While the 'vestments' were strange - along with Zaffrella and her claim to have met him nearly a century ago - they're still too valuable to just be flying around in. It's one thing to let some of the Yodhsunala see him wearing them, but they just wouldn't survive his typical activities. He has a choice of course, he could change back into his regular clothes before leaving the Temple of Sunala, he could change when he gets to Mt. Inala but before descending into the bunker, or he could risk letting Mave or Tulani see him before changing.

But, it boils down to not offending the Yodh any further, so he has to fly home first before changing. He just got them, after all, and swapping at the temple would have been in bad taste. So, it's back to the hidden base at Mount Inala to change clothing. IF either of them make fun of him ... well, it wouldn't be the first time.

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.

"You're back!" Tulani points out for some reason once Alptraum enters the bunker. "I watched the mansion all night and the next day until I caught you heading to Mt. Sunala. How did things go with Thath?" she asks, all the while checking out the new outfit.

"Depressingly, but also productive. I have a dagger I want to stash here that can kill Amenlichli, provided we can figure out how to use it," Alptraum explains as he enters and tries to seem as if nothing is amiss. "I also had some things to deal with at Mt. Sunala, which is why I went. Didn't quite solve the problem, though. There's an old ritual I have to shut down which will involve going to all the temples. Bleh."

"A ritual? Where did the clothes come from?" Tulani asks, sticking to Alptraum. "A dagger? Is it like the Light? Is that what the Royal Morons are after?"

"Not like the light at all," Alptraum notes as he pulls it from his belt where it had been wrapped and secured, then offers the bundle over tot he cat. "The clothing came from Mt. Sunala. They claim it was from a hundred plus year old ritual involving me. Well, the Barsunala. It's possible; it's also possible they were making fun of me."

"It does fit you really well," Tulani admits. "Very... vampire gypsy. I didn't know there were rituals about the Barsunala other than funeral stuff. Why did they give it to you? Are you actually supposed to participate in a ritual now?" She automatically tries to draw the dagger from its sheath of course, and fails. "Huh, so it is a bit like the Light in that only a chosen champion can draw it?"

"I'm not sure chosen is the right word for it. There's a trick or key to it, supposedly," Alptraum says with a small shrug as he continues on to the racks of clothing (or which the male section is ... about six hangers.) "Supposedly I was summoned back when to help bring about a new Srinala or something along those lines," he explains as he finds a set of clothing in the meager selection that is, well, a backup pair of his regular clothing. "It's to supposedly make me seem more official and get the Yodh to quit insulting me."

"They insult you?" Tulani asks in surprise. She doesn't get to interact with the Yodhsunala very much. "Why?"

"They used to try and kill me. Insult was an improvement," Alptraum comments and shrugs. "Mostly because I'm a guy, and I technically outrank them and it pisses them off. I'm threatening to their 'way'.

"Oh, right, they don't have male religious figures," Tulani remembers. "Except for the Sabaoth. Wasn't he technically the high priest for all of them?"

"Yes, and they hated that too," Alptraum adds. "They hate a lot of things. Remember, Mave hated me too. Probably still does, just figured it's a bad idea to be direct about it."

"Praying in her little nook," Tulani says. "Or smoking something weird. But it could be incense. I don't understand the praying, honestly. She's met gods. It's.. hard to see them as.. gods after that."

"What would you call them, then? I know what you probably call me," Alptraum comments as he finally starts to disrobe, and being very careful to not damage the clothing as each piece gets its own hanger.

"I call you Alptraum, God of Tight Butts," Tulani teases. "Well, I can call them gods but.. just not very divine sorts. Not compared to how they're seen in Silvania, as Angels. You'd be more of a Saint back home, really. Part of it is how they and their followers behave, I guess."

"Heh, fair. I suppose that's better than grabber of catbutt," Alptraum laughs and glances over to Tulani. "Things are just all kinds of a mess over here, and stressful. Finding it harder and harder to be any sort of optimistic."

