An ornately decorated wooden wagon rolls through the streets of a city on the surface of Sinai, pulled by a team of fancily caprisoned Drokars, a stiffly-dressed bulldog holding their reins. Inside the sizeable carriage are a couple of Kujakus, one Korv in the robes of a Temple Acolyte, and one Aeonian Inquisitrix on vacation. Her two lupine guards ride on a bench on the back of the wagon, holding onto bars at each side for support.

The Marquis of Fleaufille twitters cheerily to the Inquisitrix, his guest, speaking in the language of the Gallisians. "Madame, once again, it is such a pleasure to have you as our guest, to see our beautiful city… " He is dressed in frilly, laced finery, with a powdered wig, and even a beauty mark on his beak. His wife sits beside him, in voluminous skirts that are greatly cramped even in the spacious interior of the carriage, and her wig piles high, almost brushing against the ceiling of the wagon. She constantly fans at herself, sighing audibly at any sight of a peasant in the streets or something else offensive to her sensitive nature.

Turtle tosses a few strands of her long mane back from her face, looking the Marquis' wife over again with an expressionless face, inwardly disdainful over such vanity. "Thank you, sir, you are so kind to show us around," she replies a few moments later, looking back out the window to watch the city go past.

The city is a combination of fine architecture and beautiful gardens … and abject poverty and decay in between these oases of beauty and displays of wealth. In many ways it is not unlike Rephidim, except that it seems to be far more dynamic, most of the structures looking to be of far more recent construction than many of Rephidim's venerable structures.

The populace consists almost entirely of canines – not Jupani, but various dogs in distinct "breeds". That is one of the features of Gallisian life, in that they have fairly strict notions about how one should marry. When those codes are violated, the resulting "mutts" and "mongrels" are subjects of much scorn … and those born with "defects" are invariably accorded lesser status.

Turtle sighs, and relaxes, noticing a strain in her neck and shoulders disappearing.

The Marquis looks out the window as the carriage rolls by a large and open square with a fountain in its center and rings of classical-looking statues … all of them headless. "Ah! Revolution Square!" He points to the sign of revolutionary extravagance, a metal-bladed guillotine enshrined near the fountain.

Turtle wrinkles her nose slightly at the statue. "I can honestly say it's… something I would never hope to see here," she says, fumbling to be polite, despite the grotesque display.

The Kujaku twitter-laughs. "Oh, of course. That won't happen again. Not now that the Monarchy has been deposed. And then the Tyranny. And then the Oligarchy. And then the … Well, the wheel of revolution has finally come to stop, now that equality has been achieved." He smiles pleasantly.

Turtle turns to Neekto instead, hoping for an opinion in his expression.

Neekto looks away, keeping his beak firmly closed.

The Marquis' wife, Marionette, flutters daintily. "Oh dear. That filthy peasant almost TOUCHED the carriage! I really think this street needs another Purge."

Turtle blinks a bit, turning back to the Kujaku. "And just what exactly is the form of government now? It's been quite some time for me, you understand… "

Turtle presses further, cocking eyebrows. "Purge?"

The Marquis smiles. "Oh, it's a Democracy, you see. Perfect – ah … " He frowns at the repeat of the word "Purge". He chuckles faintly, patting his wife's hand. "Now, now, that's very humorous in some circles, but we have guests. Let's not invoke memories of the unpleasant past before our latest and greatest revolution."

Turtle purses her lips at the last part. "I see," she replies, then leans back against the seat, into her usual dignified frown, although her expression seems a bit more content without the strain.

The Marquis smiles as the carriage makes another turn, onto a street lined with brighter-looking storefronts, and slowly climbs a hill. "Ah, Market Street. The finest for those in a mood to shop… "

Turtle's ears flick slightly forward. "Is that so?"

A couple of armored warriors on brightly caparisoned horses adorned with lengthy plumes clip-clop by, streamers fluttering in the breeze. The Marquis watches the Chevaliers pass, then nods. "Yes, quite so." He smiles. But then, he's almost ALWAYS smiling.

Turtle looks out the window, trying to look disinterested.

The Marquis catches Turtle's look. "Oh, but such things bore you, I see. But do not worry! It is not much further and we will reach the great museums."

