Inside, there is a small carriage yard with a cart full of disturbingly person-sized wrapped bundles, watched over by an Eeee wearing a long pointed mask that makes her look like a bird. The main doors are open, leading to a waiting area. Several people sit huddled inside, some shaking and others coughing, and one young Eeee with bloodshot eyes who doesn't seem to ever blink. The Yodhgorphat wear green gauze masks over their noses and mouths, and green bandages wrapped around their hands and fingers like gloves. Many of them sport rubber aprons and overalls, often stained with various congealed bodily excretions and expectorations.
Getting here wasn't easy for Nicora. Flying was out of the question, as she was having enough difficulty with simply walking due to the muscle cramps and other painful workings of her lower abdomen. As she feared, this cycle was turning out worse than the first one, and the Yodhinala weren't able to cope with it. "If it is a blessing of Gorphat, than you must seek Her daughters for relief," Yuna insisted.
Upon seeing this house of horrors Nicora isn't quite sure she wants to visit this place either. It looks as bad as the temple in Babel! "They're supposed to be kinder here? Uhm, they look the same!" Nicora things as she peers around the door frame in horror. Another knot hits her gut and she almost doubles over. "Maybe I can make it through this. It's only a week of wrenching agony," she thinks to herself. Still, she's in enough pain at the moment she can't run screaming, so ends up leaning on the wall and holding her lower stomach.
The staring boy.. stares at her. "You've got shadows in your hair, eating the spiders in your ears," he squeaks, then breaks into a fit of giggling that ends in terrible choking sounds. One of the Yodh checking on new arrivals, notices Nicora, and starts to approach her. Something pink runs down from her apron as she walks.
Nicora eyes the pink running down from the apron. "I don't want to know, I really don't," she thinks to herself. "I, ah, there are people here in far worse shape than me," she says quickly, "You should not concern yourself with me..."
"Mmm," the Yodh says, and then presses a fingertip right against Nicora's forehead. "You aren't here because of a mundane disease, drug withdrawal, or other mortal ailment. You have Gorphat's touch upon you," she claims, in a somewhat gravely voice.
"This is true," Nicora admits as she pushes herself back upright, wincing all the way. "I am a friend of her High Priestess from Babel, and as such, under Her gaze. She decided to give me a trial 'befitting' of a heroic woman. My cycles are ... agony."
"You've been honored," the Yodh claims, although looks a bit dubious at the notion of Nicora being a 'friend' of the High Priestess. Yodhgorphat aren't known for having friends, after all. "Are you here to admit to your weakness and seek relief - or to serve Gorphat in exchange for relief?"
"Either, if She will grant me reprieve from this pain. I cannot travel in this condition and travel soon I must," Nicora says. "What is involved in admitting weakness ... or what is involved in serving Her?"
The Yodh sniffs, causing her mask to flutter a bit, and says, "I'm pretty sure they both end the same, just in the former you must grovel, and in the latter you have to be willing and forego the blindfold."
"Forego the blindfold?" Nicora asks. Something in her tells her groveling may not be wise, as the challenge is to make you stronger; and not show weakness.
"Yes," the Yodh notes. "Your challenge is a fairly common one, among those who ask the Kindly One for such. We are well prepared for it. Follow me," the nurse-priestess all but commands, then turns and starts walking away.
"Other than being less lazy, they see the same to me," Nicora thinks as she follows along after the Priestess. She finds herself having to walk half-hunched over and clutching her gut now and then when muscles tighten though.
That path leads through a ward of very listless bats in cots, and past what must be a laundry or sterilization area, full of vats of boiling water, chemicals and copious amounts of steam. The journey ends at a small, barred door. Here, the Yodh says, "You may appease Gorphat by tending to the Blessed Bargorphat. If your discomfort eases, then you have done well. You must not turn away or show repulsion though, as those would be insults. Do you accept?"
Nicora blinks. "Tending to the blessed BArgorphat? Tending in what way?" she inquires worriedly. She can't help herself abd peers at the barred door.
