There were more foul vapors in Rostre's lab, but these ones moved around and actively avoided Alptraum. The ones that didn't were in a bowl, but were translucent enough to show the magic circle inscribed within it. The stoppered vial of glowing goo resting in the center of it. Also resting, apparently, is Rostre. The Naga is coiled up in her own much larger bowl, with her torso sort of sprawled across the top.
"How do you have smells that actually avoid people?" Alptraum ends up having to ask, if Rostre is even awake, or listening. "I came back to get the tracking thinggoowhatever it was you made."
Rostre manages to open one eye. "If ssstrong enough, odors can have sssspirits too," she hisses. "The goo isss ready. It sshould illuminate any threadss it gets clossse to, jussst move it around and clossse to the ssubjects."
"What happened to you, anyway?" Alptraum asks as he looks around for that vial-thing. "And how can smell have a spirit? That's silly."
The vial is in the bowl full of spirit-vapor on the table. "The flessh iss willing, by the sspirit is weak," Rostre claims. "Odor spiritsss are real, like dussst-bunnies."
"Dust bunnies aren't real either," Alptraum comments as heads towards that table. Pausing right before it, he peers down a minute as if pondering the safety of sticking his hand in that. Ultimately, he ends up shrugging and reaches in to get it.
The mist collapses into sand once Alptraum reaches in to get the vial. "They are real if there isss enough leftover magic," Rostre claims. "Raw sspirit magic alwayss seekss a form."
"Remind me to avoid you when you have flatulence, then," Alptraum remarks and smirks some. He lifts out the vial and peers at it again.
The pearlescent fluid inside churns slowly, forming whorls and eddies as if it were alive. Which it maybe is, in a spirit-magical manner.
"My digessstive tract isss too long for such a thing," Rostre claims.
"I don't believe you," Alptraum remarks, amused in an odd way, perhaps. "I am sorry you aren't feeling well, though. And that you do tend to get a bit ... beat on, here."
"Spirit magesss tend to be ssseen ass odd," Rostre admits. "I am consssidered to be very sociable among my disscipline."
"Oh, you are odd, but you're fun to go to bed with," Alptraum remarks with a grin. "You've taught me to appreciate naga ... copulation."
"Ass a Master Mage, educating and sharing knowledge iss important," the Naga claims.
"And sharing ass?" Alptraum jokes.
"I don't have one, but the breastss compenssate I think," Rostre points out.
Alptraum smirks. "Get some sleep, I have work to do," he says and goes to leave the room.
"Ssssss," Rostre hisses as she closes her eye again.
"Help! She deflated!" Alptraum declares once he escapes her 'cell' and is soon making his way back up and out.
Alptraum isn't a regular sight at the Temple of Rephath, but he's not uncommon. Add to that the commotion from the recent attacks, and he can almost get by unnoticed. There are several bound men in Hall of Transgressions, but their guards have uncertain looks about them. Several other Yodh are sporting damaged armor and bandages as well, but don't seem worse for wear.
Alptraum moves closer to the bound men, well, as close as he can without rousing the guards too much. "Some of the raiders?" he asks.
The nearest guard turns and salutes to Alptraum. "Well, sir.. uh.. sort of? They were part of the raiding groups, but these surrendered to us as soon as they could, while others went out in a blaze of glory. We aren't sure if they're guilty of anything or not yet, or if they coerced. It doesn't help that they don't seem to know themselves either."
"More mind victims, then. Well, potentially. May I examine them?" Alptraum asks as he tries to sense their mood-aura, and fishes in his pouch for the weird vial of goo.
"I suppose so," the Yodhrephath says. "They're pretty docile. They probably wouldn't be here if hadn't been who they surrendered to."
"Who did they surrender to?" Alptraum asks as he pulls the vial out and starts waving it at the closest man.
"Windcaller," the guard says. So far all that happens is the captives seem transfixed by the vial. They do look confused, too.
"That probably freaked her out," Alptraum comments a bit absently. He's more paying attention to if the vial reacts to any of them.
These men seem like the cannon-fodder type that made up most of the 'pirate' army. No twinges, tingles or glowing threads appear in them. The look like they need a few good meals in them as well.
"Not the ones I'm looking for. Likely just prisoners used as meat shields. I recommend you get them examined by a mind mage for modification. Probably harmless. And if they're not, well, they can spend time instead being playthings for Magog and Rephath if they try anything," Alptraum remarks and shrugs just so, then backs away. "I need to see the others being held here. We're trying to track down links."
"There are others being held here?" the guard asks. Apparently not one of those 'in the know' about it. "Is someone's chainmail broken?"
"Nevermind," Alptraum says with a chuckle. "Carry on," he says as he moves away and further into the temple to find the 'prison' wing again. Or at least as far as they let him go.
The guards blink when Alptraum makes it to the correct corridor that leads down to the dungeons. "Barsunala.. uh.. are you lost?" the first one asks, since technically Alptraum hasn't been that way before, except as Willow.
"No," Alptraum comments, amused. "I'm here to examine the prisoners. Yes, I know about them," he comments. "I am working with Cyprian to track down a spell link."
"Our dungeons are spellproof," the guard claims, but then asks, "Can you smile for me first?"
"Er, why?" Alptraum asks, suspicious.
"So I can check your teeth," the Yodhrephath says.
"For?" Alptraum asks, finding this really weird. Smiles anyway?
The guard leans forward and gets a close look. "Alright, your fangs are right length. Can't fake that," she says.
"How does anyone know how long my fangs are?" Alptraum has to ask. "Are you all secretly turned on by sharp teeth?"
"The High Priestess told us it was the best way to be certain," the guard explains. "There are tricky fiends out there."
"Now I have to wonder when she measured those," Alptraum remarks. "So, do you want me to bite you to be doubly sure?"
"Not allowed while on duty," the guard claims. "But you can pass to the next checkpoint now."
