Symbietta's Turn Now!

Aubrey and Merida were heading towards a meeting spot that Flora had arranged with the orc tribes. Hilde and Ellen would meet them there, but were going back to Harper’s Haven to see what the idol had done there. They were fairly certain that the other team had retrieved the idol, but it should still have had an initial effect.

Hilde and Ellen encountered the first sign of the issue on the road toward the city. There was a caravan of people having a massive orgy. As soon as Hilde and Ellen got near, though, they all stopped and stared at them. Then the entire caravan rushed them with reckless abandon. Hilde and Ellen thought they would be easy to defeat, but found that it took serious effort to incapacitate even one of them. Ellen shouted to Hilde, “Is it just me, or are these women’s breasts getting bigger the more we hit them?”

“They’re getting faster, too. We should flee now.” Ellen didn’t need to be told twice, and they both immediately retreated at top speed.

“Well, that is either good or really bad,” Ellen said, catching her breath.

“I’m going with good. Though considering how close we got to the city before encountering anything, I doubt that this is going to spread very far as the Mad Cow-Girl outbreak has.”

“Do you think that is because of the nature of the idol or because they took the idol?”

“Personally, I think the latter. It makes sense that if the source of the corruption was removed, its spread would slow dramatically. My understanding is that the idols, while in place, essentially pumped more and more corruption into the air.”

“Now I have a separate question,” Ellen sounded worried. “Do you think it’s infectious? One of them managed to bite me on my nipple.”

“Shit!” Hilde exclaimed. “Yes, it is most definitely infectious. I could see that with my TF.” Hilde started to examine Ellen very closely. “Okay, I have some good news and some bad news.”

“Um… bad news first?”

“You’re infected.”

“What’s going to happen to me?”

“Well, that’s the good news… sort of. Nothing will happen to you.”

“What?”

“You’re infected, but while you are me, you benefit from my permanent peak health. I think you might be able to transform into Lucia, Master, or Mistress, as well, but I’m not absolutely sure.”

“Why those three?”

“Because Laura loves Master. Laura has a TF that also keeps you fit. Which includes your health. It’s less effective than mine at keeping them healthy, but at worse you should have minor side effects.”

“Wait, if that’s the case, I’ll be fine, I’m covered by that now, too.”

“Huh, I missed that.” Hilde continued to look Ellen over, “Ah, that’s why it seems like that effect is being absorbed by my TF to bolster it. If that’s the case, though… I would be concerned about swapping to a form other than mine until it is out of your system.”

“I’m going to swap real fast. Can you tell me if it will be an issue?” Hilde nodded.

Ellen swapped to her Lucia form. Hilde said, “Seems fine… wait, I think that’s because you are getting another bolstered effect. Can you go back to your normal form?” Ellen obliged. “SWAP BACK SWAP BACK!” Ellen quickly swapped to Lucia’s form. “Okay, Laura’s love isn’t enough to protect you. The thing started rampaging the moment you reverted to your own form. That’s both good and bad. That means the other team will have problems with this, too. Laura will probably still be fine, but Master won’t be. It does mean your form is locked to mine and Lucia’s forms, at least until this clears.”

“That’s not good. I’ve already been in your forms a lot. I really don’t want to develop another personality because of this. How long is it likely to be in my system?”

“Eh…” Hilde really didn’t want to answer that. Ellen’s glare got her to do so, though, “At least until the idol is cleansed. Which I have no idea how long that will take.”

“Well, shit. Let’s go to the meet-up point.”

“You swore?”

“I know. It’s because you and Laura have no issues with it. Lucia is also more okay with it than I am. Which is why I’m not happy about this at all. I’m likely to develop a foul-mouthed personality.”

“Oof. That will suck. Maybe stay in Lucia’s form, then, should limit it somewhat.”

“That’s what I was thinking too. In fact…” Ellen’s hair turned from brown to blonde. “Ah, feels nice to be in control again.” Lucia stretched her arms.

“I take it Lucia’s in control now?”

“Yep, we’re pretty sure that while I’m in control, Ellen doesn’t pick up my traits. I don’t either, since I can’t really become more me. We know she picks up some of my traits when she is in control, though. Which she pushes off on me, and that does change me.”