"The Blessed Bargorphat's needs will become apparent," the Yodh claims.
Nicora chews her lip for a moment, worried. "I enjoyed serving Mordecai, so I am sure I can tend to this one as well," she thinks, trying to convince herself. The dark Eeee draws a breath, then nods. "I accept the task," she says with more conviction that she feels.
"Hurry inside once the door is opened," the priestess notes, then undoes the latches and hauls it open quickly. The scent that wafts out reminds Nicora a bit of the dungeon hog pens of Draco Castle.
Nicora has to force herself to not cover her nose, but she does switch to breathing through her mouth. As she hurries through the door, she asks, "How long will I be in here?"
"I'll check back in a few hours," the Yodhgorphat promises before closing the door behind Nicora. The sound of the locks being set is very noisy. It takes a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light as well, coming from a few slits high on the wall. What she sees is a floor strewn with (relatively clean) straw, a water trough and.. not much else. Something shifts in a shadowed corner of the room, and she feels a sonar ping come from that direction.
"A few hours?" Nicora thinks in horror. She doesn't know what she's in with, but dungeons are rarely good! "Hello?" she calls out to the corner and starts towards it slowly and nervously. "Bargorphat? I am Nicora and I am ... here to serve you."
Her abdomen chooses that moment to make an internal fist, and the thing in the corner comes out into the light. It is, superficially, an Eeee. At least, if you didn't take the whole thing into account, but focused on separate parts. It's right arm is elongated and muscular, with fingers forming the wing - a Saskanar breed hallmark. The left arm, however, is like that of a Babelite Eeee, with a stunted separate wing behind it. The head is where things go bad, as it is swollen and oversized, looking almost like an animal. The broad leaf-nose has nostrils larger than the beady black eyes that set wide and deep into the partially furred skull. Black hair is sparse, appearing in patches over the black-gray-brown mottled skin. From the shoulders down, the Bargorphat is less gruesome, although it's toes are longer than usual.
The bare skin has been tattooed, and Nicora recognizes the symbols; the very same that Phlagaea painted onto Alptraum when he served as her Bargorpthat - and apparently causing the same 'condition' in this male. The designs go further, covering his tumescence as well, but those are unfamiliar. It snorts at Nicora, clearly taking in her scent. It has a sever underbite and jowl flaps that cause drool to hang in strings.
Nicora can't help herself and staggers back from the pain in her gut as well as from shock of what she's looking at. It reminds her of something Melusine would make when she's bored! Only ... somehow even worse. Her hands come to her mouth to stifle the squeak she was about to make; lest she insult Gorphat. So ... she freezes in that stance for a moment, then collects herself. "Right, calm down. It's just a very deformed bat," she thinks to herself as her hands lower. "Can you understand me?" she asks the creature as she takes a slow step towards it.
The Bargorphat is still crawling forward, using its right arm for most of it. It doesn't seem able to stand upright on its feet. The sound it makes is a bit of a pained whimper, as it reaches for Nicora with its more dextrous right hand.
This ... makes Nicora actually feel a bit sorry for him. So she moves closer now and crouches down, then reaches out and takes his hand into hers. Her free hand actually pets over his cheek and ... slimy jowls. "I'm here to serve you," she repeats, perhaps to remind herself.
The creature presses its face into Nicora's stomach, triggering another cramp. It then tries to eat her pants!
After inhaling from the clenching in her gut, Nicora firmly pushes its head away and shuffles back so that she can remove her pants herself. Ties are undone, pants are slid off, then her shirt follows. This leaves Nicora dressed in nothing but her array of body jewelry. She chews her lip, then feeds in the combination to her chastity chain and slides it free from her rings. She loops this around her neck and re-locks it so that she doesn't lose it. "Are you really going to let that thing impale you?" she thinks, "It's going to hurt in this condition! A lot!"
The Bargorphat literally pulls Nicora down into the straw and starts licking her. The drop also pins her tail up against her back, where it protests by biting at her wings.
