Penance is not used to a bed. Granted, it's a stone slab with some straw on it, but it's the only bed she's ever known. Since the High Priestess has been ensconced in the Horrib Lair, Penance has had to move in with Crabs. This hasn't been too bad though. Her coterie of garter Nagas spends most of their time in the straw, and Crabs is available to feed the creepers all of the time. The male creeper, which controls Penance's feelings of pleasure, has been very rewarding due to this, so that Penance has been having actual intense orgasms. It does wear out the rat though after each marathon bout.

"I can make it so he is always aroused," Pharika offers Penance, the Spirit of Affliction visible only to her. "He may not last long in that state, however."

"No, he needs to survive. Killing him would go against his needed duties," Penance thinks. Of course it might also kill her too. She can only take so much!

Crabs is snoring, and probably isn't going to wake up anytime soon. Penance feels her belly changing though. Soon the starfish outline is visible, meaning it's time to harvest her creepers again. She can also hear the swinging bucket of Otto outside of the cell, going about whatever bizarre duties the big Skreek has in store for the day.

"Blugh," Penance grumbles as she sort of rolls sideways and sits up. Also rubs her belly uncomfortably. Gorphat has well and truly perverted the idea of pregnancy with this one. "Otto," she calls out, "I believe it is time to deal with my, er, brood."

The bucket sound stops, then comes back toward the cell. The door opens and there is Otto. "I will summon the Eyes," he tells her. "Do you need help walking?"

"No, I can walk fine," Penance claims, and probably believes too. At least she'll try.

"Alright," Otto says. "I'll go on ahead." And then he's lumbering off in the direction of the temple. Which also lets Penance know which way to go.

And so, Penance lumbers after him. At this stage of course she feels fat, also itchy in certain areas ever since her own self-infection down below. At least it produces food for things? (Things that can't taste, but still).

By the time Penance reaches the temple, the Eyes of Gorphat are waiting for her, complete with the sling used for carrying her around. "Hoy, Yodhgorphat Penance," Foz calls out when he spots her.

Penance answers that with a fart, then ughs. "You assembled fast. I'm not sure if that is blaspehmous or not," she even jokes as she waddles her way towards them.

"We're always just a call away," Foz claims. Slash coughs (he's always coughing) and notes, "Foz likes one u' de Yodhrinala."

"I ain't.. don't listen to 'im, Princess Penny," Foz stammers. "Where you need to go today?" he then asks, trying to change the subject.

Penance actually smirks. "I want to know a name, then I'll tell you where I'm going," she claims and actually puts her hands on her hips. Well, lovehandles.

"I don't know her name yet," Foz admits. "She's got light brown fur and really dark hair, and smiles a lot."

"That sounds like most of them," Penance points out, but seems satisfied enough with that answer and waddles onward. When she reaches the swing she flops her butt into it with a grunt and another fart. This time from the other passage.

The men don't comment on the noises, just heft up the sling and carry Penance out of the temple, where they actually start harnessing up to carry her through the air. "Where to, ma'am?" Foz asks.

"No problem, we'll have you there in two humps of a pretty Skreek," Foz claims. However long two humps of a pretty Skreek takes. But Penance knows how long the trip takes anyway.

"Doesn't that depend on the skill of the Skreek and the skill of the humper?" Penance has to point out. Skill matters!

"Sure does! Also the number o' guys doin' the humpin'," Foz replies, as they launch into the air and take a moment to coordinate, so the Penance isn't being swung all over the place.

"Well women can usually handle at most three. Seven if hands and feet are used," Penance opines. Swinging or not, she's still gassy, alas. Which means those in the back will not have a fun time.

The four Eeee that make up the Eyes of Gorphat are pretty robust, able to carry Penance across the Streets Below all the way to the opposite end of Babel, to Mt. Blakat, without having to stop for a rest.

Refugee Camp, Mt. Blakat
Unlike the one at Mt. Gorphat, the camp here is a lot more ramshackle, looking not very different from the Streets Below in practice. There aren't any hospital tents here, and people seem to be less social as well.

Once Penance is set down outside of the Doctor's tent, and the four men collapse and pant.

"Piffle," Penance says, "Four of you and already tired? You wouldn't be able to keep up with a woman. Best stick to each other."

"Such cruelty," Foz moans. The commotion brings the snout of a Naga through the flaps of the medical tent, and a long blue forked tongue tasting the air. "Penance," Doctor Sesstha recognizes. "Full up already?"

Penance turns, which shows her disturbingly swollen belly, looking like she has quadruple Eeee children in there. "Yes," she replies and pats her undulating stomach. And of course, more gas.

And on the horrible-looking Eeee waddles her way into the tent, and leaving a trail in her wake.

Swixx waves to Penance, and says, "Penny!" Sesstha sighs and tells Swixx to help her up onto the table, which is refreshingly free of blood or other substances. Sesstha goes to the rear section to retrieve the Big Jar.

Well, free of other stuff for right now. She may change that Penny waves to Swixx, then crawls onto the table with his help. And soon, she flops onto her back with a pained grunt. "I feel like a blimp," she admits. Well, she sure has enough gas to be one. Fortunately spent for now.

"What is blimp?" Swix asks. "Can you eat it?" He hovers over Penance, unsure of what to do next. "Get the tools, Swix," his mother finally instructs him, so her turns to get them. All of them. In a big tray. Some of them look scarier than the odd tweezers that Sesstha ultimately selects.

"Slang for a large airship," Penance says, though how she knows that, who knows? Not that Penance can see well, but the outlines of the tools are unsettling, to say the least. She's used to this a bit by now, so is at least not panicking.

The Doctor first uses some forceps to widen the already distended navel, then reaches in deep with the tweezers. The starfish thing ripples, which feels weird, and the Naga is retrieving the first of the creepers. Once she has it free, it is dropped into the jar. Swix isn't interested in the procedure though, and tries talking to Penance. "Here for big Blakat thingy?" he asks.

"Guh!" goes Penance. It doesn't hurt per say, but it feels disturbing. It does feel a bit like someone rooting around in her insides. "Which big Blakat thing? She isn't planning a raid somewhere, right?" she asks.

"The Day of Blakat, when the Yodhblakat go recruiting," Sesstha explains. "Although thith time they are acthepting applicantth inthted for thome reathon. There ith to be thome thort of competition though, I gather."

It feels extra-weird when the creepers hold on inside, and stretch until they pop free.

"Applications? Recruiting?" Penance asks, "Yodhblakat? That sounds civiliiiiIIIIIIzed." That last bit is a more of a squeal as things are pulled around inside, until they snap back and she jerks. "I was not aware of it. Would I even be welcome?"

"There you are!" a Yodhblakat declares as she bursts into the tent. "About time you showed up! What are you.. uh.. what is that?" she asks as another creeper is extracted.

"My children!" Penance claims, probably just to see how the Yodhblakat reacts. "And what do you mean it's about time I showed up?"

"For the selection!" the brutish looking woman says. "You have the soul-sight. You were gonna help choose. Did you forget?"

"Oh, right. I've been a bit distracted due to my duties," Penance claims and gestures to her gut. She also farts again. "You wished me to find the most crazy yes?"

