After a cursory search of the ruins, it was decided to set up camp in the most defensible location – the ground floor room that was partially carved into the cliff. A more thorough search of the ruins and the surrounding area turned up little, aside from some small game for dinner. The mountain air carried a chill, as if winter hadn't fully retreated yet.

The map that had brought them here was laid out on a flat stone near the fire, where the travelers wait for it to speak at midnight.

"So, will the map insult us?" Alptraum inquires and watches the parchment with moderate curiosity.

"You never know with 'Dunky'." Tulani replies at Alptraum's query, using the 'pet name' Arkold had generated for the map some time ago and smoothes out a corner of said object and examining it.

"If it don't, I'll insult you, Bats," Arkold offers. He's standing at the rim of the enclosure, eyeing the way the group entered for threats. "What I'm wonderin' is: how do we get in?"

Ravenia sits next to Arkold, looking sleepy. Phlagaea and Lilith also look tired, while Lucy snores away back near the tent. Of the Eeee women, only Mave looks alert, if relaxed, smoking her pipe.

"Well, we could just look for a door and go in. I doubt there's any fancy way of opening it," Alptraum notes with a shrug. "If the rest of you want, you can just go to bed."

"This place reminds me of somethin' … what was it … Oh, eh, this ruin I saw in my travels. Quiet. Lifeless. Like civilization passed it by, and all it had were forgotten memories and the land. Eh." He reaches up and runs his hand back through his hair, then shakes his head. "I'm stayin' up. That ride with, whut, Charo convinced me I can sleep later."

The Sphynx looks up at Alptraum with a slight frown, "I think we should wait for the map. No sense rushing in there at this very moment. Midnight is soon." With that she looks over at Arkold and gives him a light pat on the shoulder.

"Dunky?" The voice floats up from the map. The more it talks, the stronger the voice gets. "I am Fyodr Dunklestein, Chief Warder of Czar Justinian III!"

"Eh, since when do we prepare?" Alptraum jokes. "Or, maybe not. Hello there, Fyodr."

Arkold laughs when 'Dunky' awakens. "Chief Blowhard, if you ask me."

Phlagaea jerks fully awake at the sound of the voice, and nearly knocks heads with Lilith.

Tulani grins and says to the map, "Aw, but 'Dunky' is so much cuter."

"I sense quite a few more people with you this time, Tulani Ferfrell," the map notes. "And did you remember to save me some wine this time, Arkold?"

Arkold shakes his head, despite doing it for a map with no eyes. "Eh, some crazy Eeee decided wine was more important in settin' zombies on fire, I think we 'ave one or two left – maybe," he answers.

"You don't need any more wine. You're pickled enough," Alptraum reminds Arkold and elbows him. "And I'm hardly crazy, thank you."

"Says the man who knows the grim reaper, and wanted to rush in to an ancient tomb of evil on a lark," Arkold retorts, grinning. "The folly of youth. Yeah, 'the folly of youth' is what I'll have to put in your book entry when I write it. That and somethin' about teachin' you all I know, because you need it."

Chuckling, Tulani doesn't bother to correct Dunky on his pronunciation of her last name, feeling that maybe she deserved that a little bit. Looking between Alptraum and Arkold she says to the map, "Anyway, we seem to be in the right place. Any words of wisdom for us Mr. Dunklestein."

"Are those… veins?" Ravenia asks, pointing to the pulsing web of blue lines that begin to appear on the map.

"Yes, always have wine ready for your elders," the map says. "Now then, you must uncover the door. Near the center of the back wall, a depression should have appeared that matches the combined key that you carry."

"Almost forgot about the key," Arkold adds, in afterthought.

Alptraum pushes himself to his feet. "I'll go look for the door. What's the worst that could happen to me? Die? And remember, in Babelite mythology, I am the son of the Grim Reaper, more or less, so, pththbt," Alptraum retorts.

"Who are these people you have acquired, Tulani?" Dunky asks.

"If we die, at least we know someone with connections," Arkold agrees. "I'll 'elp you, bats. Um, Raven, try an' stay awake to watch the perimeter." The wolf pats Ravenia on the shoulder, then heads to join Alptraum.

Tulani pulls out the odd triangular 'key' and holds onto it for the moment while Alptraum goes to search out the door. Smiling, she answers the map, "These are Lilith, Ravenia, Phlagaea, Mave, and Lucy." She points out each person even though she isn't sure if Dunky has any way of 'seeing'.

Alptraum taps his chin, thinking of something. He then just reaches down and lightly touches the map with a fingertip briefly.

