Birth of a Hydra-Kin
Nickol struggled in her bonds that held her. Frightened and starving she still gave her best as she can but the dragon spawn that held her kept her well in check as they dragged her though the dark halls. Sure of herself though Nickol remembered her training as a barbarian and tempered her fear into a low boiling rage. How dare these creatures think they can contain a warrior of the Northern Frozen Wastes. They haven't fed the human properly for a week now, or has it been two weeks. It was hard to tell in the cell they kept her bound in. Eating like a dog scraps of bread soaked in a shallow bowl of dirty water. This poor treatment only fed her rage. The chaotic turmoil of feelings deep inside burning and waiting for the opportunity to break free.
"Maybe I shouldn't have killed so many of them." she thought to herself. Giving another struggle. One more sign to the two brutes on each side that she is not to be taken lightly in spite of her mistreatment. Hope still held though, Nickol was with her companions when they captured her. That elvish rogue, the sly dog, he'd be able to track a water elemental though the great lakes of Eastern kingdoms with the training he had decades ago as a ranger. He'll bring the rest to save her. Where ever she is.
The cowardly dragon spawn drugged her. That is not normal for them some part in the back of her mind pushed though the fear, rage, and hunger. The paladin was loyal follower of Bahamut led her and her companions on many raids against Tiamat's monstrosities. They always attacked viciously in the past. She has waded into them with glee and welcome axe to take their blood if they were so willing to allow her to spill it. Fighting a barbarian of her tribe wasn't an easy thing. They didn't use the formal training of other and fought with the raw passion deep inside that made them unpredictable in combat. Nickol grinned at this, dry lips cracking a bit in the mad expression. "No," she rasped out loud looking up at one of the twisted spawn,"I should have killed more of you."
The dragonish creature looked down at her with one eye but continued dragging her weakened body. The tunnel is dark but large, looking around in a haze she can see the stone work with torches placed though out it, Supports providing nooks and the occasional statue depicting the dragon goddess of chaos and her 5 heads. Nickol would have probably worshiped Tiamat herself as she learned about the goddess but she didn't like what the dragoness' followers did in her name. Chaos was in Nickol's heart but what these monsters did was just wrong. After seeing the ruins further west of a raid on the village of Pure Spring and what was left of the survivors, if they can be called that, she felt hate for these creatures that she fed more into the burning twisting chaotic fires of rage that she used as her strength.
What Nickol didn't understand is why they let her keep on the amulet around her neck. She can feel it's unnatural warmth as it bounces a little atop of her deep cleavage. The barbarian kept it as a prize in a defeat of a mad dragon spawn priestess they fought and she found it provided her some level of protection against dragon's fire. Useful when fighting these spawn, made many of them that had breath weapons useless to use against her. More then a few resorted to it just to find her moving though like it was a warm breeze and her axe removing them from the world. That priestess was something else too. These followers warped and twisted her. She actually had three heads and did not have the wings these spawn had. She was a force to fear but with her companions... No after all they been though, her friends, overcame the wretch. Regenerating from her blows the Paladin's Holy fire was the only damage that stuck on her.
Nickol was getting lost in thought, it was unlike her but being left alone for so long has put her into this state. Trying to ignore the hunger and focus on her rage. To keep the embers ready for her moment she'll need to strike. This human barbarian was massively built for a human and more so for a female. Most of her tribe mates were, you had to be given the conditions of the north being what they were. The Snow Wyrm tribe was one of the few groups of humans that had friendly relations with the Wolven people of the north. But there it is hard to make enemies over petty things like a difference in appearance. If you can survive the winter then you were worth while to know. A resource of sorts and that is how she met the canine Paladin of the Platinum Dragon. Blinking though she realized she was loosing focus on those embers and came to realize that her and her guards came to a stop before 2 great doors.
One of the dragon spawn released her to open it and she took her chance once it's hands were on a door. It didn't matter that her legs were chained and her arms manacled behind her. The human braced herself and shoved her weight into the spawn and tried to use a foot to crush it's skull. Nickol was weak and slow though from hunger and the other was on her with a knife to her throat in an instant with her foot above the head of the other.