"The.. most devout, and strongest, and..." the Yodh lists off, then pauses. "Crazy, yes. That too. But they must work together, and that will be the contest."

"Work ... together?" Penance asks, as if that is the most alien thing she ever heard about Yodhblakat. "Work together to do what?"

The next creeper to come out actually spits blood and makes a little squeaking sound before letting go.

"They will form teams and play Blakatball," the Yodhblakat says. "Their performance will be judged then."

"Have you ever played Blakatball? Do you know the rules?" Penance has to ask. Probably because it's kind of important to judge it by!

"Of course I have!" the Yodh claims. "I was there for the very first game! The candidates should have all played it before as well. Or at least come to watch. It's very popular you know!"

"It it? I don't think I've ever been to one. Maybe. I don't remember," Penance admits, then shrugs some as more creepers are pulled out with wet pops. "I'll need a list of rules so I can judge candidates too."

"What? We just need you to select the candidates," the Yodh insists. "Do you mean that their nature might change as they play the game? It could bring out some hidden potential we might miss?"

"It's possible," Penance claims, "But I suppose you might find it offensive if a Yodhgorphat can judge candidates better than you..."

"Eh? We've never done this before!" the Yodh claims. "We are the Yodhblakat, it is we who do the offending!"

Still she runs down the rules of the game while the creepers are being plucked from Penance's belly.

"I don't know. You seem pretty inoffensive to me," Penance actually teases, and then shuts up to hear the actual rules. "Well, that should give me an idea of what to look for in good candidates. What if no one really meets the right criteria, though?""

"I mean, they can't all fail to be accepted," the Yodh clarifies. "No matter the outcome of the game itself. At least one candidate must be accepted as a new Yodhblakat Acolyte. Otherwise the there's no point in doing it this way, and that would upset the Barsunala, who is already a pain in our backsides about things like this."

"He's a pain in your backsides? I was not aware he enjoyed such forms of carnal pleasure," Penance remarks. "I shall have to remember that. And if he is such a pain, why do you not just kill him?"

"It's complicated," the Yodhblakat claims. "Plus, you can't kill the Barsunala. That doesn't even make any sense."

"Ah, so you are terrified of him," Penance says, and nods. "I have heard he's scary."

"He is High Priestess Rizalka's husband," the Yodhblakat growls. "And Blakat doesn't kill family. We are not killers! We're fighters!"

"Mmhmm," Penance says, "He's not Gorphat's High Priestess' husband as far as I have heard."

"He's all the high priestess's husband," the Yodh claims. "Don't you know that?"

A particularly large creeper is being pulled out next, and it's going slowly as it fights against the Doctor's tug.

"If that's so, then why doesn't he ever visit the Temple of Gorphat?" Penance points out as her voice gets more squeaky and she ends up arching her back, a lot. It looks like battle of the starfish going on.

"It's true whether he's there are not," the Yodhblakat claims. "He's the Barsunala, he can visit in your High Priestess's dreams you know, so you can't really say he's never been there."

"Fine, fine. He probably likes Gorphat's High Priestess better anyway," Penance taunts.

After the big one, Sesstha is really rummaging around with the tweezers now in search of the next one.

That makes Penance squirm around some. Honestly, it kind of looks like she's being disemboweled at this point. "When is this day I need to be here for?" she finally asks.

"The candidates have begun to arrive," the Yodhblakat says. "So you can start with the sorting now. We have two days until the Big Game."

"Fine, fine, I will do that once I get all of these out," Penance says. "And I will need an attendant to hump me several times a day as well to keep things at bay."

"Eh? A willing one?" the Yodhblakat asks. "Can't you just use a polished toy?"

"Oh, so a male as well then," the Yodhblakat sighs. "We have barinalas. Will one of those do?"

"Possibly. They don't have to be willing, only functional. Though with Inala's usual feud with Gorphat, I am not sure, hmm. I shall pray on it," Penance claims.

"Feud? First I've heard of that," the big woman says while the Naga finally finds another creeper to extract. "Inala doesn't feud with Blakat, even after we razed her temple and stole her studs."

"We're all pregnant, so that is Inala's revenge," the Yodhblakat claims. "Are you almost finished?"

Penance sits up a little, admitting, "Not sure." She starts feeling around too. And farts once more, ugh.

The Doctor is pressing here and there on Penance's belly, trying to get things moving. Fluid bubbles up through the navel. "We ssshould have figured out how to use bait," the Naga notes.

"What they eat is not exactly easy to get as bait," Penance points out. Nevermind it would also be a bit, ah, gross to collect.

"Everything here is gross," the Yodhblakat complains. "Why must people be so messy when they're in one place, and you can't just burn the hovels down and move on to the next one? It's crazy."

A tiny tentacle emerges with the rest of the foul bubbling goo, and Sessthra leaps upon it with the tweezers, initiating a rubbery tug of war.

"We're not allowed to burn stuff anymore," Penance points out as her navel burps. She also tries to help with a tug of war. "At least my children come out of here and not between my legs like yours will."

Amelia says, "Mine won't have tentacles though," the Yodhblakat counters. "They will look like me, Yodblakat Voracious of the Stone Fists!""

"Or maybe they will be small and dainty and want to be an artist," Penance points out, and grins.

"I thought it would make me feel more like family," Penance points out. "Don't you fight with your Sisters?"

"We do not tease, we just fight," the woman claims. "The Yodhgorphat are untouchable though, so I suppose it is how you fight."

Yodhblakat Voracious is unsurprisingly nimble despite her size, and dodges back.

"It's a game of stop moving while I've got things inside of you," Sesstha says.

"That may have been the lassst one," Sesstha concedes as she roots around. The starfish is less pronounced now.

"How many was it this time?" Penance asks as she burps. From her belly. As in her navel, not up and through her mouth.

"Patienssse," Sesstha says as she removes her tweezers, and the sticks a hose into the navel.

"Only a dozen, sssame as before," the Doctor counts as she starts to pump out the remaining fluid into the jar with a squeeze-bulb attached to the tube.

"What are you doing with that hose?" Penance asks, then gets her answer as her internal gloop is soon made into external gloop. "Soon, I think," she adds as she looks less and less fat.

Once the last of the fluid has been added, the jar is sealed back up. "A doctor can never have too many leachesss," Sesstha says, and removes the hose and forceps. She then checks over the rest of Pennance, tsking at the various scars on her breasts and the checking the leather-fusion at her crotch. "Nothing dangerousss," she says. "You can go."

"Is it healing well? Should I visit again before I leave camp?" Penance asks as she slowly slides herself off the bed and to her feet. She also scratches a bit at her crotch, which makes it 'snot' out a glob of something on the floor too with a splut. Definitely not the kind of Eeee you take to a polite dinner party. Good thing there are no polite dinner parties here.

"Right!" Voracious says, and picks up Penance, slinging her over her shoulder. "Time for the abduction!"

"Take care or I shall cast a curse upon your backside that makes you forever flatulent!" Penance warms from her rather undignified position. She does reach down and grab Voracious' backside for emphasis.

