Resting

Lemiel gets some soft towels to use as a bed and pillow for Isalia as she rests and meanwhile Yulia somewhat grudgingly decides to stay at the bath house and rest. Lemiel true to her word quickly disposes of the corpses through unknown means, simply grabbing and disappearing with them. After a bit Cherchiel strips and enters the bath, her demeanor immediately improving, a soft blush and a contented sigh appearing on her face as she sinks into the warm soft waters. Goma rejects the water, staying near Isalia instead and watching over her.

Yulia casts lightning Strike against the wall, until it's mastered, god's light seemingly healing her mana instantly after each use, but with that done she gives in after a bit and strips as well, seeing how much Cherchiel seems to be enjoying it. Once naked she slips into the water and immediately she can also feel how silky smooth the water is, it reminds her of the spring back on the path to Dwarfhold on the previous floor, but it feels even better. It's like she's being caressed by the concept of softness made manifest. She closes her eyes and lays her head back, reveling in the sensation. Her eyes snap open though as she feels something else caressing her. A pair of soft hands gently cup each of her breasts, rubbing them gently as she feels a pair of breasts press carefully against the back of her head. She glances back to see Lemiel behind her, naked as well and on her knees in the water.

"Apologies if this is too forward, but I wanted to... help you relax if that's okay," she asks in a gentle whisper and Yulia hesitates. She didn't appreciate being suddenly groped without being asked, but the touch of Lemiel's soft hands mixed with the water did feel amazing and by now she at least believed Lemiel had no malicious intent.

"Y... You may," Yulia accedes and Lemiel nods and her hands begin to dexterously fondle and massage Yulia's breasts making Yulia let out a slow exhalation of pleasure.

"I... Actually wanted to talk to you... I understand you had a bit of a crisis..." she says and Yulia quirks an eyebrow.

"You're not about to start proselytizing to me are you?" she asks and there's a pleading whine to her voice. She's actually enjoying the touch of Lemiel's hands quite a bit and really doesn't want this moment ruined.

"Ah... well... Maybe a little, but hear me out, okay?" Lemiel responds quickly and noticeably her movements become a bit more intense, seemingly in an attempt to manipulate Yulia into agreeing. Yulia knows this is happening and a part of her is angered by this, but it does in fact feel really good and she huffs, but nods.

"Say your piece," she allows and Lemiel nods.

"I... understand your time in the tower has been... very hard. I understand that the actions of the One True God did... not help with that and... well they're... very sorry. They feel terrible to know you lost your faith and that they are partially responsible for it. They want to help you, they already did, but now they also seek to help you to make amends for their actions," she explains.

"What's the catch?" Yulia asks and Lemiel pauses turning her head away for a moment as if she's been smacked, but then speaks.

"They want you to renew your faith... Specifically they want you to put your faith in them. To officially become a priestess of the One True G-" she says and then gasps as Yulia pushes her away suddenly and stands.

"You know... The Abyss offered to save my world, give me everything I came here for if I became the new Archdemon of Lust, what is your 'god' offering me?" Yulia says turning on Lemiel with obvious anger. Lemiel shrinks from Yulia's glare.

"M... Me?" she squeaks and Yulia steps forward and reaches out grabbing hold of Lemiel's visor and Lemiel freezes.

"If I wanted you, I could take you right now," Yulia says through grit teeth and Lemiel visibly shakes as she responds.

"I... I..." she pauses for a moment and then speaks, "Angelic boons, I'd follow you to every floor and offer them, you'd be given great power to help you ascend the tower, the... the only downside is you wouldn't be able to leave the tower, once you completed your ascension... you'd go to the Tower Above and take your station as The High Priestess of the One True God," she explains and Yulia hesitates and then shoves Lemiel, releasing her visor as Lemiel falls on her ass in the water, her head falling below the water before she quickly raises her head coughing out bathwater.

"I'll think about it," Yulia says as she calls out to the others, "We ready to go?" she asks and Cherchiel glances over and nods, getting out of the water with a slight amount of disappointment.

"Ee Sah Lee Ah, waking up," Goma offers and indeed Isalia stirs and whimpers slightly as she opens one eye. Yulia rushes over as does Cherchiel as Isalia fully wakes, Goma helping her gently to sit up.

"How are you feeling, Isalia?" Yulia asks and Isalia groans.

"Everything hurts..." she responds and Yulia nods.

"Sorry you'll probably be sore for a while, think you can walk though?" Yulia asks and Isalia thinks for a second and then nods.

Cherchiel and Yulia help Isalia to her feet with Goma watching nervously and then Yulia speaks, "anyway, we're moving on to go face Levateinn now," Yulia informs them and they all nod.