"I'm sure you do stuff while on duty," Alptraum comments. "Are you suuuure?"
"We do our duty while on duty," the second guard says. "We're Yodhrephath after all, not Yodhblakat."
"And your duty is to ensure I am me, correct? At least in this instance," Alptraum points out.
"I'm just following the instructions of High Priestess Koldesh," the first guard says.
"But how can you be suuuuure without a bite mark to check," Alptraum prods.
"Because I don't know how to check a bite mark," the Yodh answers.
"Well, that's boring," Alptraum comments. "Remind me to make you more fun sometime. I am going now," he comments, then off he does go.
"I'm fun, aren't I" the guard asks her partner after Alptraum passes, but he doesn't here the reply, if there is one. Next is the door into the guard room, which goes much easier on the basis that he isn't covered in blood from the guards or bleeding from stab wounds himself, so therefore must be allowed down there. The guardroom attendant (they're all barrephath) does ask, "Are you here to kill or removed any of the guests?"
"No, I'm here to bed you and make you plump with children," Alptraum deadpans to the other male.
The other Eeee blinks, and works his jaw for a bit. "I'm still on duty," he finally says. Which seems to be the go-to whenever a guard is uncertain about anything. "Are you sure you aren't here to see any of the guests?"
"What, I'm not good enough for you?" Alptraum huffs, and even puts his hands on his hips.
"I'm not sure I'm allowed is all," the guard claims. "But would it mean I was an actual Yodhrephath then.. or would I have to go serve in the Temple of Sunala?"
"I have no idea. I'm here to examine the prisoners on behalf of Cyprian," Alptraum admits.
"Examine them for death? We don't let them die, I promise," the other guard quickly claims.
"For specific hidden spells," Alptraum further explains and rolls his eyes.
"Oh, that should be fine, so long you don't kill any of them," the second guard says. Neither of them asks Alptraum to remove his clothes however, like they do for Willow.
"I hear you normally strip visitors. So, should I strip?" Alptraum asks.
"You're the Barsunala though," the first one says. "Only the High Priestess has the authority to strip you."
"Yes, but should I?" Alptraum asks.
"Well.. do you need to bring anything with you?" the first guard asks.
"Just one thing, a vial," Alptraum says.
"Is it poison or anything?" the guard asks. "We'd better have a look at it."
"It's magical, for detecting specific, subtle, spells," Alptraum explains, then holds it up.
The two men get close to examine it, without touching it. "It looks like a squished down thundercloud," on of them comments.
"It's made by Rostre, and is a bunch of goo," Alptraum claims.
"Who is Rostre, another one of the Lesser Pantheon?" the second guard asks. "Magic goo?"
The first one draws back a bit. "Ah yes. Goo," he says, and nods his head.
"Magic goo. She is a strange ally of mine, not a God or anything," Alptraum says and shrugs. "Want to drink some?" he offers.
"No.. uh.. what would it do?" the first guard asks.
"To you? I have no idea," Alptraum concedes. "Though if you want part of it, there is another way," he teases. "Anyway, do I need to strip or shall I go?"
"Do you want to strip?" the second one asks. "The Yodhrephath guards in the cells are naked though."
Alptraum laughs. "Don't care," he admits, and in fact does start to strip right there. IT's not like he's that ashamed anymore! So, in a few minutes, he's quite nude, and just holding the vial.
"Just bang on the door when you're ready to be let out, and knock on the cell doors until the Yodh inside answers," the first guard says, and unbolts the door leading into the dungeon hall proper.
"Don't get any weird thoughts," Alptraum quips, then heads through the main door. He twirls the vial on one hand, then heads to the nearest closed door and knocks.
The upper window-slit shield slides aside, and the guard inside says, "Who are you?"
Alptraum arches his brow. "I'm the Barsunala, here to examine the prisoners," he remarks a bit dryly.
The slit closes, and a bolt is thrown before the door opens. The Yodhrephath looks Alptraum up and down, and focuses on the vial. "Are you here to kill my prisoner after examining him?" she asks.
"No, just examine him," Alptraum remarks. "Enjoying the view?"
"At least you're normal sized," the guard says, gesturing Alptraum into the tiny anteroom so she can close the door. "By Yodhrephath standards that is," she amends.
"Normal-sized in what way?" Alptraum asks, one ear flicking. He steps into the anteroom with her.
"Well, about what can be expected in a barrephath I suppose," the Yodh says as she opens the inner door. "You have a guest, Mr. Sackcloth," she calls. "He's here to examine you."
Alptraum wisely does not pat her butt. "Greetings," he says to the Rhain, "I am here to examine you, I don't even have to touch you. Please stand and I'll be quick."
"Very well," the tall stallion says, getting up from his bed and standing a bit hunched over so his ears aren't brushing the ceiling. "This isn't a medical examination?"
"Well, it is and isn't," Alptraum admits as he moves close and slowly waves the vial around the stallion's body. At one point he does have to touch some, but he at least warns, "I need to lift this a little." And then he's lifting Sackclth's third leg out of the way a bit.
From below there isn't any reading. But higher up there's a flicker of something, like a strand of spider silk attached above the Rhian's heart.
Alptraum waves it more around that spot and hmms. He tries to better see his aura at his chest. "I have to touch you again," he admits, then puts his hand over the horse's chest to do a gentle shadow-probe for anything that feels out of place.
It's a lot of chest, muscle and ribs before Alptraum feels the difference. Something very tiny that the thread links up to in Sackcloth's heart.
Alptraum tries to tell if it's organic, or not, or, well, if he can tell anything about it at all.
If anything, it reminds him of the shadow-graft in his own heart: a sense of somewhat alien flesh, even though it's tiny as a bug bite.
"Hmm," Alptraum muses and draws back, then nods. "You're one of the linked. That will have to be dealt with."
"One of the what now?" Sackcloth asks, since all he's seen is Alptraum press a palm to his chest.
