Rina felt the cold, pale hand on her face, and his dark eyes pierced into hers. She could feel her soul begin to wither like the salt of the north islands.
Rina awoke in an infinite, blank world. The sky was pure grey into infinity, and the ground was black as the void.
She heard Enoch's voice behind her, and turned around to see him sitting in a chair made of the same black of the ground. Next to him was Nicky, who was engaged in their conversation.
On the other side of Nicky sat the pale man, the older brother of the both of them. Beside him was a throne that was empty. The only empty chair was next to Enoch.
He looked up and saw her, "Rina! Please, come sit. We have much to talk about."
"Enoch, it's been a while. Happy to see you again," she sat down next to him.
"Yes, sorry about that. Things have been... hectic here."
"It has been crazy on my end, also. Killing gods, and all that."
"Yes! And you're on your way to another one! See, guys? I told you she was capable!" Enoch smiled, but seemed nervous.

The pale devil seemed annoyed, "Can we just get on with it? We don't have much time, and I don't think... he... will be coming," he gestured toward the chair Rina was sitting in.
"What's this about?" she asked.
They all shifted in their chairs a little, then Nicky spoke up.
"Look, Rina, it's not that you aren't... capable. I'm just concerned that you're not really in this. I mean... are you really into this stupid plan?"
Enoch intervened, "Of course she is! Brothers, you don't need to worry about her."
"I want to hear it from her," the pale brother said.
"Rina, are you willing to truly give up your life for this? Your mortal life? All of the thousands of years?"
Rina remembered Darrian, she remembered Sebastian, and she remembered Sebastian Jr..
"Yes, I am. Without a doubt."
"What brings on the change of tone?"
"Now that I know about this cycle that's broken... a cycle that's keeping my son's people enslaved... I know now that my purpose is the be a part of breaking that cycle. And... now I know where I'm going to go, even if I do die..." she glanced at Enoch briefly, "I'm prepared to do whatever it takes."

They all paused for a moment, then Nicky turned to the older brother, "I'm in."
The pale devil turned to Rina, "I am Razakeen, you can call me Raz. I must say, I'm impressed. Even though I have a hard time believing that this hair-brained plan can work, I can see that it's possible with you."
"I know we're planning on killing Bolgroth, but I'm unsure of the plan aside from that."
The two brothers looked at Enoch, as if he should have told her before this meeting.
"You have to kill your man before we can do that," said Raz.
"As of now, I'm not even sure who it is."
"Rina," started Nicky, "part of us being on board was determined by your progress. We needed to know how far you could get on your own. And I think you're a good fit, given that you're able to get close to the tearing of the world."
"I'm... close to the tearing of the world?"
"That's what this place is, and that's why you were able to meet with Enoch in our realm previously. Not many can do that and survive."
"That explains why I was so tired I actually slept... I don't usually sleep like humans do."
"You will probably sleep well tonight, then!" Enoch said with a little bit of a nervous laugh. Rina smiled and cringed just a little at the joke.
"We need you to kill the Right hand man of the true king of Bolgroth before we kill Da," said Nicky, "We need you to kill... him," Nicky pointed at the throne on the other side of the semi-circle.
"Our oldest brother - the heir to the throne," began Raz, "If we don't kill him before he comes into power, he will inherit the curse. And you don't want that, he will be much more powerful than our father."
"We still need to get our last brother on board, but I'm sure he will be easy..." said Nicky, "He will probably just want to arm wrestle your or something."
Rina nodded questioningly. "So, I'm to kill him, but he's on your side, right? Not on earth, but in hell?"
"Yes... he's over here. That's why we need someone from your side to be able to come to this side," Raz responded, "unfortunately, we are the only creatures in the world who cannot physically kill him."

Suddenly the ground began to shake with footsteps.
"We have to go," Raz said, "But, I'm in." He and Nicky disappeared.
"Enoch!" Rina stopped him before he could leave, "I have to know - what happened with my magic? How was I able to use actual fire?"
Enoch brought up the contract and showed it to her, "Well, Rina... you seem to have smudged it," he answered, seemingly annoyed.
She looked, and his signature had been smudged just a little. "Enoch, how was I able to do this?"
He didn't answer.
"Enoch, I was a warlock before we met, and I know the contract isn't supposed to work like this. I'm not supposed to have the power to just change it... am I?"
Enoch paused, footsteps getting louder, "Well, Rina... um... No. You're not. I... don't know what's going on."
Rina could tell Enoch was lying, "You better tell me the actual fucking truth some day."
He looked surprised that she saw through him, then vanished.
And Rina awoke for real just as the tiny hut was melting. Once again, she had really slept.

