After returning to 'normal' and cleaning up a bit, Alptraum returns to the Life wing to meet with Mage Candifloss. The Lapi doe brings him to the Mind wing to meet with Cyprian in his office. "The Barsunala would like to speak with Sesstha and Swix," the doe explains.

Cyprian turns from the tall window with a view of the city. "Greetings, Barsunala," the Mind Mage offers, and even bows his head to the visiting religious icon. "May I ask why you wish to see our guests?"

"Several reasons. The primary being is that she has been given something a precious few are ever given, a chance for a future. She needs to embrace that, for herself and for her son. She can't allow herself to wither away as she seems to be doing," Alptraum answers after he bows in kind. "I am not here to exact some sort of vengeance if that is your concern."

"Ah.. it is heartening to hear that you are not here because of the 'blasphemy' issue," Cyprian says, then approaches the pair with his hands behind his back. "Sesstha is a difficult case," he explains. "She's very resistant to counseling, and the presence of her son may be the only reason she hasn't tried to take her own life. We've been distracting her with exams. Medical ones. We all need to know what she's learned and what she still needs to learn."

"I have also noted to Candifloss that her sone may be fixable. As in repairing his stunted growth," Alptraum notes, "I say may, because I am not certain. Though Candifloss can attest to my ability to help given the assist I gave to her current patient. I mention this because I am aware of what went on at the trial, including all the testimony. I know her story, how she became their prisoner in hopes of helping her son, and how that utterly failed. If I can help her son, it may allow her to see the time as not a complete failure, and a sign that she was forgiven for being put in an impossible position."

"Swix has been learning how to read," Cyprian says. "I wonder if half of his problem was simply a lack of any attempt at education. I know that he can learn by watching - apparently he was able to do some chores and such that he learned on his own. The other issue with him is emotional support; he needs to have his Skreek friend visit so that he doesn't mope. It's putting a lot of pressure on the Skreek, because if Swix gets depressed his mother becomes very stressed. All of them are having some issues adapting to the world in general."

"The Skreek may be too busy soon to attend to Swix," Candifloss points out. "Moggie will be giving birth within the next ten days."

"Then what would you have me do?" Alptraum asks and spreads his arms. "My abilities span only a few areas. I may be able to heal him. I know I could repair damage to the skreek, if it is so wanted. I can't undo what they have been through emotionally, I can only give them the physical chance to move forward." He pauses, considering. "I could also change their colorations so that they would not be as readily recognized, to give them a chance to build a new future. I just ... can't erase their memories of the trauma they went through."

"We have our own methods for dealing with the trauma, but they do require active cooperation," Cyprian claims, then sighs. "The boy's condition likely spared him from trauma - his mother kept him isolated from things as much as possible. He's also disturbingly fatalistic, since apparently Sesstha has been preparing him for their deaths for.. years. If you can convince Sesstha to cooperate and let us reduce her trauma, it will help immensely, especially with baby Skreeks on the way."

"Swix has been very helpful in treating Moggie's understandable fear of Nagas," Candifloss notes.

"Should I offer to try to help her son?" Alptraum asks. "I know what she did to people ... this isn't known and I do not want it spoken beyond this room, but the other skreek woman who was rescued survived ... because of me. She wasn't aware of it, but it was so. I helped keep her alive through that hell, which also means I felt everything they did to her. And yet, I do not hate Sesstha, nor do I wish her any harm. She was in an impossible position and she did what she thought she had no choice to do, in hopes of saving her child. Nearly any parent would have done the same."

"If you think it will help, then please make the offer," Cyprian says. "Convince her that Swix will need her more after that, since he'd be more open to realizing what his life has been and what was done to his mother. Right now, anything that has her actually thinking about the future - and I mean years and years out, not just the next day - will be an opening we can use."

"If I can fix him, I can fix his body so that he will grow and learn normally. He will still have to be taught. Basically, grow up later than what would have been normal. It will be a chance to give him a real future; what she always wanted. All of this is a big if, though. I do not know if I can," Alptraum explains, then runs his hands through his hair. "This isn't like I'm fixing broken bones. It's more complicated. And ... it may also require that you will have to trust me completely. It may require me making use of an ancient artifact I'd rather the knowledge of not be widespread beyond a few people."

"If that is the case, you'll need to make arrangements to have Swix moved to a more secure location," Cyprian says. "He and his mother aren't prisoners here; they can leave if they wish.. so long as Sesstha still serves her sentence."

"Do you trust me enough for that?" Alptraum asks, then looks to Candifloss. "She has already expressed her reservations about me."

The doe's ears go back a bit. Cyprian says, "It's not a matter of if I trust you: it's whether or not Sesstha will trust you."

"It does matter," Alptraum says. "It matters to me. I am trying to build trust."

"You are standing here uncontested," Cyprian says. "That means the Mage's Guild of Babel trusts you. In many ways, you and I are peers - at least in the minds of the public, due to our activities. And I trust you. I can't speak for Candifloss, but Life Mages can be slow to trust people. I think it's because their patients tend to lie to them."

"I have a wonderful bedside... my associates have wonderful bedside manners," the doe counters with, crossing her arms.

Alptraum looks to Candifloss again. "Do you believe I will try to help?" he asks the doe. "We did, after all, spend several hours working together."

"I don't think you'd go to all this trouble to hurt someone and throw away all the credit you've built up thus far," Candifloss reasons. "And I'll go with you in case you need someone to backup any claims you make about what you can do. That'll be easier than dragging Sesstha down to see Passul."

"All right, that's fair and a good point," Alptraum agrees. "And again, I cannot promise I can fix her son's condition so that he can mentally grow. This is new for me. All I can do is try. It's an offer of hope."

"Well, the excuse for you being there with me is to examine Swix then," Candifloss says. "I know you can do that much."

"I'll need to be able to examine her as well. I can use her as a map for how to fix him," Alptraum explains.

"She's likely to have at least some of the same developmental damage," the doe remarks. "We'll see how it goes. You may have to do it to me first before she'll trust you. I don't think she has a very high opinion of the Kindly Ones and their pantheon."

"Well, you have my leave to visit them," Cyprian notes. "There isn't anything scheduled beyond the tests of Sesstha's medical knowledge."

"Well, then it's no time like the present to visit her," Alptraum says and rubs his hands together. "Shall we go, tender morsel?" he inquires of Candifloss.

Procession Suite
Blocks of polished grey-black granite shot with silvery flecks form the walls and vaulted dome of this chamber, inset with high, narrow windows composed of multiple small panes of crackled glass. The chamber's walls form most of a circle, flattened on the only inside wall, where a single door leads to the rest of the tower.

The room is rather warm when Alptraum and Candifloss arrive, due to a glowing boulder set in the center of the chamber. Swix is coiled up in a Naga bowl with several picture books aimed at teaching children to read, and a cage of colorful oghnoighs - likely there in the hopes that he'll eat some, but he's got one of the colorful creatures on his head and is squeezing and playing with another one in his hands. Sesstha is at a lectern covered in papers, which she is slowly deciphering. Both reptiles look to the door when it opens.

"Greetings, Doct.. Mage Candifloss-sss," Sesstha says, and then looks at Alptraum with no sign of recognition.

"This is an associate of mine," Candifloss introduces Alptraum.. then falters a bit at what more to say, so she just looks up at the Eeee.

"Afternoon," Alptraum replies politely as he follows Candifloss into the room. "I am here to offer my help," he says in a neutral tone. He remembers all too well the hell she put Cerise through, but he also knows she was in an impossible position. "I am also known as the Barsunala, and I have ... abilities that can augment those of the mages." He figures he should be completely honest; this is a matter of trust, after all.

"You are from Mt. Sunala?" Sesstha asks, turning her head to look at Alptraum with just one eye. "I did not know the Mages sought assssistance from Death."

"I am not a, I am the Barsunala," Alptraum tries to clarify. "And I am here to offer the chance at a real future." He looks over towards Swix. "I may be able to help your son. So that he can ... grow properly physically and mentally."

Sesstha makes a very slow tongue flick before asking, "And what iss the price for thiss miracle?"