"No getting handsy," the Yodhblakat commands. "Is this your first time being abducted or something?"

Penance's hands stay where they are. "Of course! Being abducted is not normally an issue for a Yodhgorphat!" she declares.

The Eyes are waiting outside the medical tent, and jump to attention when the pair come out. "What's goin' on?" Foz demands.

"It's fine," Penance says from her rather upside down position. "I shall return in a bit. Even this one knows what will befall her if she harms me!"

"Unless she wants to be harmed," the Yodhblakat cackles as she carries Penance through the camp, garnering all sort of worried glances. Apparently she's going to carry her like that all the way to the summit.

Penance probably isn't helping in that she is squeezing each butt-cheek in an alternating fashion as she's carried up the mountain. "Keep this up and you will have to wed me!" she even claims.

Voracious has very tight buns. "I already have a concubine," the Yodhblakat claims (which makes sense if she's pregnant). "And he's very pretty." Trudge trudge trudge. Eeee generally aren't built for walking long distances and carrying loads, so the woman's stamina is impressive. Less impressive is all the jostling, as Penance already has a sore abdomen. And she she can't see where they're going!

"You have a prisoner! If he could, I bet he would leave!" Penance claims in-between oofs and grunts. Being uncomfortable is normal for her, though. She's also probably staining the Yodhblakat's clothing, though who could ever tell?

"I treat him better than the Yodhinala did," Voracious claims, and sets Penance down again. They're just outside of the Blakatball stadium. "Is this her then?" another Yodhblakat asks, looking at Penance. She's got raggedy mismatched armor, just like Voracious, but slightly better raggedy mismatched armor. "Sure she's an Eeee?"

"I'm more Eeee than any of you! I'm not ridiculously oversized!" Penance claims and crosses her arms over her chest. "Do I need to curse you to prove who I am?"

"Nah, maybe later," the second Yodhblakat says. "Gotta thin out the candidates first. You can see things about people, right?"

"Yes," Penance says, which is true! Though it's usually more about diseases and mental issues, but ... these people have nothing but mental issues. "Just what is it you wish from me? And what will you offer Gorphat in return?"

"We need you to pick out the strongest kids," the Yodh explains. "The ones most like us Yodhblakat. In return, we will return you."

"Not good enough. I want your Barinala to rub my feet and tell me I'm pretty," Penance demands. That might be old personality bleed-through, really. Or just to annoy the Yodhblakat. "And how many of these kids do you need? What if none meet the requirements?"

"We need eighteen for two proper teams," the Yodhblakat says. "So pick at least that many, whoever is close to meeting the requirements. Real selection happens during the game."

"All right, I suppose I can help you. I still want your Barinala to rub my feet, though," Penance says.

"I can make you all sick to the point you cannot do anything but vomit. Bring me the men, or else," Penance claims. Huffs, too.

"Choosing comes first," Voracious says. "Yodhblakat Saphiwrath can rub your feet." This causes the second Yodhblakat (Saphiwrath, presumably) to get into a fight with Voracious.

"Mmm, acceptable, I suppose," Penance agrees as she watches the two fight. "When you two are done making out, take me to the candidates."

The scuffle is brief, and then the pair escort Penance to the team assembly area, where a few dozen girls mill about. None of them look like a Yodhblakat, but then that would require a pretty high protein diet and lots of exercise. Most of them are skinny, almost certain from the refugee camp. It's hard to tell since they're all naked, probably to avoid any 'bias' based on clothing. Or because the Yodhblakat wanted to weed out the self-conscious ones right away.

Penance moves closer to them, perhaps to see if any of them shy away from her. "You lot!" she gurgles, "Line up and then I want each of you to tell me why you wish to join these hedonistic band of lunatics!"

At the periphery of the stadium, Penance is pretty the Eyes are watching. The first girl pushes her way to the front of the line while the other are still trying to get organized. "Who's asking?" she demands. "I'm here to because the Yodhblakat are the best! They get to take whatever they want and fight all the time!"

"Yodhgorphat Penance," Penance claims, simply, then approaches this loud one. "They don't get to do anything. They have to fight for it. You won't even have clothing unless you fight for it, you know. Is that what you want?"

"Yeah, already fighting for everything anyway," the girl claims. "What's a Yodhgorphat doing here? Why do your boobs look like that?"

"To see if you're worthy. Even the Yodhblakat know we are superior!" Penance burbles. "We can endure anything. Anything."

"Anything! Would you like to take on our challenges and find out?" Penance warns as she stares at this girl, and trying to see if anything in particular stands out.

She's got a 'thick' life line extending from her head, and a healthy aura that isn't quite like the negative-rainbow ones of the Yodhblakat, but that's probably something that comes from being a Yodhblakat, not something they're born with. The girl is a bit tall, but it's hard to tell her age. She has a lot of bluster, certain, but may not be able to back it up. Like many she seems a bit undernourished.

Penance actually approaches and tries to grab her chin, just to see how she reacts. Will she shy away?

"I'm here to be a Yodhblakat, not a Yodhgorphat," the girl claims, and her eyes go wide when she's grabbed. "What? Do you need to see my teeth?" she asks. Definitely nervous, but hiding it really well.

Penance actually does push her lips up to check her teeth now that she suggested such. "You're scared," Penance says, simply. "Being a Yodh is not a game. It requires utter devotion."

"I can be devoted," the girl claims. "I mean, I probably would have been snatched anyway. Blakat's the fun Sister, so I'll give her my everything for that."

"Fun? Fun? Why do you think they are fun?" Penance demands to know! "They are violent, brainless, louts."

She's missing a few teeth, probably knocked out from fights. "Yeah! They get to fight and stuff!" the girl agrees.

Penance huffs. "I suppose you'll do for testing, at least," she relents and lets go of her chin.

"Come over this way," Saphiwrath instructs the candidate, gesturing to the bleachers.

Penance helpfully smacks her on the ass, too, when the candidate starts to walk away.

"Ow!" the girl barks in surprise, but doesn't rub the spot. The second one in line seems out of place almost immediately. Her life-line is sort of spiraled, and her aura is healthy (with the same undercurrent of malnutrition), but she looks too pretty to be a Yodhblakat. She's also clearly nervous; either from Penance or from the Yodhblakat.

"And why are you here?" Penance asks as she cups this one's chin too, to inspect her.

"There are better choices than this. I don't think you would survive the trial," Penance admits. "Also, you have a logical reason, which doesn't really fit with Yodhblakat. You should consider the Yodhrinala, perhaps."

"They can't recruit new members," the girl claims. "And it's the Day of Blakat..." The date is probably her only excuse.

"They can recruit fine. Many serve at Mount Gorphat. You could go there," Penance says. "And no, I am not trying to recruit you, you are too pretty."

"No place for pretty Yodh anymore," the girl sighs. "And the one place there was was... not for me! I wanna be tough though. What about the Yodhrephath?"

"Oi, you wanna be Yodhblakat or not?" Saphiwrath suddenly asks. "If you're uncertain, then scram!"

"Mmmm, possible I suppose," Penance says, "I recommend you take time to meditate on your true desires. This is not yet your time."

