Despite having her bed hogged by a hog, Trystle soon descends into the noisy embrace of deep sleep. The girl is a champion sleeper, and if she chose the traditional hanging-upside-down Eeee method she probably wouldn't snore. The challenge for Boartraum is in getting off of the bed without the rebound tossing the girl into the air.
You get off a bed without bouncing it by sliding off the bed like one giant sausage. This is relatively easy to do since a boar is somewhat built like one. Well, it seems easy anyway, whether he succeeds or not depends on how coordinated he manages it.
There's a slight slip at the end. It doesn't upset the bed, but Boartraum lands on his ample side instead of his feet (or back). Trystle hiccups.. then goes back to snoring after immediately spreading out to take over the recently vacated warm spot.
"Ow. Why did I become this shape again? It certainly wasn't to win over the ladies," Boartraum thinks as he rolls and manages to get back up to his feet. To the door he goes and with his faithful tusks he works the door handle open. Time to find the horrible patriarch and whom he is going to visit. He has a bad feeling it's Mr. sodomizing vampire.
The tower is pretty quiet. With dinner over, the staff have all retreated to their own quarters, making it easy to pass through that level to the upper ones. Once at the level where the 'sow stuffing' occurred, it's just a matter of finding Persal and whoever he's meeting with. One clue might be a new scent: fresh soil.
"Vaaaammmpire," Boartruam thinks as he snuffles in the soil, committing it to memory so that he can follow it up through the towers. They're most likely meeting out on a balcony, he figures, good escape routes and all.
The route involves some trial and error, since there's no path, just the scent waxing and waning in strength. The boar knows he's close when he starts to hear voices though, and sees light leaking the gaps in a rather nondescript door.
And of course the great beast tries to sneak up to the door to listen. Even peer through the cracks if he can...
"Four ssssir?" asks a rather worried sounding, reptilian voice. "Yes, four Lester. I want this to be the last shipment, and that's how many we need. Then you can stay here where you belong, instead of working for those witches," Persal's voice replies.
"Witches? What witches?" Boartraum thinks, curious. And he's surprised, naga instead of vampire, but that still explains the soil. He also notes the name and hopes he'll remember it. Remembering in this body is not always easy.
"Diggin' gravesss isssn't sso bad," the Naga (for Boartraum can at least see scaly hands worrying a broad-brimmed hat through the door crack) mutters. "I got two ssset aside from today. Dunno if there will be more tomorrow. Not ssssure how many women are ready.."
"Dinning graves? What is this? Is this person masquerading as a doctor and killing children?" Boartraum wonders.
The sound of claws on stone moves back and forth: Persal is pacing. "It isn't like that lot is very good at being midwives," he mutters. "Usually one twin doesn't make it, or is born too early. The two you have stored are from twins, aren't they?"
"They are twinsss, m'lord," Lester replies. "Two girls. Strangled on their cords, I think. Had to cut those off.."
Boartraum does not like this conversation at all. He was one of those children that could have been born dead first. He had to be kept alive by magic, after all.
"With my luck there'll be two stillborns tomorrow and they won't be twins," Persal curses. "Just wasted."
"Do you want me to bring the twinss tomorrow anyway, even there aren't any otherss?" the Naga asks.
"Why does the twins matter? Are they trying to copy something? Or take something over?" Boartraum wonders now.
There's silence for a few moments. "Yes. If we don't have a choice, we'll have to risk it. "They still don't suspect anything do they?"
Boartraum does! It takes effort to not shift right now and kill both of these people.
"No m'lord. I dig the graves, and fill 'em even if they're empty. And they don't check my insidesss when I leave," Lester assures.
"His insides? Does he eat them? That's disgusting," Boartraum thinks.
"I wish there was a Kindly One I could pray to right now," Persal admits. "Go on and get back to your barracks then, Lester. Stop by the kitchen and have some wine, enough to make it smell like you've drunk more, same as always. The sooner we get the last shipment, the sooner we can get paid and put this behind us."
"Yes, m'lord," the serpent says, followed by the sound of movement towards the door.