"That you raise him. That you care for him and help him look forward to living, instead of preparing to die, and for you to die," Alptraum answers. "Nothing more than that."

"Which means you will need to let the mages come to terms with what happened, so that you can live," Alptraum adds.

"I have to examine you, and him," Alptraum says, "To see if it is possible or not. I cannot make promises, only that I can try."

"He fixed Passul," Candifloss claims. "He'll be waking up in another day or two, without any broken bones or bruises."

"I.. see no harm in another examination," Sesstha says. "But I would asssk why you are making this offer at all? Don't you know what I've done?"

"I know everything you have done. I felt every agony that the skreek you called Nox endured," Alptraum answers simply. "I also know why. You were put in an impossible position. You did what most parents would have done, and you suffered horribly for it too. I offer because I want to help; really help. I am trying to lead Babel to a better future and this means giving hope and a future to those who have suffered. You are one of those people too."

"I doubt my suffering isss unique," Sesstha claims. "But I am told the Ssstreets Below have been emptied. At leasst, of those who did not thrive in that wasteland. My son iss the only innocent person I have known, and it iss slowly killing him. If having a future is the cost of him having a future.. then I will agree to whatever you wish to do."

"It isn't unique, no," Alptraum agrees. "And it's why I am trying to help, to end what suffering I can. All I wish to do now is examine the both of you. Starting with you so you will know what your son will also experience."

The red Naga puts down her pencil, and slithers closer. She's actually wearing clothes: a simple vest. No doubt so that she'll feel more like a person, rather than by personal choice.

Alptraum holds out his right hand to the naga. "Take my hand, then," he requests.

Sesstha does so when prompted. She doesn't seem to realize anything unusual about the hand either, probably thinking it's an elaborate glove (and given the tendencies of her former 'patrons' that probably isn't too surprising). Once she actually touches it though, she asks, "Were you burnt?"

"I tore out a heart of evil from an ancient evil and it fought back," Alptraum answers. "It left me scarred."

"Yes," Alptraum says. "The pain I endured gave someone a future. And from that, many others as well. Why do you ask?"

The Naga is quiet for several moments, with just her tongue moving. "I had access to many chemicals and medicines. I could have poisoned my patrons and coworkers at any time. Painlessly or painfully. But I did not, and for every event, I had to decide again if thisss time I would go through with it. It would have saved... a lot of trouble. Was I weak?" she asks.

"No. You were trying to protect your son. If you killed them, their servants would have killed you and your son," Alptruam notes. "You know that, did you not?"

"I did not," Sesstha says. "I would have poisoned Swix and myself as well, in any case."

"Then you didn't because you loved your son," Alptraum offers next. "And as you said, he was innocent."

"It wasss always a waiting game," Sesstha says, suddenly looking very tired. "I knew that I would have to do it eventually, when my replacement arrived."

"No, I prayed for it," Sesstha admits. "But the Kindly Ones never answered. I prayed to Sunala for death, I prayed to Inala to smite us all, and I prayed to Rephath for vengeance. Only the lasst one was answered though, from what I have been told of Velkarno's fate."

"Did he sssuffer?" Sesstha asks, and.. squeezes Alptraum's hand slightly. "Was it sssslow?"

"Yes, and he is still suffering," Alptraum answers. "Gorphat is seeing to that."

"I'd only heard about that in passing," the mage claims. "Before my assignment here."

"Not all my duties are pleasant," Alptraum admits to Candifloss, "But they have been necessary. They ate children."

"We were diverted," the doe says. "On our way to Saskanar. The three of us.. myself and Mages Sally and Woofio.. arrived here two days before the raid."

Alptraum nods. "Anyway, back to the task at hand. I need you to relax," he tells Sesstha. When it seems like she is relaxed, he breathes out slowly, and with that lets the shadow flow so he can ken the doctor and learn about her, her growing up, and to try and gleen enough about her to perhaps make use of it. It also tries to minimize how, well, good it feels."

It takes time, since Sesstha is big despite being undersized for a Naga her age. There is a lot of internal scar-tissue, most of it very old. Even her reproductive tract is scarred. She has kidney damage - something that should be pretty painful - and other issues. Her liver is too small, her jaw has been broken and can no longer unhinge and one of her lungs is considerably smaller than the other. She may also have nerve damage below the ribs, and her heart muscles show signs of severe stress - Naga hearts just aren't supposed to be worked too hard.

Alptraum draws the shadow back and rubs his neck soon after. "It looks like I need to repair you as well," Alptraum admits to the large naga. "May I now examine your son?" he asks next.

"I am fine," Sesstha insists. "That seemed.. harmless. Please examine my son." She then calls to Swix, who looks up from his books and candy-colored bugs. He actually puts the creatures back into their cage before coming over. "Yess mama?" he says as he comes over, his aura cool and unconcerned.

"You aren't fine," Alptraum notes to Sesstha. "I can name half a dozen problems you have." He then turns his attention to Swix. "I'm here to examine you. Is that okay with you?" he asks the child gently.

"I give him treats," Candifloss admits. "I.. don't know why he likes them, since he can't taste anything."

The doe checks her robes, and produces a piece of rock-candy. Candy is easy to come by in Babel.

Swix nods enthusiastically, but doesn't reach for the candy yet. "After," he says, as if instructing Alptraum on the proper order of events.

Alptraum holds out his right hand again. "Then take hold of my hand, please," he requests.

Swix grabs on with both hands, and looks at the 'pearl' in Alptraum's wrist. He also tries to turn the hand over to see the underside.

Alptraum allows it. "Just relax, okay?" he requests. And as soon as the child calms down, Alptraum will repeat the kening process. Slow, gentle, and without pleasure as much as possible.

It takes a moment or three, because Swix is very curious about the hand, even feeling all the nooks-and-crannies, before finally settling down. As the shadow suffuses the boy (technically an adult, by age) it turns out that Swix is in much better health than his mother when it comes to damage. He hasn't suffered any injuries at all. Alptraum can also 'taste' lingering traces of Life Magic in him. Swix still suffers from malnutrition, only now Alptraum knows that it's largely self-inflicted, since the Naga won't eat live or whole prey and isn't getting all the nutrients he needs. This is enough to account for his physical immaturity. It's harder to determine with his brain. The structure seems sound, but the lack of nutrients is probably the reason for most of his mental issues. Even his hormone levels seem suppressed, which is likely related to never quite being fit enough to achieve puberty.

Alptraum draws the shadow back and nods. He thinks he can fix nutrition using the light ... but he's not sure how to maintain that long term. Is there a way to make him able to get nutrients from something else? Alptraum then rubs his face slowly. "All right," he says, "I've learned what I can. I have to think on how to ... help." There's a pause, then he asks the child, "Why is it you don't ... eat them?" That comes with a gesture towards the creatures he was sitting with earlier.

"I don't want to be eaten," Swix says, then points to the foul-tasting to anyone but a Naga oghnoighs. "Don't think they do either."

Alptraum nods to this logic. "Fair enough," he has to concede. "I have taken enough of your time. I will think on how best I can help. You need to allow the mages to help you," he says to Sesstha.

"I am not convinced that I should suffer lesss," Sesstha says. "I can look after Swix while still suffering."

"The agreement was you will have a future if I help him," Alptraum reminds. "This means you not suffering anymore either. If you continue to suffer, you let those who forced you into that situation win.""

Sesstha flicks her tongue slowly again, and then dips her head. "Of course," she says. "Atonement, not punishment."

"I can tell if you keep to our agreement or not," Alptraum notes, though not unkindly. "You said on the stand at trial you first agreed to where you ended up because of hope for your son. I know it may be hard to be wiling to hope for that again after all this time. Just ... keep in mind I have asked you for nothing more than you taking care of yourself and your child. I want no other payment from you. When it is over you will owe me nothing and I will ask for nothing more."

"And ... will you permit me one thing?" Alptraum requests and lifts his right hand. "A gesture of good faith on my part."

"Thank you," Sesstha says, the words sounding odd. She probably hasn't had much reason to thank anyone in her life. "What.. gesture?" she then asks.

