Breakfast is over, but the odors linger. Someone really enjoys their sausage and potatoes from the smell of it. But it's a convenient spot to assemble Alptraum's investigative 'crew', which Summer suggests should be called..
"Death's Arborists," the doe offers they await the arrival of Rostre from the depths of the tower. Cyprian elicits a slight tic of his right eye at the suggestion.
"That's awful. Really awful," Alptraum comments and rubs his face, "It's up there with 'Deadfall'" A sigh, then a head shake and he asks, "So, how have you both been? Waiting with baited breath for my next illustrious visit?"
"Yes, for the most part," Summer claims. "Tree Surgeons for Justice?"
"There is unending amount of work and responsibilities," Cyprian says. "And a melancholy Cervani waiting to, in his words: die so that someone better can live in his place."
"All bark and no bite," Alptraum quips. "I can believe you were waiting, but I doubt Mr. Spooky here was." Then he pauses and asks, "What? The son or the father? Who is that depressed?"
"The supposed father, but he doesn't seem to be depressed about it," Cyprian says. "He hasn't even asked for alcohol."
"Has his memories been restored? Why hasn't he been reunited with his son?" Alptraum inquires and arches a brow.
"We're still checking for any implanted failsafe spirits," Cyprian notes. "We've studied the remains of the one you extracted before, and are hoping the mage responsible did not bother to craft something unique for each victim. Once that exorcism is successful, we can attempt to remove the overlay identity that is suppressing the original."
"Unique traps would be a lot of work, and they had a lot of prisoners. It would seem highly unlikely," Alptraum points out. "It worries me he's that depressed, though he's talking mostly about he's waiting for his real personality comes back I think."
"It is a uniquely existential dilemma," Cyprian agrees. "I think he has internalized it as a sort of reincarnation without the boring bits at the beginning."
"He's kinda hot, in that rugged dad way," Summer adds.
"He's not bad, but Cyprian is hotter," Alptraum comments and shrugs.
"Cyprian?" Summer asks, and stares at the elder Mage. "He's certainly handsome and mysterious, but Adalric is probably more fun. I'm young, so not ready to dip my hoof into waters that deep yet."
"And yet you hit on me?" Alptraum points out. "And dream about me. I'm far more spooky."
"I'm also young enough to crave danger and excitement and you're a demigod," the doe points out. "Plus you aren't someone I actually see every day, and have that vampire thing going for you too."
Alptraum grabs Cyprian's butt and squeezes. "I suppose the demigod thing lets me do this, anyway," he comments as if it were nothing. "As for being a vampire, it isn't all that great."
Cyprian doesn't react, but raises his ears a bit to betray his surprise.
"Well, you can Cyprian are sort of peers," Summer claims.
Alptraum keeps squeezing. "Peers? Well, I suppose so, since he's the Avenger and all," the Eeee concedes and chuckles. "Maybe we should have a painting done together."
"Except for the stick up Cyprian's bum," Rostre comments, for once not being heralded by her chemical odor. Her scales look a lot fresher too.
"Ooooo, what sort of painting?" Summer asks, wide eyed. "Will there be togas and grapes, like in Olympian frescoes?"
"Standing together atop a mountain of skulls?" Rostre asks.
"This is Babel, wouldn't nude be more appropriate?" Alptraum jokes and lets go. "And who grabbed you and scrubbed you down?" he has to ask of Rostre.
"I shed my skin last night," Rostre notes. "I have it in a sack to use later."
"Use for what?" Alptraum asks in spite of knowing better.
"Ingredients of course," Rostre notes. "And so that nobody can use them to curse me or anything."
"Too late," Alptraum jokes.
"My personality and habits are not a curse," Rostre claims, wagging a finger. "Have you located the next tree then, Alptraum?"
"I've located the one in Mt. Gorphat. However to get to it will be complicated. You're either need some serious life magic rituals of protection ... or a blessing from Gorphat herself," Alptraum explains, shifting weight from one foot to the other. "Which she did offer to do."
