Aside from Mave's tent, there are only three others, hinting that the mercenary numbers are small. A clothesline has been set up between the Yodhinala's tent and one of the forest trees, and is hung with laundry - including several loops of drying bandages.

"Well, here we are!" Agatha the war-pony announces once the camp is in sight. "It's not much to look at, but we can break it down and move quickly at least."

"Agatha, we've been sleeping in dirt, swamps, and harassed by specters. This is a positive paradise in comparison," Alptraum notes with a sidelong glance and grin to the woman. "What brings you out this far? I'm surprised to have seen anyone past that wasteland of a swamp."

Arkold's since stuffed the map in his greatcoat inner pocket, keeping the thing out of sight. "Eh, I've seen worse," he remarks indifferently as he gets an eyeload of the camp. "I've served in worse, come to think of it."

Tulani looks around the camp, still holding the retrieved 'Light of Nala' loosely in one hand. "I'll just find something to wrap this in for now. I think we had some extra cloth packed," the Sphynx says, looking around for where their supplies might have ended up.

Alptraum points towards Mave's tent. "My guess is in there," he tells the Sphynx.

"Lost your sword sheath?" Agatha asks Tulani, then tells Alptraum, "Oh, we patrol regular like, since the big battle in the swamp. Of course, the rest of the patrol went on with that, so it's just me, Clancy and Squeaky here now, to get you to Castle Draco."

"Only three of you?" Mave asks. "That hardly seems like protection."

"You're escorting all of us there?" Alptraum asks, brow raised. "I figured you were just taking me there since I'm the one who has a duty to go there."

"Lilith said the Countess might want to meet all of you and hear what you have to say," Agatha says, with a bit of emphasis on the last part.

"Never really had a sheath actually," Tulani comments to Agatha vaguely before wandering over towards Mave's more gaudy tent and looking through the supplies for a suitably tough length of cloth to wrap the sword in.

"Yeep!" comes a surprised voice from the tent, and soon a green-furred bat runs out and tackles Alptraum. At least she's wearing clothes though.

"Well, I'm for it. Not like the doom of the world's in our 'ands, or anythin', or we're under any kind o' deadline," Arkold says, casting a glance at Alptraum. "You've met this Countess Dra- … uh … " The Jupani looks at the tackled bat, shaking his head. "Eeee."

"Mmm, that could be good, or bad," Alptraum muses and rubs his chin. "So, is Clancy the guy at the fire? Who's Sque … eek!" Alptraum goes down under the green Eee and peers up at her. "Uh, are you okay?" he asks her.

"I'm just glad to see you," Phlagaea says, bumping noses with Alptraum. "I was afraid that hole you went into would swallow you up or something."

Tulani watches the green bat go tearing out of the tent with an arched eyebrow before going back about her search. The Sphynx soon finds some usable looking cloth that had been scavenged along their travels, and begins methodically wrapping the sword, murmuring, "Don't need to attract even more attention with it."

"Err, yeah, this is Clancy," Agatha says, gesturing to the Rhian, who just looks up and nods to the others. "Squeaky is probably off hunting. He's a vampire, and our communications technician."

"He went off wi' Lilith to find summat to bite," Clancy confirms. Lucy smiles to the returning adventurers, and wags her giant floofy tail.

Alptraum can't help but laugh and leans up to nip her ear lightly. "The hole was rather interesting really. We met Nala. Well, part of her, anyway. Most things were cursed, though. We couldn't really recover much to aid in the battle against the necromancer. Well, other than a torc no one can identify. It looks silly on me," the bat explains and gets up to his feet, lifting Phlagaea with him.

"She didn't try to make you her priest, did she?" Phlagaea asks, sounding suspicious.

"No. I did get to see the other side of me, though. Never realized I looked that creepy," Alptraum notes and then shows the torc to Phalgaea. "Ever see something like this before?"

The Yodhgorphat runs her fingers over the inscriptions on the metal torc, and then shrugs. "Maybe it's Nagai. Looks like a snake with a head at both ends."

"Quite a place, though," Arkold adds. He looks around, frowns at Mave for a moment, then walks over to the fire to take a seat. "Ahh, fire. Keeps zombies away, cooks food, keeps a man warm … "

Smiling at the taur by the fire, Tulani finishes tying off the cloth wrapping on the sword with some twine and then sticks it in her belt for the moment, looking unwilling to set it aside just yet. The Sphynx then wanders over and takes a seat by the fire as well, next to Lucy.

"Vampire," Mave repeats, looking to Agatha. "So, all Eeee in Draco are vampires?" The pony seems to think about it for a moment, then just shrugs. "Can't say, really. Probably a few that aren't, but I suppose most I've met are. I mean, unless you eat with them it isn't always easy to tell."

Alptraum puts the torc back on his head briefly, saying, "See? It's really not me." He then glances over towards Mave and says, "They won't bite you, you know. Contrary to popular rumors, vampires are not all evil monsters."

