The lioness continues unhindered, possessing only enough room in its brain for one thought: kill. Devour.
Still wreathed in fire, Maria continued her attack (while trying not to think about how unsure she'd been about this particular extract working when she'd made it).
The ooze sprays Sara with acid again, but the combined assault from Sara, Maria, and Zhi proves too much for it. With a final psychic shriek, it dissolves into an inert puddle of goo.
The lioness roars, its face dripping with green viscera.
Then, its compulsion to act removed by the death of its prey, it limps weakly over to Zileska, looking up at her desperate and in need.
Zhi's invisible, diminutive form flits over to Sara to put an arm around her and help move her to Zileska's side. "Hey there, girl," she says. "You look a little baked. How about we get you fixed up?"
Once she leaves Sara in the priestess' capable hands, the sounds of her blade whipping through the air are heard.
"So where's that thrice-damned naga? I'm going to fill something full of holes before the day is up."
As if in response to Zhi's question, you can hear a voice from down one of the nearby tunnels, getting louder as its owner approaches. "Oh, you're going to love being part of my new domain. I have all sorts of slimy minions that I can't wait for you to meet. Even bagged me a sewer blight!"
Melodie can feel the anticipation bleeding through the telepathic link with her wife and can hear the nervous sound of her rapier zipping through the air.
"Get Sara healed up," Zhi whispers quietly. "I've just found my pincushion."
Moving to help with the ambush, Maria started downing extracts. A mild healing one to patch up her (thankfully minor) injuries, another two to grant her additional protection from both magic and more conventional harm, one to grant herself flight just as a safeguard, then holding off on a Greater Invisibility one until shortly before the ambush was to happen.
The mesmerist squeezes her wife's shoulder, refreshing her magic and then takes up position with Zileska and Sara before incanting a spell to hide them all from sight.
"Your wounds are the naga's fault." She whispers to Sara, "Destroy him."
As you become invisible and take up ambush positions, you can see two creatures emerging from the tunnel. One is a serpentine creature dripping thick slime from its green scales. The second is an immense, three-eyed froglike creature with glowing red eyes. In place of arms, four huge tentacles thrash and writhe.
As soon as they get within 30 feet of you, the frog-thing belows and turns in your direction. "Huh?" the naga asks. "What is it, boy? You smell something?"
"He smells your defeat. Perhaps you should consider his advice?" Zhi says with a laugh as she flits through the air to offer Sara a flanking position as she stabs at the slime-coated creature.
The lioness has an instinctive understanding of what the foul, fiendish frog thing is, but being a lion, has no way to share that knowledge. It charges the naga and grabs hold with its mouth, tearing into it with its claws.
Zhi stabs the naga in the back, then Sara pounces, grabbing it and nearly killing it with her brutal claws. "Argh! Unhand me, beast!" the naga shouts as he sinks his fangs into the lion's shoulder. The froghemoth bellows and clobbers Sara with its myriad attacks, though she avoids being snared by its sticky tongue.
Not letting go, the lioness tears into the naga with its claws, spilling its guts onto the sewer floor. It shakes the limp thing in its mouth before throwing it into the froghemoth.
Seeing the naga brutally and quickly dispatched Melodie tries to end the fight at once.
As Sara rips the naga into bloody chunks, Melodie's spell ensnares the froghemoth's mind. The massive monstrosity stops attacking, sitting on its haunches and blinking at the changeling expectantly.
The lioness stands up and pulls back its hood, flashing Melodie a dirty look as she becomes human once more. Sara crosses her arms and stomps on over by Zileska to pointedly stares at her nails in silence.
Zileska draws her healing wand. "I'm going to need to get another one of these soon, hopefully a stronger one," she notes, then doubles over coughing for a moment before applying the wand's power liberally to her ladyfriends.
She expends one wand completely and draws the second after tossing the first one aside.
"What in the nine hells is that thing?" Zhi says, finally appearing and sheathing her weapons. She settles to the ground near her wife and looks up at the much taller woman. "And more importantly, what are we going to do with it?"
Sara kisses Zileska on the cheek and continues to stare at her nails, glancing up only once to confirm her suspicions.
