[TF, M Elf -> F Elf/Troll, Twinning]
[CW: Mild Body Horror]

The room full of bodies was rather quiet, compared to the echoes of battle that was still ringing in the small group's ears. The tinnitus faded, and eventually each member stood and started walking around, checking the bodies for any remaining the traps or items that might be of use to the trio of adventurers.

It was another day in the life of being 'heroes for hire', though the branding hadn't attracted the wealth they had hoped for. Instead, the wages they received for clearing out a small local cult praising some death worshipping necromancer woman would barely cover their basic supplies. More than half of their wealth - and sometimes equipment - came from the pockets of the dead cultists littering the room.

It didn't take long for the group of 'heroes' to decide that starvation was less noble than helping themselves to the pockets of adversaries that moments earlier had been trying to kill them. The groups leader, a devout follower of order and balance had been the last to turn to thievery, but even he couldn't deny that the nice inn rooms were better than the monastic quarters he had spent much of his early life in.

It was the monk, Car'el, who stood guard at the entrance to the crypt. He rubbed his smooth shaved head and rested his weight slightly against his quarterstaff.  He might have gotten over his discomfort with grave robbing - this time literally in a grave for once - but he didn't have to be part of it. Better to have a guard, he figured, than three people doing the work that two could do just as quickly.

The most readily accepting of the new 'appropriation of funds' system was the group's polar opposite to Car'el. Nixos, the self proclaimed shadowstalker. Nixos was never really a stranger to treating law and propriety as suggestions, and loose ones at that. He'd been the one to originally suggest they help themselves. After all, he argued, it was how the street drifters lived.

The fact that it was illegal was a moot point when the person who could drag you to the authorities wasn't able to draw a breath again.

Nixos had come out to the entrance of the crypt, sitting on a nearby headstone. He nodded to Car'el and beyond him into the depths he had just emerged from.

"We got lucky they'd all rather keep worshipping their 'Queen of Damnation' than stop to fight us."

Car'el just nodded with a grunt.

"No, you don't get it. We were chopping their friends to death, and they kept praying. Crazy people don't do that; crazy people panic and flee or fight. Which would have been bad enough."

Car'el turned to face his compatriot. "What were they then, if not crazy? Because that looked like crazy to me."

A simple headshake. "I don't know. Just saying, something is weird. It should be that easy to take out a room full of cultists."

The third, and final, member of the small team was Alys. Alys was the only non-human of the group, but given his long standing history with Car'el - longer than Nixos had even been in the picture - it had never been an issue. Instead, his elven magic had been a boon for the melee focused pair of fighters, finding it to be nourishing and ensuring no injuries would ever prove fatal.

Alys shambled out of the crypt, weighed down by his haul. Drawing the attention of his compatriots, they both turned to look at him and what he had.

Alys tossed onto the ground a set of black leather. It was sort of disturbing to look at, as there seemed to be bones - human bones - woven through the material. It was clearly designed into various pieces of armor, with the bones offering both a means to secure the garments in place, as well as extra defense along the lengths of leather.

It was grotesque, but it seemed more disturbing that just what it was made from. Even Nixos and Car'el could feel a difference between this armor and normal armor, though they couldn't pinpoint what it was.

"Magic." Alys stated the word definitively as if it would explain all their questions. "This armor is dripping with magical energy. Not your normal amount of energy for a standard enchantment, we're talking a lifetime of magical power in here."

Car'el raised a brow and tilted his head looking at the pile of clothes. Using the end of his staff, he shifted the garments about so he could see them all. "They're women's clothes. Must be for the 'Queen of Damnation' they kept talking about." He turned his gaze back on Alys. "What's your plan with them?"

Alys shrugged, rubbing the back of his head. The truth that he didn't want to admit was that the armor was intoxicating to his elven sense. He was already adept at magic, and the deep well of magic contained within the armor was tempting. Beyond tempting it was irresistible, but Alys knew he'd sound more like a drug addict than the group's meditative healer.

