The Happy Maid
This sorry excuse for an airship has a patched envelope suspending it, and a gondola that looks like nothing so much as an unseaworthyfishing boat that was given new "life" as an airship, with pieces cobbled together from other vessels that met untimely fates. The figurehead is of a very female Jupani with hilarious proportions (though probably not intended as such), and the best-kept parts of the ship appear to be the flags flying the crest of some merchant fleet incorporating the Star-and-Anchor emblem of Rephidim in its heraldry. Cargo nets are haphazardly slung about the gondola, holding small crates and sacks – and probably, in a pinch, serving as emergency ballast.

Fortunately, although there are several hints during the journey that the captain would like things to be otherwise, the trip is uneventful, and largely over land. It's Alptraum's first airship journey, and one would think that, being a flier, he would be perfectly adapted to such a thing … but he soon finds that there's a difference between flying under one's own power, riding a ship out on the sea, and then again, riding on a bobbing airship, a considerable distance off the ground, with few if any breaks. At least, being an Eeee, he can still stretch his wings when he feels so inclined (or fetch dinner), and as the airship is borne at the mercy of the wind, and not by any sort of steam-driven propellers, or magic-working, he has no worries about not being able to keep up.

Partway into the journey, Alptraum overhears a curious thing: the captain is talking to a couple of the Jupani members of his crew, and Alptraum (being an Eeee, and largely being unable to help it) manages to overhear him. "… and you've heard all about the Yodhinala. I've had one before, you know, back in Babel. Of course, every sailor worth his hydrogen who's been to Babel has had a Yodhinala, you know. Not sure what's with this one. Makes you wonder… " It's not really much different from his other musings. This Jupani fellow seems to have one thing and one thing only on his mind, other than money – and even money, to his mind, seems to be only a means to an end. Still, it's the first time he's heard this term pop up on this trip.

The Eeee blinks and tilts his ears toward the talking, curiosity piqued. "Well, well, what's this? 'Yodhinala?' 'Daughter of Inala,' I'd guess from what Nekara has taught me," he thinks to himself, trying to shift his position quietly so he can hear better.

One of the other Jupanis, a ragged-looking fellow with curly dyed patterns in his fur (nicknamed "Curly", on account of it), chuckles at this. "You've mentioned that one before, cap'n … but you never told us what it was like."

Alptraum stops moving and cants his hears directly toward the speaking. "Go on… ," he urges mentally.

The captain just grins, and leans back on the railing. "Well, you see, the Babelites, they've got a lot of things wrong, but there's one thing they've got right, and that's Inala. Inala, Goddess of Pleasure – and I mean all kinds of pleasure. All you have to do, my friend, is go visit their temple, and make a generous 'donation' … and they'll see to it that you're properly blessed by Inala for your faithfulness. Yessirree! I admit to being an admirer of that particular Babelite goddess."

Alptraum immediately frowns, understanding hitting him. "Yet one more thing Nekara has failed to tell me about," he thinks darkly. "Apparently, it hasn't dawned on them that Nekara isn't a Yodhinala."

"No trouble with yorspice being banned there – they've got things even more potent than that," the captain boasts. "In fact, that's what I put up as my 'donation'. Let me tell you, some folks say that all the Yodhinala look alike. Well, they don't. They come in all flavors of Eeee. Cater to whatever your taste is, you know. Of course, they far rather have their own kind as visitors to the temple, but they especially appreciated my business, what with the trouble on the shipping lanes from the Himar back then. This was back when the Boomer hit, you know, and Elamoore went bye-bye. Good thing I'd left home before then, yep. A good thing." The captain's grin momentarily wavers, as his bravado lessens slightly, but he quickly shakes it off. "But, I tell you, they grow those Yodhinala there, grooming them in the arts of pleasure from birth. It's their life. You hear all the tales about those exotic things girls do in the remote ports? Forget it."

"Anything that's ever been done," the Jupani boasts, his grin returning full force, "the Yodhinala serve it up. And they don't care if you're a little twisted, either."

"You're a sick man, cap'n," Curly remarks, laughing. At a momentary frown from the captain, he amends, "Only in the best of ways, naturally."

Alptraum winces and clenches his hands tightly, claw tips pricking his palms. His jaws also clamp tightly as the Eeee starts to get angry at how his kind is viewed by others. He takes in a slow breath, trying to calm himself down. He just shakes his head and thinks, "Not worth a fight, Alptraum. You'd never win, anyway."

"Well, they said the one I got wasn't any younger than sixteen," the captain says.

