Alptraum wakes up still feeling a bit tired. But when everyone else is awake, the activity makes it harder to sleep. The children in the next room are also a bit boisterous all on their own, a far cry from being huddled and quiet the previous day.
"Ugh, stupid nightmares," Alptraum mutters as he does slowly awake. He does need to get moving, heading back towards Babel with the children in tow, though. As much as he'd like to sleep more, things to do.
There odors beyond the door. Cooking odors. Everyone else in the place probably eats food, after all. Including the children, which may be why they're being so active, even though they're still in their room.
"Yeah, good for them, not so much for me. I'll have to go out into the wilderness for a meal, I guess," Alptraum mutters as he moves slowly, including getting dressed.
There are the Ptera, which probably wouldn't even notice. But then there's no guarantee they haven't been fed people-meat.
Alptraum considered those, but ... wilderness is still safer. Less likely to have eaten a person, and asking to gnaw on someone here would likely not go over well.
There are carnivores among the mercenaries. Maybe they have blood sausage. There's also Mateh, from the smell.
Yawning, Alptraum goes out of his room to at least see what is going on and not just going entirely by smell.
The corridor outside is empty, but he hears the door to the kids room creak open slightly.
"Hello," Alptraum says after stifling another yawn, then stretching.
The eye that was peeking through the narrow opening vanishes and there's whispering. Then a different eye is peeking through the crack.
"You've already met me," Alptraum points out. "I don't bite unless asked to."
The door opens more, revealing half of Dravitz's face. "Gilam said you were a naked lady," he points out.
Alptraum laughs. "I'm good with disguises," he replies and shrugs. "Goes with being odd."
The door opens the rest of the way, and the girl that didn't try to attack Alptraum is looking over Dravitz's shoulder now. They're both wearing oversized mercenary shirts for clothes at the moment.
Alptraum waves. "Hello there," he says. "You're generally safe now. You'll be safer once I help you relocate to a nicer manor."
"Are we being kidnapped again then?" the girl asks. "I'm Harper. Now you know my name, so.. that gives me power over you or something!" she claims.
"You're not being kidnapped, you're being taken to a safer place, one that I can send Aunty and her charge to as well," Alptraum says. "And it doesn't work that way; you'd have to know my name."
The girl's eyes narrow. "What's your real name then, Barsunala?"
"Why?" Alptraum asks, and grins fangily.
"Because you know our names!" Harper argues. "Fair's fair! You gotta tell us, or.. else!"
"Or else what?" Alptraum has to ask. "Well, the translation of my name simple means Nightmare."
"Or.. I'll sic Fanny on you," Harper threatens. Then blinks. "Alright, Nightmare is actually a pretty cool name.."
"Alptraum, which just means Nightmare," Alptraum clarifies, then shrugs a little. "I assume Fanny is the one that already attacked me?"
"She still thinks this is a trick," Harper claims. She then turns back to the room and says, "Gilam, watch over Fanny and Mutt while we go find some food to bring back."
"Something other than soup!" the other boy calls from inside the room.
"Well, I can't blame her for feeling that way. I can't imagine ... well, I can, but, ... what you went through was horrific. If I could just make all of you forget it, I would," Alptraum admits.
Dravitz is still a little shaky on his feet, but Harper (who seems to be the oldest) keeps him steady. "So, where are we going?" she asks. "A manor? Like this one?"
"Nicer than this one, just has an old Eeee and his servants there now and wants it to benefit others if possible. He offered to take all of you in as a place where you and Aunty can settle and decide where you wish to go, or stay," Alptraum explains and walks with them.
"Where's Aunty now?" the girl asks, as they descend the stairs one step at a time so Dravitz doesn't trip.
"Babel, they're staying in a clinic hospice; the trip was not good to her," Alptraum answers. After a few steps Alptraum actually just picks Dravitz up and carries him.
The boy squeaks, but doesn't complain. The main hall is pretty busy, as it seems to be where the food is served. The one large table has been set up as a buffet of sorts, with men grabbing something on their way to wherever they need to be. Shodan is seated though, along with Bertrum. He's going through various papers and parchments, sorting them into boxes.
"Plotting?" Alptraum inquires of Shodan as they head towards the buffet.
"Sorting," Shodan says, sounding tired. There's an untouched mug of Mateh next to him. He looks up at Alptraum, and his brows furrow for a moment seeing him carrying a boy. "Is he still hurt? I can call our medic."
"Weak," Alptraum says. "Some food will help, I hope."
"Try some bread to start, then move on to protein," Shodan advises. "I'd like to go through the artifacts when you have time."
"The children's health takes priority," Alptraum says, but nods. "Once they're settled, we can talk." Shifting the boy to one arm (unfortunately his right), he uses his left to fill a place with a variety of food to take back to the bedroom with the children.
Of course, Harper fills up another plate, and grabs a jug of water as well. "Is this dried fruit?" she asks, after grabbing some colorful items.
"Some sort of candy. Might be bugs. Not sure," Alptraum admits and shrugs.
Harper is happy enough with that answer.
"You don't have to carry me the whole time," Dravitz says as they climb the stairs.
"Lets get this back to the others, okay?" Alptraum asks of Harper. "I know I don't, but you were struggling. Eat something first, then we'll see."
Gilam opens the door when they reach the room, and Alptraum can see everyone. There are two beds, and on one of them has the bedclothes all bunched up into a blanket cave. The other bed is occupied by Fanny, the suspicious girl. Although her demeanor brightens at the sight of the food. Gilam points to the rooms small table, which is still big enough for the plates.
Alptraim carries his place, and Dravitz, over. He sets the plate on the table and then puts Dravitz down. Normally he'd have probably jokingly put Dravitz on the table too, but ... no. Even he doesn't have that bad of taste and poor social skills to make that joke.
The kids descend on the food, tearing into it as if starved, and taking turns guzzling from the water jug. The colorful stuff is gone in a flash, without ever finding out if it was fruit or bug guts.
Alptraum just keeps his distance and lets them eat. No point in insisting on manners right now, they need food, not manners.
They can't fully gorge themselves, but they try. At least they don't get sick, but look a little wobbly afterwards. Even Mutt, the scraped-up one, emerges from the blankets to eat.
"Don't make yourselves sick by eating too much. There will be more food later, you don't have to worry about it," Alptraum says.
"When do we leave?" Dravitz asks. Of all of them, he has surviving family to go to.
"When you're all healthy enough to travel, and I'm done dealing with Shodan I suppose," Alptraum admits. "It shouldnt be too long from now."
"Are we using the death boat?" Fanny asks, her cheeks puffed out with are probably scrambled eggs.
"Uh, no. We'll walk or just fly it ourselves," Alptraum claims. "Or failing that, I can probably become a dragon and carry everyone."
"A dragon?" Dravitz asks. "For real?"
"Yeah?" Alptraum asks. "I deal with them fairly regularly."
"And you wouldn't try to eat us?" Harper asks.
"No? I mean, I'm already a vampire and I haven't tried to eat you," Alptraum points out.
"What's a vampire?" Dravitz asks.
"I drink blood," Alptraum answers, simply.
"Ewwww," Harper says. "Like.. raw?"
"Yes?" Alptraum says, "It's not like you can do much with it."
"Why have teeth then?" Fanny asks. "And I don't want to walk or fly. It sounds far.. dragon is better."
Because I have to bite to get blood," Alptraum points out, shrugs. "And you just want to ride a dragon."
"Well.. of course," Harper says. "We.. haven't had fun in awhile.."
"The problem is how you would ride, though. I don't think there are any dragon saddles," Alptraum admits.
"How big is a dragon?" Harper asks.
"Varies. Some are as large as a ship, or larger," Alptraum explains.
"So.. could you carry us all in a wagon, or a bed?" Harper asks, helpfully pointing to one of the beds.
"PRobably?" Alptraum concedes. "But that would get tiring."
"How are dragons normally ridden then?" Dravitz asks.
"They aren't. It's too pack-animal-y for most," Alptraum comments. "Isn't that right, Kaira? I know you're listening in."
The little dragon appears.. from inside Alptraum's shirt. "Hmmm," she goes. "I don't know, riding dragons sounds like something nobody has ever thought of before!"
"You have a talking pet lizard!" Harper says, almost accusingly.
"Well, an annoying pet, I suppose. This is Kaira. She's not real, just a spirit thing," Alptraum claims.
"Ahem, I am also a mighty, magical dragon," the talking pet lizard claims.
"Riiight," Alptraum says. "Now, about dragon riding..."
"Well, there's the obvious solution," Kaira notes, almost challengingly, to Alptraum.
"What?" Alptraum asks.
"You know.. the obvious one.." Kaira replies. Is she getting even for the 'annoying' comment?
"It's not obvious to children," Alptraum counters.
"Oh, of course," Kaira says. "The obvious solution is turn them all into dragons for the flight to Summerland."
"Yes, but I'm not going to cause the children any more stress," Alptraum points out. "They've been under enough magic."
The children look at him in disbelief.
"What?" he asks them.
"Small dragons can more easily hang on to a larger one," Kaira notes.
"Why can't we be dragons?" Dravitz asks.
"It would be traumatic," Alptraum claims. "Having your entire identity rewritten is not to be done lightly."
"But.. could we breath fire?" Fanny asks. "What's identity?"
"Maybe," Alptraum answers, "And your idenitity is who you are, and who you see yourself as. Magic to change you physically is not to ever be done that lightly. Once it's done, you will be forever changed in some way."
"We're already broken," Harper says. "If it would just break us more then maybe we shouldn't."
"It's just ... dangerous," Alptraum admits. "Doable, and if you really want me to, I can, just ... you need to be sure you understand the risks of it."
"We can just ride," Dravitz says, following Harper's lead.
"Well, just think on it, is all," Alptraum offers as a compromise.
