The only enchantment which has disturbed Elise or Envoy's sleep since their venture into Gorphat's realm on 15 New was the vengeful hunt for Captain Rockmore on New Year's Eve. Elise retired early that evening, after an unexpected onset of dizziness, while Envoy partied late into the night. After hearing of the dream event, Yffryn, still in her post as acting Dean of Dreams, theorized that the whole dream ritual may have been revived for the specific purpose of revenging the Eeee upon those who dropped the boomer. She decided that more real-world action needed to be taken, given the long stretches during which her subjects went without any unusual dream activity, and to that end agreed to let Mage Envoy leave Caroban and seek the advice of Master Zahirinee.

Disturbing news from the College's Babel Embassy reached the College on the afternoon of New Year's Day: Elise and Envoy's dream of the hunt was apparently shared by a large portion of the Babel population, from one perspective or another, including much of the Embassy's own staff. Mage Cyprian had gone to sleep the night before and could not be awakened as of the time of the Embassy's Scryer sent the message. The mood in the city, the Scryer reported, was one of grim satisfaction and even elation – the most cheerful it had been since the High Princess declared New Year's Eve a day of national mourning five years ago. The Embassy, by contrast, was full of concern over what was clearly a potent demonstration of unsanctioned magic, and anxiously awaited the College's reply.

Caroban's High Council called for an emergency session, and their debate kept the Deans busy well into the night, while most of Caroban slept.

And Elise dreams…

The mud "armor" seems to have done the trick against the blood flies, and the stinging insects as well, as the carriage and its pullers have made their way largely unmolested through the jungle … until now, when the waterfall ahead presents a new obstacle. The incline of the mountain makes the water rush past swiftly, and the bed it cuts through appears deep and treacherous, while the spray from the fall hitting the incline bathes the air with a dirty, reddish mist.

An armored poodle caked in mud stares forward at this new obstacle. Her eyes narrow, giving her an expression of deep thought. "Suggestions?" she inquires of those around her, and unlike previous dreams of this place, she seems rested now.

Mage Envoy's mood is much cheerier now than when the group first entered the jungle. In between recharging the spells to keep the armor in place and making the road easier to travel, she's indulged in singing party-songs or telling jokes. As she looks at the waterfall, she says, "It's certainly pretty. It looks like slow going, though."

"Slow-going" would be unduly optimistic, from Elise's estimation. The waterfall, by the looks of it, would wash the carriage down the mountainside if they tried to pull it through the rushing, tumultuous water that churns between the two sides of the path.

"'Dangerous' is the term I would use. It presents a clear hazard to our footing, and it looks rather deep. I wonder if the carriage is capable of floating?" ponders Elise. She, still at her position under one of the frontal harnesses, glances back to the carriage she helps pull. Frowning, she seems to find the plan none to promising. "Mage Envoy, can you determine if there is another route that does not require we attempt to ford such strong current?"

Envoy looks to either side of the path, and even ventures closer to the edge of the jungle, to see if there is some way around the obstacle. "It might be simpler to create a bridge," she suggests.

As the carriage draws nearer to the churning liquid, the bats slow further, breathing heavily. They do not seem to share the poodle's renewed vigor, and none volunteer immediate suggestions, though the stocky bat at Elise's back comments after a moment, "Even if it does float, we'd never make it across that intact.

A nod is given to the stocky Eeee and Elise lifts her hand, signaling the team to come to a halt. "Is your magic capable of creating a bridge here, perhaps? If it is at all possible, we should use magicks to prevent unnecessary wear on those pulling, myself not included," she asks.

Moving closer to the cascade now, Envoy tries to sense any magic that would interfere with a large-scale Earth spell, as well as doing a more mundane examination of the underlying rock, and calculating just how high and wide a bridge would be needed to clear the flow.

As they survey the area, finding a way past that doesn't involve crossing the waterfall seems highly unlikely. The mountain slope above and below makes the fall even more treacherous – here, where the road went, is the flattest place visible – and even that is none too level where the water thrashes. Creating a bridge might be feasible, though it would have to be built up on both sides of the river. The water laps at the banks, and is made rougher by boulders in its path. Trying to simply, say, lay logs over it would quite likely end with the "bridge" washed down the mountain side.

The sense of magic that pervades the dreams is stronger the closer they get to the mountain top, permeating the vegetation, the soil, and even the water. Whether or not this will interfere with her efforts to work with it magically, Envoy cannot be sure. There seems to be some kind of spell already in effect on the place, as if to hold it in its current shape, but it's not the kind of active magic that would, say, animate a golem.

The waterfall itself is perhaps five or six feet wide.

"How fast do you think the carriage could be pulled across the streambed if the … water … were temporarily stopped?" Envoy asks Elise.

"Hm." Elise turns around and takes a moment to survey the other pulling team members, reviewing them each in turn. To them she asks, "What do you say? This journey is yours. I would have your opinion. How quickly do you believe you can cross the riverbed?"

They look to each other, then the stocky bat steps out of his traces, gesturing to the lead bat beside Elise. The two of them advance to the water's edge, while the remainder take advantage of the opportunity to rest. The stocky bat plunges his arm into the water, then his head, ears swiveled and plunged into the liquid, while the nervous Eeee flies over it, clicking as he makes back and forth passes.

Shortly, the stocky bat pulls his head out and shakes himself, spitting and wiping at the melting mud mask of the armor's helm. He squeaks in annoyance, then looks apologetically at the Avatar. "Begging your pardon. Should've consulted you about the hat before I got it all wet like that. Anyway … I think it's too rocky and rough for us to pull the carriage across with any kind of speed. With all the mud, we might not be able to get it across the river bottom at all."

