Sir Preston was gone.
Cladissa sits in the confessional, staring at the image of Iomedae. The events of the last thirty-six hours cycle through her mind over and over.
A heavy cloud of despair lurked nearby, threatening to swallow her up. She'd been there before, however -- countless times throughout her life, if she had to be honest. So many of her hopes and dreams had been dashed, crumbling to dust sometimes just on the cusp of her achieving them. Yet each time, amidst the blackest despair, she had managed to somehow pull herself together and continue on.
This time, however, she waited for something to come from the outside to blow the cloud away and lift her up. She wasn't sure how it was supposed to work, so she waited. She waited, and occasionally tried talking to the image that softly illuminated the chamber.
But nothing happened. No flash of insight, no voice from the heavens, and no divine inspiration, all the while the black cloud of despair remained uncomfortably close.
Her attention wavers between the crushing defeat at the Grand Council and her farewell with Sir Preston. The brooch remained on her garment, heavy as a reminder of their continued promise to each other.
As much as his departure left a gaping wound in her heart, there was a bitter sweetness about their last passionate hour together. Her failure with the slavery reforms, however, was a jagged, seeping injury that couldn't be simply mended by platitudes and sympathy. The thousands of slaves in Absalom would continue to remain in their current state unless her reforms could be implemented. And she was completely powerless to do anything more about them. She even doubted the Church of Iomedae would have the wherewithal to push through the changes. She wondered idly if Argor Blakros could succeed. Perhaps, but he had made it clear he wouldn't risk his reputation and businesses for such a measure. The only other person she knew of with such pull was Auronee and she wouldn't--
Cladissa sits up abruptly. The image of Iomedae doesn't waver. She wouldn't... what? Help? Do it? Why not? What would it hurt to try?
Cladissa calls Cole into her arms, and then they both teleport from the chamber.
Cladissa had teleported close to the Taldane embassy, and flew the rest of the way to Auronee's residence. She alights on the steps leading to the entrance and she knocks politely.
The attendant opening the door nearly screams and slams the door on her, but she implants a suggestion that he go and fetch Auronee first before sending for the guards. The butler agrees, and gathers his mistress.
Auronee's musical voice is flat and menacing when she appears in the foyer. "What are you doing here? Don't you have some souls to suck or something?"
Cladissa folds her arms and glares at her stepsister. "Cute. I take it you've heard about my latest failure?"
Her beautiful face twitches into a cruel smile. "Of course. I must say, I didn't realize you could be so depraved."
"It figures you'd believe what Roald said about me. Look, I'm not even going to try verbally sparring with you. You'd win, and I'll be running away in tears. So let's both agree that would happen, and skip to why I'm here?"
Auronee blinks at that, then tilts her head in genuine curiosity. "Okay, I'll play along. Although if I had to guess--" Her face grows astonished, then she shakes her head. "Oh, no. No. No way."
She's quick, I'll give her that. "Yes. I need you to finish what I started. The slavery reforms."
Auronee barks out a sharp laugh. "How crazy do you think I am? I am not going to clean up your mess!"
Cladissa takes a step closer. "It's a good cause, Auronee. You can do it. In fact, I don't think there's anyone else in Absalom who could do it. It has to be you."
She folds her arms and sneers. "You forget: I don't like you. Why do you think I'd try to restore your reputation?"
Cladissa throws up her hands. "I don't care about that! That's not important! That's the last thing on my mind!" She steps even closer, so their faces can almost feel the other's breath. "Destroy me. Drag me through the mud. Crucify me if you have to. Just push the reforms through."
"Wait. You don't want the credit?" Auronee looks dubious.
"Not in the least. It can be all yours. The celebrated Darling of Absalom, now the friend to the downtrodden. Reformer. Redeemer. Whatever you want to call yourself. Just get it passed."
Auronee leans back, thinking. Cladissa's eyes remain steady.
"This is that important to you?"
Cladissa nods.
"Then what's it worth to you?"
With an annoyed sigh, the witch says, "Name your price."
Auronee smiles the grin of a predator. She makes a show of tapping her chin as she thinks. "Hmm. Let's see..." She looks Cladissa up and down. "How about you leave Absalom and never come back?"
She doesn't hesitate. "Okay."
Auronee frowns. "Nah, too easy. What's that circlet do?"
Cladissa takes it off and throws it at her feet. Auronee picks it up, studies it, then shrugs. "This only augments intelligence? Mine does that and my personality. Sheesh. You suck." She passes it back to Cladissa.
There's a long, silent moment as Auronee thinks over the possibilities of having her stepsister at her mercy. Cladissa remains stoic and resolute, ready to accept whatever her hated rival demands of her.
"I got it!" Auronee snaps, eyes bright. "I want to watch."
"Excuse me?"
"I want to see you change. I'm genuinely curious. Can you get another shot of that serum?"
Cladissa shakes her head. "No, there's none left. And I'm not sure when, or if, I'll ever change again. This last one was... unusual."
Auronee shakes her head. "Well, I've made my decision. So you either figure something out, or I'm out."
Cladissa suddenly recalls all the jars, pots and vials of the viscera left behind by Nyugusk when he exploded, and their potentially mutagenic properties. "I-- I think I know a way. Okay. I'll do it. You get to watch me mutate, in exchange for you completing my -- your -- reforms to slavery in Absalom." She extends her hand.
