Roll Spellcraft.  If Kleris gets 25 or better, he's the first one in the class to cast the spell correctly and pass the test.<br/>Spellcraft 4+11=15, fail<br/>Kleris takes a forked stick and aims it back and forth, getting feelings through it, but imprecise and confused by other tuggings.  A few students find water quickly, while Kleris is among those who eventually make the correct choice, but are still getting the hang of parsing through the contradictory senses.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Elmira chose one of the open stalls, just a showerhead with a tray built into the wall holding a soap bar and shampoo.  She was joined by some other spellflag players, chatting about the game and how their respective days went.  It was a lovely sight, and again Kleris felt that rising urge to privately enjoy the scene...</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Will 5+6=11, fail<br/>It may have been a mistake to look too long.  Seeing Elmira on the field, running, takling, being pulled down, and his own exertions, had been attractive.  Now, watching her wash the grass and mud off, stroking her body clean, brought all those aggressive images up in new contexts, like a dirty rough public orgy.  He could see a nude Elmira running down the field, being taken down and groped by a whole pile of opposing players.  He could imagine himself being chased by boys and girls, being caught and pulled down, Elmira and the girls licking and sucking him, getting ready to rub their vulvas up against his erection; the boys hard and excited themselves, shoving themselves against him as he vainly tried to stroke and suck as much as he could...<br/>With soft gasps, he came over the wall, trying to catch his breath in the hot steamy air before cleaning up again and wrapping a towel around himself.  He quickly dressed and went off to class trying to avoid meeting anyone's eyes.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Travis is being an idiot lately.  I think he comes from a culture or something where men are in control or something, so he doesn't like the idea of someone else 'claiming' me.  The drow have a similar thing with the genders reversed, but it's bullshit either way.  He's worried I'll go over to some other guy, but with the way he's been acting lately I have half a mind to dump him!  But I don't know what I want!  I mean, maybe I can change his mind.  Or maybe if he really does think that way, then it might be as Edgar said and he's just a shitty boyfriend?  Either way, that doesn't mean I"m just going to forget what he said!  Kleris, what do you think I should do about Travis?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Kleris was distracted by the large summoned beasts that suddenly appeared, unable to focus and talk as he mostly dodged around trying to just focus his magic.  He was barely able to shield himself while Zull casually vented her frustrations on them, hexing, blasting, and defeating them with a bit more prejudice than normal.  When he was finally able to sit and relax, he could ponder her question and concerns.<br/><br/>On the one hand, this would be his chance to get rid of a rival for Zull's affections, and maybe have her to himself.  On the other, that would be incredibly manipulative and a shitty way to treat a friend.  Travis had to know he was being illogical and unreasonable in following a double-standard, especially when abyssal enchantment was involved.  But for some reason he couldn't let go.  He probably just needed time to come to terms, but if that was how he truly felt, perhaps it was a breaking point in their relationship.<br/><br/>"He wasn't really interested in talking to me earlier, though I might have been a bit harsh in defending you.  I think its been really stressful for everyone, and it might have hit him a little harder since he was actually dating you.  I assume he knows he's being unreasonable, but just needs some time to really internalize that, and can't deal with anyone else right now.  You should probably give him some space for a week, then talk to him again to see if that's how he really feels, or if he can not only let this go, but forget it.  It's hard to let go of a double standard you grew up with, but if thats how he really feels about you and your relationship, you don't need that.  But I'm sure he has to realize that this is all Elgaz--that demon's fault."  He leaned over to put a hand on hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze.  "And I think Rensha's been pretty chipper actually, maybe something good happened that night for her, heh..."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Try to find out more about his feelings before deciding to dump/forgive</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Yeah, I think I was too mad at that time to really see things straight.  I shouldn't make such a decision before finding out more about why he said what he said.  Thank you Kleris, for being a moderating influence.  Sorry about earlier; I hope my cloudy mood didn't rub off on you or Rensha."</div></div><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">At this point Andrei comes forth, standing straight and proud.  "Guess who telekinetically punched a wood golem's head clean off its shoulders?"<br/>"That wasn't a golem, Andrei," Zull said.  "Our magic worked against it."<br/>The vampire rolled his eyes.  "Call it whatever, but I bet I'll get high marks from Professor Murrin!"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Kleris was still impressed, "Wow, that's still pretty cool.  I guess telekinesis would be one way to deal with a golem besides uselessly beating on it.  Good thinking Andrei," Kleris raised his hand for a high five.  And winced at Zull's bruque demerit, knowing that probably wasn't the best way to handle a professor.