Envoy immediately begins to chant, trying to reinforce the armor that was ruined by the water.

While the survey team works to scout the depth of the water, Elise steps from her harness and walks closer to the waterfall itself. There she folds her arms and considers it, head tilted curiously. "Perhaps if we lessened the flow, without stopping it completely. If the water flow was slowed, it may be possible to push the carriage across while it floats," she considers out loud.

The other exploring Eeee lands next to his fellow, snapping his wings shut and panting for several breaths, before giving a nod and a wheezy, "Yes," in concurrence. "The river bed's too lumpy. Maybe if we laid something there for it to roll over… " He looks around, as if for something they might be able to use. Meanwhile, the stocky Eeee's helm stops flowing, solidifying under Envoy's influence.

Finishing her quick cantrip, Envoy walks over to Elise. "I can see three possible ways to use magic to assist. First, I can erect a temporary wall downstream, which will cause a pool to form here. It may be safe to wade across while floating the carriage then. Second, I can arch a bridge over the stream, but this will require a lot of effort since the ramp to it would need to start some distance away or it will be too steep. The third option is to have a golem carry the carriage across, but that could break the test since the Eeees would not be pulling it."

Nothing immediately presents itself that might be used to slow the water's descent. The jungle contains some decaying trees that might, conceivably, be stripped of boughs and used as a kind of track, though that doesn't look like a trivial task. "Pull it," the elderly bat at the rear of the team says, affirmatively.

Nodding to the bat, Envoy says to Elise, "Okay, scratch the golem option. The pool will also be limited by time, since the water will overflow and overcome the barrier wall before too long."

A pool would also swamp the road, since the sides of the riverbed are barely above the level of the water as it is.

At the report, the lady poodle steps from near the waterfall and walks over to accompany the Eeee who is searching for something to line the riverbed. She places a hand on his shoulder to stop him from wandering off. "I believe the bridge idea is too complicated. There are too many aspects of it that are uncertain, not to mention that it will require a great deal of magical force. The idea of widening the river also seems unlikely. We may simply destroy the road. Mage Envoy, can you fly upstream and check if the river can be diverted before it reaches this point?" asks the poodle.

At the touch, the nervous Eeee twitches, then stops, bowing his head. His slight frame trembles as he stands beside Elise, and his breath comes in difficult, wheezing gasps.

Envoy looks up towards the top of the waterfall, and nods. "I'll go up and have a look, Elise," she says, and spreads her wings to fly up the mountain alongside the falls.

Elise gives Envoy a smile before she departs, and the same smile is then turned towards the Eeee her hand is resting on. The woman points her other hand to the cart and nods that way. "Take some time to rest. I will go look," she tells him. Then she removes her hand and uses it to draw her sword before she walks off to search for suitable material.

The Aeolun soon flies out of sight, and the various Eeee step out of their traces, stretching and sitting or even lying down on the ground around the carriage, taking full advantage of the break. While the girl sits in the mud, staring vacuously forward, the little boy approaches her with a stick and a handful of stones, and soon engages her in what appears to be some kind of Eeee game.

It doesn't take the Exile long to reach the waterfall's source – a small mountain lake, fed by numerous smaller streams and springs, and spilling out through a well-worn rut in its basin into the single river that is destined to be the waterfall blocking the carriage's path.

The poodle starts recovering dead logs from the jungle, many of them infested by termites or other insects, most soft wood. None would be sturdy enough for a bridge, but they might serve to smooth out the bumps in the riverbed, if Envoy can find a way to divert the water.

Envoy lands next to the lake, and considers ways to block the flow. Due to the depth of the main outpouring, she decides to check out the feeder streams instead, hoping they'll be easier to block up.

With a few selected planks of wood laying at her feet, the poodle stops a moment to survey the section of jungle she had been gathering from. After a moment of doing so, she can be seen to wince, bending forward slightly, and reaching to hover a hand over the side of her muzzle as if wanting to touch it but resisting the urge.

A survey of the feeder streams takes a little while to accomplish, as the lake is a few hundred yards across and has several of them. All look easier to block, but they aren't pumping a great deal of water into the lake, and the level of the lake at the present time is high enough above the base of the rut leading to the waterfall to suggest that it would be quite a while before enough of the lake had emptied into the river to stop more from flowing, even if no new water came into the lake to replenish it.

Returning to the edge where the waterfall begins, Envoy begins looking for places where a Chasm spell might divert enough water long enough for the river bed to be smoothed out for the carriage, without the new flow causing more flooding to the same general area.

The mother Eeee approaches the Templar, padding on quiet feet. "Will you be all right, my lady?" she asks, her voice barely above a murmur.

Elise inhales sharply through her nose and lets her hand fall. Turning only partially around so that the unaffected side of her head faces the mother, the officer inclines her head. "I … I am fine. You should not concern yourself with me. I would encourage you to rest while you are able. We will need what strength we can muster to ford this stream," she replies.

At the far side of the lake's basin, after a slight upwards slope, lies another gentle valley; a chasm opened on that side would flood it, and a sufficiently deep one would draw off enough water to stop the flow to the current river.

The woman watches the armored poodle for a moment. "You said earlier that you would not sacrifice yourself for my son," she says, reaching out her hand to touch the Gallee's right arm, kindly. "You made a wise choice then, I think. Do not undo it now, my lady. We need a leader more than a martyr."

Envoy estimates the time it would take for a sufficiently powerful Chasm ritual to be done, and then flies back to the base of the waterfall to let Elise know of her findings. "If you can be ready to fill in the river enough to get the carriage across, Elise, I think I can divert enough of the water to make it work."