Arkold smiles when Tulani takes a seat, smiling at Lucy, too. "So 'ow was it? Get to see your other life, too, Tulani," he asks, leaning forward to warm his hands.

Clancy nods to Tulani and Arkold, and taps his wooden spoon against the pot he's been stirring. "Beets and cabbage stew, good for your bowels, if noisy."

The black and white Sphynx smiles at Arkold, then frowns thoughtfully, "Yes, I did, and it wasn't pretty. It made me quite appreciative of my adoptive parents." Tulani then blinks at Clancy saying quietly to Arkold, "And that makes me quite glad my adoptive parents are Rhians. I actually like vegetables.

Silently, Mave retires to her tent, while the echo-pings of flying Eeee briefly bathe the camp, heralding the return of Squeaky and Lilith.

"I'd eat the pot, if I could get it down. All this adventurin' makes a man lean," the wolf says. He pats his belly, then nods for the other man to continue. "'And a bowl 'ere, if you got one." He then nods over to Tulani. "Turns out I'd 'ave been married, with a son, and a lovely wife. A bit portly, too, eh." He chuckles.

"Wives should be portly," Clancy says, filling bowls for Arkold and Tulani. "Shows they are content."

Alptraum slips the torc back off and slides it into his shirt for safekeeping. "I'll need to talk with Mave later, I think," Alptraum notes and then glances skyward as he hears the pinging. "So, how have the battles been going?" he asks Agatha.

"I meant myself," Arkold clarifies. "'Course, she was even nicer." He accepts the bowl and begins eating.

"Clancy's been married forever," Agatha says, sitting down next to the larger equine and filling a bowl for herself.

"Married, you? Never!" Tulani exclaims at Arkold, chuckling, though in a not entirely disbelieving manner as she accepts a bowl of stew from Clancy. She then frowns slightly, saying, "But good for you at least Arkold. I found out my birth father is, or was, a rather nasty brute."

"Watch out for Squeaky," Phlagaea whispers to Alptraum. "He's not right in the head." A moment later, Lilith lands, along with a smaller, dangerously thin dirty-brown Eeee that must be Squeaky. His eyes glow a pale green.

"So's mine, Tulani. Not a brute in the bust-your-'ead sense, but a brute jus' the same," Arkold tells Tulani sympathetically. Then he tilts his head. "Don't think I could manage marriage, eh? Probably right. 'Course, I do have someone waitin' for me back at the docks, so it's a bit like I'm married now." he then winks at Agatha. "Not too married, if you know what I mean."

"What's wrong with him?" Alptraum whispers to Phlagaea. He then waves to Lilith and Squeaky. "Lilith, you missed out on amazing show," he tells her. "And you must be Squeaky. Pleasure to meet you. I hope Lilith hasn't been giving you much trouble. She's rather dangerous." He grins.

Agatha gives an amused snort, and asks Arkold, "Tired of sleeping in the dirt, so trying to get yourself into my tent, eh, old man?"

Tulani nods to the wolf, and gives him a light punch on the shoulder in acceptance of his sympathy… and then, thinking better of it, a hug as well, before getting down to eating her own bowl of stew.

The smaller bat shies back from Alptraum, clutching a squirming bag to his chest. "Vermites!" he snaps. "Vermites for me and mine!" Then he spins around and scurries into one of the tents, which erupts in a cacophony of high-pitched squeaks.

"Okay, I see what you mean," Alptraum notes to Phlagaea. "So, what happened to him?" he asks Agatha.

Sitting on the opposite side of Clancy, Ravenia also accepts a bowl of stew, although the flavor must not agree with her from her expression.

"That'd definitely be an improvement," Arkold tells Agatha, grinning. He reaches over and pats Tulani's shoulder in a fatherly way, then takes another bite of soup.

"Hmmm? Oh, Squeaky?" Agatha asks, looking towards the squeaking tent. "He's a feral child. Raised by wild Chibix."

"Odd. But then … I've seen odder," Alptraum admits and thinks back to the bug child he rescued. Alptraum takes Phlagaea's arm and leads her over to the fire to sit with the others. "I guess I may have to go out for food myself pretty soon," he notes.

"I thought you might be back, Alptraum," Lilith says, and tosses a bound up and squirming pig-like mammal to him. "So I got you this. Be thankful, too, hunting is going to be hard until we're past the Wallace Woods."

Smiling, Tulani rapidly polishes off the soup in her bowl, licking her chops in a satisfied manner before setting the bowl off to the side and chuckling at the look on Raven's face when she tastes the soup.

Alptraum catches the creature and looks at it for a moment. "So, what are the Wallace Woods and why are they hard to hunt in?" he asks.

"It's a bit… " Ravenia starts to say, then fails to find a polite adjective. "I miss potatoes," she says instead. "And fresh bread. And stuffed mattresses."

