The small, black shape crept across the forest floor silent as a shadow. It moved, paused, then moved again, unaware of the presence lurking above it that watched it hungrily.
The hunter licked its lips as it eyed the small shape. It crouched low on the branch, still as a statue but coiled and ready to spring. The black form again paused, looking around as if it sensed some danger nearby. It let out a tiny, plaintive meow that was swallowed up by the undergrowth. The hunter remained unmoving, focused upon the shape.
After several heartbeats, the black shape began moving again. It mewed softly into the shadowy foliage as it passed beneath the leaves and fronds.
The shape stepped into the killing ground. The hunter flexed its claws and leaped down, swift and sudden as a striking snake. Its whole weight forced its claws to dig heavily into the shape, giving the prey no chance to escape.
But when the hunter landed, nothing but soft earth was in its claws. The familiar scent of fresh blood was absent, replaced with churned soil. Confused, the hunter froze and looked around.
It heard a soft meow nearby. It looked in that direction, and saw the soft reflection of two yellow eyes in the shadows. It was close. The hunter sprang from its crouch and in two strides it fell upon the black form, claws again digging deep into it.
Again, the shape failed to appear in the sharp talons of the hunter. It crept into the undergrowth and waited, listening. Another soft meow drifted through the foliage. Then another.
The hunter moved slow this time, just as silently as the prey had. It stepped lightly, deliberately. Its ears were pinned back and its tail flicked as it honed in on the sound. The soft moonlight filtered through the leaves lent a silvery glow on the midnight-black fur of the mewing shape. This time, it looked straight at the hunter just a pounce away.
The hunter leapt in a burst of speed, but the black shape faded away. It reappeared a short distance away and the hunter gave chase. The two streaked across the jungle floor until the prey dove into a small fissure in the ground. The hunter, committed, followed into the inky blackness. The light disappeared, but the hunter followed the scent unerringly.
It slowed its pursuit, sensing the prey was near. It moved deliberately, its ears twitching for the faintest of sounds. Another meow echoed in the darkness, and the hunter sprang towards its source. Again nothing fell into its claws, but this time the hunter fell, collapsing and rolling down and down as the ground gave way.
The hunter hit a solid surface hard, dazing it. As it regained its senses, it saw dim light from an unknown source. It looked around, seeing the bars of a cage surround it on all sides. It hissed loudly and pushed against them. It tried squeezing through them, but they were too close together. The hunter yowled and spat at being caged, its anger fierce, but it could do nothing.
A feral creature hunts a black shape through the forest, but instead is itself trapped and caged.
Argor's first stop was at The Sanctum. He wanted to make amends with Arryn for snapping at him the other day. He was still angry with Jannicke, and he took it out on his fellow mage, which was unacceptable.
Acting in such a way, a man of my intellect. Preposterous. Behavior such as that makes me appear no better than Grommuk lumbering about an artisan glass works.
He made his way through the courtyard of the establishment and through the main entrance. His accountant was manning the front desk, and she looked particularly anxious upon realizing that Argor had entered.
"Good day. Have you seen Master Giles?" Argor asks.
The woman blinked numbly at him for a moment, caught off guard at his demeanor, before replying. "Y-yes, sir. He's giving a lecture to a group of treasure hunters on how best to deal with a basilisk, I believe. He should be finishing up any..."
As if on cue, the doors to the small lecture chamber opened up, with Arryn leading out a group of six "adventurers," his arms filled with scrolls, diagrams, and a tome Argor recognized as a detailed account of magical beasts and their known capabilities. Arryn notes Argors presence, and says in parting with the group "Good luck on your venture, and remember what I said about the blood, should one of you fall prey to its gaze. If you have any items that need identification, by all means bring them by upon your return, we would be happy to assist you further."
He then made his way to Argor and the desk, handing the books and papers to the accountant. "See that the scribes return these documents to their proper place. Good day to you, Lord Constantine, to what do we owe the pleasure?"
Argor shakes his head at Arryn. "No need for that, Master Giles. I came here to apologize to you. I snapped at you out of place the other day, and it was uncalled for. And call me Argor, or Master Constantine. I am no Lord."
Yet.
Arryn seemed stunned, but only for a moment. "Thank you, Master Constantine. I appreciate it."
"It is not a problem. You have done fine work here at the Sanctum, and I often ask you for things beyond your duties here. To show my appreciation, I would like for you and a guest to have a fine meal at the Golden Raven, all expenses paid."
Arryn bowed his head to Argor, "I am much obliged. I look forward to it."
Argor smiled. "Excellent. I am headed there next, I shall let them know to be expecting you. And how are things here? Everything going smoothly?"
Arryn nods. "Yes. The clutch of Celestial Hawk eggs are soon to hatch, and we already have a number of buyers lined up. Also, a transmuter friend of mine is coming by tomorrow for aid in summoning himself a fire mephit familiar. Other than that, business as usual."
Argor nods appreciatively. "Excellent. I'm glad to hear it. Continue the fine work. Enjoy your evening at the Raven, just give your name to the hostess and she will see that you are well attended to."
__________
Argor's next visit was with the Golden Raven, where he let his staff know his wishes regarding Arryn Giles, as well as saw to a few operating matters regarding the establishment, before heading down to the docks to take stock of his newest property. He looked over the area from above first, circling it casually to get a feel for the lay of the area, before landing on the docks and speaking with some of his hired guards. They seemed well trained, and were intelligent enough, at least for the hired muscle that they were.
He made certain that the workers knew what he expected of them, before heading off to his meeting at the Arcanamirium. It wasn't anything major, just a short lecture he was required to attend on denizens of the outer planes, a subject he was already well versed on, but given his focus on conjuration magics, he was expected to be present.
Afterwards, he met with his apprentice, William, to make sure the young mage was progressing well with his studies. It was clear to Argor that, thanks to his guidance in conjurations, that he was prepared to advance his repertoire to more refined spells. "You're doing well, Lightstaff. Well indeed. Tomorrow, I shall train you in the art of a more in-depth summoning ritual. Should you be able to handle it, I will allow you to add a few spells to your spellbook from my own tome."
William beamed with pride at the praise Argor was giving him. "Thank you, Master Constantine. I am honored."
