The carter that hauled the saddles, supplies, two Eeee and a Sphynx out to abandoned camp ground at the base of the mountains knew not to ask questions. Once on their own, Tulani exposed the Light just long enough to ensure she and Nicora were 'fully charged' before sheathing it again to avoid detection and protect against any unknown interactions the sword might have when they grazed the Forbidden Zone.
It was poor Mave who ended up doing most of the work once the other two were in dragon-forms. She had to secure the harnesses to them and shift the supplies, leaving the woman rather tired by the time she strapped herself into Draketraum's saddle and the group finally got underway. The added weight made a difference, as each dragon was carrying the equivalent weight of two adult Eeee. Without the constant charge from the Light, it made for some reduced endurance.
Still, they were able to outpace the slave caravan, which had set up at the strange open-palm plateau. The next campsite was a good distance away, and a bit more mundane - a natural cavern carved out by water. They arrived after dusk, and Mave was glad to be out of the saddle. Tulani 'shrunk' down to her humanoid dragon form, so that she could just slip out of the harness without having to unbuckle it.
Draketraum for the moment hasn't shrunk down at all; he's still in full harness. This also means the bridle, which makes for some 'interesting' talking. "How much further?" he ends up semi-slurring out around the bridle and its bit. Being a dragon, as this trip shows, is not all fun and games al the time.
Mave unfurls a hastily copied map. "We are at the second day's rest," she points out, while rubbing her butt with her other hand. "Since we had a late start today, if we leave by the same time tomorrow we should be able to reach the back of Mt. Inala." She draws her finger along the path, brushing the Valley of Mist Forbidden Zone before going off path, around Mt. Dronnel to Mt. Inala.
"Delightful," Draketraum mutters and settles down on his stomach to rest a short bit before he asks to be shifted at all. "Mm, I should visit Mt. Dronnel sometime. Once we reach Mt. Inala, where will we stay? I thought the temple itself was destroyed," he says around the bit in his mouth.
Before the shadow blocks everything out, Mave notes, "There is an old shrine with a secret tunnel to the main temple. I doubt that the Yodhblakat found the hidden chambers and storerooms, since I don't recall seeing any of the contents among their loot."
"Oh good, I can claim all the loot for myself. I've discovered I rather like jewelry," Draketraum teases Mave. And to make matters worse, he licks her cheek. Wetly.
Kaira apparently thinks of energy conservation, since the shadow reduces Draketraum to.. Draketraum, bipedal version, to match Tulani. The harness hangs loose over him now.
Draketraum shakes his head, which easily dislodges the bridle. As for the rest of the harness, a shimmy of his body gets the rest to slide off. "It's so good to get that off," he says with a sigh of relief. "You're lucky you don't have to wear the head-harness. It's uncomfortable and she tugs on it," he tells Tulani and thumbs towards Mave.
"Well, you're welcome to carry the supplies for the next leg if you want," Tulani teases as she unpacks some of said supplies, including a pound of cured meat. Mave unpacks as well - first and foremost, a pillow for her to sit on.
"Not that I don't like you riding me," Draketraum says as an aside to Mave, "There are just more fun ways." It's his turn to unpack supplies and well, all he grabs is some food too. For some reason being scaled makes clothing a low priority.
"Good point," Mave notes. "I hope you can lie on your back.."
"Reasonably well. I don't have spines, just a mane," Draketraum notes as he sits down with a portion of the food and gnaws away on it. Dignity here doesn't matter too much, he's hungry.
Tulani sneaks a bite from the piece Draketraum is gnawing on, just because. Mave actually sets out a bedroll and gets a fire started to warm up the cave.
"How are you doing, Mave?" Draketraum asks once some of the hunger is satiated for now. Meanwhile, his tail seems to mysteriously snap Tulani's backside; perhaps in retaliation for food theft.
"I've not gotten soft, if you are worried," the Yodhinala replies. The fire is going, and she sits next to it and unpacks her pipe. "The flight was a bit chilly, from the wind, but no worse than winter on the mountain."
