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Description
     A weary, armored female entered the empty Inn and was instantly recognized by the owner.
     "Hello Kisa!  How've you been," he bellowed.
     "G'day, Keep.  I'm well, and you," she responded as she stepped up to the bar.
     "As good as could be expected.  Business has been slow with the war in Tyrin, but we make due on the weekends.  What brings you back to the Capital?"
     "Business.  I'm following a lead on a group of bandits in the High Country.  Seems they've been robbing just about everyone who comes through the Mountain Pass."
     "Yes, I've heard of them.  Call themselves the 'Festering Hand.'  Rather morbid name if you ask me."
     Kisa was didn't follow up the comment, and her eyes seemed deep in thought.  "Something troubling you, Kisa?"
     She looked into Keep's eyes and forced her words.
     "How's Randall?"
     A smile crossed Keep's lips when he realized that her concern was for the well-being of her dearest friend.
     "He is well.  Would you like to see him?"
     "No, please," Kisa stopped him.  "I don't know how I'd react."
     Keep could see her pain.  He knew they had been through a lot together, and recent events had turned their friendship on end.  He could tell she needed to talk this out.
     "Sit.  I'll get some drinks."
     Kisa did as she was told and Keep hollered into the kitchen for two mugs of ale.  He then sat across from her and patted her hand.
     "Let's talk, Kisa.  Not only for my own curiosity, but for your sake."
     A tear streamed down Kisa's eye as she fought to find the words.
     Just then, a loud crash from the far side of the bar startled them both.  Looking toward the kitchen, they saw a young barmaid crouching over a plate and two spilled mugs.  Keep's wife, Pell, quickly peeked out of the door, retreated, and then came out with two fresh flagons.  The barmaid looked up and saw Keep and Kisa watching her.
     "Sorry, sir.  It won't happen again," she said apologetically.
     Keep smiled as she retreated back to the kitchens.  When he returned his gaze to Kisa, he could see that the event had done little to distract her upset mind.  He took her hand again and smiled.
     "Kisa, tell me what happened."
     With that, she told her tale.
-     -     -
     Kisa and Randall had been friends since they could remember.  Both raised in the shadow of the castle, they were trained in the ways of knights and warriors.  When they were of age, they set out together as mercenaries for hire, and soon built up quite a reputation around the kingdom.
     When they heard whispers of an evil Necromancer to the South who was supposedly raising an undead army to march on the castle, they knew it was their duty to stop the evil before it started.  With several other mercenaries, they set out for the Necromancer's castle.  Shortly after coming within sight of the tall, black structure, they were set upon by a seemingly endless swarm of Orcs.
     These creatures were no match for the battle-hardened warriors, and soon they were able to punch through to the castle proper.  Flight and Phasing spells gained them quick access, but once inside they faced the true horror of the Necromancer's power: Undead Warriors.
     The wizard had recovered the bodies of hundreds of powerful warriors and animated their corpses for his army.  Some were even the former friends of Kisa and Randall, and though it was hard, they slew them one by one, bringing peace to their souls.
     As many of the mercenaries battled in the courtyard, Kisa, Randall, the Hyth-Cairn Cleric Umana, and Petra the Barbarian stormed up into the Necromancer's tower.  Umana and Petra went first, and called an 'all clear' for Randall and Kisa.  But just as Randall entered, Umana and Petra were hit by two bolts of magical energy that rippled through their bodies and sent them writhing to the floor.  Randall sighted the wizard and charged at him menacingly, sword raised overhead.
     Just as Kisa entered behind him, bow notched, she watched the Necromancer fire a magical bolt into the chest of her dearest friend.  As Randall fell, she sighted the Necromancer and fired.
     The arrow landed true, right between the eyes of the vile wizard, who let loose an unholy screech as his body seemed to melt and evaporate to nothingness.
     Kisa ran to Randall, and found he was no worse for the wear.  The spell had been interrupted before it could do permanent damage.  Even Umana and Petra seemed fine, and the four warriors descended to the hearty cheers of their fellow mercenaries.