Phlagaea gets up as well, prepared to follow Alptraum. The map feels a bit warm, and very much like human skin to Alptraum, but nothing unusual happens from the touch.

"You don't need to come with us unless you want to," Alptraum tells Phlagaea. He then pats Arkold's shoulder and heads off to look for a door.

"Oh, I'd rather be with you than a talking tattoo," the green Yodhgorphat announces.

"True, I have a cuter butt," Alptraum remarks over his shoulder and grins.

Feeling around the back wall does uncover a triangular depression, with puzzle-piece edges. Whether it was there when they first searched the room though is another matter.

"Don't even want to think about that in context with a talking piece of skin," Arkold tells Alptraum. Though he searches the back wall, he doesn't find the depression – probably on account of his lack of sonar.

"And… well," the Sphynx says to the map while rubbing her cheek, "Alptraum's really the one who found Phlagaea, Mave, and Lucy. Do we need to do anything when we line the 'key' up with the depression? Or just place it?"

"Aha! One hole in the wall, shaped like Arkold's head … I mean a triangle," Alptraum says with a grin. He heads back towards the group, only pausing briefly to nudge the green Eeee.

"It will only fit one way," the map says. "The doorway will open then."

"Only somethin' shaped in my great likeness would be fit to hold somethin' legendary," insists the wolf.

The Sphynx stays sitting a moment longer, turning the key over in her hand and looking a bit reluctant to even open the doorway without a bit more information. "Any advice about the inside after we've got the door open?" she asks the map quietly.

"Given the undead like night-time, wouldn't it be better to wait for morning, anyway? Or, are you going to help lead us through the ruins?" Alptraum asks as he sits down near the map again.

"You'll need to hold me out in front of you to enter safely," Dunky notes. "Some of you will not be allowed to pass."

"Why will some of us not be allowed to pass?" Alptraum asks.

Arkold eyes the wall, then shrugs. "Some of us have more sense than others?"

"Some of us? Is this based on something specific, or just the number of our group?" Tulani asks as well of Dunky.

"Well, you're stuck outside then," Alptraum teases Arkold.

"It will depend on your allegiances," Dunky states. "In many ways, this is a temple."

"You can tell me all about it, then, Bats," Arkold suggests, nudging Alptraum forward. "I'll drink the wine an' chat!"

"Heh, it may just be you Arkold and Tulani, then," Alptraum and then sticks his tongue out at Arkold. "No way I'm leaving you with Mave. I don't want to come out and find you in a cute little robe."

"I will not be left behind," Mave says with confidence.

"You wound an' old man, Bats. You know I'm perfectly trustworthy, an' only the best of men to the ladies," insists the older male. He grins, perhaps a little toothily, then adds, "Besides, you know my alliances – I think I jus' said them."

Tulani looks at the map thoughtfully for a while, not paying much attention to the banter going on behind her before asking, "Not meaning to be rude, but of what allegiance is this temple then?"

"Anyway! What is inside?" Alptraum asks the map. "After you answer Tulani's question, of course. And, ah, can we use it to negate the Shadow of Amena safely? We sort of have a problem… "

"It is consecrated to Nala," the map says. "Or, if you prefer, Rinala."

"Inala? No problem," says the wolf confidently.

"Heh, I'm the child of Sunala," Alptraum notes.

Phlagaea frowns. "Well, I suppose that leaves me out," she says. Lilith also looks a bit uncertain.

"Inala and Sunala are of Rinala," Dunky intones.

Alptraum reaches over and pats Phlagaea. "I could just stay out with you, if you want?" he offers.

"No, you have a reason to go in," Phlagaea says. "To find the answers to the questions you just asked."

"Well whatever they're of, I'm in, I guess." Arkold glances at the two forlorn Eeee, then wags his tail. "Don't be sad: more than likely uncounted horrors lurk within', an' you're gettin' the better deal."

"This is true," Alptraum grudgingly agrees with Arkold. "You could probably get Lucy to pamper the ones who stay outside while we face death inside."

The Sphynx rests her chin in her palm for a moment, thinking, she wasn't really a direct follower of anything. "And somehow I wonder as to where I really fit in all of this sometimes… oh well." she mumbles, before shrugging to herself and rolling her eyes. Good enough that she wants to help.

"You pretended to be my apprentice," Alptraum remarks to Tulani and nudges her lightly, then winks. "But really, you found the map, so you're default in, I would think."

"The day is just begun, but time is short," the map warns. "The door will seal itself again when midnight comes around anew."

