Story Poll

Hi everyone! Please remember that those of you who are both on Discord *and* on here get to vote twice!

Here's the story poll for you to decide in which direction things go. In 7 days, I'll be closing down this poll and writing what you've all chosen. Of course, my DMs are always open, both on Patreon and on Discord.

Thank you for your continued support. Love you all <3

---

The floor shook, the enchantments keeping the temple standing straining against the frequent tremors. Cracks had begun appearing in the white stone of the walls and ceilings.

Eshana's eyes met Shalendris's as they sat on opposite ends of the table. Priestesses had brought plates of Kaldorei cuisine, their eyes downcast.

The young elf should have been hungry, but the tainted food placed before her made her stomach turn. Visually, it appeared fine, but the demonic energies that permeated everything had also affected the food. It was not that the food smelled foul, either, but it emanated much of the same foulness that she had felt in other fel-tainted places she had seen.

"You should eat," Eshana said, trying to sound motherly, reassuring.

Shalendris turned her head to look out the temple's window. The sky was dark as war raged outside. They were far enough from the battle that they were not in any immediate danger, yet close enough that they could make out the vast armies fighting around Azshara's palace. Once, she thought, it had reassured her, made her feel safe. That felt like so long ago.

"How did you survive...?" Shalendris asked, a tinge of sadness in her words. She had pushed the thoughts aside in her flight, putting her survival above all else, and she had come to accept that her mother had fallen to the demons' corruption. Yet, there she now sat, her personality much the same as it had been a few weeks ago.

Eshana sipped her wine, the supremely busty elf taking a satisfied breath as the vintage coated her tongue. "Are you certain you want nothing to drink?"

"I don't need anything," Shalendris answered, her tone neutral, her mind elsewhere. "Though I would very much like an explanation, mother."

Delicately, Eshana placed her cup of wine onto the table. "I suppose I owe you as much."

Tucking a loose strand of purple hair behind her long ear, Shalendris watched. It seemed everything this woman did was calculated, even such a simple movement as placing a cup upon a table. She had a way of looking at people that made them feel as if she could see into their very souls.

"Do you remember your father?" Eshana asked, her voice soft.

Shalendris nodded. He had been tall and strong, powerful even by the standards of her homeland. His strength had been tempered by a kind heart, his compassion for others unending. She remembered how he had often looked at her when she played, the love shining in his eyes.

She felt something brush against her hand. Turning, Shalendris saw Eshana's hand gently resting on hers.

"You are beautiful, my daughter," Eshana whispered. "You may have much of my looks, but your father's soul shines within you."

The last time Shalendris had seen her mother, she had been a broken creature, a pleasure-addicted whore, slave to whatever foul creature now inhabited Othros's body. To see her so healthy, so whole, brought back memories of a happier time.

"He always loved you best, he said," Eshana continued. "It was clear to me, even then, that you were the most important person in his life."

Shalendris smiled.

"And you still are. Your father did not abandon us, that is not the man he is. And he is very much alive," Eshana explained, her finger tracing along the rim of her wine glass. "Do you trust me, Shalendris?"

The younger elf raised her eyes to her mother's and she nodded slowly. "But I don't trust the demons."

"Best you shouldn't," she chuckled, her hand reaching down between her gigantic breasts, fishing something out of her cleavage.

Slowly, Eshana placed a small glowing green gem on the table. Half an inch across, it pulsed angrily. Recognition flashed in Shalendris's eyes, reminded of the gem she had seen during her spirit travels, when Nar'tuzel had nearly captured her soul. "Is... is there someone in there?"

"There is," Eshana confirmed. She reached over and touched the gem lightly. The stone flared brighter, its light seeming to pulse from deep inside.

Shalendris's eyes widened in shock.

Eshana smirked at her daughter's reaction. "This soul stone contains a demon's essence, their soul. A useful trick I learned recently. When demons are destroyed, they simply reform elsewhere... By trapping their souls, they do not reform unless the stone is destroyed."

"You've learned their magic?" asked Shalendris, frowning. "Then... have you allied with them?"

Eshana looked around briefly, scanning the room. "The magic used by the demons is different than the arcane spells that we have grown so accustomed to. It is far more potent, far more destructive... It is also extremely addictive. Luckily for us both, I managed to control much of that addiction," continued Eshana. "And have managed to find a way for us to survive. Opportunities are to be seized if we are to live, do you not agree?"

"Not if it means losing yourself in the process... I have seen the horrors inflicted upon us by the Burning Legion and I will not join them," replied Shalendris, staring at her mother defiantly.

Eshana chuckled, visibly amused, picking up the soulstone. "Dear Shalendris, always the idealist, always so naive. You've always been a leaf floating in the wind, only responding to the whims of others, but never taking control of your own destiny. I refuse such a life for you. No longer will you be a leaf, but a tree. Do you see the roots extending into the ground below? They are anchored firmly by your body and soul. The oak weathers the storm, the leaf is blown away."

Eshana turned back to face her daughter, who remained silent. "I have worked tirelessly to bring you back to me... Why do you think Nar'tuzel would expend so many resources to find you? Who do you think prodded him in that direction?" she asked. "When I heard that his agents spied upon you and discovered your... gift... It only made that task easier. He believes that this new talent of yours," she said, glancing down at her daughter's chest, "is a way for him to anchor his being to Azeroth, to allow him to come to our world. This ability of yours would allow you to become a battery linked directly to our world, much like the Well of Eternity is used as a conduit for the rest of the Burning Legion."

