As Alptraum and Arkold step out of the shadowed space of the trilithon, the stones crumble and collapse to close the gateway. Abzhalom Dack waits nearby, next to the floating figure of Tulani – who is showing signs of 'waking up' from her slumber into this eerie dreamscape as the feline sorcerer holds the glowing crystal pendant over the Sphynx's head.

"Remember my comment about not touching her?" Alptraum hisses at the wizard. He heads towards Dack.

"And hey we're back," remarks Arkold as he pops out of the ether. Noticing Alptraum walking forward he follows suit with his hand resting on his sword hilt. "An' let me say that was an experience."

"I am simply keeping her asleep," Dack claims, and glowers at Alptraum. "You took long enough. Did you find a means to defeat the dragon or not?"

"It's not exactly easy traversing through someone and talking to dragons. What an opinionated bunch of snobs," Alptraum remarks and waves his hand dismissively. "As for a way, well, more or less. As well as a way to undo some things."

Shifting slightly where she is held floating in the air one of the Sphynx's white wings moves almost unconsciously between the sorcerer and herself as she starts 'waking up'.

Dack's attention is torn between keeping the Sphynx asleep, and dealing with Alptraum and Arkold… so he focuses on them instead. "Good, good. You can take out Vorgulremik then, or do you need help?" he asks.

"I think the name is Vorgulmarik. Or maybe Vorgagalrook." Arkold glances at the sleeping Tulani and frowns. "Do we need help bats? And more importantly do we trust this robed wacko?"

Alptraum laughs. "Well, the first part will be the most difficult," Alptraum remarks and extends his hand a bit towards Tulani, trying to visualize her waking up. He glances at Arkold and asks, "Well, I was going to ask you if we needed help. How good are you at fighting a dragon? As for trusting him, of course we can't. We're just in a position where he needs us and we have to deal with him."

Tulani's eyes slit open slightly while the Khatta's attention is shifted from her. Her eyes remain unfocused.

"Very well then," Dack says. "Of course, I don't trust you to eliminate the dragon and just walk away, either. But it would be the best for everyone if that were the plan you followed."

Arkold shrugs at the question. "Beats me. Now I know you think I'm a great fighter – among other things – but I've never fought something on, eh, Vorg's scale before. So to speak. Ha. Eh." He runs his free hand back through his hair. "I guess we'll find out, eh? Wish I had a sword like hers. Mine is metal, but then so is Vorg."

"You're right about dealing with him, Dack. Do you know what he's capable of? As in, really capable of?" Alptraum asks, then looks back at Arkold. "True, I'm not too fond of our weapons situation at the moment."

With a twisted grin, Dack says, "The Sphynx should be able to deal with the dragon on the physical level. And I've prepared a little gift bag for you to take back, to show that you were successful in 'defeating' me."

Arkold blinks at the suggestion Tulani can take on the dragon. "Has she been workin' out when I wasn't looking?" He reaches over and prods Tulani's arm in search of muscle.

Rolling over in the air, if it weren't for the blurred focus of her gaze Tulani would look like she was watching the group converse, but as it is she is not yet aware of her surroundings.

"If we can get back. He likely felt my little intrusion," Alptraum points out. "Physical is the first part, yes. I have to handle the second."

"I suppose it is too much to ask for a signal fire to be lit atop the castle once the beast is vanquished?" Dack asks, smirking.

"I guess I'll sit back and insult him," says Arkold. "You know. Morale support." He shakes his head. "If we fight with Vorg the whole place may be on fire. He's a fire breather y'know."

"Can you be in the center of it?" Alptraum asks in reply with a fangy grin.

"Ah, of course I expected no extra aid from you," the sorcerer says, giving a shrug. "When next we meet we will be enemies." He clutches the crystal in his fist, and asks, "If we have no further business, I'll end this little meeting."

"Lookin' forward to kickin' your ass," says Arkold as he gives the sorcerer a mock salute. "See you then."

"And we will meet again," Alptraum says in a tone of finality. "There are a great many crimes you need to answer for. Until your judgement, then."

Even as Tulani begins to become aware of her surroundings, everything vanishes in another flash of light.

Alptraum and Tulani awaken back in the stone chamber, with the odd crystal chair-altar in the center. A leather bag is set near the Sphynx's feet, and there is no sign of the Khatta sorcerer.

Alptraum taps the side of his head. "Still in there?" he mutters to himself. He glances at the bag, but goes to check on Tulani first.

"You know, if I were a real dragon, I'd be offended by that 'opinionated snobs' remark," hisses the voice in Alptraum's head.

The Sphynx blinks her still not-quite-focused gaze confusedly, shaking her head as it clears and looking around. Spotting Alptraum she asks warily, "What happened to Dack?" She immediately checks herself to make sure she is whole, then looks over the Eeee concernedly.

"I was wondering if you were paying attention," Alptraum remarks quietly with a grin. "That was to check if you were." He coughs, then says to Tulani, "I'm sure he snuck out after his little poof of magic. He wants us to kill ol' Vorg."

