Becoming Monsters In The Mirror 38

Not quite finished with this book. By request, I have two Bonus chapters of content. This is the first, a peek into the preparation and care that goes into what this guild does. The Status Pages will, theoretically, at some point, possibly be replaced by fancier formatted ones from the template of Ai Loves... just not quite yet there. Enjoy seeing the versions I have in my notes page, the only things I removed are internal mechanical notes the characters would not be able to see. Site formatting broke my tables, but I have the info here

This is still a story of the Becoming Monsters Universe by Ai Loves, setting used with permission. All canonical and mechanical errors are my own. The yarrb is the creation of FelisRandomis, used with permission.

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Chapter 38: The Binders (Bonus 1)

The hospital wasn't done with us by Sunday afternoon, but they could not find a good reason to keep us there. Especially when some of us had Feeding needs on our records they could not quite fulfill. We returned home, with strict instructions to rest and recover. I mean, that was the intent, anyway. Believe it or not, we don't seek out opportunities to get ourselves wrecked... or, at least, not quite this badly. Meant we all got a few days off, though, that was nice. For once, I had no intention of pushing us out to the Quarry or to the Guild Hall. If anyone needed to talk to us, they could find us to do so.

I had a persistent headache that no amount of aspirin was helping, and a physical therapy home regimen that was thick enough to use as an improvised weapon if I needed to. Also came with enough kinesthetic tape to mummify most of the apartment building. I wasn't the only one with a stack of new stuff to use, either. Lacrosse balls, foam rollers, bars, bands, and books loaded us down on the walk home.

Or, well, most of us. When Lucy and I had gotten back to the room with news of her pregnancy, the room was absolutely filled with shouts and squeals of love and excitement. Got kind of overwhelming, even for me. Poor Nibbles hid his head under a pillow, and I had a bit of a time getting it unstuck from his quills. Half of the others had looks of jealousy and gave me occasional appraising glances, the other half openly stating they'd love to be Cool Aunts. However, when it came time to walk home? Between the six other girls and myself, we didn't let Lucy carry more than a couple of tubes of tennis balls. She seemed irritated at us. If she had been irritated at me alone, she might have won. Might. Not against the seven of us.

We got home and unloaded our gear. For once, we all had the time to make sure everything was put away in the right places. Gloria proceeded immediately to the kitchen, muttering under her breath about the

disgraceful

food we had been eating the last two days. Sarah went to help her, while Whitney and Paige decided to stretch their wings a bit. Lucy, Emily, and Amber took care of a different problem.

I had gone nearly 48 hours without a single orgasm. Probably for the first time in over three years that didn't involve some sort of unconsciousness. As a result, my balls were absolutely swollen with cum that was waiting to blast forth. This batch was still quite potent, so while Lucy could happily ride me to my first torrent (with embarrassingly little effort), Emily and Amber got to taste her on me as they sucked me to numbers two and three. The whole affair took less than thirty minutes.

Because of that uncharacteristic hair trigger, we had enough time to get set up with the whole Guild's Status Binders by the time the others had finished their cook prep and quick patrol. Everyone arrived to us having brought out pencils, binders, note paper, and an agenda from me. "Okay, everyone. I know a bunch of us have leveled up over the past couple of days, and we will be going over that as we get to you. My goal today, though, is getting to know each other. We never really got the whole Guild Bonding thing going in the traditional way."

Paige's turn to give me the eyebrow. "Plenty of it in highly nontraditional ways, though. Not complaining." There was a lot of rather appreciative laughter. Especially from Lucy, Emily, and Amber.

"Okay, okay, fair. Still, while we've managed to do alright so far, I'd prefer to be more deliberate in combat. Make sure we all know where we all sit, what we all have, and what we all do. I won't always see the best solutions, so if one of you does it means we get through that much easier. Make sense? Okay, I'll go first, then in the order we joined." I opened my Binder and made some pencil notes updating the first page, then passed it around.