The words spoken give Elise reason to turn around, revealing the wound that mars her muzzle. Covered in mud as it is, it is difficult to easily examine. "I prefer to lead by example, when possible … But … I will heed your words. I will ask for some assistance in gathering the wood. Those most in need of rest will remain where they are. Would you ask those you think fair the best to assist me? I believe you would be a good judge," she says. Another smile, much more faint than her last, makes a brief appearance before the poodle turns to Envoy. "Very well then. We will begin gathering materials to line the riverbed. Begin at your discretion."

Envoy nods. "It will probably take me at least an hour working alone for the ritual, so you should have enough time. Move as quickly as you can once you see the flow start to lessen."

"I understand. We will begin immediately, though I am going to have some of the weaker pullers rest so they are strong enough to continue the journey," says Elise to Envoy. The poodle turns and looks back to the carriage, observing the people for a moment before turning back to the jungle and the potential riverbed lining therein.

At Envoy's return, the Eeee pullers gather themselves up, squeaking and groaning, and the mother bat nods to Elise, then goes among them, selecting out her son, the young girl, the stocky Eeee, and the gray bat, instructing the nervous Eeee, the elderly woman, and the club footed Eeee to rest. They soon disperse into the surrounding undergrowth, prying out deadwood and moderate-sized rocks, whatever might suffice to smooth the path.

Some time later, as a large and still-growing mound of flotsam and debris has been piled up at the water's edge, the little boy cries out, "Look, it's slowing!" and points up the waterfall. Sure enough, the rush of liquid is gradually petering out, though before the bats, it's still fast and deep enough to be treacherous.

The Templar, who had been gathering wood and is currently kneeling down to lift a plank, grabs what she came for and stands up. "Gather what wood you have collected! If it is not currently near the stream, move it now. We have not much time before the water will recede, move what you can and help each other if you are done, then wait by your piles. When the water recedes enough, begin lining the riverbed!" she calls out, loud despite the extra ache so much talking brings her.

As the flow slows from that of a rushing river to a mere stream, two of the Eeee spring into action, and start shoveling rocks into the current. A few loose stones get caught in the flow and roll on, but most stay where they land, and soon the other Eeee have joined them, dropping in chunks of decaying vegetation, clods of earth, and stones to line the base of the bed, making two separate lines of matter, far enough apart that the carriage's wheels may roll along them.

After having gathered the last of the wood she left away from the stream, Elise joins the Eeee in lining the riverbed. She begins lining strips of wood and plant matter either sheared off with her rapier blade, or else gathered from the jungle floor. The going is slow for her, as she has no wings that might carry her to where she need be. Instead she makes due with clomping through the mud.

Despite their various handicaps, the team works well together, and soon enough of the bed had been filled to allow them to get back into their traces and start pulling the carriage across. The footing is still treacherous, but with only a few slips and minor mishaps, they make it across the river. The gray-furred bat lets out a ragged cheer that the others join in on once the carriage is safely in place on the far side.

Though she smiles, Elise doesn't seem to be one inclined to cheering – or much in the way of any vocal expression at the moment given the visible state of the side of her muzzle. Instead she makes due with showing her relief in her facial expression, and in a wag of her tail, as she leans into the harness and pushes the carriage onward.

The Aeolun reaches the top of the once-torrential waterfall and looks down to see how things are going, then takes to the air to glide down to the carriage. "It looks like you made it across in time," she says, smiling to the bearers and Elise.

"I … " The poodle pauses, jaw partially open and looking pained. " … I thank you f-for your assistance, Mage Envoy." The words are staggered by the ache that accompanies them, but she genuinely sounds pleased if tired.

The journey seems to go on for an eternity, with the exhausted team planting one foot after another forward, heads bowed, eyes staring at the ground … until suddenly it turns from path to green grass beneath their feet. As one, all look up, and realize that they have reached the mountain's summit. With no where left to climb to, they have arrived.

The expanse of the mountain gives way to a marvelous and horrible transformation, as the starry night is replaced by a sky almost white from heat, and without so much as a cloud to provide any respite from the sun's burning gaze. The gray silt gives way to lush greenery that could well belong to paradise, were it not that every plant is bug-eaten and infested with colorful pustule-like growths, and every tree weeps sap from open wounds. Flies buzz about piles of dung and decaying flesh, and mosquitoes have more than enough pools of stagnant water in which to breed and multiply to excess.

Roaches scuttle about underfoot, and even they seem touched by disease, sporting irregular lumps and misshapen forms. When the occasional roach gets crushed underfoot, with a satisfying crunch, it may well be that one is performing an act of mercy.

This is rare, however, for the earth is so muddy and thick with filth that there is hardly so much as a place for solid footing. There is only the occasional sharp red stone or broken bone that pokes up from the dirt, seemingly there only to stab unprotected feet, or gouge those who slip and fall, opening up new wounds to be infected.

The stench filling the air is heady in its power, smelling of mildew, rotting vegetation, spoiled meat, feces, mixed with a sweet unplaced aroma that makes the mixture all the worse. Bodies lie in pools of what might charitably be called water, though it is more a hue of brown or green or maybe a tinge of yellow. Fur is damp and slicked so as to show putrid skin underneath, riddled with sores, the skin having a moist texture and a look that suggests that of a bruised and ripened banana, crushed so that its insides have burst free of its leathery skin.

An open cave teases with the promise of reprieve from the blistering heat, and rivulets of water trickle down the mouth, slicking the earth that slides down within, promising a rough time for any who care to make their way back out, if it were not for all the dead bodies along the way that offer purchase for the desperate.

