Centralized does not mean organized. The only real difference that Alptraum sees between the command post and the old 'head office' is that people are running around more and there are fewer desks in view. Those are hidden in the largest of the open-sided pavilions on the hill top, which is also where the travelers get deposited by the gateway. There is the usual mix of alien bureaucrats, but there are also groups from the camps waiting their turn to complain about something, most likely.
Syfilyvr and Mirasol look around with a clinical attitude, but Valantajr is wide-eyed and gaping at all of the different creatures and activity. "Is.. is that a walking tree?" she asks, pointing to.. a walking tree creature. It's taking notes from a delegation of flower-like fey.
A short pixie-style cat-eared elf creature runs up to Alptraum almost immediately. "When is Kaira coming back? We need to know how big of a space to set aside for the new group.. if they're coming!" She also takes a moment to blush since Alptraum and his companions are still naked. Of course, Kaira is not with them, since she didn't want to have to travel all the way back to the entry-crack into the Drakshasir realm, but she did manage to send word to expect the party, and promised to show up after erecting a temporary gateway to the adjacent Echo.
Alptraum snaps his fingers and uses the shadow to make some sort of flowing clothing to make him a bit more modest. Pity it looks a bit like a gown; but the shadow is either tight or form-fitting; and form-fitting would be counter-productive. "Yes, that's a tree," he remarks to the confused fiend. The fae then gets his attention and he answers, "Hopefully soon. She has to set up a gate first there before she can come back here. She just sent me on ahead." Head rolls right back to Vala, and he asks, "How many, roughly, are there of your kind?"
"That's getting ahead of things, and I'm not trusting enough just yet to give out tactical information like that," Vala says, snapping back from awe-struck to paranoid in an instant. "These creatures could be organizing an invasion after all!"
"Organize?" the pixie asks, and starts laughing until she starts crying, and runs off to report to.. someone else, probably.
"It's very noisy," Mirasol notes. "Which is why we keep to our own space and just have the gateway."
Alptraum rolls his eyes. "Are you still convinced I'm really an enemy? After ALL THAT?" he asks.
"You personally?" Vala asks. "Probably not. But there has to be a hundred different types just in this area, and most look like they would resist being conquered by us, thus they can be considered threats."
"You're not allowed to try to conquer them. So that point is moot," Alptraum points out and then actually flicks Vala right on the nose.
"Ow!" she complains, since apparently her personal magic armor nose-ring doesn't count nose-flicks as attacks. "But we like conquering! We're pretty good at it. There has to be someone that needs conquering. There always is."
The gate flares to life and Kaira spills out, nearly running into Alptraum from behind.
Alptraum acks and has to dance out of the way! "What are you doing?" he complains at Kaira. "Your fat butt almost squished me!"
"Why are you still standing in the gate landing?" Kaira counters. "Where did you pick up a Drow anyway?"
Vala turns on the dragon and accuses, "They are asking about our numbers so you can invade us!"
"I stand where I want! I'm the boss!" Alptraum counter-counters and even puts his hands on his chest. He's about as terrifying as a dandilion, given the shadow 'dress', and looking a bit girly.
"One lunatic at a time," Kaira insists, and tries to usher everyone in the same direction using her wings. "Into my office!" she says, although she seems to just be pushing them toward one of the open walls.
"Who are you calling a lunatic?!" Alptraum argues as he's ushers over to ... someplace?
Once they pass outside of the pavilion.. they're in another tent that was either invisible before or the walls of pavilion are illusions. This one has a couch! And a dragon-sized desk. And apparently soundproofing, since the din of the main area is gone. There isn't a mini bar or anything really useful though. "Everyone sit down. Or find someone to sit on," Kaira says.
Alptraum sits on the desk top, he's a rebel. Or something. "You sound like there's a problem," he points out before she can say anything else.
"There is always a problem," Kaira points out. "You saw the madhouse out there? You think the Drakshasir are unique in their paranoia or xenophobia? Laying out the camps here is even worse than planning the seating at a wedding reception, due to all the grudges, feuds and general arrogance involved. Every group thinks they should be in charge."
