There wasn't a soul to be seen on Mt. Gorphat to complain as Nicora flew over and entered the disused Temple. The sound of dripping water echoes within, from multiple sources, but the air doesn't smell dangerous at least.
Nicora didn't particularly want to come, given the possible implications of entering a place sacred to a terrifying and disturbing Goddess ... but she had made Phlagaea the promise and it is best to get it over with. She had the common sense to come dressed in non-descript clothing; nothing praising any Goddess in other words. Her gait is slow and halting as she slowly walks towards that nasty altar. At her side is a pouch containing the doll Phlagaea had made, and on the other side is her sheathed dagger. Each step comes with flicking and twisting ears as she listens for anything else still living here. "Just clear a spot on the altar, leave the gift ... and run..." she thinks.
Few Chibix stir and squeak as their lair is invaded, but that's the extent of their action. Maybe being in the Temple of Gorphat, they've absorbed a bit of Her slothful nature. There are plenty of loose bits of masonry from the crumbling arches that can be used to scrape away the gunk, at least.
And Nicora is thankful for that. She grabs one of the longer, flat pieces and goes about the disgusting task of scraping the altar clean. "You owe me for this, Phlagaea," she thinks.
It is certainly a unique, and fragrant experience, but eventually she manages to clear a useable space on the altar without having to touch any of it.
Unable to find anything else to delay this unpleasant experience, Nicora finally extracts the fur-doll from her side pouch. She eyes it critically for the moment, wondering if it's still back to green, or something else has happened.
It remains the same mouse-brown as when it was cut. The little bead eyes are still green, though.
While chewing her lower lip, Nicora places the disturbing (and ugly) doll on the altar. She also briefly kneels down on one knee and says, "Goddess Gorphat, I give to you the offering from your devoted daughter, Phlagaea. Even distant, she still loves you with all her heart. May you accept it and her devotion." And after that's said, Nicora rises, thinking, "Time to leave. Quickly."
Before she can finish rising, the little doll bursts into green flame, and releases a noxious cloud that hits the Eeee right in the face. Aside from the immense nasal irritation it causes, it also makes her feel extremely dizzy. Nicora feels as if she's about to black out from it!
Nicora clamps her hand over her nose and tries to not breath as she tries to backpedal away from the altar. "Bad, bad, bad! Last time you felt dizzy her demon raped you!" she thinks dizzily.
Covering her nose comes just a bit too late, as the already dark temple becomes even darker, because the darkness is inside Nicora's head. She's only barely aware of falling to the floor.. and then, there's light..
Alptraum feels suddenly clear headed, with the irritation gone. He's not even flat out on the floor, merely kneeling.. and wearing some archaic looking clothing, similar to a kilt and overlapping shoulder sashes.
After the bought of confusion at suddenly becoming male again, Alptraum looks about this strange place. "Wow, it's ... nice here. Very nice," he finds himself thinking. "Surely this is not the same temple." He's also overtly aware of the others in the room, so tries to not make any noise as he rises back to his feet to get a better look at this ... 'dress' he's wearing.
And he must really be out of it because, it's only after he's on his feet he realizes the people are actually just a painting. "I'm losing it," the Eeee mutters and rubs his head with his left hand. This also gives him a chance to steal a look at it.
The design may be simple, but the material is good quality cotton, even if it's all dyed black. His left hand looks.. normal. As does his right. That's also when he notices that he doesn't have the spirit dagger with him.
Alptraum then checks his hair to see if it's, well, white. "Where am I?" he asks the room as he approaches the fresco. He decides that messing with the offerings is usually a bad idea, so resisits.
"All life, big or small, matters. The world isn't fair, and doesn't need to be. But, when you can make a difference, you should. Helping one person, ever so small, can make a difference. Touching another's life leaves an impact," rattles a somewhat wet sounding voice from behind him. "Is that still the case, Barsunala?"
Alptraum rubs his forehead with his thumb. "It's not fair to use the beliefs of someone young and naive against them some years later," he comments and sighs. "I know that part of me no longer believes that. How could it after everything that's happened?" he asks. "But then the question of 'Why are you here' comes back to me, doesn't it? Yes, touching another's life does leave an impact; that I can agree with, even now. I've seen it. But, can one person be enough to turn the fate of something larger?" Again he shrugs. "I don't know anymore."
"That man knew," the voice says, and Alptraum can tell it is referring to the man in the fresco. "He believed all of it. He loved us, and Babel, and fought to protect it."
