After a night of music, dancing and general carousing the nymphs and nymphets of Vagrant retired to their giant tree-beasts, which they called banyans, and their guests were free to share or to choose private rooms. The cottage-sized accommodations were simply empty rooms with humps of dried moss and grass to serve as beds, since the nymphs didn't bother with material objects.
At sunrise, the nymphs all gathered together some distance from the shade of the banyans canopies, dug their toes into the ground, upraised their arms… and turned into wooden statues sprouting leaves and flowers. Those of flesh-and-blood were left to handle their own breakfasts.
"Interestin' night," Arkold says as he approaches from the direction of the banyans.
Alptraum spits out some moss he inadvertently inhaled while sleeping. He stretches on one of the decks and yawns. "I'm glad they took music for the rooms. Talk about little accommodations," he remarks absently and peers around. He leans over a rail and comments at Arkold, "And you need to learn to be more quiet. Angels, you and they were noisy. I wanted to stuff the bed in my ears to drown out the giggling."
"'Ey I giggle when I'm havin' a good time," Arkold jokes from the forest floor. After a bit of searching he finds a way up to Alptraum's banyan, talking as he climbs. "I can be quiet when I'm a respectable citizen."
A dark-skinned figure steps onto the deck of a neighboring banyan, and stretches. "Good morning," Ravenia says. "I wonder if the water in that pond is safe to drink?"
"In other words, never, eh?" Alptraum remarks with a smirk and glances over. "You? Respectable? Never." He considers it, then notes, "Well, the creatures drank from it last night. It's probably okay."
"The banyans are made of wood," Ravenia points out, then shrugs. "I'll boil some for tea," she decides, and climbs down one of the mobile home's legs to get to their gear.
Arkold glances over the railing at the pond and rubs his chin. "Could be safe. Could make you stiff too, heh." He rolls his shoulders, working out kinks. "I never had any idea Sylvania had so many interestin' people. I'd have visited sooner."
Lilith lands on the railing next to Arkold, and folds in her wings. "I don't know if the nymphs count as people," she comments. "They're obviously the result of some pretty powerful magic." The Eeee has a somewhat worried look on her face.
"Wood is still living," Alptraum notes to Ravenia, then shrugs. "It was safe enough to bathe in, too." He stretches his wings out and says, "I should deal with breakfast." But, he pauses and glances over at Lilith curiously.
Arkold, who had turned to face Lilith when she landed, asks, "Thinkin' about what sort of power could have done this? Seems to me the closer we get to where we're goin' the more impressive the magic show becomes."
"What?" Lilith says, coming out of her thoughts. "Oh, not really… I talked to the nymphs last night and… well, they aren't very bright. They don't remember who created them, because they lose a lot of their memories when they eventually turn back into trees. They think it was some god. I'm more concerned about Tulani. She had a lot of trouble getting to sleep, and hasn't woken up yet. We need to get her to a real healer."
"I was wondering. I have basic skills in dealing with wounds, but I'm no doctor," Alptraum nods grimly. "Problem is, we're stuck in the middle of nowhere. What we need is a temple or hospice. Perhaps you and I ought to split up and scout fast by air, and leave Arkold to protect things here and try to learn what he can from the nymphs and any other locals?"
"Yeah, uh, I'm better at makin' wounds than healin' them. I'm useless here, eh? I can watch the fort here if you want. Can't say it'll be here when you return though, never know where these trees are goin' to wander off too," says Arkold.
"Not useless, just not fast as if we go airborne," Alptraum says and elbows Arkold lightly.
"Well, there might be a temple of sorts near the edge of this forest," Lilith says, sounding cautious. "I need to find a certain landmark, and that will tell me which direction to go in. I can go do that, and let Mrs. Doom know her banyan is still around."
"What sort of temple?" Alptraum asks and stretches again. "I could go along if you want. We both need to eat still, I think."
"It's sort of a secret temple," Lilith notes. "Only shrine-maidens can find it. So, I can't actually let you see the landmark, Alptraum."
"Heh. And you're a shrine maiden?" Alptraum remarks, brow raised slightly.
Lilith puts a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, and says, "It's a secret."
"Ah, a secret. It shall be the first among us," quips Arkold, grinning.
"Right, well, whatever you wish. Just be careful," Alptraum replies and shrugs. "I'm a freak of nature, Arkold is a letch, so, you fit right in," he grins.
