"Well, the big reason I let the big girl hang out like this." Chista smacks the side of her belly; the heavy sphere jostles with a wet slosh. "There simply aren't a lot of tailors in the Borderlands who can make an outfit to accommodate my size, even without this big cauldron sloshing around. It already costs twice what the average adventure pays to keep my leather armor up to snuff! I don't even want to think about how much it would cost to cover up fully."

"Second is that it's comfortable! It's nice feeling the cool breeze on my gut." Chista drums her fingers atop her belly as it burbles. "Not to mention no need to worry about ruining my outfit when it inevitable swells twice it's size when I eat something." Another deep groan rumbles from Chista's belly. "I can't really control how noise the big gal gets, that's just a side effect of such a big digestive tract. So what can you do about it?"

Out of Character Answer:
I see the setting being an industrial age, magic adventure. Sort of like a somewhat obscure video game called Arcanum or more like a tame version of the Eberron DnD setting. It's Industrial Revolution + Magic, with Magic helping speed up a few things in certain fields, but using Magic also introduces other technological bottlenecks. So, for weapons, you have lots of traditional blades still the mainstay for most folks due to their utility, simplicity of construction (at least compared to firearms), and it's simply easier and cheaper to get a sword than a gun. Of course, bows and crossbows are also present and prominent among the average people and even monsters that live in the Borderlands.

Firearms are about the late 20th century (the 1890s time frame). Revolvers are king, cartridges exist, and semi-auto weapons are being developed and seeing some service. Guns have grown in popularity but are still costly, thanks to alchemy being a vital part of the industrial process. No need for massive blast furnaces to make steel when we can use a stable alchemical forge to turn iron into steel, but that process requires a skilled alchemist. Not to mention, smokeless powder is also an alchemical product, which makes it a bit expensive.

The average person probably can't afford a gun, and those who can will find ammo to be rather costly. So for now, Melee weapons are still vital and, at times, even preferable to guns. Crossbows and bows serve as cheaper and effective alternatives to firearms for the average adventurer or mercenary in the Borderlands. Of course, part of that cost is artificially imposed by the Guilds and ruling elite to help keep the status quo in power. However, that's a story for another day. Also, it's not a political statement; it's just a nice way for me as a writer to have guns but not invalidate swords and bows completely.

In-character answer:

"So theoretically, the average person can buy anything you'd see an adventurer or mercenary can wield, but the average person won't have the coin to afford things like that. So your average person is going to stick with something simple: Daggers, knives, short swords, wood axes, and maybe a short bow or a small crossbow for hunting. Proper weapons, even 'simple' bladed ones, require skill and specialized tools to be made properly, and it takes specialized workshops and some skilled alchemy to make proper firearms. While there are some forges and workshops in the Borderlands, they're a far cry from what you can find back east, so a lot of weapons are brought in from outside the Borderlands, further increasing the cost."

"Of course, there is a thriving salvage market for recovering 'lost' weapons and gear. It can come from scavenging old battlefields from the Lightning War or delving into ruins to plunder weapons and treasure from past ages (stripped off the bodies of fallen adventuring parties.) There's also the option of trying to get weapons through the 'black network' if that's a risk you are willing to take. I don't recommend it."

"Now, what kind of firearms you can find here is a little tricky. Again, guns are costly, not just in buying the gun itself, but keeping up with the ammo can be an issue even for an experienced adventure. (like myself) Revolvers are the most common and popular among Adventurers and mercenaries due to their reliability and being much cheaper than the newer 'automatic' pistols. Of course, bandits, thugs, and raiders also like them, usually cutting down the barrels to hide them better."

"You'll also see the occasional lever action rifle, mainly among Mercenary types due to its hitting power and ammo capacity. Though they are a tad expensive, it's a good choice if you have the GP, assuming you're not going into close quarters with it. Now, the army garrison has all the newest stuff, bolt action rifles, automatic handguns, and even those new machine guns, and we didn't get into the heavy artillery they have."

"As for me, I have the revolver my mother gifted me before I left on my adventures. It was both a touching gift and a powerful tool in my arsenal. Unfortunately, bullets are a little hard to come by in the Borderlands, as only the bigger settlements or cities have them in any quantity, and even then, those who have bullets will only sell a handful at most to independent adventures like myself. So I tend to keep it in my pack unless I know I'm going to get into a fight, but even then, I'll do my best to make sure every shot counts! Can't afford to miss too often with how expensive things are."

