The Nest is oddly quiet when Snowcora eventually returns - on foot. There's no sign of Tulani, and the only aura is Mave deeper in the bunker. The long walk was mitigated slightly by Mt. Sunala being next to Mt. Inala, but it was aggravated by the Creeper. Each step - especially climing-up-stairs steps - just seemed to make the parasite more excited, with the expected results. If not for Inala's blessings, Snowcora would probably be a suffering from terminal chafing and dehydration.
"Mave!" Snowcora calls out into the depths of the nest as she takes a moment to lean against the wall and let the creeper really go at her. What is it with this thing right now?! "Get something cold so I can get this thing off!"
A minute later the Yodhinala appears with.. an ice cube? Where does she get stuff like that? "I'm surprised you're still wearing it," Mave notes, as she starts out by icing around the 'lips' attached to Snowcora's breasts. And also her breasts in general.
"What? I can endure just as long as you," Snowcora gripes as she tries to hold still for the ice, which is far from pleasant. "It generally feels quite nice."
"Was it distracting, or did you overcome it?" Mave asks as she pries the 'hands' from Snowcora's breasts after they've cooled enough.
"I could ignore it, well, most of the time," Snowcora claims. "Every now and then I couldn't. But ... most of the time I could still function."
It takes a few extra minutes for the thicker lump attached to Snowcora's crotch to disengage and release. After having it clamped there for so long, the area feels a chill even though the ice wasn't applied directly to the skin that time.
Mave collects the hibernating creature, and begins to carry it back to it's storage jar. "How did things go otherwise?"
Snowcora twitches. "That ... is it supposed to feel cold even without the ice touching the skin?" the human asks. She shivers, then continues, "Everything went reasonably fine. The naga stayed out of trouble and I think I've started a better working relationship with the Empire and Babel if things continue to go well."
"That sounds promising," Mave note as the Creeper is returned to its vat. "Did you enjoy yourself as well?" she asks next with a big smile.
"What? With that thing stuffed deep inside me?" Snowcora asks, brow arched. "Well, yes."
"I'd wear it all the time if I could," Snowcora claims.
"Even as the Yodhgorphat?" Mave asks, brows raised.
"If I could. I don't think it would survive the Yodhgorphat," Snowcora claims.
"Probably not," Mave agrees. "They tend to be rather sensitive once bred for specific.. food sources." Even as Mave says that, something impinges a bit on Snowcora's aura - Tulani is back in the temple, so should arrive soon.
"Tulani is back," Snowcora notes and glances over her shoulder. "And I enjoy being the Yodhgorphat for ... different reasons anyway."
"And it is useless for men," Snowcora adds.
"You'd need to find a female one from the Yodhrephath," Mave claims. Both of them can hear Tulani's arrival now. "Mave? Do you know where Alptraum or Snowcora are?" the feline calls.
"Wouldn't that just torture any guy it was on, though?" Snowcora asks of Mave. She then calls back, "She died after thirty hours of straight sex. It was horrible. Instead of a little death, she had a huge one."
"That is why the Yodhrephath would use it," Mave notes, as Tulani comes over and hears just that line.
"What about the Yodhrephath? Did you hear already?" the Sphynx asks.
"So I have to get tortured to bring it here. What fun," Snowcora comments dryly. Then the human has to blink and look to Tulani, "Hear what?"
"Pi has been spotted in the Labyrinth of Death," Tulani claims. "Which is in the Streets Below. And it's not so much a labyrinth as a lot of debris out by Tower Antenora. I think you've been there. A bunch of Yodhrephath have gone out already to make sure he's contained to that area."
Snowcora blinks. "I didn't even know they were looking for him," She admits. "I guess its where the old skreek games were run?"
Tulani nods, "Back before Lord Ugolino's mysterious death and Dimity bar Abbas's disappearance."
Snowcora ahs and nods. "Do they want help from me in some manner?" she inquires next as she sits on the edge of a box for a bit of rest. "I haven't even spoken to them yet regarding him."
"They're keeping him contained," Tulani says. "I think they're waiting on the Barsunala to go in and get him, for some reason. Like maybe a little bat told them."
Snowcora rubs her forehead for a bit. "Right, well, looks like I have to turn back to my regular ol' self and go after him," the human says as she rises and stretches. "I also owe them my thanks for actually holding. I didn't figure they would hold for me."
"Wellll... they might maybe slightly want to have him when you're finished," Tulani admits. "They supposedly have this torture monster thing for sex offenders.."
Snowcora smirks. "Actually, I wanted to borrow that thing," she notes. "How do they even know he'll still be alive once I'm done with him?"
"Well, you probably wouldn't want to kill him right away," Tulani notes, and grins. "Just play with him a little! You need Sunala to damn him after all, don't you?"
"Well, true," Snowcora claims. "Heh, I could rape him as Alptruam, but he'd probably like it."
"I hear Magog is pretty nasty, so probably has rape-monsters and stuff," Tulani says, and wiggles her fingers like tentacles. "That area is also close to the Temple of Gorphat too though."
"He's an ex-barinala," Mave sniffs. "I should have a say in his punishment too. But I'm not technically the High Priestess, just High Priestess Emeritus, to borrow a term from the mages."
"There's always the bunnification option," Tulani suggests, and taps the hilt of her saber. "Although.. really aren't any nasty places we can drop off a doe anymore."
Snowcora sits down on the floor and crosses her legs. "Well, I'll go back to Alptraum for now, I think. And yes, Magog does; she and Gorphat sired a new one just to punish these latest offenders. It's pretty horrible and nasty," she comments, "But I won't kill him. Just catch him and probably scare him a whole lot. Anyway, back to bat for me. Hmmm, maybe he'll just be assigned to pleasure the high-priestess of Gorphat."
"That may not be painful though," Tulani points out, just as the shadow-cocoon blocks out the sight of her and Mave. A few moments later, and Alptraum is back to being Alptraum. And still without clothes.
"No, but I don't think a Barinala would be particularly happy to have to care for the nastiest Eeee in Babel," Alptraum points out as he rises and stretches. "Oh, right, I need some clothes."
"Do you want to look frightening to a barinala?" Mave asks.
"Wouldn't I generally be frightening to him given who I am?" Alptraum says, honestly surprised more might be required for that.