"Speaking of fitting in, there is one minor issue about the temple," Lilith starts to say, then just shakes her head. "Ah, it's nothing. We'll deal with it when we get there. I'll grab a bite in the Disenchanted Forest, Alptraum, where hunting is easier. I can bring you back something too if you like."
"I can probably find something here. Don't worry about me," Alptraum remarks and waves his hand. "Besides, I can just scout the area and see what's what."
"So you want I should stay here then," Arkold asks. He leans on the rail and looks down for a moment, searching. "S'probably safe here. Who'd attack this?"
"Evil lumberjacks of doom," Alptraum replies, then grins.
"I think the village will be moving eastward anyway," Lilith says. "So letting it carry us further won't be bad."
Alptraum nods, "Well, the way back to Mrs. Doom was a bit, so you should be on your way. We should probably get the day moving ourselves, Arkold," Alptraum says and hops up onto the railing. His wings spread again. "See you in a bit, Lilith. Be safe," he says, the reaches over and pats her cheek lightly.
Arkold grins. "Don't bite anythin' I wouldn't bite," he tells the male bat, waving at him languidly. To Lilith he then asks, "So y'never knew these were here? Tree people, Disenchanted Forests, any of it?"
Lilith smiles enigmatically to Arkold, then hops down to the ground to talk to Ravenia while the dark human finishes setting the small kettle over a fire. Then the white-furred Eeee takes off, circles to gain altitude, and flies back the way they'd come the day before.
"I wouldn't bite half the things you would bite, Arky, ol, boy," Alptraum comments, grins, and takes to the air. He does a few overly dramatic flips and arcs, then vanishes over the tree line.
Arkold watches the elegant fliers until they vanish beyond the treeline. Briefly he considers something acrobatic, then shrugs and decides laziness is at least as elegant right now.
Down on the ground, Ravenia calls up, "Arkold! See if you can climb into that banyan's tree. If there's a Creen's nest, we can have some fresh eggs for breakfast."
By noon, the village is busy again as the nymphs return to their fleshier state and begin preparing the banyans to move out. Ravenia reheats some breakfast for Tulani, who is awake now – since who could sleep through all the noise of stirring banyans?
Alptraum is finally returning. He dips down quickly from the sky, then goes skimming across the spring. He reaches down and drags his claws along the surface, leaving rippling streaks as he heads towards the camp. At the spring's edge, he surges up, flips, then lands and wraps his wings around himself. With a casual flick, he shakes some drops of water off his clawtips. "I still have it," he replies, grinning.
After fetching Ravenia's eggs and managing to only fall out of the tree once Arkold sits down with the dark skinned elf and helps prepare breakfast. "I call this Arkold's Surprise, tend to have to feed a lot of, ah, guests, heh," he tells the woman.
A few of the watching nymphets applaud Alptraum's performance.
"Is the surprise that you can cook?" Ravenia asks the Jupani, smirking all the while.
Alptraum bows. "Thank you, thank you," he says and makes his way over to Arkold and Ravenia. "So, has the wolf been egging you on? Or have you left him shell shocked?"
"Not exactly," Arkold replies, winking. He waves to Alptraum and offers him some breakfast with a gesture. "Gives ya lots of energy, good for mornin' fun and hangovers."
"Gives vampires the heaves, too," Alptraum notes and sits down on the ground.
Arkold laughs, then shrugs. "I forgot, but let's say I almost got you, eh?" He grins, then takes Alptraum's serving for himself.
"I figured you forget conveniently so you can double your helpings," Alptraum says, still grinning. "Not a whole lot around here. Hunting was decent, and no people close enough to be a danger."
Tulani finds her way to the ground off of the banyan she had been staying at as soon as she is awake. Rubbing her shoulder, she looks sore and tired as she joins the others.
"It's good to see you up and about, Tulani," Ravenia says, and quickly offers the Sphynx a mug of hot tea.
"You're looking uh, well definitely looking," Arkold greets Tulani. He offers her some breakfast, which mainly seems to be made of eggs.
Alptraum looks over, his grin fading fast. "How's your shoulder? I'm getting worried you may have an infection," he says.
The Sphynx takes her hand from her injured shoulder in order to quickly accept the mug of tea in one hand, and the plate of well… 'mostly eggs' in the other, nodding thankfully to each of them before sitting down. She quietly replies, "Its very sore," before immediately devouring what she had been given.
