A moderately adventurous journey later, with only a few scuffles along the way with some highway robbers (hardly a trouble at all) and a few zombies (easily enough dispatched), and some time wasted trying to extract the foppish fox from his hiding place in a hollow tree (which turned out to be a plant monster of some sort), Jynx arrives with his grandmother in the rather nice town of Ivory Sands, on the northern edge of Sylvania. While the rest of her lackeys check on arrangements for passage by air, Grandmother Martinette heads straight for a nice-looking pub decorated with a nautical theme.

Inside, there is a Cervani buck – a sheriff, by the uniform – standing at the bar, talking to a gunmetal-grey Skreek with strange markings under one eye.

A timid-looking doe is trying her best to get a look at what looks like an Aeonian's horn hanging on one wall … though, really, it's probably just a shell of some aquatic creature, given the nautical theme of the decorations of this place: anchors, portholes, bits of salvage, hanging nets, and mounted and stuffed fish on the walls.

Grandmother Martinette chooses one of the larger tables, and the foppish fox – showing a rare flash of manners – pulls out the chair for her and pushes it in as she sits down. He's probably just trying to earn extra points in the hopes of winning a big breakfast.

The buck at the bar nods at something, his rack bobbing, as he chats with the rat.

Three darkly-clothed travelers in the far corner sip at cups of tea. A bearded Khatta briefly casts a glance in Jynx's direction, then mutters something to his companions.

Jynx takes a seat next to his grandmother, looking at the bar's patrons in turn, sizing up any possible troubles. "So, this is the port?"

Across the room, the human female amongst the three dark-clothed travelers rises from her seat, speaking something to her companions, then starts to leave.

Grandmother Martinette nods. "Yes, dearie. Lovely place, isn't it?" She smiles as a Cervani doe waitress in a brown and white dress walks up to the table with a tray of glasses of water.

The black Khatta notices the dark-clothed travelers, and gives them a quick glance, wondering what the bearded Khatta is so interested in. "It's… quaint."

The human female and the Korv from the other table take off, leaving through the front door. Now, only the bearded Khatta is left sitting at his table, still sipping at his cup of tea. He seems content to simply stare at a nearby wall.

"So," says Martinette, "what do you plan to do with yourself, now that you've saved Blackshire?"

Jynx takes a sip of his water. "I really don't know. For the past few years, I've never been tied down to one place. I suppose I could even up the score with Tempest, but I really don't know why anymore." He takes another sip, "Maybe head back to Rephidim for a visit."

The doe waitress says, "We're serving breakfast now. I highly recommend the Journeyman's Breakfast – a pile of flatcakes, with a generous portion of Bromthen bacon on the side, and with plenty of cream and redberry syrup … Four shekels a plate, and we have several drinks to go along with it. … " She runs through the other specials of the day. The foppish fox's expression indicates that he'd order them all if given half a chance.

The Black Khatta's ears perk at the mention of Bromthen bacon. "I suppose I'll go with the Journeyman then, sounds pretty good!" He gives the waitress a smile.

"I'll go with EVERY – " The foppish fox catches a glare from Martinette. "Uhm … I'll have what Jynx is having."

The doe takes the rest of the orders, then nods and heads off to the kitchen. "I'll be right back!" she says cheerily as she disappears.

"So… any hint as to where you're headed?" Jynx asks his grandmother. "I'd feel better if I knew."

"Oh … just to see some old friends," answers Grandmother Martinette, with a strange twinkle in her eye. "As I said, don't trouble yourself, dearie."

Up at the bar, the sheriff looks a bit annoyed about something, and takes a particularly large bite out of the bagel he's been nibbling on, then washes it down with some tea.

Jynx frowns, and falls silent. He turns to watch the other customers, and his eyes fall on the annoyed sheriff. "I wonder what's wrong with them?" he mutters to the lioness.

The lioness looks at the sheriff. "I'm not rightly sure, sweetie." She casts a glance over at the bearded Khatta. "Maybe that old fellow over there might know. He seemed to take an interest in you earlier, and now he's suddenly fascinated with that wall."

The black Khatta looks back over to the bearded feline, and just stares at him. "Yeah, but should I bug him?"

Grandmother Martinette smirks. "I have no idea, dearie."

Jynx continues to watch the other cat, seeing if his interests still lie in his own direction.

The older Khatta seems to be staring rather intently at a wall, rather than to look anywhere in Jynx's direction.

"You know," says Grandmother Martinette, "with your experience following your father's business … I'd think that perhaps you could find some good business up here in Ivory Sands. It's a trading port, you know. Land, sea and air."

The rat puts a coin down at the bar, then walks over to talk to a plain-looking doe (not the barmaid). The doe walks over to a table and starts eating what looks like some flatcakes that have been left there to cool off a bit too long, while the rat heads for the door.

