Snowcora is bundled in layers for protection, the one against her skin being made of extremely fine (and thus very expensive) Zolk that Mave produced - a gift from some wealthy supplicant from the glory days of the Temple of Inala. It's not soft like Lapi fur, but it's smooth and disturbingly sensual. More importantly, it protects the woman's sensitive skin from the courser cloak worn around it. As she and Tulani exit the cemetery and begin their ascent, Snowcora begins to recognize the path.
"That was creepy," Tulani complains, even though nothing actually happened in the cemetery, beyond a low ground-hugging mist. It's still daylight, as well. "Knowing there are actual bodies buried under those markers and monuments.. it just doesn't seem safe," the Sylvanian Sphynx points out.
For Snowcora, the only eerie part of the journey was the occasional urge to lie naked atop a sarcophagus and try to lure in monsters, and the paranoid feeling of being watched - or stalked - by something.
"It won't be safe if the General has her way. It'll be a veritable zombie breeding ground," Snowcora points out ever so not helpfully. "When I was here last time I made charcoal rubbings of a lot of the markers. The carving is quite impressive. Also, it's less creepy than the actual Temple or the catacombs were. Granted I didn't use to have the urge to pine on the sarcophaguses..."
FIX: pine-> lie
"They look uncomfortable," Tulani notes, as they leave the cemetery behind them. "Anyway.. this was your old stomping ground last time, right? Anything special I need to watch for?"
"Well ... the graves are trapped so that if you try to rob them, you'll end up in one yourself," Snowcora points out. "The exposed sarcophaguses all have spring traps on the lids. One open and swish, a blade cuts you in half. Pleasant, eh? Did you also notice some of the broken and missing statues? They were representatives of the Sisters before they became as they are now." She taps the side of her hood as if she also remembered something, "Oh, right. No flying here. No one can fly up the mountains except the Yodh. It is considered a sign of disrespect if you don't walk. I got away with it, but ... well ... I'm special."
"That must be one old cemetery then," Tulani notes. With slightly more concern in her voice, she asks, "How many rules are we violating by walking up the back of the mountain? We aren't Yodh, or technically members of the temple here. Given the climate, should we be worrying about a shoot first and verify permission afterwards situation?"
"The cemetery goes back at least a thousand years," Snowcora notes as she heads ever onward. "As for rules we're violating ... none that I directly know of. People can come pay their respects in the cemetery and walking up the mountain is fine. Now if we take the catacomb route, there we would be in some violation. Specifically those not members of the order or with a member should not be there. Killed on sight is unlikely, though. We would be taken to be sacrificed in the Temple."
"Oh, well.. being sacrificed is okay," Tulani notes, moving a bit more jauntily. "We'd have time to explain things. Unless of course you're saying we should take the catacombs route instead of just walking all the way to the temple?"
"The catacombs would avoid having to answer the questions of nosy Yodh, providing none are down there doing ... stuff," Snowcora points out. "And have you ever met a Yodhsunala? Most are about as pleasant to be around as wearing chainmail underwear over saltwater soaked fur."
"The ones at the hospital tent seemed... polite enough," Tulani notes, uncertainly. "They weren't very friendly, sure, but.. So, how do we get to the catacombs?"
"Those were the nice ones. But maybe they've all lightened up over the past couple years," Snowcora says as she plods along, wrapped up to shield herself from the evil sun. "As for the catacombs, that's easy. You willingly walk into the 'Heart of Sunala.' And that's actually fairly literal. There's a boulder here that is heart-shaped; it hides the secret access door."
"Okay, and.. what usually goes on in there? Rituals, sacrifices, mummification?" Tulani asks. "How sneaky should we be?"
"It's just a huge tomb. Those that cannot afford a public burial spot are interred in the mountain," Snowcora says and rolls her shoulders; she probably shrugged. "As for sneaky ... well ... enough. It would be dangerous to be caught there as I said. Walking up the mountain, the worst that could happen is we have to endure the Yodh. Taking the catacomb route risks the whole 'becoming a sacrifice'. But ... it also exits in the middle of the temple instead of having to plead for an audience. So ... how much of a hurry are you in...?"
"That depends," Tulani notes, and pokes at Snowcora's shoulder. "You've got all these gifts from the Sisters, so do any of them let you sense where others are before they can see you, so that we can avoid being found out?"
