Blood, Dust, and Silver — Chapter 1
Tanson, a dark skinned Verandi Shaman, leaned against the wall of the town saloon. The shade covered most of his upper body, which he kept bare.
He heard a pair of guns begin cocked somewhere within the building and smiled. A moment later the window he was standing next to exploded outward. A haggard man with ill fitting, and equally haggard, clothing lay broken and bleeding in a pile of jagged glass and kicked up dirt.
A handsome and clean cut man of about forty peeked his head out of the window, he saw the bits of broken glass sticking out of the man he just defenestrated and cringed. Tanson waved at him. “He give you trouble Sheriff?”
Sheriff Hester shook his head, smiling ruefully. “Naw, just got a little too drunk and tried to get fresh with Sally. Make sure to tell him that if he tries to touch my wife again, It'll be the second story next time... And them windows are barred.”
The Sheriff went back to his business, and Tanson pulled his friend up by his coat sleeves. Dorian, the aforementioned haggard man, brushed the worst of the glass off himself and his wounds started closing immediately. “Got it!” Dorian handed Tanson the key he stole from the Sheriff's wife, then bent back down and picked up his hat and guns. “Now we just need to nip into the jail and swipe us some adventuring licences, then we'll be all set!”
Tanson frowned and narrowed his eyes. “Why would Hester have any of those?” Dorian smirked as he started walking to the jail. “Because I saw him arrest some adventurers about an hour ago.”
Tanson stopped suddenly. “Dorian, what did you do?” Dorian looked over his shoulder, winked, and touched his nose. Tanson sighed, but followed him anyway. “Seriously though, what did you do?”
Dorian jumped up to the second story of the Sheriff's office and lowered a rope for his friend. “I may have bumped into some adventurers who were in town and, through no fault of my own, left a bag of bellus weed in one of their pockets.” Tanson glared at Dorian as he helped him up. “Rape grass, really? It's like you hate decency.”
Dorian shrugged, then turned around and kicked the Sheriff's window open. “I don't think it was loc-” Dorian scoffed. “It wasn't, but that guy ruined my new jacket.” Tanson sighed. “I would have too, if you tried to play grabass with my wife.”
Dorian rolled his eyes then started climbing through the window.“Speaking of your imaginary wife, go into the cell room and bring me back the keys.” Dorian walked up to the safe in the corner and pressed his ear against it, he then started slowly turning the knob.
While Dorian was busy with that, Tanson made his way to the cells. He opened the door to see every cell empty, except for one. In that cell was a woman, she had long auburn hair and dark eyes.
Tanson walked over to the back wall and grabbed the keys, the woman in the cell watched his every move. “Are you going to free me?” Tanson stopped in his tracks, he knew that she was just an innocent bystander. He looked at her, then back to the keys in his hand.
He sighed, then walked over to the cell. He held the door shut with one hand, and unlocked it with the other. The woman tried to force the door open, but Tanson held it shut. He looked her straight in the eyes, then he ran his finger down the back side of the cell door welding it shut with his fire. A good kick would easily break the seal, and both of them knew it.
Tanson turned around before he left. “My friend is going to steal your license.” She glared at him. “I could just break this door down, and stop you both.” Tanson sighed. “You can easily apply for a new one, it's not so easy for us to get one. Wait ten minutes, then leave. Don't follow us.” She understood, she didn't like it though.
Tanson and Dorian were blacklisted, no licencing depot in the Wastes would allow either of them to apply for one. Tanson looked back at her one last time, dropped a pouch filled with rare herbs, then walked away.
By the time Tanson got back, Dorian had the safe open. Tanson tossed him the keys, and Dorian pocketed them. “Only one licence, and it's a woman's. Luckily I have a plan.” Tanson folded his arms. “...And that would be?”
Dorian smiled, and looked Tanson up and down. Tanson had a thin frame, toned yet lithe musculature, understated shoulders, long hair, and a boyish face. “You know, a little bit of work and you could be quite convi-” Tanson clenched his fist, and sheathed it in fire. “No... No, Dorian. I am not parading around in drag!”