Turtle gives the Marquis a surprised look. "Not at all… why I find it quite… " She frowns, and casually fumbles into a pocket somewhere for her mirror. She looks over her makeup, watching the street out of the corner of her eye.

The Marquis hmms? "Should I ask the driver to pull aside?"

The stores and their ornately decorated signs and glass windows full of delightful wares slowly roll past.

Turtle lowers her mirror, giving the Kujaku a gracious smile. "I would adore that."

The Marquis pokes his head out of the wagon, his powdered wig only staying on by some strange miracle. "Driver! Pull the carriage aside so that my guest may see the shops!" At once, the carriage pulls aside, almost running over a couple of peasants who yelp and scatter out of the way.

The Marquis frowns at the scattering peasants, muttering, "I really MUST talk to the Cuirassiers about this street… "

Turtle puts away her mirror, giving the Marquis a curious glance, but that quick disappears.

The carriage rolls to a stop. The bulldog climbs down from his seat on the front of the wagon, and the two Guards on the back climb down as well. A wooden set of steps is put before the door to the carriage on the curbside, and the door opened for the passengers to disembark. The Marquis steps out first, then stands just outside to assist.

The Marquis' wife doesn't look inclined to get out of the carriage at all. She voices it with, "Oh, I feel so weary from entertaining guests last night. I believe I will wait here." She fans herself, though the air is quite cool.

Turtle climbs out of the cabin, pausing a moment on the threshold, to shake out the crushed red velvet skirt of her dress. It is like a cross between a french dress and a sarong, with puffed off the shoulder sleeves and golden yellow trim. She tosses her long mane over her shoulder, then walks with a dignified air down the steps, hardly noticing the Kujaku's wife, as the specks in her eyes glimmer over the street.

Neekto, Turtle's Korv assistant, turns his feathered black head to look at the Inquisitrix, then flutters out of the carriage, following his boss.

The street has all manner of stores to visit. One specializes in dresses – voluminous gowns with all the accessories. Another shop sports glassware, another china, another imported curios from lands distant, another fine musical instruments … A few canine entertainers can be seen along the street. One smooth-furred dog with a white-powdered face seems to be pretending that he's trapped inside an invisible box. Another wearing the outfit of a jester juggles six colored balls, one each color of the rainbow. Another dog sits on a stool, painting at an easel.

Turtle's eyes go wide at the dog trapped in a box not there. 'What an unusual form of entertainment… "

Turtle furrows her brows. "It is a bit annoying."

A wagon drawn by several Dromodons gallops at full speed down the street, the driver whipping at the frothing beasts of burden towing the carriage. "Aside! Aside! Make way! Make way!" Several dogs scatter at the oncoming carriage, but the mime is still trapped in the "box".

Turtle turns to the dress shop. "This one looks quite interesting… " Her eyes glimmer brighter.

There are a few shrieks from behind Turtle, as the carriage rolls on past. The Marquis gasps, but then says, "Oh, please do not turn around. Don't worry. They'll clean up the mess. It was just a mongrel. Should know better than to play in the street."

Neekto's feathers all stick out in alarm, and he caws loudly, then clamps his claw-hands on his own beak to muffle himself. He keeps close to Turtle.

Turtle winces inwardly.

Turtle looks down at Neekto, frowning, not sure if she likes the open gore of this place, but says nothing.

Neekto squawks in Rephidim Standard, "I have no idea what anyone is saying, but, whatever it is, please don't translate! *KAW!*"

The Marquis of Fleaufille opens the door to the store for the Aeonian and her assistant. "Now then … Ladies first?"

Turtle shakes her head at Neekto, then curtsies graciously to the Marquis. "Thank you." She seems to quickly forget the dog in the street as she walks into the door, the gold flecks now sparkling brightly.

The store bears the name, "Madame Geordeau's", without saying just what IS Madame Geordeau's. However, it's not hard to guess. Racks of elegant dresses hang everywhere, as well as assortments of sashes, laced gloves, corsets, hats, and even a selection of corsages.

