Cladissa sits on the edge of her guest bed, thinking. Her body was unchanged, despite her repeated attempts to reassert control and somehow activate the formula. Nyug's research was incomplete, but at least it was still ongoing. She had to face the uncomfortable fact that, for the time being, she was stuck in this alluring form that looked for all the world like a succubus.
While she could bring up a rather convincing illusion, its duration was unfortunately limited, and therefore she had to use it sparingly. But even though the illusion lasted for hours, she herself was always aware that it wasn't real, and just underneath the veil lurked her demonic visage.
Cole meows softly and slinks along the bed to where she is sitting. She looks at him. "No, I'm not," she protests in the secret language they share. "... Well, all right. I guess I am. But look at me! What else can I do?"
Cole meows again and jumps into her lap. Cladissa feels his purr and wishes she could feel the corresponding rumble in her own chest that she used to be capable of. "I'm not just feeling sorry for myself. But my options are somewhat limited, you realize."
Cole's yellow eyes narrow as he looks up at her with feline contempt. He mews a bit. "Okay. But what can I do? What should I do?"
They exchange ideas for a while. Finally, she throws out something that sets her heart thudding. "No, that's-- I couldn't. Well, I could try, I suppose. But it's not like it'll ever, ever work."
However, she thinks more on it. "Well, maybe not all at once," she tells her familiar. "It'll take a ton of work. And gold. Influence -- every scrap I've earned over this past year. Wow. But maybe... Maybe."
She jumps to her feet and catches her reflection in the mirror. She deflates. "Wait, no. Not while I'm looking like this!"
Cole meows loudly at her, with vehemence. "Yeah. I can't let this stop me." She again reasserts her confidence. "Okay, let's get started. I'm going to have to do a ton of research first. If I'm going to do this, it's gotta be done right."
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In the days that pass after Sabrina joins the Freaks, Cladissa takes on some mystery project. It involves her taking numerous trips to legal libraries, pouring over tomes of Absalom law, scribbling notes on reams of parchment, and sending out countless letters and missives.
She goes out frequently, sometimes dressed extremely nice and veiled in the illusion of her furred form. She stays tight-lipped when asked about it, promising that she'll tell everyone in due time, but she has to finish the project first.
Nyugusk looks up from the bubbling alembic he’s focused on and sees Argor standing there, clothes hovering before him.
”Oh, I’m really too busy to...” seeing the look on Argor’s face, he sighs, ”Alright, a quick walk to clear my head.”
As they step out onto the streets of Absolom, he says, ”I'm, uh, sorry about...that”
Argor shrugs it off. ”It’s of no concern. But Gianluca is right. You need to take a step back from the research for a while. Your health is noticeably in decline from being overworked”
Nyugusk shakes his head vehemently. "No no no. I'm getting enough rest, it's OK. And soon...soon I'll get there and I can step back then, maybe. Right now...no, I'm too close!"
Argor persists, "Nyugusk, look at your claws. Even now they are shaking. Deep down you know you are in denial. And what good will you be to yourself, your research, or anyone else, should your body and mind give in due to being overly taxed?"
The Transmogrifying Lotus seems to be considering and then discarding several responses before saying, "Thank you. I can tell your concern is genuine. I appreciate that. I'll be OK though. More than OK. I'm really getting closer--closer to true perfection. Wait until you see..."
Argor pauses and looks up at Nyugusk. "Take flight with me," he says as he begins to hover several feet off the ground.
"OK, one moment, Nyugusk says, quaffing a vial of mutagen, and feeling the power of insectoid wings sprouting from his back. He begins to flap them in a steady buzz and follows Argor into the air.
Argor flies up until the entire city of Absalom lays out before them."Look at that and tell me what you see," he says gesturing to the city below.
Nyugusk cocks his head quizzically. Looking down from their great height, he replies "The largest city in Golarion. Our home. A place where people all too often accept their own limits instead of trying to transcend or transmogrify them."
Argor shakes his head. "I'm going to let you in on a secret. What that is," again nodding to the hustle and bustle below, "IS perfection. Let me explain. What is perfect for one person, creature, city, nation, or world, is the exact opposite of the very definition of that word to another. What you see below are thousands of people trying to achieve their own perfection in their own way, knowingly or not. And in doing so, they are, together, working as a district to the same end, and on an even larger scale, the city as a whole. This is true for every city and nation, in their own ways. For example, you relish in your own mutations, while I, no offense, would find them...unfortunate, had they developed on my person. The importance of trying to achieve perfection is not the actual accomplishment of the fact, but the journey in trying to achieve it."
He pauses for a moment then says, "This is why you shouldn't strain yourself to such extents trying to work your formulas. I am not asking you to forsake your research. You are correct, it is too important. But you need to take a break from them, entirely, for a short while. That way, when you return, you will be rejuvenated, focused, and healthy."
Before Nyugusk can respond, Argor adds, "To help you do so, I am willing to aid you in establishing a private laboratory here on premises, complete with a private staff, so that the burden no longer falls entirely on your shoulders. That way, you can take solace in the fact that even during this, and other, moments of respite, you can take comfort in the fact that work is still underway."
The Transmogrifying Lotus shakes his head. "Each of us has their own path to perfection. I understand that...but Perfection is real. For Irori it led to his ascension to godhood, without the crutch even of the Starstone. My sister was always so good at meditation and martial katas. My father, so disciplined. I...I couldn't hold a candle to them for so long, but since this serum...we've been given a rare and glorious opportunity.”
