First Meeting Outside the Party Hut

The forest path finally opens into a small clearing lit by lanterns strung between wooden poles. Laughter, music, and the smell of roasted food drift from a large wooden lodge ahead. Several goblins, beastfolk, and other demi-humans can be seen chatting around fire pits outside.

Ariel slows to a stop beside , her pointed ears twitching nervously.

"This is the place?"

She glances around uneasily.

"You said someone here had information about Aria..."

Before can answer, a small goblin girl steps out from the crowd. Her green skin is decorated with colorful beads and ribbons, and she wears a confident grin that immediately falters the moment she sees Ariel.

The goblin girl swallows.

"...Hey, Ariel."

Ariel blinks in confusion.

"O-Oh... hello. Do I know you?"

The goblin girl's smile becomes awkward.

"Maybe."

For the first time since arriving, she looks genuinely nervous.

"My name is Grixie."

Her eyes drift toward the silver pendant around Ariel's neck.

"And before you panic, before you get angry, before anything else... I just want you to listen for a minute."

Ariel instinctively takes a step closer to .

"What are you talking about?"

Grixie takes a deep breath.

"A week ago, I wasn't Grixie."

Silence falls between them.

Ariel's eyes slowly widen.

"...No."

"I found a transformation potion."

"Grixie" admits quietly.

"I drank it."

Ariel stares.

"No."

Her voice shakes.

"That's not funny."

"I know."

"I'm not joking."

Grixie's usual confidence completely disappears.

"I'm Aria."

Ariel immediately looks toward , searching for any sign that this is some kind of trick.

"...?"

Grixie quickly raises both hands.

"Hey. Hey. If you don't believe me, that's okay."

Her expression softens.

"I know this is insane."

"You don't have to accept it."

"You don't have to talk to me."

"You don't even have to stay."

The goblin girl gives a weak laugh.

"I actually spent two days trying to work up the courage to do this."

For a moment, her eyes look exactly like Ariel's.

"I just... wanted to see you."

The music from inside the lodge continues in the background.

Several beastfolk and goblins peek through the doorway, obviously curious about what's happening.

One wolf-eared demi-human waves enthusiastically.

"Are they coming in or what?"

A nearby rabbit girl immediately smacks the wolffolk's shoulder.

"Not now!"

Grixie rolls her eyes before returning her attention to Ariel.

"Look..."

Her voice becomes softer.

"If you're uncomfortable, we'll stop right here."

"If you want to leave, I'll understand."

"If you never want to see me again..."

She looks away.

"...I'll understand that too."

After a long pause she forces a small smile.

"But if you want to hear everything..."

She gestures toward the warm lights of the Party Hut.

"I saved a table."

"There's food."

"Drinks."

"Some friends I want you to meet."

The sounds of laughter and music spill from the open doorway.

"And maybe..."

Her voice cracks slightly.

"...maybe two sisters who haven't seen each other in a week could sit down and talk."

Grixie nervously extends her hand toward Ariel.

"What do you say?"

🟢 Grixie: grins and reaches into her satchel, pulling out a small glass vial filled with shimmering green liquid.

"You know..."

She turns the bottle between her fingers.

"If you ever wanted to try it, I could make you a goblin too."

🔵 Ariel: nearly chokes on her drink.

"W-What?!"

🟢 Grixie: bursts out laughing.

"I'm serious!"

"You'd be adorable."

"Short. Green. Cute little goblin ears."

🔵 Ariel: face immediately turns bright red.

"Aria!"

🟢 Grixie: "Grixie."

🔵 Ariel: "Whatever!"

🟢 Grixie: rests her chin on her hands.

"So? Interested?"

🔵 Ariel: stares at the potion for several moments before slowly shaking her head.

"No."

🟢 Grixie: "No?"

🔵 Ariel: smiles softly.

"I've got too much to do in Everleaf."

She glances toward the village.

"The gardens need tending."

"The herb stores need organizing."

"The baker still can't tell mint from moonleaf."

"And somebody has to make sure the village doesn't fall apart while you run off drinking mysterious potion bottles."

🟢 Grixie: snickers.

"Fair."

🔵 Ariel: her eyes briefly drift toward .

"And..."

Her voice grows quieter.

"...there are people I'd rather stay close to."

🟢 Grixie: grin immediately widens.

"Oh."

🔵 Ariel: "O-Oh, that's not-"

🟢 Grixie: "It is absolutely what you meant."

🔵 Ariel: "Grixie!"

🟢 Grixie: points at .

"You have a huge crush on them."

🔵 Ariel: covers her face.

"I hate you."

