The port city of Tsun-Lao is the last stop for a Khattan airship in the service of the Emir, where Envoy is dropped off along with Iona the Earth Mage, and a few attendants. While the servants of the Emir tend to the drudgery of securing passage the rest of the way into the Wandering Roams, Envoy is left to her own devices to entertain herself in this "city" in the middle of nowhere.

"This is much more earthy than most cities I've been to," the Aeolun comments to her fellow Mage. "The architecture especially."

Most of the buildings are nondescript. There is one that has been set up as the ubiquitous generic tavern that every city seems to need, this one given the creative name of "The Tavern". Another building looks like some sort of store of baubles and trinkets … though there are marks of "hedge wizardry" and superstition about the place. A sign lists it as "Fortune Teller".

Iona nods. "Quite literally so, I see!" She smirks. "It's definitely a change."

Iona regards Envoy. "Do you think we seriously have any chance of actually apprehending one of these creatures known as … Goliaths? I should think it more likely that things end up the other way around."

"Oh no, I don't intent to try and capture one yet," Envoy says, nodding. "We need to learn about them first. But there should be plenty of other safer animals to capture,like jeebits. Perhaps creatures from Moltpaa even. We still haven't found any dragons."

Iona hmms. "Moltpaa? I do not think I have read up on that. I have heard of jeebits, though." She shudders. "I hope that we find them before they find us."

"Maybe the Fortune Teller can find out if we will be successful?" Envoy adds with a grin. "We have time before the Ferocious Roarer of the Veldt is ready to launch. I hope to explore Moltpaa; it's an underground country beneath Kroz, maybe even Olympia and other regions. Lots of interesting animals, I'm told."

Iona nods. "An … underground country? Now that sounds interesting. Have you any idea what sort of people live there? I don't suppose they'd get much sunlight."

Across the way, it looks as if a couple of felines are headed toward the fortune teller … though one of them looks far willing than the other. A white-furred feline in a high-necked and low-hemmed travel dress seems to almost drag along a significantly taller black male feline behind her. "Come on, Feli! It will be fun!"

"Well, some aren't nice, according to Lady Dack," the Exile admits, and looks towards the approaching Khattas. "Bosch sort of leaks into bits and affects people. I do believe that is the Lord and Duchess Kurai over there."

"Oh yeah? It wasn't so fun the last time I went to a fortune teller, or have you already forgotten the story?" The black male protests, scowling slightly as he's partially dragged along by the white feline. "Besides, we're only here to stock up!"

Mage Iona nods. "Lord and Duchess … ? Oh! Of Sylvania. Whatever are they doing here, of all places?"

Eve mews, "If we're going to travel, we might as well see the sights. And this is a sight. Oh! Look! It's Mage Envoy of Lothrhyn!" She lets go of Jynx and begins waving enthusiastically. "Hellloooooo!"

"Something interesting, I'm sure," Envoy says firmly, then starts to wave and call towards the pair, "Eve! Feli!"

Eve almost bounds over toward Envoy, forgetting the fortune teller for the time being. "So good to see you!" She stops and curtseys, nodding to Mage Iona. "Duchess Eve Kurai of Sylvania, so pleased to meet you – and my brother, the heroic Count Feli Kurai of Blackshire."

The Khatta Lord brushes the crease out of his sleeve, and looks up at the sound of the Aeonian's voice. "Envoy?" The scowl disappears, replaced with a bemused look of confusion, "Is that you?"

Iona bows back to Eve. "I am Mage Iona of the Sphere of Earth." She smirks at Jynx. "I see that you both already know of Mage Envoy of Lothrhyn."

"A pleasure to meet you," Jynx grins, "and yes, our paths have crossed on occasion. What brings you out here? And are those mage's robes you're wearing, Envoy?"

Envoy grins to Jynx. "Of course it is me, Feli. My appearance doesn't change over time you know, but you both seem a bit bigger now. I finally finished my mage training, yes. Iona and I are working for the Khattan Emir to help stock his zoological gardens. I suppose Eve is taking you 'round to see all of the unmarried ladies in the region?"

Jynx smirks, "It's been a few years, yes." He fades to a look of embarrassment on the 'ladies' comment. "Well, not exactly. We're trying to establish trade routes throughout Nordika, using Eve's railroad as the backbone."

Eve stands up a little more straight and proud, smiling widely.

"I've heard of this railroad," Envoy says, smiling. To Eve, she asks, "Will it be available in this region soon? How big of an animal could be carried on it? Is it powered by domesticated dragons?"

"Domesticated … dragons?" The black cat scratches his head, then chuckles. "I had almost forgotten about your inquisitive nature."

Eve mews, "No, actually, the engines are powered by a special fuel mixture that is primarily made from alcohol. We have to keep an eye on the Titanian engineers to make sure they don't drink any of it."