Alptraum reaches out and cups her chin. "You will see," he says, then lets the shadow flow out once more. The Eeee intends to do one thing, and one thing alone; he's going to fix her broken jaw, if he can.

Old injuries are the hardest, since they've since set. It's not just reattaching the fractured or broken bones, it's getting read of the bad 'seam' where they healed incorrectly, then shifting the bone back to where it needs to be and re-healing it. It takes some time, and also dips into Alptraum's already dwindled energy pool. But after ten minutes, the jaw is back to its proper shape and range of motion.

Alptraum draws his hand back, now feeling exhausted. The fur going up his forearm has also started to go gray as well, and him overall looking rather worn and haggard. "I fixed your jaw," he explains, softly, sounding tired.

Sesstha reaches up to feel along the fixed jaw, searching out the familiar, but now absent, bumps and knots. She then gapes her mouth open.. but not enough to spread the two lower halves out, since her skin may not be as flexible anymore after likely decades of living with the injury. "A miracle?" she asks.

"May as well be," Candifloss notes, while Swix happily 'chews' on his rock candy. It did have a lot of protrusions, being a crystal, so that's probably what the boy 'tastes'.

"A start," Alptraum explains. "Please. You have a chance at a future. It's one of the few gifts I can give. Live. For your son. For yourself. Don't let the horrors of the past win." To Candifloss he says quietly, "I need to go. I have pushed my limits and things are ... failing."

"I.. won't let thisss all go to waste," Sesstha promises, and bows her head a bit deeper this time.

"We have to go now, but I'll by later to check up on you," the doe says, and opens the door for Alptraum.

Alptraum puts his left hand on her shoulder and squeezes gently. "I am sorry for all you have been through," he says softly. "I will help as much as I can." The Eeee then nods to Candifloss and steps away from the naga, then out the door.

After the door is closed, Candifloss Lapi-whispers, "Do you need assistance getting anywhere?"

"Can you spare me a small recharge? Like from the pool earlier?" Alptraum asks quietly. "I've gone into tapping myself when I fixed her jaw. I feel terribly drained. I can manage if not, but it would make traveling easier to have a small recharge first. Some monster I am, eh?"

"The best kind: one with limits, just like the rest of us," Candifloss says, and leads Alptraum back down to the Life wing. The central area has a small conference style table, and the Skeek mage, Sally, seems to be taking a nap in one of the chairs. Candi leads Alptraum to a different seat (all of them are flyer-friendly) and says, "Wait here, I'm going to see if we have any go-stones charged up."

Alptraum sits down rather hard and leans forward a bit, balancing himself with his hands on his knees. "If you only knew," the Eeee mutters to himself as the lapi goes to check on some sort of stone. "My time on this world may not be much longer."

The Skeek woman stirs slightly, then shrinks further into her own fluff somehow to continue her nap. A few minutes later, and Candifloss returns, holding two rather phallic looking stones. They're carved in clearly Babelite fashion, but the Life Mage doesn't seem bothered by it. They both have white glowing auras about them. "I can only spare two.. we always have to have one charged up for emergencies," she apologizes.

"Then allow me just one. You have too many to care for," Alptraum offers, "To waste two on me." He holds out his right hand.

Candi hands one over, and says, "I can justify two since our critical patient isn't anymore."

Alptraum closes his hand and his eyes, then tries to use the shadow to draw what is in the stone into himself. Were he female right now, given that shape, he'd have probably put it someplace else.

With enough exposure to the world of Organized Magic, Alptraum is aware of the different levels and energy requirements. The stone holds enough power for about two minor spells, instead of enough for a full ritual. But that's probably enough to 'stabilize' a patient long enough for a more involved procedure to be done. It's enough to at least let him not feel like he's about to fall over though.

The bunny still holds the second stone, observing Alptraum's reaction to the first one.

Alptraum lets out a small sigh and unfurls his fingers from the now dead stone, and is able to sit up more "Two small spells with, I see," he remarks, blinking. "I should use the other too, to be safe. He offers the depleted stone back in exchange for the other.

Candi hands over the next one, and then puts a palm to Alptraum's forehead. "Just checking," she notes.

"I don't mind," Alptraum says as he closes his hand around the other stone so he can draw from it too. He closes his eyes again as well.

It doesn't feel like that much more energy, but that could be due to Alptraum not being on the verge of unconsciousness after the first stone was drained. Candifloss checks his pulse (on his left wrist, of course) as well.

"I'm okay," Alptraum claims as his right hand relaxes. "I just have too soft of a heart for my own good sometimes."

"All the same, you should carry an emergency supply," Candifloss notes. "I always have a charged up go-stone handy if I have to leave the Guild Hall. That's if I don't already have a held spell or two that I know I'll be needing."

"All the more reason to keep a go-stone now that you know of them," Candifloss claims, taking the newly drained stone. "If you bring an object for the enchantment, I can have it set up in a day or two."

"It would help if was never previously enchanted or exposed to magic," Candi says, "and it should be worked stone or wood, larger than a ring. You have an idea about how much energy can be held based on size now."

"All right. I'll see what I can find," Alptraum offers, "Though anything exposed to me is exposed to magic on some level."

"I think the ones here are old sex toys," the doe says, stating the obvious as she examines one of them thoughtfully.

Alptraum laughs a bit at that. "That I can confirm. I've seen them before with he Yodhinala," he notes. The bat then pats the doe on the shoulder and adds, "Thank you again. It's time for me to go."

"Do you think I could get Swix to eat properly if I first start him on animated vegetables?" Candi asks while escorting Alptraum to the main door.

"I don't know. I think he really needs things he can feel like they would have no feelings," Alptraum says. "So, hm, maybe the vegetables would work. I am going to investigate if there are any alterations I can make to allow him a different diet. I know some reptiles I can talk to regarding it."

"Oh, one more thing ... if you want me to help heal Moggie's friend, I can try to do that too," Alptraum offers. "I knoe he's pretty badly scarred."

"Most of his issues have been malnutrition related, but a better look at the state of his organs would be welcome," Candi says. Then realizes something.. "You scanned me too. Did.. you find any problems?"

"Sesstha has kidney problems, by the way. She must be in pain all the time," Alptraum notes. "As for you ... no, you seemed perfectly normal for a lapi. Right down to an impressive libido." He grins a little at that.

The woman pulls her ears down to hide a blush. "It's just that it had been awhile.." she claims. "Uh.. five years I think."

"And not because I'm amazing? I'm hurt," Alptraum claims, mock hurt. "And really, you shouldn't be pregnant. I don't think anyway."

"I can test that myself later," Candifloss claims, and tries not to look more embarrassed. "I'll be less impressive next time, I promise," she adds, before they reach the entry hall.

"Next time?" Alptraum has to ask, brow arched. He knows that test will be negative, but hey, the lapi needs some teasing.

"Clearly you need to work on your stamina," the Lapi claims. "I shouldn't have worn you out so much."

This makes Alptraum smirk. "Well, it's been an interesting visit," he says as they reach the entry. "I'll work out how to try helping Swix, and see about something to enchant. It'll be a few days I suspect before I can return," he says. "So, until then ... just use one of those stones to keep satisfied, eh?" He winks.

"Hah!" Candi laughs. "I have a spell that's much better. Now go feed or recharge or rest up or pray.. however it works with you mysterious mystical types." She then gives Alptraum a swat on his behind.

"I have several things that are much better too. I can make tentacles," Alptraum points and waggles his brow. He then salutes, spreads his wings, and takes off from the landing just outside the entryway. Let the bunny think about that for a while.

The Nest
Deep beneath the Temple of Inala is a secret bunker, where some of the Yodhinalas' treasure and special items were stored. Currently it's been reclaimed by the once High Priestess, Mave, and her companions.

"There you are," Tulani notes when Alptraum arrives. "I've been wondering what happened to you! You were at the execution, right?"

"Yes. And I had to deal with the aftermath. Try not to imagine a bag full of faces. It'll give you nightmares," Alptraum says tiredly and the thumps down the stairs, finds a pillow to fall on, then falls on it. "Also, I need the light, please. I overdid it healing people," he adds as he lifts his hand and waves it weakly.