What the captain has next to say about the experience, though, leaves far less to the imagination. Suffice it to say that Alptraum, in the next few moments, learns a great deal more terminology about these things than he ever thought he would have needed to know. The two other Jupani are guffawing the whole time, and it just goes downhill from there.

Alptraum inhales sharply. His muscles tense and shake. He wants to hit something, but resists. Instead, he gets up and walks out and onto the deck. He tries to be loud enough to get them to be quiet before he does something he'll regret. After spending a few moments walking along the deck to calm down, he heads back to his cabin.

Autumn-Storm is sitting on the floor, drumming her fingers on a plank. Nekara is seated on the bottom bunk, looking as if she's meditating. Neither of them shows any sign of catching in on the captain's conversation, though surely they've both caught snippets of his line of conversation when he thinks someone isn't around … and the sorts of things he says when he probably thinks someone is listening in. (He must think it impresses the ladies to know that he's an experienced captain.)

"I will be glad when we get off this ship," Alptraum comments, sounding agitated. "I don't care to hear any more about our 'Captain' and his exploits with Yodhinala in Babel. Yet another thing you've not told me about, Nekara. And by the way, he thinks you are one."

"Yes," Nekara says, breaking out of her trance. "And I am not willing to take the time to explain to him the true nature of my religion. He might raise his asking fee."

"I'm half inclined to drag him into Sunala's realm and then ask him how much a good night's sleep would be worth to him," he mutters darkly.

"If you can do that," Nekara says, "I will be greatly frightened."

Alptraum glowers. "I can always try, though I fear I might overstep my bounds to do it. I don't like how he views Eeee. He could use an awakening."

"He can use an awakening after he gets us to Rephidim," Nekara says. "It matters not what he thinks for now, so long as he doesn't do anything regrettable. And if he does such a thing, there are far more effective ways of dealing with him than speaking to him."

"I'm also not liking learning things about Babel from others. Why aren't you telling me about such things?" Alptraum asks, his silvery gaze locked on Nekara.

"You only need to learn about Sunala," Nekara says. "The affairs of the other Sisters do not concern you. You would do best to have as little to do with them as possible."

"It has everything to do with me," Alptraum replies. "I want to know about all of Babel, not just one viewpoint."

"Everything? Everything? There's quite a lot to learn, my brother," Nekara says. "Where to begin? Babel is a city-state that is the capitol of the Ashdod Territories, on the continent of Ur – the 'Western' continent. It is located close to the equator, so that, if one were on the flatlands, it would be very warm year around, but Babel itself is located up in the mountains, in the Golan Range, nestled within a cluster of mountains named after the Seven Sisters, with another mountain named after some ancient hero named Dronnel, of which even we Yodh know little about."

"It is a city of the Eeee – we, the flying folk – though there are others there who serve and work among us. There are the Fnerfs, the four-legged, two-armed, hairy brutes who shepherd flocks of six-legged Rughrats in the plains of Rughar. There are the serpentine Nagai, who are ill-adapted to the cold, but long ago came to Babel to serve as advisors and scribes for the Sabaoth's court. And there are the Savanites, the golden, spotted, mute people who serve as slaves in the city."

Alptraum waves a hand and says, "I think we've been over some of this before. I want to know about the people there. I want to know what is considered good and bad. How I would be perceived there, for instance. Whether or not I should try to help them, if I can help them."

"The Sabaoth," Nekara continues, "was, for millennia, our ruler, though for a time before that, there was a long period of many kings, long since blurred into legend. The Sabaoth was immortal, sustained by powerful magicks perpetuated by the Royal Babelite Mages, who served him and him only. But he was slain not many years ago, by a mere courier, one of our own kind who went off to Rephidim for a time, then returned to find her fortune. The Sabaoth died at her hand, and she has been alternately hailed as villainess or heroine, depending on where your loyalties lay."

Alptraum shrugs and sits down on the floor. "And everything collapsed from there, didn't it?" he asks.

Nekara nods. "That was the beginning of the end, though it's not quite over with just yet. The son of the Sabaoth – Boghaz bar Sabaoth – took the place of his father, though he did not take up the title of Sabaoth – which means 'Almighty'. Rather, he only kept his title as High Prince – that is, the son of the Sabaoth that would presumably be the heir when his father's reign would end; of course, for ages, the Sabaoth outlived his own harem and his own offspring, so it was a purely honorary title."

