Tree of Vengeance
The walls of the courtyard are high and solid, save for a single archway connecting back into the main temple. Even the top has been domed-over with petrified thorn branches. The dangerous canopy still lets in enough light to show the tree however. Its leaves are red, while the bark is gray where it isn't stained darker, and the branches are sturdy. At first glance, it looks like it is growing spikes from the trunk and branches, but these have been added, along with the many dangling ropes, some of which are decaying with age.

"It hasn't been used in awhile," Koldesh notes to Alptraum after they enter the courtyard. "It was reserved for those who needed to really suffer. I'd almost forgotten about it until you asked. I'm sure the archives has a list of names if you need it."

"Reminds me of trees in Sylvania. They were about as welcoming," Alptraum remarks as he approaches closer to the tree. "How, exactly was it used? Were there rituals involved? So far I've confirmed two of these were used for purposes that were not for the benefit of Babel or the temple they were given to."

"I don't recall any rituals, but it's pretty old so there could have been," Koldesh notes. "Normally, people would be bound and hanged, but not with a neck-snap. Just.. slow. And sometimes they'd just be pinned to the spikes, although I always though they were to impale hangers that tried to swing free. Pretty sure the dark patches of bark are from blood soaking in, so the spikes saw use. I don't remember how or if the bodies were removed. I think there might have been some sort of ritual involved then though, because I doubt they were turned over to the Yodhsunala."

"Then it hasn't been in use for at least your lifetime?" Alptraum asks as he looks over at the Yodhrephath. "It would be useful to know when the last time it was used, so perhaps that list of names would be helpful," he notes. "Also ... would it be all right to allow some mages to come and examine it? We're trying to locate exactly where all these trees connect to; they're tied to Diphath, I'm afraid."

"Well, I'm not that old, and I certainly wouldn't have been allowed here until I was higher in the ranks, so.. at least a decade, probably," Koldesh says. "Hannelore would have the records."

"Her? Ugh. But I suppose that makes sense," Alptraum comments, then arches his brow a little. "How old are you?"

"Oh, good. I was worried you might say fifteen," Alptraum admits. "Close to my age, then. Well, this body's age, anyway."

"You're just a kid," Koldesh claims, and pats Alptraum on the head while grinning. "My allure is timeless."

Alptraum gives Koldesh an odd look. "I'm close to your age," he points out, then shrugs. "Now about allowing mages come look at this tree. Would it be permitted?"

"Hmmm, I'd need to interview them, and they'd require a chaperone," Koldesh says, pursing her lips in thought. "So long as they're with you, it's easier to allow. They aren't going to be summoning demons or anything? Would probably need Windcaller present."

Alptraum shakes his head. "No, no summoning like that. It's an earth mage and a weird spirit mage. They're using sort of sympathetic magic to read the signitures of the tree with out affecting them. They've already examined the one in the ruins of the Temple of Inala without issue," Alptraum notes. "Though I can say it did catch the attention of Rinala. We had a long talk."

"Rinala? I supposed I assumed She'd be on Mt. Sunala, but that's just because of Sunala's recent claim to Her legacy," Koldesh says, and eyes the tree. "There are a few places in the Lore where Rephath and Diphath clashed or had an odd relationship."

"To clarify, these trees where created from parts of Dronnell, the Sabbaoth. They're somehow linked to supplying magical power to another location. Any rituals carried out at them transmitted a large part of the influence and power of the ritual-casters to fuel one of Dronnell's personal projects," Alptraum explains and looks back to the tree.

"So prayer or some other sort of ritual?" Koldesh asks. "I doubt it's anything like magery."

"Correct. Either of those would fuel it. It's old magic. Really old. It's ... to use a phrase I once heard in Sylvania, "It's done in Old Timey, before there was grammar," Alptraum jokes.

Koldesh raises an eyebrow at this. "That actually makes sense," she claims. "The oldest forms of faith were rather blunt and involved blood and sacrifice and fire."

"Yep, exactly along those lines," Alptraum says and shrugs. "Amd I'm being literal, part of Dronnell's body was used to make that. Somehow. The man was a mess at the end of the first war. What was left was a patchwork of Eeee. I know as I saw it."

"One of these trees could have come from his penis from all I know. Now isn't that a lovely thought?" he adds.

"How exactly did you see this?" Koldesh asks, leaning forward a bit. Not looming but leaning. "A Lore vision? It's hard to think of Dronnel as a real person. The Dronnelites would not approve of him being chewed up."

"Activating the tree at the Temple of Inala resonated with me. It showed me its history, so to speak," Alptraum explains and peers back. "Why?

"Activating it?" Rephath asks. "Was anyone else affected? Our Temple isn't empty, I'll need to know if everyone needs to be removed from the the area near this tree."

"No, it was just me affected," Alptraum says. "It should be perfectly safe, but moving people wouldn't hurt."

"And how long does the examination take?" Koldesh asks. "Are there special supplies you will need?"

"Overnight, generally, and no, they'll bring the supplies," Alptraum answers. "I'll also stay with them, of course."

"If there's a monster to fight, I expect you to raise an alarm," Koldesh says, crossing her arms. "I don't know what was involved with the tree at the Temple of Inala, but this one is probably haunted by the worst of the worst. Or ghosts of the innocent craving vengeance."

"And you don't think I can deal with ghosts on my own? Really?" Alptraum has to ask, looking amused, "The one who specifically exists to move spirits and souls?"

"Good. I was worried you might ask me to leaf," Alptraum says with a straight face.

"Hmmm," Koldesh responds, narrowing her eyes. "Was that a pun? The Yodhrephath do not approve of puns unless ishment is involved."

Alptraum smirks. "Yes, it was a pun. I am the chief pundant," Alptraum claims and then shrugs. "Oh, is there any word on that odd chest from the pirate ship? What is in it?"

"The contents are mysterious," Koldesh says, and frowns. "They managed to open it at the secure location, but what they found were metal rocks and clear glass plates bound in wool. I assume the plates hold images that can be brought forth somehow, but they do not seem to be enchanted. We'll need to discreetly inquire of the Yodhbarada for records of such things. The stones appear to be magnets though."

"Of more immediate interest is that the wards on the chest where using Mind, Spirit and Life magic, which matches with the abilities of the composite mage you brought us," she adds. "The Spirit ward had a messenger attached to it. The other two were nastier."

"I should examine the plates, maybe I could learn something from them. If they're related to spirit stuff somehow," Alptraum remarks and shrugs a little. "What were the other two wards?"

"The Life ward would have caused death, supposedly," Koldesh relates, "And if that one didn't work, the Mind one would caused some sort of confusion or madness that might drive someone to suicide."

"Well, then the contents must be important. Wool, glass, and .. a magnet?" Alptraum asks, then purses his lips and ponders. "All I can think of that would be good for would be to make a shocker. Rub the plates with wool, use the magnets to direct it, and 'zot!' The tribe in Sylvania had a deicde like that to surprise and amaze the victi ... customers."

"I never would have thought of rubbing the wool on the glass," Koldesh says. "When they arrive here, we can try that. It should be soon, probably by the time you have your mages ready."

"You've never rubbed wool on glass? You can shock the crap out of people doing that," Alptraum remarks. "I turned Hexen into a puffball more than once doing that to his wagon. But as to why they'd have that in a well-guarded box ... that just seems weird. Unless ... hmm." He snaps his fingers. "Metal dust, the glass plate, a magnet ... if there's invisible writing on the glass, some sort of coating, it might not charge, then if you use dust and a magnet, you could expose the hidden pattern in what didn't get covered."

"That is.. hmm," Koldesh muses, and rubs at her cheek. "Devious. It wouldn't be magic, but not something anyone would think of. The only thing that seems odd is sealing away the plates. It would make more sense to have them in the windows of the airship. Nobody would suspect! Unless they actually needed to be delivered somewhere."

"Installed. What if they're part of the tower itself? Sort of a set of keys into some place within it?" Alptraum comments. "And what do you mean not something someone would think of? I thought of it."

"You're a demigod who grew up in a foreign land," Koldesh points out. "A Yodh would not have thought of it. Probably not a mage either. Keys. The Tower is full of ancient wonders. And it is large. That is the likeliest use I have heard so far."

"I grew up having to survive, with zero help, prestige, or any sort affluence," Alptraum corrects, "Which means being very creative in how you use things, or do things. In any event, I'd still like to see them at some point to test some of these ideas," Alptraum remarks.

"They're on their way, along with the supposed 'safe' chest now," Koldesh says. "And we still have the owner. Owners? Whichever.. we can probably get them to verify whatever their are."

"Maybe. They weren't exactly forthcoming," Alptraum points out. "I'd rather have more information to ask more pointed questions."

"Can you tell when someone is lying, or reacts to a question as if they know the answer but are shocked that you knew to ask the question?" Koldesh asks. "People under stress have a harder time controlling their reactions, I've found."

"To a degree, I can tell their emotional state, even if they're trying to mask it," Alptraum says, "Which can sometimes tell if someone is lying."

"And that one.. do all the parts share the same emotional state?" Koldesh asks. "I always think of emotion as something physical, and they have the same body."

Alptraum shakes his head. "Nope, they're three distinct emotional signatures," Alptraum says. "It's how I knew it was a combined thing in the first place, I could feel all three."

"I wonder how long something like that can remain sane," Koldesh ponders. "Best we get as much use of it as we can."

"It's already insane," Alptraum comments, "It's been like that for a while now. That said, the weaker minds are the best bet to get information out of, and those are fading. A month from now? Not sure there won't be only two minds left."

"We need to be able to put them into separate jars or something," Koldesh says, and snaps her fingers. "Ask your mages about that."

"We can try. I'm not sure it's possible at this point, though. But they'll know more than I would. This is not something I've ever dealt with before," Alptraum admits.

"Isn't moving souls around your specialty though?" Koldesh asks. "Or are you saying they're really too far gone at this point?"

"They're fragments, sewn together in an odd way. Think of a piece of patchwork clothing. If you pull one out, will it be usable standalone, or does it need the rest to be functional," Alptraum tries to explain. "One mistake and well, they'll all be gone. Or useless."

"Errrgh, why would they want to keep going at all? Unless the dominant one hopes to just consume the other personalities," Koldesh says, making a face. "Cannibalism."

"That's exactly what he intends. He wants their skills, their personalities are unimportant," Alptraum says and nods. "A very evil man."