"I bet they attack you, or insult you. Perhaps Kadies throw acorns, or, eh, somethin' like that," Arkold suggests.

"Don't worry, lass, we'll get all that at the Inn once we're past the woods in the morning," Agatha says with a smile.

"So, you're suggesting their bite is worse than their bark?" Alptraum asks Arkold.

Clancy chuckles at Arkold's comment, and says, "Nah, they just makes your head funny. But no worries, we've got magic cheese. Just remember that the magic cheese is not for eating."

Ravenia looks up from her bowl as if she can't believe what she'd just heard.

Tulani just blinks and nods at Clancy's statement about magical cheese, looking quite ready to take his word on it… but also a little like she's not sure of his sanity… but hey, there have been stranger things.

Alptraum stands and actually goes behind one of the tents for a bit. There's a quickly cut off squeal – presumably Alptraum is just trying to spare them watching a vampire eat.

"I don't think it's magical," Agatha says, shaking her head. "It's too runny. Magical cheese should be less runny."

Arkold just shakes his head. "Do you 'ave any beer? The boy's jokes take some alcohol, now an' then," he asks.

"Sorry, Arkold," Lilith says, sitting down to 'eat' her own supper, without the modesty Alptraum is showing. "All we have are what's left of the wine we found. I gave one to Clancy to use in the stew, since he was out of vinegar."

"Just where did you get magic cheese exactly?" The Sphynx asks Agatha curiously.

The Jupani seems unphased by magic cheese. Perhaps in his adventures he, too, has come across magic cheese. Then again, perhaps he's seen so much oddity that magic cheese doesn't register anymore. "Well, some wine will do," he admits. "And we can't even eat the cheese. Eh, sorry, magic cheese."

"From a magic dairy, I'd presume," the red-maned pony says, shrugging. "Frankly, I'd rather not know where even normal cheese comes from."

"And what do you use this magic cheese for exactly?" Tulani queries next with an arched eyebrow.

There's a flutter of tent flaps, and Mave returns to the fire, having changed into something priestlier, if extremely conservative by the standards of Inala. She sits down next to Arkold, and holds out a bottle of wine she'd brought from the tent. "Here."

Alptraum looks around the tent. "Hey, will you want this for stew?" he asks, holding up the remains of what Lilith brought him.

"You smear a bit of it on your chest, and that keeps the forest fumes from affecting you," Agatha says.

"Interesting… " is all the Sphynx can seem to think of to reply to the thought of smearing magic cheese on your chest.

Clancy looks mildly affronted at the idea of adding meat to stew, but Ravenia jumps to her feet and says, "YES! No! Roast it on a spit!"

"Uh, all right. Spit it is. And Mave, come over here for a minute when you can, please," Alptraum says.

"Hm, smearin' cheese on chests. That reminds me of this time back on Ashtoreth durin' a party when … eh, I'll tell you later." He winks at Agatha again, then looks up at Alptraum. "Oh-ho! Bloodless meat! Bring it 'ere."

Alptraum carries the remains over to Arkold and offers them to him. "Here, share with Ravenia, okay? She's been pretty unhappy lately," he notes.

The Yodhinala was looking at the stew when Alptraum's request registers on her. She stands up, takes a deep breath, and then walks towards the gypsy with determination.

Once free of the meat, Alptraum walks a bit away from the others so he can speak to Mave with some privacy. He watches the older priestess with a rather expressionless look. When she reaches him, he asks, "How are you feeling?"

Mave looks into Alptraum's face, and says, "Uncertain. All of my prayers and divinations have led me to this land, where I felt there was a weapon to smite those who have abandoned Inala and the other Kindly Ones. I was sure that it was the Light of legend."

"Mmm," Alptraum says with a nod. "Well, I cannot say I am disappointed, since I believe you intended to smite me with it as well. But, I wish there were more I could do for you. But, that is forgotten and I hold no grudge. All of you are my responsibility. It does matter to me what happens to you. Until you find a place, you will always be welcome to continue travelling with me."

"Oh, I intend to follow you until I've found what I'm looking for," Mave says, smiling a little. "Perhaps I was blinded by the obvious choice, when a more suitable one eluded my senses."

"What did you see when you were within the Light?" Alptraum asks Mave. "What were you told?"

"Inala… " Mave starts to say, looking like she's about to choke up. It takes a moment for her to summon her control and continue. "Inala told me that while my cause was righteous, I must stay true to my calling and not be seduced away from Her by Rephath. That… that I must seek a way to restore the Temple with Her blessings only."

Alptraum nods at that. "Revenge is a dangerous path to walk. Had I walked it myself, I would have become the new Sabbaoth and started a war that would have likely obliterated Babel in the end," the bat says. The Eeee the shrugs and pats Mave's shoulder, noting, "Well, we should get back to the others."

"The new Sabbaoth, you say?" Mave asks, smiling, but doesn't press the question and returns to the others.

