Babel always seems dark in Tulani's dreams. The silver dragon circles up high and dives down to dodge the bridge supports and flying buttresses, but nobody else is ever seen.

Nox has to cling onto Tulani's back with her.. well, she doesn't have claws at the moment, so can just use her fingers and toes. "Is that you, my little rat?" the dragon asks, without turning her head to look.

"No, I'm a brain sucker and I chose a target with little sustenance," Nox remarks dryly. "Of course it's me. Few others can poke you this way, after all."

"I could have a vivid imagination though," the dragon sniffs.. she can't really pout. "But if you're here, that means it's time to get the raid ready, yeah?"

"Considering after that last show they're probably going to really try to kill me now, yes," Nox says, "As if cutting me open, and eating part of my butt were not enough for them. Anyway, I can give you more identifying points; they're using an old slave market that has been built over. Just a few feet above the old sewers.""

Tulani twists around in the air, and starts to descend. "Big square shape next to a tower," she says. Apparently it's not a natural dream - she's actually been building up and reinforcing a mental map of Babel.

"What?" Nox inquires, confused. "It could possibly be under a tower. A lot of waterways underneath it. There should be plans somewhere for it. It'll stand out."

They're moving through darker parts of the map now. "Near the sewers means old. But abandoned.. and not being used by squatters either. Did it look clean or used?"

"Which part? The sewers? Those were absolutely used," Nox says as she peers downward. "As for the 'torture' room, no lamps were there, and the ceiling was intact. It looked kept up."

A few more tower-bases dodged (and early Babel really liked bridges joining things up) and Tulani slows down, while muttering the word 'sewer' over and over. "A slave market would be near the city center I think." Soon they're sailing towards the Wound.

"Either near the city center, or, near old airship docks," Nox points out. "Short distance to move the 'merchandise'

"Good idea, we'll start there and work our way inwards," Tulani agrees. "I've already figured out the bodies were dumped in random places. Very carefully selected random places though." Even in a dreamscape, the Sphynx-turned-dragon doesn't cross the Wound.

As they reach the docks and start to spiral inwards towards the Wound again, Nox picks up little flashes - as if she's seeing through the eyes of her horrib minions.

"I should warn you I'm a mess," Nox remarks, "I've got spikes through my wrists and ankles, and bars in my back. Slso, half a butt," she explains before stuttering a moment and focusing on those flashes. "I'm picking up Nicora's pets; they're out searching too. I think we're getting close as they've been tracking some of the people."

It doesn't take long for the pair to triangulate the impressions left by the horribs. A little further searching reveals an exposed section of sewer and a mostly-buried structure that could have been the old slave market. The tower it connects too is mostly gone, either from collapse or disassembly.

Nox focuses more here, just trying to map out what she remembers from underneath, and if it seems like it might be the right size. Mostly, this is a guess, but at least an educated one.

"This seems suspiciously close to old Velkarno's place," Tulani notes when they land near what might be the old enclosed market. "Would suit him."

"They'd have some serious guts to keep using this place after what happened to him," Nox notes as she tries to slide off the dragon's back. "But, it's also smart, too. Who would think to re-check a place that was already punished?"

Bits of the real world overlap the dream one: impressions from the Sacred Horribs. It means they've focused more of their attention on this area. "Have you seen anything like an entrance?" Tulani asks. "Or.. hmm. Someplace where there was a lot of loitering?"

Nox has to stand on one leg. "I can't recall something like that. It's not like I'm allowed to see much," she notes as she balances.

"They must be coming and going somehow.." Tulani notes, sniffing around the concealing rubble. "They're rich and powerful.. they'll have bodyguards who aren't allowed inside."

"Well, I haven't been outside, so I'm no help there. In fact, they don't let me move much at all. Just torments and a lot of rape," Nox remarks dryly and shrugs. Even in here she still has the bars in her wrists, which she rubs absently.

"Will have to stake it out then," Tulani says. "You can still detect me if I'm close enough, can't you?"

"I should be able to, you're 'noisy' in that sense," Nox remarks. "I hope this won't take long ... I'm not sure how much time I have left before they try something even worse. Who knows what they're doing to me right now while I'm asleep. They could be prepping my body for something for all I know."

"Need to be certain of the location though," Tulani frets. "How do you control the Horribs, anyway? What can you get from them?"

"I can see what they see when they get close enough to me," Nox notes, "And influence them a bit."

"Can you try it now?" Tulani asks. "They should have been following people, so one of them must be able to back-track to where they came out, right?"

Nox leans against Tulani and closes her eyes. She spreads out her senses, trying to find one of her, well, children. "Trying," she mutters, as she stretches things to the limit.