end session

The party awoke and Rina relayed all of the information from Enoch and his brothers.
“So, Phillipia, there's something I didn't want to say with Gewain here, but I think you deserve to know.”
“Sure, Rina, what's going on?” 
“My magic isn't mine… and it also doesn't come from a god. It comes from a devil - Enoch, well, Agronoch is his name. I guess Enoch is just a nickname. But he also has a brother named Nicky, not to be confusing,” Rina explained awkwardly.
“Oh, okay. Wow…” Phillipia paused, “Well, I guess technically I do, too, if Luminus is really a devil.” 
“Yeah, so… I made a deal with him that he'd get my soul, and in exchange he would give me the power to help my son...”
Phillipia nodded, then she and the rest of the group absorbed the information Rina told them about the talk with Enoch the night prior. Rina did not mention the smudge in the contract, however - that was between her and Enoch.

The girls all packed up and began following the path to the maker. 
“We have to cross the river,” Rina began to explain with the sphere map in her hand. “After the river, there's a path through the red mist. Behind that, we should find the Maker.”
“Isn't that huge grub in the mist?” Asked Neely, “I mean… the Arachnakin guy said the electricity within the mist was keeping the grub asleep.”
“Yeah but that's where we gotta go,” Rina said, holding the god compass that pointed directly at the evergrub. 
“River first,” started Phillipia, “They told us it was dangerous, so we need to be careful.” 
“The rope from yesterday has regenerated, so maybe we can use that to get across somehow?” Suggested Alice.
“I can send Volvagia with the rope and see if she can tie it to something over there,” said Rina. 
They all agreed and she sent her pseudodragon over to the other side with the rope. On the way there, however, one of the Kandaroo jumped from the water and attacked. Rina called Volvagia back, but it was too late. 
Another fish bit the little dragon, and she disappeared from this plane.
“Aw man… I'll have to resummon her. You guys try to think of something, I'm down with whatever plan you think will work.”
Alice decided to become a hawk and fly the rope over, then she turned into a Titanothere to hold the rope.
“Neely, you could cast fly on two people, right?” Asked Phillipia.
“Yes! I can cast it on you and Rina, then I'll have Alice pull me over. I can cast a shield spell on myself to keep from getting hurt by the fish!”
So they executed the plan. Phillipia and Rina flew over, and Neely was pulled over with the rope. They all made it across, unscathed.

They continued toward the red mist. The lightning lit up the space with sporadic jolts, and it became increasingly obvious that the lightning rod from Takashiski would be necessary. 
“I have immunity to lightning right now,” started Rina, “one of you ladies should take the rod just in case. And stick together.” 
“You want us to take your rod, Rina? Isn't that a little inappropriate?” Neely laughed.
“Yeah you've been a little sexually aggressive lately,” Phillipia joked.
Rina laughed with them, “It's been a long time, okay? I'm jonesing!” 
After a bit of a laugh from the whole party, Phillipia and Neely began arguing about who should hold the rod.
“I think you should take it, Phillipia. You have a free hand.”
“I think you should, you're easier to kill than me.”
Alice then took the rod in her Titanothere mouth, and continued walking down the path.

They got to the edge of the red mist, lightning showed shadows of monsters that crawled within.
“If we go slowly I think it'll be less likely that they'll notice us,” suggested Neely.
“But if we go quickly, there's less of a chance that we will run into them at all,” Phillipia retorted. 
“I'm good with whatever you all decide,” said Rina. 
She then translated for Alice, who was moving in her Titanothere form. “Alice said she wants to go faster.” 
“Then faster it is,” Neely said hesitantly. 
They walked with a quick pace, but none of them were all that stealthy.
They then saw something incredibly shiny in the rock wall along the path. Alice approached it, and noticed it was a huge rough diamond. The largest diamond any of them had ever seen. 
Alice's eyes went wide, this diamond would be worth millions of gold. 
Rina stopped her, whispering loudly, “Alice, stop, look behind it!” 
Alice was fixated on the diamond and she had all intentions of taking it, but Rina's words made her refocus her eyes: behind the diamond laid a large flounder-like creature. It was lying flat, but prepared to attack if anyone fell for this trap. Alice paused, but eventually backed away - they evaded a trap because of Alice’s decision to walk away from money.