"They're called froghemoths. This one looks plainly foul and fiendish."
"A what?" Zhi responds, looking over the creature again. She shakes her head. "I guess it doesn't matter because he," she indicates some of the bloody remains of the naga, "was in charge here and he's dead." She eyes Zileska. "Maybe we can entreat our priestess to ask him some questions tomorrow? Find out what his end-game was."
"A frog-he-moth," Sara repeats, still not looking in the direction of Zhi and Melodie. "Like froggy behemoth? They look like that, all big bellied, tentacles and eyestalks, and they swallow their prey whole and they hate electricity. Just like real frogs."
"Doesn't everything hate electricity?" asks casually as she looks over the huge creature.
"I like a little spark now and then," says Zileska with a pout. She twirls the handle of her whip, and the tip crackles with electricity.
Zhi chuckles.
"Zil, I think you like a little everything now and then," the rogue says with a blush.
The froghemoth's tongue licks its eyestalks briefly. Its tentacles wave lazily beside it.
"Quite so," she says, turning and quickly giving Sara a return peck on the cheek. "But often shocking."
Sara bites her lip and blushes, remembering the sting of Zileska's whip. "I also don't mind a bit electricity," she giggles.
"There's another one." Melodie says, pointing into the darkness. "One of the eyes. This is all part of everything else, an attempt to discredit your campaign Sara. Let's turn it around, make you the hero." The easily dispatched froghemoth provides suitable trophies, although Melodie prefers to stay out of that particular bit of work.
"I think we can head back up. The Blight caused most of the destruction and we've defeated its master too. That should be more than enough."
You return to the surface to report your victory, though you can already tell that your actions have had an effect. The twisted, diseased pallor that had fallen over the cemetery has vanished, and the crowds gathered outside the police line cheer and chant your names. Your bold strike has won the adulation of thousands across Sayashto, and your courage and heroism cannot be denied.
The next day, you make your final push to help Sara get elected.
Soon enough, the polls open and the votes come in--Sara has won in a landslide! She is now the new Councilor of Gates for the district of Sayashto! A ceremony is held in the Grand Rotunda where she is formally sworn in and granted her rod of office. Tsemani applauds Sara, congratulating her on a well-earned victory.
After the ceremony, Lieutenant Fanalyx finds you. "I have compiled all the evidence you have uncovered. Allow me a day so that my divination resources can analyze these findings more closely and hopefully pick up on Taldaris’s trail. I will submit everything to my superiors, and if all goes well, we will have reached a consensus tomorrow."
"Well now, Councilwoman Burke, let me be the one to buy you your first drink while in office," Zhi says with a grin.
~~~~
Once the audience with Lieutenant Fanalyx is concluded, Zhi approaches Zileska.
"I wanted to ask you an orthodox related question," she asks as she gestures for her wife to join the conversation. "This isn't the time or place ..." She rolls her eyes. "And in fact it probably won't be the time until we get back and get a week or two off, but ..."
Realizing that she's rambling, she grasps Melodie's hand for courage and pushes on.
"Mel mentioned that people, back in the city, had ... parties ... where they would attend in ... costume." She looks at Zil as if that should mean something. "Special costumes," She says with emphasis. "Blindfolds. Leashes." She looks around again as if to ensure no one else is listening. "Gags." Her face blushing furiously, Zhi continues. "I was thinking that it would be ... um ... interesting ... to ... um ... attend a ... a party like that. Would you know anyone that held those kind of ... parties?"
Realizing that she's rambling, she grasps Melodie's hand for courage and pushes on.
"Mel mentioned that people, back in the city, had ... parties ... where they would attend in ... costume." She looks at Zil as if that should mean something. "Special costumes," She says with emphasis. "Blindfolds. Leashes." She looks around again as if to ensure no one else is listening. "Gags." Her face blushing furiously, Zhi continues. "I was thinking that it would be ... um ... interesting ... to ... um ... attend a ... a party like that. Would you know anyone that held those kind of ... parties?"
"I only heard about it in passing once." Melodie replies, her facial colouration under much better control that her wife's. "So I don't really know anything about them beyond the fact that they exist. We hoped you might be able to... explain... a bit more about it."