"I am more worried about how you are feeling. You are returning to your home, which was destroyed," Draketraum explains. "And I'm returning to deal with family matters, and to face the fates it seems the Kindly Ones are arranging for me. Frankly, I'm worried and not feeling very good."
"I like the cooler air," Tulani notes with a grin. She also rummages through the supplies a bit to find a canteen to guzzle from.
Draketraum spits a small burst of fire over Tulani's head. "Speak for yourself," he says with a smirk.
The dragoness ducks in alarm, and nearly spits out her mouthful of water. Swallowing, she claims, "Well, I'm plenty warm now, you know."
"And all without borrowing my rings," Draketraum quips.
"Where are your rings?" Tulani purrs, eyeing Draketraum's packs.
"In a safe place," Draketraum answers as he goes to could around Mave.
"I'm curious about how they affect you as well," Mave notes, blowing a smoke-ring.
The Yodh strokes the dragon's mane, grinning.
"They make me, well, errect," Draketraum says. "And if I were female and dragon, I would be, well, sex-crazed."
"Ah, you used to have difficulties being male again after being female for a time," Mave notes. "The gold helps, or is that no longer an issue?"
"The gold helps, yes," Draketraum agrees. "It accelerates things."
"I think the holes for the rings still exist on this body. If you really want to see, I could get the rings and let you insert them," Draketraum offers.
"So it is a challenge without the gold?" Mave asks.
"It can be. I have a hard time being, well, male for some time after the shift," Draketraum admits. "At least male in that way."
"I'm sure I can do it without gold," Mave claims.
"Can I play with the rings then?" Tulani asks.
"Maybe," Draketraum notes. He then eyes Tulani and says, "No, because you have little self control. I know what they'll do to a female."
Tulani pouts. Or tries to - dragon lips aren't really suited to it.
"You can play with me later. I'll even put the rings back in, just for you," Draketraum promises.
"Once the cave warms up a bit more, I will show that Inala is as effective as gold," Mave notes.
"So you're going to use magic?" Draketraum asks as he just relaxes by the fire for the moment. Lounging seems a natural state for this body. Lounging, eating, or rampaging, really.
The silver dragoness slinks over and lays on her side next to the fire, opposite the Eeee and drake. "Oooo," she coos, "That will be fun!"
"The Kindly Ones don't use magic, they perform miracles," Mave points out. "And I am skilled, as you know. I'm sure I can get you to perform."
Draketraum chuckles a bit at that. "But I'm also rather large; dragons are you know," he claims. "It might not be easy, and might hurt you."
"You are not so much bigger now than you usually are," the Eeee claims, and blows smoke right into Draketraum's nose.
"In certain areas I am," Draketraum claims just before inhaling the smoke.
Whatever Mave is smoking, it makes Draketraum's head buzz for a moment.
Draketruam rumbles for a moment. "Nice," he murmurs, probably in response to the smoke. "I hope you'll share more."
"Lie on your back then," Mave says, and begins shedding her clothes. She's wearing more than usual.
Draketraum stretches out, muscles rippling and a few joints popping. Rolling onto his back is a bit awkward, the slope isn't quite built for it ... and it feels vulnerable in an odd, instinctual way. But still, the two here are no threat.
At least, not threats in the usual sense. Mave straddles the dragon, explores his scales with her fingertips, while stiff puffing on her pipe. She even blows smoke over Draketraum's chest, causing the tingle when she rubs on the scales.
"What is in that?" Draketraum asks as he just, well, relaxes. The scales do deaden the touch a bit, but he can still feel it. He lets his eyes droop closed and for now ... just enjoys the massaging attention.
The Eeee is thorough, finding the places where the dragon is most and least sensitive, and blowing the tantalizing smoke into his nose every so often. Then she takes a deep pull on the pipe before licking the ring-holes.
The drake can't help himself and inhales the smoke each time Mave decides to 'give' him some. He has to admit, is is feeling pretty good at this point and well, the licking ... that feels nice. It does seem to 'stir' a few things.
Eventually, Mave succeeds in teasing things out.. although there are a few times Draketraum is sure there's a second tongue, and if he opens his eyes he'll find Tulani getting her own licks in. And despite the larger anatomy, Mave doesn't have trouble accommodating it.