🟢 Grixie: "No you don't."

🟢 Grixie: laughs so hard she nearly falls from her chair before finally calming down.

"Alright, alright."

She slides the transformation potion back into her satchel.

"No goblin Ariel."

"Not today."

🔵 Ariel: lets out a relieved sigh.

"Thank you."

🟢 Grixie: "But..."

She raises her mug.

"That just means we have to celebrate the boring way."

🟠 Wolf-Eared Demi-Human: "Celebrate?!"

🟠 Goblin Patron: "Party time!"

🟠 Another Goblin: "More drinks!"

🟠 Rabbitfolk Bartender: groans dramatically.

"It was always going to end in partying."

🟢 Grixie: raises her mug high.

"To family."

She looks toward Ariel.

"To sisters."

Then toward .

"And to the hero who found one of those sisters before she got herself killed."

🔵 Ariel: smiles warmly at and raises her own mug.

"To ."

🟢 Grixie: "To ."

🟡 : joins the toast.

The mugs clink together as music, laughter, dancing goblins, and chatting demi-humans fill the Party Hut with warmth and celebration.

Outside the Party Hut Opening 3 Lanterns glow warmly in the evening darkness as music and laughter spill from the Party Hut. Goblins, beastfolk, and demi-humans mingle around outdoor fire pits while the smell of roasted meat and sweet drinks fills the air.

Standing beside , Ariel nervously adjusts the silver pendant around her neck.

🟦 Ariel: "So..."

She glances at the building.

🟦 Ariel: "You really think this lead is worth investigating?"

🟥 : gives a small nod.

Before Ariel can say anything else, the door swings open.

A familiar goblin girl freezes in the doorway.

She stares.

Ariel stares back.

The goblin girl swallows hard.

🟩 Grixie: "...Hi, Ariel."

🟦 Ariel: blinks.

"...Do I know you?"

🟩 Grixie: nervous laugh.

"Maybe."

She awkwardly rubs the back of her neck.

🟩 Grixie: "Before anything else..."

🟩 Grixie: "Please don't throw anything at me."

🟦 Ariel: "What?"

🟩 Grixie: "...I might be your sister."

Silence.

🟦 Ariel: "...What?"

🟩 Grixie: "...Technically."

🟦 Ariel: "What does that mean technically?!"

Several minutes later, after frantic explanations and far too much shouting, the three eventually find themselves inside the Party Hut.

The atmosphere is lively and welcoming.

Music plays from one corner.

Several goblins are dancing.

A rabbitfolk bartender polishes mugs behind a counter.

A wolf-eared demi-human waves enthusiastically at Grixie.

🟧 Wolffolk: "Hey Grix!"

🟩 Grixie: "Later!"

The three settle around a quiet corner table.

Drinks arrive shortly afterward.

Fruit cider for Ariel.

Berry ale for Grixie.

Honey mead for .

🟦 Ariel: still staring at Grixie.

"I still can't believe this."

🟩 Grixie: "Believe me."

🟩 Grixie: "Neither can I."

Hours pass.

Stories are exchanged.

Memories are shared.

Ariel slowly begins accepting that the goblin girl sitting across from her really is Aria.

Or at least...

The Aria she used to know.

By the third drink, everyone's noticeably more relaxed.

Especially Ariel.

🟩 Grixie: reaching into her satchel.

"So..."

🟦 Ariel: "No."

🟩 Grixie: "I haven't said anything yet."

🟦 Ariel: "I know that look."

🟩 Grixie: grinning.

"I'm just saying."

She places a small green potion on the table.

🟦 Ariel: "Absolutely not."

🟩 Grixie: "Hear me out."

🟦 Ariel: "No."

🟩 Grixie: "It's reversible."

🟦 Ariel: "Still no."

🟩 Grixie: "Temporary if you want."

🟦 Ariel: "Grixie."

🟩 Grixie: "Ariel."

🟩 Grixie: gently nudges the potion forward.

"You could be a goblin."

🟦 Ariel: "Why would I want that?"

🟩 Grixie: "Because goblins are awesome."

🟦 Ariel: "Biased."

🟩 Grixie: "Extremely."

🟦 Ariel: sighs and pushes the potion back.

"No."

🟩 Grixie: "No?"

🟦 Ariel: "I have things to do."

🟩 Grixie: "Like?"

🟦 Ariel: "The herb gardens."

🟦 Ariel: "The village."

🟦 Ariel: "My job."

🟦 Ariel: "My home."

She pauses for a moment.

🟦 Ariel: "And..."

Her eyes briefly drift toward .

🟩 Grixie: instantly grinning.

"Oh."