"Well, Inala lets me sense lust. But ... I'm not sure Yodhsunala lust at all. Granted I could make them lust, and thus know where they are. But ... I'm not quite sure how that would be received. A group of lusty Yodhsunala might be like a group of Hortenses," Snowcora suggests. She might even be a little amused. "If I had my normal ears I could hear them."
"I guess I'll take the lead then and check the tunnels," Tulani suggests. "They won't understand Sylvanian here will they? If not, we can use that language to talk to one another."
"Nekara would. I taught her some," Snowcora admits. "But it's unlikely the others would. And nah, I'll check the tunnels; I actually know the route. You don't. Plus you'll be surrounded by corpses all the time; won't that make you nervous?"
"They're.. not just out on shelves or anything, right?" Tulani asks, stopping suddenly.
"Yes, they are," Snowcora says. "You really don't know what a catacomb looks like, do you?" she asks as she turns around to look at Tulani with silvery eyes.
"If you'll remember, I'm not that fond of narrow, dark, underground spaces," the Sphynx points out.
"Babel is full of those," Snowcora points out. "You could go back to Mave and I can continue alone if you want."
"I'll be fine," Tulani insists. "They aren't that narrow right?"
"Thei're wide enough for an Eeee to flex wings. About three shoulder widths across," Snowcora explains. They have to be, bodies would be even worse to carry if they were smaller."
"Flex, but not spread," Snowcora clarifies.
"Very dark?" the Sphinx asks next, trying to reassure herself.
"Pitch black unless you light a torch or an oil lamp. Remember, Eeee can navigate them by sound. There are lanterns hung at intervals, though. We can find one," Snowcora notes.
"Since you can't echo-locate, that might be best," Tulani notes. "If there's any light at all I'll be okay seeing. I know you're sensitive to light in that form, but can you see in the dark without a problem?"
"I see decently in the dark like this. Fitting since this body is light sensitive," Snowcora notes. "Not as good as you, but I'l manage."
"Alright, let's try the tunnels then," Tulani says. "If you feel a sudden chill, it means I'm about to panic."
"Oh, one small thing about the lanterns ... they're made from the skulls of blasphemers," Snowcora remarks. "Still want to try the tunnels?"
The path to the heart-shaped entry is close by now. "You say it's our best choice," Tulani notes. "I'm just here to pull you out of trouble if necessary."
"I really need to try harder to creep you out," Snowcora complains as she takes an abrupt exist off the path into undergrowth. There must be a path here given how the undergrowth seems to twist and turn; but it certainly isn't used often.
"No trying to ditch me though!" Tulani insists as she follows the cloaked woman. "Is there anything else to worry about? Is it nice and dry or humid and ... fetid?"
"It's dry and a bit dusty. That's good because otherwise it would reek of rot," Snowcora says. "It's above the groundwater levels. Just don't think about the dust you'll breathe being the remains of others."
"That's true of everything you breath anyway," Tulani notes. "We do burn our dead in the open in Sylvania, remember.."
"But you don't make musical instruments out of them," Snowcora points out and holds up a finger. She promptly ducks under a branch as she marches ever onward into the growth.
"How did you find this place the first time?" Tulani has to ask, as she negotiates the path with a bit more difficulty due to her wings.
"I came from the top down. I wouldn't have found this entrance otherwise. It's too thick to locate via sound," Snowcora notes.
"So also a good escape route then?" Tulani asks.
"Yes. That's why I tried to map out the catacombs as much as I could. I always figured I might need to flee," Snowcora admits, grinning beneath her hood. A grin with a nosering; that's ... interesting.
"Ah, that's good to know!" Tulani says, as a branch nearly smacks her across the white streak on her face. "I'm almost looking forward to it now, just to get out of this brush."
"And don't worry, I won't make puppets out of the skulls," Snowcora notes as the undergrowth finally thins out as they step out into a small clearing near a mossy rock wall. Sure enough, there is a boulder that looks just like a giant heart. It's also black from years of dirt settling, and numerous cracks run through it. It's very easy to imagine this as the hard of the legendary Sunala, at least.
Tulani takes a few deep breaths, then says, "Okay, let's go in. How long will it take to get to the temple through the catacombs?"
"Half an hour? Maybe an hour? Depends on if I remember the route or not," Snowcora says as she approaches the boulder. Her white fingers trace along several of the cracks as if searching for something. She apparently finds it, because after a dance of her fingers there is an audible click and the whole boulder slides out and away from the wall. Out rushes a cool, stale, wash of air from a dark passage leading into the mountain.
"Okay, that wasn't ominous," the Sphynx claims flatly. "Lead on before I think better of this.."
