High Priestess Koldesh isn't to be found in her quarters. Today she is at the training field, which is still within the temple walls, as the temple technically surrounds it. There are a lot of wooden clacking sounds, as the High Priestess herself trains some acolytes using wooden staves in lieu of real weapons - so long as one doesn't count hardened and lacquered batons as real weapons. There are many young Eeee on the sidelines sporting bruises, and two Yodhrephath stand by with a stretcher in case of more serious injury. Two trainers watch the trainEeees closely, calling out corrections or instructions.

For her part, Koldesh maintains a neutral expression, broken only by the occasional scream at her opponent to see if they slip up or flee in terror. There's also a cloaked figure in one corner of the courtyard quietly chanting.

Alptraum knows better than to interrupt this in any way. While he does have a sense of humor, he also has a sense of respect and what lines to not cross. So, he remains quiet for the time being and just observes. One ear flicks towards the chanter, but he's pretty sure that is just Windcaller.

The current student seems to be holding up well - she doesn't get past Koldesh's defense at all, but isn't getting more than glancing blows against her own defense. And then Wynona stops her chanting, and a powerful gust of wind blows across the training field. This causes the trainee to fumble as her wings drag her sideways before she can compensate, and she gets a sharp whack to the shoulder. "Most fighting you see will be in airship boarding actions," Koldesh calls out to the other trainees. "Sometimes on the envelope, but mostly on the deck. Airships often have air Mages, and a blast of air that will throw an Eeee off their feet will not affect a Vartan or Karnor. Always be ready to use your feet to grip, and keep your wings in tight. Vassara's mistake was using her wings to counter-balance her swift moves, leaving her exposed to the wind. It's also easier to keep track of your wings if they're always closed in tight. You will be taught to move without depending on your wings for balance."

"Good advice. We had similar about acrobatics and always keeping track of your wings and what the wing is doing ... as well as using your feet a lot," Alptraum thinks and bobs his head a little. He truly respects Koldesh, though he may not always agree with her choice of actions. "She didn't mention that keeping your wings in also means it's less likely they'll get chopped." He ponders mentioning it, but decides that may not come across well; this isn't his purview after all.

As Vassara is being helped up and brought to the medics for inspection, Koldesh notices Alptraum and hands her sticks over to one of the trainers, who takes her place and points to the least injured-looking of the trainees. "You're up again, Frezzy," she says, and the High Priestess approaches Alptraum. "Welcome, Barsunala," she says. "Thank you for not terrifying the Acolytes."

"You were handing that quite well without me," Alptraum remarks and gestures towards them. "I have never noticed, but do the Yodhrephath wear wing-bone armor? I ask because another advantage of keeping your wings in means they're less likely to get chopped into. Though with armor it's less of a concern."

"Yes, most Eeee armor includes that, and ours are made from red Skedat whip-tails," Koldesh says. "It isn't used during training, however. We want to teach them about not getting hit first, then using the armor."

"Pain is an amazing motivator to not get hit," Alptraum agrees, then smiles slightly. "Also, thank you for not asking me to spar with you; you would have wiped the floor with me."

"I've been having thoughts of adding mesh over the vanes as well, since noting your wing-finger rings," the High Priestess adds.

Alptraum has to think about that. "I'm not sure how well that would work," he admits after some thought as well as spreading out his wing to look at it. "It might adversely affect agility, it would need to be light and held close so it doesn't flip around."

"I was pondering a cape in concept," Koldesh says, "Then catching it with hooks on the wing-fingers to spread it out once in combat. However, I cannot picture a means of unhooking it quickly to return to flight."

Alptraum rubs his chin to think about that too. "Well, I can cheat and use my shadow cloak as armor like that," he admits, "Being able to unhook the tips quickly would ... actually, I do have an idea. Locking bead rings."

"Perhaps Rephath will grant a new blessing with similar function," Koldesh notes, and glances at the current training session. "Heavy armor has not traditionally been required, nor fighting in groups. Going up against pirates and smugglers is new for us, with new challenges. We can't just sink the ships anymore."