"Stop sulkin' and start unlockin', we 'ave a long way to go yet, and the necromancer isn't goin' to jus' wait. You saw what he did with that town. We need to go: remember who and what we're doin' this for," offers the wolf. He walks over to take up position to the right of the entrance, and then rests his hand on his sword, expectantly.

"How big is the tomb and how dangerous?" Alptraum says and gets to his feet. "Arkold's right. See? Being sober does wonders."

"All will be made clear inside," Dunky replies.

Tulani smiles as she gets up and, HUGS Arkold instead of smacking on his shoulder like she had been recently, saying, "Sometime you get what to say just exactly right Arkold… and then other times… " she just trails off grinning and shaking her head.

"You're not really trying to lure us into a trap, are you?" Alptraum asks. He then leans over and kisses Phlagaea's cheek. "Be safe. We'll hurry."

"Who said I was sober," the wolf quips. He grins when hugged, then kisses Tulani on the top of the head. "Thanks, Tulani."

Phlagaea smiles to Alptraum, and says, "Be careful." Lilith hugs Ravenia, and whispers something into the woman's pointed ear.

Tulani actually gives a small affectionate purr at the kiss to her forehead, like one might towards a well loved grandparent or relative. Picking up the map in her free hand a moment later, her other hand holds the key.

"We're always careful," Alptraum insists. He then heads over to the door as well.

With the key so close now, the triangular space in the wall actually begins to glow with a greenish light.

"Magic has style, I'll give it that," Arkold says as he watches the space glow.

"Green glows are often signs of danger," Alptraum mutters. Still, he's curious to see what's inside.

Taking a deep breath the black and white Sphynx carefully sets the 'key' into the now glowing depression, holding the map up as well as she does so.

"Who picks these colors, anyway? I mean, do mages have some kind o' system? Eh … " The wolf falls silent as Tulani inserts the key, letting what he was about to say trail off.

Once the triangular key clicks into place, the glow races outward like a ripple. It flashes into the outline of a large rectangle, and the stone begins to move, slowly opening outwards into the room.

Alptraum steps back and to the side to make sure there is room enough for the stone to move. "Fancy," he observes.

Beyond the door is a wide stairway plunging down into darkness.

"It's always stairs into darkness," Alptraum grumbles. "We need some torches. And remember, Tulani has to go first with the map in front."

Arkold rubs his chin as the door opens. "I 'ave to get me a door like that. Maybe when I retire rich as a prince," he considers aloud. Shrugging again, he walks over and begins gathering torches from the camp supplies. "C'mere an' grab a few of these," he tells the others.

Ravenia is quick to take a torch and light it from the campfire. "I guess nobody will mind if I take up the rear?" she asks, a bit nervously.

Alptraum goes and retrieves a couple torches, then heads back to the door. "I don't mind, no. Why do you want the rear? Well, aside from the fact we're cute to look at?" he asks with a grin.

Tulani swallows as she looks into the darkness, her ears slowly sliding back before snapping out of her little daze at the call for torches, turning to grab one herself and making sure she can hold it and the map easily.

"Because if we need to retreat, I can run fast without worrying about having to climb over any of you," the human says.

Arkold's ears flick, and his muzzle twitches, looking like he wants to make a comment about 'the rear.' Instead, he seems to take the serious road. He grabs a torch and heads towards the front. "I'd better stay close behind Tulani – you too Bats, we need your sonar."

"Nice to know you care so much about us," Alptraum teases Ravenia and then winks to her. He then moves to take amore frontal position so he can sonar scan whatever is ahead.

Mave doesn't bother with a torch, and stands a few steps into the passage, looking impatient. "I suppose I can listen for anything coming from behind us," she offers.

"Better cover my behind, eh," Arkold offers Mave.

"And no taking anything without group approval," Alptraum warns Mave.

"Do you take me for a Yodhblakat?" Mave asks, sounding a bit insulted.

Looking rather hesitant for a moment, Tulani steps forward, heading a few steps inside as Mave had, holding the map out in front of herself and waiting a moment for people to take up their positions.

"No, but you seem very interested in magical items. You wanted those eyes, for example," Alptraum replies calmly. "Now, if we dyed you red, you'd look like a Yodhblakat… "

"You need only concern yourself with your footing," the map says. "The stair goes for a mile or so, very straight."

Arkold pats Tulani on the shoulder, then nudges her forward. "Time to go, to whatever fate awaits us," he tells her quietly. He glances back and waves the others to follow. "We need to move," he insists.

Alptraum waves to the people staying behind. "Be safe," he says, then also heads into the darkness.

Ravenia takes up the rear, checking over her shoulder every so often to see that the door is still open behind them.

