Alchemist

From Grigbertz

One evening when Eloina was looking for a place to spend the night, she noted a small village some distance ahead of her. Glad that she would be able to sleep indoors for a change she walked on, but dusk fell quickly. Eloina knew it was tricky to walk safely in chains during nighttime even with her practice but was still convinced she could reach the village within half an hour.

Suddenly she saw light coming from a large house on her right hand side. She peered throught the forest to see what kind of house it was - it was quite large, had several floors and a tower that was quite tall. It looked dark and omnious but at the same time, the light that poured out of the windows was warm and inviting. Eloina decided that she would seek shelter here first and then try the village if no space was to be found here.

A small path led her through a well kept garden to the front door wich was large, made of some dark wood and carved with arcane symbols. A large door knocker was fixed to the door so that quests could attract the attention of whoever lived inside. Eloina was dressed in her coif and had a side-tied dress wich was simple but nice. She decided to try the front door instead of the back but when she reached for the clapper with her hands (as always, secured behind her back by Geitres bracelets) she couldn't quite reach it. She tried again, this time really bending forward and standing on the tips of her toes to try to reach it, but she could just get her fingertips on it, not move it. Frustrated, she gave up after a few tries and instead used her teeth on the knob fastened on the ring and thus managed to raise it a few inches before she would let go and let it fall.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

She did it three times before standing back and tried to look as cute and in need as possible. Footsteps could be heard from the inside and shortly the door was opened by a tall human female with dark hair done in a knot, dressed in a strict dark gown and holding a candelabra.

"Yes?"
"Excuse me madame, but I am in need of shelter for the night. Maybe you have a spot in front of the fire in the kitchen? I can do some chores in exchange."
"Are you serious, miss? What is this, a joke? Have the villagers sent you here?"
"No madame, I just came upon your house walking along the road. I've never been here before."
A smile came over the womans face and she stood aside, letting Eloina in.
"Is that so. Well, we can't really have you walking all the way to the village can we. I'm sure we can find some use for you." she said and when Eloina started to walk the woman instantly noticed the chain between her feet and exclaimed:
"My dear! What is this, why are you chained like this?"

Eloina told her the story about her jewellry and Geitre and during the tale the woman only nodded thoughtfully.

"I would like to examine those chains later, and I'm sure the good doctor will want to too, but for now please follow me. My name is Helga, and I tend to the needs of Dr Kunstler who live in this house. He is a famous alchemist but is not well liked in this region. That was why I was a little surprised to see you at our door, pretty young girls from the village tend to avoid this place... or so I've heard."
While Helga had been speaking, she had closed and bolted the door before picking up the candelabra and leading Eloina through a lavishly decorated dining room, through the kitchens where someone had been busy preparing a meal and up a small spiral stair to the second floor. Eloina had thought that she'd be left in the kitchen, perhaps helping Helga doing some tasks, but she followed the woman when she led. She was glad to be inside in the light and warmth and did not reflect more on what Helga had said about the townspeople. They came to a dark large room on the second floor of the building. Heavy curtains obscured what looked like very large windows and Eloina peered into the darkness that was somewhat banished by the candles in Helgas candelabra but she could only make out what looked like pillars. They were slowly heading for one so she would soon find out what it was. They walked on to the sound of Helgas footsteps and Eloinas chains.

"Now the nature of the services I'd like you to perform are a bit... unique but certainly not beyond your capabilities. One might say that you are perfectly suited for the task at hand."
While they had been talking, they had made their way to one of the stone formations Eloina had thought to be a pillar - now she could see it was instead a beautifully carved pedestal, sadly lacking a matching statue.
"Do you mean it's not normal chores that need to be done?" Eloinas eyes began to narrow...
"Correct. Let me see here, that coif will have to go." and with that Helga, with a small smile, reached out and undid Eloinas coif and removed it. Eloina was a little taken back by this but didn't resist although she was getting increasingly unnerved about this whole business.
"Madame! What are you doing?!?"
"Oh quit that my dear and remove your dress. There's a good reason we don't have many visitors here but your visit here was really very timely."
"Never! What is this place?" and Eloina turned around to run away but Helga grabbed her by her hair and forcefully pulled her back. Eloina tried to stop Helga from undoing her dress but her bracelets held her hands securely out of the way and she could feel them really keeping her defenseless. Her dress fell to the floor and it was not long before she stood there naked. Again she tried to pull away, but Helga still ha a hand in her hair and although she tried, Helga was the stronger woman.
"Now hop up onto this pedestal young woman or I'll have Tymon flog you! We're not going to hurt you, the doctor just wants to look at you." Eloina stopped struggling and looked at the pedestal. She bit her lip, noticed that Helga still had a firm grip on her hair and then sat down on the spot Helga had told her, she did not want to be flogged. The pedestal slowly rose out of the floor until she could look Helga in the eyes.

"Don't fall down my dear, sit tight. You see, the doctor is a brilliant but strange person. A very talented alchemist and a genious for sure, but not very successful with women - hence he has developed this habit where we serve him young ladies to look at... but since the villagers are unable to see the importance of the doctors work the have been unwilling to supply us, forcing Tymon to capture the odd girl. You can understand they don't like us but so far there's no proof."
"No proof? But the girls testimonies?"
"Oh no my dear, there are none. We have large cellars with some cells, it's just that the doctor needs some variation."
Eloinas heart went cold when she heard this. While they had been talking Helga had made a long chain descend towards them from the high cieling, it clicked mechanically as its end, wich had a hook attached to it, slowed down and hung in the air between them.