Night has fallen by the time Tulani changes back to a Sphinx, and it takes some effort. She's left covered in frost and panting as she lies on the ground just outside the forest edge. "I'll go get our clothes," she offers, since they were left up near the spire atop the Mages Tower. "Next time it'll be roasted hogs though," she pledges.
"Okay, I hope you can find the clothing back in that tower. Remember, we knocked it down," Alptraum rumbles as he sits back on his haunches some. He's not tried to shift back yet, and is debating if he should or shouldn't. It's been a bit.
"Okay, I hope you can find the clothing back in that tower. Someone might have gone and collected them," Alptraum rumbles as he sits back on his haunches some. He's not tried to shift back yet, and is debating if he should or shouldn't. It's been a bit. "I suppose I could go back into town like this, too."
"I'll just have to seduce the guards into fetching them then," Tulani laughs, then pushes herself up and stretches out her wings. It takes her a moment to reacquaint herself with her body - she's not as experienced with transformation as Alptraum is after all. "Want me to bring yours back here, or somewhere else?" she asks.
"Thought about harassing the Yodhrephath," Alptraum admits, "But that might get me skewered."
"With those scales?" Tulani says. "They'd have to use a miracle. They're trained to fight airships and other Eeee riding beasts, not a dragon. They'd want to capture you!"
"Until they figured out who I was. Could be funny," Alptraum concedes, and grins. "So, should I?"
"Go for it! You wanted me to embrace my dragon side, so you should too," Tulani says. "It'll also make the Yodhblakat jealous."
"Because that is always a good idea!" Alptraum says, and rolls his eyes. Still, this isn't Scourge-form, so Gorphat shouldn't get upset over it. He shrugs a bit, "Eh, why not?"
"The Shrine Maiden flew around on the Silver Dragon and people seemed to like that," Tulani notes as she takes flight.
"I'm a bit scarier than that," Alptraim points out. He shakes his head and looks himself over; all black, gender hard to tell unless you're a dragon. He shrugs and goes airborne too. Going to circle outside the city, though, instead of through!
The Seven Sisters ring the city, so it's much easier to access them from the outside of course. Of the active shrines, only one is likely to be watching the skies as well: the Temple of Rephath. It doesn't look like their warship is docked though, so it's probably out patrolling the main air routes into Babel.
Alptraum keeps high and distant as he circles, trying to see if he can tell how many are at watch. Arrows in the backside would be unpleasant!
He can see about a dozen posted, with the only blind spot being the wreckage of another airship that they've had on display for awhile. It looks there's one mounted sentry on standby near the beast pens, riding a Rakhtor (which do better at night than Pteras).
Alptraum hmms. Maybe he can land on the wreckage safely. A lazy arc as he swings in a bit closer to see if he can.
The wreckage is the hull of a cargo airship, with large openings where the wood looks like it melted, and glimpses of skeletons and mummified corpses also melted into the decks. There's no sentries on the other side of the macabre warning to pirates, and it still looks largely sound, structurally; otherwise how would they have gotten it here in one piece?
Wreckage it is! Alptraum arcs, trying to keep to the darkness. and alight upon the remains of that ship safely. This is probably not a good idea, but when are fun ideas ever good too?
There's no way to hide the sound of something that large moving through the air, so sentries are already heading his way after he lands. A few more Yodh rush out onto the large patio-courtyard, looking in the wrong direction. Despite the alarm and sentries, it doesn't look like they've ever actually had to deal with an invasion. The purge wisely avoided the Temple of Rephath.
"What the hell kind of airship is this?" the first sentry to arrive squeaks. "It's come to steal the determent ship!"
Alptraum arches up, trying to look imposing and fierce. Spread wings and dark colors help. "I like this place," he rumble-growls as he perches atop the ruined ship, "Perhaps it will be my new nest."
The sentry stops, and a few others pile up behind her. "You'll.. uh.. have to clear that with the High Priestess!" she declares, as if it were a threat. She then turns and hisses to one of the other go fetch Koldesh.
"Or I could just eat all of you," Alptraum claims, and licks over his lips. "But I imagine you're all sinew and bone. Not really worth picking out of the teeth." He arches his head back and lets out an impressive column of flame from his maw.