Tulani sits down on the pillow next to Alptraum, and brings her saber around. "You have me curious about the faces now," she says. "What else happened?" She does draw the blade enough for Alptraum to tap into though before getting an answer.

"I had to take the bag of faces to Magog's Hell, where they were grown into new people that could be tortured in the ways they tortured others," Alptraum notes, still face down. "Which meant some negotiations with Gorphat and Magog, but that worked out mostly okay. I didn't get hurt."

"And the Yodhrephath.. uh.. prepared the faces then?" Tulani asks. "It all sounds very Sylvanian. Our two lands seem connected in more than a few ways."

"Yes, the bodies were defaces, in multiple ways, to keep them from ever being identified. It was ... unbelievably grim. Sure, they deserved it, but it didn't make it any easier to see happen," Alptraum admits, thankful for the light being close now so that he can bask in it. "I'm going to need you later, and the light, to try and fix Swix, by the way. And try to give them a future in the process."

The Sphynx starts to rub Alptraum's back, and asks, "They're at the Mage's Guild.. so do you want to do it there or bring him back to the Coalition Tower or someplace? Mount Sunala, maybe? And what other horrors have you been dealing with since I last saw you?"

"Someplace safe where we can use the light without too much worry. And yes, they're currently at the mage's guild, but it can be moved," Alptraum explains and nods into the pillow. "Horrors? Well, nothing more than I've already described that I can think of. Magog's hell is pretty horrible, but I don't have to go there often thankfully, or deal with the maggot goddess often either. I haven't spent much time at all with Gorphat, if that's what you're asking."

"Moving Swix would have to be done on the ground, or else I'd have be in dragon form to carry him," Tulani says. "He'd probably like that. Not sure the Mages would want me landing on their doorstep though. If you've been active enough to wear yourself out.. when was the last time you fed?"

"Recently. The lapi mage insisted I bite her. She's ... pushy," Alptraum explains.

"Lapi Mage?" Tulani asks. "Oh.. Candy Bunny? Her name is at odds with her demeanor though. What brought that on? Was it to do with Passul?"

"Candifloss," Alptraum says, "And yes, Passul. I healed him and it was rough. Over a thousand broken bones in his wings alone. I had to dissolve and rebuild them completely. I don't know how he was still alive at all."

Tulani shudders, and fluffs her own wings a bit in sympathy. "He was alive because of magic, I imagine," she says, and goes back to rubbing Alptraum's shoulders. "So I guess you don't want to bite me. I've been missing that. What's the issue with Swix that you're going to need the Light for?"

"Replenish his bodily nutrients. Try to get hormone levels right. Also may try to make him able to get nutrients from things other than live prey if possible. I also need to fix a lot of issues in his mother," Alptraum explains as he now pushes upright. "And what is this? You like being bitten now?"

"I just wasn't expecting it to go as far as it did that first time," Tulani claims with a rather feline attitude. "What's wrong with him having live prey?"

"He doesn't want to eat anything that might not like being eaten," Alptraum explains. "It's a fair concern, really."

Tulani looks thoughtful for a moment, then suggests, "Could he be hypnotized? What if he eats whole dead animals? Or is it that it has to not look like it was ever alive? At the tower didn't he just eat stew and soups mostly?"

"Candifloss is going to try animated vegetables first. Lets see how that goes," Alptruam suggests. Without warning, he then leans over and bites down on Tulani's neck and shoulder.

"As long as he doesn't start eating rocks.. GAH!" Tulani yelps at the sudden bite! But she doesn't react by smacking Alptraum at least.

"But I thought you liked this," Alptraum mutters around the bite for his second meal of the day. It also involves groping Tulani a little too, because, well, cat-butt.

"Not as a surprise," Tulani complains. "I would have liked to get my top off first, so it couldn't get stained."

Alptraum doesn't mind the top being on. He can slide his hands under it to feel her up. And does.

"And that isn't what I meant eitherrrr," Tulani says, but less complainy now. "You should have started with that.."

Since when does Alptraum ever do things in the right order? But, for now it's a small meal and a whole lot of feeling up a sphynx. Mostly to tease her, really.

"I should bite you back," Tulani says, leaning back more against the bat. "And tease you."

"You're no vampire," Alptraum points out around the bite as one hand drifts, well, south ... then disappears into her pants. That one is involved in a different sort of penetration soon enough.

"Oh, that doesn't mean I can't suck your vital fluids," Tulani claims, and squirms a bit (mainly to try and trap Alptraum's hand).

Alptraum being good at slight of hand means he's also good in using them to make someone squirm. He also releases his bite from her shoulder and rests his chin there next. "I can think of things you could suck on ... that I would prefer not being bitten," he remarks a bit lewdly.

"Well, then the bite would be a big surprise, wouldn't it?" Tulani purrs teasingly. She tries crossing her legs to put the squeeze on the roving hand as well.

"Well, if you're going to fight, I can just stop," Alptraum notes as he tries to pull his hand back.

"If I didn't fight, you'd lose interest," Tulani claims. And smiles toothily back at Alptraum. "And it'd be easier without clothes.."

"That entirely depends on clothing. And if Mave were also involved, it would be even more interesting," Alptraum points out and waggles his brow. The Eeee then proceeds to undress her, slowly. Using teeth sometimes.

"Ohhhh?" Tulani asks, and swats at Alptraum with her tail. "I thought you were upset with Mave? Unless you just want to give her a spanking."

"Well, that's one option, yes," Alptraum concedes as he continues to work on those clothes. "Hmmm, perhaps Gorphat some time, and you. Or Koldesh. Or ..."

Tulani barks out a laugh. "Koldesh?" she asks. "You've got a thing for her? Didn't know you liked 'em big and brawny like that!" She then flexes her freed arms to show a more appropriate sort of brawny.

"She has a thing for me," Alptraum claims. "So does the Yodhblakat. We had a pool threesome."

"Not Rizalka?" Tulani asks in surprise. "They're High Priestesses. And much scarier than Mave."

"They claim I'm supposed to be their consort," Alptraum notes once he has Tulani completely stripped. He then pushes her down onto her back and climbs on top. "I think they made it up," he adds ... and then his mouth is too busy for a while to oh, talk.

"A Yodh making something up to take advantage of you?" Tulani says with a purr. "I think I'm going to be on top next time, too. Because you're my official Consort and have to do what I say."

That earns some sharp claws in the sides of her butt, since that's in prime grabbing range right now.

"Ack!" Tulani growls at the pinch! "Oooooo.. I'm sure you miss being Pierce, don't you?" she asks.

"Maybe a little," Alptraum says as he slides up so that they're face to face. "But then I even miss being Nicora."

"But I get to play with Pierce," Tulani purrs, and wiggles a bit more under the bat.

"You could play with Nicora," Alptruam points out with a toothy grin, "Or any of Gorphat's bunnies." He shifts around a bit, then studded bits end up in where they tend to feel rather nice.

Tulani is quiet for a bit, aside from purring, as she warms up more. Then it sinks in. "Nicora?" she asks. "I won't even play with Mave, and she's.. pretty. And the bunnies are crazy, from what I've seen. But that's most bunnies anyway, I imagine."

"What's wrong with Nicora? She's ... nice," Alptraum claims as he starts to, well, work on the sphynx. He's also grinning, nose to nose, with her.

"Ummph," Tulani grunts. "Can she even walk now?" she asks, doing her best to strangle Alptraum's butt with the strength of her legs.

"She can walk fine," Alptraum claims as he hopes his butt doesn't go numb. "Why do you think otherwise?"

"Ah, wasn't sure is all," Tulani says. "How'd you bring the faces to Magog's Hell? Isn't that just a spirit-place?" Just to make sure Alptraum's butt isn't really going numb, she uses her claws to pinch it.

Alptraum heys! "I'm .. not really sure how I got there. It's a bit fuzzy. Somehow through Mount Gorphat is all I can say," Alptraum admits, then bites her nose tip for that pinch!

There's a mrowl at the bite, followed by rubbing.. and then a retaliatory lick across Alptraum's own larger nosepad - with a very rough tongue.

Alptraum snickers. Then the Eeee just kisses her, deciding enough talk. It's more fun to just play and see what sounds he can get out of her.