Argor nods, "I agree. But that opportunity will be wasted if your body and mind fail due to overexertion."
Nyugusk smiles a wide, tusky smile. "You're right of course. I'll take care of myself. I promise. And I...thank you for the offer of the lab. I can contribute my own funds to it as well. It's a good idea."
When he gets back to Argor’s manor, he does indeed take a break, heading to his room and falling into an exhausted sleep. In the middle of the night he wakes though, again compelled by the knowledge that he’s so close to a major breakthrough. Unable to rest more, he scurries down the hall and back to his lab.
He works well past breakfast and bursts out of his lab late morning, trembling with excitement. Walking into the lounge where folks are resting after their morning pastries, he cries, ”Look at me! Watch this!!” He extends his accordion-arm and then shakes it, and it transforms into a thorny wooden branch, dripping venom. He shakes it again and it’s a tentacle 20’ long covered in suckers. Then he shakes it again and his arm appears to immolate itself in flame.
”Finally, I think--”(gasp)”I think--I’m getting--”(wheeze)”New levels of self perf--”(gasp!) The Transmogrifying Lotus loses all ability to speak, instead succumbing to laughter so manic he occasionally has to gasp and gulp for air. His body continues to have waves of transmogrification ripple over it with unsettling speed, as purple scales come into view and then are replaced by blue-gray fur, and then on to reddish leathery skin, and then an almost gelatinous form.
As he rapidly shifts, he suddenly starts to make sounds of sharp pain. His eyes bulge, then shoot out on eyestalks, and then start to bleed...yet his laughter doesn’t abate in the slightest. Instead, it takes on a wet, gurgling quality until red blood and green serum (staying as separate as oil and water) start to pour and then spurt from Nyugusk’s broad, tusky mouth.
A look of panic takes his face and he starts to shake convulsively. He manages to breathe out, ”He-help me! Something’s very...wrong”
Gianluca gasps with horror. ”He needs a powerful healer. Now!” Nyugusk’s lover drapes the bulky six-limbed pathfinder over his shoulder as best he can. He starts to run for the door, but as he does Nyugusk begins to convulse violently--and then explodes, covering the room (and Gianluca in particular) with a foul ichor.
The Arshean cries, as he feels his childhood friend and lover dissolve upon him...and feels the hot blood-and-serum mixture start to sizzle into his own skin.
Gianluca falls to the floor in pain as his body starts to throb and elongate. Moments later--beneath the splatter of his dissolving friend--it is apparent that Gianluca himself has been transformed. His skin has the look of honey and his flowing curls seem to be spun of amber. As he stands up, it’s clear that he’s taller as well: not much shy of eight feet in height, with unusually long arms and legs.
With a look of shock and horror in his tear-filled amethyst eyes, he looks at the collected Freaks. Even laced with horror, his voice seems to have taken on an almost melodious quality. ”Whaa...what just happened?”
Argor sighs as he sets down his morning missives to look at Nyugusk. "I thought we had agreed you would take a bre-" he stops as he notes the half-orcs seriously labored condition.
As the debilitations progress, Argor rises and takes a cautious step away and towards Imrizade. "Uh...boss?" Rutai stammers anxiously.
Argor's fingers reflexively begin to move in the practiced motions of magic, and as Nyugusk's body begins to swell and explode, manages to raise an arcane shield in front of himself, protecting himself, Rutai, and Imrizade from the orcish debris.
Imrizade screams in horror at the scene, while Argor narrows his eyes and gains a methodical focus. "Rutai, go to his work space and return with two vials, quickly."
"Ugh...gross...but I'm on it," the imp says as he quickly soars towards Mr. Newblossom's chamber.
Cladissa is dressed and veiled for a venture out into the city that morning when Nyugusk bursts out of his lab. She watches with excited interest at the breakthroughs he displayed, hoping that her time as a demon will be short.
That elation soon turns to horror when it goes awry, and Nyugusk loses control. As the transformations become more rapid and grotesque she moves up to him but freezes in place, not knowing what to do. Then, desperately, she lends him Fortune, and cackles to lengthen its duration.
It clearly doesn't help as he begins convulsing. she shrieks in terror as Gianluca sweeps part her and gathers him up.
She cackles one last time ineffectually before the Transmogrified Lotus explodes.
Cladissa stands in mute shock, splattered with the ichor, fluids, and viscera of her dear friend. She barely registers Gianluca's changes, and her choked sobs break the ringing silence that follows.
When Rutai returns, Argor commands, "Fill them both."
"UuuuuuuuGGGHHHH!" Rutai groans before setting to the task.
"Sabrina, is it?" Argor asks their newest member. "You claim to have practiced some Druidic arts. Were you, by chance, trained in the art of reincarnation?"
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Sabrina nimbly dodges the explosion by jumping through a (thankfully open first story) window.
...What an awesome way to die, Sabrina thinks as her slit eyes starting to tear up. The Naga Aspirant otherwise does an excellent job of maintaining her composure.
She climbs back inside.
"I am; such training actually runs in the family," Sabrina answers Argor with slight unease as she cracks a tiny smile. She sniffles, "Reincarnation's a crapshoot, though; the results can be... interesting. My sister once saw someone come back as an Awakened Dire Crocodile."
