When Alptraum returns to the Temple of Rephath, he finds a certain young bat waiting for him (even though technically she's lurking in plain sight). "Hi-yee!" Cricket waves and calls to Alptraum. "Something big just happened!"
"Big? Your breasts don't look any bigger," Alptraum comments as he peers at Cricket oddly. "Or was it something else?"
"I'm wearing loose robes, they're still plenty big!" Cricket insists. "No, big as in Tulani just few in, all dragony, and is waiting behind the Temple for you. I can take you to her!"
"Tulani flying in is big news?" Alptraum has to ask, left ear going sideways askew. "All right, I'll bite. Lead on!"
As Cricket takes off, she calls back, "Well, she was big at the time." As one of the Yodh, Cricket has clearance to fly, and as the Barsunala Alptraum is also free of the usual restrictions. But the Yodhbarada still flies well off from the Temple before circling towards the 'back' of Mt. Rephath, and the Grok hunting grounds.
Alptraum spreads his wings and takes off after her. His route isn't nearly so direct, but that's so he can do some stunt flying just to stretch and loosen up his wings. He doesn't get to nearly as often as he'd like. But, eventually, he does make his way around to the backside of Mt. Rephath.
Cricket eventually heads towards a copse of trees, and lands outside. "She's in there. I'm not sure her of her mood," the Yodhbarada warns.
"Well, you could have gone in. You'd only make for a small snack, anyway," Alptraum notes, grins toothily, then heads towards the trees.
There aren't any sounds of grumbling or growling.. or anything much at all, certainly not wildlife sounds. The trees open enough to form a small clearing, where a wet, unhappy Sphynx sits on a fallen log. The sheathed Light of Nala is resting near her, as is her travel pack.
"What's the haps, soggybottom?" Alptraum asks Tulani. He he saunters over and sits down on the log near her.
Tulani sneezes, and glares a bit at Alptraum. "Apparently I forgot how to change back dry, or.. I couldn't, because of how long it had been. Or because of the snowstorm," she complains, and wraps her wings around herself for warmth. "I can't get dressed until I'm dry."
Alptraum puts his hand on Tulani, and then engulfs her in shadow! Why? Because he tries to use it like a squeegee to dry her off.
"Eeee! What are you doing!" the feline complains, and squirms around within the shadow (and her wings). "Are you hungry?"
"No, I'm drying you off, you ungrateful catbutt," Alptraum grumbles as he tries to get the wetness out of the fur by sort of squeezing it out hair by hair.
"You should have warned me," Tulani still complains, but sits mostly still for the rest of the process. "I've been up in the mountains all alone and I'm still.. not quite back to normal.." It is probably the longest amount of time Tulani has been in dragon-form, assuming she kept it the entire time.
"If I warned you, it wouldn't be as fun for me," Alptraum points out. "Did something happen out there I should be aware of?"
"Well.. after you left in the commandeered airship, another one was coming through the mountain pass," Tulani explains. "Bigger and slower. Since the only other ship to come that way was the first one, and I'd been watching it for awhile.. I delayed it. It showed up at the base a day after the Yodhrephath arrived and left."
"That's ... concerning. Both that another came, and that it was bigger," Alptraum notes and frowns. "Who was on it? How did you deplay it?"
"No markings, but it was pulled by Pteras," Tulani reports. "When it was in the pass, I caused a snowstorm. They had to anchor to ride it out. I thought about dropping an avalanche on them, but couldn't be certain of who they were. It was hard not to do it. But they went to the base, and then left quickly and turned right back the way they came. So I flew back here. Pretty sure I made it back before the Yodhrephath, but not by much."
"Well, that means they know their plan was disrupted for sure, then. Which means they may move up their timelines on what they're going to do ... and we still have no idea what that is. Greeeaaat," Alptraum groans, then starts pulling back the shadow to see if Tulani is now dry. "And by the way, even if you're dry, you don't need to dress."
"I'm pretty dry, thanks," Tulani says, then gives Alptraum a look. "Why don't I? Are you implying I've forgotten how to wear clothes?"
"No, I prefer you naked," Alptraum answers simply. "Or maybe in a collar. But that's about it."
Tulani seems about to say something sarcastic, but then asks, "What sort of collar? One with gems and gold?" Maybe she's still not quite shaken off all the dragon influence yet.
"No, with a good ring so I can lead you around like the dutiful pet you are," Alptraum says and grins toothily.