An out-of-character answer for this one: I apologize for writing this early in the morning with a caffeine rush. So it may ramble on a bit.

The exact composition of the Borderlands is a bit complicated and not something I've fully set in stone. I've got a general idea that I'll lay out here:

1. Humanity (Terrans) is the most numerous race. It isn't the classic human as we envision it, but it's not too radically different either. If we had to gamify the concept, it would be the Varrient Human option in a DnD 5e game rather than a simple baseline.

2. Next are the Small Folk, your Hobbits, Kinder, and Gnomes. Technically, they are all different races/ancestries, but they are grouped together as they are all descendants of ancient Fey.

Hobbits are the most numerous of the three and a bit taller and stockier than their kin. They are often called halflings as they seem similar to humans in shape and culture. They are the most distant from their Fey ancestry.

Gnomes often form smaller, tighter groups called 'clicks' living in sections of the city they have carefully plotted out as their own. Gnomes have stronger ties to their fey ancestors than Hobbits, which shows in their colorful hair and affinity with magic.

It's hard to pinpoint how many free-spirited Kindred exist, as they retain the primordial Fey blood their kin have lost and emulate many of the odd behaviors of the illusive Fey. They are tricksters, kleptomaniacs, with no sense of fear and a bizarre sense of right and wrong, making coexistence difficult. Still, there is (usually) no malevolence in their behavior, and unlike the Fey, they can at least understand how 'mundane' beings think and operate.

1. Elves were once counted among the Fey, but after the Shattering, they lost their immortality and connection to the Arch Fey who had blessed them. Despite this, the Elves of today still have many of their ancestors' gifts, including sharp sense, lithe yet powerful bodies, stunning beauty, an innate gift with magic, and a long life. Elves are as diverse culturally and ethnically as Terrans, but in the Borderlands, Elf has three main races.

The Edlon are Elves from outside the Borderlands, those who have adapted to the broader culture of the Tsardom of Markovia but still retain some of their traditions and culture. They are the most numerous of the elves and the ones most commonly encountered in cities and towns.

Pereldar, better known as Half-Elves, are those who have a trace of elvish heritage. This can be as recent as one generation or as distant as ten; thanks to the dominance of Elvish genes, they always inherit dominant elf traits that grant them most of the gifts of normal elves: Shapr senses, a lithe build, and an affinity with magic. They do not live as long as their kin, but they do live longer then most other races around them.

The Hísimë are the "mist elves" who once ruled over the Borderlands, but now are confined to the wilderness and the Mist Wood. Physically, they are paler than Edlon Elves, but little else differentiates them save their culture. Their numbers are unknown, though a shaky truce extends between them and the Tsardom's forces in the Borderlands.

1. Dwarves are physically short, resembling stocky Terrans, but they are much more dense and muscular with a strong tolerance for poison, flame, cold, and disease. Dwarves have shaper minds that can tabulate the value of things quickly and have long memories that do not wither with age, which is impressive considering they can live for centuries. To owe a dwarf a favor is to forever owe a debt, as it is said. They are not as numerous as the other races in the Borderlands, as most Dwarves prefer to look down on those below them from their mighty fortresses above the clouds. Yet, where there is profit, you'll often find a Dwarf.

2. Sekmins or SerpentFolk are, as their name implies, a blend of snake and Teran created in a blasphemous ritual over three centuries ago. How serpent-like a Sekmin depends on its house, with the ancient and venerable houses being snakelike abominations and the newer lower houses retaining more human traits. In the Borderlands, no major House is represented, but this has given lower houses a chance to grow in power and wealth, usually through control of Guilds or having the appointment to positions of power by the Imperial Court.

3. Kobolds are small reptilians who have some traits of the ancient Dragons that were said to have shaped them. They are the self-proclaimed inheritors of dragons and can be found throughout the Borderlands. Some clans live peacefully in cities and towns, filling a niche as tinkerers and scouts; others live separately, seeking to find a way to bring back or at least harness the power of their long-dead masters.