Tulani is probably going for the same goal! And she really does try to switch things around - attempting to get Alptraum onto his back whenever his concentration seems to shift focus.

Alptraum gives in and lets her get him on his back after some bit. He grins up at her smugly and waggles his brow, too.

With her hands (and claws) on Alptraum's chest, Tulani grins back wickedly and starts doing things with her hips. For all she claims that she doesn't 'play' with Mave, that apparently doesn't extend to taking instruction from her. Or else from Honey Bunny down at Inala's Paradise.

And Alptraum doesn't complain! It's too busy making all sorts of fun noises, and getting reminded that yes, those body piercings can also be a lot of fun at times! So, for now he just enjoys it and while not Pierce, sure sounds like him.

Tulani isn't quite as learned as the bunny yet. Her efforts do bring about a high-pitched growl from herself, and manage to take Alptraum's breath away for a few rather long feeling seconds - but she's not at the point where she can just keep the bat hostage for round after round. She's clearly breathless herself.

So, once both seem to have well, had some explosive moments, Alptraum reaches up and just pulls her down to cuddle with him. "Where is Mave, anyway? I do need to have a talk with her about actiing without at least letting us know," he remarks after some time of recovery.

"She's back in her sanctum somewhere," Tulani says, gesturing limply deeper into the bunker.

"And she didn't come out while we were doing this? That's unlike her," Alptraum notes as he peers deeper into the bunker.

There aren't any telltale sounds, so it may be possible that Mave is actually asleep.. or in some other low-energy state.

"Well, I'll go check on her later after some rest. And a bath. Otherwise she'll smell what I've been doing and she'll just give me that smug look of hers," Alptraum notes and sighs. "I'm not that mad at her, but it's dangerous for her to do that stuff without at least letting me know first."

After rearranging the pillow pile for sleeping, Alptraum snuggles with his cat-bird and tries to catch a few winks. Just when he thinks he's about to fully doze off though, an odor causes his nose to twitch rapidly. Far more rapidly than an Eeee could manage though. That means Bucktraum has to actually open an eye, to see a trio of bald, white, multi-breasted Eeee women looking down at him where he lies in.. stuff. They're all smiling and seem unnaturally attractive, given their actual appearance.

"What is that horrid smell?" the bunny things, feeling, well, a bit queasy from it! That's about when he feels a bit of squirming between his legs and something sticking straight up. Then the nose twitch ... and he realizes just what he is. Then that eye opens and he spots the odd women looking down at him and smiling. Then he feels the gunk he's lying in. Bunny instincts kick in and the lapi starts to try to scrabble backwards, his own buggy bits clattering against the debris and he can even see the bulbous tip of his own stinger-tail between his legs, just below his oversized, well, bits.

The trio of Yodhmagog watch for a moment, then chase after the retreating bunny-mutant. They're faster, not actually being on the ground or burdened by massive masses hanging between their legs. They pounce! And then help Bucktraum to his feet. One even tries to relax him.. by fondling his breasts.

Augh! Bucktraum forgot he even had those! The touch and the jiggle ... does feel kind of nice. Given the way his nipples stiffen, it's apparent it feels good. "Uhm, hello?" the lapi says nervously, plated ears back and nose twitching like mad.

The poor bunny has to also stand rather bow-legged to compensate for the mass that hangs between his legs.

The Yodhmagog begin to clean the offal off of their guest with their tongues. There are slurping sounds. But... it's probably better than having the goo still stuck to his fur.

Bucktraum doesn't know how to feel about this! Though, the licking doesn't feel that bad, really. He even ends up fondling how own breasts now and then while he's being licked. "They aren't going to hurt you," the green lapi mutant thinks, trying to convince himself.

Once the bath is done, the women begin to urge the buck to move forward. There's something of a path between the hills of corpses - and it feels familiar. His ears pick up the sounds of pained moaning from around one of the hills.

Bucktraum's ears shoot up. "Is that the punishment meal?" the lapi has to wonder. He doesn't really want to see this, but where can he go? So, he starts walking. Well, he starts waddling. The heavy sway between his legs is hard to ignore, too. He runs his nose ... and is quickly reminded of the overlapping chitin plates that go down his forehead and almost to his nose tip.

Bucktraum's somewhat painful and permanent erection also bobs along with him; what a sight he must be.

It takes some time to get there, but when he arrives there's a scene both familiar and disturbing before him: 23 Eeee in stocks, with the addition of shackled ankles spread far apart by a bar, and weights dangling down from.. well, either breasts on the women or the joystick on the men. Beyond them is the giant maggot-form of Magog, looking as if she's chewing her cud -but with brief appearances of an Eeee arm or leg poking out through her lips.

Bucktraum's eyes go big! "Oh Gods, it's changed up and even worse!" the bunny thinks! Why is he here? Are they going to truss him up the same way? He waves timidly to Magog, then says, "Hello, Goddess."

Magog's rheumy, dull eyes seem to focus on the buck, and she smiles, opening her mouth just enough for a terrified Eeee woman's face to be glimpsed.. before she's swallowed whole again. "You are here for their punishment," the Maggot Goddess burbles, and her entire body shivers for a moment.

"But ... how am I to help with that? I'm just a lapi," Bucktraum claims and rubs his hands together nervously. His stinger tail also flicks about as well.

Instead of Magog answering, it is the three Yodhmagog that act.. by getting down on their knees and licking, kissing and suckling on the buck's erection. It feels great at first, but the last time a Yodhmagog was down there, things didn't end so well.

Bucktraum's ears shoot up again! And he sighs out. He can't go anywhere, so he'd best enjoy what he can! His legs quiver, which makes the mass between them sway heavily. The buck himself reaches up and masses his own chest as if he were trying to milk himself.

Things reach their boiling point... and the Yodhmagog pull back, ripping out the tear-away phallus as expected. The squirming in the 'brood pouch' between the buck's legs increases, and he can feel something forcing it's way up.. and through.. until a dark nub of a head emerges from his vacated socket, and clicks its hard mouth-parts. It's a horrib larva, naturally.

Bucktraum aughs! Everytime that tears away it hurts! This makes his legs shudder and almost buckle! The squirming gets his attention quickly and he looks down! He immediately wishes he had not as he sees and feels things bulge, then a larva pushes its way out as if he were giving birth! The lapi, hands shaking, reaches down to try and extract that larva. "What did Gorphat make me into, a walking larva brood?" the buck frets.

The larva ducks back inside when the buck makes a grab for it! The Yodhmagog gently pulls his hands away though, and tug him towards one of the damned. It's also then that Bucktraum notices he's taller than the Yodhmagog.. tall enough to not need anything to stand on, when it becomes clear what's expected of him. The third Yodhmagog even helpfully spreads the cheeks of the bound and weighted Eeee.

Bucktraum's ears quiver as he looks down at the bound Eeee. He never thought he'd have to, well, bugger the Eeee with a bug. But ... he can't go anywhere. So, he places his hands on the Eeee's hips, then pushes his own hips forward until he's grinding his disturbing, well, vulva, against the Eeee's rump.

The larva.. digs in. It's too large to actually fit into any opening, so just takes it as a general guide. But despite the screams of the Eeee, who is already strained trying not to choke itself in the stocks by succumbing to the weights, the slow passing of the larva through the buck's groin.. feels really really good. It's like a very slow orgasm, complete with an urge to.. well.. buck.

Bucktraum actually does groan and his hips buck against the Eeee, in spite of the screaming! "Oooookay, that does feel good," the lapi thinks, the feelings helping him get over the disturbing fact that he's birthing horribs. Even his breasts are swaying and bobbing as his thrusts are, well, rather forceful!

The Yodhmagog get in on the act as well. One of them climbs up onto the back of the Eeee, facing the buck.. and leans towards him to support, knead and suckle at his breasts. A second one strokes the stinger-tipped tail - which may as well be another phallus from how sensitive it feels. The third helpfully positions the stinger itself, so that when the tail 'climaxes' it reflexively stabs into the damned Eeee to deliver its paralyzing juices. This at least stops the screaming.

