Hekatt did not call for Alptraum in the morning, as he had expected. Instead, Lucy returned with breakfast (gruel, some bugs and vegetables) for Phlagaea, and a simple robe for Alptraum to wear. After saying goodbye to Phlagaea, he was taken back to Mave. The Yodhinala gave him another uncomfortably thorough examination to see if he'd picked up any diseases from Phlagaea, then left him in her bed with Lilith while she left to perform other tasks, locking the two Sylvanians in the room.

"Well, at least they gave me some clothes," Alptraum mutters and fidgets with the robe. "They seem to like to keep me naked. So, ah, how have things been going for you? I hope they haven't been doing anything unpleasant to you?"

Lilith kneels near the head of the bed, and has been given her own clothes back to wear, but looks as if she hadn't slept in some time. "Oh, I'm holding up. Do you want the bad news first, or the really bad news first?" she asks.

"Both, really. So, just start at the beginning," Alptraum says and scoots down closer to Lilith, looking concerned.

"Well, after you were taken away, Mave tried to feed me," Lilith begins. "I did my best to keep things down, but couldn't do it. She knows I'm a vampire, and is probably going to tell Barba about it now. I don't think they'll do anything to me though, so long as they think they need your cooperation."

Alptraum nods, looking a bit grim at that. "They'd better not do anything to you," he hisses.

Lilith waves off the concern, and sighs. "Really, it's the least of our worries. The young Yodhbarada, Kireeta, came and talked to me last night as well. That's how I know why our Yodhblakat hosts don't behave like your typical Yodhblakat," she says, then looks Alptraum in the eyes. "They're the Poison Women. The slakash."

Alptraum actually doesn't look overly surprised. "I was wondering. They looked more of the warriors than just general Blakat followers," he admits. "They're dangerous and unpredictable. But, hopefully they also can't brew their drugs here."

"Well, I'm pretty sure that's why they have Mave along with them," Lilith notes. "She can brew all sorts of drugs. The Yodhblakat took her prisoner a while back, when they raided the Temple of Inala. She's pretty much thrown her lot in with them, since the Yodhinala are all but wiped out now."

"Well, it could be good or bad. As soldiers, they could be useful in defending Sylvania," Alptraum notes. "And as for Mave, if she had a better offer, I imagine she would take it. So, we need to find her a better offer."

"We aren't in much of a position to do that," Lilith notes, her eyes drooping. "I can't promise them a warm welcome in Draco County, really. Not even if they were willing to trust a blood-drinker in the first place."

Alptraum extends his arm to Lilith, palm up. "I can spare some blood if you're hurting," he notes, looking worried. "I can say their 'Blessed One' is on our side. She is … well, a dear friend of mine, actually."

Lilith flinches back from the offered arm, "Uh, I'm not that hungry yet. Have you fed then? Can this friend of yours help us?" she asks.

"I haven't eaten at all," Alptraum notes and shrugs. "I'll survive, though. She's a Yodhgorphat, her name is Phlagaea. She said she was willing to help us if we can get her and Lucy out of here. She doesn't want to be here and is, well, lost."

"Can she curse the others with some sort of affliction?" Lilith asks, looking slightly hopeful. "If they were laid up, we could make our escape."

"She said she could, and even suggested that. I was still hoping finding a use for them, as our ally list isn't huge. But we can definitely just go that route if we had to. I would like to get Mave out of here too, though, to deprive them of their drugs if we choose that route. The big problem is the plant at the bass of this thing, the one they call 'Smashandgrab'. But, I have a plan for that thing."

"Oh no, you aren't going to blow it up like you did to that boar, are you?" Lilith asks. "You'd bring down the whole castle."

"That was the first idea, but Kaira had a modified plan that is better. And it'll address the Yodhzakaro. Unfortunately, it means I have to get friendly with her to set up the plan. I have to make it so I can manipulate the dagger through her, and use her to kill the plant, then take her out by draining some of the dagger into her," Alptraum says and shivers slightly. "To set up a link has two ways. Some of my blood on the dagger, or, er, intimacy with her and I have to drink a bit of her blood. Unfortunately, the latter is the more convincing way, as, well, it may make her believe I'm instilling some of my power in her."