Tulani stands quickly at this bit of news from Alptraum, steadying herself as her legs still feel half asleep and are taking a minute to respond. She asks quietly, "And how are we supposed to accomplish that?" She spots the bag at her feet and stares at it for a moment.

"You tell me. He said you could defeat him physically," Alptraum remarks. "I'm carrying the part that will imprison him. She thinks she's funny too, what with that heels bit." He then digs into his side pouch for the 'bladeless' dagger.

The leather bag is cinched shut with a rawhide cord, and looks big enough to hold a good-sized cabbage.

"Bet it's a head," Alptraum comments to Tulani. "Ah, here, dragon. Will this work?" he asks and gets the dagger out from his pouch.

Blinking, the Sylvanian Sphynx looks taken aback and more confused than before. Replying with disbelief, she asks, "Me? Defeat him physically?" She shakes her head and continues, "I certainly don't know about that… "

The spirit dagger is where Alptraum left it, although during the search he finds one of his mundane ones missing. "Yes, that should be fine. You just have to stab him in the heart after the girl has him beat down," claims the dragon-spell.

"You've looked at Tulani, right? How in the world is she supposed to beat down a dragon?" Alptraum inquires and hmms, feeling a bit concerned about his dagger missing. "I presume the dagger will be useless once he's bound to it?"

Tulani blinks as Alptraum makes a strange inquiry seemingly of the air, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tilts her head at him. "Who are you talking to Alptraum?" She also stretches down to pick up the bag still at her feet.

The bag is heavier than it looks, and makes a slight squelching sound as Tulani lifts it.

"The cute dragon in my head. Well, dragon-spell really. We're sorta sharing a body at the moment. She's the bind that'll reseal the dragon," Alptraum explains with a shrug. "She's got a disturbing sense of humor, though. She keeps trying to get me to act unmanly."

"A dagger still cuts whether it has a spirit trapped in it or not," the spell says. "And what's wrong with the girl? Her disguise is very good."

"What disguise?" Alptraum asks.

Tulani sighs, "Ok, I thought for a minute… " She doesn't finish her sentence, still sounding confused as she carefully opens the bag in her hands, holding it a little away from her as she does so – although she's pretty sure of what's in it.

The Sphynx quickly looks around asking warily, "Who's in disguise?"

"You, apparently," Alptraum says. "Care to enlighten me?"

In the bag is the head of an older, black-furred Khatta who was going a bit gray. It's also fresh, as the blood oozing from where one of Alptraum's daggers is thrust into its forehead is still wet. Around the hilt of the dagger is wrapped a simple necklace with a glowing crystal pendant.

The head is not that of Abzhalom Dack… but it matches the description well enough for anyone who hasn't met him face to face.

Swallowing Tulani immediately raises her eyes away from the contents of the bag, cinching it shut and holding it loosely dangling in her hand as she echoes once again, although more curiously this time, "Me?"

"She must trust you, or you'd feel it," whispers the voice in the Eeee's head.

The Sphynx looks herself up and down, her tail is still there, so are her wings… she looks the same color as before? She shrugs and decides she's still herself.

"Why wouldn't she trust me? And feel what, exactly? Then again, I have no idea how I appear to others, either," Alptraum admits.

"Her aura of course," the spell replies, and Alptraum gets the impression of eyes rolling back as well. "She's obviously another dragon."

Tulani blinks at the Eeee, replying softly, "Of course I trust you Alptraum." She looks towards the exit of the room before continuing, "We should get going though, yes?"

"Her. A dragon. I think you've been trapped far too long," Alptraum remarks with a laugh. "Hey, Tulani. The spell thinks you're a dragon."

"She thinks that?" Tulani replies and scratches the back of her head, a curious look on her face.

"Even Vorgulremik would have noticed, if he got close enough," the spell claims. "Have they met?"

"Yes," Alptraum replies with a nod. "I wonder if you're a cute dragon," Alptraum replies, rubbing his chin and trying to look thoughtful. "And yes, they have. Vorg kept staring at her. He hissed at her in his sleep."

Unsure as to whether the 'cute dragon' comment was to her or to the 'spell' Tulani doesn't reply to it. Instead she moves over to the doorway and looks out, turning back briefly to nod in confirmation, "Yes I couldn't figure out why he was looking at me… besides being a generally suspicious creature."

"She doesn't know how to control her aura then, which is odd since she can clearly manage a convincing disguise," the spell remarks.

"The spell says that's why he stared at you, more or less. And spell, if you can't tell, she doesn't believe she's a dragon," Alptraum comments. He rolls his eyes and says, "Well, Tulani. I guess you have to find your inner scales. We've got a dragon to fight. Let's get out of this grim place."

The Sphynx takes a deep breath, shaking her head, but seems to accept the information and comment and file it away for the moment before speaking slowly, "Ok… Still don't know how that's supposed to work… " and heading out the doorway.

"It's easy. First you have to act real snooty … " Alptraum explains with an amused grin on his face as they leave.

