It's possible that Willow's costume made Mr. Bright less nervous about his meeting with Koldesh, but finding out for certain would have to wait. Karada took her to a 'guest room' set aside for her. This room also held some generic sets of clothing - Eeee clothing, of course. Possibly once belonging to pirates or others who have run afoul of Rephath's justice. There are certainly things that would fit Alptraum, which is handy, since he needs to get to the Mage's Guild before Mr. Velvet is delivered there.
"Oh thank the Gods, I can go back to being me. I won't get my head stuck so much, and I'll have wings again," Willow sighs out, and makes certain the door is quite locked. Once it's secure, then it's stripping back down to being nude. With an undignified grunt, she plops herself down on the floor and closes her eyes. Then it's ... relaxing and letting things sort of ooze out, and over, until she's in her happy blobby-place. Of course once there, She has to remember how to be a he ... it's been a while.
It feels odd to have toes again.. or more like fingers than toes, being Eeee. Feeling lighter is strange, as well the missing chest mass (outside of the Fnerf body, none have been quite so well-endowed as Willow). And Alptraum's forehead itches a bit where the horn used to be. The bland taste of oatmeal still clings to his tongue however.
"Bleh," goes Alptraum as he scratches at his forehead. He's also flexing his toes all about, and his spare hand is, well, verifying his other-bits are back, if he had to give up breasts. He kind of misses those already. And he still doesn't doesn't have any of his jewelry back, so any holes will have to remain empty for now.
The selection of clothing ranges from 'ragged' to 'flamboyant pirate' to 'where do Eeee get so much leather from?' - nothing suitably ominous for the Barsunala, but probably enough for Alptraum to fashion something a gypsy wouldn't be embarrassed to wear.
And so Alptraum does, mostly with the leather and flamboyant piles, and not so much from the raggedy one. So, the end result looks sort of like someone from a Paradise show ... before all the stripping begins. "Hm, I wonder if this sends the wrong message?" Alptraum muses.
The door bursts open, and an unfamiliar Yodhrephath marches in. "I'm supposed to deliver.." she starts, then pauses to stare at Alptraum. "I'm sorry.. are you a Sister?" she asks.
"I'm the Barsunala," Alptraum replies and gives the Yodhrephath an odd look. "Why? Do I look like a Sister?"
"You're big and wearing leather," the woman points out a bit more humbly. "I'm.. I'm supposed to ask where to bring a certain Cervani.. uh.. captive? Is he your Cervani captive then?"
"He's to go to the Mage's Guild," Alptraum explains as he approaches the Yodh. "I thought he would be delivered there, but I suppose I could escort him."
"Ah, the tower," the Yodh says. "That's what I had been told. But there were details left out that I needed to confirm," she claims. "Does he need to be blindfolded, bound, gagged, sedated or covered in tar?" she asks, looking at the ceiling as she runs down her checklist.
Alptraum reaches over and uses a finger to tilt the Yodh's nose so that she's looking at him instead. "None of the above. He just need to be taken there, healthy and intact. Also clothed, in case that wasn't clear," he explains. "And do I really look like a girl?"
"A girl?" the Yodh asks, looking at Alptraum. "You look like a cross between a Yodhsunala and a Yodhrephath. You've got the shoulders for a Yodhrephath."
"But not the boobs, alas," Alptraum laments. "What's your name?"
"You think I have boobs?" the woman asks in surprise, then recovers and says, "Yodhrephath Ikthionilla, at your service Barsunala." She even bows a little.
Alptraum of course has to check her for boobs, since she suggested she might not have any. "A pleasure, Yodhrephath Ikthionilla," he says during the quick exam.
The woman's ears blush a bit at the examination. Her leather armor is a bit tight, so things are probably flattened if they're not already flat to begin with. "They're not much to look at, I assure you," she notes. "How much of an escort will you be needing?"
"Any boob is better than no boob," Alptraum claims, just like a man usually would, and pats them, even if they aren't much. "I probably don't need much of an escort, unless a group is volunteering to carry him so it can be flown."
"We can have a palanquin arranged," Ikthionilla says. "A few barrephath should be able to handle a Cervani.. uh.. how heavy are they, generally? In terms of number of equivalent Eeee?"
