Feli "Jynx" Kurai has secured passage to Sylvania. Yes, the wealthy son of a merchant, hero of the Savan, and owner of a castle, couldn't afford to get anything better than this. First of all, the Temple taxes were murder. Second … iron … just isn't what it used to be, especially since people started coming back from the Red Cliffs or that place called "Abaddon", claiming that iron could be found littering the byways … and carrying enough back to prove it!

The airship is at the docks of Rephidim, ready to set sail on a chartered trip to Sylvania. Apparently they can't just fly straight to the castle – something about freaky weather once you get that far north, and especially in the rainy season. They'll have to stop off in a town on the way, and take a wagon or some other ground transportation to Blackshire. But what better things can a Khatta find to do with his time anyway?

Jynx, along with the heavy trunk he inherited from his Aunt Alysin and a few other assorted pieces of baggage, clumsily trundles his way onto the airship. "Stupid Temple," he grumbles under his breath, almost panting from all the weight, "taking my rightful money. It's just not fair!" He sighs, and lets all his belongings fall to the deck. "Oh well, off we go yet again, la-tee-dah."

The captain – a bony-looking black Eeee – paces the deck, his unlit pipe dangling from his lips. He stops at the sight of the Khatta, and manages a smile, putting his pipe away for the moment. "Ah! Master Kurai! Welcome to the Winning Grin!" His grin isn't winning, but that's just a ship's name, after all.

A bundled-up digitigrade feline accompanies Jynx, helping him carry the trunk. The feline bears a collar that identifies him as a slave belonging to Jynx, and presumably there's a Savanite underneath those bundles, but he doesn't show off any spots.

Taking up the bulk of the deck, oddly enough, is a covered wagon, with a wooden roof and sides. It looks as if it would serve nicely enough as a cottage, really, with wheels. The sides are painted in blue, though the paint is badly faded and peeling away, decorated with randomly scattered stars that are just as faded.

A sign on the side of the wagon reads "Madame Xanadu". Below that, a sign reads, "Knows All, Tells All".

The black feline nods a weary greeting to the bat. "Hello, Captain. Right on time like I promised." He motions for the cheetah to drop the trunk. He notices the wagon, and looks quizzically at the captain. "What's that for?"

On the dock walking towards the boarding plank of the airship is the diminutive form of an Aelfin dressed in green robes. The little creature does her best to avoid the various dock workers who are busily making their way too and from the ship as she attempts to get aboard herself.

"Another passenger," says the captain to Jynx, "headed for Sylvania as well. She heads to and fro all the time." He gestures with his pipe back toward the wagon. The wheels are off the axles, so the wagon won't roll anywhere, and everything has been securely lashed to the deck.

A foppish-looking fox prances alongside the Aelfin, gleefully strumming his lute. He sing-songs as he goes…

Kurai, Kurai, a wonderful guy,

There's much more to him than meets the eye!

Where'er he goes, the girl Khattas sigh,

For such a grand guy – as Kurai!

"Well, I suppose I'll get to make her acquaintance eventually- oh… good grief!" Jynx smacks his forehead as the bellowing of the fox reaches his ears. "What is he doing here?"

"Vat are zhu doink here?" caws a voice from behind the black Khatta. The voice belongs to an elderly Korv in a blue star-spangled dress, with a purple sash tied around her midsection, and a matching shawl tied over her head. From under the shawl dangle two hoop earrings … though Korvs don't have ears to speak of.

The feline spins around to face the other voice… Hey, where has he seen her before? He thinks hard… blinking lights… a tunnel… near death – oh… oh no! "Oh- uh, hello… long time no see… ma'am… "

The constant thump of the Aelfin's staff can be heard from the shadow of the singing fox as the little one follows along side him. Her ears perk up a bit when she hears the voice of Jynx and the female Korv. For now, the Aelfin remains quiet and simply looks between her companion, the 'Foppish Fox', and the others aboard the ship.

A bored-looking Appaloosa Rhian reclines against the tied-down wagon, looking to be on the verge of dozing off. He is dressed in gypsy attire of a style similar to the Korv's … though, of course, more befitting his frame and gender.

The foppish fox bows to the captain as he boards. "We are companions of the generous – and wealthy – Master Feli 'Jynx' Kurai. Here to see him off to grand and glorious adventures!"

On the docks, a pink carriage rolls along the street, pulled by a team of … pink Drokars? The carriage seems to be shaped like a great big, stylized heart shape. Such curious traffic this time of day.

Jynx turns back to the fox, his brow creasing, "What? Since when?" The Khatta sets his ears back at the vulpine, and crosses his arms. "If you think I'm going to pay your way, you've got another think coming, bucko!"

The Korv, meanwhile, says, "I am Madame Xanadu, zhu young … creazhure! Zhu haff a hex on zhu, I zay! I can tell! *KAW!* Bad karma!" She glares at Jynx balefully.

The fox whimpers, and whines to Jynx (competing with the crow for his attention), "But … I am a bard … and you are a hero! You need a bard to compose ballads to celebrate your adventures! And … " He gestures toward the short white-furred child-like creature next to him. "You need a wise mage to advise you!"

The captain just chews on his pipe, looking back and forth, trying to keep up with all of this.

The Khatta notices the carriage out of the corner of his eye… and knows of only one individual that could belong to. With a sigh, he turns back to the Korv. "Will you shut up already! You say that every time I see you, and it's nothing I don't know already!!"

Jynx feels like a pinwheel as he swivels back to the fox, "Nuh-uh, nada, nope! If you wanna come, you pay your way!"