Alys shrugged, again, as though to dismiss the thoughts in his own head. "Maybe it'd be helpful to us, and if not we could sell it, right? There's probably some collector in the city that would give a lot to have something unique like this."

The intense gaze Car'el was giving was too much for Alys to maintain, so he turned away, softly blushing. "Fine. Sounds like a plan." Car'el's typically stoic voice sounded judgemental, though Alys knew it was in his head.

Alys glanced at Nixos as he scooped up his new haul. Whatever judgement his shadowy friend had had been kept to himself. Perhaps, Alys figured, this would all blow over in time.

 ===

The gaping wound in Nixos's chest wouldn't let him live much longer. Luckily, the Savage orc's mail hadn't damaged any organs too badly, though the shrapnel from his ribcage wasn't going to help that for long. Alys was kneeling beside him, hands on his chest as the blood rushed forward from the new cavity.

His healing wasn't working. If anything, it was only staving off the inevitable and prolonging Nixos's anguish. Alys was far more panicked than Nixos, who had been drifting in and out of consciousness. Right then, as Nixos started gasping his last, Alys remembered.

In his bag was still the black leather from weeks before. It had turned out that finding a buyer was near impossible, which was convenient since Alys hadn't wanted to be separated from it as time went on. Fortunately, the endless fount of magical energy was within arm's reach, and Alys plunged one hand into his bag and fished out the gauntlet.

It wrapped itself around his forearm, tightening down to grip his flesh. That was a problem for later, Alys mused, as he swapped hands and similarly donned the other gauntlet.

Healing Nixos was simple then. Ridiculously simple. What had been moments earlier a ridiculous feat just to keep him alive, now was effortless in restoring him to full health. The pair looked at each other, wordlessly in awe, before the sounds of reinforcements drove Nixos to his feet and left Alys kneeling, stunned.

 ===

The others had already gone to sleep for the night. They were spending the night in the ruins that the orcs had taken up, though it turned out searching all the destroyed buildings for the amulet they were trying to find had taken a week so far. The small village seemed endless when they were searching for something that could fit in the palm of their hands.

Speaking of hands… Alys couldn't help but stare at his own in the soft glow of their campfire's embers. While he kept guard, the others slept, so he wasn't likely to be disturbed.

After a week of attempts, the gauntlets hadn't been removed. The darkened leather had been pressed so snuggly against his skin that there was no gap he could fit even a straw into. And worst of all were the changes.

From his elbows to his finger tips, his arms no longer looked like his own. His limbs seemed thinner, composed more of sinews stretched across bone than a health balance of muscle and fat. His skin, normally fair but rosy, had become as pale as the bleached bones adorning the armor. His fingers had become slender, stretching out with long nails painted black that came to a permanent sharp point. Despite any efforts, Alys was unable to cut his nails or remove the black that coated them. He was stuck, for the time it seemed, with the sharp talons.

The group had tried reassuring him, that when they got back to the city they'd find a mage to help reverse whatever this curse was. But Alys wasn't convinced that was necessary. After all, the gauntlets let him save Nixos's life. Their usefulness couldn't be questioned, and Alys wondered if they could be useful again.

 ===

"What did you do!"

Car'el's voice was booming from their small campsite. There was no reason for him to yell, except that he was worked up. Car'el rarely became angry - the monastic life drove that out of him - but he became zealously protective of his friends. When his friends did stupid things to themselves, then that is what would frustrated him.

Alys shoot his head, carefully not maintaining eye contact with his leader. "I didn't do anything…" he bashfully muttered.

Car'el grabbed the elf by the arms. Alys's upper arms were armored with the cursed leather. "How did this happen then!"

Nixos stepped in, gently removing Car'el's hands. "Listen, Alys said he didn't do anything, then he didn't do anything. Unless you want to start calling us liars, I trust him." Car'el simmered at this, but remained quiet, his shout burst of frustration fading already. Nixos continued, "He saved my life with those things, and we're already planning on getting someone to look at it when we make it to town. Let it be."

Car'el stomped off, leaving Nixos and Alys alone.