"You have a spell bound to you that must be dealt with, for your safety," Alptraum explains vaguely. "We are trying to identify everyone affected so it can be handled all at once."
Sackcloth's mouth tics. "Is it the one hiding my memories, because all of have that. We don't know what's become of the two that've been taken for treatment so far," he says.
"It is not the same spell, no. As for the others, they are fine. Their memories have been restored and they are being cared for until they are stronger," Alptraum says, "I saw them recently."
That seems to cheer Sackcloth up a bit. "That's great!" he says. "I hope we'll all be able to get together in the end have a party."
"Hopefully so. Those that held you did some complex things, it will take time, but it will be fixed," Alptraum says and pats his cheek. "Is there anything you need in here?"
"They don't have a lending library," Sackcloth notes. "Books would go a long way to relieve the boredom," he says, and leans in to whisper, "My guards are terrible at card games. For them, there's no fun in being a nun."
Alptraum nods sagely at this. "I will request some books be brought. Unfortunately, I cannot ask for better card players," he admits.
"Also any news of what's going on out there," Sackcloth says. "I know we're supposed to be kept isolated, in case there's some news or other trigger for something they left in us. But it's got to be over at some point."
"Well, their first attack has been thwarted, which is what uncovered this new spell. So, things are progressing. Hopefully soon," Alptraum says as he goes to the door to head back to th antechamber, and hopefully out and on to the next!
The next one Alptraum sees is Mr. Fluff. Which also reminds him of what he promised Inala. "Wow, haven't seen another guy since I was put in here," the rabbit chuckles to Alptraum.
Alptraum smirks. "What, do you prefer guys?" he teases and then pokes him right on the nose. "I'm here to examine you."
"Oh, you're a doctor?" the Lapi says. "I don't mind being underground, but they keep changing my attendant. I don't know if the cute one will ever come back."
"The cute one? And I'm not quite a doctor, no. I'm the Son of the Goddess of Death. And no, I'm not here to kill you," Alptraum sighs, then proceeds to try and examine him with the tube-o-goo.
"Sounds like a doctor to me," the buck says and raises up his arms and watches curiously. "Are you.. checking for something specific with that thing?"
"I am, but I can't tell you what, for everyone's safety," Alptraum says as he does a slow trace-over with that tube. He also ends up sort of fondling the buck too, though why he has no idea; so blames Inala.
That leads to discovering a flash of thread. Maybe out of irony, or for some more specific reason, the thread links to the Lapi's genitals.
So of course Alptraum ends up examining that in more detail, including using the shadow to probe, well, into it.
The Lapi goes up onto his tip-toes. "Do I need to cough or anything?" Mr. Fluff asks. The probe traces the thread to the root of the buck's stem, ending in another tiny bit of not-right-flesh. As with the others, there isn't any scar or sign of surgery.
Before Alptraum even realizes what he's doing, he's actually, licking, and then nursing, on that flesh. Maybe it's Inala's influence coupled with the shadow reactions. But, when he does finally sort of snap out of it and realize what's now between his lips his ears flush hot and he pulls back and coughs. "You're marked too," he comments, trying to play that off as if it didn't happen.
"That's a normal reaction!" the buck claims. "It's not a mark of anything!"
"No, you have a spell attached there," Alptraum insists and grabs it to poke where it actually does connect. And then he's, er, back to playing nurse the salami.
"Are you tryin' to suck it out?" the buck asks carefully. He's still got his arms up.
Alptraum has no idea what he's doing, but he can't seem to stop himself. Now he's really blaming Inala. What, is thsi some sort o reminder of his promise? That every buck he meets no matter what he's gonna do something with? He tries to stop, he really does, except his body just keeps, well, going, and making him kiss the buck right at the base.
"Is that necessary?" the Yodhrephath asks. "That's a Lapi you know," she says, as if in warning.
Alptraum doesn't think it's necessary at all! But something is making him do it! He's flapping his arms soon as if in trouble!
"Uh.." the guard says, but doesn't move to interfere. Soon Mr. Fluff is flapping his arms up and down too. But it's been awhile since he had the cute attendant, so is a bit pent up.. which Alptraum discovers without warning (well, other than the guard's warning).
Alptraum guhs! Every instinct is to pull off now! However, whatever is messing with him still won't let him. In fact, all it lets him do is swallow. His ears flip back in distress! He's horrified! Ashamed! And still sucking.
"That's.. all there is," the Lapi moans, and is shaking a bit. "Uh.. did you g-get the spell out?"
Eventually, whatever is holding Alptraum finally lets him off and he falls on his butt, then onto his back. "And that is what happens if you have to negotiate with Inala," he wheezes at the guard. He then curls up, fatally embarrassed.
"What?" the guard asks. "Aren't you Sunala's son though?" Mr. Fluff doesn't comment, but falls onto his bed.
"Yes, but I have to deal with all the Godddesses," Alptraum admits from the fetal position.
The guard pokes Alptraum with her foot. "So.. what's the problem then? Are you done?"
"That was ... ugh. I'm a guy," Alptraum complains and swats at her foot.
"I can see that," the Yodhrephath notes. "But this other man is a Lapi. Everyone knows Lapi don't count."
Shadow sort of explodes out of Alptraum in order to push him up and back to his feet. Stress and frustration reaction, maybe. Or an attempt to recover some dignity. "I am leaving now," he says.
The guard opens the inner door and joins in Alptraum in the antechamber, going through the whole 'both doors can't be opened at the same time' ritual. Finally she opens the outer one.. and pats Alptraum on the rump.
Alptraum spins around! "That was for?!" he demands.
"What?" the Yodh asks innocently and with a straight face.
"You grabbed my butt," Alptraum accuses.
"I patted your butt," the Yodh claims. "For encouragement."
"Or to tease me," Alptraum says with a frown. "I am not like ... that!" he adds and gestures back in the room. He hmphs, loudly, and goes to the next door.