The girl nods and steps out of the line, heading back down to the refugee camp. The third one watches her go. She looks wiry. Her aura is tinged with red, as is her life-line when she steps up to Penance. She shows her teeth without being asked.

"Respect," this one replies. "Real respect. Nobody will mess with me if I'm a Yodhblakat."

"And you get no respect now?" Penance inquires as she walks a slow circle around her. "Have you been hurt? Or do you do the hurting?"

"Been in fights," the girl admits. "Stabbed a guy, but he cracked my rib first! I'm always having to push back against someone."

"Mm. This one is worth testing," Penance declares, and swats her on the butt too.

The girl almost slaps back but stops herself, as Saphiwrath leads her to the bleachers. The next two are too weak to be considered, but the one after that is bigger and... thuggier.

"Hmph," Penance says as she observes this one. "And your reason?" she inquires, though she already has decided this one seems to, well, fit.

"I wanna hear Her," the girl claims, tapping the side of her head. Is she actually here for religion?

That makes Penance snort. "This one should be tested," she says, approvingly. "She as the right .... desire."

The girl pauses on the way to the bleachers, before Penance can swat her. "Do you hear your goddess?" she asks.

"Yes," Penance answers. Which is ... somewhat true. It's also equally likely Penance is just crazy.

"Make it worth all.. uh.. that?" the girl then asks while gesturing to Penance's body.

"The pursuit of perfection? Of course," Penance claims as she scratches at herself.

The next one in line is a conundrum. They meet the height and strength goals, but have an issue: they're a boy. A visibly aroused one at that.

Penance burps, then farts, and turns back to the collection of girls. Well, pretending to be a girl. "You're male, you do not qualify," she says, simply. "Not at a yodh, only as a bar."

"Yeah, I wanna be a barblakat and have sex with big buff women," the boy declares, a bit loudly. He's also pointing at the ones already selected when he says it.

"You don't qualify. This is not a brothel," Penance says simply and tries to wave him off.

"Well, when do the barblakat tryouts happen then?" the boy asks, not easily gotten rid of. "Am I not handsome enough?" In truth he looks like an ordinary teenaged boy, noting really noteworthy except for a reddish blaze on his otherwise brown face.

"The point is a desire to serve Blakat, not that silly floppy thing down there," Penance points out and gestures at his crotch. "Saphiwrath, would you actually want to test this ... boy for any position?"

"Might be Marked," the Yodh notes. "Have him sit over there," she says, pointing to a section away from the Yodh candidates. "Will need to have Rizalka check him."

"Maybe if you are lucky, the Barsunala will turn you into a woman," Penance tells him as she gestures for where he should go. "I've heard he does that, sometimes."

"Huh," is the boy's reply, but he seems happy to at least not been thrown off of the mountain, and heads for his assigned seat. The notion of being Marked is very strong in the next girl. She's actually red-furred and blond-haired. And pretty. She reminds Penance of Phlagea. She also seems a bit cocky.

"Can you justify your attitude?" Penace hisses and cups under her chin. "The color you are born means nothing if you do not have the proper ... mindset."

"I'm the daughter of a bandit chief," the girl claims. "My family has always prayed to Blakat, and when I was born they took it as a sign. So now I'm old enough to come here and see if it's true." She clearly wants it to be true, and Blakat is the Goddess of Thieves as well as mercenaries and such.

"You have to earn your position here. Just being born marked will not make it so. Are you strong enough to try?" Penance hisses at her and pulls her hand back. "Can you take what you desire?"

"I'm good at taking things," the girl claims. "If I'm truly blessed by Blakat, then I'm strong enough."

"Test this one, then. Is she proves herself, she can be Rizalka's servant," Penance says, "To prove her worth."

The girl smiles and heads over to the bleachers. The next girl seems the polar opposite, in that she's.. well.. homely and even by Eeee standards she is gangly. But there's a tint of anger, and maybe even madness in her aura. Something about her just feels dangerous, even if she's mostly skin and bones.

"This one has hidden potential," Penance declares, even without asking her anything. "Testable, but make sure she is fed well for a few days."

And so the girl goes to the bleachers, without ever having said a word. The next one is certainly angry. You don't need to see her aura to tell. She's also got larger breasts for her apparent age, which would probably be 11 or 12 years old. "I need to get strong and learn how to fight," she declares to Penance. "There's someone I need to kill."

"Guy who... hurt me," the girl says, jaw tensing. "Not telling anyone his name, because only I get to hunt him down."

The girl growls, and squeezes one of her breasts to produce milk. "Took advantage, ran when I became pregnant. Baby stillborn, because I'm too young. Probably doing it again to some other girl right now," she says, with genuine bloodlust.

"I see," Penance says, frowning. "I understand your anger ... but what you seek is Vengeance not the chaos of the Yodhblakat. I am not sure this place is right for your desires."

"No, I seek Murder," the girl claims. "There is no Vengeance anymore. Rephath is Justice now. I want to commit murder. I want to beat him to death."

"I do not feel this place is right for your desires," Penance says, "But Saphiwrath, it sounds as if you feel it has driven her to the right place. So be it, join the others for testing."

The girl practically stomps to the bleachers. "Sunala is the Goddess of Assassins, Blackat the Goddess of Murderers," Saphiwrath says. "She has a strong will and focus. May not feel the same in a few years, but good for us right now. We need to rebuild the Slakash too."

The next girl seems somewhat dull, a bit glassy-eyed. But she's big, and an older teen as well. Compared to the last one she is very calm.

"Moments of anger often fade," Penance claims and shrugs a bit. "If she wishes to try, so be it. I still feel Rephath is more ... fitting." Soon her attention is back to the large girl and her brow furrows. "You do not seem the right temperament. Size, yes, but mind and desire, no. Why do you wish to try out?" she asks.

"Not very bright," the girl admits. "But I like to break things. I do what I'm told. Yodhblakat can be soldiers. Told I'd be good at that." There's a pause, and then, "Can't go home."

The girl scratches at her cheek and says, "Might have burnt it down. Everyone is upset. Stuff breaks easy.""

Penance glances to Saphiwrath. "She is simple, and lacks rage or mania," she tells the Yodkblakat. "Do you see a place for her here?"

"We're also mercenaries," Saphiwrath says. "When she's older she'll be intimidating, which is good. Might be wasted if left to herself. But what are goddesses for if no guidance? We'll take her. Can't be too picky."

"To the testing group, then," Penance says and waves her off to join the others.

The next one is line is short, but stocky for an Eeee. Shorter than Penance, certainly, and not all that young, either. She doesn't seem to have a chip on her shoulder or anything though, but there's a red stain on her aura.

"You've killed," Penance says, flatly. "Why is it you wish to join. What is it you hope for here?"

"Yeah, I'm a killer," the girl says in an oddly soft voice. "I want... I want to control it," she says. "Blakat can keep me from going crazy, right?"

"More she will push you to embrace it, and channel it," Penance remarks with a sidelong sort of glance towards Saphiwrath. "This place may be for you. Please join the others to be tested."

Saphiwrath looks uncertain, but it's clear what she's thinking: the girl is small. But, she's also violently crazy, which is a plus. She doesn't countermand Penance's decision though.