Dawn is still breaking when Alptraum and Tulani land on the castle roof. Activity is high, as armed guards patrol the walls and guard the various entrances (including the one Arkold finally arrived at after following a map scribbled on a bit of rag paper – but at least his clothes smell freshly washed).

Lilith fusses about frenetically after everyone is led to the Great Hall. "I'm glad you all made it!" she says, hugging everyone who lets her. "Everything's been upside-down since Vorgulremik returned from battle last night! Ravenia is tending to his wounds even now."

Alptraum offers a smile to Lilith. "I'm rather surprised we made it back, really," he admits and sits down into a chair heavily, glad for the momentary break. "He was wounded? How badly?" he then inquires.

Tulani returns Lilith's hug warmly, listening to her speak and then querying along with Alptraum, "Yes, what has happened?"

"He fought with a group of the sorcerers minions in the woods, and was hit with a few arrows," Lilith reports, and looks at Arkold almost apologetically. "He'd said you had probably perished, Arkold. There were blood-creatures in the area."

"Arkold is like a bad itch. He keeps coming back," Alptraum quips.

The Sphynx makes her way over to Arkold, giving him a warm embrace around his shoulders. "I'm glad you're alright as well."

"I'm surprised the ol' peasant eater did any fightin' at all," Arkold says. "Last I saw he dumped me in someone's house an' didn't come back. There," he reaches over and whaps Alptraum's ears, "was a blood demon but it wasn't a problem. Kind of remembered what an obnoxious long eared fellow said about 'em, an about their necklaces, an' that was that." His other hang jiggles a pouch at his side. It produces a metallic rattle.

The wolf returns the hug and grins at Tulani. "Glad you're safe too."

"You must have gone through a horrible ordeal!" Lilith says, actually holding a hand up to her muzzle as if about to gasp. "Although… you do smell rather cleaner than when you left."

Alptraum shakes his head after the ear-whap and grins. "That's mister obnoxious long eared fellow," Alptraum remarks to Arkold, then winks. He then nudges Tulani and whispers to her, "I think she likes him."

Tulani covers a snicker with her hand as Alptraum speaks.

Arkold grins more at that. "What's not to like? And I like Lilith." He winks at her. "Actually the owner of said house was kind enough to wash my clothes after that fight. Blood's a pain to get out of clothes – I know, I bleed all over everything, adventurer's life – an' she showed me back."

"Oh, that's a relief," Lilith says, and blushes a bit at the 'I like Lilith' comment. To the flyers, she asks, "Did you find the sorcerer?"

Alptraum combs his claws through his hair and says, "Speaking of which, I should get cleaned up myself. Tromping through weeds and dank caves is dirty work. Is there any hot water right now? And yes, we did."

The black and white Sphynx holds up the bag she had been clasping loosely in her hand all this time, her slightly buoyed mood falling as she looks to Lilith, echoing Alptraum, "Yes… and a bath would be nice"

Lilith looks a bit stunned that Alptraum and Tulani want baths of all things. "Well, what happened?" she asks excitedly, then stares at the bag the Sphynx holds up. "Is… is that him?" she asks.

"I'm fresh as a daisy. Guess I'll stick aroun'," says Arkold.

"Part of him, anyway," Alptraum says with a shrug. "You probably don't want to look in the bag."

Not speaking at Lilith's question, Tulani lets the arm holding the bag fall back down to her side, definitely not wanting to show it to the other woman.

"I can hardly believe it," the white Eeee whispers, looking a bit more relaxed now. "I'll have the attendants prepare the bath for you both, if you think you can both fit in the tub at once," she offers.

"Ah, no, we won't bathe together. We're not a couple," Alptraum points out. "Tulani can go first. I need to think over a few things, anyway."

"You could have checked for scales," quips the voice in Alptraum's head.

"You're a pervert," Alptraum thinks.

"I'll, uh," Arkold looks around, notices the food, then brightens, "eat. Killin' blood demons an' walking so far makes a man hungry."

Tulani shrugs at Lilith's question and Alptraum's answer speaking slowly, "At this point I really don't care, but if you want to let me go first that's fine Alptraum… " The Sphynx is a little occupied thinking over what she's supposed to do with the dragon.

"It would be kind of weird, Tulani," Alptraum says and smiles. "I don't want to invade on your privacy or make things any stranger than they already are. Enjoy your bath. I'll get some food in the meantime."

"Well, just relax then and eat something," Lilith says. "I'll let Ravenia and the dragon know you're back and were successful!"

Tulani nods and heads off in the direction of where she remembers the bath being.

After being fed and cleaned up, Tulani, Alptraum and Arkold are led by Lilith to report to Vorgulremik, who lays sprawled across the top of the sarcophagus as if it were a lounging couch. There are a few dressings on his neck and chest from superficial arrow wounds suffered the night before, and Ravenia is kneeling down on his left, ready to attend to him. As befits the occasion, Lilith has managed to find some more formal looking armor for the trio.

"I hear you have something to show me?" Vorgulremik rumbles from his perch.

"Well, Arkold here keeps telling me how much you like getting a-head in the world, so … " Alptraum begins, trying to sound like his usual self. "Though, could you let Lilith and Ravenia leave? I'd rather they not see the results of the hunt."