"Nonsense," Argor replied, as he used his own magics to bring a quill and paper to his desk, "you are doing well, and as such, you should be allowed the opportunity to expand your arcane capabilities. Now go, continue your duties here and at the Sanctum, and I shall see you there tomorrow."
__________
William Lightstaff did indeed manage to adequately summon and control the earth elemental as Argor had instructed him. "Good work, Lightstaff. These creatures are potent combatants, and in times of need, will more often than not be more than adequate in protecting you from harm. To this day, summoning a few of these creatures remains a mainstay in my spell repertoire. Come along, let us return to the scriptorium and determine which spells you would like to add to your spellbook. I shall let the deans know of your advancement in your skills."
Once the young wizard had completed his copying of spells, Argor removed a small leather bound from the library and made his way to the courtyard. He sat down and crossed his legs, leaning back against the bench. He closed his eyes as he enjoyed the brisk breeze that contrasted the sunlight beaming down upon him. After a short moment, he opened the volume and began to relax as he read its contents.
The next morning Hrim breaks his fast with Nyug and Thrassk on a delicious banquet prepared by Mr. Goodpies. When asked of his plans for the day, he happily says that he is off to see Madame Figtrigbit Batbongle at the Shrine to Count Ranalc. He collects the picnic basket that Mrs. Fecht prepared with wine, glasses, linens, utensils, and Mr. Goodpies' special delights for gnomes.
He whistles tunelessly to himself as he walks through Absalom having a harder time than normal staying out of the way of traffic, since they can't see to avoid him. After the long relaxing walk to the Precipice District, he climbs down the secret path to the shrine on the cliff face with the surf booming against the rocks menacingly a few hundred feet below. His first sign of concern is the floor of the cave has many fresh droppings of guano. He quietly sets the basket down under the ceiling of sleeping bats and searches the cave.
But Madame Figtrigbit Batbongle's not there...
The beautiful young woman studied the reports on her desk, going through them methodically but thoroughly. She looked up when the door to her office opened and a lithe elf strode in carrying another stack of papers.
"Ms. Farwynd, here's the newest requests for passage on the Crycean Route." He set the papers down on the desk in an empty spot. "I think you'll recognize the one on top."
Auronee glanced down and her eyebrows rose. "Argor Constantine. Interesting. Branching out, are we?"
===========
Argor is interrupted in his reading by a pair of exquisite legs that appear in his field of vision. As he looks up, the lovely legs are revealed to belong to a radiant woman in an expertly tailored dress. She smiles, one hand planted in her hip and the other holding an official-looking document.
"Why, Argor Constantine! So good to see you again!" Auronee Farwynd says in her musical voice. "Arryn told me where to find you."
She gestures with the document but holds it out of his reach. "Taldorian imports! Did you choose this specialty just for an excuse to get to work with me?" She teases.
"Ms. Farwynd. A pleasure as always," Argor says as he closes his book, though he remains seated.
At her inquiry, he raises an eyebrow inquisitively, but realization soon sets in. "Ah. We have a shipment that needs to be sent out to a group of Taldan wizards. I entrusted Master Giles with the task, and it would seem he has done well in choosing an intermediary."
"However," he adds as he gestures for Auronee to join him on the bench, "perhaps there is an arrangement that could be made in which we both benefit. I have recently acquired rights to a small portion of the docks. I trust, one as intelligent and entrepreneurial as yourself can see the benefit of a partnership, particularly given your new position."
Argor looks up to Arctyryx on a nearby branch and says, "Go find one of the scribes and have them return this volume to the library," to which the raven nods and flies off.
Auronee smiles brightly and young passersby turn their heads. She smooths her dress behind her as she sits. "Perhaps. Sailors are still reluctant to ply the Crycean route, given its former reputation. However, as more and more ships sail without incident, I can only see it becoming more popular. Sadly, I cannot offer exclusive rights, because the Taldane authorities are anxious to establish it as the preeminent trade route."
She crosses her legs as she waves the document in hand. "I'd be delighted to discuss this further. Of course, Taldane law forbids me in my current position from entering any sort of business partnership with family members. So even if poor, sweet Cladissa wanted to be a part of this, you would have to exclude her."
Her smile turns only slightly smug, but then her face becomes concerned. "How is she doing these days? I've heard she has taken a leave from the Pathfinders?"
"Ms. Velorryan has no attachment to my enterprises beyond perhaps visiting them as a patron, though given her recent paranoia and countenance towards me, I doubt she would visit them even in that capacity. So trust that to be a non-issue."
The mention of her taking a leave from the Society is news to Argor, though does not come as a complete surprise. "I haven't spoken with her since the wedding. She has become even more reserved and introverted than usual." Argor's own smile turns smug as he turns the tables of the teasing game. "Is that a hint of concern I hear in your voice, Ms. Farwynd?"
"Only a hint? Of course I would be concerned about my dear step-sister. It's only natural that I would inquire about her well-being."
Looking sympathetic, Auronee puts a hand on Argor's. "Rumors spread fast in the Society. I heard she attacked you. Are you okay? How are you doing, really?"
"I'm doing fine. I attempted to make amends with your step-sibling, only to draw her ire. But that is behind me. If she and the others desire to continue to bear me ill will for whatever perceived insults they feel I have given them, so be it. I no longer concern myself with the feelings of people who take insult to statements of fact."
Argor smiles at the clever woman, and in an attempt to change the subject, asks "What of you and your own team of Pathfinders? Are things continuing to go well for you?"
"I'm doing fine. I attempted to make amends with your step-sibling, only to draw her ire. But that is behind me. If she and the others desire to continue to bear me ill will for whatever perceived insults they feel I have given them, so be it. I no longer concern myself with the feelings of people who take insult to statements of fact."
Auronee nods with a face full of concern, though her eyes betray a calculating mind.
Argor smiles at the clever woman, and in an attempt to change the subject, asks "What of you and your own team of Pathfinders? Are things continuing to go well for you?"
She laughs melodically and claps her hands. "Quite well, thank you. We of course found that sunken district of the city just beyond the harbor." She begins ticking off on her fingers. "We cracked the Hul'aagrin Code, brokered the peace treaty with the trogs under the Puddles, thwarted a cult of Rovagug that wanted to resurrect Ulunat, and then there was that business with the First World. As a bright spot, the Petal District's Monarch Garden regrew from last year's fire in record time."
