It seems like it's been forever since Alptraum wore his own body, but at least it's familiar - and in this realm, devoid of tattoos and non-earring jewelry, until he sees fit to modify his self-image. The sky and ground rumble, and a low castle appears from the gloom ahead of him. It looks something like a cross between the Twisted Keep and Castle Draco, partly carved from the stone of a cliff-face.
"Oh, so the weather isn't good enough for him? Just has to have a castle, eh?" Alptraum complains as he wings his way towards the castle ahead. He keeps his body low and close to the ground, harder for other dragons to spot, much less grab, him. "He's in too much luxury, that's what! I don't get this kind of luxury on my trip."
There isn't a moat of drawbridge, just a rough-hewn (almost gaping) archway. A humanoid steel dragon (although without wings) in rough metal armor stands guard. "Halt!" it demands. "Who approaches the lair of Lord Vorgulremik?"
Alptraum twirls midair, snaps his wings in, and lands gracefully about ten feet from the entrance. "Alptraum Bar Reisender, jailer and master of this realm," the Eeee claims and puffs up his chest. "I'm here to inspect the prisoner."
"Are you going to punish him?" the guard asks with interest, eyeing the Eeee up and down.
"Only if he misbehaves and doesn't answer my questions. I'm sure I can borrow Kaira's paddle," Alptraum quips.
"Is there anything I can do to ensure he is punished?" the guard asks next.
"Do you have issues with him, then?" Alptraum asks.
"He killed me and ate my soul, what do you think?" the guard asks snarkily.
"That you want to have tea and crumpits with him," Alptraum counter-snarks. "And how many souls did you devour in your lifetime?"
The guard chooses not to reply to that question, and waves Alptraum through. "Just continue down this hall and you will find him," he grumbles.
"And out of minor curiosity, what happened to your wings?" Alptraum asks as he slowly passes through the gate.
"Guards don't get wings," the dragon grumbles. "Among other things.."
"Like what?" Alptraum inquires, stopping mid-step.
The guard's green eye flares a bit, and he repeats, "Just continue down the hall, and you will find him, sir."
"Fine, don't test my willingness to give you things just to annoy him," Alptraum says as he resumes walking and waves over his shoulder. "Ta!"
On passing the guard, Alptraum can see that the dragon's tail ends at the wall, where it is fused into the metallic stone. There are quite a few other dragons melted into the walls of the hall, often squirming what parts they can - but none of them have mouths that are free. Sometimes it's merely a single eye peering out from the wall.
"Hmm. Maybe he should go back into a wall, himself," Alptraum remarks as he walks along at a leisurely pace, toe claws clicking away on the stone. If this place were actually real, he would probably be afraid ... but he's generally safe enough in here! "Oh widdle dwagy," Alptraum calls out in a faux-sweet tone. "Are youuuu there?"
The hall ends in a large, rough-hewn chamber. It's domed, and the bodies of dragons are merged with the walls and ceiling in patterns that suggest the structure is held up by the roots of a tree. It also appears that Vorgulremik has really embraced the humanoid form, since all of the dragons have been forced into it - especially the dozen or so females scattered around, held in various poses by fingers of iron and steel. At the center of it all, Vorgulremik himself sits on an extruded metal throne. "Ah, Alptraum. I was beginning to miss your visits," the dragon rumbles.
"Well, you seem to have taken liberties with this place and its inhabitants, haven't you?" Alptraum remarks as he makes a slow circle of the room to check it out in greater detail. "Realistically, all of this is probably a violation of your imprisonment. I don't quite think Kaira would appreciate you having your own slaves."
"It is not as if they don't deserve it," Vorgulremik claims. "They are all monsters, after all." He gestures, and one of the captive females is forced into a new position - that of forming a chair, of sorts, with built-in head-rest. Given the nature of every other material, it's probably the 'softest' seat available. "Make yourself comfortable, and tell me what brings you to seek my counsel."
"And what makes you think I came for your counsel?" Alptraum asks as he folds his wings in tight and sits down slowly to make sure he avoids any overly sharp parts. "Maybe I just came to check on you, hmm?" He grins.
"If you'd come just to see me.. I imagine you'd be wearing your female form instead," the dragon says with a smoke-filled chuckle. "No, if you are not here to profess your adoration, then you must want something from me."
