As usual of late, the tower guards salute Alptraum and open the doors for him, letting him into the Mages Guild reception room. An older Eeee woman is at the circular desk this time, wearing large spectacles that clip to her ears via small chains. "How may I direct.." she starts to say, before looking up at Alptraum. "Oh! The Barsunala! Are you here to see someone in particular?"
"I'm here to seduce Mage Cyprian and make him my love slave," Alptraum comments with all the seriousness of the grave. His left ear twitches a little, though.
"Do you already have an appointment for that?" the woman asks flipping through a ledger.
"Does one need an appointment to make another their love slave?" Alptraum has to ask. This is Babel, so ... maybe!
"Master Cyprian is usually very careful to schedule things," the woman says. "But.. he doesn't have anything going on right now. He should be finished with his follow up examinations of the patients."
"Well, then I'd like to see him," Alptraum says, as another of his bad jokes bites the dust.
The receptionist stands up and gestures for Alptraum to follow (even though he knows the way) as she heads to Cyprian's office and knocks politely on the door. "What is it?" Cyprian says from within.
"I'm here to make you my love slave," Alptraum calls out. By God, he's going to stick with his joke because he us an idiot
"Sir, the Barsunala is here to seduce you, off schedule," the receptionist elaborates. Since everyone involved is an Eeee, there's no need for shouting, but since the offices are soundproofed there's only one specific spot in the door where this works. "Should I just pencil him in?"
"Just.. let him in, and no, don't pencil this in," Cyprian says. The receptionist does something with her fingers over the door handle before opening it for Alptraum. "He can see you now."
Alptraum laughs. "Y'all crazy," Alptraum comments and then walks through the doorway. "People are going to talk even more about you," he quips.
"The cost of celebrity I suppose," Cyprian says as the door closes behind Alptraum. "I generally just ignore any rumors that I overhear." Cyprian looks like he just changed into a fresh set of clothes.. mainly because the old set are in a basket next to his desk and Alptraum can smell the sweat on them.
"Pity, you're already clothed," Alptraum comments as he steps a bit further in the room. "Obviously, I'm here for a different reason. Mainly, I need your help, and permission. I'd like to have a meeting with the leaders of the garrison in the tower. They need to be informed that agents of the General are planning a raid. I don't want to deal with the invaders in the tower, but it must be done," he says.
"Ah, which invaders do you mean, the Temple troops or the General's forces?" Cyprian asks, and opens a leather-bound ledger of his own.
"The temple forces. That tower belongs to Babel. They shouldn't be there. But that is an issue to deal with at a later date. Right now it is best we try to seek an alliance of sorts with them, or at least show we're not their enemies," Alptraum says.
Running a finger down the page he's opened to, Cyprian asks, "Mage Trilby is scheduled to visit them soon. You can go with her if you like. I don't have any special authority regarding them, they've only contracted the Guild for health and support services. Although I heard that Mage Forest is supposed to be going as well."
"Er, I'd rather meet in neutral territory, such as here," Alptraum remarks, "Not surrounded by them. They tried to kill me once, after all."
"This garrison in particular?" Cyprian asks, looking surprised. "Neutral might be hard," he notes. "That would have to be the Guild Hall, and whoever their representative is would have to be flown here without making any other stops along the way, since they aren't allowed to leave their post or enter the rest of the city."
"Well, are they trustworthy? Can they be asked if I can go there safely to meet with them?" Alptraum asks, "I'd rather not cause an international incident by having to slaughter them all because they attacked me."
"I'm assuming you only need to meet with their commanding officer, correct?" Cyprian asks.
"Yes, but do you really think they'll just send one person to meet 'The Son of Death'?" Alptraum points out. "They'll involve at least one spy/analyst too. They'd be stupid not to. A chance to examine one up close there are rumors about? A chance to access the threat potential?"
"I honestly don't know that much about their operations on the Tower," Cyprian admits. "Trilby has had the most contact with them. I only know that she usually has two Vartans take her over. One for herself and one for her supplies."
"Should I talk to her, then?" Alptraum asks, "I like your company better, and you've nicer to look at." He grins.
"Well, you can bring her back here then if you like?" Cyprian offers. "I'll have the Temple contract brought over in the meantime, to see what exactly is stipulated in it."
"I ... just get no reaction from you at all. Ugh, it's so frustrating," Alptraum grouses. "I'll just go talk to her so you can do more important things than deal with my idiocy.
Cyprian allows a quick smirk to show. "Do you know the way to the medical suites?" he asks.
Alptraum's left ear twitches again. "Yes, I know the way," he answers.
Cyprian gets up to actually open the door for Alptraum. "I'll head to Guild office then to look up the contract," he says.
Alptraum at least uses the chance to feel up Cyprian's butt in revenge for that smirk. "I'll see you in a bit, then" he says as he exists the room to now head down to the medical offices.
There's just one person visible when Alptraum arrives, although he does hear Summer's voice in one of the rooms. The nurse(?) on duty is a young Eeee, probably around Cricket's age, that wears a red-and-white striped robe and is rummaging through her medical bag when Alptraum arrives.
"I'm here for your soul," Alptraum tells the poor nuse. Why? It's in that sort of mood.
The girl eeeks, and clutches her bag to her chest in fright. "No! I'm still using it, honest! And the patients are doing fine!"
"Are you sure?" Alptraum inquires and squints one eye, while peering with the other. "You don't seem like you're using it," he notes. "How exactly are you using it?"
The girl seems to freeze for a moment, then offers, "It's holding my pants up?"
"Mmm, a good use for it then. You can keep it for now," Alptraum relents then grins. "I'm the Barsunala, and I'm here to talk to Mage Trilby on an important matter, surprisingly enough."
"Is someone going to die?" the nurse squeaks, still clutching her bag.
"No. Not even get a nosebleed," Alptraum assures.
"Oh.. in that case, her office is over there," the girl says, and points to a door with her wing so that she can keep clutching her bag with her hands.
Alptraum walks towards the nurse instead, just to see how she reacts.
The nurse's eyes get even bigger. Which is impressive on an Eeee. "Do.. do you need anything else?" she squeaks.
Alptraum taps the nurse right on the tip of her nose. "You do realize I'm messing with you, yes?" he asks, grinning a little. "I'm not that scary. You need to relax or you might explode."
"I promise not to explode," she squeaks nervously.
Alptraum rubs the top of her head. "Seriously, I'm not here to hurt anyone," he repeats. "And think of the stories you can now tell. You met me!"
"I did?" the girl asks. "I did!" she realizes. "What story should I tell?"
Alptraum leans down and kisses the girl's nose tip. "That I kissed your nose," he jokes, then straightens back up. "And I really do need to see the mage now," he apologizes and goes to annoy the next mage.
At least the door to the office is ajar. And there are strange sounds and smells coming from it.
Alptraum pushes the door open. "Behold, it is I!" he announces in an all too booming voice. "Tremble and run before my might! Or give me tea. Either will do."
The office is a big cramped. There is shelf covered in large tomes, anatomical charts on the walls, other charts of things that probably make sense to a mage, and a large table covered in tubes and glass vessels full of colorful, bubbling fluids. The actual desk is tucked away in a corner, and there's another door at the back. "Are you a demon?" a Skeekish voice calls from beyond the second door.
"No, you know me," Alptraum reminds and rolls his eyes. "It's Alptraum. You know, the Barsunala. The one you threatened to not harm your patients?"
"Oh, Dream Guy!" Trilby replies. "Do you see a flask with some bright azure liquid in it?" she asks. "Not the blue liquid, the azure liquid."