"Too bad we can't stick him to the tree," Koldesh says. "Did you want to talk to Hannelore, or check in on the.. well, prisoners. We don't really have much experience with 'protective custody', but we've made sure nothing can get to them."

"I should get the list from Hannelore first. That will be useful for the mages to see as well, so as to know how to set up the proper sympathetic ritual," Alptraum says. "As long as that is okay with you that they see a list of names."

"I doubt they're recognizable," Koldesh says. "I assume there are more detailed records. It might be more useful to know the why and how of the executions than the names."

"It would, but I'm not sure if you would want to share that," Alptraum admits, "But if you do, that's fine. I really only likely need the last five or so, the most recent. They'll be the strongest echo."

"It's good to hear that hauntings can wear out," Koldesh says. "Want me to escort you, or do you remember the way?"

"You can escort me. I don't mind looking at your butt while we walk," Alptraum remarks and smiles.

"Oh, so you don't want me to carry you then?" Koldesh teases, and then leads the way. She's only lightly armored, but it would not have been comfortable to be draped over her shoulder.

"I can walk just fine," Alptraum remarks as he saunters after her, enjoying the view.

The archives are stuffy and every breath seems to disturb the suspended dust in the air. Koldesh actually brings the very large tome that Hannelore indicates to one of the stone tables. "These are the recent vengeance lists," the cloaked archivist notes. "You are looking for specific methods?" she asks Alptraum.

"That tree of vengeance you used to ... stick people on? Basically anyone who died in there, and the techniques and rituals used," Alptraum explains as he eyes the huge tome. "And seriously ... you have books that big on victims? And many of them? One that size should last centuries alone."

"The older ones were kept on scrolls," Hannelore notes. "They were harder to keep track of." She opens the book, near the middle, and both exposed pages are covered with text detailing a single vengeance record. She starts flipping forward to find the more recent entries. Some are very short, and some span multiple pages. "It is important to keep track of the originating grievance, as well as all of the kin and others who may wish to invoke counter-vengeance at some point," she explains.

Alptraum rubs his face. "This is ... no, I should be polite, this is your temple. Thank you for showing me this information. Do you have some paper where I can copy just the important details about them? I just need name, and how they died," he explains. "The aspects that would affect their echo."

"The executions aren't kept separate from general vengeances," Hannelore points out. "Not every vengeance results in death. Most are settled by restitution, or less fatal but still severe costs." She pauses at one. It's only a page, but the 'punishment' appears to have been a marriage.

"Great," Alptraum grumbles, "I need the executions. Those are what matter for what I need. The rest is just noise. Oh well, I guess I'll be here a while depressing myself."

"Here," Hannelore says, indicating a black stamp at the end of a record. "That is a death. We wish to find the red stamps, however." She keeps flipping through the pages until she comes to one. "5994 RTR, F'rad Hisok, Financial Advisor to the Sabaoth. Hung, legs tied off and eaten by Groks. Part of House Sek, which is no more. Wiped out by the Boomer."

"Why was he killed that way?" Alptraum has to ask, then repeats, "I need some paper to start writing this stuff down."

"There should be blank parchments on that shelf behind you," Hannelore says. "Apparently his foreign investments on behalf of the Sabaoth did not perform as well as he promised. The ones that followed.. hmm. There is often a period of waiting you understand. The others slated for execution were released upon the Sabaoth's death. But they were all slated for impalement or deaths from blood-loss." She flips the other direction. "Going back to 5990, all uses of the Tree were at the behest of the Sabaoth. I know there are earlier ones what involved other House Nobles, but those did not have specific requirements about disposition of the corpses. They were usually returned to their families. The Sabaoth always had the bodies destroyed in ways to prevent proper entry into the Sea of Souls."

"Fitting, since the deaths on that Tree were to benefit the Sabbaoth. He used the energy for something. That's what I have to trace," Alptraum explains as he gets up and retrieves the parchment, a quill, and an inkwell. The bat heads back, sits, and starts copying the appropriate details to the piece of paper, name, death type, and who requested it. "Sounds like the Tree was his personal execution point."

"Well, not precisely," Hannelore claims. "It is traditionally used by the Noble Houses, where matters of pride were at stake. For simple execution, the Sabaoth could simply kill anyone he wanted. For certain crimes, there was the Horrib pit, where the condemned would used as hosts. I do not see that the offenses listed require such extreme and specific forms of vengeance. Unless it was simply because the offenders were nobles." She keeps looking through the ledger, using scraps of parchment to mark entries. Sometimes she flips back and forth between two or three of them.

"I don't recall any of these," Koldesh notes. "The most recent was before I rose to High Priestess, but I would think these would be notable events."

"There has to be some sort of pattern or reason. Something they had that he wanted. Were any of them from families that ever showed high magic potential? Or had many Yodh come from them?" Alptraum asks as he keeps making notes.

"Nobles have the right to private execution, so these would be the only records," Hannelore says, and flips between two entries again before looking to Alptraum. "I haven't seen a record involving a Royal Mage, although there have been executions of Yodhrephath on the tree."

"Reason?" Alptraum has to ask. "And who? What were their skills? And what was the crime?"

It takes some time, but Hannelore eventually finds a black-stamped entry. "It is very rare, and seems to be for one crime: killing another Yodhrephath in the thwarting of an authorized vengeance. Yodh are supposed to renounce ties to the former families, but the reality is generally very different, especially if a daughter is offered from a prominent family. These executions involved a Yodh intervening to protect their own families from vengeance. That in itself is not a capital offense, but killing other Yodhrephath in the process is."

"Still, they were not drawn out events," the scarred Eeee notes. "Hanging with weighted legs, instant death, followed by proper entombment."

"The non-quick deaths I think are the ones that are of interest," ALptraum notes. "It would generate more ... not sure how to explain this. Suffering echo?"

"The ones with the destruction of the corpse were all done at the Dream to Spirit Transition, and ended on the Apex of Spirit. Either the body was destroyed at that time, or if the victim was still alive, they were.. destroyed while alive," Hannelore notes. "There's no consistency to the frequency however. Sometimes it is every year, but at other times there are gap years. But all of the ones requiring destruction of the body fall in that specific timeframe, give or take a day due to the randomness of dying over a fifteen-day span."

"Likely," Alptraum agrees and rubs his face. "Those are periods of high magic potential. Those are the nights spirit magic is strongest, and most powerful, and souls can manifest easier. I'm sure that was quite intentional. They wanted it done when it would have the greatest generating effect."

"What's the blood got to do with it?" Koldesh asks. "Is it just so it takes longer for them to die?"

"Mt. Rephath is home to an ancient shrine to Diphath," Hannelore notes. "Whose worship involved blood-magic."

Koldesh frowns. "I really feel that I should be informed about things like this, Hannelore," she grumbles.

"Would it make you sleep any easier, High Priestess?" Hannelore replies. "I am the Guardian of the Past. You guard the future."

"That would have been good to know for me too," Alptraum growls as he breaks a quill at that news. "Do you not realize we are fighting Diphath again? And you just NOW tell us we're sitting on one of her old shrines?"

"The shrine is not under our temple," Hannelore explains. "It is, or was, located on the mountain somewhere. All of the Seven Sisters hold old unused shrines to earlier or variant incarnations of the Kindly Ones. The city is also rife with ancient shrines and forgotten demigods."

Alptraum thinks for a bit. "Oh, that one. It hasn't been used in a very long time," Alptraum says, bit the tree might have some link to it. I wouldn't know what to look for to tell," he admits.

"The mages will know how to deal with this blood-magic then right?" Koldesh asks Alptraum. "You said one was a Spirit type."

"More effectively than I would, yes," Alptraum says, "She has studied some of it to know how to counter it."

"Well, good, make sure she circumcises the tree, or whatever it's called," Koldesh says, and rubs her face with both palms. "This must be why all Mages are crazy."

"Exorcises, circumcising is very different," Alptraum corrects. "And they were crazy before they became mages, I suspect. They're drawn to it."

"Windcaller is a Mage and she doesn't exercise enough," Koldesh claims. "And speaking of exercise, have you been practicing with your shadow-whip?" she then asks.

"Not recently, no. I've been a bit busy," Alptraum says as he gets another quill and resumes making notes. "I don't fully understand why Windcaller is even here and part of this order. It's so ... not who she is inside."

"Rephath sent us to rescue her from the Yodhinala, who were doing something unspeakable with her," Koldesh says. "We did it during the Yodhblakat raid on the temple. Windcaller was very grateful and felt she should repay Rephath and also reconnect with her Babelite roots."

"And has she?" Alptraum asks and looks over to Koldesh. "Does she feel part of something here, or still isolated and alone?"

"I'm sure she finds her position rewarding," Koldesh claims. "There were a few.. issues at times.. but the will of Rephath is what guides us."

"I wonder about that. When I've spoken with her she seems ... mmm I suppose it is not my place to say," Alptraum says and shrugs a bit. "Are there any other notable deaths in recent times with creative ends I should pass along?"

"Well, I don't know what the Yodhblakat get up to," Koldesh claims. "I assume all of the Yodh factions have their own ways of permanently dealing with people in line with their defining principles."

"Why are you bringing up the Yodhblakat?" Alptraum asks. "My concern is with the tree here for the time being."

"The last executions were of the Nobles involved with the child sacrifice cult," Hannelore says.

"I thought you mean in general," Koldesh says. "But yes, those were the last executions. Before that it was just pirates, and those who preyed upon others in a piratical manner. Except for those killed in battle, execution is by hanging in the Hall of Transgressions."

"Not all were executed at the temple," Hannelore points out. "We lack proper records for some of them."

"I remember the angry letter from the governor of Zannara, yes, thank you for reminding me Hannelore," Koldesh grumbles.

Alptraum nods and folds up the paper once the ink dries. "Well, then I think I have enough. The executions at the tree itself are of import for the investigation. The rest while unfortunate, are not important for the current investigation. Thank you for allowing me to look through the records." He rises and and dips his head.

"I'll show you back to my office!" Koldesh quickly claims, and leads the way. Leaving the heavy book for Hannelore to deal with.

Alptraum arches his brow. "Well, that was odd," he says and shrugs to Hannelore. Thank you again," he repeats, then follows after Koldesh. He's just shaking his head a bit as he goes.