They continued walking through the mist, and thought they could see the end. But the mist got thick, almost too thick to breathe. Suddenly, they realized that the mist was not only surrounding them, but was also inside their lungs.
Alice, who was leading the charge, stopped in her tracks, and the other girls could see a creature enveloping her head and face… and lungs. Rina and Phillipia then both ceased breathing, and looked at each other in a panic. 
“What's going on?!” Neely yelled in confusion. She was the only one who did not have a Mist Creature on her, but could see what was happening. She used shatter on the creature enveloping Phillipia, who still couldn't breathe. 
Not only did they have creatures enveloping them, but these creatures - as well as the mist, itself - had been leaching the blood from their bodies the entire time they had been walking. They all soon realized that they had taken necrotic damage that could not be healed. 
Phillipia swung her halberd at the creature on top of her, and the blade cut through it without leaving any damage. She tried again, this time adding divine smite magic to her swing. When she cut through the creature, this time she could feel it weakening. But she still could not tell the others with the creature in her throat.

Rina threw eldritch blasts at the creature on herself, as well as 2 more at the ones enveloping Phillipia and Alice. But her creature did not flinch, and she still could not breathe. Volvagia, her faithful dragon, swooped down to sting at the creature. It felt the pain of the sting, but was not defeated by it. 
Alice dropped her wildshape, which pulled her face and torso away from the creature enough that she was able to breathe and speak again. She used her moonbeam on the creature that was attacking Phillipia, and that caused the creature to blast into millions of droplets and die. 
Phillipia was then able to move, and ran toward Rina - who was the last of them still unable to breathe, and she was fading fast.
As the creature on Rina moved to pull more blood from her body, Phillipia ran up and grasped the creature’s tendril - taking the damage for Rina. Rina used all three Eldritch blasts on the creature attacking her, and it finally dissipated - dropping her to the ground. 
“...thank you…” she whispered as loud as she could to Phillipia, who nodded with a smile in response. 
Neely helped Alice with the one attacking her, and the two of them were able to destroy the last of the blood-zapping creatures. The mist was still heavy in their lungs, but they finally made their way out of it into a clearing - just before lightning came in to strike them. 
Rina drank a smaller potion to heal what she could - without Phillipia’s help, she may have died.

“That was close!” Alice said as they finally made their way out of the red mist.
“We have got to get somewhere safer, I don’t want any more of these things sucking the life from us,” Neely panicked.
In front of them, they could see the Evergrub - pulsating and as large as a mountain, just barely kept asleep by the magic of the mist. Its mouth hung open, and a door could be seen in the back of its throat. 
“Is it just me, or does it look like this path leads straight into the stomach of that… thing?” noted Phillipia. 
“I think you’re right… gross,” Rina replied in disgust as she held the God Compass - which pointed directly into the mouth of the giant bug. 
“So… do we go in?” asked Neely. “Those double doors have to be at least 30ft high… and each one is - what, 15ft wide? Can we even push them open?” 
“It’s ‘go in where we might be safer’, or ‘stay out here where we know there’s monsters’,” Alice responded. 
Phillipia walked up to one of the two large double doors and pushed - the door swung open without effort.
“It’s so well-made…” Phillipia started, “...it’s so precisely balanced that it opens without effort. I think a lot of people have probably been here on pilgrimages, so it makes sense that they would build it well.”

All four girls walked into the door, which closed behind them on its own. The path was just as gross as Rina wished it wouldn’t be - the leathery skin and insides of the grub were coated in mucus, and the “path” was just the dryer areas of the throat. 
As they walked, they saw little lights hanging from the skin of the digestive system of the creature. They were made of little glowing bugs in jars, many of them were multiple different types of glowing creatures morphed together to make a grotesque hybrid of sorts. The farther they walked, the more morphed creatures they came across - most were in jars or in cages, and any others were harmless, but still disturbing. There was a brain being zapped on occasion, a row of creatures in jars near each other that appeared to be different life cycles of it. Some areas had fish tanks with Kandaroo being fused with different creatures - some with legs, some with human faces, some with bug carapasses being fused to their scales. 
“These creatures all being fused together…” Rina began to think out loud, “They remind me of the spliced souls we saw on the surface. The Kandaroo are present here, and we also know that there was an elemental in the body of the Golem. I wonder if this god has something to do with all of that.”