"Depends on the Eeee. For example, I probably weigh as much as he does," Alptraum points out, "But on average, two is a safe number," Alptraum explains and shrugs a little. "Aren't the Barrepath sort of ... effeminate?"
"People are less likely to shoot at them though," the Yodh notes. "I'll round some actual warriors for it. Will you ride with the passenger or fly?"
"I'll fly," Alptraum says, then feels the Yodhrephath up again, just because. "Good thing you haven't been feeding me the stuff you feed them,t hen, or I'd look all ... feminine too."
"We don't feed them anything special," Ikthionilla claims. "And we don't drain off their hormones either, no matter what rumors you might hear. They eat.. not at all the same stuff we do. Hmmm. I never thought about it that much. But if you're ready, you can follow me out."
"Riiiiight. I'll keep your secret safe," Alptraum says and even winks at her, grinning. "Lead on!"
The Yodh leads. Of all the Yodh, Yodhrephath probably have the narrowest hips and smallest butts. Probably all the marching they do. Alptraum is led out through a different set of halls, until they reach a private landing area inside the temple. It's too small for a riding beast, but just fine for a individuals or those needing flying assistance. There's a stone bench and not much else. "I'll arrange go arrange things now," Ikthionilla says. "Is there anything you need before we go?"
That doesn't stop Alptraum from watching her butt, anyway! Once they arrive, he does at least have the manners to stop. "Hmm, what I need," he muses and taps his chin. "High Priestess Koldesh in a tub of pudding," he answers. "But as that is not terribly likely, no, I'll be fine."
"Thank Rephath," Ikthionilla replies. "It would take days to get that much pudding! Pudding-worms aren't even in season right now." And with that, she launches into the air to fly off to.. some other part of the complex, most likely.
Alptraum whistles at her as she departs ... probably because no one likely ever dares to give an appreciative whistle to a Yodhrephath. "I am such an idiot," he says to himself once she's gone and he's just giggling now at his own stupid suggestion.
For the next few minutes, long-eared heads peek in from the doorways, or curious pings come Alptraum's way. And then shadows cluster about as a single-person palanquin is lowered by six Yodh. It's still an Eeee-sized one, so Velvet may need to hunch over - but it's enclosed all around so he shouldn't fall out. The bearers have bared legs, showing off how muscular they are.
"I need to exercise more," Alptraum remarks as he looks at the impressive calves of those Yodh. He also calls out in the direction pings came from and says, "You can come say hello. I don't bite. Well, unless asked!"
There are several Acolyte heads that come into view at that. But their bodies stay within the doorways rather than try to enter the somewhat crowded courtyard. "I thought he was ten feet tall?" one of the girls whispers to another.
Alptraum walks over to the doorway, then. "I'm taller than most Babelites, and I can still fit through doorways this way," he points out logically.
The girls huddle together a bit at Alptraum's approach. They're probably new, given their ages and lack of upper-body strength. "Can you breath fire?" one of them asks.
"Depends on how much I have had to drink ... or if I'm being a dragon at the time," Alptraum remarks and even shrugs a little. Children always ask weird questions, after all. He also wiggles his right fingers at them; the one that doesn't look all that healthy.
"Is that a hand from a demon you ate?" one asks. "No, it's for grabbing spirits, because it's... half in the world of the dead.." another claims.
"Sort of both, actually. So, good guesses. It's from capturing a horrible ancient monster while improved my latent abilities," Alptraum says. He then crouches down so that he's more at their height.
"What do monsters taste like?" another asks, a bit more eagerly than the others before her. Join the Yodhrephath! Fight interesting monsters! And eat them!
"Not all that good," Alptraum admits. "Ever forget to wash a robe for a few weeks? It tastes about like that smells."
"Ewww," is the collective response, and then there's a series of pings that suddenly scatter the Acolytes as Ikthionilla returns with Mr. Velvet in tow. He's wearing an improvised loincloth, and has corks stuck to the tips of his antlers.
"Awwww," Alptraum says, sounding disappointed; he likes children. But, he does spot the cervani, and says the most appropriate thing he can think of at the time, "Nice cork ... s"
"They smell like vinegar," the buck notes, and takes a moment to consider Alptruam's attire.