"Well, in that case, can you find some really big baskets?" Kaira asks.
"Maybe?" Alptraum admits. "I don't know."
"Or just use ropes," Kaira suggests. "There are those Ptera harnesses. Surely one of the mercenaries knows how to tie knots?"
"Probably? Those might work. I'll just need to be large enough to make the children's weight manageable," Alptraum points out.
"How much do they weigh?" Kaira asks. "Eeee are basically just leathery kites, aren't they?"
"Not a lot, given age and how they've been treated," Alptraum admits, then picks up Harper and bounces her to verify that.
"Eeee!" the girl squeals. Despite being the oldest and largest.. she's just skin and bones under the borrowed shirt. So the challenge wouldn't be carrying their weight so much as making sure they didn't get blown off.
"Yeah, not much," Alptraum concludes and puts her down.
"The murk canaries will help," Dravitz claims. "They seem alright so far."
"The what?" Alptraum has to ask. "Murk canaries?"
"Yeah.. the men.. downstairs?" Dravitz says uncertainly. "Murk canaries."
"Oh, mercenaries," Alptraum concludes as he rubs his forehead. "They're okay. They might be trustworthy, to a degree."
"If they aren't being paid to be mean, they're nice?" Harper asks.
"I don't know. We have more or less an understanding right now. I suspect them knowing I can kill them in horrible ways probably helps keep them on our side," Alptraum admits.
"You'll have to ask them," Harper says. "If a kid asks if they have dragon saddles they'll just smile and pat our heads."
Alptraum smirks. "Okay, that's probably true. I do have to speak with them anyway over some artifacts. While you finish eating and rest, I should go do that," he admits. He alsp pulls Kaira out of his shirt and puts her on his shoulder.
"No free petting from the mercenaries," Kaira tells Alptraum.
"You're there to look creepy," Alptraum claims, "So, onward to the mercenaries, then!" And with that, out the door he goes!
The main hall is less busy than when Alptraum came down to fetch breakfast for the kids. Only a few of the mercenaries are still there, and seem mostly involved in clean-up, with Chezny the sole exception. The Jupani is going over paperwork with Shodan instead. The Eeee lord(?) still has boxes of books and documents that he's sorting through as well.
"You wished to speak with me over the artifacts?" Alptraum asks as he enters the room. His movement is languid, unconcerned, as if he knows nothing in here is a threat to him (or at least trying to give that impression).
"Wah!" Shodan goes, jumping a little. "Oh, Barsunala, yes.. uh.. yes!" He recenters himself, and pulls out the same book that Alptraum had used to talk to Shodan's mysterious patron. "Could you please bring out the weird looking tools?" he asks.
"Give me a moment, then sure," Alptraum says as he goes to one of the crates he packed earlier and opens it. There's some digging as he locates the wrapped bundle of scary-looking tools. "You're a bit jumpy," he notes as he brings them over. He unrolls the bundle on one of the tables, exposing the tools.
"Yes, I think the venom is reacting oddly to Mateh.." Shodan says, then leans closer to examine the implements while turning to one of many bookmarks. Sometimes he has to study the book instead, turning it left, right or upside down rather than touch any of the implements. "That seems to be most of them.. plus some I don't see any references to. Unless they change shape somehow."
"Well, what does it say the ones it does identify are for?" Alptraum asks, "And which ones does it not mention?"
"Not sure about these," Shodan says, pointing to what might be a model of a three-part Gooshurm jaw, done in an odd green material, and then to another that looks like a deformed corkscrew. "As for what the others do, that information isn't given," he claims. "I have to assume the missing items are still in possession of the remaining mage. Nothing here on the.. thing.. that was controlling one of them. Or any of the others."
"Hardly surprising. They don't put all their materials in one location at the same time," Alptraum points out. "To do so would be stupid." He shrugs. "If it doesn't describe what they're for, does it give their names?"
"It has their inscriptions copied under the drawing, which matches up to what's on the item," Shodan says. "I suppose in case of.. a duplicate? Maybe the writing can't be copied or something. Who knows?"
"Any writing can be copied, that would be a silly reason. so, what you're saying ultimately is that book is useless," Alptraum remarks.
He does show the current page to Alptraum, where the writing is much clearer than it is on the artifacts. The characters look vaguely familiar.
"Hmm, I've seen this before. If I had to guess, in the dead city," Alptraum opines.
"Eh? Which dead city?" Shodan asks. "There's more of these things out there?"
"The one outside of Babel some distance, near the forbidden zone," Alptraum explains. "Not a place I recommend visiting."
"Not being paid to enter any Forbidden Zones on this side of the world," Chezny interrupts, before Shodan can say anything.
"Good, because the buildings are capable of eating you," Alptraum notes.
"Ah.. hem," Shodan clears his throat. "Well, these four items are on our list," he says, pointing to the ones that match in the book.
"You might be surprised at how many Forbidden Zones have people-eating buildings," the Jupani offers, as he looks back at the checklist he's been working his way through.
"Well, I do not have any explicit requests to recover those ... so while I would prefer to keep them I am willing to release them to you for your assistance and being generally not violent towards me. Meant I didn't have to clean up as much, since I didn't have to explode any of you," Alptraum claims as he shrugs a little.
"There's also this," Shodan says, tapping a box full of books and scrolls. "I'm not sure how useful these are to you. They didn't contain any references to our organization or activities in our hemisphere."
"Depends on what they are," Alptraum admits. He slips over to the boxes and starts to leaf through them to get a general idea of what they may contain.
The books actually seem to discuss magical processes, based on the diagrams, and also have drawings of some of the artifacts. It's not written in Babelite or any language Alptraum recognizes however. The scrolls don't have any helpful diagrams, they're just huge blocks of the coded text.
"If you don't want these, I would just hand them over to the Mage's Guild in Babel. Nothing in here is anything I recognize as a language out of the several I know," Alptraum admits.
"Which might be helpful," he adds, "It may help deal with some of their victims."
"I don't know what's in them, just that they didn't contain any of the text I was told to look for," Shodan says. "Those I've kept in a different box. But they were all text, no magic symbols or ledgers."
"Then back to the Mage's Guild these will go. They've got the best chance of making use of them and they'll tell me of anything interesting in them usually," Alptraum says.
Using a candlestick, Shodan pushes the implements on his list off of the bundling cloth. "Is there anything else we can help you with?" he asks Alptraum. "Other than removing the remains from it, we haven't done much with that airship. I've no idea if it trapped or enchanted in any way."
"It ought to be burned, that thing must be cursed by this point with what occurred on it," Alptraum remarks a bit grimly. "As for help, well, that depends. Do you have any saddles that can be modified to fit a large flying creature? Or a carrying harness? Or both? I have the children to carry and all these crates, and I can't do it, well, like this."
"Do you mean Rhak'tor saddles?" Chezny asks.
"Might work. I have no idea if you've seen a dragon before, but they would need to fit on a creature at least forty foot from head to tail, with central torso about ten feet or so of that," Alptraum explains.
"We don't have anything that could saddle that.. on hand," Chezny notes. "We have rope netting. And whatever might be safely salvaged from that airship. The canopy netting and zolk shouldn't be cursed, right? Pretty sure it would mess with the buoyancy if it was."
"It would probably work well enough. Though you would need people who can sew, I suppose," Alptraum admits with a frown.
"We're mercenaries," Chezny notes. "Of course we can sew. We have to be able to mend our own kit."
"Well, then you can make some saddles," Alptraum says and nods.
"It would help to have the.. uh.. dragon.. available," Chezny notes. "It's much faster to just fit things directly."
"You mean me, then," Alptraum comments cheerily. "I'll have to pick an appropriate one to change into, then."
"You can turn into a 40-foot-long monster?" Shodan asks, eyes wide.
"Yes?" Alptraum says and arches his brow. "Though to do so I'll need to head into the wilderness for a bit to gather enough energy to do it."
"Can you change others into monsters as well?" the inquisitive Eeee asks. "What do you need for energy?"
"I can, yes, though it is risky," Alptraum answers and arches his brow. "I need life energy to do it, which means I need to consume some animals. I could consume people, but I have a moral code against doing that, among other reasons."
"Oh.." Shodan says, and nods his head. "But just out of curiosity, what have you changed others into before?"
"Why do you want to know?" Alptraum asks.
"Well, you an interesting person," Shodan claims, and smiles. "We may not cross paths again, so I'm obliged to learn as much about you as possible."
Alptraum shrugs a bit. "I've turned a bastard woman abusing Eeee into a female rat breeder as punishment," he explains. "I've turned people into slug-things, or just melted them. Some I've allowed be dragons for a time, or just gender swap. If I know the creature intimately, I can turn someone into it. Or copy someone exactly, for that matter."
"Amazing!" Shodan says, bringing his hands together in a silent clap. "Is it something inherent to your nature?"
"Sort of. It's inherent from my nature being able to claim and absorb a weapon Amenlichli once wielded, and made its power my own," Alptraum explains, and peers.
"A weapon?" Shodan asks. "There was a weapon that could do this?"
"There's a whole species capable of doing it. The weapon was made from one of them. Mostly Amenlichli just used it to make zombies," Alptraum says and shrugs.
"This is incredible.. what species can do this?" the Eeee asks.
"That shall remain my secret, sorry," Alptraum says.
"Well.. perhaps you'd be willing to trade for the knowledge sometime?" Shodan asks.
"Mmmm, that's unlikely, but maybe. I have reasons to keep them safe," Alptraum says.
"I'll try to have things ready when you return," Chezny says. "How are the children doing?"
"Pretending to be better than they are. Which is not surprising, honestly," Alptraum admits. His head tilts then asks somewhat randomly," Have any of you ever wanted to be female? At least for a while? I've gotten the idea you wish to experience my abilities, and gender swapping someone is actually the safest thing; it's just rearranging what is there naturally already."