"The High Priestess requires you in one piece." It hissed at her in a low tone,"She thinks you are special and wants you alive. But you may have an accident yes? We wouldn't want an accident though but accidents can be forgiven and a new special one may be found."
Nickol lowered her foot onto the ground slowly as the other monster got up. It punched her in the gut dropping her to her knees and she retched but there was not anything but spit to come up. They dragged her back to her feet and one used a shoulder to push open the giant door with a heave just enough for them to enter. The chamber they entered though was massive. Much larger then she thought would be possible for an underground lair with a great dome over the top. At it's peak was a hole letting in faint sunlight, so it was day time, that caused a dusty beam to shine down on a horrific sight. A hydra, full grown was bound to the ground and not moving. The great beast has been mutilated and tortured. It's body bared the scars of burn marks preventing it to heal and the worst part was 3 neck stumps laying loose on the ground. Where the heads should have been, cauterized shut. The remaining 4 heads chained to the ground in a row and breathing deeply.
At spotting her the creature jerked in it's chains almost as if it feared her. Nickol can almost smell the fear palpable in the air. She seen it on enemies that she faced before at the height of her rages. It didn't make sense though; she was bound and held captive with no armor, wearing only rags, weakened, and no weapons. But this creature feared her entry none the less. She felt it and didn't know why. The confusion threatened to extinguish the last embers of her anger and if she was going to survive this she'd need it. But what she saw next caused her to loose it.
"Ah good, you've arrived well I see," came a strong female voice with the hint of a hiss from the side, "I would hate to see one of Tiamat's chosen come to harm. I hope to that the fasting and time of contemplation was well used."
Nickol was thrown to the ground and looked up to see a dragon spawn that caused her to scream as the fear took over and the anger fully left. This... it was hard to call woman... was huge, easily fifteen feet tall and massively built wearing little to keep modesty. Her chest was like a barrel and it was necessary for the seven long necks that crowned the top of her body, each with a spiked dragon head. Six of them muzzled while only one was truly free to speak. The monster was sitting in a small circle covered in burning runes but she got up and took two steps before falling to all fours to walk over to her, the weight of her heads and her profane chest to much for her to walk on two legs with a single long tail swaying behind her. The heads all moved close and eight teen eyes examined her from all sides as a hand lifted the amulet hanging on the barbarian's chest. Nickol's mind heard the screams separate from her but can feel her throat burn as she couldn't stop.
Several of the priestess' heads looked at her with destine, one looked at her with hunger, and the free one just smirked as she casually back handed the human causing her to slide across the floor. "Silence girl, you have been chosen and you will act proper." the creature ordered before looking at the two lesser spawn,"Leave us, Your filth isn't worthy to view this and your hands have already soiled her enough." Nickol shook her head, the screaming stopped but she can only watch in abject horror. So many eyes, some on her, some on the hydra, some on the two leaving spawn. She felt herself being lifted and found two male creatures similar to the priestess holding her up with strong hands. These ones physically smaller, with shorter necks one only having three heads and the other slightly larger and having four. These were unbound though but silent.
"By the Great Winter's Wyrm," Nickol thought to herself," one of these priests were hard enough to battle with it's minions. But three...and the large one..." she felt hope drain and prayed that her friends would never find her. It's been so long that they probably have continued on their quest forgetting her for dead anyways. The priestess moved close again, a clawed hand moving to the human's lip to wipe off a little blood and the hungering head bends down to sniff and wiggles out a tongue between thick bound lips to taste her skin. Pulling back the priestess barks,"No, this one is chosen and is not food."
The barbarian trembles at this. The priestess eats humans it seems. At least she is "chosen" what ever that means. The beast moves in and sits before her, the one one head stays back as the others sniff and nose over her causing her skin to crawl. The massive hands holding her of the other two begin to strip off the rags as the one begins to speak.
