A Sphynx, Jupani and Eeee are gathered around the fire, having been guided here by expressionless servants. Alptraum is a bit sweaty from his dancing, while Tulani smells of scented bath soaps from helping Ravenia clean up and get to bed. Arkold smells like Arkold usually does after a big meal.

Alptraum sniffs his arm. "I think I need a bath," he comments idly. Slowly, he sits back and lets out a long sigh. "You know, this situation sucks, but it has some promising aspects," he says.

"The glass is half full," says Arkold over his wineglass as he swirls the contents. "Suppose I could use a bath too. Might be some time before we get another wha' with our days goin' as they do."

Tulani nods slowly, not liking the situation much at all, but accepting it and trying to think of ways to work with what's going on. "Yes, not the best of situations, but better than it could be… "

"Ol' Vorg could have had us for dinner, instead of havin' us for dinner," Arkold agrees.

"Yes, but you always look scruffy and get away with it," Alptraum comments and grins fangily at Arkold. "If we play our hand right, we may get a powerful ally." He also then taps his ear oddly and gestures to the walls.

"Yeah, could be a powerful ally, could be," Arkold says without a glance at the walls.

Cocking her head slightly, Tulani looks in the direction Alptraum indicates, looking over the walls as well thinking for a minute before asking with some curiosity, "How did things turn out after I left to help Raven?"

"Oh, things were interesting, you could say," Alptraum comments and looks at Tulani. His ears flick and listen over the walls, trying to see if he can hear movement behind them or breathing. "Got some information that could be helpful if we can find out how to make use of it."

The flickering firelight can play tricks with old paintings, the shadows sometimes causing the illusion of movement. A large, heavy framed portrait of a Savanite woman seems to smirk at Alptraum from across the room.

Arkold reclines back and kicks his feet up. "Lilith gave us a bit 'o the history 'o the place, an' some review of the local holdings. For travelin', of course," says the wolf.

The castle is unusually quiet for such a place. All that Alptraum can make out are the subtle noises of the bath attendants further down the hall, and the regular breathing of a sleeper in a nearby room.

Finally being unable to resist, Alptraum gets up. He heads over to the paintings to see if he can take them down and turn them around. The hanging crooked is just … annoying. "And some of the legends that have been passed down through the years," Alptraum adds.

As if to help Alptraum Arkold reaches out with a finger and pushes a painting right. Seconds later it slides right back where it was and he reaches to push it again. "It's certainly an' interesting land Sylvania is," he remarks as he frowns at the painting.

The paintings are old and heavy, and some of the lacquer on the frame turns to dust where Alptraum touches them. But he doesn't find anything behind them except solid stone.

"Quite. I don't know of any other land where people are so colorful, and where you might meet a legend just wandering about," Alptraum comments and shrugs. "I mean, really. I never thought dragons even really existed."

The black and white Sphynx nods, "To think… a dragon… " She smirks and comments jokingly, "But hanging around you Arkold and listening to your stories I'm not surprised… these types of things just seem to crop up around you don't they?"

"Oh Vorg is ol' hat," Arkold insists. "I knew him when I was younger. Used to be small time. Grave sittin', crime, that sort of thing. Guess he moved up to souls. Can't say I'd have taken the same path. Souls. Kind of a special market." He frowns disturbedly.

"Quite. Even those with abilities in that area would find using them … disturbing," Alptraum comments and shrugs. He makes his way back to the fire and sits down near it. "Still, one problem at a time, I suppose. We need to deal with the necromancer first, and I doubt he'll be easy."

Placing her chin in her hand, Tulani smiles a small wry smile, commenting dryly, "makes me glad I'm the only one with no experience with these things. But yes, that is what we're getting down to isn't it?"

"An' perhaps the necromancer will give us some insights if we can beat 'im. Birds of a feather an' all that. Necromancy or necromancy. One has to be similar to the other," suggests the old wolf.

A shuffling sound signals the approach of something along the hallway, heard first by Alptraum but soon enough by everyone.

