The music occupied the girl's thoughts. Focusing on anything but the music was entirely beyond her by now. She was just a Listener, like so many others around her.

The woman playing the magic lute in front of her giggled. "Hmm. You don't seem to be doing much yet, do you? Guess it falls to me to monologue a bit~"

The girl did not respond. The music of the lute was too fascinating.

"Your little adventuring party tried to fight me and my Listeners head-on."

The girl felt two women behind her, breasts slightly around each of her arms. They were Listeners, dressed in red silks - thighhighs, an almost sheer bustier, and panties practically made to demand being touched.

"You lot always underestimate my Listeners, even those who are smart enough to know some of them were adventurers like you."

She glanced around. Swords, staves, and symbols of casting. She had a small army by now. 

"Your beefy fellow has already transformed nicely into a new one of my girls. Your shift, however, will be much easier."
The girl listened. Not to the bardess, but to her music. The music was all she could focus on.

Slowly, her heavy clerical armor was loosened, then pulled off. She paid this no heed.

Her gambeson underneath came off easier, then piece by piece, until she was being leaned back to pull her socks off.

"The thighhighs," the bardess explained, "are the finishing touch. Once they're on, you'll start being able to obey. The song always in your head, making you one of my local servants. I'd ask what you thought, but I wouldn't expect an answer."

The girl, indeed, didn't answer, even as one leg was lifted by a LIstener, and a red stocking slid over her leg, crawling up and up.

The girl smiled, as she began to regain awareness.

The leg slipped down, and her other leg was raised. By the time it was all the way up, she spoke.

"I am a Listener. The Golden Lute and its Mistress hold my will," she intoned, almost rapt, even as the bardess finally stopped playing, shaking one hand, then the other, a little.

The bardess smiled. "Do put on the rest of your outfit... Then let's reconnect you with your associates. I'll come up with a larger plan when I feel like it."

"Yes, Mistress," her newest Listener responded.