Arkold watches the Sphynx eat, frowning slightly. "Well 'least your appetite's fine, that's a good sign. Can't heal without food – s'why I eat so much, 'course," he says.
Alptraum scoots over and reaches up to her shoulder. "Let me look. I learned a bit on survival living out here," he says. His fingers touch lightly against her injured shoulder.
Tulani hisses slightly as his fingers run over a spot more painful than the rest.
Alptraum hmms. "It shouldn't be this painful still," he remarks, then starts to undo the bandage. "We'd better check the skin color. If it's infected, it could get really bad."
"Might want to changes those bandages if we can," suggests the wolf in between bites of "Arkold Surprise."
Sitting still, the black and white Sphynx settles to eating with her opposite hand so she won't be moving the other as Alptraum removes the bandages.
"You shouldn't have stayed up with that nymph last night," Alptraum chides as he undoes the bandage.
There isn't any obvious external signs of infection, but the injured joint is definitely swollen and tender. The stitched up lacerations are holding as well, and seem clean.
Tulani shrugs her uninjured shoulder at Alptraum's comment, choosing not to reply to the quip.
Arkold smiles encouragingly, saying, "Don't worry Tulani, scars give character! Considerin' you're a character already you'll be like two people."
"Nothing obvious," Alptraum says and breathes a sigh of relief. "I wonder if something was left in the wound when it was stitched," he muses, then shakes his head. Glancing to Ravenia, he asks, "Do we have any more bandages? Or should I just wash these?"
With the sound of flapping leather, Lilith lands on the ground nearby and comes over, looking more cheerful than earlier. "Ah, I made it back before moving time!" she says.
Smiling back at Arkold's bit of encouragement, Tulani gives him a small, friendly punch on the shoulder with her good arm.
Alptraum waves over his shoulder to Lilith. "Tulani doesn't look like she has an infection, but she's more sore than it ought to be," he notes.
Arkold rubs his shoulder as if he, too, were sore. "Might need a bandage here too," he whispers to Ravenia.
"It's probably just from the stress of moving around," Lilith notes, squatting down near the campfire. "She never had a chance to really rest and recover. Ravenia looks at Arkold's shoulder, and asks him, "Why, gardening accident?"
"Nope, Tulani's got a mighty punch," answers Arkold. "I better eat more – need to heal." He helps himself to thirds.
Alptraum, having no response on the bandages, takes what he removed and heads down to the lake to wash them. "Did you have any problems finding Mrs. Doom? Or your landmark?" he calls back.
"It took me awhile to find what I was looking for, but I have my bearings now," Lilith reports. "And Mrs. Doom – Gloriana – is closing up the cabin and will be returning to the Walking Woods soon."
"Great," Alptraum says, then goes about washing the bandages.
"So what's this place we can't talk about again? Tulani missed the plan," asks the wolf. He holds out a hand for Tulani's plate too. "Want more Tulani?"
At the mention of more Tulani eagerly held out her plate towards Arkold, "Yes please!"
"It's a temple of sorts," Lilith explains. "Dedicated to special training for particular shrine-maidens. But they have healers, and other things we need. We just have to… convince them that we deserve their help."
Alptraum returns with damp bandages. He looks for a place to put them. Finding none, he just spreads his wings out a bit and drapes it over the bone-ridge. "How do we convince them to help us?" he asks.
Arkold grins at Ravenia. "See? I'm a great cook. Y'learn these things when you're out in the middle of nowhere an' have no one to cook for you. Y'also learn about what's edible an' what'll make you cramp up for three hours, but I've already handled that part for you, so you just get the amazin' results of my experiments," he says as he fills Tulani's plate and hands it back to her.
Quickly accepting the plate Tulani proceeds to eat her second helping, pausing to reply appreciatively, "Well, it's certainly filling." She then turns and looks to Lilith, asking, "Um, Shrine-Maidens?"
"Oh, we just have to convince them that we're all shrine-maidens," Lilith says, waving a hand. "Alptraum and Tulani will be shrine-maidens of Sunala, I think. Arkold, you can be for Inala," she explains. "And they may already remember me."
Alptraum coughs. "Er, excuse me? Ah, if you haven't noticed, I'm male," the Eeee comments and gives Lilith a look. "I can hardly be a maiden."
"Ah, at this particular temple… well, you'll be fine," Lilith says. "We just need to alter your clothing and voice. The same for Arkold."