"Boghaz bar Sabaoth had been influenced by the ways of other lands, for he had been exiled by his own father – You see, he had fallen in love with a woman by the name of Saraizadze, and they planned to marry, but when the Sabaoth saw her, he desired her for himself, and wished to add her to his harem. A soft-hearted healer by the name of Roho – a blind member of a people known as the Zerda – saved the Sabaoth's life, and was granted a boon. It was expected that he would ask for great wealth and prestige, but instead he asked that Boghaz be given Saraizadze's hand in marriage with the Sabaoth's blessing. This enraged the Sabaoth, and he expelled both Healer Roho and his own son from the country. Little did he know that Boghaz had his own loyal followers, and that Saraizadze would flee with him. When Boghaz later returned, Saraizadze became his queen."

"Figured as much," Alptraum mutters, then listens. "Why do I suspect that Boghaz came to a bad end as well?"

"But Boghaz," Nekara continues, nodding to Alptraum's suspicions, "though faithful to the traditions of the Yodh, and mindful of the pressures of outsiders to use this opportunity to try to undermine our authority with a new ruler, still was swayed by outside conventions. He was perceived as weak, and thus he was assassinated, though it is not known by what hand he fell. His wife took over rule of the nation in his stead, having her subjects refer to her only as High Princess – the title she gained by marrying the High Prince."

"And is she still in power, or has she too been cast out or killed?" he inquires next.

Nekara shakes her head. "No, there have been attempts on her life, not the least of which being the Boomer that was dropped directly on her palace – but she was away when that happened, during the New Year's celebration. She still reigns, though the power of the throne has diminished greatly. Babel has been in two wars with Rephidim in the past few years, and lost both. With the Boomer, it would seem that some wish that Babel be prevented from ever challenging Rephidim's authority again."

"Quite," Alptraum agrees. "So, now it appears the sisters are calling in help. One of which is me. The other is the child we go to save. The child who is Life and Death, and me, the Bardiphath with sway over the Sea of Souls," he says and looks down at the floor. "And then there's the dream pendant the Khatta stole. I really think this ties in. If someone could access the dream realm with it, they might be able to find a way to prevent Babel's protectors from being successful."

Nekara nods. "Perhaps. For the past few years, there have been many increases in signs among the Yodh, and even the faithful outside their ranks. There have been reports of miracles, visions of the Kindly Ones, and endless reports of shared dreams … though none quite like those that you and I have been having. I myself came into the use of the gifts of Sunala during this period of turmoil … so I cannot honestly say how much of my ability is due to my own faithfulness to Sunala, or due to this increase in the generosity of the Seven. And I suppose I should introduce you to all of them… "

"Well, I've not been faithful to anything, and I seem to have a gift," Alptraum comments.

"True," Nekara says with a frown, then moves right along. "Now then, there are the seven Sisters, and there is some manner of debate as to which is the eldest, though the matter of the youngest is well established. Of what I have observed of your upbringing, I do not think you will like any of them very much. I do not expect you to. Even the Yodh are not expected to. We do not choose our deities. They choose us."

"How much have you observed of my upbringing? And you're right; so far I like none of them," Alptraum admits.

"I've spent enough time passing through Sylvania to understand at least a little of your culture," Nekara says. "Now then, the Seven would be Inala, Sunala, Gorphat, Blakat, Rephath, Zakaro, and lastly Barada."

"Inala," Nekara explains, "is Goddess of Pleasure. She is one of the best known even beyond Babel, since hers is the domain that has the broadest appeal to the lowest common interest. All pleasures are her domain … and I do mean all."

"And I know something of Inala, Sunala, Rephath, and Zakaro, albeit little," Alptraum comments, frowning at hearing more talk about all sorts of pleasure.

"Well, then, I shall not waste much breath explaining them, then," Nekara says. "Sunala's realm is that of death. Rephath is the Goddess of Vengeance, though some are inclined to call her the Goddess of Justice. Zakaro is Goddess of Sorcery and the Mystical Arts. Gorphat is Goddess of Affliction … and a great many people pray to Her not to give Her 'blessings' to them. Blakat is a goddess of many things: of Conflict, primarily, and thus a goddess of war … though she is also known as the Mad Goddess. Barada is the youngest and the most mischievous, and many are deceived into thinking her the most benevolent on account of it. She is generally depicted as, in a word, 'cute.' However, do not be swayed by her or her young servants. She is the Goddess of Secrets, and all of her daughters are spies. She is also a thief, and a hoarder of wealth, and there are many merchants that pray to her for the hope of favor in their businesses."