"Afraid this decision isn't leading to any riches; you're going to pay for your actions," Boartraum thinks. The sound of approaching scales means the boar tries to hurry out there as quietly as possible.
By the time the large Naga leaves, Boartraum is hidden in shadows. The Naga doesn't look in that direction anyway, moving towards the kitchen. Lester is almost completely black, save for a white blaze on his head, and built like a gravedigger, naturally.
"Hm, sexy naga," the Boar thinks briefly, then has to shake its head out. All the shifting has done a number of the Eeee's idea of attractiveness. He remains in the shadows a bit longer, waiting to see if the old Eeee will have any more visitors or not.
Persal Hortus only lingers in the room for a few moments - apparently lighting a stick of incense for whatever reason. Maybe he has a shrine in there? Soon enough the man exits and closes the door behind him, carrying a candle. He starts shuffling off in the same direction the Naga took, but is likely heading for his own chambers.
Boartraum takes some time to go look in that room to see if he did have a shrine in there. He can scent-follow the old man soon enough; the idea of a shrine and to what ... intrigues the boar.
The door is latched but not locked. The only light at the moment comes from the ember moving its way down a stick of incense, mounted over a bowl on a small altar. Boartraum's eyes are good in the dark, though. It isn't hard to resolve that the figure behind the alter is an Eeee woman cradling a very small child. It takes another few moments to realize it isn't a statue at all, but a mummy.
"That is ... disturbing," the Boar has to think, and he has seen some disturbing things! So for it to bother him; it's worse than normal. "Wife? Lost child? Mother? Doesn't matter, I don't want to stay here." the boar thinks as he retreats. He does close the door behind himself at least.
"He's angry with them, but it isn't their fault," a spectral voice whispers behind Boartraum.
The boar draws to a halt and listens. "What was that?" it thinks.
"I'm the one in the shrine," the voice seems to answer. "He refused to let them perform the rites on me, so.. here I stay."
"Who are you? I assume you know who I am," the boar thinks.
"Mefti Hortus, Persal's wife," the ghost-voice says. "All spirits know who you are. Had the rites been performed, you would have escorted me and my son to the Sea of Souls."
The boar grows silent and does something he probably shouldn't do here. He shifts. Shadow engulfs him into nothingness so that he can return as Alptraum. Granted with a large boar ring in his nose, but be can work that out after the shift. Plus he'll have to wear shadow clothes, but ... it makes him more impressive anyway.
Back in his fully aware form, he can see the spirit now. As in the shrine, she holds a tiny baby to her breast. She bows to Alptraum.
Alptraum takes a moment to work the ring out of his nose; not likely a sight one would expect to see from a legendary species, but it has to be done. Around him flows the shadow like a living blanket, keeping him modest ... at ominous prices. "He blames your children for your death? Or all children?" Alptraum somehow asks without speaking.
"No, he blames the Yodhsunala," Mefti explains. "The birth was difficult. He called upon them for aid, because the Yodhinala claimed they could only save the child. If only he had taken that option. The Yodhsunala healer could do nothing, it turned out, and we were both lost. And Persal was lost as well, inside. He would not let the Yodh perform the Rites of Rest, and even denounced Sunala to her face. She was within her rights to kill him for that.. but she didn't. Perhaps the failure weighed on her, for she was young. Perhaps she cursed our family instead."
"No, your husband managed to curse your family all his own, and continues it by delivering dead children to monsters who devour them," Alptraum 'says'. It's simple and somehow doesn't have any accusatory tone to it, only one of simple reality. He rubs his forehead, then asks, "Do you wish me to perform the rite? I know it, though it is not my place."
"If you did, then Persal would be all alone when you take his life," the ghost says, slowly shaking her head. "It was the Dark Man that poisoned his mind. Perhaps he even engineered the decline in our fortunes to make Persal desperate. Their offer appealed to his anger. He tells himself there are no victims in it, since the children are dead already. But his children are still alive, and need his support."