Just as the thought ended, a high-pitched, cheerful laugh came from around a bend. Rina smiled, the others began to cower a little. 
“Hello?!” Rina yelled in its direction.
“Are you crazy!?” Alice scolded, “We don’t know what’s over there!”
“Let’s not tell an unknown creature we’re here!” Phillipia added.
Neely just began to shake a little in fear, not sure what would happen now that their presence was known.
Rina rolled her eyes and stepped forward as the others stepped back, “They already know we’re here. Hello?” she said again.
“Hello, weary travelers!” the cheerful voice said back. 
They could see the shadow of something floating around the bend toward them, and they all huddled behind Rina, who was now smiling from ear to ear.
“I have made cookies!” The creature with the cheerful voice rounded the bend, holding a large tray of white cookies - fresh from the oven. “It’s been a long time since I had visitors!” 
The god they had been searching for - the Maker - had made them cookies in anticipation of their arrival.

This god was not a creature any of them had seen before. It had no body, it was only a head with hair of snakes - each snake having a single eye. The god’s own eyes were extremely disproportional, with one being so small it was nearly non-existent, and the other being so large it could fill up a room. 
“A beholder…” Rina whispered, “I thought they all went extinct. They were hunted to oblivion!” 
“I’m still here!” the goddess announced happily. “Come! Sit down, make yourselves at home! Have a cookie!” She pushed the cookies farther toward the girls, keeping it afloat with just her mind. Rina grabbed the first one, and Phillipia followed suit. 
“Aren’t they just delightful?!” the maker asked. 
“They’re a little… salty?” Phillipia commented.
“Is this withersalt?” asked Rina. 
“Withersalt! Yes! How did you know?” 
“This cookie tastes like the withersalt bagel I had in Vorovni.”
“Vorovni! I used to get many worshippers from there… not many lately, though. Oh! Have you four come to worship?! It’s been so long since I had the pleasure of anyone’s company!” The goddess began to tear up with joy.
“Can I have that?” Rina asked as she pointed at the tear, holding the empty potion bottle from earlier to catch it in, “I need tears worth 300 gold for a spell.”
The goddess cried harder, “You… you think my tears are worth 300 gold? That’s so nice of you to say! You can have them all!” 
Rina filled a few empty potion bottles, one tear from the giant eye filled many all on its own.

The other girls looked at each other, unsure what to say. Alice and Neely then each took a bite of a cookie out of politeness, but didn’t finish them. 
“We’re actually here to talk to you,” started Phillipia. “There are many things we need to know and understand.”
“Oh, yes! Let us all have a little chat! Come in, come in - sit down anywhere! I have made many different seats that could fit each of you!”
In a larger room just around the bend, there were seats made of the flesh of the evergrub. Everything in the room was attached to it in some way - by cables, wires, hooks, stitching, etc. The table and chairs in the room were formed from the flesh being pulled up by wires or propped up by posts in a chair-like form. There were just enough seats for all of them. Alice jumped into the highest chair, which left the (very tall) Phillipia to take a slightly smaller seat. Neely took the smallest chair, which left Rina with a cushion pillow on the ground - which she happily sat on. 
“How do you like the cookies?” the goddess asked them with excitement. 
“They’re a little… salty…” Neely said after stuffing hers in her pocket. 
“Salt! Yes! I need to adjust the recipe.” The goddess then took one of the cookies and ate it, letting her floating head slowly spin as she chewed - which took her many minutes.
“How long do you think it’ll take?” Phillipia whispered to the others. 
Alice and Neely shrugged. 
“Long-lived creatures have a terrible sense of time,” Rina said from experience, “She’s probably completely unaware that it’s been minutes.” 
The goddess then finished her full rotation, “That’s it! I know what they need… they need more salt!” 
She then rushed over to a kitchen-like area, and a recipe book opened on its own. With the power of just her mind, she had the pen write the “correction” in the book.

“Now that that’s done, what do you all want to talk about?”
“First, the Arachnakin wanted us to let you know how grateful they are for your abundance. And they intend to continue worshipping,” Rina relayed.
“Oh! Them! I do love their worship, it’s delightful! Yes, they are fascinating, aren’t they? I mean, their anatomy is so… unique!” She then pulled over a large jar with her mind, and inside was the preserved body of one of the Arachnakin people. 
“Why do you have a dead person?!” Alice nearly yelled. 
“Their soul wasn’t using this body anymore, so I wanted it for my studies! If only I also had a female model… I don’t suppose you know of any I could take?”
“No! Where did you even get that? Did you kill him?”
“Kill him? Heavens no! Sometimes they just happen to wander near my lair and… well, you saw the monsters outside. Some people just can’t make it all the way here. I’m just using what fate has given me!”