A sly smile crosses Auronee's face as she accepts her hand and gives it a shake. "It's a deal."
Cladissa soars across the skies of Absalom, thinking.
She was nervous, certainly, about blindly testing out one of Nyug's remains and undergoing another mutation. But a measure of acceptance had settled on her heart as well. Auronee was on board with her slavery reforms, and she had as much confidence in her ability to succeed as she had in her own ability to fail. Thus, taking another roll of the serum roulette was a small price to pay for the betterment of thousands of others.
But still, she had to wonder about what she would become. As much as she hated this form, it was beautiful, lithe and graceful. Her wings still worked, and she loved the sensation of soaring over the streets of the city she called home. Would she lose these wonderful wings? Would she be ugly? Horrific?
She was now strangely glad Sir Preston was gone. She didn't have to concern him with her new appearance -- whatever it may be -- for months, even years. And if they never met again, his memories would always be of her being something she'd never thought possible: beautiful.
She wonders how much of this was Iomedae's doing. Sending Preston away to make way for her to do what was necessary to get her reforms passed. It may have been purely coincidence, but she comforted herself with the thought that perhaps the Inheritor was actually at work in her life already.
Before reaching Verde Heights, she makes a slight detour to pick up some magical gear with the money she earned at her last couple of missions. Selecting a belt that increased her health and fortitude and a cape that boosted her resistances to ill effects -- particularly those that target her mind -- she does a bit of haggling and manages to get a decent deal on the cape.
Finally, she arrives at Verde Heights, the sun having sank below the horizon and the stars softly illuminating the rooftops. She lands softly in the courtyard and enters, the smell of freshly-cooked food hitting her hard and reminding her that she'd barely eaten in the last two days. She tentatively enters the dining hall to join those others present, taking a seat.
"So, I've had a busy day. What did I miss?"
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Sabrina does not linger near the temple of Iomedae. Much like Yig, His Champion does not like being so casually dismissed. In all honesty, only the presence of Cladissa and Sir Preston (and admittedly the reasonable paladin captain) had allowed her reaction to be so... disciplined.
She turns to Argor's gardens and uses Call Animal to summon a small nonvenomous common garden snake.
A rather handsome specimen comes slithering out of the bushes and stops five feet away from Sabrina. After seemingly realizing who she is, the creature has no issue with letting the druidess hold him. She begins to lazily pet her new friend.
"I can't believe what just happened. Can you?"
The snake flicks his tongue.
"I wonder if Iomedae will be as good to Cladissa as you have been to me..."
The scriptures on Yig are contradictory.
He is said to be as likely to devour those who asked for His aid as He is to provide said aid. However, He only does so because He is hungry, and to Sabrina's knowledge, this little... quirk happens with enough frequency that the word "occasions" is used as a description instead of "occurrences" or something else implying a constant worrying trend.
And obviously, Sabrina still lives despite years in His service, and in fact, she has only become more powerful thanks to Yig's favor.
Meanwhile, two of Yig's domains are Community and Protection, and indeed, He will extend His protection to entire communities who honor Him in the right ways. Unlike most of His kin, there are numerous tangible benefits to worshipping Him: good harvests, health, and hunts.
Moreover, if Yig is truly as malicious or unreliable as the other Old Gods, then why would any rural or nomadic community worship Him over say... Erastil?
Just Pharasma help the poor souls who angered or failed Him.
Out of all the deities in the Great Beyond, only Bokrug and Yig had tried to stop Hastur and Hasturia. They had used Sabrina's mother Jeevika as a proxy and a temporary dual champion of sorts. Sabrina knows why Bokrug did not kill her afterward; Mom had somehow bargained for her life. When everything was said and done, The Water Lizard ultimately just opted to go back to His long slumbering.
Despite having every right to devour for her, Yig... had instead accepted an offer from Sabrina. In exchange for protection from Hastur, she would serve The Father of Serpents. As Yig's Champion, in exchange for her variety of spells and powers, all Sabrina needed to do was simply praise His name. For whatever reason, that was all her Lord asked of her.
Not much (if anything at all) has changed since they made that pact...
Cladissa catches sight of Sabrina in the garden being Sabrina by chatting with a little garter snake, she excuses herself from the table briefly. She grabs up a couple buttered rolls before she leaves, stuffing one into her mouth.
"Hey," she says to the druid through her mouthful. "Sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to say thanks, again." The food in her mouth completely garbled the message, so she tries again using her telepathy.
::Actually, I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before,:: she thinks at her while taking another bite. ::I just want you to know, that, well, I've accepted the decision. It's painful, but I... I think I understand why Preston was sent away::
She shrugs, a sad smile on her face.
Cladissa sighs. She chews a bit more, swallows, then says out loud, "Yeah. I think so. Which means he'll do great things, then come back to me." Her eyes glisten with tears, but there's a strong smile on her face.
::Don't get mad on my account. We-- we have our own demons to fight::
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"...Well, Iomedae certain has interesting timing," says Sabrina with a sigh. "Just keep an open mind, Cladissa. If Iomedae never stands up for you just as Nethys neglected to do, then her service isn't worth it. I'm not saying that she has to make your life sunshine and rainbows, but she should at least send you a birthday card every so often."
