Paladin of Astaroth(Porne)

[Sallin_Kari]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Character (before) : Gurren Oathsworne: a (former) paladin of Tyr, the God of Duty, having forsaken his oath to follow the decrees of the church to try and save a small town as the last in a long line of what he viewed as corruption. He took any help he could get as his paladin powers fled him, taking a deal without investigating it's full consequences with a power he knew nothing about. Making his boons of power selections quickly, he chose numerous combat feats, fully expecting to die in a matter of hours.

After: Armor and face:

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Bodytype:

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Scarlett Fireforged: An active Paladin of Astaroth. Despite now being sworn to what she believes to be a demon of some kind, many of her Paladin abilities are still intact, even if they're different because of the 'god' they're attached to. Regardless, Scarlett intends to do everything in her power to make the world a better place, even if heaven must fall.

Traits:
(Demon) God Forged: the second stage of Paladinhood, the Paladin's god takes a direct hand and reforges their body to implement the deity's will in many different forms. Enhanced physical power, mana and magical resistance, most gods only maintain a few godforged at a time, as they need a constant supply of faith derived magic to survive. Losing access to the power provided by their god results in severe wasting and will cripple the Paladin. Surprisingly, Gurren was reforged into Scarlett, and while many Godforged have no physical needs, Scarlett still needs sustenance. Given her gods lack of worshipers, this is likely intended to keep Scarlett alive.

Demonic Affiliation: normal paladins have access to numerous spells which channel the powers of light, healing, and protection. Scarlett's affiliation with a demonic force has instead gifted her with powers over fire, darkness, and consuming/parasitic curses.

Abilities:

Demon's Cloak: This 'form' of her godforged body still radiates some detectable energy, but almost all tells of who or what her sworn god is are hidden. Clerics can still detect that she is godforged, but can not recognize anything beyond that. It is rather power intensive, and maintaining this spell tends to sap what remains of her Godforged power down to the level of a normal paladin.

Imbue weapon/armor: Scarlet can imbue her weapons or armor with additional attack/defense of a chosen nature. The item in question is not given special protection from the effect, and lower quality equipment will frequently be attacked by the fel nature of the imbuement.

Smite: an energy attack of a chosen nature, with moderate range and moderate damage. Additional traits of an appropriate nature can be added as skill improves.

Area Desecration/Aura: an AOE/DOT of a chosen nature. The most common she uses is a parasitic aura that leeches the life from around her to feed her magical abilities. Other favored spells include a 'shadow pit' that restricts movement and an aura of shadow that hides her presence. Cannot be simultaneously cast.

Sacrificial Conversion: Power, freely offered or taken by force, can be sacrificed to Astaroth in exchange for her favor, which can be used to fuel her demonic powers. Outside of combat, sacrifices can be made to cast spells well outside of Scarlett's abilities or skillset.


Skills:

Well practiced: Much of his time spent staying ready for combat, Gurren spent several hours per day practicing with a variety of weapons and tactics. Scarlet's young body fools people into thinking she only has a few years of practice rather than the nearly three decades. Of course, her new physique, while impressive, is still different and will require some getting used to.

Common languages: years spent in a large city have allowed Gurren to practice a variety of languages and have exposed him to various cultures besides the dominant one.

Smiting: a common 'pastime' for young acolytes, Gurren had a great deal of practice making armor, weapons, and horse shoes to 'donate' to the church. How different could weapons and tools be, anyway?

How did things end up like this? Only a decade ago, the great nation of Valirie was at the height of glory, and peace ruled the land. The Oathsworne were a fifty strong clan, dealing with minor issues and the occasional possessed soul. The Church of Five guided humanity to an age of prosperity. In only ten short years, Valirie has all but fallen, with the only surviving cities being those that took it upon themselves to defend themselves or garrison cities that have been placed under martial law, with no central order keeping them together. The Oathsworne have died fighting all kinds of atrocities, with only you, the only surviving member. And the Church? How could it fall so low that the God of Duty would abandon the call to defend the innocent against a viscous army of demon-tainted gnolls?

To sit and wait as you knew death and even worse horrors were closing upon the innocent, could there be a more blatant violation of your codes you swore to upkeep? You would not stand it. You could stand it. And so you turned your back on your home of five decades to do what is right, even without your god's blessings... Even if you knew that you were powerless alone. You cried out that if there were any justice in this world, any fairness, that would some deity give you strength for this upcoming fight. Oh how foolish you were. Your call was indeed heard, but by the arch-enemy, one of the seven Demon Lords of sin. Despite this... you needed power, and that is exactly what she was offering. Thousands of options flew before you, and you picked quickly those familiar to you from your holy background, glossing over how similar several of them were to your old powers.

