Whelp & Enki
That old witchcraft she weaves so well...
Hidden deep in the bogs and swamps of southern Skaardval, on a quest to deliver a package to someone named Grandma Enki on behalf of her grand-daughter, Rhyn trekked through the Scuttler ladened marsh, rather unprepared for the terrain in his mountain boots that easily fell prey to the mud. Truthfully, he had little idea where he was going, before uttering a chant to ask for guidance from his Goddess, aiming to find the way. In the distance a bolt of lightning flashed with nary a thunderous boom to follow, directing him to the old woman.
He trudged his way through earth and water, the fur on his legs matting with debris and clay, until he finally made it to dry land, a grotto of sorts filled with a diverse variety of trees and flora. Rhyn's mind began worrying if this was a well-orchestrated trap, carefully gliding through this place that boomed with the essence of nature, "I get the feeling I just walked into a Witch's Grotto..." he thought, his instinct sending him into high alert. He came to a small hut with a cauldron accompanied by beds of flowers as well as stone altar bearing various artifacts that appeared to act as foci for the mana around, "Mind yourself Dragon's child for I foresaw your arrival" a haggard old voice spoke.
Rhyn looked around, sniffing the air to see if he could detect a scent though his nostrils filled with the noxious scent of Rowan, Mountain ash, and Birch, "Where are you Witch?" he shouted. Out from the bundles of moss came elderly woman in a set of traditional witch's garb except bearing patches of ferns and grass growing on it, "Hehe! The Bountiful one told me that you were coming Rhyn for she whispers to those wise in the craft." she said, cackling in her venerated sense of humor. He stared at the almost ghoulish grandma yet her visage seemed natural, her skin like bark in color and texture, brown eyes akin to knots in a tree, and fingers like branches, "Uhh okay, Might I ask, are you grandma Enki?" he questioned.
The old witch cracked a toothless smile with her amber resin colored gums, "That's what my little ones call me, but you can call me Baba Enki." she said, sitting down on a lichen covered stump. The fifteen year old gnoll sighed in relief, pulling the package from his pack, then handing it to her, "So might I receive a reward for my effort?" he questioned, rocking his body back and forth. Babba Enki glared at him, knowing full well what her grand-daughter did, "Considering I saw you provided her "Taima's Blessing", I think defiling one whom has taken a vow of celibacy is enough of a payment." she replied, accidentally hinting at her tendency to watch from afar.
Rhyn turned red in the cheeks, biting his lip, "Wait a minute! You were watching me do that to her?" he said, realizing what she said. Babba Enki shrugged, particularly unphased by what transpired, "You often appear in my crystal ball, I haven't nary the slightest control what is revealed to me. Mind you, at least the consequences of your actions yielded prosperous results such as the time I gazed upon you and your little Merfolk friend, now we have Merfolk in Skaardval again." she explained, somewhat happy about the resurgence of the fin legged gilled humanoids. It felt awkward that someone witnessed some of his more intimate moments, "Uhhh well, Taima encourages it." he replied, hoping she'd accept his reasoning.
The old witch waved her hand, uncaring about the triviality of his rationalization, "You know the real reason Dragon's Child, you are a descendant of Azarath and Jorgmundar. It is in your nature to create as well it is to destroy." she explained, knowledgeable in regards to Draconic lore. Rhyn raised a brow at the elder witch, "How is that true? They fought one another until they both succumbed to the Slumber of Ages." he said, reciting what most common folk knew about them. Babba Enki cracked a grin, raising her twig like finger in the air, "Ahhh but that's not the whole story, Long ago in their first battle, their presence clashed and caused the first dragons the emerge from the essences then once their conflict ended. they made love. The first Six dragons who came forth from Azarath's womb later became Primogenitus, the Awakener of Worlds, then the Seventh spawn became Tamtu, the Dragon of Envy, the 8th became Ouroboros, and the 9th was Sybaris whom was born quite long after her brother. Once they were cursed to sleep until every thousandth year where they awake to began their 'Conflict', causing Dragons to appear in places they weren't before." she lectured, teaching him the full lore of his draconic ancestry.