Bucktraum's jaw goes slack and his eyes droop a bit. Wow, does that feel good. The nursing is ... stimulating and makes him coo. The trocking of that stinger-tail makes him switch and true enough that it actually can cause him to orgasm! It arches down between his legs when it does, up around his heavy brood-pouch, and stabs the restrained Eeee right in the belly!

It still takes another few minutes after the paralyzing for the larva to finish wriggling free - the paralytic venom excites the little monster, which speeds up its excavation. This makes for a rather intense finish for the buck as well. He'd nearly be out of breath, but the Yodhmagog would immediately start moving him to the next Eeee in the queue, just as fresh larva started its journey and poked out its mostly-mouth head.

And Bucktraum does the same to the next one. It becomes, well, sort of an enjoyable, if horrible, moment. It's the rush of giving birth again, somehow coupled with being male. Nevermind his own largish breasts are oozing a bit of green milk-slime by the next one thanks to the Yodhmagog nursing. The feelins are just so good that even with him panting, he starts it all over again, a hard rutting grind against the prone Eeee as he slowly births a little monster to devour the damned.

The damned get to experience a very extreme form of rape, with an even greater sense of helplessness. And being eating alive from the inside out, probably until they're just skeletons. But Bucktraum doesn't see that part - for all he knows, the larva go extra slow to draw things out. The stocks have all been arranged to face each other in a circle, so that the ones later in the queue know exactly what to expect. Oh, they beg and plead.. and some still, amazingly, try to threaten the Horribuck. But as things progress, he feels like a member of the Sabaoth Seven himself. Cannibals and rapists having the tables turned, in the most horrific way, does seem proper, at least in the haze of pleasure.

And that haze makes this bearable. Anyone of normal mind would be horrified by this, but the now slime-coated heaving chest of the horribuck is ... okay with it. There are even points where he coos to the victim before the tail strikes ... then the occasional time he lets them see the horrib peaking out from his female-like genital area ... just before he walks around and ruts them with it! It's all because of the haze and rolling pleasures, mostly. It feels good to hurt them in the ways they hurt others ... and worse. As for the threats, those sort of flow off of him in this odd state of mind. What has he become?

After the last of the damned is serviced, Bucktraum still feels a bit drunk from it all. The Yodhmagog bring him to Magog, who takes on her divine aspect just for him.. but he's still bigger than the goddess in this form. "Kiss me, my demon," Magog bids, resting her fingers on the sides of the horribuck's jaws.

Bucktraum titters, his voice sounding more, well, buglike and clicky. "Of course, my Goddess," the mutant lapi burbles. he reaches up to cup her cheeks too, then draws forward and kisses her toothless mouth, complete with using his own tongue to do so! It feels like the right sort of thing to do and being this close to a Goddess makes him feel all wobbly and weird inside!

Of course the kiss can't be normal. For one thing, his tongue feels longer.. Eeee length! For another.. there's that tiny woman, which gets passed back and forth between their mouths several times for the duration of the kiss. Other things change as well. His phallus is regrowing.. but feels different. There's also a lot of lubrication between his and Magog's chests, with ten oozing breasts between them.

Bucktraum can't help but reach down and feel himself down there to see what is different. He can't exactly see past all the breasts. Nevermind he's still kissing her. Even the passing of the small Eeee doesn't seem that weird in this disturbing state of mind. And worse, the feeling of being all slimy is ... rather exciting and arousing too!

Feeling around down there.. is confusing. First, he thinks he must be feeling his tail, do to the overlapping chitin scales he encounters. And then there's the feeling that he's not feeling his hand, even when he clearly is. It takes a moment to get through the haze.. but he's clearly sporting two branches, one on top and one below that. After passing the tiny woman back to Magog one more time, the goddess breaks the kiss, and falls backwards.. onto the trio of Yodhmagog, back in their 'normal' forms, side by side to form a rather damp, squelchy sort of mattress. Magog raises and spreads her legs, making it clear what she wants Bucktraum to tend to next.

Bucktraum licks over his lips, eyes drooped and hazy. The offer Magog makes makes his shiver from eartip to stinger-tip. "You honor me," the horribuck trills as he goes down onto his hands and knees, then crawls up on Magog and her oozy bed. Beards of slime drip from his chest down onto the Goddess as he libes up his hips. Then there's the thrust as he feels two distinct parts sink. One in the Wound, the other in the Mouth. This makes him chitter, then his head dips back down and he kisses her again as hips roll and his body rubs down into her many teats. It feels both disturbing and wonderful. IT's also a moment of wonder ... is this how it feels to be with Nicora?

It's almost like rolling across eight oiled ball bearings, except that the sounds are squishier. And while there's more tiny woman juggling during the kiss.. the Mouth probe does occasionally hit something that gives out a flesh-muffled cry. The Yodhmagog forming the bed also quiver and coo and burble, which slightly offsets the sounds of chewing coming from the paralyzed bodies of the damned.

The scaled surfaces help as well, given the effectively unlimited amount of lubrication involved. They provide some sensation of resistance.

The cries out from well, the kiss and below do make his ears twitch as the wrongness of it gets through, well, a little bit! But then the pleasure waves tend to push it right back out again. Even the smell down here isn't really bothering him now. It smells a lot like the rotting blood of the High Priestess in a way. The buck burbles and squirms about atop Magog, clearly enjoying the sheer disgusting perverseness of the moment! He even has moments of wondering what it would be like to be one of the Yodhmagog, armless, legless, blind maggots.

At any other time.. in any other form.. this wouldn't be pleasant. But Magog is technically a goddess, just one with the sort of duty that isn't prone to having worshippers (that aren't, of course, maggots). And a goddess is always going to be beautiful to behold, and amazing to mate with. And with each thrust, the brood sack seems to reinflate just a little. It amounts to a single larva every few minutes, but after awhile the familiar squirming is back.. and it feels pleasant, even though the whole thing is being pummeled against the side of a Yodhmagog. It isn't so bad, being a demon. And Bucktraum would also be one of the few not cooked up in a military lab or adapted from an existing creature: he's original.

With each new larva and weight slowly returning to the mass between his legs, the horribuck groans and gasps. It should hurt. The squirming should be uncomfortable. Who knows if they're even nibbling in there! But, wow, it feels so nice. When the constant undulating squirming feeling returns, things feel right, somehow. At least right for this body. This only spurs him on more as he mates with abandon and utter worship of the maggot-goddess.

As the goddess squirms and.. gushes.. beneath him, Bucktraum feels a release building.. but the question of just what could be building is a mystery. It still seems to involve the pouch somehow though. When it does explode.. it burns. Literally! It's as if he's pumping digestive acid through the twin shafts. It feels great, despite - or because of - the pain. He's literally melting inside Magog.

This causes the horribuck to arch his back and head, where he lets out a gurgling, chittering, cry mixed with both disturbing pleasure and a intense amount of pain as his dual-bits start to dissolve from the inside-out! His cries fit this place, what with the Eeees in perpetual torment behind him, and this demon in agony now ... and true to creatures of Gorphat; pain is somehow enjoyable.

Eventually, there just isn't enough left to stay coupled.. although pulling out would definitely still leave some chunks behind. The buck has been reduced to two rapidly breaking-down nubs, before the 'root' is finally ejected in a final spike of pleasure-pain. Magog is rubbing her lower abdomen and make satisfied sounds. Her Gate even lets out a burp of satiation.

Bucktraum falls back, gasping softly. His crotch hurts and he reaches down to inspect it, then look down there and at the heavy brood-pouch. "Why did that feel so good?" the lapi wonders. That should have been horrible agony, and it was, but his strange bug-addled brain translated it to pleasure.

The answer is simple enough: Magog is a goddess. She could have chewed things off and it still would been a wallow in ecstasy. Magog sits up on her bed of Yodh, licks her lips, and asks, "Are you my demon now?"

Bucktraum looks up at Magog, ears quivering. Before he can even stop himself, the buck says, "Yessss, as long as Mistress Gorphat allows." His hand is now cuped over his now rather female-like bit below his waist and just above the pulsating and squirming brood-pouch.

"Mother made you for me," Magog claims with a grin. "I will call on you to punish my prisoners as needed. You know what they deserve, after all."

