Atelia turned to the towering Amazon. "The new commander of my guard, Marge, has an idea I quite liked. Why not transform men literally into the weak, subservient creatures they are most fitted to be? Perhaps at some point I will have the power to transform all the men in my new kingdom into lovely, submissive suppliants, but at least I can start with you. In your new form, you will learn the respect for women you so badly need."
"Mercy, mercy" groaned the guard captain, as his bulging muscles faded, his weathered skin grew smooth, and his hair long and silky.
"There, there" said Atelia. "You can be the attendant and pleasure boy of my new harem of dancing girls. They will need some one to empty their chamber pots and make their beds."
The new weak, boyish man babbled in gratitude and fear, and eagerly began to mop up the puddle of water that had gathered beneath him with the remains of his cloak.
Atelia sighed. "In such a form, one could almost tolerate them."
"My Queen" said Marge "There is the small matter of the invading army."
+++++++++++++
Lyra looked at the stone fortress and cursed. While she was confident of the ability of her troops, augmented by the power of the wizards, the barbarian and the ogre, not to mention Tobi, to take any reasonable opponent in the open field, a fortress was a different thing. And Atelia's powers were reputed to be formidable.
Just then a distinguished, intimidating looking woman, accompanied by a massive Amazon, emerged on the balustrade of the fortress. Atelia, Lyra thought.
"Ho, acolytes" shouted the sorceress. "I have come to accept your surrender!"
+++++++++++
Mika felt a kind of weakening in the world around him, as if reality itself was being stretched thin. He turned to Ander.
"You feel it too?" responded Ander.
"My master warned me about this. Too much transformation in too small a space and time. Reality is growing unstable."
The two felt something, and turned to see a juniper bush quickly transform into an oak tree and back. Ander nodded. "We really need to halt this crazy transformation mania until things quiet down a bit."