"Well.. maybe not in charge, so long as their enemies are worse off than them," Syfil offers.
"Not helpful," Alptraum remarks. "Should I just try to beat them all into submission, or something? I could sic the frog demon on them."
"They keep finding loopholes to the oaths," Kaira grumbles. "It's like they're all lawyers or something. And these are just the ones I can keep an eye on because they're here, and the only reason they're here is so they can get out first. There bunches of others holed up in their own Echoes still.. and yes, I include the unicorns among them, Mirasol."
"We don't do well in chaos," the unicorn says defensively.
"They're also less likely to be plotting against you. The unicorns that is," Alptraum points out to Kaira. "So they're fine, no?"
"I like chaos," Syfil counters with a grin. "You can get up to all sorts of things and nobody will notice until it's too late."
"Everyone plots against me," Kaira claims. "I'm a dragon. That's the traditional way of dealing with dragons. But.. the majority of hold outs really don't want to be around the others, and only a small minority is probably plotting something. Lots of edge-cases and those that really do not blend in well with others."
"Are you saying I plot against you too?" Alptraum has to ask and arches his brow.
"You aren't a resident group here, Alptraum," Kaira says, with a bit of affection. "And there are a lot of conflicts within groups, like the Drow. Internal power struggles, vendettas, and so on. I'd hoped it would keep them all too busy to cause me headaches. The Drakshasir cause me headaches."
"Just now? Why? What happened?" Alptraum has to ask.
"Because I can't ignore them," the dragon insists. "I need them to link up before it's too late, or there's no way to get them out of this place." She stares at Vala for a bit after that.
"It is not our fault you have a weak mental constitution," Vala notes. "We would be more cooperative if you weren't also the one responsible for us being here in this.. Purgatory."
Alptraum also stares at Vala. "Well, are you going to do it, or not?" he finally asks her. "And I should point out you wouldn't exist at ALL, if it wasn't for her. This Purgatory is your liferaft from oblivion."
"Hah, we're still being eaten at," Vala claims, crossing her arms. "Our magic protects us, but we can still feel it."
"It's worse for other mortals," Kaira claims. "But, that can get you nearer the head of the queue too! So let me link you up, and you will be free of this place sooner!"
"Provided I have a donor body to use as a gate," Alptraum mutters to himself. It's not like he'll go out and stab random people!
"We still have to prove ourselves worthy to serve in Hell though," Vala insists. "So if we link up, we need to be free to pursue our religious goals.. what?" She turns to Alptraum. "Donor body?"
"I have to kill someone and use their body as a conduit for people to be able to leave," Alptraum explains and shrugs a little.
"Really?" Vala asks, looking a bit more animated. "So setting us free involves an act of murder?"
"Not necess.. yes," Kaira says. "Terribly evil, murder. Probably extraordinarily painful too."
"Something like that, yes," Alptraum admits. "It's awful."
"Well.. that changes things," Vala admits, tapping her chin. "Do we get to pick the victim?" she asks.
"Doubtful," Kaira says, and looks to Alptraum.
Alptraum shakes his head. "You do not, generally. Unless they're some horrible person, then I might be willing to consider it," Alptraum admits.
"We demand that it be a horrible person!" Vala says, sounding excited. "One we can follow into Hell! One who will be our offering to the Demon Lords! A powerful person who has built up a large weight of sin! Surely you can find us someone like that?" She looks like she as actual fire behind her eyes when she looks to Alptraum now.
"In the city I come from? I could piss off a tower and probably hit at least three people that meet that qualification," Alptraum grudgingly admits. "And that's not even including the General and Her cohorts."
"Yes, we will link up if we can be guaranteed a damned victim be used for our release," Vala says.
"Alright.. how many are you?" Kaira asks. "You'd need to be fit into one of the older staging areas.. and there is a practical limit to how many can be released, although mortal might get better density.."
"I can guarantee someone horrible will be used," Alptraum says. He leaves out bits about gorphat's hell, though.
"There are 53,722 of us," Vala offers up.
"That's.. a lot," Kaira notes. She scribbles something on a notepad using a very large quill. "Carry the pi, square root of chocolate," she mutters. "How many donors do you think you could round up for a one-after-another proceedure, Alptraum?" Kaira asks. "Probably not in a confined space though."
