[gblock01]

One word…
                     8888888888                                     8888888888
                 8888           8888                              8888          8888
              8888                 8888                        8888                 8888
              888        000        888                       888         000        888
              88        00000        88                       88         00000        88
              88        00000        88                       88         00000        88
              888        000        888                       888         000        888
              8888                8888                         8888                  8888
                 8888           8888                              8888           8888
                     8888888888                                     8888888888
                                                     JOY
    8888888                                                                                   8888888
        888                                                                                         888
          888                                                                                     888
            888                                                                                 888
              8888                                                                          8888
                88888                                                                   88888
                  888888                                                            888888
                    88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
                        8888888888888888888888888888888888888888
                            88888888888888888888888888888888888
                                8888888888888888888888888888888

Can anyone say "Bored but suddenly very happy?"  😉

Seriously, great job DCM. I can't wait for the rest.

…
… …
… … …
Do y'all think that this is kind of creepy? This is about as far as my artistic talents go outside of writing.  😳

[gblock01]

Wow. O_O

[gblock01]

That was a great addition. I can't wait to see the other storyline. I have to say, though, things seemed to be stacked against Florida for this fight. I'm guessing that she is going to have to outsmart Nefla. Am I close?

[gblock01]

Sorry, but no. It isn't part of Chaud's character to see a woman's beauty beyond charcteristics. Prauge, though will have a slightly different reaction to Chaud. You won't hear about that until later though. The same goes with knowing about Jinn's past.

By the way, if anyone can guess where I got all four of the good guys' names from I will write a story for them to their specifications. If you're interested, either respond to this post or email me at gblock01@gmail.com . Also, if anyone can guess why I always use Jinn as the main character for my stories, I'll write a story for them as well.

Just to make it so that everyone knows what the names are, they are:
Jinn Skye
Mayim Aquus
Prauge Gutrot
Chaud Stryke

Only the first names have any signifigance, so the last names are mostly crap that I stuck on to make them sound better. There is a relationship between all of the first names, though, so see if you can guess that as well. Good luck to those who wish to try.  😀

[gblock01]

Another nice page. I wish that you weren't so evil though and left it hanging there, right before her transformation… *sob* 😥

Oh well, on the plus side, you're not stopping in the middle of the transformation. Every dark cloud has its sliver lining. 😀

[gblock01]

Okay. Sorry that it took so long to update this story, but I'm working on a number of other projects. Anyway, as promised, there is some FMG in this one. And Fonk, you're right. This story is turning out to be an epic. It's longer than I had planned, but I don't see anything wrong with how it is right now. Enjoy!

**********************************************

Chapter 4

Meanwhile, on the other end of the continent, deep below the craggy peaks of the mountains, others were preparing to go on a long journey as well. At about the same time that Ryu had given Jinn, Chaud, Mayim, and Prauge their quest, the great dragon Trajanus set his forces onto the same trail, fearing what could or would happen if the four companions found the relic. He had addressed his most trusted generals, telling them, in no uncertain terms whatsoever, that the way of life that they all enjoyed would soon be destroyed if the four friends were successful. The generals rallied to the call to arms and began to make preparations, in their own particular way, to impede their journey.

Torreo, the most clever of the four, sent forth wave after wave of orcs to slow down the soon-to-be troublesome pests. He did not want them killed yet, seeing them as possibly useful. Silex, in an uncharacteristically intelligent move, split his forces, sending a quarter of those at hand to scout out and protect the Forest of Sleeping Death. The rest were stationed about the mountains, obliterating all intruding into their snowy peaks. Aurae, in a characteristically rash move, sent a squad of his finest harpy troops to kill the would-be heroes. Nymphae did nothing of any military importance. Instead, she moved through the human population, using her abundant charms to obtain information about the companions’ whereabouts.