"A blessing?" Summer asks. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing is free with the Kindly Ones," Cyprian claims. "That cost can be.. challenging.. coming from Gorphat."
"A blessing of protection from all of Her ..." Alptraum starts to explain and then shrugs a little. "Nothing is free from the Mages guild too, so that's not entirely fair."
"Rituals are also expenssssive in a more material way," Rostre agrees. "Blessings are shortcuts. Do you know what she will asssk in return?"
"She wants to destroy the Sabbaoth's curse too, so I'm not sure she'll ask for anything further," Alptraum notes. "She didn't mention anything to me, anyway."
"And you will not be indebted in our stead?" Cyprian asks Alptraum.
"Any more than I already am? I don't think so. Why do you ask, or even worry about that?" Alptraum asks.
"Why shouldn't I worry about that?" Cyprian asks. "This may be Babel, but the Guild does not condone using others unnecessarily without good cause."
This makes Alptraum laugh. "I'm probably the most-used person in this city. I sort of expect it at this point," he comments. "Or do you actually worry about me?" he asks Cyprian and waggles his eyebrows.
"You aren't invulnerable, so yes, I worry about you," Cyprian admits. "And your state of mind."
"I'm pretty durable. And what is wrong with my state of mind?" Alptraum asks, feeling a bit insulted by that.
"You seem a bit fatalistic, which I suppose is natural for one of Death's family," Cyprian says. "But you're also a living person, and the fatalism inherent in Babelite society is being shifted to something more hopeful now. You aren't taking on the fatalism of others somehow, are you?"
"I have no idea," Alptraum admits and shrugs some. "Though I do doubt many would really care if I did bite it, so to speak."
"I think it would crush the hope of many," Cyprian claims. "If even a demigod can't succeed when fighting for them, what chance do mere mortals have?"
"Would it crush you?" Alptraum prods. "And they have plenty of chances. But anyway, it's a bit off topic."
"So what's getting a blessing like?" Summer asks.
"Depends on the blessing. It can be fun, scary, terrifying, amazing, painful, or all of the above," Alptraum explains. "It's certainly unique."
"I'm not familiar with the nature of these blessssings," Rostre says. "It isss a miracle, thusss not beholden to our underssstanding of magic. Do you know of any such blesssings granted in the passst?"
"Sort of? I've met the High Priestess and she's been the recipient of many," Alptraum says. "Though she is probably not the best example to encourage you. Every Sister tends to be a little different."
"I have encountered a miracle before," Cyprian notes. "I was aware of it, because I was expecting it. However there is little that can be done to resist it. While we may make use of the granted blessing, we will need to be thoroughly examined by a Master Life Mage afterwards, and possibly quarantined. I have no doubt that Gorphat's blessing would protect us, but that may not hold for those around us. If such a blessing is required, it implies exposure to things which would be detrimental to ones health. We need to ensure that we do not carry anything out with us."
"So.. don't wear nice clothes then?" Summer asks.
"I have already sssshed my ssskin," Rostre notes sadly. "Poor timing on my part."
"Or you go with a protection spell from a life mage in the first place," Alptraum points out. "And what miracle did you encounter?"
"A miracle of Inala, on Caroban," Cyprian notes. "It was perhaps a necessary wake-up for the Mages Guild to understand the threat posed by the great Dream Ritual that was taking place."
"Ah, yes. Well, Inala's blessings are a bit .. flashy. For example Inala might give you huge boobs and turn you into a lust monster," Alptraum explains to Summer. "You'd hump anything living, and most inanimate things too."
"This was more an intense feeling of peace and seeing the beauty in everything around us," Cyprian notes. "A very dangerous state to be in."
"Dangerous? That sounds nice," Summer remarks.
"I am already at peace," Rostre claims. She's got her arms crossed to support her breasts as she says it though.
"It makes you susceptible to suggestion," Alptraum points out. "Or lethargic from doing anything to stop things."
"Oooooooh," Summer says, nodding her head. "I could see that, yes. It's like trying to get out of a realllllly comfy bed on a cold morning, especially with the sun warming you through the window. Especially if you have to pee."