"That's.. uh, very generous, but you need to reserve your energy, don't you?" Shodan replies, a bit nervously.
"Not if I go hunting," Alptraum reminds, and smiles wide.
"I'm particularly knowledgeable of Eeee anatomy," he adds while looking right at Shodan.
"Hardly the situation to take advantage of it," Chezny notes. "We've got work to do. I can ask around among the Eeee men if you want."
"I know female Jupani anatomy too," Alptraum claims.
"So does my wife," Chezny counters.
"You'd be better at making her happy with firsthand experience," Alptraum counters, still smiling.
"Or you could be a grok, or any number of other things," Alptraum offers.
Shodan grabs his notebook. "Grok you say?" he asks. "What other things?"
"Rhughrat, obviously. Where do you think the new one came from? It was the Khattah from the group of cannibals," Alptraum points out.
"I hadn't noticed!" Shodan says. "I'll need to examine it!"
"Well, he was barely smarter than one, and it seemed a humane sort of punishment," Alptraum admits, shrugs. "Are you sure you don't want to experience it firsthand?"
"No," Shodan says. Then blinks. "I mean yes, I don't want to experience it firsthand. But I will definitely take the Rhughrat back with me."
"You'd learn more by experiencing it, and imagine as a woman, you could keep the crew happier," Alptraum suggests, and waggles his brow.
"That last part is debatable," Chezny notes.
"Ah, the crew mostly prefer other men, then?" Alptraum asks Chezny.
"How would I change back, though?" Shodan asks. "And would my clothes still fit? I'm rather fond of my warddrobe."
"You'd revert back over time on your own. Which does lead to some periods of very odd anatomy, but it's not painful," Alptraum claims.
"They prefer to not get involved with their employer like that," Chezny clarifies.
"That sounds less appealing," Shodan notes.
"But think of all the information you could gain," Alptraum points out.
"We're more interested in permanent changes, to be honest," Shodan claims. "I'm not that interested in being female though. I imagine many women are eager for the chance to be men, however?"
"Mmm, not really," Alptraum admits and shrugs, "Remember, in Babel women tend to rule." He pauses, then suggests, "I could give you boobs."
"I'm an Eeee, it wouldn't be all that different than I am now," Shodan points out.
"Not with the breasts I could give you," Alptraum comments and smirks, "Remember, I've got links to all the Sisters, including Inala."
"Hmm, still not interested, I'm afraid," Shodan says. "Unless you can change all of us at the same time."
Alptraum shrugs. "Your loss," he says, "And as a point of note if you haven't realized it, I was the rat girl." He winks, then switches topics, "When do you need the dragon on hand?"
"Well, when it's available?" Chezny replies. "I'll tell the men working on the airship to shift focus from restoration to salvage."
Alptraum's throat ripples, then when he speaks, it's the voice of Nikky that comes, "Oy, all righ', I'll gettum ready soon as I kin. Just gotta top off inna woods an be right bak." He smiles widely, and his facial features ripple and squirm a bit.
"I've never been to Babel, but I assume you get invited to all the best parties with tricks like that," Chezy says, and chuckles.
"Eh, most people find me too spooky," Alptraum says, still in Nikky's voice, as he turns, waves, and heads out to go, well, hunting.
Outside the activity of the guards is.. not exactly relaxed. They're still sweeping through the woods and watching the skies, with a few armed sentries where the airship is moored, in case anything jumps out of it. One Khatta lookout waves to Alptraum when he emerges.
"Just a heads up, there may be some odd noises from the woods, and I'll be returning as a giant beast, reptile, thing. Please do not shoot at me, it will be annoying," Alptraum calls back as he waves; and thankfully with his own voice.
With the activity in the thistlebark forest, it's unlikely there's any game to be found there. There may be wild Rhughrats in the mountains though.
"I can sense things, I'll just find prey by feeling for life," Alptraum comments, and heads mountains-ward as he starts trying to sense out what he might find to, well eat.
It's a way out before Alptraum picks up significant signals. Animal auras are distinct from people ones, so it's easy to figure which groups where actually tended flocks. But there are large, isolated animal signals a bit further in.
Alptraum has no desire to go after owned creatures (nor to get chased by pitchforks), so he focuses on the larger, more isolated animals.
It becomes clear once he's closer that the large animals aren't on the surface. He spots a cave where one may be residing.
"Great, cave monsters," Alptraum mutters, sighs, and tries to echo-ping the cave. What could it be?
Nothing responds, but the aura is very close to the entrance.. but there's no visible sign of an animal.
Alptraum continues to ping the cave as he slowly moves closer.
The aura seems to be coming from.. a large patch of grass.
So, Alptraum pings the grass next!
The grass.. stands up and lunges forward!
"Yark!" goes Alptraum! He lifts his right hand and surges out shadow tendrils to impale the grass!
The grass turns out to be the fur of a squat, long, six-legged creature. It has a very wide mouth, which opens and emits a high pitched wail as the hardened tendrils pin it.
"Dagh, you're a freakish thing, and loud!" Alptraum complains, wincing, as the tendrils pulsate (though his own heart is racing more from its surge!). Shadow flows out and envelopes the creature, and from there he can both ken it, and let the shadow absorb it.
When it's engulfed, it stops struggling and screaming. It's a bizarre reptilian creature, but follows the general hexepedal form of large Sinai land animals.
And once examined, Alptraum engages the feeding of the shadow, and while his arm pulsates, the creature us slowly consumed. Well, at least its life energy.
It's probably better than actually drinking its blood, at least. But it did store up a lot of energy, possibly in preparation for hibernation.
And once Alptraum things he has it all, he withdraws the shadow. He also frowns a bit over the monster he now is, and that he does that. But it's at least not that much worse than what regular hunter does with eating something anyway. There he has to pause and take stock in his own level of feeling 'charged', and if it's enough to go dragonish or not.
Luckily, he has his own special calculator for such things. "You're only going to be a dragon until you get to Summerland, right?" Kaira asks.
"That's the plan. Unless I like it. Then maybe forever!" Alptraum jokes.
"Forever takes more energy," Kaira points out. "Since you burn through a lot of magic while flying. So.. maybe check some more caves?"
"Bah, you take me too seriously," Alptraum complains, sighs, and extends senses out to search for more larger creatures to hunt.
Three more seem to satisfy Kaira's energy budget. She also seems to be in a good mood from being able to pump out a few more souls recently.
So, the hunting continues on as he bolsters reserves enough to manage a larger form and the time and distance needed. "So, when will the insults start?" he asks of Kaira at some point. "You're obviously plotting something, or planning insults."
"I can be cheerful, you know," Kaira claims. "Plus, I was able to move the dark heart into one of the unused launch chambers after exploding those mages, which isolates it nicely."
"IT's no longer keeping you company and singing lullabies?" Alptraum asks.
"Essentially," Kaira says. "Don't forget to get everything packed that you need to carry."
"I know, I know. I also don't trust these people, but I can't just kill everyone either," Alptraum admits, shrugs, starts the slow walk back.
"Yeah, that Shodan guy was definitely digging for specific information," Kaira agrees. "Sooner you're out of there the better."
"I know he was, and I tried to seem a bit oblivious by giving away some things," Alptraum admits. "I should be out of there soon, though. The question is shift now, or when I get back.""
"When you get back," Kaira suggests. "Partly to conserve energy, but mainly to make it easier to check your crates and such for tampering."
"Fair, so, walking back it is," Alptraum mutters, and trudges his way back.
"You still have wings," Kaira reminds.
"They have arrows," Alptraum points out.
"Well.. land out of range?" the little dragon suggests.
"Eh, I'd rather walk it for now, gives me time to think," Alptraum says.
Since Kaira is draped across his shoulders, she doesn't suggest otherwise. But after a few minutes she asks, "What are you thinking about?"
"That I'm a freak," Alptraum answers, honestly.
"Why think about it?" Kaira asks. "You are what you are."
"Eh, sometimes I wish I was normal," Alptraum admits, and shrugs a little. "Being what I am is complicated to deal with, and makes me a target. But, not much to do about it."
"For now, anyway," Kaira notes. "Was being a gypsy less complicated?"
"For now what? Well, I was just considered a monster then, now I am one," Alptraum points out.
"Lots of people are monsters," Kaira counters. "Even if they're just normal people."
"Well, that's true. And really, I don't hate what I am, I enjoy being able to be other things and other people. It can be fun," Alptraum admits.
"And best of all, you get to be friends with meeeee," Kaira says, turning her head upside-down and resting it against Alptraum's chest. "Clearly the best thing imaginable."
"Yes, I have my own little dragon parasite living inside of me," Alptraum jokes.
"Symbiote!" Kaira claims. "Tell me young Alptraum wouldn't have loved to have a dragon friend."
"He'd rather have had a hot girlfriend," Alptraum points out, smirks. "Instead, I get to be someone's hot girlfriend. Life is odd."
"Hey, are you saying I'm not sexy enough?" Kaira demands. "Hexen would find me plenty hot, I bet."
"To be fair, Hexen would find a turnip hot when he was randy," Alptraum counters and laughs. "And you're usually too small to do the things hot girlfriend's do."
"I can be bigger, you know," Kaira claims. "Or I could have changed you into a girl for Hexen. Or the vice-versa."
Alptraum smirks. "Hexen wouldn't be able to hand me as a girl," he claims and puffs out his chest for a moment. Up until the gigglefit starts.
"So if you and Hexen had been giggly teenaged gypsy girls, would you have fought for the affections of a cool dragon dude?" Kaira asks. And waggles her ears.
"Well, duh, of course we would have," Alptraum admits, and sticks out his tongue. "Also guaranteed we'd have ended up pregnant before twenty."