Tulani looks between Lilith and Ravenia just once, holding any possible expression of worry from her face if a fight breaks out. She holds up the bag that she had been holding onto since they returned, and nods with Alptraum's words as the bag squishes slightly in her hands. "Yes… It's rather unpleasant."

"Yeah, uh, pretty nasty stuff. Vorg's probably used to it," Arkold agrees.

"I didn't think vampire Eeee would be squeamish," Vorgulremik comments, and flares his nostrils to take in the scent of blood from the bag. "But if you wish to spare them, bring the bag closer and show me what's inside without removing it."

"Ravenia isn't a vampire," Alptraum points out. He looks over at Tulani and says, "I'll go up with you."

Unsuccessful at removing the other two women from the room, the Sphynx nods to Alptraum and follows through with the action, slowly walking up to where the dragon rests, uncinching the bag a bit as she goes, leaving it loose, but not opened.

Alptraum goes up with Tulani, walking right at her side. "Okay, dragon," he thinks to himself, "any helpful words of advice here?"

"Don't sneeze," advises the dragon-spell.

"How helpful you are," Alptraum thinks wryly.

With each step closer, Tulani becomes more aware of Vorgulremik's aura. By the time she reaches the dais, her heart is beating wildly, and the silver dragonhead pendant feels like a hot coal against her chest.

With a shrug Arkold joins his two companions and walks over to flank Tulani. As they walk he whispers to her, "Heard maybe you're some kind of powerhouse. Don't know what to think of that so, eh, if you give it a shot I'll back you up – just in case," he says.

Tulani swallows as the dragon looms there, resisting the urge to wince as the pendant she had almost forgotten feels like its about to burn the fur and skin off her chest. She abruptly opens the bag and holds it up to Vorg, as though an offering.

Out of curiosity Arkold leans forward and has a gander at the contents of the bag too. "Gruesome."

Vorgulremik peers into the bag, and gives a little grunt of approval at what he sees. "I am impressed that you managed to defeat him without getting so much as scratched yourselves," the dragon comments, and tilts his head to meet Tulani's eyes. "You'll have to tell… why are your clothes catching fire?"

Sure enough, the burning sensation against Tulani's chest isn't just in her mind. Smoke is starting to pour out of her clothing.

Alptraum looks at Tulani, eyebrows raised. "Uh, Tulani … I know young women are often hot blooded, but they don't catch on fire," he replies quickly and grabs for the bag. "Put out whatever that … is!"

The Sphynx drops the head as she stares at the front of her shirt, On realizing that the pendant is most likely the source she immediately tries to pull it off from around her neck.

Ravenia gasps and grabs the bucket of fresh water she was using to clean Vorgulremik's wounds, while the dragon himself begins to rear back, his throat inflating ominously.

Arkold looks up and suddenly jumps away from Tulani! … And then rushes back and pauses mid-patdown. "Uh, should, ah, hell with it." He tries to pat out the flames rather awkwardly. "Not what it looks like."

Tulani's attempts to remove the pendant prove futile, and it becomes clear why as the clothing burns away from her chest to reveal silver tendrils spreading out from the melting pendant, changing the black fur to silver as it accelerates.

Alptraum realizes what Vorg is about to do and abruptly shouts rather forcefully, "Lilith, Ravenia, get out of here now." He takes the 'head in a bag' and throws it right at the dragon's nose!

Backing up and looking exceedingly shocked and confused as whatever change is occurring to her proceeds, Tulani drops to all fours.

"Don't think – not working – ah, ow, ow, OW, hot!" The wolf pulls his now flaming hands away from the woman and begins rapidly trying to put them out by shaking them rapidly and then stuffing them under his arms, all while staring at Tulani.

The bag hits Vorgulremik's nose just as he releases his flame, and explodes! Ravenia takes the brunt of the shock, as she was right underneath trying to reach Tulani with the water. The woman is slammed down into the floor, knocked unconscious. Even Tulani is knocked backwards, and would have been bowled over if she weren't already on all fours. The others are staggered by the blow, but not knocked over – Lilith was luckily far enough away.

What clothes Tulani has that haven't burned are tearing apart now as she expands, almost entirely silver now. Fur mats together to form scales, her tail thickens and her neck lengthens along with her skull. The Sphynx is becoming a silver-scaled dragon!

"Told you so," chides the voice in Alptraum's head.

Alptraum shakes his head, growling, "Not now." His wings flick in agitation as his senses calm down slowly. The first thing he does at that moment is go for Ravenia. He wants her out of range for the battle. Hopefully Tulani's sudden transformation will keep Vorg distracted long enough to let the Eeee move her.

Arkold whips his gaze between Tulani, Vorgulremik, and Alptraum. Seeing Alptraum has begun towards Ravenia he also heads towards her to help the other man get her out of the way. "This is definitely goin' in the book," he tells Alptraum as he nears. Then in a yell he tells the female dragon, "Kick his ass Tulani!"