     The army returned to a hearty welcome and treasures galore.  In the three-day-long festival following their return, Kisa lost track of Umana and Petra, and noticed a few odd things about Randall.  His eyes seem to linger a bit too long at the knights, he flipped his hair in a strange way, and he instead of going to the games, he wanted to go shopping.
     After the festival, Kisa and Randall left the city for their next mission; A horde of Goblins that was terrorizing a small village to the North.  During the ride, Randall complained about his clothes not fitting and seemed pre-occupied with 'settling down' and 'raising children.'  When Kisa confronted him, he got very defensive.
     When they finally arrived in the village and settled into their rooms, Kisa peeked at Randall while he undressed and noticed that his hair had gotten longer, his hips were wider, his waist had narrowed, and his body seemed more slender.  Shaking it off, she decided not to make a big deal about it until she was more sure.
     Night fell and morning came, and when Kisa went to find Randall, he was not in his room.  She searched the hotel and accidentally barged in on the innkeeper's wife and a young lady.  The wife was braiding the woman's hair and asked if she could help her.  Kisa started to say she was looking for her friend when she glanced at the young lady, who smiled back.  Then she realized the woman was Randall!
     "What is going on?" Kisa insisted.
     Before Randall could speak, the wife said, "Your friend here wanted some new clothes to wear so we went shopping this morning and picked her out something proper."  Randall giggled.
     "Randall!  What are you doing?"
     "Don't take that tone with me, Kisa," Randall said in a melodious voice.  "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and I don't want to be a mercenary any more.  I just want to settle down with a nice gentleman and be a good wife."
     "But you're a man!" Kisa exclaimed.  The wife paused and looked at Randall, who smiled up at her.
     "Oh, dear.  You almost had me there."  They chuckled together as Kisa stormed downstairs to the bar.
     As she drowned her sorrows, Kisa heard whistles from many of the male customers in the bar and saw Randall flowing down the stairs.  He walked up to Kisa and sat down.
     "Kisa, I know this may seem sudden, but deep in my heart I know this is what I want," Randall explained.  Kisa finished her ale, grabbed Randall's arm and hauled him outside.
     "We're leaving and I'm getting you some help."
     "Hey, not so rough," Randall squealed.
     A large man followed them outside and protested Kisa's handling of Randall.  Kisa slowly turned with her short sword in hand and said that she would do whatever she pleased with her friend and that he should mind his own business.  The man backed off and Kisa caught Randall blushing.
     "C-mon!  We're going to see Landric."
     They rode back to the Capital, the whole way Randall babbling about cooking, cleaning and even babies.  He even noticed Kisa's obvious unhappiness with the topics, and suggested that she try to get more in touch with her feminine side, like she had.  Kisa cringed when she realized Randall was now referring to himself as a 'she.'
     As soon as they arrived, they found Landric in his home, pouring over his spellbooks, as usual.  Kisa explained what had happened to Randall and Landric examined him … her.  As far as he could tell, Randall was now completely female, and the cause was obviously magic.  Kisa remembered the bolt from the Necromancer.
     After Kisa told the story, Landric sat in thought for several minutes.  Finally, he stood up and paced across the room and back.  He glanced at Randall, then back at Kisa, and sat down once more.
     Kisa stared into Landric's eyes.
     "So what can you do?"
     "Nothing," Landric stated plainly.  "The Necromancer cast some type of Shape-shifting and Mind Control spell on him.  If I were to guess, it is designed to transform adventurers and turn them away from war.  A rather subversive method, but very effective."
     "But the Necromancer is dead!  Why is he still changing?"
     "Ah, well, you see ... All magical spells must run their course if they are not canceled.  Normally the Necromancer would have continued channeling magic into the spell, accelerating its effects, but with his death, the spell is left to run its course at a normal speed."
     There was a long pause before Kisa continued.