The overlapping areas become more frequent, and soon there are additional ribbons of light - a time-lapse of how the Skreek-flu marked people look to the Horribs. And it seems there are multiple entrances being used.

"Multiple entrances," Nox remarks. "Thirty feet to the right, down. Two hundred feet left, down and under," she tries to explain. "Ahead maybe sixty feet, up, then down a hole."

"Of course there are multiple entrances," Tulani grumbles but goes to check them out. "Can't be seen leaving or arriving together, after all. We'll need to cover them all before going in."

Nox has to anchor herself on some of the debris since Tulani is going to check some of the holes. She can't walk that far after all.

It takes some time, but they manage to map out all the entrances that have been used since the markings were done. It's an odd effect, since the areas are less defined in the dreamscape until Nox is able to add in the horrib vision. "I'll make sure we have spotters in place before dawn," Tulani offers. "You think the next show will bring in the most fish?"

"Hah, given what happened the last time, yes," Nox remarks, looking both amused and ill. "They're going to want to see me die horribly, so it'll be a regular circus. I don't know if I can even survive what is coming, so I may have to blow my cover whenever it is revealed."

"If they run we'll be ready, I think," Tulani claims. "And if we miss a few.. well, there are the horribs.."

"Well, that's true," Nox has to concede. "There aren't that many of those, but they are large and scary."

There's a moment of blurriness, and Tulani is back to Sphynxish self, so that she can hug Nox. "They won't get away with what they've been doing," she promises the Skreek. The hug is also a bit awkward because of the thick wooden collar.

"I hope you'll have the light with you," Nox admits after the hug. "I'm really messed up and pretty weak. But, I've been careful with my reserves. So, I should have enough to protect myself if it comes to it." She rubs the collar, then admits, "It's also scary, but I've gotten used to this thing on my neck. It's been almost a month since it was fitted."

"We'll get it off without breaking it, I'm sure," Tulani says. "It's evidence, after all."

"Might take some effort. So I'll have to stay ratted for a bit after recovery, I suspect," Nox notes.

"Especially if you need to testify," Tulani says, and hugs again. "I don't know how the courts work here.. especially now that the Coalition has done away with private law."

"I have no idea either," Nox admits. "But I am trying to not get involved as the real me. People need to rely on the law, not on 'divine' judgment all the time." She hugs Tulani again and sighs, saying, "This was a lot worse than I expected it to be. These people are freaks. I mean, what kind of people cut off parts of someone alive and wake, and eats it? That's just ... that's beyond a monster."

"Cannibalism?" Tulani asks.. and has the decency to blush, since she's come pretty close to eating people as a dragon. "Oh, who is on the rescue list for the raid?"

"Not as many as I would have liked," Nox admits sadly. "They already ate the children of one of the captives; they're just using her as a 'livestock brooder'. "Moggy is the poor woman who lost her kids. There's another skreek named Wretch who's a horrible mess and will need a lot of repair, probably by me. And the Doctor's son. He's ... a mentally damaged Naga. He's actually sweet and doesn't understand what is going on. I feel sorry for him. He's been nice to me."

"Smaller, wrinkled like he should shed but cannot," Nox describes, "Otherwise the same."

"So, all the Skreeks and the boy," Tulani says to make certain. "Everyone else will be sorted out in jail. Do any of them seem like people that would fight to the death if cornered?"

"One of the guards. Number 1," Nox describes. "He's an evil one, likes to cause pain. I expect him to fight. The others less so. Also, and this is important, they've been mind-wiped. So they've had help from a mind-mage somewhere. They don't recall their own names. So they're both actors and victims."

"So a Mind Mage may have been involved," Tulani notes. "Or it could have been done with drugs and brainwashing. I think there are ways to know one way or the other, once we have them in custody. If this was something set up originally by ol' Velkarno, then a Royal Mage might have done it."

"Cyprian could tell you, I'm pretty certain on that," Nox says, "And I know he would help."

"Oh.. yeah, I bet he'll be at the trial too, to make sure nobody is lying," Tulani notes and grins.

"And he's as scary as I can be," Nox remarks, amused. "I tell you, Tulani, I will need a drink after all of this. Or a lot of them. And I'm not sure I can stomach being a skreek again."

"Also ... there is one person that belongs to me. The Barinala that captured me," Nox notes and raises a finger. "I will deal with him personally, as long as he is not needed for the trial."

"If he's not at the site then he's not getting captured," Tulani notes. "Going to swallow him whole?" she asks.

"I'm giving him to Yodhrephath Windcaller," Nox remarks. "She suffered under the hand of the Yodhinala, and she could use some closure."