Vorgulremik shakes his head violently, freeing it of the bits of burning flesh and bone from the exploded bag. A chunk of bloody dagger protrudes from over his right eye, making him see red literally as well as figuratively as he starts rising to his feet.

The used-to-be-Sphynx, now a dragon, stretches her silvery back after recovering from Vorg's blast, her neck arching back in a graceful S-like curve as she looks briefly over her new body, rumbling quietly to herself, "Well… this is different." She turns her attention quickly back to the other dragon, the whole ordeal seeming not quite real as she looks at him from her new perspective.

"I knew you were hiding something," Vorgulremik hisses at Tulani, and leaps at her from the sarcophagus, ignoring everyone else in the room.

Tulani backsteps as the other dragon comes at her, trying to circle around him as she speaks very softly, "Well… I certainly didn't think I was hiding anything." She suddenly wonders to herself what she can do with this body, not taking her eyes off Vorgulremik… I wonder if I could breathe fire to?

"I've got Ravenia," Alptraum calls out and hefts up the unconscious woman. "You help Tulani in any way you can. I'll get these two to safety and be right back. Don't either of you dare die on me. I'm not that great with resurrections!" The bat then carries Ravenia back towards the entrance, looking for Lilith.

Arkold thumbs towards the sarcophagus to show Alptraum his plan before breaking off and running that way with his body tucked low – he well remembers Vorg's comment about breathing flame. With all the speed he can muster he runs like hell!

Lilith is just staring in shock at everything when Alptraum scoops her up on his way to the stairs. Tulani practically flows out of the way of the lunging steel dragon, whose raking claws seem to pass harmlessly past her silver scales. At the notion of breathing fire, Tulani can feel energy building in her chest, waiting to be released.

The silver dragon turns as Vorgulremik passes her, her claws clattering on the floor as she goes for his back, her jaws cracking open wide to eject a violent exhalation of breath and energy in his direction. She goes for the other dragon with her front claws as well.

"Lilith," Alptraum says to the other Eeee in a calm, firm, tone once they're up the stairs some. "I need you to look after Ravenia, okay? This is going to get even worse. Whatever happens, you two will need to help each other out. We'll do everything we can for you as well. Do you understand?"

Vorgulremik's experience saves him, as he anticipates Tulani's attack and twists out of the way. A column of steam jets from the silver dragon's jaws, just missing Vorgulremik – but leaving a patch of frost and ice on the floor where it hits.

Ducking under Vorgulremik's swinging tail, Arkold makes it to the back of the dais, and causes a minor avalanche of shiny scrap metal in the process.

Moving in before Tulani can fully recover, Vorgulremik lunges with his own jaws gaping.

Upon the dais Arkold begins trying to heft the old stone coffin open, never realizing the dragon's tail has messed up his stylish hair. "Let's see what he's been hiding," he murmurs to himself. He debates the Titanian approach to the contents.

Tulani tries to dodge, but is unbalanced. Vorgulremik's fangs bite into her shoulder in an eruption of steam! The silver dragon doesn't feel any pain however, and Vorgulremik pulls back quickly with frost forming on his teeth and chin.

Finally, Lilith manages to nod to Alptraum, even blinking a few times. "I… I… yes, I'll look after her," she manages to squeak.

Tulani blinks at the frost, amazed that she didn't feel any hurt except for a slightly numb sensation, mumbling, "Ice… that's very interesting." She takes a quick backstep and lunges back for the other dragon's throat in a flash of silver.

Alptraum reaches out and puts his hand on Lilith's cheek lightly. "Whatever happens, you two will be all right," he says, looking into her eyes. "I've got to go help them. There is something I have to do when he goes down." He gets up and turns, then back down the stairs he goes and draws out the dagger. "Hey, you awake in there? Is there any risk of damaging the dagger if I attack him now. We have a better chance if we keep him of balance," he thinks.

"You'd be crushed if you got close now," the dragon-spell advises Alptraum.

Vorgulremik jerks his neck aside, and one of his wings strikes a brazier, sending hot coals everywhere. A few of them pass harmlessly through Tulani's body as if it weren't even there.

"Fine. What distracts him? Well, other than another dragon?" Alptraum inquires mentally. "I'm a good flyer. Was a professional performer. If there is anything I can do to give my friend an edge here, tell me."

The stone cap of the sarcophagus is heavy, and Arkold only manages to slide it a few inches before a hot coal lands on his tail.

"If you go in there, you will only distract Tulani," the spell says. "Be patient. You could drop a bucket of gold coins on Vorgulremik's head right now and he'd still only see his opponent."

"Ha almost got – agh!" The wolf does the hoppy my-tail-is-on-fire dance before he gets it together and turns to pat his tail out.

Quickly backing up as the coals seem to pass through her, the silver dragon crouches down before aiming another jet of frost in Vorgulremik's direction, moving forward a bit even as she does so.

Vorgulremik tries to put more distance between himself and the silver dragon. "You're clumsy," he tells Tulani, whose breath comes out in a damp wheeze. "It takes time to recharge, you'll find, and I'll be ready before you will."