Nicora finally ends up squeaking when she goes down onto her back and pins her tail uncomfortably! "Ow, ow ow ow," she thinks as her gut rebels and her tail gets really bitey! It distracts her for a short bit from the feel of its tongue. Not long enough as she feels her fur starting to mat down and her skin underneath feel slimy wherever it licks her. "I hope my fur doesn't fall out!" she suddenly worries as she tries to shift enough if the creature will allow her, and quit bending her tail so uncomfortably!
Apparently moving excites the creature, and soon Nicora has the full weight of it pinning her down along with the extreme discomfort of having it inside her. Menstrual blood isn't the best of lubricants, and the creature's exertions will certainly leave her sore outside as well. Inala's blessing remains dormant, making the whole thing a matter of endurance. But then, that's Gorphat's way.
Nicora finds this isn't like Mordecai at all. In fact, it's horrifying and in the end she can't help herself and squirms as she tries in vain to find some way to make it more comfortable; but this creature seems to weigh a lot more than her ... so all she can do is let it ... enjoy her while her insides feel like they're on fire. Even the vartan didn't hurt like this! The walls of the cell had best be pretty sound-proof because Nicora makes an array of very pained noises!
The noises from the Bargorphat aren't exactly different from Nicora's, either. Given the priapism curse tattooed onto it, it must be used for this often - but the further tattoos could mean anything. And despite the overall horribleness, about twenty minutes in Nicora notices that her cramps have stopped.
The stopping of the cramping seems to cause Nicora to actually relax some. At one point she does something unthinkable ... she kisses the horrible creature, on its deformed lips. "I don't hurt anymore!" she thinks, feeling relieved in that aspect.
The Bargorphat's pain seems to increase, however, until it pulls free and wails, it's loins covered in blood.
Nicora's eyes go wide! "What is wrong?" she asks the poor creature as she struggles to sit upright. She even reaches out and tenderly cradles his blood-covered parts. "Did the curse transfer to him?" she wonders. "Is that what the runes do?"
It seems more likely that the Bargorphat's plumbing has its own issues. Aside from chafing, it may be that the creature simply can't achieve release - and given the chance of it reproducing, that may be a prudent precaution for the Yodhgorphat to have taken.
Nicora does something that, well, she knows will be extremely disgusting. She leans forward and introduces it to the stud Mordecai placed in her tongue. "If release from your blessing means your Son suffers more," she thinks, "Then I accept the blessing back to ease his suffering. Allow me to give your son release and ease his suffering, Great Gorphat."
The Bargorphat calms down after an initial shriek of surprise, and may actually be enjoying the experience, even if it's still frustrating. There's no way Nicora could keep this up until the Yodhgorphat comes back for her though! Her neck would give out before then.
Nicora keeps it up as long as she can, though, trying to help the mutant Eeee find release. She also uses the time to trace out the runes on him and try to figure out their meaning from her own meager magical knowledge.
Each of the Kindly Ones seems to have their own ritual symbols, rather than sharing them. Nicora is certain there aren't any that she's seen Mave use. The extra markings might even be for soothing the condition of the partner.
When Nicora's neck begins to wear out ... she guides the creature back inside herself if it will let her!
The Bargorphat seems to be a creature of instinct, and it responds with the same urgency it did the first time around, even though it would likely end the same way.
This time Nicora guides with her right hand ... but for a reason. She lets the shadow ooze forth from it and where she guides it, well; it's sort of like when she's eaten solid food, except it's coating something within her instead of her own insides. She concentrates as best she can, trying to soothe the creature and guide him to an end of his frustration, even if only once, by using the shadow on his flesh.
This surprises the creature, and the new sensations cause it to slow down. It even tries clumsily caressing Nicora - but thankfully doesn't attempt to kiss her.
"Relax," Nicora murmurs to the deformed creature. "Find peace and release. Allow me to serve you and your Mother," she adds. Her right hand remains where it is, the shadow soothing and trying to help the creature find some release from its constant urge. Her free left hand caresses his cheek.
