While Tulani sees to Raven, Lilith has led Arkold and Alptraum into her chambers. The familiar figures of the Seven Sisters (some done in Babelite tradition and some in Sylvanian) stand in their alcoves, save for Zakaro who is missing. Above the altar, slightly dwarfed by the large alcove rests the statue of Barada.

Sitting down cross-legged on a pile of assorted pillows, Lilith says, "Please make yourselves comfortable. I imagine you have a lot of questions."

"Well, this decor brings me back," Alptraum comments and glances around. He looks for a good spot, then settles for sitting near Lilith and facing her.

"Don't mind if I do," says Arkold as he walks over and plops heavily down among some cushions. Given his expediency in taking a seat after the earlier fiasco Alptraum might suspect it was harder on him than he wanted to show.

"From your somewhat careless comments at dinner, am I correct in assuming you are the son of a Srinala, Alptraum?" Lilith asks, getting straight to the point.

Alptraum nods. "That is a correct assumption," Alptraum replies, watching Lilith with curiosity. "It's a very long, disturbed, story."

Arkold nods. "He's not kiddin'. It's long, and disturbing. In fact one of those kinds of stories that requires a drink," he agrees.

"For you or me?" Alptraum comments with a glance toward Arkold. "You didn't even live it."

"You and me, or just me, most stories are better with a drink." The old wolf gives the bat a bit of a forced grin. He still looks strained from his meeting with the dragon.

"I'm sure it is," the female Eeee says, and waves a hand. "And I urge you not to speak of it in the presence of the dragon. It is bad enough you showed the dagger… a gift from a Yodhsunala, I presume?"

"No, we did find it as we said," Alptraum replies. He pulls out his necklace and tosses it on a pillow near Lilith, saying, "That's all they ever gave me when they dumped me off in Sylvania to hide."

Lilith picks up the necklace and examines the symbol for a moment, then offers it back. "How much do you know about your status? Have you heard of the Barsunala?"

"Heh, point taken," Alptraum concedes to Arkold. He then accepts the necklace back and puts it around his neck. "The son of Sunala? I've heard the phrase and been called it. My birth was supposed to make me immortal, or some such oddness. To be perfectly honest … given the number of times I've been injured, beaten, and imprisoned … I think I can discount that little legend."

"There are different types of immortality," Lilith says. "Just because you can be killed doesn't mean you aren't immortal. According to Sylvanian legend, there is only one Barsunala, who is occasionally reborn in mortal form. It is also why you should not try to confront the dragon yet."

"Once saw a barsunala. It was this really creepy dark bar, over in Rephidim, in the Eeee areas. Had a death motif. Cute though, real cute," Arkold reminisces. Then he blinks and adds, "Sounded like a lot of nonsense. Someone over-eager to live forever at any price – and they made others pay it."

"Question … if this creature is reborn, er, and has no memory of any previous life … then how can you be sure such exists in the first place," Alptraum asks and waves a hand toward Arkold. "I think we need to be serious here, Arkold."

"Legends are legends and not history because you can't be sure of them," Lilith says, and shrugs with her wings. "Have you ever experienced anything unusual regarding… well… death?"

Arkold just shrugs a bit and drops back to recline. "If you ask me things stopped being serious when my ol' boss popped out of the woodwork. That's a joke for the ages, there, bats," he murmurs. Then he waves the two on as if they had been waiting on him. "But you two kids go on."

Alptraum hmms. "Well, several things but they could realistically be explained away. During the whole ritual thing that was going on a few years ago I remember distinctly visiting the Sea of Souls. Heck, I could pull others there if I tried," Alptraum says and taps his claws nervously. "More recently were zombies and vampires that burst into fire when I clawed them. And oh, there are two cases where those around me that should have died … well, didn't. And occasionally ghosts seem to be attracted to me."

"Then you are the Barsunala after all," Lilith says, a bit more quietly. "You must know that the Srinala exist as a conduit to the Sea of Souls, so that their empty bodies may play host to the spirit of one departed?"

Alptraum nods. "I'm versed in that legend, yes," he says. He shifts nervously. "The one that bore me was supposedly host to someone's dead wife. Well, I think you can see where that must've went."

Lilith nods. "It is something that must happen every so often. But now do you understand the power of the Barsunala? The ability to move spirits from one world to the other, either by pulling one back from the brink of the Sea of Souls to its body, or banishing a spirit that is possessing a body?"