"Good grief, that's a lot!" Alptraum blurts.
"We are a major city," Vala points out.
Alptraum bites his lip. "Well, I don't know," he admits. "Maybe in a battle I'd have access to a lot. That would likely be the only place unless I get nominated to execute a bunch."
"Mortals tend to be live in higher densities than immortals," Kaira agrees. "Who normally handles executions? Don't you have a bunch of evil wizards you're about to fight?"
"Well, yes, but I don't know how many there will actually be," Alptraum admits. "How many do I need?"
"Ehhh... if they were mages, that would yield higher capacities.." Kaira says, and scribbles some more. "Uh, forgot about the inherent magic.. let's see.. If they were kept immobile so more could be pumped in before popping.. Eeee body mass.. low fiber intake.. you'd be surprised how much that matters.." The dragon looks at her calculations, tapping a talon on the desktop. "A dozen would be good, but might be able to make due with ten. Maybe eight if you were also trying to hold them together with the shadow, pumping life magic into them."
"Wouldn't the latter be really dangerous for me? If I'm connected to them, what if it feedbacks into me?" Alptraum points out.
"You'd need a very high life energy flow rate, like when you used both the Light and dagger on that Dack guy," Kaira notes. "So not sure it would work with you just and the dagger, unless the flows were synced up, but that could just make it take a lot longer."
"So ... not dangerous to me, then?" Alptraum clarifies, one ear splayed sideways.
"Well, it depends on how much resistance there is too," Kaira suggests. "It's a lot of unknowns. More foreplay, in essence, versus just stab and pump until something explodes. But that's the safer method."
"Too bad it couldn't be accomplished with just pain," Syfil notes.
Alptraum rubs his face. "So, I won't really know until the time comes, then," he muses. "Well, that's nothing new for me, I guess."
"Oh, you could maybe squish them all together into a single big body," Kaira suggests.
"Ew. Just, ew. I'm not making a blob of evil," Alptraum says as he sticks out his tongue.
"Well.. you may want to get information out of them too," Kaira says. "So blow them up one at a time where they call see so that the last one will be very willing to talk."
Alptraum smirks. "Well, that's a bit evil."
"Well, evil is relative when results save lives," Kaira chants. "It's not like you're torturing them."
"Except the process is horribly painful," Alptraum points out, as one ear flicks towards Vala.
"Yes, but that's just a side effect, not the intent," Kaira justifies. "They're evil wizards. They've probably done lots of really horrible things to people."
"That goes without saying. They were awful," Alptraum agrees and nods. "Some of the worst."
"Eee-hee-hee-hee," Vala squeals, and even squirms a little. "We can't torment them before they explode, yes?"
"Maybe? I.. have no idea," Kaira admits.
Alptraum shrugs. "No idea either," he admits. "Is that important?"
"No, but it would be an extra enticement," Vala says. "When would this murder spree take place?"
"Somewhat soon. It depends on when the attack is," Alptraum says, "I have no control over that."
"Time can be controlled a bit in the loading chambers," Kaira assures. "Once you're there, the wait will be minimal."
"Well, let us return then and I shall speak with my father," Vala says.
"Back through the crack," Kaira says, sounding a bit tired. "I'll tear down the desert gate once we're there, so I can recover some of the energy."
"I need to go too?" Alptraum inquires as he looks between the two.
"We don't get to play with the rest of them then?" Syfil asks.
"Yes, you need to go too," Kaira tells Alptraum. "I'll be staying at the crack once we're through so I can prepare the gateway. I need you to go with Vala and make sure nobody shoots me before that."
Alptraum nods. "Well, all right then. Through the crack, yaaay," he says and twirls a finger. "Onward!"
Squeezing through the crack was weird. So watching Kaira squeeze through and get stuck for a moment mid-way. There are a lot of warrior types surrounding the little park, as if expecting them. "Send for my father!" Vala shouts to one of the warriors, who.. just taps one bits of jewelry on his wrist.
"And no shooting the dragon!" Alptraum quickly adds, standing in front of her with his wings spread wide.