"Nice work, and that is good to hear about the gardens," Argor comments as the scribe arrives, Arctyryx moments ahead of him. Argor casually hands him the book as he looks back to Auronee. "I hope you do not think this out of place, but I must admit I know very little about you. Cladissa avoids discussions of her family, and I think it would be wise for us to get to know one another better before we commit to a business partnership, so as to make sure we understand one another better. Would you be interested in joining me for dinner this evening?"
Auronee makes a show of considering the offer. Coming to a decision, she hands him the stamped and sealed document authorizing the Taldorian shipment. Standing smoothly, she turns slightly to regard him over her shoulder. "Only if you promise to take me to that new restaurant of yours. I've been meaning to try it."
"That was exactly what I had in mind, as a matter of fact. I shall see you there this evening," Argor answers as he stands, taking the document.
He steps inside and hands the document to his accountant. "See that Master Giles gets this," before stepping back outside and levitating into the air.
He changes into a white, gold, and red pantsuit adorned with topazes and rubies before heading to The Raven.
Auronee arrives at the Raven at a fashionable hour. She is wearing an elegant but modest sapphire-blue gown that she nonetheless turns into a trend-setting fashion statement. Her air of confidence is striking, and eyes turn in her direction from all corners as she walks in the room.
With a nod to the waitstaff, they bustle off to inform Argor of her arrival. She sits at the reserved table and coolly takes in the ambiance.
::Cladissa!::
The creature paced back and forth in its cage. It sniffed at the floor and scratched at the bars, but could find no way out.
The creature paused in its pacing and eyed the black shape that had eluded it. Its stomach growled as it again envisioned pouncing upon the black-furred shape and rending it with its claws. It started pacing again.
"Huh??"
It was a slow plodding return to consciousness. Everything felt fuzzy and stagnant. Thoughts were lethargic and reluctant to make any sort of sense.
But sluggishly, Cladissa remembered herself.
"Cole? What are you...? Where am I?" she looks around the formless blackness. Her familiar could barely be seen, just a pair of faintly glowing eyes inside a vaguely catlike shape. She couldn't even see or feel herself, having the hazy impression of being disembodied and floating around.
A greenish glow lurked just outside her sight, somehow defining the edge of the space she was in. Save for herself, which she could not see, Cole, which she could barely see, the only other object in the space was a cage of bleached white wood illuminated from an unseen source. Inside, a catlike creature paced back and forth on its four legs with restless energy.
Cladissa stared at the creature for a long time, but never once did it look back at her. Instead, it kept pacing back and forth, occasionally pausing to sniff at a bar or the ground before resuming its movement.
::Tsk tsk tsk,:: she could hear echo from somewhere. She turned to look at the glowing eyes from the catlike shape, which were staring hard at her. ::You've really done a number on yourself, haven't you?::
She looked around in that space bordered by the greenish light, but could not see the source of the voice. She looked at Cole, but he gave no sign of having spoke. "Um, what?"
There was an audible sigh. ::You. Have. Lost. Yourself.::
Confused, Cladissa looks at where her hands should be. She could see nothing. The creature growled in its cage. "I guess? Sorry? Who are you? she answers into the darkness, somehow talking even though she feels no mouth for sound to come out.
::One who has not forgotten our bargain even though you apparently have.::
If she still had legs, Cladissa would have fallen to the floor. "You? That was so long ago! And I never really understood the whole--"
::Enough! Our pact is at an end. You can no longer serve as a conduit for the power, so I am withdrawing it.::
The creature growled again, louder. Cladissa gasped as the enormity of what was happening hit her. She was crying, even though she could feel no tears. "So, you woke me up just to tell me this? Why not just leave me be?"
::The one who was sent to you has interceded on your behalf.::
She looked at the catlike shape, heart welling up in her chest. She wished she had arms to throw around him. "Cole!" She was hit with profound sadness as she sought the words to say goodbye. She wallowed in grief for a bit, then came to a realization. "Wait. Intercede? You're giving me a chance, aren't you?"
She waited expectantly for confirmation, but the voice was silent. "That's it! I'll keep fighting it! I promise!" she shouted, but even as she did, she knew it felt hollow. She hadn't fought it, and finally succumbed. She had been so far gone she hadn't recognized Cole. It would only be a matter of time before it happened again.
"I'm sorry!" she shouted. "I need help! I'll still keep the bargain, but I need help! Can you control it?"
There is a long silence in response. Then finally she gets an answer. ::You are what you have decided to become.::
The quiet that fell after the voice answered was final, yet Cladissa tested it anyway. "What's that supposed to mean? I didn't decide to be this! It was happening whether I liked it or not!" Her voice echoed, but was answered with silence.
She looked to Cole, who turned and started to slink away. The creature in the cage paused in its pacing and looked right at her, sending a chill through her psyche. It had no spark of intelligence in its eyes, but only a feral hunger.
Bodiless, she still tried to flee away from the creature. With all her will she sought after Cole. The green glow receded from her familiar's form, and together they moved further and further away from the cage.
She froze as they came upon another figure. If Cladissa had breath it would have caught as she recognized who it was. Tall, beautiful, yet cruel beyond imagining. Auronee.
"Hello, my dear," she says striding out of the darkness, yet fully illuminated. "Why aren't you in your cage?
Cladissa couldn't help but be bewildered. "A- Auronee? How did you--?"
"Get here?" she laughs. "I've been here for a very long time. Watching you fail, over and over again. It's inevitable, really. It just keeps happening, yet for some reason it never gets old."
Confusion reigned in Cladisssa's mind, but realization finally set in. "Wait. You're not real. You're just... you inside me. My own self-loathing."
Auronee smirks. "If that's what you want to call it, but you shouldn't trouble your little head about it. It will all be over soon. Why don't you let it? Wasn't it better that way?"
"But, if I go back in the cage, you'll die too. You won't exist."
She rolls her eyes. "Is that all you got? The real Auronee lives on, you know. Me, I'm just stuck with you. All the time. So, ending it is what I've been wanting to do since I got here."
Cladissa recoils, but summons her strength. "No. Go away. I won't go in the cage. This is my mind. I should lock you away!"
