Looking for Blaze

[Blaze]

Blaze gives the flask a suspicious look and shakes her head.

"I'll pass. But go on. You think being turned into a girl addled Pepper's mind?"

[Feng]

"I suspect so," says Bones, sipping his tea. "However it wasn't so much the act of being transformed that pushed her over the edge. Rather, it was the fact that once she was trapped in her fleshy prison, she was change back...

The world of the Chibi Guardians is ruled by a curious system of politics, Investigator. Each guardian is a patron of different aspects of the Chibi culture such as birth, death, personal health, and sky diving. To become a patron of a domain, the Guardian must have a strong experience with the field in question..."

[Blaze]

Blaze frowns and leans against the lamppost

"I think I'm starting to see where this is going..."

[Feng]

"No surprises there," says Bones, sipping his tea. "You're quite astute for a hero."

"Anyways, Burning Pepper is the patron of metal-craft, fire, and the culinary arts. She's also the patron of warfare.... or at least she was."

[Blaze]

"I'm no hero." Blaze says, rubbing her chin.

"But something happened to change that?"

[Feng]

"Correct" says Bones.

"After her baleful transformation, Pepper's rivals were quick to take advantage of her weakness. Chief among them was a minor entity known as Winged Serpent whose worshipers are all but deceased. Winged Serpent argued that Pepper, trapped in her frail form, was no longer worthy of her lofty title of patron of warfare or indeed even of being a Guardian of the Chibi....

Alas, it would seem that others were swayed by his arguements. Even Smoking Toaster, perhaps the closest ally Pepper has ever had, was forced to go along with the majority. Betrayed by her own family and facing the shame of losing her honored status, Pepper began to go insane..."

[Blaze]

"Ouch... poor girl. Wouldn't blame her for losing it..." Blaze says, a sad frown on her face.

"But what happened next?"

[Feng]

"Like Shintoism, the Chibi place value in the concept of purity and cleanliness. While certain actions allow them to maintain this sense of harmony, certain taboo actions can lead one down the path of corruption. Despite their high status, the Guardians of the Chibi are not exempt from this process...."

"At first nobody was quite sure what the fallen Guardian was up to as she had retreated deep into the sanctuary of her temple, attended to by only her high priests. She kept to a strict lifestyle of isolation and contemplation, no doubt meditating on the reason for her fall...

"It was weeks before the Chibiwanbanshu began to report mysterious disappearances among the Puffin Tribe, the group who make up the bulk of Peppers' followers. One by one, Poof! Gone. Without a trace. What really drew the attention from the chibi ninja was that the disappearances comprised mostly of those belonging the priesthood and those who practice the art of the shaman..."

[Blaze]

Blaze's eyes widen a bit.

"So she was doing something to those who prayed to her?"

[Feng]

"Indeed!" says Bones sipping his tea.

"At first we thought that underground followers of Winged Serpent or his allies were the ones behind the assault. You'd be surprised how quickly a forgotten Guardian can regain a following. While the Chibiwanbanshu DID capture some of his minions attempting to cause mischief at one of Pepper's temples, it turned out that Winged Serpent was not the one responsible for the vanishing..."

"After some time, it seemed the mystery behind the disappearances would continue to go unsolved...

"At least until Pepper came out of hiding again."

[Blaze]

Blaze looks at Bones intently. This story was getting interesting!

"How had she changed?"

[Feng]

"Well for starters she no longer goes by Burning Pepper anymore. She is now Pepper: Maiden of the Blooming Rose."

[Blaze]

Blaze snorts.

"Flowery name... no pun intended. So she's had a fall from grace. What does that have to do with you? And for that matter, what do you need me to do?"

[Feng]

"Don't let the name fool you Investigator. It would appear that in her madness Pepper has assumed the title of Patron of the Femininity, claiming all domains typically associated with the feminine arts under her sway. Cooking, Childbirth, Flower Arrangement. Unfortunately this appears to have affected her psyche, causing her to embrace the stereotypical girlish personality, but to the extreme. Its quite sickening really..."

[Blaze]

"Oho? SO in the end, she ended up becoming more powerful huh? Interesting..."

Blaze nods.

"I'll be sure not to underestimate her. When you actually tell me what you need me for."