"/He already mistreats the children he has left, to the point they wish to leave,/" Alptraum notes. "/Tell me of this Dark Man. I suspect I already know who it is, but I wish to know what you know."
"He could see me. He would leer at me with his second face," Mefti describes. "There was no warmth in him, and he wore his body like a suit of armor. His true face was ugly, but he appeared handsome and noble to mortal eyes. His voice was deep as a well, and I fear Persal was under his spell too easily. He promised wealth, and a future in the new Babel he was being asked to help forge. He was promised.. relevance."
"That was a vampire. An undead creature wearing dead flesh," Alptraum explains, almost sadly. "A creature capable of manipulating those of a weaker mind. A dangerous creature, one I must destroy. All he can actually give is death and a soulless existence."
"What will become of my surviving children, Barsunala?" the ghost asks. There's almost a hint of menace in the question.
"There is no need to threaten me. I intend to find them safe homes," Alptraum notes, "Your daughter has talent that someone I know may be able to help her develop. The son I can find a place as well. I have no desire for your family to end because of the vampire; that would be admitting defeat."
"If Persal does not fulfill his end of the bargain, the Dark Man will come for him and my children," Mefti claims. "Even if he is dead.. would that protect Seylen and Trystle from the vampire's wrath?"
"The vampire would have to go through me first," Alptraum says simply. "Which would simply be him ending his own miserable existence."
"I want more assurance than that," the ghost-mother claims. "Persal's only sin was to be weak from despair and anger. Do you think he is not suffering from this bargain? I beg you.. find some way to spare him. Use him for your own ends against the vampire if you must. Make him your agent. Give him the chance to atone."
"And how do I appease the Yodhrepath? Tell them that the smuggler is a dark creature of Diphath that is forcing a family to serve him?" Alptraum asks, "They have to maintain their position at the docks and thefts cannot be tolerated. I cannot promise they will accept my claim of an evil force at work."
"You are not Rephath," the ghost agrees. "It is Sunala's mercy that I plead for. Rephath would take my children for their part in it. But you know they are innocents, don't you?"
"Your daughter knows little, and your son more than he wishes. I do not hold them responsible for anything," Alptraum confirms as he stares at the remains of the woman. "And given Repath's 'relationship' to Diphath, they may be satisfied to go after one of Her agents in their stead if the family helps. But, that is their decision, I can only offer them the choice."
"/Please do. My husband's life is worth more than a few hogs and the corpses of children he did not kill. The vampire is the prize you seek. If Persal is the key to that, then surely all he's done would have been worth it to achieve that victory?" Mefti pleads.
"You are kinder towards him than he deserves of late. His heart may already be gone," Alptraum points out, "Or what's left may not be easy to reach. And given his hatred of Sunala, what is the likelihood of him listening to me? He may need to speak to you."
"/He speaks with me every night, but does not hear or see me,/" Mefti explains. "/Not even Trystle with her gift knows I am still here. You are the Barsunala though. You must have a way of making this happen?"
"I can make you heard, yes. That was what I was suggesting," Alptraum agrees. "Do you also wish your children to be here?"
"Not for this," Mefti claims. "I would not burden them with knowing the depth of their situation. Let them remain ignorant and innocent a while longer."
"A good choice. Children deserve to be happy and unsaddled with wider concerns," Alptraum agrees, "But I had to offer."
"When will you bring him?" the spirit asks, sounding apprehensive.
"Tonight, as I am here. Or would you prefer another time? I am nothing if not patient, I have to be," Alptraum notes.
"I am ready," the ghost insists.
"So be it. But if your husband chooses to not listen, his fate will be grim, and it will have been his choice. You can blame no one else," Alptraum notes a bit grimly and turns to leave the room. Yes, he will walk through the halls as he is, and use aura tracking to try and find the old man. If someone risks to attack him, he can defend himself with the shadow.
There are only two people on this level. The one that is deep asleep already is probably Seylen. The one that is still awake is most likely to be Persal. The two are on almost opposite sides of the tower as well.