The next room belongs to Mr. Fingers, the Skeek. Alptraum felt something was up with his eyes before. He's also got the youngest guard, who seems very self-conscious and deferential when she lets Alptraum inside.
Alptraum nods to the guard, then goes to the skreek. "I'm here to examine you for a subtle spell. Just hold still, it won't hurt," Alptraum explains as he starts the whole vial-exam again; and this time he tries to not touch unmentionables.
The mouse is quiet, and skittish. He can't seem to control his tail. But the eyes are obvious link point.. and that's where Alptraum finds the thread, leading into Mr. Fingers right eye.
"You too," Alptraum mutters and nods, "Not surprising, I suppose." He splats his hand on the skeek's head and shadow-probes that eye.
This times it's a bit more specific, and not small. It feels the whole retina in that eye is foreign.
"Well, that's disturbing," Alptraum muses and draws it back. "Also suspicious," he thinks, that large could indicate the focus.
"Is something wrong?" Mr. Fingers squeaks. He actually tries to make himself smaller. Maybe he got the guard he did because she wouldn't intimidate him.
"Nothing you need to worry about," Alptraum promises, "It just helped me locate something. Thank you for your time."
"Is he really going to be alright?" the guard asks.
"He will be fine," Alptraum promises. "I am surprised you sound concerned."
"I'm in charge of his well-being," the Yodh claims.
"Are you ... sweet on him?" Alptraum asks.
"What does that mean?" she asks. "I haven't licked him. Are Skeeks sweet?"
"Do you sleep with him?" Alptraum asks
"I've watched him sleep, I'm not supposed to sleep on duty," she says.
"Do you have sex with him?" Alptraum asks bluntly.
"No, that seems counter to my duty," she notes. "And he's a Skeek."
"What does him being a skeek have to do with anything?" Alptraum asks.
"Well.. he gets stressed easily," she claims. "And I don't think of him that way."
"Right, but you still worry," Alptraum says and nods. "Anyway, hew will be fine, I'm off to see the next patient."
The next cell has Mr. Slither, the Naga. There's less room in that cell. "He sleeps most of the time," the guard tells Alptraum as she lets him in. The Naga is piled up on his own coils, like Rostre was.
"I'm here to examine you, please do not worry," Alptraum says and then goes right to using the vial to probe all over the naga that he can reach.
This requires a certain amount of climbing. With the coils, there are spots he can't reach.
Alptraum tries to wake the snake so he can examine those spots too.
The Naga is slow to stir, but at last the long tongue flicks out and back, and he begins to move. He doesn't have eyelids, so it's difficult to tell when he actually waits. He's quiet as well, and the process involves a lot of rolling and twisting to try and spread out as much as he can.
Alptraum waits patiently, and distracts himself from naughty thoughts by remembering earlier shame. Once more is exposed, though, hee's back at the slow exam of the huge snake.
There's a faint flicker near the throat, fainter than the others (but that could be due to the thickness involved).
Alptraum moves closer to that area, then resorts to the deep-shadow probing to try and figure out what is there.
It feels cold, but there's definitely a tiny bit of something connected to the thread in the Naga's throat. It feels close to, or part of, his vocal chords.
"Hmm, interesting. Thank you," Alptraum says as he withdraws from the naga, and then clambers down. "I will allow you to go back to sleep now," he says.
It takes a few moments for him to collect himself back into his pile of coils. "What was that about?" the guard asks.
"I was checking for a spell link. He, like the others, all have one," Alptraum explains. "The mages are working out a way to deal with it."
"So they'll eventually be released?" the guard asks.
"Of course. They need to be free, after all, we just need to ensure they will be fine," Alptraum says, "Thank you for watching over them." And with that, out he goes.
The next cell belongs to Mr. Straw, the oversized and generally quiet Rhian. As with Mr. Slither, he takes up most of the available space, and has a thick pile of straw to use for a bed. His mane hasn't been trimmed, and falls over his face like a mop. His Yodhrephath attendant is also big, one of the older ones that Alptraum has seen so far. "He doesn't really talk," the guard explains to Alptraum. "Likes to chew on leather though. That and salt are the only things he ever asks for."
"I'm here to check him for attached subtle spells. We've found several. They are things we need to resolve quickly," Alptraum explains to the guard and holds up the vial. "So, I'm going to check him now." And he does, by waving it all around the the big ol' horse.
This time it responds oddly, glowing slightly over his shoulders. It doesn't help that his head is tipped forward, with his chin nearly on his chest. His face isn't as long as a typical Rhian's, but it's still bigger.
"Head up," Alptraum requests.
Mr. Straw raises his head up, pressing it against the ceiling, but at least it gives access to his throat and chest.
Alptraum checks under his throat and now exposed chest.
More glimmers around his throat. There's the barely perceptible connecting thread, but also other glimmers against his furry hide. It looks like the thread actually goes all the way around his neck like a noose.
Alptraum traces that out more, then ends up reaching over to touch ... and probe with the shadow to see just what is or isn't his.
There's some muscle damage all around, but the 'foreign' feeling parts cluster around his major veins and arteries.
Mr. Straw grunts at the probing.
"Were you hung?" Alptraum asks. He pauses a moment. "As in around your neck, not between your legs."
Mr. Straw seems to chew the question (literally). Alptraum can hear his teeth grind. "Dragged," he finally says.
"Unpleasant. May I ask why?" Alptraum asks.
Thick fingers rub at the side of the Rhian's head. "Hmm.. I think.. uh.. I dunno," he finally concedes when he runs up against the memory block.
Alptraum nods. "Well, thank you for allowing the exam. That is all for now," Alptraum says and steps away. He peers at his guard a bit. "I hope you can ... mmm, well if you and he get it on, I hope you're stretchy," he jokes.