"If you use a double ring, one on the wing, one on the cloak, you can 'latch' them, but with a couple snaps of the wing, get them to unlatch," Alptraum suggests. "I don't have any real experience in fighting in groups; I tend to work by deception and misdirection. I am no powerhouse, any Yodhrephath could physically probably take me down if I didn't use any other skill. I do have som experience in fighting dragons, demons, sorcerers, and various kinds of monsters, though."

"The Yodhblakat get to play with monsters, usually," Koldesh says. "Can't have vengeance against a monster, really. Not the ones that aren't also people. Yodhsunala deal with the more supernatural creatures. I'm not certain which area a dragon would fall under though. I'm pretty sure you can claim vengeance on a dragon. Dragons understand such things, don't they?"

"It's what they consider a draconic virtue, so yes, they understand it quite well," Alptraum explains. "It's good to at least know about some types of monsters as people can turn into them. There was a cult of people around a wizard called Dack, who claimed to be a descendant of Dagh. He had created amulets for his followers that would turn them into enormous spider blood monsters."

"I believe so. I cannot see how they would change back," Alptraum agrees. "I can turn people into things too, by the way. Not something I do very often, though."

"I can only turn people into Yodhrephath or corpses," Koldesh admits, but grins. "Fashion aside.. what brings you to Mt. Rephath today, Barsunala? Is it something to do with Windcaller?"

"Of course. I wish to claim her shoes. They have sole, after all," Alptraum says with a completely straight face. "Actually, no, nothing to do with her. I came to see you ... and it is about the Yodhblakat. I am trying to nudge the Day of Blakat into something more constructive. A competition event. Rizalka wants the Yodhrephath to engage in a game of Blakat ball with them."

"Ah.. Blakatball.." Koldesh replies. "A game that only an insane Exile could convince Blakat of. But.. it is something the public seems to enjoy. We've played it before, rather than be seen as stand-offish. Only the Yodhsunala have the right to be above it all when it comes to public perception. But we have generally been more active with them. And.. I sense that you intend all Yodh recruitment to follow something less kidnappy?"

"I think it would be more acceptable to the people. I'm sure there are people that want to join, and making them contests should help get better recruits with the desire to belong," Alptraum explains. "Better public perception and better members would be beneficial for all."

"We've been taking orphans lately," Koldesh claims, shaking her head. "Many now that will take any offer if it means being fed. How are the Yodhblakat to choose from those who wish to 'compete' for the 'honor' of being a crazed warrior kleptomaniac?"

"Games designed specifically to test those skills, of course," Alptraum explains, "For example, Rizalka dubbed it hide and squeak, where contestants are to hide within a spooky game-field and the public will pay to go through it and be scared by them. If it's actually safe, people will actually pay to be scared."

"People will pay to be frightened by lunatics?" Koldesh asks skeptically. "Is that a Sylvanian thing? Or.. ah, yes.. something for the elites to indulge in. The rush of terror without the threat of actual harm. Very clever."

"Well, yes, it's also a Sylvanian thing. Partially because it lets people cope with living in a nightmare to begin with," Alptraum admits. "And yes, some do like the rush. Fops in particular."

Koldesh eyes her new batch of trainees. "Windcaller could go through it, along with some of the newer girls," she says. "We may need something like it here, permanently. For training purposes, of course. Does Rizalka intend to play in the Blakatball game?"

"I don't know. Though, I imagine if you played, she would too. You two are a bit ... competitive," Alptraum notes with a grin. "I could also help train your girls some, if you want," he offers, "I can expose them to all sorts of fears to overcome."

"Well.. you are named Nightmare," Koldesh says, rubbing her chin. "Would you do it literally as a nightmare, or physically?"

"I can do it just standing in person," Alptraum notes, "But I can also invade dreams and do it there, too. But, I don't want to encroach on your training. It's an offer, and there is no expectation of acceptance of it, nor any repercussions if you do not."

"Hmmm," Koldesh considers. "It may be worth exploring. It would need to be something we could do on our own, but I understand there are Dream Mages too."