Alptraum walks the halls like some sort of gaunt demon, traversing its width with almost no sound whatsoever. The shadow works well for muting movement sound after all. It also helps he's broadcasting a bit of the draconic aura to give anyone the urge to be nosy another urge to hide under the bed. He's heading slowly and steadily towards the one still awake.
The door to the room is in the best condition of any seen so far in the tower. It's actually polished wood, and the hallway is also nicely outfitted with rugs and tapestries - the latter being portraits no doubt chronicling the Hortus lineage. There's an actual keyhole on the door, and some flickering light passes through it, hinting more at a candle than a lamp as the source.
And Alptraum checks to see if the door is locked. It isn't like Death would knock afterall, or her servants.
The door doesn't seem to be locked. That isn't that unusual though in a household that once had many servants. Convenience usually outweighs privacy in Babel, after all.
So, Alptraum opens the door. His shadow-cloak flows in before him, perhaps to catch any attacks before be steps through. Granted, him stepping through is only a few seconds later. "It is time to discuss your actions as of late, Persal Horus," he says, body radiating that draconic aura, one that has been increased just a bit more than it was a moment ago. "For your fate, and that of your family, stands in the balance."
The man in the bed takes off his reading glasses after dropping the book he was holding. He then looks at Alptraum, sighs, and says, "I thought you'd have a crueler face.. and breasts. You don't look like a Yodhsunala assassin. But I can feel your chill in my bones. Who are you?"
"I am the last person everyone meets before they come to rest in the sea. I see every life, every tragedy, and every moment of happiness," Alptraum says simply. "Can you name me? Or have you fallen so far that you have forgotten?"
"I prevented you from taking my wife and child," Persal claims. "That much I remember. But you are a bit early, aren't you? I'm not dead yet."
"Am I? You seek to kill all of Babel and make this city an army of the dead. Is there a reason I should wait and allow that to come to pass?" Alptraum counters as he approaches the bed. "Or do you expect your vampire friend, Abrenego, to help you somehow? Spare you? Hardly, you are just his next meal."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Persal claims. "And I don't care what Abednego does to me, so long as he pays what he promised. I don't know what he wants stillborn twins for. But at least their death would have a purpose, instead of being meaningless tragedies."
"His payment will be to take your children, drain their blood, and add their bodies to Diphath's undead army," Alptraum explains. "Those dead children you have collected are just food for her armies, nothing more. Is that meaning enough for you?"
The man is quiet for a time. "That would raise suspicions, I would think," he says, more to himself than Alptraum. "If I fail him, I'm sure that that is exactly what would happen. If I do not fail him.. he might spare my family. What choice do I have?"
"Work with me to limit the amount of damage he causes. This will allow you to keep your children and have a hope for a family. If you continue to serve him my duty is clear. I can spare your children and will, but you I cannot; not if you willingly choose this path. But I do not expect you to listen to me; you are blinded by hate. I came with this offer at the behest of your wife," Alptraum notes, "It is the only reason you still breathe. She asked me to speak to you, and bring you to her so that she may as well."
"Mefti is.. you can bring her back without a Srinala?" Persal asks, looking shocked.
"I may be able to make you capable of hearing her, yes. Her essence is soft, but I can empower it," Alptraum says. "I have already spoken with her at your shrine to her at the far end of this tower."
The old man shuffles about and tries to stand up without falling over. "She's here? She's been here, all this time? She's heard me?" he asks, nearly crying.
"Every night when you talk to her, yes," Alptraum says softly. "I could have removed her tonight, but she asked that I not so that you would not be alone."
"Please take me to her," the man begs. He doesn't reach out to grab onto Alptraum's cloak though.. which is a good thing, given it's fairly insubstantial.
"Come, then," Alptraum says as he gestures for the man to follow. Alptraum then turns his back to the man, a risky action to be sure, but he has to appear unconcerned. As he walks through the hall now, the draping shadow makes seem like he glides across the floor instead of stepping.
Persal doesn't bring the candle with him, so has to ping his way to keep up with Alptraum, even though he must have the route ingrained into his memory by now. Soon enough, they are back at the shrine, where the incense has finally burned down.
