As fun as it might be to collect energy via Nikky's method of shadow-absorbing the 'donated' fluids from male partners - there just isn't enough energy to make much of a difference, not when the form she needs is an expensive, hybridized one of a 'masculine' female Eeee. The 'hunger pangs' of the shadow hand haven't started up yet at least, but the Skreek does have to make the climb up Mt. Inala (and gets hit on by all of the descending pilgrims that tried their luck that night, only to find no Yodhinala waiting for them).
Nikky has better luck, since she knows where to find the Yodhinala - and more importantly, the Sphynx that's able to recharge her with the Light of Nala. It may just be the Skreek's imagination, but she feels a bit more.. gravid. Maybe it was from all of that rather reproduction-related activity stirring things up - who knows what the latest Sacred Horrib Larvae respond to.
The transformation into 'Dar Siefert' the Sylvanian courier took a bit more time, mainly because Mave was offering suggestions quite often. Apparently, the Temple of Inala did have similar girls on hand, fed powerful hormone potions from birth to get the appropriate effect. As odd as the feedback was, it did result in something that looked a bit more passable, even through it was unlikely that anyone was going to be in a position to notice at the Coalition Tower. The larger form at least hid the larvae better.
Now there was just the matter of getting an appointment to see Thath...
The wine in particular is familiar: Creen Blood Wine. "It seems a lifetime ago that we last met here," Thath says, looking out over the city.
Alptraum rolls his shoulders, still uncomfortable in the odd body of confusing hormones and structure; and the gut weight while not showing ... can be felt. "When you were trying to determine who I was, yes. I should have realized why you tried blood back then, admittedly," he admits, "And ... even more disturbing I suppose, is the topic I want to discuss is not so dissimilar. The General."
"Ah," Thath says, turning from the tinted window to face his guest. "I do have a bit more information on that subject, thanks to.. captured Guardians volunteering what they knew."
"I wish the visit was more social, but she is continuing to be a problem and coming up wit sneakier approaches to attack with," Alptraum notes, swirling his glass slowly. He takes a sip and then looks out the window. "Do you know her actual name? What family she came from?"
"The name that came up in most of the interrogations was Vashra," Thath replies. "No family name, but that is not surprising. Candidates - or spares - for the General are raised from birth together, not with their families. You could almost consider them a sort of Yodh, although most are male. They undergo special treatments to make them compatible with the armor, which is itself an entity, supposedly mindless but alive."
"Ah, so she doesn't have her own family to watch or protect. That simplifies some things. I don't want anyone's family in the middle of a war," Alptraum notes. "And what do you mean that the armor is alive? This is news to me. What exactly is it?"
"I suppose it's meant to be like a wearable Titan," Thath explains. "Pre-Expedition, which means there must be a limited number of the things. Meant to protect the wearer from extreme environments, enhance strength and senses. It's a vampire though, feeding off the blood of the wearer. You've seen her outside of it though. It may not be alive any longer."
"Out side of it, in the forbidden zone," Alptraum corrects, "That could have any number of effects on it." He rubs the back of his neck as he starts to pace. "Where did it come from? Legends are fine. Also, do you know what it is made out of?"
"It came from the Tower of Babel core - the technology of our ancestors," Thath says. "I assume it works like an insect. Chitin armor on the outside, a layer of muscle and flesh on the inside that wraps or bonds to the wearer. If it has added armor beyond that, nobody seemed to know about it. The selection process for a new General is a bit brutal, though.. there is some aspect of the armor that reacts to the intent or mental state of the wearer."
"Are there any other variant versions? I would like to see one in person," Alptraum notes as he gives Thath a sidelong glance. "Does it have any iron in it? This is important; I'm ... iron can harm me greatly. Moreso that a typical person. It is a vulnerability I inherited when I captured and took the powers I have now. They aren't all fun; being able to shift and such did have a price."