"You may think that the realms of these goddesses seem less than pleasing," Nekara says. "Many ask, 'why do they not have a goddess of wine, or a goddess of harvest, or a god of healing, or a god of wisdom?' If only the gods and goddesses were so inclined as to follow our own wishes and fit into the roles we would prefer for them. But that is not the case, and Sunala bears me no ill will for stating the truth as such. Sunala is what She is – because She so chooses."

"And you refer to these goddesses as the 'kindly ones?'" Alptraum inquires. "Then we should have the right to follow, or not follow them as we choose. Or cast them out, if we so choose."

"It is up to you whom you shall follow, but it is easiest for those who have not the attention of the deities. I have been branded with Sunala's mark, and it is impossible for me to escape Her notice. My path has been set. You, for whatever path you may choose for yourself, will never escape Sunala's notice, either," Nekara says. "Embrace it, or flee, that is your decision. But for now, as cruel as the 'Kindly Ones' (and, indeed, that is a vainly hopeful euphemism with much irony in it) may be, they still have in common that Babel is Their chosen city … and as cruel as They may be with individual mortals, toying with them as is Their wont, They will not stand for Babel to be crushed by the foreigners."

"There are some legends you should learn," Nekara says, "though they are not especially pleasant compared to your Sylvanian legends." (This said when even Sylvanian legends are not known for being especially cheery.) "If you have the time, I will tell some of them to you."

Alptraum flicks a few strands of white hair. "I suppose I'm marked as well," he says, sighing. "But now that I know my 'fleeing' might be the death of you, I can't exactly do that anymore either. You have no idea how close I came to vanishing back in Osterania." He shakes his head, then adds, "In any event, I don't want to see our people suffer. The way of the gypsy is not to get involved, yet I can't seem to help getting involved. I am involved. And I suggest you don't think you know everything about me. You don't know what I went through growing up in Sylvania. Or how alone I felt there most of the time. After meeting that little Eeee in the dream, I had hopes that I really wasn't alone. Then I met you, and the more I learn – I feel more alone than ever." He then nods and says, "Sorry, yes, I would like to hear them."

Nekara nods. "Have a seat, then, and I will tell you some tales… "

---

"… and, of course, there are a great many more stories. They contradict each other on many points, but you must understand – in the realm of the deities, time does not function as we understand it, nor reality. Things to not happen in an orderly, timely fashion, one before the other, one instead of the other. In the spirit realm, a great many things are possible," Nekara says. "What remains for us, mortals, however, are the inevitable facts of life – and death. In time, all of us will die. In the end, there will only be Sunala. The pleasures of life are only temporary, and revenge is fleeting. To engage in sorcery is to toy with being a god without truly being one, and secrets will eventually be found out, or lost in obscurity. Disease is but one of many ways to suffer and die, and war but another. In the end, there is only Sunala."

"And depending on where you live, taxes," Alptraum comments, trying to find some way to uplift his mood after hearing such tales of horror. It doesn't work. He goes back to looking at the floor and sits quietly for some time. At last, he looks up to Nekara and says, "I suppose we could look on ourselves as being blessed, then, to be so – marked. But I find that a small comfort, after hearing those stories." His claws tap softly on the floor, his expression growing more grim as time passes.

Autumn-Storm, who has been largely forgotten in all this (small wonder, since she's so quiet), just sits, staring off. At some point, she stopped that drumming with her fingers on the wood, and now her fingers are just wrapped with each other.

Alptraum looks over at his Savanite friend, just now realizing that she's been here and probably understood parts of those stories. He signs, "Are you all right?"

"Yes. Many are those who would rather escape the notice of the higher powers, but, when all is said and done, I do not wish to count myself among the forgotten. I would far rather have the attention of the 'Kindly Ones,' whatever price that may entail. To do otherwise is to live and die in obscurity, my life but a brief cloud of mist lost with the rising of the sun," Nekara says. "I think I will go have a walk on the deck, and give you some time alone." She rises and heads for the door.

Autumn-Storm blinks, only catching Alptraum's sign out of the corner of her eye. She turns to him, signing, "What?"

"You get used to being alone and obscure, Nekara. Sad as that sounds," he says as Nekara gets up to leave. "Just stay away from that captain. I still think he's going to try something." He then turns his attention back to Autumn-Storm and signs, "You looked lost in thought. After those stories my sister told, I thought maybe you were upset. I am."