“We also wanted to talk to you about the weapons you make for Luminus,” Phillipia started, “We want to know if you can unmake them, and give back the souls of those who were wrongfully sent to Luminus. Luminus doesn’t want souls who did not get a choice.”
“Give… them… back? HA! I can’t give them back! They’ve been given!”
“There’s nothing you can do?” Rina nearly begged, remembering Aurelius’ vision from the Blending - the death of an entire village of Therianthropes by one such weapon. 
“If I were in the reaping, there are some things I could do. But I am assuming you all would rather me stay here - otherwise the entire world ends. Am I right?”
They all nodded. 
“Good, then! What else can I do for you all?”
“I need to know the whereabouts of Roscoe Baldwin,” said Rina. “He’s supposed to have answers for me, and I was told he was down here somewhere.”
“Ahh Mr. Baldwin… Yes, he was a devout worshipper. He hasn’t visited me in some time. He knew more about Luminus than any other human I know. He was the one who used to take the soul weapons to the church for me. But, alas, I no longer know where he is.” 
They all seemed a bit disheartened, all of her answers seemed to yield more questions.

“Come, come, now. Cheer up! Here, I’ll make you some tea!” The maker poured boiling water into some cups that already had what appeared to be tea leaves in them. Unfortunately for them, only one of them seemed to actually have tea leaves - the rest were fish scales and bug carapasses, and other similar creature parts. 
None of the girls grabbed any at first, “Come on - the tea will make you cheer up!”
“I’m… not so sure about that…” Alice said as she sniffed one of the fish teas. 
Rina took the one with leaves in it, though it may have just been some other kind of grass. 
“Come on, Rina…” Phillipia wined. 
“What, you want it? Here,” Rina tried to hand it to Phillipia, who took one sniff and then pushed it away. 
“What... even… is that?”
Rina shrugged and took a sip, it was not tea. She didn’t know what it was, but it was definitely not tea.

“Well, I’m just so glad to have you all here. It has been so long since I saw and elf… and a halfling… and humans! I don’t suppose you’d be willing to… give up your body parts for me to study?!
Alice spit out what she had tried to sip of her tea, both out of disgust and surprise by the question. “You want our body parts?!”
“As a trade, as a trade…” the goddess then floated another book over to them from a shelf, “these are the things I can offer you in return. Think about it! I think you’ll find them quite useful!”
The book opened to a page titled “Menu” - and on it was a list of augmentations that the Maker could provide:

1. Legs of the Tiger Beetle - For the price of your Legs. You can't wear pants on your legs, and your jump height is reduced by 10 feet. Your walking speed increases by 30 feet. In addition, you can use a bonus action to take the Dash or Disengage action. Once you do so, you can't do so again until you finish a short rest.

2. Claw of the Mantis Shrimp - For the price of your Arm. You can only grip with one arm. You can't use twohanded weapons but can still use a shield. You can bypass the damage resistances of any creature.

3. Eyes of the Dragonfly - For the price of your Eyes. You have a permanent set of dragonfly eyes, you have disadvantage on persuasion checks with strangers. You can give yourself a +20 bonus to a ranged attack roll you make. Once you use this boon, you can't use it again until you finish a short rest.

4. Skin of the Iron Foot Snail - For the price 60% of your Skin. Your Dexterity score is reduced by 1. Your hit point maximum increases by 40.

5. Guts of the Fey - For the price of your Kidney. You have disadvantage on attack rolls when below half health. You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

6. Heart of the Divine - For the price of your Heart. You lose all Species benefits, bonuses, and stats associated with your species. You gain one 9th-level spell slot. This spell recharges only on a long rest

End session

"So... when you say this is a menu, is this what you have available all the time?" Phillipia asked.
"Oh, heavens, no! This is just what I happen to have today. There's only one of each! Come, come - look at your options!"
Beth floated away slowly enough for the girls to follow, and they all entered a room with crude medical equipment. There was a table to lay on, knives on a table, and the bug carcasses on the wall that she was offering them. These were no ordinary bugs, however. All of them were at least as large a a person, maybe larger. The legs of the beetle were the same length as Phillipia's legs, the eyes of the dragonfly were as large as grapefruits, the claw was as long as Alice's arm.
"How would these even fit in my head..." Rina whispered as she stared at the giant dragonfly eyes.
"I can make anything work! Well... probably."
"What do you mean 'probably'? You're saying this has a chance to fail?" Neely asked - frightened.
"Well, you know how these things go! I do my best, and we just hope that you don't die on the table!"
"Can we do anything to increase our odds?" Alice asked.
"You can assist me, if you wish! Or assist your friends while they're on the table. You are also welcome to do what you may need to prepare yourself! You will not be awake while I operate, that would even make it too hard for me."