"You really should be writing your analogiesss down," Rostre deadpans.
"I don't know, if I need to pee I get up," Alptraum comments dryly. "Anyway, I'm fairly sure Gorphat wouldn't try to harm you. She is trying to help after all. But do what you're most comfortable with. Anything with Gorphat will probably involve smile and worms somehow."
"I work with plants, I'm not afraid of worms," Summer claims.
"Worms are wiggly," Rostre says. "I enjoyed them as a child."
"Inside you?" Alptraum asks Summer.
"Mmmm," Cyprian goes. "I do respect the Sisters, and the fewer mages with pull into this the better. They will ask questions or want to meddle. And time is of the essence, since we have the Royal Mages plot still to consider."
"I had a tapeworm as a child," Summer offers in reply.
"Well, if you go that route, then your escort would be the High Priestess and not me," Alptraum explains. "It wouldn't be proper for me to be speaking on Gorphat's behalf in such a case, after all. And did you enjoy the tapeworm, Summer?"
"I didn't notice it," Summer admits.
"You'd notice a Gorphat blessing," Alptraum admits.
"Well, the High Priestesssses have been involved with the other treesss," Rostre notes. "That isss not unusual. Isss she nice?"
"She smells worse than you usually do," Alptraum notes. "As for nice ... I suppose? She wouldn't try to rob you like a Yodhblakat would, anyway."
Summer wrinkles her nose a bit at that revelation.
"What can you tell us about the tree's location?" Cyprian asks.
"It's deep inside the mountain, in a section of the Temple no one goes to anymore. Probably haven't for a couple centuries," Alptraum explains. "I know the path to it is full of weird creatures."
"Interesssting," Rostre notes. "I don't sssupose we can bring any back?"
"No," Cyprian tells Rostre.
"In a mountain?" Summer squeaks. "Like.. a cave?"
"Like an intestine, but yes a cave," Alptraum explains and shrugs. "Why does this surprise you?"
"Because trees don't grow in caves," Summer points out.
"Lots of things grow inside Gorphat's mountain," Alptraum counters. "Are you backing out, then?"
"No, I can overcome being underground," Summer claims, smacking her fist into her other palm. "To see new plants that grow in caves!"
"Cavesss do not bother me," Rostre says.
"Well, it's mostly fungus," Alptraum admits.
"Mmmm," Cyprian goes. "Life from decay. Appropriate. So it seems we will agree to accept the blessing in order to go forward.. but you will not be accompanying us, Barsunala?"
"It it because there's actually religious stuff going on in this temple?" Summer asks.
"I can't as far as I know, since Gorphat will be acting through the High Priestess and be more directly involved. So, yes, it's a religious boundary thing. But, if you just get a Life Mage to do it instead, I could go," Alptraum points out. "So, it's really up to you one way or another. Am I that important?"
"Well.. if the goddess is going to be involved, I suppose there isn't anything that's going to jump out of the tree and eat us, right?" Summer asks.
"I cannot promise that," Alptraum admits.
"This will be the first time being in the presence of an active agent of the Kindly Ones," Cyprian explains. "The Barsunala is not beholden to any one of them as the High Priestesses are. Rephath is a very hands-off sort of Goddess. Gorphat has always been very proactive.. moreso than her own Yodh at times."
"Well.. I don't know how to act around a goddess," Summer notes. "So.. is the High Priestess very formal or more forgiving of foreigners?"
"Repath also likes being tied up and spanked," Alptraum comments absently. "And you are right; it will be different without me there. You should be perfectly safe of course. But, you will need to be at least somewhat respectful towards the Temple. Not massively, but no, say, drawing lewd pictures on the walls."
"Ssso long assss we can use our magic circless," Rostre notes. "We cannot perform miracles."
"You your magic circles look like lewd images?" Alptraum asks bluntly.
"You must be conscious of the sort of magical affinities are present in such a place," Cyprian points out. "Life Magic will hold sway there."
"There are ssssome knotty symbols," Rostre notes. "To my eye, at leasst."