Auronee folds her arms, unimpressed. "You really want to do this? I'm better than you in every way. Don't embarrass yourself."
Cladissa recalls her years of torment, of hate, and thrusts it at Auronee. "Get out of my mind!"
"No."
She rebounds, and tries again. "Get out! Go! Shrivel up and die!"
"You can't make me." Auronee's smirk is maddening.
Desperate, Cladissa screams at her. "Bark like a dog!"
"I think not. How about you mew like a cat for me?"
Cladissa opens her mouth but nothing but an animal yowl comes out, and panic envelops her.
Auronee laughs again. "A feeble effort. So sad and pathetic, but it's what I've come to expect from you. After all, I've been here since you looked like that," she gestures and mousy Cladissa appears, clad in frumpy clothes and peering through thick lenses. "What do you think? Should you go back to that? How do you think Roald would like you looking like that?"
Cladissa meows in protest, trying to form a coherent sound but completely unable. She looks frantically to escape, but the cage, suddenly nearby, begins to enclose around her.
"Yeah, probably not. It's a shame I never got to meet him in person." The apparition of her stepsister crouches down and looks at Cladissa directly. "It's best this way. You'll love it. I can even hear you purring!"
She feels a rumbling in her chest and realizes that she has a body again, that she is the creature in the cage. She again tries to protest, but nothing comes out but a growl. At least, she thinks, she has a form again, so she swipes at her stepsister.
The claws pass through her harmlessly. Auronee wags a finger at her. "Bad kitty!" She stands up and slams the cage shut. She steps back a few paces and folds her arms in front of her.
Cladissa screams in horror through an animal mouth. Teeth and muzzle work to form words, but nothing coherent comes out.
Auronee laughs again. "The sooner you accept it, the sooner all this goes away. Just think: you get to stop being you. Remember how I always told you how awful just being you must be? Part of you agreed with me. That's where I came from, all that awful doubt and pain made me. Just give up. Let your mind go. It's the only thing you can do to make me go away," she says matter-of-factly.
Cladissa sniffs at the bars of the cage, then begins to pace. Instinct begins to crawl over her again and take over. No, please, stop this, she protests, but she can't form the words to say them. She looks around, from the green glow at the edges of her consciousness to the image of her old body before the formula. She again tries to form words through her muzzle.
Auronee perks up. "Trying to beg? All right, that's acceptable. I'll let you talk a little while longer. You're already in the shape of a beast. It's only a matter of time."
She clamps her mouth shut with a last nugget of defiance. She wonders instead if she should try to bargain with Auronee to be the old Cladissa again. It wasn't much, but it was human. I would need new glasses, she thinks. Go to her mother, and live a regular life like she had planned for her. Pick a different defeat than this one.
Wait. Why would I need new glasses? She remembers them falling on the floor, shattering, moments after the injection. Her eyesight had been instantly improved.
An idea crawls across her mind. Some small bit of inspiration borne of despair sparks in her eyes. She looks up at her stepsister. With difficulty, she forms the word, "Guuu-lasses."
Auronee frowns. "What about them? You won't be worrying about them in a bit."
Cladissa shakes her head and concentrates on speaking. "I don't need glasses. What if the forrrmula is beneficial? It immediately identified a physical flaw and corrrrected it. Can it fix other flaws? The greenish glow around the edges of her consciousness, that exact same green as the bubbling contents of the syringe, begins to intensify and rise.
Auronee scoffs. She sneers back at her. "I'm in control, you animal. You've never been able to control it."
Cladissa glares at the figment of Auronee as she forces the words out. "I don't need to! You arrre a psychological flaw. A construct of a damaged psyche. Self-destructive." Bubbling green motes of light begin to swirl up and around. "You are a defect! You are a cancer! And you should be cut out!"
The green glow, shining bright, surrounds Auronee and attacks her. She screams as the green light pours into her, cascading around and tearing off pieces. She thrashes and wails as the light covers every bit of her, until finally she is gone.
==================
Cladissa opens her eyes and sees the jungle valley in the filtered light through the canopy. She stirs, dazed, as the lush scents rush into her lungs. She tries to push herself up but can only get to all fours. There's a brief bit of panic as she realizes how animal-like she had let herself become, but the familiar tingling of the formula hits and diffuses throughout her body. The phantom of old fear passes, but is quickly replaced by a new purpose as she wills her form to change. Tentatively at first, but then with growing confidence, she stands upright, fully, for the first time in what had to have been months. Her spine tingles, and her posture straightens. Her face tingles, and she smiles as her muzzle recedes. Her legs stretch and lengthen as her hips widen. Her paws reform into hands and she flexes her fingers. Her skin tingles, yet she forces that sensation away. Her patterned fur remains, and her tail continues to flick back and forth. "My choice. I do like it," she says to the sky. She pitches her head back and laughs out loud.
"Now," she says, excited. "About those wings..."
Why not? It's an epic post.
She felt the tingling intensify.
Cladissa clenched her pointed teeth as it became painful, but she maintained her focus. Her shoulders and back throbbed and pulsed, and she dropped to her knees.
There was a curious absence that she noted, piercing through the haze of pain. A faint echo of a voice of doubt and pessimism that would have blocked her focus and set her in a panic, to get her to retreat from the clear vision in her mind. She was so used to it that its absence was conspicuous, a gaping void, a phantom limb. But instead of rekindling that old voice, its silence drove her on. Scapulars, alula, primary coverts, bow covers, speculum, remiges... she intoned mentally as she felt strange sensations in her back.
With a horrible rending explosion of white-hot agony, something bursts from her back. She collapses as her cry echoed through the jungle. Movement, feeling and sensation crawl up and down her spine and register in her mind. She looks to either side and sees wet, misshapen limbs flop and grope in confusion. She cries again and buries her face in her hands as her back shoots alternating currents of pain and numbness and tingling and pain over and over again.
As time passes, she wonders in some corner of her brain why she hasn't passed out. The horrible sensations twist and churn as her new appendages writhe and twist and move on their own accord. A maddening itch replaces the throbbing pain which is then replaced by an agonizing pulling and stretching. Sweat pours off her and soaks her fur.
She finally lifts her head back up and opens her eyes to catch another glimpse of whatever horror writhes behind her. To her infinite relief, the twisted limbs had been taking shape into something resembling avian wings. Long pinfeathers begin pushing out through tufts of down. Hopeful again, she squeezes her eyes shut and endures the pain as they finish.