Alptraum therefore sits down just outside and closes his eyes. He tenses in concentration, trying something. He focuses on the sensation of the sea he felt inside Vorg that time, and on the images of those he met while inside. Maybe he can distract the dragon internally. It's an extreme long shot he realizes, but he has to try something.

Tulani crouches, growling low at Vorg, "Yeah well… first day as a dragon… I'll get better at it… " She springs after him again, her claws clattering on the floor.

The dark Eeee may as well have rammed his head into the stone wall. Without the aid of the crystal pendant or some other larger magic, he doesn't have any success in his attempt.

Alptraum hisses in irritation and gets back up. "Perhaps I can help Arkold somehow, then," Alptraum mutters and peers into the room, looking for a clear path over to the coffin where Arkold had motioned.

Vorgulremik spins and smacks Tulani across the chest with his tail, sending her off course and into the pile of metal 'treasure'. More steam erupts from her impact, with various numb spots resulting, and a sense of being ever so slightly smaller than she was a moment before.

Arkold flicks the coal away and then steadies himself as the fallen Tulani shakes his perch. He frowns deeply at how the fight looks and quickly redoubles his efforts to open the dragon's treasure.

With Tulani near to the sarcophagus now, Vorgulremik notices Arkold. "What do you think you're doing, puppy?" he growls.

Quickly, Arkold hurries around to the opposite side of the sarcophagus to keep it between himself and the angry dragon. "I was goin' to take it for myself," he answers defiantly, "but now I think I'll smash it for hurtin' Tulani like that."

Alptraum instinctively goes airborne, knowing he's more agile in the air thanks to his life experiences with flying. The Eeee arcs up and then towards Arkold, knowing full well that Vorg has noticed the wolf.

Hissing and grunting slightly at the force of the blow, Tulani rolls to the side using her wings to try and leverage herself up off the pile of treasure. As soon as she hears the other dragon addressing the wolf, she rises to her feet, half spreading her wings like an animal would to seem larger, then diving and snapping at Vorgulremik while growling, "Deal with me FIRST!"

Raising a claw and waving it a bit, Vorgulremik replies, "If you'd just scootch a little closer together, I could do you both at once!" He throat is beginning to inflate again, another fire blast immanent.

The diving Eeee bowls Arkold backwards, the both of them now blocked by the stone sarcophagus. In the moment before Vorgulremik flames, Tulani dodges away and spreads a wing in an attempt to shield her friends as well! The blast of flame hits the wing, filling the chamber with a cloud of fog! The wing doesn't just go numb for Tulani this time though – there's real pain!

Arkold thrusts one hand against the hard floor to try and push himself up from lying face down. "I'm too old for this," he groans sorely. "Eh, ow, thanks bats."

Alptraum mutters a flurry of Sylvanian curses. "We're not doing very well," he says in a follow up and looks down at Arkold. "There has to be something we can do to help."

Tulani screeches, the sound reverberating around the chamber, but doesn't try to move her wing until the blast of Vorgulremik's breath has passed. Her scream dies down into an acid hiss, her eyes narrowing to pinpoints as she pulls her damaged, undoubtedly non-functional wing against her side and immediately charges the steel dragon in a flurry of claws and teeth, growling and trying to get him off balance.

"Open it," mumbles the wolf as he gathers another hand and with arms shaking slowly gets up. "Coffin. Open it. Smash what's inside. Heh, I'll help you when I can get up. Help her."

Alptraum nods firmly to Arkold. "All right. We're in this together. Either we all walk out or none do," Alptraum says in a hard voice. The Eeee then starts pushing up to his feet and so he can try to pry the lid off.

The fog helps hide Tulani's charge. Held against her side is her wing - her normal, black-feathered and smoldering wing. The silver begins to flow over it, bringing a soothing numbness with it. Halfway to her target, Tulani can feel the knot of energy form once more in her chest.

The heavy lid scrapes as it moves, but Alptraum manages to expose a corner of the interior space of the sarcophagus. A black, smoky tendril slithers out, and twists around as if testing the air.

Vorgulremik doesn't wait until he can see Tulani's charge… he began to dodge as soon as he finished releasing his flame. The silver dragon misses him, and has to brake hard to avoid slamming full-force into the wall of the chamber.

Alptraum swipes at the smoky tendril with his claws, growling loudly. His free hand goes for his dagger.

The old wolf finally gets up and after staggering a step. He inhales, steadies himself, then turns and runs to help Alptraum.

The tendril recoils at Alptraum's touch, pulling back into the coffin. "Your body is nothing but a reinforced illusion, Tulani," Vorgulremik barks, laughing.

Claws scraping the floor, Tulani brakes and turns, managing to just run her shoulder against the wall. She immediately follows after the steel dragon, pushing her legs as fast as they can go and trying to close distance between them. She tries to judge the positions of the Eeee and wolf as well before deciding to release her breath.

The silver dragon growls in her low quiet tone in response to Vorgulremik, "So?… Do you really think I care at this point?"