Feeling that this was not getting them anywhere Torreo called the other three generals together into one of the spacious caverns that were abundant in the mountains. He had Silex order all golems to stay out and keep all other creatures as far away from them as possible. When all four had gathered together, Torreo addressed them all. His voice was remarkably like that of a naga, a rather dry voice with a sibilant hissing on many words, which set him apart from other drakes. Drakes were more commonly known to use the rumbling voice of their dragon parent.

“We do not yet know the whereaboutsss of the myssstical item that we ssseek. Our ressspective forcesss will not sssucceed in completely ssstoping our enemiesss. We mussst leave now and claim it for oussselvesss!”

Aurae snorted and ruffled his sleek feathers a bit, giving a clear message that he was disgusted with this idea. In a high-pitched voice that sounded like an eagle’s cry, he spoke. “Oh come now! Those fools are simple creatures that do not even deserve our full attention! They are inferior beings that we can crush as is our pleasure. As we speak, my harpy forces should be tearing those fools limb from –”

Aurae glared at Torreo reproachfully as the drake interrupted him. “Thossse dumb clucksss will have their feathersss plucked!” he hissed, “I know that my orcsss will not be able to defeat them, leassst of all that infernal Jinn Ssskye!” As he said Jinn’s name, he bent his serpentine neck and spat on the ground.

In response, the normally silent Silex spoke, his voice sounding like so many avalanches. “What so significant about him?” Before Torreo could answer, Nymphae spoke. Her voice was a smooth blending of harsh and soft tones that would entrance any normal person. No one gathered was anywhere near normal. In a haughty manner, she answered Sliex’s question. “He’s a problem, rocks-for-brains, because he is an owlam. Even if we get the others, we can’t kill him! At least, not yet.”

Torreo bent his long neck in an odd caricature of a nod, showing his agreement. “We mussst get the item before them! From what I have been able to gather, the item that we are looking for isss called the ssshalat aboth. It isss a necklaccce of exxxtrordinary power. With it, our rule ssshall never be challenged again!”

The cavern was filled with murmurs of assent and began to make plans to leave to take this powerful talisman for their master. Though they kept silent about it from each other, each began to harbor fantasies about what they could accomplish with the power in that item. Who needed an old dragon, powerful though he might be, to lead them? They soon set out together, their uneasy alliance already strained by private fantasies of power and wealth soon to be gained.

************************************************************************

It was still dark when Chaud woke up. It was a sharp awakening, one that usually signified something unusual in the immediate vicinity. Looking around sharply with his night-attuned eyes, he slowly got up. Everything around and in the camp was quiet. Nothing seemed out of place. So why was he feeling so uneasy?

Concerned that something may have happened to his companions, he moved through the camp, utilizing the skills that he has developed as a thief over the course of his life. Soundlessly, he crept about, examining the resting places of his companions. Prauge was where he had plopped down to spend the night, still snoring loud enough to raise the dead. In this land, that was entirely possible and not an entirely comforting thought.

He then went to Mayim and Jinn’s tent. There was no sound inside, but that didn’t mean anything. Ever so quietly, Chaud opened the tent and took a quick peek inside. To his night-attuned senses, it was as clear as day that neither Jinn nor Mayim were in the tent.

Pulling his head back out, he looked up into the night sky and scanned the positions of the stars and the moon. He struggled to work the mental calculations despite Prauge’s incessant snoring. Giving up his hopes for a precise measurement, he estimated that it was at least four hours after midnight. So, where could Jinn and Mayim have gone off to at this time of night?

He cursed softly and kicked at a rock. Hot pain seared up Chaud’s leg as he looked down. The rock was bigger than it had appeared, but flew on anyway. He heard a grunt to the side, and saw that the rock that he had kicked had flown straight into Prauge’s body. Chaud was sweating from a combination of trying not to scream out in pain and his fear that Prauge was probably going to crack his skull for hitting him. Muscles taut with panic, Chaud waited like a frightened deer to see if he needed to flee or not. With another grunt, Prauge turned over on his side and promptly began to snore again. Chaud let out the breath that he was holding and moved deeper into the night.