Tulani shows her teeth too. "Now now, you're the one with all the attachment points.. or have you stopped wearing the chastity-chain?" she counters.
"I haven't worn any of that for a while, you know. I've not been me for very long, nor home to even bother with it. Maybe I should just quit wearing the stuff," Alptraum notes and shrugs a little.
"Sounds like you need some Pierce time," Tulani purrs and leans in. "He doesn't mind being led around. Besides, for me to be your pet, you'd actually have to pet me."
"If I became that cat, you'd just take me to that crazy artist," Alptraum points out, then pokes Tulani in the nose. "Now, about that ship ... was there anything you can tell me about it you haven't mentioned yet?"
This snaps Tulani out of her purr, and her eyes get a bit more focused. "It was twice as big as the first one. Didn't pick up any scents stronger than the Pteras. The scout was a Saskanar Eeee. And always the same one. The ship never moved very far without sending them out ahead, then would advance only as far as the scout had gone. If they'd made the trip often, then they either had a crew unfamiliar with the route or it was not a regular trip."
"Hmm, Curious and worrisome still," Alptraum admits, "But, not much we can really do about it until the mage is interrogated." He then rubs Tulani under the chin. "Do you like me as Pierce?" he asks. "All chained up and lead around?"
The cat grins again. "Of course.. but that's Pierce," she says. "I'm not sure it work well with Alptraum. That seems more like a Mave or Igorina thing."
Alptraum laughs and shakes his head. "Well, then either way, if you want the jewelry back in me, you have to put it back in," he says with a smirk. "It's good to see you, by the way. I'm glad to not be among the captured again. I was getting a bit stir-crazy."
"I never want to taste Rughrat again.. or whatever mountain offshoot I was eating. They were really tasty at the time, but now I can still taste them. Maybe cooked and properly seasoned, though. After a few days I wanted to go on a rampage."
"No rampaging. Rampaging is bad. And speaking of Mave, I should probably check in on her too, to make sure she hasn't become an evil demonic witch or something," Alptraum admits. "What are your plans now that you're back here?"
"I need to fill Cricket in on the details of the mission," Tulani says. "Then probably take a nice hot bath and go drinking, assuming the city isn't about to be invaded. The prisoner is probably at the Temple by now."
"Probably, but I'd really like a night to relax before dealing with him," Alptraum admits. He then whistles for Cricket. "Ey, naked cat wants fill you in," he calls out, "And she is totally not going to eat your liver!"
"Aren't you going to fill me in?" Cricket calls back.. from not very far away. Who would suspect a spy-priestess of eavesdropping? She then shows up and grins again. "Why are you naked, Tulani?"
"I got distracted," the Sphynx claims, and grabs for her pack.
"Why are you dressed?" Alptraum asks Cricket, and tries to grab Tulani's pack so she can't dress.
"Hey!" Tulani complains. "See if I let you suck my blood tonight!" she counters. Meanwhile.. Cricket strips down quickly! She's still a bit 'buxom' from Alptraum's last manipulation of her.
"If you're good I'll let you suck on me!" Alptraum counters and leers at Tulani. Then promptly gets distracted by Cricket, and loses his grip on Tulani's pack! "Ack! A boobytrap!" he declares and falls backwards.
"Mine are still bigger," Tulani claims as she secures her pack. She removes her trousers.. only to find they don't fit. "What?" she exclaims.
This surprises Alptraum too and he looks up. "Don't fit how?" Alptraum asks, then looks at her butt and thighs.
She doesn't look any bigger. But the leather pants may simply not have fared well in the freezing temperatures of the high mountains - specifically the freezing temperatures caused by Tulani herself.
"You don't look fat, or pregnant," Alptraum says helpfully. "So they probably shrunk. You don't need them anyway."
"I don't like flying in the dark," Tulani notes. "I'll have to turn back into a dragon.. just.. the smaller one," she laments.
Alptraum grabs the pants and then engulfs them in shadow. Not to try and reshape them at a low level, but to just see if he can stretch them out with the shadow instead. "Give me a bit, Miss Panicky. Like flying nude in Babel is unusual," he comments.
Leather is no longer living hide, so the shadow can't do much.. except shred them with the effort.
"Then give me your pants," Tulani says.
"Well, that didn't work." Alptraum admits. "I can give you my pants?"
Alptraum takes off his pants and tosses them on Tulani's head.
"Ack!" Tulani yelps, then discovers.. Eeee are slender, and Alptraum does not have hips. "I'm going to keep them anyway!" Tulani declares, and ties them around her waist.