"We need to destroy what's in the coffin," Alptraum says to Arkold quickly. "Let's get it open! Maybe me combined with the dagger can do it!" With that, Alptraum starts working on the lid again!

For just a moment, the steel dragon turns away from Tulani and glowers towards Alptraum through the mists. "STOP THAT!" he yells, giving Tulani a chance to attack.

Tulani lunges closer as the other dragon is distracted and brings together as much focus as she can muster before loosing the best blast she can at the dragon's back, and immediately moving forward to follow through.

Arkold uses his superior strength to assist Alptraum. He puts his shoulder in to it. "I'll get the lid, you do your thing," he advises in a strained voice. "If it doesn't work, see you on the flip side!"

Several things happen at once. Vorgulremik leaps towards the sarcophagus as Tulani's breath strikes him right between the wings. The stone slab is pushed over, exposing the roiling black mist that fills the coffin…

Tulani follows close behind her own freezing breath, ramming into the steel dragon's back and snapping off his quick-frozen wings. Frozen scales along his spine and neck split from the impact, which knocks him down across the sarcophagus with a bone-snapping crunch, his head less than a foot away from Arkold's own nose.

"Now!" shouts the voice in Alptraum's head.

Startled, Arkold's gaze jerks between the double terror of the miasma next to him and the dragon's head at his foot. So he does what comes natural. He gives Vorgulremik a quick boot in the shnoz.

Clawing at his back and attempting to pin the steel dragon's body down, Tulani goes for the base of his neck nearest the shoulders with her draconic teeth and tries to hold him for Alptraum.

Alptraum's wings snap and he suddenly goes airborne in a graceful aerial flip. He arcs and lands himself roughly where he remembers seeing the Spell-Dragon sitting. His arm draws back with the dagger and he plunges it forward, hard. "Your time is over," he says coldly.

Where the bladeless dagger penetrates his chest, Vorgulremik's scales turn white with frost, and something rushes from Alptraum's head, down his arm and into the dagger, leaving the Eeee's fur standing on end!

Vorgulremik's body convulses violently, throwing off Tulani and Alptraum both!

Arkold winces as his boot connects with the steel dragon. Apparently the steel part didn't quite occur to the wolf in his haste. "Just to spite me," he mutters, hopping on one foot. The convulsions don't help either. He reaches to balance himself on the edge of the coffin and grimaces at the tendrils.

Alptraum has just enough time to curse loudly in Sylvanian as he goes back up into the air. His wings snap and he flips again in the air. Several feet away he comes back down and lands. His fur is still sticking out, making him look rather startled. He crouches there, breathing rapidly.

Tulani staggers to her feet and immediately heads back for Vorgulremik, wanting to make sure he is gone before dropping her guard. She places herself between the steel dragon and Arkold, who is currently nearest the dragon.

There's good reason for Arkold to be wary of the tendrils. Where they flow across Vorgulremik's body, the flesh rots and decays. Even though clearly dead, the dragon's body still writhes in agony as it is pulled, bit by bit, into the black miasma.

Alptraum blinks in shock as the tendrils absorb the dragon. He moves toward it, trying to see if it retreats again. "I, uh, think we'd better close the lid," he says quickly.

"Eeee," Arkold whines, and it doesn't sound like a racial comment. He jerks his hand away from the coffin as if it burned him. "Eee," he responds to Alptraum and then, more intelligibly, adds, "eeee-yeah. Uh. Looks like you've got it running bats so, er, keep it away and I'll help."

The silver dragon pushes Arkold back a bit, further away from the tendrils of darkness, staying in front of him as she watches. Hearing the Eeee she moves over to the edge of the coffin farthest from where the tendrils flow, trying to find a spot to put her shoulder to and push.

As the dragon is consumed, the dagger falls and clatters to the platform, its blade visible now as black, congealed dragon blood. Flesh running like molten wax now, Vorgulremik grabs the edge of the cover stone with one bony claw, and drags it back over the top of the sarcophagus. The last sight of the dragon is off his crumbling skull laughing silently.

"We won?" Arkold peers around the silver dragon and blinks as if unable to believe his eyes. Then it sinks in. "We won!"

Alptraum walks over to the fallen dagger and picks it up. Carefully, he tries to wipe some of the blood off. "I hope she contained his soul in here in time," he remarks, "It does look different now."

Mist pools around Tulani's feet, as she starts to shrink. Her scales shed like dead leaves, and with them go the soothing numbness. The various injuries she suffered during the battle are starting to be felt now that her natural form is returning.

"Don't rub me the wrong way" whispers the black blade. The chilling effect is still slightly noticeable to Alptraum as he holds the ritual spirit dagger, but not as strong as before.

"I can't believe he's gone. Sort of. Enough. I mean," the wolf watches the shrinking Tulani with a brow raised, "he was a horrible guy but, eh, I guess he was the last person to know me from back when, really. Well good riddens, I guess." He breathes a relived sigh. "'Course it's not over. If I know evil and greed our sorcerer friend might show up and minute. Be ready." He offers an arm to support Tulani if she needs it.