When they arrive in Koldesh's office, the High Priestess dismisses her secretary and sits at her desk, where she tries to sort through various papers (thus disorganizing whatever order her secretary had them in to begin with. "Ah, here it is," she claims, finding a parchment and shaking it for some reason. "From the Mages Guild, no less. They're asking if we have an adult male Cervani among those liberated from the pirate base."

"Because they're trying to locate the relative of the prisoner they worked on and were able to recover the memories from," Alptraum explains. "You should have one if I recall correctly from the crew that came in."

"Mr. Sprocket, according to the list," Koldesh says, checking another piece of paper. "Do you think we should release him to the Mages then? We have to be careful, in case anyone is watching."

"I think it would be a good idea if he could be sent to the mages somehow, yes," Alptraum agrees. "A simple way would be to wait until they come here to examine the tree, then he goes back with them. Basically swap people in the group. However, the antlers will be a problem with that. Hmmm."

"Ah, you said the mages would be of Spirit and.. uh.. which other?" Koldesh asks, getting out quill and ink.

"Earth, and she's a cervani. But of course no antlers," Alptraum notes. "And has boobs."

"Hard to tell with the way they dress," Koldesh says, and makes a note. "And you'll be with them, of course?"

"Yes, I'll be with them. I can't have you suddenly decide to do strange things to them, or somesuch," Alptraum claims.

"I'm Yodhrephath," Koldesh points out. "We plan ahead, not do things suddenly. What sort of disguises will they be wearing?"

"They haven't worn disguises yet. I suppose they could, but I had not thought about it. Why?" Alptraum has to ask.

"Mages visiting our Temple would draw notice," Koldesh claims. "Except for the Avenger, of course, if he were with you. Now, since you would be with them, it might just lead to gossip and nothing more, since everyone assumes you're engaged in special missions for the gods."

"Well, I am. And I could bring him along too, if you want," Alptraum offers. "With sexy underwear if you wish."

"It's just.. foreign," Koldesh claims. "But he did study abroad, so can probably be excused."

"But.. why?" Koldesh asks, leaning forward. "It makes it seem like you're trying to hide something."

"It keeps things from rubbing uncomfortably, or flopping around. Women don't have that problem," Alptraum points out.

"Must be a non-flyer custom," Koldesh claims. "Or.. well, maybe men do have a legitimate reason. What were we talking about? Oh, of course, smuggling out a full grown Cervani. We are sorely lacking in hidden entrances here. We could perhaps put him in a very large box? Can you obscure things like Shadow Mages can?"

Alptraum nods. "I can, but maybe we just use a large trunk, claim it's supplies the mages need. The naga could carry it easily enough, she's strong," Alptraum suggests. "And I will buy you some underwear so you can understand it better."

"That frilly dancing outfit isn't underwear is it?" Koldesh asks. "Be sure to bring the trunk with you, so anyone watching sees you both arriving and departing with it."

"No, it ins't, but there are similar outfits that are," Alptraum points out and sits on the edge of her desk. "And yes, the trunk would come with us. It would be silly otherwise."

"Hopefully the glass artifacts will arrive around the same time," Koldesh says. "How should the Cervani be prepared? Drugged to sleep? I have been very careful not allow any magic to be used near our guests."

"How have they seemed since they've been here?" Alptraum asks, "Are they jumpy and nervous? Do you think they'd panic if put in a crate without being drugged?"

"It is my experience that nobody is calm about being put into a crate," Koldesh says. "The guards haven't brought any complaints to my attention. We've kept the guests isolated to ensure that none can suddenly enact programming to turn them berserk and try to kill everyone."

"I've been in a crate before," Alptraum notes, then shrugs. "But drugging him is probably a good idea, yes," he concedes. "And I should probably look in on them as well, also talk to the guard watching them," he adds.

"Well, they probably would respond better to a familiar face," Koldesh remarks. "Would the Cervani respond better to familiarity or authority when being told about being moved?"

"Familiarity," Alptraum concedes and shrugs. "But that means me being a big-boobed horse-thing."

"What's oversized about them then?" Koldesh asks. Apparently she hasn't inspected the 'guests' personally.

"Their ... endowment is as big as your forearm," Alptraum replies diplomatically.

"Ah, that seems like a serious weakness," Koldesh claims. "How can they think when they're aroused? Or are their brains smaller and require less blood?"

"They have a lot of blood," Alptraum explains and shrugs. "Why don't you examine one and find out?"

"Maybe later, I don't want to scare them," Koldesh says, waving a hand. "You can change in here if you want. I have a blanket somewhere you can wear."

"What's wrong with that?" Koldesh asks. "It is important to know what you go through, in case I need to protect you while you're in a vulnerable transition."

"Or you just want to torment me," Alptraum remarks dryly. "How many have a friend that can switch genders on a whim?"

"I never had many friends, so I don't know how common it might be," Koldesh admits. "I assumed the Yodhinala could do it. And probably the Jingai. Hard to tell what gender a reptile is anyway, but I never really needed to know. I've seen a Zelak once. Not sure if they have genders. For Eeee with the right body type, it's just a matter of changing how they dress and move isn't it?"

"You are aware male and female Eeee have different body parts, right?" Alptraum has to ask as he arches his brow some. Exasperated, he waves his hand and heads towards the back room Koldesh indicated. "They're all crazy. Every single one," he mutters.

"Anything is possible for those who hide their true nature with underwear," Koldesh calls after Alptraum.

"Stop being ridiculous!" Alptraum calls back and then disappears into the back room to turn into a big-boobed unicorn, almost slut of Inala. OR better known as Willow.

As always, the shift in center of mass and the chest weight take a moment to get used to. The spike coming out of her forehead is barely noticeable compared to those issues. The finally bit is standing on toes that she can't actually feel. "I forgot that I have the clothes you showed up in last time," Koldesh says once the transformation is complete. "They'll make you remove them anyway before entering the cells though."

"Why?" Willow asks, "The most dangerous thing on me comes out of my forehead." She also stumbles a bit as she gets used to walking again. "Where is the clothing?" she asks.

Koldesh retrieves the shirt and pants from a chest behind her desk. "Because there can't be anything the prisoners.. uh.. guests in protective custody.. can use to strangle themselves or otherwise kill themselves with."

Willow looks at Koldesh and doesn't point out that the antlers, or virtually anything else could be used to kill themselves or anyone else. SO, she just gets dressed so she can head to the place the crew is kept at.

"I can guess what you're thinking, but if they try bashing their brains out on the walls or something the guards can get to them quickly and restrain them," Koldesh says.

"Not quite, but close," Willow concedes. "Can you take me to them now?" she asks after she finishes adjusting her clothing and correcting one lopsided breast.

Koldesh leads Willow out through the empty waiting area and into the main corridor beyond. Then there are a lot of stairs to go down, which Willow would have some difficulty with if she had to rely solely on unicorn vision to negotiate. After three flights, they reach a small room with a large barred door flanked by two barrephath. "This is one here to check on the guests," Koldesh tells them. Both of them immediately look at Willow's horn. "She's not a threat, she brought them in," Koldesh adds.

"What? I'm a sailor. Perpetually horny," Willow remarks rather dryly. "Let me in."

The men look at eachother, then Koldesh.. then they unbar and open the door. "Please see the attendant in the next room," the bigger one says.

"But the moment I see him, I'll have saw him and thus be past the time I could see him. Will that be okay?" Willow asks.

"Let me know when she's finished," Koldesh tells the guards, gives Willow a little pat on the butt before heading back up the stairs. "What?" the guard asks Willow. "You aren't another of the weird Exiles are you?"

"Maybe," Willow remarks, right before swatting him with her tail and heads into the room to meet up with the other attendant.

The door is closed behind her, and the room is even dimmer, lit by a single glow bulb that gives everything a yellow cast. There's another barrephath there, but with less armor. He also eyes Willow's horn as he says, "Remove any jewelry and clothing." He even offers a square basket to put things in.

Willow rolls her eyes and strips all the way down, tossing them into the basket. No jewelry to deal with, so it's just the clothing, leaving her dark, naked, and horny. "This is ridiculous," she comments.

"No, it's a basket," the guard says, taking it back and setting it on a shelf. Then he looks Willow over and asks, "Please bend forward."

That gets Willow staring at him for a minute, maybe two. Her left ear twitches, then she bends over.

Trying to avoid the horn, the guard rifles his fingers through Willow's mane. Finding nothing, he steps back, and says, "Now.. uh.. just a moment." He pulls out a little pasteboard card from his pocket and looks it over.

"No, I just have to make sure you aren't bringing in anything," the guard claims, then seems to look anywhere but at Willow. "You aren't smuggling anything your.. body cavities.. are you?" he asks.

"Why don't you check and find out," Willow remarks with a dead-sounding voice. She also arches both her brows.

"The card says I'm supposed to, but I did not receive training for that," the guard says. "Touching a woman is dangerous."

"Since when?" Willow asks, still bending over. "Do you want me to tell Koldesh you can't do your job?"

"No! But the Yodhrephath.. uh.. alright, can you.. I suppose you have to bend over again then, facing the wall," the guard says. "Please?"

Willow rolls her eyes, but does face the wall, bend over, and places her hands ont he wall for support.

There a moment of waiting, and then a tentative spreading off unicorn cheeks. And then more waiting. "I'm going to start now!" the guard announces, and apparently decides to go for the potentially larger opening first. Although he just uses one finger to sort of feel around at.. one finger-length of depth.

"I can barely feel that," Willow comments, "You do now that us equines regularly take things the side of a forearm in there, don't you?"

There's a sound that must not be a soft whimper, since a barrepath guard would not whimper. But then he goes all in, as in his hand, and keeps going. Maybe he took the 'forearm' part seriously. And while it should be uncomfortable (Lapi forearms aside) it's actually rather pleasant - good evidence that Inala has indeed 'blessed' the unicorn form. He has to twist his arm a few times to feel around.

Willow just has to make it weirder by rippling those muscles so it feels like the unicorn's nethers are somehow sucking on his arm. "Having fun?" she coos.

"Ahh! What are you doing? Are you trying to eat my arm?" the man asks, and tries to pull out of course.

And Willow clenches down to make it hard for him to pull out! "Don't be silly," she chides.

Willow just sighs and unclenches her muscles. "That's only hole one of two," she points out.

The guard is silent for a moment, then says, "What could you fit in there?" Once again he girds himself and starts with a single finger. He probably hasn't heard that unicorns poop rainbows, because he seems even less enthusiastic about this task than the previous one. "Are you enjoying this?" he asks. "Or just trying to make me uncomfortable?"