"Ugh, a mile of stairs. Glad I'm in excellent shape," Arkold quips.

At the nudge Tulani almost instantly starts moving forwards, as though all her mind had been waiting for was for someone to tell her to go. The Sphynx begins carefully descending the steps, moving slowly to make sure not to trip.

The tunnel turns out to be exceptionally straight, as far as sonar can tell. It is wide enough for two to walk abreast and the ceiling is high enough to avoid triggering Tulani's claustrophobia. The further they descend, the warmer it becomes. Ironically, Ravenia seems to become more and more relaxed along the way.

"So, eh, Alp: I guess you visit a lot of these places? Must be like visitin' mom," the wolf inquires.

"I've never really minded dark tunnels and rooms. Good thing. The Sunala temple was like this, so yeah, it's familiar," Alptraum answers Arkold. "What was the Inala temple like? I never got a chance to visit," he then asks Mave.

"It was beautiful," Mave says, simply.

"That's not very descriptive," Alptraum notes.

Tulani takes a deep breath as she continues downwards, quite glad for the extra space above her head, relaxing a bit, and feeling a bit more at ease holding the map out.

"It was very beautiful," the Yodhinala amends.

"Oh, never mind," Alptraum grumbles. "So, you like dark places?" he then asks Ravenia.

Running her free hand along the warm stone wall, Ravenia seems almost giddy. "I've never been so deep before. I can feel the weight of the mountain above us, and… it feels reassuring to me."

"You know, I am both inspired an' astounded by the creation of a mile long set of stairs. That's the kind of ostentatious indulgence only rich an' crazy mages can get away with," remarks Arkold.

"We did not carve this passage," Dunky comments.

"Who did?" Alptraum asks the map.

Tulani glances back at the group behind her before quickly looking forward, trying to remain looking ahead, her ears perked curiously towards the map for its answer to Alptraum's question.

"Didn't What's-his-face Kurai do it?" The wolf's ears perk.

"The First Ones, perhaps," the map speculates. "The chamber at the bottom of this tunnel is called the Well of Souls, although nobody knows who named it."

"Sounds right up your alley Alptraum." the Sphynx comments

"Okay, now that sounds familiar to me," Alptraum admits and shivers slightly.

"A cheery people, I'm guessin," suggest Arkold.

"I'm not sure I want to get near it," Alptraum tells Tulani. "Who knows what would happen."

"Certainly more cheerful than the current occupants," Dunky comments. "We should reach the doorway soon."

"Who are the current occupants?" Alptraum asks, sounding a bit worried.

Tulani's ear flicks back towards Alptraum and she nods faintly in the torchlight saying, "Alright, that's probably a good idea just in case," while watching ahead for the mentioned doorway.

"Occupants? Eh, just to be sure here: there're only corpses down here, right? No zombies, killer dragons, head-heatin' worms, or anythin' like that," asks the wolf.

"This place is also a prison for necromancers," the map says. The torchlight is soon reflecting off the shiny surface of a peaked double-door. The handles are made of black, polished bone, and there doesn't appear to be any latch or locking mechanism.

"Uh, shouldn't they be dead by now too?" Alptraum asks next. "And oh! Question for you: have you ever met anyone like Ravenia before? We're trying to figure out her origins."

The Sphynx leading the way jars slightly in mid-step at the mention of a necromancer prison but keeps walking forward, oddly not feeling as surprised as she thought she might have been.

"I cannot say until I look upon her with my real eyes," the map says. "And yes, the necromancers should be dead by now, if they are fortunate."

"I'm guessin' that with necromancers, dead isn't as dead as with the rest of us. We could be lookin' at creatures that jus' refuse to die. Huh. Eternal life locked in a cell – not much better than death, is it? Maybe worse," Arkold considers aloud.

"We came up with something far worse to punish them," Dunky says.

"Will you be able to look upon her? The way you said that sounds like you could… " Alptraum asks slowly. He then nods to Arkold and says, "Worse."

"Once past this portal, when I am in the Light," Dunky says. The map almost quivers in Tulani's grasp.

Tulani folds her ears back slightly in an I'm sure I probably don't want to know gesture… but doesn't say anything on the subject of something worse than being locked away underground.

"Well, I'll apologize now if we're a disappointment," Alptraum says and smiles sheepishly. "So, what was the punishment on the necromancers?"

Arkold eyes the door, twisting his muzzle at the lack of latches, then nods as if deciding something. "Speakin' of the portal, I guess we better get on through. Open the door, Tulani?"

"Something they more than deserved," the map says. "Eternal decay."

"What, they regenerate then rot again?" Alptraum inquires, mildly curious.

