Quite the fan of cats, Sara immediately tries to make friends. "I'm sorry I can't take you with me today dears, but I'll come by every day to make sure you're fed and watered and when I leave I'll take you with and adopt you out, yes," she promises, having convinced one to allow her to scratch it behind the ears.
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The mangy cats purr happily and rub against Sara's legs. The brawler seems to have quite the animal magnetism.
Melodie, somewhat distracted by the various thoughts Zhi keeps sending her way, closes the various books with a decisive *snap* and appears entirely willing to head back to the Baths.
The next morning she dispatches a number of agents out into the city with instructions to re-enforce her cover as Jeroth.
--------------------------
Melodie then convenes a group meeting, as has become her wont ever since Stachys.
"So, next steps. The rakshasa are doing their job and I'll need to check in with them regularly but otherwise I don't think there's much to do there until they finish off the castellan. We still need some way of impressing the King of Filth and we should also investigate this monastry of the Seven Sins. If these are Jeroth's assassins we might be able to use them to dispatch someone important. I think the real Jeroth was planning on taking out the head of the Vault and Chain. Honestly that seems like a good idea to me..." She stops to look around the table.
"What are people's thoughts?"
{"I'm not being too bossy am I?"}
As the final hag was dispatched, Maria drifted down to check on Safina, only slowing to make sure she didn't land on any of the caltrops.
"Are you okay? What was that spell?"
"As long as we're sure their targets deserve being killed, I have no issue with using these rakshasa against them. If Pythareus catches wind of them, he'll be hunting them, not us. Although we should consider the potential that he would try and spin it to make it seem like the Princess' agents had been summoning rakshasa to help her cause - would be one of his more unbelievable claims, but he's got enough fanatics on his side for it to gain some traction."
Safina places a reassuring hand on Maria's arm. "I'm fine, darling. My body locked up for a few moments but Zileska cured my soon enough."
Maria was clearly relieved, her hand coming up to rest on Safina's. "Sorry; last time I saw someone get hit with a hag's spell like that, it was almost fatal."
"I think we need to be really careful if we're going to try to fool the monastry," Zhi says with a smile. "As persuasive as you are, they strike me as the type to see through ruses like that. How about I plant some people inside, just in case?"
Zhi stretches her hands on the table and moves her fingers around lazily.
Melodie gets the sensation of fingers moving around her undergarments. Correction: under her undergarments.
According to Jeroth's portfolio, the Seven Forms of Sin maintain a secret monastery in the undercity below the Adobe District, accessible through the city's sewer tunnels. You stealthily make your way into the sewers and navigate them towards the hidden monastery. Soon, you near your destination.
A four‑foot-wide stream of stinking effluent flows through a deep channel in this ten‑foot‑wide tunnel, leaving a one‑foot ledge to one side and a five‑foot‑wide walkway on the other. Side tunnels—one a hand‑carved tunnel and the other resulting from a collapsed wall—release more liquid from two tunnels leading north, while moldering water drips from the rough sandstone roof.
"Let me check the other opening first," Zhi says in a whisper to the others.
On careful feet, she then moves forward to take a peek through the collapsed wall.
Zhi finds a trap in place along the hallway between the openings--a pressure plate is hidden halfway down its length. The trigger plate covers only the 5‑foot walkway and is not triggered by people balancing on the smaller ledge or wading through the filthy water. However, it's child play for the rogue to disable the plate and render the trap inert.
Zhi reamins stealthy as she peeks through the collapsed wall. Sturdy pillars support the arched ceiling twenty feet above the mirror‑blue waters of this quiet cistern. The water here is just a foot deep. Doors exit to the north and east.
Four creatures spar with each other in this chamber. They appear to be horrid hybrids of humans and insects. None of them notice Zhi spying on them.
Zhi moves back to the others and relays the description of the creatures.
"So do we go in hot or do we bluff our way in?" she whispers.