"Hardly," the guard says, rolling her eyes. "Pretty sure he only likes the unicorn woman, and even then she probably has to rub his face in it. We can't move him to a bigger cell yet, still too risky. Especially if you there's some sort of spell involved. Probably a curse. This place is supposed to block scrying spells."
"It's not a scrying one, it's something else still being determined," Alptraum sort-of explains. "I hope we'll know more soon. Off to the next."
The next cell over has younger, but still adult, Yodhrephath. "Aren't you the Barsunala?" she asks at the first door.
"Yes, I am. Why?" Alptraum asks, one ear moving askew and one brow arching.
"I remember when you burst into the Hall of Transgressions with all the billowing, flowing.. uh.. not-smoke," the Yodh says, grinning. "Was a cool entrance."
Alptraum smirks. "It kept people from shooting," he points out and shrugs some. He rolls his wrist a little and produces some of the shadow ... which wraps around her neck. Not tight, of course.
"It feels cool.. uh.. are you here because I died or am about to die?" the Yodh asks, grin fading a bit as the shadow wraps her.
"Do you want to die?" Alptraum actually purrs.
"Not right now," the Yodh answers quickly. "I'm not in battle! I can't die while watching over my prisoner."
"Well, that's good because you're not dying," Alptraum remarks and dismisses the shadow. "I'm actually here to examine the prisoner."
Closing the outer door behind Alptraum, the Yodh claims, "I take good care of him. I even brush him out!" Then the inner door is opened. "Is it lunchtime already, Miss Purple?" a deep voice calls from around the corner.
"Nope, it's time to be poked and prodded," Alptraum remarks a bit dryly.
The occupant of the neatly kept cell is Mr. Blue, the Jupani. "Poked and prodded.. how exactly?" the wolf asks and looks to the Yodh for some sort of sign.
"He's sort of a god," the guard claims. "The Barsunala."
"That's sounds familiar," the Jupani notes, and wags his tail slightly. "I think Willow mentioned you."
"By me, of course, the Barsunala, the liaison between the living and the dead," Alptraum adds and grins with looots of teeth. "Mostly, though, I just need you to hold still for a bit, and try not to get aroused.
"Well if the constant company of fit, naked women haven't tempted me so far, I don't think you're going to have any better chances," Mr. Blue says with a smirk. "It's not going to be that sort of poking though is it? It's easier for me to keep still if I'm sitting down."
"Could be, if you're a good boy," Alptraum jokes. "Please, take a seat and we'll begin."
"Do I need to stick my tongue out?" Mr. Blue asks. "Do you get to examine the Yodhrephath too?"
"Nope, just you," Alptraum says as he proceeds to wave the vial all around the jupani. He also resists making a couple more stupid jokes.
"What is this?" the man asks. There aren't any glimmers.. until Alptraum gets to the nose. A threat glistens in the light stretching out of the Jupani's snoot.
"It identifies a compulsive nose-picker," Alptraum claims, then puts a finger right on the tip of his nose ... and proceeds to violate it with the shadow.
There doesn't seem to be anything foreign in the pad or nostrils, it isn't until deeper in that Alptraum feels a difference.. just before Mr. Blue starts sneezing.
So, Alptraum tries to distract him from sneezing by using his other hand, and more shadow, to tickle/lick the Jupani on the inside, and lower down.
"Agh!" the man coughs and tries to roll away. "What are you doing to him?" the guard asks.
"Examining! And distracting!" Alptraum claims, and then sits in his lap to keep him from rolling away.
"Do you need my help holding him down?" she asks. "And distracting him from what?"
"Poking deep in his nose," Alptraum claims, and tries to hold him still from the lap.
The guard gets his shoulders. "Is he smuggling something up in there?" she asks. Mr. Blue is doing his best not to overreact. "Tickles!" he whines.
"Rub his thingie, that will distract him," Alptraum requests of the guard.
"Distract him from tickling?" the Yodh asks, but lets go of Mr. Blue's shoulders to catch and rub.. his tail. "I could brush his fur, that usually calms him down," she offers.
"Do that, then," Alptraum requests. "I need to examine the monster roosting in his nose."
The Yodh starts scratching through the thick fur at the back of Mr. Blue's neck, which does seem to help. The thread seems to end in then sinus cavity. Jupani are renown for their sense of smell, after all.
Alptraum prods around it a bit to identify the side of the bit before withdrawing. "Was that so bad?" he asks the dog.
"Yes! Have you ever had something like slithering up your nose?" Mr. Blue asks.
"Yes, and in other places too," Alptraum remarks. "What are you, a wimp?"
"It's a very sensitive area," Mr. Blue complains.
"So are other places. Would you prefer I rub those?" Alptraum jokes.
"Tickling things from the inside is unnatural," he claims. "I'm pretty sure of that."
Alptraum grabs him between the legs, and uses the shadow to tickle there from the inside. "Is this unnatural?" he asks.
"Yeeeeesh!" the wolf claims. "Yes!"
Alptraum probes deeper, and more like hundreds of tiny snakes. "How about now?" he asks.
Mr. Blue goes quite as things get stirred up. "What are you doing?" the guard asks, leaning over the wolf's shoulder to try and see.
"Mostly just being irritating," Alptraum admits and does finally stop all that tormenting, and withdraws all the shadow.
The wolf lets out a long sigh. "Wait.. what's in my nose?" he then asks.
"Parts of a dead guy, probably," Alptraum explains as he gets up. "The other prisoners have similar."
"What? I haven't snorted up any dead people!" Mr. Blue insists, and starts rubbing his nose.
"No, someone stuck a dead person up there. Anyway, I've got others to examine. Don't worry over it, it's just another matter to solve," Alptraum remarks.
"My nose won't turn into a zombie then?" Mr. Blue asks. "I won't sneeze out a ghost?"
"No zombie, no promises about a ghost," Alptraum admits and pats his head.
"I'm not trained to fight ghosts," the guard says. "So always use your elbow."