Shalendris's cheeks grew hot as she listened to her mother talk about Nar'tuzel's plans. She tried desperately to keep her voice steady, but knew that she failed miserably. "How could you possibly know all of this? And why can't he come through the Well like the other demons?" asked Shalendris.

Eshana reached out, stroking her daughter's cheek gently. "I have my ways, dear child. As for why he cannot come through as the others did, it is a matter of power. Greater demons such as him require more energy to bring through," she explained. "And now, there is something that you must learn. Your body is your own, and I won't let Nar'tuzel defile it. It belongs to you, Shalendris, not him. I'm going to teach you how to use it to its full potential."

Shalendris watched intently as her mother stood. It was then that Shalendris felt a presence prodding at the back of her skull. A small, barely perceptible glimmer of life in a nearly barren city. She tried to concentrate on it, aiming her willpower towards it. The plant was quite nearly dead, she realized, its roots unable to find sufficient nourishment in the tainted soils of Zin-Azshari.

"From what I've gathered... your body - more specifically, your breasts - react differently to different types of magic. Would I be correct in my assessment?" asked Eshana, looking down at her daughter.

"Yes," answered Shalendris quickly as her thoughts were rapidly pulled from the tiny mote of life. Her gaze went to the soulstone Eshana casually rolled around in her hand, pushing it about her upturned palm with her thumb. "But... I've only been affected by Talena's healing spells and Allendril's arcane magic," she admitted.

"Mmh, and what kinds of effects did you observe?" asked Eshana.

"Well, the magical energy flows through my body, causing my breasts to swell. It also helps me feel stronger, faster... healthier," explained Shalendris.

"Smarter?" the taller, bustier elf inquired.

"Ah, yes," Shalendris nodded, impressed by her mother's knowledge. "How..."

"Nar'tuzel has eyes in many places. Luckily for us, his hubris is such that he would never expect a betrayal from within. His gaze is focused outward, towards the battle raging around the Queen's palace. Many of his troops were also sent there, commanded to do so by his demonic overlords."

Shalendris's eyes were wide, glad that they were alone in the room.

"As I said, your body is susceptible to magic. You are particularly sensitive to life magic. I suppose you've already figured it out, but your chest acts as a sponge for various energies. It absorbs and stores them until they can be used or expelled, if necessary. This is why your breasts grow with each spell cast upon you."

These were all things Shalendris knew and had figured out, but she was curious to know where her mother was going with this.

"It would also appear that different sources of magic have the capacity to increase certain of your attributes, though to which extent is unknown at the moment. Have you been on the receiving end of fel magic these last few weeks?"

Shalendris tried to recall those past weeks. Most of her days had been a blur, a race from one place to another as she tried to escape the Burning Legion. But she had never been affected by fel magic. Not directly, at least.

"No," she answered honestly.

"All right, then. Perhaps some experimentation is in order."

Just as she finished those words, the door to the dining hall opened and through it strode a red-skinned colossus. Nearly twice Shalendris's height, he wore naught but a loincloth, his bulging musculature flexing with every movement. Eshana quickly pushed the soul gem between her breasts once more, hiding it in her cleavage.

His face was one she both knew and did not, for it resembled an elf she had once loved.

"Lord Nar'tuzel," Eshana said, bowing respectfully. "I am glad you have decided to join us."

The demon gave a derisive snort. "Let us dispense with formalities, shall we? I don't care for them."

He looked down at Shalendris, taking in her appearance as if she were a feast before him. She felt her cheeks flush, embarrassed that this hulking creature was appraising her in such a fashion.

"What took you so long, dear Shalendris?" he asked, a wide grin showing off pointed teeth, his eyes roaming over her chest. "After our last... encounter, I thought you would come back to me sooner."

She kept her composure as best she could, though inside she was screaming with dread. She had been running from this demon and his followers for weeks, now, only to find herself within his grasp again.

"I was busy," Shalendris replied, keeping her voice even. Seeing Othros's face on such a malevolent beast made the woman sick to her core.

Nar'tuzel laughed, a deep rumble from his throat. "Of course."

"My lord, Shalendris and I were about to begin preparations for the ritual."

"Good, good," Nar'tuzel said, making his way to Eshana's plate and plucking a single piece of red fruit from it with his long, clawed digits.

Shalendris watched as he placed a hand on his mother's shoulder, slowly bringing the food to his lips. She dared not speak a word.

"You know," the demon continued, chewing as he spoke, his fel gaze resting on Shalendris, "you've grown quite large since I last saw you. Are these... are they...?"

"Yes," Eshana answered for her daughter, smiling. "Shalendris's gifts, as you can see, come from Azeroth's spirits... She has a direct link to this world, one which could allow you to traverse with greater ease," she added.

"I see. So much life energy flowing in such a tiny vessel... Repulsive. No matter. Having such a potent battery to power the portal will be of great value," he commented, as though Shalendris weren't even there. "How long will it take for her to be ready?"

"It is quite difficult to say," Eshana said, glancing at her daughter. "I will first need to..."

Options:

1 - Eshana brings Shalendris to the fel pools for a dip, allowing her to absorb fel energies. She grows to immense proportions and learns of the effects that fel has on her.

2- Nar’tuzel summons Eshana to his chambers to discuss his plans. He watches as she satisfies a horde of imps.

3 - Shalendris attempts an escape, only to be caught by a pack of mindshackled servants! She gives in to the pleasures they offer.