Business has been booming, in more ways than one. With the New Year coming up – and the turn of the century, no less – mages have been buying up material components for the magical equivalent of pyrotechnics or, lacking that in their Sphere, various noisemakers and ways of making bursts of light to get much the same effect. War or not, Rephidimites seem determined to bring in the new century with a bang.

At the moment, there's a little bit of a lull, as a few mages sit with some of their purchases, sipping tea and nibbling on cookies when they aren't busy spreading rumors and offering unsolicited opinions on the affairs of the world at large. Iona the Earth Mage, a lady Jupani, is one of the few who hasn't come here to load up on volatile components, sipping quietly at her tea, listening in on the chatter of two Earth Apprentices: a Lapi self-named Spring-Meadow, and her Cervani friend, Summer. "Wrong Way" Wynona Windcaller, despite the scandal of the disaster at Zahirinee's pool, has apparently gotten brave enough to show her face again … and to demonstrate her ability to be quite a chatterbox when she's not having a sneezing fit.

"… and I was rather surprised," chatters the Cervani, "when I heard about the Temple's decision to as much as give a blessing on Gallis' conquest of Sylvania. I suppose it only follows that they'd cease recognizing Sylvanian nobility … but have you ever met any of the Kurais? As I understand it, 'Jynx' Kurai was made a count … and now it doesn't mean a thing in Rephidim!"

Spring-Meadow nods sadly. "I hear he's quite handsome, too. But it sounds like he must not be doing too bad for himself. I heard he started some sort of trading business, and now he's one of the wealthiest Rephidimites – "

"Ex-Rephidimites," Iona corrects, in a rare break in her usual silence so far. "He can't claim Sylvanian and Rephidimite citizenship at the same time."

Spring-Meadow nods. "Yes, Mistress."

Wynona cuts in, "His business won't be much good if the Gallisians take it from him." She sighs squeakily. "Poor kid."

Spring-Meadow counters, "Well, the Gallisians were the first to side with Rephidim when the war broke out, and Sylvania is more a wilderness or ruin than a country, I hear. It's just a petty little has-been tyranny, and now it'll be under new management. If the count is that good of a businessman, he'll sign up with the Gallisians, and make even more money with them."

Wynona gives Spring-Meadow a dubious look, then tries to change the subject. "Speaking of invasions and such, I'm wondering if the war will be over soon, now that the Temple has the 'Boomer'. It's no secret that the Nagai have been building up in what used to be Safar. Do you think Rephidim will do anything to stop them?"

"Why should they?" says Spring-Meadow with a shrug. "Just like the Nagai keep saying, it's their business what they do in their own lands. The Savanites moved into the City of Hands and claimed it as their own, though it's Nagai land. Kind of like that Naga explorer did with the Earth Tower in the Himaat. You can't just move in and grab some land owned by someone else and claim it as your own. The Temple was just objecting to using the 'Boomer'. Who knows what it would do to Sinai if another one got dropped? Maybe a piece of the sun would get brought in this time?"

Wynona shrugs and sighs. "I guess." She looks over to Aaron. "Oh, Mister Lightfoot? I think the tea's getting low. Is it possible I could trouble you for some more? This is a very nice blend."

The Lapi shopkeeper in question, one Aaron Lightfoot, is only too eager to oblige. "Of course Wyn… Mage Windcaller! You look like you're all running low on finger foods as well." He smiles as he sets a fresh pot of tea on the little stove, although whether it's because his guests are all cute or because he can finally walk without his foot hurting is hard to tell.

"Well," says Summer, a little uncertainly, "I think the whole situation is awful, all this fighting and killing over some old ruins. But I suppose I shouldn't have too much to say about it. After all, the Collegia Esoterica is supposed to be neutral on all of this."

Wynona nods, smiling to the Lapi shopkeeper. "Thank you kindly, sir."

Aaron serves the ladies, and doesn't comment on the Boomer, which has caused him nothing but trouble so far. "Such talk, when you could be discussing what you're going to do for New Year's Eve? So much serious discussion will give you wrinkles, I'm told."

"Oh!" gasps Forrest. "That reminds me! There's going to be a wedding on New Year's. Some lord of a little kingdom on the surface is going to be wed … I hear he's a prince."