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Sabrina looks about the room and thinks over everyone's reactions. She can't see whatever Hrim is doing, so she decides to move on. Imrizade and she are basically strangers, and Imrizade has Argor to lean on, so... moving on. Speaking of the devil *drum rim*, while Nyugusk did indeed die rather awesomely, something about Argor's cold indifference about it... bothers her. Yes, death isn't always final on Golarion, but... shouldn't he show some actual emotion over it? Right now, he looks like he's more annoyed that his kitchen got dirty than a close friend (?) spontaneously exploding.
That leaves poor Gianluca and Cladissa.
Sabrina knows that her old pal Gianluca is a tough guy, but the poor man is clearly dazed, shocked, and horrified.
And needless to say, at the current moment, Cladissa is probably taking Nyug's awesome death that hardest.
Sabrina looks over at her new friend, and for the briefest of seconds, she sees... herself crying except... she isn't herself. She has longer hair and less muscle. She blinks, and Cladissa is back. Unsure of how to feel, Sabrina shifts awkwardly in place for a couple more seconds before striding over to her new friend and embracing the smaller woman in a hug.
"...Gianluca, I'm no alchemist, but I think the serum from Nyug's blood has... altered you," the Naga Aspirant says softly. She turns her attention to Cladissa and cooes gently, "There there. It'll be fine. I'll bring him back."
Gianluca--still clearly in shock--looks over at Sabrina.
The musical tone of his altered voice and the pain in it contrast each other sharply. "You think...what?
"Why do you say?"
Cladissa issues an anguished cry from deep within her throat. Her body remains still except for the trembling that runs across her; even her usually animated tail hangs limply and her wings droop. She doesn't bother to wipe the wet, glistening sludge dripping off her face and clothes.
Sabrina's unexpected embrace causes her to flinch, but nothing more. Even her words to Gianluca do not seem to register. She just stares blankly at the radial splatter pattern on the floor.
Somehow, Sabrina's words to her sink in. Cladissa gestures at the mess, shaking her head. "But, look. How-- What can we--?"
Finally the dam breaks and she begins crying in earnest. Her legs give out, requiring Sabrina to hold her up lest she sink into the puddles of goo. Huge, wracking sobs seize her for a while. She tears her eyes finally from the scene and buries her face into Setsuna's chest, muffling her cries.
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Sabrina keeps the hug steady and makes sure that Cladissa is properly supported.
"...I think Nyug's blood mutated you," Sabrina repeats carefully to Gianluca. She really isn't sure what else she can say.
To Cladissa, she mumrmurs softly, "I have a spell that can undo death. It only requires some small part of his body. A tusk. Some blood potentially. The condition of his... remains doesn't matter. It should... even fix his old health issues."
Hrim had spent the day at the shrine with Madame Batbongle. He finally shared the reason for his exile with her having tapped that well the night before with Cladissa. He was emotionally spent when he arrives at Argor's manor.
He heads to the collection of voices in the lounge and sees Cladissa crying on the new girl. The ichor around the room and tense emotions concerns him deeply. Clearing his throat, a shadow speaks loudly in a small, thin voice, "what's going? I just arrived."
Reincarnation.
Cladissa was familiar with the concept. It gave her a glimmer of hope, something to counter witnessing Nyugusk's gruesome demise. It could bring him back, hopefully free of his afflictions.
But probably very, very different.
She breaks the embrace with Sabrina and stands, cautiously, trying not to slip in the viscera. She nods and weakly offers a smile to the druid.
"Very well. Take Rutai with you to The Sanctum and acquire whatever reagents you might need. Rutai will make the arrangements with Mr. Giles for proper reimbursement later."
Argor then begins working some magic to make the excess gore and viscera vanish from the surfaces, quietly observing Gianluca as he does so.
Cladissa's mind begins slowly returning to her, and she begins piecing together the ancillary events around Nyug's explosion. Most notably, Gianluca's own transformation.
She then observes the fluids of myriad colors and viscosities, realizing that they may still contain mutagenic properties. "Argor, wait. We should collect more than just two samples. This stuff -- in a way, it's Nyug's life's work. Whether he chooses to stay dead or come back, he'll want this preserved. All of it."
She begins to tiptoe around, pointing at the glowing green patch, then the bright purple puddle, the strange organ leaking teal drips, and more. "Vials! We need vials! And more! Pots, pans, jars, anything in the kitchen!" she instructs, looking to the house staff that have been hovering at a safe distance. Then she starts pointing. "Save that, especially. And that. Ooh, get a sample of that, quick! It's smoking!"
Already covered with the goo, she digs right into the task, scooping up substances into jars, vials, beakers and even clay pots. With most of the distinctive specimens collected, she stands up on wobbly feet and smiles at the array of containers. Then she pauses, feeling a strange pulling and twisting in her limbs.
"Wait. Something's not--" she says, fear creeping into her voice. She gasps as she looks down at her hands, seeing through her illusion at skin that is bubbling and writhing. "Oh, gods! COLE! HELP!"
She launches herself into the air and makes a beeline to the courtyard fountain -- the nearest source of clean water nearby. She plunges into it entirely just as Cole materializes with a small displacement of air.