"Well, that would explain Mariamara surviving when I was an infant. She cared for me, and was sentenced to die. Thrown from a mountain … and still lived. And then there was Zana, who should have died … but that was very strange, I could've sworn time stopped for a bit then. I wanted her to live, and well," Alptraum says, shifting nervously more often. "But I've never done any banishing that I'm aware of … and the other things I mentioned could just be coincidences," he says, but not sounding that convinced of it himself.

"You spoke of your touch affecting the undead," Lilith points out. "What are the undead but bodies animated by possessing spirits, even if those spirits inhabited them in life. The dagger hilt you carry is made for cutting loose a possessing spirit. If the symbols had appeared on a chalice or bowl, they would have represented the Srinala instead."

"Ah, well, I was wondering what it meant. I guess that's why it affects me, then; why I feel the blade," Alptraum says and glances around the room at the various statues. "It's funny, really. I don't feel like I'm anything special … I've just felt different. I look different, certainly; silver eyes aren't common. Then there are the times I've spoken with those claiming to be … " He waves a hand at the statues around the room. "Them. I once spoke to Rephath in the ruins of what was the central part of Babel, floating in a dark void. I just dismissed that as a dream. Heh, I told her the best revenge Babel could have for what happened was simply to survive and flourish, not seek more bloodshed."

"I don't imagine she'd take such advice well," Lilith says, half-smiling. "Deities usually do not. But you are not dreaming now, and you must hide your abilities from the dragon at all costs, for his powers are the same as yours."

"Actually, she was receptive to it," Alptraum admits and looks upward briefly. He sighs and says, "I felt what he did. I could see it in the reflections of his scales. Not sure if others could, though. Every fiber of my being told me to stop him."

"That's good to hear," Lilith says, seeming to deflate a little. "You could easily become him, otherwise. And unlike the Yodh, you and he do not need a Srinala to host a spirit. You can use yourselves and others. That is how Vorgulremik uses Ravenia."

"I don't want to be a monster. I just want to live and enjoy life," Alptraum says and offers a weak smile. "Help others when I can. Now … what is he doing to Ravenia?"

"Many of those he holds prisoner are the spirits of immortal beings that closely resemble Ravenia, and occasionally he will place one of their spirits into her body," Lilith explains. "Raven remembers nothing of the experience, but I've managed to learn more about the dragon by talking with these… former people."

Alptraum sighs and hangs his head. "More reason for me to stop him," Alptraum says, "if the woman we traveled with was really her … she was nice. And she doesn't deserve that fate."

"You know the real Ravenia," Lilith says. "As much of her as is left, anyway. I think you might be able to defeat the dragon, but… I can't say that I know how. Killing him his pointless unless you can capture his spirit, otherwise he'll just be reborn somewhere else."

"If I am what you claim, there has to be a way I could do it," Alptraum says and leans back some. "So, why are you here with the dragon? You obviously know far more about him than he probably realizes. What exactly are you?"

"I don't trust you enough yet to tell you everything, Alptraum," the Eeee says, and holds a finger to her lips in the classic "It's a secret" gesture.

"Well, I guess you're associated with Barada," Alptraum comments and smirks.

"When one keep secrets, it makes sense to look to the patron goddess of such," Lilith admits. "You have secrets too, I'm sure. Such as why your group is out this way at all… and I think something unusual about the Sphynx as well."

"Actually, I'm easy. I'm looking for my adoptive family," Alptraum says with a shrug. "Worried about their health and I have to know. Well, I have to know if they raised me because they were paid to, or because they actually cared."

"Not an easy question to ask should you find them," Lilith admits, and adds, "But nobody travels this far east anymore, and I can't see your friends tagging along without something more at stake. Do they truly care about you, or are you paying them?" The tips of Lilith's fangs show as she gives Alptraum an ironic smile.

Alptraum laughs and flashes his fangs back. "Actually, I'm sort of their linguist," he replies and shrugs. "I'm following them, not the other way around. Safer to travel in groups, afterall." He then adds, in a burst of several languages, from Babelite to Khattan to silent sign, "Knowing a lot of languages is useful. I seem to have a gift for them."

"I wish he were paying me," Arkold remarks.