When the pain, tingling and itching finally subsides, Cladissa, exhausted, pushes herself up on shaking legs. She looks over her shoulders and sees bright, glossy feathers in an orange and black pattern, with white highlights underneath. She tests them tentatively, and they open and close, spread wide, and snap closed with a whoosh of air.
Tears stream down her cheeks as she reaches out to touch them, and gasps as she feels the sensation of her hands on them. They were real, they were alive, and they were a part of her. She stumbles a bit, still wiped out from the transformation, but she can't help but also feel elated.
"I can't wait to show these off! Nyug, and Hrim, and even Argor! They've got to see this!" she announces, but then realizes she has no idea how long she's been gone. She had completely lost track of time.
"Oh, no." She gulps as looks around. Returning to Absalom shouldn't be difficult, especially if her wings work. But getting into the city might be more of a problem, she realizes, looking down at herself. "Well, it's a good thing I kept the fur."
Well, so much for a proud return to Absalom, Cladissa thinks as she finally realizes that she'll never find her old dress. She vaguely remembers stuffing it into a tree, but after spending several fruitless hours searching she is forced to conclude that she'll have to return naked. She could wrap her new wings around her, but it felt rather undignified. Or, I could just fly, she thinks giddily.
Her heart thuds in her chest as she gets ready. She had climbed to the top of one of the highest trees and stepped out onto a branch several hundred feet above the valley floor. The sun was setting, so she anticipates reaching Absalom by early evening. If she can work out this flying business.
Again a ghostly voice tries to make her doubt herself, but it had no power, no force behind it. She ignores it easily as she lets the wind catch beneath her wings and suddenly she is airborne. A few strong beats send her up and riding the currents. With the ground falling away, she marvels at the sensation of flying. She banks, turning over the valley that had been her home for some time. Swooping in low, she skims the treetops and then climbs up into the air.
She lost herself in flight for a while, until she remembered that there were aerial creatures in the Kortos Mountains. With a new sense of urgency, she decides to head home finally. Eyeing the rising lights and tall spires of the great city of Absalom, she orients herself and speeds through the air.
How does Argor not get completely lost? she wonders as she circles around again. Night had fallen in earnest, since in the dusky twilight Cladissa had not been able to pick out the manor's grounds from the air. She was pretty sure she had located the foreign quarter, so she decides finally to land and finish the journey on foot, nakedness be damned.
Landing was a new experience, and one in which she realized she needed a lot more practice. She mainly just picked a tree, slowed up as much as she could, and smashed into it. Then she used her trusty claws to descend to the ground. She still had her ability to cling to the shadows, so she slunk about through the streets until she found Jabberwocky Lane and reached the manor.
It's later than I thought, Cladissa realizes, so she decides to see everyone in the morning. She climbs effortlessly to her windowsill. Finding her window locked, she sends a surge of pleasure to be returning home to her familiar, and is immediately answered with a pulse of excitement from Cole. The cat unlatches the window and Cladissa pushes it open, then crawls inside.
She scoops up the furball and hugs him fiercely, squealing with joy and simultaneously purring right along with him. She spins him around and collapses on her bed -- and onto a warm body.
The manor house is shook by a piercing scream.
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Argor leaned on his knees, his lungs heaving, as he and the group had found a moments reprieve. Ever since the cave in, they had been beset on all sides, hardly a chance to breath.
__________
It had been four days after his dinner with Auronee that a young wizard named Richtor had come to the Sanctum with a special request. The man's friend had learned of a rumored secret workshop of a long dead wizard on the western edge of the Kortos Mountains. At first uninterested in the venture, Argor eventually relented at the young man's persistence, as well as the sum of coin he was willing to pay to have Argor's expertise for the voyage.
The boys group consisted of five adventurers: the mage himself, his dullard cousin named Walton, a priestess of Desna named Alune, a half-elf woodsman calling himself Galthaliane, and a half-orc brute named Durg that had an intellect that rivaled Grommuk, or perhaps a protazoan.
__________
"What are we going to do!?" Alune asked frantically between gasping breaths. "We're trapped!"
"No shit, Alune!" Walton said, himself in a panic as he leaned with all his weight into the door, hoping to be able to hold it shut should they be assaulted again.
"Quiet," Richtor said in a loud whisper, holding a deep gash along his left ribcage. "You'll draw more of them."
"Good! More for me to crush," Durg said as he tightened his grip on his two handed hammer, clearly still coming down from his battle rage.
"Silence!" Argor scolds. "You get to say nothing after that stunt earlier. In fact, none of you do. All of you are to remain quiet as I think."
It was a clever trap, though Argor had deduced the proper alignment of the Ossirian runes and was about to put them into place when Durg touched a portion of the triggering mechanism for no reason. The half-elf never had a chance to avoid the falling boulders, and Walton had broken a shoulder from the falling stone amidst the chaos that followed. Alune had barely managed to mend the bones enough for use of the arm when the undead horde descended upon them.
Between the four surviving adventurers managed to do well enough alongside Argor's summons, and with their combined might, they managed to push the skeletons and zombies back enough to give the group a chance to take shelter within a side chamber. Argor had commanded the three remaining elementals to continue to fight and advance, and not to stop until they had killed all the undead they encountered. He hoped they would give him enough time to properly prepare for their situation.
"Richtor, what magics do you have remaining at your disposal?" Argor asked.
The young mage shook his head, "Not much. A few minor evocations and one remaining transmutation to enhance one's strength."
Argor sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose between his left index finger and thumb. "Fine. Save your enhancement for either just before we leave this chamber or the door is broken through. Save your remaining evocations for when we find the creator or leader of this mindless horde. Alune, what blessings of your goddess do you have left?"
The young woman had started crying a few moments ago, but between her sobs, she stammers "Only one healing spell l-left, and I w-will only be able to send out 3 more waves of positive energy."
"Then save the waves for when the front line appears to be nearly overwhelmed," Argor commands, "and the spell for when someone is about to succumb to their wounds."
