The Game of Transformation

Witches are powerful beings, they command incredible magic, possess nearly unlimited intelligence, and often view humans as fun toys to play with.

This story is the story of one particular witch. This witch was known by the name Melarra. Melarra was notable because unlike many of her sisters she did not hate humans she pitied them, pitied their inability to be who they truly wanted to be.

She used her powers to fix this, drawing humans in with promises of riches and rewards until they found themselves sinking into a skin which felt more real than their entire life before them.

She was particularly delighted by the fact that everything she did, every change she made and body she modified was all my choice. She never threatened, manipulated or cajoled. Not that she had to, she could see the secret desires buried so deep that people didn’t recognize that they had them.

She could see the need for submission buried so deep in a CEO’s heart she had long forgotten it was ever there. She could watch a math prodigy and know that he would delight in bouncing around as an air headed bimbo. She could watch an ardent feminist and know her buried desire for a powerful man to control her life and actions.

This knowledge made her game a very simple one that no one had ever won.

She would offer money, appealing to the simple base desires of human’s once her chosen victim accepted they would take one card from an enchanted Tarot deck. Every deck was unique, every change personalized.

Every card drawn from the deck was worth $100 but alone that would be far too simple. Cards would start small, minor changes or compulsions. The cards however could be intensified up to four times. Increasing a card from Level 1 to Level 2 earned $50, Level 2 to Level 3 was $100, Level 3 to Level 4 was $200, and increasing a card to max level earned $500.

Of course you can’t earn money forever, well Melarra literally summons it out of the aether so you actually could but that’s not as fun as having an end game. Anyone who draws all 21 cards loses, same with anyone who gets 10 cards to level 5. A loser can no longer play and keeps all changes. Running away is also allowed although quitters also keep their changes. The only way to get rid of a change is to win a challenge.

Melarra regularly offers her victims optional challenges to complete, each of which requires embracing their new persona. Completing a challenge allows the participant a small monetary reward or getting rid of or deleveling a card. A failed challenge results in the opposite: a level up or new card with no reward.

Melarra can go nearly anywhere and loves playing with foolish mortals. The only question is who is her first player?