Envoy pinches her nostrils shut, and listens for any lute-like sounds.

The sickly, but at least still-living Eeee who pulled the carriage stare around them with a mixture of awe and terror. "What now?" the mother bat says, her voice hushed by trepidation.

"We've reached the summit," Envoy says, "so I suppose you can stop pulling the carriage. I don't think it's meant to be pulled into that cave at least."

"The summit," Elise says. Despite the nature of the place, she sounds happy to see it. The trip has taken its toll on the young poodle, for much of her robes are torn, muddied, or stained by who-knows-what. Her armor is caked in mud as is much of her skin, and she has gained a habit of favoring the side of her muzzle that is uninjured. "W-we should move the carriage to that cave … and … check it, that it might be … be safe. This heat will d-destroy us otherwise."

Envoy eyes the layer of bodies in the cave. "Well, maybe to the mouth at least."

A discordant sprang echoes from somewhere within the darkness and foulness of the cave.

Heading towards the cave now that she's heard the sound, Envoy motions for the others to follow with the carriage.

Looking from Avatar to poodle, the bats duck their heads and nod submissively, following the poodle's advice and pulling the unwieldy carriage to the cave's mouth, though the team hesitates once there, flinching back from what's inside. As their eyes adjust to the dimness within, sharp contrast to the bleached sky outside, the non-Eeee can make out alcoves hewn into the rock walls. Perhaps in mockery of the statues lining the corridors of the Temple, there are bandage-wrapped bodies of female bats resting in each alcove, propped up by poles rammed through their torsos like spits, their heads wrenched back with mouths open as if crying out in agony or ecstasy. Given the nature of the Yodhgorphat, it could well be both.

At the mouth of the cave, Elise finally steps from the harness and walks forward, peering into the darkness. She seems for the most part physically fine except for her muzzle, which routinely seems to cause her to ache. "Check … cave for traps … Envoy," she requests, words cut short seemingly to avoid unnecessary pain.

Envoy steps carefully across the floor of the cave, looking for things that might fowl the carriage wheels or unwary feet – especially hidden rib bones or other sharp objects hidden in the muck. "It would be easier with a probing stick. I don't suppose we could borrow one of those poles sticking through the mummies, do you think?"

An oddly musical voice floats up from the depths of the cave, somewhere beyond the alcove-lined entranceway. "Now, why would I lay traps for My beloved Sister? Enter, sweet Inala, and be welcome in My realm."

Smiling, Envoy the Avatar walks a bit more confidently towards the voice, assuming the others will follow along.

Elise draws her sword and steps forward, beginning to check the muck and walls carefully. "Desecration of the d-dead would n-not be recommended … even here," warns Elise. The words that echo from the depths cause Elise to suddenly look up and perk her ears. When Envoy begins to follow, Elise signals the others to slow, and gestures for them to follow her. "C-care, Envoy."

When their eyes finish adjusting, they can observe that a carpet of filth leads to a sullen, squalid pool of fetid matter. On the far side of the pool, a strangely beautiful, hauntingly gaunt apparition lounges on a heap of rotting zolken pillows, her fur glowing a soft green. Around her, Yodhgorphat gather, fanning her face and tending to her various needs, one feeding occasional tidbits from a platter into her mouth. Her eyes watch the approach of the others with a languid approval. "Now, You should not have to sully Yourself so, My Sister. I know how You value Your looks. Let my servants help you." At her words, and a gesture, a number of Yodhgorphat emerge from the shadows to throw themselves into the path, covering the filthy ground with their own bodies, and presenting something presumably more suitable for Envoy to trod on.

"How thoughtful!" Envoy croons, and happily steps up onto the backs of the priestesses. "I can see why the Emperor of Nagai finds this so gratifying."

Envoy pauses now and then to see if she can tickle any of the supine Yodhgorphat with her tail-tuft, and to see how well the others in her group are keeping up.

Elise pauses, and nods for those who once pulled the carriage with her to go on ahead of her. She in turn puts herself towards the back, attempting to be inconspicuous. To those that look she just offers a pained smile and nods for them to go on first.

In the shadow of Gorphat, right next to her and dwarfed by comparison, is a short, ragged figure. He has features that suggest that of a creature that may have once been vulpine, though his fur is worn bare in patches, and any trace of the russet coloration of a fox has dulled to a dirty, rusty gray. Dried patches of mucus run traces down from his tear ducts and nostrils, and bugs freely mill about in what remains of his fur.

Sores show through tears in his tattered clothing, which is so befouled as to be almost devoid of color, though there are hints of lace and frills; a stringy mass hanging from his torn hat may have once been a feather. Open wounds weep pus that tiny creatures squirm about in, and his teeth are yellow, seemingly larger on account of his receding gums. Eyes gaze blindly, irises buried under scales of milky white.

Gorphat smiles back to her Sister's Avatar. "I am so glad You appreciate the gesture. After all, it was terribly thoughtful of You to present Me with such a fine and charming gift." She gestures languorously to her right. "Sing Us a song, My pet," she croons to the fox.

Bleeding fingers worn raw from incessant playing strum at the lute, though only one string remains unbroken. The fox-creature nonetheless moves his hands in fumbling gestures, trying to play strings that aren't there, letting out an intermittent "ping" whenever he strikes the one remaining string. He turns and blindly smiles to Gorphat, ichor running down from the edge of his mouth.

Looking up at the gauze-wrapped bat next to him, the fox-thing makes what would be a dreamy sigh, if it weren't for him breaking down into a chest-heaving, spittle-slinging, hacking cough halfway through it. He strums his lute, which lets off a plaintive "ping!" and then begins what might be charitably called a song, the lyrics more or less intelligible despite his raspy voice, and frequent pauses to hack up bile.