"Instilling some of your power… " Lilith repeats, then breaks out in giggles. "Oh… I'm sorry, Alptraum," she gasps. "It's just that… that is the corniest pick-up line I've ever heard."

"It's not a pickup line," Alptraum grumbles and crosses his arms. "I don't exactly want to do it, you know. And if I can just go with blood on the dagger, I am. Yuck."

Lilith regains her composure, and says, "Well… Hekatt is a priestess. Blood is something she'll understand, since she uses sacrifices in her rituals already."

"Yes. So, at least there are two options to try. So, we take her out and the plant. That leaves the Yodhblakat, including that crazy Roogi, and the others Mave, Kireeta, Phlagaea, and Lucy to deal with. Think the hidden temple would take in Kireeta?" Alptraum asks.

The white-furred Eeee thinks about it for a moment. "They might. They might be willing to take the slakash even. They're the equivalent of shrine maidens to Blakat, after all."

"Hm. What about Mave?" Alptraum asks.

"I'm not so sure there," Lilith admits. "A shrine maiden of Inala here in Sylvania would be trained to be a midwife, not a protector. The secret temple deals with fighting skills."

"Hm. Well, if she wants to just retire quietly, we could send her to that one town that looks after the people who live there. Or, heh, I'm sure Arkold would appreciate her," Alptraum notes, smirking.

"I haven't had the nerve to ask her what she might rather be doing," Lilith says. "It would seem suspicious. And Barba may not want to let her go."

"Well, you know she could be useful as a simple healer and potions maker for the hidden temple," Alptraum points out.

"I doubt they'd be interested in the sorts of potions she makes," Lilith notes, with a hint of sarcasm. "Shrine maidens don't need love potions."

"She could be taught other things," Alptraum notes, then shrugs. "Look, I'd rather just not go killing people unless there's no choice, okay?" He sighs and shakes his head, "So, at least we know we could have Phlagaea curse the Blakat, Kireeta we could send to the shrine. Phlagaea would come with us … Lucy too, if she wants. The Yodhzakaro we eliminate. she's too dangerous in that she'd want both the Shadow and Light for herself. We can't let her roam free in this land."

"I agree, but I just don't know how Barba will react to killing Smashangrab," Lilith says. She seems about to add more, but the door opens at the far end of the room, and it's impossible to see who has entered from the bed.

Alptraum leans up as much as he can and tries to catch a sight, or a sound, of who it is. "Hello?" Alptraum calls out.

The visitor doesn't reply, but the figure that comes into view can only be Mave. No other Eeee in the tower has a figure that recognizable. The Yodhinala parts the netting around the bed and tosses something into Lilith's lap – a large lizard, it's legs and mouth bound by strips of cloth.

Alptraum smiles to Mave. "Welcome back. Thank you for allowing us a moment of rest in your bed," he replies. "How are you doing this day?"

Lilith looks surprised, then asks the older woman, "You're… feeding me?"

"Hekatt is feeding you," Mave replies, then glances towards Alptraum. "One of her sacrificial animals in return for a visit from the Barsunala."

"I feel so popular," Alptraum comments.

"Well, you've turned out to not be as fragile as most men," Mave says, smiling. "I'm sure that if you survive Hekatt, your popularity will rise further. I don't have any more Milk of Inala though, so you will have to do without."

Alptraum starts scooting to the edge of the bed and checks the cinching on his robe. "Well, these lands make most Eeee quite strong, really," Alptraum notes, grinning. "I know it is not normal, but I do feel some responsibility for all the Yodh. Are you surviving okay in this wilderness?" he asks. "And, er, what do you mean survive Hekatt?"

"I'm surviving," Mave says, without elaboration. "The Yodhblakat here are only insane when they need to be. Hekatt is insane all of the time. That is what I meant about surviving her. There is no telling what she may do to you."

"Ah, well, I've learned to take care of myself quite well," Alptraum says and waves his hand, then slips off the edge of the bed. "So, do all of you plan to just stay in this tower forever, or do you have hopes of finding a town to settle in?"