"You've got something that can kill Amenlichtli," Tulani reminds him. "Even if it looks weird. My accomplishments here are pretty minor, but I'm still optimistic. I mean, everything the General has tried so far has failed."

"I can't explain it, honestly. I just feel off, like something beyond this world is somehow broken and taking me with it," Alptraum comments and shrugs, and starts to dress back in the rougher-looking clothing. "As for the knife, we have it, but none of us can use it. Not even me."

"Then how do you know it's for killing Amena?" Tulani asks. "And when you change into my twin, do you grab your own catbutt?"

"IT was for killing Vorgulremik, it can be used to kill Amena," Alptraum explains. "And no, not usually, because people line up to grab it.

"People don't line up to grab my butt!" Tulani claims. "So what's this ritual you mentioned that involves the temples? And there must be some irony in a dagger to kill a dragon that's dead and trapped in a dagger now."

"The ritual is one started by the Sabbaoth centuries ago. It condemns the spirits and memories of any woman who disappointed him to oblivion. AS in it eats away the spirit energy, while slowly erasing their memory from anyone in town who remembered them," Alptraum explains as he ties the laces of his clothing. "It's powered by prayers at each temple focused on some sort of anchor point, disguised as a training prayer focus."

"That's.." Tulani starts to say, and can't find the words, so she just covers her mouth. Finally, she says, "He really was a devil, then, with his own private hell?"

"Prettymuch. He sent his own daughters there, because he wanted a male heir to take over when the time was right. Also all his wives, and those associated to his wives, such as the woman who who was the anchor who birthed me. Kind of pisses me off on several levels."

"So you just have to stop this ritual and it all goes away?" Tulani asks. "It must be huge if it's been going on for centuries! Or.. hmm. Something big would have been noticed, especially after the Dream Ritual. Do the Mages know about it?"

"I don't know what the mages know. Depending on how it works, maybe?" Alptraum says and shrugs a little. "I'm not magic-trained, I don't know what they'd know or not know. It's frustrating too. A fake in an evil town trying to lie his way through."

"I'm sure they could tell you something if you brought them one of these 'focus' things," Tulani says, and stretches. "How was spending time with Thath? He doesn't have a reputation for warmth after all. Is he secure against the Royal Mages or whoever they're going to send?"

"The focuses are the size of trees, so, can't really move those," Alptraum explains, "As for Thath ... he's fairly cold, at least on the outside. He's tired, old, and very sad. Anger keeps him going, which I can understand. But, when he's alone I think he probably cries."

"So.. does he feel like a father at all?" Tulani asks, with a bit more interest than usual. Like Alptraum, she was raised by adoptive parents.

"In a way, yes. We are similar in many aspects, so there's something there," Alptraum admits, "And he told me stuff I doubt he's ever told anyone. So many regrets."

"All I know about my real father is what I saw when we all touched the Light of Nala that first time," Tulani says. "A pirate! But I became a sailor without ever knowing that. It's weird to find traits between us and parents we never knew."

Some things do come with the blood. Good and bad things, unfortunately. I have his temper and moodiness," Alptraum comments and finally finishes dressing back and feeling more 'normal'. "The fact I'm also a slut ... that i can't blame on anyone but myself."

"Isn't that really Melusine and Inala's fault though?" Tulani points out. "I know it isn't mine!" she claims.

"You're no saint. And Melusine has no sexual drive at all," Alptraum points out.

"Well, I don't imagine dragons get along well enough with other dragons," Tulani points out. "Probably for the best, really."

"They don't get along with anyone," Alptraum corrects, "And yes, probably for the best." He sits down heavily on a crate and just breathes out. "Mave hasn't said a word to me since I chewed her out a few days ago," he notes.

"Wasn't great," Alptraum says and shrugs. "I feel like I've failed her when it comes down to it."

"Failed her how?" Tulani asks. "She had her own reasons for returning to Babel. Which involve hiding in a bunker in a ruined temple apparently."

