Straining beneath one of the harnesses alongside the other bearers, Elise continues to press on, moving the carriage ever forward up the filth encrusted hillside. She is covered in mud and other more disagreeable forms of filth from previous falls and slips, and on the side of her muzzle there is a wound struck by the whip of the now dead driver. The wound she is careful of, again keeping a mostly clean hand holding it to prevent infection. She has not said much since they began underway again, appearing too exhausted for conversation and rather set on forward progress.

Alongside Elise, Envoy keeps pace, rather than riding in the carriage. She divides her attention between watching the trail ahead for more obstacles and checking on the bearers to make sure their attention isn't wandering. The Exile also keeps a close eye on her Gallee companion, watching for signs of infection.

Time trickles past while the sick and weary Eeee, and the single poodle, pull their burden onwards, much lighter now that the priestess and Envoy no longer ride. The footman, too, has vanished somewhere, though no one quite remembers when he left or where he went. Despite Elise's care for her injured face, she remains one of the strongest pullers … as much testimony to the pitiful state of her companions, as anything else. The cut oozes a little pus, and feels swollen and puffy to the touch. Often the noble's hand is employed in swatting flies away from it. The other pullers are either less concerned or lack the energy to fight off the insects that nest upon their own torn flesh.

"I've been thinking, Elise," Envoy says to the poodle. "Barada's disappearance suggests that the course of action I took with Inala was not the correct one. I'm concerned about you accepting Gorphat's gift of healing when we reach Her."

"Curing," the elderly bat beside Elise says, between labored breaths.

As if in a continuing haze the lady poodle continues onward, ever forward. Now that the driver has passed on, there no longer seems to be a reason for her to do much else except pull the empty carriage to its destination. She doesn't even do so much as avert her eyes to look anywhere but forward. However with the steady sound of footsteps broken by Envoy's words, she does indeed look over. "Is that so? I … do not know what to expect when we arrive to meet her. I … truly am more worried at the moment about the journey." She glances to the elderly bat and nods to her. "A cure. It is what these people need."

"Yes, curing," Envoy corrects herself. "Unlike these others however, you were not … blessed … by the goddess before you came here, Elise. Whatever afflicts you here may follow you into the waking world, but it would have to be purely magical in nature I think, and thus amenable to treatment by the School of Life."

"I am … " The poodle staggers, her averted gaze causing her to miss a carcass which she nearly trips over. " … ah … I am not concerned so much with myself, Envoy. I am aware of the College support. I am … ahh, uh … also aware of that what transpires here may extend into the waking world. But what you say … say does have merit. It bears consideration. I … had been wondering if you have been thinking of a … plan yes? I overheard your manipulations of the driver … "

The Eeee at her side reaches out a hand to steady the canine after her stumble, and the whole coach slows a bit, giving her time to recover. The team, after such a long time pulling, seems sensitive to the problems of a single member.

Elise steadies herself well enough, and nods in thanks to Eeee who helped her. "Thank you," she tells the bat quietly, seeming more tired for having spoken at length to Envoy previous. Again she sets herself in the harness andlooks forward lest she stumble again.

Envoy rotates her lower jaw as if chewing on something before speaking again. "I'm not sure. Following the Sisters' games only gets you so far, but at the end I think it is necessary to break their rules. Reynard and I played the game faithfully, and the results were not what we would have wished for. Based on that alone I have to think that accepting any favor from Gorphat would be counterproductive for you. I think you should try to be the last one of the bearers to be presented, if possible. Let them receive their cures, but refuse when your turn comes. I don't know what the outcome will be, however. I don't know what I will need to do to secure Reynard's release from this place either."

"I w-wonder if we will be treated the same as they … for we, though dreamers, are … not the same. We are … out of place here … " The poodle takes a breath, pausing as her words grow haggered and spaced before starting off again. "You are the only Avatar I … I have seen. I think that we … are unique. She may wish more from you, or … me. Regardless … priority is in assisting these people. Once that is seen to … I … I will do what I think best, heeding your advice."

The dismal landscape changes as they advance along it, growing warmer. Higher on the slope, Envoy can see that the vegetation becomes more lush and abundant, though black clouds of bugs make the air thick, and if she looks closely, she can see rot pervading the greenery.