"The original Sabbaoth," Alptraum deduces as he looks to the figure in the painting. "Someone I know nothing about. Surely he had greater origins than someone like ... me. A hero isn't someone who used to stick kyootecumber-soaked socks down the backs of a friend's pants."
"History is a fuzzy thing for beings like us, who are more affected by myth and legend," Gorphat claims from behind the bat. "I cannot say what Dronnel's origins were. I'm not sure it mattered. At a time when the Kindly Ones had no defenses, he stepped up and defended us and united Babel."
Alptraum looks over his shoulder. "Babel must have been different then. The Babel of today .. it tried to be united by Thath; though his tactics are ... not what I would have chosen," he says. "The elite of this city today don't want it united as it takes away their power."
Gorphat sits at the base of an arch, tufts of green fur visible through stained and soiled bandages. "Babel was smaller then. Diphath's army was too much for any one House to handle. She would have taken Babel, one section at a time. We were kinder back then, and had no power to stop her. Dronnel did, though. He drove her out, and made Babel a unified power. But Diphath just.. became subtle. Or rather, the Goddess behind her did. She corrupted the Sisters, and then Babel itself."
Alptraum, maybe in a bought of insanity, actually walks over and sits down beside Gorphat. He even looks her in the eyes. "I ... know plenty of what the Goddess behind her, Amena, is like. I've ... seen her before. I've seen what she has done to some lands. I grew up in a land she nearly destroyed," he says. "Whether I can stop her I don't know. But, I know I have to try. Even if it does kill me, I have to try. Why? Because as angry as I feel at at times, as much as it feels hopeless at times, it's just who I am in my heart. If I save a few, well ... hey, maybe I can make the world my younger self once believed in real."
Clouded, milky green eyes gaze at Alptraum, and there's a rattle in Gorphat's breathing. "The Kindly Ones are a product of our people. And even the highest-minded Eeee can slip. Dronnel's son, the next Sabaoth, passed all of the tests, earned the title and position.. but in his later days, Amenala's voice turned him against us. Why did we not grant him immortality? Was it because we feared his power? Things like that. So he listened to her, accepted the dark knowledge to keep him alive. And we Sisters fell. The story speaks of Bael, but you know our creator to be Nala. Vael was Rinala, originally. And We were tricked, thinking Her dead. So when Amenala spoke to us with Her voice, we turned on Nala. Became the Seven Sisters you know now. All to support the Sabaoth. To make of him a shining example for others to emulate."
"The problem with immortality is stagnation. Death is the price for progress," Alptraum says, "At least it is what I believe of it. And after having met many immortals now ... it seems even more true. If you do not have a limit of time, what motivation is there to do anything?" Again Alptraum shrugs. "And even as corrupted as the Sisters are, and please forgive me for saying that, I have still seen good aspects to you. As much pain as you've inflicted on me, for example, it did teach me what I could endure and how to accept the body I had. With Repath, I have still seen some actual justice. Blakat ... ah, honestly I find humor. And Sunala ... my Mother. she is ... rational and fair."
"Plus, you're all still beautiful," Alptraum adds to that. "Phlagaea, who was a close image of You, I always thought of as beautiful."
"That is why you are here, Alptraum," Gorphat says. "You find beauty in us, despite how far we've fallen. You find beauty in monsters. Only you can become the true Sabaoth, and save us. Thath knew what was at stake when he had the Yodh attacked. We were a disease on Babel, and he at least become stronger for it and fought it. But he cannot defeat Diphath's new disciple. A thousand years of corruption has made sure the nobles will lean towards her instead of him."
"They're hardly going to lean toward an Eeee he sired, either," Alptraum points out and raises a finger. "As for monsters ... it's an odd label. I've always tried to look beyond the exterior and see the soul, so to speak. It hasn't always worked, but a few times I found something worth saving within worn trappings." At that he actually reaches over and curls one of Gorphat's bandages around his finger. "You terrify me, and yet I have sought to be close to you. Even when I knew the result would be suffering."
"Suffering? I don't make people suffer," Gorphat claims, and leans her head on Alptraum's shoulder.. making it immediately feel damp and clammy. "I make people stronger. I give them what they need, just as I did when I was Gephesa. I've only gone from giving to inflicting. The end is the same."
"Well, what you gave my ... female body ... was not remotely pleasant. My cycles are agony," Alptraum notes as he hesitantly actually puts his arm around the disturbing Goddess, "And after sex is unpleasant too. Still, I have to thank you for it. It did teach me how to be creative in finding ... relief."