"Aaagh!" the nearby sentries react to the flame, and scatter. The Rakhtor screeches in the distance as well, and flies off! There's scrambling in the courtyard until a figure emerges from the Temple, clad all in red armor and carrying a long spear or lance. "Everybody be quiet!" Koldesh commands as she strides towards the wreck.
Aaaand, there's the pissed off High Priestess! Good thing he can go airborne if needed. "Ah, is that maiden bringing me a can opener so I can make a nest in this?" he asks and thumps a rear hindleg on the hull.
With a few flaps of her wings, Koldesh lands on the forecastle of the wrecked hull. "Alright.. first off, what's your name, wyrm?" she demands.
"Does it matter, little one?" Alptraum counters, grinning with a scary amount of sharp, and long, teeth. "I am who shepherds those unto their final reward!" the black dragon roars! "All who gaze upon me tremble in despair!"
"Is that you, Alptraum?" Koldesh asks as she pokes the dragon's chest with her lance. "Shepherds those to their final reward is a bit on the nose."
"Bits go in the mouth, not the nose," Alptraum counters as he takes hold of the end of the spear and pushes it a bit to the side. He leans in close, peering at her with one big silvery eye. "Boo," he says, trying to sound sultry.
"Alright," Koldesh says, patting Alptraum on the cheek. "I guess I'm supposed to tame you now."
"Hah! Impossible!" Alptraum declares. "I am the wild beast of the air! Beyond all of you and your silly pointy things," he adds and shows those teeth again, which are longer than some daggers and just as sharp, and along with a bit of that oppressively gloom of a dragon's aura. "You think yourself capable of mastering me?"
Koldesh grabs onto one of Alptraum's horns, and starts pulling herself up! Then she's straddling the top of the dragon's neck, holding onto his horns. She kicks with her heels, and commands, "UP!"
"Oy," Alptraum growls. He rolls his eyes, then goes airborne anyway. "I suppose this isn't the first time you've ridden me. Just ... differently," he remarks. Right before, well, spinning.
Koldesh keeps her grips with her legs and hands. "This is where I'm supposed to claim that I've ridden bigger," she laughs. "But I haven't. Circle towards Mount Blakat, I want to wake up Rizalka!"
"You just want to start a fight," Alptraum retorts. "I was actually coming to offer to actually let you ride me in battles at times, you know." Still, he banks and begin to arc around the city back towards Mount Blakat.
"The next battle is going to be with the General," Koldesh claims. "Unless there are still some idiots left out there! You'd make short work of airships! And I don't want to fight Rizalka. I need to talk to her anyway!"
Alptraum lets out a stream of fire breath as he arcs back and down towards Mt. Blakat. Maybe he just needed to burp? "Talk to her about what?" he asks, smokily.
"The Day of Blakat is approaching," Koldesh says. "I need her reign in the chaos that causes."
"And you want me to scare them into behaving?" Alptraum asks. "They're all pregnant, it's not like they can cause much chaos."
"They aren't that pregnant yet," Koldesh claims. "They're still Yodhblakat! Who knows what their mad goddess with have them do."
"Probably raid pirate dens for candy coins," Alptraum replies. "You don't seem to worried about Gorphat's events coming up. And they are scary."
"The Yodhgorphat don't start fights or kidnap children," Koldesh points out. "Probably only curse a few people here and there. They aren't going to start any fires.. anymore. There aren't many Yodhblakat left, they'll be eager to expand.. is that the refugee camp? It's enormous!"
With the show of fire, the Yodhblakat have taken notice.. and are flying towards Alptraum now.
Alptraum's lips draw back and he lets slow flames roil from his maw. As probably a warning they might not want to get that close! "Yes, it is," Co-maintained bt Mount Gorphat," he says.
"Probably where they hope to recruit from," Koldesh says, and readies her lance. Even with the warning, the Yodhblakat just spread out. They may be trying to get around to Alptraum's sides.
"I see you, Koldesh!" one voice bellows out (which is generally impossible for an Eeee, so Rizalka may be using a miracle).
Alptraum pushes out more of that oppressive draconic aura to try and keep them back. He also starts letting some shadow sort of billow off his body too, making it look like it's on fire. Or ... something.