4. Orcs trace their creation to the Great Kingdom of Lazica, one of the first and most powerful nations to rise after the Shattering. Their empire stretched across much of what is now the Tsardom of Markova, and they were adept at rediscovering and unlocking the secrets of the Silver Age. This included "controlling the wellsprings of life," which allowed them to create new species, the most notable of which was the Orc.

The first Orcs were not born but grew, standing among the first of the Dryads. A mixture of humans and plants. Orcs were the loyal and fanatical foot soldiers of Lazica carrying their banners far and wide but would ultimately outlast the Great Kingdom. Lazica died a slow death of internal rebellion, outside invasions, and monstrous incursions of their own design. With their old home destroyed, Orcs have spread far and wide, taking up residence in every corner of the world.

1. Lizardmen are large reptilians hailing from the labyrinth under the earth. They have powerful builds and scaly hides with eyes that can see into the low infrared spectrum. Their numbers are unknown as their society is chaotic, to say the least; with might makes right as the ruling philosophy among them, there's little need or effort to record history or collect a census.

There are more, but these are the most numerous races. I'll no doubt add and subtract from this list as I develop the idea.

"Well... I have always wanted to be taller. This might surprise you, but I'm a bit on the shorter side for a Goliath. If I were a full-blooded Goliath, I'd be a full head or two taller than I am now, but that's just a little thing to worry about. As for my weight and 'size,' I think I'm at the ideal body type," Chista says, placing a hand on her belly. "This big gal isn't just fat, after all!" She gives her gut a solid smack.°°~𝑮𝑳UNK~°° Chista's gut rocks from the blow, shifting as a solid unit with only a light rippple racing across its surface. "Plenty of muscle and a rather impressive digestive tract all tucked away in here."

"As for being Ginormous... uh..." Chista has a flashback to a previous question, stomping through a city belly bloated with dozens upon dozens of squirming citizens. "Uh... no. I definitely don't have odd fantasies about being a giantess and lording over the lands around me as I stuff my belly with all the little people cowering at my feet. No... not at all."

The past question Chista is thinking about:

What would happen if Chista were to turn evil? — "Oh, It can't be that bad! I mean... maybe I dine and dash a few times, but let's ask my friend's crystal ball!" Chista hold… https://retrospring.net/@Tgawsome121/a/112187453439944591

CW: Disposal referenced but nothing graphic

"So... I wouldn't say I have a strong preference either way. It's... well..." Chista shrugs. "I just don't... think about that kind of thing when I'm eating someone. My main goal is figuring out the best way to get them into my gut."

"As for the second part of your question, I also don't have a solid answer. I find that whatever a person is wearing and how big they are influences how hard or easy it is to 'dispose' of them. Not that I've really had any problems on that front; trying to keep everything under control before I find a proper toilet is the real problem. But that's another topic for another time. (maybe)"

CW: Belching, Reference to gas and digestion

"I touched on this in a previous answer, but it's pretty frequent, even when I'm not digesting something. Though it's definitely a lot more... potent when I've got a belly full of meat. Honestly, at this point in my life, the days where I'm not feeling the pressure from gasses and chyme bloating out my guts are rare."

"As for how I deal with it, well... I just let it out." Chista says as she shrugs. "When dealing with a diet like mine, being discrete about things like that isn't possible. Besides, what is there to be ashamed of? If you can belch loud enough to turn heads, you have good, powerful guts and are eating well. Why not be proud of that? It can be a little awkward to belch in someone's face, but that's just a risk to life."

"Now, if I'm in a formal event or trying to be stealthy, then it can be a problem. The best I can do is hold it back or try to stifle it a bit, but when this big gal wants to vent, there's not much I can do to stop her." Chista sighs as she pats her belly.

An out-of-character answer:

The Gluttonous Curse is a path to many abilities one might consider... unnatural. One such ability is having those powerful cravings for those around them, which can manifest in many ways. For Chista, it's those 'gut feelings' one can have, strong gurgles and powerful churning from the digestive organs themselves to signal approval or desire for something (or someone). But is this true thought or just ravenous instincts manifesting in her mind? The lines between sanity and insanity can get blurred for those who struggle with unnatural impulses.

Whatever the reason, Chista copes by treating her belly as its own being. Almost like a beloved pet, she lugs around wherever she goes, showing it off, lavishing it with attention, and trying to keep a steady hand on its 'leash,' so to speak. Does this help Chista resist the Voracious Urges of the Glutinous Curse? Hard to say.

