For those who have been asking, I have added a couple of glossary terms. Jadis and Aila's character sheets are up, as well as the skills for Jadis' two classes. I will post Aila's skills once they've been covered in-story.
Waking up the next morning with an extra person mixed into the tangle of arms and legs that Jadis always seemed to end up in was a wonderfully comforting experience, one she hoped would be repeated on many mornings to come.
“You toss around in your sleep a lot, don’t you?” Aila grumbled groggily while wiping the sleep from her eyes.
“A bit,” Jadis said in unison.
“And, um, is that—”
“Morning wood? Yes.”
“Oh. And, um, should we…?”
“Don’t worry, it’ll go away in a few minutes,” Jadis said while laughing as she pulled her selves and Aila apart from the knot of limbs they’d become.
The two got ready for the day quickly, the sun in the sky showing it was maybe an hour past dawn already. Watching Aila get dressed caused a wave of disappointment to wash over Jadis. She was sorely tempted to stay in their shared room for another day and see if she could level up her ritualist class just by performing more lewd acts. Aila had explained during their hours-long conversation the night before, performing tasks related to the class would gain small amounts of experience. It only made sense to Jadis, then, that a bit of sensual play was a possible method of leveling, at least for her secondary class.
As much fun as fucking her way to her next level in her ritualist class would be, Aila wouldn’t gain experience for the act, unfortunately. Jadis wanted Aila to get her secondary class pronto, almost as much as the redhead herself, she imagined. She was excited to see what she’d be offered. She didn’t think it likely her involvement, partnered with her patron deity's possible influence, wouldn’t affect the class choices Aila would be given.
Besides, Jadis was eager to get out and fight some demons again. She had her own leveling to do, plus some new armor to test out, provided Sabina had been able to follow through with her promise of smithing three steel chest pieces in a day, a feat Jadis still had her doubts about. There was also the possibility of some new weapons, and her new clothes, too, all of which gave her more than enough reason to be excited to leave the bedroom.
And yet, Jadis’ thoughts went astray as she witnessed Aila shimmying into the leather pants she habitually wore…
No, she had to focus. There were things to do today, important things, and any sexy ones could wait. Well, they could wait until after dinner, at least. Maybe.
Once dressed and presentable, Jadis and Aila made their way downstairs and had their breakfast in the common room of the inn. Sitting at the table was, once again, awkward for Jadis’ oversized bodies, but she managed well enough by simply setting the chairs aside and sitting on the floor. The kindly innkeeper was nice enough to offer some cushions for Jadis’ selves to sit on once she saw what she was doing, but Jadis declined. She’d spent enough time out in the woods sitting on rocks and logs that sitting on a stone floor wasn’t any great hardship.
Over a breakfast of sausages, some kind of mixed vegetables, and toast, Jadis and Aila discussed their plans for the day. Both agreed to swing by the tailor first so Jadis could finally put some clothing on that didn’t make her look like a wild vagabond, then head over to Sabina to check if the requested armor was done. Whether it was or wasn’t, from there they would head out into the hills around Felsen and see what demons might be lurking around. If possible, they might also seek out magical beasts to hunt.
“Magic beasts give as much experience as demons?” Jay asked, taking a sip of surprisingly sweet tea.
“No, not quite, but they do give far more than any mundane creatures. They also have value to alchemists and enchanters for the inborn magic dwelling within their bodies. You can sell magic creatures for quite a lot of coin, dead or alive. If we spot any, and they aren’t too dangerous, we should go after them.”
Jadis took in Aila’s explanation as her mouths chewed their food. She’d wondered if there were any non-demonic monsters or magical creatures on Oros. It seemed there were, though they weren’t as common as regular, mundane beasts were.
“Is that how mercenaries in the Empire normally make their coin when there’s no demonic invasion? Fighting magical beasts and such?” Dys asked, tapping her chin with one finger in thought.
“For some, yes,” Aila allowed. “Not all. But slaying a magic beast will gain you far more experience than one that isn’t magical, so it’s common for mercenaries who want to increase their level quickly to seek out such beasts. Sometimes the military will do the same, sending squads to hunt known monsters since it’ll get them levels faster, too.”
“Makes sense,” Syd nodded. “If there weren’t demons around, I’d probably do the same thing.”
Once they were finished with breakfast, they started to head out, but Jay stopped at the door with a pensive expression on her face.
“What is it?” Aila asked, concerned.
“Just a thought,” she murmured, then turned and headed back up the stairs to their room.
“Just realized we probably don’t want to leave our little mono-eyed friend in the room alone,” Syd whispered in Aila’s ear. “I can see a lot of ways that could go wrong.”
Aila nodded with her own brows furrowed. “Yes, I can too.”
“Better keep it with us, for now,” Dys added as Jay returned to the group, mason jar in tow.
Since she didn’t have one and Aila did, Jadis put the jar with its wriggling occupant inside Aila’s backpack. She wasn’t thrilled about her passenger, but it took little coaxing to get Aila to agree.