"Thanks…" Alys whispered, still staring at the ground as though he could will it into swallowing him whole.

"Don't. I know you're lying. I professionally lie, and I'm wondering if that was your first time ever lying." Nixos paced back and forth. "I stood up for you because you saved my life. We're even. Just make sure you don't get caught putting more of that armor on, or I'll look like shit. Might have to carve that armor off your skin myself to make things straight again." Nixos walked away calmly. It hadn't seemed like a threat, and Alys was still thrown off at first trying to figure out what it was. He finally settled on it being a simple explanation from a man who's world worked in black and white, with no gray areas.

Simple rules, Alys figured, to abide by if it meant getting his teammates to calm down, and if he got to keep wearing the armor and soaking in magic, it was worth it.

 ===

Car'el had left him alone since the confrontation. It had made the last couple days awkward, but Alys didn't mind. Frankly, sleeping in private ruins had made it easier for the armor to keep 'accidentally' attaching to him in his 'sleep'.

By the end of the week, Alys's body was almost completely adorned in the cursed armor. The leggings had been easy to pull on, giving him sinewy limbs that strangely seemed stronger despite the loss of muscle. His toenails had curved down in front of his toes like animalistic claws, and came to dark sharp points much like his fingernails.

The chest armor drew certain 'attention' to the wearer's chest, and while Alys didn't have the right body shape for the leather corset with breast cups, but after sleeping on, that had changed. He now sported a waspish waist that flared out to his normal hips and supported a generous bust. A generous, and very sensitive pale bust that Alys had already realized would lead him to new pleasure.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what was happening at this point. Alys was turning into a woman: presumably the Queen of Damnation herself. Alys wasn't sure how he felt about that, his elven body being twisted and turned into the form of a gothically attractive female form of some unknown race.

The worst part of it was, Alys couldn't even tell himself he didn't want it to happen.

The previous week had been amazing, and he had been able to demonstrate magical powers he never thought he'd be able to achieve. He was able to clear rubble, protect his friends from harm, and quickly clear the area when needed from critters and creatures that wanted to attack them. Even Car'el had been coming around, admitting that he might have been too tough on Alys.

Alys knew there was more power to be had, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to take it. The last article of armor that wasn't bonded to his ghostly skin was the skirt with built in underwear. He knew the armor was turning him into a woman, and the idea of taking the plunge was intimidating.

Nixos snored softly beside him, and he blushed, remembering what had happened earlier. His jaw and rear end was still sore from following the new feminine instincts in his body. Nixos had been enjoying the changes, and wanted to have some fun - though he called it staying even - with the changing effeminate boy. It turned out the gothic aesthetic was a turn on for Nixos, being an alley feeling shadowstalker most of his life.

Alys slipped out of the ruin and brought with him the leather skirt. He held it in front of his naked hips, and bit his lip while thinking it over. The thrumming of pure magical energy was hard to ignore. He glimpsed back at Nixos, and thought how good he had felt while they were intimate… and how much better that would feel if he had the genitals to match his breasts.

Between the magic and the sex, there was no question anymore for Alys, and he slipped on the skirt. The moment the underwear came to rest with his genitals he felt an electric shock course through his body. The outfit was complete, and now his body would be molded in the final ways.

Immediately his crotch felt painfully tight, as strong cramps worked through his muscles. He could feel a pulling sensation, starting from within as his sex was inverted, pulling and twisting and rearranging. Alys slipped his hand down just in time for it to become 'her' hand, her elongated fingernails teasing her newly crafted slit.

The changes didn't cease though. Alys's face, uncovered from the armor, had been spared from the changes up to this point. Now that Aly was wearing the entire set of armor, the wash of changes continued up to her head. Her skin turned bone white, matching the rest of her body, and her facial structure shifted. The bones slid and moved, grinding as they created a vaguely more piglike structure. Her face looked much wider, with accented brow ridges and strong cheekbones. Her nose was wide and slightly upturned, and her teeth were sharp and pointed with two large tusks pertruding from between her lips. Her hair had turned jet black, and formed into a thick voluminous cloud of hair that seemed to float behind her head.