"I guess we'll find out once we go inside," says the wolf.

Taking hold of the polished black handles, the Sphynx cautiously moves to open the set of doors, her ears perking alertly.

Even opened a crack, the doors spill light into the tunnel, making the torches seem dim. It takes some time before eyes can fully adjust to it.

"Wha- Gah! I little warnin'," Arkold grumbles as he throws up a hand to block out the light.

Alptraum uughs and shields his eyes. "Well, it was called the Light of Nala," Alptraum mutters to himself. "Of course it would be bright."

Being in front, Tulani is momentarily blinded, standing dumbly and blinking rapidly in an attempt to quickly clear her vision before stepping into the room beyond the doorway, saying, "Well, let's see just what's in here."

Alptraum follows after the Sphynx, his eyes still partially shielded from the light.

The first thing Tulani finds beyond the door is that she is no longer holding a map, but a hand. And that hand is attached to a tall, bald and wrinkled human in the robes of a Spirit Mage, holding onto an ornate wooden staff with his free hand. Beyond this, a circular walkway spirals downwards through a shaft that must be over a hundred feet across.

Light glares out from a crystal shaped like an inverted flame frozen in ice. A single bright shaft of light strikes it from below, and the various facets and spikes scatter and redirect the light into myriad beams.

"Now, that is impressive," Alptraum admits and stares up at the crystal. He hasn't even really noticed the formation of the real Dunky.

Tulani almost jumps in surprise when she finds herself holding onto, and now looking at, a tall man, but quickly composes herself to smile at him in a friendly manner and say, "So that's what you looked like. I'd wondered. Nice to meet you yet again." She slowly releases the hand she was holding to stare around herself.

When he finally recovers his vision and begins to lower his hand, Arkold squints at the man with raised brows. "Huh," he grunts. After a bit more squinting, he adds another, "huh," and then extends his free hand. "I guess I meet the rest of you, Dunk- … Dunkledore."

"Dunklestein," the old wizard snaps.

"Yeah," says a familiar voice in Alptraum's ear, as a slight weight settles onto his shoulder. "Better than a disco-ball, that's for sure."

Alptraum nearly jumps! He then says, "Hello Kaira, you could come out here, I see. What's a disco ball?"

"A big gaudy thing covered in bits of mirror that spins around while people strike ridiculous poses and toss each other into the air," the minute dragon explains. "There's an unbelievable amount of raw illiaster in here, you know."

Alptraum then bows to Dunklestein. "A pleasure to meet you in the flesh, as it were," he says, then smiles to him. "So, are we what you expected?"

"Okay, okay, don't 'ave a heart attack on me, Dunklestein. Plus, I bet you're a mean one with that staff – old codgers with your wit always are," Arkold corrects. He then grins. "Sure nothin' beats seein' the real me."

Fyodr Dunklestein turns and looks about the group for the first time. "It has been awhile… but I'm sure women were not so lovely when I was alive. Or perhaps this light is very flattering," he says. Until he looks over Arkold. "Or maybe it isn't."

"I'm not a woman," Alptraum says quickly. You know, just in case.

Arkold just grins more. "You 'ave a lot of venom for a dead snake," he remarks.

Mave brushes past to lean over the railing of the walkway. "It is very deep. Should we be worried about the stone monsters?" she comments.

"Before we move any further, I think we should explain something quickly to Dunklestein," Alptraum says and holds up his hands. "May I continue?"

"Eh? Continue what, man?" the wizard asks.

Arkold glances at Alptraum before walking over to join Mave at the rim. "Whoever built this 'ad more than I can reckon. I've seen men of metal the size of the temple walk, an' devices that speak, but this is on a level o' weird I haven't quite run in to. Place makes my fur stand on end," he says.

"You haven't been informed yet, but we have a bit of a situation. A necromancer may soon be in possession of the Shadow of Amena," Alptraum says quickly. "Given we don't have much time to actually talk to you, and you may have the most knowledge about it … I figured you should know. In case you can advise us on how we should proceed here, to deal with that out there."

"No idea," Dunklestein says. "Tricky critter, the Shadow. We couldn't figure out a way to get rid of it without causing a worse mess."

"So it's alive? Is the Light alive too, then," asks Arkold as he peers down along the beam of light.

Tulani flick her ears about, alternately listening and watching the light playing about the room. She too soon wanders over near the rim, next to Arkold and Mave.

"Well, we've buried it for the moment. I was hoping you knew of a better way to get rid of it. Ah well," Alptraum says and his shoulders slump.