Once Beth was done explaining, the buzzer from the oven in the other room began to ring.
"Oh! The 2nd batch of cookies are ready! I'll be right back!" She zoomed around the corner, leaving the party to all ponder what they were going to do.
"I want the claw!" Alice said with excitement! "I get to punch things real fast? Hell yeah!"
"You aren't afraid something will go wrong during the operation?" Neely asked.
"She's a god! I'm sure I'll be fine!" Alice replied confidently. "Besides, I know you have my back, Neely. Any bardic inspiration you want to pass on?"
"Oh... well... um, yes. Alice, I truly believe you're doing the right thing... for yourself!" Neely played a little tune on her harp as she flatly said the words. But that was still enough for Alice to feel more confident.
"Do you think you will get anything, Phillipia?" Rina asked.
"I really want the legs! It doesn't look like it will affect my armor, so I think I'll be okay without needing pants. Besides, in the castle we usually have to wear skirts and dresses, anyway."
Rina was still hesitant, "Neely, are you going to-"
"Nope! No, you don't even need to ask, absolutely not!" Neely began to stomp out of the operating room when Beth came floating around the corner with a hot pan of cookies.
"Oh, ah, eek," she pretended to be hurt by the heat of the pan, bouncing it from one invisible mind-hand to the other. "Here, everyone, eat up!"
"Neely," Rina started, "Since you were the one to tell her they were 'a little' salty, I think you should take the first one."
Neely paused, then grabbed a cookie, "Fuck you, Rina," she laughed a little as she bit into the terrible, salty cookie. After the girls all had a giggle, Rina picked one up and ate it out of solidarity.

"Well! Have you all decided what you are willing to donate?"
"Is it a donation or a trade?" Alice asked firmly.
"A trade, a trade... of course, a trade! Don't worry, I'll use all of your parts wisely! Would you like to see what I will use them for?!"
Alice and Phillipia nodded in curiosity.
Rina declined, "I don't want to know... please don't tell me. I don't even want to see our body parts after we're done. Neely, are you with me? Will you um..." Rina looked around nervously at all of the disembodied creatures, some sewn together with their own sinew. "Will you stay here with me?"
"Don't have to ask me twice, Rina. I don't want to know either."
Phillipia and Alice followed Beth down another, long hallway. It had a long bridge made of iron spanning a giant pool of acidic lava that resided within the stomach of the giant Evergrub.
"What is that stuff? Stomach acid?" Phillipia asked.
"Oh, this is the grub of a giant Bomberdeer Beetle!" Beth responded excitedly, "This is it's explosive sack that the adult beetles use to defend themselves!"
"Explosive? You mean... it can explode?!" Alice almost yelled. "What would happen if it grew up?"
"Oh, that would be bad..." Beth pondered a moment, "The adult beetle would be so large that it would practically decimate the entirely of the heart of the world! Yes, I think it would probably be large and strong enough to shatter the earth!"
"Can you life outside of this grub? Maybe we can find you a better, safer place to live and work," Phillipia suggested.
"Somewhere... else? No, I like it here! It's so humid and so protected... and I'm already comfortable! No, I don't think I'd like to move. The grub means a lot to me!"

As they rounded a corner into the largest room yet, Phillipia and Alice stood shocked at what they saw.
A giant, headless body, made of the skin of thousands of creatures sewn together. Some were even cut out faces with no eyes, and there were eyes in places that there shouldn't be. Legs and arms stuck out from it, and thousands of bones were being used to hold it up.
"Isn't it a masterpiece!" Beth giggled in excitement, "I have always wanted to actually feel things like people do! I am made of dreams, consciousness! I have no true body with which to feel... But with this! With just a few more donations from those like yourselves... I could finally have it!"
"Did all the people who... donated... did they have names and everything? I mean, do you know who they all were?" Alice asked, now a bit disturbed.
"Why, yes! In fact, I have a list of all names with their dona... trades! With their trades!"
"Where's the head?" asked Phillipia.
Beth paused, then burst into laughter, "Ahhahaha! It is I! I will somehow attach myself to this body one day, and be it's consciousness! I will have to do it upside down or something... I can't really see my underside that much."
"You could use a mirror," Phillipia suggested.
"A mirror? I had not thought of a mirror! You have saved me much time, miss... um... what are your names?"
"I'm Phillipia."
They both then looked at Alice, who seemed hesitant to give her name. "I'm Alice... Mo...maybe..."
"Hello Alice Momaybe! And Hello Phillipia!"