"Why can't it be both?" Willow asks as she relaxes everything in time to when the man pushes a bit, and thus accidentally sinks his entire hand into the mare in the other hole too. Make her annoyed, she'll annoy right back.

"AHH!" the man yelps again, but then pushes deeper, determined to be thorough. But also quick, since he tries to pull out sooner as well.

This time Willow doesn't keelp a grip on him, so he pulls out easily enough. She, well, she's laughing by now!

After the guard gets up from where he fell on his butt, he wipes off his arm and says, "I should.. do something to you for that."

"What? For making you do your job?" Willow asks as she pushes off the wall and urns to look at the man. "I would have thought a Barephath would be tougher, you're a disappointment," the unicorn notes.

"I'm plenty tough, we just aren't used to having to guard people like this," the man claims. "And you're a woman! We're subordinate to the Yodhrephath. It isn't like you're a normal-sized girl. Plus, you're the first person to come visit these men."

"No," the guard says. "You're supposed to do what I say in here, and you aren't a Yodhrephath, so you can't command me. I was just trying to be respectful about a requirement that.. was going to be uncomfortable."

"Hmph," Willow remarks and grins. "Fair enough. And yes, I could command you, but I won't. I do need to see how the men are, after all."

"On more thing," the guard says.. and boldly feels up Willow's breasts. "I didn't think they would be so soft," he says in surprise.

"What did you think they'd feel like? Have you never touched a woman outside of a Yodhrephath?" Willow asks.

"I've never touched a Yodhrephath!" the guard says, shocked. He's still fondling though. "They don't have these.. I think.. but I thought they were vestigial flight muscles or something.. muscular."

"Sure you haven't. Not once has one of them come to you and demanded you hump them, right?" Willow prods.

"Me? I'm a runt," the guard claims, and finally stops squeezing. "Are you sure they're supposed to be like that? Your butt wasn't not nearly as soft."

"I'm sure they're supposed to be like that. Can I go in now?" Willow asks, brow arched.

The guard opens the next door, revealing a long corridor with with lots of heavy doors, and lots of much bigger barrephath stationed outside of them. All of them turn to look at Willow once the door finishes opening.

"You don't let them talk to each other?" Willow asks as she starts down that hallway. She stops at the first door because ... she has no idea who is in what at this point. "They aren't prisoners, you know. This isn't how they should be kept.

The first door guard looks at Willow, and explains, "We were told these men were under some sort of mind control, and might respond to secret commands or other influences that could make them turn violent or suicidal. If they could talk to one another, then such an infectious command could spread."

"Maybe, but .. doubtful. Which one is in here? I would like to go in and speak with them," Willow remarks.

"This room is for Mr. Sackcloth, the medic," the door guard says. "Whom shall I say is visiting?"

The guard pounds on the door, until a little view slit slides open. "Miss Willow to see Mr. Sackcloth," the guard says into it. The slide closes, only to open a moment later. "He knows her," a young voice says, and the guard goes about opening the heavy (and likely soundproofed) door.

"Who else is in there?" Willow asks. She thought it was just the horse ... but there's someone else?

This becomes apparent when the door finishes opening, and a young male Eeee waits inside. He's naked, and probably the acolyte version of a barrephath. The room beyond is a bit more brightly lit than the hall, with extra glow bulbs in place. There's a padded couch, and another regular door beyond it. "Please come in," the boy says to Willow.

"Why are you naked?" she asks the smaller Eeee as she enters the room and looks around.

"So my clothes can't be used to strangle or hang oneself," the boy explains. He only unbars the inner door after the outer one has closed, and this opens into a much larger room than a cell might imply. There is a table and chairs, with padded seats, and the edge of a bed and what might be a toilet area that isn't just a bucket or hole in the floor. It's a lot nicer than the cell she was in back in the mountain. Sackcloth is standing there in the middle of it, also naked and surprised. "It's really you, Willow?" he asks. The boy returns to a stool and picks up a small harp, upon which he strums a simple melody.

"He could strangle himself with your willy, though," Willow comments and shakes her head. The whole thing is much odder than she imagines. She shrugs and then enters the room with the Rhian. "Yes, it's me. How are you doing?"

"Well.. they sometimes bring me flowers," the man says, a bit uncertainly. "I think they're for fragrance, because the attendant looks cross at me when I eat them. And the air comes in through these these holes at the top of the walls, which is a lot better than in the mountain. The bed is sturdy." He then gestures to the boy, and says, "This is Fern. He's my room attendant."

"You're not a prisoner, you're here for safety. The mages determined that mos,t if not all of you have spells attached, some that could kill you, or others if triggered. It'll be removed, one at a time but it does take time to undo it. So, they're just trying to keep you safe and comfortable, I hope, while you are here," the unicorn explains. "I'm sorry though, I know this must be awful, being stuck in here alone most of the time."

"This is something of an improvement, and knowing it isn't permanent helps," Sackcloth says. "So, you found all that out with Mr. Velvet then?" I haven't heard anything since we were moved down here. Would you like some water? I've got a jug of it."

"No, thank you. And yes, they did. It took two expert mages and the Barsunala to manage extracting all the curses and traps on Mr. Velvet and analyze them. Hopefully they'll develop a technique to make later extractions simpler. They were also able to unlock all his old memories," Willow explains as she sits down into a chair.

"He remembers who he is?" Sackcloth asks, and then hugs Willow! "The rest sounds scary as Dagh, but that part makes up for it! Are there any side-effects to worry about?"

Willow oofs! "No side effects I know of thankfully. The procedure was just terrifying from what I heard; I didn't see it. Not terrifying for the person being treated, but those working it. I do hope something faster can be worked out because two mages and a demigod doesn't scale well to a group this size," she admits.

Sackcloth doesn't loosen his hug any. "And he still remembers all of us, right?" he asks.

"No, he didn't. All he remembered was the crash before he ended up working in that base," Willow admits. "I don't know if any of you will remember when it's over. One of the reasons I am here is because I'm looking for the one that is probably Mr. Velvet's father."

"Mr. Sprocket, I imagine," Sackcloth says, and.. rocks Willow back and forth, although his voice sounds a bit subdued. "Forgetting everything that happened to me.. I don't know if that would be for the best or not. I wouldn't want to forget you," he says. And then kisses Willow.

"It might be for the best if you did forget me, though. You could go back to your real life without the scars this one gave you," Willow admits to the Rhian. "Maybe the real you prefers guys, anyway?"

"I'm not sure that's something related to memory," Sackcloth says. "But until then.." he dips Willow back, careful to keep her horn from hitting anything, and asks, "Will you give me the opportunity to make sure you won't forget me?"

"With Fern watching?" Willow has to ask and arch her brows a bit. She glances back at the boy, and then down to see if, er, he's been snipped or anything, or if he might get turned on.

Fern seems content to strum his harp. He looks intact. "Oh, it'll be educational for him," Sackcloth claims. "Or he could go wait in the antechamber."

So Fern picks up the harp and relocates. After a moment he realizes he should close the door too. "They told me these cells were for holding nobles awaiting ... whatever it is they have here in place of trials. The walls are soundproofed." They're actually paneled in wood, so there's supposedly more material between the paneling and the stone.

"Probably some sort of foam, if I had to guess. It does well for dampening noise," Willow comments and peers at the wall, then taps on it for a moment. "And i don't want to think about what the non-trials would have been. I've heard enough stories I can probably guess," she admits and shrugs some.

Sackcloth lifts her up and presses her against the wall, nuzzling at her throat. "I'm just glad we weren't hanged right away," he murmurs. "Keeping us here, with all this protection and secrecy seems like a lot of trouble in comparison."

"Well, the BArsunala himself interceded and made sure you were all treated fairly and given help. You're not villains, you're victims," Willow remarks as she[s pressed against the wall. She lifts her head back some, exposing that throat more.

Working his way down the long throat (which might be a bit longer than a Rhian mare's would, proportionally), Sackcloth mutters, "'ave to thank 'im.." before he reaches Willow's chest, and starts to suckle.

Willow mmphs! That makes her squirm a lot. And when she feels things starting to ... leak and flow, even moreso. Then she remembers Hortense hooking her to a milking machine once ... and is surprised no one has tried that here! She'd be a useful 'product', if anyone found out.

Well, Sackcloth knows, and does his best, even if he isn't quite up to milking-machine level. Eventually, he stops and lowers Willow.. just not to her feet. She's slid down onto him, and then bounced up and down.

The unicorn mmphs and whinnies! when she's impaled completely.. She starts bouncing up and down too slowly, and she's quite good at working those muscles. It also reminds her why she's often preferred to be female, having something inside her just feels exquisite, and ever so much more intimate. Hell, even when she had horribs growing inside her part of her liked it, being a host of life, even dangerous ones. It's a weird like to be sure, but her mind is all over the place at the moment.

It does feel a lot nicer than usual, which is probably a bit of Inala's doing, since it isn't likely that Sackcloth has gotten better at it being isolated in a luxury cell. But he's probably fairly pent up, after getting used to having Willow around. He's certainly extra passionate in his exertions!

Willow focuses on her own muscle control, using muscles she doesn't have when she's Alptraum. Muscles she misses when they're not there. It's a controlled ripple, almost a nursing on the Rhian's shaft. She also arches her head back, moaning softly from all the delightful sensations.

There a whinny from Sackcloth, and a splash of warmth - but then a powerful tingle in her core that is new. Sackcloth isn't done just yet though, and carries Willow to the table.

The tingle makes the mare cry out and squirm. She clenches down even more, wondering just what that was and tries to figure it out through her extra senses while she's carried over.

Willow wonders why she would be feeling spirit magic all of a sudden, but then shakes her head a bit. She'll have to examine things more later, when she can focus a bit easier!

Focusing is probably not an option at the moment, as Sackcloth has her bent forward over the table with his hands on her shoulders as he starts to really start pumping for round two.

Willow grabs onto the table with her hands to hang on as she tries to push back against the Rhain, though in this position she can only do so much! It sure feels good, though!

Sackcloth is literally breathing down Willow's neck as he gallops to the next finish line, and the tingle this time lasts a bit longer. The Rhian is left panting though.

That second time makes the mare whinny out loudly. It's good the rooms are soundproofed or she'd have woken up half the temple! Now she's laying there panting herself and baskin in the glow of a hard and fast climax, while overflow runs down her legs. One problem with the horses, they are ... productive.