"Anyway, I'll leave you two to whatever you two do when alone," Alptraum says and claps his hands. "Thank you for an amusing moment."
The guard lets back through the double doors. The next door to be answered has an unusual guard. She seems short for a Yodhrephath (almost normal Eeee girl height) but it's difficult to tell how old she might be. Her fur is entirely yellow.
"What happened to you?" Alptraum ends up asking after staring for a bit.
"You're wearing clothes, so you're either important or an assassin," the guard notes, eyeing Alptraum.. with yellow eyes. "I'm Yodhrephath Sulfur."
"I'm the Barsunala," Alptraum answers and arches his brow a little at that odd name. "I'm here to examine the prisoner.
"Examine him for what?" she asks, and looks down the empty corridor. "You aren't here to hurt him or kill him then, you swear on Sunala?"
"Subtle spells. All the prisoners thus far have shown symptoms. And no, I'm not here to kill him, and yes I swear. I also wonder if you're sweet on him," Alptraum remarks.
The Eeee woman snorts, which isn't easy for an Eeee. "Fine, come in," she says and ushers him into the little anteroom so she can go through the process of making sure only one of the two doors is ever opened at a time.
"That wasn't a no," Alptraum points out and follows behind the yellow Eeee.
The occupant is Mr. Stripe, the tiger-khatta. He does look happy.. and his left eye is a little puffy.
"What happened to him?" Alptraum asks as he approaches and peers at that puffy eye/
"I hit him," Sulfur claims. "He was being growly and moody."
"And it wasn't foreplay?" Alptraum clarifies. "What was he moody about?" he asks and starts up the slow examination via vial.
The tiger doesn't say anything, but just sort of glares at Alptraum.
"It's not advisable to get an attitude with me. I can do more than just hit you," Alptraum points out, disturbingly calmly.
"He's troublesome, that's why I'm in charge of him now," Sulfur claims. "He gave the last attendant a nasty scratch. Complains about being 'caged' still, and likes to bare his fangs."
Mr. Stripe just.. rumbles in reply.
Alptraum arches his brow. "Likes to bare you fangs, do you? Shall I fix that?" he inquires of the large cat.
The tiger doesn't rise to the bait, and just sits there. The fur on his neck is matted down oddly, like he might have been restrained after one of his outbursts.
He's big, so the examination is slow. But there's finally a glimmer near the felines closed mouth.
Unless it's just one of the whiskers.
"If you attack anyone else, or harm anyone else, in any way, I will turn you into a fluffnar. Do you understand?" Alptraum remarks in all seriousness. "Now, open your mouth."
The cat opens his mouth.. and keeps opening it. Not as wide as a Naga could, but still wide enough to fit someone's head inside. The fangs are very bit. The upper left one has a slight crack in it, and that seems to be where the spell-thread anchors.
Alptraum extends shadow now to examine that tooth, or namely the crack in it.
Something is definitely inside that tooth that isn't part of the tooth. It's just difficult to tell what it is and how it got there. It could have been implanted through the crack, of have gotten in because the fang was actually used against whatever flesh it was originally part of.
Alptraum withdraws the shadow and nods. "You can close your mouth now. Thank you for behaving," he says.
"What's this all about?" Mr. Stripe asks. There's still a bit of growl in his tone, but not any more than typical for a big cat.
"Whomever held you and messed with your minds, also left a secondary more subtle spell. Yours is anchored to one of your teeth," Alptraum explains. "This is why you haven't been released yet. We need to solve and remove all these fun little spells so you can actually leave safely."
"Just remove the tooth," the tiger suggests.
"Wouldn't help," Alptraum explains, "These are subtle spells, with specific purposes. Doing that might kill you, or worse."
"Eh, so killing me doesn't fix it either?" Stripe asks. "What's it for then?"
"That's what we're still trying to determine. All we do know is that interrupting it without knowing what it specifically is, is certainly bad," Alptraum says and shrugs. "Look, I know you don't like being in here, I do. This isn't being done to punish you; we're trying to actually save you."
The big cat snorts. "And what happens after that?" he asks. "I have no memory, but was probably a murderer or something anyway. Who knows?"
"Or maybe you were the son of a rich sultan," Alptraum points out and taps his nose. "You won't know until your memory is fixed. Quit assuming the worst; you're only making yourself miserable."
"Look at who I have for company," the tiger points out. "She's not even the right shade of yellow. I've got nothing to do but brood. It would be less maddening if they just kept me too drugged up or drunk to care."
"Not really. Then you'd get bedsores," Alptraum points out. "And you got her because you hurt the last one. Learn to own your mistakes and learn from them, not project your misfortunes you caused on others. We can fix the victim you were. We can't fix the victim you make of yourself."
"Then fix me as soon as possible, or I'll fix myself," the tiger grumbles. "The Doctor was terrifying but at lease I could move around."
"Terrifying? Him? Hardly. I can be much more terrifying. Do you prefer terrifying?" Alptraum asks and arches his brow.
"No," the cat sighs. "I'll wait."
"Smart," Alptraum says, his voice shifting between rasping and guttural-hollow. His eyes also ripple, as black sort of inky fluid seems to roll through them, and the very flesh on his face also squirms in all too unnatural ways. "Because there is a reason my name translates to Nightmare." He slips back and nods to the guard. "Thank you, I will be moving on to the next one."
"Good luck," Sulfur says as she leads him back out through the door ceremony. The next cell does get an immediate response at the first knock.
"Hello, I'm the Barsunala, I'm here to examine the guest," Alptraum says after knocking.
A few moments later, the peephole is slid open and a dark golden cat-slit eye looks out. The slide is closed and the door is opened slowly by.. another tiger. This must be Mr. Cottonmouth, whose past is at least partially known, since he has slave tattoos in his ears. He holds finger to his lips for silence as he lets Alptraum in.
"Hello, I am here to just examine all of you, not harm any of you. We are tracking down subtle spells," Alptraum explains. "It will not hurt."