"My advice? We don't go blazing in all warriors of glory-like. We sneak in and strike fast," Alptraum comments and leans back. "Winners write the history and I'd rather not have my last minutes be written down like 'pansy-bat died screaming'," he says with a grin. "But one thing … we're not … visitor."

"Oh I'm su-" Arkold pauses at Alptraum's warning about a visitor. He turns his head to watch the door and idly swirls his wine.

Tulani turns silently in the direction of the 'visitors' footsteps, leaning back in her chair, watching, but managing to look like she's not doing so, tapping a claw against the arm of her chair.

The shuffling stops and the door opens to reveal a surprisingly tall Gallah, with brown fur as short as a Rhian's and impressive jowls. It carries a box full of wood, and wordlessly approaches the fire.

Alptraum gets up and walks over to the Gallah. He peers at him curiously, then reaches out slowly to tap his shoulder. "Excuse me, but, is anyone in there?" he asks, eyes narrowed.

Arkold gestures to the canid as he enters. "Can't say I like these. Soul-servants, or whatever Vorg might name them. S'not right keepin' someone past the grave. I say when you're dead your debts to the livin' are paid – the rest is for the afterlife," he remarks disapprovingly.

The Great Dane pauses, kneeled before the hearth, and looks to Alptraum with a bit of wood in his hand. "Res?" he answers, sort of, with a dazed expression.

"Should I try to do, well, something?" Alptraum inquires and glances at Arkold.

"Give it a shot, eh? Let me know if I can help any," Arkold answers. He stands up and puts his glass down and looks ready to grab the canine if necessary.

Shifting her wings a little uncomfortably at Alptraum's action, The black and white Sphynx watches with interest to see the Dane's reaction. As it responds, she stands up as well, walking over and asking, "What's your name?" and nodding as well to Alptraum to continue whatever he was going to try.

"Roobin," the dog says to Tulani.

"What'll happen is probably nothing. It's not like we know what he did to them," Alptraum comments. He rubs his hands together nervously, not quite sure how to start. "I'd like you to hold still for a moment, Roobin," he says and places his hand on his shoulder. "Just look at me and relax, all right?"

"Rokay," the Gallah says, looking at Alptraum with that same dull half-awake expression that all of the castle servants seem to have.

"Uh well … he's got some kind of hold on them, they said. An' he lets them out. So, uh, it's got range whatever it is. Tied to him. Maybe he'll whip back in to Vorg. Then again maybe if you, ah, try and absorb his … er … soul … and … put it back … maybe he'll be tied to you?" As the wolf goes on he sounds increasingly disturbed, not to mention doubtful, of his plan. This is quite obviously not his area of expertise.

Alptraum looks into the Gallah's eyes and steadies his breathing. After a moment, Alptraum's expression seems to indicate he's thinking or concentrating on something. No reply from the bat on Arkold's suggestions.

Tulani nods, and says, "Nice to meet you Roobin," while smiling gently, even though she's not sure if the expression even registers with the dazed canine. She looks a little blank at Arkold's ideas of what might happen, obviously not experienced in this either, motioning for Alptraum to continue, watching him as he goes quiet.

Arkold steps around the other canid and hovers above him with his hands out, as if half-expecting he may need to grab him.

"Mmm. I don't feel anything. They may be just hypnotized; nothing like before," Alptraum says quietly. "I'm not sure I want to try to pull. I remember doing it way back at the sea, calling. But, not sure it would do anything now."

"Rone now?" the dog asks, still holding the stick of wood.

"Er, sure, whatever you think best Alp." Arkold straightens and steps back giving the dog an odd look. "T'think if I kept with Vorg I could have ended up like this."

Alptraum smirks at an idea. "I could try to put Dunky in him," he comments. He then says to Roobin, "Not yet. Let me try something real quick." His brow furrows again and goes back to concentrating.

