Story by Custos
(Original posting 24 July 2021 on https://inkbunny.net/Custos)

Please don’t repost this story, let it remain in my gallery on inkbunny!
This story contains material for adults only, do not read if you’re a minor.
The material presented is fictional and for adult fantasy only.
The author does not condone any of the depicted illegal activity in real life.

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D&D Sessions Journal - In Nox Eternum: Entry 5

The ritual came and went, Gilgamesh being in the centre of attention as his body sampled of the many delights his companions bestowed upon him, and Boro was able to successfully sacrifice the beautiful diamond his mother had given him to reverse the aging effects on the dhampyr. They were all exhausted by the night's proceedings and most of them slept in the tent together. Makkora slept with Boro in the carriage and tried to cheer him up over the loss of the precious heirloom.

When the group awoke, Choko was creeping on Ignis' sleeping female form, studying her body in the greatest detail as well as the belt, trying to discern a way to undo its effect. Ignis punch-slashed the little floof shark off when she startled awake, which caused Choko to tell her the effects could not be reversed out of spite. Makkora realised Boro would soon leave, only two weeks of travel remaining, and felt crushed with sadness. He decided to distance himself from Boro, already gradually and internally say goodbye. Most of the group noticed Makkora being more quiet and distant but didn't pry. Boro didn't let on he noticed and he remained warm and welcoming towards the little bird person. Gilgamesh seemed to cling more to Cinder ever since the aging was reversed.

After about a week of travel, Makkora finally confronted Boro when the loxodon sat with the gorulls and away from the rest of the group late at night. He burst into tears about Boro leaving and the elephant man embraced him tightly and tried to comfort him with both physical affection and comforting words. He explained everyone had a path to walk in life and follow their dreams or be left with regrets at the end of the road. Boro told Makkora that the little bird child too had these freedoms and that he could decide to come along with him or stay with the group. The loxodon also verbalised that young love like Makkora's is brazen and pure, and that the passage of time seems slower when you're young. Boro was certain that their paths would cross again in the future, this he guaranteed Makkora as a seer. This gave Makkora some food for thought and a little bit of hope.

Ignis had been praying to Vrishnadas for guidance and comfort, and she did experience his warm glow envelop her both inside and out, seemingly giving her a sign that her form did not define her and that her god loves and supports her anyway. Choko kept theorising about the belt and reasoned that it was planted onto this realm by a deity with a sexual domain. There are lots of gods sharing this domain, however, but together with Ignis Choko came to the conclusion it must be a god from the civilised world as its craftsmanship did not resemble primitive tribal heritage. Choko was also very curious about pregnancy and how it would affect Ignis when changing back to male during the process. Ignis was adamant about not wanting to find out. Gilgamesh kept rutting with Cinder non-stop the whole ride, seemingly as if experiencing his puberty and youth for the second time in his life. Cinder was now three weeks into her pregnancy. The gnoll that accompanied the group felt a bit left out as he didn't receive much attention anymore.

At the start of the fourth and last week of travel, the group suddenly found themselves held at spearpoint by black dragonborn tribesmen, who demanded a toll for crossing into their lands. Ignis tried appealing to them as a fellow dragonborn but didn't seem to be very successful, the tribesmen sneering at him for wearing civilised armour and losing the ways of their ancestors. On top of that Ignis casually added how they had gone to the Valley of Blood and removed the curse from the place, which made the dragonborn tribe very angry, stating that the group had desecrated sacred grounds. They were about to attack when horns blew in the vicinity, blue-scaled lizardfolk swarming the place and causing the black dragonborn tribe to turn most of their weapons into their direction instead.

The dragonborn tribe spoke in Draconic and was adamant about the lizardfolk intruding on their lands as imposter-descendants of the dragons. The lizardfolk tribe hissed in Primordial with a heavy reptilian accent, also adamant about the black dragonborn intruding on their lands as the inferior descendants of the dragons. They were bickering and throwing threats at each other, Choko trying to get them to tell them the toll required to pass through, but was met with resistance from both sides as they basically told him to be quiet until the conflict was resolved. Choko dipped back into the carriage but couldn't stop shouting things from his perceived safe spot.