He then points to the two simpletons of the group. "You two, we are going to have to try to cut a path out of here. The way we came will do you no good. So your only hope is to advance. I shall support your efforts with my own conjurings. My elementals are more than a match for skeletons. Walton, you focus your blade against the zombies, it will do them more damage. Durg, you focus your hammer against the skeletons. The ones with no flesh, understand?"
"I know what a skeleton is, you as-"
"SILENCE! It was your ignorance that put us in this mess, and cost the half-elf his life," Argor reprimands the large half-orc. Durg looked as if he was about to strike Argor, but Argor's stern gaze did not waiver, and his hand dropped to his component pouch. "By all means, feel free to try it, you simpleton. My elementals will just as willingly rip you apart as a skeleton, and my conscience will be at peace with it just the same."
You could hear a pin drop within the stone chamber as the others stared on through the awkward silence, when the first thud hit the door. All eyes turned towards the door as it was soon followed with several more repeated strikes.
"Hold for a moment," Argor said as he referred to his spellbook, altering one of his spell allocations for the day. When he was prepared, he turned to Richtor and said, "Cast your enhancement," as he began his own summoning. three more elementals tore themselves up from the floor of the cave as Walton's body shimmered briefly as the magic enhanced the resilience of his musculature.
With the elementals and Durg in place, Argor nodded to Walton, who stepped away from the door. Battle was joined once again, and this wave of undead appeared to be even larger than the last.
__________
Arctyryx sat on his perch, looking out over the grounds of his master's home, enjoying the warmth of the sun's radiance as it shown down upon him. He watched as the lesser birds fluttered to and fro through the garden, chasing insects to eat.
"Why don't you join them, that seems like it would be right up your alley," a small voice said only a foot away, causing Arctyryx to jump with a start, flapping his wings defensively.
Rutai appeared with a snicker at the raven's distress. "My my, jumpy aren't we?" the imp asks as he runs a small file across his claws.
"What do you want, imp? Argor isn't here," Arctyryx says as he settles back onto the limb.
"Oh, I just came by to see if he needed any capable help with anything," the imp says, his verbal jab not going unnoticed by Arctyryx.
"Don't you worry yourself with that. I've been helping him with his tasks for years, so I trust that your assistance isn't required or even wanted," Arctyryx retorts.
Rutai shrugs. "I dunno. He seemed more than eager to rely on me over you at the wedding. You didn't seem to be much help there."
Arctyryx's eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Rutai feigns shock, "Oh? He didn't tell you? I guess he didn't think you worthy of telling, but he asked me to lend him some aid at the wedding, doing some reconnaissance. Learning secrets and that sort of thing. He didn't trust that you were capable, so he requested me to do so," he adds with a sneer on his lips.
Arctyryx said nothing, continuing to stare down this diminutive devil.
"And it would seem he didn't want your help with whatever it is he is up to now, does he? I'm beginning to see a pattern," Rutai says as he stands and dusts off his black shirt and slacks.
"He specifically asked me to stay behind and keep an eye on things!" Arctyryx said proudly.
"Tell yourself whatever you need to to make yourself feel better about it, bird-brain, but the fact is, he doesn't respect you or think you able to contribute," Rutai says with a chuckle. "At any rate, since he's not here, I have better things to do. Good day," he adds before hopping off the limb, his wings expanding behind him moments before he fades from sight.
Arctyryx ruffles his feathers in frustration as he tries to settle back into a comfortable position, his mind racing from the imp's words.
_________
They had managed to push through the horde of crowded undead, Argor having to pause their advance only once more to summon in more elementals for the fight, and make their way to a large round chamber. At its center, a large altar stood, and lining the walls for hundreds of feet up on all sides were tombs, extending out of sight into the darkness. The sounds of the echoes of their footfalls made it clear this chamber was immense, if not in circumference, in volume. It likely extended up through the mountain several hundred feet at the minimum, and every inch was covered in a sarcophagi.
Surrounding the altar stood three skeletons clad in black plate mail, their eyes glowing a pale blue. Behind them, another clad in spiked armor, wielding a blade wreathed in a sickly green flame, pointed a finger their direction.
"AAGAAHAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!" Alune screams out as her body twists and writhes in agony as she is engulfed in that same flame. Her body burns away, leaving nothing but her two piece robe, holy symbol, and other various possessions behind.
Argor immediately looks for some sort of marking on the undead caster, but does not find one at first glance. Not willing to risk a similar attack, he immediately flees back out the door, calling out "Retreat, fools! This thing will kill you all!"
The group begins to fall back, the intelligent undead at their heels forty feet away. They flee all the way back to the site of the cave in, where Argor turns to his elementals and says, "Hold them off as long as you can!" They immediately turn back, and a second later, the sounds of combat can be heard from around the corner.
Richtor looks frantically to Argor, "What are we going to do now!?"
Argor looks at the young wizard with his usual emotionless gaze. "I intend to use magic to escape. I suggest either you do the same, or hope these things are willing to discuss your situation diplomatically."
"What!? You're going to abandon us here!?" Walton cries out.
"Yes," Argor says as he casts his spell. His body begins to become vaporous. "I do not intend to let my life be ended by the folly of a group of adventurers. This was your mission, not mine. I wish you the best of luck," he says moments before the transmutation concludes its work, resulting in him becoming a ghostly apparition of himself.
Enraged, Durg swings his hammer through his misty form to no avail. Argor turns and slips into the cracks of the rubble just as the first of the skeletons rounds the corner. The sounds of the screaming soon became too muffled by the stone to be heard.
__________
Three days later, Argor sat in a quiet corner of the Golden Raven, sipping on some coffee as he looked over his business ledgers. He flags down one of his waitresses and says casually, "Another coffee please. More cream and sugar this time."
"Jannicke!?!" Cladissa gasps after she finishes screaming. She had launched herself into the air with a shriek, wings flapping wildly, as the body in the bed also screamed amidst its tangle of blankets. The panic in the room finally ended when a hasty light spell was brought up and Cladissa could see who was in her bed.
"What are you--" There's a pause as she glances at her bed checking it for Argor as well, "--doing here?" She had just enough time to think how glad she is that Argor wasn't there, because she just fixed her brain and didn't want it broken all over again.
She suddenly remembers her lack of clothing so she quickly wraps her wings around her torso. Then, calming, she starts to think clearer. "Oh. Oh, no. Are you all right?"