Tulani quickly turned her head in Arkold's direction at his comment, a very serious look, almost of realization on her face as she reaches out to briefly rest a hand on his shoulder saying, "I sure am glad you didn't"

"Me too Tulani, me too," says Arkold grimly.

Alptraum drops his hand. "Sorry folks, nothing," Alptraum says, looking a bit frustrated. "It's like teaching someone to raise their hand. I mean, how do you do that? I'm in the dark here. Of course, it could also mean I'm not anything special as well."

"Maybe that necromancer will know somethin'. He's got to keep records right? Maybe there'll be some theory or explanation that'll help it along," suggests the wolf.

"Rinished now?" Roobin asks, with what could be just a hint of impatience.

T

"Yes, finished now. Thank you," Alptraum replies.

The Sylvanian Sphynx cocks her head in thought, He was out of it but at least he could speak and answer questions. Looking carefully at the canine she queries, With Alptraum finished, "How long have you been here anyway, Roobin?"

The Gallah hastily begins refueling the fire, using nearly half of the wood in his box. He then picks up the box again and shuffles quickly to the door. "Rong time," he answers to Tulani. "Rust go. Rust not be rate."

Tulani blinks, her curiosity sparked, continuing, "… Late for what?"

"Rady Raven!" Roobin barks, hustling out into the hallway without even closing the door behind him.

"Wanna follow 'im," suggests Arkold. He glances between Tulani and Alptraum.

"Yeah, we should," Alptraum replies and curls his wings in tight. He waits a few moments, then slips out the door as well.

Quickly stepping out after Alptraum, Tulani follows the group down the hall.

Arkold shrugs in a "can't be too dangerous" sort of way and then heads out after the other canine.

The hallway stretches from the grand hall to the bath, with doors spaced as evenly as possible given the somewhat skewed nature of the walls. Roobin hurries towards the bath end of the hall, then stops and opens a door a few rooms past the guest suite. The dog vanishes inside, leaving the door open.

Alptraum slinks down the hallway wordlessly. His ears flick forward, focused on trying to hear what is going on in the room.

The Eeee hears the sounds of Roobin handling wood from his box, and the regular breathing of a sleeping person.

Recognizing the door to this room and commenting, "This is Ravens room, I wonder if she's still asleep", Tulani silently pops her head around the door frame, peering inside, careful not to disturb anyone who might be there and looking for Roobin.

Alptraum continues forward and tries to catch a glance through the doorway along with Tulani.

The wolf edges in behind the bat and then whispers to his companions, "Lilith said Raven has somethin' to do with his control on souls. Who knows what she does in her off hours."

Ravenia's room is a far cry from the colorful chaos of Lilith's. The fire from the small hearth casts it's light across an orderly space, with a Sylvanian style rug on the stone floor, some standing wardrobes, a dressing table with a large mirror and small feather bed. Roobin is knelt before the hearth, feeding it wood to keep it going.

Tulani replied slowly, "Really? Lilith said that? You guys are going to have to catch me up on the info you've gotten sometime."

"She said he used her as a vessel. Doesn't mean she has much more use than that," Alptraum replies quietly and peers around for Ravenia. "I'll tell you more when we're not in this castle."

"We could keep followin' him an' see what comes of it," Arkold suggests.

The sound of breathing comes from the bed. It's something unique to Sylvania – instead of a mattress or cushion, it has a giant overstuffed feather pillow covered in quilts, that tends to swallow the sleeper.

"Well, it seems Raven is asleep in there," Alptraum replies quietly, "I hear her breathing. What I wouldn't give to contact her in dream. I'll have to try that."

A chair near the bed has a bathrobe draped across it, and a small night table holds an unlit oil lamp.

The Sylvanian Sphynx nods to Alptraum, walking a short ways into the room, looks briefly over Roobin's shoulder as he feeds wood into the hearth, then crosses over to the overstuffed bed, cocking her ears towards the sleeper.

Raven's face is barely visible, but she appears to be sleeping soundly and untroubled.