"I couldn't find her a future. Or rather get her to want to find her a future," Alptraum explains and ends up shrugging again. "I can save people I don't know, but those that are closer to me, not so much."

"Are you sure she doesn't have a future she wants?" Tulani asks. "I don't even know what I'm going to do after the General is dealt with."

"Seems a silly thing to plan for," Tulani says. "I mean.. I suppose as a way to try and exert control over it."

"You're not a monster, I am," Alptraum notes. "That became abundantly clear at Mt. Sunala when I almost killed one of the Yodh there."

"That statement really needs some context you know," Tulani says. Then she sits up a bit, and asks, "Am I a monster? I was eating people in that bandit base we found on the way to Babel."

"You didn't actually eat them. I remember," Alptraum reminds, "And no, you're not going to be one if you don't change shape. I am one in any shape. As for the Yodh, she insulted me, then stood in the way of me trying to stop the spell."

"So she made you angrier when you were already angry," Tulani guesses. "But you didn't kill her. Did you injure her?"

"That doesn't sound any worse than.. well, men in general," Tulani notes. "I've had to break up fights on airships that were nastier, and generally over trivial things, like 'borrowing' a sock," she claims. "And even growing up where were plenty of nasty things going on. And a lot of times it was just one push too far, you know? A bad day, bad news, and someone not knowing the mood doing something to tip from barrel-of-garbage-day to trash-fire-day."

"Usually it doesn't lead to someone nearly ripping their soul out and shredding their body, though," Alptraum points out. "If I lose control, things can go very, very, bad."

"Yeah, but to a lesser degree that's true of everyone," Tulani explains. "You've got amazing self-control for someone who had a rather rough childhood. The Yodh didn't know what your mood was, and pushed too hard on you, or wanted to push you too far maybe. If they didn't like the idea of the Barsunala getting a lot of attention, and would be happy if you 'stumbled' in a way to make you less liked."

"I know how cruel women can be when reputation is on the line," the Sphynx notes, and actually does point at Alptraum with a flick of her wrist.

"Possibly. I have a reputation of being nice and kind, and she pointed out how not nice and cruel I was being," Alptraum says and sighs out. "I guess I'm just tired. I feel like I need a break, but how can I? None of those on the other side are taking a break."

"Well, that depends on the break," Tulani says. "I haven't heard anything about the airship you captured and then got taken off to parts unknown by the Yodhrephath so they could deal with that chest. If it happens outside of the city, the Yodhbarada are notoriously uninformed about it. And about a lot of things within the city for that matter."

"I don't even know what would help right now to make me feel less listless and hopeless than I already do," Alptraum admits. "Hard to explain."

"Get stupid-drunk? Go do something I've never done? Not sure there is anything!" Alptraum admits.

"Do some charity work?" Tulani suggests, then has to pause and think. "I don't know if there is a word for that in Babelite. I don't think Bara thinks of it as 'charity' when she opens her doors the Greytown construction workers. And all of the medical stuff at the Temple of Gorphat and Sunala is being paid for by someone, right? Is it all just donations of food and medicine from the Coalition or a Merchant's Guild or something?"

"I think most just keep it secret, and probably for good reason," Alptraum says. "Maybe going back to Paradise for a night would help. Or I should just stick to what needs to be done and head to the mage's guild."

"Well, the Mage's were under attack here awhile before we showed up," Tulani says. "Everyone was itching for someone to blame for.. well, anything after the fall of the High Princess and such. But this one could make the Yodh look really bad. It's sensitive, is all. I don't think anyone cares about what it says about the Sabaoth."

"The Yodh weren't even aware that they were powering a ritual. If you can believe them anyway," Alptraum says. "Are you suggesting I shouldn't discuss this with the mages?"

"I'm suggesting you be really careful about it," Tulani says. "There might be mages who'd love to make the Yodh look like incompetents. I mean, magically they are but.. stick with Cyprian. He'll know who can handle this stuff."

"The crazy Naga is also probably trustworthy on this too," Alptraum points out, "But thank you for making me even feel worse about the situation."