"How did you learn them?" Lilith asks, some of the lightheartedness draining out of her, to be replaced by suspicion.

"Necessity. One of my friends was a Savanite and she taught me sign. Nekara the Yodhsunala taught me Babelite. Khattan I learned from a Khattan mage I met on my travels a few years ago. Standard and Sylvanian I know from growing up here. Why?"

"She thinks you sucked the knowledge out of someone's soul or somethin'," Arkold explains.

"Ah," the Eeee woman replies, and relaxes again. "Just so," she remarks, looking to Arkold. "What brings you out here then, Arkold? Surely you aren't searching for lost family as well?"

"Uh, no," Alptraum replies. He looks at Lilith a bit sadly, commenting, "I don't do such things to people."

Arkold grins toothily. "Didn't you hear ol' Vorg? I'm lookin' for family, but the kind you make, not the kind you already have. Vorg and I are'nt the same though, despite our origins, an' unlike the ol' lizard I'm puttin' what I learned on my travels to use in makin' a place to retire," he answers.

"Well," Arkold adds as he thinks on what he said a moment, "I guess we're both makin' a place to retire but I plan to build something for the benefit of the lot of us. Not build it from their bones, so to speak, eh?"

"And it's that bit that also encouraged me to accompany them, aside from protection. If I can help bring a brighter spot in the world, then it makes the damage my existence caused worth it, so to speak," Alptraum adds and glances towards Arkold. "He may be old, but he's got a decent heart."

The white Eeee's black eyebrows arch up in surprise. "You want to settle… in Sylvania? And from your words, not in some abandoned ruin, either. How very… remarkable," Lilith notes. "The Sphynx, Tulani, is your bride then?"

Arkold snorts a laugh. "No, no, I think she's a bit young for me, an' likely to box my ears if I insinuated she was." He shakes his head, still laughing. "I suppose the matter of … that sort of matter is as complicated a story as Alptraum's own. But yeah, I plan to stay. I've seen worse. Used to soldier off-world, and Abaddon is as hellish a pit as the worst of Sylvania. Abu Dhabi is nice if you can stand over-puffed kittens – I can't. Besides I like a little danger. Keeps me feelin' alive."

"This place is better than Babel," Alptraum points out. "Monsters look like monsters."

"Then you really haven't been tracking the sorcerer, and it's all just a big coincidence?" Lilith asks, looking disturbed.

"Not intentionally on my part. When Raven described the sorcerer, I remembered him and still have a score to settle with him, and a promise to keep," Alptraum replies and shrugs.

"Well, I can't argue that Sylvania doesn't make you feel alive," Lilith says. "Ah, the promise… something stolen from the Duchess Kurai. What can you tell me about the item?"

"Bluish glowing crystalline necklace," Alptraum replies. "I never saw it, only heard about it from the rather unpleasant sheriff. He … really disliked me."

"A Sifran crystal, perhaps?" Lilith prompts.

"No idea," the wolf says. "I don't know much about this."

"Don't know what that is, sorry," Alptraum replies. "I grew up on the roads; education was secondary to survival."

"It must have been a powerful artifact though, for him to go so far to get it," Lilith muses, sinking deeper into her pillows. "Then you probably have no guesses as to what it is he seeks here, do you?"

"Nada. And while your dragon friend may want to suck out his soul and find out … I have no such intentions of finding out. Some things are best left buried," Alptraum comments and looks toward Arkold. "Unless you have some ideas?"

"Maybe he seeks our dragon. If what you say is true an' they're both necromancers Vorg's knowledge and, ah, spirit collection could be useful to another necromancer. Ol' Vorg always wanted power, so, he might have somethin' here he won't share. Otherwise the location may be important. I doubt the necromancer would attack such a powerful foe without very good reason though. Sylvania has better, ah, pickings elsewhere," Arkold considers aloud.

"At dinner you thought that this had been the castle of the Necromancer King," Lilith recalls. "Why?"

"Feli Kurai fought an' defeated the Necromancer King. Our necromancer stole somethin' from the Kurai's, and is now here, to this castle, which is occupied by one of the more powerful forces in Sylvania. If he's not here for ol' Vorg than 'es here for what's here, an' that could be the buildin'. It's covered in signs of magical battle – could have been the one," the wolf answers.