"Moment," Snowcora says as she goes into the passage. A few seconds later she comes back with a skull covered in spikey, molded, chitin. She has to crouch down now and fiddle with it. A hidden tinder door is popped open and she draws out a flint rock and a worn iron coin. Another minute of striking and fiddling and she gets the lantern lit. Great; the light shines out of the eye sockets ... through blood-red glass.
"And I thought the Yodhinala candles were weird," Tulani comments and shudders, but doesn't retreat at least.
"I've found the various uses of the Yodhinala candles to be rather nice," Snowcora quips. The way she licks her lips is a bit disturbing too. "Come on. And stay alert. We both need to keep watch for anyone else being down here."
The way in is a bit of a squeeze, until they reach one of the many catacomb halls. The older ones have loose piles of bones in the alcoves, and thankfully they don't seem to using the 'fresher' areas of the route. There is the occasional need to stop when there are sounds of movement or voices, or other glimpses of light. Once they had to hide back into a side passage as a pair of barsunala carry a stretcher with a new body past. There's also that nagging sense that something is there, shadowing them.
"Hold up," Snowcora says as she draws still and closes her eyes. She also signs over her shoulder, "I think we're being followed." With her eyes closed, she tries to tap into Snow's aura and feel for their mysterious follower.
It takes time for the aura to spread out through the surrounding maze of halls, but nothing shows up.. except for a hole. A hold where Snowcora is certain there shouldn't one, because it's in the middle of their path ahead.
Snowcora opens an eye. "There is someone, or something here. Just ahead. How far can you see?" Snowcora asks Tunali quietly.
The half-Vartan pokes her head over Snowcora's shoulder. "I.. don't see anything ahead except for some stairs at the end of the hall," Tulani admits.
"Someone is there," Snowcora says. A bit louder now, she says, "Show yourself. I can feel you."
Something seems to appear now before Snowcora. It's tall, and armored.. in fact, it looks disturbingly like the Wraith, save that it's eyes are not white - or indeed really visible at all.
Snowcora's right brow arches slightly. "Why do you follow me?" she asks the creature. He tone sounds firm; but it's very likely she's masking the fact she's rather worried now.
The creature makes no reply, just stands in Snowcora's path. "What is it?" Tulani whispers. "I still don't see anything." More details become noticeable as the shrine maiden's eyes adjust: long chitin whips seem to hang down from the creature's wrists.
"It's the wraith. It stands before me," Snowcora says in whisper. She takes a step forward towards it and says, "I am here on business of importance to Sunala. A being that thrives in undeath threatens Babel. To block my path is to stand against Sunala Herself."
The creature takes a step back, making an insect-like clicking sound from its chitin-covered mouth.
"How is that possible?" Tulani whispers. "It's supposed to be locked up in the dagger when you change, isn't it?"
Snowcora takes another couple steps towards it. "Actually, this is Sunala's monster, Skekos," she says firmly. Since they are within the shadows of the mountain, she lets her cloak, then her undercovering slide back so that her torso and tattooed back are visible. "You know me," she stats flatly.
Skekos reaches out, the tail-whip dangling down, to press its armored hand right in the center of Snowcora's chest. The mark of Rinala actually glows slightly from the contact.. and then the cold appendage is withdrawn and the guardian demon moves aside, vanishing into the wall.
"What's happening?" Tulani asks. "Should I be worried that you're exposing yourself to an invisible monster?"
Snowcora lets out a long breath. "I'm really glad it didn't decide to rip my flesh off," Snowcora admits as she pulls her undercloth up, then the robe. "I think it confirmed that it is fine I can be here, as it has stepped aside. Be thankful you didn't see it; it was a bit ... worrisome. I just had to have faith it would let me by."
"Maybe that's all it was then; a test of faith?" Tulani suggests, but then gives Snowcora a nudge. "No sense in standing around then right?"
"I don't know, maybe if we wait long enough a demon will come to test you," Snowcora remarks. She also actually remains standing there!
"I don't need to be tested," Tulani insists. "You're just doing this to make me suffer down here, admit it."
"No, if I wanted you to suffer, I would be Pierce, excite you, then leave you without satisfaction," Snowcora remarks as she resumes walking.
The rest of the way is clear, and nobody else seems to passing through the catacombs as they climb towards the entrance within the temple. The chamber beyond the entry is surprisingly empty, save for a single black-and-red robed figure that paces around, notable mainly for its lack of wings.