With renewed vigor and the strength dwarfing the Oathsworne clan's at its peak, you road off, fully expecting to die in combat. But fate had different plans for you. You awoke in a field covered in blood, bone, and corpses. The stench of death mixed with burning corpses and brimstone, forming a scent so potent it burns both your lungs and eyes. Your body ached in ways you didn't know was possible and it refuses to move like you tell it too. You finally manage to force yourself onto your feet and survey the carnage. The corpses are clearly gnolls, but you can't tell if the demonic touch to them is from the hellfire or inherent. This must be the work of your new patron.

As you contemplate what you've done, a voice calls out, "Oi! Lady! You alright?" Turning to the voice you see a boy, no later than twenty and probably much younger, call out to you. He's gripping a crude spear, made from a knife tied to the shaft of a broom with some twine.

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

[porne]

I gasp as I wake up, struggling loose of whatever is holding me. I collapse onto my hands and knees, still struggling as I hack up... something. Is this something from the wounds that... I catch sight of my fingers poking out of my ruined gloves, bright pink fingers whole and unblemished. I sit back, and nearly fall as something is wrong with my balance. A split second later, it seems like time slows down as my body naturally corrects itself. The area around me are in wildly different colors as I try to focus. Closing my eyes to focus it takes a few seconds for me to properly filter out what I don't need to focus on.

Finally, I feel like I've got a handle on what is going on. Looking around, I see the devastated battlefield around me. The entire army of demonic gnolls wiped out to the... creature. Finally, I focus on myself, noticing that I have tits now. What, why do... the demon! That particular aspect comes flooding back, as I recall bits of lore, the 'god forged' who are rebuilt their servants, many barely resembling their original species. The foul thing that offered me power must have decided this would amuse it. The armor I wore before is shredded and destroyed, barely holding together. The ancient blade of my family is beyond rusted and pitted, little more than a hilt and a flat piece of rust.

I'm startled when I hear a voice and whip around to face whoever spoke. Seeing the young man, I glance at his spear, and the time distortion happens again as I focus on a weapon. Returning my attention to his face, I try to speak, my voice coming out dry and parched. "...I think so." I manage to rasp out. I swing forward slightly, ignorant to any shows I' put on as I try to stand. It takes a second to relax enough to let my body simply do what I want it to, my honed instincts unused to the shifts in weight.

[Sallin_Kari]

As you notice your additions, you recall that your... 'patron' did tell you that she would turn you into something more suiting of her... Though honestly you didn't give it much thought at the time.

The boy approaches slowly, barely holding onto his 'spear.' Clearly an amateur, so much so that you are confident that even if he did decide to attack you, that you'd be able to handle him even unarmed and confused as you are. Still, he has an uncomfortably strong focus on you, his gaze unwavering which, considering the field of blood you're in, is most peculiar. In addition he's not making eye contact with you, but rather watching your body. While that can be a valid tactic in a fight, as seeing the movements of the limbs can help you counter and defend, you doubt an amateur like this knows such things. It is a long moment before he manages to speak, "Umm... Did... Did you do this?" He breaks his gaze to glance over the bodies.

[porne]

I stand all the way, up, stretching my back a bit as I use this... my new body for the first time, the bones creaking and moving a lot easier than my old ones did. Looking around, details are still jumping out without my attention turning to them, but I'm beginning to get a feeling for the way this body, or at least the eyes work. "Yes, I believe I did." I manage to get out before I begin rummaging in what appears to be a hatched egg shell composed of pure obsidian. Is any of my gear left over and in working condition? I would do quite a bit for a drink of water at this moment.

[Sallin_Kari]

As you survey your gear for anything useful, the kid grows quiet again. Most of your stuff is absolutely ruined. The hellfire was less than discriminate it seems. God knows where your horse is, though you vaguely recalled that it was struck by the gnolls at the beginning of the fight, so is probably dead.