"Was there another Eeee or Fox guy in the troupe?" Kaira asks. "Well.. plenty of Eeee in Sylvania, anyway."
"Plenty of Eeee, never saw a fox guy," Alptraum admits, "Unless you count Fnerf guys."
"Would Hexen try for a Fnerf?" Kaira asks, head tilting. "I mean, I suppose the term is 'size queen'.. but Hexen focuses on breasts alot, doesn't he? So he might be like that as a girl too."
"Hexen would sleep with a fnerf, yes," Alptraum agrees. "If he was a girl fox, I promise he'd go for a male fnerf, I mean look what he claims about his rhian father."
"And he'd have loved if I was a girl. He used to tease me I was almost close enough," Alptraum adds and sticks out his tongue.
"Well.. his 'father' did attract a vixen, so he'd want to claim to have inherited that much," Kaira suggests.
"So he doesn't mind girls that are taller than him?" Kaira asks. "He's got an Eeee girlfriend now though."
"Yeah, well, we were both born guys, and grew up that way. Only I ended up eventually being a girl, sort of," Alptraum comments, "Mostly, I just ended up weird."
"He's mad about his Eeee girlfriend. Or claims he is. He could get away if he really wanted to, though. So, he does enjoy it and must actually love her," Alptraum points out and shrugs. "And yeah, taller is fine. He just likes, well, girl."
"So what would have happened if he was the girl and you were the guy?" Kaira asks, grinning. "Or would she be all shy and hide behind her father?"
"Probably. And be embarrassed all the time. Then in the night time, be wanton," Alptraum admits.
"But would you be her boyfriend, or would she be chasing after some other guy?" Kaira probes.
"Why not both? Hexen would be flustered," Alptraum laughs.
"I may have to set up an experiment," Kaira claims, just as the little circular valley with the manor and thistlebark forest lie.
"What sort of experiment, and why?" Alptraum asks as he heads into the small valley and towards the manor.
"A fun one," Kaira claims. "For fun."
"One where one of us is a girl and seducing the other, eh?" Alptraum prods.
"Or both of you are girls trying to seduce one another," Kaira says. "Or some other situation."
"Like I said, if we'd both been girls, one of us would have been knocked up before twenty, so pretty sure that would end in hilarity," Alptraum sighs and rubs his face.
There's some alarm called when the ones patrolling the forest spot Alptraum, but a guard walks towards him and calls out while waving. "Barsunala guy?" he calls.
"Yeah, it's me. If you shoot me, I will not be happy," Alptraum replies and waves.
"You're expected over by the airship," the guard says, and gestures for Alptraum to follow him.. but also waits for him before moving off.
"All right, I'll head that way," Alptraum says, nods, and heads towards the airship dock area.
Chezny is there with a group of men, and they've collected lots of rope, envelope netting and zolk. The boxes and kids are also there, although the kids are keeping close to the wall of the manor rather than get any closer to the airship.
"Oh, I see the tailors have arrived!" Alptraum jokes and waves. "I should be good to go, and the mountains are safer now. Bonus."
"We weren't going to be going into the mountains, but good to know," Chezny says. One of the Eeee guards is checking over the kids. There's also a basket next to them.
"I want to double-check the packed crates before I change," Alptraum tells Chezny. "Also, if you've changed your mind about being a woman, I should have enough energy."
"Are disappointed I'm not a woman then?" Chezny asks and laughs, then goes to open the crates.
"Maybe!" Alptraum laughs, and goes to check all the crates now that they're open. Looking that everything he wants to take is still there, and there is not odd 'additions' or things he had not put there himself are within them.
Everything seems as he left it, including the bundle with the 'extra' instruments that Shodan didn't see in his list. The crate contains the books and other documents.
Alptraum nods and closes it back up, and puts several small claw marks around the edges to help uncover any tampering that happens if he's distracted (and shifting will be that!).
"So, this space should be big enough for you, right?" Chezny asks. The airship is about 100 feet from the manor, with the space in between clear.
"Plenty," Alptraum agrees. He also senses out instead of just looking to see if others are in hiding, perhaps waiting to capture him while he's busy.
The ones out in the forest are.. still out in the forest. The watchers on top of the manor itself are still in place as well. Shodan has come out to watch, however.
"It will be ill-advised to try and mess with me, or contain me," Alptraum does warn before he sits right down in the middle of the area. One more look around, then he signs himself into the shadow-shell to shift into a large quadrapedal dragon. He's wise enough to use one of Kaira's species for it, and not a steel dragon, at least. Overlaying it and shifting his body larger and stronger to carry things (and people) back.
It takes longer in order to get to the proper size, but when he opens his eyes again, the first thing he sees is a full sized (for her) Kaira, who was apparently playing watchdog to the process.
"Decided to be my guard?" Alptraum asks, actually grateful Kaira did. He wouldn't have been surprised if they had prepared iron chains and a collar to capture him while he was shifting. He still doesn't quite trust them!
"Of course," Kaira says. "Most of them ran away, but a few ran to get between us and the kids."
"Did they think we would hurt the children?" Alptraum asks. He sits back on his haunches and looks about for Shodan and the supposed 'tailors' that would make the harnesses.
"Training reflex, most likely," Kaira says. Chezny approaches then, and waves for Alptraum's attention.
Alptraum's white-maned head swings around and down to Chezny. "Yessss?" he asks of the Jupani.
"So, still know who I am, and why you're here?" the Jupani asks.
Alptraum arches his brow. "Of course. I remember everything. Was there concern I would not?" he asks.
"Just making certain," the mercenary says. "We'll try to set up the harness over shoulders. So.. someone needs to climb onto your back there, is that alright?
Alptraum sort of lies down flat on the floor. "It's fine," Alptraum says. "I'm not going to bite."
Someone climbs up onto Alptraum's back, and some ropes are tossed up. Chezny asks Alptraum to raise up on his forelegs.. then slowly flap his wings a few time.
Alptraum does both. He slowly and carefully lifts his forelimbs to not appear threatening. He then moves those wings slowly. While lying there, he does look over to the children and hopes they do not look terrified.
They look.. well, they have that odd look of awe that only children can manage. The ones weaving the harness seem satisfied with were and how much slack is needed, and Chezny tells Alptraum he lower himself back down again.
Alptraum lightly lifts one forelimb and waggles its claws at the children. Then he lowers right back down as instructed.
It takes another hour of adding pullies and rigging and sheets to Alptraum, and smaller harnesses to the children, before the crew is satisfied enough to start securing the crates and supply basket, and then the children.
Alptraum, for his part, remains still so as to not scare anyone. He continues to look around for Shodan. Surely that one would have wanted to observe, well, everything!
The Eeee in question is standing in the side entry to the manor, taking notes or possibly drawing in the same book with the artifact diagrams and talking picture of his patron.
"Enjoying yourself?" Alptraum rumbles at Shodan.
The Eeee snaps out of a daze at the question. "Oh, yes, this all very fascinating."
"I should probably eat those notes," Alptraum comments.
"Ah.. I don't think that would make a difference," Shodan admits. "Whatever I write in this book is transcribed to its twin back in Chronotopia."
"Oh, so I just have to go eat the one in Chronotopia too," Alptraum comments, "Lest your or your horned friend decide to put me in a zoo."
"What an ironic notion," Shodan says. "I'm sure if you are in that part of the world, he would be most interested in meeting you."
"I grew up near there, you know," Alptraum remarks.
"Is that where your accent is from?" Shodan asks, and then scribbles another note.
"From around there, yes," Alptraum comments.
"But I should point out I have traveled extensively," Alptraum adds, shrugs.
"Well, I think everyone is secured," Chezny announces before climbing down the netting from Alptraum's shoulder to the ground.
"Oh good, I can eat you now," Alptraum jokes to Chezny.
"Not in front of the children please," the Jupani replies.
"Good response," Alptruam laughs. And licks him anyway.
"Ugh, only my mother ever did that," Chezny says, and starts gesturing for the crew to pull back.
Alptraum grins. "Sorry, I am not a very dignified demigod," Alptraum admits. Looking to the children he asks a lot more gently, "Are you okay?"
They're all clutching on another in a line from smallest to largest, wearing rope harnesses that clip to the netting. "We're fine," Harper replies for everyone.
"You are certain? Please do not be afraid, I won't hurt you," Alptraum promises.
"Yes, please get to the fun part," Harper says. "We've all gone to the potty."
Alptraum checks that all the crates and such are also secured and in place. "Well, it looks like you will finally be rid of me, for which I imagine you are all grateful," he comments towards Shodan
"You made things a bit easier for us, honestly, so we are glad for your presence," Shodan replies. "But we do have to move on to our next objective."
"Which is?" Alptraum prompts.
"We still have artifacts to recover," Shodan points out.
"Here?" Alptraum further prods.
"Wherever they are," Shodan notes. "Possibly Saskanar."
"Then we may meet again. All of this area is under my protection," Alptraum points out and extends his wings. "So, no misbehaving. You know what I am capable of."
"We'll only murder bad people," Shodan promises.
"I'll know if you go back on the agreement. And I can hunt not only in the physical, but in dreams and other ways. None are beyond my reach!" Alptraum declares! And with that pronouncement, those massive wings begin to beat and he begins to move to try and get airborne!
It's surprisingly easy to get airborne, despite the shrieking of the children. There's no easy way to tell if they're doing it in terror or excitement. The day is clear, and once high enough Alptraum can make out the estate in the distance thanks to having very large eyes at the moment.
"Kaira, can you check on the kids and make sure they're okay?" Alptraum asks, well, internally. He's focused ahead on where he's going (and the skyline for ships), and isn't comfortable trying to crane and look back while flying!
"Aye, Captain Blood! Arr," is the reply, in rather poor attempt at a pirate accent. A moment later, Kaira notes, "They're excited. No crying or anything. I'll stay with them just in case."