Makkora took out the Ancestral Dragon Slayer greatsword to prepare for battle, this only worked to antagonise the tribe even further as they called the group grave-robbers and desecrators, pointing all their weapons at the avian child specifically. Makkora got indignant as he was called a murderer and desecrator, Boro trying to soothe him from the side by speaking softly, encouraging the aarakocra child to speak words of healing, not war. Makkora attempted to change course but the social damage already seemed done and escalating further and further. Choko once more popped out from his hiding spot in the carriage as he seemed to get his jollies poking up the fires further, shouting he'd offer the bodies of his friends as a tribute. The floof shark wasn't quick enough and got an arrow through his ear, leaving behind a hole. Choko reasoned it was a good idea to start shooting magic missiles at the crowd surrounding the carriage in response.

Both of the warchiefs roared cries of battle as they invigorated their followers, both tribes using their greataxes, mauls, greatswords, and other weapons to start chopping away at the back of the carriage where Choko was hiding. The eight-summers-old floof shark had no chance as he was dragged out of the severely damaged vehicle and held down on the ground with a weapon threateningly at his throat. Boro trumpeted loudly to get the masses to pause for even a moment, calling for calm and for mercy for Choko, pleading for a chance to regain the chance to pass through safely and with Choko alive. Whilst Boro was still pleading and bargaining for Choko's life, the floof shark figured he'd try to escape through using teleportation magic to get back inside the carriage now half-broken open at the back.

This time both tribes stormed the vehicle again, damaging it even further, as they sliced and beat Choko within an inch of his life. Boro was allowed to stabilise the dying floof shark but Choko was then bound and gagged, all his equipment taken away, as he was now claimed by the tribes and considered their property, their slave. Boro tried to salvage the situation and chastised Makkora and Ignis for not showing initiative to resolve the situation peacefully earlier, lecturing them that they must learn these important social skills if they were to survive without him. Eventually it was decided that the group would pay their toll to both the tribes after fighting a champion of each in the ring. If they would succeed they'd gain enough status to start talking about Choko's release.

The two tribes built temporary camps with tents on the spot, not trusting the other tribe to have this fight on either home turf. Choko was under constant surveillance and heavily impaired. Ignis and Gilgamesh decided to visit him just before the fight, as he would be allowed to fight along with them, but Makkora couldn't bring himself to do so. Ignis tried to lecture Choko but the floof shark still didn't seem to treat the situation all that seriously, just saying and promising what the gold dragonborn wanted to hear. Ignis tried to badmouth Makkora a little to regain Choko's trust, something Gilgamesh clearly had his own opinion about.

The makeshift arena got built and it was clear the two tribes still hated each other's guts, as the structure was clearly made of two halves in very different styles. The lizardfolk sat on one side, fifteen feet above the arena floor, whilst the dragonborn sat on the other side, also fifteen feet above the ground. The group was lead inside, Boro, Cinder, and Hijak sitting on the tribunes as spectators. Choko was tossed into the ring and given back just his non-magical staff as well as his arcane focus wand. The two tribal leaders stepped into the ring side-by-side, announcing themselves as the champions fighting in their tribes' names. They looked huge and fearsome, each wielding a gigantic greataxe. All of the fight needed to stay in the arena, and the tribes could kill the group but not vice versa. Those were the announced rules.

When the fight started, the lizardfolk champion instantly rushed Choko and mowed him down with a few swings and a bite. The whole group was startled at how strong these champions seemed to be and Ignis revived the fallen floof shark with some divine healing. The black dragonborn chieftain sprayed a long line of acid across the battlefield before swinging some with his axe as well, the situation looking dire. Makkora got in a few hits but most of his swings were evaded, causing severe frustration. Gilgamesh kept his distance and kept hurling radiant bolts at both warchiefs.