"You're right, it could have been," Lilith agrees. "I don't know where his castle was, if he had one. Just because the dragon claims it isn't is hardly proof one way or the other. But it was the castle of a necromancer," the white bat notes. "That much is clear."

"Knowin' Vorg he'd pick the most powerful location an' sit on it. Doubt 'es here for the decor," the wolf suggests. Then he nods. "Yep. An' even if it wasn't the Necromancer, it was a necromancer, an' if I remember right they were all fightin' for that title. Any one could have been as powerful, or even more so, an' history doesn't record it. Not every king is a paragon of perfection."

"Can I ask a strange question regarding the legend of the Barsunala?" Alptraum asks, ears flicking. "I just want to know to make myself feel more at ease. He wasn't around during the time of the Necromancer war, was he?"

Lilith turns to Alptraum, and says, "I've never heard such. The old religions didn't fare well under the rule of the Necromancers, who thought of themselves as godlike enough for anyone. Having power over the dead leads to that sort of egotism."

Alptraum frowns. "I ask because I'm more concerned now that other surprises might pop up with me around," he says. "Like, did he, er, I, fight in the war? If so, are we being guided this way now by something, for something? Is it all just coincidence?" He shakes his head and says, "Sorry, my mind likes to craft weird connections."

"You must never be bored then," Lilith jokes. "It is easy to believe in some guiding force when events seem to conspire like this. Perhaps Sunala is guiding you, or some other goddess? The Sorcerer serves Dagh, we are certain, so perhaps it is all according to His plan instead. It hardly matters… we can only do what we will do according to our own judgment."

"More like always be paranoid," Alptraum comments in a half-hearted joke. He shrugs, adding, "But really, I'm not certain we should help regarding the sorcerer. Two evils fighting each other and I'm not exactly comfortable siding with Vorg. The only advantage Vorg has in getting help is to protect the people caught in-between, like Ravenia, or you."

"I wouldn't be surprised if he turned on us after we finished helpin' him either. Once our use is gone, well, bats there has his power and I wouldn't be surprised if Vorg wanted a bite out of me just to cover tracks. An' did you see how he looked at Tulani? Maybe she has somethin' too, an' he wants it," offers Arkold.

"Perhaps we will know more in the morning, once Lord Soldatenmangel has… finished his interrogation," Lilith suggests, fumbling a bit at the end for an appropriate phrase. "Until then, at least, you are guests and should be safe."

"Funny, I don't feel safe," Alptraum comments. "Don't mind me if I don't sleep tonight."

Arkold shrugs a bit. "I've gotten used to sleepin' when it's not safe, but we can keep watch if you'd want some shut eye bats."

"I'd invite you stay here then," Lilith says, "but that would draw undue attention, and the dragon's attention is not something you can afford just yet. If he knew what you were, and that you could enhance his own powers… Well, would you like me to show you to your rooms, or would you prefer to share one now?"

"You could always just sit up and talk to me?" Alptraum says and grins briefly at Lilith. "Well, as long as you can provide a very lockable room with a small door, I might be able to manage sleeping. I can check for hollow walls, with, well." He taps an ear.

"This room is the most secure against eavesdropping, but the regular rooms are riddled with spy-holes and secret servants passages I'm afraid," Lilith says, shrugging again. "It's a castle, after all."

"Bah. You sure I can't stay here, then?" Alptraum asks.

Arkold asks, "Is there any way to learn more about Vorg himself? I know a bit, I knew him when he was small. Er, smaller anyway. But if we could learn more maybe we could even the sides a bit. Or at least appear we know more than we actually do, eh, his suspicous nature may be our best defense there."

"He already seems suspicious of one of you," Lilith says. "But I can tell you what I've learned, for all the good it may do."

"Every little bit helps," Arkold says.

"Well, from the conversations I've had with the people possessing Ravenia, I know that Vorgulremik is very, very old. Thousands of years old," Lilith says, using a few gestures of emphasis on 'thousands'. "He is apparently immortal, in that killing him physically doesn't keep him from coming back again. And while he has been killed many times, he was only successfully imprisoned once… but he eventually escaped. What else… oh, he craves power, prefers to eat the souls of immortals, gains most of the abilities of those he consumes and… uh… likes metal. He is also paranoid."

"I gathered some of that from his presence, already," Alptraum replies and curls his wings around himself slowly.