Alys was clearly part troll, the piglike heritage showing through, though her elven eyes and ears hadn't been fully eliminated. She could tell by touch that she didn't have a fatty face like a troll, her skin was taught over her face giving an appearance she figured looked like a troll skull tightly wrapped in skin. Her sunken eyes and lips drawn tight over her teeth added credence to the appearance of being little more than a skin covered skeleton.

She was an impossible crossbreed, the only elf-troll in existence. She shook her head, looking at her body. It was hard to believe this was her body now, but it almost was harder to believe that a week ago she was her old self. This body just felt right in a way she couldn't describe. Not to mention the magic coursing through her bones, which just made everything feel intense and sublime at the same time.

Alys sauntered back to her ruins where Nixos slept, aware of the changes to her gait. She picked her sharp talon like finger between her carnivorous fang in a decidedly feminine gesture while pondering how best to wake Nixos for a second round of exploring her new body.

 ===

Car'el hadn't been happy with the changes, but had mostly kept it to himself as they broke camp. With Alys's newfound surge of powers, it was trivial to find the pendant - it was housed underneath a collapsed roof, in a section they wouldn't have checked for a while.

So the team set off on the road. Alys no longer hid her changing body under her old clothes, and instead only wore the dark leather stretched across her pale skin. It was easily removable now - as she and Nixos discovered the night before - but it was the most comfortable garment she had.

The changes hadn't been strictly physical. It showed as Alys strutted about, walking through the camp to pack up. Both of the remaining men had studied her rear, both having their own tempting thoughts as they saw the feminine swing in her hips. As far as they could tell it was still Alys inside the body, even if Alys was being soothed into the role of an overpowered witch.

By the time the group had set out on the road, it was nearly midday. The men had gotten used to Alys's presence, and was starting to appreciate it more and more. It was strange then, when a woman looking almost identical to Alys showed up.

She looked like a more transformed version of Alys: the troll features were more dramatized and any elvish traits were missing from her face. She looked like a taut bag of bones held together by little more than sheer willpower.

"You stole my power! It was you! I will kill you all!" The woman cried out, pointing a nail adorned with a sharp talon at her twin.

Alys scoffed, causing Car'el and Nixos to look at her incredulously. Their shy friend seemed to have gained a boost of confidence in her new form.

"Me? Me? I'm the better version of you." Alys paused for a second and grinned, showing far more of her viscious grin. "I figured it out, this armor isn't normally enchanted. It's made from you. This is your skin, your bones, and all the magic from every time you die is trapped in it building it up over time."

The stranger looked indignant, but Alys cut her off again. "It's not a bad plan. Spend a century or two and get the most out of being able to come back from the dead, get some followers praising the 'Queen of Damnation' and suddenly you could take over the world, huh? Except we came through and broke up your little family of cultists. And you know what?"

Alys stepped forward, getting in the stranger's face. Raw magical energy seemed to be crackling around her, a deep purple glow that seemed to make the midday sun darker around them. "I'm better than you. It turns out a bit of elf blood makes this whole thing a lot stronger. So you don't get to come here and make demands.

"I'm the Queen of Damnation now, bitch."

As Alys spat out the words, her fingers snapped and the cloud of magical energy released into its target. There was a moment of silence before Car'el and Nixos realized the strange woman was gone, all that remained was a small ring of bone.

Alys bent over and picked up the remnants and set it on her head. It was a bone tiara, perfectly adorning her head and completing her armor. A black gem quivered in its setting inside of the bone tiara.

"Her soul is trapped in this, see?" Alys tapped her forehead between her eyes where the gem sat. "I imagine that will stop her from resurrecting and trying to murder us in our sleep or something." Alys grinned at her friends, giving them a wink. "Why don't we get to town and get an inn together? Maybe we should all share a room…" Alys turned and started heading back down to town, her ass waiving back and forth as she led the way. It didn't take much convincing for the men. Maybe sharing a bed with the Queen of Damnation would work out in the end.