Abdirak shares Loviatar's teachings (with Shadowheart's help)

The man that stood at the edge of the campus next to Withers, was to say the least, strange. And that included a comparison to Withers. Bare-chested and muscular, wearing a feathered cloak over his wide shoulders. His sullen face was speckled with blood as he held a large bag.

"Don't be so sad, Abdirak! Look what I brought you! A playmate. Isn't she cute?" Tav's crystalline voice sounded more excited than it should have been, as she pushed Kagha forward. Barely able to focus, the former archdruid staggered as she walked toward the clearing. "Thou hast brought another companion, mortal?" Withers' voice was plain, more statement than question. "Oh, this is Kagha. She will travel with us!" Kagha stumbled in front of Withers and Abdirak, dropping on her knees, with her face lowered. Withers spoke, cryptic as usual, looking down at her. "I know who she is and what is her fate. Fear not, mortal. For your trials only bring your true self."

"Can she withstand the trials?" Abdirak's voice was weary, deep. "No idea. But that's why we have Withers here, in case anything goes wrong." Withers was impassible, as usual. "Pain without purpose is a terrible thing." Abdirak's pronunciation left little room for argument. And yet Tav found a way to reply. "Oh, there is a purpose." She sank her hand in Kagha's hair, forcing the druid to sit upright. "There is purpose, of course. I thought a follower of Loviatar would approve of pain." "I do." said Abdirak. "But it should be a gift, as Our Maiden of Pain has ordained."

Tav considered her reply. "For one thing, I am paying you. And second, this woman is a traitor. She must do penance for her deeds. But she's stubborn, unwilling to repent. We must root the evil out of her. She's a novice now, so teaching her the ways of Loviatar will help tame that prideful spirit of hers." Abdirak acquiesced. "Will one of you assist?" Astarion volunteered readily, and so did Shadowheart. Tav didn't trust the vampire by any means. The idea of Kagha being under more control was appealing, but the last thing she needed was another vampire spawn in her camp. Shadowheart, on the other hand ...

"The Mistress of Sorrow and the Maiden of Pain / Companions once and together again!" Tav composed on the spot, grinning triumphant at her bardic skills. "She's all yours, Shadowheart. I'll need you to wait in camp and look after her while I figure out how we get to Moonrise. Come, Gale."

Kagha was scared by Abdirak, but Shadowheart's presence helped soothe her. An unnatural calm came over her, she could recognize the spell. This cleric, she figured, may be more compassionate than her companions. "Please..." she asked meekly, almost biting her tongue as she swallowed her pride. "In your Goddess' name ... have mercy." Shadowheart lifted her hand, showing her mysterious wound. "My Goddess is Shar, druid. She gave me the gift of pain, to remind me of her. And you will receive the gift of pain from Loviatar's hand, to remind you of your penance."

It was a long day. Abdirak flailed Kagha mercilessly while the druid was locked in Shadowheart's holding spell, the Sharran watching without a word as the wood elf's face twisted and contorted in pain. When the druid was too hurt to continue, she gestured at Abdirak to stop. Caressing Kagha's face, she whispered. "Do you understand the merciful nature of pain now, druid?" Kagha was too broken to answer. With a move of her hand, Shadowheart cured Kagha's wounds. "Go on, priest."

Hours drifted by, and Kagha lost count of them. Each time she got flailed within an inch of passing out, Shadowheart would cure her and resume. Each time, she'd find some way of soothing or caressing Kagha before the euphoria of the curing spell took. As the sun rose and set over the camp, Kagha began to feel the pleasure intricately woven into the nature of pain. And with the priest and the cleric's guidance, she understood that pain was given to her for pleasure and repentance. "Loviatar trains her priests to give and receive pain." explained Abdirak. "But some, Loviatar chooses for a greater purpose. To be a vessel for pain. To seek it and delight in it."

Shadowheart found her way betweem Kagha's legs, feeling her shaved pussy moist and warm. "We share a bond, druid. Of all the pain that my wound is causing me, the one caused by your wolf shape is ... excruciating. I trust the Lady is satisfied with my suffering, just how I trust she is satisfied with yours." Kagha erupted in a powerful orgasm, unable to contain the wild emotions that were ripping her soul into pieces, while her body was burning with the pain caused by Abdirak's strikes. "You will live of your days with Loviatar's Hunger, bitch. Condemned to seek pain to achieve pleasure."

When the returning party came back in the evening, Abdirak was gone. Shadowheart was meditating in her tent. Kagha was leashed to a post outside it, downcast and weak. It was time for the long rest.