"Will we often make love?" Bucktraum inquires. The very idea is horrifying. Why in the world does he feel like he wants that?!?

Bucktraum leans forward until his face is against one of the Goddess' lower teats. The lapi then actually nurses on it. Lovingly, in fact! His stinger tail quivers in enjoyment!

It tastes foul of course, but that slowly begins to change. The 'milk' become creamier, and the smells even seems to diminish. The lower breasts seem to swell (or he seems to shrink) and the charnel house odors continue to recede until they're no worse than.. cat breath? That's when Alptraum opens his eyes, to find himself nursing on a purring and still sleeping Tulani. Cats will sleep through anything.

"Oh thank Gods, that was just a nightmare. Not real at all!" Alptraum thinks, feeling very, very, relieved! He also keeps nursing for a bit because, well, it tastes good and feels nice for him too! Thigh at one point he feels his own chest just to make sure he doesn't have breasts still, or sore nipples.

Things are a bit damp, but that could be from sweat - and he was going to take a bath anyway. And further down, he's back to a single-barrel shooter.. but it feels like a thin scale peals off, before getting lost into the pile of cushions.

Alptraum finishes up and draws back, then carefully untangles himself from Tulani. "Bath," he mutters as he gets up. "I really need a bath." He wobbles off deeper into the bunker in search of the bathroom.

Alas, there isn't a trio of Yodhmagog ready to give him a tongue-bath. Or a trio of Yodh-anything. But there is the fancy, claw-footed bathtub and cistern of water over a ceramic stove. A mixture of wood is available for burning, and it looks like someone has already cleaned out the ash from the previous use.

Alptraum checks the stove, then takes some time to load some wood into the chamber, along with some scrap paper. It takes some work with the striker to get enough sparks that the paper ignites. The Eeee then blows on it, trying to boost the fire. Once the wood starts to crackle, he closes the grate to let the water heat.

While the water heats up, there's the matter of soap. There are a lot of them to choose from, all rather fragrant. Alongside these are a selection of bath oils, should he want his fur to be softer, shinier or have more body to it.

Alptraum actually grabs an oil to make his fur softer and adds a bit to the water. He also grabs one of the lesser fragrant of the soaps. While smelling line one of these does bother him a little, he does spent enough time as the other sex to also appreciate it a bit, even in this body.

Alptraum eyes the tub for a bit and thinks. The Eeee then shrugs and decides that women do tend to enjoy a bath more! So, while things heat Alptraum leans on the wall and closes his eyes. The shadow oozes out from every pore, and soon he's floating in a very familiar darkness. A new form is chosen ... and as the shadow sinks back to live beneath her skin, the shrine maiden, Snowcora, covered in her tattoos and with her embedded belly orb, stretches upward. "There we go," she says in a sighing 'coo'. She checks the bath water, then climbs in.

The bath-oiled water feels much nicer against bare, sensitive skin. It even helps that the water is more on the warm side than the hot side. The human still can't complete fit into the tub, but it is raised in the back so she can recline a bit, despite her exposed knees the upper part of her breasts.

Snowcora sighs as she reclines back and relaxes. She even idly fondles her own chest, including pinching her own nipples. She also slides a hand down and even rubs the gem in her lower belly, just above her vulva. "Aaaaaah," she replies, content.

There's a hot breeze against her throat and chest, and breasts start to bob up and down. They're clearly being licked, by a very broad invisible tongue.

Snowcora's eyes open slowly. "Rhugharo?" the shrine maiden asks the room. She doesn't stop her lower hand, which continues to fondle herself gently. Why? Because it feels nice.

There might be a snort, and feels very warm and wet. The lapping stops, only to be replaced by what feel like hard, hoof-like fingers squeezing her breasts together. The flat, invisible teeth and lips clamp down and the demonic presence suckles.. and tugs. It looks very odd to see her breasts and nipples apparently stretch on their own, and once the milk starts flowing it looks even more strange.

And Snowcora croons. She likes how this feels, and this only encourages her hands to work her body over even more. The shrine maiden isn't ashamed of sex in any form, really, and loves to indulge in it. Just not with the crazy fervor that Nikky does. "Good demon," she coos with praise. "If you straddle me ... I'll suckle on you." Tall statement, that! The creature is huge in that way.

At the mention of straddling, Snowcora suddenly sinks.. or rather, her shoulders sink as her legs and hips are pulled up and dragged until her cheeks are sitting on the rim of the tub. Her legs are then pulled very wide just before the demon plunges into her. Not being able to see him, but seeing the results of the spread, are definitely novel.

And Snowcora gasps! What a lwed sight that is; it's like the belt Cerise had to wear, in a way, with how things look! Only this feels nice. She has to grab the rim of the tub to keep from going under the water, then she start rolling her hips as best she can. Big guys are great, after all! At least to most of her female forms.

It isn't long before Snowcora finds herself pulled up out of the tub completely, and appear to be flown about the room. But the hovering is momentary, before she's pressed up against wall and bounced up and down. Rhugaro's shaft is a bit conical, in that it gets wider near the base. And she's actually feeling the base, as the impossibly big creature is still somehow accommodated by her body. The big guys are great.. but they are also a bit rough. Especially Rhugaro.

But this is also sort of one of Snowcora's duties to Inala. Only she can satisfy him! Even if it means she gets a little battered, bruised, and each thrust causes her belly to swell out a bit! She's gasping, cooing, groaning, and trying to roll herself back as much as she can! There is the occasional grunt and gasp out when she is pushed into something, though!

The demon is really being creative with positions this time. The woman if pushed into cushions with spine being bent nearly double with each thrust, so that her knees and bouncing down to either side of her shoulders.. then a few minutes later it's just her shoulders and head that seem to be in contact with the ground as the invisible monsters pile-drives downward while hauling her hips almost vertically upwards, so that Snowcora has a good view of her thighs rippling and deforming from the impacts.

And this should hurt! At times it even does a little! But for the most part, wow, does it feel good. She's so full! It's delightful! She's really panting now and every so often she cries out and shudders hard as the beast causes not just one, but several orgasms in the shrine maiden as he works her over and over! And to think, all she did was come in here for a bath!

Eventually she finds herself flipped over onto her hands and knees.. or rather onto her elbows, with her rump lifted too high for her knees to reach the ground. The grip around her waist is first, and her rear may as well be a pair of bongo-drums as the demon enters his final stretch. There's just so much moving in and out and higher and higher speeds now..

Ah, one of Snowcora's favorite positions! One she's had often with her favorite vice, Mordecai! Her back arches mightily, her jaw hangs slack, her eyes are closed, and she's panting and shuddering like mad. Each hard stroke and ripple through her backside causes another small, but incredible, orgasm. It has been a while for this body.

Rhugaro finishes as well.. but instead of pulling out, he seems to fade away.. Leaving Snowcora in a precarious position to be without support! But she doesn't fall.. invisible hands lower her more gently, but they aren't big, demonic ones. They're smaller than her own hands, from the feel of it, but there are four of them. The lift her up and carry her to another pile of cushions, laying her on her back.

"Wha...?" Snowcora says, blinking as she's still truly in some sort of afterglow, and her belly-gem literally glows! When she's laid onto the cushions she stretches out, then looks around. "Who is there?" she asks, softly.

There's an impression of giggling, and then both of her breasts begin to be suckled as smooth-feeling hands explore over Snowcora. A weight settles between her legs, and she's filled again - not by something monstrously big, but something that still feels unnaturally wonderful.

There's something really disturbing about this! Snowcora realizes these are her kids, sort of! Well, Nikky's kids! But the suckling and well, being entered tends to cloud her from thinking too much on this ... and how so very Babelite it is. Like with Rugharo, her hips start to buck and roll.

Unlike Rhugaro.. the spirit Skreeks aren't rough but very attentive. And since they're both likely to have Nikky's stamina, this could take awhile. It's tricky not being able to see them, however, but Snowcora can tell when an invisible teat is being brushed against her lips.