The situation looked grim and the deep wounds both the champions were inflicting turned out to be too great to sustain. Ignis fell and Makkora helped revive him with a Potion of Healing. And then, Choko seemed to have a moment of inspiration as he directed his magic at the lizardfolk champion and befuddled his mind into thinking that the black dragonborn champion was now attacking him as well, from the back. The lizardfolk hissed at the black dragonborn chieftain to everyone's confusion as the blue-scaled reptile man called the other a traitor for attacking him in the back during a supposedly joined fight. The dragonborn champion didn't know what had come over the lizardfolk chieftain, but retaliated immediately as the latter swung his greataxe at him. The tribesmen in the tribunes were growling and hissing at each other, calling the other side traitors as they were first throwing objects at each other but seemed to prepare to storm the other side of the tribunes with their weapons raised.

The group noticed the situation escalating once again, all eyes on Choko as he simply grinned and wiggled his fingers at the lizardfolk champion, telling them he had nothing to do with it. The black dragonborn champion was being focused by both the rival chieftain as well as the group, retaliating by swinging at both parties and using his breath weapon without discrimination. Makkora defended himself and delivered the final blow to the black dragonborn champion, barely able to contain himself as he knocked the creature out instead of killing him. Despite the rival chieftain falling, the lizardfolk champion continues to swing at the illusion of the enemy tribal leader he perceives to still be standing there. Both tribes whom have started to flood into the arena with weapons raised seem to stop at this sight, listening to the lizardfolk leader calling the now-unconscious dragonborn leader a cheater and a backstabber whilst swinging at nothing mid-air. The tension could be cut with a knife and Makkora lost his rage, quietly urging Ignis to stabilise or heal the fallen dragonborn leader, which the gold dragonborn did.

The group was urging Choko to explain what was happening, but the floof shark refused and instead opted to have the illusion of the rival leader get hurt and fall over exactly where the real one is in the lizardfolk champion's mind's eye. He then ended concentration on the illusion spell and tried to hex the same lizardfolk champion's mind to see at least a small amount of the dragonborn tribe's crowd throw down their weapons in surrender. However, the spell failed and the lizardfolk champion was now keenly aware of phantasmal versions of the dragonborn clipping through the real ones, doing very different things. The crowds of lizardfolk and dragonborn then started to shout things at him, the leader's eyes squinting as his gaze set upon Choko. Ignis verbally confirmed to the lizardfolk champion that Choko is the only arcane magic caster of them all, confirming the leader's suspicions. He also mentioned wanting to continue the fight as if no incitement of war had happened between the two tribes already on volatile grounds with each other. Makkora tried to use diplomacy like Boro had advocated before, which invoked protests and accusations of cheating and incitement towards the group, however the tribesmen seemed to listen to the aarakocra's words instead of threatening him with violence for the moment.

Choko loudly and proudly proclaimed it was not cheating as tricking enemies into attacking each other was part of his tactics and magic, which caused an uproar among both tribes as they called for the floof shark's head. Makkora's words still bid them not to advance yet, however, just to threaten Choko verbally. The black dragonborn champion slowly regained consciousness and immediately accused the lizardfolk champion of backstabbing and cheating, although many tribesmen of both tribes as well as Ignis clarified this was not the case but a result of magic hexing of the lizardfolk's mind. The lizardfolk champion offered the dragonborn champion an arm as they both agreed they have been deceived, taking their weapons once more as they tell the group they were free to go after paying their toll, but that there would be no way of regaining their friend as they intended to kill Choko over his transgressions. Choko tossed away his shark pup familiar which he had been using as a non-effective shield the last minute or so and cast his teleportation magic again to appear on top of the tribunes. Then he dropped down on the outside and started running.