"I don't know if it has iron or other exotic materials," Thath admits. "The General and the Guardians took or destroyed what records they could when the Tower fell. But I assume if this armor is Pre-Expedition, then it may function in the vacuum of space or be resistant to forms of weaponry we don't know about. And if it has been brought into the Forbidden Zone, there's no telling what has been altered as a result. The same goes for the bioship they took. It was flying without a gas envelope. Nobody knew it could do that until then. It may have been a one-time use however."
"And there are no other things left here that are even close?" Alptraum inquires next. "I need to know as much as possible about it to be able it fight against it. However her plans may go until the end, it is certain it will ultimately just her against me. She will want that if nothing else; I have stood in her way many times. Others have suggested I may soon be her surrogate focus of all her anger and failures."
"Anger is both her power and weakness," Thath suggests. "In order to gain her position, she had to defeat all of the other members of her creche - essentially her siblings. And by defeat I mean kill in combat. As for what might remain in the Tower.. I am informed that sections of it are still inaccessible. Poison gas, 'experiments' running about.. The popular course of action has been 'make sure nothing gets out, it's all got to settle down eventually.' There is no safe access to the core, which was always the most secret and protected area."
"Safe for a normal Eeee. I'm not quite ... normal. I may be able to protect myself and get in," Alptraum points out. "Now, what else did the captives say about Vashra? How recently have they seen her?"
"The ones we have are from the raid, so they last saw her at the Tower," Thath notes. "The only other possibly relevant bit of information was her age - 32 at the time of Tower's fall. None of our informants were of high rank among the Guardians - most were technicians, however, or worked in the experimental areas."
"So, slightly older than I am," Alptraum notes and shrugs a bit. "I'm not sure how relevant that is, but it does give me a rough idea of what physical age she should still be at, given everything she did to herself."
"I wouldn't be too confident on what you think her physical limits are," Thath advises. "The prisoners knew about some of what had been done to her. Procedures to increase her growth and strength - but with hidden costs. The Generals do not last long, without the support of the armor. Organ failure was the most common cause of death.. although if the General is now undead, as you say.. that probably doesn't matter."
"I know for a fact she is undead," Alptraum notes. "And it all gives me a rough starting point to consider. And it's also likely why she hates me even more than my interfering with her plans would naturally cause."
"Hatred and anger is what drives her," Thath says. "If she is one of the legendary black-heart undead, it would take an extreme amount of emotion for her to defy her creator. But hiding in a Forbidden Zone may sever that link as well. The other one.. Abednego bar Abbas.. would have been implanted and resurrected on Rephidim. The source of the black heart there would have been Amaranth.. who was destroyed."
"There could be more than one source, but I'd rather hope that is unlikely," Alptraum points out as he resumes pacing. "The other one, Abednego, hates his condition and life as well. He can have no pleasures and he must obey her. That has to grate on him. I wonder if that could play into our favor."
"Why must he obey her?" Thath asks. "Do you know the bond between them? If the General was turned after she fled the Tower, what happened? She fled east, but then turned north at some point to the Valley of Mists. Did she hide or abandon anything that would be damaged by the Mists somewhere out there? I haven't the manpower to spare for such a search, I'm afraid."
"I can have a few of my allies look and perhaps look myself. I can pick up things that have lingering ... feeling upon them," Alptraum notes as he shifts a bit to adjust some of his current oddness through clothing movement. "As for why? I do not know. But, it has seemed that he must for now. If it is not through a bond, it must be through blackmail."
"Or some other oath he is bound by, perhaps," Thath ponders, taking a sip of wine himself. "Most air traffic into Babel comes in from the East.. but none have reported anything more than occasional bandits. If there is a secret base, it is well hidden. Or it was all to throw off pursuers. Something happened out there though. The General must have found something that led her to seek refuge in the Mists. And Abednego, if he still enters Babel, must report back by some means or hidden path."
"If I had to guess it was in the East that she became undead. The flee to the mists was likely to break the hold over her," Alptraum surmises. "It would be good to find out what happened out there. Maybe something damaged her suit to the point she would die anyway, and she chose the route she did to prolong her life. Just about everyone is afraid to die, after all. Do you know how far it was before the ship changed route?"