And Snowcora absolutely tries to latch onto that teat with her lips and teeth to tease and nurse upon it. Taking a while is okay. This feels so nice! And it's a lovely way to forget about the nightmare she had as the buck! If she manages to get a grip with her lips, she'll reach up and try to feel the rest of her.

There's more inaudible giggling, this time with a more feminine lilt as Snowcora suckles. There's milk, and it's rather sweet - it even causes a bit of a buzz, which really enhances things when the male finds the woman's rhythmic sweet-spot.. and just settles right into it while nursing in turn on her. The girl is a bit more mobile.. presenting different body-parts to Snowcora's lips over time, each with a different, somewhat savory taste. Both the lips of her moth and of her Inala's Gate have the same flavor.

And Snowcora kisses those with equal fervor and depth, including some very creative tongue usage, as her hands explore, tqeak, and try to work the girl over while her legs wrap around the male as her hips roll with an almost poetic flow. And boy does that gem in her belly glow.

It's sort of nice to have a partner that is small enough to cuddle while being big enough to really play with. The twins are clearly close to fully adult.. unless they'll be forever teenagers, which is probably more suited to Temple Spirits. It's also very relaxing, despite all the arousal and pleasure. Snowcora loses count of her own releases, much less those of her partners. Eventually though the male stops.. only to trade places with his twin. So now it's darting tongue, tickling whiskers and pointy nose down below, and warm Blessed Phallus up on top.

And that blessed bit is soon very nicely being nursed on by her lovingly, savoring its taste, while her hips roll and squirm as the girl works her Gate over with some impressive skill! Appropriate for a Temple spirit, anyway. It's also amazing that this isn't that exhausting, it just feels wonderful. It's a great way to spend what is probably several hours of exquisite, writhing, bliss.

Things eventually de-escalate into cuddles and nuzzling, only to fade away once Snowcora realizes Mave has been sitting on a nearby cushion observing her for some time.

"Pervert," Snowcora remarks, sitting up slowly and stretching out. "You should pay to watch me do things with spirits."

The Yodhinala crawls over and kisses Snowcora. "Is that payment enough, or should I..." And then it's Mave with one hand between Snowcora's thighs and another on her breast.

"Yes, you should," Snowcora replies right before kissing her back and pulling her into the cushion pile! The humans hands mirror Mave's, one on the Eeee's chest, the over cradling her gate.

Mave still has the advantage of experience.. although it may count as a practical lesson too. She isn't limited to just the traditional erogenous zones. She actually manages to make Snowcora have an orgasm in her earlobes.. and once that happens, she doesn't give the Shrine Maiden a moment to catch her breath, playing her body like an instrument (and getting a lot of different sounds from it too, appropriately).

Snowcora tries to counter the Eeee, and duplicate her movements back onto her! As in she's trying to learn from Mave and mimic them right back. "This doesn't stop the talk you and Alptraum are going to have, realize," she whispers in the Eeee's large ear, right before licking, then biting it.

Mave does correct Snowcora a few times until she gets things just right.. but eventually gets around to asking, "Oh, what is this talk about that he's to have with me?"

"About your misbehaving," Snowcora claims, just before her head is disappears lower to kiss, nibble, tease, and explore Mave's gate.

"Misbehaving?" Mave asks with a bit of irony. "I am a Yodhinala. But what misbehaving is he specifically wishing to address?" Of course her Gate tastes like strawberries tonight.

Snowcora uses her teeth to tug on things down there for a bit. "Doing things and going out without informing him. Such as to a trial," she remarks as she finishes playing down there and moves upward to nurse on her for a little bit.

"Mmmm," the Eeee purrs. "And just how was I to inform him? The Coalition requested my testimony, after all."

"Dreams, of course," Snowcora notes. "Maybe he should ring you down here," she notes as she tweaks Inala's orb, "And keep you chained in this place."

"Now now.. he would have to contact me then, wouldn't he?" Mave points out. "And I have clip-on attachments.. But, would he actually have forbidden me?"

"You'll have to ask him that during your punishment," Snowcora claims, keeping up the game that she's somehow different from him. "The coalition knew how to contact you and that's concerning."

"I appeared at that Merchant party," Mave points out. "And they contacted me.. through the Yodhbarada, of course. You wouldn't want me to shirk my civic duty.. when the other Yodh were going to be showing up."

"Oooh, I see. Your ego inspired you to come. You couldn't stand the idea of all the others being there. Except it wasn't all the others. The High Priestess of Gorphat wasn't invited," Snowcora points out and taps her nose.

"It would have been problematical for her to attend," Mave points out. "And she wouldn't have any evidence to bring, unless the accused had also been buying their way out of curses. I was asked if the Yodhinala had any records that might pertain to the situation a week in advance. It wasn't until their names were released that I could say I had evidence.. and clearly, we must all work for justice. And of course to see the other Temples admit to having bent their rules for them. Whereas the Temple of Inala banned them instead of catering to them."

Snowcora rolls her eyes a little. "You have to explain this to him, not me. Are you afraid of what he might do to you?" Snowcora teases as she draws patterns with her fingers on Mave's dainty bits.

"I did nothing wrong," Mave claims, and pokes Snowcora in a sensitive spot of her own. "I serve Inala, first and foremost."

Snowcora oofs. "You also serve Alptraum," she points out a bit playfully. "He did spare your life after all. He rescued you, too."

"We all have our parts to play in saving this city," Mave counters, and licks the Inala gem on Snowcora to give her a shudder. "We all serve together. I did not realize I was expected to serve the Barsunala officially. But in this case.. 'he' was also a witness in this trial, and any communication would have been witness tampering. Which is why even Tulani could not know. There was a Mind Mage monitoring things, after all.. and dear, poor Cyprian is a stickler for honesty and fairness. Even though he pines for you, my Shrine Maiden.. visiting so many times while you were helping to unmask those villains. I could make it up to Alptraum by letting him transform me into you, so that I can be there when you cannot."

"That would not work. You cannot duplicate my abilities, and he cannot leave you in that form," Snowcora points out kindly. "And keep in mind that just maybe he is concerned about your safety and health, and thus likes to know where you are and what you may be going into." She taps Mave's nose again. "Plus it gives him an excuse to do something to you."

"Oh, so now he must have an excuse.." Mave says. "Well then, I suppose I must submit myself to him. But you must pick up the slack for your absence then. That is only fair.."

"What slack? Spending more time up on the altar with my legs spread?" Snowcora has to ask, her bare brow arched a little.

"Your Mage served Babel well.. don't you think he deserves a reward?" Mave asks. "You should visit him."

"In all my tattooed and pierced glory?" Snowcora inquires, amused. "On one condition ... you have to help me come up with a suitable attire. Something appropriate, sexual, and fitting of me."

"That does not irritate your skin?" Mave asks. "A Yodhinala uniform should do.."

"Quite. Most things irritate it unless it is very soft," Snowcora notes. "And walking through town naked causes problems."

"Why would you walk?" Mave asks. "Your first public appearance was naked.. on the back of a dragon. I believe you still have access to a dragon to ride."

"That would cause a lot of questions and I do not wish to embarrass him," Snowcora points out.

"Embarrass?" Mave asks with a grin. "It would only further reinforce his position, I think."

"That he beds a heavily modified human?" Snowcora inquires, brow arched again. "A servant of Inala no less?" The last bit has her rubbing her belly gem a little.

"A servant of the Kindly Ones, collectively," Mave corrects. "Inala's blessings are just more apparent on you.. when you aren't healing the sick."

"Well, I must confess Inala has shown me how wonderful it is to be female," Snowcora notes, grinning. "Sex as one is certainly more interesting than as a guy."

"Well, that depends on who the guy is with," Mave notes. "Are you saying it's not as good with me for Alptraum? I should take that as a challenge.."

"It's different," Snowcora notes, "I mean, I can go many times. Guys tend to not last nearly as long, is all." She then kisses Mave deeply again. "Shall I go find him?" she asks.

"Well, if you don't mind being less satisfied, then I suppose you can," Mave says, and rolls off of Snowcora.

"Well, maybe after you show me just how good an Eeee tongue is, hmm?" Snowcora says with a sly grin and spreads her legs invitingly. "I want a few more bursts of Inala's blessing before I go get him..."