"It looks like a jungle up ahead," the Aeolun reports. "Lots of insects as well. It may be necessary for some of us to take refuge in the carriage if we can't protect ourselves from them."

"I worry … about that," says Elise softly. She frowns, and the expression causes her to wince noticeably. "I would not easily break from the carriage, and … I would not suggests the others do so, either. It is Gorphat's realm. She may … may notice if they leave their posts … regardless of our … location."

The elderly bat beside her and the mother ahead of them murmur in agreement at Elise's words, and the little boy just in front gives a sigh as he nods, too, his green eyes, for just a moment, hopeful.

Nodding, Envoy suggests, "Slow down a bit then, while I go and see if they pose a threat. If necessary, we may be able to coat everyone in mud to add protection."

"Of course … do what you must. I will … will see to the people here. Perhaps I should take point for the … " A deep breath is taken by the poodle as she finds herself winded from excessive speaking, and she finishes, " … f-for this part. I am better armored, and less injured. Everyone, allow me to step to a forward p-position … so that you can stand behind me … "

A spot beside the nervous point Eeee has remained unfilled since Envoy and Elise first met the carriage, and the team stops moving at her command, waiting for her to slip out of the current spot and into her new one.

Envoy jogs ahead towards the greenery, alert for anything that she might recognize from her Earth Sphere education in flora. She is careful to stay near the center of the path though, just in case anything lurks near the edge.

With the team paused, Elise ducks under her harness in the rear and walks up to the front, placing herself under the frontal harness and then gesturing the others to begin again. "In an emergency, d-do as Envoy … um, the Avatar has suggested. It is a sound idea," she tells those around her.

As the Aeolun scouts ahead, she determines that the vegetation is, at best, vaguely familiar. The plants seem less like specific varieties than some kind of exaggerated idea of what jungle vegetation ought to look like, with broad green leaves, twining vines, and thick-stalked trees throughout. More disturbing than Envoy's inability to assign species to the plants are the frayed edges of their leaves, the pestilent bubbles in multiple colors that form on many of them, like diseases so exotic they are almost flowery. At the rate that the carriage is currently going, it'll take them some time to get to where the "jungle" begins. As she comes nearer still to the area, Envoy hears the tell-tale buzzing of blood flies.

Remembering her own past experience with the carnivorous insects, Envoy quickly turns and heads back to the carriage. "There are blood flies," she warns. "We need to cover up any areas of broken skin."

The bats glance to each other, with their myriad of oozing scrapes and welts from the whip strokes, then back to the Aeolun. The sturdy male Eeee, now pulling from just behind Elise's position, voices their thought, "With what?"

Envoy reaches down and scoops up some of the road muck in one hand, then sniffs at it experimentally. "With this, hopefully."

A nod from the Gallee. "T-thank you for your scouting r-report. Everyone, you must find the least rotted patches of mud you ca- … ah … " She inhales sharply and seems to force herself now to make sense. "… can, and cover your wounds. Draw in your clothes and fold your wings to yourselves. If that fails, your wings may be used to swat them. Avatar, you are a Mage of Earth, can you not purify some mud so that it can cover but not infect?" After her words the poodle looks more exhausted than she had been, and leans heavily against the harness to catch her breath.

The muck in the ground, like the rest of the environment, smells incredibly foul, even more so when brought close to the nose.

Envoy considers the glop in her hand, and Elise's request. "I can try to make it cover more effectively, but I don't think I can sanitize it," she finally says. "It will eventually make you all sicker, but not as quickly as a swarm of blood flies can."

Experimenting, the Aeolun holds her soiled hand away from herself, and tries singing a simple traction cantrip to make the mud slide off by making it extra slippery.

Again the poodle nods. She opens her mouth to say something, but doesn't quite manage it for the moment. Though she doeskneel down and look to the mud for comparatively clean patches. As she studies it she again replaces her gauntlet so that she is as armored as she can be, and pulls up the hood of her cloak.

The cantrip appears to work normally, exactly as Envoy intended it to. The glop slides from her hand, leaving only a slight, slimy residue on her fingers behind.