The boy takes a waterskin off his side and takes a quick swing from it before playing with it for a bit before finally speaking up, "Um... would you like to come back to the town with me?" He pauses for a moment before growing red and explaining twice as fast, "I mean, I was sent out to look for the gnolls and get information! If I go back now, no one will believe me that they're all dead. But if I bring back the person who did it, then I got something to work with, and they don't think I'm lying... And they'd be super grateful I know... We don't have a lot of money, but we got food... And if you need shelter, I got some spare rooms. Don't worry about intruding, I've not know what to do with it after..." He suddenly cools off, as he somberly finished his thought, "After my family died..."

[porne]

Hm. I nod to the boy, looking around for something that will at least serve as a sack. A few monster skulls are usually a good way to prove the death of said monsters. At the boys backstory, I approach, giving him a heavy pat on the shoulder to let him know I'm there, and I'm surprised when he collapses to his knee. "Whoops, sorry. I meant... Look, losing your family is hard, almost impossible, but I want you to know you're not alone in the world. There is your village, and there's always those who travel with you." I help him back up. I need to remember to watch my new strength. I turn my thoughts inward a bit, the loss of your family. I shake my head, getting it back into focus. Collecting something to act as a sack, and anything that looks like it might be useful, as well as the remains of my weapons and armor, destroyed as they are. They were still all I really had left of my family.

[Sallin_Kari]

"Yeah..." He replies, clearly not convinced by what you said, rubbing his sore shoulder. The closest thing you can find to a sack is a leather jerkin a gnoll was wearing as armor before you parted it with its head. Most of the stuff you can find are either destroyed or of such poor quality its not really worth taking. As you begin collecting your the remains of your gear, the boy offers to help, no longer as nervous as before, calmed by sorrow. "Name's Paul... What about you?" He quietly asked.

[porne]

I almost answer Gurren, but that doesn't fit anymore, does it? I recall a different translation of the name, and my eyes wander to the shattered obsidian 'egg' that I woke up from. "Scarlett. Scarlett Fireforged." Not dramatic at all. I almost wince but return my attention to what's around me as I pack up everything I can. I am covered in soot, I hope there's somewhere to bathe after this...

[Sallin_Kari]

"Nice to meet you," He says, before looking around, "We best leave sooner rather than later. You may have killed these things, but you don't look like you're in any condition to fight, and you never know when somethin' else will come 'long."

[porne]

"That makes sense. Let's go." I tell him, following along.

His words make me curious, could I fight? My armor is a shredded mess, and I don't have a useful weapon... but I'm pretty sure I could at the least tear my opponents limb from limb. I still have... something where my paladin abilities used to be, but I don't know what they actually cost. Before, I was running purely on instinct and fury, letting whoever held my pact make decisions on what spells to use. I don't want to walk around throwing fireballs or whatever it is demons do, at least not where I can be seen.

[Sallin_Kari]

Paul leads you forward, through a winding way, explaining as he goes that the roads are too dangerous as you are too obvious to the monsters that infest the lands. Every detour he explains why and where it leads, and despite the fact you aren't following the road, you are making impressive time, yet not running into any monsters.

Regardless of your physical capabilities and divine powers, you are physically drained, so you will hardly be as effective as you would be after a nice meal and a bed. And you suspect that your condition is obvious enough to pick up.

Soon enough you wander through abandoned farmlands, indicating you are close to the town, though you can't help but pause when you accidentally step on a bone or at least half of one. Human femur from the looks of it with clear teeth marks on it, especially around where it was snapped in half, indicating it was chewed down until the monster could get to the marrow. Looking around you see more scattered around. An unfortunately too common sight, as when this all started, farmers on the outskirts were suddenly attacked by monsters. Those close to the town could flee, but even then, many realized too late or took too much time trying to save their belongings.

As you push forward you see even more bones littering the ground as you approach a palisade spaced several hundred meters outside the town walls. You are quickly stopped by guards, as they call out to Paul, "Who's this? Someone fleeing the beasts?"
"No... the beasts are... have been smote. Found her among their bodies. Think she's the cause," Paul replies quickly and concisely, very unlike how he was talking to you, but the guards don't seem to believe him.
"If you abandoned your mission to play hero, the commander is going to have your head. The council is already pressuring to repossess your house for farmland. You don't want to give them an excuse."
"Look, I'll deal with the commander, just open the god damn gate!" Paul shouts back, cursing them out under his breath. The guard singles to someone below and you hear the wooden gate be unlatched before slowly starting to slide open.

