keep me informed of all developments however."
"I can report to Sunala is well if you prefer. And thank you for understanding," Alptraum says, "I know this is ... difficult. It was for me as well."
"What should we call them?" Razaka asks, tapping the never-conscious girl's forehead. "Shells? Husks?"
"The Lost," Alptraum offers instead. "Those that have no place in any world."
"Appropriate," Razaka says. "And now, they must be found."
"Indeed," Alptraum says with a bemused smile. The dark Eeee then rubs his forehead a bit. "Question for you," he now says, "How disliked am I amongst the Yodh here? I feel as most tolerate my presence but do not welcome it. I need to know if regardless of that will I be trusted and listened to."
"We all know of your announcement in the pleasure club," Razaka says. "It has gone far towards focusing those with anger or confusion at a better target: the General. We prepare for battle. It has a way of pushing aside politics. Few of the Yodhsunala ever had to deal with the Barsunala in the first place - only those who ministered to the srinalas really thought about you. Those who dislike the notion of a living avatar of Sunala likewise have issue with you, however."
"What of you?" Alptraum inquires next.
"I don't take sides," Razaka notes. "I will be gone to the Sea of Souls before it matters if Srinala ages and dies. I ask that, for the sake of not complicating my life, you do not get yourself publicly killed either."
"I doubt I will survive beyond the General. I intend to do whatever it takes to destroy her completely," Alptraum notes, "Even if it means sacrificing my own existence."
"You are the Barsunala," Razaka says, a bit sternly. "You are the force that ferries the spirits of the dead to srinalas. Gatekeeper to the Sea of Souls," she notes, and then pokes Alptraum in the center of his chest, right on the scar. "Do not forget what that entails. The Sea of Souls is yours to command, if you call upon it."
"And do not forget the responsibility that brings," Alptraum counters with equal severity. "I do not consider others, souls included as playthings to be manipulated. I respect those I am charged with, and their rest. Everyone things it would be easy, or a grand thing, to have such abilities. I can tell you it is not. I wield my abilities with caution so I do not become something like the General; lost in my own importance and power."
"So long as you defeat her," Razaka says. "You are still shackled, like Rinala and the other old aspects. Do not think that at this moment you are all that you can be. Have faith in the Sisters to aid you."
"And not being all I can be is not necessarily a bad thing," Alptraum points out, "One can go to far and lose oneself in the process. But it is not the time to be debating such things. I just ask that you respect that I place limits on myself as well so that I do not become that which I am trying to stop."
"Have faith in yourself then as well," the Yodhsunala advises. "You know the dangers, and few are that aware. But then, they're the ones that seek out power, and you are not. Perhaps that makes you more deserving of it. Babel has known the dark side of power.. and pretty much only the dark side. Show them the other side."
"That is a given, for if I do not, Babel will be lost. I will leave you to your work here. If you need my attendance or information I need to pass to others, contact me through Sunala. She can always find me," Alptraum notes as he turns and heads for the door.
"Good fortune in your endeavors," Razaka bids as the door closes behind Alptraum.
"And to you as well," Alptraum counters in kind. The door is closed, then he makes his way back through the halls and out to the hospice area.
A few of the Yodhrinala are leading a prayer service. Yodhsunala not actually working the tents stay to the outer edge of the group and watch. Being Yodhsunala, it's only natural that some look.. scary.
And so Alptraum heads towards them. Even if he is afraid of them, he's quite good at not showing it.
Notably absent from the assembled Yodh is High Priestess Sukara. The Yodhrinala, as far as Alptraum knows, don't have a High Priestess of their own. One of the least scary looking Yodh is familiar though, mainly because she still wears Acolyte robes (and the stains on them show she's been working in the tents as well). It's Zana, the girl that Phlagaea taunted into killing herself.. only to have Alptraum prevent her actual death.
"They are working for the good of the people of Babel," Alptraum notes quietly as he draws up near the Yodhsunala. "Perhaps trying to not intimidate them would do well in making working with them easier."