"... Wait!" Lemiel calls, still sitting dejectedly in the water, "one of the voices asked about Levateinn... I... Let me at least answer the question before you leave," she offers and Yulia crosses her arms.

"Fine..." she says and then starts to dress as Lemiel speaks, Cherchiel doing the same.

"Levateinn is the Archdemon of Envy, I've never faced her in battle directly before... I... Wouldn't be here if I had, but I've heard stories of those who've fought her or... seen her in battle. She won't likely fight you alone. She is never in battle without her pets, two large snakes, she uses them to distract or overwhelm her opponents and if you're not careful they can swallow you whole and their bite is venomous. Levateinn herself uses status effects pretty heavily, especially paralyzing and weakening effects so... be prepared for that," she explains.

Yulia finishes dressing and glances at Lemiel, "thanks..." she mutters and Lemiel nods weakly, she's moved to a kneeling position, her hands in the water, her head down.

Yulia almost feels bad for a moment, perhaps she had been too harsh, but she turns away and they head back out of the bathhouse into the hallway anyway leaving Lemiel alone in the bathhouse.

The group head through the far door and into the statue room before going into the eternal reward room and quickly passing through, none of them eager to linger there. Past there the door opens to a stormy beach. The beach is rocky with jagged stones littering the dark gray sands, up above a swirling black thundercloud looms, the waters lap violently against the shore, a rickety wooden boat is tethered to some rocks, rising and falling as the violent waves pass beneath it. The sea seems to extend off forever. A crack of thunder splits the air and is then followed by the sound of chittering as from the rocks creatures begin to emerge, they appear to be humans, or at least they were human once, now they are amalgams of human and aquatic life, twisted chimeras. They move over the rough terrain, all of them with lower bodies replaced with dexterous crab like legs letting them move quickly and easily.

(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, 6 mana potions, A boar mask, 5 vials of Semen, Ornate Rapier (-3), 4 arrows, Quiver, 1 sack of cooking ingredients (Apples), 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), Smithing Ingredients (1 silver ingot), 12 silver throwing knives, twenty feet of Spidersilk rope, 1 sack of Cooking Ingredients (Fish), an Onahole, a shard of Illustone, A tarnished Silver Ring of clear mind (warded against demons and angels), Demonic Dress, Demon Horn Hairband.

Spells known: Great Heal (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 25%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 12%)

Great Cure (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 15%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 7%)

Energize (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 25%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 12%)

Icicle (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 15%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 7%)

Masterful Unlock (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 10%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 5%)

Repair (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 5%-20% depending on factors, Cost currently halved rounded down: 2%-10%)

Undermine (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 25%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 12%)

Life Drain (lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 2% per 1% Health healed, Cost currently halved rounded down: 1% per 1% Health healed)

Blizzard (Mastered, cost: 5%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 2)

Lightning Strike (Lvl 1, mastered, Cost: 15%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 7%)

God's Light: (Mastered, cost: none. Passive ability.)

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

Faithless: Yulia gains no effect from support spells cast on her, but offensive spells cast by her double in effectiveness. Lasts until faith is restored or replaced.

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: The Abyss Welcomes You.

Companion: Cherchiel, Goma, Martin, Isalia.

Cherchiel Health: 100%

Cherchiel Mana: 100%

Cherchiel Equipment: Ultra Durable Spear( -5, -10 with Boar Mask, temporarily missing), Ultra Durable Shield (-5, -10 with Boar Mask, temporarily missing), Solanium Reinforced Bodysuit (add -1 to all physical actions, temporarily missing), Staff (-1), Spidersilk Gown, Gloves of Harvest (-5, -10 with boar mask, heal for all damage dealt), God's Favour (Halo. Prevent **** one time).

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

Goma Equipment: Runed Dagger (-1, -3 with boar mask), Hunting Horn (-2 for each ally affected), Reinforced and Nethicite Augmented Thick Hide Outfit (Negate most physical damage).

Goma Health: 100%

Goma Mana: 100%

Goma spells known: Heal (Mastered, 15%), Puppet (Mastered, 10% per active command)

Goma Status Effect: Atrophied: Permanent Decrease to Physical Attribute. Combat Level lowered to weak.

Isalia Health: 100%

Isalia Mana: 100%

Isalia Equipment: Isalia's Sword (-3, Lowered temporarily to -1), Isalia's Shield (-3, lowered temporarily to -1), Black Leather Armor

Isalia Fetish: Submission Rank: 1

Isalia Status Effect: Recovering. Combat level temporarily lowered to weak. Gains no effect from energizing effects.

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