Find and Tame a Cockatrice
Title

Hazumi’s off to save the kingdom again. You sorry lot of Hazuminis aren’t ready to join her yet. Time for you to earn the right to use your swords.


Don’t get it twisted, none of you pussycats can handle a cockatrice of that size alone-- that’s why Hazumi is so respected across the lands. In all my years training, I’ve never seen anyone tame a COUS(Coq Of Unusual Size) like that before, and now she rides it like she was born to.


Your final mission as squires: Find a coq to capture and make your own. You’ll need to work together if you want to achieve knighthood, little squires. But remember... A cockatrice's favorite treat - Pussycats with nary a hint of courage in them, like you lot of cowardly little lions.


Now. I know your skulls leak lessons faster than a wicker basket leaks water, but try and remember your training.


Where are we going to find a cockatrice to capture, hazuminis?
Title

The Gushing Mounds

A voluptuous landscape that stands as a reminder of what raw, unbridled magic can do. Born from the climactic release of a forbidden magic in an era erased by the court historians, this region's geysers are known for its eruptions that contain magic-rich fluid highly prized for its healing ability. However, the forbidden magic from long ago still courses through beneath the surface, deep within the crevices and caverns, causing quivering, unstable grounds and a constantly changing landscape. The experienced adventurer knows that when the deep, rhythmic vibrations grow the strongest are when the geysers erupt the strongest, and even though many lose themselves to the moist, vibrating quicksand, the reward of the magical geysers draws plenty to seek their fortune in the Gushing Mounds.
A voluptuous landscape that stands as a reminder of what raw, unbridled magic can do. Born from the climactic release of a forbidden magic in an era erased by the court historians, this region's geysers are known for its eruptions that contain magic-rich fluid highly prized for its healing ability. However, the forbidden magic from long ago still courses through beneath the surface, deep within the crevices and caverns, causing quivering, unstable grounds and a constantly changing landscape. The experienced adventurer knows that when the deep, rhythmic vibrations grow the strongest are when the geysers erupt the strongest, and even though many lose themselves to the moist, vibrating quicksand, the reward of the magical geysers draws plenty to seek their fortune in the Gushing Mounds.

The Throbbing Thicket Woods

A special, magical forest made up entirely of a thick, hard heartwood tree that all pulsates together in unison with a magical glow. They're called heartwood because of the sprawling, ancient root system beneath the forest that's absorbed all of the love, blood, and life that's fell into the soil over thousands of years, imbuing it with a raw, primal magic found nowhere else in the world. Though there are many trunks, some small, some towering over the Hazuminis at hundreds of feet tall, they are all technically the same tree, born from roots planted in an age long forgotten to history.
A special, magical forest made up entirely of a thick, hard heartwood tree that all pulsates together in unison with a magical glow. They're called heartwood because of the sprawling, ancient root system beneath the forest that's absorbed all of the love, blood, and life that's fell into the soil over thousands of years, imbuing it with a raw, primal magic found nowhere else in the world. Though there are many trunks, some small, some towering over the Hazuminis at hundreds of feet tall, they are all technically the same tree, born from roots planted in an age long forgotten to history.

Chapter 2

The Gushing Mounds

A look of disappointment flashes across the crinkled, wizened face of your knight instructor, but he says nothing. Lips pursed, he motions for the band of squires to move out, armor clanking as you begin the long march to the Gushing Mounds.

As you move closer and closer to the Gushing Mounds, you see the natural forests and mountains begin to thin out, with swathes of land completely barren and empty, some burned and ashen, while others have massive craters and chunks taken out of them. Whatever happened to this land eons ago has left irreparable scars that nature has yet to reclaim.

 

It’s increasingly clear as you get closer and closer that there’s an ancient, disturbing magic that rumbles the ground beneath your feet. Even from afar, you can feel your skin crawl and hairs prickle from an unseen danger, making the very air taste metallic and nauseating.

 

“What are you, chicken?” your instructor smirks, “No, you’re just a bunch of pussycats. Braver than I thought to be able to approach this place willingly though. I’ve seen many knights, adventurers, and scoundrels all fall. Still, Lady Hazumi would have my head if you lot were taken by the Maelstrom. Best we move elsewhere.”