"That may be the savanite attendant of Sunala," Snowcora whispers to Tulani, "And well, here goes another test of faith." She draws a deep breath, steadies herself, and strides into the chamber and towards the robed figure. "I am here to see your Mistress," she announces in a soft, possibly forced-calm, voice.
The pacing figure jumps in surprise, dislodging her hood to reveal a spotted feline face, which she then quickly covers again. After composing herself for a moment, she gestures for Snowcora and Tulani to follow her.
"So far, so good," Snowcora comments in Sylvanian. Pretend that you belong there and people treat you like you do! She follows after the savanite, though she does remain a few paces behind her.
Their guide moves oddly for a Savanite, and may be a bit short as well. She leads them through a variety of corridors that seem to have be deliberately blocked off to traffic; especially when they pass intersections where stoic barsunalas stand facing away from them. Soon they are at the entry to the High Priestesses rooms. The girl looks back then to make sure her charges are still following her.
"We are still here," Snowcora says when the savanite looks back. She wishes she were not in robes to see why she walks so oddly.
The girl smiles, and there's a disturbing sense of deja-vu for Snowcora, who can also feel Tulani momentarily tense up next to her. But then the girl is opening the doors and standing aside to let them pass.
The memory is slow in coming, since the friendly, humble expression on the face hid the other features. But as she passes, Snowcora flashes back to a painting hanging on a wall in Vorgulremik's castle back in Sylvania. The line of the jaw, shape of the spots.. The girl is no Savanite, but a spotted Gigi - a jaguar.
Snowcora actually stops and curtsies to the savanite. "Thank you," she tells her. "And I know you can speak, jaguar," she murmurs softly. It's not accusatory, or remotely harsh; it's a simple statement of fact.
The girl's face shows shock, and then she looks down and.. runs away into another room, closing the door behind her.
"I will need to talk to her later. I think she's a descendant of the original demon," Snowcora whispers in Sylvanian to Tulani. She looks at the door that the young girl fled for a moment, then turns and goes through the door opened for them.
"She looked scared," Tulani notes as the walk into the main chambers. These too are oddly uninhabited.. and dark. But Sunala doesn't really need light. Partitions of hanging black gauze further divide the space, but a voice calls from a corner: "Alptraum, you look pale." Sunala, of course.
"She was. She is hiding," Snowcora murmurs to Tulani. Of course now it is time for Snowcora to be scared, because that voice sends a chill through her. "Desperate measures and unusual magic so that I can travel without being accosted by enemies," she says with hints of nervousness creeping into her voice. "It has been a while and I wish I could be here under better circumstances."
"Come," the voice calls, although it isn't exactly demanding in tone. "I've made tea. By myself. I think I have the blend just right now. It isn't easy trying to match a flavor from the spirit world."
Snowcora glances to Tulani then turns and heads towards the voice in the darkness. "The child that lead us here is in great danger, as is the city. I had only known about the city; but seeing that child makes the situation far more grave than I knew," she says.
"A 'grave' situation?" Sunala asks. Snowcora is close enough to see the girl grin now. She hasn't changed much, still a girl barely into her teens. There's a small table with three chairs and a simple tea service set atop it. "Are you going to introduce me to the Bearer?"
"I cannot resist a play on words," Snowcora remarks, feeling a bit more at ease after seeing that smile. "The Bearer is Tulani. I tolerate her," she claims, "Or more appropriately, I call her a friend. She has risked as much as anyone to be here today."
"Uh, it's.. uh.." Tulani flounders, unsure how one is supposed to address an incarnate deity. So she just bows.
"An honor," Snowcora finishes for Tulani.
"Please take a seat," Sunala says. "I've got fresh cream and honey for the tea. And Daughter-of-Shadows made little biscuits. I think they are called shortbread. They aren't like bread though. Can you eat solid food in this disguise of yours, Alptraum? I see the others have left their marks on this 'Shrine Maiden' - I assume you were using a gift of Gorphat the other night, before you presumably went and murdered that detestable noble."
Snowcora settles down into one of the chairs and arranges her robes. "I knew you would figure out who visited the camp and who dealt with the noble," she remarks, "No one else seems to have, though. Which is for now, for the best. And yes, this is one of the forms I know that allows me to eat without too dire of consequences. And speaking of Daughter-of-Shadows, I wish to speak with her further later, if you will permit it."
"She hasn't spoken with anyone but me for a long while now," Sunala says, as she pours the tea - which is also very dark. "We've been very scrupulous about keeping her secret. I ask that you not upset her though, Alptraum. She is very special to me: my first, closest.. and only friend. She saved me, and so I protect her from fate now."