Nekara silently leaves the room, and Autumn-Storm watches her leave … and as if fearing that Nekara might understand more of Silent Sign than she lets on, Autumn-Storm waits until she and Alptraum are alone before replying, "These goddesses frighten me. They are even worse than those the tribe believed in. At least the Savan gods were not devoted to wickedness; they only got angry or jealous from time to time, as people do."

"They frighten me too," Alptraum admits. "I'm not sure what to do. I want to meet those who are my family, and come to understand them. I'm so tired of being alone. I want to know where I'm from. Who I was supposed to be. But, I'm not sure it's worth the cost. I am so glad you're with me on this. I feel I can trust your viewpoint of it all, and in case things get bad, two have a better chance to escape than one."

Autumn-Storm frowns. "Well, don't count on me too much. Too much more of this, and I may see what my chances look like in Rephidim. After all, it's bound to drift back over Sylvania eventually… " The cheetah sighs.

A knock on the door interrupts whatever else Autumn-Storm was going to sign. "Hey there," the voice from the other side comes, clearly belonging to Captain Dash. "I'm pleased to report that we'll be in sight of Rephidim by the morrow." He sounds more cheery than usual.

"Your choice, Autumn-Storm. This is why I asked if you wanted to come. If you go, I wish you well. I'm willing to see what Babel is like in person, and I want to see if we can get some help in locating that necromancer. If things really are this nasty, I'm not… ," he signs, then stands up. "That's great! How much longer, do you think? Have you told Nekara?"

"If the winds hold out, sometime around sunrise," the captain says. "Oh yeah, I should probably remind you folks, if you're from Babel and all, in Rephidim, Savanites are all freed. No slavery allowed there. Not that I'm inferring anything. Just letting you know."

"Autumn-Storm isn't a slave, no worries," Alptraum replies and goes over to quietly pick up his crossbow and bolts. Carefully and as quietly as he can, he slips it over his shoulder, then picks up his knife and tucks it into his belt. "I have a bad feeling suddenly," he signs to Autumn-Storm. "He seems overly cheery and Nekara is by herself. I doubt she could stop several guys and if they've got any ideas in their heads… "

Autumn-Storm nods, her expression souring even more.

"Have any weapons left?" he inquires.

"And, don't worry. We'll keep nice and quiet about you being from Babel and having a Yodhinala in your number and all. I know how uppity the Temple can get about you Babelites. Nekara and I are going to have a nice little chat over dinner in my quarters about it. My treat. Just to show how much I appreciate your patronage. I can bring you something, if you'd like, even. Got some fine Gallisian vintage," the wolf says, still sounding cheery, almost gloating.

"You are? I think I'd like to ask Nekara about that. She didn't seem in the mood for guests on this trip," Alptraum replies. He then starts fitting bolts into his crossbow, growing more concerned.

Autumn-Storm just nods, patting a lump in the folds of her jerkin.

"Heh," the wolf says, "you go ahead and ask her about it, then." This is followed by the sounds of the Jupani's footsteps moving away from the door.

Alptraum moves to the door and presses an ear up against it to see if h hears any breathing on the other side. Just in case more than one were on the other side.

The cheetah glowers. "Wasn't planning on taking on the whole crew. Guess this'll be an eventful trip after all."

It's silent outside the room. No one is out there in the narrow hallway for the moment. It sounds like all the stomping around to be done is going on above decks, though Alptraum can hear some lighter steps coming down the stairs. It could be Nekara returning.

Alptraum cracks the door and peers out to see if he can see who is coming down.

It is Nekara, and she wears an even more sour look than before – a disgusted look. She adjusts the collar of her robes, then stops, turning to glare at Alptraum … but her glare quickly simmers and she shakes her head, looking away.

Alptraum opens the door and steps out, crossbow ready. "Care to explain what is going on?" he hisses.

Nekara says, "In his idea of subtle hinting, he has threatened to alert Temple authorities of our presence in Rephidim … if he doesn't have the pleasure of my company to join him for 'dinner' tonight."

Alptraum's eyes narrow. "That's going too far. I think I want to have a word with the Captain. Bah, I should make him dinner," he comments, looking equally annoyed.

Nekara looks to Alptraum. "Carefully consider this. He could turn us over. He could jeopardize our entire mission. If Srinala is being held with the cooperation of the Rephidim authorities, then surely they would expect a rescue attempt to be mounted … and they are not likely to care that it's a 'Yodhinala' he reports coming to visit Rephidim, rather than a 'Yodhsunala.'"