"So what exactly is wrong with this forest? You said something about fumes?" Tulani asks Agatha next, quite curious before offering to Arkold as he receives the meat, "I'll be happy to help you cook it if you want, Arkold."

"Absolutely," Arkold replies. He lays the animal carcass down and pulls out his knife. "I'll jus' gut this, an' toss the entrails in the fire. Can't 'ave predators smellin' it up." After that, he gets to work. "Can ya manage arranging the spit, Tulani? I'll need a clean stick, too."

"Fumes, from the ground," Agatha explains. "Like… well, did you ever smell something and suddenly have that trigger a memory or emotion?"

"Yes, yes… I think I know what you're talking about Agatha. Some scents remind you of things… " Tulani replies thoughtfully before searching around for a stick that she could peel the outer bark off of for a spit. "I'm on it Arkold! "

"Right! Well, that's what the forest is like," Agatha says, waving a hand. "Only, it's so overpowering that you can't think and just stumble around until you drop."

There's a pile of firewood next to Lucy, which the Fnerf occasionally pulls a stick from to feed the fire. Plenty of sturdy looking branches that a spit could be fashioned from.

Arkold goes about removing the inedible innards, then flicks them in the fire with his knife. After that, he waits for Tulani to return with the sticks. "A forest of memories? Sounds like a bad place," he remarks grimly.

Tulani picks up several fairly straight, thick looking branches from the pile by Lucy and sits back down next to Arkold saying, "Got a knife I can clean these off with? I just need to scrape off the outer bark."

"It isn't all bad," Agatha says, leaning back a bit from the fire now. "I've heard there are flowers in there whose scent will make you feel loved, or remember the best moments of your life. And others that make you forget pain."

"Wipe off mine," Arkold suggests. He hands the bloody knife to Tulani, holding the meal by one of its feet. "Glad 'e's good at drainin' these, makes 'em cleaner."

Giving the knife a quick wipe, the Sphynx quickly goes to work with the sticks, scraping the outer bark off into the fire. Soon they have several clean wooden spits which Tulani hands to Arkold saying, "Heh, we three make a pretty good team."

"You could have just slit its throat and hung it upside down to drain too," Ravenia points out.

"Yes, but that takes longer Raven." Tulani notes.

"We should start a restaurant," Arkold agrees. "Three's An Adventure, we could call it." He skewers the meat, then plants it a moment while setting up the spit. Once it's sturdy, he lays the sish-ka-bob along it and begins turning it slowly. "Long, an' Bats doesn't get a treat," he confirms.

The Sphynx chuckles at the thought of opening a restaurant that way for adventurers. "You're just bursting with ideas aren't you, Arkold?"

Like Ravenia, Phlagaea has been eyeing the meat, but the mention of 'Bats' snaps her out of that trance and focuses her mind on the fact that Alptraum just went off along with a Yodhinala.

Alptraum returns and sits down beside Phlagaea. "There was an incident in the tunnels. Mave made a mistake that almost cost all of us. I wanted to be sure she was okay," he explains.

"Women like her always land on their feet," Phlagaea whispers. "Or, on somebody else's back, with daggers in their hands."

"My ideas are what got me this far," Arkold insists. "Can't say most of them were good, but they got me 'ere. Jus' think, I could be married, have a kid, an' be overweight."

Tulani chuckles, "I just have trouble picturing you as anything other than the unique adventurer that you are Arkold."

Mave leans forward against Arkold's back, draping her arms over his shoulders to rub his chest. "What does a girl have to do to get a piece of your meat, Arkold?" she whispers into his ear.

Alptraum nods. "I know," he whispers back. "I am keeping watch on her to make sure she doesn't endanger any of us again. So, nervous about going to a country of mainly vampires?"

Looking over at Mave, the black and white Sphynx suddenly bursts out laughing.

"Mostly bar… vampires?" Phlagaea asks, as if not having thought of it until now. "Will they… treat me like a freak for not being one?" she asks. Never mind that she's green.

Arkold reaches back and pats Mave's cheek. "Come an' sit with me. You can use my lap, if you want," he replies. With his other hand, he continues to turn the meat slowly over the fire. He then smiles at Tulani. "See, it's more unique adventure."

Mave sits next to Arkold, and grins across at Tulani.

Tulani can't seem to stop giggling at the moment, but eventually settles, wiping her eyes and shooting Mave a grin of her own, chuckling.

"I doubt it. There is a mix around and you can't even always tell," Alptraum notes and pat's the green Eeee's leg. "Besides, you'll be with me. If anyone treats you like a freak, I'll thump them."

"Are they very religious in Draco County?" Phlagaea asks of Agatha next. The mare just shrugs, and nudges Clancy. "This guy is the native. Lots of churches and temples in your home town, big guy?"

"Agatha, can you speak many languages?" Alptraum asks her after she's done poking Clancy.