A short way from the camp, Chaud saw a strange blue glow. It was at the top of a hill that surrounded the area that they had set up camp in. At first it was hard to make out, but it became more and more visible as he got closer. Finally, he was close enough to see what was at the center of the glow. He crouched behind one of the rocky protrusions that dotted the hill and observed.

In it stood Jinn and Mayim, both were preoccupied with something. From what he could see, Mayim was the one causing the glow, probably from one of her clerical spells. From this distance, it looked like she was casting her spell on Jinn, and it wasn’t a very comfortable experience for either of them.

Slowly, the blue light began to fade, soon replaced by the pearly light of the moon and stars. Even from this point, he could hear their voices, if only barely. “It still won’t come off. Are you sure that it even can?” It sounded like Mayim was talking. Jinn responded soon after. “I know that it can. Magic, even divine magic, functions as a balance. If it can be done, then it has to be able to be undone. It can come off. We just haven’t found the way to do it. Also, remember what the sorceress gave me. If it can help me find what I seek, then the answer does exist.”

“Well that’s fine and all, but until then, you still suffer from its curse. I don’t want that for you. As a cleric, I should be able to remove it.”

“Again, you forget. It was placed on by the gods, so it is not a cursed item. It is a divine one; one that mortals cannot remove without divine or otherworldly aid. It is not surprising that you failed again.”

“Still, it doesn’t exactly make me feel very good. I don’t like feeling completely helpless.”

Chaud strained his ears as he tried to make out more of their conversation. His focus was so absolute that he did not notice the hulking shadow that was creeping up behind him. Suddenly, Chaud felt a large, rough hand close over his mouth and another close about his chest, keeping him from shouting out or moving. A gravelly voice whispered in his ear, “You shouldn’ be eavesdroppin’, boyo. It’s awfully impolite.” Chaud calmed down instantly. Finally, the hands let go.

“Prauge! What the hell are you doing, scaring me like that?”

“What th’ hell ‘re you doin’ throwin’ rocks at me? It’s bloody early an’ some people like t’ sleep!”

“Sorry about that. It was an accident.”

“Yea’? Well tha’ accident nearly gave me a heart attack! I otta’ show you what it feels like!”

“No thanks. How long have you been standing behind me?”

“Ach. Long enough t’ hear some o’ what they’ve been sayin’. Wonder what they’ve been talkin’ about.”

Chaud shook his head in response. “No idea. Hopefully, they’ll say something that we can over hear.”

Another voice joined in from behind them. “Or you could ask me.”

Chaud and Prauge jumped about two feet into the air, which was a remarkable feat for the dwarf. They turned around and found themselves staring into the glittering golden eyes of Jinn. “If you’re hiding, you shouldn’t talk so loudly. Seriously though, if you’re that curious, just ask. You don’t have to hide the fact that you’re curious from me. I’ve known since we’ve met. You’ve wanted to know if there is some secret that I’ve been keeping. Since we’ll be together for a while, I’ll tell you, but we need to get a chance to know each other’s past first. Got it?” Prauge and Chaud, still recovering from their shock, nodded mutely. “Good. Let’s move back to the camp and we can get started. Mayim?”

In response to his call, Mayim took his arm and they went down together. Chaud and Prauge held their silence until they got down to where their camp was. Jinn used his skills to get a fire going while Mayim looked around to bits of woods or long grasses that they could use to keep the fire going. Once done, they all sat around the fire and began to swap stories. Mayim went first.