"You could equally as subtly suggest that we'll tell the Temple authorities he brought us along to use us as decoys for his Yorspice smuggling," Alptraum says with a grim-looking smirk. "Nekara, I'm not going to let him touch you. He's loathsome." He then pauses and considers, then asks, "Have any drugs in your pouch that could put him to sleep?"

"Oh, I could put him to sleep, all right," Nekara says. "I am simply weighing the various risks involved. If he had committed this offense in Babel, his punishment would be … unpleasant."

"I know I could make it unpleasant," Alptraum mutters. "Could you make him sleep, and feel as if he had a major hangover? That way he wouldn't 'remember' the night before?"

Nekara is quiet a moment, mulling over this. "That, actually, is a very good idea. And I could invoke a prayer of Sunala to ensure that he feels very exhausted, leading him to believe he has been engaging in all manner of activities to put him in such a state. That might prove more prudent than … silencing him entirely."

"After he passes out, rough up the room? Make it look like some sort of wild, uhm, event happened," Alptraum says. "Heck, tomorrow morning I could just make occasional comments on deck to the crew about what a wild night you had," he then says with a wince. "I hate the thought if implying such, but… "

"Let's not … push it," Nekara says. "The crew has already gotten the impression that we are not too keen on indulging the captain. They would be suspicious if we were suddenly of a new mind." Nekara takes in a deep breath. "I will need to make use of the floor space in the cabin. I need to work a few rituals while there is time … and prepare some special 'pleasure-enhancing' formulae."

"In other words, you want us out," Alptraum says.

Nekara just nods to this, and heads into the cabin.

Alptraum unloads his crossbow and sets it inside the door. He then waves to Autumn-Storm to come out with him, then signs, "Let's go up to the deck for a bit."

Autumn-Storm gives Alptraum a querulous "What's up?" look, but just nods and gets up, following him out of the cabin, not daring to look back at Nekara.

"Bad things. The captain has threatened to turn us in unless Nekara spends time with him. She's working out a way to fool him and wants privacy," Alptraum signs. "Besides, I'd like to talk to Dash for a bit. His name is familiar to me."

Autumn-Storm nods. "I may be able to help you there. 'Captain Dash' is the name of a quasi-legendary fox corsair who is celebrated in a great many 'romance novels.' There are some women in Kurai Town who actually read that garbage."

Alptraum blinks. "That's it. The Khatta girls in the tribe read that crud. Hexen wanted to be like him once," he signs, then groans. "Think this is the real Dash, or someone who just has a huge ego?"

Autumn-Storm shakes her head. "He can't be. Captain Dash was a Fox – an Exile hero from some far-flung world, cursed to be trapped on Sinai, forever seeking a way to return to his home and his lost love … but not above having a few flings with new loves while here on Sinai."

Alptraum just shakes his head and mutters, "Sad." He then heads toward the stairs and up onto the deck.

Autumn-Storm, mostly to herself, signs, "He is slightly russet-furred. Maybe a really stupid girl might be convinced that he's a Fox, if she's never met one before… "

On the deck, the captain is walking around, head and tail high, looking like he's king of the world, at least in his own mind. The crew for the most part are busy with whatever it is that airshipmen do to make sure an airship stays on course … though some of it seems to largely entail pulling on ropes only when the captain is looking and making busy-work, then privately chattering with each other when he's looking the other way.

Once on deck, Alptraum walks over to a rail and looks out into the sky. Occasionally, he glances over the deck and crew. His gaze returns repeatedly to the Captain, trying to figure out just what he is. "So, Captain … Dash, was it? Where are you from?" he finally asks.

The Jupani laughs. "From the woodlands of the Himar. Though sometimes I tell a different tale." He winks as if sharing a private joke in good humor.

Alptraum laughs and says, "Wouldn't be one that's also told in books lots of girls read, would it? I knew your name was familiar."

"Yes sir! I'm the heir to the name, seeing as the original Captain Dash bought the big one. I was formerly a member of his crew. I'm one of the survivors." The captain shakes his head. "What a way to go. Dropped right out of the bottom of the airship, through a trap door. Shrieked his head off all the way down. There was the smell of fear in the air, I tell you, all the way back up to the deck."

A few of the crewmen laugh loudly at the captain's retelling.

"Seriously? I imagine if word of that got out, many a girl's heart would be broken," the Eeee replies, then shrugs. "How come he fell through a trap door?"

"Well," the Jupani says, "there was a fight… "

Alptraum's claws tap on the rail. "Over?"

One of the crewmen pipes up, "Wasn't that black Khatta count involved? The jinxed fellow?"