A distant peal of thunder echoes, followed by a chorus of chatters and razzes as insects in the undergrowth are stirred up.

"I hadn't actually expected that to work," Envoy says, blinking in surprise. Turning to look over the various Eeee and Elise, she decides to try a Reshape ritual to form temporary armor to cover their vulnerable areas. "I'm going to try and make you all some mud armor, alright? I'll keep it as thin as I can, so it won't weigh you down, but your joints will still be exposed. You'll need to smear on mud as needed for the places the armor can't cover."

"My own armor should … suffice. D-do not worry about me. I will apply mud to my … my face." The warrioress, rested enough to say so much, begins gathering mud between her hands and, very hesitantly at first, begins applying it to the exposed areas of her body: her head and neck.

Using her foot, Envoy traces a ritual circle in the mud around herself, and concentrates on what she wants to accomplish. She's never tried a Reshape that deals with so many disconnected pieces before. Once she's satisfied with the circle, she warns the bearers, "This may be a bit … well … disgusting, but please try not to move too much. The mud will have to crawl up over you before it can form into armor."

The nervous Eeee at the front shivers and fidgets with his wings at Envoy's words, and some of the others look uneasy as well. They rest in their traces, however, while the mage begins her ritual, the little boy leaning against his mother.

Envoy fixes the image of basic leather armor and protective hoods in her mind, and begins to sing and gesture within her circle.

Meanwhile, Elise finishes the process of covering herself, which takes longer than is strictly necessary, but the poodle seems uncertain at points. Still, she completes the covering as is made obvious my a sharp inhale through her teeth when she begins to cover the wound on her muzzle with the foul goo. Once done, she turns around and makes her way towards those who may need her help in preparation, namely the fidgeting Eeee beside her. She offers, slowly, to steady him until the process moves far enough she must let go.

The fidgeting bat at first starts at Elise's touch, then glances to her, looking sheepish. He takes a few deep breaths, despite the hideous odor in the air, and calms down, stilling his wings and straightening up. That adjustment alone makes him look infinitely more poised and confident, and he offers the poodle a small, grateful smile.

A fly buzzes across the path … then falters in the air and drops to the ground, jiggling around on its back, with its wings stuck in the goop.

The smile is returned, though it might be difficult to notice it, given the Gallee's face is covered in mud. Remaining with him while she surveys the others, Elise glances back, checking to see if there are others who might need her assistance now.

Lost in her casting, Envoy is pretty much oblivious to anything happening around her at the moment. She concentrates on getting the muck into the proper positions on the Eeees.

The adolescent girl Eeee has the same glazed look in her eyes that held them earlier, staring fixedly forward, motionless, almost eerily so. The other bats have similar attitudes of weary resignation, though none to such an extreme, as they hold their positions and breathe evenly while mud starts to creep up their ankles in response to the Aeolun's spell.

Elise points to where the girl is and nods in that direction so the previously shaky Eeee can see where she is going, and perhaps to show she isn't going to be far. After that, she walks over to where the young girl is and kneels down in front of her, quietly watching and giving her a smile.

Using her voice and hands in strange ways, Envoy continues to urge the muck to behave like leather instead of dirt. In her mind, each Eeee's protective suit is tailored to their various wounds and other vulnerable areas.

At first, she does not even seem aware of the poodle's presence. As the mud begins reaches her calves, the young female trembles, and her eyes blink repeatedly, fingers twitching from side to side. At length, with the mud up around her thighs, her gaze drops to where the poodle kneels near her, and a curious frown creases the young Eeee's forehead. The casing has taken on the appearance of boots over her feet, and starts to form into greaves as it coats farther up.

The poodle woman pushes herself to stand again and reaches over to place a hand on the young girl's shoulder comfortingly. Continuing to watch her and offer a smile despite the mud that oozes across her face, she offers a few words. "It will be all right," she tells her.

As she weaves the spell, Envoy briefly considers embossing Gorphat's rune, the Wound, onto the chest pieces … but quickly decides against it. It isn't her place to bestow that sort of mark, and Inala's Flower would probably be just as inappropriate, so she leaves the armor devoid of markings.