Alptraum snorts a laugh. "I can make pants with the shadow," he points out. "And it's not like I have much to see right now anyway.
"It's enough," Cricket offers.
"What's enough?" Alptraum asks.
"What I can see!" Cricket claims, and giggles.
Alptraum rolls his eyes and laughs. "So, should I leave you two to discuss all your secrets ... and make love to each other?" he asks Tulani and Cricket. "I know that's a Yodh thing."
"I should debrief you too!" Cricket insists, and.. bounces.
Alptraum arches his brow. "Tulani already did," he deadpans.
"I still want my bath," Tulani says, and then points at Alptraum, warning, "No cat-tongue cracks!"
"Oh, well, there are the secret hot-springs.." Cricket teases.
"Ah, so that's why you want Pierce," Alptraum says instead, and sticks out his tongue.
Tulani actually pauses to think about that. "Now that mention it.."
Alptraum laughs. "She's so easy to read," he comments to Cricket. "And what's this about a hot spring?"
"It's a secret hot spring," Cricket reminds. "Because hot springs aren't normal for this region. But it is something supposedly left over from when Diphath tried to conquer Mt. Rephath in.. one of the myths that doesn't really fit in with the others. But that's the thing about myths! They're myth-leading!"
Alptraum rubs his face. "That's bad. Another one like that and I'll move your boobs to your back," he threatens.
"So is the hot spring real or a myth?" Tulani asks.
"Oh it's real! You just can't wash clothes there, or dump bodies or commit murder or spill blood or drink wine," Cricket rattles off, using her fingers to count down the rules.
"What about orgies?" Alptraum jokes.
"I don't think anyone's tried one of those," Cricket claims. "I mean, it's not near Inala's territory at all."
"Does it have beer then? And why not wine?" Tulani asks.
"Wine is.. well, blood was Diphath's wine, you see? So.. symbolically.. it could go both ways," Cricket rambles.
"What do you think, Tulani ... should Cricket get her nipples pierced?" Alptraum asks randomly, or possibly to derail the subject enough to get it back on track.
"What?" Tulani says. "So they'd be noticeable when her breasts go back to normal?"
"Heyyyy.." Cricket says, crossing her arms. "You wanted a hot bath."
"It would help keep them from going back to normal," Alptraum notes and shrugs. "And yes, a hot bath would be nice for Tulani."
"Wait.. jewelry makes your power last longer?" Cricket asks. Then hears the rest. "Right, follow me!" she says, and heads through the trees in a different direction than she arrived in.. after picking up her robes, in case Tulani tries to take those.
"I swear, you're all crazy," Alptraum remarks to Tulani and gets up, the picks up Tulani's lack for her. He would pick up the sword, but ... "Anyway, lets follow her. And since you won't pierce your nipples for me, I wanted to see if she would," he jokes, then followws after Cricket.
"Oh, she probably would," Tulani says as she comes alongside. "She'd consider it a status symbol.. if you did it to her yourself."
"Of course I would do it," Alptraum says, "She's my minion. And kinda cute." His ears flick forward so he can track Cricket. "So, did you miss me?" he asks Tulani absently.
"I missed everything, but yes I missed you," Tulani replies. "You didn't contact me often enough to let me know what was going on. I wanted to attack the hideout. I.. may have wanted to do that anyway, it's hard to tell now."
"You didn't miss much. Not much happened in the hideout other than just learning about who was what," Alptraum points out. "And ... would you pierce your nipples for me?"
"That is a weird question, and I don't know," Tulani says, and starts talking lower. "I've got enough.. body image.. issues to deal with right now. I don't even always have nipples. I feel like a freak again. I had to grow up like that."
"You're no more a freak than I am. And you're beautiful in either form, you know," Alptraum notes and looks over. "I'm just trying to get you to relax, or laugh, or something. And to be honest, between you and Mave, you're the better looker."
"Didn't matter when I was a kid, took a long time to make friends," Tulani says. "Not just because of how I looked, but because I was abandoned and taken in by others. For me it was obvious that's what happened. So.. I always wondered why."
"I was dumped into a horrible land, broke, and scared," Alptraum points out, and then unfurls a wing and curls it around Tulani to pull her closer as they walk. "So, I do understand. And consider, you're not a kid anymore, or abandoned. You're important, with an important job, and lots of friends. Not many have done as well as you have."