The big Rhian rubs his stubbly chin, and says, "Lots of barns. Shrines… yeah, there were shrines. Send yer daughter to the shrine, they'd say. Get her an education, they'd say. Avoid saving up for a dowry, they'd say. But she got knocked up first, so that dream died."

"If I ever 'ave daughter, I'm keepin' her far away from men," Arkold declares. He pulls off a bit of roasted meat, then feeds it to Mave.

"Where there shrines to Gorphat?" Phlagaea asks, excitedly. Then for Mave's benefit adds, "Or to Inala?"

"If she'd be anything like you, she'd just kick you an go anyway," Alptraum points out to Arkold. "But you? A daughter? I can't see that."

After a while of watching Arkold turn the spit, Tulani takes over the rotation, saying with a small grin, "You probably want your hands free Arkold, in case you decide to get pinchy."

"Them's gods, eh?" Clancy asks. "Lots of shrines, never bothered to ask about their gods though. I think there was one with a Jupani top and Rhian bottom, with wings like a Creen. And one to a pointy-headed thing, and one with lots of arms… "

"Eh, you've got a point there." Arkold shakes his head. "Not sure I'm ready for a female me. I was a pain enough for myself, when I was young. Good thing I'm careful, though. No kids, eh." He nods to Tulani. "Good point. I'm thinking of getting pinchy."

"I couldn't really see myself as a parent either," Alptraum notes and peers into the fire. "So, how long is the journey to the castle?"

"What about Eeee gods," the green bat asks. Clancy just shrugs, and says, "Lots of Eeees. Lots and lots. Gods gotta be different to catch attention. Why make a god that looks like your neighbor?"

"Not long, really, maybe two days," Agatha claims. "Get through the woods to Grommet, where we can stay the night, then catch a coach to the Castle."

"If you all had wings we could do it in under a day," Alptraum grumbles, then remembers something and looks to Tulani. "Hey, how has your wing and arm healed up? Any stiffness? I know you had the one flight, so have you had any problems since?"

Unsure of the words, Phlagaea asks Alptraum, in Babelite, "Did he say 'make' a god?"

Stretching her wings a little bit at the question from the male Eeee, Tulani replies happily, "Not really. I think that short flight helped to stretch it out a bit so it isn't really stiff, thankfully."

"More or less," Alptraum explains in Babelite, "Sylvania is a land of many beliefs and many Gods. Some for the seasons, for example. People believe in many things and belief can shape reality, so I imagine he means why would you believe a God would look like your neighbor. For some that would be … mundane, I suppose. The worship of the 'Angels' as they have been known here may still exist there. They just may appear different, because that is how people expect them to appear."

Arkold offers Mave another bite to eat, then leans against her. "I don' really blame you for the pit," he says, sounding relaxed. "I'm used to women doin' things like that, anyway."

"Good to know," Alptraum says with an approving nod to Tulani. "I was worried there might be residual effects from that amulet, or worse."

Mave takes the offered meat, then asks, "What other women have done things like that?"

Tulani nods to Alptraum with a small smile. "Thanks for your concern. I think I'll be ok, so long as I keep the flying easy if I attempt it again."

"Phlegbo is my household god," Clancy rambles on. "Got 'im for my third wedding anniversary, since Clarise's dad was too cheap to get us one for our wedding. He looks like a Creen what swallowed a vermite. Phlegbo, I mean, not my dad-in-law."

Arkold lifts a hand. "Eve, Maza, the Champion of Roses, that other Rose, several Sirens, eh, a few women in the Emirate, my mother, Tulani on occasion, Envoy, others … " He runs out of fingers, switches to his other hand, runs out again, and shrugs.

Phlagaea considers what Alptraum just told her, and tries to reconcile it with what the Rhian is saying. "You make it sound like you went to a shop and bought a god," she finally tells Clancy.

"That's silly, you can't buy a god in a shop," Clancy says, chuckling. "You gots to go to the Godsmith and have one custom made."

Tulani blinks at Arkold and looks indignant.

"Totems, idols, that sort of thing. Some groups are just weird," Alptraum offers to Phlagaea.

"You did turn into a dragon," Arkold points out to Tulani. "Then fell through that floor."

"So, we didn't make your list?" Ravenia asks Arkold, tipping her head towards Lilith as well.

"Neither of which I was consciously intending to do! I might add!" Tulani huffs, then grins. "It's probably for all those random bottoms you pinch, Arkold."

"Oh I was running out of breath," Arkold admits, and sounds serious. "Now, don't think I don't like you for it. I like all women, I jus' expect these sort of things. It's all the same to me. Don' mind." He smiles, handing Mave another bite to eat before turning his smile Tulani's way. "Eh, likely. I just accept it in stride. Women are interestin', and that's that."

"What about priests and priestesses," Phlagaea asks the Rhian, with a sort of bizarre fascination. "Oh yeah, gots them. They train the small gods, and keep the big ones from getting uppity. And if you send your daughter to the shrine, she don't get married and you don't gots to pay a dowry, so… priests and priestesses are just fine. They don't collect taxes and don't date your kids."