Alptraum laughs. "I've never adored you," he remarks rather dryly. After leaning slightly to the side, he props his chin up on his palm. "Recent events have made me curious about something; what exactly did you have Ravenia looking for?" he asks.
What humor the dragon was expressing is snuffed out like a candle. The ground vibrates, and molten metal flows to cover the eyes and ears of Vorgulremik's furnishings. "What a strange question," the dragon says, reclining in his throne. "What is the answer worth to you?"
"It depends on what you want for it. I don't require the information, so I could make due without it. This just makes my life a little simpler, is all," Alptraum claims.
The dragon's lip curls into a grin, as he gold eyes watch the Eeee. "Perhaps if you explained to me your sudden interest, I might see a reason to tell you," he offers.
"Oh, just some other far uglier creature is looking for it. She mentioned in passing that Ravenia had been seeking it. Well, described the person anyway. Ravenia is a bit distinctive. I just intend to beat her to it," Alptraum answers and waves his right hand.
"Oh, you've had a run in with Her then?" Vorgulremik asks, leaning forward. "The covetous whisperer, the dream-spy.. Queen Bitch of the Damned?"
"Oh, in a manner of speaking, yes. You could say the game pieces are being shuffled about," Alptraum answers as he leans back and stretches his legs out. "Her powers are interesting; copies of the real thing in some aspects."
"Powers?" Vorgulremik asks, then laughs derisively. "She is as helpless as all of the so-called deities of your little world. Unless, perhaps, she's found a new minion? Oh, how she courted me! Such lust and desperation and fear. No surprise she had my agent followed."
"She's copied an aura similar to your own," Alptraum notes, sounding bored. "And yes, she has a minion. Well, several, and a new host body. We exchanged a few words. It's likely we're going to come to a head sooner or later."
"How very amusing," Vorgulremik says. "But then, poor Muriavan was just a prototype to her. A template." The dragon steeples his talons together, and says, "What she sought, through Ravenia, was the key to her own destruction - just as I was seeking. The assassin made it through to this world, but as for the weapon.. I could find no record or rumor to suggest it had been found."
"Well, can you at least describe it?" Alptraum asks. "I have a few leads on places were exotic weapons tend to come from or go to."
"No mere exotic weapon this," Vorgulremik claims, and moves his hands about. A pillar of iron begins to rise up from the floor, warping and distorting. The tip splits, branches, and forms a shape like the Anchor, only without the curved blade. A cruciform shape, which begins to alter from metal to.. something else. Neither metal or crystal, but some odd mix. The surface is an impossible bluish-orange, and it seems to be reflective - but not of its surroundings. And it is barely bigger than a long dagger, if the top were used as a handle.
"Hm. Can't say as if I've seen that before, but I have some ideas on where it could be," Alptraum muses as he eyes the odd weapon with curiosity. "Oh, in case you were curious, she is planning to try and take over the world wit a new undead army. Her pawns are in play, as are mine. I fully intend to win, of course."
"This is how I remember it, from my brief glimpse," Vorgulremik says. "The long arm sheathes the blade within, which legend says is ultraviolet-pink. It has many names, none of which properly describe it. And it is what Amena fears more than anything else, because small gods are always beholden to prophecy."
"As are those who believe themselves a God," Alptraum points out and arches his brow slightly. "Given your own concern about it and what you've described here ... well, I only have to assume it's a 'Godslayer' so to speak."
"That is one name for it, yes," Vorgulremik notes. "And accurate as well. It is the blade that destroys, utterly, all that is matter, energy or spirit. One of several, forged from the ashes of a dying universe for the purpose of hunting and killing god-like beings."
"Well, I do have a reasonable guess as to where it probably is," Alptraum remarks as he sits upright. "And it's interesting you told me this, but then I do suspect you don't want her to have it ... but if I did, it would be closer to your grasp, eh?" He grins.
The dragon rumbles, and says, "I have no need of it, save that it is a threat to me. I know the bearer followed me through the gateway to this reality, but there is nothing to suggest the weapon made it as well."
"My point exactly. I know you're still trying to get me to serve you," Alptraum points out, "And if I have it, it becomes a less of a threat to you, if you somehow manage to succeed. And given how many she has looking for it, chances are it did make it through."