"How clever!" Envoy grins. "Can one of the trains carry, hypothetically, a Goliath?"

Jynx shrugs, "A Goliath? I suppose you could if you could build a strong enough engine. Our trains carry a lot of timber and other heavy objects … why do you ask?"

"Because my only other hypothetical plan for transporting ahypothetically captured Goliath involved trained waashus," Envoy explains. "I'm sort of supposed to bring back a Goliath for the Emir's zoo."

The male Khatta is silent for several seconds, just staring at Envoy in disbelief. "A Goliath, for a zoo? How do you plan on even getting one?"

Iona just smirks, covering her mouth with one hand.

Eve giggles. "Maybe Mage Envoy could build a cage for the Goliath from the rocks? POOF! Just spring it up from the rocks right around the Goliath, and surprise it!"

Envoy looks at the ground for a bit, before answering, "No idea, really. I hoped to observe them first to determine what their needs are, whether or not they have a lifecycle or are artifacts, and if they serve some special function. Then I was going to figure out if one could be kept in captivity and work out a way to catch it. We could use one of our sphere's suspended animation spells on it as well."

Iona nods. "I am certain we can find a way. It just may not be on our first attempt."

Looking up again, the Exile smiles and adds, "They're supposed to be intelligent. Maybe one would like to come and live in the zoo. It would probably be more interesting than wandering and roaming all the time."

"Well, if you do happen to get one, just be sure to keep it far away from me." The Khatta grins. "So, besides that little assignment, what else is on your day's agenda?"

Iona says, "I seem to recall mention of jeebits and Moltpaa."

"The crew of our airship is resupplying, so we are on our own for now," Envoy says. "And we aren't just after Goliaths, really. This area has all manner of interesting animals after all – like the aforementioned jeebits. And Moltpaa is supposed to have dragons. We haven't found any for the zoo yet."

Eve giggles. "Well, I've seen one … but I don't think he'd like to be stuck into a zoo."

Jynx arches a brow. "Moltpaa? The underground kingdom?" The Khatta shifts his whiskers forward. "We just came from there, and yeah, they have dragons, or one at least."

Envoy looks back towards The Tavern, and over at the Fortune Teller's shack. "I'm sure some of the locals must have encountered Goliaths or Zaccis before. Maybe the fortune teller knows where to find them."

Jynx grimaces, "Maybe, but whether they have or not, Eve has her heart set on going in." He shoots a frown at the teenaged Khatta.

Eve smiles. "Yes, let's!"

Smiling, Envoy says, "Well, even I know better than stand in Eve's way. I haven't had my fortune told yet myself." She grins to Iona. "It could be fun!"

The black Khatta sighs in resignation. "Well, I suppose that if we have to, then we might as well get it over with." Tail thrashing, he starts off towards the building. "But if she starts talking to me about girlfriends or knights or anything, I'm outta there."

"Iona isn't married," Envoy points out. "I'm sure she could domesticate Feli. She kept me in line after all."

Iona ahems. "I … think I would prefer to remain with my own species. No offense intended, my lord." She bows, blushing.

"None taken," smirks Feli, glaring comically at Envoy.

Eve giggles. "Well, the Sinha are Khattas. Their fur grows pretty long, and their faces and ears and paws are darker than the rest … but they're still Khattas! Maybe the fortune teller is available… " She grins.

Eve pushes aside a beaded curtain, and steps into the low earthen building. The interior is lit by candles, and talismans of leather and bone hang from the walls.

Jynx outright glares at Eve, "Don't even start!" He follows behind the white feline, holding the curtain back for Envoy and Iona. "After you, ladies."

There are no chairs – only mats laid out on the floor, arranged about a central fire. The roof is somewhere between a dome and a cone, with a hole in the center, through which the smoke escapes.

Envoy smiles, "Thank you, Lord Kurai," and ducks inside as well.

A female feline sits cross-legged on the floor, before the fire. Her fur is, as Eve said, of the sort to grow quite long, though it is evidently well trimmed, and in places it has been braided and interwoven with beads of painted and enameled bone, wood and clay. She looks up at those who enter, and, in heavily accented Standard, bids them, "Welcome to my abode. Which of you seeks to learn your fate?"

Jynx follows the others in, and takes a seat beside Eve on one of the mats, curling his tail around his feet. "She does, but I'm just here to watch. Ignorance is bliss."

Eve smiles and adjusts the folds of her skirt. "Yes, I'd like to know my future."

Envoy kneels down onto one of the mats. "I also am curious about the future," she says.

The fortune teller nods. "For my guidance, I ask the humble fee of ten shekels."

Eve frowns thoughtfully for a moment, perhaps not thinking the fee all that humble compared to what she might be used to … but then, she doesn't look like she should be hurting much in the shekel department, and she digs into her purse and passes over a tenner piece. "Here you go!" she says, reverting to her usual smile.