Mave rummages through a chest, deliberately wiggling her rear at Alptraum while she does. She comes up with something leather. It's a codpiece. A codpiece covered in spiked studs. "Ah, here it is!" she says, and offers it to Alptraum. "It should fit."
"Why in the world would that scare him?" Alptraum has to ask as he takes the codpiece away and dangles it in front of himself by holding it between his forefinger and thumb. "Is this more about making me look silly?"
"Because it is only worn when a barinala is about to be punished," Mave explains. "The codpiece is transferred from the punisher to the punishee, you see.. only with the spikes on the inside."
"Ah. Where they used often?" Alptraum asks as he, well, actually tries to put it on. He's still pretty sure it's to make him look stupid, though.
"Never more than once," Mave claims, and helps adjust things (carefully). "There.. very scary."
"Sexy scary, which.. I suppose is appropriate?" Tulani says, slightly confused.
"Well, to a wimpy Barinala I suppose," Alptraum says dubtfully. To Tulani, he asks, "Does it really actually look sexy?"
"Well, you're beefy and naked enough," Tulani claims. "With just enough to hide the goods and instill some curiosity. Like how I look sexy when I'm wearing clothes!"
"You look better without them," Alptraum claims. "I'l have to ask Gorphat how to make clothing give you problems too."
"I do not need infested clothing," Tulani claims. "And how I dress makes me look sexy compared to other dressed women."
"Except for me," Mave claims.
Alptraum smirks and shakes his head. "Anyway ... am I supposed to go out just in this thing?" he has to ask. "I feel silly."
"You can use your shadow for the rest if you must," Tulani offers. "I bet the Yodhrephath would appreciate the look though. Or the Yodhblakat. Most Yodh, really.."
Alptraum rolls his eyes. "It leaves my butt hanging out," he points out.
Tulani pats it. "It's not exactly hanging. It's firm as a teenager's breasts," she claims. And since she's technically a teenager, probably bragging a bit as well.
"Fine. I'll go humiliate myself by hunting a guy dressed like this," Alptraum claims, then has to pause and think about that. "Sounds like a date in Babel," he complains.
"I'll come with you of course," Tulani says. "In case you need butt support."
Alptraum growls at Tulani. "I'll put this thing on you backwards next if you keep making butt comments," he grumbles.
It isn't hard to find the labyrinth, especially with Yodhrephath loudly painting the entire area with sonar. They aren't even trying to be stealthy - they wan't their quarry to know they're there. And possibly that someone else is coming for him, since they aren't.
All the same, Pi (or Laxus as he was originally named) tries to keep to the sonic shadows. For anyone depending on just sight and sound, that might work, but the hunter isn't limited to those.
Alptraum is trying to avoid the Yodh there, for fear of ... comments, about his attire! And while he uses sonar too, to track and fly, to hunt this one ... he can try to sense Pi via his aura. "All right, Laxus, just where re you? And what will I do with you?" he murmurs to himself.
It isn't too surprising to detect the Eeee hunkered down in an abandoned hovel near the center of the area - the furthest he can get from all of the surrounding Yodhrephath.
Alptraum heads that way ... in a round-about sort of path. He also tries to use the shadow to act as a sound damper of sorts. Like the streamers he did when he was doing night flying sometime back.
Shadow magic is specifically good at hiding sight and sound. And of course there maze is almost all shadow, given how little light reaches this far down. Before long, Alptraum can hear Pi's rapid heartbeat and breathing.
"Hello, hello," Alptraum says, the shadow making his voice sound like it comes from a new location with each word. "Did you really think you would pass under my notice because you prayed on skreeks? They are under my protection too after all." It also comes with a slowly growing feel of weight and dread. Or at least that is Alptraum's goal as he is pushing the draconic aura too.
"Gorphat?" the Eeee responds in a frightened voice. "I didn't kidnap all of them.."
"Oh no. Not Gorphat. I'm someone everyone meets, eventually," Alptraum calls out.
"I've got a dagger," Pi claims, but his aura is showing a lot of fear. "Don't come closer.."
"Do you really think a dagger is any threat to me," Alptraum asks. "And I'll have you know your last victim showed a lot more courage than you are right now."
"I'll cut my throat!" Pi.. threatens? "You can't damn me after I'm dead.. I think. I heard what happened to the others."
"I'm the Barsunala, dear boy. You forget what my role is. I can keep you from dying long enough to damn you," Alptraum points out as he finally lands.
This close, the draconic aura is making Pi's entire body shake. It's enough that he loses his grip on the dagger. "My Temple was destroyed," he chatters. "I had to survive."
"So did many others," Alptraum says as he approaches the direction he feels Pi in. "They didn't kidnap and sell skreeks to be butchered for the amusement of others. How many of them do you think cried? Or begged to die? How many of them do you think felt damned?"
"I don't know!" Pi claims, sounding panicked. "I didn't know what became of them. I thought the Naga just ate them!"
"And you never questioned? Wondered? Cared?" Alptraum inquires as he closes in. "I haven't quite decided yet what to do with you. You have offended many of the Sisters, you know. Should I hand you to each in turn? Even Yodhinala Mave wavrs some say in what is to happen to you?"
Pi hides behind his arms and wings to avoid seeing Alptraum. "I don't question people that might eat me alive if I failed them," he cries. "I made sure they enjoyed themselves before the end though.."
"Look at me," Alptraum says. His voice is soft, but firm. "And did you? I know everything the last, Cerise, felt. Everything you did to her. Everything they then did to her," he says. "Each time you stuck her with that needle. The thrill you got as she could not struggle against you. Are you trying to tell me she enjoyed it?"
The wings part and Pi's head turns up just enough that he can look at Alptraum. Then his eyes go wide at.. the codpiece. "Mave sent you from the afterlife.. she can do that?"
"She isn't dead," Alptraum notes, brow arched a little. "Who do you think testified at the trial?"
"I don't know about the trial, I only heard about the raid and executions," Pi claims. "I was trying to get away."
"Even you know there is no escape from Sunala," Alptraum points out. "Gorphat will want some ... time with you for what you did to her skreeks. The Yodhinala, and perhaps Inala herself, over violating the rules and helping people indulge in desires they had outlawed. And the Yodhrephath ... to satisfy justice in kind for torments you directly helped cause. Or is it now that when you're faced with a situation you put so many others in, you don't have enough courage to face it?"