"Thank you. I hope they don't pee on me," Alptraum admits, sighs. Most forms don't care for that experience, or smell! Only the select crazy ones might not mind.
There aren't signs of airships out this far. Shodan didn't mention when they were expecting their own airship to arrive, or where it would be coming from.
Summerland already looks clearer now. Alptraum guesses he's going twice as fast as he did as an Eeee.
Alptraum continues on, and also tries to keep as low as is save to manage, to make himself less visible at distance, or from above. Big things make less of a target when they blend into the landscape.
The route does pass over another estate, which seems abandoned, but his improved vision lets Alptraum see a few covered wagons that remind him of Gypsy wagons.. just without the colorful paint. The ones he spots are dull brown, and he doesn't smell any metal. They could be the traders that Cardamom mentioned.
Alptraum ponders doing down to check that. out. But ... not with children on board. Maybe after they're delivered to the safe estate. He can''t risk a bunch of children for idle curiosity.
The wagons are moving slowly, and through a lightly forested area, so he's only over them for a few seconds, and his shadow isn't crossing them anyway. They didn't look like they were laden with refugees though. Then there's a lake, where Alptraum can see his reflection for the minute it takes to cross.
And of course he takes a moment to admire the reflection! Ego, thy name is dragon.
It is a striking figure! Although he isn't sure what sort of reaction it will get when they reach the manor. Last time it was just the Lapi kid outside.
Well, probably some screaming. There's usually screaming when creates big enough to eat you whole show up, after all. Still, there aren't that many at the estate, so it should be minimal, and less likelihood of weapons brought out.
The estate is ahead, past the small forest and some uncultivated fields. From this side, there is plenty of space to land near it, and the amount of time as a dragon mostly depends on how long it takes to get the kids down. But getting them down requires untying their harnesses.
Alptraum figures he may as well land at the estate. He can't untie their harnesses himself, and pretty sure Karia can't either. Plus, they do know Alptraum is a bit ... weird. So maybe they won't outright panic.
Coming in for a landing will still require spiraling down to reduce speed. So the choice is doing that over the field, or circling the manor itself to make sure it isn't too big of a surprise, since he does need some help.
Alptraum ponders on that, then decides to circle. If nothing else, he can call out who it actually is as part of the early warning. So hopefully they'll know before he lands.
Once on the ground, the kids start yapping. "Is this is it? Look at the size of the field, dad would.." "That house is huge, and it's not a weird fortress this time." "I need to pee, should we try to untie ourselves?"
It isn't long until Chives and Cardamom appear, the girl casually carrying a pitchfork over her shoulder. Chives has a spyglass on a strap around his neck.
"Wait for others to untie you, you don't want to fall off and break something," Alptraum points out. He also calls over to Chives and Cardemom, "Yes, this really is Alptraum. Can you help untie and get the children down? Before one of them pees, I hope."
The two Fnerfs break into a trot, and a few more staff poke out of the doorway. Cardamom plants her pitchfork in the dirt, and says, "You've put on weight!" before stretching up to start unhooking kids.
"And scales, and a tail," Alptraum points out and smirks. "But you knew I could change up my shape and size already," he points out as he lies down to make it easier to reach and untie the kids.
Once down, the children are quiet and shy. "What's in the crates?" Cardamom asks, as a matronly Fnerf and some of Cardamom's sibling run out now. "Should I take them down too?"
"The crates are the artifacts I went to recover. I'm not sure I can transport them out of this form, and I wasn't sure if I was staying over tonight here, or continuing on. So, it a bit depends on that," Alptraum muses as he ponders. "There's also a caravan I passed a ways back I was curious in checking on to see what they were; the trade group or something else."
"You should probably stay the night," Cardamom suggests. "You're the only familiar face these kids have right now."
"And not because someone else wants company?" Alptraum teases a little.
"Well.." Cardamom starts to say, and then the rest of her family arrive, and in the presence of an obvious mother the kids start crying. Even Harper, now that she doesn't have to put on a strong front for the other kids.
"And the trauma starts to set in," Alptraum says and sighs. He knew it would come at some point, and it's a kind of wound he can't heal or fix. "Try to keep them in a room together for now," he requests of Chives and Cardamom's family. "They need familiarity."
Cardamom's brothers untie the rest of the harness, whispering about how cool it is to see a dragon, while the adults guide and sometimes carry the children towards the manor. "So I guess you were successful?" Cardamom asks Alptraum.
"Quite," Alptraum agrees as he watches the children lead off. "I had some unexpected allies involved which made it better. On the worse side, though, the kids were held by cannibals. They were eating their parents and friends for food on the ship, and the kids probably saw some of it. I just hope they were not slipped any of the ... food."
"Any idea how long they were held?" the Fnerf asks, nose and whiskers wrinkled at the mention of cannibals.
"A month or so, I suspect, just based on the refuge I met in Babel, and their nutritional situation I found them in. They're going to need a lot to just get physically healthy again. As for the mind and spirit, that will be even longer," Alptraum admits with a shake of his head. "Physical wounds are easy to deal with, ones of the heart are ... well, some never heal completely. They're going to need to be watched for some time, and kept busy so they don't live too much in memories of the bad moments."
"And we'll need to get the word out that they're here, just in case.. you know, they have surviving relatives," Cardamom says. "How are you holding up?"
"Mm. A bit worn from it. The weight of actions always tends to hit a few days later. I do not enjoy enacting vengeance on others, even those that really deserve it. I pay for it in my own way," Alptraum admits and rolls his fore-shoulders a bit in a shrug.
"Well, change back to normal and rest a bit," Cardamom advises.
"Mmm, if I want to check out that caravan, it's faster to go like this," Alptraum points out.
"Will they talk to you though, or just bolt?" Cardamom asks. "How far off are they?"
"Mm, probably just run. They were near what looked like an abandoned estate back that way," Alptraum answers and gestures in the direction with his tail. "Just a few bland-looking wagons."
"Anyone walking alongside?" Cardy asks.
"Not that I saw, but they were in a bit of a forested area and I was over them pretty quickly," Alptraum says.
"Sounds like the usual traders," the Fnerf says, and taps the side of her muzzle. "If they've been to do the wrecked village they may be a bit jumpy, but it would be good to know it there are survivors before we say anything to the kids."
"Would they be headed this way? Might be better to wait for them to arrive and not lizard-bomb them," Alptraum admits.
"They're probably another day out then," Cardamom says. "They'd have used the abandoned place to overnight, so will probably camp again so they can get here in the morning. I know where they'll camp, I used to sneak away to see them when I was little."
"Had a nice boy you liked to spend time with there, eh?" Alptraum teases, grins.
"We used to play fetch," Cardamom claims. "Like you didn't sneak off when you were little?"
"All the time. Usually to explore old ruins and look for things to impress girls," Alptraum admits.
"Did you ever actually find anything?" Cardy asks. "Think you could carry me like this?"
"Yes, I did, actually. And yes, I could," Alptraum answers both questions, "But, I thought you wanted me to turn back to what passes for normal for me."
"I may want a ride later!" Cardy claims. "I've never flown before."
"It's a convenient way to travel," Alptraum claims. "Now, I'll try to turn back so ... step back a bit please," he requests as he curls up into a bit of a lizardly ball. A ball that disappears into shadow so that his Eee-form can be recovered and restored. And clothed! Of course shadow-created clothing usually looks like weird rubber 'fetish' clothing, but that's all he can do until his actual clothing is unpacked!
He can feel the difference in energy level now after absorbing the dragon. He needs to recharge soon, or see if Kaira can provide a boost.
When the shadow does withdraw, Alptraum is back to himself, more or less. Just that what minimal clothing he manifested for modesty tends to look like black rubber. So, an Eeee in a rubber shirt and rubber shorts. The end result is someone out of a goth club in Babel, or Rephidim. It'll have to do until he can unpack more normal clothing. "Ugh, I need to go hunting, I think," he complains while stretching.
"Hunting for what?" Cardamom asks, as she collects the rope 'saddle' up. "Need me to carry you?"
"Oh, just wildlife out in the forests will do," Alptraum answers. "I should probably do that now before going into the house."
"Alright, but I'll come after you if don't come back before dark," Cardamom warns, and carries the rope towards the manor.
"I'm safer than you are in the woods," Alptraum points out and rolls his eyes. Up into the air he goes again, to wing out over the near forest. There he starts trying to aura-sense things he could quickly hunt down for a recharge.
There are few large animals from the look of it, deep in the trees. They aren't slow either, as two seem to be fighting or at least banging into each other.
Alptraum figures that's a good target! So he dive-lands close to where he spotted the competition and sneaks the rest of the way through the woods to where it was. Just one should be enough for now, thankfully.
Landing a few yards away, Alptraum sees two adult male boars fighting. Both are covered in blood from bites and gashes made by tusks, and they've torn up quite a bit of underbrush during their battle so far.
Alptraum moves in close and ponders. Two could be a problem, he'll have to take out both or the survivor might attack him. So ... he waits until they're close together in some sort of grapple ... then tries to impale both of them with to shadow-tendril-spikes to siphon both at the same time!
The first time Alptraum tried boar-hunting after getting the shadow he accidentally turned the boar's brains into snakes. This time, the boars don't notice the shadow at all, so intent are they on killing one another. So Alptraum can try draining them without, hopefully, garnering enough attention to distract them from their fight.
And thus, Alptraum does try to do exactly that. Mad boars are nasty and dangerous. He learned the hard way in Sylvania a few times. Having to spend the night in a tree sucks.
After awhile, the boars begin to slow down. Either they're naturally running out of steam, or the effects of the draining are finally being felt. Eventually they pass out.