The proprietor is a lady with the markings of a Terran border collie (though nobody here would necessarily know just what that means). She pauses from setting some pins into a partially-finished dress on a wooden model, a few of the pins still poking out from her mouth. Unable to speak like this, she just turns around and curtseys to the Marquis and his guests.

Turtle nods politely, then quickly walks over and admires a dress with lots of petticoats, printed with waterfalls, before a slender pastel yellow gown catches her eye. She moves about in this way, like a bee attracted to new pollen flowers.

The Marquis nods to the proprietor, then nods again as a couple of canine assistants bring out a chair for him to sit upon while he samples some perfumes.

Turtle seems to lose track of everyone else in the room, as she hunts out a white and green dress with a lace up bodice vest, and compares the colors of the same tiered skirt.

The Marquis yawns, waving a hand at his beak, then samples some complimentary sweets brought out for him. Neekto hops along after Turtle, occasionally having his attention caught by something glittering amongst the accessories.

Neekto whisper-caws to Turtle, "Are you finding anything to your liking? I imagine this all must be terribly expensive… " He hops around, looking at the dresses, though evidently not out of personal interest.

Turtle slowly gravitates to the more extravagant dresses at the back of the store, her eyes moving mechanically over the selection of beads, sequins, and heavy embroidery, the look on her face resembling that of a warrior on a mission.

The proprietor hovers nearby, watching expectantly, at last saying, in Gallisian , "Madame, is there anything which you find pleasing to your eye? Oh! Here is a lovely red gown that I think would look wonderful on you… "

Turtle smiles politely to the saleslady, her face still a bit resolute and distracted "Thank you, but I'm looking for something a bit different" She fluffs the red velvet at her legs to demonstrate.

Turtle looks over the shelves, casually moving away. She whispers to Neekto a few yards later, "I am very aware of price. That's why I'm interested in this place. You can't find clothes like these at home." She flourishes her hand over a gaudy green and purple lace costume.

Madame Geordeau raises her dainty eyebrows at Turtle's interest in the costume. "Well! You have a most unique taste, I see! Allow me to show you this fine selection of matching accessories… " She guides Turtle's attention to a number of similarly garishly-colored additions.

Neekto muffles his beak at sight of the costume, not making any comments on the color.

Turtle casually browses over the accessories, shooting Neekto her furrowed brows first.

Neekto smooths his feathers, trying to look nonchalant.

The border collie smiles, saying, "I must say, your kind are SO rare in these parts. And that horn of yours … positively lovely! Hmm. You know, I think this chain necklace would match the color – See? With these shell pieces?" The tortoiseshell pendants do appear to match the coloration of the horn.

The highly-polished metal necklace shines brightly in the sunbeams that come through the windows and skylight.

Turtle eyes sparkle slightly. "I have yet to see a piece such as this… of course, it's been a while since I've been jewelry shopping… " She fawns over the necklace.

The canine holds out the necklace to Turtle. "Would you care to try it on?" Neekto, meanwhile, is distracted, inspecting some brightly-colored beads.

Turtle smiles a bit haughtily, loving the idea of surprising Neekto with the matching necklace. "Certainly"

Madame Geordeau continues, "This necklace is rather unique, you see. The links were fashioned from one of the Swords that fell from the sky over the distant Himaat. The materials were imported from far away, you see, then wrought by the finest craftsmen of Gallis."

Turtle looks only half-interested in the story, taking the necklace, and fixing the clasp around her neck.

As the Aeonian takes the metal necklace in her hands … she begins to feel a stinging sensation, which soon turns into a hot burn!

Turtle gasps, and falls to her knees, clutching her neck.

Neekto sniffs at the air, then lets out a loud "*KAW!*" of alarm as he turns around. "INQUISITRIX!"

The lupine guards at the door unsheathe their swords at the cry of alarm, then rush over to the fallen Aeonian. The border collie, meanwhile, shrieks, staggering back into a rack full of dresses!

"The necklace… get… take it off," Turtle flinches out in Rephidim standard to the alerted guards. She fumbles at it wildly herself.

Neekto hurriedly fiddles with the clasp, at last yanking it apart, a link breaking. Although the chain does nothing to him, he drops it to the floor as if it were red hot, cawing loudly.