Inside the cell proper, Mr. Cottonmouth puts his finger to his lips again, and makes a gesture that means 'do you know silent-sign?'
Alptraum signs, "Yes, I do."
Cottonmouth offers Alptraum the empty stool where the Yodhrephath attendant normally sits. But she's actually sleeping on the bed. She's missing her right arm, and her wings don't look like they're in working order either. She's the oldest Yodhrephath Alptraum's seen, easily in her sixties.
"Is she okay?" Alptraum signs as he looks to the sleeping Yodh, then settles himself down onto the stool.
"She is old, but is proud," Cottonmouth signs. "She can't fight anymore. I take care of her more than she does me." He then kneels down on the floor rather than sit anywhere.
"You do not need to kneel before me," Alptraum signs, "We are equals."
"It is easier than standing," the cat signs. "What do you need me to do?"
"Make love to me," Alptraum signs, then grins. "Kidding. I just need you to sit still." He rises again and uses the vial to now examine him.
Cottonmouth stays very still. He's got plenty of scars, especially on his forearms and back. An old one on his through may be why he has difficulty speaking above a whisper. But it turns out the thread is attached to his left ear, at the start of the intricate tattoo.
Alptraum now kneels down and places his right hand over that spot. The shadow sinks in to slowly examine. "I am sorry for all that has happened to you; no one deserves this," he says since his hand is busy.
The tattoo doesn't feel quite right. There's the old ink, but also what feels like new ink, or something else, that's more recent.
"I like it here," Cottonmouth signs without moving more than his hands. "I'm not guarding things."
"So, you would want to stay and just help people here?" Alptraum asks as he runs the ear between his finger and thumb.
"I don't think they have caretakers for those that are no longer useful," the tiger signs. Moreso than the others, this feels a bit like magic to Alptraum. Magic woven into the existing tattoo.
Alptraum nods. "Well, once all this is taken care of, and you are able to leave, I can ask if they would keep you on," he offers.
"Thank you," Cottonmouth signs. "Is something wrong with my ear?"
"There is a spell attached to it. We will deal with it, I promise," Alptraum says and releases that ear.
"A spell seems an odd thing for an ear," the tiger signs. "I don't think I can read, so spelling is not that important to me."
Alptraum chuckles. He peers at the cat for a moment, then does something odd. He cups both his cheeks, then actually just kisses him, right on the lips. Why? Even he doesn't know, other than feeling sorry for him maybe. "Thank you for helping, and allowing me to examine you. I won't bother you further," he says, then removes his hands and signs the same.
"Thank you for not waking her, and for the kiss," Cottonmouth signs. "I will try not to use that ear."
"You can use it, just don't mess with it any," Alptraum says and signs. Then he's moving to leave.
Cottonmouth gets up to open the door for Alptraum, still keeping to the door ritual.
Alptraum pats the tiger's butt, then out he goes.
The next door is answered by a middle-aged Yodh. "Barsunala," she says. "Don't touch the inner door."
"Why not?" Alptraum asks as he enters.
The outer door is closed. "Thistlebark," she says, and opens it for Alptraum.
"Fun," Alptraum remarks and then slips past the inner one, and is careful not to touch it.
There are some loose feathers on the floor, as the Yodhrephath leads the way in. "You have a guest," she calls. "Do whatever he asks."
"The Barsunala," Alptraum says, "So, yes, generally a good idea. I'm just here to examine you quickly. It will not hurt."
Sitting on the bed is Mr. Stitch, with a few bald spots where he's been plucking his own feathers. "Eh?"
"Stop plucking. Just sit, be calm, and let me examine you," Alptraum explains and moves closer so that he can start examining him with the vial.
The Vartan's feathers still puff out when Alptraum approaches. But his eyes are transfixed on the vial. "Whatsat?" he asks.
"A detector, nothing more. Just hold still, please. If you don't cooperate, I can ensure that you do. But, I'd rather not," Alptraum says.
"Detect what?" Stitch asks next in his gravelly voice.
"A subtle spell bound to you," Alptraum explains. "So far all of you have them."
"You aren't a doctor are you?" the Vartan asks with suspicion.
"I'm a demigod," Alptraum answers. "Please don't make me prove it, you won't like it."
"Not a doctor?" the bird asks again, with more emphasis.
"Not a doctor," Alptraum replies.
The feathers go back down.
Alptraum resumes the examination.
The wings get in the way, because Stitch is twitchy and fidgety. He taps his talons on his knees as well. It's a good bet that the scar going around his neck is a likely area of interest. And the thread appears, at the very back of Stitch's neck.
"I need you to hold still and relax. This will feel odd, but will not harm," Alptraum says and places his hand upon the back of his neck to see if he can sense where and how deep the alien tissue goes.
Stitch does not get calmer with the touch on his neck, but he does try to stop twitching. Vartans have thick necks, and takes some probing since bone is difficult to tell from other bone. But close to the stitches he can feel something off between the vertebrae. As if one of the disks of cartilage were stiffer or artificial.
Alptraum withdraws the shadow, then his hand. "Thank you," he says, "You have provided the information I needed. And I kept my word, no harm." He moves away from the vartan.
"Need to go out," Stitch says. "Can't stretch my wings in here."
"Hopefully soon," Alptraum says and heads towards the door out.
That was the last of the cells. The only other 'guest' not down there would be Mr. Bright. But he supposedly wasn't treated by the Doctor.
But still work checking. "I know the final guest was supposedly not treated, but I want to check him anyway if allowed," Alptraum announces, then goes right to that door and knocks.
The Yodh guard opens it, and looks Alptraum up and down before cracking a smile. "The Barsunala?" she asks.
Alptraum nods. "Why the grin?" he asks, brow arching yet again.
"So you're married to High Priestess Koldesh then, aren't you?" the Yodh asks.
"Yes, sort of? Why?" Alptraum asks.