"Zhut up? Zhut up? *KAW!* Zhu not zay zuch zhings to Madame Xanadu, zhu young WHIPPERZHNAPPER!" She flaps her wings and bounces up into the air. In a flurry of wings, she grabs Jynx's ear before he can manage to react, even with his cat-like reflexes. Ouch. "Zhay zhu are ZHORRY!"

"OW! Hey, LEGGO!" The Khatta squirms, swatting at the avian, but missing by far. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry already!"

At some point during all the distractions, a white kitten has materialized on the dock, accompanied by a very large butler … and a very large maid. (Is that Gnarr's wife?) The kitten waves a pink hankie from her carriage. "Yoo hoo! Jyyyynxie! Happy travels! Just wanted to see you off!" She's completely oblivious, of course, to any bodily harm being done to her big brother right now. He's used to that sort of thing, after all, being an adventurer.

The little Aelfin stands a bit taller when the bard refers to her as a 'wise mage'. She smiles brightly at Jynx and curtsies slightly, before introducing herself in a child-like voice. "I… I am Scarlet, Mage Apprentice, and I have come by mention of this fox to offer my skill to… assist you in your adventure. I do not require great payment." Of course, since Jynx is being guided by the ear about now, the introduction is easy to miss.

Madame Xanadu lets go, making a "hmph!" noise. She waddles back to her wagon. "Zhu need to learn zome manners!"

Jynx rubs his poor, sore ear, and turns to regard his sister. "Hello, Eve. Yup, I'm off." He stands back straight, smoothing out his bristled fur. "Are you taking care of that dress of Alysin's? And who is this?" He looks up at the burly female maid. He glances back to the Aelfin. "Oh, hello. Sorry, no money to spend for mages at the moment. Uh… broke, you know… "

Eve mews, "Gnarr's whole family came to live with me in my palace! And, yes, I'm taking good care of the dress. I think it'll look much better on me than on you! Tee hee! What's this about mages? Oooo! Hello there!" The white kitten waves happily at the childish-seeming Aelfin. "Are you Jynxie's friend?"

The captain says, "We need to be heading off soon. If you'll stow your things away… "

Jynx's silent, bundled companion nods, and drags the black Khatta's trunk below-decks.

The mage's ears lower some, and she frowns noticeably. She ponders this turn of events a moment until Eve addresses her, at which point she turns to the girl and lifts her hand in greeting. "Greetings! I… " she begins, glancing to Jynx with wide eyes before continuing, "I am not. I have come to offer my assistance, but it seems I am not needed."

"Thank you, sir," Jynx says to the captain, then turns back to Eve and the Aelfin. "Friend? Well," he eyes the fopfox, "considering the company she keeps… I dunno." He shrugs with a sigh.

The foppish fox dashes up to Eve, and drops to his knees. "Oh, beauteous Duchess Kurai … whose cuteness is renowned across the sky … I just cannot see how or why … your older brother would deny … employment to such a bard as I … or a lovely mage as Scarlet … sigh!"

The black cat gives a long-suffering gaze to the sky, ears set back.

Eve hmphs. "Oh, Jynxie … he's such a shekel-pincher. Here. I'll cover you." In her sing-song voice, she sweetly mews, "Oh captainnnnnn!" She jiggles her cute little pink and frilly shekel-purse.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" The foppish fox smothers Eve's little paw with kisses.

Eve giggles. "Tee hee!"

Jynx just stares at his sibling, "Eeeeeeve!" He says in an annoyed tone. "Don't you have better things to spend the cash Alysin gave you?"

The captain walks over … and then walks back, fare in hand. "Welcome aboard," he says to the fox and the Aelfin.

Eve mews, "It's my going-away present to you, Jynxie! You make a wonderful adventurer! I'll make another play about you as soon as you get back!"

The Aelfin follows the bard over to the carriage, though she certainly doesn't dash. Along the way, the little one takes the time to examine the carriage itself with those large eyes of hers. By the way she smiles in that adorable way, one can only assume she is fond of the design. As she reaches the carriage itself she curtsies to the girl inside. "Great thanks to you, kind noblewoman. I am in your debt for your generosity."

"All aboard!" calls out the Eeee captain.

Eve smiles and mews, "Have fun!"

The black Khatta watches the exchange of cash with a wince, and sighs. "Looks like it's gonna be a looong trip… " He bends over as the captain makes final calls, and gives Eve a hug. "Well, anyways, you be careful while I'm gone."

Eve gives Jynx a hug. "You come back soon, Jynxie … or write me lots! And don't fall out of the airship, okay? Love you!" She gives her big brother a peck on the cheek.

The Aelfin watches the exchange with her free hand placed against her chest. "Certainly they are quite adorable," she mentions to the foppish one.

The fox remarks, "I hope he's not this stingy for the whole trip. I travel light!"

Jynx stands back up, gives a nod to Gnarr, then walks off while waving to his little sister. "Okay, will do." The feline makes his way towards the cabin, intent on sleeping as much as possible during this journey as to drown out the existence of the fox.

Eve waves her kerchief from her carriage, and Gnarr and his wife wave as well, as the Winning Grin slowly glides away from the docks.

Grumbling about a thousand things at once, the black Khatta makes his way down to his quarters. "At least Savanites are quiet… "

Aboard the airship now, the little Aelfin rests, peering over the edge of the ship at the distant ground below. Her feet dangle an inch off the deck due to being unable to look over the side without propping herself up. "Again I travel, and with the Great Jynx. What a wonderful adventure this will be!" she tells the fox. Perhaps her time with the fox has improved her language skills, as her archaic style of Rephidim Standard has faded since her arrival. One can only hope she doesn't start spouting bad lyrics…