"There are. The main reason I offer is that being afraid is expected. It's being able to act while afraid that's important," Alptraum says. "But there is no rush, consider at your leisure. Let me know what you decide whenever is convenient for you."

"I will have to recruit a team as well," Koldesh says. "But I'm very good at recruiting people for dangerous things! You can let Rizalka know that we will field a team, and that I will be leading it."

"You two won't seriously hurt each other, will you?" Alptraum asks as he gives Koldesh a sidelong glance.

"I suspect this will be an interesting match, indeed," Alptraum replies rather politically. "Shall I leave you to your training? I do not want to be a distraction to important matters."

"If that's all you needed to talk to me about, yes," Koldesh says. "I don't think I'll be joining in on the training again though - now I'm thinking up nightmare battle scenarios."

"Well, that was all I needed to talk to you about, yes. But, I do also like your company and do not mind visiting you," Alptraum admits and shrugs a little. "And don't worry about me going too far with dreams; I won't put them up against the demon of oaths that turns oathbreakers inside out."

"There's such a demon?" Koldesh asks, ignoring the training to look at Alptraum.

"Yes, there is. It's in my custody," Alptraum notes. "Looks sort of like a giant frog thing."

"Interesting," Koldesh notes. "Would you like to join me for dinner later?" she asks.

This gives Alptraum pause. "That depends," he says slowly as he gives her another sidelong glance, "Are you comfortable with vampires?"

"I'm comfortable with you," Koldesh claims. "What you are is irrelevant to that."

Koldesh raises an eyebrow. "I reserve the option to bite back if you do," she replies with a smirk.

"That makes it more fun," Alptraum counters. "Now, I shall leave you to this ... I need to visit Scar briefly. I think she has some ooze monsters ready."

"The Beast Master? She doesn't get out much," Koldesh says. "I won't ask about the ooze monsters though.."

"Probably wise on that front. They're half Rephath, half Inala creatures. I'm sure your imagination can fill in the holes," he says. Doesn't mention how the creatures fill in your holes.

Deep in the stinkier region of the Temple of Rephath is the domain of the Beast Master, who maintains the hunting groks and pteras. That is where Alptraum encounters Yodhrephath Scar, still wearing her half-mask even though she doesn't need it. "You came back!" Scar says happily, a bucket of slop held in one hand.

"I said I would. Did you think I would not?" Alptraum inquires, brow arched a little. The smell here oddly doesn't bother him, but he has been around worse.

"I don't know what I was expecting," the woman says, then tosses the contents of the bucket into one of the grok pits. "The Creeper eggs have only just been laid."

"Ah. So I need to wait a while, then?" Alptraum inquires. "I thought there would be more by now."

"Well, the eggs.. are not like typical eggs," Scar notes, wiping her hands on her smock as she gestures for Alptraum to follow her. "How they're incubated determines how they develop. Or what they develop into, really.."

"Er ... that sounds worrying," Alptraum admits as he follows Scar. He resists the urge to grab her butt while following.

Given that her butt is covered in stained leather and animal.. fluids.. it may take a Yodhgorphat to really make a proper grab. "Worrying?" Scar asks as she heads to her small combination workroom, bedroom and office. "It lets you control the sex and aspect of the creatures," she explains as she starts to remove her soiled work clothes.

"Yes, but the how of that is probably worrying," Alptraum notes. "Like, having to stick them up your nose or somesuch."

"They're much too big for that," Scar claims, now stripped to her relatively clean underclothes. She retrieves a scrollcase from a shelf full of them, and opens it. "Let's see.. where you wanting more Inala-centric Creepers, or something more.. harsh?" she asks.

"Well, at least a few Inala-centric ones. I won't claim all of them," Alptraum concedes.

"Well," Scar says as she reads the scroll. "For a female Inala Creeper, you just need to incubate in the birth canal of a pregnant Eeee for ten days. For a male one.. that's a bit more involved and potentially uncomfortable. They're all better than a Sunala one though, yikes. For Rephath, we can use groks."

"What is used for a male one?" Alptraum has to ask, "And a female one, that's easy enough to manage. Well, except pregnant. I don't know any pregnant Eeee. What's scary about a sunala one?"