"Your Gifts are like none other,"
"Your generosity doth smother,"
"And so I genuinely hope that I could please-"
"-you, for you are like a mother,"
"A sister and a brother,"
"Pardon me, I think I'm about to – *WACHOO!*"

Envoy finally reaches the ragged throne, and gives Gorphat a friendly (but not too friendly) hug and peck on the cheek, and tries to seem nonplussed by Reynard's condition. "I am … pleased that you find him so entertaining."

Looking back from those she helped get here, Elise's eyes fix on the form of the creature that she can only guess was vulpine. Recalling memories of the Foppish Fox in previous dreams, she suddenly registers his condition with surprise, mouth parted, before she closes it to frown deeply. She then turns away and allows her reaction to be hidden by the Eeee in front of her.

The Eeee team that pulled the carriage advances timidly in Envoy's wake, hesitating further as the ill bard performs for the goddess of disease. Nostrils flared, they avoid the "path" of priestess bodies, clinging to the walls as they approach the goddess in supplication.

The fox wipes his nose on his arm, which is even more filthy, then continues.

"If I had my ruthers,"
"I'd never choose another,"
"I live for every hack and cough and wheeze,"
"You are my bread and butter,"
"Nothing that I could utter,"
"Compares to life with you in such luxuries."

The Goddess smiles, hardly moving at Envoy's approach, save to turn her head for the cheek-kiss, and return a pat on the Exile's arm. She tilts her head, listening to the fox's song with a dreamy, approving smile. "He started out a little, you know, My Sister … rough. But I have polished him well, I think. Haven't I, My little plaything?" she purrs to the bard.

Swallowing her surprise, Elise follows along, moving as do the Eeee – quiet and supplicating. The poodle also avoids the path of Yodhgorphat, instead sticking to a wall as do the rest, keeping to the side with the largest of the carriage pullers. Despite her obvious difference from them she tries to blend in by motion, if not by form.

The Eeee begin to sway as they near the goddess, and the ache in Elise's muzzle doubles, making her whole head feel swollen. The mother bat steadies herself and her son against the wall, while some of them reel with sudden dizziness, or fits of hacking.

The fox picks the string a few more times, then bows his head. "May your ears find pleasure or pain in mine pathetic yammering, your Ripeness, depending upon whichever is your whim at the moment." He then makes a strangled noise like a cross between gagging and choking, his shoulders shaking in spasms.

Unable to resist the urge at this point, Elise reaches up and grabs the side of her muzzle. Though it would appear her face and hand are about equally dirty, she had been avoiding touching the wound. Now she seems to find some minor relief in gripping it as she aches. With her other hand she reaches to steady Eeee near her or strike them on the back in an effort to clear the throats of those who might cough to greatly.

Envoy gestures to the approaching Eeee, glad to turn her attention away from the pitiful fox. "I am most thankful for the fine company you provided for my journey, Sister. They have more than earned their rewards."

"Such sweet music," the goddess murmurs, surrounded by the wheezing, coughing, hacking beings. She turns her gaze back to the Avatar. "Did You enjoy Your trip, then, My Sister? You are too kind to these pitiful creatures. I know they mightily abused you, stubbornly clinging to that wretched carriage." She turns angry eyes to the Eeee approaching, and they fall to their knees – as much from sudden illness as awe. "And I so thoughtfully had more appropriate conveyances provided for You, sweet Sister."

Seemingly in response to the turn in the conversation for the worst, Elise moves to step forward and in front of the Eeee she walks with before a wracking ache brings her to her knees. Her left hand splatters goop as she uses it to brace herself least she collapse totally to the ground. Her teeth grind together as she grips her muzzle all the harder.

"It pleased me to see their devotion, and willingness to do whatever it took to not disappoint their Goddess," Envoy says, trying to put the bearers in a better light.

"Do You think that's how they meant it?" The goddess's eye remain disdainful, and the Eeee and Elise press lower into the gunk.

Elise falls forward, right shoulder impacting the mud as she's forced to the ground by the strength and pain the goddess directs on her and the others.

"How else could they have meant it?" Envoy asks, making it sound as if there isn't any other possibility.

Gorphat lifts a few fingers in a dismissive gesture. "Well, no matter. They performed their task." She clears her throat, and announces, "My priestesses promised that those who pulled the carriage from My temple to this summit would be cured of all My Gifts, and so it shall be. You may approach Me. Kiss My fingers, and you shall be cured."

The sudden onslaught of aches and dizziness appears to fade from the Eeee, and, still hesitantly, the stocky bat crawls to Gorphat's side, and raises his head just high enough to bring his lips to her fingertips.

Envoy watches Elise closely, noting how pained she seems to be.

With the pain gone, Elise pushes herself up to her knees and shifts from grabbing her jaw to rubbing her forehead. She appears much better than moments ago, although she seems to be shaking herself from a daze.

As soon as he makes contact with her green fur, the change in the stocky Eeee is visible. He almost seems to glow with a sudden vitality, radiating a health at odds with the lurid scenery. "My Lady!" he whispers, reverently, rising to his feet as he forgets himself, caught in the sudden surge of energy. Then he drops to his knees again, and shuffles away from her, bowing and scraping. One by one, each of the other Eeee does the same, and each is likewise restored to good health.

And as the carriage pullers move on, the lady poodle pulls herself to sit against the wall of the tunnel. She has since removed her hand from her head and appears much better off than she was, and seems to have recovered from her daze as well. Against the wall she watches each bat move to the goddess and be cured, smiling to herself every time one of them recovers.