"Tiamat has chosen well I think," the free head observes, "you will be more then that filth I sent out. I watched as the goddess sent some of her best warriors to test and temper you. You have come along quite well and I can still see that fire smoldering in your eyes in spite of your fear." The other hands nose and more tongues lick at her skin causing Nickol to struggle in the iron grip of the other two before all the heads pull back and all eighteen eyes look down focused on her,"She must be washed and prepared with the markings as I finish the final part of the ritual."
"What are you planning for me you monster!" Nickol rage flames back up as her native training turns fear into anger.
"My plan for you?" says the freed head with bemused smirk that watches her as the other six seem to guide her body back to the small circle on all fours and sitting in it. "No this is Tiamat's plan. The Goddess showed you to me though her eye and I've been watching you." The hydra like creature says motioning a hand at the amulet on the human's chest while one of the creature's heads uses lips that she is barely able to part thanks to the restraint around it to lift a similar around the priestess' own necks.
Nickol's eye's widen in horror at this. The half-ling wizard, Quirin, that traveled with them said he didn't like it. Nickol trusted his judgement but when he said to be rid of it she couldn't bring herself to do it. Fond of the short creature anyways he didn't understand she thought, that her own strength and endurance can carry her though any curse. And now she sees her friend was right. The two at her sides roughly remove her clothing and with a bucket and clean rags start washing her body as she feels more depression and remorse coming from this and it threatens to bring tears. The barbarian does what she always does with these feelings and uses it to feed her inner flames of passion and pride. Standing tall she takes a cocky stance that makes her seem like royalty being cleansed by lesser creatures.
The High Priestess smiles at this on her free head as the bound ones seem to focus on drawing out an even larger circle in glowing powder. "Yes," The head says again,"Tiamat chosen well indeed." and then the human notices a dark cauldron near the lesser hydra as one head lifts a vial in her mouth pours the contents into it. A vial smell starts to fill the room as the priestess multitasks well it seems. The silence is interrupted again by the great beast. The lesser one's work distracted Nickol as now she sees she stands closer, steel rings seem to bind the mouths closed and fear in it's eyes as it struggles fruitlessly. Unable to move it's heads out of place from the rune covered chains. "Don't worry my pet, your part comes soon." Murmurs the priestess as the other two priests start to mark ruins in fowl black tar substance on to Nickol's own tattooed body.
Once all the markings seem to be in place the priest starts unbinding her own muzzles, each start giving individual sighs of relief at the freedom and the hungry one grins a predatory grin at Nickol that sends shivers down her spine,"Come on... The goddess doesn't mind if I have a bite, just one. She looks so delicious." the one in charge seems to quickly respond,"No, You know it works better if she is whole and unharmed." and the hungry head growls as the others start to seem to whisper amongst themselves now with their freedom.
"I keep them bound because I can only handle so much of my own thoughts you see. Something important like this needs focus." A hand slaps one of them though the main head seems to just wince a little as if pinched and otherwise ignore this,"If I could do the chant with them bound I would... but I need their voices." and at this several heads become quiet and attentive again as the lumbering creature moves close. This time at full height and two legs, evidently being able to choose between the two but loosing some grace she had when all four. "Come, it is time."
The two other hydra-kin walk her to the front of one head of the great bound beast. If it was free it could easily eat her whole. The terror in the eyes of it as it try to pull away cause Nickol to puzzle at what is next. It's fear is palpable as it just seems to enhance her own as it fills her nostrils. Standing ridged she try to force it into her internal flames as the priestess' own hands take her arms, each one massive and so much stronger then her own as the other two move away. One of the heads move down, it's tongue licks over her chest in violation causing her to struggle but the tongue gathers up the amulet and with a odd care removes it from around her neck with out breaking the chain. Nickol almost wished she allowed her hair to grow more instead of short shocks of it across the top of her head just to cause trouble at this.
Another head comes close to her ear and whispers in a raspy voice,"Kneel bitch..." as a kick can be felt behind her knees bringing her down and her face pressing against the scaled nose of the great beast. It's breath rapid and cold rather then hot. Oddly remind her of home as she can feel the freezing breath against her bare marked skin. The other two return and she sees why the hydra fears so much. They carry a giant two handed executioner's sword, it has a jet black blade with burning runes on it that she can feel the heat from it. Nickol feels a surge of hope that she can use that blade on these three or at least die and deny them their goal.