Dorian scratched at his beard. “It's not like I'm terribly thrilled with it either you know. The licence is for a Ranger woman named Alexis Lependu, one of us needs to impersonate her and the other will have to be her familiar. I'd be willing to be the woman, but then you'd have to dress up like an animal.”
Tanson groaned, he was right. Dorian would make the more convincing beast, and he would be the more convincing woman. “Fine, but only until we can get better licences. As much as I hate your idea, it's better than staying here and barely surviving off bounty work.”
Dorian smiled, and clapped his hands. “Alright, to the Alchemist's!” He jumped out of the window, and took off. Tanson followed at a more sedate pace, thinking about the best way to approach this situation.
Tanson arrived but couldn't see Dorian anywhere, he waited about eight minutes before he arrived. “Wait up Dorian, there's something I need to do first.”
Tanson led Dorian to a nearby lot, and made a circle in the dirt. He stomped on the ground and the earth shifted into a small shrine. A wave of his hand caused small fires to flare into life within the shrine, a second caused small dust storms to to circle it, and a third filled small dirt bowls with water.
Dorian watched the show impassively, he'd seen Verandi rituals before. Tanson sat before the shrine and called to his ancestors. The shrine blurred together. Fire, earth, wind, and water became one.
The shrine took the form of an old Verandi woman. She spoke in Vera, and her voice whispered to Tanson's soul. “Young one, what wisdoms do you seek?” Tanson responded to her in his soul voice. “Greatmother, I seek the wisdom of Maidens past. I wish to walk as they do, to speak as they do, and to live as they do.”
The Greatmother of the Verandi crossed her arms, and frowned. “You seek our aid to play silly games, you would speak lies with our tongue.”
The spirit of his people narrowed her eyes in thought. “Yet, I feel this path is one that must be walked. Very well, you will receive the blessing of maidenhood, your spirit will be made womanly for a time. Remember who you are child, lest you forget yourself in the embrace of a man.”
Tanson found himself on a great plain, grass as far as can be seen. This was the motherland of the Verandi, the eastern prairie. Tanson hadn't been home in fifteen years, he looked around but saw no huts or any sign of life.
He did the only thing he could, he walked. He walked for days, on the sixth night of walking he came across a small pool of water. The pool reflected the moon, the symbol of femininity. His thirst got the best of him, and he leaned down for a sip of the waters.
He scooped the water from the pool, and drank deeply from his hands. He leaned down to drink more when he noticed his hand was smaller. A look at his reflection in the water showed that his face was a tad girlish. This frightened him, and he backed away from the pool.
He was still terribly thirsty, but drank no more of the water. When day came the sun was vicious, the heat of the plain was like nothing Tanson had experienced. The pool lay there, still reflecting a full moon in the night sky. Promising him cool relief.
The night was just as bad, the cold seeped nearly all life from his bones. As he sat there, his body shivering and aching, the moon pool promised him warmth and an end to his suffering.
Six days and nights he sat there, stubbornness can only get you so for however and the noon sun of the seventh day bore witness to him losing the battle. He crawled to the pool, he dipped his hand into the water and the relief it brought him was climactic. His soul burned for more, and he gave in to the sensation.
Tanson dove into the pool, the water enveloped him in pleasure like he had never known. It whispered womanly secrets to him, things no man had right to know, and that was fine for he was a woman.
Tanson felt a jet of warm water explore her body. It caressed her slender neck, and traced the line of her bust. She felt it glide around her thin waist, and explore her rounded bottom. It just briefly touched her rapidly moistening vagina, and rippled down her long and hairless legs.
She saw flashes of lives lived before her time, of women like herself. They sang, danced, weaved baskets, prepared food, and lain with men and even other women. As more and more experiences, emotions, sensations, desires, and thoughts made themselves know to her a tension built.
That tension grew, and grew, and grew. It suddenly released all at once in an explosion of pleasure that caused her to scream in delight until she passed out.
Some time later Tanson became aware of being repeatedly kicked. “You okay buddy? Must have been a fun dream you had, made you spaff all over yourself.” Tanson opened his eyes, and glared at his friend. “Shut up.” His voice sounded different to both men, it had a feminine quality to it. As though a woman was using his voice. “Huh, I guess it worked?”