And in a true male way, he lies there and enjoys it immensely for a bit; it's like having a harem after all. When things are finally turned fully on, though ... he's much more active. And when Mave shows she can accommodate, he's quite willing to test her limits in that respect! And after Mave, well, the rings go back in and it's Tulani's turn!
Tulani isn't exactly waiting, as she keeps nipping at Draketraum or playing with his tail while he's busy with Mave. Maybe she doesn't need the gold.. but will probably want it anyway! Mave manages to handle Draketraum without losing her pipe (she's got strong jaws) despite the shaking and rocking and all.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), Draketraum is determined to wear Mave out while 'entertaining' Tulani with whatever part he can for the time being. "I told you, you should get some of your own," he rumble-teases to Tulani.
"I'd never get anything done then," Tulani counters.
"But you would also enjoy every moment of your life," Draketraum counter-counters. "One of the best things I ever did was go ahead and ... experiment!"
Mave paces herself. She knows exactly how to take her pleasure, and is certainly ahead of Draketraum if anyone was keeping score. But she is worn from the long flight and effort of saddling the dragons, and is beginning to wane.
"Always an honor to serve your children, Goddess Inala," Draketraum thinks as he 'follows' Mave's lead in the effort. And perhaps Mave is feeling a bit nervous about arriving tomorrow, because this is the first time in a while she's actively solicited any attention from him. Still, he does have firsthand experience how good it can feel thanks to having some amazing lovers, including an albino Eeee ... so he's trying to make sure he's good enough to actually satisfy Mave.
Finally, Mave takes the spent pipe from her mouth, and slows her own motions to a stop. As she lays across the dragon-man, she says, "See? I told you I wouldn't need gold."
And Draketraum holes an 'impaled' Eeee. He even takes advantage of Mave speaking by taking the pipe and taking a long drag from it. "You've proven me wrong," he rumbles in reply and grins toothily. "It's just terrible to be wrong."
"At least my butt isn't still sore from this ride," the Yodhinala notes.
"So where are the rings?" Tulani asks, already over by the packs.
"I could always make it sore," Draketraum rumbles a bit ... evilly.
"You will likely do that for the final leg of our journey anyway," Mave points out. "Unless I use the pillow on the saddle.."
Drakertraum rolls his head to the side and eyes Tulani. "Wrapped up and tucked in Mave's belongings," he claims. "A place you wouldn't normally look."
A silvery nose pokes through the Eeee's belongings then, apparently trying to sniff out the gold.. and coming out with a wrapped bundle in her teeth.
"Mave can put them back in me," Draketraum suggests then leans up and licks Mave's tummy.
"Make me do all the work, hmmm?" Mave notes, but slides off to take the bundle from Tulani. "I'll have to remove them again too.. when I feel like it."
"It's not like they lock so I'm prisoner to them," Draketraum points out as he continues to lounge and looks smug about it.
Ever the experimenter, Mave first slips the rings onto her fingers, and runs her hand over Draketraum's sensitive areas to check for reactions. It causes the dragon to feel very warm in places.
And oh, how the reaction is. Things very much firm up again and the drake literally growls from the sensations, to the point of baring very sharp-looking teeth.
Mave handles him with the be-ringed fingers for a moment, before relenting and removing them so they can be inserted back into their holes.
"You play dangerously," Draketraum growls at the Eeee. Each time a ring slides into its spot he twitches and rumbles. But when the one that normally rests in the Orb of Inala is slid into place ... the poor ceiling gets a brief bath of fire!
A moment later, the view of the ceiling is blocked as Tulani pounces and pins the drake's arms, rubbing against him to feel the gold and biting his throat in a show of dominance.
And ... Draketraum permits Tulani to take the dominant roll this time. Well, except for the part where he makes sure their bodies join (and it's a bit violent when it happens), to make sure that gold is in the most ideal place it can be.
The silver dragon takes on the aggressive role, at least for the first bout. Without the Light providing the stamina boost, Tulani eventually slows and lets the drake take over.
And when Tulani shows any sign of weakness, She's forcefully slammed onto her back! And now it's his weight and strength holding her down as he has his way! And with that gold, well, it's a very long time. And well, Mave is probably getting quite the show!