Alptraum steps to the side and away from the shrine. What he does there is to grow quiet and focused. That focus is on the spirit, the feel still within that mummy. And what he does, well, is he did come with significant charge to shift, but instead of shifting he tries to push this energy into the spirit, to make it more substantial.
Being the Barsunala gives Alptraum a certain facility with spirits. He can touch them, interact with them as if they were physical, and so forth. Making one glow enough to be seen in the darkened room is easy enough. "Mefti!" Persal cries out when the spirit becomes dimly visible, and falls to his knees. "Forgive me for forcing you into this hell," he pleads with her.
The ghost-woman kneels down as well, and touches the man's shoulder. "You are my love. I would not want you left alone, even if you could not hear or see me," she tells him.
And Alptraum does something that might help him hear her. He reaches out and places his hand upon her neck, and his other upon his ear, to perhaps use the very vibrations of her 'speaking' so that he may better hear it.
"I've put us all in terrible jeopardy," Persal cries to the ghost. "You know that.. I've been telling you ever step of the way. I thought I was doing it for you, for the children, for our name. I was desperate. How can you stay? You should go, so you do not have to see this."
"I will not leave without you," Mefti replies. "And not before you make it right. You must help to strike down the monster. Only then will this have been for us."
"It doesn't have to end in the destruction of your family. You can still do something right and fix the damage you have done. The vampire, the agent of Diphath you serve, is the real threat. You have been used," Alptraum says, not wanting to interrupt the ghost too much. "Your wife knows I have already offered to protect your children, whatever happens. But in truth I imagine they would still wish to keep their father, even if at times they do not feel so. Such is the way of families, anger until it is too late to correct it. They are drifting from you now in this path you are walking, but there is time to fix it."
"How?" Persal asks weakly. "I have tried to think of a way out.. but I have nothing to offer the Yodhrephath. Everything is against me. The thefts, the grave-robbing. I can only say that someone comes to pick things up, and I do not know where they go. Even they do not know the final destination. It is all a series of transfers, they say."
"You do it at threat of your children, correct? That if you do not do this job that he take them? That is a forced act and I hope I can convince Yodhrephath to listen to me on the matter. But as for how you can help ... if something could be included with the last 'shipment' that would allow it to be tracked, that would help those fighting Diphath find the final destination without the intermediaries being risked," Alptraum offers. Granted he has to figure out something that would work that way ... but he can talk to Tulani and others about that.
"The sow," Persal offers. "The sow is the delivery means. She is alive, after all. She must stay alive. A living thing should be trackable, shouldn't it? Trystle can talk to them.. well, she says they don't talk back, but that she can understand them. She could tell the sow to do something."
"Hm, she can, yes. Your daughter has some talent. I had considered asking an ally of the mage's to test her to see if her skill is stronger than it appears," Alptraum notes, "It was one of the options I considered for your children, I wished to find them futures. As someone who often sees the end of things, I do wish to help people find a future. But yes, the sow itself might be possible; if I met the sow first, or selected a specific one for the task. Do you know what ultimately happens to them?"
"I have no idea," Persal admits. "They are necessary for some reason. There must be a ritual involved at the end. A second birth. I thought it was all for some sort of fertility rite or sacrifice.. not something to do with the undead."
"It most assuredly has something to do with the undead, that is all Diphath has. Your agent, the singer turned vampire, ultimately serves the General, who sold her soul and life to Diphath for power," Alptraum notes, "She sits on a throne of insanity in the mists."
"The stillborns must have been twins, even if one twin survived," Persal recites. "The sows must have been bred before, but not be pregnant at the time."
"I may need to do some research on that specific need; why the twins and why the sow of specific conditions," Alptraum says, "I have access to much knowledge, just ... not all at once. What is the timeframe?"
"Must it be tomorrow, or is there some flexibility?" he adds.