"Once she fled.. well, there wasn't anything in the air that could keep up," Thath recalls. "Most of the forces were busy trying to secure the Tower itself. I was lucky to get what intelligence I could from the Temple Loyalists."
"Okay ... so how fast was the ship capable of going?" Alptraum asks next, "We may be able to figure out a rough area."
"It was as fast as a Rahktor at least - a few were able to keep up with it for a short time, before it released a swarm of voracious bugs," Thath says, tapping his chin in thought. "Without knowing the means of actual propulsion, or how long it would last.. well, since the ship had never been seen to fly on its own like that before, I can only assume it was using ancient technology to do it. If it was not First Ones technology, then the range might be quite limited, as even the Pre-Expedition biotechnology had limitations. The Guardians likely incorporated Sifran crystal as well, to block any scrying attempts."
"Or even better ... we know the cult of Diphath is involved. So we know direction and rough speed. Do you have any records of old temples along that route? Particularly ones that could be positioned such that an airship could land near?" Alptraum suggests before sipping from his glass.
"It is hard to separate legend from history," Thath admits. "If the ancient legendary battles actually happened, I would think the Yodhrephath would have the records of them, since the conflict was supposedly between Diphath and Rephath."
"If you don't, I can query the Temples that remain; they might," Alptraum adds once he has finished sipping.
"All legends have some basis in truth. It may not often be much, but there is always a seed," Alptraum notes, tapping claw tips against his glass. "I'll follow up with whom I can on that. The Yodhrephath are ... they could use a sense of humor."
"I had once heard of a magnificent map.. a scale model of both Babel and all the surrounding lands," Thath notes. "Never could pin down where it was kept though. Some sources say it was in the Tower, and others put it as far off as Zahirinee, in the care of the Oracle. If there is something large and hidden, that might give a good idea of where to search."
"If it is in Zahirinee, that is a bit too far to go to search right now," Alptraum admits. "Still, one thing at a time. Exhaust local sources first, then span out. Have you any other news I should know? Even as attached as I am to certain things, I know you have much deeper and better sources."
"Many groups are quietly arming themselves," Thath says. "The merchant houses are preparing for a siege, stockpiling food and supplies. There has been talk of requesting troops from the Temple of Rephidim, but nobody thinks it is a good idea."
"It isn't. I am not exactly on their welcome list," Alptraum agrees, "And I'm hoping no soldiers will be needed at all. The preparation for a siege is because the General is trying to gather soldiers herself. Granted, I broke her recent attempt and she'll have to regather."
"We have her outnumbered," Thath says. "If not in seasoned soldiers, then in people willing to fight against her." He then looks aside to Alptraum, and asks, "Do you think the General is acting in defiance of Diphath? The covens of Yodhdiphath are gone, but she was at least trying to use them, I believe."
"I think she is trying to appear as if she is working with Diphath, but has her own plans and goals," Alptraum says. "I have no direct proof, but suspicions. IT isn't as if Dphath talks to me."
"But She might, if you tried," Thath says quietly. "As a last resort, to be sure. She is as mad and bloodthirsty as Blakat and as ruthless and humorless as Rephath. But none of the Sisters take betrayal lightly."
"Any time I talk with one of them it means something bad for me," Alptraum admits and goes back to looking out the window. "So ... that is a very last resort. I have only met Diphath twice ... and she scares me more than any of the Sisters. And that was with just a look."
"I imagine it is difficult to gain the trust of such a creature," Thath notes. "There is one known surviving shrine in the mountains surrounding Babel. Many lost and forgotten places were used during the great Dream Ritual, and that is the one where the sacrifices were performed."
"First rule ... never trust them. Any information they give must be suspect," Alptraum points out and raises a finger. "IF you can provide me a map of which ones you know still exist, I'll hold that as a last-ditch way to gather information."