 

Where do you go now?

Give Up. Back to the Kingdom.

Deep Into the Throbbing Thicket Woods

Chapter 3

“Ah, you finally remembered your lessons! Remember, Cockatrice hide in the Pearlberry bush. They’re curled up to conserve heat, and seem smaller than they are, but expand to a much larger size when they’re excited or threatened.

The court naturalist sketched this out for you mangy lot, and a summary on the bush.“

The Pearlberry Bush, known for its soft, inviting foliage, is a favorite treat to the rare Opalescent Seeker Thrush. This creature is famous for its long, nimble beak that probes deep into the bush's hidden crevices in search of the elusive Pearlberries. Pearlberries are greatly prized for their delicate, sweet and slightly sour flavor, but are difficult to harvest and cultivate, as when force is encountered, the bush curls inwards on itself, with its thorny branches intertwining to become as hard as a rock to protect the delicate berries within. When ripe, these berries fall from the branches onto the symbiotic cockatrice, who carry these berries far and wide across its natural roaming range, allowing the Pearlberry to spread its seed far and wide. The Opalescent Seeker Thrush is a favorite treat of the cockatrice, and hiding within the bush allows the cockatrice to both protect the bush from other external threats, as well as indulge in a tasty little treat whenever it feels the distinctive, gentle strokes made by the Opalescent Seeker Thrush when it dives beneath for Pearlberries.
 

You think back on your lessons, trying hard to remember what you’d heard as you nodded off in class. 


“Remember, it’s not about the size of the cockatrice, it’s how you use it.”
Wait, no, that wasn’t it.


“The cockatrice is prized as a mount, yet elusive, being both difficult to find, and even harder to subdue without significant injury occurring to both parties. It’s greatly advised to...”

 

You don’t remember anything else, as you’re pretty sure you fell asleep then.
 

Do you:

gently stroke the bushes

release the lion within

Chapter 4

You reach out slowly and tenderly, letting your fingertips brush ever so gently across the outer tips of the bush. You wait, one heartbeat, two, and then reach out again with a single finger, tracing the bush’s form from the bottom to the top, coaxing the pearl berries from their coverings with little circular motions around them.

 

There’s no need to rush-- instead, you explore, tease, and discover with your ministrations, gently caressing each and every curve and crevice before you, until you see the distinctive “dewdrops” that give the pearlberries their name. Then, using two fingers, you gently begin to press against the petals, teasing entrance as your fingers slip up and down as you feel breathless quivering.

 

Smoothly and slowly, your fingers push inwards into the depths, probing and exploring where eyes can’t see, and you curl your fingers ever so slightly, finding the ridged, bumpy area within, stroking in tune with the trembling of the bush, matching it for intensity little by little until you feel the straining and writhing, the tension that begs for release, and finally--
 

The head of the cockatrice peeks out from beneath its protective bush, looking for the Opalescent Seeker Thrush it’s come to expect. You hold your breath in excitement as you see it look a little confused, and begin to wriggle out of its nest. It’s young, smaller and not fully developed, and you can’t quite tell if it’ll grow into the larger, more scaled polymorph or the more heavily feathered, rooster like polymorph yet.

 

It seems crestfallen, a disappointed cluck coming from it as you hesitantly reach out towards it. It’s dangerous-- after all, if it decides to not like you, a single scratch or peck of its beak could petrify you, making you as hard as a rock.

 

“Get back!” You barely have time to register the words before you’re yanked backwards by the scruff of your neck, barely avoiding the talons that slash the air right where you were.

 

One of your companions wasn't so fortunate, and found the long, curved talon inserting into them. With a heady moan, your companion turns rock hard, their petrified face locked in a strange, almost euphoric expression.

 

“Hold steady.” The head knight instructor’s voice is calm and steady as his sword flits back and forth, seeming lighter than a feather as he parries each and every blow from the cockatrice. 

 

The other knight instructors unsheath their swords, ushering the remaining hazumini squires behind them as they stand to face the threat before them.

 

The mother cockatrice has arrived.