"Does she know what her lineage is?" Snowcora asks as she takes the tea, lifts it, then takes a test sip. "And it is something not just you protect her from; it is my duty to as well. I would give what life I have to keep her from falling into the grip of that which would claim her. Not just because of what would befall the world if she were taken ... but that no child should have to endure that fate."
"She knows her past and what it means for her future," Sunala notes. "She has accepted the sacrifices she must make to end her lineage. It is the great irony that she should be the one to find me as I awoke, protect me and teach me. She still has hopes that I will abandon my name and worship the Star. She's satisfied that I chose to emulate Rinala instead, however. Which brings the subject back to you two: the Bearer of the Light of Nala, and the Barsunala walking the path of the Sabaoth. It's good to see you finally growing into your potential, son."
"One possible future for her waits outside this city, just north, in the forbidden zone. Amena is here, wearing the skin of the General. I imagine you knew, but I had to bring you that warning. The General plans to use my Doppleganger to take over this city; and then take this realm from you for her new 'foundry' of undead," Snowcora explains softly after taking another sip from the cup. "As for my potential ... I do not see myself close to what I should be. I am flawed in so many ways that make me undeserving of any title. Well, perhaps that is not quite right. I have not done enough to be worthy of a title. I came back to fix that. To deal with things that must be done for the future of our people."
"You've grown more than I have in the time since you left," Sunala says. "The General is not Amena, however - just a puppet. Only through her bloodline can she wield her true power. I do not know if she is aware of Daughter-of-Shadows, or how the knowledge would affect her plans. The General is very proud, and would not willingly give up her position as Avatar to one that would be more powerful than she. Which reminds me, there's something I need to do: please bare your back to me, Shrine Maiden."
"If she knew, I doubt she would be acting as subtle as she has been. She would want her taken, or eliminated. Now it is a matter that she not find out. I promise I will protect Daughter-of-Shadows at all costs," Snowcora says. The request causes her to start a bit; but she thankfully doesn't drop her tea. Instead, she sets it down, then stands and completely sheds her robes and undercloth. There is no real need to be clothed around Sunala after all. Though nervous about it, the human then turns around and kneels down before Sunala, her back bared to her.
There's the clink of a claw touching porcelain, and then Sunala traces the Grave symbols on Snowcora's shoulder blades.. with tea. It's warm, and tingles. It even tingles in places not touched, like her lower back where the scenes of the Sea of Souls were placed by Mordecai.
Snowcora's breath draws in. She was honestly expecting something more painful. Still, she's pleasantly surprised it was not; tingly is ... bearable. The mark is getting a true blessing.
"Of all the Kindly Ones, only I have ever had Shrine Maidens," Sunala says as she performs the blessing. "You were born of one, and I was born into one. As my Shrine Maiden, you have the power of the Srinala to summon and speak for the dead."
Snowcora's head bows. "That is a great weight to bear, to be the last voice for those who have passed. But, I accept it willingly and will serve you faithfully as a shrine maiden," she says softly. There's a pause, then she even adds, "And perhaps I will serve you better as a woman, than I did as a man. Becoming this has taught me much and shown me many new perspectives."
"The Sabaoth is our champion," Sunala says, sipping at her tea once more. "The Shrine Maiden.. is our representative, I suppose. Our conduit. The two will work together, I think. One to fight, the other to act in other ways, using our gifts. I have to wonder about the nose ring however."
Tulani shifts in her seat, and becomes very focused on her tea.
"That is ... due to the Bearer," Snnowcora notes as she rises, only to settle back into the chair. she even looks over to Tulani and adds, "She sometimes takes certain ... liberties. It is good that she is my friend or else I might be more upset."
"When you announce yourself to Babel, please remove it first," Sunala requests. "The Bearer will have her own trial ahead."
"Not with those demons I hope?" Tulani whimpers.
"I'm Death, not a fortune teller," Sunala points out with a grin. "For that, you want Barada."
"I do not intend to wear it then," Snowcora notes as she rests her hands in her lap. "How I intend to announce myself is to go to the center of the wound and have Tulani plunge the light into its heart. It should be ... inspiring to our people to feel it flood with the power of the light. It needs to be something big, something to wake our people up. And ... well ... scare the servants of Amena. Just a little."
"And what? You're afraid to face a demon?" Snowcora asks of Tulani. "Hosheb mated with me. Surely you can face a demon..."