"The only one I know of is somewhere on Mount Rephath," the old Eeee says. "It may still hold secrets, such as the locations of other shrines - or even an actual Temple. The Yodhrephath should know of it."
"Oh joy ... they are such a delight to visit," Alptraum says a bit sarcastically, "But at least they can be reasoned with. And if it came down to it, I could find a way to invoke Rephath to make them allow me in. Workable."
"If any of the Temples have information on Diphath, it should the Temple of Rephath," Thath says with a nod. "They are not that unpleasant. Their main flaw is their resistance to bribery."
"I don't need to bribe them," Alptraum notes. "Is there anything else I should know? This gives me a lot to look into as it is."
"Not that I can think of, but if you have something you'd like me to look into, now would be the time to mention it," Thath says.
"Well, if there is a way to get into the core I wouldn't mind looking around there. It need not be an Eeee-safe way; I have several options for that. I just need an access point. I would like as much information about what she wears as possible," Alptraum says. He taps his chin now, thinking, "And one more thing ... why did the General leave? Was she targeted to be killed? Or ... could she have joined your group?"
"The Guardians made it clear that they did not wish to work with me," Thath notes. "Apparently being driven out by the Temple Loyalists cut them off from their primary means of fighting back: the Tower of Babel itself."
"Is there anything you want to ask of me?" Alptraum inquires, "I don't want all visits to simply be ... business."
Thath looks directly into Alptraum's eyes, and asks, "How are you doing? I hear many things, and am never sure which are related to your activities," he asks.
At that, Alptraum shrugs. "I have good days and bad days. I am not the politician that you are and I often give into wishes I probably shouldn't in the name of fostering good associations. Nothing bad ... just usually unpleasant to myself," he admits. "If you heard about the Tree appearing on Mount Sunala, that was me. I turned all of the General's grown army into those."
"I interesting trick," Thath says, with a tone of approval. "I don't suppose it will work on all of her forces?"
"No. It only worked on those she explicitly had grown from a tree in the mists. Those ... were made from stillborns," Alptraum explains, "An unpleasant situation that has been halted permanently."
"With her attempts at infiltration thwarted, she may pour all of her remaining resources into a military assault," Thath suggests. "Which is much easier to defend against."
"The boon there is she can't hold an army too long in the mists; they degrade fast. So ... I cannot imagine she would have a massive force," Alptraum notes, "Unless they live in the city itself, scattered about. If you hear any rumors around that, it would be good to investigate them. Other than that, most of my current dealings are just to unite what remains of the old temples and placate the Sisters. That seems to be going well, but they often have unusual requests."
Thath's mouth twitches once. "Ah, the Sisters," he says, and has another drink of blood-wine. "I had hoped that Babel would outgrow them. In time, perhaps.. after this threat is dealt with. None are an ally of Diphath, at least."
"After this, I doubt that they will be the same. Even they wish to change, believe it or not," Alptraum notes, raises his glass, and takes another sip.
"It is a time of change, so at least they do not stand in the way of it," Thath says. "And then, I hope, the city will outgrow its need of me."
"Do not start talking of dying again, please," Alptraum says with a sidelong glance. "If I succeed and Babel survives, it will not be the city it is today."
"I can think about retirement," Thath says. "When I can step down.. then my revenge on the Sabaoth will be complete."
"And then what?" Alptraum asks.
"Perhaps I will spend more time with family," Thath suggests with a grin.
"That ... you may regret," Alptraum counters with an amused smile. "While Rosalind may represent education and class, I ... well ... I am a bit more rough."
"Someone must be the doting grandfather who spoils your children," Thath points out. "It is traditional."
"I just hope I'll see them. As grim as it is, the General is likely quite capable of killing me," Alptraum notes, "But if it comes to that, she will go down with me."
"You are stronger than she is, have no doubt of that," Thath says. "You fight to protect, she fights to destroy."
"She's more ruthless, though. She will cross lines I won't," Alptraum notes, "I have to be realistic in that and what she is likely willing to do."