Do you:

rock out with the cockatrice out

crow like a cock at the cockatrice

Chapter 5

Seizing the moment, you pull at your fallen companion, hands roaming over their body to find a place to grip and push as you put them gingerly onto the side of a rock. Your hand gently cups your companion’s face as you lift them, and luckily, you see that their legs are spread wide. You sling them across your back, letting them straddle you in their hardened state as you move them away from the sounds of chaos and fighting behind you.
You need to help out, and you remember something about the cockatrice and some kind of loud sound... No time to think. Time to make the loudest sound you can make. You begin to thrust your companion against the rock over and over to produce a chaotic, percussive beat. When feral growls escape from you, you notice that the cockatrice is not frightened at all the sounds but calm as it saunters over to you. You smile, thinking back to your mentor gently stroking her cockatrice while humming a gentle melody that made her cockatrice tremble with pleasure. Surely, the sounds you are making here can tame this throbbing cockatrice standing proudly before you. From behind you feel something probing; it’s stiff and erect, and if you realize too late, the cockatrice has taken you from behind, thrusting its talon into your back, ripping through your clothes and--
“It’s not over yet!” cries out the senior knight instructor, and suddenly, you’re thrown away from cockatrice, its talons narrowly missing your skin.
“We can still tame the cockatrice!”

 

The cockatrice’s attention is now fully on the knight instructor, providing you a moment to think. You remember the melodic voice of Hazumi, holding something in one hand as she sang, her other hand stroking her cockatrice as she sang a song to her cockatrice about... something. Something about cream... no... flour?

 

You knew it was about food. Something to calm the cockatrice, something the cockatrice loved...

You reach quickly into your pack, rummaging around to find your rations. Surely, something you have would calm the cockatrice...
What do you try to feed the cockatrice?
 

Give it a Good Ole' Cream Pie

Offer a Steamy Bowl of Coq

THE END!

The cockatrice watches you with hooded eyes as you squirt the creamy crème anglaise onto the pie dish of flaky crust set before you. You swear you hear it panting as you spread your cream over the crust, making sure to cover every area in the white mixture. When the pie dish is full of the steaming, creamy concoction you slap it a little with your spoon, watching with great satisfaction the recoil of the thick cream. Sensually, you bring the spoon to your mouth, tongue darting out as you lick the cream off the spoon in long strokes pausing to change directions, making sure to suck up every least drop. You notice, as you lick the spoon, the cockatrice panting hot and heavy. You scoot the pie dish in the direction of the cockatrice seductively whispering, “I’d like to give you a creampie.” 

 

A sigh of relief escapes your mouth as you watch the cockatrice peck and lick at the creampie, its tongue darting out to lick the white substance off the plate. You slowly step forwards, and when you do the coacktrice raises its head, tilting it to the side curiously.
 

Tentatively, you reach out your hand, and the cockatrice lowers its head into it. You start gently stroking a spot of immense pleasure on the beast, right beneath its head, and it begins to coo, leaning more into your touch. As you pet it stiffens, eyes closing and sounds of pleasure escaping it as your hand runs up and down the length of its neck.
 

You smile. The cockatrice has been tamed.
 

The rest of the hazuminis cheer and make their way to the erect creature slowly raising their hands, preparing to indulge the cockatrice in an orgy of stroking.

The knight instructor begins to say something, but the words are muffled, lost in the throes of pleasure that the cockatrice is experiencing and the murmurs of the excited Hazuminis, and he clears his throat again to try and get everyone’s attention, and--
 

Hazumi snaps awake, tangled in a mess of sheets.
 

Her skin glows, gleaming with the sheen of sweat from the sunrise peeking through her window. She sits up, a bowl of half-finished coq au blanc spilling onto her and dropping to her side.
 

“Oh, Yeah…” She mutters, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
 

Hazumi looks down at her ruined clothes, groaning, but then, a giggle escapes her. She can’t help, but to think of how this would seem if anyone could see her right now. Also, that dream. What was that?
 

Why was it so vivid?
 

As Hazumi prepares to clean the mess, a sound makes her pause. In the distance, there is the strangled cry of a rooster.
 

“That was a dream… right?”