Zhi smirks at her wife. "'Just heard about it', right," she says, trying to ease the uncomfortable conversation. "We'll probably walk in and everyone will say, 'Melodie! Where have you been? We've missed you.'" She leans into her wife's side and squeezes her hand.
"And who is this devastatingly attractive woman you've found for yourself?" Melodie finishes, leaning over to give her wife a kiss. "Seriously my dear you give me far too much credit. You really don't remember me when we first met do you?"
"We all had a life before this," Zhi says in return. "Perhaps you spent your time as the 'Masked Mistress', travelling from orgy to orgy?" The comment stated in jest causes Zhi's face to turn even redder. Her attention returns instantly to Zil.
"They don't ... we wouldn't be expected to ... they're not really orgies, are they?"
"Perhaps you spent your time as the 'Masked Mistress', travelling from orgy to orgy?" The comment stated in jest causes Zhi's face to turn even redder.
"Now that could be an idea if politics doesn't work out." Melodie replies with a smirk.
"We all had a life before this," Zhi says in return. "Perhaps you spent your time as the 'Masked Mistress', travelling from orgy to orgy?" The comment stated in jest causes Zhi's face to turn even redder. Her attention returns instantly to Zil.
"They don't ... we wouldn't be expected to ... they're not really orgies, are they?"
Zileska chuckles slightly and says, "That depends. Sometimes it's a party to show off your latest dress or your latest pet. Sometimes it's more of a festival of flesh."
"Now of course these are very bougie, lots of people showing their wealth and power... but we could always have a private party with a selected list of invitees if you like."
"The point depends on the player. For some people it's showing off. For others it's the thrill of anonymous trysts. Some people do it because they can try something they wouldn't find somewhere else... some do it because they're bored or because they love the thrill of the forbidden," she says. "I like them for the secrets and occasionally for learning something new."
"Bougie?" Melodie asks, "I don't think I've ever heard of that word before! As to a private party..." She shoots a glance at her wife. "I'm not sure about that just yet. It's nice to know I wasn't completely wrong though."
At the phrase 'your latest pet', Zhi blushes furiously and her eyes drop to the ground before glancing knowingly at Melodie.
"Bougie?" Melodie asks, "I don't think I've ever heard of that word before! As to a private party..." She shoots a glance at her wife. "I'm not sure about that just yet. It's nice to know I wasn't completely wrong though."
Zhi turns back to Zileska, her face flush from something other than embarrassment and her eyes dark. "Something to think about, then." she manages to squeak out.
"Thanks Zil." Melodie agrees. "If it turns out that this is something we both want to explore we'll be back for more advice, if you don't mind of course!"
Zhi's eyes widen a little.
{"Besides I'd like to wait until our little girl is here. So that I don't have to hold back on anything...}" Melodie adds, before strutting off with a wink.
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Sara accepts her position and the Rod of Gates with grace, though she declines to give a speech. For the next day, she clutches the Rod of Gates with both hands, tight about her breast, unsure how to display it. Sometime in the night, she knocks on Melodie and Zhi's door, asking to speak to Mel alone, to get drinks or something.
Over a cup of yahst, Sara places the Rod of Gates on the table and shares a confession with her old friend. "Hey, um, thanks for all the support in the campaign. Owe you lots. Can't believe we won. I'm, uh, I'm a bit shocked actually. I really, really didn't think we'd manage. And now that I've won, I realize something embarrassing. I only wanted to run, to have the attention on me. You suggested I take it, and I just got, so excited, that you thought I'd be well suited for this. But truthfully, I have no idea what would be expected of me, how to carry myself, what to think, how to act."
She places her hand over Melodie's, stroking the hand with her thumb. "Would you, er, would you teach me? I'm good at talking, inspiring people, riling them up and leading them into chaos, but you're better at thinking. I don't think I could do this, for however short a time, without your guidance.
"Otherwise," she lifts Melodie's hand by the wrist and rolls the Rod into her grip. She shyly smiles, letting go and drinking her spiked gourd tea. "I would gladly cede my position to you, should you want it."