"I have faith in you," Thath says, putting a hand on Alptraum's shoulder. "I understand ruthlessness, and I understand fury and recklessness. Make her furious."
"Oh, I imagine she is already that. I heard half her fortress in the mists collapse with I made her army ... leaf," Alptraum says with a bemused smirk.
Alptraum also absently rubs his gut, making sure there are no ... issues with his cargo in this odd body.
Thath arches an eyebrow at the pun, but lets his pass. "Learn what you can, and make yourself stronger son," he says.
"Nothing is more infuriating than someone who beats you with a bad joke," Alptraum points out to Thath. "It comes across as them being seen as almost a joke of a threat themselves. Not unlike a game of cards in that respect; do things to annoy your opponent so they get rash and make mistakes."
"So long as you don't let them do the same," Thath warns. "The General.. should not be versed in such forms of battle."
"She's dealing with an old card shark, gambler, and pickpocket. I have to agree, she is unlikely to have dealt with someone like me," Alptraum notes. "But, I also have my own weaknesses; family and friends. She may try to go after them instead of me. Something I always have to watch for."
"It seems she will need to go after the entire city at this rate," Thath notes. "Always instill a sense of overconfidence in your foe. Hide your abilities.. just as you would hide a devastating hand of cards. It is always to your advantage to be underestimated."
"Of course," Alptraum agrees, then finishes off his glass of wine. "And speaking of things, I suppose I should get back to dealing with the matters at hand. However, we should try to talk more often. As dangerous as it is, I don't have many people I can just talk to."
"My.. nobody has ever willingly wanted to just talk to me in quite some time," Thath muses. "It would be pleasant."
"A sign that things are changing, avralie?" Alptraum has to ask, lips turned up into a terribly amused smile.
"Changing.. or returning to a better time.." Thath notes. He doesn't smile, but at least his tone is warm.
"Older times always look better. We forget the bad parts," Alptraum says gently, "But, perhaps. Or perhaps it is a coming future with the best of what is now and what was; and leaving behind the worst of it all."
"I have a lot to leave behind," Thath says, somberly.
"And a lot waiting for you," Alptraum adds as he pats the older man's shoulder. "If I could make the sisters change, I think I can forgive the mistakes of a father. Many I would have probably made as well had I been in your place."
"Unlikely," Thath claims, and now does smile slightly. "You aren't ruthless. You have lines you do not cross."
"If my children were directly threatened, I am not so sure those would even hold," Alptraum admits. "But, enough of dwelling on what was. There is more than enough to worry about with what may soon be."
"We will be prepared, one way or another," Thath promises. "I can still swing a sword, you know."
"Hey, then you have a skill I don't," Alptraum claims with a grin. "Never swung a sword, m'self."
"Yet you seem like you should be holding one," Thath says. "Something dark and.. blazing, somehow."
"I'm more the sort that works from the shadow. It's hard for me to take the center stage on anything," Alptraum admits, "I always worry I'll break the illusion of grandeur if too much of me is seen."
"That applies to everyone," Thath notes. "Otherwise more people would walk around naked all the time."
"Yeah, right. No one wants to see me naked," Alptraum jokes. Though ... right now he does look very freaky in certain areas. They feel freaky too. Ugh.
It's probably best not to think about it too much.. because it always makes slight shifts or gurgles more noticeable. Like it does this time.
"And on that strange note ... I bid you good evening," Alptraum says. "It was ... enjoyable speaking with you again."
"I enjoy the break from.. dealing with politicians," Thath replies, raising his glass to Alptraum.
Alptraum raises his own glass. "I enjoy the break from dealing with ... crazy women," he adds, smiling.
Things are quiet in the Temple of Gorphat this early in the morning, when the majority of inhabitants have just gone to sleep. Penance is wrapped up in the Horrib lair, with no sign of Spyder (but it isn't like they'd just keep going at it until someone told them to stop). Otto is snoring slightly down in his converted room as well, so there isn't anyone to interrupt Nicora.