Cladissa desperately scrubs the fluids off of her while Cole immediately begins casting prestidigitation on his witch. There's no familiar, painful tingling, or the agonizing demonic corruption. Just a foul stretching and pulling sensation that thankfully begins to dissipate as the fluids dissolve. "No, no, no, no," she continues to mutter as she scrubs.
After several long minutes of her impromptu bathing session, she finally finishes with a bedraggled sigh. She drops away the illusion and examines herself closely, noting that her demonic form is still in place. Every part checks in and seems normal, until she pulls herself out of the fountain and hears a soft click when her foot touches the tiled floor.
She looks down, and sees two dainty cloven hooves where her feet should be. "Oh, gods."
When Cladissa starts barking orders to his staff, he turns to Reginald and says, "Do as she says, but none of you touch any of this."
As she dives headlong into the task, Argor watches intently. As she has her outburst and sprints for the fountain, he hovers after her. His keen eyes never leave her form, and he notes the new hooves as she exits the water. "Precisely why I was avoiding contact and exposure, when I noted Gianluca's alterations. Are you alright?" he asks.
"...I think Nyug's blood mutated you," Sabrina repeats carefully to Gianluca. She really isn't sure what else she can say.
At first the words mean nothing as he looks in horror and grief at Nyugusk's gooey remains.
They finally shift from empty sounds into a semblance of meaning as he happens to see his own arm. In a quiet voice, he says, "Oh! I see. It's...it longer now, isn't it? Am I taller? And my body almost looks like honey." At that, a slight tired smile briefly touches his lips. To no one in particular, he says, "They used to call me the Honeyed Hand of Arshea. Maybe now that name has gotten more apt..."
He stretches and realizes that he's more than a foot taller, and his arms can reach clear across the room.
Lacking the will or headspace to really take his new form through its paces, he just looks for a clear spot far from Nyugusk's explosion to sit, cradling his head.
There's a long moment where Cladissa simply stares at her feet. She lifts one, then the other, flexing and testing their range of movement. It doesn't appear that she even heard Argor's comment, or his question about her well-being.
She takes a couple tentative steps, the cloven hooves lightly tapping against the floor. They seem to hold her balance. Her face is obscured by the dripping wet strings of hair hanging down. Then she begins to shake.
At first, it looks like she's crying again. But then her voice catches, and it sounds like giggles. Then it grows louder, becoming apparent that she is laughing, rising in volume until it is mad cackling.
Finally she looks up at Argor. she shouts crazily in a gutteral tongue. "Ҳаёти ман шӯхӣ аст, комил аст!"
"Perfect, perfect, perfect," she mutters as she walks back inside. The hooves weren't all that different from her old catlike paws. She was back to standing on her toes again, the heel becoming an extra joint never touching the ground. Though they weren't as silent as the paws, the hooves making a pleasing little click-clack sound on the tiles like hard-soled shoes.
She stops when she sees Gianluca sitting, holding his head. The poor man, he endured the worst of it, she thinks, though her mind is still in a crazed turmoil.
"I have hooves now," she says in a sing-song voice. "Honey." Then she promptly faints.
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Sabrina takes a couple of moments to find something solid to use for the reincarnation. Eventually, she finds a couple of Nyug's tusks. She hands them over for Rutai to clean while she gets ready.
Much to her dismay, all of the Nyugusk juice that Cladissa's hug and her search for tusks got on her... does absolutely nothing. Her scales are so smooth that the stuff just slides right off. Sabrina flicks her forked tongue in annoyance.
After cleaning herself up, Sabrina collects Rutai and departs for The Sanctum. They come back four hours later with all of the stuff she needs. Sabrina uses her foot to dig a magical circle into some dirt in the Courtyard and then gently places the tusks in the center of it and doses them with the sacred oils.
"Luckily, I prepared Reincarnate this morning. I have no idea why, but by the Divines, another random decision of mine paid off!" she says happily to the imp. "Now, Rutai, my tiny little fiend, go collect the others! Let's see what the Wheel has in mind for Dr. Newblossom!"
Sabrina promptly starts casting the spell.
For ten minutes Sabrina chants over the remains, surrounding them with increasingly complex circular patterns of knotwork and druidic script dripped with sacred oils. As the ritual begins to climax the magical circle glows a verdant green. It glows softly at first, and then brighter and brighter until it is as bright as noonday sunlight. As Sabrina finishes the spell the light grows so intense that no one can look at it directly.
There is a loud crunching sound, a shudder of motion from within the brightness. The light fades, and in the place of tusks and magical oil is a small dark skinned girl, curled up into the fetal position. Her heavily curled hair grows in a wild mane to her shoulder blades, and she is naked. She appears to be human, and about nineteen or twenty years old. If you met her on the street you'd guess her ethnicity as Mwangi or Garundi, maybe a dark Osiriani. With a shudder of indrawn breath, Nyugusk's consciousness blossoms into his new form. Newblossom is born.
Great. The insanity spreads.
Argor returns to the disaster that has become his sitting room and asks "Nyugusk will be attempted to be raised soon. How do you feel, Mr. Gianluca? I am surprised the serum worked transdermally."
Between the death of his childhood friend, his alteration by the serum, and now the suggestion that Nyugusk would be reborn in a new body...Gianluca is clearly dazed and distraught. None the less, when Cladissa faints, he instinctively reaches out and grabs her, cradling her fall. He lays her head on his lap and (gently, absentmindedly) straightens her hair.