"I don't want to go to hell on top of being tortured!" Pi cries. "The others will punish me enough, and then you'll.. kill me?"
"Whether you will go to hell or not ... remains to be seen. But, you must face your actions and choices," Alptraum claims as he unstraps the codpiece and tosses it over to Pi. "Put that on, Laxus," he says.
Still trembling, Pi turns the codpiece inside out before strapping it on. He was already naked - clothes can carry scents for tracking, after all. He winces from the spikes, but still ties it on properly.
"You have a choice, you can face each Goddess in kind to plead your case for mercy, or go straight to the Yodhrephath," Alptraum offers. "Perhaps if each Goddess gets their say, they may decide you could at least be spared hell. Maybe."
"I'll.. go before them," Pi says, probably hoping for a miracle.
"All right. Then we shall start with the closest. Gorphat," Alptraum says as a wave of shadow rolls out from him! He hopes to use it to, well, both ken him for yet another body form ... and to render him unconscious; easier to cart to Mount Gorphat that way.
The barinala is soon in stasis, and the only sounds are those of the surrounding Yodhrephath. They don't seem to get sore throats from all the screeching.
"I have him!" Alptraum calls to the Yodhrephath as he hoists the unconscious Eeee onto his shoulder. "I will bring him to Mount Rephath in short order; after he pleads his case with several of the Sisters he has offended by his actions.
The screeching stops.. after they've all scanned him. Then Alptraum can sense the Yodh flying off.
"I don't envy you having to explain yourself," Alptraum mutters as he starts off towards Mt. Gorphat. He also realizes that, well, when Laxus awakes he should probably see the High Priestess of Gorphat or the like. To ... get an idea of what he may be facing.
Barinala are, in general, rather slight and a bit androgynous. Which at least makes them not heavy. Once clear of the maze, Alptraum senses Tulani coming towards him. "Need help carrying.. he looks like he's covered in tar.."
"I'm just holding him in shadow," Alptraum tells Tulani. "He wants to plead his case to the Goddesses, so I'm taking him to Mount Gorphat first. He may regret this decision. I'm just glad we're not far from that temple as while he's not heavy, I wouldn't want to carry him for hours."
"Ah, you probably have to remain in contact then," Tulani says. "Do you need me to drag him around once he's free or anything? Do you need to transform?"
"Well, you may need to drag him around some perhaps. Depends on what happens to him at Mount Gorphat. I will at the least need to become Yodhgorphat Scourge there for a short bit," Alptraum says, "Though I can do that after I put him in a cell."
"You will let me rough him up some at some point though, right?" Tulani asks.
"For? He never hurt you directly, did he?" Alptraum has to ask. "Or just on general principle?"
"I had to watch him," Tulani growls.
"Fair enough. I think you'll get a chance to express your displeasure at some point," Alptraum agrees as he bobs his head and continues to walk. "Unless you wish to do so while I'm ... fetching Yodhgorphat Scourge?"
"That depends.. do you need someone to drag him around in the absence of the Barsunala?" Tulani asks. "I'll have to go half-dragon for it, of course. It's more fun that way."
"Do I need? Hm, probably not, but better safe than sorry?" Alptraum offers. "That does mean you'll be around the Yodhgorphat, though."
"I mean, High Priestess Scourge wouldn't go to a prisoner's cell!" the Sphynx points out. "He'd be brought to her. Granted.. Nicora has horribs. And there are only two Yodhgorphat. Having scales makes me a lot more tolerant of icky things for some reason."
"As long as you don't complain at me later, then sure," Alptraum says. Tulani has no idea what she's in for!
Pi looks pale (but he was always pale) as a silver dragon-woman drags him into the chambers. There's some blood seeping through the sides of his codpiece, and everyone knows bleeding wounds are ripe for infection! But he's probably worried about other things as well, since he still seems to be in a state of panic. At least he isn't sporting any new bruises or wounds.
Nicora is lounging in a chair, legs slightly spread to show off her burbling 'wound' and the flies that crawl all over, and into it. "Hello, Barinala Laxus," she comments as she scratches one of her left teats, which just makes it drool a bit too. "You have been cruel against Gorphat's own. How do you intend to atone for that?" she asks as she smiles; which on a denuded Eeee is spooky. "What can you offer her for reason? Do you wish to beg for Her mercy?"
"I.. was told to target Skreeks.. but.. uh.." the bat babbles. "I could help.. with the sick?" he offers hopefully. He probably hasn't eaten in awhile, since his green-around-the-gills look doesn't turn into vomiting.
"Without knowing what you inflicted on others? Tsk. Doesn't exactly seem a fair and equal punsihment, does it?" Nicora inquires as she scratches now at her wound, intentionally, to make more noise. (Plus those flies can itch!). "Mother, what would you wish of this one?" she thinks, "He deserves punishment for his actions. But needs to remain intact to answer everyone. Should he be forced to pleasure you or one of your Daughters? Perhaps the queen horrib?"
"He doesn't deserve my attention," Gorphat replies. "And how intact do the others need him to be? Some scars are invisible. But he could use a few on his soul, don't you think? He may try to pleasure you.. with his mouth only. The other end will occupied, since the Hoshim and Bargorphat could still use some more practice don't you think?"
"He needs to be physically intact and functional, but does deserve some ... marks. The Skreeks got worse," Nicora thinks. Her eyes narrow and she gestures for Tulani bring him closer. "He will ... tend to me for a bit with his Barinala skills," she says, "But only with his mouth. You may wish to leave for a bit while he does so. I will have other guests .. soon, to join us." That last bit is of course directed at Tulani.
The dragon-woman's expression is neutral, but she does push Pi down onto his knees before Nicora's chair (which is actually a giant skedat, which snaps its claws when Pi is close. "I.. I will.." Pi says, then dry heaves a bit while Tulani backs out of the chamber. There's some loud buzzing out there as well. Once Pi is done, he looks a bit lightheaded as he extends his tongue and moves forward through the cloud of flies.
The effort he puts forth really doesn't do anything for the itching though. But he's focused enough that he doesn't turn when the parade of horrib-hybrid creatures begin to arrive.