Which is good because he had to sneak in as Alptraum first, then seclude himself into the High Priestess' chamber and lock the door. Off goes the clothing so that he can check himself out before shifting. Specifically from the side to look at his gut ... then to see if anything has started to leak from below. The plug should still be in lnace keeping everything in, though ... but he checks that too. And thate means having to lift the odd appendage above everything out of the way first.
Everything is dry.. but from the side there's a bit of motion. It's like a slow ripple.. or the shape of something cigar shaped moving under the skin. There's slightly less 'depth' in the hybrid form, even though the volume available is higher.
Alptraum's brow goes up in surprise at the movement. He doesn't remember movement like that when the doe bore the larvae. He then decides to test something, he tries to stimulate this odd form to see id the ripple comes back or increases.
A bit of rubbing and probing (which is odd, and causes things to swell in ways that might put the 'regular' equipment to shame) the motion seems to settle down. As if the larvae were paying attention or something.
And so, Alptraum keeps it up. Part of him is curious as to just how this body will react if things go ... well ... all the way. IT is admittedly interesting he has something he can rub as well as probe at the same time. Part of him can kind of see why the Yodhinala might have kept a few freaks like this around.
Having all that extra surface area really brings home just how much more sensitive Inala's orb is compared to.. well, anything. It isn't hard to bring herself to release.. several times. The convulsions seem to stimulate the larvae though. If not to move, then to.. feel heavier?
"Woah, okay. This form is freaky but it has some ... nice advantages. I might have to use it now and then," Alptraum has to admit as he (really she) pants from the back to back flows of pure pleasure. The increased feeling if weight, though, causes her to stop there. She goes back and checks the mirror again, concerned a bit.
It's hard to tell if anything is bulgier.. but there isn't any motion at the moment.
"Back to Nicora," Alptraum decides since the body is thinner and things are more visible. She does at least sit down on the bed before oozing out the shadow and becoming lost in it. Shifting back to Nicora is ... like releasing a clenched fist, really. It's going back to a form the body considers natural.
There's a noticeable difference in belly size.. things are significantly larger. There's no hiding the pregnancy for Nicora.
Nicora pokes around on her belly a bit now. "This is hideous," she mutters. Pudgy and with long droopy teats from the milking.
She definitely wasn't this big before changing into Nikky. A lot of change in just a day!
Frowning, Nicora opens her door and tries to summon Brutus! "These are growing differently" she thinks.
A moment later the oversized drone arrives, hovering in the doorway.
Nicora drops and presents herself to the bug. It's direct and a bit lewd, but she's testing if the insect will try to mate with her. And if it does ... what happens to her.
The drone lands on the distended belly, and seems to be examining Nicora. His 'goo tube' enters her.. but doesn't do anything to the plug, withdrawing a moment later. "Did-a-chick," he clacks.
"Looks like I should go talk to Mave," Nicora grumbles as she rises. It's time to get dressed. For a lazy Yodh, their clothing is a chore to put on. It involves a lot of wrapping. But at least she can bind up her teats and gut firmly so they don't move around too much on the trip to Mount Inala.
She feels heavier now than she did as Nikky.. but only very slightly so. The difference in overall body density makes it hard to pin down.
With things held snug, Nicora stops at the mirror again and looks for movement.
No movement yet. It seems that the weight change settles things down a bit.
"You are not very helpful," Nicora complains at her own gut. She sighs, then heads out of her chambers. It's off to Mount Inala ... to be poked and prodded by Mave! Nicora won't enjoy it, but the plus side is in this form ... neither will Mave!
"Oh.. my," Mave notes, covering her nose and mouth with a hand when Nicora arrives. "Gorphat has a unique sense of beauty, doesn't she?"
"Indeed she does. If I ask nicely, she might bestow it upon you as well," Nicora says to Mave as she enters. She also smirks slightly and says, "I, ah, need an exam. I am gurgling in places I do not normally gurgle. It may have to do with the last task all new Yodhgorphat must do; bear their own horrib servants. I tested the ritual on myself ... and I imagine you are not surprised..."