"Oh, for Sunala the incubation starts in the stomach of a condemned criminal, and ends later in the corpse," Scar notes with a shiver.

"For a male Inala version, it has to be submerged in bowl of warm.. uh.. male essence," the woman notes. "That's.. a lot of essence, you know. Has to be kept fresh, too. So.. good thing you've already got one, right?"

Alptraum blinks. "Yes, that is ... yikes is a good description," he concedes. "And the male Inala one could have been worse. It could have gone up the ol' back door. But yes, good that one exists!"

"The Blakat one needs blood and.. other things," Scar mentions. She sets the scroll down and lifts the stone cap off of the Creeper jar. There are already two scaly, leathery balls floating at the top.

"Those look unpleasant," Alptraum admits as he leans over to peer a bit at the floating eggs. "Just two, then? One for Rephath and one for me?"

Even as he's bend over, another egg-sized orb pops up to the surface with a bloop sound and several bubbles of foul-smelling gas. "Well, three now," Scar notes.

"Ugh," Alptraum notes and covers his nose. "I have to ask, is there any entry for Gorphat, and what that would do?"

"Oh, I tried to not read that entry," Scar notes, and taps one of the bobbing green balls. "For that you need some specific disease byproducts, horrib larvae and implantation in a lung. I don't know what the aspect of the Creeper would actually be.. the instructions don't say, just as with the Sunala aspect. I know what the Inala and Rephath versions do though. I could create a male Creeper for Rephath."

"Gorphat's also sounds fatal," Alptraum admits. "You are welcome to create a male one if you want. How is that done for Rephath?"

"Male grok blood, a few other things and some temperature control," Scar notes. "Compared to the others it seems a lot simpler."

"That seems pretty simple, really." Alptraum leans in, peering, then asks, "Are you pregnant?"

"Why are you sorry?" Scar asks, holding her hands up to her chest. "I'm not going to die from it, am I?"

"I don't know, you just said you were sorry," Scar replies. "Why would you be sorry?"

"That you don't have more suitors," Alptraum explains, then waves a hand. "Do these require special transport?"

"They just need to be kept wet until they're ready to be incubated," Scar notes. "And it isn't like a lot of men come down here. There aren't many barrephath.. and almost all of them are crew on the airship now."

Alptraum nods a bit. "Do you have a container I can use to carry a couple? I can leave the breeding-pair here to produce a few more," he offers.

Scar has to bend over to rummage through a drawer. "I have a glass jar in here somewhere," she claims.

Alptraum isn't surprised that Scar would have a jar. "Have you been okay since I last visited? No issues with other Yodh?" he asks. "Or inquiries about me?"

"Nobody knows about your last visit, I think," Scar says, producing a jar with a wax stopper. "And I don't get many visitors unless someone needs a mount or a hunting pack."

"All right. I didn't think anyone would cause a problem, but I had to ask," Alptraum admits. "Thank you for doing this."

Scar scoops up one of the eggs into the jar, along with some water. "So, did you want to get me pregnant?" she asks. "It takes a bit of effort I'm told, because of the special herbs we eat to keep up muscle tone."

"No, I wasn't intending to get your pregnant, and it might cause issues with your duties," Alptraum admits. "Though I do doubt that I could due to my nature, I don't think it is necessary."

"It's fun to try though," Scar teases, and hands over the sealed jar. "It should be fine if you keep it sealed, I think the egg is in suspension until it's incubated."

Alptraum accepts the egg. "Oh, well, yes, trying is always fun," he concedes and coughs. "Is there anything more I can do, or should I leave you to your work?"

"Well.. is there anything more you want to do?" Scar asks coyly. "Or are you busy? You'll be coming back for the male Creeper at some point, won't you?"

"Well, yes I will be coming back for it. It's only on loan after all," Alptraum admits. "And while I wish I had time to do more, I probably do not. I need to deliver this egg, then prepare for dinner with High Priestess Koldesh."

Scar's brows raise up at the mention of dinner. "Oh my.. don't let me keep you then! Sorry if I was being greedy."