The black Khatta arches a brow. Felines, who are the kings of snubbing, can tell when they're being ignored. Jynx just idly nods along with his grandmother, keeping his eyes on the bearded cat. "Excuse me for a moment… " He gets up, and slowly starts to make his way over to the other Khatta's table.

The older Khatta doesn't even look up. He just continues to look intently at the wall … or … well, really, it looks like he's clutching some sort of amber amulet in one hand, which glows faintly … and glows a little more brightly the closer Jynx approaches.

No … wait … it's not glowing … it's just a trick of the sunlight shining in through the window, and refracting in the soft yellow material of the pendant.

Jynx stays silent for a few moments, waiting to see if the other feline regards him, then speaks. "Um, excuse me sir, I couldn't help but notice your attention was toward our table earlier. May we help you?"

The older Khatta looks up at Jynx, the long whiskers on his muzzle almost hiding a hint of a smile, and a twinkle in his gray eyes. He peers up at Jynx from under the brim of his broad black hat. "Aha. A convergence … focused on a living specimen!"

The black Khatta blinks in confusion, and frowns. "Do what? Uh, I'm afraid I don't catch your drift… "

"I am Absalom," the old Khatta says, in an accent that is hard to place … but definitely is not Sylvanian. "Have you, my boy, heard the legend of the great sorcerer, Tyrne Dagh?"

Just then, the rat standing at the entrance squeaks out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "You know, I'm sure that the owners of this establishment wouldn't take kindly to someone doing magic in front of it."

The sheriff spews a mouthful of his drink, and drops his bagel as he hurries toward the entrance of the pub.

"I've heard of Dagh, but never Tyrne Dagh – " Jynx cuts himself short as his attention is jerked towards the gray Skreek. "What's he going on about?"

The old Khatta sips at his drink. "Ah well … We shall meet again. You have been touched, young one. You have been blessed." The bearded Khatta slowly rises. "Yes … we will meet again. Your blessing guarantees it."

Jynx looks back to the Khatta. "My blessing? What are you going on about? Who are you?"

Outside, it sounds like there's some sort of disturbance, as the rat can be heard shouting outside, and the stag sheriff speaks loudly as well. "… laws against this sort of … "

The old Khatta says, "As I said, I am Absalom." He pats Jynx on the shoulder. "Like you, a chosen of Dagh. Use his name in good health!" And then, he heads for the door, leaning on a cane as he walks.

The black Khatta watches the older cat head off, then quickly follows him to the door, peering out at the rat and sheriff. "Chosen of Dagh?"

The rat looks back into the shop at the younger Khatta. "I think these fine people out here were intending to perform some sort of hex on you – that is, if you're the unlucky fellow who falls out of airships."

The older Khatta tips his hat to the sheriff. "My pardon. We'll be moving along now."

The sheriff frowns at the older Khatta. "Yes. You will."

Jynx furrows his brow at the Skreek. "Going to perform a hex? What the-… How do you… Who are you people?!" The feline looks at the Skreek in puzzlement.

As Jynx can now see outside, the human female and the Korv from earlier are quite visible … picking up materials from what looks like a couple of simple magic circles laid out upon the ground. There's something very cold in the eyes of the human female as she looks at Jynx. Very calm, very detached, very untouchable.

The rat sniffs the air sharply and eyes Jynx. "I'm Willow-The-Wisp, of the trader ship Merryweather, and I couldn't help but notice that these three gentlemen were talking about you before you ever arrived. That is, if you have a reputation for falling from airships."

The Khatta's mouth drops as he looks at the circles, undoubtedly magic circles. A shiver runs down his spine as he regards the human. "I – Well… Yes, I have fallen out before… " Jynx looks back in the tavern at his table, then back to the Skreek. "Who are those people?"

As Jynx looks back into the tavern, he can see that Grandmother Martinette is standing right behind him, flanked by her two Rhian lackeys. The foppish fox, meanwhile … is still eating.

The older Khatta adjusts his hat, as he walks over to join his two companions. "A good day to you."

"Don't trust anyone standing in a magic circle with a grin on their face, I always say." Willow glares at the human. "Are you unable to talk? What were you doing?"

The human rudely ignores Willow, walking along with her two companions, down the road away from the shore.

Jynx frowns as the trio makes their way off, and steps outside to join the rat. "Yes, what where you doing?"

The sheriff shakes his head. "Good riddance. But if they come back, they'll be in stocks for sure."

The black Khatta watches the three leave down the road, and another chill runs over his body. "That was indeed… strange." He shakes his head, and turns to the rat. "My name is Feli Kurai, and I guess I owe you one."