And Nicora reaches down to take hold of his head and draws his lips to her 'wound'. She then lets out a long sigh and feels good, partially, because she knows he must be hating every moment right now and she knows just how, well, vile, she is down below. "No stopping until I give you leave," she says to him and taps her claws on his cheeks.
There might be a whimper from Pi. Any other sounds he makes are muffled, but things are bubbling down there from his breathing issues. Especially when his entire muzzle (and part of his face) gets plunged deep into Nicora due to Hoshuosin jamming himself into Pi's backside.
The Hoshim display something new as well: once Pi begins to lose consciousness, they stab him with their barbs. Instead of paralyzing him, they wake him right up - either from the pain or some new venom they're injecting.
It's not exactly pleasant for Nicora, either, and yet she has a look of bliss on her face from the pain in her burning loins. She holds him in there for a bit, then pulls him back out enough so that he can breathe! That's when she also starts to really notice what they're doing. It makes her ... purr sort of. There's some sort of odd satisfaction in this.
Each breath Pi is granted has to battle with his wanting to dry heave, but the pain of being raped by a half-chitonous monster distracts him. Then he's plunged right back in again, as if Nicora's womb could offer him sanctuary, if only he could fit the rest of his head inside. Through the blood (and now the flies are attacking his face and muzzle where it cakes) it looks like clumps of fur are falling out. This never happened to Otto - but Otto is a Skreek in the service of Gorphat.
And Pi can be restored afterward physically, after all. As the poor Eeee suffers, Nicora actually gets some sort of perverse pleasure from it, enough that it's almost like having real sex again. She even tingles inside! (Though, that might just be the maggots!) "I so love what you shaped me into, Mother. Being in Your service is exquisite," the Yodhgorphat thinks in her affected state.
Pi eventually does begin to vomit blood - though not his own, given the maggot content of it. He's losing more and more fur, and not just from his face. Even his wings are starting to look green, and there's no telling what's going on inside that bloody codpiece. The end down by the Bargorphat is suffering similarly to Pi's face as well. His tongue is definitely swollen now too.
"You're starting to look so much better," Nicora teases a bit cruelly and pets the Eeee's caked and bare cheeks. "Isn't becoming one of us glorious?" She even tries to squeeze the poor Eeee's face with what control she has left in her wound.
A lot of fur comes off with that sticky pat. Pi's tongue is now so swollen (and starting to crack and ooze) that he can't even reply. And Eeee have a lot of tongue. A maggot head even emerges from one of the cracks. The Hoshim keep stinging to keep Pi functioning at all, and Hoshuosin is really enjoying himself now - which means any resistance has likely been shredded. There's nearly as much gore flowing out of the former barinala than Nicora is producing herself.
And Nicora seems to have no desire to stop until she has some sort of peak, and Hoshuosin does too. She does even sort of find Pi a little more attractive like this, including the swollen and cracked tongue, but that's mostly because Gorphat has warped Nicora's mind a fair amount. "Mmm, I wish I could keep this one," Nicora thinks, "But others have claim as well."
All in all, it takes more than an hour before Nicora can find release. By then, Pi is a wreck. When Hoshuosin pulls out, some of the Eeee's colon comes with him, but it isn't clear if Pi even notices. His face and head seem swollen to nearly twice their size, and almost completely bare of fur now. Eyes and nostrils are swollen shut and the pus-filled flesh seems riddled with maggots. A black stump forces his jaws open - what used to be a tongue, incredibly swollen and necrotic. Blood bubbles around it as Pi labors to breath through the few gaps available.
The sighs and gasps that comes from Nicora are disturbing, even to herself, as she has a perverse sort of climax from this. She pushes the Eeee back and holds him by that swollen tongue. "This was only an hour or so," Nicora says, voice now soft. "Skreeks endured torments like this for weeks, until they died. Weeks, Laxus. Remember what this feels like, right now, and that your actions caused others to have to live through such pain for sooo much longer."
Nicora leans in and whispers in his ear, "Will you remember this? Just nod yes, or shake for no."
Pi nods spastically, which causes him to choke further.
"Good boy," Nicora whispers in his ear ... then lets him fall into the comfort of the shadow. Much to fix and it will take some time. Also, dagh! Her crotch is back to itching again! Gorphat sure gives her no release!
When Pi stirs again, he finds that his body is back to normal - as if everything that just happened had been a nightmare. But he knows it was real. And one thing hasn't changed; the 'leather maiden' he wears. Those wounds haven't healed. When he looks up, he sees High Priestess (Emeritus) Mave standing above him, dressed in her ceremonial robes and looking stern. The Yodhinala slides her left foot forward, toes bedecked in rings, and Pi knows to drop his head and kiss those rings.
Alptraum stands a few feet back. This is Mave's house, and for formal actions, he'll actually treat her with respect. "Laxus," the Barsunala says, "One of your own, whom forsake your Temple rules and helped others found a Pit for ever vice that Inala and Her Daughters deemed vile. He has already faced Gorphat and experienced torment to help him understand his actions. Now he stands before you to explain them to Inala."
"You disappoint me again, Laxus," Mave says. "There's no explanation you can give that would matter. As a Pit warden, you should have ended yourself when the Temple fell for the secrets you were privy to. Instead, you found a new Pit, and worse: you enjoyed it." She kneels down to be closer to the prostrate Eeee. "And worst of all, you enjoyed it more than you did your service to Inala." She then looks up towards Alptraum. "Would you be so kind as to haul him to his feet for me, Barsunala?"
Alptraum walks over. He leans down and grips Laxus by the scruff of his neck and lifts him up back to his feet. One thing being Sylvanian does give you, strength in comparison to a Babelite Eeee.
Mave draws a curved, very ritualistic-looking dagger from her robes. "By custom, I should use this to perform a complete castration ritual on you," she says. Then she smiles. "But the Yodh are a lot more about cooperation now, you see. I would not want to deprive the Yodhrephath of their turn. But I will curse you, after you have been purified." She lowers the dagger and cuts the straps on the Leather Maiden so that it drops free. There's a lot of blood, and things look very painfully messy, even if the tips of the spikes didn't penetrate too deeply.
Turning to Alptraum again, Mave asks, "Would you hand me that blue bottle on the shelf next to you, Barsunala?"