"Hah. I've never worshiped Nethys. I had heard that he cared if you could use magic, but I think it's more that he cares about magic, not the user. No, I've already received an object lesson that Iomedae's at least paying attention. And, well, I don't know if it's going to go the way I want it, but that's part of putting your trust in a higher power. Her way isn't necessarily my way, but she's one of the most dedicated good deities in the pantheon. How could I not at least trust that it'll turn out well?"
She smiles and shakes her head. "Listen to me. Something good must be happening to me, since I'm beginning to sound like Sir Preston."
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Sabrina's stern expression softens considerably at Cladissa's hopeful words.
"...You aren't wrong. Iomedae is honestly the one who seems to be paying the most attention to the Worldwound. I mean, Sarenrae and Desna also deserve praise for their efforts, but from what I understand, Iomedae is the one doing most of the heavy lifting bar none."
Sabrina looks at her little snake friend thoughtfully.
The creature seems to be staring her just the same way.
"Perhaps your trust isn't as misplaced as I first thought," the druid admits quietly.
Cladissa studies Sabrina for a while, her brow furrowing with concern. "Sabrina... you've been a very good friend to me these last few weeks. I was a little disconcerted by some of your actions (like finding out about that stupid dinner), but I realize it makes sense for a new team member to try to learn about the dynamics of the group. Then, without me asking, you seemed to want to become my defender and champion. With Argor, with Preston, and now with Iomedae.
"I-- I don't know what I've done to deserve a friend like you, but I really do appreciate all you've done for me. It's hard to put it into words, really."
She pauses, searching for the right words and clearly struggling. "It's just that... I think... something bad's going to happen again. To me. But I'm going to let it. I'm going to accept it. I think it's... part of Iomedae's plan. So, just, you know. I'll need you. I'll want you there as a friend. But just, well, don't take it as Iomedae abandoning me. In fact, I think it's just the opposite."
Argor looks at her quizzically. "I do not think you understand," he says. He gestures to his own body and its changes, "There is no cure for this. You are fortunate that you too were not affected by your...trist. The only hope for Grommesson is to develop a stronger mind, more mental fortitude, to either resist the changes, or control them. I can try to help with this, now that I have seen the change personally, if it is possible."
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Sabrina continues to look at her snake and wonders if Yig has greater designs for her...
"You're... such a wonderful person, Cladissa. However, the more I learned about you, the more it seems like you suffer alone. Bad things keep happening to you at such a... distressing rate. I suppose you were never without support, but before you met Nyug and Hrim, it seems like it was only Cole. He seems to think the same thing: you have some great destiny in store for you. However, personally, I don't... feel like they ever did enough. I mean, I think you just vanished into the woods for a time? Did anyone try to find you? Help you? I... would have tried."
Sabrina turns to look her friend.
"I'm only thirty years old, but I've seen more than some Elves do in a lifetime. Such much needless pain. So much pointless suffering. So much... Evil. If not caused by the wicked, then caused by those who claim to be Good and then do nothing. Or worse! Because someone 'needed' to take one for the Greater Good!"
Sabrina's snake drapes himself across her lap, and Yig's Champion turns away and gently pets His head.
"If your great destiny is to just take one for Iomedae's Greater Good, then..."
Sabrina wipes her eyes.
Cladissa steps forward and gives Sabrina a hug. "Hey. I'm not planning on getting killed. I know nothing's guaranteed, but there's ways of changing the outcome. And if the outcome is preordained, then it's that way for a darned good reason. At least, I hope."
She rocks her a bit in the embrace, wondering why Sabrina was so melancholy and then suddenly it hits her. She gasps, "That's right! You left so quick, I didn't get them back to you! Hold on!" She unfolds her wings and in a few strong beats she is at the second floor balcony, where she slips into her room. A few minutes later she returns with Bentley's hat, monocle, and other gear that she had salvaged from his remains.
"Here, you go," she says as she passes them to the druid. "Sorry for getting so caught up in my own drama. You had your own loss as well. I should have tried to comfort you better."
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As Cladissa moves to hug her, Sabrina gently puts her snake friend aside as to not bother him. He curls up next to her. Yig's Champion readily returns the embrace.
When Cladissa returns Bentley's possessions, the druidess takes a moment to inspect them.
"You even cleaned them..." she notes absentmindedly.
After packing away everything, she looks up and gives Cladissa a long look of appreciation.
"Forgive me for being so... moody lately, Cladissa. A lot has happened to me in the last few weeks. Whether deserved or not, it seems that I just want to spare you from similar pain."
The morning of the third day after the end of their mission, an urchin messenger leaves a message at Verde Heights for the Freaks. It is from Dreng, with instructions that they plan to attend the festivities at the Passion tomorrow. The note includes fieldside tickets for the team, as well as Grommesson, and indicates Osprey will contact them at the event with more information and instructions.
"No cure?! But, but you're like the greatest wizard in Absalom in addition to being a a Freak! What, what does he have to do? What can I do to protect my baby?!" Anja stutters in desperation. Her polite etiquette is a thin veneer covering a mother in crisis.
As Cladissa moves to hug her, Sabrina gently puts her snake friend aside as to not bother him. He curls up next to her. Yig's Champion readily returns the embrace.
When Cladissa returns Bentley's possessions, the druidess takes a moment to inspect them.
"You even cleaned them..." she notes absentmindedly.
After packing away everything, she looks up and gives Cladissa a long look of appreciation.
"Forgive me for being so... moody lately, Cladissa. A lot has happened to me in the last few weeks. Whether deserved or not, it seems that I just want to spare you from similar pain."