As the last of the Eeee retreat after receiving their reward, Gorphat continues, "Sister, I commend them to Your care from now on, if You have a liking for them; I have no further use for such."

Envoy blinks at this. "Of course, Gorphat. I'm sure I can find uses for them in my carnival or in Paradise."

At the mention of Paradise, the fox-thing starts choking, then retches over to the side.

The mother bat cradles her cured son to her chest while the two deities speak, and after Envoy's acceptance, the carriage pullers blink out, one by one. "But – what of the lady Gallee?" she asks, with a fearful glance to the obviously still-infected poodle.

At the comment as to where Envoy might use them, Elise frowns momentarily. From where she's partially hidden in the muck and the shadows, she shakes her head a little in Envoy's direction before resuming her watch of the goddess. The watch is soon disturbed by a call to her presence. Now announced, she moves to stand up. "I am glad to have helped you … but do not worry. Go, and tend to your son renewed," she tells the mother Eeee quietly.

Still concerned, the female bat stands and reaches out a hand to the poodle – but even as she does so, she and her son melt away. "Indeed," Gorphat says, in her husky, oddly attractive voice. "What of you? Does Your servant enjoy My gift, sweet Inala, that she does not wish it taken from her?"

"Servant is … not a proper term," corrects Elise. As she draws herself up she places her left hand against the wall, using it to support herself. "A title I need not, for it is plainly wrong. I am but another who walks these paths as did Envoy before she changed."

"It is her choice," Envoy confirms to Gorphat.

"So, a thing used until it is no longer needed, then cast off. A fine Eeee you might make, little dog," the pestilent goddess remarks. Her gaze turns flinty as it studies the Gallee. "Answer My question, mortal, since My Sister does not know the reason for your choice."

Under the goddess's scrutiny, Elise's strength wanes. The arm that props her against the wall bends, and she must lean her full body to the wall now. "Ask … as you will," says she, voice wavering under a sudden pain.

"Do you enjoy My gift, little dog, so that you would not see it removed?" Gorphat repeats, impatience haunting her tone.

Envoy uses the distraction to move closer to the fox bard, wondering if he is even aware of her presence.

If the bard is, he hardly shows notice of it, his head lolling about in a seeming stupor.

"I … do not enjoy y-your gift," answers Elise simply. After having had a moment to adjust, she becomes able to use her arm to balance herself, and then pushes off from the wall to stand up as straight as she can manage, though she wavers occasionally and must reach to balance herself again.

"But you did not come forward with the other pullers to be healed." Gorphat's eyes narrow, the only movement in her gaunt body other than her mouth. A Yodhgorphat fans her face delicately, as if she thought the goddess might be straining herself with this activity.

Elise then begins walking slowly, carefully, forward. "Cor- … correct," she agrees. Her tone is quiet and neutral, shaken by pain.

The Aeolun carefully reaches out to lay a hand on Reynard's shoulder, to see if he is conscious or not.

"Not that I would heal you anyway," Gorphat says, her husky voice petulant, even childish. "You didn't pull the carriage all the way. Did you know that, little Temple dog? Did you choose not to ask because you knew you would be refused?"

As Envoy's hand touches Reynard's shoulder, he twitches and jerks, and his head lolls around again, his eyes blindly focusing on some distant point.

"I sss … suspected, as much," answers Elise. Without the wall for support, her path forward is slow going, and she must pause in it to speak – distracted as she is by the pain speaking brings. "Not … why … I refused."

Stopping herself, Envoy nearly whispers to the fox. But surrounded by Eeee, it would certainly be overheard. Instead she just tries to give a reassuring squeeze (not too hard though; no telling what condition his shoulder is in) to Reynard.

"You didn't refuse. I refused." The green goddess speaks with obvious irritation in her voice. "You just didn't ask. But why didn't you ask? You are not My Sister's servant. You didn't come here to be cured. You didn't come here to become diseased, or to gift others with infection. So why are you here?"

Reynard lolls again … and then his head flops over, leaning against Envoy's arm.

Envoy takes the opportunity to feel Reynard's forehead to see if he has a fever.

Elise draws to a halt at the question, preparing to answer it. She lifts her head enough where she can look at the goddess, stray and muddy curls masking parts of her face. "I came here … to h-help the suffering … " She straightens even more so that she might stand straight, her left hand resting on the pommel of her sword. "… of my own v-volition, that I might do some good in it."

Reynard's got one whopper of a fever, and it's probably the least of his worries.

The green-furred Eeee's mouth twists. "That's not what I am about," she snaps. For a moment, it seems as though she thinks of standing, and the priestesses around her shuffle anxiously, tending to her many bandages, fanning her limbs. But the bat does not move save to turn her head to Envoy. "Do You like the enhancements I have made to Your present, Sister?" she asks.

"Enhancements," Envoy replies, removing her hand from Reynard's forehead. "He used to be more energetic, bouncing and dancing about. It was my favorite part of his charm. He was almost half a jester, as well as a bard."

Again Elise begins her way forward, and though she seems to ache, her motions jerky and ungraceful, she walks forward with all the stubbornness of one intent on doing so. She doesn't say anything more for the moment.

"I suppose You would have liked him better that way, Sister," Gorphat replies, with a small, private smile on her ghastly, weirdly appealing lips. "I never thought You held much appreciation for My craft. It surprised Me that You chose to visit Me first, of all of Us."

"Oh, curiosity," Envoy says. "I wanted to know how my Gift had affected you."

"Is that why You came?" The goddess of disease continues to ignore Elise, favoring the Avatar with a smile instead. "My Reynard is sick with many things, not the least of which is love – isn't that so, foxy?"