"And would you march into Hell wielding this Exile Blade to do battle with Amena?" Vorgulremik asks, tilting his head. "It isn't as if you'd need it to deal with a mere avatar - unless this new avatar is a jaguar?"
"Nope, the new avatar is not," Alptraum notes, but doesn't elaborate. "As for would I? Yes. She has threatened a few things that are important to me. Not to mention it's my duty to do so."
"Why is it your duty?" the dragon asks. "She will make you many empty promises - for is she is not so honorable as I am - and deceive you in endlessly clever ways. You would need a strong companion, to keep you on track. Someone not easily tempted, but who could battle the minions of Amena on their own terms. Okay, you've convinced me! I will aid you, stand by your side and protect your back when you face down the monster goddess.."
"Because Nala, her counterpart, has nominated me as her new champion," Alptraum counters, "So I have a strong back up already. That was a good try on your part though. Well done." He even grins and waggles his brow at Vorgulremik.
The dragon takes a bow while still seated. "The Barsunala, Champion of Life?" Vorgulremik asks. "Well, I suppose death does serve life, in the grand scheme of things. But I think you've seen what has happened in the past, when the Champion of Nala met in battle with the Avatar of Amena.."
"Yes, I'm aware. It is something I'll have to deal with when the time comes," Alptraum agrees as he sits back again. "That should still be a ways off."
Alptraum, for some bizarre reason, also tries to tickle the chair he is sitting in with his toes.
"If you defeat Amena's proxy, you will become one of her targets," Vorgulremik warns. "Although, frankly, she has not been very effective in eliminating her enemies - I think she just likes to toy with them."
The dragoness-chair squirms beneath Alptraum from the tickling.
"Hm, I wonder if it's wrong to wonder what it would be like to be a chair?" Alptraum remarks, rather bemused. He looks back to Vorgulremik after he finishes tickling the chair and notes, "You're showing a lot of concern for my well being lately. Is it because you, perhaps, like me?"
"There are few I can interact with on close to an equal footing," Vorgulremik notes, and then grins. "And I still have hope for you. So much potential.. a shame to waste it. I want to see how you grow."
"And it isn't because if the forms I can take?" Alptraum asks, brow arched. "And you just want to devour me in the end, regardless of how I grow."
"Only to preserve you at your peak," the dragon claims. "And yes, you have.. opened my eyes.. to new activities with your shape-shifting. Perhaps even kindled a latent artistic streak within me. Most curious. But I also consider you my legacy, Alptraum."
"That does not quite make me feel good, you know," Alptraum notes as he taps his claws on his chair. "But, I suppose as long as your interests in the ... bizarre are targeted only at those here, and not in some lustful dreams of your own about me, I suppose that is okay."
"Lustful.. dreams?" the dragon asks, earfans raised. "I do not dream like a mortal does. Dragon dreams.. are potent things. If I dreamed of you, I think you would sense it."
Alptraum laughs. "I'm glad you do not, then," the Eeee remarks.
"Ah, but now you have me curious," the dragon says, grinning and leaning forward. "Do you dream of me, Alptraum?"
"If I'm in a particular mood, maybe," Alptraum taunts as he leans forward and grins as well.
"What sort of mood?" Vorgulremik asks. "Perhaps an urge to be dominated, or surrender yourself to a higher power? Many have indulged such feelings with me throughout my long and storied existence."
"Oh, perhaps something like that. But now I know to never come here again as one of your own kind, or I may end up part of the decor," Alptraum says with a laugh.
"The women enjoy it," Vorgulremik claims. "After all, in life, sex was often a death sentence for them. Now they can enjoy it, without pain.. and they owe it all to you." Alptraum's chair squirms a bit under him again, without need of tickling - or hearing, since her entire head is encased in rough metal.
"And if I wanted to experience this, you would honor that interest?" Alptraum asks, brow arched slightly.
"If you wish to indulge yourself with my harem, I will certainly make them available to you," Vorgulremik notes. "And I don't recall you objecting to our previous trysts."
"I was suggesting becoming part of the harem for the experience," Alptraum corrects and laughs. "But then I also found an Eeee that does quite well in indulging my interests and appetites. So I have an outlet already..."
