(Various People to Dogs)

Description:
A dog collar, with a black leather band. There is a large silver (?) plate on the center of the band. Clasp appears to be made of a similar material. There is no hook for a leash.

Records only indicate a single collar in existence. Origin is uncertain, but appears to have started after the experiment to miniaturize magical reactors.

Currently in possession of an unnamed pixie.

Risk:
Negligible

Effects:
The silver tag on the band is capable of discerning the true name of all nearby creatures. Based on observations, all the holder must do is raise the collar towards their intended target, and it will appear as though engraved.

On its own, this item is completely harmless. However, when in the hands of a pixie, whose magic revolved around knowing the true name of their intended victims, it can become a much larger threat.

Case A: Repeated studies. Remote supervision, drone observation and one instance of microphone assisted observation.

Experiment One: Control Subject.

Subject was an average human male, dark hair and typical build. No training or preparation was assigned.

Upon being exposed to the pixie, she immediately read his name. It seems she was aware she was being monitored, and intended to show off, as the subject immediately grew too large for his clothing, turning into an enormous dog (mastiff?) wearing tattered remains of his old clothes.

Intense cuddles and pets followed, though she maintained eye contact with the monitoring drone. Curiously, no effects were noted on the drone technician. Suspect that change is based on local exposure, as well as potential verbal change typical of pixie.

Experiment Two: Mind-Blanked Subject.

Subject was an average human female, blonde hair and typical build. Prior to exposure, subject’s name was erased magically.

The pixie initially seemed perplexed and amused by this. Subject was visibly unnerved by pixie presence, especially when the pixie began to play with the woman’s hair. However, no change was immediately imposed.

This changed when the pixie gave the subject a name. Based on lip-reading, the name is: Mittens. Upon hearing it, the woman began to shrink away into her clothing, more visibly distressed than before. Based on the motion of her mouth, it appears that she was repeatedly barking.

Remainder of change progressed quickly. The pixie left the woman’s hands and feet for last, letting the new Pomeranian struggle around with ‘paws’ bigger than her head. Soon enough they shrank too, and the pixie allowed the new dog to roam free.

Experiment Three: Naturally Deaf Subject.

Subject is an obese human male in later years. Subject has been deaf for half of his life, though once had the ability to hear. Subject has the ability to read lips.

The pixie did not even attempt to change this subject. Rather, she appeared withdrawn and sullen, though she did reply to the subject’s attempt to converse. When debriefed, the subject confirmed that the pixie knew his name, though she seemed unwilling to transform the subject.

Subject returned to volunteer pool, though appeared disappointed by lack of change. Recommend advancement to another canine anomaly when possible.

Experiment Four: Artificially Deaf Subject.

Subject was a young human female, above average fitness. Subject had experienced training from the Institute, and was fully aware of pixie magics. Full helmet and exposure suit had been provided to completely deafen subject. Subject has no magical capability.

The pixie seemed curious about the subject at first. Caution was advised to the subject, that this behavior was anomalous with Experiment Three. Subject continued to approach the pixie. Comments were made over encrypted channel that they were confident in the helmet’s ability, and were going to detain the pixie.

At this, the pixie responded poorly. First, the pixie began to recite the names of the subject’s handlers. Said handlers immediately transformed into malamutes. See Appendix B (warning: gender change, sexual intercourse) for further study.

Subject seemed unnerved by this, as their suit’s microphone was internal. However, the subject had no time to react before the pixie began to apply magic to the subject’s body. Based on retrieved vocal logs, the subject panicked about how they could hear the pixie’s voice in their head.

Drone footage reveals that the subject began to flail their arms at this point. The suit she were wearing appeared limp and floppy, as though there was nothing within its sleeves. All confidence had since vanished, and quick prayers were replaced with a quiet yip as subject fell onto her backside.

The legs of her suit appeared to similarly deflate as well. There was still a faint wriggling approximately near each limb. The reason why became evident after the pixie removed the subject’s helmet. Subject had transformed into a husky/corgi mix.

Recommend further study.

Case B: Lyra Eisengilt (alias, actual identity confirmed in case records). Intentional monitored exposure, accidental transformation. Remote supervision, subdermal implantation of thought-read devices and mental runic monitors.

What a dumb mission. I can’t believe they sent a proper witch to investigate some Fae. Oh, look. There’s one now. Smug pixie prick.