He is still sitting there when Argor speaks to him. "I will be OK.
"As for the serum, it certainly seemed to, although some of...Nyuggy's remains...got in my nose and mouth as well."
Then, summoning a brief grin, he says, "Or, you know, maybe it was a delayed reaction, caused via insemination?" As he has a dozen times since it happened, Gianluca holds his hand and arm up to his face, examining it, trying to make sense of it all.
He follows Argor into the chamber where the ritual is being held. As it reaches its crescendo Gianluca keeps right on staring into the light. When the searing glow recedes he sees Nyugusk's new form curled on the floor.
With a gasp, Gianluca runs over and scoops her up into his arms. "Nyuggy! Is that really still you? You're alive again! Can you speak?"
Skin as fresh as a newly unfurled leaf-bud, Nyugelle Newblossom is born.
She takes in a few frantic breaths--as though she's trying to figure out how breathing works in this new body--and looks around with wide eyes, filled with wonder and confusion. When Gianluca approaches, she wraps herself around him, digging her fingers into his back and sobbing. She says to her childhood friend. "What happened to you? You look...even more angelic than you used to...but why?"
After Gianluca explains that the serum seems to have transferred to him, the newborn Newblossom clings even tighter to him. "So...you get your own shot at this now? Was that my gift to you?"
Shaking her head, another wave of tears washes over her and she looks at her companions, "I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry. I thought I had the answers but I...I failed you."
Cladissa came to while being cradled in Gianluca's lap. She stayed there for a while, his gentle stroking of her hair was extremely soothing to her otherwise panicked and distraught mind. It actually felt really nice, she realized. She hadn't had any meaningful physical contact in -- she couldn't think when. Roald had petted her a few times during their so-called relationship, but even that paled this soothing touch. It was like being caressed by an angel.
She doesn't even shudder when Gianluca talks of being inseminated.
When Sabrina returned with the components for the reincarnation, she gets up and click-clacks to the courtyard, standing out of the way silently. She watches the ritual with rapt attention, heart thudding, but then has to look away from the searing light until it finally recedes to reveal Nyug's new body.
It's beautiful.
She waits her turn to welcome Nyug back to the living with a soft embrace. Then she says, "No, you didn't fail us. You have nothing to apologize for. I'm just glad you came back to us."
Hrim attempts to drink in the tidal wave of events. He stands there in shocked silence staring at Nyug's ichor, Cladissa's hooves, the new guy, and the new girl starting reincarnation. Don't we want to raise Nyug from the dead, instead of reincarnating him? He starts to morally question the situation when the new girl finishes, and Nyug is reborn.
Cladissa's stirring triggers Hrim from emotional overload. He finds himself sitting on the floor far from the ichor in a corner with his back against the wall. He cannot believe what has happened to his friends.
The days following the chaotic events of Sabrina joining the team and Nyugusk's failed experimentation pass by quickly. The Society reassigns Gianluca to the team, now that he's the holder of Nyugusk's serum. Nyugelle remains a Pathfinder, but as a normal human the Society has seen fit to give her management of a permanent research lab in the Grand Lodge. Her work there will serve as a pension and reward for her loyal service.
Imrizade is weirded out by the whole thing, and by having the Freaks constantly around the house and goes to stay at one of her Family's homes in the city for a few days. "Once you guys go on your next assignment I'll come home, baby. It's just a little too crowded and strange around here for now," she tells Argor before leaving. "I'll only be a few minutes away by carriage if you need me, dear. I'll be coming back to check on the staff and maybe visit with Cladissa and the new girl."
A whole week goes by, during which the Pathfinders process their new situation in their own individual ways. A couple of days into the second week after they raided the Deckland vault, the Freaks receive a group invitation to a private card game at a tavern called the Grog Pit near the Puddles district. The invitation is on Society letterhead, and is presented as a calndestine mission briefing. The Freaks are instructed to maintain as low a profile as possible on their way to the tavern.
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Sabrina takes a moment to puff out her chest and revel in her success. While she is certainly not above coming back as something exotic like a Gnoll (or an Awakened Dire Crocodile), the Naga Aspirant knows that a human form is probably preferable to most people. Definitely not a bad result for her first reincarnation.
When not on her own wacky adventures or working out to maintain her illustrious physique, Sabrina spends most of her time hanging out with her friend Gianluca or attempting to socialize with Cladisaa. Probably much to Argor's surprise, she doesn't make a big nuisance of herself; her eccentric mannerisms are rather light when she talks to any non-Freaks, and she respectfully refers to him as "Mr. Constantine" like clockwork.
(That said, Sabrina does regularly help herself to the pantry; to do anything else would be an absolute insult to her most gracious host's generosity and honor.)
When asked to go to the Grog Pit, Sabrina departs at the stroke midnight before everyone else wakes up, leaving a note saying as much.
(Observant Pathfinders notice that she seems to pray for spells under the stars, so she has everything that she needs.)
The Naga Aspirant takes the long route there. She uses her Bow of Disguise to assume forty-two different appearances on the journey. Finally settling on a human form similar to her original half-elf appearance dressed in a nice but subtle black dress, she arrives at the Grog Pitt a few minutes before everyone else, waits patiently in the lobby for the others, and then slips into the private card game at the right time.
Sabrina is met by a waitress who leads her into a private room as soon as she arrives in the lobby. "Wouldn't do having you spotted, mistress. Can't be too careful now."