     "You mentioned Mind Control?"
     "Yes, I could detect the aura of it on him.  Very soon he will be seeking a husband and talking of settling down."
     "To late."
     "I see." Landric lowered his head for a moment and then took Kisa's hand.  "I am sorry, Kisa.  I know you two were close."
     "Thank you, Landric."  And with that, Kisa took Randall to the Inn.
-     -     -
     "So that is what happened," Keep started.  "But what about his …"
     "Condition?" Kisa cut him off.  The bartender nodded.
     "A few months after I left Randall here, I met up with Petra in a village to the East.  Seems when she got there after leaving the festival, she got an overwhelming desire to forget her barbarian ways and settle down.  She was happy, with a fine husband and prosperous fields, as well as a growing belly.  She looked as if she were six months pregnant, and when I questioned her about it, she seemed oblivious to her accelerated condition, only happy to be bringing a new life into the world."
     "I see," Keep said, finishing his beer and called for another.  His gaze fell upon Kisa's troubled eyes once more, and he asked her what was wrong.
     "Does he … she … remember me?"
     "Two fresh mugs of the best ale in the Capital," exclaimed a chipper voice as the vessels met the table.  Kisa glanced at the barmaid and a tear welled in her eye.  A confused look crossed the young woman's face.
     "What's wrong, Kisa?  Ravages of war finally getting to you?"  Kisa's eyes glided down to the barmaid's protruding belly and back to her face, which was smiling.
     "No, Randi, not yet.  How … are you?"
     "My feet are sore and my back hurts," she said cheerfully.  "That's what I get for working for this slave-driver," Randi continued, poking Keep, who guffawed at the accusation.
     "At this rate, I'll never find a husband."
     "Maybe all you need is a good friend," Kisa stammered.  Randi smiled and leaned in for a hug.
     "Friends forever, Kisa.  I haven't forgot that."
     Keep slipped away as the two embraced, knowing they'd have much to talk about as their friendship blossomed once more.

Description
     A weary, armored female entered the empty Inn and was instantly recognized by the owner.
     "Hello Kisa!  How've you been," he bellowed.
     "G'day, Keep.  I'm well, and you," she responded as she stepped up to the bar.
     "As good as could be expected.  Business has been slow with the war in Tyrin, but we make due on the weekends.  What brings you back to the Capital?"
     "Business.  I'm following a lead on a group of bandits in the High Country.  Seems they've been robbing just about everyone who comes through the Mountain Pass."
     "Yes, I've heard of them.  Call themselves the 'Festering Hand.'  Rather morbid name if you ask me."
     Kisa was didn't follow up the comment, and her eyes seemed deep in thought.  "Something troubling you, Kisa?"
     She looked into Keep's eyes and forced her words.
     "How's Randall?"
     A smile crossed Keep's lips when he realized that her concern was for the well-being of her dearest friend.
     "He is well.  Would you like to see him?"
     "No, please," Kisa stopped him.  "I don't know how I'd react."
     Keep could see her pain.  He knew they had been through a lot together, and recent events had turned their friendship on end.  He could tell she needed to talk this out.
     "Sit.  I'll get some drinks."
     Kisa did as she was told and Keep hollered into the kitchen for two mugs of ale.  He then sat across from her and patted her hand.
     "Let's talk, Kisa.  Not only for my own curiosity, but for your sake."
     A tear streamed down Kisa's eye as she fought to find the words.
     Just then, a loud crash from the far side of the bar startled them both.  Looking toward the kitchen, they saw a young barmaid crouching over a plate and two spilled mugs.  Keep's wife, Pell, quickly peeked out of the door, retreated, and then came out with two fresh flagons.  The barmaid looked up and saw Keep and Kisa watching her.
     "Sorry, sir.  It won't happen again," she said apologetically.
     Keep smiled as she retreated back to the kitchens.  When he returned his gaze to Kisa, he could see that the event had done little to distract her upset mind.  He took her hand again and smiled.