<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Artaxes</span></span></div>Heal 4+1=5, fail<br/>Planes 14+8=22, pass<br/>Spellcraft 11+11=22, pass<br/>"Wow, um, Artaxes, you really don't look well.  Like, you look super-sick, or drained.  Did something happen to you at the party?  How long have you been like this?"  He was a bit worried, since most people just needed a night's sleep and a day to recover from some hangovers and maybe genital bruising.  He had a suspicion, but hadn't actually seen anything besides Elgazia and the tentacle demon at the party.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"It's good to see you again!  Ummm, can you accompany me to the locker room?  I have to talk to you about something private.  I...they had their way with me, and even though I knew I was in danger it felt so good.  But then something happened, and they disappeared.  Now that I think about it, I've been a little out of whack ever, since, but I'm...too scared and embarrassed to bring it up to Father Crattus."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>"Hmm, I see.  I understand your embarrassment, but this is really serious.  If you don't go to the infirmiry, you might not recover from this.  Not only are you always tired and winded, but your magic will be drained as well.  Hmm, but nobody else knows about the party.  How is the priest about "don't ask, don't tell," in these situations?  I don't want to let the cat out of the bag; I wonder if there's some way to get some scroll to cure you?"  Though he had no idea if the infirmiry would have that kind of expensive supply, nor if anyone the knew would be capable of using it anyway.  "The safest thing for you is to see Father Crattus directly, but I'll go talk to him with you if you'd like."<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Me and the guys, we all had some mementos of last week's party.  I was thinking of asking you to help me, you know, jerk me off while I admire them, but then I noticed something.  The first two I don't recognize, but after seeing the third a pang of conscience hit me.  That's your drow roommate, what's her name again?  Well, you know, now that I think about, I don't think everyone was thinking towards the future when they had fun and snapped this pictures.  By the underdepths, some may not even want these kinds of images spreading around school!  But maybe some of them do, would it be wrong of me to keep those ones at least?  As to those succubi, I wouldn't be surprised if they had something to do with it!  We need to handle this delicately Kleris, we don't want any more of these images spreading around to those who don't know about them.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Kleris raised his eyebrows in amusement at Artaxes' request, but grinned in interest.  But then he had a look at the pictures himself.  They were definitely his friends, and also exitingly erotic.  He could understand Artaxes' attack of conscience, he felt the same way.<br/><br/>"Yeah, I know a few of them.  And I don't know of anyone taking selfies that night, so they probably don't know about these.  I'm sure they wouldn't want anyone to have these, not even us.  We should probably destroy these, and find any others out there too.  But for now, well, since they're already here, I think we could enjoy them.  Just, um, give me a moment and you get ready?"<br/><br/>Ducking into a stall, Kleris stripped and tried to<em>alter self</em>for the first time.  He considered turning into Zull or one of the other girls for a vicarious thrill, but that would probably be a breach of virtual privacy somehow.  Instead he pushed his throbbing member, inverting it to a tight vulva with a prominent clit, and let his soft chest expand a bit to some gropable B cups.  He was tempted to do more, but wanted to go for attractive if possible realism.  Wrapping a towel around his torso now, he stepped out to Artaxes and let it drop, giving him a look at his new body.  With a grin, he picked up some massaging oil from the sports therapy table and brought it over.<br/><br/>"So just hang the pictures so we can see them together, and let me take care of you..."<br/><br/>Giving him a kiss, he began oiling up his palms, and knelt beside Artaxes.  Stroking and teasing his sheath, he quickly extended out for Kleris to begin a slow oily double hand job.  He alternated between staring at the huge equite cock he was massaging, and at the images of girls also stroking, sucking, and being stuffed with multiple members.  Looking at Zull, Kleris couldn't help but wish he could have been there to share it with her, kissing her around the head, and he leaned into to kiss and lick Artaxes' flared head, sucking as much as he could into his mouth and tonging the slit.  Curious, he reached down to massage his own new vulva, which was already throbbing with excitement, and felt the strange new sensations of missing a penis, but having sense of wholly opposite, internal pleasure.  Gasping and struggling to keep sucking and stroking, even as he buried his fingers in himself, Kleris started to crawl under Artaxes.<br/><br/>"Oh fuck, I'm so hot right now.  I need your cock, but I can't, um, I need you to, um, here..."<br/><br/>He lifted his bottom, which pushed softly under Artaxes' penis, and enjoyed its warm oily thickness resting between his cheeks.  But he reached under and dragged it between his own legs, squeezing them together, so the centaur was "mounting" him, albeit with his cock between Kleris' thighs.  The boy thrust his bottom back against Artaxes, rubbing his clit and puffy lips against the thick member trapped beneath, and begged Artaxes to start fucking as they stared at the pictures together.<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Carson</span></span></div><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"So you want to know why I'm helping you?  Well, for one, my thoughts have grown...conflicted about you, in more ways than one.  