"Well… interesting is one of the better descriptions for women I've heard, Arkold, " the Sphynx concedes.

Alptraum just rubs his temples for a bit. "So, Agatha!" the Eeee says finally, and tries to escape the weird conversation, "Have things been generally going well for you? I must admit I'm still in shock from seeing you again. And, that, well, you even remembered me."

"So, how many did you not want to bed?" Ravenia asks Arkold next, now that she's safely gotten her share of the meat and doesn't have to fear retaliation.

"I got a good memory when it comes to buying drinks," Agatha says, grinning. "Plus, you had a weird story and were heading to Babel. Sticks in your head, that does, like… uh… like magic cheese. Anyway, I got here to Draco and signed up with the Countess, didn't see much action though 'cause I was hired first to train others how to fight and more importantly how not to get killed. But now I'm pretty used to it all."

Tulani takes the opportunity to get herself some of the roasted meat as well, listening to the conversation going around.

"Eh, now you're talkin' nonsense," Arkold tells Ravenia, with a mild grin. He pulls off a strip of meat, then tosses it in his mouth. "A man's got to 'ave a hobby, an' it's not like I treat them poorly."

Squeaky bursts out of his tent, clutching something in his hands. He looks right and left, ignoring the people at the fire, then opens his hands to release a Chibix that goes fluttering off into the night. Then the small Eeee returns to his tent.

"Okay, sometimes Squeaky creeps me out," Agatha admits.

"Even when you were in the castle with us?" Lilith asks Arkold, teasingly. "Would you have gone for one or both of us, even under the dragon's nose?"

"There were times I wished I had just gone with you to Draco County," Alptraum tells Agatha, then hugs an arm around Phlagaea. "But, there were some good things about going to Babel. Also, … no one was as generally weird as that Eeee is," Alptraum says and peers at Squeaky's tent.

"The Chibix carry messages to the Castle," Agatha says. "Squeaky trained them somehow. He carries them in a big basket strapped to his back when we're on the move though."

"Does he have to rub them with cheese for the Wallace Woods?" Alptraum asks Agatha. "… that sounds like some sort of creepy dessert."

Arkold has to think about that – but only briefly. "Absolutely," he answers. "One or both, I'm not a greedy man. It'd be a night to remember. Experience," he taps his head, "goes a long way, an' I care about you both."

"Oh, Chibix are too stupid to be affected by the woods," the pony claims. "Dumb animals don't have enough of a memory or mind to confuse. But Drokar and Dromodons will panic, and there aren't any wild boar or big predators, thankfully."

The color-reversed women glance at each other, grinning, then Raven asks Tulani, "Is he telling the truth about it being memorable, Tulani? You've been with him the longest… "

"Pity. I almost would have paid to watch someone rub cheese on a Chibix," Alptraum notes with a grin. "Just because it would probably be the biggest laugh I've had in a while."

Tulani listens to the wolf's answer and snickers faintly before blinking rapidly as the two women turn towards her with their own question. "Well… As it is… Arkold has already told me I am closer to a daughter for him, so I only have to worry about occasional tail pinching," the Sphynx says, ",but… I have almost no doubt he is telling the truth. Anyone who dates a mermaid must have more experience than anyone I know… except possibly Mave… "

The Sphynx looks at said Eeee with a raised eyebrow as she notes.

Mave chuckles at that, and Lilith laughs. Ravenia starts to laugh as well, then gets a curious look on her face. "I… remember now, that name. Envoy. That's who Vorgulremik kept sending me to find out about. She was some sort of monster he thought was sent to destroy him with a special knife. And you dated her, Arkold?"

"Personally, I don't know if Mave's stories could top Arkold's," Alptraum notes and glances towards Mave.

"I'm not sure either… Alptraum… I'm just giving her the benefit of the doubt, as she is a priestess of Inala," the Sphynx quips back.

"Yodhinala never tell," Mave says. "Unless a proper donation is made to the Temple and that is your particular way of worshipping Inala."

"Well, I'll admit that. Mave does have more experience," Arkold concedes. He leans back against said Eeee, feeding himself now. "Dated Envoy? I flirted a bit, but I'm not even sure what she is. She's flighty, too, and some kind o' mage. Crazy, an' not really on Maza's level."

"Who was Maza?" Lilith asks next.

Alptraum laughs at that. "Sorry, I'm broke," the Eeee notes to Mave with a grin.

"A vixen – you know the type." Arkold gives the four women a knowing look. "Golddigger, too. 'Course, I 'ad the treasure map, so she was with me for a while. She's the kind of woman that'll steal your purse when you're asleep with her, unless you keep an eye out."

"So you slept with her with one eye open?" Ravenia asks.

"Mave, do you have a mirror on you?" Alptraum asks absently.

"Somethin' like that," Arkold replies.