     "Kisa, tell me what happened."
     With that, she told her tale.
-     -     -
     Kisa and Randall had been friends since they could remember.  Both raised in the shadow of the castle, they were trained in the ways of knights and warriors.  When they were of age, they set out together as mercenaries for hire, and soon built up quite a reputation around the kingdom.
     When they heard whispers of an evil Necromancer to the South who was supposedly raising an undead army to march on the castle, they knew it was their duty to stop the evil before it started.  With several other mercenaries, they set out for the Necromancer's castle.  Shortly after coming within sight of the tall, black structure, they were set upon by a seemingly endless swarm of Orcs.
     These creatures were no match for the battle-hardened warriors, and soon they were able to punch through to the castle proper.  Flight and Phasing spells gained them quick access, but once inside they faced the true horror of the Necromancer's power: Undead Warriors.
     The wizard had recovered the bodies of hundreds of powerful warriors and animated their corpses for his army.  Some were even the former friends of Kisa and Randall, and though it was hard, they slew them one by one, bringing peace to their souls.
     As many of the mercenaries battled in the courtyard, Kisa, Randall, the Hyth-Cairn Cleric Umana, and Petra the Barbarian stormed up into the Necromancer's tower.  Umana and Petra went first, and called an 'all clear' for Randall and Kisa.  But just as Randall entered, Umana and Petra were hit by two bolts of magical energy that rippled through their bodies and sent them writhing to the floor.  Randall sighted the wizard and charged at him menacingly, sword raised overhead.
     Just as Kisa entered behind him, bow notched, she watched the Necromancer fire a magical bolt into the chest of her dearest friend.  As Randall fell, she sighted the Necromancer and fired.
     The arrow landed true, right between the eyes of the vile wizard, who let loose an unholy screech as his body seemed to melt and evaporate to nothingness.
     Kisa ran to Randall, and found he was no worse for the wear.  The spell had been interrupted before it could do permanent damage.  Even Umana and Petra seemed fine, and the four warriors descended to the hearty cheers of their fellow mercenaries.
     The army returned to a hearty welcome and treasures galore.  In the three-day-long festival following their return, Kisa lost track of Umana and Petra, and noticed a few odd things about Randall.  His eyes seem to linger a bit too long at the knights, he flipped his hair in a strange way, and he instead of going to the games, he wanted to go shopping.
     After the festival, Kisa and Randall left the city for their next mission; A horde of Goblins that was terrorizing a small village to the North.  During the ride, Randall complained about his clothes not fitting and seemed pre-occupied with 'settling down' and 'raising children.'  When Kisa confronted him, he got very defensive.
     When they finally arrived in the village and settled into their rooms, Kisa peeked at Randall while he undressed and noticed that his hair had gotten longer, his hips were wider, his waist had narrowed, and his body seemed more slender.  Shaking it off, she decided not to make a big deal about it until she was more sure.
     Night fell and morning came, and when Kisa went to find Randall, he was not in his room.  She searched the hotel and accidentally barged in on the innkeeper's wife and a young lady.  The wife was braiding the woman's hair and asked if she could help her.  Kisa started to say she was looking for her friend when she glanced at the young lady, who smiled back.  Then she realized the woman was Randall!
     "What is going on?" Kisa insisted.
     Before Randall could speak, the wife said, "Your friend here wanted some new clothes to wear so we went shopping this morning and picked her out something proper."  Randall giggled.
     "Randall!  What are you doing?"
     "Don't take that tone with me, Kisa," Randall said in a melodious voice.  "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and I don't want to be a mercenary any more.  I just want to settle down with a nice gentleman and be a good wife."
     "But you're a man!" Kisa exclaimed.  The wife paused and looked at Randall, who smiled up at her.
     "Oh, dear.  You almost had me there."  They chuckled together as Kisa stormed downstairs to the bar.