The three of them moved back into the operating room, and Beth then got out her notebook of names, "Should I write you both down, then? Have you decided which body parts you'd like? I can only do one, maybe two for each person. More than that would be... catastrophic for you..."
"How did you learn that? Previous experience?" Alice asked.
Beth paused and stared at the floor, then quickly looked back up, "Shall we get started? Who would like to go first?"
Neely backed away, "I'm good, you three... you three just go ahead."
Alice and Phillipia looked at each other, then looked at Rina.
"Rina, you getting anything?" Alice asked.
Rina smiled - almost seeming to give up a mental fight she'd been having with herself, "I just told a room full of devils that I'd give my life for this... I'd be a hypocrite if I let my vanity get in the way - of all things. It's time I put my money where my mouth is, and actually make the sacrifices. So... I'll take the eyes."
"That's good of you, Rina," Alice said, "I like the side of you who does good things for other people without getting anything in return."
"Then I'll get the arm," said Alice, "and I'll go first."
Alice followed Beth over to the operating table.
"Then I'm in for the legs..." said Phillipia, "It can only help."
"I will give any of you any inspiration I can, I'll sing a song, I'll play my harp... but I'm definitely not getting any of the bug parts."

Alice hopped up onto the table, and Beth handed her a sleeping potion. She drank it, and shortly was out cold. Rina stared at the floor, not wanting to watch her friend's arm get cut off. Phillipia helped Beth by handing her different knives, needles, etc.
Neely sat in the corner facing away from the operating table, playing a song on the harp softly - also not wanting to see what was happening.
"I haven't ever worked on a halfling's arm before! I tried a leg once... that didn't go well."
"Is this also not going well?" Phillipia asked, as Alice began bleeding more heavily.
"It's fine! She may have a little less... resilience after this. But she'll be fine!"
An hour went by, and Alice woke up from the operation - able to move the arm as expected.
"This is awesome!" she then punched the air as quickly as the speed of sound.
"Are you in any pain?" Rina asked.
"No, none at all..."
"Yes! The magic of the operation prevents pain!" Beth said excitedly, "So, who is next?!"
Rina and Phillipia looked at each other.

"I... I'll go," said Rina, "Wish me luck," she smiled and winked - for the last time with her own eyes. She activated her lucky magic from Enoch as she drank the sleeping potion, in hopes that a little bit of his magic would aid her while under the knife.
Beth worked confidently on Rina's eyes, Enoch's magic helping them both from afar.
"I think this is my best work yet!"
Rina awoke, the small lights piercing her brain in a way it never could have before. More colors that she could imagine flooded her brain, and she could see everything in the room in an intensely detailed way.
"Woah... These feel like they fit perfectly," she glanced into a nearby mirror, "they're the same size as before, but just... thousands of little eyes."
"They almost look black from over here," said Neely, still quietly playing the harp in the corner, "Kind of like Druse eyes... but when you get close up you can see the individual ones."
"My family are all named after butterflies," said Rina, "This just makes me more like my namesake. Plus, being a citizen of Pennislovica, it's actually kind of cool to look like a Druse... like Drake," she smiled.

"Well, miss Phillipia! You are up!" Beth said, waving around a bloody knife.
Phillipia laid down and drank the potion, ready to wake up with new legs.
Rina was the one to hand Beth the knives this time, and guided her through some difficult-to-see areas with her new eyes.
"Another great success!" Beth complimented herself, "I'm so excited to have another pair of human legs! Everything is useful, from the skin to the bones!"
"Please don't elaborate," Rina asked the room.
Phillipia awoke and felt comfortable with her new legs, "These are great! I can move so much faster now!"
Phillipia tested her legs by running faster than a mountain goat across the ground, smiling the whole way.
"Neely, are you sure you don't want anything?" Rina asked.
"Rina, I thought we were on the same side here... no, no I don't want anything."
"Come on, Neely," said Alice, "It's just a kidney to get the guts of the fey! You have two of those!"
"Technically it can only benefit you," said Phillipia, "Plus, no one will even be able to see it. It's not like you have a different arm, legs, eyes, or skin."