"These are my people." 'Jeroth' proclaims confidently. "I'm going in as normal!"
With that rousing statement 'he' leads the way into the chamber.
The bug-people click their mandibles as Melodie strides into the room. "Master Jeroth! You grace us with your presence," one says, and all four bow. "Wait here and I will fetch Sister Dismaal."
He disappears through the northern door, and after several minutes, he returns with an elven woman in loose fitting clothing.
The elf glances between "Milon" and the rest of you trailing behind him with narrowed eyes. "So good to see you, Milon. Your arrival now is fortuitous--I was just telling some of our newest students about your martial prowess. Would you care to provide a demonstration? It will be fun to see you utterly humiliate them on the training mat."
Zhi turns to 'Jeroth'. "Yes, please, Jeroth. I would love to see a sample of your reputed skill," she says in a simpering voice.
Zhi gets a fearsome glare before Melodie turns back to Sister Dismaal. "I have no time to humiliate your novices Dismaal, there are business matters to discuss. And besides, I have full faith in your ability to demonstrate their 'errors'. If you wish a beating however, one of my acolytes will do it. That one." He gestures to Sara "Is capable and inventive. She will prove your point well enough."
"You." 'He' turns on Zhi. "Can stay here and observe. Since you so want to see a display of skill. I am not your entertainment!"
"Now Sister, we must speak privately. It is time to put your skills to use again."
Zhi frowns in annoyance when 'Jeroth' dismisses her. She then looks at Sara expectantly.
'Jeroth' remains entirely impassive, despite the non-verbal conversation underway.
Sister Dismaal frowns at Sara, but she shakes her head. "It's not any fun unless the master martial artist delivers the beating. Very well, straight to business then. What task do you have for us?"
She waves her hand to dismiss her lackeys, expecting Milon to do the same.
"Pythareus has become suspicious." 'Jeroth' says. "The Sisters were careless and his diviner penetrated their wards. He dispatched those damnably upright Abadarians to kill them. We must strike back at once! I cannot have the General himself fall, but his lackeys, the 'Vault and Chain', are ripe for our revenge. Dispatch your acolytes and kill their commander. Make it public and gruesome - send the message that the Seven Sins can strike at anyone, anywhere. And if you can kill the diviner then there will a bonus in it for you as well Sister."
'Jeroth' nods decisively. "I will expect regular updates on your progress. Send your reports to the manor. I will return as needed, which I trust will not be often until your work is done and I deliver your rewards."
When the group first sneaks into the sewers, Zileska mutters something about "What an incredible smell you've discovered" but assents to the necessity.
She loiters about as the "who's got bigger punches" argument goes back and forth, seeming attentive and doing her best to hide her boredom.
Dismaal smiles wickedly. "It will be done, Milon. Though we are not prepared to take out the diviner, Avenna, the Vault and Chain is another story. It may take a few weeks to find the perfect opportunity, but Chief Enumerator Iovinus will not be able to stand against our full might. You will have his head soon. And then I will eagerly claim my bonus..." She runs a slender hand across Melodie's rugged cheek and licks her lips.
'Jeroth' offers a wicked grin, baring his teeth more than strictly necessary, before gathering his 'retinue' and making for the exit without another word.
Once well clear of the hidden lair 'Jeroth' turns to the rest of the group. "This is going well I think. She bought the story about the hags too. I'll have to tell the rakshasa at some point - keep things consistent"
Dismissing her spell and returning to her own form Melodie takes her wife's hand and smiles. "So, I think we've got a few weeks to take advantage of. Anyone have plans?"
Sara shrugs and gives a vague and noncommittal grunt. "Are the rakshasas hot? Maybe I'll f@#@ an extraplanar woman. Probably get something special for myself."
Zhi gives Melodie's hand a squeeze.
"I have lots of plans. And we don't even need to get dressed up. They involve some tea and a wand. How does that sound?"
Once the couple has replaced their clothes with soft towels, she puts her arm around her wife's waist and escorts her to one of the private baths.