     As she drowned her sorrows, Kisa heard whistles from many of the male customers in the bar and saw Randall flowing down the stairs.  He walked up to Kisa and sat down.
     "Kisa, I know this may seem sudden, but deep in my heart I know this is what I want," Randall explained.  Kisa finished her ale, grabbed Randall's arm and hauled him outside.
     "We're leaving and I'm getting you some help."
     "Hey, not so rough," Randall squealed.
     A large man followed them outside and protested Kisa's handling of Randall.  Kisa slowly turned with her short sword in hand and said that she would do whatever she pleased with her friend and that he should mind his own business.  The man backed off and Kisa caught Randall blushing.
     "C-mon!  We're going to see Landric."
     They rode back to the Capital, the whole way Randall babbling about cooking, cleaning and even babies.  He even noticed Kisa's obvious unhappiness with the topics, and suggested that she try to get more in touch with her feminine side, like she had.  Kisa cringed when she realized Randall was now referring to himself as a 'she.'
     As soon as they arrived, they found Landric in his home, pouring over his spellbooks, as usual.  Kisa explained what had happened to Randall and Landric examined him … her.  As far as he could tell, Randall was now completely female, and the cause was obviously magic.  Kisa remembered the bolt from the Necromancer.
     After Kisa told the story, Landric sat in thought for several minutes.  Finally, he stood up and paced across the room and back.  He glanced at Randall, then back at Kisa, and sat down once more.
     Kisa stared into Landric's eyes.
     "So what can you do?"
     "Nothing," Landric stated plainly.  "The Necromancer cast some type of Shape-shifting and Mind Control spell on him.  If I were to guess, it is designed to transform adventurers and turn them away from war.  A rather subversive method, but very effective."
     "But the Necromancer is dead!  Why is he still changing?"
     "Ah, well, you see ... All magical spells must run their course if they are not canceled.  Normally the Necromancer would have continued channeling magic into the spell, accelerating its effects, but with his death, the spell is left to run its course at a normal speed."
     There was a long pause before Kisa continued.
     "You mentioned Mind Control?"
     "Yes, I could detect the aura of it on him.  Very soon he will be seeking a husband and talking of settling down."
     "To late."
     "I see." Landric lowered his head for a moment and then took Kisa's hand.  "I am sorry, Kisa.  I know you two were close."
     "Thank you, Landric."  And with that, Kisa took Randall to the Inn.
-     -     -
     "So that is what happened," Keep started.  "But what about his …"
     "Condition?" Kisa cut him off.  The bartender nodded.
     "A few months after I left Randall here, I met up with Petra in a village to the East.  Seems when she got there after leaving the festival, she got an overwhelming desire to forget her barbarian ways and settle down.  She was happy, with a fine husband and prosperous fields, as well as a growing belly.  She looked as if she were six months pregnant, and when I questioned her about it, she seemed oblivious to her accelerated condition, only happy to be bringing a new life into the world."
     "I see," Keep said, finishing his beer and called for another.  His gaze fell upon Kisa's troubled eyes once more, and he asked her what was wrong.
     "Does he … she … remember me?"
     "Two fresh mugs of the best ale in the Capital," exclaimed a chipper voice as the vessels met the table.  Kisa glanced at the barmaid and a tear welled in her eye.  A confused look crossed the young woman's face.
     "What's wrong, Kisa?  Ravages of war finally getting to you?"  Kisa's eyes glided down to the barmaid's protruding belly and back to her face, which was smiling.
     "No, Randi, not yet.  How … are you?"
     "My feet are sore and my back hurts," she said cheerfully.  "That's what I get for working for this slave-driver," Randi continued, poking Keep, who guffawed at the accusation.
     "At this rate, I'll never find a husband."
     "Maybe all you need is a good friend," Kisa stammered.  Randi smiled and leaned in for a hug.
     "Friends forever, Kisa.  I haven't forgot that."
     Keep slipped away as the two embraced, knowing they'd have much to talk about as their friendship blossomed once more.