“Okay, well, I’ll let you lead. I’ll match your pass. Hopefully, it won’t delay us too much.”

The two started to run towards the meeting place.

Aubrey and Merida had arrived at the meeting place about an hour north of the lair. Upon arriving in the clearing, the band of around thirty orcs all took a knee, and in unison, said, “Warchief!”

Aubrey dismounted, as did Merida. Aubrey used the crown to talk with them mentally. “Rise.” The assembled orcs stood at attention. “Greetings, Petra. I thank you for bringing this band of warriors with you.”

“Think nothing of it, Warchief. We weren’t told our specific assignment, though.”

“We are going to do two things today. First, there is a city nearby that poses a threat as a staging location for troops. We don’t have enough here to threaten it at the moment. We intend to disrupt its supply chain further. They are already having food issues; we wish to further strain their resources. There are two smaller cities to the south that we should be able to raid. They provide wood, stone, game, and a few other resources. One of the other Champions has already stirred up conflict between the respective Lords. We will use the opportunity to attack one and then the other. Afterwards, your band will be stationed at our Lair as a defensive ****.”

“As you say, Warchief.” Petra saluted. “Which shall we attack first?”

“Brightwood. It is a bigger issue, and we should have more time before it is discovered to have been attacked than Hardrock. We will be meeting two of my companions near the city.”

“As you command. I will say getting here undetected was a challenge. It might take a while to get to Brightwood without detection.”

Merida stepped forward. “That’s whaur we come in.” Mira and Merigold appeared on either side of Merida. “We can disguise ye as traivellers.” The three started casting illusions over the band of orcs. Making them appear as various other species. “It’ll tak' maist o' our mana, but we can keep this goin' the hale way.”

Petra nodded. “Very well, shall we proceed then?” Aubrey nodded, and the group departed for Brightwood.

An hour later, the band found Hilde and Lucia at the agreed upon meeting spot. Hilde hopped up off the log she had been waiting on. “Hey, nice see you finally made it.”

Merida shook her head, “We’re early, dinna complain that ye wir waitin’. Hoo did things go for the twa o’ ye?”

“Poorly.” Lucia said, “We found out what had happened, but I’m infected now.” Merida and Aubrey both took a step back from Lucia. “I’ll be fine if I stay in this form or Hilde’s form.” Aubrey and Merida both relaxed. Aubrey went over and wrapped Lucia in her hair and sang the healing hymn.

Aubrey looked at Hilde and Lucia, “Ba?”

Hilde examined Lucia, “Nope, she’s still infected. It’s a magical disease. We have to remove the curse first. After that, I think your healing will cure it.”

Mira asked, “Look, not to sound like a psychopath or anything… but isn’t this a good thing?”

Lucia exclaimed, “HOW IS THIS GOOD?”

Mira flinched at being yelled at. “Well… I mean, you're infected, so couldn’t you spread it?”

Everyone, even the orcs, looked at Mira in disbelief. Petra was the one to say, “That does make you sound like a psychopath, you know.”

“Oh come on, you gloomy bitch, I wouldn’t fucking suggest it if this was all real. I’m not actually cool with hurting random people like that.”

Hilde glared at Mira, “You do realize that most of the NPCs are played by my sisters, right?”

Mira vanished to be Merida’s tail once again, but several people saw the look of fright on Mira’s face before she vanished.

Merida furrowed her brow. “Okay, whit the fuck did ye dae tae Mira, Hilde? Afore she cut aff her senses tae me, I got a feelin' o' owerwhelmin' terror.”

“I didn’t do anything to her. I simply informed her what I can do if she decides it is a good idea to deliberately antagonize me and those I care about.”

“And whit exactly dae ye mean by that?” Merida asked aggressively. “Because I dinna tak' kindly tae ye threatenin' her, when she’s gey obviously been abused.”

Hilde’s shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry, Merida. You too, Mira. I’m in a foul mood right now, and I shouldn’t take that out on either of you.”

“Hilde, I want a specific answer, no' just an apology. Whit did ye say ye wid dae tae her?”“I told her I could modify your TF to remove the protection it provides her from her own TFs.”

Merida was angry, “I CANNA BELIEVE YE WID SAY THAT!” Merida stormed away. Merigold ran after her.