"And knots are lewd?" Alptraum asks. "They look like tangles to me."
Rostre just extends her tongue slowly and draws it back in. "It may be a cultural thing," she admits.
"Likely. At least Gorphat in general doesn't worry that much about respect. Just don't go praising Inala; they have a rivalry," Alptraum says, "And I've been in the middle before; it's not pleasant."
"In the middle?" Rostre asks.. and is clearly thinking lewd thoughts again.
"As in caught between their fighting and having both of them mad at me," Alptraum says and sighs.
"I like my notion better," Rostre claims.
"Bring a change of clothes," Cyprian says. "Ones you are not afraid to destroy or abandon."
"I don't need clothesss," Rostre claims.
"Cyprian and Summer ... you may have to get shaved afterward. Fair warning," Alptraum admits.
"We can oil our fur ahead of time," Cyprian suggests. "That will provide both protection and a means of capturing spores and particles that can be removed more easily later."
"Aw, and here I was looking forward to shaving you," Alptraum jokes. "But yes, that would probably help."
"My fur is very short already!" Summer claims.
"They have denuding creams," Alptraum comments.
"Let us prepare and get underway," Cyprian notes. "And pray to Gorphat that our breakfasts remain inside us during this adventure."
"Well, then I suppose I should get going as I won't be involved in this little adventure," Alptraum says. "I think you picked this to get rid of me. I know no one cna stand me for long."
The guests from the Mages Guild try not to touch anything for fear of causing accidental desecration. They've been brought her by the Temple attendants and then abandoned. Such is the way of things in the Temple of Gorphat, where it's assume that everyone just knows what they're supposed to be doing at any given time. So the three mages wait for a bit before they hear the click-click-clicking of something large and chitinous approaching.
For Nicora, riding her Skedat-chair is less about making an impressive entrance than it is about discomfort. Even bandaged up, there's a bit of seepage in her loins that just makes the cloth more irritating. The laces holding her insides temporarily in place are caked in effluvia and the fleshy eyelets are inflamed. She doesn't know how long she'll be able to use the chair though before having to go on foot.
"Greetings. You are the mages that wish to see the ancient Tree of many challenges? The avenger, even? Well, well. Welcome, I am Yodhgorphat Scourge and I am the High Priestess of Gorphat. The path you wish to walk will be challenging, indeed and you must be prepared. If you are not stout of will, stomach, and nose, you may wish to turn back," she burbles as she greets the three.
"The work is important," Cyprian notes. "An injustice must be rectified.." he says, then seems to regret it, since the Yodh may rightly claim injustice from the Mages Guild after all.
"Oh, I do not dispute that it must be rectified, just that you must all be sure you can cope with what is to come," Nicora burbles and gestures for them to approach. "I will ask a simple test of each of you, if you pass, I will take you to be blessed. If you do not pass, you cannot proceed." She grins, revealing slimy teeth. "Each of you must nurse on me and swallow two mouthfuls of my milk. If you manage it, and do not vomit, you may proceed."
"Pardon me?" Cyprian asks, his cool demeanor clearly rattled. "Isn't that a bit.. intimate?"
"And?" Nicora inquires cooly. "Is the vaunted Avenger unable to perform such a simple test?"
"Ummmmm," Summer goes and then timidly asks, "Which ones?"
"Any you choose; they all produce the same ... output," Nicora answers.
"I haven't nursed in.. a while," the man notes.
"Surely you know how," Nicora comments. "Are none of you brave enough to try?"
Rostre slithers right up, and seems to inspect each available choice, her long tongue briefly testing each nipple. The then points to the second left one. "That is the best one," she claims. It would involve moving the primary above it out of the way though.
"If that is your choice, then use it," Nicora says and leans back so that everything is on display and 'available'. She's still grinning. "If this bothers you, you could lick my Wound instead."
"An open wound is dangerous," Summer claims. "It could get infected."
Rostre dips down, then rises back up and asks, "Define a mouthful, pleasse. I have a large mouth."
"You fill your mouth, whatever its size is," Nicora answers a bit wetly.