"You're forgiven. It's been an eventful, stressful year for me, too. I would never accuse you of being moody. Oh, and you can thank Cole. He's mastered that cleaning spell of Argor's. And he's not as stingy with it, either. If we're ever in some dungeon and you want to freshen up, let him know."
She takes Sabrina's hand and gives it a tug toward the dining room. "Hey, come on. I'm still hungry, and I'd like a last meal with everybody."
Whether Sabrina joins her or not, Cladissa sits down with everyone else at the table. She appears to be in remarkably good spirits, and shows interest in everyone's current affairs. She chats amiably throughout the evening.
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Auronee finds Sabrina waiting for her in the large tree in her garden.
"Hey, A- Windy! The usual folks let me in. Anyways, I needs some information!"
The animated druid slides down next to her friend.
"You were right! Cladissa is such a stick in the mud! Now that I've been on a couple assignments with her, I've seen that she is a major reliability to the team. I mean seriously! On the last mission, she nearly got killed. Twice. And guess who had to bail her out both times? Me!"
Sabrina's saccharine expression falters.
"Her lackluster performance got poor Bentley killed! She literally contributed nothing besides giving some fools the stink eye! Who killed the big bad guy? Argor! Who kept the melee fighters healthy and strong? Argor! Who keeps the team fed? Argor! She's cramping his style! She's cramping our style! So! Cladissa! Needs! To! Go!"
Sabrina gives Auronee a twisted grin.
"I'm her last 'friend' on this team, so I think if I nudge her in just the right way, she'll leave. Seriously, no one likes her! Nyguelle doesn't talk to her anymore. Argor has washed his hands of her. Handsome Honey and Sonny are too busy to even acknowledge her problems. And Sir Preston literally left the city because she was such a liability to him! Just one little nudge... and she's gone!"
Sabrina giggles maniacally.
"So what do I say to her to break her? There's gotta be something! Argor's Dinner is what I'm thinking, but that's so... underwhelming! There's gotta be something better!"
"Sabrina" looks at her friend expectantly.
"How's about it, Windy? Let's put the final nail in the coffin of her Pathfinder career and make her hammer it in~"
Auronee steps outside in some casual travel clothes, giving last-minute instructions to several pages and and assistants on her way out. When Sabrina jumps out of the tree and starts talking, she looks rather surprised to see her. "Oh, can this wait? I've got someplace to be--" And then Sabrina mentions Cladissa. "All right, go ahead."
She shoos away the throng of people needing her attention for a moment, then listens closely. Auronee studies Sabrina's face closely, furrows her brow a bit, then looks as though she's considering something. After a brief internal debate, she offers Sabrina a shrug of her shoulders. "Cladissa's usually pretty good at imploding herself, so I usually ignore her," she says finally. "Though I'm sure that doesn't help you if she's messing up your missions. Have you brought your concerns to your venture captain?"
She walks with Sabrina out to the main street where she turns in the direction of the Foreign Quarter. "I'd say that. But, well, you may not have to worry about her too much from here on out. Time will tell. Sorry I gotta run, but we'll meet up soon! You can tell me how it went!"
============================
When Cladissa sees Argor and his new look, her hand flies to her mouth. "Oh, Argor!" she starts, but then gets a closer look. "It's... it's really not bad, now that I look at it. You look sort of planetouched. It's actually a pretty good look for you. Did you get any benefits with the cosmetic changes?"
After reaching out and touching his arm in a comforting gesture, Cladissa hesitates, then says, "I just wanted to say... thank you. Again. For saving me. For having Rutai heal me when my throat was ripped out. For trusting me to help you in the fight against Nordris. You're an excellent ally, and a good friend."
---------------
Cladissa gives Gianluca a blushing smile when she sees him next. She can't meet his eyes for long, and she looks down, shifting nervously. "Thank you for your... encouragement, Gianluca. I... acted upon it. It was... well, nice."
---------------
If she happens to bump into Grommesson that evening, she greets him warmly. "That was quite the surprise, your ability to grow large and powerful. You remind me very much of my old teammate and fellow Pathfinder, Grommuk. Mr. Blakros may not have thought much of him, but he could be tender and kind. I was fond of him, and glad he's doing what he enjoys. He's still in Absalom. Maybe one of these days I could introduce you two?"
--------------
Lastly, late in the evening, she goes into Nyugelle's wing and sits with her a bit. "I wanted to say... sorry. I'm sorry I haven't spent much time with you; helping you adjust. It's just that... I mean, being busy is no excuse. So, anyway, I hope you're growing to accept your new body. It's lovely."
She asks to see some of her more recent notes of her discoveries, and while Nyug is distracted, Cladissa's tail snakes out and coils around one of the specimen jars. Before Nyug turns around, the jar is hidden away under Cladissa's skirts.
At the end of the evening, she offers Nyugelle a hug and chats a little more if the reincarnated alchemist is up for it. Then she heads back up to her room for the night.
For almost two days, Grommesson had been trying to reconcile what was happening to himself. He practiced transforming into his ogre form, which became no less painful each time. He searched the gaps in his memories when the wildness took over finding the edges when he perceived a threat and when the Freaks began telling him that he was safe. The half-orc had arrived at no epiphany breakthrough moments and was a ball of anxiety.