"Oh?" responds Spring-Meadow. "I heard he was a hedge wizard."

"I heard something about that," Aaron mentions as he brings over a fresh plate of dried fruit, candied crickets, and other tea snacks. "The bride is a Skreek."

"A Skreek?" echo Summer, Spring-Meadow and Wynona in unison. Iona looks surprised as well.

Wynona says, "I didn't know there was such a thing as a Skreek prince."

"Well, Kroz has a large population of Skeeks and Skreeks," the Lapi says. "I probably have relatives there myself!"

Spring-Meadow looks aghast. "You're … not a Lapi?"

Wynona tries to hide a smirk with her wing.

Aaron blinks at Spring-Meadow. "Oh, I am a Lapi … that is, my relatives in Kroz, if I have any, aren't necessarily Skreeks. I mean, there are Cervani and Khattas and the usual mix of races there."

"And monsters of course," the shopkeeper adds, grinning. "But I'm not related to any of them, I hope."

"Ohhhhh," says Spring-Meadow, her long ears blushing faintly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to suggest that … I mean … I misunderstood… "

Wynona says, "I am quite confident, good shopkeeper, that you are no monster." She smiles politely.

Aaron suddenly blushes himself, as his black ear flops down across his face again. He quickly brushes it back, though, and asks, "Are any of you going to the wedding?"

Wynona says, "I may go. I understand that the invitation list is fairly short, but the buzz is that it's fairly easy to get in. It's going to be held on an airship at the docks, with a bunch of airship hands present. Might be a rough group … but I can handle them." She grins confidently.

Iona smiles faintly. "I've heard that Bromthen Heaven is catering." Spring-Meadow and Summer, however, grimace at this revelation.

"I may try to slip in then myself," Aaron says, rubbing his chin. "In this business, one can never have too many contacts on the surface." Then, winking at Wynona, he adds, "Besides, I've never seen Wynona here in a dress before."

Wynona rolls her eyes, and quickly covers her face as she turns away. "Oh dear… "

Iona laughs. "I've heard it specifically said that there's no dress code. The bride, it's said, hates dresses. This should be quite an interesting 'royal wedding'. And, I also heard that the groom is a Khatta. So much for the royal line!"

Aaron smiles to Iona. "Well, perhaps this is a very special Skreek then. I've seen a few before that are quite exceptional, and on the surface mutations can make the differences less … well … different."

"It could also be a political marriage, I suppose," the Lapi adds.

Summer nods. "Perhaps. There are a lot of those where royalty are concerned."

Wynona says, "Still, any royal wedding is bound to be worth seeing. And what was this about a 'hedge wizard'?"

Aaron says, "They're usually shamans or wise-men that have picked up some real magic, and supplemented it with lots of hocus-pocus and herb lore."

Wynona ohs and nods. "I see. Well! This sounds quite exotic." She twiddles her thumbs.

Iona nibbles a bit on some snacks brought by Aaron, then says, "How about yourself? Are you going to dress up special for the occasion? I have no idea what their idea of formal wear might be, so I'll just use time-honored mages' robes, myself."

"I have a suit for social occasions," Aaron admits. "It makes me look like an undertaker, though, so I'd probably wear something fashionably casual. I can always bring some soaps and perfumes for a gift."

Spring-Meadow pauses. "I wonder if silly old Mystico will be there? I doubt he'll pass up a chance at a meal. That is provided that Bromthen isn't all they're serving."

Aaron turns an ear towards Spring-Meadow. "Isn't he that Dream Mage from the Bazaar? The one that dresses almost as gaudily as that Chaos Mage, Fenter?"

The shopkeeper makes his way to the far shelf, carefully stepping around an oddly-placed throw-rug on the floor, and starts to pick out a selection of fancy soaps.

"Why, yes," says Spring-Meadow, giggling lightly. "In fact, I've heard that he's quite losing his mind."

Wynona shakes her head. "I'd take it a little more seriously than that. There have been a number of Dream Mages that have been lapsing into comas during their rituals, as of late. He was one of the lucky few who actually came out of it."