Hilde was about to follow after her, but Lucia stopped her. “Let me go talk to her.” Hilde nodded, and Lucia ran after Merida.

Hilde sat down on the log she had been on before and held her head in her hands. Aubrey could see that Hilde was distraught. “You aren’t doing okay, are you? Specifically about what Merida did to you.”

Hilde let out a weak laugh that was part sob. Her eyes flicked towards Petra. “No, I’m not. Don’t discuss this in front of Petra. She doesn’t know what happened to me yet. She won’t take it well at all.”

Aubrey sat down next to Hilde and wrapped an arm and her hair around the small woman bringing her into a tight hug. They sat there until Merida and Lucia returned.

Lucia found Merigold trying to calm Merida down a little way away. “Hey Merida, are you okay?”

“Nae! Hoo cud Hilde say that tae her? Efter whit Hilde’s been through? Hilde kens fine hoo bad things can get. Seriously, whit wis she thinkin'!?”

“I don’t think she was thinking, Merida. I think Hilde is in pain and lashing out.”

“Whit? Whit are ye talkin' aboot, and why tak' it oot on Mira?”

“I’m talking about how she feels about you. Merida, you made her love you. Then, on the way back from the exchange, Flora constantly pounced on her to the point we had to restrain her. She’s trying to let Flora get to a point where she’s okay with things, but that doesn’t make things easy for her. She’s also trying to respect you, because I don’t think you would have been happy if Hilde had let Flora have her way with her, even though doing that likely would have gotten her what she wants faster. Then, as soon as Flora gets back, you go have a three-way with Mary. I’m sure she was extremely frustrated that she couldn’t join you. Then Mira comes out and starts stuff with us. Someone who bears a very similar resemblance to you, even if your TFs make you look somewhat different.”

“And that maks it okay tae threaten Mira!?”

Lucia transformed into Hilde’s form. “Merida, when I dress up as someone else, I assume some of their traits. I also get their TFs to some degree. My class makes that effect stronger. You know, one trait I can definitely feel as Hilde that Ellen and I couldn’t on the first day of the LARP? I feel a strong affection for you. I’m sure if I didn’t have my corset tied tight under all this, I would be utterly smitten with you.” Lucia reverted to her own form. “She’s acting out because she’s in pain. That isn’t a guess either. I’m not saying it was okay to threaten Mira, but she apologized. Normally, I would say that acting like she is because she can’t be with you is being like a petulant child. The thing is, this was **** on her; she does have some right to lash out at you.”

Merida’s shoulders slumped. “Sae whit should I dae? Because whit Mira felt wis awfu'. It felt warse than when ma dad dee’d. Sae, I’m no' apologisin' for bein' upset that Hilde threatenit her.”

“Let it go. Forgive her for lashing out.”

“Mira disna even want tae talk aboot it; she’s sae feart o' Hilde.”

“Look, I’ve said my piece. Keep Mira inside you if you have to, but you need to be able to cooperate with her. Honestly, you and Flora need to figure this shit out one way or another soon. Either you need to accept her as your lover, or tell her it isn’t happening, so she can be heartbroken and then move on.” Lucia didn’t wait for Merida to respond and went back to the others.

Merigold looked at Merida. “Ye ken, I agree wi' Lucia. I’ll see if I can get Mira tae talk wi' me, but ye need tae mak' a choice aboot Hilde. I dinna think ye should let Flora choose for ye either. I think ye should decide if ye want tae bide wi' her or no', and tell Flora if yer relationship wi' her needs tae change. Mary’s also richt, Flora is gaun tae end up bein' sexually involved wi' others eventually. No' maybe, it will happen. Maybe no' here on the show, but Flora will go intae heat sometime and seek oot ye or Mary. Flora will climax, and someone else is gaun tae hear it and want tae join in. That heat maks Mary the preferred source o' relief even for those it spreads tae. If Mary is a prey animal when that happens, Flora won’t say nae tae ony o' the predators joinin' in. If Mary is a predator, Flora will happily share ony prey wi' Mary.”

“Sae, whit? I hae tae accept an open relationship?”