On the way to the toilette from the seclusion of his Verde Heights room, Grommesson crosses Cladissa. He looks in every direction to escape but she closes and greets him warmly. "That was quite the surprise, your ability to grow large and powerful. You remind me very much of my old teammate and fellow Pathfinder, Grommuk. Mr. Blakros may not have thought much of him, but he could be tender and kind. I was fond of him, and glad he's doing what he enjoys. He's still in Absalom. Maybe one of these days I could introduce you two?"
Grommesson blushes and fidgets. After a pregnant pause, he whispers, "Master Argor didn't tell you then."
He looks around conspiratorially before continuing, "Grommuk is my father. Anja is my mother, not my sister. I'm a Freak, too."
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Upon realizing that other people are present, Sabrina stops herself as such:
"You were right! Cladissa is-"
Once it is just her and Auronee, she goes back and repeats herself before continuing.
She pouts when Auronee doesn't take the bait denies her request.
"Reporting her incompetence is an option I guess. I'm just worried that she's going to get someone killed soon... A proper Pathfinder I mean. Seriously! The last mission was just the melee men cleaning house and Argor being awesome while I had to devote time and resources to protecting her weak little self! She did nothing, and Bentley died for it!"
Sabrina thinks over the idea.
"...Yeah. That's what I'll do! I'll lodge so many reports that they'll need to chop down an entire Kyoni forest for the paper!" chirps Sabrina as she swings an imaginary ax to make her point. "If I can get Argor to back me up, then her goose is cooked~! Thanks, Windy!"
Sabrina scurries off into the streets of Absalom.
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Sabrina knocks on Argor's office door.
If let inside and asked what she wants, Sabrina gets straight to the point.
"I'll keep this relatively brief. After doing some research, I've been noticing a trend about this team, Argor. The brawn powers us through most of the mundane stuff, while you neutralize the big threats like Nordis and carry the team as a whole. However, I struggle to think about Cladissa's contributions aside from maybe acting as a backup set of spells for you. Putting her numerous personal failures aside, I think she's becoming a liability.
"Let's think back to the last mission, shall we? All Cladissa did was get her throat ripped out and get paralyzed. Besides the big, dumb, replaceable dinosaur, she was the only one of us who failed to power through that spell. And ultimately, you killed Nordis. I spent most of that slog burning valuable spells and cleaning up after Cladissa's useless self. What happens when its a proper Pathfinder who dies next time?
"Going back to her personal failures! She keeps making a fool of herself! Everything she does crashes and burns! After that stunt with the Council, do you really want to associate your good name with her, Argor? At some point, Cladissa going to become a big social albatross to hang around your neck. Her credibility has been shot and buried. Knowing her, it will soon reanimate and start digging to the center of the planet.
"...I think it's time we replace Cladissa, Argor. With someone who's first reaction to danger isn't to start crying and fall apart. Perhaps another caster with Mr. Black's level of general competence? One who doesn't fight you on every. single. little. issue?"
"I mean, seriously, Argor. Cladissa does nothing but cause you a headache and ride on your coat tails. At this point, why keep her around?"
"Encourage him to strengthen his mental faculties," Argor says bluntly. "He did exhibit an ability to control it, somewhat. That requires a strong mind. So that is my suggestion, and I offer my services in this regard, if he desires them."
__________
"Indeed, I did," Argor says, leaving Cladissa to wonder what those enhancements may be. He listens intently to her words, looking at her a moment in silence before responding, "What is going on, Ms. Velorryan?"
Grommesson's revelation has Cladissa standing agape. After a moment wherein she blinks incredulously, she finally comments, "That's incredible. I had no idea he had a child. I guess it's possible; he never spoke much about his past. But how are you a Freak? Did you take the serum at some point?" Then another thought hits her. "Wait. Anja's too young to be your mother, unless..."
She rubs her temples as all the conflicting information wars inside her brain. "Okay, wait. How old are you, exactly? You couldn't be his son after he took the serum, could you? That would be--?"
===================
Cladissa frowns when Argor seems his usual standoffish self. She sighs, considering her next words.
"I just wanted to say... something nice. To you. I've recently had a very good illustration that death could come for us in the blink of an eye. So, in case this is our last -- one of our last -- conversations together, I want it to be a good one. So, thank you. Argor. I know you've cared for me. You show it differently than maybe I would have, but I see it." She smiles at him as she reaches up and adjusts his collar. "I see it now."
Taking her at her word, Argor replies, "You are welcome. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
Cladissa steps back, giving a crestfallen shrug. "No, not really. No."
She forces out a smile, though there is still hurt seeping through on her face. "It's pretty late. We can pick this up whenever." She turns and starts walking away.
Seeing her nonverbals, he catches her by her delicate wrist, "Cladissa. What is really wrong?"
Cladissa spins, then reclaims her hand. She studies his face, her own showing a mixture of hurt and anger. "My proposal is in shambles. My reputation in Absalom is ruined. Oh, and Sir Preston has been sent away."
She turns back around and takes a couple strides away. Then she turns and looks over her shoulder, "If you truly care to know. Good night, Argor."
"Mental faculties?" Anja repeats incredulously. After long sigh, she says quietly, "Thank you. I'll tell him. It feels like we're in the right place."
===
The half-orc had almost forgotten that he needed to use the toilet. The reaction of one of his icon's causes him to shrink back. After a brief pause to frame a reply, Grommesson says, "I haven't passed my first birthday."