"Perhaps Barba has dreams of a normal life, but the others are young and confused," Mave says, and then tells Lilith, "Do not spill any on the sheets." She holds out her hand to Alptraum. "I'll take you to Hekatt. Be wary of her, Barsunala. The others keep her because she has not lost her faith in her goddess."

Alptraum takes her hand. "I appreciate your concern about me," Alptraum tells her, then glances towards Lilith. "You should get some sleep. I hope I won't be long."

Lilith clutches the lizard to her chest, and nods to Alptraum, saying, "Be careful, Alptraum."

"I'll be as careful as I can be. Be safe," Alptraum replies, then with his free hand tugs his robe tightly around him. "Let'sgo, Mave. We shouldn't keep her waiting."

The Yodhinala leads Alptraum through the tower, and into an area that is so run down that few would choose to stay in it. Mave stops before a door that looks ready to collapse, and says, "This is it. Inala's blessing upon you, Barsunala."

"And Sunala's protection upon you," Alptraum replies, reaching up to touch her cheek lightly. "Please, be kind to Lilith. She is a good person."

"Kindness is my calling," Mave says, then walks away back through the rundown hall.

"But being readable isn't," Alptraum grumbles to himself. He then turns and knocks lightly on the door. "Yodhzakaro Hekatt, Mave said you wished to see me?" he says fairly loudly.

Light as the knock it, it is enough to cause the door to swing open…

Hekatt is kneeling on the mat, leaning towards the candle. She has the dagger in her hands, and moves it to and fro to catch the firelight along its length. It takes a moment for her to register the interruption, and she scrambles to her feet. "Barsunala! You came!" she squeaks.

"But of course. I wouldn't turn down an invitation by a Yodhzakaro," Alptraum says with a smile. He steps inside, still holding his robe tightly around his body. "How may I be of service to you?" he asks.

Hekatt seems stunned for a moment, but finally says, "Zakaro has sent you to me! She gave me a revelation, that together we would retake Babel and restore the Temple… "

Alptraum's brow goes up at this. "I … see," Alptraum finally says, moving closer to the Yodhzakaro. "How did she say this would come to be?" he asks in a whisper, as if afraid the others may be listening.

"You… you will make me into an Avatar," Hekatt whispers. "And withdraw Sunala's gaze from me, so that I cannot be killed. You will teach me the secrets of the dagger, so that the strength of the dragon will be mine. And then together we will burn out the usurpers and reign forever over Babel as the new Sabboath and his Queen."

Alptraum rubs his chin in thought. "Such a path could be extremely dangerous. Did Zakaro grant you the secrets of how to make you into an Avatar? Such is the power of the great mages, which is Her domain. I would not presume to know more than Her," Alptraum says.

"A… a ritual," Hekatt whispers, her eyes gleaming with greed in the dim light. "We must sacrifice the false-god, Smashangrab, after we exchange… life. I don't know what that means exactly, but I was assured that you would."

Alptraum hmms and paces the all of five steps he can take in this small space. "Well, there are two interpretations I could make out of that. The exchange the life could be the simple act of using a small amount of my blood upon it to bring it to life for you, and so you can use it to sacrifice the false God; taking its life and power to make you an Avatar. The other interpretation would … require us to become rather intimate with each other, as well as share of each others blood to create a bond between us. The first path would probably be the fastest way to power. The latter could take some time," he says after some thought.

Hekatt licks her lips nervously. "Anoint the dagger with our blood?" she asks, holding the spirit dagger up to look at it again. "Or… drink each other's blood? Would such depravity forge a stronger bond than the blessing of the blade?"

"They are equivalent in the end result," Alptraum notes and shrugs slightly. "But, I see in your eyes you would prefer to perform the blessing of the blade," he adds and actually offers her a friendly smile.

The Yodhzakaro smiles, revealing uneven and slightly yellowed teeth. "Yes… until I am a demigod, anyway. Then we will consummate our bond for days without end!"

"Indeed," Alptraum notes, the faint tinge of guilt he was feeling about this fading. He motions to the floor. "Please, prepare a Zakaro circle of enchantment. We need to sit inside it to proceed."

"Yes, yes of course!" Hekatt says. She kicks the mat aside, and digs out a nub of chalk from the chest. Kneeling down, the sorceress begins to carefully inscribe her ritual circle, muttering and praying the whole time.