Turtle falls onto her hands, then her face, hot tears streaming from her eyes.

The big gray female Jupani, Soran, kicks the necklace away, while Rathos keeps the seamstress under close watch. Neekto caws, begging in Rephidim Standard for someone to call a healer. The Marquis, meanwhile … appears to have fainted.

Despite the language barrier, a couple of the assistants seem to get the general idea, and rush outside, shouting. It is not long before a basset hound with a pair of spectacles clumsily perched on his sagging snout comes in, carrying a large black bag.

The hound stoops down next to the Inquisitrix. "Burns … severe. Get me some water… " He opens up his bag, going through the contents, and takes out a small container of salve which he applies to the thin wound. "Apparently not due to heat, but some sort of reaction… "

Turtle lets out a small whimper, but she seems to be mostly unconscious.

Neekto paces back and forth, fretting and cawing, looking as if he's about to break down in tears.

Turtle slowly revives, and grits her teeth. "What is going on? It burns… "

Neekto caws to Turtle, "The necklace! What was that? Nobody understands me here! *KAW!*" The guards look similarly frustrated at their failed attempts to communicate with the Gallisians, short of pantomime.

Turtle looks extremely annoyed, and tries to sit up. "The necklace, what was it?" she repeats so that the shopkeeper can understand her.

The shopkeeper looks alarmed, sputtering out, "I – I – I assure you, only the finest of materials! Pure meteoric iron, from the 'Sword from the Sky'!"

Turtle bows her head, touching her neck gingerly. "No wonder. I am afraid I was told once to avoid iron." she turns to the doctor, her face wincing as she tries to look polite. "Have you any ideas about such a thing?"

The pain is still noticeable, but the burning sensation seems to be cooled somewhat by the salve the doctor is applying. He does some more cleaning and medicating, then applies bandages. "I haven't seen anything quite like this before, though I've heard of such allergic reactions," the hound offers.

Turtle sighs, and apologizes to the collie. "This was not your fault at all, I'm sure"

The seamstress frets, repeating over and over again, "Oh dear, oh dear, oh DEAR!"

One of the assistants, meanwhile, fans at the Marquis, while another fetches smelling salts to hold under his beak.

Turtle remembers the frantic Neekto, and turns to him. "Apparently it was a reaction to iron. Hardly anyone's fault" She doesn't add, 'but mine", but inwardly she is getting quite annoyed about it.

Turtle looks a bit frantic herself at the collie's reaction. "What is wrong?"

Neekto fidgets with his wing-claws. "We'll have to get you somewhere safe," he caws quietly. "I'm terribly sorry, Inquisitrix… "

The seamstress moans, "Oh my! A guest of the Marquis being harmed in my shop! It will be a SCANDAL! I will never hear the end of it!"

Turtle flattens her ears, wishing she could get away from the situation for other reasons.

Turtle looks down to the floor, scowling and thinking.

Soran barks, "Inquisitrix, we can summon a carriage to take us to the suite where you will be staying."

"Madame," Turtle says finally, glancing over to Soran with a look that says wait, "considering the small company here, I would prefer to keep this little tea party," she pauses to let the sarcasm sink in, "a bit of a secret affair. I promise you, if any scandal spreads, it will not be from my lips, or from anyone traveling with me."

The border collie nods. "Thank you, madame. I most certainly would NOT want any scandals… " She sighs loudly.

Turtle nods politely to the shopkeeper, then looks around the room, trying to see what hysterics left.

The guards stand at the ready for the Inquisitrix.

The doctor shifts his attentions to the fainted Marquis, while the assistants just stand there, looking worried. The Kujaku appears to be coming to, slowly.

Turtle gives Neekto a painful look. "Please, help take me out of here. I'm in such pain" She looks down at the poison necklace, and scowls at the broken chain. "We will have to take the jewelry piece as well now, of course" she adds with a hiss, "although I wish it buried to the center of Sinai… "

Neekto caws, and helps Turtle along, asking Rathos to tend to the business with the necklace along the way. Turning back to the Inquisitrix, he says, "Don't worry, Inquisitrix … Everything will be taken care of," as he leads her out of the shop.

Turtle turns her face away from Neekto. Not even he would see her cry.