After a momentary pause, Argor says, "I was unaware of Sir Preston's departure. My condolences to your separation."
Changing his grip on his staff to his other hand, he adds, "In regards to your failed proposal, it is an unfortunate, but not unexpected, outcome. You must realize several important factors in regards to the ambitious laws you were proposing. Firstly, is that slavery has existed as an institution in its current state in this city-state since its founding. Second, the people most affected in a negative manner were the rich and powerful. People who are not keen on things threatening the value of their holdings. Third: this was but your first small steps into the political colosseum, and it is an arena far more dangerous than any gladiatorial pit."
Argor then has a seat on a bench in his garden, awaiting Cladissa's reply.
Cladissa's hand goes up to her mouth when Grommesson tells her about his age. When he shrinks back, she puts on a tender smile. "Hey," she says soothingly, "no, don't worry. I'm not upset at you, I'm just amazed that you're even here."
Her smile goes bright. "That just means you'll get to enjoy your first birthday! Everyone else is still an infant, so they don't get anything special. Yours will be."
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Cladissa's jaw clenches tight as Argor clinically dissects her passion project. "Thank you for the assessment. It's about thirty-eight hours and twenty minutes too late, but thank you nonetheless," she says flatly. Then a cold, calculating smile grows on her face. "But I'll have you know that I've taken steps to ensure it gets passed without my continued efforts. I hope you will remain a silent backer going forward.
"Good evening, Argor." Cladissa again turns to leave.
Argor listens quietly to Sabrina's unusual tirade, but does not take long to respond. "While much of your assessment may be accurate, there are some major flaws in it which should be addressed. When it comes to combating magic, you know well enough that anyone can fall victim to its power. To hold such a thing against her is a moot point. And going into each and every mission, be it personal or backed by the Society, one can meet their untimely demise."
"Listing her personal inadequacies as reasons for her to not be a member of the Society, again, is not your concern. You are not a Venture Captain. She has been a part of it since we were brought together, and has performed admirably on missions more often than not. While it would be nice to not receive ire from members of the team every time I speak, their personal opinions of my character matter little to me. So why keep her around, you ask? Because she earned it, Ms. Henderson. And I suggest that you best not forget that fact."
"If this is all you have come to distract me with, for the moment, then our conversation is concluded," he says as he gestures to the door of his office. "And know this. If you truly seek her dismissal from the Society, I will oppose it."
Grommesson smiles in reflection of Cladissa. "Thank you. Um. I uh have to a go to a the facilities. Please excuse me." With a curt bow, he dashes for the toilet.
He appears that evening for supper, well-dressed and in good humor.
Cladissa rises early, after a night of uneasy, nervous sleep. She is about to slip out of the estate when the messenger arrives with the tickets and instructions to attend tomorrow's Passion. She groans a bit, then considers briefly. She then hurriedly flies back to her room and pens a couple notes, leaving them with Ms. Fecht for delivery later that day.
Argor,
Apologies for the brevity of this note, but I do not have the time to detail my reasons for my actions this day. Suffice it to say, I have probably undergone a major transformation from the serum by the time you read this. If I don't make it back to Verde Heights, I would appreciate you coming to find me. I'm at the old estate on Jabberwocky Lane. If the worst has transpired, please have my effects and coin used to further effect the slavery reforms. Thank you.
Sabrina
That bad thing I mentioned is happening today. If you don't see me by this evening, know that I'll be at the original home of the Freaks on Jabberwocky Lane. I may be in need of assistance. If the worst has happened, rest assured I know I'll be going to Iomedae having done my duty. Please send word to my mother and Sir Preston of my passing. Thank you, my dear friend.
Now hurriedly because she was running behind, Cladissa gathers up Cole, unfurls her wings and speeds as quickly as she can to the Taldane embassy. She brings up her catlike illusion before she lands in the interior courtyard and has a repeat of the incident at the Iomedaean temple. She asks around urgently, and soon is directed to the Lady Tessida Farwynd's quarters.
"Mom! Time to go!" Cladissa says without further preamble when she finds her mother breaking her fast with some other ladies.
"Excuse me?" she responds, eyes glaring at her daughter's sudden intrusion.
Cladissa observes the plates are mostly cleared, so she smiles politely to the other ladies while she grabs her mother's arm. Whispering under her breath, she says, "It's not safe here anymore. If it ever was. I think it's time we got you back to Taldor. Let's go get your things."
"Excuse my daughter's rudeness," the Lady Farwynd says to her breakfast group, but stands and follows Cladissa. Once alone, she says, "I've heard some... startling rumors."
"Yeah, Mom, it's been a rough couple of days," Cladissa responds, pushing open the door to her mother's villa, moving to the bedroom where she pulls out a chest and starts throwing clothes and other effects inside.
Tessida begins to protest. "Cladissa, I am not leaving. Your reputation is in shambles; however, there are ways to begin to restore your good name."
"Yes, Mom, you are. And I don't care about my reputation right now. The demons who are after me will come after you before long. That incident at the Council was probably an appetizer."
Her mother grabs Cladissa's arm firmly as the chest was about to be filled up. "You listen to me; there are more important things at stake."
Cladissa freezes, looking at her mother in puzzlement. "What could be more important than your life right now?"
The Lady Farwynd scowls. "More than you know, child. And I will not be tossed unceremoniously aboard the first scow headed towards Taldor!"
