The walk back to the Tower from the airship is a long one, even if it is slowly becoming more familiar. The returned winds prohibit a shortcut by air, but at least it's not raining right now. And, at least things are not in absolute chaos back on the ship. Captain Boghaz, upon learning of the news, decided to inform his crew, and they, while obviously disturbed by the news, re-pledged their allegiance to their Prince and Captain. For the time being, Boghaz remains neutral in a war between Ashdod and Rephidim, if it has come to that.

Zoltan trudges along, at a much slower pace than normal. "Roho… I… had another dream."

Roho turns to face Zoltan as he walks, "Oh? What was this one?"

The Vartan tugs at Roho's sleeve, motioning for him to stop for a moment. "Can you smell anyones around here? I need to know if we alone or not."

Roho stops, and sniffs around, his ears swiveling in all directions. "No, I don't think there's anyone within hearing range. Why?"

Zoltan shakes his head. "I explain in a bit." He sighs. "Most of dream was hard to understand, could think of many things it might means… but I see something important. I think I know what you should ask helmet now."

Zoltan slowly sits down in a pile of leaves. Keeping his ears perked and his eyes scanning about.

Roho sits on a nearby stone, standing his walking stick on the ground between his legs and leaning forward on it, "What did you see?"

"I saw cannibals on island, waving wands and making people insane. I think that what they magic used for. And I also see lots of cats that look like Jezebel running around." the Vartan squawks quietly. "I think most important thing you need to ask is if there some way to block what golden trees do, and what wands do to people."

Roho nods, "Before learning how to reactivate the trees?"

Zoltan squawks, "I think I know how to reactivate them. We get crystals back, and then tell helmet that we want to raise them. Although Kryago did say there lots of broken things on island… maybe trees are one of them. Is another question to consider; but remember, you not going to have chance to ask too much."

Roho nods. "I'll ask what I can. Could you see why the trees drive people mad? Is that what they were designed for?"

"No," the Vartan says. "Maybe they bigger version of helmet… that might be answered by second question I thinks you should ask. What is island here for? What it purpose?"

Roho nods, "I was going to ask that one, if I had the chance, whether or not anyone asked me to bring it up. It's awfully enticing… "

Zoltan smirks. "If we know what this is… we probably able to put rest of pieces we gots together. Wind, trees, tower. Maybe even spotted cats here for purpose?

Roho nods, "It must have a purpose. The question is if the purpose was so long ago forgotten, that everything was free to evolve… "

"Or run wild and go insane… " Zoltan growls.

Zoltan shakes his head. "Anything else you can think of to asks? I gots one more… "

Some bugs buzz by, but ignore the Zerda and Vartan. Those talismans sure do the job!

Roho nods, picking up a chip of stone and turning it in his paw. "So, what we hope is that it hasn't gone feral long enough to make it impossible to shut down."

Roho shakes his head, "What's yours?"

Zoltan squawks, "If there some way we can use island to defend ourselves when bounty hunter come. There smashed ships… maybe we can learn to control winds and make Titus' ship join others in graveyard."

Roho stops turning the stone, and sits frowning for a moment. "But, can we really do that? I mean, you did steal the hand… I can't support killing an entire airship of people only doing what they think they must… "

The hippogryph kicks at a clump of plants at his feet. "You gots any other idea… I open to it. They probably leave us alone if we gives them Jezebel, but I not ready to do that yet."

Roho sighs and shakes his head, "I guess I'm just hoping that Paradys is as hard to find as the legends make it out to be. After all, we have the hands, so they can't even use the map."

Zoltan squawks, "We no have hands. Savanites in City of hands gots them. And everyone think City destroyed."

Roho rasps, "Oh, you don't have them anymore? Well, that doesn't matter now, the only way they'll be able to find us is if Wynona somehow gave them our whereabouts… "

"Or they gots some way of tracking us. I not put anything past Titus." Zoltan hisses.

Roho nods, "On that count, you're probably right. I don't know him, but it sounds like he's powerful, and has access to magic. So, getting to the possibility of him finding us, it's fight or flee. I just hope it never comes to that… "

Zoltan squawks, "I say before. If I gots to, I take Jezebel and run. She probably no trust me very much, but I save her life abouts five time now. Hopefully she know that I keep her safe.""

Roho nods, "That would make you harder to follow, and leave us in the clear. Still not the most elegant way to solve a problem… and also assumes we can get off the island in the first place."

The black Vartan covers his face with his hands. "You know what I think more likely to kill us all here on island?"

Roho listens.

"Trust," Zoltan murmurs through his hands. "Nobody on this island trust anybody else. Vartans no trust anyone with magic, I no trust Janus, Jezebel and Savanites, Wynona no trust me or other bats on ship, And Jezebel no trust anyone."

Zoltan squawks, "I not even sure Boghaz trust me anymore after all trouble I bring him."

Zoltan squawks, "How can all us work together to gets out of here if we no trust each other?"

Roho nods, "I don't know. If we're divided, then we'll be easy pickings for Titus, or cannibals. But I can't see any way of bringing the ship together, unless we can find a way to give them hope of escape."