"I.. wanted it to be over with," Persal says. "I can't dictate the supply though. Even Lester is limited in what he can learn about the stillborns he's given for burial. Asking too many questions suspicious. There have been viable ones that had to be buried, for any number of reasons. And Lester can only carry a few at best without becoming violently ill. There will be only two tomorrow. There must be two more after that to finish the order."
"I do not like that and what is being done there. It is /wrong/ on many levels," Alptraum says with a visible shudder, "/But that means there is at least some time to work out a plan. Do not rush it, is all I can ask. That gives me time to understand what they are planning to do with them ... and how to salt a sow. I may even provide a specific one to use instead of having to steal it."
"How long should I postpone the next shipment?" Persal asks. "Do you need to follow the sow first to see what is happening, and then the final time to act against it?"
"Do you intend to send it all in one shipment, or two?" Alptraum inquires.
"Due to the.. uh.. spoilage issue.. shipments must be done as quickly as possible. I am not sure how long they actually take though. Surely the sow would become ill if it was more than a day," Persal says.
"Well, yes, that. I think two more shipments will be required. One to trace and see what they are used for, and then the 'poisoned' one, so to speak. You fulfill your agreement, and you help bring an end to this horror, "Alptraum notes.
"And.. after that?" Persal asks. "When it is all over, do I turn myself over to the Yodhrephath?"
"I ... do not think that may be necessary. Not if I can give them the head of the operation instead of one forced to help due to threats," Alptraum points out. "I do not wish your children harm."
"Thank you," Persal says, shaking a bit. "And your Mother?"
"She did not kill you when you denounced her," Alptraum points out, "And by helping stop Diphath's plans you will have helped her. I can speak with her on it if you wish."
"Thank you again, Barsunala," Persal says, and practically prostrates himself at Alptraum's feet.
"Thank me if it works. I have only one more thing to ask of you," Alptraum says.
"Anything," the man offers.
"Be kinder to your children. Your daughter is a gentle soul. An odd sense of humor, but a kind person. Your son is ... a typical boy," Alptraum requests. "I have watched both of them and they both deserve a father who loves them."
"I do love them, but.. until this is over, I must also protect them, and that means keeping them distant," Persal laments. "I do not want them to miss me if something happens.. I want them to run. When we are safe again.. I will make it up to them."
"That is a promise I will hold you to. Now, is there more you wish to say to your wife? I can keep her here, but I cannot remain here forever. I ask that also when all of this is done that she, and you, allow her to rest as well," Alptraum says. "I promise you and your children will get to say farewell when the time comes."
"Just knowing that she's here.. I've already told her everything," Persal says, and looks up at the spectral woman and child with a smile on his face.
"A part of those you loved always stays with you, Persal Horus. I know it is easy to forget that, but it is true. You plan a shipment tomorrow, correct?" Alptraum inquires. "I will have that one tracked and determine how to handle the last shipment."
"Trystle will need to find a suitable sow," Persal explains. "Is there a special requirement you need to add to that selection?"
"For the first selection, I do not know yet. I can ... contact her and tell her directly within a day. If she does not hear from me, she cam choose any that seems viable," Alptraum suggests.
"You won't frighten her, will you?" Persal asks.
"I didn't when she first met me," Alptraum notes with a wry smile.
"Does she know..?" the man asks, wide eyed.
"No, she does not know," Alptraum concedes.
Relief spreads across Persal's face at that. "That is good. She so seldom talks to people.." he says.
"You would be surprised to know that many find me very easy to talk to," Alptraum notes with that same sort of wry smile.
"And it isn't just pleas to spare them?" the man asks. Seriously, at that.
"No, because I do not often appear as I do now; I can be anyone on the street I wish to be," Alptraum says. This probably does not make it any better.
"I can see where that would be useful," Persal admits. "Anyone at all?"
"Within reason. Why?" Alptraum notes.
"You could be one of the porters, or even me then?" Persal asks.
"I could if I spent the effort to copy you, yes. Why do you ask?" Alptraum notes.
"I was supposed to go with the final shipment, to collect payment," the man explains.