The creature slows, not that it's not trying to end things as soon as possible. Eventually is shudders, and for a moment its distorted face looks peaceful. Then it drops onto Nicora's chest and sprays out slobber and mucous as it snores, fast asleep.
Nicora eases her shadow back from the creature now as she pets its cheek with her left hand; careful to keep from spilling its 'gift', lest that insult Gorphat too. Which means either devouring it with the shadow, or allowing it inside. She may regret it, but she leaves it inside when she extracts the shadow because she's afraid of devouring it. Unfortunately it also means she's now pinned under the creature and probably can't ease him out or get away from him. "I hope I have served you well, Great Gorphat," Nicora thinks in her awkward, slimy, and sticky, situation.
"The seed of Gorphat will keep the the convulsions and bleeding at bay," a voice whispers into Nicora's ear. It sounds a bit congested.
Nicora grows still at that voice. "Then I still carry your blessing? That this was just a ... temporary relief?" Nicora thinks in reply. Well, it's a good think she left the seed inside her body instead of using the shadow to remove it!
"You haven't asked me to remove it," the voice of Gorphat says - clearly coming from the mouth of the sleeping Bargorphat.
"Would you if I did?" Nicora asks quietly
"Do you think you have fully repaid my generosity?" the voice whispers. "I may replace it with another blessing of my choosing, if you come to Me in my home."
"I do not feel I have fully repaid you. When I thought your Son took my pain into himself, I offered to take the pain back, and I meant it. It is my challenge to bear and seek relief for; not one I should have given to another," Nicora answers in whisper. "Plus ... I have come to feel honored to be blessed by you. I am not sure I would wish to be without a Gift from you; I find that I wish to become closer to you, beautiful Gorphat." Perhaps she's trying Vorgulremik's approach of flattery and professing 'love'.
"Oh, I foresee that we will become very close indeed, Nephew," Gorphat says. The Bargorphat can't really smile, but it sounds like it is. "You have taken my High Priestess, after all. An equal relationship is required in return."
"Good. My wish is to be your Lover; I wish to bear your mark," Nicora claims softly, probably in the ploy of flattery. "And I will undertake any challenge that you wish for me to prove that desire."
"You have already begun to," the goddess says, followed by the snoring of the Bargorphat once more. Which really is just a precursor to the flatulence..
"I look forward to your next Gift," Nicora murmurs to the creature that keeps her pinned. And ... then she's back to being pinned and impaled by the mutant Eeee. So ... she settles in and gets as comfortable as she can to wait for him to awake, or the Yodh to come for her.
It's hard to tell how much time passes, but eventually the Yodhgorphat returns and even enters the room to help lift the still sleeping Bargorphat off of Nicora. There's a moment when the two nearly drop him, as the Yodh jumps and squeaks suddenly, but they manage to set him down in his heavier pad of hay, and then she instructs Nicora in cleaning the Blessed Bargorphat. The Yodh keeps looking behind herself every so often, not having realized it was Nicora's tail that nipped her in the rear - especially since it's been keeping out of sight against Nicora's back. It does seem like something the Barsunala would have done though. "When you're done and ready to leave, knock on the door," she says, choosing to wait outside while Nicora finishes up.
It ddoesn't help that the cleaning of the Blessed Bargorphat involves a lot of licking since it's not like she has a bucket, sponge, or anything other than her own clothes. So it's another hour in service to the great (and nasty) creature. During the cleaning she remarks softly to her own tail, "You need to behave." When she's finally done, she doesn't bother re-securing her own chain. Instead, she dresses quickly over her matted fur; ready to be out of this place and find a real bath! Once she's remotely presentable and clothed, she heads to the door and knocks softly. "I am done," she whispers through the door.
The door is opened, and the Yodh looks Nicora up and down. She has the expression of one who wants to ask how it went, but that may be taboo. "Perhaps you are stronger than you think," the Yodh says instead, before she starts escorting Nicora back outside.