The sight makes Alptraum wince. That does look unpleasant. At least he's standing behind Laxus so doesn't see it. And besides, what was done to Cerise down there wasn't any kinder, really. He also thinks a bit on Mave, a castration ritual, and then immediately wishes he had not. She probably considered doing the same to him from time to time, after all. The question thankfully snaps his attention back and he nods. He reaches over with his free hand and collects the bottle, then holds it over Laxus' shoulder to Mave.
The Yodhinala takes it, and pulls the cork out with her teeth while reaching into a sack to pull up a handful for Rughrat wool. Once the cork pops free, the odor of pure alcohol assails everyone in the room. Quite a bit is poured into the woolly mass, which Mave then not-so-gingerly uses to clean Laxus's wounds. There's no swollen tongue to prevent the man from screaming this time.
Alptraum's ears flick like mad. Any male would be traumatized to see, then hear that. So, he looks upward and just takes a few breaths through his mouth so he can't smell the alcohol and think about it.
The screaming does stop, as Mave sets the now bloody wool aside and corks the bottle again. She then turns to her worktable, and unfolds a piece of leather. Onto this she dumps the contents of her mortar: salt. The leather is carefully lifted up so that nothing spills, and then that is applied to the wounds. Laxus can't scream as loudly this time due to hoarseness.
And Mave really rubs it in.
"Is this really necessary, Mave?" Alptraum has to wonder. But, he respects her 'house', so to speak, and so doesn't speak up. Alptraum is by his nature usually not a cruel person. He has to remind himself just what Laxus did a few times just to help keep quiet.
Once the pork has been properly salted, Mave straightens up again. She then kisses Laxus once on each cheek, and says, "You've already been before Gorphat.. once. But as much as She and Inala have their little rivalries, all of Inala's curses were provided to Her by Gorphat." The curved knife comes out again, and Mave kneels back down as she chants in almost a whisper with the dagger held to her lips.
"What is she doing now?" Alptraum has to wonder. The talk of curses and Gorphat makes him shift about uncomfortably. He's also a bit scared of Mave at the moment.
Laxus is also uncomfortable, but doesn't dare move. He's crying silently though. Eventually Mave stops her chant, and uses the very tip of the dagger to draw a drop of blood from her left thumb. Holding Laxus's irritated shaft in the palm of that hand, she draws a line of her own blood along the dorsal length. With her right hand, she brings the point of the dagger to the start of the line, and sinks it in. Magically, there isn't any new blood from this. Nor as she draws the dagger tip down the line, which apparently isn't splitting things open.. but from the way Laxus tenses his entire body it must feel that way. His jaw is clenched so tightly Alptraum half expects to hear something crack.
Alptraum has to stop himself from grabbing his own crotch. "Dagh, what is she doing?!" he thinks, eyes wide in horror. He cannot even imagine what sort of curse that is, or what it's doing to him! He has to look upward again for a moment to steady himself.
When Laxus relaxes, Alptraum knows the worst is over. Mave stands up and sucks on her pricked thumb for a moment. "That wasn't so bad now, was it?" she asks Laxus. "Because it's going to be much worse as a result. Your erectile tissue is going to scar now. Every time you're aroused. It will build until it's nothing but scar tissue. Everything will be painful. You will be blocked. Eventually you will likely split open as things exert pressure. I don't know if the Yodhrephath will keep you for that long or not. You are a barinala. They may expect you to last longer than most."
She then grabs Laxus by the muzzle, and says, "I have forsaken you. Inala has forsaken you. There is no place in Paradise for you, and only Sunala will accept you now. Pray to Her for mercy." She lets go and turns around, saying, "I'm done with him, Barsunala."
"Ow. Just ... ow. And Mave wonders why I don't trust her?" Alptraum thinks. It's also bothersome to him that Mave at this time seems a bit well, less than empathetic right now. He still doesn't say anything, but he does look at Mave with a slightly arched brow. "Then it is time to take him to the Yodhrephath, as per my agreement," he says. "I am sorry you had to partake in this unpleasantness."
"He needed to be separated from Inala's grace," Mave says. "It is unfortunate. I do not like being cruel. If he were only to be dealt with by me, it would have been over quicker. A eunuch can still live a fulfilling life - just not in service to Inala."
Alptraum makes a mental note to lock and sleep behind a door down here when he does stay. To Mave, he just bows his head and takes hold of Laxus' scruff again. "Time to go," he says, "Right after I grab some clothing."
The Vigilant Eye is being prepared for its next sortie, with fresh ammunition and Rakhtors being loaded from the still relatively-recently added air dock on Mt. Rephath. Yodhrephath Windcaller sits within her magic circle on the forecastle, tending to her held spells and waiting for her navigational role once the heavily armed airship launches in a few hours. This time she's thought to bring a cushion to sit on for the duration - as the Yodhrephath's only formally trained Mage, she can get away with the small luxury.
Alptraum heaves Laxus off his shoulder and drops him onto the deck. "This is Laxus, a former Barinala and guilty of many crimes; related to the recent trial held here," Alptraum explains as he places his foot on top of the guy, too. I remember that you had bad .... experiences with the followers of Inala, and thus I felt I should offer him to you first, in case you wish justice for what happened to you."
"Alptraum?" Wynona asks in surprise, before looking at the man on the deck. She turns visibly pink under her white fur and quickly looks back up to Alptraum. "He's naked.." she whispers, as if saying it out loud would be rude.
"They usually are," Alptraum admits as he tries to arrange the man so that nothing at least shows. "He's the one responsible for kidnapping the skreeks who were tortured and killed," he then explains. "I caught him earlier today and he has been facing the wrath of various Goddess'."
"But.. do you.." Wynona babbles, then takes a breath and says, "I don't know what happened to me back.. then. I was drugged and could never recall. So.. I don't know this man."
"But he was likely involved," Alptraum says. "You don't have to do anything, I just felt you should have the option, given everything." He nudges Laxus with a foot, asking, "Where you involved in her time at the Temple? If so, how?"
"I don't know her.." Laxus claims. "If she's from when the Temple was sacked, I wasn't there."
Alptraum tightens his claws on Laxus' side. "Are you certain? I can get the truth from you if you are lying to me," he points out.
