Aethyric energies tear through my body, wracking every nerve with stinging pain. Every facet of the room seems to change moment by moment: walls gain new angles, paintings warp into indecipherable messes, and the seemingly solid stone of the floor melts in places, leaving gaping holes to some plane far from mortal understanding.

The only constants in this vortex of chance are my robes, whipped into a frenzy by the driving winds, and the massive spell circle etched into the floor. Even as the world around me begins to twist into insanity, the circle pulses with a bright green light, searing my eyes as I desperately try to keep from losing my mind. My throat rasps out arcane phrases, blood spilling from my mouth as the age-old words damage my body. Fingers dig into the malleable stone around me, a single sense that can be trusted in this chaotic moment.

Finally, after what paradoxically feels like an eternity and a single heartbeat at the same time, the final words of the incantations erupt from my lips; "Heed my call and stand afore me, O Inscrutable Yvrax! Let thine wisdom become mine!"

The world snaps back into place, my room appearing just like it did before the summoning started. But now, standing at ease in the middle of the circle, is a tall "woman," at least from the waist up. Her skin, black as ink, is completely without flaw as it stretches tight over a buxon frame. Her bare breasts heave with deep breaths as she stares at me with eyes of bright gold. Her mouth curls into a grin, an overlong tongue emerging to lick at her lips, leaving some viscous substance behind.

That same substance appears to form the rest of her. From the waist down, her form is a roiling mass of inky black tentacles and seething goo that bubbles, releasing a strange, blood-like scent into the air. Countless eyes and mouth form then disappear into the being's body, and further tendrils emerge from the "woman's" head to resemble hair. The creature rolls forward, the mass undulating beneath them, but they are stopped at the edge of the circle as a wall of flames keep them constrained. Seeing no escape from the impeccable drawn circle, the "woman" shrugs, the bones of her limbs moving far higher than any mortal's ever could.

"For what reason have I been called forth, Summoner of mine? Speak to me of the pleasures you seek to indulge within, so that I might collect my price," the being says, their voive an echo of a thousand voices mixed into one condescending tone. Their arms trace up and down the humanoid torso, teasing me with their voluptuous curves.

I stumble to my feet, wiping away the dust that had been blown over me, only to remember that the events of the summoning never truly took place. A staff of spiralling iron rises from the ground to my hand, which I heavily lean upon for support. Robes of deep blue and red hang from my tired shoulders, covered in eldritch symbols that would hurt the eyes of other mortals. With a deep breath, trying to ignore the potent scent of the shoggoth hanging in the air, I reply "Your task is an easy one, honourable Yvrax. But first, I would know your name, for the ease of our negotiation."

The shoggoth's grin grows wider, her tongue running across full lips again. She reclines against her lower half, which takes on the shape of a large throne as I watch. "Hm, very well, that is a reasonable request. I am known as Ilaimera Vox'sul, or at least that is what you humans called me in a past age. I haven't bothered to think of a new one, so feel free to use that."

I nod my head. "Very well, Ilaimera it is. I am Miriam, the Seeress of Morhaine. I am prepared to sacrifice my soul, and all the knowledge of the Grand Archive, if you perform but a single, simple task for me."

Ilaimera's golden eyes literally glow with excitement. "Oho? Colour me intrigued, Miriam. For what are you willng to pay such a hefty, delicious price?"

"I want you to love me."

The shoggoth pauses for a moment, though her face never changes from its confident expression. "Love you...? Ah, I see, you wish to enjoy the lusty embrace of a shoggoth. A simple enough thing, allow me to-"

I hold up a hand to stop her. "No, you misunderstand me. I simply wish to share my life with."

"Share your life? Do you mean like an advisor? True, such a thing is possible, though I've never done such before. I should warn you that I am not a sociable shoggoth, if indeed any of us are."

Why does she not understand? "No, no. I'm talking about something much more literal."

Ilaimera nods furiously at that, pressing her hands together. "Of course, of course. You desire a child born from the stars, yes? I have performed this in the past, though it has been many ages since then. You men are always alike, but at least I can understand the benefits of this kind of union. Lead on to your bedroom, mortal."

"But I'm a woman."

For the first time, the shoggoth's expression falters, a frown crossing her features. Her eyes range up and down my cloaked form, looking for any hints of womanly curves; for my part, I can't blame her for doubting given her own ample assets.