"That's the same color," Alptraum points out, and looks for it anyway.
"The azure one has a bit more cerulean tint when you hold a sulfur flame behind it," the mage insists. "Also, it's a triangular bottle instead of a round one."
Alptraum looks for a blue triangular bottle, then. Mages are weird.
There is one, next to the triangular bottle full of purple fluid that is fizzing. The azure liquid also bubbles, but it bubbles from the top downwards.
Alptraum takes the triangular bottle and heads to the back door. "I'm coming in now. You'd best not be naked," he calls out, then opens the door.
Trilby is naked, standing in a truncated half-barrel and covered in pink splotches and foam. Her eyes are closed, but she belatedly uses her hands to cover up things. "I only asked if you saw the bottle," she notes. "But do you actually have it?"
"Yes, found it. Why are you naked and foamed?" Alptraum has to ask.
Alptraum also holds up the bottle.
"Minor miscalculation on a tincture," the Skeek notes, still keeping her eyes closed. "Now, do you see any pink splotches on me?" she asks.
"Plenty," Alptraum admits. "You look like you were attacked by a demented hair stylist," he claims.
"And there's still foam you say?" the Skeek asks. "I can't let any of this get into my eyes. So first I need you to dump a bucket of water on me to rinse away the foam, then rub the blue liquid into the pink spots before they start foaming up again."
"Yes, there is still foam," Alptraum says. He puts the bottle down, then fetches a bucket and makes sure it just has water in it. Including if it's clear, he sniffs it to be sure. "Right, "here comes some water, I hope."
"Make sure it's the clear water and not the transparent water," Trilby says, but there's only one bucket in there anyway that isn't holding a Skreek.
"Stop being ridiculous," Alptraum gumbles and dumps the water over her. "You know, you're kinda cute for a skeek."
"What do you mean for a Skeek?" the woman asks, putting her hands on her hips and turning towards Alptraum's voice. Her eyes are still closed, since there is a pink splotch on her forehead. The water was also cold, apparently, but she didn't complain about that. "Start washing the spots out with the potion before they start foaming up again. Otherwise I'll need another bucket."
Alptraum hurries and grabs the bottle and stars liberally scrubbing down the skeek with its contents, splotches and non-splotches alone. "Well, you know .. skreeks are cuter, but you're not bad," he teases,
"They're just a little bigger.. eeep," Trilby claims as the scrubbing commences. The pink splotches turn purple, but so far nothing is happening to Alptraum's fur (one the hand that has fur). "Why is one of your hands so much colder than the other?"
"You'll find out when you can open your eyes," Alptraum answers, probably to make her worry. Scrub, scrub, scrub he goes! There's also some groping, in the guise of scrubbing.
The Skeek squirms, regardless if it's scrubbing or groping. "Are the spots going away yet?" she asks.
"They're turning from pink to purple. Hey, if we make them green you can join the Temple of Gorphat," Alptraum jokes, while overly massaging her chest.
Trilby hmms. "Maybe you need to scrub them again?" she suggests once she's less distracted by the chest massage. "Purple shouldn't be bad though, so long as the spots aren't foaming. Fizzing is alright, but not foaming."
Alptraum checks for both. He also plays with her nipples. "Hm, you should have these pierced," he observes.
The Skeek squirms a bit. "Pierced?" she asks. "By fangs?" The purple is starting to fade more towards blue now.
"With decorative jewelry, so there's more to play with," Alptraum explains, "Also, purple is changing to blue now. No fizzing or foaming."
"Blue is good.. wait, you're criticising my nipples for being dull to play with? I bet Skreeks put pinwheels on their own then, is that it?" Trilby says.
"No, their pierce them so they can be played with, stretched, and teased," Alptraum claims. It's sort of true, ONE skreek does that anyway. And she's nuts.
Alptraum keeps on working to see if the blue goes away.
It gradually begins to break down, with the now-blue patches fading into the normal fur color. Trilby is beginning to shiver a bit. "I'm playful enough, I think," she claims. "I get lots of compliments for being cute."
"But you could be exciting and exotic!" Alptraum claims, "All fashionable pirates pierce things. And the color is finally fading now. Pity, I don't get to keep feeling you up."
"You could just not tell me when it's all faded," Trilby notes. "Or start again after I've dried off. If I wanted exotic I'd have dyed myself blue to begin with. Mages don't need to look exotic, we have exotic personalities!"
Alptraum continues until all the blue is gone, then steps back. "It's all gone. You would look better green, though," he remarks. "Shall I go back outside while you finish up?
"Finish up?" she asks, and finally opens one eye to look around. "You're taller in real life," she notes. "Can you grab me a towel from the office? I should have something near the lab table."
"Sure," Alptraum agrees and heads back to the main office to find a towel. Hopefully. Who knows what a skeek considers a towel.
There are plenty of rags and things the size of handkerchiefs and lots of gauze. The Skeek's actual clothes have to be somewhere as well, maybe behind the desk. Maybe quantity would suffice over size.
Of course, Alptraum could use the shadow to just suck all of the water off if he wanted.
Alptraum looks near the lab table for the largest things he can find to bring back to the skeek.
There are some clean (possibly sterile) rags at least.
Alptraum brings those back. "Here, I have some rags," he announces, "But there's a faster way!" He extenmds his cooler hand and literally explodes the shadow out of it to envelop the skeek and squeegee all the water off her! Except her head, so she gets to see all of it!
"Ah! Haha!" the mouse squeals. "That tickles! It's not taking the fur off though is it?"
"I could. Do you want me to remove all the fur?" Alptraum asks. Of course, he's turning the fur green right now instead, but only for a short period. To mess with her of course.
"I need my fur!" Trilby says. "I'm a doctor! Nobody wants to be treated by someone that looks worse off than they are!"
"Ooookay," Alptraum agrees and once the water is gone, he withdraws the shadow ... and leaves her in all her bright emerald-green fur glory.
"Ack!" Trilby squeaks. "Something went wrong with my eyes after all, I'm seeing green!" she tries twisting all around. Not as limber as a Skreek, but that could be down to size. "What color do you see?"
"Green. Because I turned you green," Alptraum says with a big ol' grin.
"Are you secretly a furdresser then?" Trilby asks, then shakes her head and asks, "Why did you turn me green? Is that your favorite color or something?" She also notices the rags, and grabs one to start drying her head with.
"I like green," Alptraum says and shrugs, "And I wanted to see your reaction to it."
After drying her face, Trilby peeks over the rag and looks at Alptraum. "So.. you want me to be pretty then? Prettier than a Skreek?"
"Sure. Why not? Also, your normal color should return in half an hour I think. I didn't make the change that hard," Alptraum admits.
After her head is finished being dried (she takes special care of her ears), Trilby says, "Well.. I guess I'm yours for the next half hour. Is that why you came to see me? Or did you sense my distress and rush to my rescue?"
"Actually, because you're the liason with the Tower, and I need to meet with them regarding a possible attack from outside forces. I don't particularly want to meet with them, given that group tried to kill me once; the temple folk, not them specifically, bit it must be done," Alptraum admits.
"Oh," the mouse says, sounding disappointed. "I'm supposed to go check on them and give them their medicines. I even have Summer the Earth Mage coming along to see if she can identify the fungus they complain about. Did you want to come along?"
"I don't want to, but I probably have to. Provided they don't try to kill me again. I really don't want have to kill them all and cause an incident," Alptraum claims and shrugs a little.