The next girl is normal on the surface. Her aura shows past injuries and illness though, which she's overcome. She seems nervous however.

"Size isn't everything," Penance reminds Saphiwrath. Then her attention returns to the new girl. "You have been through much, and survived. Gorphat would be proud of you," she says. "Why do you wish to join the Yoghblakat? I do not sense ... the sort of drive they tend to have."

The girl's lips tremble, and she says, "Forgive me, Yodhgorphat! I've prayed to Gorphat when I lived in the Streets Below. But now the Yodhblakat feed me and give me shelter. I have no family, and I feel I must repay the Yodhblakat."

"They seek those that can embrace their ideals. They do not seek repayment. If they wished it, they would simply take it," Penance points out. "Nothing can be given to them. That goes against all they believe. You do not fit, if that is how you feel."

"Well.. if they do need just... help around the temple or stuff," the girl says, looking down. Saphiwrath says, "If we need you, we will take you." It's not a promise or anything. But it's enough for the girl for now, so she leaves.

Penance places her hand upon the girl's shoulder before she leaves. "Your desire to help does you credit, young one," she says kindly. "The Yodhrinala could use someone with your kind heart and desire to give back to others. There are places for you, even if not here or with Gorphat. Please, do not regret."

The next girl is also of normal build, but still pre-teen, and is almost completely black. Aura-wise, there is anger and fear and a mishmash of other things. She looks around a lot.

"And what is it you seek by joining?" Penance asks. "You have anger, but other things too, conflicting. Are you scared? Worried?"

"Yes," the girl answers. "Oh, why? I want to improve myself! I want to do things. Hunt for treasure, steal mirrors, howl at the Procession without anyone thinking I'm weird because I'll be a Yodhblakat and all of that is normal! So.. I want to be where I'm normal. I like to paint on walls too. And fire a bow and arrow! Sack someplace. I want my own Savanite boyfriend too. I also kinda like running around naked, now that I've been made to do it. Also, I'm afraid of Naga, I want that fixed. And.. and.. did I mention cheese yet? There was something about cheese, but I can't remember right now. It seemed important."

"That just makes you sound like a child," Penance says, though kindly. "I take it you have no family. And the only thing I can remember of cheese is that magic cheese is not for eating. I have no idea what that means."

"I want to help take down Blakat's enemies too," the girl says, and leans in to whisper, "The Illuminati."

"It refers to a rather foul and pungent cheese used to ward off the mind-altering effects of some plants. It smells worse than a festering cess pit in the heat of summer," comes the explanation of what that phrase means from someone perched up on the wall of the stadium. Clad in rolling shadows that ripple and billow about the Eeee's body. Darkness made liquid, save for ripples of long white hair and glints of silver somewhere in its core. "And don't mind me, I'm simply ... observing. Carry on as if I were not here."

Saphiwrath looks up into the shadows for a moment, then turns back to Penance and the girl. "It's true that we fight the Illuminati," she says.

"And the undead that steal your candy coins," the figure on the upper wall adds to the conversation. Penance looks up then back at the girl, then shakes her head. "You have the right mind for it, if not the coloration. You should be tested," the Yodhgorphat concedes.

The girl makes some sort of hand sign, then smiles and heads over to the others. "Who's up there?" the would-be barblakat asks.

"And why are you here, Barsunala," Penance finally says as she looks up at the shadows. Part of the Yodhgorphat is actually ... shaking. Old shadows of memory, perhaps. She is certain she knows him by more than just the name, but cannot remember why. And thinking on it kind of ... hurts.

"Just watching, like I said," the shadowed Eeee says as he holds up shapes that look like hands, and the figure likely shrugging some. "Pay me no mind. I'm not here to hunt anyone," he adds. "And our business concluded long ago. You need not fear me."

"Whenever someone says 'you need not fear me' I get worried," the boy admits. The next girl sort of scoffs at that. She's big and well-built in both muscle and figure, an older teen. There's something in her aura that Penance hasn't really seen before: ambition. That and a good degree of madness.

The shadow seems to look over at the boy. "You should fear me," the Barsunala says, "Because I'm debating if I should make you female since you wanted to join them."

That gives Penance pause and refocusing her on the girl. "You seem quite ... promising," Penance has to concede. "What is your reason for joining?"

"To kill Blakat, of course," the girl says. "Then She will make me High Priestess, or maybe even a demigod that serves her, like the Barsunala serves Sunala."

"I'm Her son, I didn't kill her. That would be silly," the Barsunala helpfully points out.

"That might be a bit high of an ambition, but ... you have the right mindset. You should be tested," Penance concedes.

The girl steps to the bleacher. Next up is a girl who has clearly been in some fights. Some recent, give the bruising visible under her skin and one swollen eye. She's definitely got some anger issues and her aura is a bit purple around her head, as it was bruised too. Still, she's smiling.

"I happened to some guys," the girl boasts. "I got one of them really good too! Maybe the Barsunala can turn him into a girl, since I already did half the work! One of them sucker-punched me though. I'm usually really fast and can dodge, but I was drunk from.. uh.. something. It was in a jar."

That makes Penance laugh. "You fit in with the Yodhblakat," she concedes, "join the other candidates."

The bruiser heads for the bleachers. The line is thinning out, so reaching eighteen candidates may not happen! The next one is grey, and a bit Repath-looking. She's also scowling. Her fur is a bit thick, especially at the shoulders where it tufts out, making her look bigger. Her left ear is bent, one of the support 'struts' broken.

"Are you just wanting to hurt the world because it hurt you?" Penance asks rather flatly.

"What? No," the girl says in surprise. "You're the first person who didn't point out that I look like Rephath. I just want to have a goddess that doesn't impose a bunch of rules one me."

"You looking like Rephath is obvious," Penance points out. "It need not be mentioned. And the Yodhblakat have their own rules too. All Yodh do. There is no such thing as no rules."

"But their rules are simple and more... self-serving," the girl claims. "Freer. And it'll be a big shock due to my appearance, so I'll finally get some use out of it."

"Are you just seeking revenge, then? Because of how you were treated due to your appearance?" The Barsuanala asks from up on the wall.

"They'll have to fight me!" the girl says, grinning. "But even so, that's alright with me." She looks up to the wall and says, "No, how I was treated was annoying. I bet the Yodhblakat would pick on me about it too. But I see they already chose the girl that looks like Blakat, so maybe one day there will be a full set, but all Yodhblakat! That would be pretty cool I think, even if it pisses off all the other Yodh."

"It doesn't piss me off the black furred one was picked," the Barsunala points out. "Color is a trivial thing and easily changed. I could make you rainbow colored, for example." The shadow shrugs. "Attitude and reason matter more," Penance adds with an ahem. "Do you, in your heart, wish to worship Blakat?"

"I already do," the girl claims. "I love causing mischief when I can... and if it's going to be funny."

"That is ... not really Blakat," Penance says as she rubs her forehead slowly. But these girls won't be her problem, so she waves her on. "Fine, you can be trialed."