[porne]

I pull out a few of the gnoll skulls, tossing them up the wall to the guard and cock my head. I don't quite trust my abilities to persuade a guard. While I've no doubt my new form could be... persuasive, most of my experience tends to hinge on mutual strength of arms. Men tend to react strangely to women acting the same way, at least if you haven't been raised as a paladin where your 'strength' is secondary to the amount of magical might you can bring to the table.

Having convinced them to let us in, I keep my eyes open as I proceed in, letting my new senses tell me what's on the other side before I move in. Once we're in past the gate, I leave the sack full of gnoll skulls and take what's left of my family sword and any other small items of note with me as I follow Paul. Once clear of the guards, I ask if there is anywhere I can bath as I'm tired of being covered in soot and blood.

[Sallin_Kari]

He certainly wasn't expecting that, and flinches as he notices something flying towards him, and then lets out a surprised gasps as he realizes it's a skull. A curse later and the slapping the heads away he gives you a look before muttering under his breath, though still clear enough for you to hear with your improved senses, "Fucking bitch is crazy..."

There is a lot of activity on the other side, and as the gates finish swinging up you can quickly tell why. They moved the farmlands here... presumably that is the entire reason for the palisades despite having a fortified stone wall surrounding the city proper. There a few a pathways set aside for the guards to rush supplies to and from the palisades but otherwise they packed as many crops as they could within the limited area. You recall that this will reduce crop yields over time, but likely they are already edging on starvation so are understandably less concerned with surviving the future if they can't survive now. At your question Paul nods, "Yeah... As I mentioned before, you can crash at my house. I got a bath... nothing fancy but enough to get clean."

He leads you through the actual gatehouse, which provides much less questions then the first one. You are surprised to see even more farmland here, clearly were buildings once stood. Prompted by this, you recall that Paul's house was being threatened to be turned into farmland. Sure enough, his house turns out to be bordering a large field. He locks the door and begins to direct you to the bath when you hear a sharp gasp before an almost shrill cry, "Paul! Where were you! Who is this person? She's covered in blood! You doing something dangerous again, weren't you!" Paul looks down, letting out a soft sigh, as if he heard this several times before, and has resigned himself to it. His lecturer is a younger woman, who appears to have maybe a year or two on Paul, but is certainly not much more. She has a girl-next-door kind of charm, despite... or perhaps partly because of all the dirt on her hands, dress, and even a few smears on her face.

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

[porne]

I give the guard a bright smile and wave as he calls me insane, before blowing him a kiss. No sense in letting the rumors that I'm a kind, caring soul spread. What I do recall of women adventurers, being cold hearted bitches was the best way to keep men who struggled with concepts of 'no' away. Of course, that didn't stop all of them, and if I'm right about how I'll look under all this blood and ichor, I'll probably have to kill a few to keep the men at bay. Demons.

I greet the young woman, giving her a slight bow. "I am Scarlett Fireborne, a paladin who was sent... came to aid you with your gnoll problem. Young Paul was kind enough to offer a room and place to sleep so I might recover from my battle." I set my slagged sword to the side of the door, giving it a pat as it did its best. Depending on if I can find a smithy, I might be able to turn it into something useful. The enchantments on it are gone, but I can at least reuse the metal. Still, I need to figure things out on what I'm going to do.

Finally getting a chance to relax in the bath, I scrub much of the soot, blood, and who knows what else off of my skin. As I feared, my skin is quite flawless, and my figure very very attractive. I'm going to need a new weapon soon. I let my mind drift to the various types of armor I'd seen women wearing, trying to figure out the best set up. When I got the church... no, I can't do that anymore. I've abandoned my oath. How do the adventurers do it, something about small quests or tasks? A town this small, in these conditions, is unlikely to be able to man their gates as well as chase down any monster nests that are setting up, so I can likely trade violence for coin. Assuming I want to stay here. Do I? I gave up my entire life to save this town, I should see it through.

[Sallin_Kari]

She looks at you with shock, and even Paul turns to face you with a surprised expression. After a long moment, Paul, without breaking eye contact from you, taps the girl on the shoulder. "Hmm... Oh yes!" She suddenly snaps, "I'm Hazel. Paul and I go back since we were kids. I've been looking after him since his parents unfortunate passing."
"... Anyways... why don't you go get cleaned up and we can talk after you are done," Paul suggests.