"I gave you what you asked for," Gorphat says. "And now that you have learned what you needed, they are no longer necessary. But I will give you one more gift.."
"I was going to ask you to leave them," Alptraum admits in spite of himself. "They help remind me of reasons to return to this form too when it is over. Women have to deal with a lot more than men." The Eee the pauses and swallows before asking, "Another gift...?"
"A perfect gift," Gorphat purrs (well, gurgles). "One that you want. One that will strengthen your bond to my beloved Phlagaea. When she gives birth, you will feel her experience."
Alptraum blinks a few times. "I will go intolabor with her and feel as though I am giving birth?" he stammers weakly. "I won't .. feel pregnant will I? Get all .. plump?"
"No, nothing like that," Gorphat says. "But you will appreciate and understand what she goes through in order to bear your children. It will not matter which form you hold at the time, either."
Alptraum actually bites his lip and thinks. "You're right. I do what that gift," he admits surprisingly. "It's ... only fair. I should share the effort to bear my children." He also rubs a bit at the back of his neck, thinking. "Will you also leave me with the other two gifts? They are more frequent and, well ... I think of you when they make themselves known. Or perhaps a new one to bring us closer together instead of those." He smiles weakly at that, adding, "I want to be close to you, Gorphat." And then in a definite act of insanity, he cups his hand under her chin and kisses her, on the lips, deeply.
Her breath and lips taste.. well, best not to dwell on it. "Dronnel was my lover," Gorphat notes, flicking her eyes to the fresco. "Is that also your wish?"
"I've been both your Daughter and Your Son's lover," Alptraum answers simply. "And you have made me your Shrine Maiden. So, how could I not also wish to be your lover? Whether I wear this form, your maiden's form, or that of Nicora, I would be honored to be your lover, if you will have me. Your blessings have made me think often of you ... and come to desire you." It does seem he remembers Vorgulremik's advice when dealing with scary deities ... suck up.
The goddess grins (drooling a little), and says, "Unwrap me then."
And though he's now scared as hell, Alptraum seeks out the start of Gorphat's bandages and slowly and carefully unwraps the green Eeee. It's sort of like getting a gift you don't really want because you know it's going to be terrible inside, yet he does a remarkable job of not making any outward signs of this, even though he expects to find sores, patchy skin, and who knows what else under those bandages.
While the bandages themselves are horrific and sticky, once they're pulled away the exposed flesh is.. perfectly fine. The bright, vibrant green of Phlagaea's fur.. although the longer its exposed the more it starts to fade into a lighter tan.
And the unwrapping continues. Steeling himself, Alptraum leans in and begins to kiss all over Gorphat's exposed body as he works. He even licks her now and then.
There's no disturbing taste or texture now. Once the bandages are off, it's as if Gorphat herself is peeled away with them, leaving Gephesa, the woman in the painting - the Goddess of Healing. "It has been a very long time for me," she whispers, her voice sounding pleasant.
"Then just lie back and I'll take care of everything," Alptraum whispers in her ear as he rises, then picks her up. Where he goes is obvious, he takes her to the altar and lays her upon it. It's there that he sheds his own clothing and circles the altar, tracing his hand over her body.
She really is beautiful, as only a goddess can be. "You're going to tease me?" she asks. "There is still more I have in store for you as Gorphat."
"I willingly accept what Gorphat will do to me, as the challenges do make me stronger. I want her to temper me into her perfect maiden, after all," Alptraum says, perhaps a little lost in her beauty to be rational. And with that, Alptraum says no more because he's too busy. The first part is all making love to this Goddess with only his lips and tongue. It's ... thorough as he kisses and tastes her everywhere. It's some time before he's brave enough, and feeling strong enough ... that he slides upon the alter with her and their bodies join.
Gephesa is not Inala, but then She's also a goddess of health and healing. Which means the more Alptraum remains in contact with her, the more energy he seems to have. It's heady and intoxicating, like making love to the Light of Nala might be. And while it may have been 'a while' the goddess isn't virginal in her knowledge. As the patron of doctors, she's probably more aware of Alptraum's body than he is, and shows it.
"Okay, so this is ... rather nice. Not so bad after all," Alptraum thinks in the short breaks with this Goddess. He lets her lead when she seems to with to, but otherwise tries to lead and listen to her cues to make sure that this is enjoyable for her, after so long. It's certainly better than making love to Hosheb!