"I haven't been able to find out what the missions are he sends Ravenia out on," Lilith admits, shaking her head. "Raven locks up whenever asked about them and changes the subject."

"Thousands of years … ? Last I saw him he looked young. Er, I think he was young. Like a kid who knew far too much for his age, he sounded similar but looked to be a young version of what you see now." The wolf scratches his head. "Unless whatever-the-Dagh he is has a long childhood he couldn't be that old."

Alptraum smirks a moment later. "Maybe we could imprison him in that crystal necklace and bury it somewhere to be forgotten," he comments half-heartedly. "Might explain why the sorcerer wanted it."

Arkold scratches his head more. "Unless he reincarnated I suppose," he murmurs disconcertedly.

To that Arkold adds, "I could throw it through the portal to Primus."

"He is young, physically," Lilith says, "But he did recently reincarnate, I gather. Can a crystal trap a spirit? That would certainly be something to look into… although I don't know how the sorcerer could have learned more about the dragon than I have, unless he has some supernatural means to get it."

"I've heard of paper trapping spirits before, such as in books. A magic crystal surely can," Alptraum replies and shrugs. "Though, how you suck someone into it is beyond my knowledge."

"Or they're ol' friends," Arkold adds grimly. "He knew me. Used to do his thing back on Rephidim, and Rephidim sees all sorts."

Arkold nudges Alptraum with a foot and suggests, "Can't you do that Mr. Soul Mover?"

"Hey, that's a legend. I have absolutely no idea how to do it, if I even could," Alptraum replies and swats the foot.

"Did you two part on… good terms?" Lilith asks Arkold, looking curious.

The wolf winces, and grins. "Vorg does it. Find out how he does it, an' maybe you can too. You're the best shot we'd have at that. I an-" he blinks at Lilith's question and seems to lose track of what he was saying, as he answers her instead with, "Eh? Oh. Come to think of it … I guess it was neutral. How do malevolent and callous men ever regard each other? Tolerating I suppose."

Alptraum sits and rubs his chin in thought. "Well, I could practice on Lilith here," he comments with a playful, teasing grin. "Want a talking sword?"

Lilith clears her throat. "You may have noticed during the demonstration earlier that death is involved? Or from your own experiences, at least near-death."

Alptraum reaches over and pats Lilith's hand. "I'm joking, Lilith. I'm not going to hurt you. Really," he says and sighs. "You don't have to be afraid of me."

"Guess we'd have to relieve Vorg of his body then." The wolf frowns at the idea. "That'd be somethin'. Or maybe just pummel him. Don't know if you can sock a dragon unconscious, an' not about to try to sucker punch him."

Arkold grins, hands over heart. "I don't know about you but bats scares me to death."

"I'm not afraid," Lilith remarks, with a bit of bravado. "Not after living with the dragon, anyway."

"I've lived with the Yodhsunala and had a Yodhgorphat who fancied me," Alptraum comments flatly, then shakes his head. "And I'd be afraid of having my soul sucked out."

Lilith blinks, then shrinks back a little. "Oh… I thought you'd meant to transfer someone else's spirit into my body, not my spirit into… elsewhere."

Arkold eyes Alptraum curiously as well.

"Lilith… " Alptraum says, "I was joking. As in, I'd never do that?"

"Still, it was a disturbing thought," Lilith admits, and tries to smile back a bit. "I can see why Arkold finds you spooky though."

"That was a joke too," Arkold insists.

"You both have strange senses of humor then," the white Eeee proclaims.

Alptraum shrugs and says, "I've had a weird life. If I don't make fun of it, I'd be really depressed. Personally, I'd be more inclined to take you dancing. I'm an entertainer at heart."

Arkold nods at that. "Strange times mean strange senses of humor."

Lilith eyes Arkold for a moment, then asks, "You seem awfully comfortable around vampires too. Is it because of the way we can cure hangovers?" Then she perks up at Alptraum's mention of dancing. "I enjoy dancing, if you couldn't tell."

Arkold sits up at that little piece of information. "I figured it was just because I used to dine with the Audit," he says. "I had no idea you could cure a hangover."

"So do I, but I'm not nearly as good as you are at it," Alptraum comments, "I'm more of a musician." His eyebrows then arch and he asks, "Er, we can cure hangovers?"