Hopefully there's something to clean up with in here. "So.. are you going to visit again while we're stuck down here?" Sackcloth manages to ask while breathing heavy.

"If I can. It's not easy for me to move in this city, I attract attention," Willow admits. "But I'll try. I hope you won't have to be here too long."

"If we're not here too long, won't that mean the mages have attacked?" Sackcloth asks. "I suppose we have to be taken one at a time to be cured and get our memories back."

"Unless a way is found to reverse it quicker an den-masse, yes," Willow admits. "I'm sorry I don't have a better answer than that."

"Well, I suppose knowing that I probably won't remember what I went through afterwards makes it easier to wait," Sackcloth says, and finally gets off of Willow.

It's a good thing there's at least a barrel of water available to clean up with once Willow is able to get up, even if there's only a rag to use with it. And that is pretty threadbare, to ensure it would fall apart if it were used to try and strangle someone - even though it wouldn't even make it halfway around Sackcloth's thick neck.

"You make such a mess," Willow complains as she cleans up, well almost every passage her body has after that. The rhain went all out in just about every way, so there's a lot of cleanup, and dripping. "But i hope you're satisfied for a bit at least."

"Well, if I were being executed tomorrow I'd feel a lot more relaxed about it, I admit," Sackcloth says. "They don't let us talk to one another in here, so I can't ask you to tell anyone else.. uh.. I suppose I don't have anything to say. I assume we're all pretty much in the same situation while we're here, until we end up having our exorcisms or whatever is involved to fix us."

Willow nods. "Yes, that is more or less what's left before you can be released fully," Willow agrees as she looks back towards the room where the watcher went. She ponders calling him to come help finish cleaning herself up ... using his tongue. But ... gah, she shakes her head. Such would not be proper at all.

She can hear him out in the entry room though, plucking away at his harp. It isn't the sort of skill one might associate with the barrephath, but maybe they're required to learn some traditionally female skills.

"The first thing I'm going to do when I'm free is take a good run," Sackcloth says. "Unless I turn out to be a wanted murderer, then I will have to run harder."

Willow does at least open the door and say out to the young watcher, "It's over, you can relax now." Then she pauses, and snorts a small laugh at that comment. "Well, I doubt you're a wanted murderer, but at least you have a sense of humor about the situation."

"Well, I'm reasonably sure I was a medical.. something," Sackcloth says. "No rope-burn around my neck. I hope you can visit again before I forget who you are, Willow."

"I could just be a hallucination, you know. It's not like my kind is common enough, and a female even less so," Willow jokes.

"If that's the case, they'll have to really wash this room out when I wake up," the stallion notes. "Maybe scrub the ceiling.."

The attendant bows his head to Willow, and waits for her to come in further so he can close the door. "Are you his wife?" he asks Willow.

Willow laughs and waves to Sackcloth, then heads out to join the attendant. "No, I am not; I'm not married at all," she notes and shrugs. "Why do you ask?"

The boy heads back into the main room, and starts to close the door, but pauses. "I thought regular people got married," he admits. "Yodhrephath don't. Plus, you have big boobs." Maybe he hasn't gotten to the grace and tact training yet.

This makes Willow snort. "I am far from normal," she points out and shrugs. "Care to examine me closely? Or lick me clean?" she jokes.

The acolyte reaches out to touch Willow's ears, then wraps his long tongue around her horn and licks it from base to tip. It is sensitive to things like that.

Willow goes cross-eyed. "Uuuuh, why are you doing that?" she asks, sounding very, very, distracted all of a sudden.

After retrieving his tongue, the lad admits, "I thought it would taste like candy." Then he starts to fondle her breasts, in more of a curious manner than a sensual one.

Willow blinkblinks. "Why would you think that?" she has to ask, looking confused, right up to when he takes hold of her chest. "They won't be like a Yodhrephath's chest," she notes. "Well, except for maybe Windcaller's."

"The little one?" the boy asks in shock, and then reconsiders Willow, gesturing for her to stand up again.

Willow does stand up, and cocks her hips to the side. "Like what you see?" she teases, grinning.

Now that they're at head height, the boy licks Willow's nipples, then seems to kiss them.. but she feels the sonar pings.

That makes Willow squirm. "What, do you do that to the Yodhrephath too?" she has to ask. "You their boytoy for fun?" she continues to tease, and then pats the top of his head.

His ears go up in alarm at the suggestion, but he doesn't stop. Until he tries sucking instead. At least he's helping to support them with his hands. But he does pause to say, "Pinging Yodhrephath gets you beaten. Are you going to beat me?"

"No?" Willow says, confused. "I am surprised that would cause a violent reaction."

So the boy suckles some more. He's getting worked up too, from what Willow feels against her thigh. But that could be from her milk as well, which has whatever new effect Inala 'blessed' it with. He even dares to place one hand on her rump!

"Well now, someone seems to be getting a little excited," the Unicorn teases and drifts her hand to grab between his legs ... to just see. She's kind of surprised the men here can get excited; they seem to be hormonally stunted.

Maybe it is the milk, but the boy jumps at the touch, but also lets go of her teat before biting down. "Ah!" he squeaks. "What happened?" Maybe the Yodhrephath put something in the acolytes food to prevent this sort of thing.

"Something perfectly normal for guys," Willow claims and lets her hand go. She turns around and flicks her tail up. "Feel free to stick it in a hole of your choice," she giggles, "And see what happens."

"It's like your horn," the boy says.. but then gamely tries to mount Willow. This requires climbing up a bit, and holding onto her shins with his feet. And he actually tries for Inala's Gate. Which is how Willow knows the blessing is in full effect, because it feels like he actually fills her. Not as much as Sackcloth, but in a 'just right' sort of way. "Like this?" he asks nervously.

Willow ends up kneeling down to make it easier. "Yes, just like that. "Now roll your hips so you slide in and out of there," she explains. "It should start to feel really nice."

The boy tries this, makes a gasp of surprise.. and then decides that faster is better. And that is the first mistake, if he ever wants to hook up with a Yodh. He lasts less than two minutes like that before he's letting out another surprised sound and Willow feels a slight tingle.

"What now? It seems like you did that mostly right, and absolutely how a teenager does it," Willow remarks and laughs. She looks over her shoulder and comments, "You're fine, I offered."

"I'll get in trouble!" he claims, and hurries back into the main room, only to return almost immediately with the wet rag.. which he uses to try and wipe away any incriminating evidence. He even 'kisses' the crime scene and pings some more. It doesn't make sense to do that, but his sounding of things may be a habit of his.

"Why will you get into trouble?" Willow asks once she's able to get back up (after he's done wiping and kissing). "Calm down."

"Because I'm.." he starts to say, then looks down. "It's going back to normal!" he says with relief. "And.. you don't smell like.. my pee.."

"BEcause it wasn't pee. Good grief, calm down," Willow says and pats the boy on his head. "You're fine."

"And.. this will never happen again will it?" the boy asks. "It was just because I licked your magic horn?"

"IT may happen again when you're much older," Willow says and shrugs. "But for now, just calm down. It's fine."

"And I'm not going to catch pregnancy?" the attendant asks. Just what do the Yodhrephath teach them.. or maybe just don't bother teaching them. It sounds like the sort of lack-of-evidence theory the gypsy kids would concoct.

"Only women can get pregnant. Don't be silly," Willow remarks and shakes her head.

"Are you pregnant then?" the lad asks, just to cover all the possible ways he could get into trouble for this.

"So.. that causes the big boobs then," the boy says, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Yodhrephath must be extra pregnancy-able."

"Doubtful. I suspect they're sterile too," Willow notes, "But I wouldn't test that theory."

"Hmmm," the boy goes, uncertainly. "This is all very complicated. How does anyone figure it out?"

"Usually your parents will explain it to you," Willow notes and shrugs. "Or, you go visit a prostitute."

This causes an expression of creeping horror to crawl over the boy's face. "My mom? No.. nononono!" he cries, and runs back into the main room and closes the door. Leaving Willow alone between the inner door and outer door now.

Willow just stands there, looking confused. She ends up shrugging and letting it go. Apparently people here are really weird. Shaking her head, she heads back into the hallway to look for Mr. Sprocket.

The door guard closes the cell door behind her, and she's faced with the hallway again. There's no indication of who in which cell of course.

Willow simply calls out, "Mr. Sprocket?" a few times as she slowly walks down the hallway.

"You can't shout," on of the guards tells her. "Describe who you are looking for."

The guard looks thoughtful. "And.. that wasn't the one you just visited then," he says. "We're just assigned to the doors, not allowed to see who is inside, only the attendants do. Just ask at each door, but only ask for the name, no description. Hmm.. but we can't know which door it is either.." He waves to the other guards, and says, "We'll have to leave while you check."

Willow rolls her eyes. "Fine. Good grief, this is overkill," the unicorn remarks and sighs. And then she waits until the guards depart, and she goes about the task of knocking at the doors to ask if the room is for Mr. Sprocket. She'll of course visit anyone else that wishes her too and if they ask.

The first door is opened almost as soon as she knocks, and a wild-eyed acolyte (a girl this time) who looks a bit damp grabs onto Willow's arm. There's no chance she could drag the unicorn in, but that's clearly what she wants to do.

"What is your problem?" Willow asks and goes in since the girl seems to be freaking out. "And why are you damp?"

"No, I am not Yodhrephath. I am just looking for Mr. Sprocket," Willow explains. "What is going on?"

"In here?" she asks. "Yes! Yes that is probably who is in here!" she babbles. "He likes his.. ball.. right?" she asks, her eyes pleading.

"He's.. big, and.. scaly.." the girl says slowly, watching Willow for any signs of recognition. "I have to.. use the ball.."

"Oh, the naga. No, that's not Mr. Sprocket. But I know him. Use the ball how, exactly?" Willow inquires.

The girl rocks a bit from side to side, then gestures for Willow to follow her into the main room. Past the door, it looks similar to Mr. Sackcloth's in layout, with a table and stool, and instead of a bead there's a mount of straw with a very large Naga mostly buried in it. Mr. Slither's head is visible, but since he doesn't blink it's difficult to tell if he's awake or not. The cells aren't exactly warm, but neither was the mountain base and he seemed fine in there.

"Has he been swallowing you?" Willow asks of the acolyte. She peers at the naga too and says, "Hello. Do you remember me at all?"