Once the armor has fully formed around them, the Eeee experimentally move their arms and flex their wings inside the thin, protective casings, stamping feet as they become accustomed to the feel. "Thank you, Great Lady," the Eeee at the front says a bit stiffly but with sincerity. The girl Elise is near still blinks her eyes inside the hood, shivering, while the little boy taps on the side of his helm, and giggles.

Concern registers in Elise's face as the girl proves mostly unresponsive. "Young one … can you c-continue? Is there any … anything I should know?" she asks her.

Envoy takes a deep, if unpleasant, breath as she completes the spell, and wipes away the ritual circle. "I hope the jungle doesn't stretch very far."

A few more blinks, and the stocky male bat next to her leansover to touch the young Eeee's arm, steadying her. She flexes her wings, then nods to Elise and the other bat. Without speaking, she lifts her arms back into position in the harness.

Though not looking totally convinced, Elise nods, her smile since faded, and turns back around to walk to her position at the front of the line. She then steps under her own harness and presses against it before lifting a hand and waving the others to get ready and continue onward. "Envoy, … you will be safe?" she inquires while doing so.

Envoy walks ahead, and says, "I should be, as long as I don't cut myself." She then begins another cantrip, trying to make the road less slippery.

The cantrip makes a little patch around Envoy less slippery, and as long as she continues to chant, it seems to have the same effect on the road that Envoy walks on as she moves forward. The new tackiness in the road helps the Eeee keep their footing, though when the carriage gets to it, it becomes a trifle harder to pull.

Envoy moves in closer to the bearers, and tries to limit the effect to the road just under their feet so that it doesn't reach the carriage wheels.

In response to the added strain, Elise pushes herself that much harder into the harness. The brief break seems to have done some good in restoring her energy and she appears more able to continue a stronger pull than she had been previous. Also, with her wound covered by mud and her hood, she has an extra hand to push with.

The Aeolun finds it tricky to control the path precisely enough to affect the pullers but not the carriage, but with some fine-tuning, she manages it. The carriage makes its slow way towards the jungle ahead, and the buzzing of distant flies grows louder.

Once the cantrip is working properly, Envoy takes the chance to look ahead for any new obstacles before she has to recharge the spell.

Elise's hood shifts as she perks her ears to the sound. Shortly after, she frees a hand to push her hood down as well as she can manage. "Pre- … pare yourselves," warns the Gallee to those around her.

The prone forms of a canine and an Exile lie on two of the beds, with a magic circle inscribed on the floor around them, only just now stirring. The poodle twitches anxiously in her half-doze, one hand cradled against her face, while the Exile remains calm. On the floor between the two beds, a gray female fox'taur drowses, her head resting on a pillow propped against Elise's bed.

Envoy blinks and sits up in the bed, momentarily disoriented. "That was sudden," she comments.

"Pre- … pre- … auuhh … " Elise stirs and shifts about as she begins to waken, seeming disturbed by something that seems to haunt her dreams. "Ahh!" she exclaims suddenly as her eyes snap open and she stares intently at the ceiling. "Where … ?"

Yffryn suddenly jerks from her pillow, blinking herself. A few arcane words slip out of her mouth in her startled state, but then she stops herself. "Oh! My." The fox'taur comments. "Whew."

The Gallee pulls herself up to sit on the bed, clutching the blanket with one arm and her chest with the other. She breathes quickly, panting, and staring forward down at her bed. "Why am I awake?!" she asks, sounding disoriented and somewhat panicked.

The fox'taur climbs to all four feet, gazing at the sunlight shining through. "Because it's morning?" she hazards in answer. She bends over to gather some loose papers together.

Envoy blinks again. "How long were we asleep?"

Elise removes the hand from her chest and shifts it to touch at the side of her muzzle. A wince is the result. "No … I … I need to sleep. They may still be there. They may be in trouble," she protests quietly, still sounding like she's neither fully awake nor completely aware of the situation.

"Mmmmm… " Yffryn checks her pocket watch. "About nine hours, it appears. A little longer than usual. But this was quite an unusual night, wasn't it? My dear," she turns to Elise, looking concerned, "Are you all right?" She reaches out to give the poodle's shoulder a gentle shake. "Do wake up."