"We like our pickles," Ikthionilla claims, and nudges Velvet towards the booth-like palanquin.
Alptraum strikes a pose, then says in a sultry voice, "Hello, sailor." Then after a laughter fit, he says, "Well, they're from wine bottles, probably. It's better than getting your horns stuck in things."
"Are you a mage?" the buck asks as Ikthy tries to fit him into the carriage.
Alptraum looks mildly offended. "No, I'm a demigod," he replies in a huff.
"Oh.. sor-" Velvet starts to apologize, but ends in a 'honk' sort of bleat as Ikthy squeezes his head the rest of the way in. His antlers stick out through the screen window at the front of the palanquin.
"That doesn't look very comfortable," Alptraum admits, "Sorry about that. You shouldn't be in there too long."
"I really need a bath," the buck wheezes out, before the bearers take off and pull the lines taut. Hopefully Mr. Velvet doesn't get airsick easily. "After you," Ikthy says to Alptraum, and gives him a pat on the butt.
Alptraum counters this by dipkissing Ikthy! When he quickly lets go, he launches into the air like a rocket! Yes, flight! He has so missed this! Oh right, he has to go to the Guild Tower.
Ikthionilla does pass him, since she needs to lead the bearers to the Mages Tower. For some reason, it's become common practice in Babel over the past few decades to never tell the bearers the destination until they're already in the air. It's still daytime over the city, so air traffic is at its lowest. But it does make it easier to spot the tower in the distance.
Alptraum enjoys the flight over, so he doesn't push it. He just enjoys a lazy sort of dip-diving-weaving in and out flight in the directions of the Guild Tower. Either he's having fun, or he's drunk.
If anyone is spying on them, it isn't obvious. And Alptraum is dressed close to Babelite 'classic' - what stands out most is that he's flying with Yodhrephath, who are not in disguise. But maybe their bared legs are meant to ensure any attention is on them and not their passenger or escort. Relaxing as it is, they're upon the tower all too soon it seems. The door guards stand at stiff attention when the delegation arrives. Only very-important-people arrive by palanquin, after all. And only very-scary-people arrive by palanquin with Yodhrephath bearers. "So.. do we need to come back for him later?" Ikthy asks Alptraum after they land.
"Yes. I'll send a message when we're done here," Alptraum says to the Yodhrephath as he lands upon the landing shelf and then moves forward to keep space clear. "The Barsunala and one, to be examined by Mage Cyprian. This person is believed to have been in the precense of Royal Mages, and modified mentally by them," he says to the guards.
"Seriously?" the first guard asks.. whether in response to his announcement or to his attire is uncertain. The other immediately knocks on the heavy doors until a slip opens, and he repeats the information to the person inside. The Yodh, meanwhile, try to extract Mr. Velvet without twisting his neck.
"Do I need to prove my identity?" Alptraum has to ask ... and carries with it just a hint of the draconic aura that doom may soon arrive.
The guard pales a bit, and the other one says, "Sorry sir, he's new." The door bolts are thrown, and the doors open onto the reception area. The Yodh bring Velvet forward, but stop at some invisible line just nudge him to continue on his own. "Buildings shouldn't be this tall," the buck mutters nervously. "Where are the clocks.. there should be clocks.."
Alptraum reaches over and takes the Cervani's hand. "Just think of it this way, when they're this tall and you fall, you'll die instead of suffer in agony," he says ever so helpfully, and grins. To the guards he notes, "It's fine. I'll give give him a small nightmare later."
The receptionist today is the Rhian mare who thinks she's a princess, but is actually a Mage of.. Alptraum isn't sure. But she doesn't seem to mind sitting at the desk. "My, what interesting attire," she notes, but is probably looking at Velvet's lack of attire more than Alptraum's garish attire. "Please have seats, and I'll bring you some tea while Master Cyprian gets ready to receive you."
There are lots of overstuffed chairs of unknown origin to choose from.
Alptraum picks one at random and flops down into it, and gestures for the Cervani to do the same to a nearby one. "Get comfortable, the people here are pretty nice and you're safe here," he says. "And it's totally not a harem auction house or anuthing like that, despite what you have heard."