"You must be pretty sturdy then," she comments. "You're here to see the Aeonian?"
"Plenty sturdy, though she does treat me ... mmm, as the 'submissive' one in the pairing," Alptraum remarks dryly. "And yes, Iaam, just a quick examination."
"Well come on in then," the Yodh says, standing to one side.
Alptraum heads in. "Don't get any weird ideas," he comments.
The Yodh pauses, hand an inch from Alptraum's behind. "Weird how?" she asks.
"I have no idea," Alptraum admits. "So, nevermind."
So Alptraum gets a pat on the butt going through the second door. The 'cell' is a bit larger, since it needs to accommodate an actual desk. Mr. Bright is behind the desk, which is disturbingly clean. The unicorn is sitting up, but clearly sound asleep.
Alptraum whistles. "Wake up call for the one-horned child rhain," Alptraum calls out. "Time for an exam." And he's heading right towards him.
"Huh?" Bright asks, opening his eyes and falling backwards against the wall as he jerks back from the 'charging' Eeee.
"Oh relax, I'm just here to check you for potential subtle spells. I'm not going to hurt you, or try to seduce you," Alptraum claims. Once he gets close, he's already using the vial to examine the Aeonian.
"What is that?" Bright asks, focusing on the vial. It's still glowing, but a bit dimmer by now.
"A customized spirit-spell detector," Alptraum explains. "You don't have to drink it or anything.
After a moment, the unicorn asks, "Have we met before?" There's a bit of glimmer from the horn, but.. the pearl color glimmers from any light source. There might be a bit of a thread at the very tip though.
"No, why?" Alptraum asks as he now waves the vial around the horn.
"Just.. felt some familiarity," Bright claims, eyes crossing to try and watch what Alptraum is doing to his horn.
"In what way?" Alptraum asks and peers down. "I know us Eeee probably all look alike."
"Might be your hair and eyes," Mr. Bright says. "What are you doing to my horn?" By now Alptraum has isolated the 'extra' glimmer of the thread, which is actually following the horns spiral. It isn't clear if it goes beyond the base of it though into the skull.
Alptraum wraps his hand around the horn and tries to sense into it using the shadow. "Ah, possibly," he concedes. "Us magical things tend to have unusual features like that.
The shadow.. can't penetrate the horn. There wasn't a problem probing the other threads though, so it might be an issue with the nature of the horn itself. "That's sensitive," Mr. Bright notes.
"So I've heard," Alptraum agrees, and tries to probe down into his skull, now.
That's a little easier, but he can't feel out anything out of place. "What are you doing now?" Mr. Bright asks. "My brain tickles."
"There is a spell attached to your horn. I can't get much on it, though. Your horn is being obstinate," Alptraum complains.
"A spell?" Bright asks. "What kind of spell? I didn't know you could do that to an Aeonian horn."
"Unknown, but each prisoner here has one, it's usually anchored to some sort of implanted, foreign, flesh," Alptraum notes.
"Sympathetic magic?" the unicorn asks. "I don't know if anyone uses that anymore. It's very old."
Alptraum nods. "Well, at least a few mages do, and they're also very old," he explains, then shrugs and lets go. "So, that has to be cleared up before you can leave."
"Leave?" Bright asks. "Aren't there dangerous people after us?"
"Extremely. You can leave once the spells are removed and the dangerous ones are gone," Alptraum says and nods.
"So.. nobody else has a spiraling horn," Bright points out. "Where are the rest of them?"
"All over various parts. Eyes, ears, even teeth," Alptraum explains.
"Odd," Bright muses. "Dangerous, no doubt."
"Likely, they all tie to a very dangerous old royal mage," Alptraum explains further, then sits right in Mr. Bright's lap and drape shis arms over his shoulders.
It actually takes the Aeonian a moment to notice, as he's lost in thought. "Hmm.. oh, hello," he says. "Is there something else?"
"No, not really. Is there a problem here?" Alptraum asks, then leans in and licks his nose.
"Well, I don't have any work to keep me busy," Bright says, taking the question literally.
Alptraum grins, "Wow, so this doesn't phase you at all."
"I.. what?" Bright asks. "I'm sorry, my mind tends to wander. Was I supposed to do something?"
"No, not at all, I was just curious how you'd react to a guy in your lap, and this," Altraum jokes, then actually kisses him.
The kiss causes him to blink. Then he asks, "You're a guy?"
"Yes," Alptraum remarks, then looks a bit affronted. "You can't tell?"
"I don't often try," Bright admits. "I assumed all of the Eeee here were female. It makes it easier."
Alptraum frowns. "Ah well, I thought it might at least elicit a reaction," he grumps.
"I suppose it surprised me," Bright admits. "What sort of reaction did you expect?" he asks.
Alptraum laughs. "No idea, honestly, I'm in a weird mood, I suppose," he admits.
"Sorry, we Aeonians are not very reactive in general," Bright explains. "Unless you poke us which sharp things."
"Not what I heard about you from a female Aeonian I interrogated," Alptraum remarks, and gets up.
"She's a special case," Bright says, and smiles. "The only female Aeonian I've ever met."
"And bedded, from what I've heard," Alptraum chuckles and head towards the door. "She's fine, by the way."
"I'm surprised she's still in Babel," Bright says. "Do you know if she's going to visit again?"
"No idea. Why, do you want her to?" Alptraum asks.
"It would be nice," he admits. "I haven't thought about what comes next after leaving here."
Alptraum looks back. "What, do you want to settle down with her?" he asks, brow arched.
"I don't think she is interested in that," Bright says. "But I wouldn't mind keeping in touch, so long as there is mail service."
"Have you asked her?" Alptraum asks. "Why would you think not?"
"She's from Nordika, but I imagine Chronotopia has regular mail service," Bright says. "I will ask her if I get another chance."
"If I see her, I'll pass it along. Try to stay relaxed while here, at least," Alptraum offers, heading to the door to leave.