I think putting these together sounds like a viable solution.
- Upon starting the quest/completing the first task, you're given the first ankh/totem.
- Each task completed empowers the item further and further.
- Nermine won't give the next task until the ankh/totem's been worn/rubbed after each empowerment.
- It can be activated by rubbing it to apply the jackalboy/jackalman infection areas appropriate to its power level.
- It can also be worn as equipment (necklace). Putting it on will have the same effect as rubbing it (occurring right away), but it will also repeat the infection restoration at the end of every turn.
- If you want to sex up Nermine w/o being at your full jackalman/boy state, you need to rub it (running that same subroutine) before getting in the sack with her - either she won't accept anything less or (if dominant Jackalman) you want to be in your full form to dominate her.
- Her dialog will need to be tweaked to accommadate the possibility of the player not being in the expected form for any given level of quest completion.
- Suggestion: Should you succumb in jackalman/jackalboy form, you become permanently possessed by that form and no longer need to rub/wear the item to maintain the form any longer, allowing the item to return to Nermine's store collection (for the next time she wants to use it on someone) and the rest of the ending content is as written.
- Suggestion: Surviving has you start wearing the item more and more (if not worn) until you no longer even think of taking it off. The rest of the ending content remains as written.
- The Nightmare content for the Stables would need to be altered in how it affects an existing jackalman/jackalboy infection. It would either need a similar retooling or would result in the destruction (removal) of the item. This revision would be necessary as part of this change.
- The Hellhound content will also need to be altered in how it affects an existing jackalman/jackalboy infection. A similar retooling for it would not be appropriate in its case and it should block/destroy/remove the others as appropriate.
- Doing it this way does mean that eventually the Wereraptor and Hyperskunk content would need a revision to better reflect these changes. These revisions aren't critical to the above changes, but should still be done fairly soon after the change.
Does that sound like it'll work? Any other thoughts on this idea?