Tanson rose, and his movements were a woman's. He walked around, and carried himself as a proud Verandi woman would. Dorian was both fascinated and disturbed by this. “Are you sure you can bounce back from this?” Tanson pouted, and put his hands on his hips. “Duh, I know what I'm doing. I'm still me, still the Tanson I always was. I just have a woman's instincts, and the soul of a Verandi maiden.”
Dorian was entirely unconvinced. “Yeah, you only swapped your soul out for a new model!” Tanson shrugged. “I'm a shaman, I spent a good portion of my teen years with the soul of a falcon. It affects you certainly, but it's just a tad more intimate than changing your body.”
Dorian frowned. “Yeah, and I've spent easily a quarter of my life as a wolf... and it's a huge part of who I am. You didn't have to do this you know, we could have done without it.”
Tanson shook his head. “I'm a Shaman, it is my sacred duty to experience all life has to offer. To walk many paths, and to make the most of this life. My wisdom is not my own, it belongs to all Verandi.”
Tanson looked at the shrine he crafted and smiled. “That's what this is about, Dorian. If I am to walk this path, I will do so properly. I will be the best Verandi I can be. Man, woman, falcon... It does not matter, I am and will always be Verandi.”
Dorian sighed. “Whatever, how you do this is your business. Now, let's go get you dolled up.”
Tanson smiled brightly, and walked into the Alchemist's. Dorian purchased a potion that was guaranteed to increase the size of a woman's bust. The package didn't mention by how much, or if it would work on men. He also had a potion specially brewed. It lessened the autumn's apple and, in the words of the Alchemist, 'rounded out the voice.' The Alchemist refused to clarify anything.
After they left, Tanson ducked back into the lot to chug the potions. The breasts he grew were small, and didn't set right on his frame. The specially brewed potion worked well, so Tanson went to the Alchemist and got another specially brewed potion to fix his breasts. All together they spent about eighty-five gold coins. Tanson wrapped his new breasts with cloth, and wore a simple tunic.
The next stop was the Tailor's. Tanson was measured, and fitted with a chemise, a cloak, and stockings. The rest of his outfit was done by the Leathersmith. He made sensible boots, a skirt, and a bodice. Their total added up to forty-six gold coins, and Dorian paid them.
Dorian handed Tanson fifteen gold coins, then the two men split up. Dorian went for supplies, and Tanson went to finish his transformation. Tanson bought tweezers, scissors, and other hygienic tools.
His hands moved almost as if by their own volition, shaping his hair and eyebrows into a more womanly style. Tanson could hardly recognize himself.
Tanson walked to the edge of town, and met a timber wolf hauling a leather bag. He scratched Dorian's ears in a friendly manner, then picked up the bag. The two men left the town knowing they were free, that the life of adventure waited for them.
To be continued...
Blood, Dust, and Silver - Chapter 2
After four days of travel Tanson was starting to regret the whole cloak idea. It was heavy to carry, hot to wear, and the colour clashed with his boots.
Dorian's ears perked, and he pointed toward some dunes in the east. He pawed at the ground, and whimpered. Tanson smiled, and pulled the water from the sand. Being able to smell water was a handy ability, that was probably the main reason Dorian travelled in that form.
Tanson topped off their water supply, and used the rest to make a small bathing pool. Dorian jumped straight in. Tanson took off most of his clothing, leaving the wrap around his chest, and joined him.
The two of them relaxed for a while. Now that Tanson had a moment to think, he reflected on his changes. Physically he was pretty much the same, with two big exceptions floating about in front of him. The mental changes were less obvious, at least to him.
Earlier that same day, Tanson found himself annoyed with his penis. He had some similar thoughts since his spirit quest, but that was the first time he caught himself. He swung his hips back and forth in the water, the feeling between his legs was alien and disturbing. Even though he had a lifetime of experience with one, his body felt it was something that should not be.