"You mated with Gorphat's guardian?" Sunala asks, looking surprised. "Your announcement will be on your birthday, Alptraum. And it will change the world."
"I make mistakes, and Gorphat scares me," Snowcora admits to Sunala. There's a pause ... and then he asks, "Will it be my last birthday?"
"That depends on how many times you intend to be born," Sunala replies, divinely cryptic as appropriate.
"I have always had a feeling that I would not survive this journey," Snowcora admits. "But I am also at peace with that if it makes a difference to the world." She shrugs slightly, then asks, "Has That approached you, or any of his representatives?"
"Those of the Coalition know better than to come here," Sunala says. "They do not interfere, nor openly condone or condemn our efforts. For them to cooperate with us would be a declaration of the failure of their ideals. Secretly, we have gotten support. The hospital has food and medicine that is donated anonymously."
"Your father, however, has visited the grave of his wife, as is the right of any in Babel," the blind, shred-winged girl notes before sipping her tea again.
Snowcora nods at this. "I would like to visit that grave, if such is permitted," she requests. There's a long pause before anything more comes. "You may know, but if not, you will be a Grandmother," she admits nervously. "I have ... sired a family."
"In Sylvania?" Sunala asks. "I am curious to hear of your adventures there, that have changed you so much."
"Another woman who did not have choice in her fate and now must bear the weight of her lineage. I have fallen in love with the Countess Rosalind Draco," Snowcora admits as her attention seems very fixated on her tea now. "I took the Shadow away from Amena to bring her hope she no longer had. It was the only way she could have her own family and it is her family that keeps Gallis at bay."
"You've stolen the power of the enemy," Sunala says. "You have not used it to defile the dead, have you?" she asks, her voice going a bit hollow.
"Of course not. I have used it to undo such horrors. It is also the power that allows me to change my shape," Snowcora explains. "And speaking of changing shape; a plan has come to me on a way to deal with the General. It may also buy Daughter-of-Shadows some peace. I may be able to mimic her; and in that form get close to the General and eliminate her. It could also be used as a way to fake the end of the lineage; and perhaps bring some peace to your friend. But such would require your blessing and her permission to do."
"I'm not sure you can so easily fool Amena herself," Sunala points out. "That.. is something for you to discuss with Daughter-of-Shadows. If her secret is still kept, I would not suggest you use it as a ploy against the General."
"Wouldn't you run the risk of becoming Amena's next Avatar yourself if you did that?" Tulani asks. "One with the power of the Shadow built-in?"
"It is just a thought, nothing more. and unlikely, as the copy is never perfect. For example, as a female I cannot have children," Snowcora says and then takes another sip from her cup. "Now, as for the Shadow; I took it from an evil dragon who devours souls for his own use. He is now imprisoned and faces obliteration when the last of his prisoners are released."
"Hmmm," Sunala muses. "A disciple of Amenlichtli?"
"No. An exile from another world. His name is Vorgulremik, and his jailer is a spirit construct called Kaira," Snowcora says. "You can meet her if you wish."
"So, you have your own demon servant then?" Sunala asks with a grin. "Although being half dragon and half Eeee would be more appropriate."
"She wouldn't appreciate being called a servant," Snowcora notes. "She's ... well, you would have to meet her. she wanted to meet you."
"I know we will meet, when the time is right," Sunala says. "But I want to hear more about my son's life, and how he met with the Bearer.."
"I met Tulani when she was debauching her way on an adventure with a talking map and Jupani twice her age," Snowcora describes ever so gently. "I think Tulani even beat him in a burping contest." Her head rolls to the side and she ever so smiles at Tulani.
The Sphynx chokes for a moment. "Drinking is not debauching!" she insists. "And I never got drunk. You were just this vagabond looking guy who came off the train, and said you knew Silent Sign. You were a bad influence on me. Err, no offence, your goddessness. But your son would argue with frogs."
"Did he win the arguments?" Sunala asks, nonplussed.
"Did you?" Tulani asks Alptraum.
"Of course I did. After a while they had frogs in their throats," Snowcora claims without missing a beat. "But all was not fun and games. There was vampires to face; then the ghost of the map guiding us through the last path of the Light. We even faced and defeated the descendant of Dagh, who sought to resurrect that devil. And all of that was just the warm up to facing the dragon, the rogue Yodhblakat, to recovering the Light, and to finally meeting Rosalind. If you don't mind, I think I will have one of the biscuits ... and then I'll start at the beginning. I was just an angry Eeee back then on a train to nowhere..."