To answer the question... the answer is maybe.

CW: Belching, references to bleching up bones

"The surest sign of a healthy stomach is a hearty belch; that's what my mother told me." Chista touches her belly and feels the gurgles bubbling in her stomach. "I'd say there's some truth to that, considering how robust my digestion is. All those acids and chyme sloshing around has to be a potent concoction!" She chuckles, giving her belly a few light pats. "I usually feel some gas swirling around in my guts, like now I think I could..." Chista tightens her stomach muscles as the bubbling in her gut rises in tempo-

•°~Bwwwoooorrrrpp!~'°°

A hot belch ripples from Chista's lips for several seconds, with a warm spray of spittle glistening in the air in a fine mist. "Ah, that feels better." She rubs the side of her belly, feeling her stomach resume its usual rhythmic glorps and gurgles. "I'm not an alchemist, but whatever I got brewing in my gut seems a bit volatile, and yes it does get a bit more... potent when digestion really kicks in. Especially if my gut doesn't like something in the mixture, like fur, or if my meal is really putting up a fight."

"Of course, I get really gassy right after swallowing a meal, thanks to all that air that gets sucked down as well. Usually, it has me belching every few minutes till it's all gone, which is for the best for whatever is stewing in my guts." Chista gives her belly a little squeeze. °°~𝑮𝑳𝑶𝑹𝑷~°° "I doubt being conscious through the whole process is something anything would want to happen, but it is what it is." Chista releases her stomach, the plush fat resuming its round shape with a wet blorping slosh.

"Naturally, having so much gas brewing in my guts does lead to a few interruptions throughout the day. Recently, I was having a nice, friendly conversation with a few merchants at the local tavern, and just as I was about to ask them a question, I let out a big nasty belch right in their direction. Saw them both flinch as glops of spittle splattered on their fancy robes and a few bits of bone clattered on the table. Things got awkward after that, but I also got a wonderful discount! So that worked out well enough in the end."

"Oh, there's been times where I've gone from hunter to hunted, and it's not pleasant." Chista crosses her arms, which is awkward considering Chista's proportions. She lets her arms rest atop her gut, nestling just under her breasts, pushing them up just a bit. "I know I come across as this unstoppable apex glutton, but that's just because I've made it long enough to get a few stories and meals under my belt. Well... I don't wear a belt anymore... can't even button my pants up all the way..." Chista laments as she glances down at her belly. °°~𝑮𝑳𝑶𝑹𝑷~°°

Chista sighs as she relents to her gut's demand for attention, gently caressing it as it burbles. "I don't have the time to list every time, I've found myself on the opposite end of the hunt, but they all follow the same pattern. I didn't know what I was walking into or they got the drop on me. Plenty of beasts can cleave me in two with a swipe or swallow me whole if I'm not careful, and that's just counting monsters. I've had a few run-ins with other Gluttons who have tried to get one over me, and well... I'm still standing, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a close call!"

"Now, every situation is handled differently, but these are the general rules I follow each time:

1. Do not panic! If you panic, you'll slip up, and if you slip up your prey. Stay calm and focus on what you can do, not what the predator can do.

2. Sieze the intiatve! Make your predator react to you; don't do what's expected. Running from a cheetah isn't going to do you much good, but rushing them will throw them off and provide a greater opportunity. You'd be surprised how many monsters and even Gluttons fold the moment their meal puts up a fight.

3. There are no rules in a fight for survival. Go for the low blows! Grab a rock, bite an ear, twist a nipple, do whatever you have to! Anything goes!

4. Carrying a few anti-acid potions never hurts. Remember, they don't stop digestion; they just give you more time.

I know that's not the most dynamic or amazing set of rules, but it works. It's honestly not that complicated, but you have to follow the one rule above them all:

1. Be alert! If a Glutton is in the area, be aware of your surroundings; just being aware of a threat is enough to deter it most of the time. We get this idea that Gluttons and Preds are big badasses, but really, 90% of them are looking for a quick, easy meal, not a fight. Even if you bump into that 10% looking for a fight, knowing they are there is a powerful advantage.

(Quick note: I apologize for how late I responded to this. I've thought about how I'd react to this long and hard, and this is more of a story/rp prompt than a question. Whoever posted this is anonymous, so I hope whoever made this question sees this answer.)