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Melodie agrees to drinks easily, although she does have to tell Zhi sternly to stay in bed. "You're sleeping for two right now." She reminds her wife, adding a kiss on the forehead.
Downstairs with Sara she also accepts a cup of yasht and offers Sara a smile as the words come pouring out of the older woman. "I'm fairly sure that resigning the office you just won to an unelected friend of yours might be a little... unorthodox for the Plane of Law. But I appreciate the thought, I really do."
Melodie leans back in her chair and folds her hands, "Since we're making confessions... I hoped you'd do this at the start. I hoped that you'd say 'No Melodie, you're much better suited for this than I am, you should do it!' It's terrible I know, and Zhi has already chewed me out for it and besides... I realised when we were campaigning. You are better suited to this than anyone I know. You're right, I can think - I know what to do and how to do it. But you have such passions Sara, you give people something to believe in, even in Axis! You won because you are a brilliant candidate, I may have organised your campaign but it all revolves around you Sara and you trounced her!"
Reversing the gesture she takes the Rod and offers it back to Sara. "Take your office Councillor. You were elected by the people because of who you are and what you believe in. Remember that and stay true to it. In the end your job is to represent the newcomers to Axis, those souls who don't know why they are here, the travellers with no home. If you care about those people then you will be the best councillor they've ever had. And I have no intention of leaving you to do it by yourself."
Her smile is radiant now. "I'm doing it when we get home Sara. I'm going to run for the Senate and I'm going to change things. I'll take every outdated law and shove it down their throats. I got an anarchist elected in Axis! I can do anything!" She beams for a few seconds more before looking down at her half empty cup. "Please remind me never to drink yasht late at night again. In fact, that's lesson one. Stop drinking." She fixes Sara with the full weight of her gaze and her voice takes on a remarkably firm tone. "I mean it Sara. This is not going to be the easiest thing you ever do, but you are an example now - someone that thousands of people are going to look to to solve their problems, and you always have to look like you can. Even if you can't and you just want to run away and ask us to help you have to look strong and in control. Drinking doesn't do that."
Stifling a yawn the younger woman gets up and opens her arms for a hug. "I mean it Councillor, you will be wonderful. Now go and see if Zil will celebrate with you and get some sleep. Tomorrow work begins and you and I have a strategy meeting booked for breakfast."
Sara blushes and runs her hands through her hair as Melodie heaps praise upon her. She clutches her cup with both hands and leans forward, smiling, until Melodie demands she stop drinking. Her eyes narrow and lock with the mesmerist's. She breaks the stare first, slumping in her chair and rolling her eyes. "No, Mels, even in the boring version of heaven, I'm not quitting my vices. I could if I wanted, but I don't, so I'm not." The newly elected public official sits up straight and finishes her yasht. "I will, however, control my drinking." She wiggles her shoulders and raises her right hand to a square. "I so swear not to drink to excess, and to limit my public intoxication to an amount and time that is appropriate. And I'll stop taking Cayden's cups to wake up in the mornings. And here's my flask for good measure." She hikes up her skirt and pulls the flask out of its garter, placing it in Melodie's care.
She hugs the shorter woman tight, pulling her head against her. "See you at breakfast," she promises. "And seeing Zileska is a fantastic idea."
When the priestess opens the door, Sara thrusts the wrong hand forth, first displaying the Rod of Gates before realizing her mistake and switching to the bouquet.
"Hey, Zileska, I was wondering if, uh, if you wanted to go out sometime? Like on a date date." She leans in and kisses Zileska on the cheek, laughing nervously. "I got serious feelings about you, girl, and if you feel similarly, or are willing to learn to feel similar, I am, well, rather anxious to explore them."
Melodie agrees to drinks easily, although she does have to tell Zhi sternly to stay in bed. "You're sleeping for two right now." She reminds her wife, adding a kiss on the forehead.
Zhi laughs. "That doesn't even make any sense," she says. "You don't stay out late either. And if you come back drunk, don't expect any play time. I'll just read by myself."
She scoots lower down into the blankets and returns to one of Zileska's borrowed books that she had been reading to Mel.