"Worse? I'm just trying to be a useful advisor," Tulani says, sounding hurt. "But yeah, she's a Spirit Mage right? I have no idea how prayers work, but it has to be in line with some branch of 'official' magic."

"Except I think each Goddess prayer acts a little differently. But, I doesn't really know, either. And yeah, worse. As in, 'here's something else you could screw up!' sort of thing," Alptraum points out. "Just one more complication in a long line of them."

"It was already pretty complicated to begin with," Tulani points out. "But the mages are the best bet for understanding how this thing works, if the Yodh don't even know about it, or have forgotten."

"Oh, forgotten.." Tulani says in realization. "You said it makes people forget?"

"Of the people that are cursed, yes, so they're erased from history," Alptraum explains, "So it's a mixture of mind and spirit magic. And with each temple playing in the game, it wraps the city quite well."

"So it's origins could have been erased from the memories of anyone that set it up in the first place, right?" Tulani asks.

"Probably. IT was done a really long time ago, too," Alptraum says and nods. "I don't really care when it was done, or how. I just want to shut it down."

Tulani nods. "There has to be a way to do it," she says. "Shutting down the power would be the obvious way to start, but I don't know if obvious and magic go together."

"In any event, neither of us know enough to answer any of this. We're just guessing," Alptraum points out, "And until we know more, fretting over it isn't helping any."

Tulani pats her cheeks a few times. "Right!" she agrees. "And there's probably a focus right here we can bring someone to examine, too. Nobody to complain about it."

"Maybe, but she's not about to come outside and do so," Tulani says. "The Temple is in ruins. And I'm not entirely certain she is the sentimental type."

"Unless it's actually in here with us," Alptraum points out. "Also, I should ask anyway, because this is her home. Sentimental or not."

So Tulani gets to her feet and dusts off her knees. "Need me to show you to her sanctum, or do you want to just follow the smoke scent?"

"Now?" Alptraum asks and gets off the crate he was sitting on. "And when are you getting a nose ring?"

"I'll get an ear ring," Tulani compromises. "So many sailors teased me about not having one. But a lot of them also had torn ears."

"Booring. Get something more unique," Alptraum complains. "You had me augmented, I could have you augmented."

At the threat, Tulani immediately moves her hands to protect her.. crotch. "I'm already fine as I am, aren't I?" She even wiggles her whiskers.

"How are things on my body supposed to be fun for you?" Tulani asks, then blinks. "I mean aside from the obvious."

"Remember what you had done to me," Alptraum points out, "That was more for you than me."

"But you seduced me with Pierce," Tulani claims, hands on hips. "That makes us even!"

"Only for cuddling at night," Tulani insists. "Because your wings can get in the way sometimes."

"Mine are fluffy," Tulani says, wrapping them around herself. "And I can spoon you when you don't have wings. If I didn't have mine, would you do that with me?"

"And I bet you like being Pierce too, because you can purr and look pretty," the feline accuses.

"But you sound pretty as a Savanite," Tulani says. "And are all sliiiinky," she adds with extra emphasis. "Plus you get to have sex with me all the time, that's got to be worth something."

"About three and a half shekels, if you were on the open market," Alptraum comments after rubbing his chin as if in serious thought.

So Tulani punches him lightly in the shoulder. "I'm the only Sphynx in Babel," she points out. "Rarer than bunnies, humans and virgins."

"There are some, I'm sure," Tulani says. "I could be seductive and such too. Lilith gave me lessons."

"There's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Nor seen," Alptraum comments. "Anyway, Mave. We're getting off track."

"She'll be past the bathtub," Tulani says, and gestures for Alptraum to follow. She doesn't even tease him by swaying her hips or anything.

Alptraum does grab her butt twice on the way though, along with declaring 'Catbutt!', for old-time's sake.

After a bit of retaliatory swatting, Tulani stops outside of a curtained off area. The curtains (and air) smell strongly of incense, and there's also a sound like running water, but not quite. More like trickles or drips.