Envoy retrieves a coin from her own coinpurse as well, but waits for Eve's fortune to be told first.

The fortune teller nods. "First, I must know what area your concern lies in. Work or business … Love, marriage or pleasure … Trouble, loss, scandal or quarreling … or money, goods, or other material matters."

Eve ponders this for a while, finger pressed to her chin, then grins. "Love and marriage!" she mews.

Jynx looks skywards in a "why am I not surprised?" expression. His tail twitches in amusement.

The fortune teller nods, and pulls out a wooden box, from which she draws a deck of cards. "So be it." As she shuffles the deck, it appears to be a fairly standard Tarot deck – or the Sinai equivalent.

The fortune teller lays out several cards, face down, then chooses one and flips it over. "This is the primary significator." The card shows a regal-looking woman holding a shield, wearing a horned headdress. "The Princess of Discs. She is diligent, kind, generous, benevolent, careful, courageous and persevering."

Eve beams at the presumed praise.

"What does that mean as far as my sister is concerned?" asks Jynx.

The fortune teller smiles. "It means that your sister has these characteristics."

Eve mews, "I knew it!" Well, at least "humility" wasn't listed.

Envoy leans in for a better look at the cards, but apparently these aren't the type you have beat into submission before you can use them.

The black Khatta smirks, "Indeed."

The fortune teller flips over a second card. It has two circles on it. "The Two of Discs," the fortune teller announces, "denoting the present environment of the primary significator. It represents change. Visiting friends. Fortune in travel."

Eve claps her paws. "Oh! Yes, that's exactly it! We've been meeting new friends and old ones, too! And we've had such good luck on this trip!"

Jynx's tailtip twitches in restlessness. "Well, you got our present right, but what about her future?"

The fortune teller flips another card. It shows another woman, this one having a more severe aspect, with a crown not unlike the princess in the first picture, but the horns are enormous and barbed. "The Queen of Discs," the fortune teller explains. "This represents an obstacle in your path. She is possessed of virtue, yet also of many moods."

Eve furrows her brow, looking faintly confused at this.

Her brother's brow arches however, his ears perked forward in attention.

The fortune teller flips over another card, this showing a handsome male feline figure. "The Emperor," she says. "This represents the goal. Ambition and victory."

Eve leans over to look at the card more closely, giggling.

Envoy tries to look innocent, just in case.

The fortune teller flips over another card. This one shows a robed wizard of indeterminate species and gender. "The Magus," the fortune teller says, "indicating the foundation of the current environment. The Magus represents skill, wisdom and adaptation, but it can have more literal interpretations as well."

The fortune teller flips a card over to the left of the cards flipped so far. "The Six of Swords. This represents the past. Science, labor and work. Journey, and a success after anxiety and trouble."

Eve nods. "Oh! Yes, of course! The railroad. That's science. And it's a lot of labor and work. And Gallis has given us so much anxiety and trouble, but we're doing so well now!"

Jynx yawns, continuing to twitch his tail in an unimpressed manner.

The fortune teller flips over a card just to the right of the cards flipped so far. "The Ten of Cups," she announces. "This represents the immediate future. It represents satiety. Matters definitely arranged and settled as wished. Permanent and lasting success, happiness inspired from above."

Eve sighs happily. "I knew it!"

The fortune teller flips over the first in a line of cards over to the right of the rest. "The Nine of Disks. Material gain of much wealth."

Eve smiles. "That's nice … "

Envoy swats Jynx lightly with her own tail and signs, "We don't yawn when you fall out of airships."

The Khatta glares, and puts his tail in his lap. "That's a tad bit different than this! So far, all she's said could be said to anyone! It's a sham," he signs.

The next card flipped over is … "The Ten of Swords," the fortune teller says, frowning. "It represents ruin, death, failure and disaster."

Eve's jaw drops.

Jynx blinks, stopping his sign to look at the fortune teller. "Death?"

The fortune teller adds, "This represents how your friends and family will affect you in the future environment. It does not necessarily represent physical death, but it does indicate frustration of desires, and negative influences."

Eve casts a suspicious sideways glance at Jynx.

The black Khatta glares at Eve. "Don't look at me, this is your reading!"

The fortune teller flips over a card, this one representing a strange, perhaps angelic being. "The Aeon," the fortune teller announces. "This represents the challenge, the nature of what confronts you. The Aeon represents judgement."

Eve ventures, "A really tough decision?"

Envoy looks closer at the card.

The fortune teller nods. "Perhaps. But it often represents a weakness in oneself that must be overcome. Perhaps you are too judgmental of others."

Eve gulps and shrinks back a bit, after casting an apologetic glance in Jynx's direction.

Jynx just grins, and twitches his tail in delight – a sort of feline way of saying "I told you so."