"It is not the Yodhrinala at fault here," the Yodhsunala notes. "The people should be praising Sunala for making this possible."
"The purpose and point is to help the people," Alptraum says, "Keeping 'score' is a form of greed and not worthy of a Yodh. Well, perhaps except for Blakat."
The woman turns and sniffs, her eyes looking wet. "We work to cure them. We save them. Sunala herself took on mortal form to prove that she cares about their lives, even! But who do they praise now? When we save them, they praise Rinala. When we fail to save them, only then is Sunala called to. Rinala is just an aspect of Sunala! The Yodhrinala should just join us and end this confusion.."
"Have you asked them?" Alptraum asks. "Have you talked to them? Have you tried to bridge the divide?"
"I've talked to a few," the woman admits. "They don't want to learn all of the extra rites. They don't want to deal with the dead. But they have so little power compared to our own healing rituals. It just.. isn't fair. If they don't want to be with us, they should take over Mount Inala. Look at all of those people! Nobody gathers like that for the Yodhsunala."
"Because we represent what people are afraid of. Mortality scares everyone. Few can face it with courage," Alptraum notes. He pauses to run his hand through his hair. "We need to stand united and quit thinking about everything someone else has. Do you want me to talk to them?"
"Let the Yodhrinala handle it," the woman sighs. "They are the only ones who can convince them that they we deserve some credit as well. But I may ask to serve some time at the Hospice of Gorphat after this."
"It is no more pleasant there," Alptraum notes. "The work is difficult and tiring there as well; it is only a change of venue."
"Yes, but it is not on Mount Sunala," the Yodh says. "I would not feel as snubbed."
"So, is it you that wishes worship, then?" Alptraum asks.
"No," the Yodh says. "Sunala should be worshipped for the efforts I make in Her name. Her real name."
"Do not give up on the people here," Alptraum requests. "Not that I am asking for you to not work at Gorphat's Hospice either. It is more just ... try to be more forgiving. We represent the aspect people fear, it makes it hard for people to approach us, even if they want to."
"Do you think that will ever change?" she asks.
"In time, yes," Alptraum says.
"Sunala is patient," the woman recites. "All things come to Her in time." She then traces the symbol of the Corpse on her chest with a finger.
Alptraum places his hand upon the woman's shoulder and actually squeezes it. Whether being touched by him would be viewed as a good or bad thing is up to debate. When his hand falls away he moves closer to the Yodhrinala, just to listen for a bit.
The Yodhrinala doing the speaking is clearly not used to it. It isn't like they've had practice in preaching during their centuries of being an underground cult. "And so.." she says, ".. we should all embrace the cycle that is Rinala. Birth, Life, Death.. and Rebirth.." It's that last bit that is likely to upset the Yodhsunala. The Sea of Souls leads to Oblivion after all.. not reincarnation. At least, it always has before.
Alptraum just stands there, brow arched slightly as he listens. "They should be giving some credit to Sunala in the Temple above, true," he thinks. HE doesn't say it, though, out of politeness.
The Yodhrinala is really started to fidget now. "Which means, of course.. that.. death is what leads to life. No beginning without end. And.. uh.. purification of the spirit. The Sea of Souls washes away the sins of life, so that the next cycle is.. clean.. and pure." She's clearly just trying to make it up as she goes, just as lost as the Yodhsunala seem with the fusion declared by Srinala.
"All things have a beginning and all things have an end. Both are equal in importance and meaning. It may seem cruel that things must end, but without an end ... would your life have a meaning? If you had infinite time, would you find the desire to do? To create? If there is always more time, what motivation is there to enjoy each moment you have? Ends exist to give meaning to the time you are given," Alptraum says, perhaps to help the poor girl bring a conclusion to her speech. "Without ends, there is stagnation. Without a beginning there is nothing. Each compliments the other. Neither should be feared. Each should be accepted and greeted with respect and honor. And those that represent each aspect need to understand the other, and work together as the whole that they are."