"An Eeee?" the dragon says, and then snorts. "Surely you cannot compare me with a mortal lover. Although I suspect you have had other draconic partners.."
"I don't know. The Eeee was pretty amazing. If you could only see the tattoo I got from that. I was willing to do anything while in that Eeee's precense," Alptraum teases. "And yes, I have known other draconic lovers."
"Where is this amazing Eeee now?" Vorgulremik asks, sounding a bit jealous - which is typical for a dragon when discussing any person that does something better than them.
"Alas, in a town I left," Alptraum laments and even puts the back of his hand to his forehead. Secretly, he's delighting that Vorgulremik is actually jealous.
"And what of the dragons?" Vorgulremik demands. "Name them!"
Alptraum tsks. "You already know them. Kaira and Tulani," he teases.
"Hmmm," Vorgulremik rumbles. "That list seems short of true dragons," he notes. "And what of the lovely Melusine, my dear.. daughter-in-heart?"
"Oh, well she is in a class of her own," Alptraum claims. "It has been ages since I was with her."
"Summon Tulani here," the dragon requests. "I owe her some.. attention," he rumbles.
"I don't think so," Alptraum counters, "The only other female dragon I might permit you, would be myself changed."
"Well, you did just suggest joining my harem," the steel dragon notes, grinning lecherously.
"And what would you do if I did?" Alptraum inquires, brow ached.
"My concubines would hold you down while I raped you of course, and have their fun with you," Vorgulremik says, as if anything else would just be unthinkable. "Why, did you want something.. different?"
"Oh, I don't know. I find how you've trussed up some of them is rather interesting," Alptraum says as he reaches back and taps the steel-encased head of his 'chair'. "But then I would be crazy to make myself that vulnerable to you."
"You find that.. erotic?" Vorgulremik asks, as if seeing the sun rise for the first time. "I bind them so they will not attack me.."
"I've had an experience in being blindfolded and restrained that was ... interesting," Alptraum admits with a bemused grin.
"But I should probably not taunt you further with the ideas of enjoying me as a female of your kind," Alptraum adds as he rises from the chair he had been sitting in.
"You've given me something to experiment with," Vorgulremik rumbles. "You are welcome to my harem at any time, of course."
Alptraum heads towards the door that he came in through and waves over his shoulder. "Maybe next time I'll come to just spend some time as part of your harem," he claims as he goes. He pauses and looks over his shoulder, adding in challenge, "But ... you would have a lot to live up to given that I've been with the best. Enjoy your odd castle." The Eeee resumes his walk as he leaves this bizarre place.
It takes a moment to switch viewpoints. For a brief time, Alptraum finds himself spread across two different places: Kaira's garden for Alptraum, and a rather dark place for Femtraum. As her eyes adjust, she finds herself strapped to an elevated rack of some sort, and looking into the pale eyes of a dark elfess. A naked dark elfess, to be exact. Who is holding a soft looking flail in one hand and a very suggestively shaped object of polished wood in the other.
And Femtraum actually licks her lips. "Don't stop on my account," she actually purrs at her. She even wiggles her fingers and toes in the rack that holds her. Of course the situation has a few other effects in that this form starts taking on aspects of her external one; such as areas shedding fur to reveal the blue tattoo of the Flower and little bits of jewelry appearing here and there across her body.
"You are painted," the drow purrs back, and then goes to work, using the flay to help uncover the tattoos. As for the wooden kyootcumber..
"Alptraum?" Kaira asks, shaking the male Eeee to drag his attention back to that body. "Are you okay? You have a weird expression?"
And the fur sheds away, exposing more and more of that tattoo ... as for the wooden object, it reminds her of the vartan. Oh, the noises she starts to make ...
"What, what?" Alptraum suddenly complains as his attention snaps to Kaira. "You just interrupted ... oooo!"
"You showed up here, smelling like a steel dragoness," Kaira notes. "What was I supposed to do? Have you been playing with Vorgy again?" she asks sternly.
"I was visiting Vorgulremik for some information and sitting in a chair made from a steel dragoness," Alptraum answers and crosses his arms over her chest. "It was just an information visit. Nothing else happened. I merely learned what he was having Ravenia look for; some sort of god killing dagger. Another creature I have to deal with is looking for the same thing."
EDIT: over his chest!