'I'll never doubt Mole again,' Chista thought, trying to process the prince's offer, fighting the urge to pinch her breast to see if she was dreaming. It had to be a dream, some fanciful event conjured up by her mind after reading another one of those little penny novels and going to sleep with some beast stewing in her gut. All that fur usually upset her stomach and created some wild dreams... but she hadn't hunted any beasts or much of anything the past couple of days.

Work always slowed down this time of year when dozens upon dozens of fresh-faced adventures showed up every day at the regional capital and slowly fanned out into the broader region of the Borderlands. All those eager treasure seekers, monster hunters, and glory hounds set off wide-eyed and naive, soaking up all the work as they flooded the region with their enthusiastic endeavors, but that wouldn't last long. Many of them would be on the first trains home in less than a year, while others will stew in some beast's belly, and those few who make it out will either retire and head home or stick to their niche out here. For now Chista had to contend with doing odd jobs and favors just to keep herself fed, not to mention those looming debts... So when Mole popped back in with word of some 'Prince' needing a bodyguard, Chista took the gamble, and it paid off.

It then dawned on Chista that she hadn't said anything. "Well..." Chista cleared her throat as she picked her slack jaw off the floor. "That really is a generous offer." She looked down at the prince, feeling a familiar urge deep inside her gut. They were bold, charming, well dressed, and handsome... the prince charming of her dreams, and by the Sovereign Host above, he looked so delicious...

•°~𝑮𝒓𝑶𝒐𝒐𝒐𝑨𝒏~'°°

Chista's fat pot belly trembles in anticipation, already pumping fresh acids into the gastric soup stewing in the bubbling cauldron. "Uh... pardon me," Chista places a hand on her belly to calm the beast and focus her thoughts. The prince was asking her to... accompany him, dance, converse, and socialize. Chista would rather face down a Wyvern than do any of those things... but would she really turn down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? "I'd be delighted to take up your offer," Chista smiled, patting her gut. "I can't promise much about the dance or being a good conversationalist, but I think I will make a good bodyguard."

'What could go wrong?' Chista thought...

"Warrior Gluttons sounds like something I'd see on one of those little thriller novels they sell outside the Adventures Guild." Chista chuckles at the thought, then ponders if that really is a book she could find. "Ah, as for your question! Yes. There have been some notable Glutton warriors in the past and present! The first one that comes to mind is the mythical warrior queen Aoibheann, the elvish queen of the Whispering Wood."

"They say she was a regal woman of unparalleled beauty with dark hair that flowed like a silky river and skin of polished ebony. A master of sorcery with equal skill with the blade, she was a thorn in the side of the Tsar's conquest of the Borderlands. It was said she would use her sword to strip her foes of their armor and swallow them down with terrifying grace and ravenous power, but that wasn't the end. She would then use her swallowed meal to fuel her spell casting, churning them down in seconds to amplify her magic, burning their very souls away to do so... a really scary woman to those who opposed her. Unfortunately for the elves, even such a powerful queen couldn't turn the tide as Markovia's raw numbers and industrial might were too much.

"The elvish kingdom was eroded, with their last bastion being the Whispering Wood, shrouded in a thick mystical mist cast by the Warrior Queen herself. Rumor says the Elf Queen had to spend a solid month devouring her own people to get the mana needed to pull that off. Whatever the cost, she succeeded in saving that sliver of the old elvish kingdom, which might still reside in the heart of the mist. No one's ventured deep enough and returned to be sure."

"The most recent one would be an Orc Trench Raider my mother served with during the Lighting War, Nika Zhukova. Mom said she was a quiet woman who didn't really socialize but would sneak out on Trench raids and always come back with a gut full of enemy sentry. She was so good at it that they started calling her the 'Night Swallow' as it seemed that she'd go out and nab someone every night. Mom isn't sure what happened to her after the war, but with an appetite like that I really hope she's using it for good."

CW: A reference to post vore disposal and toilet stuff. Nothing graphic, but it's there. Be warned!

"Hmmm... most valuable thing," Chista taps her chin as she thinks about it. "It's a little hard to pinpoint precisely one thing, as well... lots of valuables have ended up in my gut." She glances down and places a hand on her belly, which lets out a deep rumble. "There's definitely some coins and some other treasure sloshing around in my guts, but the most valuable thing I remember was that rather nice amulet I belched up a few months ago."