The initial fear passed, Jannicke suddenly breaks down into tears as she sits up in the bed, wraps her arms around her knees, and begins crying.
"He...he kicked m-me out!" she stammers. "H-he t-told me about...about apologizing t-to you, and how he tried t-to hug you without asking, and how y-you scratched him...I told him he shouldn't have d-done that, and he snapped! He kicked me out as if I was still his servant!"
She rubs her eyes with the palms of her hands, and looks at Cladissa apologetically. "I...I'm sorry f-for the intrusion, ma'am. I just...I just didn't have anywhere else t-to go. And I couldn't bring m-myself to use his room."
"No! Don't apologize!" Cladissa shakes her head vigorously. She drops to her knees in front of her and grabs Jannicke's hands. "I'm so sorry! Please, call me Cladissa, you've been keeping Cole company, right?" Cole meows an affirmative.
"You're welcome to stay here, absolutely. Anyway, I've been sleeping in a tree for the past -- well, I dunno how long."
She sits back on her haunches, still holding her hands. "Please, tell me, he didn't hurt you, did he?"
Jannicke shakes her head. "No...no he didn't..." she seems as if she's about to say more, but decides against it.
She reaches out and strokes Cole's fur. "More like he's been keeping me company, actually," she says, a sniffle chasing her words. "Thank you, ma'am. How about you, are you alright? When did you grow those?" she asks, nodding to her wings before offering the still nude Cladissa a sheet to wrap herself in.
"Oh! These. Today, actually. Thanks." She accepts the sheet and wraps herself, freeing her wings to flap a few times to show them off.
Turning the subject back to Jannicke, she sits down next to her. She looks at her hands, her claws just poking slightly above the tips of her fingers. "I'm sorry if I started this whole mess. I've been messed up for a while. The serum... made me nearly feral. I responded like a wild beast."
She sits up and looks straight at Jannicke, wide-eyed. "The serum! I now know it does affect the mind."
Jannicke nods. "That's what Ar...what he says," wringing her own hands in each other. "But...I don't think that is the reason for how he is acting. He has become obsessed with proving himself. But I don't understand it. He never mentions his family, he is becoming renowned through the Aranamirium, Society, and all of Absalom. Who is he so desperate to impress?"
She hangs her head, and mutters under her breath, "Clearly it wasn't me..."
"Stop that," Cladissa says gently. "Don't believe that. Not about yourself. You're the nicest, prettiest person I think I've ever met. I didn't even know you could be pretty and nice at the same time." She gives her a reassuring smile.
As her thoughts turn to Argor, she shakes her head while her shoulders slump. "As for him, I don't know. You're right about him wanting to prove himself. And he's driven, and smart. But I think he's dangerous." She says that last part in a whisper, as if she didn't even want to admit it to herself.
She looks Jannicke in the eyes. "You can stay here as long as you like. I won't tell him you're here."
Jannicke smiles, and holds her hand out towards Cladissa.
Her smile soon fades, "Why do you think he is dangerous?" she asks, the concern growing on her face.
Cladissa's face is lined with worry. "I'm sorry for saying that. Maybe I'm wrong, but..." she trails off, trying to decide what to say and how to say it.
She swallows hard and meets her eyes. "It's a feeling I kept getting whenever I was around him. My hair was always on end, and I felt like hissing at the slightest touch. It was an animal instinct, I know. But I didn't get it from anyone else. Well, anyone else who was supposed to be a friend."
"Did he ever...do anything to hurt any of you, while you were on your missions?". she asks.
"I just can't imagine what it is that is causing him to act like this. Do you think it could be the serum?"
Cladissa rocks back and forth on the bed as she thinks. "No, nothing directly. Though he was quick to voice his displeasure if someone did something he didn't agree with."
"As for the serum, I hope so, since I know it can be fixed. At the start, he was still haughty and a know-it-all, but he seemed to really want me to excel. I've had self-confidence problems for a long time, and he believed in me, for a time. I guess he might have thought that I would always agree with him, but when we didn't, it was like he took it as a personal insult."
"He probably would kill me for saying this, but you are the only one of the others he respects. He thinks the rest to be beneath him, and Mr. Newblossom to be wasting his potential."
She sighs, adding, "I think that is why he taught me magic. So he could tolerate my presence. Maybe that is why he took whatever it was you and I disagreed with him about so personally? Because he actually respected us?"
Cladissa's jaw drops. "But that's not respect! Respect is allowing someone to disagree with you, even consider their side, be willing to change your mind! And if you still have a difference of opinion, let it go!"
She takes Jannicke's hand again and squeezes it. She could almost cry. "Listen to yourself! You learned magic so he could tolerate you? You learn magic because you want to, not him!"
Tears begin to well up. "Think about this: Would he ever allow you to surpass him? If you mastered something he could not, how do you think he would respond?"
Jannicke shakes her head, "By the Gods, no! I did learn it for me. I didn't develop feelings for him until some time later..."
But she hangs her head, "But you are right, he would have never stood for me surpassing him, though I doubt that I ever could."
She squeezes Cladissa's in return, "You are a good person, Cladissa. Can you make me a promise?" she asks as she looks her in the eyes.
Cladissa wipes her eyes before any tears fall, then nods. "Yes, sure," she answers.
Jannicke sits silently for a moment before speaking.
"Argor won't see me ever again. I am certain of it. But, I still hope he can recover from whatever it is that plagues him. But you...you he will continue to work with through the Society. I want you to promise me you won't give up on him. That you will find a way to help him."
She squeezes Cladissa's hand tightly. "Can you do that for me?" she pleads, the tears welling up in her eyes.
Cladissa takes a deep breath. "I don't know if I'm still a part of the Society myself. I submitted a report about that night," she brings up a hand and her claws extend, then quickly retract. "If he's nursed a grudge, he probably could have had me expelled. I haven't been around to defend my position."
She looks at Jannicke and nods. "But if I'm still allowed to be a Pathfinder, I'll see what I can do. If he'll listen to me. If he lets me even go around him. If he --" she stops herself and rubs her face. "No, I'm not going to think that way anymore. I'll get his attention. One way or another." She gives Jannicke a smile with more confidence than she's ever seen on her face before.
Jannicke smiles, "Thanks. Is...is it safe for me to hug you?" she asks, a smirk growing on her face.