"Can't you just change your appearance, if they're wary of a black Eeee with white hair?" Trilby asks. "Although a green Eeee might be worrisome as well."
"I could, yes, but it's also an attempt to show we can be worked with. They will know who is coming," Alptraum explains.
"You've already let them know then?" Trilby asks, and heads back into the main room. "They're mostly Jupani, including their.. well, real commander."
"No, I haven't let them know. That's part of what I need you for," Alptraum further explains as he follows. "It's mainly an act of faith/offering of peace to show us trying to work with them by warning them of a possible attack coming. I'm sure they've heard all sorts of rumors about me by now. Also, what do you mean ,real commander?"
"Lt. Sarakind," Trilby says, hopping up to sit on the edge of her desk. "Their official commander stays holed up in the headquarters and complains all the time. Sir.. something of some order. He just tells Sarakind to take care of things, I think."
"Think he'll come out to meet me?" Alptraum has to ask. "Have any of them even commented on me?"
"I don't normally chat them up," Trilby notes, and gestures towards Alptraum's right arm. "Let me see that. They tell me of their ailments. I don't know if they get any information at all about what goes on in Babel. But I assume someone brings them food at least."
Alptraum holds out his right hand. "Why do you need to see this?" he asks.
The mage runs her fingers over it, turns it over to check the palm, and runs her thumb over the wrist-orb. "Do you feel any of this?" she asks. "Does it hurt or cause any issues for you? I'm a doctor, which means I'm nosy about these things. When you were fondling me, do both hands have the same level of sensitivity?"
"No, I don't feel contact with it as much. I feel pressure, some sensation, like wearing a glove," Alptraum explains as he peers at the nosy mouse. "And it doesn't usually hurt."
"Do you have any other dulled spots?" Trilby asks. "Take your clothes off, I may as well give you an examination while you're here. When did you last have a medical checkup?"
"Ages ago. And no, this is the only spot. Comes from dealing with shadow dragons," Alptraum explains, shrugs, then steps back so he can unrobe all the way. "You just want to see me naked," he accuses.
"You saw me naked," Trilby notes, and seems to stare at Alptraum's chest, then reaches for the scare. "How'd you get this?" she asks.
"I was stabbed through the heart," Alptraum says as he looks down. "Long story behind that one. I died, but got better."
"Got better?" Trilby asks, and raps on that part of his chest before pressing an ear to it. "Hmmm," she goes. "Hmmmmmmmm... take a deep breath and let it out slowly."
"I fixed my heart, so didn't fully die, that's all," Alptraum explains. Then he breaths in very, very, deeply through his nose, and lets it out slowly through his mouth.
"Sounds alright," Trilby claims. "So, is it numb as well?" she asks, pulling her head away to poke around the scar with her claws.
"No, it feels pretty normal to me," Alptraum notes. "What, do you think I'm some sort of weird zombie?"
"Well, weird at least," the mouse claims, then looks up. "Open wide and stick your tongue out," she requests.
Alptraum arches his brow, but does as requested. Along with a "Bleah!" sound.
Trilby actually taps on Alptraum's teeth with a claw, and feels up his tongue. Then she presses a palm against his nose. "Everything seems good. How old are you?" she then asks.
Alptraum has to think about that. "Physically, or soul-wise?" he asks. "Physically, late 20's, maybe 30. I don't know for sure."
Then the mouse pulls on the barbles piercing Alptraum's nipples.
Alptraum yarps! "Hey!" he squeaks.
"What? You said theses made them more fun to play with?" Trilby notes, and then licks one of them. She has a rather dry tongue. "I don't taste any infection or scarring though, at least."
Alptraum mmmfs and squirms some, "Well, that felt pretty nice, anyway."
"Same for these?" she asks, and tugs on the rings down below.
Alptraum merp and squirms, "Those are for playing too, yes." He leaves out the chastity bits, tho!
"Looks like you.. hmm, are these scars too?" She's found the implants.
"No, those are implants to make things more, er, stimulating for partners, female or male," Alptraum admits.
"Hmmm, who did them?" Trilby asks, still feeling around them for any surgical scars. "Is this a Babel custom?"
"Not quite a custom. It was done by a shop down in the streets below. Slaves to Fashion," Alptraum explains. "Why do you ask?"
"Never encountered it before," Trilby says, and.. sticks the whole thing into her mouth so can taste it for.. whatever. Or just because she wants to torment Alptraum for feeling her up, or turning her green.
Alptraum glrks! His body goes stiff, and so does the part in mouse-mouth! "That is not normal doctor procedure!" he blurts out!
Eventually Trilby relents, but just starts feeling it again. "Hmmm," she says. "Alright, I'm really curious now," she says. "The desk will have to do.."
"Wait a minute. What do you mean here? Just what are you planning to do? I could get you pregnant!" Alptraum claims.
"I'm a Life Mage," Trilby points out. "And you're an Eeee. Or is that you don't like me? Your hands seemed to hint otherwise though. And I can't do anything until the green fades."
"I like you! I'm just, uh, I didn't expect it to go this far," Alptraum admits. "But if you really want to..."
"I'm not a maiden if that's what you're worried about," Trilby claims. "Not all mages are like that. Especially not Life Mages."
"Oh, no, I know all you mages are freaks. Rostre made me give her breasts," Alptraum claims. "And I'm sure you're not. I just might ruin you for normal guys."
"Mages don't go for normal guys," Trilby notes. "And if that's a boast, you better back it up! I'm just as good as one of your Skreek girls. Maybe a bit tighter though."
"Well, if you're too tight, there's always the other entry," Alptraum teases and taps her nose. He also picks her up and spins her around, the plops her rump onto her desk.
She does squeak when that happens, more like a toy than a woman. "If there's some magic involved, let me know," she says.
"Why? Do you want there to be?" Alptraum asks as he pushed her slowly onto her back.
"Well, do you have some sort of intimacy magic?" Trilby asks. "Something that fits into the Sphere of Life?"
"I have no idea if it fits in or not," Alptraum admits as his mind rolls to focus on Toadstood and what she taught him about stoking and building lust through aura ... and starts using it on Trilby. "But there's this," he remarks, and as that starts he leans down and just licks her tummy.
"Ooo," Trilby coos, and squirms a bit. "Is this vampire magic then, or demigod magic?"
"Somewhere in-between?" Alptraum claims, then licks lower until he's kissing Inala's gate directly. And that's where he focuses that slow-burn buildup from toadstool; encouraging the body to demand, to need ... and likely, ovulate.
"Ahahah!" Trilby cries as if being tickled. "That's new! I like it!"
Alptraum keeps that up, but adds shadow into the 'fun'. Namely, he slithers small tendrils of it under her skin, to crawl about, 'lick' and ken ... on top of the aura build, and the long tongue that's now crawling its own way into mouse-eating.
When a Skeek tail is whipping your back, it's not as bad as a Skreek's, which is thicker. Trilby has a mostly furred tail as well, so it mainly tickles Alptraum's wings a bit. But hearing a Skeek give off a lusty growl is a more remarkable event.
At some point the shadow has reached her chest, and so she's being fondled from the inside. The effect is almost as if he's licking her from between her thighs all the way up to her neck. And it squirms.
Trilby starts to foam at the mouth a bit, and grab at Alptraum with her hands and feet, definitely getting to that 'demanding' stage. It might be why Snow had herself tied down.
Alptraum stops kissing and backs the aura off. "So, I suppose I should stop here," he admits. "I don't want to break you..."