A loud SNRK sounds from Tulani as she snorts into her plate of eggs at the thought of dressing Arkold up as a maiden, then thumping her chest with her hand to quickly swallow what was in her mouth and take a breath.
"Uh," says Arkold. He seems to be stuck on "uh," and stares blankly at his fork for a while.
"Or, you could go with out us," Alptraum notes and glances at Arkold. "I mean, I'm not going to wear a dress and pretend to be a priestess. I think Arkold feels the same. Besides, how exactly would you alter our voices?"
"Can't you just try to talk more feminine?" Lilith asks, looking hopeful. "It could take a few days for Tulani to be treated, and the surrounding area isn't really safe to camp out in. They don't allow men anywhere nearby."
Arkold takes a bite. Food seems to snap him out of it. "I'm not goin' to look like any kind of woman short of a Titanian," he points out. "There was that time but … Eh! I don't know."
Tulani arches an eyebrow and nods, agreeing partially with Arkold, "Umm… yeah, I don't know about the area around the place… But I have no idea how we could manage to make Arkold look like a Maiden"
"Trust me," Lilith says, "He won't stand out. They've had Titanian shrine-maidens, sort of, before."
Alptraum rubs his temples and sighs. "I know Eeee vocal range is pretty wide, but, eh, I don't know if I could sound, well, like a woman," Alptraum argues. "Or heck, walk much like one. Or wear any sort of makeup, for that matter!"
"But I thought you were a gypsy performer?" Lilith asks. "And… we don't have any makeup anyway. You just have to look less obviously masculine."
The Sphynx just shakes her head to herself, suppressing a laugh at the conversation as she finishes the food on her plate, setting it down and resting her head in her hands.
"I'm a little old to be maidenly," the wolf adds. "'Course if we don't have a choice we don' have a choice, not if Tulani's to get healed up anyway. 'Sides, I guess there'll be a lot of women there. Unless they're like us."
"I was a flyer and musician, not a singer," Alptraum notes, still sighing. "And do we even have any clothing that would work? I mean, all I have are those recovered robes."
"They may even be able to help with the sorcerer," Lilith adds, temptingly. "Oh, the robes will be fine."
"You'll even get to keep your weapons!" the white Eeee notes. "It'll be fun!"
"Sacrificing my masculinity for the sorcerer isn't a great trade," Alptraum grumbles.
"What am I supposed to wear? I don' exactly carry anythin' like that, an' I'm the largest person here." Arkold helps himself to another serving. Clearly this idea needs a lot of healing. "Anything remotely tight fittin' will give me away."
"We could stuff bowls in your shirt to give you a chest?" Alptraum suggests, then falls over laughing.
Tilting dangerously to the side Tulani almost joins the Eeee on the floor in laughter.
"I could make you a woman right now," Arkold says, eyeing Alptraum. He grins – eventually.
Alptraum clacks his claws together. "Bring it, fuzzball," he retorts, grinning.
Arkold laughs, then shakes a fork at Alptraum. "At least you should have it easy Alp, you've got it half made. Maybe I should get a hammer."
"Oh yeah, that makes me feel so much better," Alptraum says and puts his hand to his chest in a dramatic pose. He coughs, then shifts his voice up a couple octaves and well as speaking softer, "Good day to you, I am Necrolaria, priestess of Sunala. My companions and I seek shelter and aide. Will you allow us to share your temple for a few days? We will repay you as best we can." The Eeee then blinks at how he sounds, one brow up. "Good lord," is all he says. "That is so not right."
Now the Sphynx IS on the floor, curled up on her side (with the good shoulder up) laughing hysterically, eventually degenerating into a breathless cough… "I… I dunno Alptraum, ya didn't sound too bad to me."
Alptraum rubs a hand over his muzzle. "That's the problem," he grumbles.
Arkold rubs his chin. "The words are all right but I don't get why you changed your voice. I mean, you already sound like a woman to me," he remarks.
Alptraum reaches over and whacks Arkold for that. "Watch it," he growls.
The wolf reaches and works on reversing the ear Alptraum smacked inside out. "Whut? All bats do. You didn't know?"
"We do not," Alptraum retorts. "Not even close. It's not our fault your kind is deaf."
Tulani blinks as the argument goes back and forth, playfully interjecting, "Now be nice children."
"I was merely being honest," Arkold complains.
Alptraum peers at Arkold. "You haven't been ogling me, have you?" he asks. Then with a glance to Tulani he says, "What? He called me a woman!"