Over the edge, Arkold can see the glowing source of the light, way, way below. It's really just a bright spot though in the distance. Along the next turn of the spiraling ledge, though, he does notice that the walls seem to moving… until the shape of stone gargoyles become apparent. Living stone gargoyles.

"The Shadow isn't alive, technically," Fyodr says, finally noticing Kaira, and reaching out a bony finger to try and tickle her chin. "Ooo, who's a pretty Creen?"

"Uh," utters Arkold as he reaches over to grab Tulani's arm. He uses his grip to point Tulani at the gargoyles, so she can see them too. "I see what your dragon means about monsters."

The dragon suffers the indignity in silence.

"Uh, she might not like that," Alptraum quickly tells the wizard and tries to step away. "That's Kaira, a binding spell holding a great evil in check. She's also obnoxious, pushy, and probably bites… "

"Obnoxious?!" the dragon asks, sounding shocked. Ravenia finally makes her way forward as well, the light giving her more problems than the others.

"Well, do you want him to keep poking you?" Alptraum quickly whispers to Kaira. He then turns his attention to Ravenia and asks, "Are you going to be okay in here?"

Tulani goes "huh?" as she is suddenly pointed in a new direction, flicking her ears back slightly at the sight of the new creatures, then calls loudly to get the attention of the other three still by the door: "Beasties coming up the rail!"

The dark girl turns away from the light, and is about to say something, but looks up at the wall instead and freezes.

Alptraum backs up to stand near Ravenia. He looks up and then around for monsters. "What? Where?" he asks quickly.

"Yeah, stone beasties. Don't think a sword will do much but make 'em mad. Must be the protection Dunkle … stein? … mentioned," says Arkold. He points at the approaching monsters, helpfully.

While the advancing gargoyles are pointed out, Alptraum notices the wall behind and above them bulging. Horrific faces and limbs begin to extrude from the stone itself. "Oh, don't worry about them," Dunklestein says.

"Er, what are those things above us… ?" Alptraum asks slowly and wraps a wing protectively around Ravenia.

"Um… ok… just tell me when I should start worrying… " Tulani manages to get out, staring now at the shifting shape of the wall.

"Guardians," the wizard explains. "So long as you stay close to me, they won't bother you." Mave slinks up next to Dunklestein, making sure she gets as close as she can.

"Ah, right" Alptraum says and brings Ravenia with him when he moves closer to Dunklestein. "Just remember, no touching on the first date." He grins nervously.

Arkold side-steps closer to the wizard, as well. "Turns out I remember we have several bottles of a old an' rare vintage with us," he remarks in a friendly fashion. "An' what I said about you? Just friendly ribbing, Dunk."

"Mmm, of course," the wizard says, a bit drolly. "It's a bit of a walk to the bottom," he notes, and then starts heading down, confident now that the others will follow.

Tulani certainly follows, with small, frequent glances back at the shifting wall, as well as at the prowling gargoyles.

"Man, these things are uglier then you are," Alptraum whispers to Arkold with a grin. It's less nerve-wracking to tease Arkold than think about the stone monsters.

"An' like me, they have abs of stone," Arkold adds, grinning back to Alptraum. "Not to mention statuesque, as I am."

"And your incredible intelligence," Alptraum replies without missing a beat.

"It is incredible," Arkold agrees.

The guardians melt back into the walls to let the party pass, but still make grotesque faces at them. It isn't long before they come to an alcove, with a stone coffin propped up but leaning back at a slight angle. A beam of light passes through a small glass window into the sarcophagus itself.

"That's where you buried the Necromancer King?" Alptraum asks in awe. He cranes his neck, trying to see into the coffin through the window.

The Sphynx sticks her tongue out at a gargoyle as they pass, making a face right back at it in an attempt to ease some of her nervousness.

"Oh no, this is just one of the lesser necromancers," Dunky explains, and taps on the glass with a finger. "It takes years for the lime interiors to break down their bodies, and the Light makes sure they are fully conscious of the process."

"That's rather evil," Alptraum remarks. "You were the good guys?"

"Could jus' be one of the many necromanc- … Yeah, what Dunklestem said," Arkold explains. He takes a moment to walk over to the coffin and peer inside as well, curious. "Also, is the Light like the Shadow, then? Some sort o' half-livin' thing?"

Tulani doesn't look at the coffin, turning her attention elsewhere as she doesn't want to be reminded of living forced in small spaces. Though the necromancer may have deserved it, it still causes her some discomfort in thought.

"Oh no, they are quite different," Dunky notes, and moves forward again. "The Shadow is something of an undead-living-spirit, if that makes sense. But the Light… the light is the power of a god."