Trilby tries to bite Alptraum! "STOP?? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
"Well, I don't want to ruin you," Alptraum claims as he starts dodging bites!
"You keep going until I tell you to stop!" Trilby demands. "I will learn this magic one way or another!"
Alptraum laughs and shakes his head. "You're nuts," he claims and gets up as if about to leave. Then he introduces her to what the implants are for.
"Aha! You really do lust after me!" the mouse crows.
Alptraum adds the aura and shadow right back in, to make it seem like Alptraum's bits can change shape, size, and squirm like a snake stuffed up into her. He also dips his head down and bites her on the shoulder and neck joint.
This gets her more worked up, and somehow louder. Skeeks shouldn't have voices like that. At least, it's loud at close range. Probably not loud enough to overcome the soundproofing though.
The shadow gets to the point it's like she's got a dozen tongues licking in her ears, pulling on her tail, invading under her tail, and probably giving her nightmares about tentacle monsters for the rest of her life.
It certainly makes for a very buzzy Skeek, since she seems to actually be vibrating. Which feels rather nice. Alptraum hasn't kenned a proper Mage before, and she tastes very nice. Tingly.
At some point Alptraum does back it off some, and just does things more normally. He really does worry he might make her explode or something if he doesn't.
She has very wiggly hips, even if they aren't as practiced as, say, Revalie. But she's also a lot faster, and warmer. And louder, in a high-pitched loud-to-Eeees way. So Alptraum's ears are ringing a bit when they aren't being grabbed at, unless he tries to actually hold her down more.
Alptraum does try to hold her down, and give her the whole 'monster takes the innocent girl' routine. Except this one cusses and says things that can make a sailor blush.
She doesn't quite cackle so much as squeak, but Trilby is still fierce in her own way, and stronger than she looks. She also tells him to bite her more often.
So, there's a lot of biting that does on, and times where it feels like Alptraum is rhian-sized in specific ways. He's also not holding back, trying to catapult the mouse odd the cliffs of desire.
The green has gone by the time Trilby is just.. panting a lot. In a squeaky way, of course. But she's otherwise limp and a bit damp in places, but fluffy in others.
And eventually Alptraum quits using the shadow to suppress his own buildup, and it feels like he literally explodes within the mouse when his time comes! Then he just sort of lays on top of her, breathing. Then to make it weirder, starts making fake snore noises.
"You didn't snore before," a soft velvety voice notes from behind him.
Alptraum looks up. "Hello Summer," he remarks and looks for the voice.
The doe is standing there, also naked for some reason. "That was really impressive," she says. "I was getting a bit keyed up being with Adalric, just keeping him cheered up. He was giving off some scents though you know.. or maybe you don't. So I came here. Didn't help. So.. how tired are you really?" She has a worrying grin on her face.
"Not enough to stop me from turning you ito a gibbering, dripping, pile of hormonal goo," Alptraum challenges as he disentangles himself from the mouse. And to make matters worse, as he approaches her, his body changes form as he walks (which hurts/feels weird), but he's turning into, well, a very well-built stag, with quite the rack, and ... egad. "I won't help how you feel ... much," he chuckles...
Alptraum was awoken by someone with a very small tongue licking his nose. "Wake up, sleepy head," a small but familiar draconic voice urges him, which means Kaira in her 'chibi' form is probably sitting on his head.
Alptraum opens one eye. "Why are you sitting on my head?" Alptraum has to ask as that one eye focuses on his nose. "What did you do to me this time?"
"It's not what I did to you, but what you did," the mini-dragon chirps. She's also grinning. "You changed without a shadow coccoon. Full body too. You're getting better and faster."
"What do you mean...?" Alptraum has to ask, then sits up to look at himself and what just happened. "When did I do this?" he asks before he even sees what this is.
He's still wearing his Cervani buck form, which doesn't quite match Mr. Velvet or Mr. Sprocket.
Alptraum rubs his forehead. "I don't ... well, oops?" she says. "Is this bad? Good? Does it mean I'm just a pile of goo now?"
"No, it means you're overcoming your resistance," Kaira claims. "Probably."
"And if it's not that, what does it mean?" Alptraum has to ask.
"Maybe that you really wanted to make the transformation?" the little dragon suggests. "Did you enjoy it?"
"Well, I do usually enjoy it. It's all sorts of fun squirmy inside and out," Alptraum grudgingly admits. He also tries to relax back to Alptraum, if he can. The male, not Nicora, which is still the default. Just now a very disturbing-looking and in pain default.
"Are you trying to relax, like it's.. a muscle?" Kaira asks.
"Yes?" Alptraum admits.
"Is it working? Maybe you need to 'flex' into a different one. Like.. flex your wings.. to see if they come back?" the dragon suggests.
Alptraum imagines, well, Alptraum, and somehow flexing into that? Wing-flexing mentally is involved. If that will do anything, he has no idea! IT does probably mean he makes some goofy faces regardless.
Soon Alptraum has wings again! And proper ears. And hooves. And boobs. And antlers. But.. the wings are absolutely correct, and the bat ears.
Alptraum pokes at the breasts. "Why do I have these?" he asks, then checks lower down to make sure he even knows what gender he is! "Granted, I like having them..."
Alptraum's lower half is still definitely Cervani buck. Little hear-shaped tail and all.
"Did that hurt at all?" Kaira asks, still between the antlers.
Alptraum is distracted for a bit playing with the boobs. And giggling. "Wait, what was I doing?" he asks. "No, it didn't hurt at all."
"You still have horns," the dragon points out. "But they aren't soft tissue, may be harder to get rid of. Try flexing.. uh.. lower?"
Alptraum leaves the boobs for now because ... yeah, fond of having them. So, he's trying to focus a bit lower now and focus, and get an Eeee lower half back. It makes him squirm.
There's.. a weird sound. But then hooves are gone! And other things. So now Alptraum is a girl again, but one that looks like a twin sister. Except for the dragon-headed tail and.. still the antlers.
"This is about right, isn't it?" Kaira asks. "Black with white hair and silver eyes."
Alptraum acks! "I wasn't trying for girl," she admits, then ear-flushes as it reminds her that yes, Alptraum is a girl, ever since Melusine changed him to a her, so if he's not specific ... "Wrong gender, right species, still have horns." She grunts now and tries to focus the horns away.
There must still be something about the horns that is problematical. But.. they are Cervani antlers. So they fall off, and clatter to the floor, causing Summer to begin to stir. She must not be as deep a sleeper as the Skeek... who has a Dream Mage for a sister.
"That was unexpected," Kaira admits quietly.
Alptraum watches the antlers to see if they dissolve. She also forgets to do anything about gender; so used to it that it feels normal. Which is scary. "This is your fault, somehow," she claims.
"I blame.. uh.. Gorphat!" the dragon claims, still perched atop Alptraum's heads. The antlers begin to slowly evaporate. Hopefully nobody breathes in the mist.
Alptraum just sssiiiighs, and tries to do something about the gender now. That would be awkward to explain.
"Try sucking in the tail," Kaira suggests. "Flex your.. butt or something.."
"Don't tempt me to strangle you," Alptraum mutters, and does just that. Sort of the inverse-fart approach.
Summer is rubbing her eyes and starting to stretch now, but hasn't quite noticed anything.
It feels weird, like the tail just.. switched sides. And boobs somehow becoming broader shoulders. The now kneeling doe blinks up at Alptraum, and says, "Are you you?"
"I think so? I'm never quite sure," Alptraum admits; and feels slightly disappointed that he no longer has boobs. He makes due by just trying to keep his nipples a bit larger. Well, basically female nipples, but no under-padding.