The Sphynx just rolls her eyes and smirks to herself, giving the Eeee a look that clearly says, "It's Arkold what do you expect?"
"I don't know what you're talkin' about," says Arkold, as he looks particularly interested in his dish.
"Maybe we can do something with Arkold's hair," Ravenia suggests. "It's long enough… and if both of the guys wore pigtails, maybe it would be enough?"
"I draw the line at pigtails," Arkold mumbles.
"No pigtails. I'll deal with my own hair. I did live in a temple for a year. I do remember how they dressed," Alptraum says. He then adds, "And all right, I'll do it. But, Lilith, you will owe me."
"We can get away with modifying Arkold's regular clothes a bit," Lilith says, tapping her chin. "Lose the ugly coat, clean him up… add some scarves… it could work. They don't need to look soft or anything."
"What about me?" Ravenia asks. "Will I be a shrine maiden of Sunala too?"
Lilith looks over Ravenia, and shakes her head. "No, it wouldn't work for you, not with this group. You'd have to be their bait, Raven."
"Bait?" Alptraum inquires.
"Ugly coat?" asks Arkold.
"Oh, I guess I should have mentioned… the secret temple specializes in training shrine maidens to be demon slayers, exorcists, spies and assassins," Lilith says.
"Heh, okay, I do sorta qualify. Well, except for the being male part," Alptraum notes with a smirk.
"We can claim that Tulani is an apprentice, and was injured in a fight with a demon," Lilith notes. "Her wounds fit, after all."
"Bait??" the Sphynx echoes as well, worriedly blinking as Lilith explains a bit more… "Hmm… Well… that's interesting."
"Well, he was rather demonic, yes," Alptraum agrees.
"Demon bait?" Ravenia asks. "Does that mean I have to dress all… baity?"
"We wouldn't complain," Alptraum tells Ravenia, then grins widely.
"It would certainly help if you did," Lilith says. "I even packed some scarves… "
"This plan is lookin' slightly up," Arkold says.
Tulani nods, looking in agreement with Arkold's comment, "Yes, this might actually work okay… "
The village of Vagrant on the move is a sight to behold – at least for the first few minutes until the rising dust cloud obscures everything. For all their size, and the jarring impact of each tree-trunk leg, the banyans provide a surprisingly smooth (if noisy) mode of transportation. A deaf and blind passenger might even mistake it for a ride on a boat.
As the caravan moves on towards its next resting spot, Arkold, Alptraum, Lilith and Ravenia take over one of the empty rooms to work on costumes, while Tulani gets to relax and watch, since she doesn't need a costume.
"I still think pigtails would work on Arkold," Ravenia declares, brush and comb in hand.
"No," Arkold insists. "Maybe twenty years ago, but eh, not now. My burning masculinity would set them aflame." He doesn't look comfortable in the slightest. "I hope you can undo what you did to my clothes."
Alptraum has refused, repeatedly, on pigtails. He has, however, untied his hair and brushed it out quite extensively. It actually looks somewhat silky for a change. He peers at the robes and rubs his chin. "Given I'm somewhat muscular, I'm wondering if I need to fake a small chest in the robes. Not that Eeee have much, but, just given I'm big, it may help the disguise. … what in the Gods name am I saying?!" he says, then sighs.
"I don't know bats, I jus' don't know," says a very confused sounding Arkold. "Was anyone able to find me a hammer?"
"Just keep your gut sucked in and you won't lose any buttons," Lilith remarks as she stuffs Arkold's chest with rolled up blankets. "I wish we'd brought the armor, a breastplate can hide a lot. Oh, be sure to do Tulani and Raven's hair to match yours, Alptraum."
"You can use one of my bras, Alptraum," Ravenia offers. "I've got extra socks we can put in… "
Settled back in a chair in a corner of the room, the Sphynx watches with some amusement as the other two women go about the process of transforming the men, looking quite amused with the affair. At Lilith's comment she finds a comb and begins brushing out her own hair.
"How about a ponytail at least?" Raven asks Arkold. "If not a nice leather-wrapped Nordikan braid?"
Alptraum pulls his shirt off and tosses it into a pile, then go his pants. Well, leaving him in his shorts. He looks … rather grim, really, and mutters he can't believe he's doing this, repeatedly. He looks at Ravenia, sighs, then nods, "All right, but you have to help fit it. Those things are a pain."
