Tricky Gnomish Devices
Xoscyl, June 9, 2006
A high pitch squeal rang over the hearthstone, as a small gnomish
device shone as bright as the sun before Taegol and Xoscyl. The
latter of the two had found the trinket while The Grim pillaged
Menelith Harbor. It had been a grand adventure, and she thought
the small device would be a nice souvenir.
As the bright light faded back into the device, so did the
squeal. Taegol and Xoscyl stood for a moment, stunned by the
obnoxious assault on their senses. The two could vaguely make out
the voices of those that spoke over the hearthstone, nor could
they make out much but the outlines of those around them.
“Punt a Gnome?” Zargoth questioned after the sound subsided.
“Man, that was bright” Xoscyl shook her head, “Stupid Gnome
trinket.”
Taegol rubbed his eyes, “Yeah, I’d never go near those with a 10
foot pole, Zark wouldn’t even sniff it.” He paused a moment “Hmm,
the device seems to have messed with me a bit, my clothes feel a
bit tighter.”
“Yeah… and mine feel loose. That’s the last time I pick something
off a gnome.” Xoscyl squinted, trying to make out the images of
those around her.
Taegol turned to the Bowyer and passed him some coin. “Your
finest arrows.” The Bowyer gave a snort and laughed a bit as he
handed the orc a bundle of arrows. “Ignorant fool,” Taegol
grunted at him.
Xoscyl spun around, cocking her head to the side and said,
playfully, “It is not uncommon to have people laugh at you
Taegol.”
Regnanetah broke into the conversation. “Wh’d ja say it ain
strange ta ave people laugh at ja Taegol? Usually ja insult
odders, no jaself.”
“Huh?” Taegol exclaimed, confusion washing over him.
“Did I miss something? How’d he insult himself?” Xoscyl
questioned.
Taegol then whispered, just loud enough to make sure those over
the hearthstone would hear, “I think someone’s had a bit too much
to drink.” Xoscyl chuckled in response.
Regnanetah then countered with, “Jus said it Taegol mon. Ju said
it ain uncommon ta ave people laugh at you Taegol.”
“Aye, that is what Xoscyl said…” Taegol admitted.
“I said that… Not Taegol.” Xoscyl argued.
“An I avoid drink. Cause it messes with ja ead. No… it was
Taegol’s voice.”
An itch began on Xoscyl's inner thigh, under her now loose
clothing. She proceeded to scratch it, and was very surprised
with what she found.
Shocked, Xoscyl exclaimed, “Oh my god! I have a …”
“You two switch bodies?” Wiltedflower tried to clear the
confusion with the question.
“Now that I hear it,” Taegol said while rubbing his eyes, “ Your
voice does seem a bit mani… WHAT?!?!” He peered at the figure in
front of him, as if he were looking at himself in a mirror.
“Where’s my beautiful green body?!” Xoscyl frantically looked
over the male body that she now inhabited. It was one she knew,
the one of her partner.
Regnanetah chuckled, “I see, looks like da gnome device ad fun
wit ja.”
“Well,” Taegol stood, his hands on his womanly hips, “Seems we
have ourselves in a bit of a situation here.” A near by Tauren
looked Taegol’s way and sent the male possessed orc woman a wink.
“Hey buddy, what you looking at?” Taegol threatened, shaking his
fist, causing his chest to bounce. “Back off, or I’ll shove my
spear in your side!” The Tauren watched Taegol’s womanly body as
it’s chest rose and fell with each heavy, angry breath. He seemed
quite intrigued by the orc’s behavior.
Xoscyl stood very uncomfortable, unsure of what stance to take
with the new appendage she had discovered. “This is too weird… I
think I’m going to go to bed. This is too much for me to take
right now.”
Taegol backed toward the inn, “Perhaps that is a good idea. I
don’t like the way this Tauren is looking at me. We’ll figure
this out in the morning.”
With that, the two made their way into the inn and barred
themselves into a room. It was long before either was able to get
to sleep. But once they did, their predicament was forgotten and
replaced by pleasant dreams. That is, until they woke the next
morning.
Xoscyl stirred first, her now masculine body was hard to maneuver
and she struggled to get out of bed. As she rose, she realized
another part of her had as well.