While his focus is elsewhere, Summer starts to casually lick him down below.
Alptraum twitches. "What are you doing?" he asks as he goes sort of tense everywhere.
"I was just looking for a bit of salt," she claims. "I need a bath, I smell like musk."
Looking up, she blinks a bit, and then points out, "You have really fat creen on your head.."
Alptraum reaches down and sort of holds her down there. "Keep it up and you might get some," he jokes. "And what's wrong with smelling like that?"
"It's not a creen, it's my familiar, Kaira. She wanted to bother me," Alptraum claims.
"Well, it might get the bucks out there worked up," Summer says, between licks. "You mean like a witch? Where'd she come from?"
"The land of ghosts and faeries," Kaira claims.
"Inside me, sort of. I have worlds within me. I'm very deep and mysterious," Alptraum claims. "Ooooh, lick over there a bit more."
Trilby is starting to stir as well, and less gracefully as she rolls off of the desk top and wakes up fully on the way down. She makes a squeak noise when she lands. "What time is it? Is it tomorrow already?" she asks, leaping to her feet in a near panic.
"I have no idea what time it is, I just woke up," Alptraum claims, blinking. The he shivers and remarks, "Wow, I feel your lips up against ... ahem."
"My alarm hasn't gone off!" Trilby squeaks, and looks around. "Because e this is my office still, isn't it... Summer?"
The doe waves a hand so she doesn't have to turn around.
"Oh, it's coming back to me now," the mouse notes. "I'm.. going to brew some tea," she claims, and goes over to the lab table with all weird fluids and beakers.
Alptraum looks very distracted. As is sort of staring off into space and breathing oddly. "I wouldn't mind waking up to this every day," he comments at one point.
"All of it?" Kaira asks.
"No, not all of it," Alptraum admits. "Just, well..."
Trilby soon has.. something.. heating up over a flame. "I think.. oh, you wanted to come to the Tower with us, didn't you?" she asks Alptraum.
"Yes, I need to intimidate the guards. Er, I mean talk to them about a possible attack from the General and try to foster better relatIONS!" Alptraum blurts out, that last bit getting a squeaky accent.
"Sorry," Summer apologizes.
"Well, since Summer is coming and we have extra supplies.. can you carry the supplies?" Trilby asks, turning and stretching. Which involves her tail as well. "That way the two Vartans can carry me and Summer."
"As long as it isn't a bunch of luggage," Alptraum says, then goes tense and squirms. He has to bite his lip to keep from squeaking again as things get much more, ah, salty for summer.
"How do you take your tea?" the mouse asks Alptraum, either ignoring the situation or just not that awake yet. "I've got.. sugar and butter."
"Huh?" Alptraum says, one ear flopped to the side. "Tea? Oh, right, tea. Well, sugar," he babbles. He also has a new appreciation for Summer right now.
"Butter!" the doe requests, before looking up at Alptraum and asking, "Are you alright? You'd tell me if this was uncomfortable wouldn't you?"
"Oh, I'm quite fine," Alptraum admits with a goofy sort of grin.
Trilby eventually hands Alptraum something sort of orange-colored in a glass jar. There's steam coming from it, so it's probably tea. "My own special blend," she says.
Alptraum sniffs it, takes a sip, and randomly checks his nipples to see how nipply they are. It's a weird day.
They make the piercings look smaller, certainly. The tea makes his tongue buzz, and not from the sugar (although it is a bit sweet). He can't even begin to recognize the herbs used for it. Trilby sets Summer's cup on the ground next to her, and sits on the edge of her desk to drink her own tea. It straightens her whiskers out. "So.. what exactly where you doing to me last.. night? Afternoon? I need a clock in here."
"Last night? Oh, that. A variety of things. I was manipulating your urges while also invading your body with shadow to stimulate it all over and diddle with your bits," Alptraum admits as he peers at the jar. "Is this supposed to tingle?"
"Try to hold your breath when you swallow it," Trilby says. "Ah, and am I hallucinating a little blue dragon on your head? Or anything else for that matter?"
"No, she's real. She's my familiar. Overly familiar. Also secretary, and she likes to insult me. Her name is Kaira," Alptraum explains, then tries sipping and then holding his breath a bit.
"I need a secretary," Trilby says. "And is that Summer.. licking you? Should I offer her the rest of the butter?"
"No!" Alptraum squeaks. "I, er, I like what she's doing."
"She probably needs a proper breakfast though," Trilby notes. "Also, can I have some of your.. shadow? That wasn't shadow magic."
"It's part of me, so I can't actually give it to you. If it disconnects, it dissipates," Alptraum comments while producing some around his right hand, and it undulates and pulsates suggestively.
"Let me get a closer look," the mouse mage says, setting down her tea and fetching something that looks like a magnifying glass with the glass. She heads over has to come in from the side to avoid bumping into Summer. "Did your nipples get bigger, or is that normal for Eeee who are being licked?" she also comments.
"It's an illusion," Alptraum claims to Summer, while holding his hand out to Trilby for examination. It probably doesn't help when the shadow occasionally grabs the glass.
The mouse tries to pinch the amorphous not-really-a-substance. "Can you feel this?" she asks.
"Yes," Alptraum says.
"Can you taste with it, or feel hot and cold?" Trilby asks. "What else can it be used for?"
"I can taste with it, examine people, fondle people, do things like this," Alptraum explains and splats it onto, and then into, Trilby's chest. Where he makes her breasts about fifty percent bigger...
This makes the mage's eyes get bigger too. "How are you doing that? It's not air or water is it?" she asks, fascinated. "It's actual Life Magic!"
"It's sort of life magic," Alptraum claims, then messes a little further ... and tries to give her a second row of small breasts below the top two.
On a Skeek that isn't really difficult (since they tend to have litters). But Trilby probably can't see them. "Have you seen this, Summer?" she asks the doe.
"Something like it," Summer notes, and takes a moment to stand up and stretch. She's been on her knees since she woke up, for the most part.
"Now you have four of them," Alptraum comments, and pulls the shadow back. Mostly so he can cup her hands, and show her by putting them right on the lower ones.
"This is wild," Trilby says, looking giddy. "I've interned with one of the 'cosmetic' life mages before, and it's generally a lot more involved than this. But it also tends to focus on stuff that's broken to begin with. Can you use this on yourself?"
"Why would he do that?" Kaira chirps.
"Of course I can use it on myself," Alptraum says, and demonstrates by giving himself breasts again! "For a weird example," he remarks and gestures.
"But what about extra stuff?" Trilby asks. "Men already have breasts, they're just undeveloped." She still cups one and compares it to her own enhanced set.
Alptraum narrows his eyes and tries to bring back the cervani horns, that's extra, right?
It's a lot harder now that he's back to an Eeee than it was when transitioning from a Cervani originally. "What are you trying to do?" Trilby asks.
"Grow horns," Alpraum admits.
"I can change gender too," he admits.
"What about.. you know.. an extra one?" Trilby asks, whispering at the end.
"I've never tried to do that," Alptraum answers and gives Trilby an odd look.
"He's bad enough with one head, he'd never stop biting himself if he had two," Kaira notes.
Alptraum reaches up and flicks Kaira.
"Drink your tea, I wanna see what it does to you," the dragon counters.
Alptraum sighs, and does drink the tea. All of the remainder; in one long gulp.
Summer finally drinks some of her buttered tea. Her ears shoot up straight.