Of course, about midway through, Alptraum feels a change. His skin tingles, in patterns - not of the recent tattoos, but something older. Green marks begin to appear on him; the same ones that Phlagaea painted and that the unfortunate Bargorphat in Zannara had.
Alptraum twitches. "What is this?" he asks in whisper, worry coming because of the recognition of those marks and where he had seen them before. The poor Bargorphat...
"You did this for Phlagaea," Gephesa points out.. and is starting to look a bit green. Once the Bargorphat symbols are complete (including, Alptraum is sure, in places unmentionable) so to has Gephesa become Gorphat, in all her somewhat squishy, loose and oozy glory.
"I'm in trouble," Alptraum thinks as he kisses Gorphat again, since he did pledge to be her lover. Nor does he stop making love to her, but he does pay attention if it's ... uncomfortable. He remembers the poor Bargorphat and the pain it seemed to have when it mated.
That certainly begins to become apparent, but just as the Bargorphat lessened the impact of Gorphat's blessing then, the body of Gorphat now lessens the pain enough that it's still pleasurable - if Alptraum doesn't breath in too deeply. But Gorphat does require some discomfort in other to enjoy herself, after all.
"Thank you for your gifts," Alptraum murmurs to her once he discovers the discomfort is ... manageable. "You have control over what forms I wear, don't you?" he then asks as he focuses on trying to make sure Gorphat is enjoying herself. Right now that's more important than if he's getting any pleasure. He's fairly certain that if the markings below are like Her son's ... he will be denied release.
"Oh yes, this is my realm after all," Gorphat gurgles, and pulls Alptraum's head down to her breast. She's still letting him do almost all the work, naturally, where Gephesa had been a bit more interactive. "You must earn your release."
Alptraum soon finds himself suckling on Gorphat while he continues to make love to her. It's, in some ways, no worse than making love to Mordecai was; he was disturbing to touch at first too. His focus now is on what sounds She makes ... and adjusting what he does when it sounds like she's enjoying it more. It also helps keep him from thinking about part of him being inside her body.
The sounds Gorphat makes.. well, they're certainly biological and few of them do come from her throat. She oozes something that isn't quite milk.. but effort is rewarded, as it lessens some of Alptraum's discomfort.
He really tries to not think about the taste right now. Instead he thinks of all the enjoyable things he has done along the way here and the people he has grown 'close' to. He draws from how Mordecai used Snow's body during the tattooing, how to keep moving and shifting, as well as rubbing, suckling, and licking, to keep the target in the throes of pleasure.
Finally, Gorphat allows Alptraum his release - and what a relief it is. "I am impressed," she tells him, and licks his forehead.
Alptraum lets out a huge sigh when the relief finally comes. "Nicora or your Maiden would also impress you," he murmurs as he rests a bit to recover (and breathes through his mouth). "I can make love to you in any form."
"You've proven yourself," Gorphat says. "Now, you will learn more of my other gift to you." She takes Alptraum's left hand, and he feels a bit of pain as the fur falls away and the skin bulges and hardens along the lines of the tattoos, mimicking the nature of his right hand. A curved spike - a stinger - also emerges from behind the wrist, and the glowing green orb near it. "Hosheb's gift, this half."
Alptraum's jaw clenches as the pain ripples through his left forearm. He tries to hold it still while not panicing that there is a stinger sticking out of it. He also tests to see if that hand still works by moving those fingers. "Yes, you had your ... pet disfigure me," he says nervously.
"It makes you stronger," Gorphat claims. "With this, you can inflict pain or illness or paralysis.. based on the energy that the Shrine Maiden collects."
"What kind of energy do I need to collect?" Alptraum asks as he stares at the insect-like stinger sticking out of his arm. "And ... does she also have this disfigurement?"
"No, she does not," Gorphat says. "As we Sisters have two sides, so now do you. You reflect the power of Gorphat - while she, being the empath, reflects the power of Gephesa. She can draw out pain or sickness from others, and store it for you to use."
"Ah," Alptraum says and thinks of something worriedly. "Will my hand always look like this when I am in this form?"
"No more than your other hand does," Gorphat says. "You are such a vain person. This will always be a part of the Wraith, however, as you become a more fully realized divine monster."
The comment about a divine monster makes his stomach sink. "You would like my friend, Mordecai. He likes to .... change people. He is the one who marked my maiden body," he says. "And yes, I am a bit vain at times. I hope you can forgive that."
"He is already one of my unknowing worshipers," Gorphat notes with a grin. "Such a fine self-made Bargorphat.."
"And it is good to have flaws," the goddess comments, referring to Alptraum's admission of vanity.