"Yes.. yes that!" the Yodhrinala says, pointing to Alptraum. "So use your life well, and help others. Make the world better, and your life will continue on in those you have touched long after you are dead!" Sermons are not very Babelite. There's more of a tradition of spectacle, since the old religion didn't really say much in the way of how to live one's life. They were more focused on appeasing the deities.
"So we have to serve the Yodh?" someone calls out. The Yodhrinala replies, "It wouldn't hurt! There are always those that need help, here and elsewhere in Babel."
Alptraum snorts slightly in amusement. "A well-lived life means you have nothing to fear when your time ends," he adds, "And nothing to fear from those who serve that aspect. Please, take some time to thank both aspects, those that help the beginning and those that help the end. Each have difficult roles they serve and if you can offer help, then please do. But at the most minimal, at least thank them."
There's an eruption of praises and thanks from the crowd. Even thanks for looking after loved ones in their final hours, and taking care of them after that.
And in the chaos, Alptraum steps away from those gathered and heads back towards the shadows from whence he came. He has no idea if he violated any rules or said things he should have not said, but he could not just stand there and say nothing. It also makes him a bit uncomfortable in that they will take what he said more to heart simply because of what he is called, not because he truly deserves to be listened to.
It isn't clear that anyone in the crowd saw him, except those at the very front. He doesn't know if the Yodhrinala that was speaking even recognized him. Either way, he doesn't get accosted while making his exit.
Alptraum decides he had best check on Penance while he has the chance; the girl's larva state needs to be checked to make sure she is not at any real risk. Of course this means once he flies there he has to slip in the back door ... and shift back into the worst possible thing; the Yodhgorphat Scourge.
Yodgorphat Scourge finds Penance in her usual spot - the Sacred Horrib nest in the room next to the High Priestess's chambers. The girl is half-cocooned into her alcove, and shivering. Her eyes are bloodshot, and her nose is running quite a bit.
"You do not look well, Child of Gorphat," Nicora (AKA Scourge) remarks as she enters, completely naked, with saggy and oozy breasts leaving her looking rather slimy herself. "Are you at least comfortable in your cocoon?" she inquires as she eases up to Penance and places her hand on her stomach to check on the larva. "Are your 'children' doing well?"
There's definitely implantation, as the larva are tapped into Penance's blood stream now.. but also a bit smaller than before. Without the extra nutrient from the drones, they're starting to be absorbed. "I don't know," Penance gurgles a bit before coughing. She's feverish, so likely caught something working in the sick wards. Her worm-marks are looking inflamed as well, even puffy.
"Here, drink for a bit, it may make you feel better," Nicora offers, then offers her upper saggy 'teat' for the acolyte to nurse on her. She's pleased to see the larva are shrinking. Of course Penance will have to have larva implated in her womb later for her own bonded children to be born, but such are later concerns. And if Penance takes the offer to nurse, Nicora takes some time to poke and inspect the woman's forehead. It also reminds her to inspect the spot she had Penance inflict upon her on her lower belly.
The girl nurses, with some difficulty (her stomach makes some very alarming noises). The puffy skin is a bit.. squishy, on both of them. It also itches on Nicora.
Nicora actually feels around on Penance's forehead where it squishes to see if she can actually feel anything inside it or moving.
"You are doing quite well. I am certain Gorphat is pleased with your progress. Can you not feel her loving presence now?" Nicora asks.
The worms are too small yet to be felt, compared to the skin's reaction to them. Penance mumbles something while drinking, then has to stop, turn her head, and have a massive sneeze.
Nicora strokes Penance's cheek. "What was that, child?" she asks.
"I.. feel ill," the girl says weakly. "Is.. is that her love?"
"That is her trying to make you stronger. When you recover, you will not get this sickness again," Nicora claims.
"Stronger.." Penance repeats. "I feel weak though. I want to feel stronger.." And then there's another coughing jag.
Nicora strokes Penance's cheek. "You will. You look wonderful," she coos, "Stripped so bare, swollen, and infested. It will make you glorious."
"Like you?" Penance asks, seeming to perk up a little bit.