Alptraum lets out a long sigh of relief that they're out. So, he moves closer as he continues to drain them, and will continue until they're 'dry' so to speak (or he ends up full)
There are grunting noises not far off. Maybe they were fighting over a sow? The shadow keeps on deflating the boars until they're little more than skin and bones, but it does make Alptraum feel more energized.
Alptraum draws back the shadow, then pauses to try and guess how much that recharged. He doesn't want to go after another unless required to; even the females are dangerous.
His immediate fatigue has been dealt with, so he's at least back to a full charge. Which means one hour of dragon used up one ton of boar.
"Good enough for now. I can manage on this," Alptraum decides, nods, then moves back to a spot he can go airborne. And once airborne, it's back to the estate!
Cardamom greets him on the back patio. "Did you find something?" she asks.
"Yes, just some wild boars. It was enough to make up for what I spent being that beast," Alptraum says as he lands and strolls closer. "So, that's better. I'll be fine now."
The Fnerf leans in and sniffs Alptraum. "The children are eating, and will be taking baths later. Finding clothes that fit is going to be a challenge, so my mother may just make some out of our old hand-me-downs."
Alptraum nods, while looking at the fnerf funny for sniffing. "What are you doing?" he asks. "And yeah, not surprised on the clothing; I expect something will have to be made until more proper clothing can be obtained."
"I wanted to see if you smelled like a dragon," Cardamom says.
"Do dragons have a specific smell?" Alptraum has to ask. "And how would you know?"
"Because I just smelled one," the Fnerf claims. "And you don't smell like one now. Nor like a boar."
"Well, I'd prefer not smelling like a boar. They smell awful," Alptraum claims. "So, what do I smell like?"
"Eeee," she says, and pokes at Alptraum's shirt. "This doesn't smell like anything though."
"Well, because it's not real. That doesn't surprise me. I do need to get my regular clothes, though. Should be in one of the crates," Alptraum says, "So ... lead on!"
The Fnerf can't help trying to tickle Alptraum through the shadow clothes with her tail, just to test how real they are. She can do this while leading the way inside, and up to the second level to the same room he was in before. The crates are stacked up in the corner.
The clothing, thankfully, prevent being tickled! It messes with sensations after all. "Hah, didn't work," he laughs when they finally reach the room. He heads to the crates and checks quick to find the one without all the scary artifacts, then looks for his clothing in it.
His clothes are there, thankfully. But he did pack them himself. They haven't soaked up any evil magical energy that he can tell.
"Excuse me..." Alptraum says as he ushers Cardamom out of the room so he can change! And once alone, he does just that and dresses back in his mostly normal clothing.
Cardamom asks from the other side of the door, "What are you doing that I can't see?"
"Dressing!" Alptraum answers, and opens the door once he's done. "You don't need to see me naked."
"I gave you a bath," Cardy points out.
"So?" Alptraum counters, grins.
"That should count for something," the Fnerf claims. "I'll probably be sleeping with the children tonight, so they feel secure."
"Not a bad idea. I doubt they'd want a monster like me around. I rarely make anyone feel comfortable," Alptraum replies then looks down the hall a bit. "Where were they staying right now, again?"
"Right now they're in the kitchen, still eating," Cardy says. "Where they sleep will depend on them. If they all want to sleep together, it'll probably be with my mom in my parent's room. If the girls want to be separate, they'll be with me, the boys with my brothers. Master Velkarno will probably see them at breakfast, after they're feeling more normal again."
"Should we check on them? Or leave them alone to eat? I don't want to increase their stress even more," Alptraum admits, "And to be fair, I'm probably the strangest thing they'll ever meet."
"Might be a good idea to check in on them, just so they have some sort of continuity," Cardamom suggests. "Going from where they were.. to where they are now.. may make it hard to accept that they actually went through something that wasn't a nightmare and that this is also real."
"You do know my name means Nightmare, right?" Alptraum points out, "But, it's not a bad idea to check in on them."
The Fnerf leads the way back downstairs, but it isn't difficult to locate the children. They aren't in the dining room that is passed by, but in the well lit kitchen crowded around a plain table. There's stew, ham, breadfruit and other 'farm' fair, along with milk (there must be some livestock somewhere) and butter. Also tea.. with lumps of butter in it. Plenty of fat for the emaciated children. They're all trying to maintain civility while stuffing their faces. This is also Alptraum's first time seeing the Lapi family, whose own children are at the table as well, if more reserved.. but still clearly excited to have more kids around.
Alptraum knocks on the doorframe instead of just walking in. "Hello," he says, softly, "I don't mean to distract or upset. I just wished to see if everyone was doing okay. I know it's been ... bad, but thinks should improve from here."
The one called Mutt, who Alptraum remembers as being curled up an unresponsive looks a mess. His eyes and nose are running, and he's got most of a potato crammed into his mouth, but he gets down from his chair and hugs Alptraum's waist.
"You did good getting them to safety," the Lapi Patriarch says, patting Alptraum on the shoulder.
Alptraum looks a bit unsure what to do when hugged. He stands there a moment with his arms a bit out before returning the hug, gently. "I would have preferred they have not needed to be rescued at all, and I wish I could have gotten to them sooner, and saved more of them," Alptraum admits to the Lapi.
"Don't let regrets over what might have been overshadow what actually's been accomplished," the buck advises.
"You don't have to deal with the dead and spirits directly, but your point is taken," Alptraum points out gently to the buck. "And I have to take the souls of the worst down to a hell for punishment, which is difficult, even for those who deserve it. So, there is more I yet must do."
"Can't say I can relate, but I have three children that I love, and two that I've lost that I still love," the buck says. "The love is the important thing, not the loss."
"The love should overshadow the pain of the loss in time. The pain never completely goes away, it just gets softer and easier to deal with in time. Or at least I hope that it will for them," Alptraum says to the buck. "And they won't be alone, people here will care for them, and there are at least two more survivors I will be sending to help."
"Kids are stronger than we think," the buck agrees. "One of their elders, isn't it?"
"Yes, an older woman named Aunty, and one young child with her doll. I found them in a hospice in Babel," Alptraum explains and nods. "Aunty was one of their former village witches, or the like."
"Oh? We could probably do with a witch," the buck says. Mutt has unstuck himself from Alptraum and returned to his meal.
"Her daughter was the current witch, but she perished in the invasion. It was her spirit that led me to where the children were taken," Alptraum says, then pauses and reaches into his pouch. "And I should return this; it's a lock of her hair. It should return to her family."
"Are any of these children her's?" the buck asks quietly.
"One of the boys," Alptraum says, "It was his sister that I met in the city."
"Dravitz," Alptraum says after thinking a moment. "His mother was Celeda, sister is Cedra. They should have this, but ... I imagine it will make them cry. But, it does still echo with their mother."
"I'd wait until they're all together again," the buck says. "Then they can have a proper funeral."
"Ah, good idea. It's all they really have left to do a funeral with. Though ... I may have a suggestion for a way to perform one for the others, drawing on methods used in Sylvania," Alptraum says after pausing a moment to think again. "Are we near a river?"
"Yes, there's one that comes down from the mountains about an hour from here on foot," the man answers.
"If it is a safe trip, then I would like to use that location as a place for a funeral for all the fallen," Alptraum says. "Is there any abandoned hunting cabins or the like close to it? Mostly as the ritual is done at night, and I'd rather not have children walk through the forest in darkness."
"There may be an old gameskeeper's shack, from back when we needed one," Mr. Chives will have it on one of his maps, I'm sure. There may have been an old mill as well."
"Okay, if you could check the maps before I return, that would be helpful. We can treat it like camping or the like for the children," Alptraum offers.
"I'll see that things are ready," the buck says. "When do you expect to be back this way with the others?"
"Within a week. The old woman is, well, old. So travel would not be fast unless I get a ship or do the dragon thing again," Alptraum answers, rubs his chin. "Dragon is, sadly, easier than a ship."
"I have never expected anyone to ever say such a thing," the buck says, and grins. "Perhaps some Rakh'tors could be found instead?"
"Dragon doesn't cost any money, just myself and a few wild animals," Alptraum admits, "Which is why it's easiest."
"Well, you would know best," the father says. "I wish we could offer more assistance."
"You are already offering more than enough. My contributions are nothing in comparison, really," Alptraum says. "Yours will affect them for the rest of their lives. Mine are ... just an interesting camp story to tell some day to their kids."
"Well, that and the fact that they will have a rest of their lives," the buck notes. "They may repress some of the memories, but I don't think they'll forget riding on a dragon."
"Ah, but that is just a single moment. They will be able to build many more, and happier, memories here," Alptraum counters, and smiles. "I do not wish any of you to ever feel your efforts are not equal, or better, than mine just because mine lean into, the ah, fantastic. Everyone is capable of miracles; and helping others find a new life is just as miraculous. At least to me."
"And helping them to let go of a past life," the buck says. "I'll make sure one of the wagons is fixed up, so you can all ride out to the river. I don't know if they'll be recovered enough to fly by then. Mother Spice is going to try her best to fatten them up though."
Alptraum nods. "Good, that should help. Well, I should allow them to eat in peace," Alptraum says and looks back the way he came. "Please see they get baths too, tonight if possible? Any smell of what they went through might bring back memories."
"We are prepared to wrestle the boys into one if need be," the buck says.
With the children in the hands of the various families for now, Alptraum is able find Chives and be shown the maps of the surroundings. There is indeed a river forming a natural boundary in the foothills, and the map is marked with the location of the gameskeeper's cabin as well as an old flower mill. "We have never used the mill, not in my lifetime at least," the Fnerf notes. "It was easier to grind things ourselves given our meager grain harvests."
"How well is the cabin kept up? Will it make for good shelter for one night? How large is it?" Alptraum asks while he's looking over the map. "Sounds like the mill would be a ruin."