"Wellllll, uh, all right. I've had a ponytail before," the wolf agrees. "I suppose I'll end up lookin' like certain statues I've seen of Nordikan warrior-women."
The elfin woman nods to Arkold, then fishes through her pack for the extra bra, before pausing. She looks to Alptraum, and asks, "How would you know that?"
"My friend Hexxen complained about them," Alptraum remarks and shrugs. "He was always chasing someone's tail."
Tulani does a double-take as well at the Eeee's comment, stifling a chuckle at his reply and rolling her eyes before looking a little more serious and commenting, "Is there anything I can do to help in this disguise thing? I feel kind of useless sitting here."
"No wonder he had problems," Ravenia says, shaking her head. "These hook much higher up on the back," she notes, and then goes about the task of getting it onto Alptraum without ruining it. At one point, she resorts to putting her foot to the small of the Eeee's back.
Arkold glances at Tulani and asks, "Could you see if the nymphs 'ave a hammer? As far as I can tell half the look of a Titanian is havin' a hammer. A big wood hammer is fine. Maybe they can make somethn' like that. A mallet. In case someone teases me."
"Oww," Alptraum complains loudly, steadying himself on the wall. "Lord, no wonder women are cranky. This thing is uncomfortable."
"Can you help with Arkold's hair, Tulani?" Lilith asks, seeing Raven occupied. "I need to give him a manicure. We can do without the hammer, a sword will work fine."
The wolf frowns disappointedly. "So much for havin' somethin' manly to cling to," he mumbles.
The Sphynx tilts her head at Arkold and nods to Lilith, walking over behind the wolf and combing out his hair smoothly in order to begin braiding it.
Alptraum smirks. "Arkold with a manicure. Heheheheh," he comments. "Better him than me."
"You learn to appreciate the support," Ravenia says, getting the bra hooked finally. "You may not be able to fly in this without breaking it, so… uh… try not to fly," she says, turning the Eeee around so she can stuff the cups with rolled up stockings.
Alptraum shrugs slightly. "I can't fly with this group anyway," he notes and looks down. "Hm, I bet that's enough, really. I guess it should be a suggestion under robes." Again, the Eeee just shakes his head.
"We'll have to cinch the robes tight around your waist to make it look like you have some hips," Ravenia notes, looking Alptraum up and down critically. "I guess we can't really do anything about your walk, but at least remember to cross your legs when you sit down?"
"I'm leavin' this part out of my book," says Arkold.
Alptraum makes a face. "I'll do what I can with walking, all right?" he grumbles, then picks up the robe. "And yes, I will." He then looks at Arkold, with the most grateful expression. "Thank you."
Tulani starts twisting Arkold's hair into a tight braid that seems quite functional in keeping the hair out of ones eyes as well as trying to make the wolf look a bit more feminine, grinning and snickering behind his head at the comments going back and forth.
And with that, Alptraum starts slipping himself into the robe. After a bit of work getting it around his wings and wrapped lightly in front (as he'll just have to get Raven to cinch it anyway). He pulls the front down a bit, looks at the shape, then to Ravenia and Lilith. "Does the shape suggestion work?" he asks.
Lilith finishes adjusting Arkold's 'bosoms', after making sure they were more or less balanced. "Now, say something like a Titanian, Arkold," she requests.
"Relax your shoulders more," Ravenia suggests, then turns to Arkold, to see if the wolf will whistle or not.
Alptraum does as asked. "Okay, any better?"
Arkold clears his throat, takes a deep breath, and says in a poor falsetto, "Alptraum butt look nice." He nearly loses it, as he almost starts laughing. "Me pretty."
After taking a look at Alptraum then turning back to finish the braid and tie it off, the Sphynx herself whistles instead, her face hidden by Arkold's head for a moment and giggles before stepping back, finished with the wolfs hair.
"You have to learn to giggle instead of laughing," Lilith chides Arkold.
Alptraum rolls his eyes and works a bit more on the robe, adjusting how it hangs and makes sure the collar is up and covering his throat as well. He then puts his pendant back on, as since it's a pendant from the Sunala temple, it should help with authenticity. And, then back to the hair, brushing it out again. It now hangs loose and down his back a short ways. In the front, he's brushed some of it so it drapes down one side of his face, the other is clear. "All right, cinch the waist," he finally says to Ravenia.
"Titanians laugh, I think," insists Arkold. "I mean they're bigger than I am. I'm probably high-voiced and dainty to a Titanian."