Alptraum suddenly steps away from the doorframe and back into the hallway. "All right, so Ravenia is resting. I suggest we do the same, or try to spy on the dragon. Sleeping may be better, as we have a long road ahead of us," he says.

As soon as the doorway is clear, Roobin shuffles past with his box of wood, heading further down the hall.

"I'm a bit curious where the servants gather once they're … used," Arkold remarks.

Smiling a warm, caring smile at Raven's apparently peaceful sleep, Tulani reaches out to just lightly brush a strand of white hair from the woman's dark forehead before turning back to the other two. "Sounds good to me… or" in a tone of curiosity, "We can see where Roobin s heading off to again? Just an idea."

Alptraum nods. "All right, we can do that. I'm decent at being a sneak. Want me to patrol and locate the place, or go as a group?" he asks.

"I ain't half bad at sneakin' myself," Arkold says. He rubs his chin and suggests, "We could split up, but that might be dangerous. Any votes on that?"

"Hm, in this wacky place? Stay together and move down corridors in a staggered group," Alptraum says after a bit of thought. "That would be my suggestion."

"I'm used to doing some scouting as well," Tulani chimes in. Agreeing with Alptraum, she says, "I wouldn't suggest splitting up myself, this is one of those places where it seems easy to get lost… and who knows what you might find? I'd hate to run into this castles 'lord' by myself… "

"Sounds good. Let's move before we lose 'im?" Arkold thumbs over his shoulder at the departing canine.

"Moving," Alptraum replies and slinks down the hallway after Roobin.

At the end of the hall, Roobin can be seen opening the door to the bath and stepping inside.

Tulani likewise follows…

Unlike the rest of the castle, the bath looks almost brand new. Roobin busies himself tending to the ceramic furnace, which appears to heat a large tank of water. Ceramic and glass pipes feed to an unusual looking stall and to a large porcelain Gallisian-style bathtub.

"Nice bath," Alptraum comments quietly, "I'm so using this later."

"Reminds me of the bath back home. Eh, what a long time ago tha' was. Let's go when he does," says Arkold.

Looking around the doorway, the Sylvanian Sphynx gazes curiously at the stall in the corner for a moment.

Pipes run to the stall and up and over into a flared bulb with holes drilled into the bottom, presumably so the water can drop down from above.

Alptraum scratches his cheek. "If I can figure out how to use it, anyway," he mutters.

Following Roobin leads the group back to the great hall, where the Gallah refills his box from a small supply room and picks up a lit oil lantern. He then heads into the darkened hall that Vorgulremik entered and exited through earlier.

As the group moves down the hall, it changes. The straight lines of the walls bulge outward until the hall becomes more of a tube and all signs of worked stone vanish where the stone had run like melting wax. The lamplight picks out vaguely familiar shapes near the floor and along the walls, where stone flowed over and engulfed… people. A set of bootprints is visible in the floor as well, as someone marched through while the stone was still soft.

Alptraum's eyes narrow. "Okay, this is worrying," he comments quietly. He concentrates on feeling as they walk … for that sensation the dragon radiated earlier. "This must be the old substructure that took the bulk of the attack."

The sight of the hallway is indeed both interesting and at the same time almost frightening, Tulani occasionally glances to the side to get a glimpse of a form embedded in the stone of the walls wondering half to herself, "What could have generated enough power to do this? And still have someone walk through it?" She glances down at the footprints.

Arkold studies the walls and then suddenly pauses. Alptraum and Tulani feel a tug on their shoulder as he reaches to halt them. "I jus' remembered somethin'," he says, sounding as if it might well be a juicy memory. He leans closer and whispers, "Ol' Kurai – the guy who killed the Necromancer King – was a powerful Earth mage an' he lead the attack on the Necromancer King's castle."

"So, you do think this is the place," Alptraum comments darkly. "Tulani, do you have the map with you?"

The bootprints are nearly the same size as the ones Tulani wears, so the maker probably wasn't much larger than the Sphynx.