This does keep the Yodh at bay, except for Rizalka of course, who tries to get in front of the dragon. "Riz! I have a dragon!" Koldesh yells. "Want a ride?"
"Hey! Don't I get a say in this?" Alptraum growls.
"Do you not want her to ride you?" Koldesh asks.
"I didn't say that, either. Though I might be a bit too big for her to ride," Alptraum jokes.
"She'd still try," Koldesh claims. "Can you grab her without hurting her?"
"Probably, as long as she doesn't fight too much," Alptraum calls back, then dives for Rizalka!
The Yodhblakat tries to dive out of the way, but Alptraum manages to get her legs! "I'll bite your tail off!" Rizalka threatens.
"You'd be so lucky to even touch my tail!" Alptraum tells Rizalka, and goes into a barrel-roll.
This scatters the Yodhblakat, and makes Rizalka dizzy. "Ugh," Koldesh goes. "There should be a ruined watchtower on the outer slope," she tells Alptraum. "Bring us there."
"Well, hopefully you don't mean the one I took down while rutting," Alptraum claims and arcs around, looking for the ruined tower. He really does hope it's not the same one.
That one was on the other side of the city. The one here looks like it was part of an ancient barrier wall, which is still visible in spots, but has been mostly scavenged to build the city.
Alptraum heads towards that. He'll have to drop Rizalka first, then arc back and land. Hopefully that idiot doesn't go after him.
The top of the tower looks stable enough to drop off Rizalka at least. "Drop her off and I'll stay with her," Koldesh tells Alptraum.
Alptraum does so! And hopefully with out injury.
The Eeee still goes 'oof' when released, and Koldesh jumps off of Alptraum to fly down. There's landing space next to the tower too.
Alptraum has to arc around to slow down, then go in for a landing in that clear spot with a thud and a short bit of jogging.
"What's going on!" Rizalka demands, once she's on her feet again. "Are you attacking or not?"
"If I actually attacked, you'd be pulverized, or melted," Alptraum points out, and belches a rather large ball of fire, upward. He then just looks at the Yodhblakat pointedly.
"So what's this all about then!" Rizalka demands, until Koldesh says, "We need to discuss the Day of Blakat and your plans."
"What plans? There'll be fighting!" Rizalka claims. "We have an arena."
"That. You do know who I am, yes?" Alptraum asks.
"You're a bloody big flying lizard," Rizalka accuses.
"It's the Barsunala," Koldesh corrects.
"Well.. how was I to tell?!" Rizalka says, waving her hands. "Where's the long flowing mane of white hair?"
"Do I always have to have hair?" Alptraum rumbles, and cocks his head to peer at her out of one silver eye. "Am I not magnificent in all forms?"
"The hair helps though," Rizalka claims. "I like the hair!"
"Koldesh likes me in all forms," Alptraum claims. "Also, no killing. You can have games and such for Blakat day, but death and maiming is right out."
"Then how will we be able to know who are the best recruits?" Rizalka says. "We can't ask Blakat, because she'll want to be in the fight."
"Pick competitions that test skills without lethality," Alptraum points out. "Play a non-lethal game of Blakatball. Just .. not against Yodhgorphat as no one will touch them so they always win."
"A game against the Yodhblakat then?" Rizalka asks.
"Would that be wise given your condition?" Alptraum points out.
"Against who then?" Rizalka asks. "The Yodhrephath?"
"Or just against each other," Koldesh says. "Surely can find enough for that."
"How about a dragon?" Alptraum jokes.
"Ah.. the winners become candidates, and the losers are devoured by the dragon," Rizalka says, nodding her head.
"No, no devouring. No killing," Alptraum says.
"Severely licked by the dragon then?" Rizalka asks. "There has to be some kind of stakes!"
Alptraum hms. "You just want to be licked by a dragon," he accuses.
"You have a big tongue," Rizalka points out. "But alright, Blakatball to get the candidates, then they get tested more."
Alptraum adds, "Non-lethally." He then licks Rizalka.
The bat's fur gets all stuck in wet clumps. "Aha.. uh.. so no fighting monsters? We've got monsters just for that you know!"
"You shouldn't be keeping monsters!" Koldesh chides.
"What kind of monsters? Did you steal from Mount Gorphat again?" Alptraum asks.