"Not through you, you mean?" one of the guards asks.
"Not at any time," Alptraum growls.
"We're bored though," another points out. "You could dodge a bit."
"Should have brought the Drow to distract them," Kaira mutters.
Alptraum's brow furrows and he starts to exude that sort of dangerous dragonic aura; the sort that says 'don't fuck with me'. Shadow also ripples and expands outward to form into a hemisphere 'shield' to protect Kaira. "Don't provoke me," he warns.
"Don't antagonize them," Vala says.
Eventually the guards make room for Ak'chazar and two older females to approach. "Valantajr, report," he says curtly. Vala then relates what she's seen and who she's met, and what being released entails. The two older women circle her while she speaks, checking her enchantments and who knows what else. Probably to make sure she isn't lying or been manipulated.
Now that the leader has arrived, Alptraum drops the shadow shield as well as the aura-warning.
"And you agree to release us as described, by the violent sacrifice of evil wizards?" Ak'chazar asks Alptraum. He hasn't acknowledged Kaira's presence yet.
Alptraum nods. "The wizards or anyone suitably evil enough to work as a substitute, yes," he answers, ears flicking and he folds his wings around himself as he looks up at the huge male; and wants avoid any awkward, er, explanations.
"And how show this pledge be sealed?" the large drakshasa asks.
"Vala didn't mention any seal.." Kaira notes.
Alptraum's ears splay. "How are pledges usually sealed here?" he has to ask. He also glances back towards Kaira with sort of a 'help!' look.
"Sacrifices are meaningless in this place, as is marriage," Ak'chazar notes. "How are oaths handled in this deathless world?"
"Promises of servitude? Becoming the thrall? Er," Alptraum muses and taps on the side of his head. "Some sort of tattoo binding or jewelry binding? Er ... Kaira, a little help?"
"We pledge upon the mercy of the demon Lord Verminous the Oath Keeper," Kaira explains. "Those who break oaths are punished by being turned inside out."
"Or there's that," Alptraum admits.
"A demon lord?" Ak'chazar says in surprise. "That is certainly acceptable." He then looks between Kaira and Alptraum. "So, which of you will the oath-bond be with?"
Alptraum looks at Kaira and arches his brow?
"Does that even work with me since I'm not part of this place?" he asks.
"Alptraum just has to say the he promises to meet the conditions of releasing you via a suitable damned sacrifice, and I will promise to see that you are safely moved to and readied for release.. after the gateway has been established, as that links this Echo to the Center and it becomes under Lord Verminous's purview. Otherwise we'd have to go somewhere else to take the oaths," Kaira explains.
"It would effect you whenever you returned here," Kaira whispers to Alptraum.
"And I'm sure no one wants to go to a putrid swamp and kowtoe to a giant frog demon," Alptraum adds cheerily. "IT's stinky there."
"Wouldn't that kill me?" Alptraum asks Kaira.
"In here there is no death, technically," Kaira points out. "It would be very painful though and everyone would know you'd broken an oath," she adds. "I don't think it will persist outside of the dagger, but that could change once Verminous himself is freed and probably becomes a god or something."
"You're not planning to release him, are you?" Alptraum asks and arches his brow some.
"That was part of the agreement we made with him, yes," Kaira says. "He goes out with the last batch."
"Oh yeah, crud," Alptraum admits and rubs his face. "Curse my sense of fairness. So, we have to deal with him. Anyway ... is there more now to do here? Time to make the gate?""
"Create the gate," Ak'chazar permits. "Once it is active the oath will be made before it is used."
"Alright," Kaira says, and cracks her knuckles. "I just made a temporary one outside before this, so it may take a bit more effort. Everyone give me some space, so I can use this crack. Which means the gate will be replacing it as the only way in or out of this Echo."
"Kaira's good at spreading a crack wide to fit large ... things," Alptraum jokes as he moves further away from Kaira; which means soon he's surrounded by very big creatures. One ear flops down. "This does not feel safer," he quips.
"Safer than what?" Ak'chazar asks, standing next to him. "Has she destroyed worlds doing this?"
"You're no safer," Alptraum points out. "You're about twice my size."