“WHAT?!?!”
[Xoscyl]
Xoscyl was not accustomed to the muscular build of Taegol's body.
She realized the finesse she used with her axes were lacking in
his arms. His calloused hands were worn and molded for the spear
that rested on his back. It would take her time to learn his
ways. Zark scoffed many a time as she would try to slice into a
target with the pole arm, only to cause vibrations down the pole
and into her new arms. But none the less, she looked at this as a
learning experience. Perhaps after experiencing the way Taegol
fought, first hand, she would be able to complement him better on
the battle field.
While she always welcomed a chance to learn something new, she
desperately wanted to be back in her own body. She missed her
curved blades, the softness of her skin, the way her white hair
would fall perfectly back into place after every gust of wind and
her outfit. If there is one thing she hoped Taegol would learn
from this happening, she wished it would be better fashion sense.
Xoscyl walked into the Guild hall, slightly inverted, trying not
to call too much attention to herself.
[Xoscyl]
Shadows of flailing limbs, and wavering streams of a rising
smoke, danced against the surrounding walls. A small fire, whose
light created the gigantic images, burned on the earth, consuming
it’s fuel of logs, from the great forest watchers, and sage. The
moon and stars lit the night sky, only a single cloud floated
amongst them. It was soon overcome by the diamond-covered canvas
and dissipated.
A decorated Troll, bearing the head dress of the witch doctor,
shook a small egg shaped capsule over the fire. Out, from the
three holes along the top, poured a teal powder. Any enchanter
would recognize the substance as vision dust. The smoke rising
from the fire took on a teal shimmer, and began to twist and
shape itself in ways uncommon. The Troll watched the bobbing and
weaving, studying every movement. The shadows on the wall behind
him showed the rising smoke to form the image of a building, a
figure standing in front of it. Next, the form became something
that looked like a river, with another figure. He stroked his
chin and squinted, as if he were reading the ribbons of smoke.
The witch doctor placed a bucket of water in front of him. Then
he retrieved 2 items from his sack, a vial of frosty liquid, and
several strips of stranglekelp tied together. He placed the
stranglekelp into the bucket, and then proceeded to pour the
contents of the vial over them and the water. Immediately the
water’s surface began to form crystals. Working quickly, the
Troll picked up the bucket, and doused the flame. Smoke billowed
from the base of the now dead fire. The teal shimmering shed from
the rising smoke, and fell to the floor. All the while, the
stranglekelp sat on top of the burnt logs, absorbing it’s heat,
and the ice water that surrounded it became steam. The steam sung
between the strips of kelp, creating various different tones all
at once. The troll was visibly listening as this happened.
Once the steam cleared, the troll pulled from his pack a quill
pen and parchment. He scribbled some words in orcish and passed
the note to the two people seated in front of him.
“Dese be de items I be requirin. Dere location be writin down for
ja. Bring dem to me an’ we will discuss de process for replacin
ja back in ja own body’s.” He said with a smirk.
Taegol and Xoscyl eyed the list and the destinations they must
travel to. It would not be a job for the squeamish, so they were
in good hands with the Grim. Many would jump at the chance for
such an adventure.
[Xoscyl]
Taegol and Xoscyl crept out of the jungle in the darkness of the
night. The two had been AWOL from The Grim, and the rest of their
life, for some time. They had ventured far and wide, studying the
dungeons they must delve into, in order to please the witch
doctor. Many nights and days were spent planning.
Along the way they ran into someone who offered them assistance
in making the wait a little easier. Two red stones were each set
into silver chains, and were given to the orcs. This was no
ordinary item. With a few words from the magic worker, and a drop
of blood of the two wanderers, there would no longer be any
confusion of who is who. Taegol would now be Taegol, and Xoscyl
would now be Xoscyl. This would not be a permanent fix, for when
the necklaces are removed, they would be switched again. Also,
the amount of power within the stones would only last for a
certain duration. Once the power within is used up, the necklaces
would be nothing but a pretty trinket.
With their consciousness now in the right body, temporarily
anyway, they felt ready to return to The Grim and set the first
piece of business into action.