Curator POV

Watching the runners sprint out from the camp I can't help but heave a mental sigh. A'right Poppit, more than one ran, make a show of each of them. Maybe throwing a bit of game theory at them was a bit cruel, but, I mean, do I really want stupid people escaping from a slaver camp. The smart ones will understand not to do stupid things like trying to retaliate against me in some manner.

That said, the mana income from Poppits' feasting on the former beast is nothing to scoff at. It did say that tainted flesh rewarded a significant amount more, perhaps there's levels of tainting where it increases the amount further? Although, wouldn't that have been listed to start with, or maybe the descriptions are just kind of an 'overview' and a 'usually how it works' type deal? Ah well, thoughts for another time.

Watching the sand shift and writhe as my lil hungy boyos split off into groups to chase down the runners, I can't help but think of how fish will move to swarm a piece of bread. The smarter folks who realized that running is a trap if any one runs though look at the idiots who fled with pale faces, and a pallid expression that I am quite familiar with. Not many folks can look away from a car crash as it's happening after all and this isn't much different. With almost simultaneous shrieks the Poppits catch their running quarries and with a surge burst up from under the sand lifting their victim up into the air for a moment before rapidly silencing the screams as they swarm over and bodily drag them under the sand.

The pregnant silence that follows is, understandable, even as the sand rapidly turns red around the camp. While I can make out a good overview of things without jumping into the senses of my followers, I want to get a proper feel of things. Shifting into Vahlu's point of view, I can feel the shudder of horror he also suppresses at the sites just now.

"Ah, right, your people have had issues with Poppit's kind in the past. Don't worry though, that'll not be an issue again lil buddy." (Curator)

My voice seems to break the heavy atmosphere of that little...demonstration. Vahlu shakes his head which, while understandable, is also really weird when I'm riding side saddle in his senses like this. As he turns to face our foe, they simply seem to collapse. Weapons or tools dropped, some just looking off in abject horror as they fall to their backs, others falling to their hands and knees, looking down at the sand as they shake, sweat, and gasp for air almost like a fish out of water. The interesting ones though, those are the ones that start kowtowing toward my little Pandora's box of a surprise.

"Hey, Vahlu, you and Paul gonna be okay sorting things out for the minute, getting every one freed, and getting the slavers all 'lined up' so I can judge them properly? I don't think they'll give yall ANY resistance in this current state. Their morale is completely shattered." (Curator)

All that and none of my people are hurt, gotta say this makes me really appreciate the attention to leadership being so important in table top games. Fear is a much more powerful weapon than a gun at times. If any one tries to start stuff in the future, that'll come in handy.

"Ah, yes Curator, we should be able to handle it, and if people act up. I don't think Poppit is ever not hungry anymore." (Vahlu)

"Good lad, ya really get it. Oh, right, Poppit does have a new skill that should come in handy, if being close to some of those slavers results in them starting to drool uncontrollably, that means that person is irredeemable. If they make any sudden movements, or make any threatening movements, END them, be it you, Paul, any of the rescued slaves, doesn't mater. That said, those that are properly subdued shouldn't be attacked or harmed until I've had a chance to judge them." (Curator)

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"Understood, and good to know, that's...weird that they drool from that, but also, like ya said, it's pretty handy." (Vahlu)

"Your will will be done Curator, you can trust us with this." (Paul)

Good good. With that big mana influx, and the weirdness of what I've seen through the eyes of Vahlu, or...when I tried it Poppit, I need to do something about that...limitation. I've also got the best idea, and well, if I'm going to be an object of Worship, I should give them a proper thing to worship, no?

Returning my view back to my domain, I sigh, this really is home. Hey there lil snaketus, I didn't forget about you and how you supported me when I first came too in this place. Seeing how magic is all about how you visualize things, aaand, how I changed your flower some too, well, more changing is fine and this will be great for both of us I think.

Looking at myself, I have a good bit of mana, so...lets only conserve one ring and spend all the rest on this. After all, I'll be getting more soon. With that, I need a good name to focus with what I intend. Hmmm...yeah, let's go with that, and it should make that other idea work even better I bet. Now, the image of how I want the change to take place, and that's surprisingly easy. Now for the proper pomp and circumstance, just to make things feel right. Heavily focusing on the snaketus I start to flow mana into it, the density of it almost visibly palpable and I can feel eyes of all the skinkles looking in on this, which isn't surprising really.

"First to bear me, and give me shelter. Rearing me in my earliest stages of existence in this new land you are indispensable to my early survival. I name you Renenutet. You shall bear me forth inside yourself, sheltering me from those that would dare wish me harm, act as my flesh and sinew so I can better exert my will. To help me raise those I feel deserve to be uplifted and protected, while also allowing me to unleash my wrath properly on those that have truly earned my ire." (Curator)

Those words spoken the massive flow of mana rushes out compared to it's comparative trickle before. Part of me wishes to cackle as the snaketus starts to rapidly morph and grow. A proper head developing, eyes forming from azure flower petals as a wide hood opens to give the proper cobra appearance. Colorful 'scales' in the forms of petals and short spines forming inside that distinct spread neck to give a properly regal appearance. Surging forward toward my ziggurat as it grows, a mouth opens up, sharp and long quills for teeth easily seen, yet it carefully takes me in. My gem like core being hidden away inside it, stopping at the back of it's maw, veins of it's soft flesh covering over me, properly hiding me away as it yet grows longer and larger. Already I can see from it's eyes, as though they are my own, even turning it's head and shifting it's gaze.

Through that connection with it, like my other scions, there is simply a sense of joy and contentment. Not that I mind, honestly it's quite relaxing. Although....I do need to do something to keep my domain 'locked' here, don't I?

As if reading my mind Renenutet leans her head forward once more, and through me passes a...surprisingly large seed which is placed where I once was, crushing the pedestal and causing Babe even more distress than seeing me be engulfed like this. Seeing roots rapidly dig into the structure I feel a strong connection to it, almost like an anchor, or maybe a keystone of sorts.

"Will that keep my domain here, even if we go elsewhere?" (Curator)

With a quick nod of affirmation from my new 'body' I guess, they would speak.

"Yesss, that isss the cassse my Father. Alssso, sssister Archivissst, do not fret ssso. I will keep Father sssafe and sssound, from prying eyesss and the harshnesss of the elementsss till the end of daysss." (Renenutet)

Oh, they can talk....and have a properly effeminate voice to boot. That's good. I think.