"Ahah, I see. Then that may also be an option for the final delivery. I will consider the options available and let you know," Alptraum says and steps back. His head tilts. "Time grows late and I should depart. I have other ... allies that are likely getting twitchy by now. I do not wish for violence to descend because I dallied."
"Of course, my lord," Persal says, bowing again.
Alptraum 'glides' towards the door and out of the chamber. Now, to leave the tower ... well that is down through the lower passage used for hog transport, of course. No need to return to being a hog at this point. That he knows of anyway.
Once outside, it's easy for him to locate Tulani - he can sense her a few hundred yards away.. and up. There's a silver dragon hanging upside-down from a buttress like.. like an overgrown bat, basically. She doesn't seem to have noticed him yet though.
So naturally Alptraum finds a small rock, picks it up, then tosses it at Tulani.
This causes the dragon to drop like an overripe fruit.. only to spread her wings at the last moment and glide towards the bat. Tulani also shows off a bit, changing while still gliding, so that what lands before Alptraum is a normal sized, wet and naked flying cat. "About time you showed up," she says.
"Hey, I was busy doing important things as a hog," Alptraum counters as he has to shake off some water spray that landed on the shadow cloak he wears. "And things are never that simple," he adds, then explains the situation with delivering dead children via hogs of all things to some of the General's men. "Have you heard of any rituals requiring the specificness of that?"
"I haven't heard of anything like that ever, and I'm from Sylvania and a sailor," Tulani notes. "Is there someone you think I should ask?"
"Unfortunately if you have not, it may be a question to ask of the Yodhsunala, or of the Yodhinala. One of them may know of it. The Yodhinala would be easier to ask this of, admittedly," Alptraum admits.
"Can't you just ask the Kindly Ones?" Tulani asks. "Anything that weird.. maybe Zakarro? I can ask Mave of course. I mean, if it is some sort of fertility ritual.. or fertility curse.. she might know of it."
"She might, and I could ask them directly, yes. But I thought you didn't want me spending too much time with them, that I already spend too much," Alptraum notes.
"This isn't spending time with them on their terms though, it's getting something useful out of them," Tulani claims, crossing her arms. "If anything though, I bet it has to do with the General's srinalas. Didn't you turn a live one over to the Yodhsunala to study?"
"Yes, I did. The last one," Alptraum agrees. "I am not sure it is related, and I have to decide how to track the final delivery down and why. One option is to be the sow, but that would be ... well, scary."
"How bad has it been to be a boar?" Tulani says. "Does that girl dress you up or anything?"
"I actually enjoyed it. She treated me well. The body wasn't uncomfortable, either, honestly," Alptraum admits.
"Then why do wild boars always seem so pissed off at the world?" Tulani wonders. "I guess you don't need extraction yet then? Is there a Yodhsunala I should talk to about the sows?"
"Extraction? I didn't realize I was going back in there," Alptraum admits and rubs at the back of his neck. "I should deal with the Yodhsunala myself. As for a sow, can you track them? I can show you where they leave from. What can you track easily?"
"If I know what it is, I can probably track it as a dragon," Tulani says. "I have a good sense of smell then. I just need the scent on its own.. not when it's mixed with a bunch of similar ones."
"Or for that matter, I can spore the sow myself as Scourge," Alptraum says and slaps the side of his own head, "Which I should do after they bathe it. Do you know my smell as Scourge? Can you follow that any?"
"Oh yeah, it's subtle but unique," Tulani says. "And with both of us tracking, it's less likely we'll lose the quarry."
"So, looks like I have to return to being a hog for a while in there then and mark the sow when they bring it in," Alptraum says, sighs, and rubs his neck. "Which means I have to put that hog ring back in my nose."
"Want me to do it for you?" Tulani offers, leaning forward a bit and grinning.
Alptraum actually produces the ring from its hiding place in the shadow and offers it to her. "You should know better than asking me things like that because you know I will have you do it," he remarks with a smirk.
"Hey, I'd like to think that anyone would let me put a big ring in their nose when I'm naked and wet!" Tulani claims.