"I have a fine one in my tent," Mave replies.

"Well, if Tulani is 'like a daughter' to Arkold, and was, as I understand, a sailor," Lilith notes, eyeing the Sphynx, "then perhaps she has more experience than we think? A man in every port, Tulani?"

"Mind if I use it? The writing on the torc is bothering me. I want to look at it in a mirror, on the amazing off-chance it's mirror-writing," Alptraum notes. "Long shot, but if I don't check it, it'll keep me awake." He grins.

"Why do you need a mirror Alptraum? Going to look at that torc? Be careful with it, Dunky said he didn't know what kind of curse or magic might be on it… " Tulani warns before getting slightly wide-eyed at Lilith's suggestion. "Ah… I hate to disappoint you, but no."

"Feel free," Mave says, gesturing to the unoccupied tent. Phlagaea asks, "Want me to come with you, Alptraum?"

"Well then, a girl in every port?" Lilith asks next, only slightly jokingly. "Just to cover all possibilities, mind you."

"Sure," Alptraum says and stands. After a quick stretch, he heads towards the tent. "And hey, it's me, what could possibly go wrong?" Alptraum asks Tulani before he goes in the tent.

Arkold suddenly looks interested, raising a brow and giving Tulani his perked-ear focus. "Not my Tulani," he says with mock-displeasure.

Tulani grins and chuckles, "Again, I'm afraid I'm only going to disappoint you Lilith, but the answer is still no. What about yourself?" The Sphynx asks back, watching Alptraum as he disappears into the tent.

Phlagaea follows along, but after that last remark, let's Alptraum lead by a few extra paces, just in case he gets struck by lightning.

Inside the tent, Alptraum searches for the mirror. "You have such faith in me," he says to Phlagaea teasingly.

"I've… had a fling or two," Lilith admits, putting on an air of innocence. "Yeah, enough to have to worry about returning to the temple of Shrine maidens," Ravenia notes, poking Lilith in the shoulder with a finger. "At least I'm still a maiden, as far as I know."

"I just haven't really run into many who perk such interest in me," Tulani chuckles. "And I'm afraid any behavior I have to the contrary is mostly due to Arkold rubbing off on me," the Sphynx finishes, grinning at the wolf.

"I do rub," Arkold admits. "Rub well, I might add. I'm a fine teacher. Tulani needs to have more fun while she's young, I think. Get around. Find a boy – of a different species."

Tulani smiles quietly at Arkold, "Well, I certainly don't have any problems with different species."

Inside Mave's tent are quite a few mirrors, the devices being crucial to the maintenance of a Yodhinala. "Do you want me to hold one for you?" Phlagaea asks Alptraum.

"If you want. I was first just going to hold up the torc to it and see if I can actually read it," Alptraum notes, "Not put it on. I doubt anything will be readable, but I figure it's worth a shot." He pulls the torc out of his shirt.

The mirror does not transform the inscriptions into anything suddenly readable, unfortunately.

Alptraum sticks the torc on his head to see just how bad it looks on him. "You know, maybe it's not for the head at all. Maybe it's a ring for the tail of a dragon or Naga," he suggests to Phlagaea.

"I hope it isn't an earring," Phlagaea comments. "That would be a very big ear."

"Or a nose-ring for some giant demon. That would be some big nostrils," Alptraum notes and peers at himself critically in the mirror. "Boy, does that look bad. Want to try it on?"

"Not really," Phlagaea says. "Not my type of jewelry."

Alptraum takes it off. "You sure?" he asks again, then just shrugs. "Well, shall we go back out to the others? I guess the meaning of the torc will reveal itself at the 'peroper time'. Which is usually the worst time possible for us, given our luck."

"It belonged to Necropolis, didn't it?" Phlagaea asks Alptraum in a worried voice.

"That's uncertain. It was with the necromancer queen, but it's not like her other items. It's different. It may be even older than Necropolis," Alptraum notes. And then on a lark, he draws out the spirit dagger and holds it neat the torc to see if anything reacts.

There isn't any noticeable reaction between the dagger and the torc, which probably indicates the headgear isn't possessed.

Alptraum sticks the dagger back away and the torc back into his shirt. "Ah well," he says and walks over to Phlagaea. "Oh, are all of us sharing the same tent tonight?" he asks her.

"I don't know, but I suppose we could," Phlagaea says. "If Mave is in a generous mood, that is."

"I was curious in that I'm not sure there are enough tents. No matter if not, though. I can sleep outside," Alptraum says as he lifts the flap so they can step back outside.

"Oh my," Lilith says, grinning at Tulani and Arkold. "I bet you read those penny romance novels, Tulani. The kinds with the garish covers with long-haired musclemen and castles and storms?"

"Hmm. I could write those … " Arkold nods slowly, as if savoring the idea.

The Sphynx looks a little defensive at the suggestion from Lilith, "Only occasionally, but I only actually own one book of that type myself."