Lilith looks incredulously at the two men. "Well, yes… although it isn't something to be done outside of a vampire community, generally. People get the wrong idea when they see one of us sucking on someone passed out drunk… "

Arkold gives the two vampires a suspicious look. "You … haven't tried that while I was out, have you bats?"

"I don't bite sapients," Alptraum replies quickly. "Well, not usually. Well, only once. Er, she wanted it. Er, I'll shut up now."

Alptraum grimaces. "Bite you? I know some of the places you've been. No way, yuck," he says.

Arkold snorts.

"Someone as big as Arkold would probably take two vampires anyway," Lilith comments. "And they'd still get pretty buzzed by it, I imagine. I've heard that in the Bad Old Days vampire nobles would keep servants that were forced to get drunk just for their pleasure."

"That's gross," Alptraum comments and makes a face. "Maybe it's a good thing I didn't grow up with other vampires."

"You mean you weren't raised by our kind?" Lilith asks. "You said you were raised by strangers but… I just assumed they were still vampires at least!"

"That's … a little unusual," Arkold says uneasily, hinting that a "little" wouldn't have been his first choice of words were he not being polite. "Me, I've been around enough to know the usual cures. Er, the ones with herbs, cold water, an' the others."

Alptraum shakes his head. "Nope, wasn't. It wasn't even realized at first that I was a vampire. They just thought I was sickly," he replies and shrugs. "It's kind of where I got my name from. Not sure if you know the translation or not."

"It doesn't mean to fall down a mountain and hurt yourself, does it?" Lilith asks.

The old wolf covers his muzzle and coughs several times.

"No, it roughly translates to 'Nightmare'. I had an early lonely childhood once it was figured out what I was," Alptraum says and makes a face. "People freak when you bite their pet. It's not like I look like a vampire, afterall."

Lilith ahs! "Oh, then Arkold's name doesn't have to do with him being snow-colored either, right? Or does it? He's not Sylvanian… "

Alptraum snorts and tips over.

Arkold scratches his head a bit. "It might. My Jupani is a bit rusty. No one speaks the old tongue anymore," he admits.

"My full name could be said to mean 'Temptress of Dragons', surprisingly," Lilith muses.

"Vorg still has a sense of humor I suppose," Arkold comments.

"Does it? Heh?" Alptraum inquires and sits up slowly. "Well, I do have to admit he's got a good eye for finding an attractive Eeee. Distinctive."

"Somehow, I don't think my looks were the particular quality he was seeking when he found me," Lilith says, smirking.

"What was it then?" Alptraum inquires, arching an eyebrow.

"Influence," the Eeee says. "Technically, I'm a hostage, so that my family doesn't move against him."

"Ah. Who is your family, if I may ask?" Alptraum inquires.

"Draco," the girl says. "My full name is Lilith Draco."

Alptraum laughs. "I should have guessed. How funny! We were going to be going through Draco county before this little detour," he says and smirks. "Pleasure to meet you, your highness."

"Oh, I'm not that important," Lilith says, waving her hands. "I don't even have a title or anything. Never even met the Countess."

"Oh sure, take the fun out of it," Alptraum replies and reaches over to poke Lilith this time. "Dash the hopes of a young gypsy getting the chance to rescue nobility," he adds and puts his hand over his heart melodramatically. "Woe."

Lilith covers her muzzle to laugh. "Hey, it kept me from being eaten, at least."

"We're bad eating, anyway. All bone and sinew. He'd probably have stomach cramps for weeks if he tried," Alptraum grins and winks.

"Anyway, I am supposed to entertain you guests," Lilith says. "So if you'll play something, I'll try to dance to it, at least until I pass out from exhaustion."

"I've got a better suggestion. Why don't we find some of the musicians and you can help me improve my own dancing?" Alptraum says and stands. "Afterall, it's not often I get to dance with someone so … well, related to someone famous." He grins fangily. "Arkold here can join in, or hurl insults. He's good at that."

Arkold salutes. "My elite off-world military training has prepared me to hurl insults any time, any place," he says with mock formality.

"Alright, I can do that," Lilith says, standing up. "I only know a few dances though, and almost all of them involve veils and bells. But it should be educational!"

"I'm just not putting on a dress," Alptraum insists. "Contrary to what people seem to think of Eeee, I do not look like a girl. Not even close. No way, no how."