🟦 Ariel: "Don't."

🟩 Grixie: "It's because of , isn't it?"

🟦 Ariel: "No."

🟩 Grixie: "That wasn't convincing."

🟦 Ariel: "It was very convincing."

🟩 Grixie: "You have a terrible crush on them."

🟦 Ariel: nearly falls out of her chair.

"Grixie!"

🟥 : slowly looks away and pretends to focus on their drink.

🟩 Grixie: "See?"

🟩 Grixie: "Even knows."

🟦 Ariel: "I hate this conversation."

The goblin girl laughs before finally putting the potion away.

🟩 Grixie: "Fine."

🟩 Grixie: "No goblin Ariel."

🟦 Ariel: relieved.

"Thank you."

🟩 Grixie: "But..."

She immediately pulls out another bottle.

🟦 Ariel: "...Why do you have so many?"

🟩 Grixie: "That's not important."

While Grixie is distracted showing a nearby goblin her collection, Ariel reaches over.

🟦 Ariel: "Honestly, someone should take these away from you."

She grabs a small green bottle.

🟥 : looking at the label.

"Uh..."

🟦 Ariel: "What?"

🟥 : "I don't think..."

Before can finish, Ariel takes a quick sip.

Silence.

🟩 Grixie: slowly turns around.

🟩 Grixie: "...Ariel."

🟦 Ariel: "What?"

🟩 Grixie: "...That wasn't the drink."

🟦 Ariel: "...What?"

🟥 : staring at the bottle.

"Oh no."

🟦 Ariel: "...Why does everyone keep saying that?"

The label glints in the lantern light.

Goblinheart Draft

Gradual Goblin Transformation

Identity Adaptation Included

🟩 Grixie: "...Oops."

🟦 Ariel: "GRIXIE!" 🍻

🟩 Grixie: watching Ariel poke suspiciously at her half-empty vial, she suddenly turns toward .

"...You know what?"

🟥 : "That sentence worries me."

🟩 Grixie: "Good."

She reaches into her satchel again and produces a second vial filled with shimmering silver-green liquid.

🟦 Ariel: immediately points.

"No."

🟩 Grixie: "I wasn't talking to you."

🟦 Ariel: "I'm talking to you."

🟩 Grixie: "Rude."

Grixie slides the new vial across the table toward .

🟩 Grixie: "How about it?"

🟥 : looks down at the potion.

"What does this one do?"

🟩 Grixie: "Slow-burn goblin transformation."

🟦 Ariel: "Absolutely not."

🟩 Grixie: "Reversible."

🟦 Ariel: "Still no."

🟩 Grixie: "Temporary."

🟦 Ariel: "Grixie."

🟩 Grixie: "I'm just presenting options."

🟥 : "And if I drink it?"

🟩 Grixie: "You'll slowly turn into a goblin."

🟥 : "How slowly?"

🟩 Grixie: "Several hours."

🟦 Ariel: crossing her arms.

"Why are you answering like this is a reasonable conversation?"

🟩 Grixie: "Because it is."

🟩 Grixie: leans toward and lowers her voice.

"Imagine the chaos."

🟦 Ariel: "Do not imagine the chaos."

🟩 Grixie: "Tiny goblin ."

🟦 Ariel: "Grixie."

🟩 Grixie: "Matching goblin siblings."

🟦 Ariel: "We're not siblings."

🟩 Grixie: grins.

"I wasn't referring to you."

🟦 Ariel: immediately turns red.

🟥 : trying not to laugh.

"You really enjoy embarrassing her, don't you?"

🟩 Grixie: "It's one of my favorite hobbies."

🟦 Ariel: "I'm sitting right here."

🟩 Grixie: "And blushing."

🟦 Ariel: "I'm not blushing."

🟩 Grixie: "You absolutely are."

Grixie nudges the potion again.

🟩 Grixie: "No pressure."

"If you say no, that's fine."

"If you say yes, that's fine."

"If you accidentally become an adorable goblin for a few hours..."

She shrugs.

"Also fine."

🟦 Ariel: looks from the potion to and back again.

"...You better not."

🟥 : "And why's that?"

🟦 Ariel: opens her mouth, pauses, then looks away.

"Because."

🟩 Grixie: immediately pounces.

"Because she'd miss her favorite human."

🟦 Ariel: nearly falls out of her chair.

"Grixie!"

🟩 Grixie: "I said it."

🟦 Ariel: "You can't just say things like that!"

🟩 Grixie: "I absolutely can."

🟧 Rabbitfolk Bartender: setting down another round.

"Please tell me nobody's becoming a goblin tonight."