"Clearly I've been missing on the more interesting gossip," the buck says, and sits down. "Soooo.. you are the Barsunala?" he asks, and reaches up to touch one of his corks, but thinks better of removing it just yet.
Alptraum flops his right hand over so that it's much more visible to the cervani. "Yes, I am," he says, "Ooooo, I'm terrifying ... or something. And in hot pants."
"I wasn't going to ask about the hand," the buck claims. "Was it acid?"
"No, the demonic beast that Amenlichli enslaved and I subsequently defeated and captured did it," Alptraum explains. "And yes, it hurt. A lot."
"Enslaved by a man who was licky?" Velvet asks. "I could use a salt-lick. I'm.. pretty sure that isn't something I imagined."
The mare returns with a tea-service and little cookies. And seems to insist on preparing it for them. "How many lumps?" she asks in a slightly sing-song way. Across the chamber, Alptraum can see Cyprian standing in the hall entrance, seeming to not want to interrupt the woman.
"Uh.. twelve?" the deer suggests.. and the mare goes ahead and puts a dozen spoonfuls of sugar into a cup.
"None for me, thank you. I'll take it straight," Alptraum replies. "Twelve is a lot, are you sure you want it that sweet?" he asks the cervani.
"I've been eating mushrooms and dried oats for.. I don't know how long," Velvet claims. "I want to see if I remember what sweet tastes like."
Tea is poured, cups are given, and cookies are offered. And then Cyprian swoops in as soon as the mare if finished. "Barsunala," he says, nodding to Alptraum. "What is this about the Royal Mages?"
"Some apparently survived ... and have been responsible for the trade disruptions as of late. This man here is one of their victims; he's had his memories tampered with, among other things. We also captured one of the mages. Well, three technically, since it is three minds in one body. Two men, one woman," Alptraum tries to explain. "Mainly, we were hoping you could determine just how badly they altered people's memories, and if they could be restored."
This causes Cyprian's eyebrows to go up. He looks at the deer with corks on his antlers, drinking super-sweet tea and wearing a diaper. "Did they make him regress to childhood?" he asks Alptraum.
"No, the Yodhrephath took his clothes. You know how odd they are," Alptraum explains.
"Not that I would say to their faces," Cyprian notes, and gestures for the pair to stand. "Let us continue this in my chambers."
"Odd they are, but I like them anyway," Alptraum says and stands, then gestures for the cervani to stand too. "Come, it's time to remove your brain."
Velvet slurps down the rest of his tea and sets the cup on this seat as he hurries to follow. "Will I get a newer one then?" he asks.
"My jokes never work, do they?" Alptraum asks Cyprian. "So, how have you been?"
Once inside Cyprian's large office, the Eeee draws the curtains shut and lights some lamps. "I have been holding up well, but this sounds like it is going to be a strange tale," the Mind Mage notes, and takes out his notebook. "But first I would like to hear more about the Royal Mages involved, if possible. We at the Guild are very eager for knowledge about their whereabouts."
"There isn't much I can tell you. I know there are three minds being held together in a patchwork body that goes around calling himself Doctor. He's been using something to steal life from someone healthy, to bring back someone near death, and enslave them to his will. As I said, two male minds, one female mind. One of them is skilled in life magic, or more than one. There wasn't enough time to examine the mages. But, the gestalt mage will be brought in for examination soon."
"And they did something to the minds of their captives. None of them can really remember their real identities, how they go there, or how long they were captives," Alptraum adds.
"Brought here to the Tower?" Cyprian asks, and turns to Mr. Velvet. "Where were you being held captive, young man?"
"A pirate base inside of a mountain," Velvet replies. "I don't know how long I was there for. I remember being on an airship, and that it crashed. And then.. I was in the mountain and told my name would be Mr. Velvet."
"To the Yodhrepath tower, but I can arrange direct examination for you too," Alptraum notes. "I know you'd rather have the Shrine Maiden be the intermediary on this; but this is something I have to take an active role in."
"The Yodhrepath.." Cyprian notes, looking at Alptraum. "Are you going to be doing the initial interrogation then?"
"Given the state of the mage, yes," Alptraum agrees.
"And what state will you be turning him.. them.. over in?" Cyprian asks. "We do want something left that can answer questions after all."