The Naga raises his head until he's at eye level with Willow, and nods after giving her a taste with his forked tongue. "Not.. entirely," the girl claims, and picks up the 'ball' - which is probably a 'training mace' made of leather and studded with knobs. "When I feed him, I have to use this to make him swallow."

"Ah, you have to make it feel like it's alive, I assume?" Willow comments as she peers at it. Her tufted tail flicks and she shrugs a little. "It can't be all bad, right?" she asks the acolyte. "I've known people that liked being swallowed."

The girl twitches. She takes the lid off of a bucket in the corner and scoops out a mass of.. possibly entrails. Then approaches the Naga with the mace in her other hand. Mr. Slither obligingly unhinges his jaw for the girl, who has to jam her arm up to her shoulder down his throat, and then reach in with her other to use the mace to stimulate him. He eventually clamps down so he can swallow, and the girl's wings and legs flail for entirely too long before he releases her, whereupon she falls onto her butt and clutches the mace to her chest as she hyper-ventilates.

"I let go of the mace the first time," she whimpers. "I had to go back in for it.."

"Oh come on, that wasn't that bad. But really, you should just order some life yiffles to feed it and avoid having to do that," Willow remarks as she slowly shakes her head. "Your order has to do a lot worse things than feed a naga, you know," she points out. "If you can't handle that...."

"Only Naga eat yiffles," the girl says, still clutching the mace. "So can't have them, or people would know there's a Naga in here. When he can't sleep he.. he hugs me."

"That's just for warmth," Willow comments, then peers at the girl. "Unless you're also providing him carnal release? Which would mean ..." she adds and gestures for the girl to get up, turn around, and present herself.

"What? What does that mean?" she asks, turning around as instructed. Acolytes are very obedient (or at least this one is). That's probably what earned her this duty.

Willow leans over and checks for, er, double penetration. "I think you'd know; it would happen in the hug," the unicorn comments.

"It just.. grabs whatever is closest," she says, and uses her non-mace-clutching-hand to make a sort of squeezing motion.

"Just that, or brushes against me like the rest of him," the girl claims. "That's what they do in their sleep.. right?" she asks, looking worried.

"No.. I don't think so?" she asks. If she's always mildly damp - and it isn't clear how much is from sweating - it might be hard to tell. She's got white fur as well.

She smells sweaty, to be sure. There's a water barrel in here and something closer to a towel than a rag for washing with.

"I am working with the Temple. I helped rescue these poor souls," Willow comments, "Willow Ebonmane, at your service," she says and bows deeply. "I am here looking for a specific one, and checking on their general health."

"Well.. you can examine him then?" the girl says. "You made it this far and aren't covered in blood so probably aren't here to kill.. it's a he right?"

"Yes, it is a he," Willow remarks and walks over to the naga. She leans over and pokes at him a couple times. "I'm not a doctor," she points out, "I don't know what you want to examine him for."

Mr. Slither responds by wrapping his tail around Willow's waist and pulling her down into the straw with him.

Willow yeeps! "Ah, hello there, why are you holding me?" she asks the large naga as she tries to wiggle free.

The wiggling causes him to coil around her more, and use his hands to hold onto Willow's wrists.

"You should probably be letting me go," Willow warns the naga. "What is it you want?" she adds when he grabs onto her wrists. She pulls at them.

The long tongue runs up between Willow breasts, and then the Naga.. nuzzles her jaw with his snout. His third hand is also active, and he isn't asleep. But he's not trying to press his point(s) yet either. He does loosen his grip some when Willow resists.

"You want that, do you? Have you been that friendly with her?" Willow asks and gestures a bit towards the acolyte. She also stops struggling a bit since he seems mostly harmless in his wants. "You should probably hold my wrists tighter, though, I might escape," she jokes.

He does hold them a little more firmly, but pulls them towards her sides so he can wrap around her more. She actually looses track of his head in all the coils, until she feels the tongue again between her legs. "Should I.. do anything?" the girl asks. "Do you need the ball?"

"You might want to leave us alone for a while," Willow says to the girl," Willow suggests, "I'll be fine without it." The last bit of that has her voice going higher when tongue comes closer to places she was not expecting so soon!

"You're too big to swallow I suppose.. and you've got.." the girl says, then realizes, "You have a SPIKE coming out of your head!"

"I'm an aeonian, you just now noticed that?" Willow has to ask. "Not very observant, you might want to work on that."

By that point the tongue had begun slithering deeper into Willow's cave of wonders. Given how long and thick it is, it could go pretty deep..

"It was way up on top, and my neck is already sore from being swallowed all the time," the girl claims.

Willow's left ear then sticks sideways and she ends up squirming around a bit. "He's getting rather friendly," she squeaks out and ends up giggling. "Oooh!" she then cries out as she's tongue-filled!

"What's he doing, I can't see," the girl requests. But that point the tongue is will past Willow's cervix and spreading her uterine walls. Then the forked tips go in different directions to tease the fallopians a bit. It makes for a different kind of tingle that has nothing do to with divine blessings.

"Licking me on the insiiiiide," Willow squeals and squirms more. "It feels really nnnIIIIce! Her ears start making all sorts of semaphore at this point.

It isn't clear if Mr. Slither can hear. But if he's using his tongue to attempt sign language he must have some idea of the affect. He rolls a bit, so that the wrapped up Aeonian feels like she's on a (very nice) spit. Maybe he's just trying to warm up, but making her warm up. He doesn't seem to be in any hurry, so keeps up the cunning gynecological examination.

This makes the aeonian make all sorts of strange sounds, from weird moaning, to guttural groans, abrupt grunts! Her insides also respond by rippling and squeezing on that tongue, as well as getting very warm and extremely, er, slick. Well, slicker, it was already slick from the rhian. "Ooooh, a little to the left. Now harder, now /twist

The Naga may or may not be responding to directions, since he does all of that anyway, slithering around inside of Willow. It's starting to make her sweat now. And Aeonians don't sweat (or so Kaira would probably claim). Maybe he just wants her to keep wiggling and squirming like a Naga would.

"Are you sure you're okay over there?" the girl asks from the other side of the room. "At least twisted around like that he can't swallow your legs."

"Ooooh, I'm better than fine!" Willow giggles like mad. "See, he's a great person to look after, he can make you feel all sorts of fun things!" the aeonian adds as she dutifully squirms like a captured rhugrhat.

"But.. why is he doing it?" the girl asks. "Is he wrapping you up so you can't kick him?"

There's a lot more squirming, so that Willow sometimes feels completely wrapped up. Aside from the tongue, it's hard to tell where the rest of Mr. Slither actually is.. until the tongue finally withdraws! After more tumbling, it's replaced by something bigger though.

"Eeeeehehehehehe," Willow starts giggling as she feels all tingly and squirmy inside! This turns into a sudden gasp when she's empty, and her blinking. Then suddenly she gasps out and arches in the wrapping when something bigger replaces it, and yet also manages to fit perfectly, even if it seems like it should fill half her belly. "Oooooo, yeah, there we go," she coos out, almost drooling now.

It wiggles a bit like the tongue, and then the second one joins in. It's less of a 'perfect fit' now than a 'this is really tight fit'. There are limits to the blessing, but Mr. Slither must have gotten a feel for what she can handle. It is a bit like a third hand. Or arm. A beefy arm. At least Willow is reasonably sure she's on her back now, resting on the cool scales of the Naga's tail. He also starts to knead at her breasts. They are warm, after all.

This leaves the unicorn moaning like wa wanton whore, and probably confusing the poor acolyte. Ther will likely be discussion of this for days in the temple afterward. Willow the Snakecharmer, or some such nonsense. Of course none of this even enters her mind as she's kind of being stuffed to her limit and loving every moment of it! Hell, she could be upside down while doing this and she wouldn't care!

Maybe beyond her limit. Like with the tongue, the 'tines' spread to push things out until Willow feels pregnant. The Naga doesn't thrust though.. things sort of expand and contract and sort of ripple. Her chest is wet from her own milk, as Slither works her breasts and occasionally licks them, before more moving to nuzzle at her jaw again (Naga must really find the jaw sensitive or something) and even wraps his tongue in around her horn to follow the spiral.

Willow does wonder what the poor acolyte is thinking right now. Doe she wish she was inhere instead, or is she terrified? The wondering falls away pretty quickly, though, when she'd filled to feeling huge, and gods, the horn licking. That's like a lightning bolt to the brain! She doesn't really see much, just feels and senses explosions of perverse pleasure.

There is eventually the telltale tingle. It's not as strong as it was with Sackcloth, but.. it lasts a lot longer, and spreads further as a result. Slither isn't explosive, just.. slow and steady. There's pressure as well due to things being a bit tight again.

And when that flows, the Unicorn goes into her own writing tingle of her own, and her body bears down on its intruder as it milks at it for as much of that tingle as it can get. She's pretty sure she's moaning and drooling like mad now too, but it's hard to tell; everything is rather fuzzy around the edges. But Dagh, does she feel good right now!

Eventually things deflate just enough to relieve the strain, and things flow out a bit more. Then it's a bit of a tug of war between Willow's muscles and inexorable withdrawal of Slither's third arm.

Willow goes 'awww', when things do finally bein the pullout and leave her feeling rather empty again. She pouts, but does open her eyes at least.

The big dark eyes of Slither look down at Willow, and then he grabs her wrists again and holds them down near her shoulders. There's more coiling, and then something else squirms into her. It's scaly, and smaller than the third arm.. it must be his tail tip. And that he can move quickly. In and out, and all around.

That makes Willow go 'meef!' She didn't expect that, but given she's still just coming down from her peak, this pushes her right back up and she ends up squirming around like mad again. Along with more groaning and drooling; not very dignified for the aeonian, to be sure. At least the walls are soundproof.

There's no reason for the Naga to ease up, since it's such a small part of him, be he does shift Willow around until her back is against his chest as he becomes a sort of long lounge couch for her. One that's still holding her wrists though, and has coils weaving around her legs to keep them apart. From here he can still nuzzle against Willow's jaw and lap at her nipples while he diddles her. This is also the most exposed she's been, so that the Eeee acolyte can really see what's going on.

Willow realizes the naga is advertising what he could do for the Eeee, if she'll let him. This makes the aeonian giggle like a loon. "Don't you want this too?" she coos at the poor girl. "It feels really niiiiiice."