For Alptraum, it makes him suddenly queasy at first. And then it hits his brain and he feels like time has slowed down, before his heart starts beating like.. like a Skeek's, probably. It makes him flush, and suddenly feel chilled because of it.
"You're supposed to sip it your first time," Trilby warns, a bit late. "It's also a hangover cure."
Alptraum ... tips over and twitches.
"His boobs really jiggle, don't they?" Trilby asks Summer, who hasn't moved since bringing the tea to her own lips. She seems frozen.
Alptraum sort of rides it out, and then decides to try and reduce the breasts back to, well, just the larger nipples again. It would be hard to explain to others.
"Well, your eyes didn't pop out, so I'm guessing this tea is safe for Eeee," Trilby says, and then nearly tips over herself due to her center of gravity having shifted a bit higher. "Uh.. the ones you gave me aren't permanent are they?" she squeaks.
"They can be," Alptraum offers, sounding a bit jittery.
"I can't afford to have my clothes tailored," Trilby notes. "Can't you just give them to Summer? She looks too skinny."
"Mmph?" Summer goes, still not having moved.
Alptraum manages to get up, then gropes both women. "So I can transfer them," he claims, while he reduces the second pair on Trilby (but leaves the nipples), and gives Summer breasts that would make a Rhain mare proud."
This causes the doe to tip forward onto Alptraum, but she does unfreeze afterwards.
Alptraum catches her, and avoids falling on the skeek. "Don't we need to get going?" he asks.
"Yes, or at least find out what time it is," Trilby says, patting over her chest to make sure things are back to mostly normal - at least for putting her clothes on.
"I don't want big breasts," Summer pouts.
After standing Summer back up, Alptraum goes to get dressed. "What do you want, then?" he asks.
"A bath, if there's time," Summer says. "I have to get my fungus samples."
Alptraum does grab Summer long enough to reduce things back to mostly normal. "Then go get both," he suggests, "While there is time."
The doe grabs her clothes and throws them on before heading out in the infirmary. Trilby sniffs herself, and decides she's good enough, so checks her robes for any telltale stains before getting dressed. "I'm starting to come down from my tea. Tell me if you start seeing things that you're fairly certain aren't actually there."
"Well, my work here is done," Kaira claims. "Do you need me for anything?" she asks Alptraum.
"Sure, what's going on with all the inmates? Do I need to come in and torture them?" Alptraum has to ask, grinning.
"I'm keeping them busy," Kaira claims. "The neutrals are the tricky ones."
"So, you don't need me, then," Alptraum says and pouts.
"Oh, if you want to help.." Kaira coos, "I can always use extra hands who don't mind dealing with uppity monsters."
"I am an uppity monster, and you know I like to help," Alptraum claims.
"Help other uppity monsters?" Kaira asks, twisting her neck so she's looking upside-down into Alptraum's face.
"Help you out," Alptraum points out. "I guess you're an uppity monster."
"I'm upitty-side-down one, maybe," the dragon says, before abandoning Alptraum's head to drape around his shoulders. "Keep watch on your body, too. It could be important."
"Watch for what?" Alptraum asks, "Is there something you're not telling me? Are you worried?"
"This is a new method of transformation, so it may or may not be as stable as the full coccoon method," Kaira notes. "That's why you should watch and see if anything starts happening, or if you need to reinforce it every so often."
"It should just revert to normal, shouldn't it?" Alptraum asks. "That's what usually happens to unstable shifts; they revert to something normal."
"Yeah.. but what's normal for you at this point?" Kaira has to ask.
"No idea. I figure it's the form I traveled here in, but who knows," Alptraum admits.
"So.. watch for it," the dragon says. "Check every few hours. Or have the doe see if you taste different or something."
"Miss Mouse could probably tell too," Kaira notes.
"What if I just melt?" Alptraum asks.
Alptraum says, "Should we bring a bucket?""
"I don't think you'd fit in a bucket, so make sure you keep your skin if you melt," Kaira suggests. "If you start to feel melty, just cocoon and change into something stable."
"I'm not that worried, but okay, I'll keep an eye on it. I've deliberately left an unusual change on me to see which way things change, fi they change at all," Alptraum admits.
"Alright, now kiss me goodbye," Kaira says.
Alptraum rolls his eyes, but does kiss Kaira on her snoot. Then he licks her entire head.
The dragon poofs into a cloud of blue glitter that gets all over Alptraum's tongue. At least before it vanishes as well.
"Are you going to put on clothes?" Trilby asks as she returns from the other room, looking more like a mage again. She's even got a pointy hat, with a chin-strap to keep it in place.
Alptraum blehs. "See what I have to put up with?!" he grumbles, then finally actually gets dressed.
"Yes, yes, it must such a burden to have a magical assistant who wakes you up on time," Trilby agrees. "And takes notes, I assume? What sort of secretarial skills do you need her for, exactly?"
"I have a couple million souls I have to keep track of, and in line, that are victims of world genocide," Alptraum explains, "And that's what occupies most of her time."
"Not the Sea of Souls?" Trilby asks.
"No, unrelated," Alptraum answers. "It's hard to explain. It would be easier to show you sometime. Like the frog demon that turns people inside out for breaking promises."
"I don't like frogs," Trilby notes, then steps right up into Alptraum's personal space and sniffs him.
Alptraum peers down. "What are you doing? Are you being pervy?" he asks.
"Just checking for embarrassing scents," the mouse notes. "Specifically my scent. Jupani have really good noses. But you'll be carrying our supplies, which are pretty fragrant anyway."
"What do I smell like?" Alptraum asks. He also tries sniffing himself.
There's a knock at the door before it opens Summer reappears, carrying a wooden box on a leather strap. It's not a small box, either. She smells of floral soap.
"Like an Eeee who has been very active, I imagine," Trilby says. Alptraum mostly smells.. dried sweat. But a flying Eeee is going to smell like that anyway.
"Well, at least I don't smell like a girl or something," Alptraum quips and heads towards Summer. "I've got that," he offers and tries to collect the box from her.
She hands it over willingly, and asks, "So how are we getting to the tower?"
Trilby hands her pack over to Alptraum as well. "Fly of course."
Alptraum accepts that pack too. Granted he didn't think about having larger nipples while flying and that they'll ... rub. Still, it should be a good test of things, and is unnoticeable while dressed.
Trilby checks in with the nurse before leaving, and takes them by the cafeteria to grab some supplies. Skeeks need a lot of muffins, apparently. So do Cervani. The muffins have really big seeds on them. Then they finally pass a fancy looking water clock and realize they're late. On the main flyer's landing, two uniformed Vartans are smoking hand-rolled cigars while they wait. But they don't complain about the mages being tardy.
Alptraum wisely doesn't comment about the muffins, or even the mages being late because all girls are late. He doesn't have a death wish after all! "With me carrying the supplies, we should be able to make up the time," he claims instead, even if it's not true. "Well, shall we?"
"Wait, there are two of you?" the bigger Vartan asks, looking between Summer and Trilby.
"Yeah, we were told that," the apparently younger one says. "I brought a second harness and everything Cauth!"
"And what about their stuff?" the bigger one asks. "Is that guy gonna carry it?"
He does gesture to Alptraum, since.. he's already carrying the stuff.
Alptraum doesn't comment about birdbrains. "Yes, I am carrying it," he says instead.
"I thought there was going to be an airship," Summer says quietly.
After a bit more bickering, Cauth agrees to carry Summer, but doesn't look happy about as he gets her into the harness that basically straps her to his chest. "Do not kick me or barf," he instructs her.