Cladissa smirks. "Well, you got that part right. No boats for you. Now, is there anything else you need to pack up?"
Fuming, the Lady Farwynd folds her arms and glares at her daughter. "I am not leaving you to get even further mangled up in these Absalom affairs! Look at what it's cost you so far! Your good name, your reputation, even your humanity! You're not some heroine who can save the world!"
Cladissa stops and stares closely at her mother. She doesn't move, but wills away the illusion covering her and exposing her demonic shape, which causes Tessida to take a reflexive step back.
"You're right," she says after a time. "I'm not. That's why I'm going back to Taldor with you. Sir Preston is gone, so there's nothing for me in Absalom. I'd like to see home again. Maybe it'll be better this time around without Auronee putting spiders in my bed."
"I thought it was worms?"
Cladissa nearly swoons with relief, and gives her mother a huge hug. "Oh, thank the gods! Thank Iomedae! Oh, blessed Inheritor!" she says over and over, squeezing her mother so tight she could barely breathe.
After a moment Cladissa breaks the embrace, wipes some tears from her eyes, but then turns and grabs the chest. With a grunt and a strain, she drags the chest outside, her mother following somewhat bewildered. She stops on the walkway just outside, her demonic appearance turning heads.
"Well, I'm sure if you forgot anything, you can send for it," Cladissa says as she grabs hold of the chest and one hand takes hold of her mother. To the shocked onlookers, she announces, "Yes, it's me, Cladissa Velorryan. Sorry for giving Taldor a bad name, but at least you can make sure to tell everyone I'm not actually Taldane. But I'm getting my mother out of here to save her from further embarrassment."
"What are you doing?"
"Going home," Cladissa answers, then they both teleport away.
Cladissa and Tessida's arrival in Farwynd Castle on the banks of the River Porthmos overlooking Oppara was uneventful; the place was still very much unchanged from the years when Cladissa had lived there as a maturing young girl.
The Lady Farwynd, however, looks at the sudden shift in her surroundings with total shock.
"My time in Absalom hasn't been all bad," Cladissa says matter-of-factly. "Yes, we're in Taldor now. Completely within the range of my teleport spell."
She escorts her still-disbelieving mother to the castle courtyard, where Cladissa runs over and grabs a handful of figs from her favorite tree. She eats a couple while watching her mother wander around the grounds, touching benches and looking at her reflection in the fountain. She smiles, starting to appreciate the sheer power of the spell that Cole had instructed her in. She gathers several more figs which she places in a fold of her skirt, then calls out to her mother, "All right, well, stay safe! I gotta get back!"
That snaps Tessida out of her bewilderment. "You're leaving? I thought you said you were coming home!"
"I did! I just didn't say how long I was planning on staying! I'm probably late already! But the good news is, I can cast this spell and stop by for a visit whenever I want to. So, I'll be in touch! Bye!"
Her mother shouts after her, but Cladissa is already casting the spell.
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After being randomly presented a letter by Ms. Fecht, Sabrina retreats to a random corner of Verde Heights and reads it.
"Sabrina... That bad thing I mentioned... I'll be at... I may be in need of assistance... I'll be going to Iomedae having done my duty... Thank. You. My. Dear. Friend."
Sabrina starts laughing like a maniac and unceremoniously rips the letter in two.
Moments later, she departs the estate.
Cladissa appears in her old room at 457 Jabberwocky Lane with a bamf of displaced air.
She steps out of the room and descends the stairs, seeing her stepsister sitting on a couch in the common room. She looks up, giving her a flat look. "You're late," she says.
"I know. But I've got something to make it up." Cladissa unfolds her skirt when she reaches the bottom of the stairs and passes the handful of figs to Auronee.
She looks unimpressed until she examines them. "Wait. These are..." She sniffs one, then tentatively takes a bite. Her eyes go wide.
"...From the courtyard back home. Yep. I was just there, dropping Mom off."
Auronee looks at Cladissa through narrowed eyes. "You can teleport now?" She nods. "Huh. Not bad," she says begrudgingly, then eats another fig. "Okay, so, yeah, this makes up for being late."
Cladissa eats the one fig she saved for herself as she sits down in a chair across from Auronee. She looks around at the decor of 457 Jabberwocky. The place was dusty and the air smelled stale. She folds her legs under her and studies her stepsister. "Are you really going to make me do this?"
"We have a deal, don't we?"
She sighs. "Yes." Cladissa opens the satchel slung over her shoulder. Cole pops out, yowling at her as he circles the chair she's sitting in. ::Shut up, cat. It's my choice. Just like the first time. Although the first time I was being selfish. This time, it's for a better cause:: Cole mews, then slinks away to one of his old observation spots.
She then fishes out the sealed jar that contained some of Nyugusk's potent remains. She had grabbed it at random from the assortment on the shelf, having no clue what, if anything, it would do. She traces her fingers along the lid -- apparently it had been sealed up with lead at some point. "Huh. I wonder what that means," she mutters.
"So what is that?" Auronee asks, almost done with her figs and now showing signs of impatience.
"This... is a long story. And sorry, I'm not telling it. Just be aware that the stuff inside will, well, I don't know what it'll do."
Auronee scowls. "All right, whatever. Just get on with it."
Cladissa's heart begins pounding as she begins trying to break the seal. Her hands tremble with nervousness, making them clumsy and erratic. It didn't help that apparently Nyugelle had sealed this particular jar very well, and it was stopped up tight. She strains and twists at the lid to no avail.