The Eeee is indeed keeping a close watch - although mainly it seems to be so that she can move things out of the way before they can be squashed.
Tulani growls and puts up mock resistance, but is under the spell of the gold still.
And this is also probably why dragons rarely have nice furniture. Any actual lust moments and well, it would be obliterated. It all feels good and Draketraum is intent on keeping it up until Tulani shows some desire to slow; until then ... biting, scratching, and wrestling echoes in the cave.
Ever competitive, Tulani is determined to not be the first one to tire out (which is probably why she's going with the submissive position), figuring Draketraum has to be a little worn out from Mave.
And perhaps Tulani was wise because the gold doesn't work quite as strongly on him, and Mave did spend considerable time with him. Coupled with fighting with her ... he does begin to slow down. The drake is actually feeling tired.
Seeing her chance, Tulani grapples with Draketraum and rolls him to the side, so that they're both on their side now. "Going to cuddle till dawn?" she asks, only teasing a little.
Draketraum's answer to that is to /lick/ Tulani's nose and then curl in with her to cuddle for the night. "/Probably the last time I'll ever enjoy that again. Once the Kindly Ones get a hold of me, I'll probably be a mess. I already know Gorphat doesn't want me enjoying this," the drake thinks as he settles in for the night. "/And Babel is only a day away./"
The poor Drake's left foreclaw twitches when he thinks of Gorphat, too.
By the following evening, the travelers land on Mt. Inala, next to an ancient, overgrown shrine. Both Tulani and Draketraum felt the Forbidden Zone when they passed close, but there wasn't a strong reaction - just an awareness. This time, the dragon forms are left behind after landing, and Tulani and Nicora need to get dressed and the supplies repacked to be carried. Mave brushes some of the overgrowth away, revealing that the shrine was originally to Dinala.
One of the first things Nicora does after shifting back is to re-insert all her jewelry. It's gotten to the point that time without it makes her feel so naked. It's also a good distraction as reinserting it is slightly uncomfortable for a few seconds as the holes stretch a bit. It gives her a moment to think about something other than the disturbing sensations when they passed near the forbidden zone. It also helps keep her from thinking about that she's near the city where all her nightmares began. Still, her stomach seems to remember and feels like it's squirming in unease. So as she's dressing, she rubs it a bit ... and during that decides to feel around for that gem that appeared on Snowcora.
There's nothing solid, just.. a little bulge, perhaps, in about the same place. It could just be a bruise though.
"In the back of the shrine is the Tunnel of Love," Mave explains, "which leads to the main temple grounds."
Tulani carries the harnesses inside after repacking things into backpacks. "Seriously?" she asks Mave.
"Dinala means Love in Babelite," the Yodh points out.
Nicora rubs that spot again, then eyes the passage. "The implications of that name are ... disturbing," she notes, but grins anyway. "I don't mind going into a tunnel of love. Nor having someone in mine..."
"It was used as part of the initiation rituals of the Yodh, in ancient days," Mave notes, and lights her lamp when they're ready to continue. The depiction of Dinala carved into the walls looks.. pretty much just like Inala.
"How was it used?" Nicora asks. "And, well, should I be Snowcora going in here?"
"It is no longer used, since the Yodhinala are born into the order," Mave notes, heading up the ancient carved stairs. The ceiling is rather low, brushing the tops of the ears. "It was used as part of a ritual of rebirth."
"And here i was hoping to go through it," Nicora notes, bemused. She shrugs to Tulani, then follows up and after Mave. As she walks, she does focus on how she feels and if anything feels any different as they go into the temple.
It may be more disturbing that nothing is felt as they ascend the tunnel, finally exiting through another overgrown opening - this one a cave, next to a dried up pond in one of the gardens behind the temple. Even in partial ruin, the Temple of Inala is impressive, sporting two domes and several wings. From above, it would probably resemble a spread-limbed female form. A lot of the polished marble facing has been pried away, but plenty remains, and there are signs of fire damage. The open pavilions are bare to the elements now though.