The Sylvanian Sphynx's brows rise up. "The Yodhrephath.. well, I suppose 'revenge' does fall to them. Anything else to cover? Otherwise I need to wake up and set things in motion."

"Oh, one more that may need saving, Beyard, he's a rhian. A huge one. He was who they were using to kill others via sex," Nox adds, remembering. "Completely insane, but may be treatable."

"I suspect the latter," Nox admits, "But I had no time to examine him. The fact that he finally, well, had a successful experience calmed him down a lot."

"So, he's likely kept in a cell of his own then," Tulani notes. "Not necessarily chained up. Biter must have been the rattle-tail one, right, not the huge one?"

"Right, that was the rattle tail one," Nox says, "The huge one has another name, but my memory is a mess. He's still around. He's raped be a couple of times."

"I'll see if we can get a few Vartans or Fnerfs to deal with the big one," Tulani says, then asks, "Is he important, or just muscle?"

"I think he's mainly muscle. Procurement, so to speak," Nox says after some thought. "The doctor seemed closer to Rattlebones."

"The doctor sounds like the higher-up then," Tulani says, chewing on her lower lip. "If the big one resists, he pops to the top of the hit-list."

"He's physically the most dangerous one," Nox says, "And the Doctor ... she's fully in charge I believe. Not sure anyone is above her."

"Oh, Moggy is pregnant. Be careful with her. I'm not sure she's all there mentally anymore, either," Nox says.

"So everyone that needs rescue is broken in some way?" the Sphynx asks, and rubs the top of her head. "Alright, big question then: will the guards use others as shields, or try to run for it?"

"If I had to guess? Run for it," Nox says. "There aren't enough prisoners to use as shields."

"Alright, that was my big concern," Tulani says. "The whole police thing is new to Babel, so they shouldn't be thinking about getting rid of witnesses."

"And prisoners like me are too messed up to be very useful," Nox notes, "I'd slow them down."

"We'll have to start moving inwards after the last patron arrives, so we may be a bit slow," Tulani explains. "There was something about 'catching them in the act' but with you and the other Skreeks as witnesses it shouldn't matter."

"Well, I'm not going to blow any cover until there is no other choice," Nox notes, "So you still may have a chance to catch them. I just can't say for certain as I don't know what is coming."

"The doctor is fast and strong, and she has a lot of drugs and knives. Approach with caution," Nox notes. "I also wouldn't be surprised if part of her chambers is trapped."

"But she should be out with the guests for things?" Tulani asks. "It would be nice to have them all one spot."

"So three Eeee guards and the big snake on the inside," Tulani says, "and some number of bodyguards on the outside, probably. I suppose that justifies bringing overwhelming force for the raid."

"Oh, of course. That justifies it. Not that I am in danger," Nox remarks dryly. At least she winks afterward. She isn't really offended.

"You know what I mean," Tulani says, and lightly punches Nox in the shoulder. "It may be harder to keep everyone from coming. They're all new and eager to make a big impression."

Nox rubs her shoulder and grins. "I know, I know. So, next time will you be the girl on the inside being abused?" the rat inquires, brow arched.

"But you're so good at it!" Tulani claims with a grin. "If you have to come for me.. it'll mean you have to get past an angry mob with torches and pitchforks and such.."

Nox laughs. "I know, I know. And yes, I'm good at it. Partially because I have learned how to endure awful stuff and still manage," the rat notes. "So, as gross as Nicora is, she's been useful you must admit."

"They really don't do her justice with the plush dolls," Tulani admits. "Maybe they can add a Genuine Ooozing Action or something."

"Would you believe I miss the oozing?" Nox admits. "I mean, it would really dissuade people from raping me." She sticks out her tongue.

"From anyone normal? Yes. From those that serve the temple? No. They just often use, well, the alternate passage now," Nox admits.

"Normal people are a myth," Tulani declares! "Which makes you almost normal, if you're half-mythological."

"Fair enough," Nox admits and hugs Tulani again. "And I guess you need to go. I can't think of anything else I can tell you that would be useful. I'll see you in a couple of days if everything goes well."

Tulani flies off, and the dreamscape begins to collapse - in quite a literal way, as it breaks up and flies apart..

Power Vacuum
Junks of masonry drift through the dark air here, some large enough to be full rooms or towers. At the center of it all is grand hall.. although the walls and ceiling have drifted away. The floor is still there, with a long banquet table set upon it and many torches in sconces held in place by nothing.

The remains of a feast cover the banquet table, and little if any are suitable for eating. Rotten fruit overflows bowls with mold, vermites fight over the bones and gristle of roasted fowl, and the wineglasses are full of sediment. At the head of the table is Zakaro, gnawing on the end of a large bone.