"You should tend to him yourself some day. It is ... a religious experience," Nicora notes to the other Yodh as they walk. Alas, poor Nicora is walking a little bow-legged from the experience, but she hides it well.
At least she's able to fly again now. This puts the Temple of Inala within comfortable reach. She's lead to her room, where she finds a guest waiting for her: Tulani! Although the Sphynx is currently on her belly getting a backrub from a young Fnerf.
"If you're curious where I have been. Don't be. Don't ask. You really don't want to know," Nicora tells the louging feline. With a sigh Nicora starts stripping down right there with the Fnerf and Tulani present. "I just ... really need a bath."
The Fnerf rings a bell before going back to Tulani's bare back, and a familiar Lapi doe arrives to help Nicora and prepare the bath. "Well, I'm sure it was terribly decadent, whatever it was," Tulani says with a purr. "I've been staying one the airship, you know. This body pillow I'm on now is thicker and softer than two of the bunk mattresses on Shadowdrake."
Nicora seems to deflate as she eases herself into the tub and then unhooks the chain around her neck for reattachment later. "How has the airship been? Quiet? Have you met the navigator yet?" Nicora asks as she idly soaks; and ties to not look like she's checking out her body while she looks for any green-tinted fur or scarier, flesh. She even checks her left hand, where the fur masks the tattoo on the skin beneath.
Is there a slight tingle in the hand, or is it just her imagination? Cinnamon also joins her in the tub and helps wash her, using scented oils to get the stickiness out of her fur.
"Quiet for now, but the Navigator is supposed to arrive tonight," Tulani reports. She shifts to sit up, with the Fnerf moving to work on her shoulders and wings. "How are you holding up?"
Nicora rolls so her back is up and her chin rests on the back of her right hand. It's so the doe can clean her back ... and it gives her a hance to brush the fur on her left hand around a bit to try and get a look at the tattoo and the condition of the skin and fur. She learned long ago tingles are trouble!
"A little better than I was. I found a treatment that worked for some discomfort," Nicora remarks idly. "So I'm good to fly. We have options of continuing on with the new Navigator, or taking one of a couple air routes."
The tattoo is barely visible against her dark skin, beneath dark fur. It's impossible to really see the pattern fully as a result.
"I have a spot where you can watch the Navigator arrive," Tulani notes.
"Good. I also suggest you keep your distance too. I have concerns about this navigator," Nicora admits as she looks to Tulani while rubbing the back of her left hand and arm.
The skin of her left hand still feels smooth to Nicora, at least. And Cinnamon isn't commenting on anything green while she cleans the Eeee's nethers.
Nicora shifts a bit. "Careful around the rings. They make things a little sensitive," Nicora all but squeaks.
"And when you are done, my ... chain is by the tub. Please re-secure it?" Nicora asks of the doe.
"Of course, my lady," the doe says.
"You also get the Lapis, Nicora," Tulani points out with a whisker-raising grin.
"Thank you," Nicora says as she flexes and rolls her left hand, testing if the tingle was her imagination or not. Looking to Tulani, she asks, "Do you wish to continue on-ship or would you prefer to fly the rest of the way yourself?" The Eeee then blinks. "What do you mean by that?" she asks.
"Maybe they're drawn to you?" Tulani says with a shrug. "While I wouldn't mind stretching my wings, I don't know the route we'd follow or what the risks are. Then again, I don't know what course the Shadowdrake will take or the risks involved in that yet either. Do we want to know where the airship goes more than we want to keep secret where we go?"
Cinnamon continues to massage soothing oils into Nicora's somewhat swollen areas, apparently wanting them less sensitive before replacing the chain. Nicora's tail doesn't even try anything with the bunny, actually behaving itself.
"You can call me Mistress," Nicora teases Cinnamon for a moment and pokes her with a long toe. "I'm most concerned about the Navigator and what risks he poses. Both of us could be in danger around him or her," she remarks after her brief torment of the doe. "Whereas a land and air route may have the possibility of some scaley protection, if you catch my drift."