Cladissa stifles a laugh. She nods, "I smell like a wild animal, but yes. I'm much better now."
She leans forward and gives her a hug, her wings offering a secondary embrace as they wrap around Jannicke as well.
The friendly embrace lasts for several minutes and slowly lapses into the relaxed postures of sleep.
The next morning none of the Freaks are really surprised to have their morning meals interrupted by messengers in Pathfinder livery. Drandle Dreng has need of his darlings once again. Apparently a little over a month was about as long as the Society could go without them.
Upon arriving in Dreng's office the elderly Venture Captain wastes no time. He looks more refreshed than when they'd last seen him at the wedding. "It is truly a pleasure to be back. Venture Captain Drandle Dreng takes a seat at the head of the table and leafs through the papers set before him. "I took a little R&R myself after all those demons. I'm getting too old for that shit...But what do I return to?" He slaps his hands onto the reams of paper in front of him. "It seems we need to spend the next few hours tidying up the paperwork you’ve accumulated overt the course of your adventures.” He wets his wrinkled lips. "First, we have this extradition order from Cheliax for... Oh my. Well, I’m sure the Society can—"
A blue-grey shape crashes through the window and lands on the oak table with a metallic schwak! The tangle of wings and claws eventually stands, a gleaming silver raven, and opens its mouth.
"G—gods help me, Dreng, I’m dying," a distant but familiar male voice sputters from the bird. “Men in black—came for...Numeria exhibits. It’s Nigel... I’ve been shot! You owe me, you old bastard!"
Dreng’s lips crack as they tighten. "Well...Sounds like you lot need to head to the Wise District. That was our old friend Nigel Aldain, so go to the Blakros Museum. If he lives through the night, I might be able to make something of this—” he waves a hand over the mound of parchment, “disappear.”
"Last I heard, Nigel shut the place down a few weeks ago for some renovations and to bring in some new exhibit. Just after the wedding in fact..." Dreng scratches his bearded chin. "Anyway, off with you. I'll do the work of an old adventurer," he says, hefting a pen and pot of ink.
Argor glanced up from his morning danish at the Pathfinder messenger, a look of understanding disdain growing on his face. Before the man can even say a word, he holds up a hand and says, "Tell whoever it is that I will be there shortly."
He rises and heads to his study to acquire his spell book and make his morning preparations. As he turns to leave, he says "Come along, Arctyryx, it would seem the Society has need of us once again."
_________
Argor is the first to arrive, and sits at the end of the table opposite Dreng, watching the others slowly file in from the Jabberwocky Estate. He makes a mental note of Cladissa's newest evolution.
I see she finally has taken my advice and learned to guide the transformations. I wonder if she will soon also choose to shed these feline features altogether?
As Dreng begins to describe what sounds to be a day full of paperwork, Argor becomes more and more visibly frustrated. His teeth clench, and his hands ball into fists beneath the table.
This feeble-minded old fool called me away from my daily tasks, for paperwork?!?! How dare he! My reports have always been thorough, concise, and better written than any others this ramshackle organization has ever seen.
Just as Argor is about to interrupt the Venture Captain with a scathing rebuttal, the metallic avian makes its violent entrance and desperate plea.
Argor rises and straightens his shirt. You are fortunate, you old coot. Had this development not arisen...
He walks out ahead of the others, and pauses in front of the Grand Lodge as he casts some protective incantations and adjusts his preparations for combat.
"I suggest you all go ahead and prepare yourselves with any long-lasting enhancements you have prepared. It would seem things are already violent at the museum, and I doubt we are greeted kindly upon our arrival."
As he says this, he crushes some dried carrot in his fingers and then reaches over to casually tap Cladissa on the wing with his left hand. "Now we can all also see in darkness, I do believe. No more of these debacles of creatures using the lack of light against us."
__________
Nyugusk seemed none too social on the boat ride back, mostly trying to stay away from the society folks, with a look of clear frustration with himself on his face.
When Cladissa disappeared, he started to keep mostly to himself in his own alchemical lab. When he's reappear it was mostly muttering about self-perfection and nacent breakthroughs.
When he heard a late night scream he bolted out of bed and ran upstairs. When he got there he heard conversation, hesistated, and then rapped gently...right as a burst of laughter came out of the room. Is that Cladissa back? I think it is! He finds himself grinning at her return and is about to knock again louder when he decides that he doesn't want to intrude and heads back down to his room.
As they head from Jabberwocky Lane over to the Dreng’s office, Nyug walks beside Cladissa. ”It’s good to see you back. Cool wings, by the way! Are you...OK?”
As she looks at the Transmogrifying Lotus, it’s clear that the serum has had an effect on him as well. Two of his legs have sloughed off, leaving him with only two arms and four remaining legs. What’s left though seem a bit longer and springier. He seems to have some new blue tattoos on his arms as well, showing more fantastical beasts transmogrifying into and out of lotus blossoms.
Nyugusk nods to Argor and says, I have a bit I can do when we get closer. When they’re a block away, the Transmogrifying Lotus says ”One moment”. He begins to mix and drink formulae and his mutagen. First he does his now familiar drink-rinse-spit ritual with a potion of Greater Magic Fang and another one of Heroism. Then he chugs down his mutagen. As he does he grins a wide, tusky grin. ”Hrim and Thrassk have already seen this but--Argor and Cladissa--check out what I just discovered!”
He shudders at the taste, and a moment later the pungent smell of urine, sweat, and overripe fruit punctuates the air. Then, large dragonfly-like wings peel out of his back, his muscles bulge, his pincers grow some webbing between them, and his snout grows longer. ”Marvelous, eh?”
Argor watches on passively at the grotesque transformation that Nyugusk undertakes. "I suppose that is an adjective one could choose to describe it."
Missing the sarcasm entirely, Nyugusk nods, grinning with pride. "There's more too! I've really improved upon the chymicals that I've put to work in my blood to heal me when I'm injured have. Not only that, with concentration I believe I can sweat them out onto one of you, to aid in your own healing. Let me show you!"
And with that he begins to focus, causing a greenish sweat to come from his pits. He wipes it onto his hand and asks: "So far I've just practiced it on Huk Huk, but I don't see any reason it couldn't help you as well. Does anyone want to try it?"