Kicking out against the belly of the priestess she gets a moment of freedom where she reaches for the blade. The great hydra gives a muffeled roar at the sudden act and Nickol finds herself in full rage, as she knees one of the priests with expected reactions and takes hold of the blade's handle but the other grabs around it and screams as it burns him and the priestess sweeps out the barbarian's legs with a large hand knocking the sword free, "Much spark yes. Yes! So much the Goddess will be very pleased." as the seven heads murmur in agreement. This time Nickol is pressed to the ground, her cheek against the chin of the hydra as the priestess pins her with a foot this time to the ground.
The scared priest with four heads takes the sword as the lesser three headed one recovers. "Quickly now! Remove his head! We've wasted to much time!" cry out the priestess in several voices the scared one lifts the blade and with a motion only a trained and experienced executioner can make severs the great head before her. Once again the beast roars out with it's last three heads still bound and trapped as the two move fast to remove the bonds around the now decapitated head's muzzle. The eyes of it widen as it's jaw is forced open by the three clergy and it's tongue try to push Nickol away in one last act of desperation before brain death sets in. The freezing cold slimy thing writhes against her as the priestess speaks.
"Quickly! Before it dies You fools! Get her inside it!" Several of her heads crying out say.
"I only wanted a taste. I'm jealous of the beast." says the hungry one.
"hmmm...." says one noting quietly,"I never used opposite genders with this. I wonder how she'll turn out when she hatches."
This is the last thing she hears as the mouth is closed around her and the bands replaced trapping her with in. The teeth can be felt, maybe she can kill herself. Maybe she can deny what ever will happen as she can feel herself being moved and set down. She moves a now free hand as the slimy freezing tongue try to push her out or swallow her deeper, But with the muzzle bound and her body curled up she is to much to go anywhere. A eerily beautiful chorus can be heard of chanting outside she whispers an apology to the dieing head as she uses the strength to the best she can bash her fist against the base of a tooth. If she can just get it free but it is so hard to move and she can see light as the lips part. Bone starts to crack and she almost gets it free when boiling liquid starts to flood the mouth with her. She screams out as she can feel her skin blister burn just before she blacks out. Tooth freed and clenched tight in her hand. Anger, hunger, fear, passion all leaving her as her mind shuts down.
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Reece the elf rogue and Quirin the Half-ling wizard sit in a cell and chained to opposite walls laughing together. It's a sad laughter but laughter none the less as they are held against the walls with the oddly large blue molted egg in the center of the room almost obscuring their view from each other.
"Well, " Says Reece "At least the others got away."
Quirin nods and laughs,"I can't believe you let dragon spawn sneak up on you like that, You must be getting old there elf."
"Hey, Just because I'm nearing a hundred doesn't make me old. Elves live for a long time you know." Reece said with feigned injury to his pride.
" Yeah will did you at least keep your picks handy? They haven't checked on us in a few hours and these scraps they have been giving us isn't enough for food." smirks Quirin
Reece sighs and looks over at the view hole in the large heavy wood door before saying softer,"I was hoping that Sabastin would have gotten my note by now on where to find Nickol and came to get us." Shaking his head,"Well I guess we'll have to rescue ourselves." and with that he starts hacking and making strained faces.
"That is so gross." Quirin says with a grimace and Reece winks and from between his lips comes out a lock pick in a glass vial. Moving his head close to one of his manacled hands he uncorks it and with skill learned over a life time begins working the lock on his wrist freeing it then starts to work the other when the Egg makes a cracking sound causing the two to freeze and stare at it.
"Hurry you stupid elf!" Quirin yells and the elf nods and works the second lock as the door begins to open. With speed and skill the elf uses his slight of hand to hide the pick and make like the other hand is still manacled as two dragon spawn enter with a heavy chopping block followed by a roped hydra priest with burn scar on two of his four heads and a heavy executioner's blade. This one sharp and appearing normal in all respects. The two friends stare in abject horror at the priest then suddenly back at the egg as a section of it falls off and a clawed hand reaches out and drops an over sided tooth onto the ground.