Neely sighed, "I was able to help when all of you were under the knife, but none of you have the magic I have to help her. I'm... I'm scared."
"We wouldn't want to force you, Neely," Rina started, "It's your body."
"I want to force you," said Alice, "It barely leaves a scar, and we are needing to kill more gods. You wanted to be a part of the group, so I think you should take one for the team."
Neely paused, looking between Rina and Alice.
"Phillipia, what do you think?" Neely asked.
"I think you will regret it if you don't," said Phillipia, "You have a gift from a god at your fingertips. I know you're scared, but we are all here to help."
Neely glanced over at the large, fey-like bug creature on the wall with it's kidney hanging out of its body, then she looked at the bloody operating table.
She sighed, "Okay... okay, I'll do it."
Neely went to the table and laid down, Rina made sure that all of the knives were cleaned with her prestidigitation before being used again.
Beth carefully cut into Neely's abdomen, and the procedure barely left a scar.
When she awoke, she felt more stable in everything in her life - much of her anxiety was gone, and a feeling of calm came over her.
"I feel... just fine!" she said, surprised.
All four girls were happy with their augmentations, and Beth was happy to have more body parts for her future body.

Suddenly, Rina got a sending in her mind:
"It's Gewain. The Finger's Weapons in the vault are fakes, the real ones and all my father's papers are gone - stolen. What do we do?"
Rina waited to respond, and let the girls know what happened.
"Someone stole the Artifacts and stole the map to Ta Amor that Gewain's dad made! Someone is on their way here, most likely, and are likely bringing these weapons to use against the Maker."
"Who do we know out there who might have any idea what could have happened?" Neely asked.
"My aunt is The Queen, but I don't think she would really know about this - she isn't really into the Church of Luminus and it's goings on."
"I have the sending stone to Valentine," said Alice, "I'll see if she knows anything."
"It's Alice, we're at the Maker, we heard there might(10) be someone coming to harm her. Do you know anything(10)? Someone from Luminus?"
Valentine responded: "I know nothing of Luminus sending anyone, but we have(10) been seeing many cracks in the sky! So many creatures(10) from the other side!"
Alice relayed what Valentine told them, and recalled something from the day the Fingers of Luminus were beheaded.
"Alric Ravenwood winked at us before he died... Like he knew he'd be coming back."
"Do you think the Fingers of Luminus are on their way here from Hell?" Phillipia asked, "If Luminus is really a devil... that means they would all be sent to him."
"Or..." Rina said, recalling what Enoch told her about her own after-death fate, "Maybe they are devils, themselves, now."
"Let's respond to Gewain, what should I say?"
They all thought a moment, then Alice spoke up: "Maker in danger, send backup and close the Mt. Luminus(10) gate again. If Maker dies, Luminus wins, world ends."

"Did I hear that there might be more visitors?!" Beth interrupted, "Perhaps I will bring down the red mist so that it is less hostile."
"Yes, but these won't be friendly," said Alice, "We need to make sure it's difficult to get in here. Keep the mist up."
"Are you sure? It would also make it easier for nicer visitors!"
"Please don't take it down, if there's someone evil coming here, we don't want it to be easy," Phillipia repeated.
Beth looked around and thought for a moment, but wasn't convinced.
"I have already taken it down! I can sense that someone approaches... it seems that you have exactly 10 hours, 6 minutes, and 7 seconds until they get here!"
Alice seemed annoyed, but the party decided to come up with a plan.
"This is enough time for a long rest," Rina started, "And a couple of hours of prep. I think it would be wise for Neely to cast fly on herself and one other person - probably me or Alice - to hover farter away and watch whoever approaches. Alice and I can communicate through our blending if needed."
Alice nodded, "I will get a Druid Grove set up as we get closer to time. The lichen on the ground can be used as brambles, I will grow 2 ents with my infinite-shape seeds, and I can put two wind walls up on either side of the door to the evergrub. I'll also make it windy and foggy - so that will make it even harder for them to see and move. It takes a lot of prep, but we have time. Plus, you guys won't be affected by that stuff."
"Do you want to fly? Or me?" Rina asked her.
"I think you should," Alice suggested, "I know you probably don't want to after you fell so far in the demon fight, but... we all need to do things we don't want to do for the group."
"Okay, I'll fly with Neely," Rina agreed. " Neely, you just needs to stay out of harm's way."
Neely nodded.
"I'll get out BustAMoves and use him to help me fight," said Phillipia, "I don't really have much magic to prepare... but I'll do whatever I can."

The party all rested on little beds and cushions made of everbrub skin stretched into shape, and they all prepared to trap whoever was coming.