"Ah, then the shadow is sort of like a pudding version of Vorgulremik," Alptraum says after a bit of consideration.

"This is, eh, pretty gruesome. Wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Or someone more obnoxious, like Bats," Arkold says, chuckling uneasily. He nods to Dunky's answer, then slowly backs away from the coffin in a stiff fashion – as if he'd rather go faster, but can't seem to manage it.

"Or a dead god, eh?" Arkold continues to edge away.

Alptraum moves away from the coffin now, too. He starts looking around more, for hopefully more pleasant things. "So, is that what you sort of do to him, Kaira?" he whispers to the dragon on his shoulder.

"I'm not cruel, Alptraum," the mini-dragon sniffs. "Right now, he's just being eaten by beetles. A slap on the wrist, really."

"Ah, good. I figured it was something more horrible … like miniature golf," Alptraum says with a wry grin.

Not every alcove they pass contains a sarcophagus, and not every sarcophagus contains a necromancer… but there are still a lot of necromancers along the twisting route.

"Maybe on the way out, you could try, you know," Kaira says, and makes a stabbing motion towards one of the entombed necromancers.

"So, you fixed the gateway? You didn't tell me that earlier. I'm not sure Dunky would appreciate it, though. I would have to ask him, you know," Alptraum remarks as they head on further.

"Never realized there were so many necromancers. Glad someone's keepin' track of 'em all. Uh, eh, is someone keepin' track of 'em all? Dunk, you're what, hundreds of years old? Is anyone bringin' in new necromancers, or are these all the old guard?" Arkold asks as he walks along.

"These are the ones from the war," Dunklestein says. "Although some of the sealing boxes that have been taken from here have vanished over the years, so there may be others imprisoned that just didn't make it here."

"You folks built the boxes?" Alptraum asks.

"No, we found them," Dunky admits. "Our was not the first generation to deal with this particular issue."

Tulani looks a bit queasy at the multitude of coffins the group passes but is internally glad that their occupants are no longer roaming about. She perks her ears to listen to the conversation.

"I wonder if anyone's dealin' with the necromancers we 'ave now. An' we do 'ave them, like Alptraum told you. Haven't seen any boxes like this, though. Might come in 'andy, if we can get one for what comes," the wolf explains. As he passes another entombed necromancer, he keeps his gaze locked forward.

"So, where did you find the Light?" Alptraum asks next, trying now not to think about the tombs.

Next to Tulani, Mave walk along and doesn't seem to be affected by any of it. She simply continues to wear her smirk, as if in on a secret that even Barada doesn't know.

The Sphynx arches an eyebrow at the look on Mave's face before looking over at Ravenia to see how the other woman is faring.

Ravenia too seems oddly unaffected by the necromancers' fates. She even thumps on the occasional coffin with the butt end of her torch.

Curious about the Light, Arkold glances back, avoiding the coffins as best he can, to listen to the tale of the Light. As he does, he notices Mave's smirk, and asks her, "Don't suppose you're Nala, come to keep an eye on us, eh? In this place, I'd believe almost anythin'." He laughs again, as uncomfortable as before.

"Duke Phelix set out to find it, and apparently he did," the old man says. "Never really said where he got it, but he was the only one who could wield it."

"How did he wield it? What does it look like?" Alptraum asks, then glances back at Mave. His brow furrows as that smirk is really starting to bother him.

"We're almost to the bottom, then you can see for yourself," Dunklestein says. Indeed, they appear to be on the final curve. The air is swelteringly hot now, and the stone floor is also warm. At the center of the chamber, two sarcophagi can be seen, with the source of the light between them, if lost in the glare at this distance.

"Wish it was cooler down here. It shouldn't be this hot underground," Alptraum complains. He again shields his eyes and squints while looking between slightly spread fingers to try and see the source.

"The light's sure warm. I expected bright, but no' warm exactly," Arkold remarks. He pulls his arms out of his coat, so that the great trench resides solely on his shoulders with his hands free. "Whew."

At the bottom of the ramp, Dunklestein says, "This is as far as I can go." Kaira also digs her claws into Alptraum's shoulder, and hisses, "Me too… leave the dagger behind, Alptraum. Any closer, and it will start to regenerate Vorgulremik's body."

With her head turned slightly, Tulani seems to be trying to look out of the corner of her eyes at the light source, while also squinting and wondering if the two sarcophagi in this room have any particular significance, being so close to the light source… probably particularly nasty necromancers.