Nox sits across from Zakaro. Now, while she's feeling a bit freaked out to be sitting across from this one, she's got a good poker face. "Well, I suppose I am not surprised to see you, Zakaro," the rat notes quietly. "I believe my captors want to invoke you next."

"They may be the last ones, you know," Zakaro notes. "Nobody appeases me anymore. And it's apparently illegal now to use sorcery." She really chews on that new term, like she's trying to expel it from her mouth. "And you're going to take them away from me."

"What they are doing cannot continue," Nox remarks as she gestures with her right hand, the bar still sticking completely through the wrist and the ring jingling. "You need better followers than them. Some that can be tolerated. And as a bonus, some that can work with the Mage's guild for legitimacy in the new order."

"The Mage's Guild?" Zakaro exclaims, rising to pound her fists on the table top. "They take from me! Working with them is..." the goddess begins to rant, but then loses steam and slumps back into her chair. "I'm a goddess, so I shouldn't have to take the lower position in negotiations. Negotiations. More horrible words."

"Look at Gorphat, Blakat, Sunala, and the others. Working through me has gained them all new positions in the city," Nox points out, managing to look calm, even though she isn't. "I'm more than willing to help you. I'll even dedicate a form to just you, if you wish it."

"I'm a being of power and privilege, so what role could I play?" the goddess asks. "I'm exactly what Babel is trying to shed. "Do I need to become Soul again? Take up my chains and.. inspire people?"

"No one said you have to be chained," Nox notes, "None of the others are. It's more a matter of perception. Strength and power through work, is inspiring. Power earned honestly is an honorable and inspiring thing. There is nothing wrong with you being Power, as long as you represent it as wielded with care and wisdom. Look at the Mages Guild again as an example, through study and work they slowly grow until they inspire. Can you really say the Avenger is not inspiring?"

"Or even me? Alptraum? I sacrificed much to help others and I've rarely ever asked for much in return from anyone, and amazingly even I have followers," Nox adds and gestures towards herself. "I gained power and status through sacrifice and work."

"It's easy for him to be inspiring," Zakaro claims. "I barely played a role in that wild hunt. And the Barsunala bridges the way between the living and the dead. Both living men. But today.. today I'm seen as the goddess who failed. I failed to hold up the towers, when my Yodh challenged the mages. And now I am forbidden to even try. I cannot just claim that the landlord was not suitably pious enough."

"Undermined," Nox suggests instead. "Dipath and her followers destabilized every coven. Had I not become active they would have all died out," she points out. "And if you want followers, you cannot just scare people, if you inspire them they will follow willingly."

"Thou, O Soul, imagination, will and mind," Zakaro recites. "To My people's brains I shall forever bind. Enterprise and conquest of the mind empower; Send My people o'er the Mother's world to flower." The goddess sighs. "And then I cut off my father's wings. Prosperity, isn't it? That's what I need to enable. But how? Become a muse?"

Nox considers this and rubs her chin. "That's one way," she agrees, then nods. "Haven't you ever wanted people to look to you willingly, instead of just being afraid and donating because of that? True piety comes from a real belief and wish to give to you, not giving because they fear you."

"What can I offer then?" Zakaro asks. "I'm not like Gorphat, or Inala or the others. They all have useful roles. You've met my Yodh... both the renegades in Babel and poor Hekat in Sylvania. I could become the goddess of.. body art? Sorcery is what I do.." She then looks Nox in the eye. "Sorcery, yes.."

"The mages with their Spheres.. they have to balance out things when it comes to Spirit though, don't they?" the goddess asks. "Necromancy balanced with Warding."

"It is a mixture, yes," Nox concedes. "Violation of the dead is generally frowned upon by them too, but they do summon and work with spirits. It's using a disturbing art to do good things, instead of for personal gain. Well, the respectable ones anyway."

"Protection from sorcery then.. if there is any left in Babel," Zakaro says, looking thoughtful. "Maybe I do have something to offer the mages.. but I need something to offer all of Babel."

"With what Amenlichli is trying to do? Plenty of nasty sorcery about," Nox points out and sits back a bit. Well, until her back sub dermal bars make that uncomfortable. "As for all of Babel, affordable basic wards? A guardian. One certainly better-looking than your Sister, Blakat. Don't tell her I said that, though."

"What about.. that spell the Avenger is working on?" Zakaro asks after mulling over the options. "The ward against the madness of the enemy. It needs to cover the entire city, doesn't it?"

"Yes. Do you think you can help with that? I think he would be willing to work with you if the Shrine Maiden asked him to," Nox says, shifting again so there is no pressure on her back.