Tulani suddenly shudders as if cold and abruptly falls to one knee as the draconic form sheds away. She is suddenly blinded by the pain in her smoldering, blackened wing, falling to the floor and curling up in near fetal position while breathing heavily.

"Pity, you looked good as a dragon," Alptraum says to her and offers her a heartfelt smile. "You were awesome. Well done, Tulani." He then looks down at the blade and says, "That you, eh, Vorg? You and I are going to spent a lot of time together."

"Tulani!" cries Lilith as she rushes back into the room. Quickly she throws her own cloak over the naked Sphynx, and calls back to a staggering Ravenia to get more first aid supplies.

Arkold follows Tulani to the floor and wraps an arm around her waist to support her. He offers his shoulder to lean on too. "Just think how many people we saved. We're alive. Vorg's over. You did great kid. Just great," he tells her.

"I'm in here too," whispers the blade in another familiar draconian voice. "I like you, Alptraum. I can't wait to see what trouble you get into next. And you obviously can benefit from my wisdom."

"I say we all did great. It took all of us to end this. There's still a long road ahead to free those trapped inside, but the worst is done," Alptraum says and nods in agreement to Arkold. Then seeing Lilith and Ravenia, he waves briefly to them and goes to the coffin. He kneels by it, and tries to make out the writing on it.

The Sphynx hisses in pain as Arkold shifts her body, she swallows heavily three or four times before being able to open her mouth and intelligibly reply to Arkold, her voice very quiet and almost inaudible, "Y-you think so?" she smiles weakly.

"I sure do," Arkold answers, heartfelt. "The cuts and bruises will heal. You'll be fine. An' hey if you get a few scars here and there think of them as good memories. Whenever you walk aroun' these parts you can think, hey, maybe that person is alive because of me."

The coffin came through the battle unscathed. The sides are still covered in strange symbols (save for the recognizable one for Necropolis). More weathered, and not as visible from a distance, are relief carvings of Khatta like creatures involved in incomprehensible rituals, and at the head of the sarcophagus is a slightly more visible depiction of a dragon glowering out at the observer.

"Lecture me too much Spell … argh. I can't take it, I'm going to name you sometime," Alptraum tells the dagger. Deciding the coffin can wait as nothing is readily obvious. He then walks back over to Arkold and Tulani. "Arkold, we should carry her up to a bed. She should rest," he says gently.

"I have some balm that will help with the cuts," Ravenia says in a quiet voice, still looking a bit dazed and with a nasty bruise of her own in the middle of her forehead. "She helped me the other night, so the least I can do is take care of her now."

Tulani tries not to move very much, managing to punch Arkold weakly on the shoulder but paying for the motion with a pained wince as she replies, "You really are a great friend… " Turning to look at the Eeee, she notes, "You too Alptraum. Are you two ok?" She forgets her own pain for the moment, looking at the other two.

"Yeah," Arkold agrees. "But one of us better watch this coffin. I suspect it's what ol' robes and spookiness wants. Should be fine for now but, eh, it's a risk leavin' it alone." To Tulani he asks, "Feel up for a trip to bed?" He grins. "I'm a terrible friend. I let you fight for me. Next time let an ol' wolf takes the scars. No beauty to lose here."

Lilith stares at the coffin, and says, "He's really gone, isn't he? And with the sorcerer gone too, everything should go back to normal… "

The Sphynx mumbles faintly on the edge of passing out, "I'm sure Raneah thinks you're handsome enough."

"Don't worry about us. We'll be fine," Alptraum tells her and smiles. "Just worry about yourself." He looks back at the coffin and frowns. "I'll guard the coffin. The contents don't like me. I really don't want to stay down here, but… And Lilith, no, the sorcerer isn't. That was a ruse. He's still around and will be coming. Vorg was the bigger threat. I learned a lot about the dragon."

"The sorcerer… I had better go see if the guards are still guarding or… or whatever now that the dragon is gone!" Lilith frets, and hurries out of the chamber to return to the castle.

Arkold laughs at that. "Yeah, well." He grins. "Ready for a trip to bed then Tulani?"

Tulani smiles faintly at Arkold, her head nodding towards her chest… the wolf could probably just take that as a 'yes'.

"Arkold, get Tulani to bed and help Lilith make sure the castle is fortified, all right? I'll stay down here with this," Alptraum says and points back at the coffin. He doesn't look pleased about staying down here alone, though.

Carefully, very carefully, Arkold wraps his arms around Tulani and picks her up. He then glances at Alptraum and says, "Once I'm sure Tulani is all right and restin' I'll look at the defenses or run back down here – whatever seems best." Then he nods to the bat, says, "You're a brave guy," and heads towards the exit.

Tulani's head rolls against the wolf's shoulder as he picks her up. She's already out like a light.

"Not really, I'm terrified," Alptraum admits with a small shrug, though they may not be able to hear him. "But, there's a lot at risk here still, and a lot of lives depending on us," he says, then pauses to look at the dagger. "And a lot of work in the future, too. I … " He sighs and goes back to study the glyphs and keep watch in the flickering darkness and gloom of the chamber.