“There isn’t much to my past, even though I have lived for almost two hundred years.” At that, Chaud, shot Jinn a glare that said I told you so. “When I was young, I was raised in a monastery that was dedicated to the goddess Mystra. Over the years, I climbed the ranks, slowly moving up to my present status a high priestess. Due to an unusual connection that I had to otherworldly forces, my divine skills allowed me to become one of the youngest high priestesses of my order to have existed for at least a millennium. While I was serving at the monastery, Jinn came into my life. He was traveling through and found our temple. He came in and stayed for a while, welcoming the break from his rough travels. During his stay, we became… fond of each other. Priests and priestesses of my order were not forbidden to marry, so, after a time, we underwent that sacred ceremony of unison. Since then, I’ve left the monastery behind me and traveled with Jinn, serving my goddess as a traveling cleric. That’s really all that there is to me.”

When she stopped narrating, Chaud and Prauge looked expectantly at Jinn. “Oh, no. Not yet. Chaud, Prauge, why don’t one of you go first?” Chaud and Prauge exchanged glances. Chaud shrugged and began his story.

“As any of you might have guessed, I have not had a very stable life. As I grew up, I noticed how poorly the rich were treating the not-so-affluent. So I dedicated my life to alleviating the pains of those who suffered unjustly. And that about covers it. Jinn? Your turn.”

Jinn stared at Chaud with his golden eyes and half of a smile that said You’re not done yet. When Chaud didn’t respond, Jinn rolled his eyes and made the statement that everyone but Chaud had apparently heard. “If we’re going to learn of each others’ pasts, then it is best that we are honest about everything. Even the things that we would rather forget. If you want to know everything about me, then you had better be ready to do the same.”

Chaud sighed, not wanting to elaborate, but he did it anyway. “Okay. Fine. I was abandoned at the age of four. To be more precise, I escaped my parents when I was four. I was born into an extremely poor family. My parents barely had enough food for themselves, let alone themselves with a kid. I resulted from an unplanned pregnancy, and, since my mother couldn’t bear to kill an unborn child, things progressed from there. Since I was born, I have been treated as a freak because of my hair and eye color. My mother still couldn’t bear to get rid of me. My father, though, wanted me gone. Dead or alive. He beat my mother until she nearly died and then came after me. Terrified, I ran. I ran for hours, using any small space that I could find to hide in. From that point on, I was alone.

“Then, when I was about eight, I was found by an elderly couple from the noble’s quarters. They took me in and raised me as their own until I was thirteen. At that point, the other nobles found out that they had been taking care of one that is not their own. They were tried for, of all things, treason. The actual charges were that they were trying to undermine the kingdom and to promote anarchy. In layman’s terms, that meant that they were threatening the hierarchy of the kingdom. They were pressing too hard against the boundary between the aristocrats and the serfs.” Chaud slammed his fist onto the ground. “The were found guilty, beheaded, and their material possessions were sold off to the highest bidder. I was supposed to be included in those possessions, but I fled before they could get me. Since then, I have been tearing away at the immeasurable wealth that the aristocrats had gained over years and years of stepping on the common man’s back.”

The silence that fell over the camp was deafening. Except for the crackle of the flames of their fire, not one other sound could be heard. Finally Prauge spoke, shattering the silence with his rock-rough voice. “’Tis a sad tale, boyo. I’m sorry fer yer loss. We all are. Best that the past remain past. I’ll begin my tale.

“I was born in the line of succession t’ the head chair o’ the Gutrot clan. Aside from that, I’m known fer two things: I c’n drink my weight thrice over in beer an’ my battle prowess. Ther’ is no’ much to tell abou’ my past. I grew up as any dwarf does: in the midst o’ battle. Eventually, my father an’ grandfather succumbed t’ Death’s greedy embrace, leavin’ me at the head o’ my clan. I soon left, leavin’ my cousin in charge. I went t’ the human cities, tryin’ t’ get help an’ supplies. Then I was taken by Ryu and wound up with you folk.”

As Prague finished, the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon, signaling the break of dawn. Chaud and Prauge’s eyes turned towards Jinn expectantly, waiting for him to reveal this supposedly great secret. Jinn opened his mouth and was about to start when he suddenly froze. His eyes, a burning red-ish yellow with the reflected light of the rising sun, were locked on Mayim. “Mayim! What is it?”