"Yeah, I know that, but.." Tulani says, and leans against Alptraum's shoulder. "It's the dragon. I don't know how many more times I can change into it. This has been the worst one, afterwards. It was bad after the bandits in the mountain cave, but its voice is louder this time."
"What is the voice saying?" Alptraum asks, "And maybe you should talk to Kaira on how to ignore it better?"
"Or ... I could beat it up," Alptraum offers.
"It calls me weak, pitiful for not.. I'm not sure what," Tulani says. "Because I didn't attack the base, or attack the airship, probably. I guess I could. Does she actually know about these things?"
"That's just your own insecurities talking probably. Weak ones attack without reason, strong ones resist base impulses like that. It's just trying to trick you, nothing more. Tell it either it shuts up or it'll never get another moment to stretch its wings again," Alptraum offers. "As for if Kaira knows anything, I have no idea, but she's a dragon you can probably talk to safely. The others, not so much."
"What others?" Tulani asks. "You mean V? I'm not sure who to blame more for this, him or Dagh."
"Well, him, yes. There are a few others too, but I avoid them," Alptraum says and then leans his head over to nip one of her ears. "You're one of the strongest people I know. That voice can go suck it's own egg; it has nothing on you."
They've reached the base, or nearly the base, of the mountain now, where the slope is much gentler. It's always more pleasant on the backs of the Seven Sisters.
Cricket waves back to them.. and then seems to just get swallowed up by the ground.
"Quick, lets bury the opening and leave her in there..." Alptraum jokes.
"Hey, she's the one that pays me you know," Tulani points out and and heads over to the spot where the Yodhbarada vanished.
"I pay you too," Alptraum points out and follows.
"And if you fell down a hole I'd come and check too," Tulani points out. They reach the spot and find.. grass. Until a hand reaches up through it, and beckons to them.
"That's weird," Alptraum admits, then feels around for the steps down in that grass.
The grass is rather loosely matted, so it involves sticking his hand through it rather than easily sweeping it around. And of course Cricket grabs on from the other side. "What are you doing up there?" she calls.
"I don't want to fall, you goof," Alptraum says, then tries to go down the covered hole somewhat gracefully. "Come along, Tulani ... Cricket is getting the urge to bathe-orgy or something..."
Tulani hops onto the grass and sinks through it. The ground is more of a funnel beneath the grass, with layers of net-like, pliable roots that keep one from actually falling. All of this covers the entrance to a cave. "I can barely see, give me a moment," Tulani says as her eyes adjust.
"I could turn you into an Eeee," Alptraum offers, having no problems himself.
"I can see in the dark, it's just easier when it's already night," Tulani says. "I can't see with my ears though, so go do your squeaky stuff."
"She doesn't want to be an Eeee, isn't that a pity?" Alptraum asks Cricket. "She'd be the Eeee with the biggest boobs ever."
"I want to be the Eeee with the biggest boobs ever!" Cricket claims. Then a moment later says, "Wait, not that big though. I wouldn't be able to stand up."
"My boobs aren't that big," Tulani points out. Well, not for her build anyway.
"Just follow me, and watch your step," Cricket says. "Some of the skulls still have sharp teeth."
Alptraum covers his face and laughs. "I just ... show us to the hot spring, please," he says after he collects himself. "They're huge compared to an Eeee. And very nice and pert. No sagging at all," he then tells Tulani. "They just need rings..." He doesn't reply to that skull comment, other than a sigh.
"It's the flight muscles that keep them firm," Tulani brags, and watches where she steps. There are certainly some interesting rock features that look like the skulls of vampire Eeee, complete with extra-large fangs. But they could be carved that way.
Alptraum eyes the carvings, then shakes his head. "None of us have fangs that big. That's insulting," he claims as he too makes sure to not step on pointy bits.
"Those are monster vampires you know," Cricket explains, going into tour-guide mode. "Diphath's army of follower were all turned into demons after all."
"It's still insulting," Alptraum notes. "And why was this place not destroyed?"
"It's sort of a monument to Rephath's victory," Cricket claims, turning left when the passage forks. "Even if it's forgotten. This where Rephath's fury split the ground, as she drove the last of Diphath's forces into the pit she created." It's getting warmer now.
"Or it was an earthquake," Alptraum notes to Tulani in Sylvanian. "It is rather deep. How can we be sure you're not leading us into a trap?" Alptraum then asks Cricket.