"He'll be alive. Of course, I could include you in the interrogations if you wish," Alptraum offers.
"I'd be interested in observing, certainly," Cyprian says, and steeples his fingers. "Now.. what exactly were they up to that involved abducting this man?"
"Suicide missions against the Yodhrepath to probe their tactics and look for openings to exploit later," Alptraum answers.
"Excuse me?" Cyprian asks, actually looking shocked. "That makes.. that seems nonsensical. The Yodhrephath patrol the shipping lanes, but suicide attacks seem a bit impractical."
"Why? The mage had the ability to resurrect the near dead and throw them right back in," Alptraum explains. "Also, since the threat from the mage on what he would do if they disobeyed were worse than dying, so they threw themselves completely into it."
"So he had something to make this easier than actual Life Magic," Cyprian says. "They were supposed to be in possession of many mysterious artifacts. Some of which they used to spy on the Collegia."
"And still have at least one. Their transmission of life, though, was painful. So, in my experience, that's not very efficient. I could do it without pain," Alptraum notes.
"You can do that?" Velvet gasps.
"Yes?" Alptraum notes to Velvet. "Demigod, remember?"
"It's more economical to the mage, in this case," Cyprian says. "Large rituals would be noticed. But artifacts follow their own rules. So what is the endgame for this combined mage? What is the point of engaging the Yodhrephath - something that is not exactly subtle?"
"To find holes they can exploit ... to do something in Babel. The prevailing theory is there's something they want to swoop in and collect," Alptraum explains. "But it's all conjecture, really."
"Hmm," Cyprian ponders. "That is a good conjecture. They fled in a hurry, and most of their treasures were seized by the Coalition, supposedly. They certainly didn't call us in to examine anything though. This odd fusion though.. if they had the means to stave off near-death, why go through such a drastic process? We need to know if the others are involved, and where they are. Switching bodies is something of a specialty for them."
"I'm aware. They wanted to do it to me," Alptraum notes, then shrugs a little. "I suspect the combined body with this one was to preserve what was left of others that were badly injured. Only thing that makes much sense regarding it anyway. They appear dead, but live on in another body."
"That brings up disturbing possibilities," Cyprian notes. "We suspected they might still be getting funding from people who have an aversion to dying, like the Sabaoth. We've been trying to scry for them as well, to no avail. How many of these enslaved accident victims do the Yodhrephath have?"
Alptraum rubs his neck. "Enough to overflow a ship. A lot," he admits. "And everyone generally has an aversion to dying."
"Especially those that've done it before," Velvet offers. "I don't think I was dying. I don't have scars like the some of the others. Usually throat or neck injuries."
"Many were executed prisoners, I think," Alptraum explains to Cyprian.
"Those are the easiest injuries to see, certainly. Noose scars?" Cyprian asks Alptraum. "That could be useful. There are records of executions after all."
"Some were definitely noose scars," Alptraum confirms.
"The men I was with.. well, we weren't raiders, we just sort of kept the place going," Velvet notes. "I don't think we had injuries like that.. except for Mr. Bucket. We just.. can't remember things. At least, I can't, some of the others could be faking it though. We were supposed to only use the names we were given."
"I don't think the others are faking it," Alptraum notes, "At least from what I gleaned from my ally, it seems unlikely. We were hoping you'd be able to recover their memories, which might tell us more about where the mages are."
"Memories can't be erased, just obscured or confused," Cyprian says. "It's easy to do that without magic, but I'll see if magic was used." He stands and goes to another set of doors that opens onto a ritual room - it's got a circle in the floor already! "What are called?" he then asks the buck.
"Mr. Velvet," the Cervani replies. "Is this going to hurt?"
"It probably won't hurt," Cyprian says, and gestures for his guests to enter the room.
Alptraum enters, but does not enter the circle. "If you don't fight it, it shouldn't hurt," Alptraum notes.
Mr. Velvet doesn't look entirely convinced, and sits in the circle as directed. Cyprian doesn't start off with a ritual though. He just chants for a few minutes, his voice surprisingly deep for an Eeee, and then taps Mr. Velvet's head with a long candle. The wick bursts into a blue flame, which gives off red sparks for a few moments before going back out. "Well, we are in luck. Mind magic was used on this man, and not some alien artifact."