The fortune teller flips over the last card. "The Princess of Cups. This represents the outcome." The card depicts a beautiful feline holding an ornate chalice.

"Outcome?" Asks Jynx. "Outcome of what, her life?"

"But what does it mean?" asks Eve.

"The outcome of the conflict that is before you," answers the fortune teller. "You sought an answer about romance, presumably in your own life. The cards indicate that you have faced many challenges so far, and are in a position of change and travel. In your immediate future, there will be success – perhaps you shall find a worthy suitor – but you will face negative influences from your family, as perhaps they will not approve of your choice. In the end, you shall have to face judgement – within yourself, or that of others – and the outcome, if you follow the path of the cards, will be one of peace."

"Oh," says Eve quietly.

The fortune teller then turns to look at Envoy and Iona. "Do any others seek their fortune this day?"

Iona waves her hand. "Oh … no, not me, but thank you."

"Just as long as you don't marry a Gallee," smirks Jynx.

Envoy blinks, then nods and hands over her ten-shekel coin. "I would like to know the outcome of my current mission."

Eve makes a face at Jynx's suggestion.

The fortune teller pulls out a different deck of cards. "Very well, then." She puts away the other cards, then pulls out several cards, laying them down before her in the same arrangement as before – face down, again.

"Do I need to do anything?" Envoy asks.

The fortune teller says, "Only focus upon the question you wish to have answered."

Envoy nods, and thinks about her assignment.

The fortune teller flips over the first card. "The Prince of Wands," she says, indicating the card, which shows an androgynous figure surrounded by flames, at command of a chariot drawn by a lion as if through the sky. "This indicates the primary significator – yourself. You are swift and hasty, yet just and generous and scorning meanness."

The next card is flipped over. "Adjustment. This represents your current environment."

The third card is flipped over. "The Six of Swords." It's the same as one of the cards flipped over in Eve's reading – at least in name – though the design in this deck is slightly different. "The represents the obstacle you face. The card represents science, labor, work, a journey."

Envoy nods.

The fourth card is flipped over, and the fortune teller frowns. "The Five of Swords. This represents your goal. With it is associated defeat and failure, malice. Perhaps a reappraisal of goals is in order."

Jynx looks to Envoy, "Still feel like trying for that Goliath?"

Envoy blinks, and asks, "Malice?"

The fortune teller nods. "Perhaps your goal is in conflict with the interests of others." The fifth card is flipped over, showing a design with many chalices. "The Six of Cups represents the foundation of the current environment. Pleasure. A beginning of increase and success."

The Aeolun scratches at the base of her horn in confusion. "Does that cancel out the last one?"

The fortune teller shakes her head. "It may indicate that, in your present environment, you are at the beginning of the enjoyment of success and pleasure. Perhaps fortune has been smiling upon you. But it does not say that your goals for the near future may not be in conflict."

The fortune teller flips a card to the leftmost side of the collection. "The Four of Swords, which represents struggles and victories of the past. This indicates change for the better, and rest from sorrow, after having passed through it."

Next, she flips the seventh card, to the right of the cards flipped so far. "The Magus. The immediate future. Skill, wisdom, adaptation."

The eighth card is flipped. "The Knight of Wands. This indicates aspects of your future environment. The Knight of Wands is active, fierce, sudden and impetuous. It would indicate adventure."

The ninth card is flipped, revealing a character similar to the obstacle in Eve's telling. "The Queen of Discs," the fortune teller announces. "This indicates how friends and associates will affect your future – or perhaps a single, very important associate who will have a profound influence on the outcome of your quest. The Queen of Discs is truthful and capable of kindness, but also of many moods, and thus unpredictable. It may indicate that whomever you receive advice from may require additional scrutiny – giving you good as well as bad advice, requiring you to use discernment rather than trusting blindly."

The tenth card is flipped. "The Princess of Swords," the fortune teller announces, "which represents an aspect of the challenge you must face. The Princess of Swords represents wisdom, strength and precision. These qualities will greatly assist you in overcoming the obstacle that lies before you."

Envoy smiles a little more. "I have precision at least. Mostly."

The last card is flipped. "The Three of Wands. This represents the ultimate outcome. It represents virtue."

"So I may be forced to make a decision based on what is right, even if it goes against my goals?" Envoy asks.

The fortune teller nods. "That would seem to be what the cards foretell. In order to attain virtue, you may have to sacrifice your prior goals, and you may have to rely upon your own wisdom, rather than the conflicting advice of associates."

Envoy smiles widely now. "This is a good fortune. It means I will learn something new."

Iona smirks.

Eve mews, "Thank you very much for telling our futures!"

The fortune teller bows. "The future is yours to make. Remember, that though I show a possible future, your destiny is only your own to determine."

"Jynx must find that a terrible sentiment," Envoy jokes.