Glancing up from the bootprints on the floor, Tulani nods slowly at the mention of the map, "I've been making sure to hang onto it." She pulls out the map from an inner pocket in her shirt, but looks a little wary at the idea of opening it up right there.

"May I see it quickly? We may be onto something here," Alptraum says and flicks his ears around, listening intently for anyone close by.

Stepping closer to Alptraum and Arkold and turning a bit so that any direct view of the map from someone outside her group would be mostly obscured by her wings and their backs, Tulani swiftly unfolds the map, tilting it for the Eeee to see.

Giving a troubled glance down the gloomy corridor Arkold suggests, "Be quick about it. Looks like this leads to where Vorg stays, an' I don' want him cornering us in a tight space."

The map has changed slightly. In the fading light of the lamp (which Roobin is carrying further away each moment) the highlighted path to the eastern hills is still prominent, but a lighter path has appeared as well, showing their route southward from the crossroads. A small drawing of a distorted castle is there, along with a symbol… but the light fades out before it can be seen clearly, as Roobin is too far away now.

Alptraum touches his clawtip lightly to the map. "We are onto something, look at that symbol. Okay, put it away. We'll check it when we get back to the room first thing," he says. "I just hope Dunky stays quiet for now."

"Huh. Thought of somethin' else too," Arkold mentions over his shoulder as he watches Roobin walk off. "See, this might be the castle. There's a tomb too, eh? An' we may still be in the wrong sort of place," he whispers.

Quickly folding the map away into her tunic, the black and white Sphynx watches the light fading down the hallway, taking a step towards it and glancing every once in a while at the footprints in the floor.

The melted section goes on for almost twenty paces, before the corridor reverts to more familiar construction. Roobin descends a wide stairway, leading down further into the bowels of the castle. Passages branch off, but Roobin follows a straight course, which ends in another flight of descending stairs.

The final set of stairs goes down for some distance, before finally opening out into a vaulted chamber. The Gallah tends to two stone braziers that provide light and heat for the room, but they seem rather inconsequential compared to the other items inside. Dominating the center of the room is a mound of metal objects – everything from iron nails and door hinges to brass candelabras and mirror frames. It is as if every bit of metal from the castle and surrounding countryside was scavenged and piled here, regardless of its quality.

At the center of the mound is a raised platform holding a stone sarcophagus. Strange runes cover the sides and ends, save for one that is immediately recognizable by any Sylvanian – the sign for Necropolis. Atop this stone box, Vorgulremik lies, with his horrible head resting on crossed paws.

The dragon's eyes are opened, but unfocused.

Alptraum's eyes narrow again and his body tenses up. Again, he focuses more on what he feels here, than what he sees. The Eeee also stays in the shadows, wings curled around his form.

An Arkold gesture animatedly at the stone box, then the dragon, and then makes a throat slitting gesture. For a moment it seems like he's suggesting ambushing the dragon … then he adds a point at himself and his companions suggesting it might well get them killed.

On noticing Vorgulremik at the center of the room, Tulani stops moving, and likewise stands in the shadows. It's hard to tell if she's even breathing… Watching Arkold's gestures – especially the throat slitting one – she nods her head, trying to peer from where she is at the objects at the other side of the room; the pile of metal, and the sarcophagus…

Oddly, Alptraum starts to move closer slightly, quietly. He tries to also remain in the shadows … but something seems to have piqued his interest.

The dragon could be asleep with his eyes open, or else in a trance. In any case, it doesn't react to the presence of the intruders or to the servant that is tending the fires with no attempt to be quiet.

Alptraum draws back and motions toward the door, then heads towards it.

Arkold nods to the bat and withdraws as quietly as he can – and with about as much haste.

Looking a bit surprised at Alptraum, Tulani arches an eyebrow a bit questioningly, but nods and makes her way silently after the other two.

The dragon shifts suddenly. His head raises up and turns towards the shadows – right to were Tulani is. With eyes still unfocused, Vorgulremik lets out a low hiss, then returns back to his previous pose.