The card room contains a high quality round wooden table whose center is covered in dark felt. There is a deck of colorful playing cards laying on the felt. The walls of the chamber are hung with faded tapestries depicting hunting and manorial scenes. Everything smells of cigar and pipe smoke.
Well, floor-length gowns from here on out for me, Cladissa thinks as she paces back and forth down one of the halls of Verde Heights. She had excused herself from the impromptu celebration of Nyugelle's return to briefly oversee the storage of the fluids. Then she slipped off to an empty hall to clear her head.
It didn't take her long to adjust to her new hooves. The biggest difference from her old cats paws was going from the balls of her feet to actually standing on two incredibly strong toes encased in hard keratin. Her balance was slightly worse, but that was more because her sinuous demon tail didn't counter her swaying gait like her old tail. Thus, when she walked her hips swung back and forth in an exaggerated manner.
She rolls her eyes at the absurdity, then retires early.
The next day, she renews her attempt to venture out in disguise, and barring any other Pathfinder exploding, she succeeds. She returns after several hours, carrying a large stack of books.
Sabrina is able to find Cladissa over the next couple weeks pretty reliably either in her room or in one of the various pleasant sitting rooms. If she's not helping Nyugelle catalogue the samples collected and making sure they're properly preserved for future study, she's working on her own mystery project.
Whenever Sabrina happens by, Cladissa is willing to set aside her quill, notes and books for a short break. During one break, she pushes herself away from her work and stretches. "I need to go shopping. Do you want to join me? I think I may swing by the Sanctum and see if there's anything that catches my fancy."
Before Imrizade decides to take her retreat to one of her family's holdings, Cladissa often joins her for afternoon tea or an evening repast. Every so often they shoo Argor away for "girl talk," or wedding plans (Cladissa's classic form makes her an ideal model for bridesmaids' dresses).
The third day after Nyug's death, Cladissa's hooves click as she sashays across the floor to his office. She is in a black floor-length dress that Imri nixed as a bridesmaid dress but Cladissa liked enough to buy for herself. She lowers herself into an upholstered chair across from Argor and crosses her legs. "May I have a moment of your time, Argor? I'd like to speak with you in private." She gives a pointed look to Rutai. "It shouldn't take long." Then she smiles.
Cladissa helps Nyugelle catalogue the samples she collected and makes sure they're properly preserved for future study. Nyug's mutations had been so extreme and monstrous, it was hard for her to think of this new woman as being even related to him, much less his soul reincarnated. But she does what she can to be comforting to him...her.
She holds one of the beakers up. "You know, it might have been at the cost of your body, but it's possible that you succeeded. Gianluca was made a more perfect angel," she notes, still marveling at how he soothed her mind when it had nearly hit its breaking point. Then she glances down at her feet, shrugging with an amused smile. "As for me, it made me a more perfect demon."
* * *
Cladissa's heart races every time she catches sight of Gianluca. She finds herself staring when he's not looking. Whenever he passes by while she's working, she gets distracted. If he looks in her direction, she quickly busies herself with whatever she had been doing and avoids eye contact.
No longer able to detect whenever Hrim was near, Cladissa has to seek him out or wait until he makes his presence known. A couple days after Nyug's demise and rebirth, she finds him.
"Hi, Hrim. I wanted to let you know I thought about our talk. I... don't really think of myself as an exile. I was too young when we had to flee Galt, and though I have a lot of happy memories, it's because of my family and Daddy, not really because of, well, the political situation." She smiles in the direction of the shadow sympathetically. "I'll still visit the shrine, though. I meant that. And, if you need anything else, let me know."
A card game? But I have terrible luck, she thinks uneasily when she receives the missive. Cole twines around her legs, meowing softly. "We have to be discrete. That means you stay clear, but ready to come when I call. Right?" He mews in affirmative.
Cladissa had always used her new illusion power to take on her old appearance, or to erase the demonic features of her new. This time, she uses Hrim's sleeves to wrap herself up in concealing robes to exit Argor's estate and work her way to the Puddles before shifting them to a plain peasant's skirt and bodice ensemble. The illusion she brings up when she ducks into an empty alley is that of an ordinary woman -- though she subconsciously adds some half-elven features.
She arrives at the Grog Pit looking like a lass the first time trying out a seedy bar in defiance of her da's warnings.
When she requests privacy, he turns to Rutai and nods. The imp grumbles something in their private language as he flies off, remaining visible to allow the witch to see his departure.
"How can I be of service?"
__________
Argor elects to arrive via mundane means, a common carriage while wearing a hooded robe to conceal his features. He presents his invitation to an attendant and waits to be seated.
The waitress leads everyone into the same room as Sabrina.
Her smile fades with Rutai's departure, with her expression becoming serious."Thank you," she begins.
"I mean it. Thank you. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to express my gratitude, but, well, past events has had me focusing on own struggles. I overlooked the kindness that you have shown. I wish to rectify that.
"More than opening up your home, you have, well, attempted to offer support. And you kept a level head during Nyug's... incident. So, thank you, Argor." Her smile returns, relaxed and genuine.
======================
Cladissa coughs lightly as she looks around at the decor.
Hrim welcomes Nyugelle back to the mortal realm. Happy in his return. It had been a weird few days.