"Didn't I just explain that this is where Rephath trapped Diphath's army?" Cricket asks. "Oh! You mean a trap for you? Everyone knows you can't trap Death," she points out. The tunnel heads deeper, and the footing becomes a bit more treacherous as the number of 'carvings' become more numerous.
"It's more likely all these statues were the actual Eeee, now all petrified," Alptraum points out. "Earth magic, or so it goes. And I'm not Death, I'm just her loin's most glorious outpouring."
"Yeah, the Lore never mentions how the Barsunala is born.. or if Sunala was every pregnant.. or if there was a father," Cricket notes, as they finally arrive at.. Hell. The 'hot spring' is actually a steamy lake with a reddish glow to it, and the walls over the cavern are covered in the distorted, agonized forms of 'petrified' Eeee-monsters. Even the stalactites hanging from the roof seem to be covered in them, or rather made of them.
Cricket sets her robes on the shore, and wades right out into the water.
"Like I said, I don't think these are actually statues. They were likely once people," Alptraum notes to Tulani, while trying to see if he feels anything from them. "I'm not sure this is safe, since we're fighting Amenlichli ... but eh. He removes his shirt, the last remaining bit of clothing and shrugs. "It's wet and warm, it'll do. Join me?" he asks of Tulani.
"Of course," Tulani says, slipping into the water. "This.. reminds me of Sylvania. But also seems like something you'd find in a Gallisian 'Anti-Vampire' pamphlet."
There isn't anything coming off the figures that Alptraum can sense - these have been dead for a very, very long time, and there don't seem to be any lingering ghosts. But the red glow and heat feel like some sort of magic. It might be earth or fire, or something less defined, like a divine miracle.
Alptraum joins last and slowly sinks up to his neck. "Well it is warm at least," he admits and sighs. "It's nice, decor not withstanding. The water is warm from magic, by the way. I can feel it."
"Tulani well, if you close your eyes it's like being a nice bath, but the water is a bit.. different," Tulani says.
Alptraum asks, "Different how?" He closes his eyes and floats, trying to see how it feels different.
"Higher mineral content," Cricket explains. "It's a lot more relaxing since the wailing and screaming stopped a few centuries ago. They were talk of sealing it up before it started to die down."
It does feel a little denser. So easier to float in.
"Salt-heavy water. Good for meditating in," Alptraum notes as he just sort of floats there, controlling his depth by how much wing he spreads. "And are you trying to spook us with talk about wailing and screaming?"
"That's funny!" Cricket says, and laughs. "Spook you! You! You both come from a land full of 'spooks' and monsters, don't you? This must all be pretty tame to you."
"Oh wow, they float.." Cricket notes in surprise a moment later.
"Which is why I asked. And yes, boobs float," Alptraum notes as he sort of floats on his back and looks up at the ceiling. "So, Cricket, do you like me, or just what I represent and the position it tends to give you?"
"You treat me like a person," Cricket notes. "Yodhbarada don't exactly have friends. You actually seem to care about me! So of course I like you for that. Aaaand being your personal Yodhbarada is nice too! Doesn't that make me one of your wives?"
"One of your wives?" Tulani asks Alptraum, sinking a bit from her own floating attempt when she turns to look at him.
That makes Alptraum laugh. "I didn't know I had any official wives, just Yodh with weird ideas," he comments. To Tulani he says, "I'm popular."
"The Barsunala is traditionally the husband of the various High Priestesses," Cricket explains. "Since he's.. the only man that counts among the Kindly Ones, I suppose. There are other demigods and such, but they aren't part of the family."
"So until Alptraum showed up, they were basically just nuns?" Tulani asks.
"They just pleasured each other," Alptraum explains simply. "Tongues and toys..."
"Well, it's not like they got none.." Cricket notes. "The high priestesses of Sunala, Zakaro, Blakat and Rephath aren't exactly approachable. And the high priestess of Gorphat.. uh.. well, that would be pretty evident. Inala and Barada's high priestesses always had plenty of suitors though."
"Are you the High Priestess of Barada?" Alptraum inquires as he floats ... as he doesn't remember who that is, if he ever knew.
"Well, no, but.. we don't have one anymore," Cricket notes. "After the Purge Night.. a lot of us had to leave to carry out Barada's Curse, and the archives all had to be moved before the temple could be raided. There aren't a lot of us left in Babel, and there just hasn't been a chance to deal with the issue. But we do need one, if we're ever going to get more recruits."
"And so you latched onto me," Alptraum comments, "Not that I mind. I do like you." A wing flick and he floats over closer to Tulani. "Hey," he says, a bit quieter, "You feeling any better? I'm now worried about you."