First off, I had always thought myself attracted to girls.  But even after knowing that, I still find myself not desiring guys.  You're an... exception to my rule, let's call it.  Next, after I saw you take down that demon, I couldn't believe that a first-year like you could do that!  Even experienced adventuring wizards would be hard-pressed going up against such an entity!  It makes me want to win against you all the harder!  Even if I graduate from Redhurst next year, it will all be for naught if I can't...can't...  Kleris, what I'm about to tell you is very personal.  I am only telling you this because you're an honorable wizard."<br/>"Back on my home plane, there is the continent of Ansalon.  It is a godless world, the deities having left centuries ago after leaving a great cataclysm in their wake.  There are some arcanists, but for the most part they are a reclusive lot who care more about policing their own and furthering their own research.  I was the only one who possessed magical talent in my village; unfortunately I was discovered first by the Black Robes, evil wizards in league with the Dragon Empire."<br/>"When the Dragonarmy came to Lemish, I was forced into their ranks.  There was no choice in the matter.  Apart from the elven nations and Solamnic Knights, no nation on Ansalon can stand against them; I've seen their war machine, of dragons blotting out the sky in winged shadows and flying castles raining doom upon resisting cities.  I am but one mage, I know that I cannot win against them.  But all the same I need to train and fight, to save even some people is better than none."<br/>"Our first two duels were a blow to me.  Here was this first-year who did not take things seriously; if I could not even bear her in mock combat, what hope do I have to save my hometown?"<br/>"Right now Kleris, you are my greatest rival.  I cannot leave Redhurst on my quest until I figure you out!  What must I do to win a duel?  Why do I find you attractive?  Why do you have such power?  Should I help you or stand against you?  I don't know!"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Kleris had just nodded in greeting as he met Carson in the training room, watching him practice and letting him vent and work through his own thoughts and feelings.  Sometimes if you just let people speak it was better than detecing thoughts.  He could see that Carson not only had a rough childhood, but that it was an ongoing issue that still troubled him to this day, the plight of his homeland hanging over his head, waiting for him to do something about it, or have it drop and crush him.<br/><br/>"I can understand your confliction; I don't quite understand my own feelings sometimes.  I definitely think I'm an exception to most rules--not that I'm trying to get away with things.  Just--I'm kind of outside the box on a few points.  And while its does come a little naturally, I do make an effort to be a girl, so, I think any feelings you might have, despite yourself, are actually a healthy appreciation for girls, you know?<br/>"As for that demon, well, we were all there together, and if I hadn't found that scroll, I couldn't have done much to slow it down.  Even just using the scroll was a lucky thing itself; I was worried it might just explode instead.<br/>"I can't imagine what things are like in your homeland, what you've gone through, what you're still going through.  The fact that you survived, and beyond that, want to go back and help, that's pretty amazing.  As I meet other students, and learn what they've been through, what they're fighting to achieve, well, I'm pretty lucky to have grown up peacefully with my mom.<br/>"As for our duels, well, those had rules and limitations, and to be honest, that favored me more than you.  I just had a trick up my sleve, an instant win, but if it didn't work, or if you beat me to the punch, things could have been very different.  What I watched you do just now, I couldn't stand up to that kind of punishment, and if you came at me with everything, well, I wouldn't like those odds.  You have to measure yourself against yourself, at what you can do.  You have strength and magic, you can always find something your opponent can't, exploit that, and win.  I think that's what a real fight and war is all about..."<br/><br/>Kleris shuddered a bit imagining that, Carson, or even himself in a pitched field of battle, with men and swords and dragons screaming all around.  A few charms or illusions wouldn't help very much there.<br/><br/>"I think you're the one actually preparing for a real fight and war, one of the few I've seen that could actually do something like that.  I'm just a one-trick pony playing games at dueling a single opponent with rules.  But I think some of the attraction you struggle with might be because I challenge you.  While you bluster and fight, well, I can't, so I plan, and create tricks, and win.  But that requires careful control and some luck at this point.  You have the endurance and versatility to adapt I think.<br/>"Carson, I need you.  There are things going on, with me, with this school, and I need allies.  But I think I also need a foil, for both of us to struggle and grow.  I'll be your rival, yes, but that doesn't mean we can't have our... attraction."  Kleris found himself feeling coy, enjoying the suggestion of secretive dalliance.  "If I need help, well, that's your opportunity to do it differently, better, and show me up.  And if you ever need my help, feel free to apply any leverage you think necessary.  As for now, how about we duel right here, now?  Unofficial, nonlethal, but no holds barred?  If you win, I'll confirm to you just how much you like girls.  If I win, well, I'll just have to think of a use for you..."<br/><br/>Kleris couldn't help but wink as he made a little strut to the other end of the dueling ring, taking a breath, and preparing himself for his most serious duel yet.