"That looks.. like it would hurt!" the girl squeaks. "I'm tiny. But.. I guess if it was just the tongue.."

Slither keeps working.. and may be using the scales to actually clean Willow out. He does eventually stop though, before the mare is too strained.

"Yes, well, you take it easy, go slow, and you'll stretch over time," Willow giggles, "But I suppose you Yodhrephath don't indulge in such things. Pity!" She lounges back on the naga.

"I don't want to be stretched!" the girl claims squeakily. "I need to be a lot bigger first."

"Yodhrephath do!" the acolyte claims, stretching up to her full five-foot height (not counting her ears). "I've got plenty of growing left in me."

"Only if you take hormones and other things to force it. Female Eeee normally do not get big," Willow points out and shakes her head. "But then all of you want to be men anyway."

"Hardly!" the girl claims, crossing her arms over her chest. "We're better than men."

"I imagine many would disagree, but I don't," Willow laughs and tries to extricate herself from the snake's coils.

Mr. Slither does not comment on the comparison of men and women - for a Naga there isn't much of a difference after all. He does eventually release Willow, although he does give his tail tip one last wiggle as he slides it out of her. At least she doesn't feel sticky inside this time.

"Your turn with the snake," Willow comments and gestures to the serpent. "I need to keep looking, alas. I can't spend all my time here."

"I wish they'd let us have some soap," the girl laments, but does show Willow out. "Good luck. But, you know the one you're looking for is here, so luck probably isn't a factor."

Willow nods and tries to make her way back out to the main hall. If she manages it, it's on to the next door! She'll find the guy eventually.

The door is opened by a fully grown Yodhrephath this time. "You could use a bath," she notes.

"Hmm," the woman grunts. She doesn't seem happy that Willow is slightly taller than her, probably. "Well, come and take a look then," she says and gestures for the unicorn to join in the antechamber.

Willow resists the urge to slap her on the butt in passing. "Why are you in here instead of just an acolyte like the others?" she asks.

"We have shifts," the woman says, and closes the outer door before opening the inner one. "We don't interact with the guests if we can avoid it, and this one is pretty quiet. The one you want is quiet and docile, right?" There's a definite equine odor to the room, along with the smell of hay.

"Mostly, yes," Willow agrees and goes to peer into the next room. "Why do you not speak with them? They are not horrible people."

"Because anything we learn needs to be kept secret," the Yodh explains. "We aren't Yodhbarada. It isn't something we're trained for." There's the usual table and stool, the barrel of water, a towel and instead of a bed there is a small haystack. Sitting in the middle of that (since he couldn't stand up in here) is Mr. Straw, the draft Rhian. He's chewing slowly on a long blade of hay as he watches Willow enter. His brow furrows as he tries to remember something.

"Not the person I was looking for," Willow admits to the Yodhrephath and goes in anyway. "How are you doing?" she asks of the Rhian.

"Ummmm," Mr. Straw goes, and then rubs the top of his head. "Banged ma head," he says. At least there isn't a matching dent in the stone ceiling.

"Are they treating you well? You feeling all right? No murderous urges?" Willow asks next as she approaches him to look at his head. "Don't start trying to do reverse phrenology on yourself."

There's some bruising, and it's pretty obvious this is a recurring sort of injury. "Uhhhh.. I guess?" he replies after thinking on it. Maybe he wanted one answer to cover all the questions. "It's small here. Other place was small too. Being outside was nice."

"Hey, do you have any bigger cells? This one is injuring himself too much," Willow calls back to the Yodhrephath. She also places her hand over the bruised area gently and tries to use the shadow to ease it some.

It doesn't take long to reduce a bruise, so the Yodh doesn't even notice. "These were meant for Babelite nobles. The only bigger private rooms are in the stables with the Pteras and Rhaktors. Not very secure."

"And I imagine you can't raise the ceiling some. Can you get him a helmet, at least?" Willow asks. "It's not good if he keeps banging his head."

"A helmet.. hmm," the Yodh says, and eyes Willow's horn. "You aren't going to stab him, right? The acolytes can't leave, but I'm not an acolyte."

"I would have already stabbed you first if I were going to," Willow points out. "So, no, I won't hurt him."

"Then watch over him until I get back," she says. "I have an idea about the helmet." And with that, she just leaves without waiting for Willow to agree about staying put.

Willow shrugs a bit. "So ... how's the food here?" she asks the Rhain. "What have you been doing to pass the time?"

At the mention of food, Mr. Straw offers Willow some hay. "Food is good. Someone takes away my crap, so I don't have to. Nobody ever did that before, I think. I remember you now! Pass the time?"

"You remember be now? Then who am I?" Willow inquires. The comments about crap ... she lets that go. She doesn't want to even think about that aspect.

Willow doesn't move. She just stands there and blinks when the rhian grabs her chest. "You have hit your head a lot, haven't you?" she asks.

"I dunno, what's alot?" Straw asks and lets go. "Have you got a room here too, or am I the only one?"

"I don't have a room here, I'm visiting. The crew you knew is all here, though, until you can be healed," Willow explains and sits on part of the cot. "Do you even remember much?"

"Oh yeah, I remember shoveling stuff," Straw says, holding up a finger. "And the tunnels.." up goes another finger. "And Mr.. Sacky. And skinny one like you, always in his room. And bird guys." He's starting to run out of fingers now, so is slowing down. "And squishy times. You still do that?" He then stares at his hand and sniffs the palm.

"Sometimes, yes. Why?" Willow has to ask. "I'm not sure I have time right now, not with your caretaker coming back soon."

"Well, that's not surprising. They don't really engage in such things, and frankly couldn't handle you physically," Willow points out. "At least not safely."

Willow rubs her forehead. They must be really bored in here. Wow. "So, you really want me to do this, then?" she asks.

Willow considers this for a minute. "Well, okay," she relents a bit. She's supposed to help comfort these guys after all.

Since Mr. Straw can't move around much, and his hands aren't very sensitive, Willow ends up feeling a bit like a cob of corn as he maneuvers her around so he can run his lips and tongue (which are sensitive) over as much of her he can. It might be nice if not for the positional shuffling involved.

This ends up making Willow giggle and cackle at times because of the absurdity of it. Corncob indeed! It does at least make her wiggle around some!

The wiggling arouses the big stallion, but he doesn't do anything about it (other than take advantage of something else to rest Willow on). It forms a sort of pommel against her back when she sits in Mr. Straw's lap, helping to prop her up as she's bent backwards so he can suckle on her. That's when the Yodhrephath returns, carrying a large, oddly shaped helmet and a blanket. From Willow's bend back view, the Eeee is upside down. Which works fine for an Eeee, all told.

"Oh, hello," Willow says to the Youdhrepath. "Want to join in? He's big enough for several!" The unicorn grins upside down.

"I prefer to take my baths without a tongue involved," the Yodh replies, and sets the helmet on the small table. "This is for a Rhaktor, but I brought a blanket that can be used to pad it out a bit. It's made of ironwood," she claims, and wraps her fist against it. "All the guards are still loitering in the security room. I had to squeeze through them to get in and out. Probably the thrill of their lives." Even naked, the Yodhrephath is.. a Yodhrephath, in the end. She isn't one to inspire lust, unless the barrephath are specifically groomed to think that way.

"You're missing out, then. Baths are better when tongue is involved," Willow claims, "And that helmet should work just fine." She then tries to extract herself from the clutches of the rhain. "Just a moment and I'll help fit it...."

Straw grunts when Willow tries to escape, and there's a 'pop' once her breast pulls free. "What's that?" he then asks, noticing the helmet.

"To protect your head. You keep banging it on things in here. It's a helmet. Try it on?" Willow requests as she collects it and holds it out to him.

Mr. Straw takes the helmet and turns it about, then puts it on his head. His skull isn't as flat as a giant hawk's, nor as broad, but he can see out of the eye holes if he shifts it back and forth.

To the Yodhrepath, she asks, "Can you get the eyes adjusted a little? And some glue so we can glue in the lining."

"Glue? I suppose we must have some, although he's pretty good at making his own. Once it dries it has to be chiseled off the wall. Maybe he could see better if he turns it backwards. It just needs to protect the top of his head after all."

"You heard her, turn it backwards," Willow tells the rhian. "And yes, real glue. Your suggestion is gross. I mean .. ugh. Have you no manners or sensitivities."

"I'm not one to get invited to parties, no," the woman admits. It takes Mr. Straw a moment to figure things out, since he tries to get his ears through the eye holes to no avail. Eventually he ends up holding it in place with some of it covering the back of his neck. From the front it looks a bit like a salad bowl, but one with dangling leather straps.

"Rhian's heads don't get hot do they?" the Yodh asks as she comes over to inspect under the helmet to see how much padding is needed.

"Well, it's not ... the worst thing I've ever seen?" Willow admits and winces, "But better than than more brain damage. Rhain can actually sweat, so he should be fine with it on." She checks to see if the straps can be used to hold it on.

"I assume he kept cool with that inflatable log of his," the Yodh notes. "The crest sort of matches his mane though." She then gets the blanket, and gestures for the stallion to remove the helmet.

"You can rub that log for good luck. Not many know that," Willow claims with a straight face.

"I don't think I'd be the one getting lucky," the Yodh notes, and.. folds the blanket and sets it on Mr. Straw's head. Then tries to adjust it so it isn't covering anything important. She's not very good at this.

Willow steps in and tries to fit it better. She has more experience with varying head shapes after all. "You need a better sense of humor," she remarks as she adjusts the padding here and there. "And we still need some glue."

"Let's see if the straps are enough first," the Yodh says. "I want to make sure it works." So once the padding is more or less in place, she sets the helmet on top. "Hold it in place," she says, apparently not trusting a strange naked unicorn with securing leather straps.

This squishes down the warrior's ears, but she doesn't complain. After she's done with the straps, she tries to roll her head out from under them.

Willow lifts her hands off, and her boobs off. "For a bat, you are rather unflappable," she comments.

It takes a moment for that pun to sink in, and the Yodh gives Willow a narrow-eyed glare. "I miss the old days," she claims, before turning to Mr. Straw and saying, "Now.. stand up like you normally do when you first wake up."

"Needs tightening," Willow comments, "And you wouldn't be able to touch me anyway." She reaches up and tries to adjust the helmet some, as well as tighten the straps some.

"Ugh," Straw grunts, and seems to be trying to think of something from the look of concentration on his face.