“Sae, whit? I hae tae accept an open relationship?” Merigold stated matter of factly. “Unless she rerolls some o' her TFs, which there is nae way that’s happenin'. Mary won’t let her reroll the lion-girl TF that sends her intae heat randomly. She likes it ower muckle. I think ye should talk tae her aboot haein' an open sexual relationship, maybe even mak' a mutual bond o' compersion atween the twa o' ye. Noo… are ye ready tae go back tae the others?”

Merida nodded, and they walked back.

When Merida and Merigold returned, Lucia said, “Okay, now that we are all here. I want to explain what’s going on.”

Lucia was really hoping to avoid things spiraling between Hilde and Merida at the moment and just plowed on with her explanation. “Yesterday I was here and in Hardrock stirring up trouble. I framed Lord Brightwood’s son for sleeping with Hardrock’s daughter. I incapacitated him, dragged him over to Hardrock, and stored him in a convenient place. Then I incapacitated her and made sure I was seen as the son, entering her bedchamber, and seen fleeing her chamber with her in a disheveled, **** state. I swapped to being a guard and ‘apprehended’ the son as he tried to flee, but not before fighting the head butler and maid as I fled. Lord Brightwood is upset because he believes that Hardrock kidnapped his son and attacked his head butler and captain of the guard. At the moment, Hardrock is demanding payment for the **** on his daughter, and that Brightwood’s son marry Hardrock’s daughter and that she becomes the heir and ruler of both estates.”

After letting people digest the state of things for a moment, Lucia continued. “Our plan here is to pose as Lord Hardrock’s troops and attack the city. We believe Brightwood will then attack Hardrock, and half of us will assist in that attack while the other half stays here with the city mostly undefended and raze it to the ground. The goal of the initial attack is casualties and theft of supplies.”

Lucia could see the orc women all nod their understanding.

Merida spoke to Mira in her head, “Mira, we need you out here to make this plan work. Hilde won’t do anything to you. If she even thinks about altering my TF, I’ll get Mary involved. Mary would be PISSED if Hilde did that to you. So will you come out?”

“Fine… but keep her the fuck away from me.” Mira appeared behind Merida, pointedly not looking towards Hilde.

Merida, Mira, and Merigold waited for their mana regen to top them off and then disguised the orcs as Lucia instructed them to. The initial plan went off with little difficulty. The band snuck close to the gate and then charged, making it to the gate before it could be closed. Once inside, they simply attacked anyone and everyone in sight. They also started looting and shoving stuff into the dimensional bag that Aubrey was holding on to since Flora was incapacitated. After a few minutes, as more guards were showing up, the band retreated, their work done.

Merida stayed in the city using her ability to camouflage herself fairly effectively. Merigold and Mira returned with the rest of them, though, so there was a line of communication. A few minutes later, Merida reported to the others, “Okay, looks like we wir richt. They think Hardrock did the deed. Aye, they’re organisin' a retaliation party.” An hour later, a large military **** proceeded to head towards Hardrock. Mira, Merigold, Lucia, Petra, and fifteen of the orc warriors trailed Lord Brightwood’s forces. While Hilde, Merida, Aubrey, and the other orcs readied to attack Brightwood.

They timed their strikes to happen right as Brightwood committed his forces to the attack on Hardrock. Mira and Merigold once again disguised the orcs, this time as Brightwood soldiers. They circled the city and entered from the far side. While back in Brightwood, Merida just snuck into the guard house and opened the gate for her group to invade. Brightwood was practically defenseless, and the orcs happily pillaged the whole city, while Hilde and Merida went about destroying key infrastructure, like the church, the barracks, the gates, and the Lord’s Manor, to start with.

The attack on Hardrock did not go as they had expected. Yes, the troops engaged and entered the city, but much of the city remained intact, and the civilians were left alone. The battle wasn’t really all that fair, though. Lord Hardrock’s captain of the guard was a substantial deterrent, and with Lord Brightwood’s Captain being incapacitated via poison, did not have a clear match for her.

Lucia, Mira, and Merigold had infiltrated Lord Brightwood’s troops and found they were being pushed back by Captain Freyla. Lucia looked at Mira and Merigold, “I thought they would be able to handle her. I specifically poisoned her counterpart because I didn’t think I could solo Slevia.”