"Oooo," Tulani goes, and not just because the Fnerf has reached around to massage her chest. "That is certainly a point in favor of such!"
"Is there anything more you wish, Mistress?" Cinnamon says, as she begins threading the chastity chain through the rings.
"I thought you might like that. But, we have to think sensibly, not emotionally. So I want to see or meet this Navigator first," Nicora murmurs, relaxing comfortably in the tub. "Nothing I can think of right now you could satisfy," she teases with a playful smile, "So you may go when we are done."
The doe leaves the sunken tub, and takes her time toweling off. The Fnerf boy rests his chin on Tulani's shoulder to watch, until the Sphynx swats him with her tail so that he goes back to dealing with her flight muscles.
"Sometimes the sensible course is still the most fun one," Tulani claims, and winks.
Nicora isn't helping by stretching and showing off her body to the Fnerf boy while she's dried off. She even flashes him a playful smile and blows him a kiss. "True, it may be, we just have to be sure. Don't worry, I am considering it as a route," Nicora says.
"Do you need help dressing, Mistress?" Cinnamon asks, after slipping back into her robe.
"Are we going out soon?" Nicora asks Tulani before answering the doe. She has an urge to shift herself back to Snowcora briefly to check her tattoos, and cant' do that when dressed or with company.
"It's early yet, unless you want to get something to eat," Tulani notes. "And I still haven't had my butt worked over."
"I could massage you if you want," Nicora offers as she slides out of the tub. "Please dry me off," she tells Cinnamon.
The doe takes a fresh towel and begins patting and rubbing Nicora dry - in a sensual way, it seems, but it could just be Nicora's mood or imagination.
"Or ... do you want your friend to keep working and some privacy with him?" Nicora adds to tease Tulani.
"Bawbi here has pretty strong hands," Tulani points out. "You know how hard my muscles are."
Nicora blinks and leans in to whisper to the doe, "Do you find me attractive...?"
"Do you wish me to, Mistress?" Cinnamon leans in close to whisper - and then kisses Nicora on the mouth.
Nicora's eyes go wide at the sudden kiss. "Ah, heh. Maybe you should take me back to your room," she whispers to the doe, feeling a little weird. "I think I'll leave you alone with the fnerf, Tulani. I'll check back later."
"See.. bunny magnet.." Tulani tells her masseur.
Feeling much more relaxed and possibly fluffier, Tulani and Nicora perch atop a cargo crane. They're blocked from view to those on the deck of the Shadowdrake, but not the Korv's Nest atop the envelope - which is currently unmanned. They both have a very good view of the dock and the path leading to the airship's cradle. The shadow of the mountains is rapidly overtaking the scene as the sun sets.
"My concern is this navigator will be able to sense me, or sense the Light," Nicora whispers to Tulani in Sylvanian. "This creature may be much closer tied to the General, and that may put us at serious risk."
"We're over a hundred paces away," Tulani notes. "The Light is sheathed, and we've wrapped your tail and arm in Zolk - that's supposed to help hide them, according to Mave. I don't see how, but.. in any case, we can always fly off. If this thing is a black-heart zombie, how powerful will it be?"
"Dangerous enough. Granted it will be more ... artificial since it is not made by the real Shadow, but that doesn't lessen its danger," Nicora says as she tilts her head. "And I'm not so much concerned about being sensed right now as I would be on the ship. That's my major concern. I don't think we could defeat the entire crew if it came down to a fight."
"They've done this before," Tulani points out. "Did Orca seem afraid or worried about this guy showing up?"
"Didn't seem too concerned, but he was 'busy' most of the time," Nicora admits as she peers down at the ShadowDrake. "The entire crew is apparently under contract, which I don't know if it is normal or not."
"You usually sign up for a certain length of service when you join a crew," Tulani notes. "It's so critical people don't just abandon the ship in the middle of a route after they've been paid. Long term stuff though - like, years - generally means you're taking black routes. Smuggling, piracy and generally illegal stuff. Breaking your contract means you'll be killed."