"Kurai of Blackshire?" Alptraum asks.

"Yeah, that's it," another crewman says.

The captain holds up a hand to silence the others. "It is not to be spoken of," he says, then takes off his hat, holding it over his heart. "We must remember the captain the way he would want to be remembered."

"Screaming like a grandmother and widdling in his pantaloons all the way down to the ground?" a Skreek pipes up.

"I'm not certain he would appreciate you impersonating him, though," Alptraum comments, then stifles a laugh.

"I'm just carrying on the tradition," the captain says. "The legend lives on. Besides, there's always some girl who'll go mushy over the thought of being with Captain Dash. And I'm taller than the original."

"You're also not a fox," Alptraum points out, then shrugs. "And I guess it's not like he'll know. He's dead."

"Tch," the captain says. "There are many a girl who've never seen one. We get around quite a bit, we do. How many Foxes have you met, eh?"

"One of my best friends is a black fox," Alptraum says with a smirk. "So, one. His mother is another I've met."

"What about his father, then?" the captain asks, eyebrow raised.

"Dunno. His supposed father was Rhian, although no one really believed that," Alptraum replies with a shrug.

The captain guffaws and slaps one of his crewmen on the shoulder. "Aha! Just might be another part of Dash's legacy!" The others burst out laughing as well.

Alptraum laughs. "Hate to burst that little thought, but Hexen is around my age. I'm in my twenties," he replies with a smirk. He pauses, looks at the captain, then says, "And I know my sister's business is her own, but do treat her well, all right?" He then proceeds to look around the deck for Autumn-Storm.

Autumn-Storm lurks near the steps, doing her best to keep out of sight and away from the attentions of the crew.

"Heh, I'll treat her like a lady," the captain says, doffing his hat again. "Can't expect any less from Captain Dash, now can you?"

"Well, as long as you don't scream like a grandmother and widdle in your pantaloons, I suppose that will do," Alptraum answers and starts to walk toward Autumn-Storm, laughing.

Alptraum catches just a glimpse of the captain souring at this remark, and can hear all too well the other crewmembers laughing at their captain's (former or present) expense. Autumn-Storm does her best to hide a smirk.

"Couldn't resist," Alptraum signs to Autumn as he heads toward her. "Would you like the drink he offered earlier? I don't, but you might."

Autumn-Storm shakes her head. "I want a clear head. This might get ugly yet."

"All right. Not really much for us to do but wait and keep watch," he signs, then leans on the wall near the stairwell. He looks around the deck again and starts counting the crew. Better to know the odds in case of a fight.

Four Skreeks, two straight-legged Jupani, two Rhians … and one jack-legged Jupani as the captain. That looks to be the makeup of the crew for this small sad airship.

"Nine," Alptraum thinks. "Three to one odds. That's not good at all. The crossbow could drop two before needing to reload. The Rhians first, maybe. They're usually the toughest."

"Think we'll make it okay?" Alptraum asks Autumn-Storm, doing so only when it looks like no one is looking in their direction.

Autumn-Storm signs, "I'm not sleeping tonight."

"Good. I'll have someone to talk to, then," comes the reply.

The sun finishes rising, and the day passes in agonizing slowness. Occasionally, it seems that the captain turn that dinner date into something a little early, but Alptraum and Autumn-Storm manage to forestall him … giving Nekara, one might hope, what time she needs to prepare whatever she has in mind. However, evening rolls around eventually, and the next time he comes calling, Nekara opens the door. "I am ready," she says, with all the solemnity of a prisoner prepared to go to her execution. The sobriety is lost on the captain, though … possibly because he seems to have had a before-dinner drink or two already.

Alptraum almost reminds the captain of what he said earlier on deck, but decides not to push it. Instead, he just waves, trying to cover up any expressions of worry with a neutral one.

Nekara turns to look back at Alptraum, but her expression, as usual, is unreadable. Is she trying to reassure him? Is this a plea for help? Is she just checking to make sure he's still there? He's spent a while with Nekara, but he still hasn't learned to read her quite the way he's learned to read Autumn-Storm. The gloating captain opens the door for Nekara, and she walks on in. "My," he says, as he closes the door. "It's kinda stuffy in here… "

Autumn-Storm walks up beside Alptraum and puts a hand on his shoulder lightly.

Alptraum's ears cant forward as the door closes. He may not be able to watch with his eyes, but his ears are another matter. He then starts, caught off guard and looks over to Autumn-Storm and signs, "Yes?"