Mira said, “Well, what fuck do you plan on doing then? The illusions won’t work for shit if you go all out.” Lucia pursed her lips. “Fucking hell. Untwist your god damn panties, Lucia. People curse. Fuckin’ deal with it.”

“I can only think of two options: either go out there and pretend to be Laura, which I’m not sure will work, or take a risk. Can you contact the other group for me?” Mira nodded.

After a brief back and forth between the groups via the Merida Communication Network, it was decided to let Lucia take the risk. Ellen told Lucia, “I’m not sure this is a wise course of action.”

“Are you going to take back control? Because I’m going to do this unless you **** me out.”

“No, I know how forcing you out feels. I’m not doing that. I said I didn’t know if this was wise, not that I thought it was utterly imbecilic to try it.”

Lucia turned to Mira and Merigold. “Get our Allies out of here. If this goes south, we don’t need them swept up in the problem.” They nodded and went to gather the orcs. Lucia transformed into Allie. After a few seconds, Lucia could feel the effects of the idol on her. “Whoa! That’s intense.”

“I’m not feeling it.” Ellen said, “We might be able to swap back and forth to give us more time.

“I’m liking the feeling,” Symbietta said happily. “If you two go stupid, I’ll just take over. Okay?”

“Ummm…” Ellen and Lucia thought together. Lucia said, “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Lucia, as Allie, made her way to Lord Brightwood. “Lord Brightwood! Why are you defying the decree that hostilities are to cease until after Smug is dealt with?”

Lord Brightwood immediately knelt towards Lucia. “Lady Garret, I apologize, but Lord Hardrock has kidnapped my son and then attacked my town when I refused to agree to a marriage between my son and his daughter, giving his daughter rights to my land. I’m simply here to retrieve my son, nothing more. Would you be willing to help resolve this? Captain Freyla will not see reason and return to me my son.”

“It would be my pleasure.” Lucia stepped out in front of the soldiers to see Freya strike down three of them effortlessly.

“Lady Garret? What are you doing here?”

“I was sent here to end this conflict one way or another. Will you hand over Brightwood’s son, or will I have to go through you?”

“I will not. That scoundrel must take responsibility for his actions.”

“Very well, through you it shall be.” Lucia charged. “Fuck, it’s hard to concentrate. I just want to throw Freya to the ground and ravish her.”

“Just keep your wits.”

Lucia manifested short spectral claws and swiped at Freya. Freya easily parried and defended herself. “Is this all that a hero of Cassandra is capable of? Lady Garret, I know your importance to the empire, please. Cease this at once.”

Ellen spoke to Lucia, as she was getting more and more out of sorts. “Lucia, hand over control!”

“No! Will have her. Will devour her!” Lucia managed to enter a frenzied state, triggering Allie’s rage. She lunged at Freya, taking a stab to her own breast plate but knocking Freya down. Freya managed to kick Lucia off herself. Ellen forcefully took over, and their hair changed color for a moment before reverting to Allie’s blonde hair.

Freya noticed the change. “Who are you?”

Ellen found she wasn’t doing better than Lucia. Not only was her body flooded with whatever the issue was, but Lucia was in the back of her head, trying to get her to do things. She fought with Freya for thirty seconds before she, too, was lost in a haze of desire. Symbietta was ecstatic. “Ellen? Lucia? Either of you there? Mind if Symbietta has a turn? No response? Wonderful.”

Symbietta took over. Allie’s eyes went black. “Captain Freyla, let's have some fun!” Sybmietta changed Allie’s form to that of Flora and immediately activated Flora’s boon.

Freya shouted, “YOU AREN’T LADY GARRET! YOU ARE A SERVANT OF SMUG! LORD BRIGHTWOOD, THIS HAS ALL BEEN A SETUP!”

Freya felt arms wrap around her waist as Symbietta bit sensually on her neck and sucked, then licked Freya’s soft skin. Freya fell forward. “What did you do to me!? Why do I feel empty!” Freya started to breathe heavily. Symbietta saw a massive hickey on Freya’s neck.

Symbietta had changed to Aubrey’s form. “My host happens to be infected. I passed that on to you. Enjoy wreaking havoc on your own people! MWHAHAHAHA!” Symbietta swung her sword, knocking Freya into a group of guards. Symbietta fled the fight, attacking people as she went, infecting those she could. A bite here, a kiss there. Symbietta was relishing the craving for pleasure. It was the craving she always felt herself, and for Lucia and Ellen to be lost in the same haze was wonderful to her. “It’s okay, you two, you don’t need to think, let Symbietta do that for you.”