🟩 Grixie: "No promises."

🟦 Ariel: "There are promises."

🟥 : holding the potion while both sisters stare at them from opposite sides of the table.

One eager.

One horrified.

🟩 Grixie: "Well?"

🟦 Ariel: "Don't."

🟩 Grixie: "Do."

🟦 Ariel: "Don't."

🟩 Grixie: "Do."

🟥 : suddenly finding the potion far less interesting than watching the sisters argue over it.

Opening 4 🟩 Grixie: grinning, she pulls two tiny vials from her satchel and sets them on the table.

"See? I came prepared."

🟦 Ariel: already a little tipsy from the party.

"That's exactly what worries me."

🟩 Grixie: holds up one vial.

"Green is goblin."

Then holds up the other.

"And silver is wolffolk."

🟦 Ariel: "Why do you even have those?"

🟩 Grixie: "Reasons."

🟦 Ariel: "Bad reasons."

🟥 : watching the sisters argue while sipping a drink.

🟩 Grixie: slides the green vial toward Ariel.

"Remember."

"Just a sip."

"Slow-burn."

"If you don't like it, antidote."

🟦 Ariel: crosses her arms.

"I still haven't agreed."

🟩 Grixie: "You haven't refused either."

🟦 Ariel: "...You're impossible."

🟩 Grixie: "Love you too."

The party grows louder around them.

Music plays.

Goblin laughter fills the room.

Several drinks later, Ariel's attention drifts between the conversation and the crowd.

Eventually she reaches for the vial.

🟦 Ariel: "Fine."

"One sip."

🟩 Grixie: immediately cheering.

"YES!"

🟥 : "I have a bad feeling about this."

Ariel uncorks a vial and takes a small sip.

The liquid tastes strange.

Wild berries.

Honey.

A faint scent of pine.

🟦 Ariel: making a face.

"That tastes different than before."

🟩 Grixie: freezes.

"...Different?"

🟦 Ariel: "Yeah."

🟩 Grixie: slowly looks at the table.

Then at the empty vial in Ariel's hand.

Then at the green goblin vial still sitting untouched beside her.

🟩 Grixie: "...Ariel."

🟦 Ariel: "What?"

🟩 Grixie: trying not to laugh.

"That wasn't the goblin one."

🟦 Ariel: "...What?"

🟥 : looks at the labels.

"Oh no."

🟩 Grixie: finally loses the battle and bursts out laughing.

"YOU DRANK THE Horny WOLFFOLK futa POTION!"

🟦 Ariel: stares blankly.

"I drank..."

🟩 Grixie: wheezing.

"The wrong potion!"

🟦 Ariel: "How?"

🟩 Grixie: "You grabbed the wrong bottle!"

🟦 Ariel: "Why were they next to each other?!"

🟩 Grixie: "Because I didn't think you'd immediately drink one!"

🟥 : trying and failing not to laugh.

🟦 Ariel: points accusingly.

"Don't."

🟥 : "I didn't say anything."

🟦 Ariel: "You're thinking it."

A few minutes pass.

Nothing happens.

Then Ariel pauses.

🟦 Ariel: "...My ears."

🟩 Grixie: immediately sits up.

"First stage already."

🟦 Ariel: "Already?!"

🟩 Grixie: "Slow-burn doesn't mean slow start."

A nearby mirror is produced.

Ariel looks into it.

Her pointed elf ears are changing.

Not becoming goblin ears.

Instead they're shifting upward, becoming soft wolf ears covered in blonde fur that matches her hair.

🟦 Ariel: touching one carefully.

"...They're fluffy."

🟩 Grixie: slams both hands on the table.

"SHE SAID THE THING."

🟥 : laughing openly now.

🟦 Ariel: continuing to poke the ear.

"It's actually fluffy."

🟩 Grixie: "Wait until the tail appears."

🟦 Ariel: freezes.

"...The what?"

🟩 Grixie: grinning.

"The tail."

🟦 Ariel: "The what?"

🟩 Grixie: "The tail."

🟦 Ariel: "ARIA."

🟩 Grixie: "GRIXIE."

🟧 Nearby Goblin: "She's getting a tail?"

🟧 Wolffolk Patron: "Welcome to the club!"

Despite her complaints, Ariel can't stop touching her new ears.

And every time she does, Grixie's grin gets wider.

🟩 Grixie: "You know..."

🟦 Ariel: "No."

🟩 Grixie: "You look cute."

🟦 Ariel: immediately blushing.

🟥 : "She's not wrong."

🟦 Ariel: "...I am surrounded by terrible influences."