"I haven't been to the cabin since I was a.. younger man," Chives notes. "But I recall it having a stone foundation and basement, so a fairly sturdy structure. It should be standing, at least, but I can't attest to the condition of the roof."
"If the roof isn't, the basement should be," Alptraum points out. "And that should be enough for one night. I should probably scout it out ahead of time, though."
"It shouldn't take long to get there by air, but do try to return before dusk," Chives says. "Just in case."
Alptraum arches his brow. "Why? What happens at dusk?" Alptraum asks.
"Well, nothing, unless something is following the children," Chives says. "All I know of wizards are the stories told to keep children in line, however."
"And you want me back here for protection, just in case," Alptraum deduces. "Which is probably wise, given your staffing is not really the sort to repel an attack. Though to be fair, they'd be more likely after me than the children."
"It will still be better if you're at the manor in that case as well," Chives says. "It's very sturdy."
"So am I," Alptraum points out and grins. "Or just disturbing and freaky."
"You're a fine young man, even if you do come from Babel," the butler insists.
"Fine young monster. You've seen what I can turn into," Alptraum points out and even beeps Chive's nose.
The beep takes the Fnerf by surprise. "Perhaps younger at heart than I first thought," he notes, and waggles his ears.
"Eh, I'm not that young. You can tell by how good I am in bed," Alptraum jokes and grins widely.
"A sound sleep is the hallmark of the young," Chives claims.
"Oh, you assume I sleep," Alptruam jokes.
"If not, I highly recommend it," Chives jokes right back. "Before you have children."
"I already have children, sort of," Alptraum admits, shrugs. "And I suppose I should get going if I want to do some scouting before the day ends."
"I'll let the others know where you've gone," Chives promises.
"Do you think they'll even ask?" Alptraum asks.
"Why wouldn't they?" Chives asks.
"I'm ... not that important and they barely know me?" Alptraum opines.
"I'd say that to those children you are currently the most important person in the world," Chives suggests.
"Perhaps. One of them tried to kill me," Alptraum points out, smiles, and shrugs. "Anyway, I really should go while the sun's up as you say. I shouldn't take long, barring no problems like monsters, brigands, or worse."
"There shouldn't be any out and about," Chives assures.
Alptraum nods. "Then it should be quick! See you all in a bit, then," Alptraum says and waves as he heads out the door!
It's still close to noon, so the day has warmed up nicely. And from the air it's hard to miss the buildings, once Alptraum spots the river. A fly-by does show that the water wheel of the mill is likely seized up, but otherwise the cabin and main mill look fairly intact.
Alptraum heads to the cabin first since it's likely to have been used more recently and is hopefully in better shape. The mill he'll check after just for safety purposes, to make sure nothing nasty moved in.
The cabin door and outside walls look intact, although the windows have been shuttered. There's nothing like a lock on the wooden door, just a peg through the door that can be used to slide the inner latch up or down.
Alptraum leans in close to the door and listens for movement or voices within. He's not that worried, but wants to be careful, and check that it's habitable.
There's a slight chittering, but no sounds of movement.
And so Alptraum lifts the peg and pushes the door open.
The air is dusty, and the main (and only) room has one wall just for hanging traps. There's a stone fireplace, a trapdoor to the basement, a pile of firewood, and some very sturdy furniture. The roof is peeked, and sports sleeping perches. There aren't any personal touches to speak of.
Alptraum heads in carefully, stepping slowly to test the stability of the floor. If he can make it to the trap door, he'll listen, then open.
The floorboards aren't the smoothest, but they also don't creak or flex. They may be as thick as the rest of the cabin's timbers. There's a brief burst of chittering, coming from the hearth.
"Chibix in the chimney?" Alptraum jokes. "Sounds like a children's book." And of course he goes to check it.
This causes lots of flapping and chitters, as the chibix all startle and fly up through the chimney. It probably hasn't been used in awhile, long enough for the smell of smoke to have died down enough that chibix would shelter in it.
"Probably a bit dangerous to light a fire, dust buildup or leaf/nest clutter. Will have to check it more later if absolutely needed," Alptraum muses as he tries to peer up the flu. He shrugs a bit, then heads back to the basement trap door.
It sticks a bit before coming up. There are wooded steps so steep they may as well be a ladder, and some very old gamy odors as well.
Ugh, probably the slaughter zone," Alptraum mutters and covers his nose a moment. "I wonder if that would be a problem, given the ship they were on. It might bring up bad memories. Need some mint or the like to cover that out air it out. Still, he does go down to check what is down there.
If anything the place smells smoky. There are drying and stretching racks, probably for pelts, and a skinning table with stone top. Other than some obsidian flints, there aren't any tools, and certainly no pelts or other remains. There is, however, another trap door that looks out of place in one corner of the basement. The place is dry as well, despite being near the river.
"Yeah, they shouldn't come down here," Alptraum mutters, even he is having unpleasant flashbacks to the ship just from the implements. He makes his way to the other out of place trap door to open it and look in.
It feels odd. Especially when he sees a flight of stone steps leading into darkness.
Alptraum pings down the stairs.
The echoes come back soft and faded, which is wrong for a stone stairway. He can see the stone walls after all.
Alptraum frowns. He looks around the room for a candle or a lantern. something is off here.
There aren't any candles, but he does find treated rush tapers that can be lit.
Alptraum takes one of the tapers, just in case. But ... instead of using it right yet, he tries something different. He concentrates, trying to shape his normal hand into something less normal, one of Nicora's hands. Because she has glowing green blood, and it makes her skin glow slightly in the dark, and that's enough for this. If he can manage the change, anyway.
Given the darkness of the passage, the eerie glow seems sufficient, even if it does leave that hand 'naked' and pale.
And a bit itchy, and more delicate, and weird-feeling, but ... it works. He sticks it down the stairway a bit to try and get a better look.
It lets him make out the edges of the steps at least. The walls are close in, so get fairly illuminated as well.
Alptraum starts down it, one step at a time, and prepared to brace against the way if the steps suddenly drop.
The steps feel firm during the descent, and there aren't any cobwebs or other things that would account for the soft echoes. But there's light ahead, a sort of amber glow coming from the stone themselves. Not long after that, there's a door.
"This just feels wrong," Alptraum mutters to himself, "I don't think this was a hunting cabin at all." He leans in and listens to the door, but suspects some sort of silencing enchantment is at work.
The door opens on its own when Alptraum leans in. Beyond is a chamber with walls lined with skulls. There's a desk and behind it as a woman so black that she may as well be a shadow. She has silver eyes, just like Alptraum though, even if they're looking out from behind the sockets of a skull mask. "Ah, Edgewalker. I really did not think we would meet again. You've grown," the Mother of Bones comments.
Alptraum's eyes narrow. "You again," he says warily and steps just inside the door. "Why are you ... here?" he asks. "What is this place?"
"This is my place," the old god says. "You don't have a spirit guiding you this time though. Perhaps you've grown to the point where you can create the door now yourself."
"Except I wasn't trying to do anything of the sort. I was just examining an old cabin to make sure it would be safe for some children to stay at for a night," Alptraum says, eyes narrowed still. "Is there any reason you know of your door would be attached to a cabin?"
"Was there a basement?" the god asks. "That's a requirement. And children? That seems.. unusual. The door should only appear if there's a need that only I can handle. Are any of these children tormented? Or are you, perhaps?"
"The children are survivors of a massacre. They lost everyone they knew, family, friends, home, gone," Alptraum explains. "As for myself? Probably, I always feel tormented about one thing or another."
"Tell me more about this cabin," the old god asks. "Are they outside now, waiting for you?"
"No, it's just me. They're quite a ways away. I'm out here checking the area before bringing them," Alptraum answers as he relaxes at least a little bit. "It's supposed to just be an old hunting cabin, not much to speak off. Sturdy, utilitarian. Has skinning gear in the cellar."
"And why are you bringing them here?" the Mother of Bones asks.
"There are no bodies to perform a funeral for. But, they need closure. I was going to use the river nearby as part of an old ceremony I remember from Sylvania. Using small candle-lit boats upon its surface as a focus for their memories of those they lost to find their way to the afterlife. It's not tradition for this area, but I know not what else we could do for them that would fit here."
"I see," the old god says, pressing her fingertips together. "Where are they from, originally?"
"The children? Just a small farming village sort of north and east of here," Alptraum answers. "It was burned to the ground. Those they took were either kept for sacrificing, or ... they ate onboard their ship. The children have been through much; they need some closure and peace."
"One moment.." the Mother of Bones says, and stands up. She's still taller than Alptraum as she comes around the desk. "Ah.." she says, leaning in towards Alptraum's face. "There is a spirit with you."
"Are you referring to the strands of hair? It was the mother of two of the children and it was her link that helped me find them," Alptraum says and arches his brow as she leans in.
"Celeda," the old god says. "Yes. Alright, I will do what I can to aid, when the time comes."
Alptraum arches his brow. "Why?" he finally asks. "What do you want from me in return?"
"Hmm, an interesting question," the Mother of Bones says. "I hadn't thought of asking for anything. These aren't my people. New worshipers would be pointless as well. What I ask then, is your help. Specifically, the sort of help only the Barsunala can give."
"And that would be ...?" Alptraum prods a bit and continues to peer at her.
"I want you to bring the spirits back, for just one evening," the god says. "I can help. Closure goes both ways. The dead deserve it too. It's up to beings like us to ensure they get it."
"I can only do that if the children help. I need them to act as their anchor, their link to this world. I can amplify and draw the bind, but without the thread to start it would be hard for me to find them. I would otherwise have to go to their former home and find something of theirs. Anyway, you ask for something I would gladly do," Alptraum answers, surprised by such an ... unselfish request from an old god.
"Aunty," the god says. "The witch. She'll help with all of that. She's the memory of their village."