Alptraum watches with interest. "Do you have any small pins with which to write on the blade in blood? We both need to perform a small rite upon it," he notes.

"Pins?" Hekatt asks, looking terrified that things may have to stop for lack of supplies. More rummaging through the chest produces not pins, but calligraphy brushes, still stained with ink. Probably the same ones used to decorate the walls and Hekatt's own fur. "Will these do?" she asks hopefully.

"They will do fine. I can simply bite each of our fingertips to get the blood necessary," Alptraum says, nodding. He then glances to Hekatt's fur and adds, "It's a pity your fur runes have faded so. We shall have to fix that after the false god is defeated."

"Oh, yes," Hekatt says, holding the brushes to her chest and getting a far away look. "I'll be beautiful then. More beautiful than Mave, or even Inala herself," she whispers, then blinks and comes out of the reverie to finish the preparations.

"You will be a shining example of Babel's future," Alptraum agrees. "Is the circle complete?"

The chalk scratches against the stone for a few moments, and then Hekatt proclaims, "It is done!" She sits inside, crossing her legs, and sets the dagger down in the center. There's just enough space for Alptraum to sit opposite her, with his knees touching the woman's.

Alptraum steps into the circle and sits down, readily allowing his knees to touch hers. He extends his hand to her and asks, "May I have your hand, Yodhzakaro?"

Hekatt begins to hold out her right hand, then pulls it back and wipes it clean on her leg before offering it again.

"This will hurt only for a moment," Alptraum says. He closes all but one of her fingers and raises it to his mouth. He positions the fingertip under his right fang, then bites down until he can just feel the fang pierce the skin. And then, he simply releases her hand. "Now, please put some of your blood on the brush and sign your name and title to the blade. I will sign after you."

The priestess stares at her finger for a moment, then dips one of the brushes in the bead of blood. She leans down, and very carefully writes 'Hekatt, High Priestess of Zakaro' as small as she can to make it all fit. The blood glows on the black blade, and after the last symbol is completed the glowing words sink through the surface and submerge into the dagger, seeming to recede an infinite distance. With a trembling hand, Hekatt offers the other brush to Alptraum.

Alptraum takes the brush. He brings his hand to his mouth and now bites down on his own finger lightly. He presses the brush tip to his fingertip, allowing it to soak up his blood. And then with careful motions, he signs the blade in very small Babelite script, 'Alptraum Riesender, Barsunala'.

This too glows and submerges, and then the blade itself begins to glow with a sickly, pale purple light. Hekatt reaches for the hilt, then hesitates and asks, "Is… is it ready now?"

Alptraum reaches out and takes her hand. He lowers it, with his on top, until her palm rests on the handle. He mutters a soft prayer with lines like 'grant the vessel of my choosing some of my life so that she may wield the power within this blade.'. And then, Alptraum removes his hand (but keeps it floating just above hers, just in case she decides she wants to stab him in typical Babelite treachery) and smiles, "Now, it is ready."

Hekatt curls her fingers around the hilt, and slowly raises up the dagger. The pale glow makes her face into a mask of hunger.

"I should note that you cannot use it against me currently. It is powered by my soul. To use it against me … the backlash would be terrible. Not that I would think you would ever consider such things," Alptraum says, watching her with somewhat narrowed eyes and a knowing look on his face.

The woman's eyes flick up towards Alptraum, as if she'd forgotten he was there. "Oh, of course, of course," she mutters. "Come with me, I know the way down to Smashangrab's lair."

Alptraum stands. "Lead on, High Priestess of Zakaro," he says and bows slightly.

Using the glow of the blade to see by, Hekatt leads Alptraum deeper into the bowels of the tower. The narrow steps become increasingly slimier, so that each step becomes a challenge, and the dampness of the walls gives way to actual rivulets of water. Finally, they arrive at the entrance to a larger chamber.

Hekatt leads on down a short flight of steps that end against the slimy hide of a four-foot-thick vine. "Here he is. I fed him only last night, so he is dormant," the Yodhzakaro whispers.