"You're fine!" Alptraum says quickly, "All of you are equal to me. I appreciate your time and hope to see you again." He bows a little; "Thank you again."

"Thank you," the Yodh replies, and taps the formerly scarred side of her face.

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's no sign of Tulani when Alptraum arrives, so the Sphinx could be off spying, drinking, buying Mave's groceries or doing who knows what.

Alptraum whistles. "Hey, where is my slave Yodhinala," he calls out after the whisper.

"I imagine you already have a dozen," Alptraum counters as he heads deeper into the bunker, following Mave's voice.

The Yodhinala is covered in weird blue patterns today, and nothing else. Her hair is pulled back into a Gallisian braid though. Her nipples have also been painted blue, along with her lips. "What brings you into my lair today, Alptraum?" Mave coos.

"Why are you painted up? What are you up to?" Alptraum has to ask, then holds up the jar. "I'm dropping off a creeper egg so you can create a male one. Apparently it needs to incubate in a pregnant Eeee, and no one knows more pregnant Eeee than you."

Mave takes the jar and and looks at the odd egg inside. "When you say in a pregnant Eeee.. how in are you talking about?" she asks.

"Surely you know? It goes in her birth canal to incubate," Alptraum claims. "That's what the scroll at the Yodhrephath claimed."

"Oh, I wasn't involved in Creeper breeding," Mave notes with a grin. "How long does it need to stay there?"

"But you were involved with breeding creeps," Alptraum adds a bit late, then grins.

Mave rolls her eyes, and sets the jar on her dressing table. "I will have Tulani summon one of the recently impregnated Yodhinala-in-hiding," she says. "I suppose having a functional pair of Creepers will be one step closer to rebuilding things."

"Yes, something like that. The male is still at Mt. Rephath, but I will fetch it back once a few more eggs are laid," Alptraum claims. "You haven't explained your painting, yet."

"Don't you think it looks pretty on me?" Mave asks. "And it is for ritual purposes, of course."

"What ritual?" Alptraum inquires. "And I think it would look better on me, of course."

"The same ritual I've been working on since arrival in Babel, of course," Mave says. "The ritual to resurrect Rinala."

"It's why I'm here," Mave claims. "Why I'm still alive, despite my age. This is what I'm meant for, Alptraum."

"You had more pressing concerns," Mave points out. "And I need you for this. You and Tulani. Babel needs Rinala. A goddess that is here to serve. The Goddess of Rebirth, so Babel can be reborn."

"I can see you needing Tulani and the Light she carries. I am not sure what value I add to this ritual," Alptraum admits.

"The dagger, and the Barsunala spirit," Mave says. "The ability to grant rebirth requires the power of the Barsunala. The power to transfer souls. The dagger is part of that too. We've seen the cruder, uncontrolled effect when you and Tulani destroyed Dack."

"Using that to resurrect someone could quite easily kill me," Alptraum points out. "I cannot imagine trying to move a God."

"The dagger will act as a buffer, and the shadow will compensate," Mave says. "It won't change you, but the Barsunala spirit that possesses you should be removed. The shadow would then fill in the gap. And there are rewards, as well."

"So, you intend to dethrone me from my position," Alptraum says. "No longer the Barsunala, so, fair game."

"Well, at that point you would be the Sabaoth," Mave says. "But otherwise nothing will really change regarding your position. You will still be the Barsunala. It is your heritage. The.. mythological part.. will be gone. You are what you are because of the circumstances of your birth. The Barsunala spirit bonded to you to fill in the gap left by your mother. It fights against the shadow though now. With it gone, you will become something new and different."

"Will others feel that way? The child now called Sunala? The Yodhbarada? The ones that don't risk trying to harm me because of that aspect?" Alptraum asks as he sits on the edge of a table. "I've had more than one Yodhsunala attempt to kill me too, and one was my friend. I know in Babel a friend killing another friend is normal .... but it isn't normal for me."

"The Seven Sisters will all be involved in the final ritual," Mave explains. "When it is complete, you will be the Sabaoth, and carry their blessings into battle against the General. The ritual can only happen on the Apex of Life. Your birthday, and the day before the General's attack. In return, Rinala will give Tulani the ability to have children, and bring your friend in the dagger to life after the souls within have been discharged in the ritual."