"I've arranged for this one for us for the entire evening," she says with a grin. "And I've brought a ... selection ... of things to assist us in our endeavors." She holds up the bag she's carrying to demonstrate.
Zhi kisses her wife and with a deft move of her hand, relieves Melodie of her towel. "Now into the water with you," she says in a husky voice. "I've got some preparations to make."
She watches as Mel steps down in the steamy bath with hungry eyes. Those eyes wander over Melodie's body until it disappears under the water. She then kneels down and begins making preparations. She removes various toys and places them on the tiles next to the bath, including the red carved wand.
Zhi also pulls out her tea set and the jar of Night Orchid tea she recently acquired. She wastes no time with an elaborate ceremony and simply heats water she brought in a water skin with a wave and a gesture and mixes in some of the tea. She looks down at her wife with a smile. "Tonight's the night, I can feel it," she says before draining her cup. She returns the tea set to her bag, sheds her towel and climbs down into the water to wrap her arms around her wet wife.
-------------------
Melodie lets out a long sigh as she steps into the bath and then slides bonelessly into the water, disappearing out of sight for a few long moments before her head bobs up again.
"Oh I needed this!" She murmurs, leaning back to float in the water and simply luxuriate in the heat. By the time Zhi comes to embrace her Mel is practically glowing, her pale skin red with the heat of the bath water.
"So... you're feeling lucky tonight sweetheart?" She asks, whispering huskily into Zhi's ear. "We don't have anywhere to be tomorrow. So don't rush. I want to make this last!"
You spend a week in Zimar, laying low as you wait for Milon Jeroth's spies and assassins to do the dirty deeds you have tasked them with. You don't have to wait long to see results. When Melodie goes to check up on the rakshasas, the small toothy one seems quite proud of themself. "It is done, master. Baron Astor Roderus has been removed from the board. His flesh was quite delicious. We saved you the bones to pick your teeth with."
They present Melodie with a set of blood-stained equipment as proof of the deed. "One of our own is disguised as the castellan. We should be able to allay suspicions until you are ready to enact the next phase of your plans."
"Excellent!" Melodie praises her minions. "You have done well. Very well indeed! We will move within the month. Until then, enjoy yourselves, but remember. I need the prisoner - he is not to be touched!"
"Yes, master!" the obsequious rakshasa replies.
"So... you're feeling lucky tonight sweetheart?" She asks, whispering huskily into Zhi's ear. "We don't have anywhere to be tomorrow. So don't rush. I want to make this last!"
"Oh, I'm feeling very lucky tonight. Just like I do every night I get to spend with you."
~~~
Melodie is awakened by the sound of her wife retching into the room's chamber pot.
"Something's wrong, Mel," Zhi gasps out, wiping her mouth during a lull in the paroxysms. "This isn't natural." She holds up her arm to show black traces smeared across it. The mesmerist also now notices faint dark tendrils sliding out of the porcelain bowl.
Melodie immediately casts a rapid series of divinatory spells on her wife. Unable to ascertain anything for sure she runs from the room looking for Zileska.
"Zil! Come quickly, Zhi's sick! It's bad, really bad!" She doesn't wait for a response, turning on her heel and charging back down the corridor to get back to her wife.
{"Help's coming sweetheart. You'll be all-right!"}
----------------
Once Zil arrives and takes over, Melodie recovers her composure enough to examine the room thoroughly and try to determine the cause of this sudden illness.
She alights on the tea - the only thing that Zhi had taken and she hadn't. A close look has the mesmerist whispering some very upset words under her breath before packing the tea into a paper package and heading for the nearest fireplace.
"It's the tea." She says to Zileska on her way out, "It's... corrupted somehow... there's magic mixed in with it - shadow magic. I don't know how that's even possible but its there. I think Zhi's drunk the essence of the shadow plane..."
What remains of Melodie's army of agents are set to work to drum up support in the town for Princess Eutropia, leading to a number of small, spontaneous demonstrations in the princess's favour.