"He said he had two years left. We already knew they took the black routes," Nicora notes and shrugs a bit. "How ocmfortable would you be continuing the journey with a direct agent of Amena on board?"
"Not very," Tulani notes. "There'd need to be something more to gain than just transport - like the secret location of the Guardian's base. But.. that's supposed to be in the Forbidden Zone, which means the ship wouldn't be heading straight to it, but to a drop off. For that matter, I don't know what would happen to us in a Forbidden Zone."
"The Forbidden Zone is where the General will be the most powerful. It is not a place we should go unless there is no choice. I have a 'dream' I could try to follow to the lair, but I'd rather lure the General to us," Nicora says as she taps her claws on the perch. "And yes, I agree that unless there is a distinct advantage, such as speed, it may not be worth the risk."
"So lets scope out the guy, and then plan.." Tulani starts to say, but then goes quiet and points. Down below, Gotrekis is walking along with an Eeee wearing robes. Specifically, Mage's Robes, of the Sphere of Chaos. The apparent mage has long, purple hair, but otherwise seems male from this distance.
"A mage. Appropriate for a forbidden zone," Nicora whispers. Her head tilts this way and that as she observes. Other than purple hair, he seems normal.
"Sorry, did you just say a Chaos Mage seemed normal?" Tulani asks. "That's a bad sign right there. They're supposed to be clearly abnormal.."
"Purple hair isn't normal," Nicora points out. "But nothing so far implies he's a Black Heart zombie."
"The prince was alive but 'infected'," Tulani notes. "Maybe sending a zombie is too obvious, or.. maybe the General's influence is range-limited."
"If so, that would be good to know. Limits are important," Nicora remarks. "So, how do we find out more? Should one of us approach him?"
When the mage turns to talk to Gotrekis, there's the telltale glimmer of a held spell hung around his neck.
"Hmm, risky," Tulani notes. "I'd prefer to have him in a situation we could control first, like.. an invitation to tea at the Temple of Inala, from Mave."
"That's a good idea. It would also allow prep time to try and make sure we're 'hidden'. Kaira may have ideas on good ways to do that," Nicora agrees and bobs her head. "Besides, shadow is supposed to be good at obscuring. The invite should be the mage and the Captain, though. Just the mage might seem suspicious."
"Ah, good idea!" Tulani says, and unbuckles the sheathed Light of Nala from her belt. "Here, hold on to this. No sense taking a risk with it. I'll go to the ship and give the invitation if you go back to the temple and get things set up for tomorrow. Plan for the morning - I don't think they'll be waiting too long before launching."
"Hah, I've finally deflowered you," Nicora teases and waves the flower-shaped hilt at Tulani. She grins, winks, and says, "I'll handle the arrangements at the temple. Morning it is. Don't take any crazy risks, spy training or no, please?"
"Oh hardly," Tulani says, and brushes aside her hair. "I'm going to seduce the captain is all. He has the hots for me, you know. He'll drag the Mage along."
"Ah, the lure of the ol' bump and wiggle," Nicora teases. "And yes, I know he does. I can understand why, too. Maybe I'll explain it to you when I'm back to normal and not in this confusing and crazy body." All teasing aside, she does put her hand on Tulani's shoulder. "Be careful, be safe," she repeats seriously this time, "You mean a lot to me." the Eeee then nudges her shoulder, adding, "Go get 'em."
"Of course," Tulani says, and stands as if she's about to do a swan dive from the top of the crane. "If anything goes wrong, I'll try not to freeze or devour your Skreek boyfriend!" she promises, then dives off and snaps her wings out to glide towards the airship.
"I've seen what that skreek eats; If she ate him she would have the runs for weeks," Nicora smirks as Tulani glides off. "Right, time to plot, conspire, and otherwise take this seriously. I just hope Mave goes along with it and ... why that ... Tulani sent me because she knew Mave would just boss her around if we came back together! That sneaky little cat!" The Eeee's wings spread and she falls backwards off her perch, taking to the air and winging back to the Temple.