Autumn-Storm signs, "Don't worry. I'm sure she can take care of him."

"Can't help but worry," Alptraum signs, ears still trained on the door. He then smiles slightly and signs, "Thank you for being concerned, though."

The cheetah nods. Time passes slowly. There are many sounds in there … many sounds that give Alptraum concern, for with his Eeee hearing, he can hear a great many things, but it still doesn't give him the whole picture. Still, it seems that the wolf has little interest in going through the pretenses of a candle-light dinner or whatnot. It does sound like he's breathing heavily, though there's no sound from Nekara but some chanting. Finally, the wolf lets out a loud howl … and Alptraum can hear several voices from above decks cheering and laughing and guffawing – and then … a loud thump. (With all the noise above decks, hopefully nobody heard that part.)

Alptraum sits motionless through most of it, gripping his crossbow tightly. Finally, he signs, "Be thankful you can't hear as well as me. I don't know what happened, but I heard Nekara chanting and … " He sighs.

"I really want to barge in there," he admits. "I can't stand sitting here, feeling useless."

There are some scuffling noises inside the room. No sound from the wolf. There are some sounds on the stairs, though. Perhaps some of the crew are coming to put their ears to the door, too. Or maybe to steal from his stash of booze while he's occupied.

Alptraum moves to the door and cracks it again ever so slightly. He then peers through to see what is going on.

It looks like Nekara is busily going about the room, trashing it artfully, while the wolf can be partly seen sprawled out on the floor, with a stupid grin on his face and a blank gaze. Nekara's attire is slightly out of place at the moment, though, suggesting that even this charade was none too pleasant an experience … but by the looks of it, the Jupani is down for the count.

Alptraum keeps watch in case any of the crew decide to come pry while Nekara is redecorating. He wants to know just what happened, but isn't sure he should ask. Even if he did, he isn't sure Nekara would answer.

A couple of curiosity-seekers come below decks, but Alptraum is able to dissuade them with a few well-chosen words, convincing them that a little privacy is in order. They seem more wary of creating any noise in the hall and thus waking the captain than honestly caring about his dignity, so they don't put up a fight.

After a while, the door to the captain's chamber opens, and Nekara peeks out, her hair in even more disarray than before (obviously done intentionally).

Alptraum nods to her, but doesn't say anything at this time. He looks at her intently, eyes and ears, trying to get an idea if her heart is racing or some such.

"If they ask," Nekara whispers, "he's sleeping it off. And I … am going to get some sleep, too." She pushes the door open, and Alptraum briefly gets an eyeful of more of Captain Dash's back side than he ever wanted to, but she thankfully quickly closes the door behind her, as she goes over to their shared cabin.

Alptraum follows after Nekara. Once inside their cabin, he speaks up. "Are you okay? I was … worried," he says softly.

"I am all right," Nekara says. "We should make haste off the ship as soon as we set down. I don't want to explain any more than I have to."

"Not even to us?" Alptraum asks, then nods. "The sooner we're off, the better. I've learned some about ol' 'Dash' anyway. He's using that identity; the original is dead. I'm so tempted to try and get the original to haunt him." He shrugs. "And sorry for worrying. I … never mind." Instead, he does and sits down on the floor and leans up against the wall tiredly.

Nekara shakes her head. "Don't rouse the dead. That is necromancy. That is exactly the sort of thing this sorcerer enemy of yours would do."

Alptraum shrugs in response and looks at the door to their shared cabin. Perhaps they can bar it for the rest of the night so all of them could get sleep.

Yes, the door does have a bolt, though not a very sturdy one. Anyone determined could easily break the door down. And given the condition of the ship, one could probably make alternate means of entry if one were really determined and had an axe handy.

Alptraum gets up to lock the bolt. Once locked, he loads up the crossbow and well and sets it on the floor nearby and sits back down. "Hopefully, if they try to get in we'll hear it in time. I don't like the idea of sleeping, but we're no good all tired in case they try something tomorrow morn when we dock," he says tiredly.

Nekara doesn't even respond. She just claims the free bunk and collapses on it. Autumn-Storm already took the other bunk. That seems to leave poor Alptraum with the floor.

Alptraum reclines against the wall, crossbow nearby and loaded, just in case. He lets his silver eyes close, ears still canted toward the door and listening – well, for as long as he'll stay awake. His mind keeps going back to that little Eeee, and how alone and afraid she must feel. What can I really do to help her? What am I doing? The Eeee shrugs slightly, settling in for the night.