"Oh, for the gods' sake!" Auronee shouts with impatience.
Then with a crack, the seal breaks and half the jar's contents spill on Cladissa's lap, a viscous, black liquid that oozes over her skirts and down her legs. She makes a disgusted sound as it feels somewhat warm as it causes the silken fabric to cling to her skin. She gasps as the crawling sensation wraps tightly over and around her lower half.
Auronee leans forward and watches with sick fascination. Her eyes go wide as the remaining quivering black substance leaps from the jar that was held forgotten in Cladissa's hand and plops on the witch's belly.
Tendrils of the black goo begin stretching and wrapping fully around Cladissa as her legs go numb beneath her. This was different than anything she'd experienced -- this wasn't the serum, but some invading goo that expanded and caressed and then squeezed around her tight around her waist. She could feel the substance seeping into her skin, dissolving muscle and tissue.
She finally screams. She feels she is being consumed, from the waist down, as the black goo turns her lower body into a large, quivering amorphous blob. It's all she can do but scream and pull helplessly at the black mass. She looks desperately for assistance at Auronee, who is frozen in shock at the transformation.
Then Cladissa is hit with a seizure. Her entire body is wracked with spasms. She is mutely aware that whatever happened to her legs is now crawling up into her torso, and she can feel her organs being liquefied, reshaped and reformed. The sensation is grueling, unnatural and she barely registers that she is still screaming.
The horror continues as Cladissa's body is twisted and reformed, inside and out. Her screams finally die as the transformation approaches its completion. Having fallen from the chair long ago, she lays sprawled upon the floor, unnatural limbs groping and grasping at the air.
Auronee's stunned paralysis breaks and she stands up, shaking. She clutches her chest while she circles her stepsister. "I-- That was--" she begins, for once being at a loss for words. After a moment where she regains her composure, she says, "Well, that didn't disappoint. Cladissa? Can you hear me?"
She could. But she couldn't bring herself to respond, or even open her eyes. She had too many strange, foreign sensations coming from her unfamiliar body. She could feel... things... moving. She could smell again, but the musty scents of the room and Auronee's sweat and fear, they all came from somewhere else, not her nostrils. She buries her face in her hands and begins to cry.
"Well, you can still bawl. So you can still do what you're best at," Auronee comments, eyes fixed on Cladissa's form.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!!" Cladissa screams, dreading her new form but not wanting her stepsister anywhere around.
Auronee smirks. "All right. You fulfilled your part of the bargain, so I'll get your slavery reforms passed. Enjoy your new... legs." She turns and leaves 457 Jabberwocky Lane, leaving Cladissa still writhing on the floor.
Sensing her stepsister gone, she dares to open her eyes. She blinks, then looks down at herself.
A scream shakes the manor house.
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As expected, Sabrina arrives at 457 Jabberwocky Lane without any complications; she gets there several hours after Auronee leaves. The druidess gets inside using a spare key she poached from someone at Verde Heights.
"Yo, Cladissa! Cladissa? Classy?! Are you here?" she calls out after searching every room in the house.
Finally, she stumbles upon the lurking place of her "dear friend"...
"...Cladissa?"
Sabrina observes the manor to be in a sorry state. The main living area is draped in spider webs, so she avoids that area, starting first with Cladissa's room, then going through each room after that.
It's only after she comes up empty in the bedrooms and kitchen that she realizes that there's no webs anywhere else in the house. Returning to the living room, she sees the glistening webs stretched across the walls and ceiling and looks up...
A dark shape in the upper corner of the room begins moving. It effortlessly crosses the webs and takes a position directly over Sabrina's head. The half-elf's eyes see into the dim light, which reveals Cladissa, her face still showing signs of the demonic beauty that she once was, but now it was more severe and angular. Her wings were absent, but the most striking difference was that her torso was attached to the body of a glossy black spider. Eight spindly legs clung to the webbing as easily as if she were standing on a flat surface.
"Sabrina?" she says softly, her voice raspy but still her own. "I-- This is... strange."
"I don't know if it's her plan, but she bade Sir Preston go before he had to see me like this," Cladissa says as her spider's body carries her across her webbing and down to the floor. "So, I'm grateful for that."
Noting the spell Sabrina cast on herself, she holds her hands up. "You don't need to be afraid; I feel very in control of my actions. I mean, well, there are some new instincts and I feel somewhat... augmented. But I have no desire to eat you, if that's what you're concerned about."
An irritated mrow comes from a bundle of webs up in the rafters. The bag deflates and a cat-shaped cloud of mist wafts down to the ground. Cole reforms and meows loudly at Cladissa.
"I was practicing!" she shouts at him.
She looks around the room. "It felt... right. Fitting.
"And it was necessary," she mutters under her breath. She moves across the floor and then starts to climb back up an intricately-woven spider's web.
"Thank you for coming, though," she says once she's back up near the ceiling. "Did Argor get his letter?"
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Sabrina shrugs lazily.
"Probably, but you know Argor Blakros. He can't even bother to breath unless it furthers his ambitions."
Sabrina looks at Cladissa and smirks sinisterly.
"I doubt he'll show up. I only came here to fetch your corpse; I thought that you'd finally done the world a service and hanged yourself."
Sabrina's words hit like a slap across the face. "You thought I'd done WHAT?!?"
Cole hisses.