General Information

Name: Jeremiah Kithkin

Race: Incubus

Sex: Male

Age: 28

HP: 100%

SP: 100%

MP: 100%

Hunger: 24%

Body Statistics

Skin: Slate Gray

Hair: Black

Eyes: Black

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 287 lbs

Wingspan: 8'2"

Attributes

STR: 22 (+6) (15%)

END: 28 (+5) (0%)

DEX: 11 (-2) (5%)

AGI: 11 (12%)

INT: 26 (+2) (83%)

WIS: 10 (+2) (61%)

CHA: 21 (+8) (18%)

LCK: 14 (+2) (55%)

PER: 17 (+5) (36%)

HLT: 24 (+5) (12%)

Racial Features

Parasitic Feeding

Empathic Aura

Demonic Attributes

Improved Demonic Attraction

Class Information

Class: Mirror

Level: 12

Progress: 27%

Class Features

Mirror of Instinct

Scan

Mirror Shield

Cursebreaker

Concubal Acquisition

Recovery

Jackpot

Sapphire Radiance

Concubal Acquisitions

Name Attributes Ability Level Progress

Amber Nichols Wis, Lck, Hlt Extradimensional Space 3 44%

Emily Johnson Int, Cha, Per Shapechange 5 18%

Gloria Santos-Cruces End, Agi, Per Elemental Traps 4 30%

Lucile Lacroix Kithkin Dex, Wis, Cha Flame Ray 5 91%

Paige Evans Str, End, Cha Double Team 2 76%

Sarah Castellán Dex, Int, Lck Combat Disenchant 3 46%

Whitney Cunningham Str, Agi, Hlt Regeneration 7 67%

Significant Equipment: Shield Gauntlet (Gold Battery installed), Guild Leader's Saber, Manashed Shirt, Mail Armor, .45 Semiautomatic Pistol

"You all know that I end up on the front line most of the time in our lineup, but I am in a Jack Of All Trades build, technically midfield. Support casting, filling gaps, focusing enemy weaknesses, and once I get a handle on it I'll be spreading buffs and abilities around with Radiance. My own Class Attributes are Intelligence, Endurance, and Health. Stems from most Mirrors having to get punched in the face to learn their stuff."

Sarah was staring intently at the page. "Good GRIEF you have a lot of abilities, how do you even keep up with all of this in combat?"

"The answer is, really, that I don't. Mirrors very often have a lot more on their plates than they can easily utilize, so we tend to pick some favorites and a lot of things that are either passive or fire-and-forget. I'm really unusual in that regard, but since I watch all of you utilize your signature moves all the time I get lessons on it. Add the fact that I'm the guy doing overwatch things in ideal situations, and I have time to think up applications."

"Makes sense, but still. That and your Ten are... really scary, going to be honest. Five different Abilities over twenty, and an Endurance score getting ready to breach thirty? Not even Beastfolk do that very often."

"On that point, those numbers have been growing fast, recently. Something to do with Concubal Acquisition. I mean, even besides the fact that I've gained a level a week for the last month. Anyway, Lucy, you're up next."

She laughed a bit under her breath. "This WAS going to be the easiest explanation ever. All of you know who I am and what I do, after all, but I just hit Level Ten. Got myself an extra Rote Slot, so I think I'm codifying the Telekinesis adaptation I've been using into Kinetic Bolts. Two Attribute Points... I think nobody here is going to object to me Charisma stacking. It makes me hit harder, and also deepens my mana pool due to Ley Lines."

Whitney tilted her head. "So you're telling me you really DO store your mana in your boobs, got it."

Lucy accepted her changes, and I stared appreciatively as her mana pool deepened. By a cup or so. Her radiant beauty and overwhelming sexiness were only possible to resist due to the combination of having just cum

three times

plus being used to her as a baseline. There were six other appreciative pairs of eyes in the room, as well.

General Information

Name: Lucile LaCroix Kithkin

Race: Succubus (lesser)

Sex: Female

Age: 26

HP: 100%

SP: 100%

MP: 75%

Hunger: 50%

Body Statistics

Skin: Cherry Red

Hair: Black

Eyes: Amber

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 184 lbs

Tail: 4'11"

Measurements: 34H-24-34

Attributes

STR: 14 (+6)

END: 17 (+6)

DEX: 12 (+2)

AGI: 10 (+2)

INT: 18 (+6)

WIS: 14 (+2)

CHA: 33 (+10)

LCK: 8 (+2)

PER: 10 (+2)

HLT: 14 (+2)

Racial Features

Aura of Lust

Sexual Sight

Demonic Feeding (Lust)

Demonic Attributes

Acquired (Mirror)

Class Information

Class: Sorceress

Level: 10

Progress: 00%

Class Features

Improvised Magic

Specialization (Fire)

Ley Lines

Cantrips

Dual Specialization (Force)

Rote Spells

Name Level Progress

Darkness 6 5%

Fireball 5 95%

Flame Ray 9 17%

Kinetic Bolt 1 4%

Shield 8 12%

Telekinesis 7 12%

Significant Equipment: Mithril-Core Combat Staff, Pine Wand, Shield Charm, Padded Armor

Gloria shook her head a bit. "Hang on, I have 42% Hunger right now. Why do you have 50% when we're equalizing?"