Raven does so, manipulating the belt so that while it remains snug, it hangs a little lower on the side where the knife sheath goes, giving the Eeee the illusion of cocked hips.
"I wouldn't worry too much," Lilith says, and adds a bow to Arkold's tail. "They probably haven't seen the wolf type of Titanian in a long, long while."
"Great. I'll be a woman of few words. If they look at me too closely I'll try and look disapproving an' like someone's big, mean, older sister." The wolf shakes his head to feel the ponytail, frowns, then just shrugs. "I probably deserve this somehow. Too much womanizing and you get womanized."
Alptraum looks at himself. "I … I do look like a woman, sorta. I can't believe I agreed to this," he grumbles. Then, pushing his voice back up and softening it again, "And talk like this for now, so I don't forget." He turns and puts one hand on his illusionary hip. "Well, Ravenia, Lilith, think this will pass for a Priestess?" he asks, voice kept in the feminine tone.
Ravenia and Lilith pause to consider Alptraum. "Look more… stern," suggests the Eeee, while the human says, "Scowl, but… you know… girlishly."
Tulani does a slight double-take at the finished product of Alptraum's remodeling, blinking and tilting her head saying, "Hey, that didn't turn out half bad… "
"I can help hi- er, her look stern. Step over here bats an' let me pinch you," suggests the wolf.
"I think we may make this work," Lilith declares. "So long as we arrive at the temple at nightfall. The darkness will help. And maybe a little perfume too… "
Alptraum snorks. "Well, I meant in general," he remarks, then licks his lips. His expression shifts a little bit. It's certainly not a frown, but the way his brow sits, it gives the impression of a judging and a bit distant person. "It is not wise to recklessly shower attention upon one of the Yodhsunala," h… she says. "I will forgive your transgression this time. But, for the sake of your soul, do not make the same error again. Next time I will not be so forgiving." She walks over to Ravenia, trying to sway jus enough and says, "And, we had best get you prepared. It is a great honor for one to offer herself as bait to destroy those who would put blight upon our Mother's great name."
Tulani snickers, but looks quite impressed with Alptraum's feminine act.
Arkold just shrugs. Evidently womanhood only inspires him when it belongs to someone else. "Uh, me smell better?" He shakes his head. "This might not work after all."
Once the traveling town reaches the next waypoint on their circuit through the woods, the disguised adventurers bid farewell to the nymphs and nymphets, who are sorry to see them go. Following Lilith, they enter the woods.
"Ouch," Ravenia complains as another branch scratches her. The elfin woman has been made up to be… well, something that would attract a monster's attention. Wearing sandals and her pajamas – a thin cotton skirt that is so low slung it's a wonder that it stays on at all, and a matching camisole that barely reaches the bottom of her ribcage – she is feeling the most exposed. The long white pigtails don't help her attitude any either.
"I hope we don't attract a monster while on the way," Alptraum says quietly, then tries to lightly pat Ravenia's shoulder to comfort her. "And oh, we should decide on names, yes? At least Arkold and mine are not exactly saying 'feminine'."
"How about Arkadia for Arkold and… hmm… Sunny for Alptraum?" Lilith suggests.
"I coul- … I mean, Arko- … uh … me carry small fragile dark lady, no get cut," says the "Titaness" demon-slayer.
Rubbing her shoulder once more, just briefly, Tulani gives Raven a comforting smile of her own. She stops to look at Lilith oddly, saying, "… Sunny??"
"So I'm not good with names," Lilith admits. "Any better suggestions?"
"Ah, I do not think that is well, morose enough, really. Hmm," Alptraum notes. "Heh, I could just use Necrolaria, which I mentioned earlier, I suppose."
Ravenia politely declines Arkold's offer.
"Sounds like a disease," Lilith comments. "Should be perfect."
Tulani says, "I don't know but that seems a bit… too much to me… Ah well, whatever you say… "
"How about just 'Arky' for Arkold," Ravenia suggests. "It sounds less like 'Arcadia' and more like… 'barky'."
"I knew a Nekara, Mariamara, and Phlagaea, in Babel," Alptraum notes, then thinks. "But let's see … that works for Arkold, yes. Simple."
"My brother used to call me Arky," Arkold says.
"How about Mariakara then?" Lilith offers. "Mary for short."
Alptraum taps 'her' chin. "Nicora, perhaps," 'she' suggests. "Shorter, simpler. And heh, Niki, for short?"