"I'm not a Yodhrephath for.. revenge," Wynona says softly, not looking at either man now. "It doesn't matter."
"I swear, I was away.. that's how I survived in the first place," Laxus says in a shaky voice.
"Understood," Alptraum says and rests his hand on Wynona's shoulder. "And what happened to you does matter. It mattered to me. That's why I brought him to you before I took him to Koldesh."
"All that matters to me is that I was weak and helpless," Wynona says. "I couldn't stop them from doing whatever they wanted to me. The Yodhrephath got me out during the raid. They gave me a chance to be stronger and never be helpless again. I don't think they went too far with me. They were just doing it to show my friend that they could."
Looking up at Alptraum Wynona says, "It cost them their temple. So.. I think they've paid enough for it."
"I don't see you as weak, or helpless, and I consider you a friend," Alptraum explains, then nods his head. "For what it's worth, I'm glad this is the choice you made. Not seeking revenge out of anger, that is."
"I feel guilty about it," Wynona admits. "I know I was a hostage, but.. a lot of people died, just because of me."
"I know that feeling all too well," Alptraum admits as well. "And you're not 'just' someone. You're a good person, and a strong one. Weaker people would have taken the opportunity for revenge, instead of understanding the whole. I should take him to Koldesh now, I know they are waiting for him."
"Thanks for.. uh.. the offer?" Wynona says uncertainly, but does smile. "I'm not used to being brought pretty naked men, after all."
"What about me?" Alptraum asks, brow arched a bit. "Am I not pretty? I'm pretty sure I'm a man..."
"You're more the ruggedly handsome bad-boy type," Wynona says. "When I was a teenager.. uh, anyway, I sort of have my heart set on someone specific right now."
"Should I kidnap him and drop him at your feet, naked?" Alptraum inquires at that.
"Noooo, that would be really embarrassing," the Air Mage notes, and even roles her eyes. "I like to think I can get a man on my own. Eventually."
Alptraum puts his arm around Wynona's shoulders and just grins. "Right, so when the time comes, I drop you at his feet, naked," he offers instead.
"Aahhh! You're worse than.. I don't know who you're worse than with these jokes!" Wynona claims, and covers her face with her hands. "A Lapi!" she finally decides.
"No one can quite torment you like a friend. Don't you feel lucky?" Alptraum asks, as his rather unpleasant-looking hand is dangling over her shoulder.
"So long as none of the other Yodh see and tease me about it," Wynona says, her grin poking through her hands.
Alptraum withdraws his hand and hmphs. "You're embarrassed of me. I see how it is," he huffs just before reaching down to grab Laxus like a sack of potatoes. "You are barely even a male," he remarks to the former Barinala as he hefts him over his shoulder again.
"The Yodh are women," Wynona points out. "We can be pretty mean to one another! And don't let the High Priestess carry him off for private interrogation, or you'll never get him back in one piece."
"I'm not sure I'm supposed to get him back," Alptraum points out, then pats Laxus' butt. "But I can distract Koldesh if need be."
Koldesh nods to the Barsunala down in the lower floor of the hall. "So, this is the cannibals' talent scout?" she asks coldly. She's flanked by two warrior women that look to have had their senses of humor and mercy surgically removed. They don't even sneer at the barinala.
"This is Laxus, a former Barinala who was the one capturing skreeks, yes," Alptraum says as he drops the slight man onto the floor. "He has already been forsaken by Inala, and ... Gorphat had her say on him as well. Now he comes to you to face Rephath."
The mention of Gorphat does cause the two honor guards to lean back slightly. "He looks remarkably intact," Koldesh notes, and reaches forward to poke the man in the chest with a toe. "He didn't explode into centipedes," she notes, almost sounding disappointed. "It seems you are willing to submit him to our punishment. Are there any restrictions or requests you wish to make beforehand?"
"You can trust that his time with Gorphat was not pleasant for him," Alptraum notes as he looks down at Laxus. He remembers that all too well. "Well, what do you intend for him?" Alptraum asks, looking back up so he can forget about what Gorphat did for a bit. "I have some thoughts of my own for his final fate, but I am willing to listen."
"His crime is trafficking in unofficial slavery," Koldesh notes. "That generally involves forfeiture of fingers and toes. The nature of his activities would also include his genitals and allow for non-surgical removals. The use of a sacred beast and trained Groks would be required. If death is an option, he can be hobbled and allowed to try and escape the hunting Groks. Nobody ever escapes though."
"I was actually thinking of something a little more ... ironic for him," Alptraum notes after he hears about the 'traditional' punishments. "Since he liked to capture and abuse female skreeks ... I am of the mindset that he should spend the rest of his life as one. HE'll get to experience, forever, what it feels like to be looked at as a flightless, filthy, almost animal good for only sex."
"That would mean finding people that view Skreeks that way though," Koldesh points out. "Why reward them in order to punish him? Ah.. unless you mean to use him as bait? Either way, what parts can be wrecked that will not affect the transformation? Since he wasn't involved in cannibal activities, we can't have him eaten alive."
"Well, he doesn't need his genitals," Alptraum says, feeling uneasy about specifically saying that. "Or, frankly, his wings. And it isn't a matter of even finding people like that. It's more that he'll have to be that which he looked down on and potentially endure that which he inflicted. But, he could be used as bait, yes."
"We can do wings instead of digits," Koldesh agrees. "He won't be using them again anyway. Do you have a preference for how the wings are mangled? We have a crushing spike press, but charring them down to stumps is also popular if you really need them to survive."
This makes Alptraum twitch. "Well, he does need to survive if the intention is to ultimately turn him into a skreek," he points out. "So ... probably the latter."
Laxus lets out a slight whine. But he chose this over (potentially) dying and having his spirit tortured. Koldesh signals to one of the other Yodh on the catwalk, who glides down to the floor. This one has some rather visible bite-like scars on her arms (and half of her face is behind a leather mask), and also carries an actual leather whip at her side instead of the traditional Skedat tail. "You have him first, Beastmaster," Koldesh says.
"I would be honored if you attended, Barsunala," the scarred woman says, bowing to Alptraum.
Alptraum is feeling really uncomfortable and now guilty about this. But, the Eeee did do some very horrible things, and what the skreeks endured was just as bad, if not worse. The request for him to attend makes him twitch a bit, but he's not about to offend one of the Yodh. "If you wish, Beastmaster," he replies in kind and bows slightly.