Alptraum pulls out his dagger and offers it to Dunklestein. "Can you guard this until we return. It's containing an evil force that we do not want regenerating from the power down here," the Eeee explains. "Kaira can stay with you and whisper sweet nothings into your ear, too.

"If you can't take the heat, stay away from the light. Or, eh, in every light there's darkness. No, that's not it … Oh, eh, forget it. I'll write in a witty quip later, when I write the book," Arkold says, before stepping forward and shielding his eyes.

Kaira snatches up the dagger and flies a bit of a distance from Dunky. "I can guard it myself," she declares.

Alptraum just rolls his eyes. "Sorry. I did warn you she's obnoxious," he tells Dunky. "Well, let's go see the source. Can't believe we're finally here."

Tulani starts walking towards the source of the light, trying to keep from being blinded, and glancing occasionally between the two coffins.

Ravenia hangs back a bit. "Lilith asked me to observe for her, so… I'll stay here," she says, a bit apologetically.

Alptraum pats Ravenia's shoulder, then follows after Tulani. "Don't touch anything," he says.

"I hope it doesn't incinerate me, come to think of it. I haven't lead the best of lives," Arkold remarks thoughtfully as he advances. He slows down, too, just in case. "Really sorry about Eve, by the way, an' uh … that Captain. Plus the crew. An' … those guards … ," he murmurs, perhaps to stave off being smited by a god.

Trying to abide by Alptraum's advice, the Sphynx doesn't touch anything, if she could see much of anything that might be tangible to touch through the brightness of the light. Murmuring back to Arkold, she says, "And I was expecting you to make some quip about 'walking into the light'."

About mid-way to the center of the chamber, the glare suddenly stops. The two stone coffins can be made out clearly, one sealed and one left open and empty. Between, floating a foot above the floor, is an object woven of bone and crystal, both having a softened look to them. At the very base is a cluster of fused-together feline skulls, while the main shaft is a molten-looking crystal wrapped around with a single large bone. The pommel is an ornate ivory and crystal flower, above which dances a blade of liquid flame.

"Don't remind me abou' walkin' into the light. Charo reminded me enough as it is," the wolf replies to Tulani. "I'm more worried that all I did will catch up to me, here an' know. This might be it for me, … jus' so you know." He stops when the glare resides.

Tulani halts and gapes at the sword… the first words out of her mouth being, "Is this thing even wieldable?"

"You are hardly evil. I've seen true evil," Alptraum says and glances back at Arkold. And then at finally seeing the 'light', says, "Well, I know who has to wield it now too. You, Tulani. My guess is, the skulls indicate that only a feline can wield it… It's either that, or it smites all felines. Hm."

Arkold looks the sword up and down, working his mouth until he can spit his words out past the awe. "It's, eh … It's beautiful, don't know how better to say it." His head shakes, and he glances at Tulani to reply, "Maybe it's symbolic, or maybe Phelix Kurai was one large man."

Mave rushes forward, and then kneels down before the artifact. "Inala, I have followed Your visions to this land. With this power I will lay waste to those who have defiled Your temple and Your people!"

Alptraum leans over and whispers to Arkold, "Or maybe he was overcompensating… " The Eeee then blinks as Mave rushes forward. "Uh, Mave, I don't think that's necessary," he says.

The Sphynx looks over at Alptraum with an expression torn between humor and unease… until Mave rushes up and she steps back slightly, a bit confused.

Arkold, so caught up with the sword of light was he, that his reaction to Mave rushing forward was almost comically slow. He blinks at her, as if wondering where she came from. After a moment, he says, "Mave, I like Inala and all, but, eh … I've seen enough 'layin' waste' for a lifetime, an' don't think we need more of it, you understand me? Especially not with somethin' like this. Somethin' like this wasn't meant to be used by mortals like us. Weak, foolish mortals, Mave."

The Yodhinala stands up, and looks back over her shoulder to Alptraum. "In the new world even Death shall serve Beauty," she says, and reaches for the oversized handle.

"Don't do it Mave," Arkold cries, stepping forward before lunging at the woman in an attempt to stop her!

Being close, Tulani reaches out towards Mave's outstretched arm to grasp it in an attempt to stop her. The Sphynx' ears flatten back against her skull as she stretches.

Alptraum steps forward and then to the side as Arkold launches by! "Tulani, get down behind one of the coffins!" he cries out to the Sphynx. All of his muscles then tense as his wings spread, ready to slam Arkold himself out of the way.

Time seems to slow down. Tulani clutches at one of Mave's wings, and Alptraum slams into Arkold just as his fingertips brush against the Yodhinala's back. Then Mave touches the Light, and the Light expands, until all the world is white…