Symbietta met up with Mira, Merigold, and the orcs outside of town. Mira said, “HOLY SHIT! What the fuck is up with your eyes? You look like you're a demon or something!”

“Ellen and Lucia aren’t in control anymore. I am.”

“The slime?” Merigold asked. “Symbietta, right?”

“Yes, now you two had better take our friends here and flee.”

“What about you?” Mira asked.

“I’m going to go have some fun.”

Merigold said, “You need to come with us.”

“HAHAHAHA. I’m not doing that. I have the freedom to run wild, and I’m going to use it.” Symbietta changed her hair to a pitch-black color and took on Samantha’s form, except her armour was black instead of blue. “Try and stop me, and I’ll infect the lot of you too. See you later.” Symbietta turned into a small dragon and flew off north.

“FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!” Mira exclaimed. “MERIDA, WE HAVE A FUCKING PROBLEM OVER HERE!”

“Whoa, settle doon Mira, tell me whit’s wrang.”

“Symbietta just took over the cunt who can’t fucking stand cursing. Lucia, Ellen, whatever the fuck she’s calling herself right now. I think she’s infected some of the residents, and then she took off as a god damn dragon. Told Goldie and me that she would infect us if we tried to stop her.”

“Shite. I’ll let the ithers ken. Thanks. Get oot o' there then. Tak' the orcs back tae base. We’re gey near done here.”

“Thank fucking god, see you there.”

Mira and Merigold told Petra and the orcs the plan, and they started to head south, taking efforts to go nowhere close to the city again.

Aubrey, Merida, and Hilde stood outside of Brightwood on a hill watching it burn. Merida said, “Ye ken, I’m startin' tae see whit Mira likes aboot settin' things on fire. It’s unco… satisfyin'.”

Aubrey gave Merida a strange look.

“Hey, I’m no' gaun tae actually become a firebug and burn things tae the ground, but this wis gey enjoyable. Hauld on a second.” Merida winced, hearing Mira yelling in her head. Then her expression became grave. “Shite!”

“What’s wrong?” Hilde asked.

“Lucia’s plan backfired. Lucia and Ellen baith apparently lost control o' their senses, and Symbietta took ower their body.”

“Okay? So wasn’t that the backup plan? That Symbietta would transform Lucia back into me so they would be alright?”

“Aye, that wis the plan. Symbietta isn’t daein' that, though. She flew aff, as Sam, and threatenit tae infect Mira and Merigold if they tried tae stop her. They said she heidit north.”

“Well, fuck.”

Aubrey reached out to Symbietta, “Symbietta, I’m going to tell you this once. If you don’t transform into Hilde and return to base, I’m personally going to find a way to strip you off of Ellen and make sure you are disposed of permanently. This is your one and only warning.”

“Not happening. Two reasons. First, that’s boring and not fun. I’m getting a lot of pleasure here already. Second, I can’t transform into those forms. I’m not in full control of her body anymore. I can transform her, but it is like I’m being prevented from turning into the forms that would nullify the disease.”

Aubrey waited a few minutes and then continued the conversation. “So, why can’t you come back then but remain in control?”

“I already told you, I’m not in full control of her body. I barely had enough control not to infect our allies. If I’m actively trying to spread this, things are easier. So I’m going to spread this and try to help Ellen level up. If I came back to base, I would likely infect someone else.”

Aubrey had one of the orcs come over and speak for her. After relaying the messages to the orc telepathically. “So, Symbietta is alleging that she can’t come back or she’ll infect us. She also can’t transform into you, Hilde. I’m not sure she’s telling the whole truth. She has said she is going to still try and help us, but she’s not going to be gone for a while.”

“She might not be lying,” Hilde said. “I got a look at the thing she got hit with. I think until the idol is cleansed, Symbietta might actually be prevented from transforming into me if it has progressed far enough in its infection of her body.” Hilde sighed, “Nothing we can do about it. Let’s head back, we’re done here.” The others nodded, and they made their way back towards the lair.