"He is, ah ... my maiden-form adores him. He is her boyfriend and best male lover," Alptraum admits with a flush of embarrassment. "When I am in that form I find myself often wishing for his ... touch."
"Death, pleasure and pain," Gorphat chortles. "An ideal servant for our trinity, isn't he? Tell me, which Sister will you seek out next?"
"I have not decided. Perhaps Blakat. I know some of Her Daughters and am familiar with Her ways," Alptraum admits after some thought.
"Familiar with the unpredictable? That is quite a feat," Gorphat teases, sitting up. She's starting to look more Phlagaea like, now that the 'test' or whatever it was is over. "She is Conflict, so you can expect that much, I suppose."
"It is more that I know what to expect, and that is anything," Alptraum says as he actually nuzzles against Gorphat's neck. He also takes this time to see if he still bears the Bargorphat markings, including his more sensitive areas. "Barada is Secrets, and Zakaro ... Lust for power. Repath I have spoken with before, and may save her for last."
"And Sunala?" Gorphat asks. As she changes, the marks on Alptraum fade away. Even the stinger withdraws and his hand normalizes.
"Soon. She may be next if I feel strong enough to face her," Alptraum admits. "Facing my Mother is challenging." He pauses and thinks. "You said I now have two sides and that the maiden is my other. Is .. that now a permanent part of me? I am now half female...?"
"That is not a proper way of thinking of it," Gorphat says. "The Maiden is all female. You and the Wraith are all male. There is no 'half', but two wholes - separate and complete."
"But it will always be a part of me I can become?" Alptraum tries to clarify. "Or one that one of the Sisters can make me become?"
"If you become what you need to, then changing form as needed will be a simple matter for you," Gorphat prophesies. "You will then choose which is needed at a given time, or learn to become both at once perhaps. I do not know what the other Sisters may grant you, if you convince them to support you. Inala, Sunala and myself are the easy ones. You've already been marked by us, chosen as our champion, because we three were once one."
"And I'm ... fond of the markings," Alptraum claims. "What will my duties as your Maiden be?"
"To gather the energies for you to use in My name," Gorphat says. "The others may also have use for her - I cannot know what that may be."
"Inala has already been trying to ... guide the Maiden in her duties," Alptraum admits. She has seemingly embraced many of them too, but he doesn't say that. "It's hard being that form. It's ... vulnerable in many ways. Almost deaf and cannot wear any clothing. All I have is the jewelry and the tattoos."
"The grace of the Kindly Ones is protection enough," Gorphat claims. "Or would you rather Hosheb for a bodyguard? He does like her, after all," she asks, wickedly.
"Perhaps he would be a good bodyguard," Alptraum admits. "She is willing to be his ... lover if it would please you. He was painful, but your pain is an honor to bear," the crazy bat says.
"In time, you will face all of the Seven, and must best them to earn their service," Gorphat notes. "That is the challenge of the Sabaoth. The challenge of the Maiden.. is unknown. It will be new."
Alptraum rubs his neck. "Then the Maiden must be strong to face it. Before I leave your temple ... I ask that you allow Hosheb and the Maiden meet one more time," he says. "It may help strengthen her. But, if your wisdom does not believe it would, I bow to it."
"As you wish, my champion," Gorphat says, and taps Alptraum on the forehead. Dizziness, nausea and more pull him down into the darkness..
Snowcora stirs atop a giant mushroom the pallor of her own skin, in a dark cavern barely lit by glowing mosses. This was once the couch of a Yodhgorphat, she remembers. Now it is just a cold, oversized fungus.
The bat really should remember that anything Gorphat does is likely to come with unpleasantness like nausea and dizziness. Also, he has to wonder what was he thinking? Is he trying to prove his devotion? Being around the Goddesses does seem to have a bit of an effect on him, it seems. Still, the darkness is ... comforting. Well, until Snowcora wakes up in this dark chamber. She immediately curls up a bit to warm herself. Jewelry is pretty, but it isn't warm. "I remember this place," she murmurs as she looks about.
There is an echo that surrounds her now - a furious buzzing. And then Hosheb lands before her, his terrible insect wings folding into his back, and his mandibled-muzzle quivering. Only his ears betray Eeee heritage on his face, with the segmented eyes dominating.
And Snowcora squeaks loudly and slides back on that odd mushroom, away from the monsterI "He looks worse than you remember," she thinks, "Why did you suggest this?!?" It takes the shivering human a few seconds before she manages the courage to say, "Hello Hosheb."