"How do you know when the General will attack?" Alptraum asks. "Or any of this?"

"Because I made the promises on behalf of Rinala to Kaira and Tulani, and you told the gathered in Paradise, including Tulani, of when the General is going to attack. This ritual I learned in the Light, and the rest through Inala.. who I assume learned some of it from Sunala."

"It's still odd that you're telling me all of this now," Alptraum notes as he rubs his forehead. "And I do not know how to feel about it."

"If I told you before we left, you would have balked at the cost I think," Mave says. "But now that you know what's at stake, I think you will be more willing to sacrifice me when the time comes. It is the unnamed favor I asked of you back in Draco, before we left."

"Not kill, sacrifice," Mave says. "I don't know what will actually become of me. I might become a part of Rinala, or be granted a new life, or go into the Sea as I should have many years ago. It's up to Rinala." She stands and approaches Alptraum, putting her hand on his chest, right above his scar. "It's part of the price for saving the city. And I don't have any regrets, you know. It will unlock the full power of the shadow for you, give Tulani something she most desires, and give your friend life. Really, can I hope to accomplish as much just by growing older? And Tulani has her reservations about it as well. Not the goals.. just the action required."

"You cannot know what you can accomplish by growing older. No one really knows what they will do," Alptraum points you. "And I don't really care about power, or the power of the shadow. I wouldn't have even pursued it were it not for Rosalind. It's been a useful tool, but it isn't something I desired for its sake alone. You're asking me to get rid of the only thing my birth mother could give me, the only thing that explains and gives reason to the mess that is my life. Once it is gone ... I'm just a guy who's had three decades of really bad luck. I'm sorry, but that doesn't make me feel any better about this."

"Do we define ourselves by our pasts or by our futures?" Mave asks. "I am just an old whore who knows how to mix herbs, and I have done things that you would not have approved of. That is not the legacy I would like to leave." She gestures towards the ceiling, and presumably the ruins of the Temple above. "The Yodhinala will go on as midwives, I hope. But not what they once were, cruel and beautiful and cold. I want to save Babel too. Your mother did not give you the spirit that completed you. Sunala did. Sunala gave you life in that sense, and you will always be her son because of that. But that doesn't mean you can't grow beyond that. We desperately need you, Alptraum."

"We are the sum of our memories and experiences. So, yes, we are partially defined by our past," Alptraum points out and rubs his forehead more. "And yes, I know you have done many things I would not approve of. So have all the Yodh. So has Kaira. Maybe I should ask Sunala Herself what will become of me. It's stupid in the grand scheme of things, but I've become proud of who I am and that I am close to Sunala. Good, bad, I've seen the kindness in her too. I grew up feeling like a mistake. Many of the Yodhsunala sure thought I was, too. I had one, one, friend in that temple, and that was Sunala herself. At least with her I didn't feel like a mistake anymore. And now I may lose that."

"You are not a mistake, you are a gift," Mave says, touching Alptraum's cheek. "By all means, talk to Sunala, talk to Tulani and Kaira. I made them swear not to speak to you of this before I did. I'm sorry if that has caused problems. I wasn't certain I could go through with things either, back then."

"Or a sucker and a pawn," Alptraum notes. "I will have to think on this, and I have a dinner to prepare for."

Mave pulls back and nods. "I'll be here when you're ready to see me again," she promises.

Alptraum pushes off the table and nods. "I'll be using the bathroom to clean up. I'll try to not keep it used for too long. I'll also borrow some clothing from the stores, if that is okay," he says. "Sorry for interrupting your ritual and thank you for your help."

"Probably not, but if you want to make suggestions, I'm meeting Koldesh for dinner. So something formalish, but not flashy, or, well, slutty," Alptraum notes.

"The Yodhrephath then," Mave says and nods. "Something with more of a military cut would do best. I'll pick some selections for you while you clean up."

"All right. Thank you," Alptraum says and slips off to the baths to just relax and ... think.