"You rode in on a dragon," Rizalka counters. "Regular monsters! Wild boars, Groks, some weird thing with tentacles."
"I AM a monster," Alptraum points out. "So, at least no Bargorphat or anything, then."
"Can't fight a bargorphat," Rizalka says. "That's like fighting a barinala! But if not a monster.. then it'll have to be a Yodhblakat."
"Can't fight me, either. I'd always win," Alptraum claims. "Mostly, the desire is to keep this more controlled and not lethal. Not against vigorous challenges, just lethal ones."
"Maybe see who can destroy the most.. training dummies," Koldesh suggests.
"And that doesn't mean just idiots in helmets," Alptraum adds.
"How about an obstacle course?" Alptraum suggests, "That tests different skills?"
"Like breaking through walls and screaming and dodging arrows?" Rizalka asks.
"Yes," Alptraum admits.
"What about swords?" the Yodhblakat asks. "Can we use practice swords?"
"Are they lethal?" Alptraum pries.
"They can cause injury," Rizalka says. "If someone is unarmored."
Alptraum looks at Koldesh. "So .. wear armor?" he suggests.
"Well.. I suppose we can allow that," Rizalka says. "They have to assemble it themselves though. We aren't giving them armor. Nothing wrong with them fighting each other over pieces, right?"
"Again, no killing or maiming," Alptraum reminds.
"We can tell them that," Rizalka offers.
"If you don't enforce it, I might maim you," Alptraum says, with flames rolling between his teeth.
"Enforce without violence?" Rizalka asks, smiling back.
"No maiming or killing. Anything just above that is tolerable," Alptraum counters.
"Hitting with a leather belt then, for discipline," Rizalka offers.
Alptraum chuckles. "That's fine," he concedes. He had worse growing up after all.
Alptraum glances at Koldesh, and comments, "Plus I know for a fact at least one Goddess likes being spanked."
"Do you know how to make dummies and.. walls?" Koldesh asks Rizalka.
"Of course not!" the Yodhblakat replies. "You make them, and we'll steal them."
Koldesh rubs the center of her forehead.
"She has a point," Alptraum says to Koldesh. "And you are one trying to keep the violence down..."
"Yes.. yes.. I'll arrange something," Koldesh says. "It'll all be at the Blakatball stadium. That's.. moderately central. There'll need to be an announcement to call for hopefuls and such. People will want to watch."
"Yodhblakat can't write or draw, can they?" Alptraum asks. "So them making posters is probably out."
"You're a dragon, you're loud," Rizalka points out. "Just fly over the plaza and announce it!"
"That usually involves being shot at soon after," Alptraum points out.
"Flyers then," Koldesh says. "There are several print shops that make them."
"Safer, yes," Alptraum agrees.
"Tricky..." Rizalka says. "Someone will have to pay for them, so we can steal them."
"Maybe have your barinala handle it all," Koldesh suggests.
"They might end up all frilly and lace-y," Alptraum comments, "Hmmm. So maybe."
"They know what to ask for, true," Rizalka says. "People don't come up to Yodhblakat, and Yodhblakat don't hand things out. They can do that. They're pretty, people won't be afraid. Do they need to wear clothes? We should get some pretty girls too. Barinala can get some of those, probably."
"There are probably professional flyer.. hander-outers," Koldesh says. "A Guild or something."
"Some of them are basically pretty girls," Alptraum corrects. "And yes, there are mail and courier services."
"Alright, find out how much they charge," Rizalka says. "Since Koldesh will be paying."
Koldesh urks at that.
"Why is she paying?" Alptraum asks.
"We don't pay," Rizalka points out.
"And don't look at me, I'm broke," he adds.
"Dragons are supposed to have treasure," Rizalka claims.
"Not if we spend it," Alptraum points out. "Plus I am a part time dragon."
"The Temple of Rephath will cover the cost.. within reason," Koldesh says, and then pokes Rizalka in the shoulder. "But you will owe me a favor."
"You two in a sexy mud wrestling contest?" Alptraum asks.
"We already do that," Rizalka claims.
"I'll figure it out later," Koldesh says.
"I could maybe arrange dragon jousting," Alptraum suggests. "Though the other dragon may not agree."