Nicora finds this all strangely sad to see. "It was beautiful once," she thinks, "I wish I could have seen it before it was destroyed." Nevermind the things done here were a bit ... extreme. She looks around in silence for a bit. "I'm sorry, Yodhinala Mave," she finally says. Sorry for what is left unsaid.
"It is not all from the Yodhblakat raid," Mave notes, looking around. "The city dwellers must have finished the looting. Let us see what remains."
"Still, it was your home. I know how it feels to lose a home," Nicora says softly as she continues to follow Mave into the ruins.
"Like me, it has survived beyond it's allotted time," Mave notes, entering between two pillars. There are tracks and a few frames left to show where panels could slide to seal the gaps. There are bits of broken furniture and other things too damaged to be worth stealing. What glory remains is impressed into the walls themselves: frescoes and mosaics of Inala and her blessings of children and pleasure. Mave pauses before one of them, depicting Inala surrounded by books and scrolls to represent the lust for knowledge, just as others depicted odd variations of lust and pleasure involving music, combat, art and flower arranging.
"I've never seen art so.. big," Tulani notes, as the images take up entire walls.
"If that were true, you wouldn't be here anymore. Sunala would have come for you," Nicora points out. Nicora draws up behind Mabe and looks over the panel ... then she thinks of something and 'pings' it, listening for any loose bits that may reveal a hidden latch.
To be hidden in a land of Eeee also means to be soundproofed. Still, Mave does press in on certain tiles - the end of a scroll, a book on alchemy, and random seeming symbols adorning the mosaic. Only on the last one is there a sound of a catch being released further down the hall.
"Thought so. Not surprising," Nicora notes, "But I would have picked one of the pleasure ones instead. This one stands out to much; makes it an obvious lock-spot."
"They are all lock spots," Mave notes. "But only the Yodh involved with the depicted pleasure know the proper sequence." She leads the way to where a bare patch of wall has suddenly swung out on a central swivel. She heads through the opening and gestures for the others to follow.
Nicora looks to Tulani, shrugs a bit, and follows after Mave. "Ah, well, that makes sense. Keeper of that mystery," she mutters.
The wall is shut behind them before Mave goes forward, leading the way down a spiraling set of stone stairs in what seems like an underground tower. At the bottom, Mave begins lighting other lamps, illuminating a large chamber that seems half storeroom and half laboratory. "This is my home," she notes.
"It .. isn't what I expected," Nicora admits as she breaks away to walk in a circle to sound out and get a look at the chamber. "Is this where we shall be staying, or do we need to find alternate quarters? I am not a Yodhinala, so staying here might be considered sacrilege."
"Inala lives in her Daughters, and I am the only one here.. but she doesn't live in me now," Mave says. "This place is no longer a temple, so there is no issue with you staying. Besides, even at its height, the Temple hosted many guests."
Nicora casts a sidelong look at Mave. "Right, well, I'll go make myself a bed and roost," she tells the Yodhinala and goes to do exactly that; find a privateish corner and clear it out a bit and set up a place to 'live' for a bit. "I knew I would hate coming back to Babel. I was right," she thinks grimly. "There is no hope left in this city. Maybe I should just let it die."
"It will be a living Temple again, though," Mave insists, as she opens a crate and removes some dusty old tomes.
"It will need work," Tulani says, honestly. "Are the other Temples like this?"
"Most are probably worse. Like Gorphat's. I think only Sunala's temple is active much these days," Nicora explains as she moves one of the crates a bit.
"Few of the Yodh remain in their Temples, save for those of Rephath and Sunala. But other orders have been without temples for centuries, and still survive in hiding. So too do the Yodhinala and others," Mave claims.
"Of course Blakat's temple looked worse than this when it was active I suspect," Nicora muses, then shrugs.
"It was not a very clean place," Mave confirms. She finds cushions and tapestries to use for bedding if needed. "When will you be going to the Temple of Gorphat, Nicora?" she asks.
"Probably soon. I have to deliver Phlagaea's gift there," Nicora says as she rubs the back of her left hand, absently checking for a bump. "I'm not looking forward to it, but it must be done."
"What are your concerns, then?" Mave asks, coming over to see what Nicora is doing.