"Because mine changes so often I don't bother writing it down specifically. Only if I need to track something. Anyway, I'm a primary backline Striker. Overwhelming force with occasional crowd control. I need to see about picking up a retrain for my Darkness Rote, it lost a lot of effectiveness when I got Dual Specialization."

I raised an eyebrow. "No offense, but right now you need to see about resting. You happen to be

growing somebody

right now."

Her glare had lost exactly none of its effectiveness. "If you try to encase me in pillows for the next eight months, love, you will

not

survive the attempt. Save it for when I'm actually gravid, okay?"

This was going to be a recurring theme, I feared. Decided to just move along. "Whitney, you're next. Really, you showing up is what kicked off this whole mess."

"Wish I could say it was intentional. Still, I'm not complicated, either. I get in something's face and smash it until it no longer has one."

General Information

Name: Whitney Cunningham

Race: Karackt

Sex: Female

Age: 21

HP: 100%

SP: 100%

MP: 100%

Hunger: 50%

Body Statistics

Skin: Dark Brown

Feathers: Black

Eyes: Black

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 245 lbs

Wingspan: 8'

Measurements: 40D-32-38

Attributes

STR: 31 (+6)

END: 18 (+2)

DEX: 16 (+2)

AGI: 20 (+2)

INT: 10 (+2)

WIS: 12 (+2)

CHA: 16 (+2)

LCK: 8 (-2)

PER: 22 (+8)

HLT: 20 (+6)

Racial Features

Demonic Attributes

Demonic Feeding (Wrath)

Winged Flight

Stunning Screech

Acquired (Mirror)

Class Information

Class: Berserker

Level: 9

Progress: 76%

Class Features

Berserker Rage

Two-Handed Weapon Specialization

Regeneration

Dance of Destruction

Conserve Potential

Extradimensional Space

Significant Equipment: Great Scimitar of Momentum, Partial Leather Armor

I looked over her chart. "Stunning Screech? You never mentioned that one."

She grimaced. "I know it might have been useful a time or two, but it's really tiring and hurts to use. Plus it's indiscriminate, anyone too close is risking getting stunned or deafened. Goes double indoors."

"Makes sense. Still, now that I know it's there, I hope you're willing to use it when called to."

Gloria caught the next bit. "Hold on, you've had time to get better armor fitted. Why are you sticking to gauntlets and greaves?"

"Honestly? Anything more comprehensive gets in my way more than it helps. I have to be able to

move

."

I thought for a moment. "I know you're not the only one with that issue. We'll talk to the outfitters at Camp some time this week to see if they have any solutions. Otherwise, Sarah, I'll be asking you to do some research and crafting. Speaking of, you're up."

She smiled a bit. "Thanks for trying to let me work on my Greater Masterwork, but you all come first. My need for it is a ways away. I also just leveled up to Nine, and this is a big level for me. Everyone ready to help with choices? Here we go. First up is Trinket Specialization, which I'm not a fan of. I'd like to avoid it if at all possible, since taking a Spec weakens my other crafts. Second is Overcharge."

I flipped through her binder. "Dumps some of your mana into an enchanted item within 50 feet or so, strengthening its abilities. Strains the item, though. If it's poorly made or if you do it too much, it could fail or blow up."

"Put a pin in that, then. Third is Siphon."

"You put an asterisk next to that one. It's an offensive spell that deals a tiny bit of HP damage and a solid chunk of MP damage, and you can put a bit of that mana into a battery or other powered item on your person."

"Change the pin! Okay, last up looks like... um. Cantrips?"

"That's Lucy's. A bunch of minor magical effects, ranging from detecting magic in use to animating tiny objects. Broom that sweeps by itself, that kind of thing. She used it a lot during yesterday's cleanup."

"Yeah, pass. Going to take Siphon if nobody objects, since all of you keep insisting on dragging me into situations where it can be a thing. Means I don't have to hold back on the wand work, and gives us an alternative route to disable." She closed her eyes and accepted, then penciled in her newest ability

General Information

Name: Sarah Castellán

Race: Gaaku

Sex: Female

Age: 22

HP: 100%

SP: 100%

MP: 100%

Hunger: 50%

Body Statistics

Skin: White, Moss Green scales

Hair: Blonde

Eyes: Yellow, Slitted

Height: 5'5"

Weight: 151 lbs

Measurements: 38F-30-40

Attributes

STR: 12 (+6)

END: 18 (+2)

DEX: 24 (+2)

AGI: 8

INT: 22 (+6)

WIS: 9 (+2)

CHA: 10 (+2)

LCK: 24 (+4)

PER:20 (+7)

HLT: 21 (+5)

Racial Features

Demonic Attributes

Stink Bomb

Amphibious

Demonic Feeding (Sloth)

Acquired (Mirror)

Class Information

Class: Enchanter

Level: 9

Progress: 00%

Class Features

Disenchant

High Yield

Analyze

Combat Disenchanting

Siphon

Special: Masterwork Class Progress Bonus (ends at level 10)

Significant Equipment: Rowan Wand (Silver Battery installed), Shield Charm (Silver Battery installed), Ring of Spell Holding (Eggshell Ritual Shield), Padded Armor.