"If you prove yourself worthy, yes. Gorphat will bless you in ways she has blessed me," Nicora claims ... and of course all the various blesses just have to twinge at that; from the deep inner itch that never leaves Inala's canal, to her aching breasts, to her distended gut.
"Would you like Gorphat to make you a little more like me, child?" Nicora asks of PEnance.
"That would be nice," the girl says, sounding a bit groggy.
That's when Nicora lowers her head until she is eye-level with Penance's breasts. "Oh glorious Gorphat, my Mother and the mother of all challenges and trials, your new daughter wishes to prove herself to you," she murmurs reverently, bringing her hands up to massage the bare Eeee's chest, thumbs circling sensitive flesh. "So allow me to give her one of your glorious gifts; the gift of the forever-chest. The gift to produce your sacred fluids with her body so that she may be milked for your blessings and nursed on by your worshippers. As I nurse upon her, let that gift within me also be within her and forever a part of her." And with that, Nicora leans in and starts to firmly nurse upon Penance.
Inala's blessing only works with a male form nursing on a female to cause lactation.. and so of course Gorphat's version works when Nicora does it. Penance moans, but does begin to produce 'milk' eventually. It's green and.. well, not very tasty (unless you happen to be a Skreek that has eaten garbage all his life).
And Nicora nurses warmly and firmly on one teat until it flows well, if thickly. She shifts and then nurses on the other to make sure that it too flows freely with Gorphat's 'gift'. "I cannot believe I am cursing this girl," she thinks while doing it, at that.
Penance seems almost oblivious to what's going on. She's drooling, but that's likely from whatever infections she's fighting off. It's also possible that she's actually asleep. Who knows what her dreams have been like since starting her new life.
Satisfied the girl is firmly 'blessed', Nicora draws back and admires the rather swollen chest of the Eeee now. "I understand better at least one reason why you give challenges, Mother. They can look ... nice on those blessed," she thinks as she withdraws to return to her own chambers for a few minutes to check herself over a bit. She has to make her her own egg situation is okay, plus she really wants to scratch that itchy spot!
Her own eggs are being absorbed faster than Penance's... but Nicora has already undergone the process once before. Scratchy the puffy skin would likely tear it.. and release more worm eggs probably, or some other infectious agent.
To resist scratching, Nicora goes over to her child, Blarf, and actually just attaches all six of his pseudopods to her chest so that he can nurse for a bit. The feelings should help alleviate the urge to scratch. Plus, she can also use the time to take the shadow and check for any issues related to those ringworm eggs she swallowed in a fit of insanity.
The swallowed worms.. aren't doing well. It takes time to find them taking root in the intestines.. but since Nicora doesn't eat solid food (or anything much at all in her still-growing-her-teeth-back form) they seem to be starving to death.
Nicora makes a note to herself to get some food to help them, perhaps. Maybe, she's a little distracted by the plant nursing.
"I apologize for being gone for a while, Mother," Nicora thinks while she is being nursed upon. "I hope that Penance is proving pleasing to you."
"She shows some promise," Gorphat replies. "She lacks enthusiasm though."
"Unlike mine?" Nicora thinks.
"There has not been one as enthusiastic as you since Phlagaea," Gorphat notes. "Most had to be brought kicking and screaming to the Temple."
"I am sure she will improve. It took me some time to adjust and come to worship you as I do. She will learn to love your touch upon her," Nicora thinks. "By the time she is birthing womb-incubated horribs she will be enthusiastic I am certain. Who could not find utter delight in doing that for you?"
"Well, to be fair you are the only one to do that so far," Gorphat points out. "The others had a healthy fear of horribs."
"I will fix that! It was glorious! I would do it again," Nicora thinks with disturbing glee.
"You are a pioneer," Gorphat praises. "Finally, I do not have to do all of the work myself!"
"Indeed! Alas, I must go soon, but before I go .... Hosheb!" Nicora thinks. Great, she's going to get milked, then demon-raped. It must really be true you can suffer withdraw from even horrible things. Or she's just crazy. Or both. Either way, she's about to be a milking horrib-rutting pseudogrub. That's just best left to the imagination...