“Ooh, a new pet!” Her voice sounds so excited and cheerful. I’d bet that any nonmagical human would find it irresistible, except that I don’t gamble on sure outcomes.

“Can’t help but agree. Always wanted to catch one of you in a bottle,” I smirk.

She giggles. Smug as ever. Let’s see what a quick hex does to her. … Surprisingly little. Well, that’s upsetting.

“Was that supposed to curse me?”

“Hex, actually. There’s a difference.”

“No, there really isn’t. But don’t worry, you’ll never be casting again with those paws of yours.”

Heh. Cute trick. Pixie magic is usually based on the power of perception. All I need to do is not think about it happening, and I’ll be fine. Just to show off, I’ll brush some hair behind my ear and-

Wait. Huh? That’s not right. My hand’s big. Why is my hand big? And hairy. And fluffy? The hell is this?

“Ooh, a natural blonde! I guess that means your hair’s dyed?” The pixie giggles. “Don’t look so surprised, Mary Keene.”

Crap. How did she know that. Not even my handlers know that. Double crap, I have to-

“Ah-ah. No teleporting magic either.” She flicks a hand towards me, and suddenly I feel a tightness around my neck.Is it a leash? My leash? No, I don’t have a leash, I’m a person. With paws. Who needs to stay calm.

“Okay, so you’ve turned my hands into paws. Big deal, I klughhmuh!” Tongue! Tonguetonguetongue what’s happening to my tongue? It feels so fat, so big, I need to be careful not to bite it, what’s happening? “Thtupp ith!” I’m both lisping and drooling!? Can’t make hand signs, can’t chant spells, what even does that leave me with!?

“Aww, what’s the matter? Pixie got your tongue? Don’t worry, I’ll have much more in just a second.”

More? How can she have more? Wha-what’s that glowing light? It’s shaped like a ball…

“See this? It’s all that magic you had. Go on, try and cast something. I don’t care if you have to use your big doofy paws to do it.” She seems so honest about it, but is she telling the truth? I haven’t heard of a spell like that before. Is that even possible? W-wait, why’s the ball getting further away?

Ow! Damn it, why’d I fall? Oh no. It’s bad, isn’t it? Mhmm. Yep. Those are dog legs, all right. Maybe if I really try I can… No, the best I can manage is some kinda begging pose, and that dumb pixie-

“Want it? Aww, puppy wanna ball? You know, it’s golden just like you are… And you’re really going to be great at fetch.”

Why would I be? Oh, because I’m a Retriever? I guess that’s clever, but… No, I’m a person not a Retriever! This is really getting out of… Of… What are the things that I’m supposed to have instead of paws?

“In case you couldn’t guess, once a witch and her magic are parted, she becomes as helpless as any other human. Which means you’re already drooling your thoughts away.”

Whuh? Whuzzshemean by that? It’s not like I can stop drooling, I don’t even have a muzzle to fit this enormous tongue. Ah, crap, she probably knows I’m upset from how I’m pawing at the ground…

The pixie rolls her eyes. I don’t quite know what that means, but I get the feeling it’s supposed to be mean. Probably. “Oh wow, maybe I went a bit too hard. Let’s make it easy on you, okay? You want the ball so you don’t get dumb.”

Dumb? I no wanna be dumb! I gotta get the ball! “Wahuff! Wgghrruff!” Haha, that sounded like barking. Awesome. She’s probably totes impressed with how good I am at barking. But what was I-

Ball! Ball moving! Need to get the ball! Tongue out flopping drooling mnnhuh face hurts? Face hurts!

“Aw! You’re pawing at your new snout! That’s adorable. It’s almost a shame I’m making you such a dumb Goldie because blah blah human noises blah blah.”

That’s weird. Shouldn’t I know what she’s – Mary one of those words was Mary that’s meee! “Woof! HHhuhuhuh woof!” Love panting extra loud so she knows am good girl! Hehe, Mary am goodest girl and gets praise.

Ball? Wants me to fetch? So far… Need run! Run! Fetch!

(Remainder of mental capture is sensation and color)

Case C: Multiple Unnamed Victims. Accidental Exposure. Recording gathered by pixie (unnamed), mailed in secure envelope.

(static)

A man blinks, turning past his barstool towards the camera. “Huh? Yeah, my name’s Grant. How’d you know my last name thuhglm.” His jaw falls slack, and a long and heavy tongue unspools from his mouth like a party favor. His eyes glaze, and his chair wobbles as his feet leave the ground.