The bath is... simple. A tub with a hand pump to fill. You certainly aren't going to get a warm bath here it seems. Still it'll get you clean, and there is soap. Once you start filling it though, you hear Hazel hiss at Paul, "A paladin! I knew it! I knew you were getting yourself involved with something dangerous again! What are you going to do if someone finds out? Heav-..." She stops herself, letting Paul cut in, "To be fair, I didn't know she was a paladin... Besides... something is strange about that."
After a long pause Hazel, clearly not following, asks, "What do you mean?"
"Think about it, the church pulls out, doesn't leave even a single preacher here, but they send a paladin or paladins to save us? Do you believe that?"
"So... she's lying? If she isn't a paladin then who is she?"
"Not sure... but I don't think she means any harm... If you were planning something shady, you'd keep away from associating yourself with something that'd get you killed... Unless she doesn't know about what happened..."
There is a scoffing snort of a laugh from Hazel, "Who wouldn't know about how the church is viewed?"
"A member of the church, I'm thinking," Paul says quietly, before a small pause lingers in the air, "Think about it, you think the church is going to propagate the idea that the commonfolk hate them to their members? No, I don't think so... so what if this is a member who was off on one of those monster hunting expeditions and came back to... no... that doesn't make sense... she specifically said she was sent to aid us in this problem... What if she's a defector?"
"What?" Hazel raises her voice in surprise.
"Come now. You're in an environment where you'd be shielded from public opinion, and you leave... you're going to go around telling people, 'Hey, I'm a heretic. How's it going?' No, you're probably going to pretend you're still a member of the church."

[porne]

I listen into them, my new senses revealing everything they say. I'm almost tempted to try out my hellfire spell to heat the water, but that's probably not for the best. Still, it's interesting that my own feelings of the church's failings are not only openly held, but are actually the majority? The church is further gone than I suspected...

Still, that does present a few options. I am a paladin, but without any investments from the church, perhaps I could bend the truth and say I'm a paladin for a god who is helping? Or should I go with the idea that I answer directly to my god and the church can go fuck themselves? Why does it sting when I think of 'god' as one of the five gods? Wait, could I truly have sworn to a demon of some kind?

{Hello? Can you speak with words?} I turn my attention inward for the first time since I woke up, poking at where my connection to the god of duty Tyr ssssssssssssssss that stung. Yes, no thinking about my former oath holder while poking my magical bits. Why am I so... strange about this? I must be exhausted.

[Sallin_Kari]

{Oh my... I must say this is a surprise... I never expected you'd come to me willingly... I thought I'd have to visit you in your sleep.} A sultry voice replies, {Regardless, we can have our... proper introduction then, as the connection is still too... tenuous for anything more than words. So my little pet... what brings you to call for me?}

[porne]

I feel a stirring in my loins, which is strange since we're both theoretically women. {I did not have time to ask before. What are your requirements Astaroth?} I dread the answer, hoping it's not something terrible like the lives of the innocent. {Tyr... my former oath holder had requirements of abasement and prayers and such. Obedience to his church. Donations and sacrificed livestock. That sort of thing.} It's best to find this out before I start trying to figure out powers. And why I have tits and a pussy now. But doing my duty comes first, so confirming I won't be hurting anyone, and then how to use my abilities to do good are more important than personal comfort.

[Sallin_Kari]

{Oh I like you... Good, I was afraid my eyes have deteriorated over the centuries...} She chirpily says, before chuckling to herself, {Now, one thing I will say right now is that I'm different then your former little taskmasters. I don't have 'requirements'... Rather, I offer a trade... You do favors for me... and I grant you favors in return. The general theme of favors you can do would fall under increasing the lust in the world... Perhaps you have taken a liking to Paul? ... or Hazel? ... Or maybe you would rather play cupid and get them together like a pair of lovebirds? That'd be a good start. And while yes, sacrifices will be appreciated, you'll only get so far with that. As for donations... what am I going to do with mortal coin? Oh, converting others to worshiping me would also be lovely, my pet.}

[porne]

I think on that for a moment. Favors and trades? That seems... generous. Feeling the connection more carefully, I note that the previous flood of magical energy she was feeding me has tapered off to a barely functional trickle. If I'm going to be doing magic at this point, it's likely going to be my own supply for now. I shall have to test it tomorrow, as well as re-training myself with this new body. So much that is going to need doing if I'm to protect these people.

I snort at her suggestion, {I have no interest in men or boys, and you've decided I shouldn't have the equipment to appreciate a woman, so I don't see why it would matter.}

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Quick question: is Astaroth a known demon, or if she claimed to be a paladin of Astaroth, would the assumption be that she's just got a foreign god of some kind?