"I should have my own dragon, then," Rizalka insists.
"Again, that requires agreement from a reluctant one," Alptraum notes."
"Are you going to invite the Yodhsunala and Yoghgorphat as well? Yodhzakaro? Yodhbarada?" Alptraum asks.
"They can come watch if they want," Rizalka says, crossing her arms. "So long as they have an offering."
Alptraum tilts. "You want an offering from the Yodhgorphat?" he asks, rather like getting a present from your grandma.
"Gotta have something worth taking," Rizalka says, then lowers her arms. "Alright, Yodh can get in.. for free then."
"You're just afraid to touch one," Alptraum accuses.
"That's beside the point," Rizalka says. "Yodh don't have money or goodies."
"Yodhgorphat have slime," Alptraum offers.
"Who'd want that?" Rizalka says. "Everyone has blood but it isn't useful to take."
Alptraum shrugs. "Just saying. Anyway, sounds like this is mostly sorted out. And no one got beat up," Alptraum says.
"Better get some good girls, or else it's back to the old way," Rizalka says. "Gotta show them how great being a Yodhblakat is!"
Alptraum shakes his head. "No old way," he says, firmly.
"Fighting and stealing and looking like you scavenged your clothes from the garbage?" Koldesh asks teasingly.
"Yes! All the best stuff," Koldesh claims.
"Well, I know what my part is going to be," Koldesh says. "I should probably compose the flyers as well then. Although I'm not sure the sort of girls you want to attract can read."
"Going to fly back on your own?" Alptraum asks Koldesh.
"Of course not, steed!" Koldesh announces.
Alptraum arches his brow. "Steed?" he asks.
"Not before he burns something!" Rizalka says.
"Volunteering?" Alptraum asks.
"Alright, mighty steed," Koldesh says. "And you shouldn't encourage him to rampage," she tells Rizalka.
"The wall! The tower! Something," Rizalka suggests. "You can't have a dragon and not break something."
Alptraum leans his head to the side, inhales ... and blows a huge hole in the somewhat remaining wall.
"Woohahahaha!" Rizalka cheers, and.. does a little dance? "Alright, now you can go."
Alptraum sighs out. He lowers his head to Koldesh. "Lets go, then," he says.
Koldesh climbs back onto Alptraum's head. "Hmm, where to next.." she ponders. "To the top of Mount Dronnel then!"
"Why?" Alptraum has to ask. As he takes off, he grabs Rizalka again and takes her too! He'll let her go back near Mt. Blackat
"I want to check the summit," Koldesh claims.
Alptraum wings his way back towards Mount Blakat ... with Rizalka dangling from his hind legs.
"Let me go!" Rizalka yells when the ramshackle Temple of Blakat is in view.
Alptraum dives! And then spreads wings in a sudden swoop back upward! And FLINGS Rizalka on the arc up!
"Ahahaha!" the Eeee screech-laughs, before spreading her wings to glide downward.
"Figured she would like that," Alptraum admits as he climbs and arcs in the direction of Mount Dronnell now.
The mountain stands separate from the Sisters, rising between the Tower of Babel and the Valley of Mists on the far side. There is a spiraling road and various ruins on the slopes, but the top is fairly flat and wide.
And wing towards the top he does. Eventually, he manages to land there and look about.
It almost a smooth slope down to the wall that delineates the border of the Valley. Koldesh flies down, and looks around. There isn't much in the way of structures here at the top. Barely even loose stones. "This is where the battle will be," Koldesh says with certainty in her voice.
"With the General? Yes, I already know," Alptraum says as he looks about. "There used to be buildings here long ago. And where Dronnell left to go fight enemies of Babel, before he became one himself," he says. "This is probably be where I die, too."
"The Barsunala is immune to Death," Koldesh says. "But you must complete the Sabaoth's Challenge here. I'm looking for good places to prepare the field."
"Should I be? I'm a monster," Alptraum points out and gestures to himself. "Look at me."
"You are what you are, which is the same for all of us," Koldesh says. "Monsters are defined by their actions, just like heroes. Was Dronnel a hero or a monster then?"
"Both," Alptraum says, "Given he became the Sabbaoth."