"Mave, do you have a moment to talk?" Alptraum calls out through the curtain. "It won't take much of your time."

The air is thick with the incense smell (and a haze of smoke). The source of the odd sound is an elaborate water clock that is just resting on the floor next to a 'wall' made from a hanging rug. The incense is burning in a little bowl before a shrine similar to the ones Alptraum encountered in Sylvania, but the statue in this one isn't a white-painted depiction of Inala, since it's entirely black. Mave is naked, and sitting on a flat stone as she turns to face Alptraum. "I would offer you a seat," she says, "But I don't have another rock."

"What are you doing in here?" Alptraum asks and gestures around. "This is not typical Babel."

"Meditating and praying," Mave says. "Is that so unusual for a former priestess?"

"It is when you're not using a traditional statue," Alptraum comments and gestures towards the black statue.

"That is an extremely traditional statue," Mave counters. "I don't know how old it is. Certainly not thousands of years, but perhaps hundreds. Older than me, at least."

Alptraum pauses to try and sense if the statue feels like the tree. "I came to ask about a practice prayer item acolytes used to use here. It's likely not what it seems ad was a focus anchor for a Sabbaoth curse."

The statue certainly seems inert. "Practice prayer?" Mave asks. "You mean for testing acolytes for the ability to channel miracles?"

"We tended towards potions, but we did test of course," Mave says, and slowly stands up, as if she hadn't moved in awhile. "The bower is what you want. I'll take you there."

"Are you okay?" Alptraum asks, and looks her from head to toe to see if she has been doing ... anything.

She looks normal - no odd symbols painted onto her fur this time. "Just the side-effects of sitting still on a rock for an extended time, and also from the incense," Mave claims. "I'll be fine."

Alptraum feels Mave up too, just to be sure. And to see if she's been diddling herself.

The woman squeaks in surprise. "You are certainly being bold," Mave points out. There isn't any sign that she's been aroused recently.

"Just making sure you haven't been used recently, is all," Alptraum claims, "Show me the statue?"

"I didn't say it was a statue," Mave notes, and heads out past Tulani. Who also follows along.

Mave doesn't bother getting dressed as she head up to the main temple level. Then it's maneuvering past debris toward the center, where the Yodh themselves lived. The 'bower' has domed ceiling that is largely open lattice, and in the center is a very tall, very un-petrified tree. It would have been in the center of a small garden that filled the rest of the chamber. There are still dead leaves scattered at the base of the mostly-white barked tree. There are also scars on the trunk that look recent.

"This place is .... sad," Alptraum comments, quietly. "It should not look like this." He frowns a little, and even bow-kneels for a moment out of respect.

"This was the Spring Bower," Mave explains. "Those with the ability to channel Inala's miracles would pray here, keeping the garden and tree in perpetual bloom. Spring is Inala's season, after all." She touches the bark, and the scars. "It was decorated with jewelry, ribbons and tokens. It's all been stripped now. What were you expecting to find?"

"I will have to see if it is what I expect," Alptraum remarks and approaches the tree, then places his hand upon it to feel it and what residual may remain. "A tree is not unexpected, though."

It's difficult, since it has been a long time since the tree was prayed to. There might be a very subtle thread of energy still in it, though. Certainly more subtle than at the Temple of Sunala, and likely a very different sort of magical energy.

Alptraum draws his hand back. "It's the tree. It was a tree at Mt. Sunala too. A different feel, but similar," he explains. "The Sabbaoth used these to power a curse of his own to torture women who displeased him. I'm sorry to have to tell you that. The Yodhsunala didn't like it either.

"We would be sent women who didn't produce the desired offspring," Mave notes. "We always sent them back pregnant with a child of the desired gender. Not the husband's child, of course."

"I'm not surprised at all. If it comes down to having to destroy this tree, how would you feel? Also, how would feel about someone from the outside examining it?" Alptraum asks.