There were a couple of unfamiliar things there. "Eggshell Shield? Is that where..."

"I told you not to talk about it."

"Shutting up now. You also didn't tell me you were amphibious."

She shuddered a bit. "I can't swim. I might not be able to drown, but I can get stuck in open water. Sank into the Pacific for two days not long after the Change. Rescuers found me before I starved."

"Sorry to hear it. Do you want us to try to teach you, or leave it be?"

She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. "Not... yet. Maybe eventually, but I'm not ready." Her need to center herself was probably helped by the hugs from Whitney and Lucy, on either side of her.

I was glad we were doing this. Halfway around the circle, and I was finding things out I really needed to know as their Guild Leader... and as their lover. Still, while they were doing that, I could continue the exercise. I could smell something delicious simmering in the kitchen, and wanted to make sure we would be enjoying it. "Emily, you're up. I know you're going to have some serious info for us today. How is our Fox o' Six Tails doing?"

"She thinks you need to work harder at finding nicknames." More laughter greeted that, and I was relieved to hear both Lucy and Sarah joining in. "Alright, while I'm our healer, doing so really kind of hurts. Less now than before, but still. I have to take your wounds into myself and focus on them there. So, midfield with Jay. My magic mostly works on myself, as do my Tail abilities. Kitsune... we only get three Racial Abilities to start, but we can unlock more. If any Kitsune have gotten all nine tails, I don't know, but I've only ever heard of three people getting to eight of them. My class works with those abilities a lot, so they're basically one and the same to me."

General Information

Name: Emily Johnson

Race: Kitsune

Sex: Female

Age: 31

HP: 100%

SP: 100%

MP: 100%

Hunger: 50%

Body Statistics

Skin: White

Fur: Gold and tan

Hair: Black

Eyes: Gold

Height: 5'3"

Weight: 108 lbs

Measurements: 30C-28-32

Attributes

STR: 10 (+2)

END: 18 (+4)

DEX: 14 (+2)

AGI: 10 (+2)

INT: 25 (+2)

WIS: 8

CHA: 24 (+6)

LCK: 8 (-2)

PER: 24 (+4)

HLT: 14 (+2)

Racial Features

Demonic Attributes

Demonic Feeding (Envy)

Tails (6/9)

Minor Illusion

Henge (Kitsune, Fox, Human, Sparrow, Monstrous Fox, Deer)

Bargains

Animal Speech

Diamond Claw

Purify

Acquired (Mirror)

Class Information

Class: Hengeyokai

Level: 10

Progress: 54%

Class Features

Shapeshift

Borrow Pain (short range)

Divine Magic (lesser)

Delay Damage

Significant Equipment: Shield Charm

Sarah's eyebrows raised significantly. "Animal Speech? Purify? Those sound like they could be powerful."

Emily's voice was wry. "I'll let you know when I get a chance to experiment. We've been a bit busy the past couple of weeks, and I just got Purify a day and a half ago."

I got it, but I still had other concerns. "Are you still Hunted?"

"I am. I just didn't write it there because I can only see it on scans, not my Status screen."

"Alright. We do need to keep an eye out for that, but they seem to be staying on their side of the Pacific for now. Not a peep from any of the networks."

"That is a relief. I'm a lot more able to defend myself than my mother."

More complications. More family to meet. I had to wonder what she would think of our... arrangement. I shook my head. "Gloria, you're up. What do you have for us?"

"Other than chicken soup in the pot, you mean? I'm on the back line with Lucy, while Nibbles has generously agreed to go to the front when I can give him strength. My role is more battlefield control. I pin enemies in place and trap them, sap their health and narrow down what can get at us and how. Or what can get away. I just got Level eight, too. I think I need more Agility, it will help me get more arrows into the air and get longer range." This took a bit more discussion, her Ability needs were much more varied, but we ended up agreeing.

General Information

Name: Gloria Santos Cruces

Race: Babau

Sex: Female

Age: 29

HP: 100%

SP: 100%

MP: 100%

Hunger: 50%

Body Statistics