A Creen flutters by, cheerfully snapping bugs out of the air.

Zoltan lets one hand drop to rest on his knee. "You think I should tell Jezebel Titus coming for her? I not sure anymore… I worried she going to cause slave revolt and kill us all. But maybe can convince her that we on ship protect her, and she can get Savanites to join with us. Was thinking… if Titus ship do find us, she can probably use magic to hide us."

Roho sighs, "Not without her magic… which gives an extra incentive to learn the workings of the tower. Do you think Boghaz would protect a Savanite witch?"

The black Vartan scratches his cheek with a talon. "Not know. Savanite witches is put to death, and he own many slaves."

Zoltan squawks, "But if she find out that we hide truth from her… it make her mad. I be mad if someone hide something like thats from me."

Roho nods, "Perhaps… maybe your dreams of her were a possible outcome if she senses betrayal. Not a literal future, of course, but worth thinking of."

Roho scritches his claws along the rock absently, "Okay, if we tell her, she can either play along, or attack us. I think she'd have more to gain from playing along."

Zoltan nods. "Good point. She once say that she have dream of someone that was going to make her into slave… so she have him put away. Turn out that by doing that… she make dream come true… by trying to stop."

Roho sighs, "And, of course, there's no way to know if we're helping the tragedy by trying to avoid it."

Zoltan rubs the top of his beak, the Vartan equivalent to scratching one's nose. "You know why I trying so hard to be good to her? To help her when is can?"

Roho gets to his feet, "If we can get underway soon enough, we may not have to worry about such things… we may be able to get to a port before Titus finds us, and you and Jezebel can lose yourselves from there."

Roho rasps, "It seems like you and her had an agreement, of some kind… "

"She remind me of Zoltan abouts ten years ago. I used to be lots like her, but I had someone who temper me. Took mean edge out with kindness." The Vartan rises to his feet and brushes off his backside. "Remember what you say about breaking you neck? Ten years ago… I probably no think twice about doing its. But someone help me… and I would likes to help her… maybe is can turn her more trusting, more gentle person."

Roho nods, "If there is someone within to save, then I can see why you wish to try."

Zoltan sighs. "I hope there is. If there just smallest spark, I want to find it, and make is big roaring fire.

Roho nods, "Zoltan, I like you, and I think what you're doing for her is very noble. I'm glad you have faith in her. Just don't forget there's a whole crew of Eeee who stand to lose everything in this. We're coming to a tight spot, I think."

Zoltan nods. "No worry. I not going to sacrifice everything for her. I owe Boghaz and people on ship lots as well… and you."

Roho nods, sighing, "It's hard to make priorities in such a matter, but sometimes it has to be done. And Boghaz and his crew have to come first in this one, as they are the many."

"I just hope I no end up fighting her… " the Vartan sighs, kicking a rock as he walks slowly towards the tower.

Roho twists his staff for a moment, digging it into the ground, lost in thought. He blinks, and continues after the Vartan a few moments later, "It shouldn't come to that. If it does, it's war between the Savanites and the bats."

Zoltan squawks, "… and Vartans."

Roho nods, "And then, we'll never leave."

Zoltan rumbles to himself, "All more reason why we need to find way to join everyone together. Is too bad helmet could no answer that one."

Roho rasps, "By giving us a course, it may answer. If everyone has something to work towards, I think we could join at least temporarily."

The Vartan chuckles to himself. "Now all I need to do is think of way to tell Jezebel without her getting too angry… "

Roho grins, catching up to the Vartan and walking alongside, "Perhaps simply the truth would be best. Not to mention that it seems easiest for you."

Zoltan puts a hand on the Zerda's shoulder. "Hrrr, yah. You know, I never going to forgive myself if helmet hurt you. Please be careful."

Roho rasps, "If the helmet hurts me, I'll take it off. It shouldn't be permanent… at least, it wasn't for you. I'll be okay, Zoltan, and we need to do this."

"I just worry lots. Being careful keep me alive this long," the Vartan scrawks.

Roho nods, with a half-smile, "Same here. Course, you may well be older than me, I've never seen Vartans much before."

Zoltan squawks, "I middle age. Seen abouts thirty-five summers. Is past prime, but is miracle I last this long. Dagh been good to Zoltan. Hopefully he keep being good."

Roho nods, "I've seen… well, I can't rightly remember. At least 60 summers, probably more. Either a miracle, or I've got something I still have to do."

Roho grins as the base of the tower nears, "Perhaps, with a helmet?"

Zoltan blinks. "Hrrr… is knew you old, but no that old. You gets around good for someone sixty summers old." He looks at the tower, wincing inwardly at Roho's words. "I hope you around for sixty more, doctor.

Roho chuckles, "You do? I sure don't!" He smiles, "Though, I'd like at least a few more."

Zoltan hums a tune to himself. It sounds almost like a dirge, but with a few smatterings of odd notes thrown in.

Roho walks up to the stone wall of the tower, and presses his palm to it. He stands there for a few moments, with a strange expression on his face. Then he turns to his travelling companion. Leaning his staff against the wall, he asks, "Ready?"