Alptraum laughs at that. "It fits pretty tight through that grommet. It was hard to get back out," he adds, then leans over and actually flares his nostrils.
"Ah, want me to put it in now then, instead of waiting for you to be all hoggy?" Tulani purrs, and licks Alptraum's nose (cat tongues feel weird) before putting in the large ring.
"Well, which would you prefer?" Alptraum counters and wiggles his nose.
"The one that appreciates it the most, of course," the Sphynx claims. "And it's so big on you as an Eeee, you can't even bite me or kiss me without having to lift it up out of the way first!"
"So, you want me to be a hog first, eh?" Alptraum confirms, then dips Tulani back into a kiss.
"I should recharge and feed before going back to oinkland," Alptraum says after the kiss.
"In what order?" Tulani asks, licking her still-damp lips after the kiss.
Alptraum answers that by switching from the kiss to biting on her neck! He's even a bit rough; it's been a bit since real food for him so he's a bit hungry.
Wet cat tastes odd. But blood is blood, and so soon after a transformation there's still a slight draconic flavor to Tulani. "Oooo, rough! Good think you weren't a hog when you came out.. I might have started dragon-drooling."
"And I might have tried to hump your leg," Alptraum counters once his jaws actually release and he steps back. Another good thing about shadow cloaks ... they're waterproof!
Tulani rubs her neck a bit, and then draws out the Light of Nala. The size-shifting effect must extend to the belt and sheath as well now, somehow. Maybe just from prolonged exposure.
"Better put away the Shadow, just in case," Tulani points out.
"Then I'll be naked," Alptraum points out, but he withdraws the shadow all the same. Yep, he was right, naked bat.
Tulani draws out the blade, and seems to consider. "I could stab you," she says, but then just holds the blade out so Alptraum can take it in his left hand.
"What would be the point of stabbing me?" Alptraum asks as he reaches out with his left hand and takes hold of the blade. "If you did that while I was a hog I might get stuck that way!"
"I doubt it would have that affect on you," Tulani says. "It's just that it'd be my way of biting you back. I could charge you up by poking you in the butt!"
"Yeah yeah," Alptraum counters and rolls his eyes. "Oh, something else you can do for me, go to the Temple of Gorphat and tell the acolyte for me to start working in the tends of the hospice, in the most diseased wards."
"Washing out the open sores and such then?" Tulani asks.
"Yes," Alptraum agrees.
"Anything else?" Tulani asks. "When do you want me back here watching?"
"Probably two days from now. Long enough for them to get a sow and for me to tag her, then for them to prep her and get her to the delivery person," Alptraum notes, "So a couple more days as a boar for me it seems."
"When do they normally send the sow out? Just in case, I'll want to be watching," Tulani says.
"In the evenings, around dusk," Alptraum explains, "Right after the boar fights."
"I'll be around then, even if just so you can let me know when exactly to watch," Tulani promises, and sheaths the Light once Alptraum has recharged enough from it.
"So, back to hog, eh?" Alptraum remarks as he crouches down to all fours. Out comes the shadow again to do the slow shift back to a rather porcine form, along with the degraded mind that comes with it. Still, part of the form is fun. It is certainly different; the hooves are a unique experience!
"You are not a cute boar," Tulani admits. "But I'm biased. I like men to have necks. And heads that aren't a quarter of their body," she teases.
And all Boartraum can say to that is to snort loudly at her a few times, then white its drippy nose on her leg!
"That nose ring is useless," Tulani complains, and dances away. "Alright, I'm off to get some sleep," she says. "Need me to open the door for you?"
The boar just snorts at Tulani and turns its tail upon her. It trots back the way it came and impressively manages to open the door itself. "Looks like you're a pet a bit longer," he thinks as he goes. "At least Trystle will be happy with that I suppose. So, rest, then mark the next sow ... then follow it to its destination. Then .... decide how to do the last 'shipment' to them! Never simple. Doable, but not simple." Thoguhts are easy early into the shift at least, as time goes by, the hog mind will assert itself more. Particularly around Trystle, but he can deal with it, he has already!