"What a horrific creature. How dare it act as a 'God' to others," Alptraum whispers, sounding angry. "Its power rightfully belongs to you, the High Priestess. All you have to do is stab its core, the bulge … then feel its power, and will it into you… "

The priestess seems hesitant at first, until she gazes into the glowing blade for a moment. Spreading her wings, she flaps awkwardly toward the center, landing next to the open maw, and getting a firm grip on the slick surface with her claws. Raising her arm and letting out a triumphant laugh, she plunges the dagger down into plant's flesh.

And Alptraum takes a step back and this and concentrates, feeling inward, searching for the sensation of a link to the blade. "You had better be right about this, Kaira," he thinks.

The link is there, although indirect – like feeling something while wearing heavy gloves. All of the 'chambers' are full, and ready to be released into Hekatt. But there is also another sensation, a surging torrent that flows through from Smashangrab to the priestess…

Alptraum focuses on the flow first, waiting for when it ends and the Priestess has drained all of its life force. "Must release the chambers the moment the flow ends. Otherwise … Hekett may be too powerful to stop later," he thinks.

The chamber trembles. Loose bits of masonry and dust begin to rain down as the great plant shudders. At its furthest edges, the phosphorescence is fading, the green flesh turning gray and chalky. At the core, though, Hekatt glows. Her face is turns up in ecstasy, as her fur and hair take on a new luster. Her own body begins to fill out, the symbols drawn on it glowing even brighter.

For a moment, Alptraum gets a feeling that maybe this was a bad idea. But, too late now. He grits his teeth, prepared to stick to the plan. "The moment the core begins to fade to gray, open the chambers… " he thinks.

Just as she hoped, Hekatt is beautiful, if only for a few moments. Then her expression twists and distorts. Thorns begin to grow out of her fur. Her fingers and toes sprout root like tendrils. Her hair rises up and squirms like a nest of serpents, and her wings begin to turn into branches.

The grayness has reached the larger vines now, the one before Alptraum beginning to harden and crack. The light in the chamber comes exclusively from Hekatt now. The woman tries to scream, only to have glowing vines burst from her mouth.

"When you want to usurp the powers of others, you tread on a path to destruction," Alptraum thinks grimly. He steps back again, hoping he's out of range when he opens the gates completely…

The grayness reaches the edge of the central core now, even as Hekatt's body grows and warps, her own sprouting mouth facing upwards to mirror that of the dying Smashangrab. From her writhing hair and extremities, blood-colored flowers begin to bud and bloom. Finally, the core of the great plant calcifies and begins to crumble under its own weight.

"Now, Alptraum thinks! His attention shifts full-force to the gates and urges them to part with his will. "Escape into the host which was Hekatt, find release and freedom!"

The rushing flow is even stronger than that of the life-flow from Smashangrab, so much so that Alptraum is nearly knocked unconscious by it. Even though her tongue has turned into a tree, Hekatt manages to scream. Her eyes are like lamps, filling the room with light even as her skin begins to crack and burst, releasing rivers of bloody sap. The pressure reaches the bursting point, and a column of light and fire explodes upwards out of her mouth, rushing up through the opening in the ceiling above!

"Oh hell!" Alptraum thinks, staggering backwards now. "Kai… Kaira didn't warn me about this. She's going to get it." Still, he holds the flow open, it must destroy the creature that once was the Yodhzakaro.

The burning column pours out for what seems an eternity, but finally trickles off. The only light now comes from the square itself, along with the echoing shrieks of panicked Eeee far above. The square of light falls on the crumbling remains of Hekatt and Smashangrab, which are already turning into dust. In the center of it all, the blade of the spirit dagger pulses like a glowing heartbeat, and for a very brief moment the oppressive feeling of Vorgulremik's draconic aura can be felt.

"No," Alptraum hisses, mustering what will he can to try and force Vorgulremik's presence back. Weakly, he staggers toward the blade. He drops to his knees heavily and lowers his hand, gripping the hilt as strongly as he can. "And Kaira was worried I would use this dagger to take the power of another? After seeing … that … how could anyone want to do that?" he says, breathing heavily. "Gods, I hope I don't have to fight out of here. I … I'm not sure I can even fly right now. Please, let the others be safe."

Shadows dance in the light coming down the shaft, and the sound of one voice barking orders.