"Let Rizalka know I'll be a bit put out if your tests kill any of these girls," the Barsunala comments to the Yodhblakat present. "If they don't fit, they don't fit. No killing."

"Nobody dies playing Blakatball," Saphiwrath claims. "Might get hurt though." The next girl to present herself for inspection is covered in what could best be called red war-paint. She doesn't seem terribly imposing physically, but her aura is turbulent yellow and red, almost like a flame. She smiles disturbingly. "Hello," she greets.

The girl works her jaw, as if chewing on her answer. "Blakat sings to me," she finally says, and holds up her hands. Her claws seem particularly long and sharp. "I dream about.. things. Goin' berserk, like a Slakash! I'm not a vampire though! Just because I bite hard doesn't make me a Yodhdiphath!"

That causes Penance' brow to arch a little. "Sings to you? What song?" she has to ask. Gorphat doesn't sing; wheeses and sneezes, maybe. From above, Alptraum asks, "And what's wrong with a vampire? There are multiple kinds. The undead kind, which are bad. The natural kind are fine."

"I'm not Yodhdiphath," the girl reiterates. "I can't sing it, it's... god-song. It makes me want to rampage! I hear it in my blood. It makes me... not think good."

"It sounds like she's drunk from Blakat's bowl," Saphiwrath says. "Or is at least feeling its presence. To drink from the bowl is to have berserk strength. And madness. Mostly strength. It's something done in battle, but is not limited to the Yodhblakat."

"Well, it sounds like she should be part of the trial, at least," Penance says. She looks at the girl, adding, "No killing others being tested."

"Blakat does not kill Blakat," the girl says, and actually pausing on her way to the bleachers for her slap.

And so Penance slaps her on the butt. That was not intended to be a thing, but here we are.

The next one is oddly marked. Eeee don't usually come with spots, but this one is downright piebald in black and white. It nearly bisects her face, and the eye on the white side is red while the one on the black side is yellow. She's also got nubs on her head, like horn-buds on a young Cervani. Something swishes behind her as well, an actual tail. It's black and furless like a Skreek's. Her aura is likewise speckled, half white and half black, and she's got two wicks as well that have separate colors.

"So ... what are you?" Penance asks rather bluntly. From the peanut gallery, Alptraum chimes in, "Chimera!"

"I'm..." the girl starts, tilting her head from side to side. "We..." she continues, tilting her head the other way. "I'm called Fifty-Fifty," she finally says. "Surface mutant, maybe. Born near the base of the Tower. Dunno!" She then starts laughing, before covering her mouth to bring things down to just a giggle.

"That is interesting, but why is it you wish to join the Yodhblakat?" Penance asks. "You do not seem violent or destructive."

The girl bursts out laughing again, and it's a bit hollow sounding and deep for an Eeee. "I'm mad!" she claims. "Two minds. Argue a lot. I'm like a demon, but not! And I want to scare people!"

"People argue with themselves all the time. It does not men you are mad. But, if you wish to try out, I see no reason not to," Penance concedes.

"Ah! Yes!" the girl says, and kisses Penance on the lips before running to the bleachers, her tail whipping around all the way.

Penance slaps her butt for the kiss, and thus continuing the tradition. Then she wipes her lips off. "This is either going to be a demented team, or a great comedy act," Alptraum opines.

The next girl has a scar covering the left side of her face, running nearly to her chin. It just misses the eye socket, but that eye has a red sclera all the same. She's also got a white nose, while being otherwise brown. She's a slightly bigger than usual for an older teen (if Cricket is the Babelite standard), and has her arms crossed a bit defiantly. Her aura is an angry one.

"What is your reason?" Penance asks, "And why are you angry?" She also gestures towards that scar, adding, "And what caused that injury?"

The girl growls. "I want to serve Blakat," she says, and winces at the mention of the scar. "Dad wasn't happy with me. Always getting into fights because of my nose. Going to fight and steal anyway, so should serve Blakat. She'd appreciate it at least."

"Why are you getting into fights because of your nose? It is not that unusual," Penance points out.

"That doesn't seem like quite a good reason to join," Penance has to admit. She looks over at those gathered and remembers there needs to be a certain number. So, she rubs her forehead a bit. "But fighting and stealing are, so, join those taking the trial."

"Is it a surprise to anyone that the Yodhblakat would be into spanking?" Alptraum comments. "What was surprising was that Rephath is too."

There only needs to be three more to make up two teams now. There's nothing unusual about the next girl, other than that she has extremely long black hair that cascades down her front and back, obscuring her face. Her fur is a lighter tan in comparison, fading to white from her throat to her crotch. "Spanking?" she asks in a raspy voice. Her aura is... hidden? She gives off a strange vibe, certainly.

Penance reaches over to try and move that hair out of the way. "Long hair is a liability. Easy to grab," she points out. "Are you sure you wish to join them?"

The eyes behind the hair are solid white. "Yes," she claims, and her left cheek twitches. "I'm a witch, I think. I can make things... happen or not happen? Or happen badly. I can see the way things are going, I mean, and nudge them." It sounds a bit like what a Chaos Mage does.

"You seem more suited to join the YodhZakaro," Penance points out. "Less so Yodhblakat."

"That may change," Alptraum comments from above. "Would you prefer to see if you belong there instead?"

The girl looks up at where Alptraum is perched. "What do you mean? Are there Yodhzakaro?" she asks.

"There is an attempt to reform them, yes." is Alpteaum's answer. "I cannot say more on it at this time."

The girl seems to stare out at nothing for a moment, then flies up and sits next to Alptraum. So apparently not going to try for Yodhblakat this time.

The next girl steps up to take her place. This one has a lot of scars, and they seem to be everywhere; arms, face, legs, torso. But not on her wings, those are undamaged. She's shaved her hair so that one side is bare and it falls just on the other. And there are scars in the shaved part. "Hi!" she says enthusiastically and with a big grin that has some gaps in it. Her aura is definitely tinged with madness.

"You do seem to fit in," Penance admits just looking at her. "I take it you enjoy fighting?"

"Fighting? Hmmmm," the girl says, looking up and tapping her chin with two fingers. "I like knives," she answers. "Knives are fun. You can do all sorts of things with them! I can use knives on people and make them look better."

"Right, crazy," Penance says, "In you go." She gestures for the bleachers, and smacks her on the butt.

The next girl in line is big, nearly as big as an adult Yodhblakat. Her right eye is missing, and she's got a stone in its place with a crudely carved out pupil. Her hair is a single shock of pure white, and her fur is dirty gray with almost no luster to it. She stands silently before Penance, with one extra long fang protruding from her mouth. It's actually split her lower lip over time.

"You seem ... hmm," Penance muses. "Mad. What brings you here today? Why do you feel this is a calling?"

"Need direction," the girl says, her voice calm despite the anger. "Blakat... I'm violent. I'm angry at... everything. Yodhblakat took my eye two years ago. In the market. Because it was pretty. I want to be able to do that and not look back. That... certainty."

That gets a rather unpleasant look towards Saphiwrath from Penance. "No more maiming people," Alptraum comments from above in annoyance. "So you wish to join those that hurt you. Are you seeking revenge on them?" Penance asks, attention returning to the girl.