The scorpion-like tail stabs down into the mushroom in front of Snowcora, then pulls back as the monster chitters at her and vibrates its wings. It doesn't seem to respond to talking.
Snowcora scrabbles backwards again! Thinking, she reaches down and undoes the lock and chain that 'protects' her. This she ends up just draping around her neck and locking it there. Then steeling herself a bit, she slides off the mushroom and stands before the monster. In an incredible act of bravery (or stupidity), she reaches out and caresses over his chest carapace.
The creature hisses in confusion, and it's tail curls around. It doesn't stab Snowcora, but it does run the curved side of the stinger along her spine.
Snowcora shivers at the touch (or perhaps fear, because that stinger is huge!). "Your Mistress said you liked me. I told her you could have me," the pale human claims to the monster. She leans in until she feels his uncomfortable body against hers. With her eyes closed, she actually kisses the side of that mandibled muzzle. It's now her hands explore to try and figure out his body.
The body is a nightmare. An Eeee torso is covered in chitin along the back and sides, where an extra set of pincer-tipped arms grow. Armored legs end in feet that look like kitchen implements for tearing flesh from bone, and even its genitalia are like a weapon.. one that is stirring, and moving in unnatural ways. The pincer arms grab Snowcora's shoulders, and she's spun around and bent over the mushroom.
Snowcora quickly realizes this is probably a very bad idea after her hands had learned what shape his body has and now that she can see up close all the sharp, weapon-like, bits. She doesn't have any real time to retract that offer because soon she's letting out an ooof! over the mushroom. Now that she's seen his reproductive system she winces and tries to relax. "This is going to really hurt," she realizes in resumed horror at the stupidity of her own agreement, "But maybe it'll help me prepare for birth pain...?" So, reluctantly accepting of her fate, her legs shift apart ... and give Hosheb access to her be-ringed 'altar'. A few breaths that she takes is probably because she's preparing to scream too.
Hosheb is no Orca, certainly. At least the mushroom absorbs most of the impact, for what it's worth. Multiple limbs tightly hold Snowcora's arms and legs, disturbing mobile mouth-parts leave burning saliva on her shoulders and back, and the monster has all the grace of a rutting hog. There's a very real concern about being damaged internally, but being more monster than man the goal doesn't seem to be pleasure on the demon's part. After only a few violent minutes, he's done.
And true enough, Snowcora does end up screaming when Hosheb takes here there, hard and furious. It's perhaps the first scream of suffering this temple has heard in a long time. There is no enjoyment of this act, not for her. And from the sound, not really any for him. It was an instinctual release need, and he achieved it. For the moment, she lies on that mushroom with tears running down her cheeks, feeling stupid and insane for even suggesting this. If he lets her up, she must check herself for injuries now.
The monster pulls out, and turns Snowcora over, so that it can explore her body with its disturbing mouth and burning saliva.
Snowcora doesn't dare fight it, even though its saliva burns. If she struggles, it could rip her to shreds. So, she uses the moment to check herself with one of her hands for any apparent injuries ... or worse, gifts from the demon to her altar. "It'll be over soon," she thinks to herself as she blinks away tears from the pain.
For a moment, it looks as if Hosheb is going try again.. but just brushes Snowcora's cheek with the bulb of his stinger, and buzzes up into the darkness, leaving her alone.
Snowcora lets out a thankful sigh as she painfully, and wobbly, sits up. "That was stupid," she mutters to herself as she checks for injuries all over her hurting body.
In the dark, she steps in something slimy and loses her footing, falling backwards! She blacks out before hitting the ground.. only to wake up the ruined Temple, in front of the fouled altar. Chibix flap around and complain as the greasy cloud of smoke from the burning doll spreads out and dissipates near the ceiling where they roost.
"Ow," Nicora says as she sits up and rubs the back of her head. "Was that just a disturbing dream? Surely that didn't happen." Still, she sits there on the floor rubbing her face after such a terrible nightmare. IT's then she realizes she should check her left hand and see if she can ... grow a stinger.
Aside from the grime it has collected from the floor, Nicora's left hand looks and acts the same as always. Maybe it really is just available to the Wraith and Alptraum? Or maybe it's just another nightmare.
"You're going crazy. Get a hold of yourself. None of that could have possibly happened," Nicora chides herself as she pushes up to her feet and dusts herself off. "Gift delivered. Time to head back before Tulani and Mave worry I've gone and killed myself." She eyes the altar for a moment, shakes her head, then turns and leaves