"He was made into the Sabaoth by the Seven," Koldesh claims. "He went sour later, but he fulfilled his duty at first. He saved Babel."
"He wasn't, actually. The Seven decided he was to die. It was Amena who kept him alive," Alptraum notes. "He wasn't supposed to survive the final battle."
"I'm confident you will avoid corruption," Koldesh says, patting the dragon's side. "The mists shouldn't affect you, should they spill forth."
"And the General is not a demi-god," she adds.
"No, the mists won't affect me, the Shadow helps prevent that," Alptraum does agree. "But the General does bear some rather unpleasant armor, armed with things that can hurt me, badly."
"And you have no armor of your own?" Koldesh asks. "You look fairly armored to me.. but I don't know what form the Sabaoth will take."
"There are things I am vulnerable to," Alptraum notes, "The Avenger knows what they are, on purpose. I made sure someone would know how to end me if it became necessary."
"What are the General's weaknesses?" Koldesh asks.
"Me. To a degree. The General is an undead, and my nature such as it is reacts violently to it. The problem is the shell she'll wear will be forged of things deadly to me," Alptraum explains. "I will not come from that battle uninjured. If you've ever been burned so badly all you can do is scream, that is what it feels like."
"And I have to be realistic, the wounds could be fatal," Alptraum adds.
"You've been training with Zakaro, according to Rephath," Koldesh says. "Is there a way to train again this poisonous material?"
"Not easily, which is the problem," Alptraum explains. "It counters the very nature of where some of my current powers come from. The best hope is to limit contact as much as I can. Even that Royal mage had some and used it against me."
"So you need a weapon that can get through it," Koldesh suggests. "You've practiced some with the whip, but that also made use of your shadow." She brandishes her lance. "Perhaps something with more reach, but it has to get through her other defenses. I'll see what I can find on her fighting styles."
"A lance not made of shadow would be more effective," Alptraum explains. "But over-planning is dangerous too. I will need to be flexible, and in many cases probably not directly/
"A lance not made of shadow would be more effective," Alptraum explains. "But over-planning is dangerous too. I will need to be flexible, and in many cases probably not directly attack her. In pure combat, she will outskill me."
"That does complicate things," Koldesh says. "Breathing fire would help in that situation."
"Yeah, I can only do that like this," Alptraum points out.
"You need to do it in all forms," Koldesh suggests. "You have a dragon in your hand, so it should be possible, shouldn't it?"
"Not easily, no. The amount of magic and life energy I would have to have would be immense," Alptraum admits. "And merging different creatures into one body is ... extremely difficult."
"Then I suggest you practice and see what is possible," Koldesh says. "Such attacks may be necessary."
"And to complicate everything, Inala is currently trying to keep me female as much as possible," Alptraum grumbles. "Not that there's anything wrong with being female. Most of the time I enjoy it."
"Mmmm, well.. Inala is like that, I suppose," Koldesh says. "But the Barsunala is male. Sunala could likely undo whatever Inala has done. Or what any of the other Sisters have done."
"Probably. But I am trying to unify everyone, so I have to cater to all of their whims," Alptraum notes. "So, it is just something I have to accept."
"Do not leave out Sunala," Koldesh suggests. "She is still the top of the hierarchy, even above Rephath. Everyone must respect Death."
"I leave none of them out," Alptraum assures. "And because of Sunala's position, I have to tread lightly too. There are several of Her daughters that do not care for me. I try to be careful to not upset the balance."
"You are too kind hearted at times, Alptraum," Koldesh says. "Let the Yodhsunala be upset, so long as they follow when commanded. The Barsunala is above whatever games they are playing or gripes they may have."
"Easier said than done," Alptraum says. "Anyway, I should probably be moving on before Tulani gets worried. Are you going to remain here for a bit or riding back?"
"I will remain and scout the terrain," Koldesh says, stirring the dirt with the heel of her boot. "Research your options. Come to me in a few days, and I should have the records of the General's fighting styles."
"Alright. Just ... this is a sacred area too. I've been here before, in the past. History echoes here, and I can feel it resonate inside me," Alptraum says. "Treat it with the same care you would Mount Rephath. I know I'm rarely the most reverent person, but in this place ... I can't explain it well. Sorry. " He shakes his head, then goes to go back airborne.