"What?" Aaron says, sounding alarmed and turning around clutching several cakes of soap. "Dream Mages are going into comas? Do you know what rituals they were performing?"

"Dream rituals, I presume," Wynona says, shrugging. "No one is really sure just what is up. But Mystico was claiming that he was in a strange dream where he was reading a book full of wonders. And reading … and reading … and reading. Until he was saved by a shape-changing dragon made of white and gold, who claimed that she was the Exile, Apprentice Envoy, and a poodle cadet by the name of Elise."

Iona blinks. "Envoy and Elise? They saved me from getting killed by a golem back at the College. Perhaps they're into the hero business now."

Summer and Spring-Meadow smile. "She's in our dorm!" "We take bread to her on occasion!"

"Exiles?" Aaron says, relaxing a bit. "Oh, the singing one that takes dictation? I was afraid they'd gotten some bad incense or something. I wouldn't put it past those Babelite agents to have sabotaged some of my wares… "

Iona shakes her head. "Oh, no. I'm sure if there were any sort of connection like that, the Temple would have come knocking on your door by now."

Wynona squeaks, "I have heard that it's not just in Rephidim, but a few mages on the surface have suffered from this as well. I've heard theories that it might be some sort of epidemic … of a magical sort, I suppose."

Aaron takes the soaps to the counter, and places them in a gift basket. "Well, the realm of dreams is supposed to be haunted now anyway by some sort of mysterious figure. Maybe they annoyed it or something?" To Summer and Spring, he says, "And you should be careful. Exiles and magic usually lead to trouble when they're mixed. Why, every Exile that has come into my shop has caused problems."

Summer looks at Aaron wide-eyed. "How many Exiles come in here?"

Spring-Meadow asks, "Do you get many foxes?"

Nodding, Aaron answers, "Oh yes, more than enough foxes. One of them caused a poltergeist to attack my shop, and turned out to be a vampire of some sort. And then there's that rather short, unlucky one with the lute. I'm sure he'll bring about the end of civilization eventually, using nothing but his singing."

"And poor old Seagull," the shopkeeper continues, "I never thought he'd bring Babelite agents down on us with all his stories about the Boomers. I almost lost my foot over that, and I swear I can still smell that fuff'nar."

"The Boomers?" gasps Summer. "A fuff'nar?" exclaims Spring-Meadow. "Babelite agents?" squeaks Wynona, looking dismayed. "Oh. The fop," snorts Iona, rolling her eyes.

Aaron nods to all four women. "Why, if that Nagai lady and her assistant hadn't shown up, those spies would have carried off Seagull and learned who-knows-what about those Boomers." Glancing at the throw rug, he says in a lower voice, "But what that fuff'nar did to one of them… "

Wynona suddenly squeaks, "Oh! I've neglected the time! I must be going … I've been hired to make sure that it doesn't rain on a rally over at the Temple. Some young cadets are going to be doing some sort of patriotic thing there. Fine, brave young men and women, they. And well-paying, too! I'd best get started on my ritual. I do hope you'll excuse me? And thank you so much for the tea and snacks. And for the wares, of course. They'll be worth every shekel, I'm sure!" She gets up.

Aaron looks a bit dismayed at the news, but smiles quickly. "Of course Wynona, let me know if you need any help. It's been a while since we've saved the city after all!"

Wynona laughs. "Well, if you feel a need to demonstrate your patriotism, you could always come to the rally."

The shopkeeper rubs his chin. "That's not a bad idea. Jasmine is coming in shortly anyway; she can handle the shop." The Lapi winks at Iona, and adds, "Or I could hire these charming young Apprentices. I'm sure they would do wonders for my profits."

The two Apprentices giggle, though Iona just politely smiles.

Wynona nods. "Well, come on, then! I can show you the way. I won't be much company while I'm doing my ritual, but the daughter of some noble is organizing this rally, and that probably means that there will be some entertainment."

"I will be happy to come along!" Aaron decides. "I've been cooped up in this shop too much lately, thanks to my injury, but I'm fully recovered now."

Wynona nods. "Well then … let's be off!"

"Great!" the Lapi enthuses, "Let me just get my umbrella… Ha ha, just kidding!"