The Sphynx bites her tongue to keep herself from adding any of her ideas and making it any more confusing, but she smirks slightly.
"Niki sounds more bubbly," Ravenia notes. "Her parents must have been very disappointed at how she turned out… "
"And perhaps Cari, for Arkold. It's short, and a play on his name," Alptraum suggests. "And all right, I'm not great at names either, okay? A short version could be Cora, then, which isn't bubbly."
"Alright, from here on you'll be Nicora and Cari," Lilith says. "Stay in character."
"Cari" sighs. "I hate roleplaying."
"I mean," says Cari as "she" clears her throat, "me not like roleplaying. Me, sad?"
"In formal situations, I should be referred to as Yodhsunala Nicora," Nicora says. "Lack of the title can be considered disrespectful in such situations." She shrugs to Cari and says, "You and me both, sister."
Tulani pats 'Cari' on the back, replying brightly, humor in her voice, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it."
Cari looks back over her shoulder at Tulani, grins humorlessly, then looks even less happy about the bow on "her" tail. She wags it. It looks quite pretty. She flexes her hands in a "I want smash now hrugh" sort of way.
After another hour or so of trudging through the woods, following a path that only Lilith seems able to see, the sun begins to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows through the trees and ushering the arrival of evening ground mists. It isn't long after this that a voice barks out, "Stop where you are!"
Cari, taking the chance to try out her new look, replies, "No you stop there silly tree voice! Cari no stop for anyone but wall, an Cari usually beat wall!"
Lilith stops and gestures for the others to do so as well, then calls out, "We are Sisters seeking the Path."
The black and white Sphynx slows to a top, waiting, avoiding the urge to snicker at Cari's comment, letting Lilith speak.
Nicora raises her arm, motioning a stop, then brings herself to a stop. "Calm yourself, Cari. We are guests in these woods," she says, her hands folding together in front of her. Her expression is impassive and unconcerned.
"Oh, Cari sorry. Sorry Mr. Tree," says Cari to "Mr. Tree," who just happens to be the tree next to her.
Something moves behind the trees ahead of them, keeping mostly to the shadows. When it emerges, the sinking sun reflecting off of bronze armor is nearly blinding, and it takes a moment to realize that they are being faced by a an armored Lapi riding atop an equally armored Vykarin, and casually wielding a bronze-bladed lance. Something about the relative sizes of the warrior and her mount seem… off. "State your names." she demands.
Arkold, who grins now and seems to be fighting the urge to grin like an idiot, wags "her" tail to show that it's beribboned and answers, "Cari name not state! Cari name not even country. Cari name person, shiny Lapi," he answers.
"I am Lilith, Eyes of Barada," Lilith announces, then gestures to Alptraum. "Yodhsunala Nicora, the Banisher, and her apprentice, Tulani. And that is Cari the Slayer." With a final gesture towards Ravenia, she adds, "And this is their trapper, Raven."
Tulani gives a slight, polite and respectful bow to the armored Lapi making sure she is composed before straightening herself.
Nicora nods her head, looking satisfied at her introduction. "Thank you, Lilith. Who do we have the honor of addressing?" she asks, tone unwavering and calm.
The Lapi couches her lances, then dismounts the Vykarin to approach the group. Up close, her armor reveals the fire symbol of Abaddon worked into its ornamentation. Also noticeable is how she has to look down slightly to meet Nicora's eyes, the rabbit standing nearly as tall as Cari. She makes a strange gesture to Lilith, who replies with another odd gesture. This continues until the Lapi seems satisfied. "Follow me. If we hurry, we can be in time for the feeding for the tentacle beast. Hopefully the sight of your Trapper will make it more lively."
Cari follows after and seems quite interested in inspecting the Lapi, top to bottom. When "she" thinks the Shrine Maiden notices, Cari explains, "Shiny armor, Cari like."
Nicora returns the gaze with her steel silver eyes. "A tentacle beast? I was not aware such were still around," she comments, then looks to the others. "It has certainly been an interested past week, then. First the demon we destroyed, now a rare creature. Come, this should prove instructive."
Tulani likewise looks genuinely interested in this 'tentacle-beast', much like with the banyans she has always had an interest in animals, and it seems this would prove to be interesting. Quietly she nods and follows just a step behind 'Nicora' as she thought an 'apprentice' would.
"It's so nice to have one's talent recognized," Ravenia mutters as she brings up the rear…