"Well, if the Yodh aren't there, who knows what has taken residence?" Nicora points out as she lines up some crates to make a makeshift platform bed. "And worse, Gorphat herself has taken interest in me. I think she waits for me there. What fate she has planned for me I do not know, but I cannot imagine it to be pleasant."
"I'm sure you are capable of dealing with such things," Mave says, and gives Nicora a kiss on the forehead.
"Well, I have survived her gifts so far," Nicora says and shrugs again. "Still, doesn't mean I'm looking for it. I wish I were in Rephidim with Mordecai right now. It would be more enjoyable than this dying city." She goes to grab a few pillows and a tapestry to finish off her bed.
"Or even better, back home with Rosalind and helping her through her pregnancy," Nicora comments rather grimly. "Being near the city reminds me how much I don't like being here."
"I grew up here," Mave notes. "Am I so horrible?"
"The honest answer to that is, you were. I still remember what you tried to do in the Well," Nicora remarks rather pointedly. "Being away from here changed you, possibly for the better."
"I found a new purpose," Mave admits.
"I know where some decent bars are here," Tulani claims. "Fnerf bars, mostly."
"The only memories I have of Babel is watching people die, having to carry out the bodies of children used to raid and bomb the Tower, to being abandoned by my 'friends', to having one of them even try to kill me. Furthermore, I know I'm probably going to die here stopping that monster out in the forbidden zone. But I really have no choice in that; she has to be stopped or my unborn children have no future at all. So tell me, Mave, what reason do I have to be glad to be here?" Nicora asks pointedly, turning and facing the Yodhinala while leaning back on a crate. "Because when my end comes, no one in this city will mourn my passing. I know heroes are supposed to be altruistic and do things for the 'greater good' and all that. But honestly? That just sucks Dagh's sweaty privates."
"If things play out according to the Sisters' plans, you will see your children being born," Mave claims.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Nicora says. "All this city does is remind me of what a stupid, optimistic, person I used to be; believing that there is something good in everyone. Babel stuck its knife well and good into my back and I can still feel it twist." As she says this her right hand thrusts forward violently, then turns in emphasis.
"Perhaps it is time to change all of that," Mave suggests. "You say I've changed for the better, after all."
"One person can't change the world," Nicora says. "That was the foolish belief of a young Eeee. It died with the kid he watched die in the Tower from a suicide bomb."
"Maybe you just weren't ready then," Mave suggests, and takes Nicora's right hand. "You've changed too."
"Oh yes, I've become just a lovely person who hides in other bodies because I see a failure when I look in a mirror," Nicora says as she pulls her right hand back. "If you'll excuse me, I think I want to go sit out amongst the ruins above with the silence and the dead. I won't condemn you both to my presence or my mood."
"Be careful," Mave says. Tulani also looks a bit concerned.
"The last people that dared to accost me in this city I almost killed. I'll be fine," Nicora says as she turns and heads back out they way they came, back to the temple proper.
A bit of wandering leads Nicora to the main shrine, beneath a marble dome. An altar is at one end, engraved with images of Inala. Stone braziers are cold and dark, but the Procession shines down through a circular opening at the top of the dome. Frescoes depict many of the same subjects as those in the halls, but here they've crumbled a bit, often revealing older images beneath them.
Nicora walks with her hands stuffed in the sleeves of her robes and more often than not looking down. Her ears will alert her to any real danger, after all. All she can think about is the dead savanite child in the Tower; or the idiot Autumn-Storm accusing her of this and that; or when Nicora tried to kill her. All people she believed that if she showed them a better way would somehow improve. "You were an idiot then," she finally says out loud as she kicks a small rock that goes clunking off one of the old braziers. "Stupid," she adds, her voice growing louder and tinged with anger. "I failed and people died. People who did not deserve to die, while the ones that did continue on. There is no justice; it's all just about money and power. It's all pointless because in the end this is all there is." She spins about, her hands pointing to the decaying ruins. "Finality. This is the heart of Babel. Right here. A decaying, rotting, husk."
"And at its center, an idiot," Nicora finishes and lowers her hands. "A failure."