In response, the poodle shakes her head to clear herself, and then turns to focus on Yffryn. "The dreams have begun again. There is no mistaking it. And there … there may be people in danger and in need of our assistance within. I request you use your magic and put me back to sleep," she then tells her.

The female vulpine ruffles her head fur. "Oh dear. Yes, it certainly appears that the Babelite dream ritual is still ongoing, given tonight's experiences. But I don't think that putting you back to sleep would be a very good idea," she says, hesitantly. "And there's no guarantee – or even good cause to think – that if I use magic to make you dream, it will put you back in the same place in the dream. even if it did – Well, I think we had best talk about all of this first, don't you?" She turns to Envoy for support.

"I'm not sure either," Envoy admits. "We've never used magic to enter the dream realm like this before. It just happened on its own."

"And this time happened on its own, too. I've only beenwatching your normal sleep cycles and using magic to monitor your dreams, not affect them or cause them," Yffryn points out.

Envoy asks, "What did you learn from this, Yffryn? I didn't think Earth Magic would work in a dream world."

The Gallee turns and looks off to an unoccupied corner of the room, frowning to herself and rubbing at her muzzle. "It is possible," she explains. "In an emergency regarding the previous Dean of the Sphere of Dream, I requested to be put to sleep to disrupt his contact with Mage Envoy."

"There is that," the fox'taur admits, fussing with her notes. "Mmmm, I'm not surprised that you could use your spells the dream, Envoy. Mage Cyprian reported that he had been able to cast spells while dreaming on a couple of occasions, and used a spell he had cast in the waking world to affect one dream. Not a very thorough study of the phenomenon, of course. But I'd like to hear your perspectives on the dreams, please."

Yffryn turns to walk out of the circle settling onto a nearby couch and facing them. "I know what I saw of your shared dream, but I'd like to hear your side before we discuss it, in case there are any meaningful discrepancies."

"I thought there were more potential traps this time," Envoy comments. "But that could just be due to the differing nature of Gorphat's realm."

"As previously planned, I proceeded on the Path of Gorphat, encountering Envoy, who joined me. We then walked together until we came across a fork in the road and a decayed beggar there. After some payment, he gave information on the three roads, and we decided to take the path to have Gifts removed … as opposed to becoming a giver of Gifts, or one afflicted by them," reports Elise. She winces again towards the end of that section of the report and looks for an indication to continue.

Yffryn nods to Elise, taking notes on a sheaf of paper. "All right, do go on, thanks," she says, encouragingly.

Elise returns the nod and continues, "From there we encountered a shrine dedicated to Gorphat, with a priestess asking what Gift we came to have removed. I told her it was the gift of … chance, was it? That I may not be given Gifts at all, lest it offend Envoy, the Avatar, and whom I pretended to be escorting. After some thought the priestess agreed, and the plan was successful. We then went inside and I announced the presence of the Avatar in keeping with the guise. The building was full of those who wanted their gifts removed, and full of priestesses, who chastised my announcement. Mage Envoy calmed them. We then were allowed through and proceeded to depart when a mother begged I accept her Gift for the sake of her son. I declined … thinking it unwise. We then departed." She pauses, taking a breath, and looking to see if Yffryn is keeping up.

The dream mage looks a bit baffled by the reference to gifts, chance, and an escort, but she takes it all down dutifully, nodding for Elise to go on, after a couple of minutes.

Seeing the surprise in Yffryn's face, Elise explains. "'Gifts' are the term used to describe diseases of many sorts given by Gorphat. Anyway, I shall continue." While she speaks, she removes the hand from her muzzle to look at it, as if searching for something. Blood perhaps. "Once we were a distance from the shrine, a carriage intercepted us, and the driver announced it was there to provide comfortable passage for the Avatar of the sister of Gorphat. I kept with the previous guise, and pretended to be the escort of the Avatar. We boarded the carriage and it was then I became aware of what was used in the construction. It … it was … " Elise frowns, looking mildly ill at the thought. " … Eeee remains, of … many sorts. The carriage then started moving and after a short period I became aware of another terrible aspect of it. Those pulling it were not only ailing men and women, but children. I … was unable to fully maintain my assumed guise at this point, breaking from previous apparent humble acts."