“We need something sturdier than a glass jar for it, though,” Aila demanded as Jay resecured the ties on Aila’s pack. “It might just be a hatchling, but it’s still dangerous. We can’t risk it getting out.”
“Sure, we can ask Sabina if she can whip up something more durable,” Dys readily agreed.
Demonic newborn secured, the two headed for the tailor. As they left the inn, Jadis mostly focused on the casual conversation she was having with Aila about the city and the mercenary companies currently occupying it, but her third self, Syd, kept an eye on the two guards she’d spotted following them. They weren’t the same two as the day before, but they were unmistakably city guards.
It seemed as though she’d gained a permanent tail, likely courtesy of the magistrate, Vraekae. Jadis wondered how long the city leader planned on having her followed and how far the guards’ orders extended. Would they try to chase after her when they left the city?
If they did, the guards would need to be speedy ones.
At the tailor’s, Jadis was pleased to find that the first set of clothing she’d ordered was completed. The strange half skirt, half pants combo she’d ordered was surprisingly comfortable, loose enough that it didn’t show off her anatomy while not so loose it got in her way. The tunics her selves slipped on were also extremely comfortable, far softer than the materials she’d been wearing up until then.
When Jadis’ three selves walked out of the back room the tailor had graciously allowed her to use to change, she was greeted by an appreciative once over from Aila, followed by a catcalling whistle from the tailor herself.
“Very nice, girls!” Klara said with a proud smile. “With how pale you three are, I had a feeling some color and contrast would do you some good. And look at that! Stunning!”
“Thank you, Klara,” Jay said with a grin, feeling just a little bashful at the open praise. Her words were echoed by Dys and Syd as they stretched and moved in their new clothes, careful not to bump their heads on the low for her ceiling of the shop.
In her opinion, Klara was right. The dark blue of the short-sleeved tunics paired well with her marble pale skin while the black leather of the pants-skirts contrasted nicely overall. She hoped she’d get something a little more feminine at some point, just for the odd occasion where she wanted to dress up a bit, but the clothes she had now were wonderful.
Thanking Klara for her excellent work and promising to come back in the next couple days to collect the extra tunics and the boots she’d ordered, Jadis and Aila headed for the crafting district.
“I don’t feel so much like a barbarian anymore,” Dys grinned down at Aila.
“You don’t look like one,” Aila agreed, “except for being barefoot. Hopefully your boots will be done soon. It doesn’t hurt walking around barefoot like that, does it?”
“No,” Jay shook her head. “I think my fortitude is high enough that as long as I’m not stepping on nails, I’m not bothered. Still, doesn’t feel great stepping in mud and other gunk. I miss having footwear.”
“When I passed through Sulzarhine before coming here, one of the mercenaries showed me a bathhouse where the attendants will wash and oil your hands and feet or give you full body massages, things like that. I think you’d enjoy it.”
“Well if you’re inviting us, I don’t think we could possibly say no to a trip to the spa with you, Blue,” Jay said, resisting the urge to give Aila a kiss right there in the street.
Keeping her face placid, Aila nodded and said, “Of course. I think if we do head to the mainland together, we should make a point of it. I do still owe you three a date.”
Jadis appreciated that Aila was still playing along with the idea that she was three people, at least in public. She also appreciated how her ears grew just a little rosy with embarrassment as she talked about going on a date with her. The redhead truly was adorably sweet, even if she did like to put a mask on for others.
“Don’t you worry. We aim to collect on that deal,” Syd said in just the right casual tone to make Aila blush a little more.
A few minutes later and the quartet had made it to the shared workshop where Sabina smithed. It was just as busy there as the day before and Jadis was forced to wait outside while Aila ducked inside, looking for the perky half-elf. After a short wait, Aila came back out followed by a bedraggled-looking Sabina carrying a large bundle of metal pieces stacked together.
“Sorry, sorry! I hope I didn’t keep you waiting for long but I was working on this all night and I just finished the last of the straps and I was just checking to make sure everything was tight and secure and—”
“We didn’t wait long,” Jay gently interrupted the smith who still managed to talk a mile a minute despite her obvious exhaustion. “Did you really work all night? Without sleep? You know that wasn’t necessary, Sabina.”
“Oh, it was no trouble!” Sabina said brightly before covering a yawn behind her hand. “I said I’d have these done and they’re done! I don’t sleep much anyway. Go ahead and try them on! They’ll look great on you! Nice pants, by the by! Way better than those rags you were wearing before!”
As she spoke, Sabina unpacked the stacked metal onto a nearby bench. Jadis quickly saw that they were the back and chest plates of three identical sets of chest armor all neatly stacked together. They weren’t fancy, but they looked solid and clean. The armor even came with some basic pauldrons to protect her shoulders, an extra bit Jadis hadn’t expected.