After strapping Trilby in, the younger one just tells Alptraum, "Keep close, don't do any fancy flying. It makes the bowmen nervous."
"Do I look like I do fancy flying?" Alptraum asks; never mind it's exactly the kind of flying he likes to do. He instead walks to the edge and just falls off, then arc-glides back up. "I won't, but they'd never be able to hit me even if I did."
"All Eeee fly fancy," the Vartan claims. "Only to get from A to B in this city. We go high, too. Harder to hit that way." And then he launches, followed by Cauth after her snuffs his cigar and stuffs it into a pocket.
Alptraum rolls his eyes and follows. He wisely doesn't comment that maybe they just fly slowly and stupidly. He also lets them go ahead, which makes it easier for him anyway; he can keep is pace lighter. Helps with carrying stuff too.
They weren't kidding about flying high. But it does provide a good view of the Tower. They don't fly straight, either, but curve to avoid the airspace over the Wound, even though the Yodhrephath aren't officially patrolling it anymore. But there are still pteras glimpsed on the tops of the surviving towers. Then they're going down steeply towards the top of the Tower.
The bowmen don't even react to their arrival. One is wearing some sort of bandana that covers his muzzle, and his eyes look bloodshot. The other crossbow wielding Jupani just waves without even bringing up the weapon from where it wrests against his leg. Only after they're down does he think to ask, "Is that guy with you?" and points to Alptraum.
"He's with the ladies," Cauth says. "Err.. you're a lady right?" he asks Summer after unstrapping her. She does not look very steady on her hooves after the flight.
"I'm with Trilby, but only half with Summer," Alptraum quips and grins. He's also already trying to sense their auras and moods.
Their moods are.. gray and borderline depressed. Except for the one with the covered muzzle, who is clearly miserable. Trilby immediately goes to check on him, and says, "Mage Forest is here to check on that fungus you mentioned last time."
"Do I take her to the Loot, or to the Fox?" the younger Vartan asks.. nobody in particular.
"Loot first, shouldn't expose her to the Fox right away," the less sickly Jupani guard suggests. "Back in the garden."
"Are you two okay? You seem unwell," Alptraum remarks to the two Jupani. "Very unwell, to be honest." He frowns.
"We have a Life Mage check on us every tenday, so.. yeah," the Jupani says, and gestures vaguely deeper into the villa. "Not like sitting on top of a stockpile of biological weapons could have anything to do with that. But I'm just a grunt."
"You could always leave and give the tower back to its owners," Alptraum points out and shrugs, "Who know how to deal with it. Anyway, I'm here as an ambassador of sorts, representing the various religious factions. I figure it's best to simply be up front about that."
"Yeah, like they'd let us leave," the Jupani says. Then looks at Alptraum again. "I've seen a lot of Eeee, and you don't strike me as being a woman. Are you one of the.. uh.. Loud Blackhearts?"
"Boris, it's no wonder they never let you talk to anyone," the younger Vartan says to the Jupani. "You two follow me, I'll take you to the Loot."
"No, I'm the Barsunala," Alptraum answers simply, and with a smile. Then he just hefts the bags back up to follow the Vartan.
It isn't far through the semi-restored building to one of the gardens. This one isn't a hanging garden though, and has apparently been used to grow flowers. A big black Jupani is scowling at the flowers when the trio arrive. "Hey Loot, I have the plant mage and her bar... son."
"Barsunala," Alptraum corrects. "My title, the name is Alptraum."
"Bar son?" the Jupani growls, and turns to look at the pair. At least he doesn't scowl at them. "I'm Lt. Sarakind. You're the Earth Mages?"
"I am," Summer says, raising her hand slightly.
Alptraum is once again trying to feel out the auras of those present, and mood.
The big wolf is.. not quite angry but frustrated.
"Well, then you can tell which of these plants is causing half of my mens' head to fill up with snot all the time, right?" Sarakind asks Summer.
"I'm here on behalf of the religious orders, I'm not a mage. I do have a matter to discuss with you, but it can wait," Alptraum explains.
"Well.. I was here to look at fungus? Those are flowers," Summer points out.
"We don't need last rites yet," Sarakind tells Alptraum. While being open to auras, one suddenly flares up from not too far off as someone is losing their temper. This confirmed by a shouted stream of curses only slightly muted by the architecture.
"Fungus.. yeah, something got into our supplies that is smarter than my quartermaster," Sarakind tells Summer, ignoring the loud tirade.
"I'm not here for that, but if you don't listen to what I do have to say you might need them," Alptraum remarks, then ears flick and focus on that shouting. "Believe it or not, I'm here to help and improve relations."
"Eh? What relations?" the wolf asks. "Are you talking about the Fox?"
"I have no idea what you mean by the Fox. I mean relations with the city itself," Alptraum explains. "And nothing to do with beds either. You're good looking, but ... you haven't been here that long," he adds as a joke.
The wolf just looks at Alptraum in confusion. "We aren't allowed to mingle with the locals," he explains.
"Which breeds mistrust. Frankly, you're seen as invaders," Alptraum replies simply and calmly. "If you ever want anything to improve, you're going to have to engage with us. I'm here to try and start exactly that."
"You want to talk improvement, you'll have to talk to the Fox," Sarakind says. "You've got all your ears it looks like. How much are you willing to let be chewed off, as the saying goes?"
"I want to make sure you and your men don't get killed. Who here has to deal with the mess, really? You, or this 'Fox' person?" Alptraum asks.
"I deal with it, he complains about it," Sarakind says. "But he's the one in charge, so.. I'm going to take.. what's your name?" he asks Summer.
"Summer Forest," the doe responds.
"Seriously?" the wolf asks. "Nevermind. I'm taking you to the fungus. Maybe you will have better luck communicating with it than we have." He turns back to Alptraum, and points towards the yelling. "That way lairs the Fox. Don't let him throw anything expensive at you."
"I'll need my box," Summer tells Alptraum.
"He'd be wise not to," Alptraum comments to the Wolf, and hands off the box to Summer. "I'm not violent, and I do not wish to harm anyone, but I can and will defend myself. If he attacks me, I cannot guarantee his safety."
"Well, he should be easier to deal with than a fungus," the wolf says encouragingly. "His aim isn't that good, either."
"I can be a fungus," Alptraum remarks and smirks, then heads towards the direction he was pointed in. "You two be careful please. I will be as well."
There are a few more soldiers here and there. Some are on cots in what were once lavishly appointed rooms, and some are just leaning against the walls or playing cards or staring blankly off into space. Nobody tries to stop Alptraum or ask what he's doing there. Those that do notice him just nod in a world-weary manner.
"I've been in cheerier tombs," Alptraum comments. "These people need to get out more or they'll die here no matter what." He shakes his head a bit and continues on.
The noises and blazing angry aura are coming from a room that was probably originally for visiting mistresses. It now has a cot, a folding table and a flimsy looking chair. Also a very, very angry looking poodle in a slightly better uniform than the lieutenant had, who is apparently trying to strangle what looks like a hand mirror.
"Dagh, it would be a POODLE," Alptraum thinks and clenches his fists in order to resist making strangling motions. "You are the commander of this group?" he says instead, voice firm and solid. "I am Alptraum, the Barsunala and representative of the Temples of the Seven Sisters. I have come as an extension of peace and help to those here, to foster better relations with the city. And I have some information that is of importance to you."
"What?" the poodle asks, finally noticing Alptraum. His anger fizzles away as soon as he isn't looking at the hand mirror. "You're not an assassin?"
"Do you want me to be one?" Alptraum asks bluntly.