The camera shifts slightly as the pixie reaches her hand past to rub at his head. Reflection in nonsilver surfaces confirms she is using a glamour charm to appear like a buxom blonde.

Grant appears to enjoy her attention, so much that his leg kicks hard enough to send his shoe skittering across the ground. This reveals that his foot has shifted into an overlarge paw, with thick pads along his soles.

Fur covers his new paw, and begins to creep up from beneath his collar. As the pixie’s ministrations move towards his face, his cheeks sag down into thick jowls which begin to sway with each breath he takes.

Drool openly falls from his face, indistinguishable from a Great Dane’s, and some drool covers the camera. A muffled curse comes from the pixie.

(static)

A girl whimpers, wriggling on her dachshund back as she tries to squirm away from the pixie’s questing hand. The pixie chuckles from behind the camera, evidently savoring how her hand jostles the new canine’s teats. They sport some similarity to her chest as a human, specifically in a size that leaves them bigger than most of her body.

“What’s the matter? I thought you liked showing these off. Wasn’t that the point of your outfit?” The camera pans towards a halter top, currently enveloping the changing girl like a doggy bed. “That said, I’m not a monster. I’d rather you be able to move around, after all.

The camera refocuses on the changed girl, who paws her stubby legs in the air, terrified. Her face remains human for the time being, but the darkening of her nose suggests this won’t last for long. Her ears begin to slowly stretch out past her hair.

(static)

A group of collegiate fumble at one another deliriously, puddled drool mingling with spilled beer. One of them is the focus of the camera shot: a male Irish Setter that seems to be crawling outside of the remnants of a cocktail dress.

“Come on, I don’t care if your parents thought a ‘y’ makes it a girl’s name, you know Clyfford’s got to end up as a big red dog! Such a shame this is the biggest one that occurs naturally, but… Well…”

The dog whimpers, looking to the camera with human eyes. “Prrrleeethe… Wheee din’t dooo neefin…” Small flecks of spittle fly from his mouth, and his pupils rapidly dilate and contract.

“No, but isn’t that what makes this so fun?” The pixie stresses the last word, grabbing a border collie by the scruff and dragging her towards the Irish Setter. “Besides, I even let you keep your boyfriend! Well, girl-mate, to your new stupid brain.”

“Grrrrul… Mate?” The last word seems to come easier to the changed girl, possibly because of his brains finally finding some common ground. Unfortunately for him, this ground happens to be squarely on the canine side of things.

More sounds spill from his lips, a mixture of slobbered growls and barks. He fumbles atop his new mate.

(static)

“Anyways, there I was, trying to keep this thing kid-friendly, and the new stud goes and does THAT! Can you believe it?”

“Y-yes.” A girl gulps, shuddering as thick fur starts to sprout from her every pore. Her lip quivers, and her fingers tremble as she suppresses the urge to scratch at herself.

“Wow, that’s new. I mean, I haven’t even gotten to your true name, I just happened to recognize you from your stream. Lucky thing you ran into me, there’s some real strange people, you know?”

“Whuh?” One of the girl’s sleeves falls past a dwindling shoulder. Her face begins to take on the smile-like muzzle of a Shina Inu, though the tail tucked between her legs suggests she’s terrified.

“Aw, come on! I let you keep your brain for this long, and that’s how you repay me? Well, no sense in letting you keep it.”

“Nnn-nuh! Naaaoowwrrroooo!” The dog howls, falling back onto her booth’s seat. She wriggles in her clothes for a half-second, before thrashing about more violently, as though she’s unused to the fabric.

(static)

“Sorry about the mess!”

A bartender blinks, her expression slipping from a weary patience to a stunned horror. They look at the canine chaos that’s become of their job, and slowly start to raise their hands above their heads.

“Why do you humans all do that? Are you really big fans of Dragon Ball or something?” The pixie laughs. “Don’t worry, you’d make a cute retriever…”

The bartender shivers as her ears grow to slight points. She develops a faint cleft lip, and her palms looks softer. But the changes stop there.

“… But my conscience is telling me to leave you human. So have fun with the mess. I’d recommend keeping the cash but throwing out those plastic money-cards. They never work for me anyways.”

(static)

View of an attractive blonde. Faint outline of a pixie is visible when viewing recording through peripheral vision.

“Stop following me. It’s weird, and the shelters are already full to bursting.”