"I am very surprised," Mave admits, and goes about lighting incense tapers. "How do you get pregnant from a Horrib?" she asks.
"Well, there is a queen that has been taught how to lay its eggs in the womb of a female Eeee. The males then fertilize them and place a firm plug into the Eeee's cervix so they can't be removed," Nicora explains as she does the unimaginable; she undresses. If she looked bad clothed...
"I like Snowcora's tattoos," Mave notes, and that seems to be her only comment on Nicora's skin decoration. "What do you think is.. wrong.. then, other than the entire situation?"
"Well, a lot of gurgling ... and I think movement. This didn't happen with the doe form," Nicora explains and sighs. "Something might be wrong. Well, more wrong."
"Is this a new type of Horrib then?" Mave asks, and actually places her palms on Nicora's distended gut.. between the teats. "It's like an udder."
Nicora finds a place to sit and lie back to make this a bit easier. "Well, yes. The queen is definitely new, and the father drones were from the doe," she explains, "But I didn't think they would be that different.
"Gorphat isn't known for leaving anything untouched in some way," Mave notes, and feels a bit more firmly. "Lots of pressure. I assume the creatures aren't using a placenta.. but are they anchored to the uterine wall in some other way?"
"They attached themselves somehow to the wall, yes. I could tell that much from the shadow examination. Also, that there are at least four, but could be more. It is hard to examine myself that way," Nicora explains.
"So they are getting their nourishment from you?" Mave asks. "Have you been doing anything that might be affecting them?
"They must have really set the plug too, if there is a lot of pressure in there," Nicora also mutters.
The pelvic exam comes next, as Mave seems to hold her breath a lot. Finally she has to ask, "How much sex did you have while you were Nicorina earlier?"
"Er, about fifteen different guys. I ... think. I lose track as Nikky; it all blurs together," Nicora admits. She also scowls a bit when she spots Mave holding her nose. "I can't smell that bad."
"You must have a terrible sense of smell by now," Mave counters. "Gorphat's curse doesn't affect Nikky, does it?"
"No, only Inala's blessing. That rat goes down on Rhains regularly," Nicora remarks dryly.
"I suspect there is some interaction with the grubs then," Mave suggests. "The more sex you have without Gorphat's curses active, the faster they develop."
"Is that good or bad? Is it some kind of punishment?" Nicora asks. "Can you tell how large they are now? Or how many? Or ... how they're going to come out?!"
"No to.. all of those?" Mave answers, and wipes her hands off thoroughly. "I'm assuming you can only give 'birth' in this form.. but something about the curses makes the growth process slower. So you could accelerate the pregnancy if needed. As long as you can find someone that want's to bump uglies with a pregnant rat."
"Or this is just how they normally develop and I'm completely wrong," the Yodhinala concedes.
"Just about anyone wants to bed Nikky," Nicora admits as she sits up. "So, any advice on dealing with this or what I should expect?" she asks as she rubs the back of her neck.
"And, ah, how gross do I look down there? How sturdy is that plug?" Nicora inquires.
"I can't tell much because of the.. uh.. slime," Mave admits. "You aren't squirting out juice like a barrel missing its bung, so I think the plug is holding. I can't tell you what to expect.. this is so far out of my experience it isn't funny. Inala deals with childbirth. These aren't children, technically. I assume the birth will be horrific in some way, in keeping with Gorphat. You might be able to speed it up, but that's all I can think of."
Nicora suggests, "You could wash out the slime. I know you have things for it."
"Everything felt fine," Mave notes. "No scarring, which is the main thing. A bit loose, but there are muscle exercises you can do.. well, if it were a natural condition and not some working of Gorphat."
"So, there is no other advice you can give me? I assume you do not wish to be there for the birth, correct?" Niocra asks.
"Assuming these are like the typical horrib they would try to eat me," Mave points out. "If you do not want to carry them to term.. I can remove them, however.."