"Not all women are attracted to adventuresome men," Agatha notes. "Some like the practical, dependable sort who won't leave them to go off treasure hunting or some other such nonsense."

Arkold nods to Agatha's words, as if he believed the very same thing. "It takes all kinds," he agrees. "Me, I like to think I'm easy going."

"Which one?" Ravenia asks. "I had to leave all of mine back at the castle."

Tulani sighs and puts her face in her hand for a moment. "Mine is back at home as well. The Title was 'Storm-drawn', Ravenia. I had another one but I lost it a few years ago," the Sphynx says.

"Big men are good," Lucy says, breaking into the conversation. "Not break as often."

Clancy suddenly looks nervous.

"I'd better go wash out the pot," the big Rhian says, taking the stew pot and empty bowls. Lucy giggles at his reaction.

"You can read my books, Tulani. I'll include some characters for you. Maybe you can be in a few," Arkold offers. "I think I'll write an adventuring guide, too. Or an adventure and romance guide, together. Hm. And, swordfighting. And … " he glances at Mave, "something about women."

The Sphynx grins widely. "Well, I'll certainly be happy to read your books Arkold, they're likely to prove very interesting at the least!"

"And you know everything I say is true – you've been with me all this time," Arkold points out. "I 'avn't even told you half my adventures yet."

As Alptraum and Phlagaea return, Agatha gets up and stretches her back. "Well, we want to start early tomorrow, so I suggest you figure out your sleeping arrangements," she says. "Squeaky will take the first watch – he always does, not sure if the boy sleeps at all – and I'll take the second. Clancy gets morning watch, since he's an early riser by nature. You civvies can sleep in until you smell breakfast if you want."

"How many books will you write, Arkold?" Ravenia asks. "I can only imagine what the covers will be like."

"That sounds fine by me. Now," Arkold glances between Lilith, Mave, and Ravenia, "no fighting over who shares the tent with me. We can all share one tent, to be fair." He grins at Ravenia's question. "As many as I can. I'll 'ave to get someone to make some fine covers. What's on the cover has to compliment what's inside, and vice versa. Like you, Raven."

"Mave, are we all welcome to share your tent tonight?" Alptraum asks, echoing Arkold's comment about sharing. "If not, I'll find a tree to perch from. If Squeaky squeaks in my ear, though, I'll tie his ears in a knot."

The pointy-eared human blushes at the compliment, but says, "Maybe you should sleep outside, Arkold. Let the cool, clean air of Sylvania revitalize you or something."

"My tent is yours," Mave says. "No donation required."

"One of our tents will be unoccupied at any given time, while someone is on watch," Agatha notes. "I wouldn't sleep in Squeaky's though. But someone can have mine while I'm up."

Alptraum actually blinks at that and looks at Mave. "Pardon. Did you agree we could use your tent?" he clarifies.

"Yes," Mave says.

Arkold grins a bit more. "I prefer vigorous exercise. It keeps a man young," he insists.

"Uhm, thank you," Alptraum says, looking rather shocked at that she's allowing it. "Well, that was easy," he tells Phlagaea.

A big arm nudges Arkold, and Lucy offers, "Can sleep with me, Arkee-old. Wrap you in tail like blanket, got built-in pillows."

" Ah… Well, I'll be happy to sleep outside or in Agatha's tent while she is on watch since she has so kindly offered, if there isn't enough room." Tulani notes

"I've spent a few nights outdoors under Lucy's tail," Phlagaea comments. "She's really warm."

Arkold looks up at Lucy. He stares at her for a moment, then smiles. "Phlagaea recommends you, so how can I refuse?"

"You're not getting away from me, though," Alptraum says with a grin to the green bat.

"I'll take Mave's offer," Ravenia says, standing up and brushing dirt from her pants. "Can't let all the Eeee women be unsupervised, after all."

Lucy puts Arkold into an affectionate headlock and noogies the top of his head. "Good doggie!"

"Mmm, that's definitely got to go into the book," Lilith comments, watching Lucy and Arkold. Then she takes Raven's hand, and the two of them go into Mave's tent.

Alptraum goes to Mave's tent and holds the flap back. "After you two," he tells Phlagaea and Mave.

Arkold struggles a bit, then sighs. He pats Lucy's side and says, "Lucy's on the list, too."

The two priestesses eye each other, then put aside their differences and head into the big tent.

"If I don't survive, well… I just hope they kill me quickly, really," Alptraum says as he peers at Mave's tent. "Into doom I walk. I really hope no one snores. Snoring doom is the worst kind of doom," the Eeee adds, stands up straight, then slips into the tent.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Arkold calls after Alptraum as he's dragged away by Lucy.

Seeing as Alptraum, Phlagaea, Mave, Ravenia, and most likely Lilith are all sharing the tent, and Arkold is being steadily dragged away, Tulani just wraps herself in her wings and finds a comfortable spot to lean in front of the dying fire.