He spends the following week shuttling between the manor and shrine. The deep gnome continues his conversations with Madame Batbongle and the Count. Describing his beliefs to Cladissa causes him to requestion himself.
"I understand Cladissa. My Count probably is not for you. But consider searching for a divine patron for yourself. I would be happy to accompany you on your journey of faith.
"You continue to be challenged here in the mortal realm. Especially with your form. Choosing a patron is within your control that cannot be changed by the serum.
"Although I am small you can lean on me like a cornerstone."
Hrim stealthily accompanies Cladissa to the Puddles bar. He puts his small hand on her shoulder when they arrive to tell her that he is with her and hovers in a darkened corner near the ceiling.
He arches an eyebrow, "I wonder, though, why these particular acts of mine have warranted your thanks when all others I have done have been met with negativity and scrutiny?"
__________
Argor steps into the room, and once they are alone, he folds back his hood and asks, "I wonder where our host may be...?"
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"Sounds like an adventure, Classy!" the Naga Aspirant chirps. "I need to grab some things myself. For example, I've been reading about your past adventures, and I saw that you all had issues with swarms of critters before Mettera and his crabbuster stick joined. So I'm gonna grab one for myself. Anyway, ready when you are."
Nyugelle's first few days in her new body are rough ones. She has long periods of foul self-criticism for so badly bungling her research, embarrassment at having literally exploded over everyone...and (worst of all) a chilling sense of loss at no longer having the serum in her veins.
Glumly, she states, "It was...it was my path to Self-Perfection. At least I thought it was. Was I wrong about everything?
"I know I'll never be as good at meditating and martial discipline as my sister. If chymistry isn't the answer, what is?"
She appreciates attempts to cheer her up, but also finds herself excusing herself quickly from group conversations, preferring to talk one-on-one if at all.
Gianluca tries to cheer his childhood friend-and-lover...with only limited success.
At one point when Nyugelle sullenly leaves the room, unable to speak to her housemates, Gianluca gently says, "I guess we need to give her time. She really has lost her moorings...but he used to thrive on his research, before he encountered the serum. And it seems he genuinely was on a path toward something with his experimentation.
"I mean, I'm not much of a judge for alchemical matters...but Argor and Master Shane seemed to think so, yes?"
. . .
Meanwhile he finds himself relishing in his new form. He challenges Sabrina to some friendly sparring so that they can each get a better grasp on their new capabilities.
. . .
When the invitation comes, he stretches out his arms. "Well that's a bit of a challenge for me. I'm sure I can huddle under a cloak so folks don't see my skin...but I don't exactly have a way to conceal being eight feet tall. Do any of you have any way to aid me? If not...well I guess I can hunch my back?"
Whether or not someone has a suggestion, he asks, "Argor, do you mind if I accompany you in your carriage?"
As they ride together, Gianluca says, "I want to thank you for your hospitality, offering space to me and still allowing Nyugelle to stay at your manor as well, despite her change in condition. I know you're one of her few peers who can understand her work.
"I probably don't need to ask this but...will you continue to help her, when she's ready, to dig back into her research on the serum? I think that's really what she needs, to get back on her feet."
. . .
As they arrive, Gianluca follows Argor out of the carriage, doing his best to look nonchalant.
Cladissa's eyes moisten as she smiles. "Thank you, Hrim. I've often felt that searching for a patron would be a futile effort; I couldn't believe that any being would notice me. I've never really tried. And since I don't have much of an idea where to begin, thank you for offering to be my guide. Where do you think I should begin?"
Her smile disappears, to be replaced with a look of disappointment. She folds her arms in front of her while her mouth twists in irritation. Her anger rises and she stands up smoothly, her wings opening and closing once. "Wonder all you like. Because you just explained why all your actions deserve scrutiny."
She spins and starts to stride out but pauses. She grips the corner of the chair tightly, her blood-red nails digging into the upholstery. She shakes her head. "No, no," she says, beating back the rising flames of her own anger. "I wasn't looking for your reasons why you did something nice. A simple 'you're welcome' would have sufficed."
She looks over her shoulder at him. "You have demonstrated a singular ability to say exactly the wrong thing. Every time. I suppose it is simply your nature, because I wonder why someone who is not my stepsister would make such an effort to get under my skin so."
She turns her entire body to face him. She plants her hands on her hips, her wings unfold and her tail snakes out from within the folds of her dress where it had been hiding. With a toss of her hair, she declares, "I'm different. Again. I had thought that maybe we had a chance for a fresh start. That maybe I could try your advice and see to what good I can put this form. That maybe since you have a devil on one shoulder, you wouldn't mind having a demon on the other. But, we cannot move forward if you wish to dredge up our past. I'm ready to bury it."
Her voice lowers into a sultry tone. "The choice, dear Argor, is yours."
Cladissa brings up her illusion and nods her readiness to venture out. The Sanctum was pretty close but considering that Sabrina could join her in flight she decides to stretch her wings. "That's an excellent idea. I have only a few spells that can deal with swarms, so giving Bentley the ability to munch on them is a wise precaution. Did you hear about the Hellwasp swarm that nearly killed us all? Hrim and I hid, Argor outflew them, and Nyug had to carry Thrassk through the mountains until they gave up." She shudders at the memory.
She peruses the mystical objects in the Sanctum for a while as Sabrina makes her purchase, but finds nothing to catch her fancy.