"Can it be undone?" Alptraum asks, "Or can the caster be identified from it?"
"Some mages have a signature, but the Royal Mages were outside of the Guild," Cyprian says, and starts setting out more candles around the circle. "I'm going to bring in some help. There may be traps or multiple layers of obfuscation involved."
"This is outside my purview, so I understand. I would be of no help and this may get complicated," Alptraum says and nods.
"All the same, I'd feel safer if you observed," Cyprian says. "I'm good with Mind, not so much with Spirit. If something tries to escape from the circle, I'd ask that you capture it."
"Absolutely," Alptraum agrees. "I intended to stay and observe."
In Babelite, and pitched so Velvet couldn't hear, Cyprian says, "And also to keep him alive if something should go wrong." He then returns to his office and uses the bell-pull to summon an attendant, whom he quietly gives instructions to.
Alptraum's brow arches a little, and his reply is a short nod. And now he has to focus less on what he sees, and more on what he feels. though even without sensing it, he can tell Mr. Velvet is nervous.
The buck's aura is all over the place. Anxious in both a good way and a bad way. The expression on his face is easily read as well: what if I turn out to be a criminal too?
"You could also just as easily turn out to be a missing prince," Alptraum comments to the nervous-looking cervani. "Don't go to the darkest option first, eh?"
"Chronotopia doesn't have princes.. I'm pretty sure of that," Velvet says. "Why would I be on an airship to another continent? Unless that's not real either.." He does seem to be working himself up. And then the help arrives. Two Journeymen, both Eeee, and a sandy-furry Khatta woman dressed in something not quite Himaatian, but that would probably come across as such to someone that didn't know the difference. The other two Eeee take up two corners of the room, while Cyprian takes the third and gestures for Alptraum to take the fourth.
Alptraum takes the forth as instructed. "I ... recommend all of you take a moment to get used to my presence before you do anything. I don't want any oddity I may project to affect anyone's concentration," he offers.
"We're very good at concentrating," the nearer Journeyman assures, while the Khatta begins to circle around swinging an incense censor.
"Just fair warning; I can be a bit of chaotic magic," Alptraum admits. "But, I will try to avoid causing any problrms."
"Is there anything I need to do?" Velvet asks nervously.
"Try to empty your mind. Keep your eyes on Mage Suphile," Cyprian says. The Journeyman begin to chant, while Cyprian starts a different one. The Khatta mage slips on finger cymbals, and begins clicking them in a rhythmic pattern as she moves her hands, arms and tail in a sort of dance.
And Alptraum just starts trying to sense everything. Mood, movement, and any oddities in spirit or life magicks that the those present contain. As best he can, anyway. He's winging it.
He does have enough experience to tell what each person is doing at least. The Journeymen, for the moment, are building up power and feeding it into the ritual. Since Mind magic is generally low-power, it builds quickly. Cyprian is 'blank' as usual, but that does make what he's doing stand out more. To Alptraum, it looks like a ghostly key is being formed. Suphile is actually using a held spell, and somehow controlling it with her hands and the chiming tones she makes. The effect of that is seen most clearly in Velvet: he's relaxing, and possibly going into a hypnotic trance.
And Alptraum feels the odd man out. All these educated people ... and the gypsy clown in the corner. Still, he has some abilities that might help if things go sideways, at least. But, he really hopes he won't be needed.
Once Velvet's aura seems to go gray, little spots of color flare up throughout it. Flickers of emotion, and Cyprian's key is moving towards him now. But another key is forming behind it, slightly different. The goal isn't to read Velvet's memories, just unlock them. The other two Eeee change their chant, and seems to extend less clearly defined forms towards the Cervani. Cool blue lines of aura that seem to wrap around him.
It's not unlike picking a lock.
Alptraum focuses more on the edges of the cervani; looking for anything that starts to bleed out ... or if something erupts. Such as unlocking a fake murderous personality, or the like. Traps; as Cyprian said.
There's definitely something that reacts. Once the first lock is passed, Velvet's aura flares up in bright painful colors. Outwardly he still seems calm, but his body could simply be paralyzed. His heart is definitely acting like he's in a full on panic.