Chaud and Prauge turned in unison, looking at Mayim. Sweat was beading her brow even though the morning air was cool and the fire itself gave off too little warmth to cause that kind of reaction. She looked as though she was struggling through a massive headache. Prague and Chaud looked genuinely worried, but Jinn looked less than concerned. “Mayim?” asked Jinn, “We’re about to have company, aren’t we.” All that Mayim could do was nod feebly.

Jinn sighed. “It looks like we’re going to have to put this off for a little while. One of the ‘gifts’ associated with being a high priestess of any goodly god or goddess is the ability to sense those with evil hearts. Since we’re practically going to face off against a physical manifestation of evil, get used to seeing this. We are going to have company soon, and lots of it judging by her reaction.” As he spoke, Mayim seemed to calm down. Soon, she looked just as she had during the rest of the night.

Jinn got up and ascended the hill that all four of them had been on earlier. He looked away from the sun, off into the distance. Soon, Mayim, Chaud, and Prauge were there with him. When they got there, they found Jinn smiling with almost maniacal glee. “Oh thank the lords of the heavens! I never thought that a bunch of orcs could be this stupid! They’re charging us with not only the sun in their eyes, but they are giving us plenty of time to prepare for their assault. I suggest that we use the blessed time that we are being given. Let’s get back down before they spot us.”

Once at that bottom of the hill, they took their camp apart and looked for weapons and other items that they might need. Finally, with all of their unnecessary things stored away, they stood ready. Or at least three of them did. Chaud stood battle ready in his dark clothing with some very light leather armor on. His twin swords were strapped on his back with a hilt poking over each shoulder. Most of his face was obscured by a dark handkerchief that covered his mouth and nose, leaving his eyes exposed. All things together, he looked very intimidating. Like a spirit of death come to life.

Prauge was even more intimidating. Unlike Chaud, he was weighted down with the extremely heavy armor that most dwarves wore. To him, though, his heavy armor was as light as a feather. He had a full helmet on that covered most of his face. It had a section missing shaped like a T that allowed for breathing and seeing. He wore heavy loricated plate over his body and legs, allowing for easier movement. On his hands, he had nail studded gauntlets that were guaranteed to rip through metal and flesh alike. His boots were also metal and studded with nails. His warhammer was at his hip. When one looked at him as a whole, he looked like he could wage a war all on his own. That was probably the point.

Jinn was something else entirely. He was dressed in the same outfit that he was wearing when they had met. He was wearing light clothes of finely woven fabric. The fabric itself was predominantly yellow. He was wearing light leather gloves and heavy leather boots, and he was still wearing his bracers for his legs and arms. His staff was strapped to his back, but other than that, he wore no armor. His image screamed Hit Me! while saying There is more to me than what you see. at the same time.

Mayim was the only one who didn’t appear to be ready. She was busy loosening the straps of her leather armor, of all things. Chaud noticed this and wasted no time in pointing out the lapse in logic. “Umm… Mayim? What are you doing? You’re supposed to tighten the straps so that the armor fits. Why are you loosening them?”

Mayim smiled at him with a mischievous look in her eyes. “Unlike all of you, I don’t actually possess any kind of fighting style, so I use other things to substitute. My clerical spells can only be used on another’s magic or used to heal. Basically, support magic only. However, Jinn and I have found a way to use that to, at the very least, my advantage.” After she finished loosening the straps, she stood up and spoke to Jinn. “Alright Jinn. I’m ready.”

Jinn smiled, knowing what Chaud and Prauge’s reactions are going to be. “Okay, just stand still.” Mayim stood in the middle of where their camp had been, arms at her sides, looking expectantly at Jinn. Or was that hungrily?