"I may be able to help with that, yes," Zakaro says, then sweeps a lot of filthy plates and other dinnerware off of the table so she can lay atop it, nose-to-nose with Nox. "I am a goddess, after all. If enough people in Babel still believe in me, then I should be able to provide the needed power." She licks the rat's nose, and then asks, "But will he be willing to work with me? To trust me?"

"With the Shrine Maiden's recommendation, I think so," Nox admits as she wiggles her nose, then rubs it after that lick. "And you never said if you wanted a servant form from me; a shape dedicated to just you."

"Well.. that depends," Zakaro says. "Certainly if I'm to work with the Avenger and his cohorts, I will need a Yodhzakaro as a go-between, don't you think? The Shrine Maiden is all about sharing, so not exactly appropriate to the task."

Nox nods at this. "I'm not sure what are the requirements of a Yodhzakaro," the rat admits as she rubs at her cheek since she cannot scratch it.

"Well, in keeping the current trend of breaking tradition.. I don't know yet either!" Zakaro claims. "But at the very least, you must be able to be a conduit of my power."

"Well, do you want an Eeee? Or something else? How would you envision a daughter of a new you? Still covered with the runes?" Nox inquires and gestures to Zakaro. "I have to admit I think they're attractive."

"Or you could go creative with the runes and make them actual lines and ridges under the skin," Nox suggests as she thinks. "Or with jewelry."

"Beautiful, of course," Zakaro notes. "And marked appropriately. An Eeee... yes, an Eeee.."

"Oh yes, only a female vessel will do!" Zakaro says. "How about.. oh, that little hand-mirror-maiden of a Yodhinala? Or do you have another in mind? Or should I go with a dragon! that might be too much though.."

"A dragon would be too much, but an all white Eeee based off maybe one of the Yodhinala is possible, yes," Nox agrees. "And I imagine would have to be properly initiated. What kinds of markings would you be proud of?"

"It is a special process, but I'm sure the Artist could manage it," Zakaro says. "And you will have the same markings as I do, naturally. And a name as well.. ah, of course: Zarana!"

Nox chuckles a bit at that. "Well, it would certainly be fitting. Will I have robes, or always be nude?" the rat inquires next. It's hard to show off markings if you're clothed after all. The fact that she'll have to go to Mordecai again makes her twitch a bit, though. Mordecai is like Gorphat, she gets very weird around him and will do whatever he wants.

"Then that answers that," Nox agrees, "Nude it is, all white, covered in runes in your image."

"And she should seduce the Avenger, as well," Zakaro says. "For safety, of course, so that the mages will not turn on her."

Zakaro pouts. "I never get to seduce anybody," she complains. "It's the pudge and the cackling, I'm sure."

"Should Zarana have a pudge?" Nox inquires, "And I mean I can offer and try, I'm just saying he really likes the Shrine maiden."

"Zarana must be charming and beautiful and put all other Eeee women to shame," Zakaro says, in a slightly demanding voice. "Because that is how I wish to be seen."

Nox holds up her hands, rings jingling. "Okay, okay," she says placatingly. "I'll do what I can."

Zakaro is all smiles after that. "Garner favor to me, and it will be returned, I promise," she coos.

Nox bobs her head. "Of that I am sure," Nox agrees, then leans down to kiss Zakaro right on the nose.

The goddess giggles at the kiss, and makes playful shooing motions with her hands. "Off you go then, to kill off the last bits of the old me that cling to Babel. Make room for the new Zakaro."

Nox gets a bit, well, braver. She cups her hands on Zakaro's cheeks, then kisses her, full on the mouth. Well, for a few seconds anyway. She releases then says, "Just don't help those in the pit kill me if you want all this to come to pass," she says and winks.

"I help those who.. well, let's be honest; I don't help anyone," Zakaro claims. "I just choose to leave them be if they appease me."

"Just change that helping people ... after all of this," Nox points out. "And oh, what is this Glass person they talked about?"

"Glass, Glass.. hmmm," Zakaro says, scrunching her face a bit in thought. "Glass is.. uh.. to do with the sacrifices.. definitely sure of that. But not a Yodhzakaro, which is bad. And because of that I can't really tell you more. My Yodh are my eyes and ears, but if they aren't actually involved I can't see much."

"Not very helpful, but good to know. I'll manage," Nox claims, nervous. "When I craft your new Yodh ... I'll visit again. As her."

"So she meets with my image requirements," Zakaro claims. "I would much prefer the attentions of the Barsunala, when it comes to such things."

And the Rat sits back and closes her own eyes, trying to see if she can rouse herself back into the waking work.