"I fought, and I lost," the girl says. "That's just how it works. I thought I could win, I was wrong. I need to get stronger and better at fighting as a Yodhblakat."

Penance sort of sighs. She gestures towards the bleachers. "Then you may try out and see if you fit."

Alptraum is still mostly just watching, while petting the back of the strange Eeee that came up to join him.

Up next is a very limber looking girl. Unlike most of the others, she doesn't seem malnourished. She has taller than average, especially for a younger teen, and has brown fur with slightly darker pointed stripes that wrap around her torso, a bit like a tiger-Khatta or possibly a striped Naga. Her face even looks a bit Naga-shaped, with a wide muzzle. Her ears are smaller, and she has an upturned point on her nose that didn't quite develop into a proper leaf shape, so looks more like a horn. She has greenish-brown eyes and no head-hair to speak of. She doesn't seem to blink very often and stares into Penance's eyes.

"You look unusual. Quite interesting. Where are you from?" Penance ends up asking, "And why do you seek to join the Yodhblakat?"

"Down below," she replies. "Base of the tower." Her tongue looks slightly forked at the tip when she talks. "Fell out of a tube, my mother claims. I have an urge to fight. I'm supposed to fight. Blakat can tell me who to fight, and how to fight. I eat a lot of vermites. I like how they crunch."

Alptraum hmms, more experiments from the tower it seems; hybrids. She shouldn't be blamed for that, though. Penance nods at this. "Well, then perhaps you will find your place here. Please join the others," the Yodhgorphat asks.

"That's enough for two teams," Saphiwrath says, and looks over the remaining few girls. They're all clearly from the refugee camp, and nervous. The next one steps up, then bursts into tears and runs off down the mountain. The one after that is small, and not even in her teens yet. She seems excited though, until Saphiwrath dismisses her. "Come back next year," she says.

"Quite an odd collection. What will you do with the ones that do not pass?" Penance asks. She glances the last two and goes over to them.

"They go back to where they came from to ripen for another year," Saphiwrath says. The remaining two girls freeze when Penance approaches them, but at least they don't flee.

"Yes?" Penance asks them. "Do you desire to try out as well? Or do you wish for blessings from Mother Gorphat?"

The two girls looks very similar. Enough to be sisters, if not twins. The older one manages to step up at least, and says, "We're here to try out, and bring the blessings of Blakat onto.. our.. ourselves!"

"Are you certain that is what you wish? And that is who you wish to be blessed?" Penance asks, bare brow arching. "You do not seem of the right ... temperament."

"To be Yodh is to renounce your former family," Saphiwrath points out. "Only one sister can try out, and if chosen can never see the other again."

"Oh," the girl says, looking between Penance and Saphiwrath. "Then... um... no, we withdraw," she says, looking down.

Penance nods. "Then go with the blessings of your family," she says and pats each upon their heads.

"That's it for this crop," Saphiwrath sighs, and looks to the Barsunala. "We'll see how this works out," she says. "Until next year."

"Remember the agreement," Alptraum says as shadow envelops both him and the blind odd Eeee beside him. And within moments, they are both gone. Penance looks between Saphiwrath and the bleachers, then nods. "It will at least be an interesting game," she comments.

"We'll see," the Yodhblakat says, and shouts, "Team up!" There's an immediate squabble over who gets to be the team leaders, but the 'Blessed' girl that looks like Blakat comes out on top, and the Rephath look-alike being the other captain. They quickly 'steal' their players, and amazingly end up with fairly balanced teams. The captains and more 'average' girls make up the Acolytes, the bigger ones the Maces and the smaller ones the Wings. The mutants are split as well, with Fifty-Fifty and Snake being Acolytes on separate teams.

More Yodhblakat show up to watch, including the High Priestess Rizalka. She's the only one that came armed, holding an old, stained spear. Saphiwrath leads Penance towards her.

Penance moves herself to the side, and soon over to Rizalka. "You missed the Barsunala," she notes, "He was here to observe the selections, apparently." She's aware of that spear, but tries to not look too much towards it.

It clearly hasn't been cleaned, which Gorphat would approve of. "He's a busy guy, but also my husband," Rizalka says. "He's lain with me, and will again, and will probably check on the outcome of this... experiment. But I'll fight him on kidnapping wet-nurses if I have to."

"Are you sure you could win?" Penance asks. "He looked rather ... large. And being near him made me feel an uneasy dread. As if I was the focus of his wrath once."

"Will see when the time comes," Rizalka says, as the referees take the field. They're all former barinala, which causes some whistling and cat-calling from the teams. One of them carries the somewhat battered Victim ball to the center of the field and has the team captains come forward.

Penance finds a place to sit. She's still rather sore after all, in all sorts of disturbing ways. Also, makes sounds when she sits. "No one is to die during this, correct?" Penance asks.

"Not by our hand, and they don't have weapons," Rizalka says. "There will be injuries of course. These are Yodhblakat hopefuls, and some of them are clearly dangerous. But they aren't being judged on who wins the game and who loses, but how they play."

"No one dared face us when we played. So of course we won," Penance claims. She wasn't there, but she heard stories from others around the camp on the one game they actually did participate in. Slowest game ever.

The starting referee fondles both captains, then flips a coin. The toss goes to the Blessed captain. A sign of divine providence, or just luck? They both return to their sides, with the Team Red taking the Victim and Team Grey on defense. The whistle blows and the game begins! The big thuggish girl that was seeking Epiphany sticks close to the Blessed as her Mace, and the captain is constantly shouting directions to her team as soon as she passes the ball to Fifty-Fifty, who zig-zags towards the opposite Temple.

"What happens if one of the team betrays the other? That one, Fifty-Fifty, is split. Of two minds," Penance remarks as she observes. Mostly the auras and movement. She even finds part of herself hoping for horrific injuries. It makes her feel unsettled, like bad memories rising.

"That isn't allowed," Rizalka says, as the passing game starts, Acolytes take to the air and the whole thing devolves into hard-to-follow chaos, since the teams aren't wearing colored jerseys. "That player would be removed. And likely disqualified for being a Yodhblakat. We have to trust each other."

"That surprises me," Penance has to admit. "I never expected you all to be ... loyal."

"The Yodhgorphat don't... make each other sick, do they?" Rizalka asks. "We are mercenaries, and have to trust one another in battle."

"Sometimes we do, to strengthen each other," Penance points out. "I suppose combat and competitions here act similar."

"Yes, that is the best example," Rizalka says. "I know the Yodhrephath train against one another, but... I doubt any of the other Yodh have such traditions. I assume the Yodhsunala do not try to assassinate their own sisters as training."

"I know little of the Yodhsunala, and prefer to keep it that way," Penance admits. "They are creepy, unsettling. It's like they look through you."

"Most would say the Yodhgorphat are creepy and unsettling," Rizalka claims, as Team Red manages to get a Conversion by the time the whistle blows to end the round. "I don't remember any being so... extreme... as you before the purge. But maybe if they were, they would have defeating the soldiers."