The woman hauls Laxus up to his feet, and flies him up to the catwalk, where she waits for Alptraum.
Alptraum glances to Koldesh, then spreads his wings and heads after the Yodhrephath.
As the Beastmaster leads the way into the Temple proper, she asks, "Is it true that you can prevent someone from dying?"
Alptraum glances over. "To a degree, yes," he answers hesitantly. "But please do not try to use that to go more severely."
"I was merely curious," the Yodh says. "I've been near to death many times, and could not help but wonder afterwards if I survived because of some divine intervention." The chamber she leads him (and drags Laxus) into has a very strong animal odor. But the Temple keeps Groks and Rakhtors and Pteras for practical, non-punishment uses - and all of them have nasty ways of showing their displeasure.
"It is entirely possible that you were," Alptraum notes. The smell in here causes his ears to folds back slightly, but it's a smell he is fairly used to, and sometimes ones that are much worse. "The scars you bear are significant. It is impressive that you endured and survived."
"I have been a Yodhrephath from a very young age," the Beastmaster explains. "It has made me durable." They finally turn into a side chamber that seems part office and part bedroom. She tells Laxus to lie back on the cot.
"It shows," Alptraum says as he tries to not flinch more upon the Yodhrephath's instructions.
Laxus has an expression of pure dread on his face. He might now of the Yodhinala version of the Creeper, after all. The Beastmaster opens a cabinet which does contain a large stone jar. She reaches into the dark liquid with her bare arm and.. roots around. The creature she removes doesn't look like the other Creeper much at all. This one looks closer to an octopus or crab - it has a hemispherical central body with a pale warty skin, and eight tentacles-with-knuckles and an elongated but thin tail.
"A creeper. One designed for a male, I take it?" Alptruam inquires as he goes to actually get a closer look at the creature. "I know of these and actually wished to borrow one from the Temple, if such would be allowed."
"You wish to borrow Yodhrephath Cuddles?" the Beastmaster asks, looking surprised. "Is it for something you couldn't do within this chamber then?"
"Yes," Alptraum admits. "What exactly does this one ... do to a male?"
The Yodh flips the creature over to show the underside, which features a very Eeee-like orifice. Then the Beastmaster nudges one of the lips with a finger, spreading it just enough to reveal small teeth. Beneath this is a pair of large suckers.. also toothed. All of the blood seems to to drain out of Laxus at the demonstration.
She then offers it to Alptraum, in case he wants a closer look.
"That looks ... painful," Alptraum admits as he has to shift uncomfortably. But, to not appear weak, he reaches out and takes it anyway to 'inspect' it closer.
"I wouldn't know," the Yodh says, as she begins to strap Laxus's wrists and ankles down to the cot.
"You have never used one on someone before?" Alptraum has to ask, brow arched a bit. He's also poking at the creeper a little, though keeping it at arm's length.
She then goes to a shelf in the cabinet to retrieve a regular looking bottle. "I've been trained in its use," she explains, and pours an oily fluid onto one of her palms. "Cuddles is older than I am."
"How old are you?" Alptraum inquires, curious.
"Twenty-three, I think," the Yodh says, pausing as if doing some math in her head first. Then she puts the bottle back and kneels down next to the cot as she starts oiling up Little Laxus. "I hope I'm doing this right. It's supposed to get big and hard, but not break, right?"
"That makes me feel ancient," Alptraum comments a bit wryly. He's also surprised that for someone trained in its use, she wouldn't know this particular part. "Right, it should. Just, ah, Inala cursed him there, so there might be some splitting as things get big," he warns.
Things do respond, despite what Laxus wants. His body has been trained, after all. But it's causing him some (at this point) slight pain. The Beastmaster keeps going, then somewhat shyly asks Alptraum, "So.. when is it done? Or ready. I meant ready. It won't just keep getting bigger, will it?"
"No, it won't keep getting bigger. It'll reach a certain size, then twitch a bit," Alptraum explains. He then has to think for a bit, and remember what he saw as Cerise. Then he demonstrates the size it should get to using his hands to mime the length and girth as he says, "For him, it will get to about this size."
"Oh.. I hope that isn't too big for Cuddles to get a proper grip," the Yodh says, and chews on her lip a bit. She squeezes with her hand, and decides, "This should be fine." She then wipes rest of the lubricant off of her palm onto Laxus's knee. Yodhrephath Cuddles is then held with her 'mouth' over the restrained barinala's tip. Contact is made, and the Creeper.. wiggles its way down. Laxus cries out immediately, there's a smell of blood before Cuddles settles into place and wraps her tentacle-fingers around the man's hips. The tail squirms about between the legs, and then disappears up the only available entry point. "Oh, I almost forgot!" the Yodh notes, hopping to her feet and turning to the cabinet.
Alptraum shifts again, almost crossing his legs while standing. With those teeth, he knows that cannot be pleasant. Where the tail goes is unsurprising given what Nicora goes through often enough, but that does still make him twitch. "Forgot? How much worse can this possibly get?" he has to wonder now. He's also not sure what to think about the odd behavior of thos Yodh; shy sometimes, scary the next.
A thick leather bit (possibly from a Ptera) is jammed between Laxus's jaws as he starts to convulse. This expression is a mix of pain and pleasure, somehow. "It's important to put in the bit, because of the electric shocks from the tail," the Beastmaster explains. "I thinks there's supposed to be something reachable through the back end that responds to the shocks." So far, it seems that the barinala's entire body is responding, since it seems to lift up every few seconds.
"Ah, right. I know what it is doing. That shock is causing him, to well, climax each time. It will get very painful for him," Alptraum says as he turns away so he doesn't have to watch Laxus squirm around. He'd feel worse, but he reminds himself that he was down there for nearly a month.
"Cuddles should be done with him by tomorrow," the Beastmaster notes. "I should probably get some bandages before then. He's not supposed to bleed out though. Then we can do the wings. Did you want to watch over him, or just come collect him when he's.. done?"
"I can collect him when he's ... done," Alptraum says. He's not sure he could stand watching the Eeee's wings be removed, after all.