"Yes, she is. I have to go fetch her tomorrow. The place the children are staying at want me to remain with them for at least one more night. I don't know if it brings them any comfort or not, but I will," Alptraum says and nods a bit.
"It has been a long time since anyone has opened my door," the Mother of Bones says. "I am a god beholden to no lore, and there is no one living who knows of me, except for you. As such, I have little power. But that doesn't mean I won't enjoy using it for something again. Don't forget that if you need me, I'm only a basement away."
Alptraum smirks. "Still trying to get me to be a follower of yours too, then?" he asks and leans in himself now, grinning.
"Not you," the old god says. "I don't poach. You aren't a human, either. The cabin above is livable, or a ruin?"
"Livable," Alptraum answers, "More than I expected. And there's nothing wrong with me. I work with several Gods." He actually sounds a bit offended!
"Maybe the witch then," the Mother of Bones says. "They need privacy still, don't they?"
"You would have to negotiate it with her. I cannot speak on her behalf," Alptraum answers. "But perhaps."
"Witches know how to make the best tea," the god says, then.. pats the top of Alptraum's head.
Alptraum looks offended. "What's wrong with me, hmm?" he now demands to know.
"You seem to have your hands full with the local gods as it is," she points out. "You are welcome to visit of course, or introduce me to people that may have need of me, or something to offer me. But you just aren't worshipper material. You're the Barsunala. You already serve one goddess of death."
"But I'm also fun," Alptraum insists, then laughs a little and shakes his head. "I'm really many things, and yes, I do have a lot to deal with considering the local deities and all their odd proclivities," he has to concede.
"And I would not want to make anyone jealous," the goddess claims.
"Knowing some of the Goddesses, wise," Alptraum admits. He holds up his glowing green hand. "The one this little trick is associated to tends to be extremely jealous and possessive."
"Sibling rivalries can get out of hand," the Mother of Bones agrees. "As a god of the grave, I never had to deal with such things."
"Admittedlt none of them compain about Sunala either, the Goddess of Death I am tied to. Now, the Goddess of Beauty and the one of Affliction, those two compete," Alptraum laments. "Much to my suffering."
"Have you tried playing them against each other to get your way?" the goddess asks. "Gods are not above being manipulated, after all."
"Oh of course I have. As much as I complain, I do generally enjoy interacting with them. It keeps life interesting," Alptraum admits.
"Well, one must try to make life interesting," the Mother of Bones agrees. "Because death can be quite dull."
"Well, after it, yes. Usually the moments before it are not dull," Alptraum points out.
"Not all excitement is good," the goddess notes. "How many children will you be bringing, along with the witch?"
"Just five. Not many survived," Alptraum says and sighs.
"Manageable," the goddess says. "I will consult with Celeda on the details."
"Thank you. This is going a bit beyond what I intended, but I cannot complain. If it helps, it is welcome," Alptraum says and even bows.
The bow earns him another pat on the head. "Did your fox friend survive to adulthood?" she asks out of the blue.
"Oh, he survived fine. He's currently a pleasure slave for a rather weird bat from our childhood," Alptraum jokes.
"You did well by your people then," the goddess says.
"I've done well enough. I just have to deal with Amenlichli," Alptraum grumbles. "Why didn't you deal with her?"
"Hmmm, a goddess that promises unmortality versus a goddess of the grave," the Mother of Bones sums up. "I was already forgotten by the time she had her grip on Sylvania."
"Pffft," Alptraum says, "I'm sure you could have done something. But no, now I have to."
"Is she still active in Sylvania?" the Mother of Bones asks. "I thought she had been driven out."
"She's active in Babel," Alptraum growls. "So she's been a problem for me to deal with."
"You aren't the first Barsunala, but did the previous ones make headway against her?" the goddess asks.
"Not much, I don't think. It's ebbed and flowed. She was less direct here," Alptraum says, "Hopefully this time will be the last."
"Via the Sylvanian method of killing all of her followers, or something else?" the goddess asks.
"Well, mostly that," Alptraum admits. "And mostly just exposing she has been influencing things so people realize just who is pulling strings."
"The truth? An interesting gambit," the Mother of Bones concedes. "But better to undermine her influence than engage in direct battle."
"Oh, that will come in time, but I do have a weapon that can deal with her," Alptraum says, "Or any God, really. Or person. Or anything for that matter."
"I'm sure Sunala is thrilled at the possibilities," the goddess notes. "And likely the various forgotten gods that are wasting away like me."
"Time will tell. And speaking of time, I only have a little. I should get back," Alptraum apologizes.
The door opens behind Alptraum. "Until the time of closure, fare well," the Mother of Bones says.
Alptraum bows and slips out ... by walking backwards. He doesn't want to turn his back on her.
Once he's back to the stairs, the door closes again. He finally notices that it looks a bit a like a coffin lid.
"Well, that was odd," Alptraum mutters as he makes his way back up the stairs. A quick check of the mill to make sure it's not monster infested and he can head back.
The mill is not in as good a shape inside as the cabin. The millstone has slipped and fallen to the side, and the gearing and axles are broken. There's a lot of old rope as well, and the smell of mold.
"Yeahhh, about what I figured it would be," Alptraum admits as he does a quick check around for any, well, monsters (not just smelly mold). He's still got a green hand too, which lets him poke gross stuff with less risk.
He does uncover some old animal bones in one corner, but not signs of recent habitation by animals, monsters or fleeing Babelite nobility.
Satisfied the mill is safe enough to be near, he backtracks out carefully. One more quick look around the terrain and then Alptraum goes airborne to return to the estate.
When he arrives, the evening meal is being prepared. The children appear to have been scrubbed and brushed and put into actual clothes (those clearly having been originally worn by Lapi children, with hastily cut wing slots). "Hey, where did you go?" Harper comes up and asks Alptraum.
"Oh to check out a nearby cabin we'll use in a few days, once I can get Aunty here. I just wanted to be sure it would be safe for everyone," Alptraum explains. "Just for a night. I wanted to ... arrange a celebration of the lives of those who loved you, and I needed a river for it."
"A river?" the girl asks, although she already sounds a bit more subdued.
"You'll find out more on the day. I promise it will help ease and if works as I hope, will be a chance for a happier parting," Alptraum says. He kneels down and even gives Harper a hug. "I can't fix everything; I'm sorry. All I can do it try to make it hurt less."
"We're really all that's left, aren't we?" she whispers. "They said they're going to ask the traders to check on our village.."
"There may still be others, scattered. Don't give up hope," Alptraum tells her gently. "Hope is some of the most powerful magic there is. Many will try and find all that remain and bring them here."
"I'll try, for the others," Harper says, as the de-facto leader. She's probably waiting for when she doesn't have to be though.
"One day at a time, Harper," Alptraum says, taking a moment to pet along the side of her head. "Many will be trying to help all of you, and I know the owner of this estate offered for everyone to live here on on grounds if they wish to. There are still good people in the world, and when you need to, lean on them. No one can bear this alone."
She slumps a little. "But the monsters are gone, right?" she asks.
"The ones that hurt you are gone. I made sure of it. And they will have no peace in the afterlife, either. That I will be seeing to," Alptraum promises.
The dinner bell rings, and Mrs. Spice is calling out as well.
"Come on, you need to eat," Alptraum reminds Harper. "I know you may not feel like it, but it's important. Surviving is telling those that tried to hurt you they failed. So, come on, hmm?" he adds, smiles, and stands to take her back to the dining area.
It's less of a feeding frenzy this time. The kids have washed away their ordeal, and are realizing where they are now. Plus the adults are eating with them this time, in the actual dining room, with Master Velkarno as well, who looks a lot more energized than when Alptraum last saw him.
Cardamom also bumps into Alptraum, asking, "How hungry are you?"
"I ... er. I don't eat like all of you do," Alptraum apologizes to Dardemom, squirming just a little. "I'll tend to my own needs later."
"All of your own needs?" the Fnerf teases a bit.
"Er, depends on the need?" Alptraum replies, brow arched a little.
"I'll check on you later then," Cardamon promises. "We've moved your boxes into the same bedroom you used before."
"Ah, good, thank you," Alptraum says with a smile. "I recommend not opening them, one's full of creepy stuff. Creepier than me."
"If you have things you need washed, you'll need to leave them out then," the maid instructs.
"What if I need to be washed?" Alptraum prods.
"Well, just stand outside your door naked," Cardamom suggests, and flicks her tail.
Alptraum snorts at that. "Sorry, that would scare the children," he claims, grins.
"As if anything could scare this kids anymore?" the Fnerf asks. "They'll all be in downstairs rooms though."
"I take it you want me to spend the night with you again?" Alptraum asks.
"Ahem, I am here to serve your needs as a guest of the estate," Cardamom claims. "And I think that is one of your needs, whether you want it seen to or not."
"And it has nothing to do with your own urges and needs, then?" Alptraum inquires.
"That depends," the girl claims.
"On?" Alptraum asks.
"Whether or not you say no of course," Cardamom says.
"What species?" Alptraum asks next, and smirks.
"Which one won't tax your energy, if you have to fly back to Babel in the morning?" Cardamom asks.
"Well, something not huge won't. Naga or under should be fine," Alptraum claims.
"I've never seen a Naga," Cardamom admits.
"Giant snake," Alptraum clarifies. "I could even manage a small dragon were you so inclined. Or an ugly rat, or..."
"Or a Savanite," Alptraum continues.
"Which is the cuddliest?" she asks.
"Savanite is pretty cuddly," Alptraum claims. "And quiet."
"Never seen one of those either," the Fnerf says. "Good to start with!"
"All right, done," Alptraum claims. "I'd better go sit with the kids, though until they tire. Seeya later," he says as he heads in to join those eaiting and be a source of ... comfort? Who would have ever thought that.