Alptraum tenses up and looks back at the dragon, breath held. When the dragon settles, he moves out into the hallway even faster. "Okay, I don't know how to explain this … but he felt lessened a moment ago. Like, powered down. We might have a chance if we struck with him like that," he says quietly to Arkold.

Tulani freezes as the dragon moves… inching her way very slowly out the door after his head is lowered back down.

Roobin finishes his task in the chamber, and picks up the lamp again before heading back to the stairway.

Arkold gives a distracted nod then hurries back to Tulani, puts a hand on her shoulder, and helps her edge away.

As he guides Tulani back to Alptraum Arkold suggests, "Now that you mention it bats, yeah, he does see a bit less intimidatin'. An' look what he's on. He wouldn' rest on somethin' like that unless he was guardin' it, or, hey, maybe if it empowers him somehow," he whispers.

Alptraum nods. "Now, are you absolutely sure this isn't the tomb? You realize what could be in there… " Alptraum says in a low whisper.

Tulani flicks an ear, listening and half-glancing behind her as she finally makes it into the hallway, nodding and murmuring almost silently to the other two, "That was strange, he did seem weaker than usual." She watches Roobin walking away again, and makes as if to follow, continuing, "We should still check the map again, don't forget"

"Let's go back to our room," Alptraum says quietly. "I want to check out that map and I think we've seen all we need to down here."

"I couldn' say either way. Ah. I 'eard of a Necromancer Queen too, so, eh, maybe this is 'er tomb. Then again could not be. Could be another tomb. But, eh, whatever it is he's guardin' it with his life. It must be valuable to him, an' that's disaster for anyone else," replies Arkold. Then he heads back the way he came.

Roobin leads the way back to the great hall, where he sets aside his box in the storeroom and crosses the hall to the corridor that leads to the old chapel where Lilith resides. The Gallah turns down a side hall, which leads to a long room filled with rough hewn, stacked beds. Without ceremony, he falls onto one of the beds and is instantly asleep, along with the forty or so other servants in the barracks.

The group returns to the guest suites, where the fire is still blazing, and the painted Savanite is still looking down from the wall with an oddly knowing grin. Alptraum notices this time that the artist got the spots wrong, as he's spent quite some time among Savanites.

Alptraum goes over to the painting and peers closely at it. "You know, this thing is wrong. The spots are way off. I've been up close and personal with a few Savanites over the years. Er, not that kind of personal, just traveled together," Alptraum says, then thinks. "Wait a moment. Tulani, come over here, please."

"Well that was enlightenin'," says Arkold as he walks in and drops in to the same chair he occupied earlier. He picks up his wineglass too, sips, then says after giving Alptraum a curious look at "up close and personal" with Savanites, "Gettin' in that box we'll be a trick."

Tulani, who had been about to plop herself down in a chair in the corner, steps over to stand besides Alptraum, also looking at the painting, making a curious Hmmm in her throat.

Alptraum peers closely at the painting. "I wonder if the spots were added," he comments. Suddenly, he reaches over and takes Tulani's head in his hands, and peers at it from a few angles, then at the head on the painting.

The Sphynx cocks her head but relaxes her neck, allowing Alptraum to easily turn her head in whatever direction he needs to look at.

With an actual Khatta to compare too, the painting seems more off than before. The jaw isn't quite right, looking heavier than it should, and there are other subtle differences to the shape of the skull. The portrait doesn't resemble Tulani at all, and unless the artist was extremely bad (which the detail and quality of the painting suggest is not the case) then the depiction is of an unknown feline race.

"This painting is wrong, the structure is way off on the face," Alptraum says, hmm.

"I always thought she had her head on straight," Arkold remarks in jest. He peers at the two across from him and shakes his head, then looks up at the painting. "Maybe the guy never saw a Savanite before, eh?"

Once Alptraum has released her head, Tulani takes a step closer, peering at the painting, speaking slowly, "Hmm… It looks like one of those water cats. A Gigi but with spots.