This involves.. well, squeezing. The Naga's lips just can't suck after all, so there's a lot of squeeze with them instead. It is going to take awhile if everyone is going to try that breast. Cyprian asks, "Is this the protective blessing?"
"This is not," Nicora says as she sits there and is squeezed uncomfortably. "This is to see if you can handle the actual blessing," she claims. It may just be to amuse her, but who knows?
"Ah," Cyprian says, and then kneels down as if a penitent, and takes one of the primary (and floppier) breasts to put his lips to the nipple. He seems to act very mechanically after that, as if mentally distancing himself from the act or entering some sort of meditative state. It may be cheating, or it may just be his way to ensure he can get through it.
Summer dances from hoof to hoof as the others suckle (or try to). Despite the many available options, Rostre and Cyprian tend to block easy access.
"Hah, meditating in order to cope. That will serve you well," Nicora remarks as she starts idly stroking his cheek and occasionally an ear. "Perhaps I will keep you around after the journey into the mountain to educate you on Gorphat's graces."
Cyprian's wings twitch a bit at that, but he must be thinking that Scourge is deliberately trying to rattle him because of his reputation and profession.
Nicora runs a claw slowly along the inside of his left ear. "I can promise a night you would never forget, no matter how much you may want to," Scourge sort of rasps, then grins.
"So, do you mostly have fungi, lichens and slimes in here?" Summer asks. "I'm not that familiar with them, since they aren't entirely vegetable. I'm Summer Forest, by the way. An Earth Mage. You obviously know Cyprian, but the scaly one is Mage Rostre of Spirit."
Cyprian can't reply, since that would require breaking his rhythm. But his body is a big rigid.
"We have everything you mentioned,and probably many more you've never heard of," Nicora claims. "And many types of worms slugs, snails, and parasites," Nicora says. That claw never stops tracing along the poor bat's ear; and at some point she even playfully pinches it.
The pinch causes a hiccup and Cyprian nearly loses his focus altogether. Rostre, being unable to really taste anything, just seems frustrated at the rate she can progress. It will take at least a pint for her share.
Nicora extends one of her legs, then reaches around and grabs Cyprian's butt with her foot. She does this wile looking right at Summer. "You look worried. Or ill. Does this test worry you, child?" she burbles.
"I lived in a giant rotting pumpkin for a year," Summer says. "So.. I don't know? I've had to eat a lot of my own failed experiments, and had mushrooms growing out of the back of my neck for a few days. But this is something special, right? Like the ambrosia the Olympian gods drank?"
"Sure. Keep that thought," Nicora laughs. "It's not at all like the worst medicine you've ever tasted."
"Ewww, not the stuff made from fish guts is it?" the doe asks, sticking out her tongue.
"Not nearly so pleasant as that," Nicora promises while she hand-foot-kneads Cyprian's butt.
"Mage Cyprian has a very popular butt," the doe notes nervously. She then starts to reach out.. but pulls her hand back quickly.
"It is very perky and firm. Impressive for one as old as he," Nicora claims, then tickles Cyprian's ear.
"Huh," Summer grunts thoughtfully. "So, men's butts are like girl's boobs," she realizes.
"Just don't try to nurse on it," Nicora advises.
Cyprian finishes then, and carefully releases the nipple and pulls back. His chin is damp. He might be sweating is other places as well.
Summer stares at Cyprian's face to try and get an idea of what's in store. The man's stomach does let out a distinctive gurgle.
Nicora releases Cyprian's butt from her foot. "So, going to stay the night?" she asks him, then gestures for Summer to siddle up to the boob-bar.
"That has been our usual habit," Cyprian notes a bit hoarsely. "Mage Rostre has metabolic issues after expending such efforts, although that may have been partly from the exposed, cool air of the previous temples."
"IT's warm and squelchy here, like in insides of a decaying beast," Nicora promises. "And are you going to be fine?" she asks Cyprian, "You're looking a little ... queasy."