“Dorian, how long will it take us to reach the border?” Dorian shifted back into a man, then shrugged his shoulders. “Walking? Eight months, a year... Longer, it depends really.” Tanson nodded, they would have to be careful not to be found out during that time. That meant spending most, if not all of it in disguise.
He thought about having that strange appendage hanging between his legs, for that long, and shuddered. He took a deep breath and looked away from Dorian. “The next town we get to, I'm going to see their Alchemist.” Dorian raised an eyebrow. “About what?”
Tanson bit his lip, and blushed. “I... Look, it's not important. Just something I have to do.” Dorian looked a bit worried, but nodded. “If it's something you have to do, that makes it important. Problem is we're broke.” Dorian pulled out his coinpurse and shook it. There were a few coins jingling but barely enough to buy a draught of febrifugia, let alone a specially brewed fleshcrafting tonic.
Tanson nodded then pulled himself out of the water, they'd have to stay in town for a few days to get some work but it was easily doable. Dorian shifted back to his wolf form, then clambered out and shook the water out of his fur.
They walked for most of the rest of the day, camped for the night, and repeated that for six days. They arrived in the town of Castover at around midday on the seventh day, the first place they went to was the town hall. The bounty board listed five bounties. Two were small time, one was claimed already, one was too far out of their way, but the last was ripe pickings.
Fifteen gold bars for the live capture of a man named Oliver Kisky, wanted for questioning related to counts of unwarranted and/or obscene necromancy. Tanson and Dorian made their way to his last known address, and looked around. Dorian smelled clothing and personal affects.
Tanson found a ring of keys and a box of nails, both of which went right into their pack. Dorian led Tanson to a cave just outside of town. There was a skeleton near the entrance, it wasn't walking around or anything but Tanson roasted it just in case. The cave itself was more of a crack in a rock, but was big enough to enter.
The inside of the cave was a smallish chamber with a shoddy fort made of piled rocks. A man was lying on a hammock, Tanson looked at the wanted poster and confirmed that it was the man they were looking for. “Alright, let's do this easy-like. Hands on your head, no sudden movements”
Oliver jumped up and flung a burst of greenish light at them, Tanson recognized it as an entropy spell. He intercepted the spell with a jet of fire from his hands. Dorian ran forward toward the necromancer, and Tanson kneeled to the ground and concentrated.
Dorian jumped out of the way of several bursts of entropy magic, and got behind Oliver. Dorian growled at the man, and showed his teeth. As Dorian was keeping Oliver's attention, Tanson reached into the earth around them and called it to move.
Dorian sensed the ground moving and lunged at Oliver, the man in question charged up a burst of entropy and took aim. Tanson buckled the rock under Oliver's feet, causing him to miss Dorian entirely. Dorian was not so impaired, and sank his teeth into his arm.
With his casting arm in the mouth of an angry wolf, Oliver was a tad more cooperative. Tanson stomped on the ground and made a small cage around their captive. “Don't turn me in, they'll kill me!” Tanson shrugged his shoulders. “The wanted poster just said you were to be questioned.”
Oliver just sighed. “I just... Wanted to see my mother again.” Tanson shrugged again. “Explain that to the city officials, not really my place to judge.” Tanson kicked the cage out of the cave.
Tanson pulled two ropes out of his bag. He tied one rope around a rock, and made sure that Oliver was watching. He incinerated the rope, and the rock was scorched. He then tied the rope around Oliver, and removed the cage. “Move.”
Oliver didn't need to be asked twice. The walk back to town was a short one, and Tanson walked his prisoner straight to the Sheriff's office. Tanson turned in Oliver, and received ten barstamped gold coins and five gold bars worth of silver coins.
Tanson went to the town's Alchemy shop and nervously waited outside the door. He took several deep breaths then told Dorian to stay outside.
He opened the door to the shop, and hoped he wasn't closing the door on his old life.
To be continued...
Blood, Dust, and Silver - Chapter 3
Tanson walked out of the Alchemist's with a swing in his, now wider, hips and a smile on his, now fuller, lips. He spent three bars worth of gold, but his body now felt right to him and that's worth more than all the gold in the Wastes.
Dorian plodded up and took a sniff of him, then tilted his head. His amber eyes shone with curiosity. Tanson scratched him behind the ears. “We'll talk later.”