"It just has to handle the initial bonk," the Yodh claims. "He mostly does this when he first wakes up."

"You could just sit on his head so when he wakes up he doesn't bonk himself," Willow offers.

"Oh.. uh, wait.." the Rhian says, realizing what he was trying to think of, and begins scooting around a bit, which means the women need to retreat or get caught up in him trying to lie down in the hay.

Sure enough, once Mr. Straw's head hits the hay (or the floor beneath it), the helmet it twisted to the side.

"It's ironwood," the Yodh groans, and then pinches Willow's hip. "This is your fault for suggesting a helmet. We should just wrap the blanket around his head instead."

"It's your fault for not having a bigger room," Willow counters and actually growls at the Yodh. "And if we had some GLUE, we could pad the ceiling."

"That would make it lower," the Yodh points out, but then realizes the helmet has the same effect. "Fine!" she throws her hands up. "We'll glue cushions over his bed! But I'm complaining to whomever is in charge of taking these men off to be fixed or whatever to take this one next."

"You do realize these are here at the request of the Barsunala, yes? Should I tell him you begrudge his request?" Willow asks the Yodh and smiles.

"I begrudge him not making them all smaller or something," the Yodh complains. "Or putting them to sleep. Sleeping Rhians don't bang their heads. If he can get Koldesh to put him up in her chambers, he wouldn't hurt his head. I'm sure they're plenty secure enough."

"Oh, so I should tell Koldesh you're mad at her, then?" Willow asks. "I will do so."

"Ask her for some glue while you're at it," the other woman claims. "Or wait here and I'll go track her down myself."

"I have things to do, like find the captive I need to find," Willow points out. "So if I'm not needed here anymore I will continue on."

"Fine, go!" the Yodh says. "But tell one of the guards to come here so I can send a message."

"Stop forgetting," Willow remarks, "And all right, I'll try to let a guard know. And you could use a drink, you're wound too tight."

"What does that mean? I do always do my stretches before exercising!" the Yodh claims, and holds the inner door open for Willow. "Remember to get a guard."

"You need to relax more, find humor in life," Willow notes, kindly. "I'll do what I can," she add, and with that, back into the hallway. She will go get a guard, though and tell them the Yodhrepath in this cell wants to send a message. And wants glue.

They really are packed in tight in the guardroom. One of the men is pushed forward at Willow's request, and goes to see with the Yodh wants. This leaves Willow free to continue her search.

Willow continues! Next door, another weirdo. The story of her life when it comes down to it. Always another weirdo.

The door is opened by an acolyte again, a boy this time. "Oh.. uh.. you aren't a guard," he points out to Willow.

"Really! Oh my! I never knew!" Willow gasps and clutches her chest. "I'm looking for a specific guest. Male. Who is in here?"

"No, if I were, you'd already be dead," Willow points out. "I'm looking for a specific one to be treated next. Who is in here?"

"Well, who are you looking for?" the boy counters. He's putting on a brave front, but also staring at Willow's chest. "It may not be my charge."

"I'm not supposed to describe him. You're supposed to describe who you have," Willow counters. She rolls her chest a little, to see if it hypnotizes him.

"I suppose I could say hello. He does at least know me. Tell him Willow says hello and see if he wants a brief visit?" Willow asks.

"Don't go!" the boy says and closes the door. Barely a moment later he opens it and says, "He wishes to say hello."

"You just want to stare at my chest," Willow tells the boy, but enters anyway. "The last one that did mounted me, then freaked out."

"I would never do that!" the boy says, and watches Willow's rump as she enters. He then secures the outer door and opens the inner one. This time the table has two stools, and Mr. Puff sits in one of them. There's a clay pot and clay mugs as well. "Willow!" he says, and gets up to bow. "You are a welcome sight and sound. Would you like some cold tea? They won't bring me hot water."

"Hello Puff. Tea would be nice, even cold. Plus if I linger it gives your attendant here more time to stare at me," Willow comments and gestures towards the boy. "I'm sure he's already trying to cover himself up to avoid showing his excitement.

"I imagine the attendants are as bored as the guests," Puff says as he pulls out a stool for Willow and then pours her some tea. "This one doesn't like tea, even. And they can't talk about anything."

Willow sits on the stool and nods. "Well, that's actually for your safety," she admits, "The spells found on one of you were pretty nasty, we don't want those triggered accidentally."

"So, there is definitely a curse or something involved?" the Lapi asks, while the boy goes to perch on the edge of the bed.. with his legs crossed. "But it can be removed?" he asks as he sips his tea.

"Yes, and yes," Willow agrees, "It took some doing, but they're working on a better process now that they know more of what to expect. It should be fine, it'll just take a bit. You're not prisoners, you're here to be safe until it can be dealt with." she looks over to the boy and has to ask, "Like what you see?" She jiggles her chest.

"And what brings you here then, dear Willow?" the rabbit asks. "I hadn't expected you to still be around.. or to show up naked."

"Looking for a specific member of the crew," Willow explains, "It's likely to actually be the father of the one we've cured so far, so we want to re-unite them. The son is ... upset and confused now that his memory has returned."

"Ah, you must mean Mr... uh.. we aren't supposed to use names," the Lapi notes, but raises his arms and pretends to stretch while flaring his fingers out like antlers. "It's good to hear that the young man is well. I'm surprised he'd be confused though. Upset, I can understand."

"Well, the memories you have from being a prisoner may go away once you're de-cursed and the like. Not sure if they'll return or not, but right now the young one doesn't know what happened, and you can imagine how disconcerting that would be," Willow says. "And yes, you are correct on who."

"Ah, so.. who we are now may vanish, in favor of who we were?" the Lapi asks, and sips his tea. "Perhaps to linger on in dreams and nightmares and claustrophobia for some. I.. don't know how to feel about that."

"I wish I had better news than that, but you will at least have your reality back instead of anything fake left behind," Willow apologizes. "Maybe they'll find a way to retain the memories too. Hard to say at this point; I'm no mage."

"If only there was something worth remembering," Mr. Puff says. "Well, I'll deal with it when it's my turn. I don't suppose I'll see you again after my memories are restored?" he asks.

"Of that I do not know. It may be better if you did not. I am a memory of an unpleasant time, after all," Willow points out.

"But I'm probably really a dashing, rich playboy," Mr. Puff suggests with a big grin. "I'd take you out for dinner and dancing at.. uh.. wherever such things happen in Babel! Or maybe I was.. I have no idea, but my magic-fingers technique had to have been learned somewhere. Or maybe that will remain a mystery as well. For now though, I will wait my turn.. and hopefully all of the difficulties with the process will have been solved by the time they get around to me. I'm not exactly suffering here, after all. Just bored."

"Does the boy here keep you, ah, satisfied?" Willow asks, then grins at the attendant.

"They don't learn anything entertaining," the Lapi laments. "Not even word-games. And I don't remember any either. I miss the mindless tasks from the mountain. I've got no stories to tell the boy, and he's not allowed to tell me anything. The sound-proofing is annoying too, so I find myself counting our heartbeats sometimes."

"Well, the guys here are like girls. You could probably get him to bed over..." Willow suggests a bit evilly.

"Oh, that? He's.. not my type?" the Lapi says. "I mean.. he's boring. They teach these barrephath to just stand guard. That's it! There's nothing exciting about them at all, and I'm almost certainly insane for a Lapi, so that's saying something."

Willow laughs. "Well, he doesn't even react to my bizarre suggestions so, yes, he's a bit boring," she agrees and shrugs. She sips her tea and sighs a bit, "Well, I should get looking more I suppose. I need to find this one and get him to the mages soon."

"Before you go," Mr. Puff says, and stands up on his stool. "May I have a kiss to remember you by?"

"You could have more, if you wished it," Willow notes as she rises then moves in to hug the lapi just before planting her lips on him and kissing.

The buck kisses back eagerly. "Wouldn't that traumatize my poor attendant though?" he asks. "But.. if you aren't in a hurry after you've collected your target.."

"I think he'd enjoy watching it," Willow comments and looks over at the attendant. Her brow arches questioningly.

"And I would want to take a few hours at least," Mr. Puff claims. "I've been thinking of some things to try, to keep my imagination going."

"Ah, yes, that would need to happen after I find him," Willow admits. "Sorry, kid, now show yet."

"Yes, I've never.. I mean, of course, I'm protecting the guest after all," the boy claims. "So I should make sure your lips aren't covered in poison." It lacks verisimilitude coming after she's already kissed Mr. Puff.

Willow laughs and heads over to the boy. She gestures for him to stand up. "Just mind yer thing and don't stick it in anywhere, hmm?" she teases.

The boys hops to his feet and puffs his chest out, probably try and distract from else is puffs out. He tilts his chin up, puckers his lips, and closes his eyes.

Willow almost motions for Mr. Puff to kiss the boy, but decides to not be that evil. So, she leans down and gives him a peck on his lips.

"That's it?" the boy asks after opening his eyes. Mr. Puff looks like he was tempted to take Willow's place as well.

Willow cups the boy's chin now that his eyes are open and kisses him again. Much more forcefully and with tongue.

Willow lets go and draws back. "Well, you complained it was too short, so I gave you more. Are you always so unsatisfied?" she asks.

"I was just surprised!" the boy claims. In his surprise, he apparently also grabbed onto Willow's breasts.

Therefore Willow pulls the boy's head down to her breast and commands, "Nurse." The males here probably like strong women, after all.

There's a squeak, but eventually the boy figures out what to do. He's very quiet after that. He certainly doesn't struggle.

"If you commanded me like that, I wouldn't just obey immediately," Mr. Puff claims.

"I would massage the breast first, and tease the nipple," the buck claims, making motions with his hands. "I think I could do something with my toes as well, if could keep my balance.."

This makes Willow laugh. "Maybe you were a professional escort in your other life," she suggests. It's nicer than saying he might have been a high-priced gigolo.

He probably would also know to keep his ears from swatting against Willow's nose as well. Especially when it's just the very tip, which tickles.

Willow noms onto that eartip lightly to get that to stop. She lets the boy nurse a bit longer and then tries to ease him off slowly.

"I'd offer to give him pointers, but he's more entertaining this way," Mr. Puff says, and opens the inner door for Willow himself as his attendant is still wobbly.

Willow chuckles and heads through. "See you later, Puff. Practice on the boy some, hmm?" she teases as she slips out. Why is she being so evil? But ... it just amuses her so. Oh well, to the next!