"After questioning the driver, I was told they would be freed of their Gifts if the carriage reached the summit of the mountain. I considered this, and against the suggestion of Mage Envoy, requested to assist pulling the carriage. I was granted this and did so," she adds. Again she pauses, looking for an indication to continue.

The fox'taur sets her pen down for a moment to study the poodle, a look of mild rebuke on her face, but apart from a small "tsk" noise, she makes no other comment, only nodding for Elise to continue, after taking additional notes.

Envoy swings her legs over the edge of the bed and sits up properly. "I don't mean to interrupt, but can we have a Life Mage come in to examine Elise for any magical maladies?"

"Mmm? Whyfor?" Yffryn asks, looking to the Exile.

"It stands to reason that if people could be cured via 'miracles' through the dream realm, then Life-Magic-based illnesses could also be induced in those travelling it," Envoy says. "Elise was wounded there, and I'd like to be sure she isn't now carrying an induced disease."

The poodle glances to Envoy to observe her for a moment as she speaks. "I assisted in pulling the carriage, being injured within the dream at one point, until we were met with a roadblock. After some investigation, we managed to clear it, though the driver had positioned herself poorly and was crushed by the falling wall. She was moved from the road along with the coach that had been placed on the other side, and we then continued until we came across the beginning of a jungle. Mage Envoy reported blood flies, and wisely instructed us in how to defend ourselves from them. We did so, and continued until … we woke up now," says Elise, and finally finishing at that.

The fox'taur places a finger to her lips, considering, and nods to Envoy's suggestion. "Very sensible of you," she says, approvingly. "Banyon!" she calls out, and an apprentice behind one of the "room" separators pokes his head around the plant. "Go get someone from Life to come have a look at Lieutenant de Bellefeuille, please. Thank you!" The apprentice nods and scurries off.

"Now," Yffryn continues, scribbling furiously. "Did you have anything to add to the lieutenant's account, Envoy?"

"I cannot know if those people are indeed real people, but I cannot abandon them on mere speculation. Again I request you place me back asleep. Any wounds I may have suffered that have carried into my waking life can be seen to while I rest," requests Elise. She seems uneasy, and impatient in her movements. The hand that holds the sheet to her taps a finger against her collarbone, and she stares as if in thought now that her report is complete.

Envoy thinks. "Well, I tried to ask Inala about the apparent destruction of Barada's realm, but she didn't respond. This may be due to a psychological block against information that may force her to accept that she isn't a goddess, but a magical construct. I hope that by refusing any favors offered by Gorphat, Elise can bring about the same sort of result … and if Inala witnesses this, she will have to accept it."

"Really," the dream mage says to Elise, "I can't say that I think this is a very good idea. I'm not sure you've fully thought through the consequences of what you're doing in this environment, Lieutenant, and I'm quite hesitant to meddle with such a complex affair any further without further study. Who knows what damage I might do – to you, or even to the very people you are hoping to 'save'?" She turns to Envoy, a considering look on her face.

"Tell me about this destruction of Barada's realm," Yffryn says, at length.

Envoy's words cause Elise to look over again. "We cannot be certain that pure denial will have such an effect … " She then turns her head to regard Yffryn, brows raising. "It is wonderful that you would accredit me with ample time to prepare my every action. However, that is not the case. People are suffering and our hesitation may well lead to this problem growing, or worse."

"Well," Envoy says, wondering how to describe it. "It's not there anymore. The archway is in ruins, and the path and mountain are gone."

"Oh my. I wonder if that's what caused the comatose dreamers to awaken and the appearance that the Babelite ritual had been terminated?" the fox'taur muses. "Perhaps the High Princess actually did apprehend some mages, but only those responsible for Barada's realm?"

"The archway status previous to this indicated that one of the chosen dreamers was active in Barada's realm," Envoy says. "I have no way of knowing what actually happened there, but I think it more likely that the disappearance of the realm was due to their actions, and not those of any Mages."

"Or she is in league with them, and made but mere concessions to appease us," offers Elise. She remains however focused on Yffryn, intently appearing to be waiting on something.