"Why was he looking for something like that?" Kaira asks, sounding suspicious. "He didn't talk you into finding it for him, did he?"
"No, he said he didn't care what happened to it in so much as it doesn't remain a threat to him," Alptraum says and shrugs. "So, for what it is worth he claimed it was to protect himself. I don't quite believe it, but that's what he said."
"I also couldn't help myself and taunted him a little bit," Alptraum admits.
"Those things are mythical anyway," Kaira claims, and perks up a bit at the taunting comment. "Oh? What did you taunt him over?"
"That he wasn't even close to the best lover I've ever had," Alptraum remarks. "And as for the dagger, I expect it has made its way into the hands of the Aelfin, if it exists at all. They used to specialize in enchanted weapons."
"And no, I didn't tell him that last part," Alptraum clarifies.
"Oh, so you rubbed me in his face then?" Kaira coos, a bit more forgiving now.
"You and Tulani," Alptraum says. He leaves the part about Mordecai (the current favorite by far), and Melusine out of it.
"What's Tulani have that I don't?" Kaira asks. "Just because she might be a bit more experienced..."
"A real body," Alptraum points out.
"I also taunted Vorg with the idea of me joining his harem for a bit," Alptraum says, "Well as a female steel, not a male Eeee of course! I think it made him twitch. Heh."
"Just one! Maybe two," Kaira claims, and with a wave of her wing.. becomes a pale-skinned elf woman. "But not one like this! You like this one, don't you?" Of course, it's hard to look at all that bare, pale skin and not think of decoration now..
"Why would you even consider something like that?" Kaira asks, and shivers. "Steel dragons are so.. indelicate.."
Alptraum twitches at the sight of the elf. "You know, that body would look good covered in tattoos," he remarks and grins fangily.
"Why? To drive him crazy, of course," Alptraum answers. "To taunt him with what he cannot really completely have."
"Except that he has had you," Kaira notes, and blinks at the comment about tattoos. "What? This body is perfect for a humanoid.. why does it need painting?"
"For the fun of it?" Alptraum suggests in terms of the tattoos. "No, as in he's hoping it sways me to join him, which of course it is not," he answers about Vorgulremik.
"You aren't just doing that to make me jealous, are you?" Kaira asks. "And.. well, the elves do have a special edible coloring they sometimes use, but it's meant to be applied with the tongue.."
"You have no reason to be jealous of Vorg. Don't even begin to think that. It really is about taunting him in his prison," Alptraum claims. The comment about the edibile coloring makes him blink and his ears splay. "Applied by the tongue? ... Really?"
"Yes, in swirls and other patterns," Kaira claims. "You said he has a harem now?"
"He's been collecting the other steel dragons and making them serve him," Alptraum says, "He claims I inspired him."
"Hmmm," Kaira says. "It's not fair. I don't have a harem. It'd undermine my authority."
Alptraum says, "So, you really don't want me to periodically join his to torment him, then?" Alptraum asks. "And yes, you sort of do, a harem of one. Me!""
"I don't think you should be indulging him when you could be indulging me is all," Kaira claims, and then steps up and wraps her arms around the bat. "You do still love me, don't you?"
Alptraum's answer to that is to kiss Kaira-Elf. And huh, he's got the tongue stud in this form! "Of course I do," the Eeee says when it ends. "Why wouldn't I?"
"You hardly ever spend time with me," Kaira pouts, putting the elven lips to good use. "Don't you want to ravish me anymore?"
"You're always busy," Alptraum claims as he picks Kaira up into his arms. "And besides, to rpoperly ravish you I have to become a terrible-evil-dragon and force you to be my elf-slave," he adds in a teasing tone.
"And what does a dragon's elf-slave do for her master?" Kaira teases, hanging on by crossing her arms behind Alptraum's neck.
"Whatever my desire is at the moment," Alptraum answers back, his voice taking on a rougher, gravelly tone. Then again, his entire body is taking on a rougher feel as scale replaces fur. "And if I can find my other half, well, there was this rack we could use ... and a nice whip, and ... he continues to taunt and tease as he carries Kaira out of the garden. "And get those paints, we'll need those. And maybe a bridle. And ... a milking machine to get back at a naughty elf that thought it would be funny to do that to someone..." Ut-oh. He hasn't forgotten that.