"I gave birth under this tree," Mave notes. "I think I was also born under it. But it's not going to bloom again. There aren't going to be any more acolytes or children here. It's already been desecrated, so it doesn't matter what happens to it now. It's time is past."

"It does matter," Alptraum notes, quietly. "The two things you just said are important. To you at least. I am not so cruel as to wish you more harm."

"The Yodhinala were not fond of curses against women," Mave says. "If you can examine it without destroying it, that would be ideal."

"Mave, how do you feel about this place?" Alptraum asks. "You say often you don't care, but is that true?"

"My children of course," Mave says. "And eventual grandchildren, thanks to your efforts."

"Well, is there anything you need from me these days?" Alptraum asks. "You seem ... listless."

"Genuflection takes its toll," Mave says, and then smiles in her mysterious way. "But I am keeping my body fit and healthy, have no fear."

"I'm not worried about your physical state, but your mental one," Alptraum points out and rubs his face. "So frustrating."

"I am as lucid as ever.. once the incense clears," Mave claims. "You seem more agitated, however."

"Things have been frustrating as of late, on many levels. These are my issues to manage, though, not yours," Alptraum explains. "I have not been a good friend, or an ally, to either of you."

"You have a lot to worry about besides us," Mave says, and puts a hand on Alptraum's chest. "We aren't fragile, or likely to hold a grudge over something done in the heat of the moment."

"I might," Tulani admits. "But not for long," she promises. "Except for Amber. She knows what she did.."

"Me, fragile?" Mave asks, and tilts her head. "I've given birth nearly a dozen times, Alptraum, and led the Yodhinala while doing it."

"I ... don't know what that is. Sorry," Alptraum admits, and sighs. To Mave he then says, "Oh, well, then you can get a bunch of crotch piercings as Tulani is too scared to."

"Hey, I'm not scared," Tulani claims, crossing her arms. "I just don't want to!"

"Anyway, thank you for showing me this, Mave. I may need to bring a mage here to examine it. Will you permit that?" Alptraum asks politely. "This is still your place."

"Unlike the other Temples, everyone has always been welcome here," Mave claims. "And I should show Tulani the ceremonial nipple clamps."

"Those sound unpleasant. And ah, so you two are spending carnal time together then," Alptraum says, "Good."

Alptraum rubs his face. "Okay, okay, I should probably do ... something. Thank you for showing me this, I will try to have it examined soon," Alptrauum says and bows deep to Tulani and Mave.

"Not at all!" Tulani argues. "I'd never do stuff like that with Mave. She's too intimidating."

"Also, can you find out anything at all about the chest, or will I haave to look into that directly," Alptraum asks.

"I can ask the Yodhrephath I know," Tulani says. "But if it's secret you may have to talk to to upper echelon."

"May just be easier for me to ask, then," Alptraum considers. "Have you heard from Cricket any?"

"I've been avoiding her until you got back," Tulani says. "That way I wouldn't have to explain why I was spying on the Prime Minister's mansion."

"Technically.. yes," Tulani says. "If I didn't, then I might not get the information I need from her later."

"And you couldn't lie?" Alptraum asks. "OR say I was having a meeting and leave it at that?"

"Easier to just make sure the situation doesn't come up," Tulani claims. "Lying is not the way to deal with the Yodhbarada."

"And then she'd make the big eyes and flap her ears.." the feline notes and shudders.

"And you stick a wet finger in one of those ears," Alptraum comments. "Kids are easy to derail."

"Yes, but you have to make the big-sad-eyes and look small and helpless, and quiver your lip too," Tulani says. "I'd show you but.. I don't want to."

Alptraum attempts to make his eyes bigger, flap his eyes, and then stick out his lower lip and make it tremble. He can't really make himself smaller, though.

Tulani hmmms. "You're still too buff," she admits. "But I bet it would work coming from Pierce," she teases.

Alptraum rolls his eyes. "Sneaky. Another time, perhaps," he says, "I need to sort out this ritual a bit more first before I can relax any. So ... I'd best be off to see the mages on the topic."