The tribesmen flooded the tribunes and out of the arena, readying their spears and bows as they launched a rain of projectiles after the floof shark. Choko didn't get far, his body pierced and impaled by more than twenty spears and arrows. He never even fell down, his lifeless body supported by the weapons piercing through him into the savannah ground. Tup Tup didn't vanish with Choko's death but ran back towards the group in the arena, Makkora picking him up. The rivalling tribal leaders seemed to find peace in the event and decided it was time for more diplomacy between their two tribes. They decided the group still had to pay toll or to return from whence they came, the group protesting that the death of their party member was enough, the chieftains countering this argument with the fact that Choko's life had already been claimed as a slave for his transgressions and that they were free to do with it as they pleased.

The black dragonborn chieftain expressed interest in Ignis' feminine form as well as her armour, the lizardfolk chieftain sharing interest in the former as well. Ignis confessed she's actually a cursed male but this didn't seem to deter the two leaders, the lizardfolk champion mentioning he wanted the magical belt as well and that if Ignis could impress them that their spiritual leaders would have a look at her condition and cure it in the morning. Gilgamesh and Makkora were allowed to return to the severely damaged carriage alongside Boro, Cinder, and Hijak. Ignis was stripped of her longsword, chainmail, and shield and lead back to the lizardfolk leader's tent, the two chieftains having agreed to spend half the night in both of their tents.

The vehicle was cleaned and patched up as best as possible, but the damage was severe as the entire backside of the first cart was completely demolished. Ignis was returned in the morning as a male, the spiritual leaders of the tribes having cured him of his curse, but he seemed to have a wobble in his step and his body was sore. The group was given permission to travel straight to their destination. Choko's body was not given to them. Makkora had seen Hijak sneak out and towards the tribe during the night and return early in the morning still under the cover of darkness. He revealed to have stolen some loot in retaliation for the losses suffered, a magical loincloth and a magical ring. The loincloth was made of dragon leather and scales, and the leonin demonstrated its magical properties by tossing his own aside and putting it on. His hefty package was nicely concealed, too well in fact, as it was revealed the inside of the loincloth was an extra-dimensional space. Like the bags noblemen used. The ring was revealed to be a cock ring and it offered the wearer breathing underwater as well as great skill in swimming. Ignis claimed the loincloth and got back the cock ring from Makkora whom had borrowed it whilst the golden dragonborn hadn't had a cock to use it on, and the aarakocra got the new cock ring instead.

The rest of the travel was quiet and uncomfortably so, the group missing the chaotic presence and noise from their lost friend.

They arrived in the port city of Mogodipane, a huge metropolis and a very important stop for traders. The carriage was brought to a workshop and whilst the craftsmen had never seen a vehicle like it, he would attempt to repair it for 525 gold pieces. The group couldn't afford this and neither could Boro, so they asked the shop to start work with a down-payment and they would venture out to sell some of their magical items to gain some more coin. Makkora tried not to show his sadness and distress at Boro leaving in just a few days by ship, wanting to spend every last moment with the loxodon as they had rented a room fit for a king at a prestigious inn. He was still on the fence about staying with the group or going away with Boro. The loxodon mentioned he'd go to the continent of Uxon, to the country of Slevalon to be precise. The climate was much colder and more wet over there. Ignis felt sick in the mornings and when Boro had examined him it was determined the golden dragonborn was pregnant with an egg or eggs. Ignis sighed and couldn't help but think Choko got his wish in the end, as he had wanted to experiment and see if the dragonborn could get pregnant whilst being a female under the curse. Boro offered him the option of a potion that would abort the process if he desired it, but Ignis had some more thinking to do as he didn't feel entirely comfortable with that idea. The gestation time for the egg to emerge would be between three to four weeks with one week already passed, and the egg itself would probably hatch between seven to eight weeks after being lain.

It became known Hijak would travel with Boro to these 'civilised' lands, the group not sure how to feel about losing him too. The leonin shrugged it off and mentioned they could always pay him a wage to keep him, but the group concluded they would not be able to afford him. Still, the leonin wasn't cruel or blunt about it, the party seemingly having grown on him. Because Ignis had been distracted the last half of the travel time because of his female condition, he did not learn how to properly steer a vehicle from Boro.