Wrapped in her long robe, Zileska moves quickly to respond when Melodie calls for aid. She brings her bag and helps to hold Zhi's hair and gently rubs her back while she is sick.
Checking the strange veins of eeeeevil running along Zhi's arm, she says, "Quite possible. Don't burn the tea yet! We need to find out if it was poisoned before or after you got it. If it was poisoned before, that's weird that someone would be keeping it around, but just bad luck for you. If it was poisoned after, that means someone snuck in here and did this deliberately, and we have other big problems."
Drawing forth the holy symbol of Calistria, she narrows her eyes and intones a powerful prayer, then waves the symbol over Zhi's head and back.
She pauses, lips pursed, small signs of worry peeking through her collected expression, to see if the spell takes hold, or if purging the shadow essence will require something stronger.
"This probably won't be fatal, but it may be lasting," she says slowly. "Zhi's taken in this... planar essence in a way that suffused the very fundamental nature of her being. The sickness can be cured, but the shadow energies may linger."
"I'll... examine the tea further." Melodie says, looking rather sick. She moves across the room to a table, places the tea on it and replaces the Subtle Mask across her face before bending close to the tea to examine it. The drops of water falling on the table are entirely accidental of course.
Zileska's spells seems to ease the immediate effects, but Zhi's eyes widen when when the priestess begins speaking about her nature being changed. Fear and worry are evident as she places one hand on her stomach and looks to Melodie.
The young woman looks to Zileska again. She seems reluctant to speak, but presses on.
"If ... If I were pregnant," she begins hesitantly, clearly not happy to be divulging information. "Is there a chance it could hurt the baby? Is there anything else we can do?"
"Zhi dear, that was the first thing I thought about," says the priestess soothingly. "We are the products of our parentage, and these kinds of infusions of energy from other planes, or lineages from other sorts of beings, are not unknown, even if uncommon. Your own innate magical talents point toward a heritage influenced by a magical past. This could influence a child's ties to the metaphysical world but, in and of itself, if it doesn't come with serious fever and hemorrhaging, you're likely safe."
She hands Zhi a warm towel to clean up with and pops open a small vial with a faint, forested scent and wafts it about.
"I'll keep making regular checkups. If you experience any bleeding, severe cramps, or fever, get me right away."
Zhi listens to Zileska reassurances while glancing at her wife. "Thanks, Zil," she says finally, giving the half-elf a hug. "I'm not sure what we'd do without you."
Once the priestess leaves, Zhi refuses to meet her wife's eyes. She takes halting steps towards her backpack. She extracts the red wand with a shaking hand and only then looks at Melodie. She closes her eyes and touches herself with the wand.
Nothing happens.
The wand falls from her fingers to clatter on the floor.
"What have I done to her, Mel?" she says in a strained voice as her eyes begin to tear up.
"Nothing sweetheart!" Melodie hurries to reassure her wife. "Zileska said there's nothing wrong and we trust her! You'll be fine, and she will be too."
She suddenly pauses. "Are you sure? Maybe you just weren't concentrating enough, its hard when you're upset? Have you... are you sure?"
"I know how to use a damn wand, Mel," Zhi says, the tears running down her face now. She cringes and closes her eyes. "I'm sorry. I just ... I didn't want to do it like this," she says, indicating the fading traceries along her arms. She takes a deep breath. "The wand won't work on someone that's pregnant. Maybe its magic is just depleted?" She looks up at her wife hopefully.
She picks the wand up from the floor and steadying herself, touches herself with it again. Still nothing. She then holds out the wand and places the tip on Melodie's shoulder. Almost instantly the changeling can feel the transformation take place.
"The wand works," Zhi says in a resigned voice. "That means ..." She walks slowly over to the bed and sits down, her hands grasping nervously at the carved wood. "This was supposed to be a happy moment, wasn't it?" One hand moves to rest on her belly.