"I could remove them too, with the shadow. But ... I do not think Gorphat would approve of either," Nicora admits.
"So, I will carry them unless it becomes life threatening," Nicora adds.
"Anything I do would not be approved of then," Mave says, and shakes her head. "I don't know what is normal in this situation and what is abnormal. So.. I can only assume that things are progressing as they should."
Nicora rises and starts to wrap herself again. "So far I am not in any discomfort, so I have to assume the same," she says as she works. "I just wish I knew how big I was going to get, or how many there were," she admits.
"Would it make things any less horrible to know?" Mave has to ask.
"I would at least know what was coming," Nicora points out.
"And I just realized that the horribs in the Temple probably won't let me remove them. They queen might even just re-implant me if it happened. They can be .... insistent," Nicora notes.
"I doubt you will get bigger than a typical Eeee pregnancy," Mave assures. "Simply because doing so would be impractical."
"When is Gorphat practical?" Nicora points out.
"She tests," Mave notes. "She wants to have her own version of birth, probably to compete with Inala. She can't make it too horrible, or nobody will go through it again."
"She won't make it life threatening, but it will be difficult. She will push limits with it," Nicora says, but nods. "But, I shall try to not worry, I will put my fairth in Gorphat to see me through."
Mave frowns a bit at that. "I worry about you and Her," she notes. "It is the very definition of an 'unhealthy' relationship. You should spend more time with Inala."
"If I do that, Gorphat gets jealous and will punish me somehow," Nicora notes as she finishes up with her wrapping.
"And this isn't punishing?" Mave asks, gesturing the gravid belly full of monsters.
"No. Her punishments are much worse," Nicora says gravely.
"Perhaps I should come and visit you at Gorphat's Temple sometime," Mave says. "Just to make sure you're doing alright."
"Oh, before I go ... I have to admit that fake male form you gave advice on ... was quite interesting. It had its own benefits," Nicora notes.
"And as the High Priestess, you are welcome to visit the Temple of Gorphat," Nicora adds.
"So long as nobody knows who I am," Mave adds, and smiles a bit. "Do you want some incense to bring along with you?"
"Sure," Nicora agrees. It would be impolite to refuse it.
Mave goes about preparing a care package - not just of incense, but some scented soaps and oils as well..
Nicora tries not to chuckle as Mave prepares a package. She idly scratches an itch or fifteen as well.
"Try not to fly too much, and keep warm," the Yodhinala advises once Nicora is ready to go, sounding motherly.
"Yes, I will," Nicora says to both things. And just before leaving she gives Mave a big kiss right on the lips! She grins, waggles her bare brow, and heads for the exit!
Mave makes an effort not to gag, at least until Nicora is further up the stairwell. The climb does make her legs ache a bit.
Nicora places her hand on her gut, feeling for any movement as she goes. "I must be insane for this ... but why do I feel so ... content when I think about being with child?" she murmurs to herself. "They're monsters, I should be afraid."
Something 'kicks' against the hand, but it's a single sign of movement.
Upon exiting the hidden lair, Nicora gets an idea. Instead of heading home quickly ... she goes up to the old altar instead. Once there she strips off the bandages again, then settles down. "Lets test if sex really does speed you guys up, hmm?" the Eeee remarks to herself before disappearing into shadow. The goal is a form she knows well, the crazy skreek Nikky...
Even Nikky is showing a slight bit of pudge now. It's not that noticeable on a Skreek, thanks to the thick fur and their general shape being normally thicker (although Nikky was exceptionally lean).
Nikky rubs her pudge and cackles, then hops to her feet. With a skip in her step and a giggle of the demented, off she goes towards the graveyard up here ... and the barrow of Rhugharo. "Tra-la-tee-hee! It's off for me to get stuffed by a demon till I go whee!" she cackles in all her glee at embracing carnal lust. It's amazing how one so easily forgets how painful Rhugharo was for her the first time...