Rhyn, despite his lack of any physical compensation, found himself enamored in her story as he sat down on the grass, "So I am neither inclined to be Benevolent or Malevolent?" he questioned to show his attention. The Old witch giggled at his naivety, mocking the idea, "The idea of Good and Evil is just a matter of perception, it's what happens in the long run that counts, like with my grandbaby and you. Sure some might see you doing what you did as evil, but you gave the blessing of fertility god so if she were to meet a gentlemen she fancies, she'd like to have his babies then her babes would grow up and do something good for people or the world we live in so in turn you did good." she explained, teaching the young initiate the philosophy of the world. He pondered the concept for a moment, before proposing a thought, "So if Malevolence can create positive outcomes, can Benevolence can cause negative ones?" he said.
"You know the old proverb, "Too much of a good thing can be bad"? Give ya an example, you know about how some devils go about causing those Angel worshippers to commit a sin against their faith? They do it because it teaches a lesson that people are perfect by not being perfect, and Abyssals drum up havoc because in their own way, they teach that nothing can stay the same. It's all about keeping the world in balance." Babba Enki further explained, hoping he understood the nature of her speech.
The Whelp rested his temple against his palm, "So where is Taima in regards to that?" he asked, questioning where his goddess aligned in the grand scheme. The Baba looked to the sky before answering his query, "The Bountiful one likes to keep the balance, and mortals content in the simple pleasures of abundance in exchange for her own fertility." divulging the secrets of the divines. His ears perked at the idea of Fertility goddess sacrificing her own fertility, "She really did that?" he probed.
Babba Enki solemnly nodded, "She did in exchange to become the goddess that she is today, though she kind of messed up the first time around cause all her clergy went off the deep end by abusing her blessings and forcing their beliefs on those that didn't wish it. After it all, she stripped away her influence then let Asriel have his way on those who she scorned." she said, forewarning him if he tried to do same.
"Note taken, but how did they abuse their blessings?" Rhyn asked, wondering what they did to anger her so furiously to point of the reaper's edge. The witch immediately became embarrassed by her information of it, "Well.... Let us just say that her main clergyfolk thought it be a good idea to forcibly breed their Holy men and Women together against their wishes. You, on the other hand, know how to sweet talk a girl into becoming a lady friend of yours that don't mind fooling around and having your babies." she said, complimenting him on his charismatic endeavors. He started to comprehend the way his patron thought, "So she likes it when things happen naturally but not when they occur unnaturally?" he asked, feeling that she went with what feels right.
He wasn't wrong in his thinking, "Go with the flow of what feels natural to you because to let you in on a little secret, that's what all magic is about, especially witchcraft and sorcery. To let the world flow through you as you flow into the world opposed to trying to force in, kind of like making love to the universe and it making love back to you. Look at me, I've been doing witchcraft for decades and I am starting to turn into a tree!" she said, removing her hat to reveal a sapling taken root upon her scalp then down the sides of her head.
Rhyn deadpanned at the queer sight of such, but praised her for accomplishing what most like her wished to do, "Talk about becoming one with nature!... So what else do you know about me?" he questioned, wondering if she could pry into his future. "Your future is entwined with the presence of a devil for I've seen glimpses of what I could see and the spawn of such acting in the name of the gods. One mechanizing creations, One twisting nature and death together, One delving into revelry, One following a path set out by another, and one conjuring storms" Baba Enki professed, recalling what she'd seen in her prismarine ball about his fate. He doubted her prediction, wondering why he would his fate be tied with an infernal, "Why is my fate sealed with that of a devil's?" he probed.
"The Eldritch one fears you and your thirst for unknown, he has seen far in ahead than I, setting forth a grand scheme." the old witch revealed throughout her divinations, aware of the stirrings of the Abyssal Lord of The Unknown. The young paladin thought she'd gone mad, "I am a mere young man, What does Vetitium have to fear from I?" he asked, humble in his response. Babba Enki cackled at him, humored by his facade, "You're a talented though, and know more than you let on, I can sense you know how to wield the essence of the land, perhaps even better than I can." she complimented, getting the vibe she wasn't the only one drawing power from the land.