“Oh, but I didn’t mean they were terrible,” Sabina quickly said as she unpacked the armor. “The rags, I mean. Er, not rags, your old clothes. I’m sure they were of great sentimental value to you three since you kept them for so long and wore them down so much and besides, it doesn’t really matter what you wear because you three would look good in just about anything anyway but you’ll look even better once you put these chest plates on. Want help?”
The last was said as Sabina held up one of the large chest pieces towards the closest of Jadis’ selves, namely Syd.
“Um…” Sabina said, tilting her head like a confused puppy, “Dys, right?”
“That one is Syd,” Aila corrected from the side, making Jadis internally grin.
It made Jadis happy to know that Aila paid close enough attention to her selves that she could tell them apart despite them now wearing identical clothing. Though maybe she was still easy to figure out since her three bodies carried different weapons. She’d have to swap and see if Aila could still keep track.
“Syd! Right!” Sabina said hurriedly. “Sorry! Still hard to tell which is which. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it eventually!”
“No problem,” Syd said, taking the proffered armor piece from the half-elf. “We’re practically interchangeable anyway. You won’t offend us if you get our names confused.”
Jay sent Aila a wink as Syd spoke, making her quirk a lip up in suppressed amusement at her silly sort-of pun.
“Go ahead and help me get this beautiful new armor on,” Syd continued with a grin aimed at Sabina. “I can already tell it’s better than what I expected.”
Showing her how to do the straps, Sabina assisted Syd in getting the new armor on and properly fastened. Once the armor was on, Jadis had a feeling it was actually far heavier than it seemed, though with her massively increased strength over what was typical, she had a hard time telling.
The chest plate was thick and durable, made to take even heavy blunt blows without denting. It left Syd’s abdomen exposed, but that seemed a purposeful design choice so that Jadis’ ability to move wasn’t hindered. The back piece was just as solid, as were the round shoulder guards. There were no embellishments to the hard steel, no engravings or gilding, but honestly Jadis kind of liked the clean look of the utilitarian piece. Looking at her self standing at full height with the armor strapped on, she felt a lot more powerful and protected than she had been a moment before.
“This is amazing, Sabina,” Syd grinned down at the beaming half elf. “Seriously, great job! I don’t know how you managed to do three sets of these with pauldrons on top of it, but I should really give you a bonus for this.”
“No, no need!” Sabina waved Syd off with a bright smile. “I actually managed to level up from making these last night! Level sixteen now! That’s more than enough of a bonus for me! Also, sorry, meant to mention, I did find one thing that another smith made that hasn’t sold that’ll probably be better than your spear.”
As Jay and Dys started strapping on their own sets of armor, Sabina rushed back into the smithy and returned moments later, carrying what Jadis could only describe as a lance. The huge polearm was even taller than she was and had to be close to ten feet in length. Sabina knocked into a few of the other workers as she carried the enormous thing out, causing a string of curses from them and hasty apologies from her.
“Here you go!” Sabina presented the weapon to Syd with a huff.
Taking it, Syd found that it was heavier than she thought it would be. Instead of being made of wood, the shaft of the lance was made entirely of steel, giving the solid weapon significant weight. It had a leather-wrapped handle with a cross guard on one end that was large enough to fit Jadis’ hands comfortably, and a sharp bladed tip on the other end, about a foot long.
“Ferdi made it custom for an orc mercenary who wanted to use it while riding on his trained thunder boar. Unfortunately he died battling demons a few weeks ago, never got a chance to use it. Ferdi was going to reuse the metal but since you’re here, I convinced him to sell it for cheap!”
Syd swung the lance once to test it, finding that despite the great weight of the weapon, it felt far easier to move than her makeshift spear. The lance was perfectly balanced.
“Thanks again!” Syd smiled at the smith. “I definitely think we’ll be doing a lot more business together.”
Paying the smith the remainder of her balance, plus the extra coin for the lance, Jadis put in another order for some more armor, this time some bracers and shin guards on Aila’s recommendation.
“If you want to get something heavier later, you can, but it’s good to get some protection for your limbs,” Aila instructed. “With your strength you could handle full plate armor easily, but that kind of armor will take a lot longer to make, even for Sabina.”
“True,” the smith nodded. “I could probably go without sleep for maybe a week and get it done a little faster that way but it’ll still take me a couple weeks, probably longer.”
“No need for that,” Jay put a hand on the tired half-elf’s shoulder. “Don’t wear yourself out completely on our behalf. How about a shield? That’d be helpful, I think.”
“A shield! I can do that, absolutely! What kind do you want? Buckler, heater, kite, targe, tower?”
“Whatever you think would suit me,” Dys said with a short laugh. “Go wild!”
That statement seemed to only fan the flames of enthusiasm in the smith’s eyes.
“C’mon,” Jay motioned towards Aila. “It’s getting towards mid-morning and we’ve yet to get outside the city walls.”
“We’ll let you know how well the armor performs,” Syd called out as she left.
Jadis wasn’t sure if Sabina heard her though, she already seemed lost in thought coming up with new ideas of how she was going to make Jadis a shield in her size.
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