"It was really lovely, too. Gold with a big red sapphire in the middle fetched a nice price when I hawked it at the market. As for how that ended up in my gut, well... I teamed up with a pair of gnomish rouges, a brother-sister duo looking for muscle to press deeper into the Labyrinth. Now, a three-man party isn't the ideal size for tackling the Labyrinth dungeons sprawling under our feet. Still, it has advantages for quick delves, and fewer people means a greater treasure split."

"So we headed out and made good progress, only bumping into a few automatons and some monsters along the way. I think we were on the fourth level when we found the remains of an older failed expedition. Nothing but bones when we got to them, but their gear wasn't rusted, and one of the rouges (whose name escapes me) found a satchel with their loot still in it! Lots of trinkets, but that amulet was among that pile. Okay, I know what you're thinking; how did the amulet go from the satchel to my stomach? Well..." Chista twiddles her fingers. "I may have... accidentally eaten them in my sleep." Chista chuckles nervously. "I don't know how it went down or why they were so close to my mouth for that to happen, but that's the only explanation I can think of for why I woke up with a bloated gut. It was too late to save them, and well... they didn't have insurance, not that we were close enough to a town with a Mortician to perform one anyway." Chista sighed, rubbing the side of her belly, feeling it gurgle contently as if remembering the incident more fondly than she was.

"On the way back to town, I belched up bits of their gear and a few small treasures, with that amulet being the most valuable. I did hork up that satchel when I got to town, which was a bit gross but also exciting as I thought I'd have a big haul of treasure for once. Except there wasn't any treasure in the half-digested leather. Most of that gold we found was treasure bugs, probably what got that adventuring party while they slept." Chista crosses her arms with another dejected sigh. "So really, all that effort wasn't for much."

CW: Disposal talk ahead

"Now, as for what's passed through me, I don't mess with that stuff," Chista says, grimacing at the thought. "I've been desperate but never desperate enough to go well... 'digging' for it. I have no doubt that some valuable and rare treasures are hidden in the outhouses, privies, and toilets I've used, and I don't mean to brag here, but that's a lot of filth to dig through. And I do mean dig through; you'll want at least a garden spade or a shovel to work through what I'm leaving behind! It's probably best to dig a new outhouse at that point."

"Also, leaving that stuff behind is good compensation for the poor souls who have to clean up the messes I'm leaving behind. Seriously, I do not envy whoever has to 'deal' with the mess I'm leaving behind, but I do respect them and the labor they do for society. Not to mention that treasure would be spent covering the property damage even if I bothered to retrieve it. So why not just leave for whoever owns the place?"

Author's Note: I'm still working on the wider world, so no proper map, but I made this one to use as a guide with this answer link: https://www.deviantart.com/stash/015ogsic3dp0

Also, note that all of this is from Chista's in-universe perspective, so it will be a bit flawed and limited. She has her own bias on the topic and it'll show in a fun way.

"Oh yeah, there's a whole world out there! Though I'll admit, geography isn't my strong suit; I'll give you the round down of what's bordering the borderlands." Chista reaches into her jacket, sliding her hand around the side of her left breast, and pulls out a map. "So, to ground ourselves for this, I'll make a few adjustments to the old map. So first off, we have the Tsardom of Markovia, which claims the region, as you pointed out, but also stretches eastward. We'll put their heraldry, the Imperial Eagle, right in the middle here."

"Then we'll look to the west, specifically the Western Pass, the defacto border between Markovia and the Kingdom of Burovisha. Their heraldry is a sea creature called a Karaken, which we'll put on the Western side of the map. The Kingdom of Burovisha is an odd place; they have a caste system dividing their society into gears and cogs, and everyone wears a mask to show what kind of gear or cog they are. I'm sure there's more to it than that, but I don't know more than that. I've met a few Burovishans, and they are very formal and orderly people who do not like spontaneous things, but once you get to know them, or rather they understand where to place you, they show a bit of themselves hidden behind their masks."