Jinn began to mutter the mystic words of his latest spell. At the same time, Mayim began to pray, losing herself to the usual blue glow that surrounded her. Just like the last time that she used her power to enhance Jinn’s spells, a golden nimbus surrounded him, feeding power to his spell. Jinn reached around to his staff and unhooked it, using that as additional focus. Suddenly, the glow around Mayim vanished. The one around Jinn, though, stayed where it was.

From Prauge and Chaud’s point of view, it looked like she was either in pain or very uncomfortable. That changed as grunts of pleasure from Mayim reached their ears. The leather armor that had hung so loosely about her frame was now being pulled into place by some unseen force. Not unseen force, Thought Chaud, but by her own body! She’s growing!

And Chaud was right. Mayim’s petit frame began to stretch upwards, growing taller and taller. Soon her height increases stopped, leaving her five foot four inch frame at a much taller six feet ten inches. Her growth continued with a surge in the size of her muscles. Slowly, each muscle group began to press against he armor, tightening the formerly loose straps of her armor.

She let her hands move up and down her strengthening body, but never stopping to pleasure herself, as it looked like she wanted to. Her legs thickened and bulged with power, every striation in each head of the muscle becoming visible. Her rear was swelling like a balloon as it filled out her harness with rock-hard muscle.

Her abs were visible through the thick leather of her armor, as were the incredible muscles of her back. Her pecs filled out the front of her armor, but not as perfectly as everywhere else. Obviously there would still be more to come after this transformation.

Her arms were not covered by her armor, so everyone present could bear witness to the awesome growth of those once modest muscles. Her shoulders grew first, splitting into three different heads. They were soon followed by her ballooning triceps and biceps. The latter surged out from the core of her arms as she flexed them. Her forearms similarly bulged, but in a much more passive manner. When that was done, her now small breasts exploded with new growth, swelling to at least twice their original size. With that last detail she now fit her enlarged armor perfectly, if a little strained at the chest.

Moaning with pleasure from the aftershocks from the transformation, Mayim straightened up and began to flex her new limbs, testing out the strain that they put on her armor. After making a few adjustments, she proclaimed herself ready. Prague and Chaud were struck dumb by the display of pure power. In sheer awe, they turned to Jinn, who explained what had just transpired.

“She isn’t strong enough for battle on her own, so I used my power to give her a… ahem… little boost.” He wave his hand and muttered another phrase, causing her small mace to expand in size until it was in proportion to her new size and strength. “Why are you guys staring at me like that? Is it that surprising after what I did in the city?”

Prauge finally shut his mouth and smiled. He turned away form Jinn and moved towards Mayim to talk to her. Chaud, however, stayed and managed to stammer out a question. “H-h-how the hell did you d-do that? I thought that you couldn’t…”

“Ah. I see. I should clarify. I couldn’t easily heal someone like that. This is different for a number of reasons: 1) Mayim is in perfect health, 2) Mayim knew what I was doing, so she knew exactly how to enhance the spell, and 3) I’ve done this many time in the past.”

“Many? And do you like disfiguring her like that?”

“Disfiguring? I think that she looks beautiful like that! What’s not to love about it? I just think that it’s too bad that spells like this are only temporary.”

Chaud looked thunderstruck. Finally he held up his hands in a stopping gesture. “Whatever. I don’t have any right to criticize what attracts a man to a woman or vice versa. I just don’t like it. But, if it helps us, then more power to her (no pun intended). Right now, though, I say that I’m tired of waiting. I say that we go ahead and get those creatures!”

Jinn smiled. “Heh. I’m with you. Let’s get Mayim and Prauge and go have some fun!”

[gblock01]

Well, I would be a bit miffed about losing any strength that I had, but I get so easily distracted…  😉

[gblock01]

That's a pretty good morph. Very well done.

[gblock01]

I wouldn't call that a sly smile. I'd call that a "Oh sh*t, I'm so f*cking dead, but I'm sorry." smile. 😀

[gblock01]

One word: Ouch.  😮

Seriously, What materia is she using?  😉

[Author]

Posts