The priest wears a couple curious looks at this then one says,"Well she was a strong one." And the shell cracks again and again. More pieces falling to the ground as the dragon like creature works her way out. Reese gasps wide eyed as he recognizes the scale markings looking like Nichol's tattoos on it's arm and looks at the 3 dragon spawn.
"What did you do to Nickol you monsters!" he yells out and now Quirin gasps as he sees it too.
To which the priest only laughs a strange chorus of laughter before one responds,"She was chosen by our goddess to become our sister..." the new born dragon spawn turns onto her back exhibiting a strange mixture of draconic and human form with both female and male attributes as one of the priests other heads observe,"... or brother." another head with heavy burn scars and a permanent snarl,"The priestess didn't know what would happen with the hydra being male and her female. She'll be interested in the results." He motions at the two lesser spawn and they pick her up and place her neck on the chopping block.
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Nickol felt grogy and unsure of herself. It is dark and wet, she hear's muffled voices and she is so hungry. So very hungry. Feeling something firm in her hand she moves though the thick substance that holds her and thrusts it at the wall of it. Again and again she does this until it starts to give and crack letting in light. Voices still can be heard, familiar voices but she can't make out the words. Pushing against the crack she stretches and it gives. Maybe there will be food out there. Pushing out her muzzle, using the horns on her head to break more of the egg shell, she takes a gasping breath as the shell gives way dropping her on the ground.
Moving and twitching her body starts to work as she can feel a thick tail behind her and odd sensations from her body as her eyes look around at the blurred surroundings. Her body feels thick and non responsive as she try to stretch out. Almost as if she has a hangover and overslept. Sebastian is going to be upset. The Paladin never did like it when her and Quirin went out drinking. That's okay though, a good large meal would settle that and she feels like she can eat three horses.
Suddenly her vision and hearing started working as she felt two strong sets of hands lift her and herself stretched across a wood block soaked in dried blood before her. The gleaming giant blade before her. She hears Quirin's voice yelling as Reece in a panic is working one of his manacles. The two dragon spawn holding her and the four headed priest kneeling before her and he begins to speak,"Good morning sister." Says one head as another says,"... or brother..." the third says,"Welcome to your new life..." and with that he gets up lifting the blade above his heads. The final fourth head with the heavy burn scar says says,"I'm glad I am being allowed to do this, though it saddens me this will only bring you more pleasure then you will ever realize at this point." And with a swift trained swing and cry from Quirin and Reece, Nickol finds her plunged into blackness and ecstasy unlike any she has ever known.
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Nickol's body writhes on the ground as the neck stump thickens and begins to split. Blood spills out across the block as the priest picks up her old head and smiles down several smiles,"I remember my first time..." he says quietly as the spawn leave with the block. Looking over at Reece as now both hands free but unwilling to make a move against the priest due to the sword Reece only looks back in feirce anger.
"All this and you kill her? For what?!" he yells at the priest as the priest just smirks and leaves shutting the door behind him leaving the two friends looking at their friend start to grow two new heads. The body flopping and wirthing, evedence of her pleasure clearly displayed in profane ways against the muscular scaled barbarian's body. Reece darts with elven grace around her and quickly frees Quirin as the half-ling stares in horror at his drinking partner and close friend.
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Nickol gasps again, Lungs flood with pressious air faster they they ever done before. She is hungry, Oh so hungry. Her world is split some how. Her minds race as now what was one person is now two and both feel the hunger the body demands. Looking she smells meat and fear as both sets of eyes fall on an Elf and Half-ling backing from her to the door. They seem oddly familar as she stands towering over them. Licking her lips and sniffing. She is so hungry and a thought comes to her head. The Goddess Tiamat must have delivered this Elf and Half-ling to her. How generous her Goddess is she thinks as the two heads grin. Nickol is just so very hungry...