"Sooo.. are all men like this?" the Yodh asks Alptraum. "Or do they come in different shapes? I know we women come with different shapes.."
"We come in somewhat different shapes and sizes," Alptraum explains. He's a little surprised she wouldn't know this at twenty-three, but he doesn't comment that.
"Really? I should try to examine a group of barrephath sometime," the Yodh notes, nodding to herself. "They can be hard to catch though, and I'm not allowed to use the hunting Groks for that. I asked. What do you do when you aren't.. being you?"
"Being someone else?" Alptraum jokes. "I'm not quite sure how to answer that. Sometimes I go to a bar, in disguise. Sometimes I play music and try to relax. I'm fairly ordinary, really. Well, as ordinary as I can be."
"You play music?" the Yodh asks, oblivious to the thrashing of Laxus next to her, and to how Cuddles is making slurping sounds.
"I do, yes. Is that surprising? I grew up as an entertainer, mostly, being kept secret a long way away from here," Alptraum explains.
"I thought you just stayed on Mt. Sunala," the Beastmaster notes. "What instrument do you play? My mentor played a flute for the animals."
"A recorder, mostly, which is sort of like a flute," Alptraum explains. "I can also play a harp and a few other stringed instruments. I'm purely an amateur though. Plus having little feeling left in my right hand makes playing music a bit harder now."
"Can I touch your hand without dying?" the woman asks, then casually reaches over and tilts Laxus's head sharply to one side to drain some drool out so he doesn't choke on it. All without taking her eyes off Alptraum.
"Yes? It's not dangerous unless I wish it to be dangerous," Alptraum says and holds up his right hand. He's struggling to not react to Laxus near him; it's ... ugh. Funny how one can endure horrors, but seeing others harmed is upsetting.
The Beastmaster takes Alptraum's hand and puzzles over it, turning it over and back several times. "I thought it was an animal hand grafted on," she admits. "But it isn't.. one that I recognized. Is this glowing orb an eye?"
"No, it's a fragment of a shadow dragon. This happened when I destroyed an ancient weapon of one of the primary instigators of necromancy in the world," Alptraum explains. "It's basically just an Eeee hand that has been damaged a bit, and fused with a supernatural creature."
"Did it hurt?" the woman asks.
"Yes," Alptraum admits, "It was difficult, but I managed. Its powers are now part of me. Not the necromancy parts, of course, but other abilities it had are now mine to wield."
"You said you were going to change this man into a Skreek," the Yodh notes, and grins. "You can really do that?"
"Yes, I can," Alptraum says, then adds, "And I said a female skreek. And I will. I could have turned him into a hog, a grok, anything, really. I could make him a breeding grok female, if I so desired to."
"Oh? Because ours tend to bite the males a lot," the woman notes, and lets go of Alptraum's hand. "What would you turn me into?"
"Pardon? I wouldn't turn you into anything, I don't think? Have you done something that would warrant it?" Alptraum inquires.
"I suppose that was a foolish question then," the Yodh says. "Where would you like to pick him up? Or you could just come back here and I'll take you to him."
"Did you want to turn into something?" Alptraum now has to ask, curious. "And yes, I think just coming back here is probably simplest."
"I could also fix your face and scars," Alptraum adds, "But honestly, I think they make you look really impressive and attractive."
"Really? Attractive?" the Yodh asks, and.. perks up. "That's.. not just because you hang out with dead people is it? I'm still growing back some of my face from when Squeaky broke loose from her leash.."
"Who is Squeaky?" Alptraum inquires. "And no, it's not because I hang out with dead people. I've learned to appreciate different kinds of beauty."
"She's our best breeding Grok," the woman notes. "But like I said.. they get very bitey. But.. ah.. hmm. When you get back, my cot will be free again. I'm curious about some.. a lot.. of things actually.."
"Are you? Like what?" Alptraum prods and leans in.
"Well, why you want to borrow Cuddles for one," she replies. "And also if you have sex! And if I can have it too. With you. I mean, I know that things work. I've run tests. And probably some other things that will come to me later."
"Of course I can have sex. I'm fully functional," Alptraum says, oddly amused at the thought that others might not realize it. "As for Cuddles, so see if they're breedable. I have access to a male version of that thing. I'm curious how they breed and what they would produce."
"Oh wow, can you bring it?" the Beastmaster asks. "I'm good at breeding animals. Although I have to wonder what the male version is for."
"Well, they were used by Yodhinala," Alptraum says, "So, guess."
"And I might be able to bring it. I'll have to see," He adds.
"I don't know much about the Yodhinala," the woman notes, and looks.. scared? "At least not as much as I thought.." she adds, looking disturbed. Of course, Cuddles is pretty horrific, so why wouldn't she assume the male version is equally so.
"They used it for endurance training," Alptraum explains, "Ability to endure constant stimulation and still focus."
"They enjoy it?" the Beastmaster asks.
"Their version doesn't torture," Alptraum says.
"Ohhh," the Yodh replies. "That makes much more sense then." She then pauses, goes to drain Laxus's drool, and says, "If you can't find me, just ask for Yodhrephath Scar. That's my official name. Which is better than my original name."
"What was your original name? My name translates roughly to Nightmare, which is hardly flattering," Alptraum admits.
"Scabberzerka," 'Scar' says. "I like Scar better."
"It's shorter," Alptraum must concede. "And yes, it does have a nicer sound to it."
"I got it after I got into a fight with another Yodhrephath," she says proudly.
"I can imagine. I should also stop distracting you from your duties. Thank you for your assistance today," Alptraum says. He takes a step back and bows to the Yodhrephath. "It is appreciated."
"Thank you for calling me attractive," Scar replies. "I will make sure that ... this guy.. I forgot his name, sorry.. I'll make sure that he doesn't die. He might not be able to talk when it's all done, but.. you can probably deal with that, right?"
"Yes, I can. And his name is Laxus, though he went by Pi for a while," Alptraum explains. "I will see you in a day or two, then."
"I look forward to it," Scar says, and looks torn between sitting with Laxus or walking Alptraum out. "Let me know if you need anyone else punished or maimed."
"I'll ... keep that in mind," Alptraum says, then departs the chamber. He remembers the way at least and makes his way hurriedly along. He's still uneasy about this whole thing. Even with what Laxus did, he's not sure of the rightness of all this.