Rhyn thought nothing of his Auramancy, considering anyone with enough of arcane knowledge could channel the Land's Aura, "What? I know I shouldn't rely on my divine connection or my blood as a source of power, is it wrong I take what the land offers? Because many do the same." He answered, historically channeling it into his spells. The quick defense meant his guilt but she didn't mind his instinctive approach to Arcania, "Hehe, Don't fret boy, it's only natural for a born magi to do what they do." she revealed concerning his draconic bloodline. He knew that he possessed magical potency through his mottled bloodline mixed with that of primarily that of dragons with a splash of fey, "Uhh, As far as any sort of Magi you think me to be, I'm not entirely certain of what kind." he said, unaware of the differences between the variations of the Magi paths.
"Oh that's an easy one boy, I'm surprised the Old Blood dragon hasn't mentioned it. Amongst us Arcanists there are several denominations: Thaumaturges whom are folks that make magical gizmos by breaking things down into their core essence then use 'em to make magical gadgets, Us witches on the other hand focus the essence of life and nature into an altar then imbue objects or ourselves to do magic, Druids keep mother nature happy and in turn gain power from it,Sorcerers invoke the blood to aide them in magic then channel their energy through them, Wizards though use more of their brains to cast incantations, but on the other hand, Warlocks come to be by birth from magic rich bloodline or through making deals with the divine and demonic. Most human folk either got a little bit of fey, fiend, or angel in them since Elvenkind tends to mingle with other races, or deal with forces beyond comprehension. Fortunately you made a deal with an ancient god that fancies herself as a force a nature and the arcane so through your blood and bond, you got a tight connection to some major power." Babba Enki explained in her elderly wisdom.
It didn't shock him that there was such a difference, contemplating the methods, "So what else do you know you old witch?" he asked, seeing what else he could pry from her. Babba Enki slowly grew tired of his presence with the height of the Moon, "Oh I think you've learned quite enough for one evening." she said, pulling out a strange twig from her robes, tapping the end of it. Rhyn stared at her baton, "Wait what's that for?" he asked before it was too late.
Babba Enki swirled her twig emblazoning mana, "Kjaerlighet bryter!" she chanted, directing her spell at the young whelp with gleeful vigor. In a cloud of green mist, Rhyn found himself, or herself to be the victim of a bizarre curse, he now was an adorable young maiden, albeit as Gnoll kind did with their partially androgynous features. His tunic tight with the presence of a newfound bosom, "What in the Inferno was that for?!?" he screamed, feeling an absence between his legs.
The old wisefolk giggled, "Ah don't get in a hussle, The Bountiful one requested it and I hope you will understand the lesson this teaches." she stated, revealing it to be another of Taima's trials. Rhyn deadpanned at the witch, moreover irritated by the influence of Taima, "If I wasn't patient, I would've chosen another patron but I'm not kneeling to her sense of humor. I'll make the best of this, I'll show her!" he said, marching off in defiance to his home. Babba Enki shrugged at the now maiden, "Y'know, that old Faun don't make sense sometimes but who's to question the nature of the Eidolons." she thought, wondering what was the intended purpose of this...
...In the Deserts far to the south, in the midst of a village made of sandstone and Ferawood, on the edge of town was an abandoned house that beared the blood a lamb painted above the door with a bush to ward off any entities. Inside the room was piled with ancient tome and books, bearing a number of arcane symbols and glyphs, lit by candlelight a young dark elf befell the opposite end of Rhyn's curse. A cloud of Emerald mist billowed around, as a new sensation was found between her thighs, "What the Frigg?" she screeched, experiencing blood rushing to the new appendage.
Brayza, whom deep in her esoteric studies late in the evening, found concern for such a development, "Did I get cursed somehow?" she questioned, wondering how it was possible. She searched through her countless books filled with Spells and rituals, discovering the curse in a tattered alabaster covered text depicting a number of fey beings, a Municifus Primer, scrying through it to find "The Lover's Blessing". The Drow maiden turned page, discovering the remedy, "One of the Blessed by this bestowment must drink from the Blood of the Goddess from their own womb... This affects the recipient and their soulmate... Son of bitch!" she cursed, figuring it would take some time before whomever she was a soul mate to had befallen this ailment.
The thirteen year old arcanist found herself distracted by the side effect's of the curse, allowing her hands to wander, "Well, If I'm stuck like this for a while, I might as well enjoy it..." she said, leaning against a stack of books as Dawn slowly approached for the next few hours...