"The chill is gone from my.. mind," Tulani says. "Still want to go out drinking.. but now I want a big dinner too. And to be pampered and told I'm soft and pretty." Tulani is not soft, but that's probably why she wants to be told she is.
"And squishy!" Cricket adds, and squeezes Tulani's breasts, causing the Sphynx to sink again!
"But if I'm the cat, I can't talk," Alptraum points out, "But if you really want the cat, I can be the cat for you."
Tulani comes up for air, and puts Cricket in a headlock. "It doesn't have to be the cat," she claims. "It can be you!"
"But you can't leash me," Alptraum teases and takes the opportunity to tickle Cricket's ears. "And you two act like you're actual sisters, you know."
"I want to be pampered by someone that wants to pamper me," Tulani says, giving Cricket a noogie. "Not because it's.. what they're for. Not like a barinala." Cricket is squealing like.. an Eeee.
"Well, I don't do it as the cat because I have to, but because I want to anyway," Alptraum points out, but then shrugs a little. "Anyway, so a bar. The Scab? Someplace different? Paradise?"
"Someplace elegant.. hmm, Paradise would be nice," Tulani says. "I could wear a gown. You could wear a tuxedo."
"Skek!" Cricket complains. "I wanna go too!"
"Except I don't have one," Alptraum points out, then starts licking Cricket in her ears.
The girl giggles, and Tulani notes, "There has to be one in Mave's closet. Or you could just shadow one up!"
"True," Alptraum agrees while he keeps up the licking. It's to distract Cricket, though, as he's sneakily using the shadow to double her breast size ... since it had reduced some. "Anyway, we can probably find one. And Cricket can come too, if she promises to behave."
"What do you mean, behave?" the distracted girl asks.
"Be a proper girl with manners and morals," Alptraum claims as he stops both making her more top heavy and licking her ear.
"But.. I'm a Yodh," Cricket argues, still squirming from the lick-tickling.
"My training included how to be elegant," Tulani claims.
"Real Yodhbarada don't live long enough to be elegant though!" Cricket counters.
"You will, you're a new kind. Get used to it," Alptraum points out, and wonders when Cricket will notice her boobs.
Once Tulani releases her headlock, Cricket tries to float away, and seems to have some trouble. "They got bigger!" she realizes. "Is it the magic water?"
"Nope. You were distracted," Alptraum claims lazily while floating. "I could make yours bigger too, Tulani ... if you want."
"Mine are just fine!" Tulani insists. "Why, do you think they're small?"
"No, but they lack jewelry," Alptraum says with a big grin.
"Maybe I'll wear earrings," Tulani says.
Alptraum laughs, "Aw, be brave!" He then splashes her with some of the water.
"I'm not going to fall over am I?" Cricket asks, squishing her chest with her hands. "Do I have to wear a gown? I don't have a dress!"
Tulani, of course, splashes back! "I'm bravely not giving in to peer pressure," she claims.
"We could have Mave dress her. It would be like dressing a doll," Alptraum cackles as he is dully splashed.
"Dressing up a Yodhbarada?" Tulani asks, and laughs. "Well, not as far as dressing up a Yodhsunala. At least there's probably precedent what with Inala and Barada's.. camaraderie."
"It does mean we'd have to take her into the secret lair. You haven't shown her where that is, right?" Alptraum asks Tulani.
"Of course not, we'll blindfold her," Tulani says, then pauses. "Wait, how do you blindfold an Eeee? You have to gag them and do something to their ears too, don't you? Put a sack over her head?"
"Candle wax in the ears," Alptraum explains. "Or I could make her deaf, but that's a bit extreme."
"More extreme than hot molten wax?" Cricket squeaks.
"Or just wrap her up in shadow," Tulani suggests.
"It doesn't need to be that hot, but yes, I could use the shadow too. Heck, I could turn her into a Rhughrat..." Alptraum muses.
"Those can still see though," Tulani notes. "And Mave probably wouldn't want one in the Temple.."
"Boring shadow wrap it is, then," Alptraum sighs. "Still, probably better than hot wax and sewing her eyelids shut."
"Those are secret Yodhbarada techniques, you shouldn't use them," Cricket claims.
"Aha! I can turn her into a giant maggot! Nah, who would believe those exist? Shadow it is!" Alptraum declares. Then there's this evil grin ... and he grabs both girls and dunks them under the water! "Mahahahahahahaha!"