The dragon begins performing.. a dance? It looks like a dance, or a tantrum. She's making hissing, spitting and cursing sounds as well.
"She probably sat on a thorn," Alptraum remarks. "Very annoying."
"Old magic," one of the older women with Ak'chazar says. "Cursing the storm."
"It looks like fun though," Vala notes to Alptraum.
"You have very odd notions of 'fun'," Alptraum admits to Vala. "That wrestling match, for example, was insane."
"What do you mean?" Vala asks Alptraum, giving him a confused look. "Should there have been more involved?"
"It was violent, and bloodthirsty!" Alptraum declares. "That looked painful."
"So what was wrong with it?" Vala asks, still looking confused.
"Fun is fun! Not painful!" Alptraum says and throws his arms up in exhasperation.
"Fighting is fun though," Vala argues. "To test yourself and show you are dominant or find out where you must improve."
"And there was hardly any biting," she adds.
"Can't you do that just by, well, playing cards?" Alptraum asks rather lamely.
"What is that?" Vala asks. "A combat instrument?"
"A game of strategy. Bluffing, slight of hand, and clever cheating," Alptraum claims.
Kaira is really tearing up the grass as she rampages about, and the sky above is growing darker, and not from night falling.
"Cheating?" Vala asks. "Is that like assassination?"
"She better not break wind," Alptraum mutters under his breath. He's mostly watching her, in case he has to duck. "Cheating? No, it's sneakily breaking the rules."
"Lying?" Vala asks, sounding suspicious. "Or strategic lying?"
"Strategic lying," Alptraum agrees.
"And what is the result of the game?" Vala asks. "Does the lose become the victor's slave?"
The sky is rumbling now. It's not Kaira herself breaking wind, but there's definitely some wind starting up.
"Depends on the rules and the agreement beforehand. That is one possible outcome, though," Alptraum confirms and shrugs.
"And are these used to settle battles?" Vala asks, but is looking more at the sky now, and the building storm.
Alptraum's ears fold down from the loud sound. "No, not usually. Mostly for smaller debts and other debates," he remarks a bit absently. "Or it's just played for fun. Losing and being your slave, for example, could be amusing."
Vala turns her focus back on Alptraum again. "But you said combat shouldn't be fun. But card combat can be for fun?"
"Yes," Alptraum agrees.
"You are a confusing man," Vala decides. "What sort of weapon are cards? Are they like clubs?"
"No, just little rectangles of paper, about so big," Alptraum explains and gestures with his hands to roughly mimic a size. "And I've been told that before."
"They are imbued with magic then?" Vala asks. The sky continues to rumble, but there's no rain at least.
"Can be, but not always," Alptraum says, his attention more on the sky than on the discusssion.
It looks angry up there, and the clouds have a disturbing purple-green tint, which surely has to be magic because otherwise it shouldn't exist at all. "I have learned strategy games," Vala claims. "But they were not fun."
"Like what? What made them not fun?" Alptraum asks, one ear twitching some.
"Well, there was the proctor," Vala explains. "Whenever I made a move that was deemed too predictable he would administer a painful shock."
"Well, that just makes your teacher a jerk, not the game being less fun," Alptraum observes. "I hope you got him back for that?"
"Got him back?" Vala asks. "Well, I did eventually reach the end without receiving any shocks, while my opponent received three of them." The mention of the shock is punctuated by a bolt lightning striking the ground right about where Kaira is insulting reality.
Alptraum claps his hands over his ears and yells, "Dagh, that's loud! I'm going to get you for that, Kaira!"
"WHAT?" Kaira shouts back. There's now a glowing rupture where the invisible crack once was, looking a bit like a blue bonfire. The edges are a bit ragged as well. "IT's DONE NOW!" she yells. "I'LL GET THE STAGING ZONES DONE AND LET YOU KNOW HOW MANY IT WILL END UP TAKING!"
"Did you say something!?!?" Alptraum yells while still holding his now ringing ears. That sound huuuuuuurt! "Are you done?! If you are, go find out how many vessels are needed, will you!?" Captain redundancy strikes again! Ow, just ... ow.