The poodle actually seems to consider this for a moment. Then he carefully sets the mirror down on the table. It's a very expensive looking mirror. "Give me a moment," he says. "Trying to decide if it would actually get us some support.."
"Why are you yelling at a mirror?" Alptraum asks next and gestures to it. He then also collects it from the table using of all things, a shadow-tentacle. Probably to help make a point with the poodle. "And as I said, I am here to foster better relations which would help everyone stationed here. As in you might not be hated by the entire city as invaders if you were seen working with us."
"Hey.. that's an important communication artifact," the poodle says, without much force, as if he wouldn't mind dashing the thing to bits himself. "I missed your introduction, I think. Was.. busy seething. I'm Major deFouixe of the Rephidim Temple. Tell me, just what is it you think we do here?"
"You're holding the Tower in pretext of protecting us from what it contains. In reality it's to prevent the city access to its own weaponry and become a danger to your Temple again," the Eeee answers, simply. "U am Alptraum, the Barsunala, and the representative of the Seven Sister Temples. And no, I am not here to demand you leave or anything like that; I know there's no point in it. I came to try to foster better relations by offering to work with you and help protect you," Alptraum explains and peers at the mirror now.
"Help us?" the poodle asks. "See, what we really do here is.. nothing. We guard the big door on the top of the tower to make sure nothing goes in or comes out. We were supposed to get Technopriests to go in and.. do whatever they do. We were supposed to be rotated out a Sphere ago. As far as we can tell, everyone who cared about whatever is in this thing left with the General, and probably took everything they could with them and hopefully destroyed the rest. So, I have no idea if I'm doing anything at all here. And I have no idea what this has to do with Babel's religious orders, which frankly all sounded terrifying when I was first briefed on them, so of course I have to assume none of that was true because I've been in the military too long."
"Then my information is doubly important. The General is planning a raid on this very tower to collect some of the items still down there. And how do I know this? Because I recovered maps of the lower levels from some of the General's agents that showed me where they wanted to get to," Alptraum explains. "So, still think you're sitting on nothing? I could have not come, not told you any of this, and let them walk in and slaughter all of you. I've seen your guard; they couldn't keep out a fnerf; never mind actual trained hedge-wizards and real solders. I've been the one out in the city arranging to defend the tower, and by proxy, you and your people."
"A map?" deFouixe asks, focusing on that one element first. "Are there other entrances to this thing then?"
"Yes, though most are extremely difficult to access and would be impossible for most," Alptraum answers. "But the General is still quite formidable, for an undead monster that she now is. She was allied with Amenlichli; a name I assume you do know."
"Undead," the poodle mutters. "If we could seal off the other entrances.. but noo, they didn't want to have cement.." He then blinks and looks at Alptraum again. "How'd you get here? What was that thing you just did with the magic mirror? And do you have actual details on when this supposed attack is going to happen?"
"I came with the Mages from the Guild. I work with them on city matters. I asked to accompany them," Alptraum explains to answer part of it. "As for the mirror, I'm a demigod, I have a wide range of abilities. That was a more minor one," he answers and now peers more at the mirror. "You never did tell me why you were yelling at it." He now focuses his senses on the mirror itself.
It feels magical certainly, but in a rather vague way. "It's a long-range communication device," deFouixe says. "Links to some other mirror back at the Temple. Lets my superior officers tell me that I'm not getting anything that I ask for much faster than writing it all down and sending me the refusal with the next supply dump."
Alptraum sets it back on the table. "Delightful," he remarks. "And wholly unsurprising. Sounds like you've been abandoned here, then. So, why not ask the city and the current provisional government for help, then?" he inquires. "And to answer about when on the attack, I don't know. I have agents watching for signs and more information so I'll have some warning."
"And the Coalition also knows about this plot?" the Gallisian asks.
"They've been recently informed, yes," Alptraum replies.
"And they believe it?" the poodle pushes. "I'm not going to write out a request if they're just going to pass it around and laugh at the gullible foreigners."
"Yes, and I have even informed Thath," Alptraum adds and arches his brow. "I can also relay to them you will be asking for aid. I already have the Yodhrephath preparing to help defend; so I would appreciate if your men didn't attack them if they are patrolling or going to stop invaders.""
"And they aren't going to try and overrun us?" deFouixe asks, even as he's getting a parchment out of a trunk.
"If they were going to try, one of them could do it alone and would have by now," Alptraum comments and shakes his head. "I can arrange a meeting with them if you want, to discuss specifics. A neutral location such as the Mage's Guild can probably be used."
"All I'm writing now is a request to confer," the poodle says. "Let the Coalition figure out where to meet. I just need something in writing with an official seal so I can report it and maybe at least get a new rotation of men here, even if I have to guilt them into doing that much.."
"They can confirm with Koldesh, the High Priestess of Rephath, that it was me that came here and spoke with you," Alptraum notes, "If they want verification."
The parchment is folded, fixed with wax from a candle, and then stamped with a signet. "Well, that's the most I've accomplished since I got here," deFouixe claims. He hands the letter to Alptraum, and says, "If this is all a prank, I don't care. It gives me an excuse to run drills again."
"You want me to deliver it, then? I can do that," Alptraum agrees and nods some. "This was less painful than I expected."
"We wern't part of the purge," the poodle points out. "The Coalition invited us. I know now it was because they wanted someone else to take the fall after retaking the Tower."
"The Temple tried to kill me a few times. In Rephidim itself, as well as here. I was here during the purge; and I still remember Temple soldiers laughing as they slaughtered actual innocents. And before it's said, I'm aware our side has plenty of its own atrocities. No side is innocent, and neither is better than the other," Alptraum explains as he puts the letter away in his shirt (and uses the chance to check on his chest for any changes). "I'm trying to get past my own anger, and work for the betterment of the city as a whole, including you folks who are stuck here."
Things feel a bit more tender in there. "I don't follow politics," the poodle notes. "I go where I'm told. But yeah, I'd ask about the Coalition's role in all that, unless you'd rather not. Like you said, it isn't going to help get things done right now."
"I know they were partially involved. I could stay mad, or actually try to make things better by doing something productive. I'm choosing the latter," Alptraum notes and shrugs a little. "And is there a restroom I could use before leaving?"
"Yes, but don't drink the water in the jug in there," the poodle advises. "Turn right just outside, it's a few doors down."
Alptraum nods, "Thank you. We'll speak again, I'm sure." Alptraum turns and heads out the door, then turns right and walks down until he finds the restroom. He doesn't really need to use it, but he wants some provacy to give himself a quick check on both his chest, and well, in his pants.
Once in the relatively nice bathroom (mosaic inlay, marble, and a big bathtub) that probably had hot and cold running water at one point, Alptraum discovers that things area bit puffy around his nipples, while things in his pants seem already. But changes could just be too small to notice yet.
Alptraum feels around his nipples some, to see if it seems like, well, breasts are growing, or it's just irritation. He also feels around down below, including under between his legs to make sure everything seems okay, not just looks okay.
Things feel normal, but it's not like Alptraum has a made a habit of feeling himself up to get a good comparison. Flesh may be a bit softer feeling around the nipples though.
"Hm, might be changing. Might not," Alptraum comments. He also sniffs his fingers after feeling around, just to see if he smells weird or different. Not that he might notice, but hey.
He still smells like dried sweat.
Alptraum shakes his head. "I worry too much. I seem fine," he comments and gets his clothing back in order. Well, back to the wolves and mages it is, then escaping this place. It still gives him the creeps...