My idea for an Epic transformation goes as follows.
Darius had spent many long years perfecting his trade as a craftsman, a master craftsman, then a guildmaster craftsman. People would be on waiting lists for years in order to have their item crafted by the famed Darius. But Darius himself felt that there was something missing, his craft lacked true inspiration and that 'something extra'. He had yet to craft that one item that would be his signature item.
Years passed and Darius thought that his time would never come. Fantastic arms and arms, wondrous creations of cloth and jewels just didn't have to same feel for him anymore. Darius had gotten old and crotchety, almost broken by the thought that he would never craft his masterpiece. However, that all changed when a young woman came into his guild and convinced his many followers and co-workers (many whose only purpose was to prevent such a thing from happening) that she needed to speak to him on a special project that couldn't wait for any list.
The young woman was an exquisite beauty, unequalled in all the years of Darius' life. Being an accomplished wizard and craftsman, Darius was aware and well prepared for any trickery, coersions, etc. (having developed a permanent True Sight as well as other magics years before). But this woman was genuine and her heart-felt plea touched Darius as no other had before in his lifetime.
The young woman could afford nothing but needed a fantastic suit of armor, crafted from near extinct creatures and long-forgotten materials. The forge had to be the most ancient of forges and the timing of the craft had to be precise. Darius was instructed that he must craft this mail alone and with no contact with the outside world for the entire time it took to craft.
Darius accepted the challenge, and gathered all of his items and equipment and set off on the quest to craft this mail. Years passed finding the long-lost components, materials, creatures . . . years passed searching for and finding the most ancient of forges deep within the earth . . . many more years passed in the crafting of the protective mail - all spent in solitude and silence.
Finally, the mail was complete. As he held the light material of the armor with arms outstretched before him, the young woman materialized within the armor, filling it out in ways only she could. With sincere thanks, a warm embrace and a simple kiss, the woman and the armor were gone.
Only some time later did Darius realize that he was younger, stronger and more capable than he ever imagined. Although expecting nothing, his payment had been received.