Tanson finished restocking, and left town just before sundown. Once they were suitably far away from town, Dorian shifted back to his human form. They walked together in silence for a while, before Tanson rounded on him. “You obviously wanted to talk about something earlier, what is it!?”
Dorian sighed, he hated talking about awkward things while nude. “It's not really my business to intrude, but don't you think you're taking this a bit too far?”
Tanson shifted, unconsciously crossing his arms over his breasts. “I... Don't know what you're talking about.” Dorian frowned. “Listen, if you want to be a woman that's fine. I can accept that, but you are lying to me.”
The ground under Tanson's feet was churning as he walked. “I'm a man! I don't want to be a woman, that's crazy talk!” Even as he said it, he knew it was as far from the truth as possible.
Dorian laughed. “Tell me that again once you've stopped ovulating. The smell is rather distracting.” Tanson blushed and turned away. “I just... It's the soul of a woman thing, I just felt uncomfortable having a... Well, you know. Though I didn't think the Alchemist's potion would be quite so thorough.”
Tanson sighed, and shook her head. “No, I... Am a woman, at least for now. I guess I just-” Dorian spun around and whacked Tanson in the face, as Tanson fell she saw a jet of flames roaring past her.
The torrent of fire hit Dorian straight on, but he managed to put his arms over his eyes and most of his hair before it hit him. The entire front of his body was covered in charred flesh and rapidly healing burns. They had stumbled into the nest of a drake.
Tanson took a moment to check their surroundings, they apparently crossed the border into the Gale Waste while they were talking. She reached into her bag and threw Dorian his guns and his bullet pouch.
Dorian caught them and he quickly hung the pouch around his neck. He scanned the skies and slowly spun around as he loaded his pistols. The drake was circling them, and Dorian never took his eyes off it. It was huge, spiny, and gangly.
Tanson tied her hair back and got into a low stance. The drake swooped down toward her and she stomped the ground. A pillar of earth shot up and the drake slammed into it, one of its wings tore off and it thrashed about in pain when it hit the ground.
The drake righted itself and swung its tail at Tanson and she took a solid hit from it. Dorian shot at the drake to get its attention. The drake roared at him and sent flames his way. Dorian rolled out of the way of the flames, but got a bit singed.
Dorian shot the drake many times, but his bullets did nothing. Tanson had some broken ribs, but was pretty much alright. She took a deep breath and focused on controlling her emotions. She tapped in to the winds around her, this place wasn't called the Gale Waste for nothing.
The drake began to inhale for another round of fire breathing, and Tanson forced the wind down its throat as hard as she could. The drake was stunned and Dorian took the opportunity to shoot it in the eye. The drake reared up and rampaged with pain and anger.
The effort caused Tanson to pass out. Dorian cursed, and started shooting at the drake's other eye. He stopped when he was down to one bullet in either gun. He looked up at the extremely angry drake. “Crap.”
Dorian rolled over toward Tanson and grabbed her, he hefted her over his shoulder and ran. The drake chased after him, and let loose a burst of smoky fire. Dorian shifted Tanson so that he took most of the fire damage but she got some burns just from being so close to the fire.
Dorian was making a beeline to a cave he spotted in the distance, the drake's injuries were such that it couldn't run, fly, or breathe fire too well so he actually made it. Luckily the cave was too small for the drake to enter, but Dorian was worried nonetheless. If the drake was smart enough, or if he was unlucky enough, it could decide to breathe fire into the cave.
For the moment it seemed content to lick its wounds and stand guard outside the cave. It was cold in the cave, and dark, but Dorian stayed in his human form until he was far away from the entrance. Once he felt they were suitably safe, he shifted to wolf form and curled up next to Tanson.
Several hours passed before Tanson woke up. She lit her hand up so she could see, and checked on Dorian. He didn't look good, he regenerated more than his body could handle. He would need food soon, or he wouldn't make it.
Tanson looked left, then looked right. She couldn't tell which way they went in by looking, so she picked the way that seemed right and began her journey deeper into the cave.
To be continued...