Yffryn taps a finger against her lips, nodding to the other two. "You would be the experts," she concedes, "At least in this area of dreams. Though it would be nice to think that the whole of Babel was not our enemy in all of this," she adds, wistfully.

"The whole of Babel is not our enemy. Our enemy would be a chosen few of high-level mages and rulers I suspect. We must … not think to place the common man or woman of Babel with them. There are many who suffer, undeserving of their fate the reputation of the wars and these dreams have given them," says the poodle. She frowns, but looks surprised at the same time, as if uncertain as to why she said all that.

"I think it safe to assume that anyone with power in Babel is not to be trusted," the Aeolun comments. "But then, one could argue that that is good advice in general."

The fox'taur blinks at Elise, then nods her head. "That's very charitable of you, lieutenant," she remarks. "I can't say that I'm good at the kind of paranoia you recommend, Envoy, but I'll try to keep that in mind. Hmmmmm." Sherubs one furred cheek thoughtfully. "This Gorphat path doesn't seem like one you took, Envoy. Inala was obviously testing you – but this one sent out the welcome carriage, so to speak."

Envoy says, "I'm no longer eligible for testing. But Elise is, and I think that she is indeed being tested."

Yffryn makes another little mmming sound. "That could be. I hope not, though."

Envoy blinks. "Why not, Yffryn? She's one of the chosen dreamers."

The officer reaches up and touches at her muzzle while looking between the two. "I have come to understand a great deal about Babelite culture, and Eeee culture in general, within my time in the dreams and on Caroban. After the war there are many in Rephidim who would think to label all of Babel, and worse, all Eeee everywhere as irredeemable and evil. That is a misconception," she explains. A nod is given to the point discussed. "I believe Mage Envoy is correct. She is the apparent Avatar of Inala, and has completed the path she took. She now appears to be … part of the game, as it were? And no longer out of place as I am."

"We-ell," the dream mage begins, glancing to Elise. "It's just that it doesn't sound like you'd be doing very well if these are the tests of Gorphat. You spurned her hospitality with the carriage, declined her 'gifts', ignored the advice of her sister's Avatar, and seek to help those she's afflicted. Not that this isn't admirable on its own," Yffryn hastily adds, raising one hand as if to fend off rebuke. "I just don't think it would come off very well to Gorphat."

"The point is not to win Gorphat's favor," Envoy points out. "I think it necessary to fail the final test in the correct way. I made the mistake of succeeding, which is actually a failure on my part … although Inala would disagree on this. She seems to take it personally when I admit to not being completely happy with how things turned out."

"And, should I have accepted all given to me? As Mage Envoy did? Play the game? Become … " Elise's muzzle wrinkles in distaste, causing her to wince again. " … the Avatar of Gorphat? Not only do I find the idea of serving a … a demon goddess such as Gorphat, distasteful in the extreme, but can you imagine the reaction if I became such a thing? For Envoy that was a wave of pleasure; for Gorphat, all of Caroban may fall ill. No, Dean Yffryn, I will do what I think best. I will not play along when I see it is against what I think is right."

Elise's hand tenses around the blanket, and she waxes irritated. "I will not sacrifice people, leave those Eeee to rot, just to 'play along'. I intend to see that they recover and from that point I will plot to handle Gorphat with the assistance of Mage Envoy," she says.

At this moment, a Kujaku in rainbow life mage robes comes walking their way, and Yffryn stand to welcome him, looking relieved. "What seems to be the trouble?" he twitters.

"I sustained what may be a magic-induced injury, on the side of my muzzle." The poodle points at the puffy spot on her muzzle. "Here."

The Kujaku clucks, bending over to examine the injury. He brushes his fingers over the air above her fur, murmuring the words to a cantrip. "Interesting," he remarks, frowning, as the resulting glow from the cantrip fades away after completion. "I'll need to examine this in more detail."

A sigh from the poodle officer. "This will delay my return to sleep, I can see … " She casts her eyes skyward and shakes her head. "Be quick about it. I cannot know if I have the luxury of time. First Ones help me, may they persevere."

"I think I will take this opportunity to have a bath," Envoy says. "Gorphat's realm has left me feeling a bit less than fresh."