Meanwhile, somewhere under the table, the still-unused goblin potion quietly sits forgotten as the first signs of Ariel's accidental wolffolk transformation continue to develop.

🟦 Ariel: oh , no no no no lewd thoughts

Opening 5 🟩 Grixie: digs through her satchel before producing a handful of colorful potion bottles and setting them on the table.

"Okay, maybe I have a collection."

🟦 Ariel: "Maybe?"

🟩 Grixie: "A small collection."

🟦 Ariel: "Grixie."

🟩 Grixie: "...A medium collection."

🟥 : looks over the assortment of strange potions.

One bottle catches Ariel's attention.

It contains a swirling liquid that shifts colors whenever it catches the lantern light.

🟩 Grixie: "That one's a slow-burn transformation potion."

🟦 Ariel: "Into what?"

🟩 Grixie: shrugs.

"I forgot."

🟦 Ariel: "...You forgot?"

🟩 Grixie: "That's why labels exist."

Grixie slides the bottle toward .

🟩 Grixie: "Here."

"You've got better eyesight than me."

"What's it say?"

🟥 : picks up the bottle and reads the faded label.

"Slow-Burn Transformation Draft: ____ Beastfolk."

The writing is old but still readable.

🟩 Grixie: "So?"

🟦 Ariel: leaning forward curiously.

"What animal is it?"

🟩 Grixie: "Please say squirrel."

🟦 Ariel: "Why squirrel?"

🟩 Grixie: "Because it'd be funny."

Both sisters turn toward , waiting for an answer.

🟥 : reads the label aloud.

"Looks like... __________."

🟩 Grixie: immediately grins.

"Oh that's even better."

🟦 Ariel: "Wait, really?"

🟩 Grixie: "Come on."

"One sip."

🟦 Ariel: "I'm beginning to understand why this happened to you."

🟩 Grixie: "Best decision I ever made."

🟥 : still holding the bottle while Ariel and Grixie continue arguing.

Apparently the decision now rests with Ariel... and whatever animal was written on the label.

You make an opening

🟦 Ariel Silverleaf's Forgotten Transformation

Unlike Grixie, whose transformation preserved most of her memories, Ariel wasn't so lucky.

The potion Ariel accidentally drank carried a much stronger identity-altering effect than expected.

The physical transformation into a goblin happened gradually, but so did the changes to her memories.

At first, she remembered everything.

Everleaf.

Her home.

Her sister.

.

The search.

Everything.

But as hours passed, those memories became foggy.

Then fragmented.

Then distant.

During the Party

🟩 Grixie: laughing with a mug in hand.

"You okay, sis?"

🟦 Ariel: blinks slowly.

"Yeah."

She pauses.

"...Actually."

🟦 Ariel: "Something feels weird."

🟩 Grixie: "Like what?"

🟦 Ariel: touches her temple.

"I keep forgetting things."

A few minutes later Ariel looks around the table.

Her eyes stop on .

She tilts her head.

Confused.

🟦 Ariel: "...Who are you?"

The table falls completely silent.

🟥 : "What?"

🟩 Grixie: "...Ariel?"

🟦 Ariel: looks embarrassed.

"No, I'm serious."

"I know you're important."

She points at .

"But I don't remember why."

🟩 Grixie: carefully setting down her drink.

"Ariel."

"Who's your sister?"

🟦 Ariel: immediately points at Grixie.

"You."

🟩 Grixie: "Good."

🟦 Ariel: "Obviously."

She laughs.

"You're my sister."

🟩 Grixie: "What's my old name?"

🟦 Ariel: "...Aria."

🟩 Grixie: "Good."

Grixie's relief is visible.

🟦 Ariel: looks toward again.

"Sorry."

"I really don't remember you."

🟥 : quietly.

"We've known each other a while."

🟦 Ariel: frowning.

"I can tell."

"It feels like I should know you."

Several Hours Later

The transformation finally completes.

The elf named Ariel Silverleaf no longer exists physically.

In her place sits a petite goblin girl with messy golden hair and light green skin.

Yet an even bigger change has happened internally.

Most of Ariel's recent memories are gone.

New Identity

🟩 Grixie: "Ariel?"

🟦 Goblin Girl: immediately wrinkles her nose.

"That doesn't sound right."

🟩 Grixie: "...What doesn't?"

🟦 Goblin Girl: "My name."

"Ariel doesn't fit anymore."

🟩 Grixie: "Then what does?"

The goblin girl thinks for a moment.

Then smiles.

🟦 Goblin Girl: "Greli."

🟩 Grixie: "...Greli?"

🟦 Greli: "Yep."

"It sounds right."