As the goddess and Avatar speak, the warrior poodle makes her way to the far side of Gorphat directly away from Envoy and Reynard. There, alone, she makes the sign of the First Ones across her chest.

The fox seems stirred out of his stupor, lolling his head back toward Gorphat. "My one and only love! Never has any … loved me as you do."

One of the Yodhgorphat catches Elise making the sign, and hisses at the blasphemy, but she doesn't call anyone else's attention to it, obviously reluctant to interrupt the conversation of goddesses. Gorphat herself beams back at the fox. "Indeed, nor could any other care for you as I do, pet. Come to Me." She beckons with one crooked finger.

"I didn't know you had need of love, Sister," Envoy says, genuinely surprised.

The fox shudders and with jerking movements, falls over, splattering ichor and foulness as he crawls, hands and knees in the rough direction of Gorphat's voice.

The Yodhgorphat stares for a couple of heartbeats at the poodle, but as the canine does nothing else in that time, she resumes her work, carefully re-bandaging part of Gorphat's calf.

Gorphat closes her eyes, tilting her head back as she chuckles in approval at the fox's antics. "And Sister, I did not think You had any need for sickness. Yet here We both are," she answers Envoy, almost playful.

Once the attention has passed, Elise dips, reaching down into the mud with her left hand to scoop some of it up. This she applies to where her sword meets the case, drawing the blade out slightly and allowing the goop to creep and cover. Then she begins drawing more of her sword, drawing it only when another talks and ceasing when they stop, ever careful of being noticed.

"Well, with Barada gone, I do need to choose a new favorite I suppose," Envoy says, watching the fox and Goddess with a mild expression of amusement.

The fox-thing manages to scramble up to Gorphat now, looking up almost at her (off a few degrees) with what might possible be an expression of adoration, though it's hard to tell, given just how utterly sickly and covered in filth he is. "My heart burns for you! And my sinuses, and my stomach, and … everything!"

No one seems to be interested in Elise at the moment, with their focus still on the Avatar, goddess, and the spectacle of the diseased former-fox bard, though with so many priestesses fussing about Gorphat, it seems likely one will glance her way by chance in short order.

The fox-thing makes a shuddering sigh. "No one pays as much attention to me as you do!" he choke-croons.

With an unprecedented display of effort, for her, Gorphat reaches out one hand to pat the fox-like thing on the head, then cups his cheek, gazing into his milky, unseeing eyes. "Isn't he delightful?" she comments, perhaps to Envoy. "He understands Me so well, I think."

Not about to chance being seen, Elise turns away and continues the motion of unsheathing her blade. She hastens the effort slightly in order to complete it before Gorphat turns her attentions from the diseased vulpine.

"And I'm sure he pays more attention to you than any of your servants, Sister," Envoy says, almost thoughtfully.

Reynard nods, almost giggling at the notion.

One of the Yodhgorphat, standing behind Gorphat and tending to her hair, catches Elise's surreptitious motions, and frowns, almost about to say something – then she hears Envoy's remark, and all the priestesses turn to look at the Avatar, aghast. "That's not true!" one blurts out. "We love You most of all, Mistress!"

The fox whines pitifully. Of all things, he's really good at "pitiful" right now.

Envoy ignores the priestess, and asks Gorphat, "What was it like before I sent him here, Sister? Do you remember?"

"But not like he does," Gorphat whispers, stroking the mangy-eaten fur of Reynard's cheek ruff. Bits of skin and hair flake off at the caress. She doesn't even seem to hear Envoy's question, at first.

The fox-thing shudders at Gorphat's touch, and fumbles about with his hands, blindly and lovingly caressing a pile of sludge.

Finding that all the priestesses and Gorphat herself seem to have their attentions elsewhere by a look over her shoulder, the poodle's eyes narrow and she sets her jaw before whirling around with both hands gripped about her sword. In one deft motion she swings her blade against Gorphat, aiming to cleave her head from her shoulders. Nothing is said in doing, just a determined motion and flash of the sword.

One of the priestesses notes the swing and cries out. With her characteristic languidity, Gorphat frowns, and turns her head towards the poodle. As the blade cuts through the air, inches from the goddess's neck, Elise feels the weight of the goddess's gaze upon her, and lethargy and dizziness fill her body …

… but momentum finishes the job that the poodle finds her own strength waning for. The blade cleaves through Gorphat's slender neck. As her head topples backwards, splattering gore over the Yodhgorphat behind her, the remaining priestesses are only just now starting to react, with shrieks of outrage, and flailing limbs trying intercept a blow already struck.

"Ughha," the poodle wails from the sudden scrutiny from eyes that now tumble into mud. Losing her strength from the full swing, the warrioress staggers in an attempt to recover and raise her guard. "I … I d-dessspise you!" she cries out.

The headless body of Gorphat slumps forward, into the arms of the fox-creature, while a few of the Yodhgorphat – the ones not wailing in confusion, terror or grief, charge Elise. "How dare you!"

The fox-thing, perhaps not cognizant of what's going on, caresses the bandages of the bat-thing. "My one and true love," he gurgle-murrs, pausing to giggle.

Envoy leans down to tell Reynard, "She is dead, Victor. Do you still love her?"

Elise inhales deeply, and steadies where she stands. Her eyes shift from the decapitated goddess to the Eeee who assault her, and her left hand draws forth her main gauche. "I loathe the pain you bring." Again she swings, aiming at the nearest attacking priestess. "I will not worship you, I will not accept your gifts!"

"Dead?" the fox says, blindly looking over Envoy's head.

"Her head is gone," Envoy explains. "She can't hear your voice anymore, or pay attention to you."