Alptraum makes a grrking sound. "Those things. I've met them before. One of them tried to kill me; then sold me into slavery," he replies frowning. "She had spots painted on."

"Hey," Arkold says as he peers at the painting more, "I know that kind o' cat. I was goin' to retire out that way with Raneah – figured she'd appreciate more swimmin' cats – an' it looks like a Gigi."

"They worship Nala, right?" Alptraum inquires as he rubs his muzzle.

"I wonder why the spots though?" The Sphynx comments, shifting her wings slightly.

"Nala an' that other one … uh … Un-nala," Arkold answers.

"Bah, I think I was told once, but I can't remember," Alptraum mutters. He frowns, rubbing the side of his head as he remembers where he was hit years ago.

"Nala's associated with light though. She's part of the … ," he makes a sword sign with his arms, " … thing, as her Light. So the other one is, er, like Nala's evil twin? I guess? I try to stay clear of dark religions when plannin' my retirement."

Tulani nods and pats Arkold on the shoulder at his comment smiling slightly, "Quite right."

Alptraum shakes his head and says, "Okay, let's mull on it. I want to see the map again." He then adds, "Or, I can just go get a bath if you two want to talk, or whatever. Sorry if I seem pushy, but I'm on edge."

Suddenly blinking at a thought, remembering something the Sphynx turns to Alptraum asking, "What caught your attention… down there?" indicating the Dragons chamber when he had moved forward.

"Same thing you noticed, his feel changed. I was trying to see if I could feel more," Alptraum replies with a light shrug. "Didn't notice anything more, though. Sorry."

"Uh, hey, wasn't the guy who had the map also a Gigi Tulani? With the pendant and such," Arkold asks.

Tulani looks over at Arkold replying, "Yeah, he was… Thank you, I had almost forgotten… " Turning back to Alptraum, she says, "We found a pendant with the map with a Gigi um… 'shade' inside that had the info that got us started… "

"Well, can I see both?" Alptraum asks and sits down near the fire. "I'm curious about all this. Not that I can help, but I want to learn."

Likewise sitting herself down in a chair the Sylvanian Sphynx continues to the Eeee, "Unfortunately we don't have it anymore. Traded it in Abu Dhabi for a piece to complete the map."

"Just the map then," Alptraum says with a shrug. "I think we're really close."

Handing Alptraum the folded map, Tulani moves closer so she can see it more easily as well.

The map shows the distorted castle more clearly now, and underneath it, in a little rectangle, is the symbol of Necropolis.

Below that, is a skull and crossbones.

Alptraum takes the map and carefully unfolds it on his lap. As he does so, he curls his wings up and around some, to protect it from spying eyes. "Let's see what we shall see, eh?" he says. He rubs his thumbs on the edge of the map lightly. "That bodes really badly. Can you tell us anything more?" he asks the map.

The map remains silent. Dunky has so far only spoken on holidays.

Alptraum hmmms and decides to try something. His fingers grip the map lightly and he concentrates, trying to see if he can feel something in the map. "Hey, are you in there?," he thinks, trying to visualize what little he knows of 'Dunky' in his mind.

The map chills slightly under Alptraum's fingertips, but nothing else happens.

"I wish I could make heads or tails of this. One thing's for sure though: we're in the middle of a lot of danger, an' there doesn't seem to be anyone bu' us to do a thing about it," Arkold remarks. He takes another sip and stares at the map consideringly.

"Boy, I feel like a failure," Alptraum comments and shakes his head. "I think Lilith was way off on her ideas about me." He folds up the map carefully and offers it back to Tulani, saying, "Bath time for me. Then sleep. Not much more we can do tonight that I'm aware of."

Tulani folds the map away into her tunic, stopping Alptraum for a moment as he walks by with a hand on his arm commenting, "Better to try than do nothing." Nodding at his idea of a bath or sleep, she leans quietly back in her chair, thinking to herself.