"I will endure," Cyprian promises, though his throat convulses a bit. Summer timidly takes his place, and nudges the primary breast aside to get to the 'perkier and firmer' on beneath.. and also probably assuming the other one is drained now. She likely doesn't have any experience is animal husbandry, despite her profession generally involving farms.
Nicora calmly reaches out, behind Summer's head, and squishes her nose right into her boob. "Just as long as you are not regreting your life's choices right now; I'm enjoying the ... company. And soon you will all be naked."
"Naked?" Cyprian asks. "We have brought disposable clothing.."
"Naked. You must bathe in the pool of Her most gracious Effluence," Nicora claims.
The deer bleats at the shove, and.. tries licking before coughing at the sourness. She does have the smallest mouth though, and does her best, but isn't exactly nursing with any enthusiasm.
"A bathing pool?" Cyprian asks for clarification. "So, a standard sort of ritual for a Yodhgorphat?"
Scourge grabs the doe's ears like handles and really pushes her into her breast. "You can do better than that," she claims before looking back to Cyprian. "In a sense, yes. You will see."
"Glack!" Summer complains, but that causes her loose the milk she had in her mouth already.
"Tsk, you can do better, girl. Such a child," Scourge chides.
This causes a whine from the doe, as she tries harder again, either to finish faster or to avoid being chided again. Rostre is still working on her first mouthful. For her it isn't any foulness that frustrates her, but flow and volume.
"Better," Scourge comments, "But you would make a poor Yodhgorphat if this bothers you so."
"Mage Forest is better with plants than with people," Cyprian notes. "She would not make for a very good Yodh. She lacks the force of personality."
"If you were a girl, you could make a good one," Scourge comments to Cyprian. "In fact ... that could be arranged."
"I'm afraid I already have duties and responsibilities that I cannot set aside for such an endeavor," Cyprian says. "I do have a sister, however, and that example tells me I would not make for a very warm woman."
"That would make for an excellent Yodh," Scourge points out. "You have met many of us, have you not?"
"Few," Cyprian claims. "And I have not engaged with them for long enough to develop a familiarity."
"Ah, well, perhaps you can get intimately familiar with me tonight," Nicora suggests, and grins like a predator.
"That may create awkwardness when dealing with the other temples," Cyprian claims.
Summer chokes after her second mouthful, and pulls back. She holds her muzzle closed with her hands, but green milk leaks out of her nose.
"Swallow," Scourge demands of Summer. To Cyprian, she claims, "But this is the best Temple. The others do not matter. And besides, if Inala got to have you, so should Gorphat."
Summer manages.. and then manages again the second and third time, which is probably why her mouth is held closed. Hopefully it stays down the final time, because she needs to breath at some point.
"Gorphat should not have to settle for Inala's leftovers," Cyprian counters, couching it in the most flattering terms he can muster.
"Nor should you have to settle for Inala's trivial pleasures," Scourge counters. "Now, as long as the young one here doesn't barf in the next few minutes, it is time to proceed to the ritual..."
Rostre takes that as permission to stop her own efforts. She doesn't show any ill effects, but then she's able to digest whole animals.
Summer still chokes a bit after keeping things down, since her sinuses may be suffering as well.
"That wasss quite a challenge," Rostre claims.
"Right. Now, all of you strip," Scourge commands. "We will journey until the chamber of effluence, where you shall be blessed and prepared for your passage through Gorphat's bowels...."
"Is it far?" Cyprian asks. Rostre is already stripping out of her poncho, retaining her wide pouch-laden supply belt.
"Far enough. Strip ... and give us a show," Scourge demands.
"I am not a very entertaining person," Cyprian claims, and sheds his robes rather normally. For a Mage he isn't in bad shape. Summer is the slowest as it takes her the longest just get to her feet. She's no more self-conscious than Rostre though. She's rather Eeee-like in her build anyway.
Scourge nods. "Very good, children. Now, follow me. And do not et left behind; if you get lost in here you will die and be devoured by the dark," the seated Eeee declares. A few taps on her mobile chair and she's clicking off into the distance. "I do so hope all of you don't mind slime ... and slime-snakes," she cackles as she heads into the Temple with her naked entourage in tow...