"He's panicking," Alptraum comments; I sense something akin to pain or terror. "Just a warning in case this is not expected..."
"It isn't," Suphile says. "Can you calm him?"
"I don't know. I can try," Alptraum admits, eyes narrowing. His sight is ignored for more of what he senses and feels. Then it's ... tapping into some of the shrine maiden skills he learned, how to pull emotion, or try to shape one emotion into another to guide panic, perhaps, into either a feeling of excitement instead. To calm, if possible, but to something similar might be easier, so that's why he tries to see if he can edge it more towards a pleased excitement first."
This works, since it's still taking advantage of the body's arousal. It's also how he spots something off in the man's aura: it looks almost like a tiny, ghostly horrib. It's definitely a spirit of some sort, and may be what's causing the physical reaction.
"There's something attached to him. To his spirit, sort of. It ... looks like a horrib?" Alptraum says, voice sounding distant and distracted. He focuses down on that aura; that spirit, and tries to determine if it is the man, or something attached to the man...
"That does not sound good," Suphile notes, and changes the rhythm of her chiming. "Can you remove it?" It's definitely not part of Velvet. It's some sort of spirit creature though, and the cause of the panic. This might be the real cause of the raiders fear, something buried so deep it isn't detectable until it's activated.
And it does seem a little familiar as well. Alptraum wants to associate it with one of the male mages making up the Doctor.
"Let me try," Alptraum agrees. And how he has to see an echo of himself, and have that echo enter the circle ... and reach into the man to take hold of the horrib and slowly pull it out. It's almost like the bi-location trick, he figures, where he creates a proto alternate space of himself, and pulls something into it.
The horrib struggles, but has to give up its grip on Velvet in order to try and sting Alptraum instead. Velvet's vitals immediately move back towards normal, while the horrib.. well, it's attacking a ghost, essentially, so Alptraum isn't affected at all. But he doesn't lose his grip once he's got it outside of the buck either.
Alptraum 'steps back, and keeps holding onto it. "I have it out. I can't explain this, but ... this reminds of of one of the mage-minds in the tri-mage creature we captured. I can't explain why, though. Just that it feels somehow similar," he tells the others. He hasn't physically moved, so ... unless they can detect the changes too, would they know he actually did something?
"There should be a jar on the shelf behind you," Suphile says, her voice still a calm purr. "Try to put it inside and close the lid."
Alptraum has no idea if it will work! But he tries to envision his puppet-self carrying the critter over to the shelf and stick it in what he presumes is the jar? As for closing it, that requires actual physical interaction ... so Alptraum himself will have to go over and close it ... and hopefully not be stung in the process!
Holding the thing inside the jar is easy enough though.. the puppet's hands pass through it (although the horrib has to go in through the mouth). The jar must be for holding spirits, but whatever the puppet is doesn't count as one.. at least not entirely. It's the sort of jar you'd store preserves in, complete with a wax-ringed wooden stopper on a hinge.
Alptraum walks over, and quickly moves to try and close the lid before the thing can try to sting the real him! If it even can, for that matter. Lid closed first, then hold closed and flip the lock bar.
The lid has the feel of thistlebark, and the angry little horrib is trapped inside trying to sting the glass.
"Ow," Alptraum complains as he gets the lid closed. That stuff is no friend of his, either, but at least it doesn't do what iron does! "Secured," Alptraum says.
"Rostre can take a look at it later," Suphile says. "How is the patient?" Velvet is calmer, and doesn't seem to be having the paralysis issue anymore.
"Calmer, not paralyzed," Alptraum explains as his focus returns to the patient.
Now the spell seems to be making progress. The gray aura gives way to white, and then regular colors.. before Velvet passes out asleep.
"Nothing unusual now ... and he's asleep," Alptraum remarks. "Expected?"
"We'll see if he remembers anything when he wakes up," Cyprian says after drawing the ritual to a close. "Nasty trap. Instead of attacking the mage, it was meant to kill the subject. That is promising. There should be something he remembers that the Royal Mages don't want discovered."
"Kill how? Induce such fear he dies from it?" Alptraum asks as he rubs his neck again. "Cause a heart to fail, I suppose. Nasty indeed. If all of them have this in them ... we're all going to be busy, and tired..."