"Now, in the south, we have a border with two nations, Phendra to the southwest and the Republic of Esh to the southeast. I'll start with the Republic of Esh to the southeast; we'll go ahead and drop their heraldry of a wolf right down here. The Republic is an odd place ruled by necromancers called the Dead Three. Rumor has it they are gods who came back after the world fell apart in the Shattering, but that's a bit far-fetched; they are probably just powerful vampire lords. What I do know is that Esh is a very dreary land where automation is performed not by machines or industry but by undead. It makes sense, but I'm not sure how I'd feel about my friends and family being used like that."

"The people I've met from Esh are quiet. Like... talking louder than a whisper is considered shouting to them. They also don't like sunlight; they burn easily, so they wrap up, favor hoods, and prefer to do business at night time. What surprises me the most is that they are not as superstitious as the average Markovian serf or peasant, but I guess if you live in a land ruled by necromancers with vampires and other undead, you quickly learn what works and what doesn't."

"That leaves our last neighbor, the free state of Phendra, to the southwest. Their heraldry is a winged drake, which I'll put down on the map. One of the smallest nations I'm aware of, and from what I understand, there nation exists because of a fluke in drawing the borders between the Tsardom of Markovia and the Kingdom of Burovisha. The story goes that while the lines were being drawn, someone spilled wine on the map, and the stain covered up the Phendra plateau. Neither side's ambassadors trusted the other to draw up a fresh map, so they just drew around it and inadvertently created a free kingdom. Of course, that didn't mean Phendra had it easy, for as soon as both sides figured out there was free land to grab, they both tried and ultimately failed. If you ever run into a free Phendran in the borderlands, they will not let you forget about those national values, which often leads to brawls between the locals and the Phendrans, but I think that's what the Phendrans want."

"They are the weirdest of the bunch, as they don't have a King, Tsar, or anything like that. Apparently, they vote on just about everything, with big decisions being handled by one person they elect for a five-year term of office, but there are other people who keep that person in check and more people who keep them in check. It's a bit too complicated if you ask me, but they didn't, so who am I to judge? Now the Phendrans I've met are by and large fighters. Doesn't matter the problem or issue they want to fight it. It's admirable, but it can land them in a lot of trouble when they pick fights they shouldn't. Also, they do not like being told what to do; I swear the best way to get a Phandran to do something is to tell them not to do it. Yet, they are good people if you can tolerate the weirdness."

"There are lands and nations further than that, like the Confederation of Leths or the lands of the Dynamo, but outside of adventurers and travelers who come to the borderlands, I don't know much about the lands beyond."

"I don't think I've ever had trouble sleeping in my life," Chista says with a warm chuckle. "I think my greatest power is my ability to sleep anywhere, and I mean anywhere! Whether it's sleeping in a field, under a tree, in a cave, on some rocks, in a carriage, or on the floor, it doesn't bother me the slightest. I'll sleep like a rock wherever I lay my head down. Add a belly full of meat to the mix, and I'll be in a food coma before you know it!"

"Even times when I've been painfully full, you know what cures that? A good digestive nap. I'm not sure if this is true for all Gluttons, but when I sleep, it feels like my body puts all its energy right into my stomach, and it really speeds up the digestive process. I'll go to bed with a squirming meal and wake up with a fat, bloated belly lazily pumping what's left into my bowels. Now, I'm sure some nasty creatures or maybe some rather feisty prey have given me some indigestion, but that usually just leads to weird dreams and the occasional nightmare, which I'll probably forget before I've set out for the day. Now I will admit that if I have a really squirmy prey I'll sit on my bed for a little bit and just... you know... enjoy the moment."

"Nothing too drastic! Just sitting there with my belly squeezed between my thighs while I poke and prod at whatever's squirming in my guts. After all, if my prey is lasting long enough to be still squirming when I'm about to head off to sleep, they deserve a little attention for their efforts, and of course, my belly will need a little love for dealing with such a stubborn meal." Chista squeezes her belly, a bit of fat seeping between her fingers as her gut purrs. ~𝑮𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝑼𝒓𝒈𝒍𝒆~ Chista lets go after a few moments and pats her belly.

"Now, as for your second question, I'm not entirely opposed to a bit of belly cuddling, but well... it might be a bit dangerous as I've learned that I'm a sleep eater." Chista sighs. "I've swallowed a few pillows in my sleep, along with other bits like rocks, money, jewelry, or really anything a bit too close to me when I'm sleeping, which includes an adventuring companion or two..." Chista twiddles her thumbs. "So uh... maybe for the best we don't try that."