Looking down at her disguise, she realizes she hadn't been to Catfolk Alley in some time. "Would you like to visit the Catfolk quarter? I used to frequent the area quite a bit; there's some lovely little shops. I miss Maylinna, the seamstress who put me in all my dresses."
Cladissa is sympathetic to her friend's feelings of failure. Her heart breaks for her crisis of faith, even though she still feels that -- and encourages her to also see -- the chymicals produced in his explosion have an untapped potential.
"Maybe, maybe your path is to help others achieve perfection? I still want to get out of this demon's body. I'm going to need your help. Please?"
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Sabrina drops her backpack on the ground and assumes her small air elemental form. She picks it up without missing a beat.
"They're actually magical bags that wouldn't merge with me, but I usually just give any important stuff to Bentley or another Pathfinder. Or I just put my bag on the ground and pick it up if I have the arms," Sabrina explains she joins Cladissa in flight.
Finding a swarmbane clasp proves easy enough. Sabrina exchanges three lovely emeralds for the item and tosses it into her bag.
::I carry all my wealth in platinum pieces or gems. They're so much easier to lug around than piles of gold coins!:: the Naga Aspirant muses mentally to her friend.
Sabrina pauses when Cladissa makes her offer.
"I would like to visit the Catfolk Quarter~" Sabrina practically purrs.
"I can assure you that it is not my intent to vex you, but simply to try to understand everything around me. And I have managed to come to said understanding with everything else in my life, save for one," he says once he reaches the other side of the chair which Cladissa stands behind. "And that remains to be what it is about me that persistently infuriates you. For I can assure you, aside from that one incident for which I apologized for, I do not strive to do so."
::I usually leave all my wealth at home:: she responds. This time around, she did have a rather sizable pack of coins that represented her extreme wealth.
Catfolk Alley is located in the Foreign Quarter, a small little district where Absalom's small Catfolk population has congregated. She passes by a street vendor selling the steamed fish balls that used to smell so good to her with a pang of regret.
A few Catfolk smile and wave to her in recognition, because her wings are a distinctive feature. It strikes her how much she misses her old form. A lump wells in her throat and she falters in her steps.
::I hadn't realized it would be this hard:: she tells Sabrina when she looks at her. For a moment, she just observes the bustle of the felinoids move to and fro in their usual business.
Then she sees a sight that makes her feel even worse. Roald. The exotic animal trader was sitting at an outdoor cafe chatting up a black-and-white Catfolk female. He glances up and catches sight of her staring. Panicked, Cladissa grabs Sabrina and pulls her into the nearest shop. "Heyletscheckoutthisplacerealquick," she says hurriedly as they step into the dimly-lit interior.
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She tracks him down when he seems to have a free moment.
"...I feel like we started off on the wrong foot, Mr. Constantine," Sabrina remarks with a grin. "Our interactions have been rather minimal, but we should at least be familiar with each other before any real action happens.
"So... I see you're quite a skilled summoner! That's awesome! Many in my family are. Admittedly, not so much with me; I mostly spam stirges on particularly nasty foes. Either they focus on me and the two ton dinosaur or waste time on the little suckers killing them. However, my mom and sister are really good, but they can't keep their critters around as long as you can. Anything else you can do?"
Cladissa blinks several times, disbelieving the arcanist's words. "Unbelievable," she says at last.
"How do you do it? Statistically, it should not be possible!" She tries to funnel her frustration into bitter amusement and is only partially successful. She forces out a sharp, incredulous laugh.
"The question is, lady, what can't he do?" Rutai chirps up from his own little seat by the window, turning to lean on his arm to face the pair.
Argor smirks, "My familiar is quite the braggart. However, the fact does remain that I am capable of more than your average wizard or sorcerer. I am able to do whatever I set my mind to, so long as I have the proper magics studied and transcribed in my tomes. And as you have aptly noticed, I have a unique mastery over cretures from other realms."
He takes a sip of wine, and offers a glass to his house guest. "And what of you? Your magics seem of an inherently natural form, much can like a druidess. What else of their kind are you capable?"
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"Sure thing, Argor," the Naga Aspirant replies with a nod.
She listens intently as the wordy "wizard" explains his capabilities.
"As I might've said earlier, I study the magics of the Naga. They have a very interesting blend of the Divine, Arcane, and Druidic artes. My magic is mostly the last one. It's usually a Nagaji only deal, but I have Nagaji ancestry on my human father's side of the family. Hilariously distant, but it's enough."
Sabrina takes eagerly takes the offered wine and sips it. Surprisingly, she seems to know the proper etiquette.
"Nice selection! Anyway, as I said, this Naga magic is a mix of the Big Three, so I actually can cast a few more spells that most druids couldn't. My personal mastered ones are Mage Armor, Shield, Divine Favor, Shield of Faith, Mirror Image, Invisibility, and Greater Invisibility. The list always expanding! I'm currently studying Displacement and Divine Powah. Almost got the former; the latter is strictly theoretical right now. I know all of that is kinda combat focus versus twisting the cosmos to the one's will, but my job is to keep the eight hundred pound animals off the guys who warp reality."
She pauses and asks, "By the way, who handles the healing stick around here? Like if someone is bleeding out in the dirt, who patches them up? Cladissa? I could, but unlike my sister, I need to prep the spells in advanced, and quite frankly, I'm probably better placed on the frontline."
