Mimicry

Cherchiel runs her hands up into her hair, flaring it out slightly, "ha... Well, it's difficult to explain. It was... like I was there. I was just... being me, doing everything like normal. Until such time as I saw myself in that tube, I didn't think anything was wrong," she says and Isalia nods,

"yeah same here. I remember everything that happened like I was there, I remember meeting... Liloth, I remember the... eggs..." she says and shivers slightly, "then we went to ascension and... I saw myself there and I couldn't believe it. I don't even remember how or when we got replaced. What we told you about what happened after we got separated in the Dream is exactly what I remember," Isalia explains.

"So, we need to rescue the rest of them," Yulia says and Isalia nods emphatically.

"I don't think you can imagine how bad this is. Aresque is... infiltrated. So many mimics, just wandering around, timebombs waiting to be activated," Isalia says sounding scared.

"Worse than that... I'm pretty sure the mimics were affecting our thoughts, I said a bunch of things that looking back on it, I'm not sure why I did. The mimics are there of course, hiding away in the subconscious, affecting how we act, the fact they seem to control so many members of the explorers means they can easily send new explorers into traps I wouldn't be surprised if every explorer that's gone into the dream... never came back as themselves," Cherchiel says.

"Everything we know about the dream and the Mind Eaters, might be a lie," Yulia says suddenly and all four women look startled as that realization sinks in.

"We thought we had a shaky, but general truce with the mind eaters, but it's possible we've just been feeding ourselves to them without ever realizing it. So, many have gone into the dream, believing they'd be relatively safe," Isalia says and her arms move hugging her sides, "I could've... I'm so lucky I'd never had to go into the dream to deal with traps before now," she speaks.

"Good news though... Whatever connection we had with the mimics seems to have gone both ways," she says before moving over to the bed and lifting it with one hand, "I might not have been myself when I received Divine Grace, but I seem to still have it all the same," she says with a slight smile.

"That's a relief!" Yulia agrees.

Cherchiel and Isalia get dressed and gather up their equipment, "so... once Goma's recovered we need to go and free as many of the people in the path of ascension that we can," Yulia states.

"Agreed, though we should assume that doing so is probably going to change things... The Mind Eaters have been relatively passive and subtle, we should assume that trying to free the rest of the people trapped will make them openly hostile, from this point on, they are likely to be our enemies,"

Goma recovered a bit later and with all four ready they head back into the dream, Lem is waiting, "Greetings, we know why you are here, but I beg you to reconsider. If you continue on this path, I will be **** to end our friendship," he says and Yulia scowls.

"Friendship? You monsters tried to eat Goma, you kidnapped and replaced Isalia and Cherchiel and you've been infiltrating Aresque for who knows how long! We've never been friends!" Yulia responds, drawing out her rapier.

"That hurts... I've already said, what happened to your goblin friend was not my choice and your kidnapped friends were perfectly fine, simple insurance of your eventual return and as for the rest, that is the will of the old mind," he states as if Yulia was being unreasonable.

"We're going to ascension, Lem. Don't get in our way!" Yulia threatens and Lem sighs, at the same time three more Mind Eaters step out of the mists.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Lem asks and Yulia looks to Isalia, Goma and Cherchiel then back to Lem and grips her rapier tighter as Cherchiel raises her shield and readies her spear, Goma holds up her dagger and Isalia readies her shield and sword.

"I'm sure. Goodbye Lem," Yulia responds.

(Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Equipment: Ceramic Beaked Mask, Reinforced Monastic Scapular, standard bra, Standard Panties, 3 poison gas grenades, 3 healing kits, 1 syringe of poison, 1 syringe of adrenaline, 1 syringe of poison antidote, 1 sewing kit, 1 vial of strong aerosolizing aphrodisiac, 8 days worth of rations, 3 two liter water jug, 1 health potion, 3 mana potions, A boar mask, 4 vials of sticky white liquid, Ornate Rapier (-3), 4 arrows, Quiver, God's Favour (Halo. Prevent **** one time), 1 sack of cooking ingredients (Apples), Bone Spear (-1), Ash's Quiver, 6 charm arrows, Smithing Ingredients (6 steel ingots), 1 sack of cooking ingredients (Vegetables), Grenade Launcher, Empty Bandolier, Silver Staff (-2 added to the effect of all spells), Spidersilk gown, Smithing Ingredients (3 silver ingots), 10 silver throwing knives, twenty feet of Spidersilk rope, 1 sack of Cooking Ingredients (Fish), an Onahole.

Spells known: Great Heal (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 25%)

Great Cure (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 15%)

Energize (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 25%)

Icicle (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 15%)

Unlock (Lvl 1, Unmastered, Cost: 15%)

Repair (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 5%-20% depending on factors)

Undermine (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 25%).

Life Drain (lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 2% per 1 Hp healed)

Blizzard (Mastered, cost: 5%)

Fetish: Bondage Rank: 2, Masochism Rank: 1, Lesbian rank: 1, Submission Rank: 1, Incubating Rank: 1, Large Insertions Rank: 1

Status Effect: Permanent increase to physical attribute. Combat level raised to medium

Atrophied: Permanent Decrease to Physical Attribute. Combat Level lowered to weak. (Countered previous Permanent Increase)

Psychosexual Break: In order to deal with her trauma, Yulia has begun to subconsciously fetishize her experiences.

Deflowered: Virginity Lost, sexual experience changed to: Inexperienced, non-virgin.

Marked by The Abyss: Found You.

Trauma Rank 1 : Costs of all spells doubled for the remainder of the floor. (Caused by first impregnation)

Companion: Cherchiel, Goma, Martin, Isalia.

Cherchiel Equipment: Ultra Durable Spear( -5, -10 with Boar Mask), Ultra Durable Shield (-5, -10 with Boar Mask), Solanium Reinforced Bodysuit (add -1 to all physical actions).

Cherchiel Status Effect: Divine Grace. Combat Level raised to High

Goma Equipment: Runed Dagger (-2,), Hunting Horn (-2 for each ally affected), Reinforced and Nethicite Augmented Thick Hide Outfit (Negate most physical damage)

Goma Mana: 100%

Goma spells known: Heal (Mastered, 15%)

Isalia Equipment: Isalia's Sword (-3), Isalia's Shield (-3), Black Leather Armor

https://forum.chyoa.com/threads/the-tower-of-voices-voting-thread.3460/ )