"We simply need to be stronger, the purge taught us that," Penance claims. The reality is she has no idea why they need to be other than her own weird desire and perhaps from watching the High Priestess. "We also were not commanded by the Barsunala back then from my understanding. I do not fully understand why we follow him, other than I feel if we did not things would be worse."

"Well, we don't want another Purge," Rizalka says, as she follows the gameplay. "We're too diminished, and a second one would only leave the Yodhrephath and Yodhsunala standing. The idea of private armies is likely going to fall along with the other old House traditions, in favor of a single, Coalition army of Babel. That could be good or bad for the Yodhblakat, so we must be ready to take advantage of either outcome."

"So you intend to side with a coalition army?" Penance asks as she also watches the gameplay curiously.

There's a fight going on between the two teams. That's normal. It also lets the younger, manic-pixie-girl fly across most of the field and pass the Victim to one of her Acolyte teammates.

"We intend to fill in the gap left by the now missing private house security," Rizalka says. "Even with the private forces, it was not uncommon to have a Yodhblakat stand next to the head of the House."

Penance just shakes her head a bit. The game seems more brawl and less, well, strategy. "If any Houses even remain," the Yodhgorphat points out. "Many of the old are gone."

"The Coalition and the Barsunala are weeding out the most corrupt and corrupted ones," Rizalka claims. "If any disgraced lord tries to flee, then that's good for us, since hiring the Yodhblakat to track him down and drag him back would send a pretty powerful message. Sending us after pirates is another option. The Coalition can afford to pay well."

"Aren't the YodhRephath used to hunt them down? Though yes, I could see the Yodhblakat being used for such ... violent tasks," Penance has to agree. "It is not something we could do."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Rizalka says. "Having a Yodhgorphat aboard would be a pretty big deterrent too," she points out. "How are your numbers? Does your clinic draw in a lot of candidates?"

Team Gray manages to get control of the ball, so offence and defense swap. They're a bit less strategic than Team Red, relying more on speed to start with.

"We have grown more than I expected," Penance admits, "But having a Goddess that accepts all and glorifies our imperfections is inspiring to those that live in the shadows. Of course not many push their limits like myself, but they serve in their own way. Running a hospital has also ... improved how we are seen."

"I'm sure hosting the others from the Streets Below is improving our image as well," Rizalka claims, as she watches the game. "And having the Blakatball tournaments as well. They bring in a lot of donations. Hmmmm. The Blessed one seems to be a natural leader."

"They're all doing better than I expected," Penance has to admit. "Both teams seem to coordinate well and fall into natural positions."

"They are a balanced group of candidates," Rizalka says. "Even the young one seems to manage in the chaos by being slightly more chaotic. Others clearly need training though."

"Expected. They do not seem hopeless, though, and that's important. It's apparent they all want to do well," Penance notes. "You have to admit, this method of getting requits may be netting you far higher quality ones."

"It's slightly more convenient now that our numbers are so reduced," Rizalka leans back and sighs. "Before, we would only get a few from challenging families. We need to grow much faster than that. These girls don't seem to have families that care about them though, except for the Blessed one."

"He already belongs to the Yodh, by his own will," Rizalka claims, and glances at Penance. "He's especially fond of Gorphat, I hear."

Rizalka barks out in laughter at that. "Well, she does move the slowest, after all," she says after she finishes. "It's getting away that is the challenge. Oh, the Lore has a lot of stories where someone tries to take advantage of a Sister, only to end up in Gorphat's arms."

"Oh indeed. But I also understand he spends time with all in their various ways. A story about fighting pirates over candy with Blakat comes to mind," Penance notes.

Another laugh from Rizalka. "I've been on one of Blakat's 'adventure' dreams. They can get pretty... weird. But the Barsunala is technically the High Priest of every one of the Seven Sisters, so it's only normal that he spends time with the goddesses. And there must still be some Yodhzakaro left somewhere, for him to have taken the ghost-eyed girl."

"I've only heard rumors. If there are, there are. I am gladdened to know that perhaps all of our shared history is not completely lost," Penance admits. "For good or bad, what we were and are, are part of our people. I agree with the Barsunala on the point we should not simply be erased."

"Except for the Yodhinala," Rizalka says, a bit more seriously. "We got them all, pretty much. And all their stuff. They didn't put up much of a fight, either. The Barsunala wants us to all play nice with each other now though."

"For all their beauty, they were devoid of actual love," Penance notes. "A hollow shell of desire. Though even some of them survive I hear."

"Scattered, probably," Rizalka says. "I doubt the Temple of Inala is coming back anytime soon. Plus, they'd have to fight us again for their boy-toys. I like having 'em! Even though we all got pregnant as a result. You really want one to rub your feet?"

That makes Penance snort. "No, it is unnecessary and in spite of what you may think, I will not force others to endure my company," she answers, simply.

Rizalka whistles, and one of the barinala arrives. He's not one of the feminine ones either, but a broad-shouldered one with chiseled features. "We've worked on Yodhgorphat before," he claims. "Don't worry about it."

"You are not required to," Penance repeats. "Watching someone hide their revulsion is not amusing to us, believe it or not."

"Barinala have no 'revulsion' reflex," the man claims, then starts to massage Penance's feet and toes. And.. it feels really nice. She's never had a foot massage before. It even starts to go a bit beyond nice.

And even with it feeling nice, it also makes her feel uncomfortable. The bit of snide banter than had even suggested it earlier was edging on forgotten memories of a person gone. The desire to humiliate and harm. And here in some way it was actually happening. She covers her face a moment, and just sighs. "It really was unecessary," she says, quietly.

"Rizalka can't officially thank you for your service," the man says. "But I can. Thank you for helping to make the Day of Blakat a success." He finds nerves in the feet that seem to connect to everywhere, and... well gives Penance a foot-gasm of sorts. It must be an Inala thing!

Which of course interrupts Penance in saying anything remotely intelligible, and instead ends up sounding like a horny teenager having the first experience of her life. And moments after, she's flushing in extreme embarrassment.

"He gives good rubs," Rizalka says. "It's easy to strain things while sparring or training."

"Yes, he does," is all Penance can say while hiding her face. Well, that all backfired on her spectacularly. Rizalka knew what she was doing and getting back at her.

The whistle blows as the game ends. Nobody was removed, which helped, and things moved quickly. The score ended up being 3-2 in favor of Team Red. It would have been higher, but Team Grey was good at chipping it down by stealing the Victim while they were on defense.

Penance is grateful for the game ending to change the subject. "I think you have quite a good selection in both teams," she says. "It will be interesting to see which you pick of them."

"Oh, we're taking all of them," Rizalka says, and stands up. "Round 'em up!" she calls out, and the other Yodh get up and head for the field. "They gotta fight for their clothes next!"

"Of course they do," Penance says with a laugh. "If there is nothing else, I should return to my Temple."

The barinala gives Penance a pat on the thigh and also heads down with Rizalka. "Yeah, go do your curses and whatnot!" Rizalka says, waving a hand back over her shoulder. Foz lands next to Penance then, and asks, "What'd that buff guy do to you? You look all floppy."

"You really don't want to know," Penance says with a sigh. "Giving birth was easier than this was. That was." She rubs her face again. "Let's just go home, okay?"