Melodie seems to be concentrating hard on something for a moment - she shifts, partially into her own male form, partially into Jeroth, before shaking her head violently as the transformation falls away to leave her as she normally is.
"It is a happy moment sweetheart." She says firmly, gathering Zhi in her arms. "Maybe not quite how we imagined it, but this is good news. We're going to be parents!"
Zhi pulls her legs up and is soon sitting in her wife's lap with her arms wrapped around her neck. Warm tears trickle down Melodie's neck as all Zhi's fears surface. She takes comfort in the changeling's closeness.
Soon the tears dry and she begins kissing the woman's neck. "Thank you for being you and putting up with me," she says quietly. "What do you say about a late breakfast?"
Zhi pushes Mel back down on the bed. "Or do you have a problem making love to a pregnant woman?" she adds with a smile.
"No problem at all darling." Melodie says, matching her wife's smile with her own.
"So. What do you want to do about telling the others? Melodie asks. "I'm not going to wrap you in cotton wool, but I can't promise that Sara won't try..."
You wait patiently for several more weeks for the Seven Forms of Sin monks to perform the task Melodie assigned to them. Fortunately, there are plenty of diversions in Zimar to fill the time, in between dodging the attentions of the paranoid citizens, soldiers, and templars on the lookout for "traitors" in their midst.
Melodie checks in on the monks every few days, relying on her unimpeachable skills at trickery to keep them all fooled. Finally, after three weeks, Sister Dismaal sends for "Milon" with good news. "The Vault and Chain are a wily foe. It took quite some time to intimidate and browbeat their lesser members enough to draw the Chief Enumerator out, but at last, he emerged from Abadar's Pillar to challenge me in single combat. At least, that's what he thought it was going to be. Those 'lawful stupid' types are so gullible. The full force of our monastery descended upon him, and poor Iovinus lost his head. Quite literally."
She tosses a blood-stained sack on the floor at Melodie's feet. Inside is the severed head of a once-handsome human man with slicked-back black hair and a pencil-thin mustache. His dead eyes bulge obscenely, and his mouth is open in a silent scream.
"The remaining templars are scrambling about without leadership. I doubt they will prove much of a threat any more. Now, how about that reward you promised me?" The lithe elf smiles as she presses her body against Melodie's...
Several of Maxillar Pythareus's key allies have been assassinated, but you still need to collect more evidence against the High Strategos before the Lion Blades will give you authorization to move against him directly.
"I don't know if I want to tell anyone yet," Zhi says, pulling her wife's arms closer around her as they luxuriate in the afterglow. "Zileska suspects, but ... For now, I want this to be just between you and me." She rubs her belly. "And ... Harmony?"
The small woman turns in Melodie's arms to meet her wife's eyes with a questioning look.
"I think it's time we paid another visit to the Lord of Filth," Zhi says. "The question is, do we try to meet his price or do we put him out of business?"
She looks around at the others. As she turns her head, there's a hint of shadows moving under her long black hair.
"Personally, I hate dealing with things like that. I think the city would be better off without him down there. But that also creates a power vacuum that someone - or something - will fill."
Sara shrugs. "I wanna see if I can train him up a hippo or a crocodile or something. Maybe I was supposed to work with animals instead of people, y'know?"
'Jeroth' smiles and lets his hands roam freely across the sister's body. "Reward indeed Sister! We are not to be disturbed." He adds, aimed at the nearest monk before following Sister Dismaal to her quarters.
Once the good sister is distracted, Melodie implants a fraction of her own power and then reaches into Dismaal's mind.
"Forgive me!" Jeroth smiles smoothly. "I like to read my partner's mind. Make sure I don't hurt them too much... the pleasure is heightened when the pain is just right. Now if you just relax..."
"It sounds like Mel is making a move on the Seven Sins!" Zhi says, gathering the rest of the ladies as rapidly as possible. "A heads up would have been nice," she mutters to herself.