The fox's lip quivers. "You're … you're lying!"

"Ask her yourself," Envoy suggests.

The poodle's many years of training and practice allow her to easily dispatch the Eeee priestesses, and the remainder seem in no position to think of revenge. They keen, high-pitched, painful sounds of mourning, heads thrown back until the cavern rings with their cries.

Reynard chortles. "Gorrrrrphat, my precious love … if you're dead, please tell me so!" he sing-songs.

No sound save the wailing of the Eeee priestesses answers the near-blind minstrel.

Attackers slain, Elise stalks forward and eyes the body carefully. Her sword is kept ready and she is careful to avoid any gaze from the decapitated head who so easily drained her. "The world does not need goddesses such as you. For them, and for myself, lie still and be silent to the world," she growls at the corpse, her returning strength evident in her voice.

Envoy looks to Elise, and comments, "The mountain has not vanished beneath us, Elise."

Reynard perks his hear. "Nope, nope, I don't hear her saying she's dead." He grins drunkenly at Envoy. "Nope, nope, I know you! You're not going to trick me with your logic games! Hee hee! I know you like to do that. No fooling me!"

"I fear she may recover. She is after all, what they would have us believe is a goddess." The poodle lifts her sword up and aims for the body's heart. "But she is not," she says as she strikes.

The Aeolun gives Reynard a brief kiss on what's left of his forehead. "I couldn't trick you, Reynard. You are as an anchor, your love and faith making this world real."

Straightening up and stepping away from the fox, Envoy looks to the poodle and asks, "Wouldn't you agree, Elise?"

Green ichor and yellow pus mix with blood, swelling out from the new wound in the body's chest, adding to the filth that coats the minstrel still holding it, but the poodle's strike is careful not to further injure him.

Reynard just hums, gently patting the bandaged corpse, heedless of … more filth.

Elise pulls her blade free and steps backwards, turning so that she is gazing at the remaining priestesses. She places her left hand on her hip, dagger held, sword tip to the ground. Her head lowers and she nods in consideration. "What was this construct, figment of goddess … is no more. But I tell you this, Reynard, mourn her not. What 'gifts' she may offer are hollow and sown with greed. Though she may have claimed to love you, you need only think what she has done to you and all others who have been in her presence. An ounce for a pound, always." Her head shakes disdainfully. "You do not need her. You never did. Wake up, Reynard, remember what you used to know. Remember what you used to feel."

The fox looks dumbly up toward Elise. "Oh, you and your speeeeches!"

Envoy draws a finger across her own throat, and then gestures to the fox with the same hand, looking at Elise with a raised eyebrow.

Elise glances back at the fox, then Envoy, then tilts her head curiously. She lifts her blade slightly and points it at him questioningly.

The Aeolun shrugs, and nods. "We are all chosen by Morpheus," she says. "We all have power to make things more substantial here."

"That … is rather cold," remarks Elise with a frown. After a warning glare is cast at the remaining priestesses, the poodle turns towards the filthy bard and reaches a hand out to grip his arm gently. "Is there no other way?"

"Nnngh?" whines the fox.

"You've died before, Elise," Envoy comments. "It hasn't affected you overly much, I'd say."

"Nnnngh?!" insists the fox. He whines pitifully.

The decaying flesh beneath Elise's hand seems a little healthier, to her mind, than it had been a few minutes ago, though perhaps it's just wishful thinking on her part.

Again the poodle gestures at the bard. "I had to fight to leave, Envoy. Do YOU believe he can honestly escape on his own? I cannot join him to guide him. I am unwelcome there."

"Then leave him here to love his corpse," Envoy says, a bit harshly. "I cannot kill, unless Inala commands me to. Gorphat will recover, and all this will have been for naught."

Insects in the cavern have taken to swarming over the goddess's corpse, which seems to be decaying at a greatly accelerated rate.

"No. I will remain here. I will watch him until he recovers. I will dispatch the goddess again if necessary," argues Elise. She turns her gaze from the fox to Envoy, studying her. "He is your friend, Envoy. How can you ask I slay him so?"

"Because I know of no other way to release him from this … " Words fail the Exile, and she can only gesture to the diseased fox embracing the rapidly decaying corpse.

As the goddess's body decays, Reynard's fur looks a trifle glossier beneath the layers of disgusting gunk, the bald patches showing signs of new fur, the areas of flaking skin a little smaller.

"Reynard," Envoy calls to the fox. "Do you still love Gorphat? Do you want to leave this place now?"

A shake of the head from the poodle. "From Gorphat to Sunala? If Sunala chooses to keep him, and he cannot escape, we will have killed him. I do not kill lightly here, Envoy. The hell of the Eeee is trying, and in his state he may fall to it." Her gaze shifts from the Exile to the fox, and she steps closer to kneel down in front of him. "Do you see? He recovers, as I do."

The fox breaks out bawling, "I want … a REALLY STIFF DRINK!"

Envoy gazes around, and then goes to retrieve the bard's lute, and returns it to the fox. "You could use some new strings, too."

A sudden smile crosses the face of the Gallee, free from the pain that warded against it. She stands up and sheathes her sword, then runs her right hand through her hair. "I want you to release those carriage pullers from the dream. Dismiss them, send them home, Envoy." Her gaze shifts and she looks to the way out. "I, too … think I will consider home."

"I will ask Inala," Envoy says, sounding uncertain.

"Why do you bow to these goddesses so? Look to Reynard, Envoy. Look to the people who were cured here. Look and see what they are." The Gallee closes her eyes and frowns, shaking her head. "Lest you too, become as he."

Envoy just frowns at Elise, and turns to leave the cave.