It has been several weeks since Creen's-Nightsong, a.k.a. Brishen Kara, left the City of Hands in search of Pathfinder's husband, Creencaller. The airship would be arriving in Ashdod within the day, and from there Brishen had a humble room at an inn awaiting her. There were a few of Third-Vision's contacts in the city; not many… but enough to search around for the missing Savanite.

The airship bumps slightly as it moves closer to the city of Babel. From here the great Tower of Babel can be seen already, rising above the mountainous countryside. The smell of sugarfir trees and orchards on the lands below waft up, giving the morning air a sweet aroma. The other passengers (mostly Babelite bats) hurry to gather up their possessions for the landing.

Horns sound out from the ground below as the ship comes ever closer to the city, Brishen's final destination. The search has been narrowed down to somewhere in Babel. Although Pathfinder is not a royal slave, he apparently does reside in that massive city somewhere. The trick will be finding out exactly where.

A young bat, Brishen, files out along with the passengers. For the journey, she has straightened her curly hair and tied it back in a long braid that trails down to the middle of her back; black, to contrast sandy fur. Her clothing is simple and earth-toned, and she has little but a sturdy pack, borrowed from the City of Hands. She would be fortunate to recognize herself in a mirror, for there's little of Bree in the wide, curious eyes of the girl who can't seem to stop looking at everything around her. A mask: One of many.

The bat's ears pop slightly as the airship starts to slowly descend. the treetops below wave in the breeze, as if greeting the oncoming ship. The smell of the city wafts in the air.

Several of the crew on the ship bustle around, dodging passengers and preparing the ship for landing.

Brishen squints, yawning. It's not like she's had a lot of time to look in the mirror, since the disguise was set. It was more important, in the end, to get the voice right: A little higher, a little younger than her own. But she got it. She takes a deep breath, caught for a moment in the memory of standing on a balcony in the palace, in a dress she will probably never wear again. She fidgets a bit, smoothing a wrinkle from the rough zolk of her blouse. It looks black to her, though Pathfinder said it was green, for certain.

More horns call out from the ship and the ground as the airship lowers the last few hundred feet. A Naga air-mage at the bow chants quietly in her circle,while a breeze flutters Brishen's blouse. Faces from the landing platform below look up to the ship; most of them are Eeee, but a few other species are represented as well, including several cheetahs.

Brishen peers down over the edge of the deck, her eyes resting on occasion on the splotches of spotted fur amidst the dark shades of the waiting Eeee. She sighs, faintly. Finding Creencaller won't be easy.

Ropes fly from the sides as the airship is secured by men below. A band of bats play for any tourists that might be arriving, and add to the atmosphere a bit. Brishen gets bumped several times as the passengers bustle down the gangplank and out to the docks below. The crowd makes it somewhat difficult to spot whomever it is she's supposed to meet here.

Brishen squeaks a few times as she's jostled about, but makes her way down to the docks where she stands for a moment, looking around.

Bats, Nagai, Khattas, and other species of Sinai swarm around the Bat, some of them wandering back onto the ship, some of them exploring, and some of them looking for someone, just like Brishen is. Off in the back of the docks, standing next to a food cart, is a Savanite munching on a pear. He doesn't push through the crowds, but seems particularly interested in the young bat lady.

Brishen hops once, trying to get a look at the Savanite, then shoulders her pack and heads over to him as she brushes a strand of hair from her eyes.

The Savanite notices Brishen's approach and straightens himself out, tossing the pear over his shoulder. He bows to the Eeee as she moves closer.

Brishen smiles and nods politely. A wing bumps up against her pack. "Hello," she squeaks, brightly. "I'm here!"

"And you are?" he signs, raising an eyebrow and smirking. Unusual behavior for a cheetah.

Brishen's smile falters, faintly. "Liesje." She tilts her head. "You are here to meet me, right?"

The Cheetah grins and nods. "As we have never met, I felt it would be wise if I made sure. A pleasure to meet you, Mistress. May I carry your pack for you while we go to the Gilded Wing Inn?"

Brishen squints, leaning forward a little. "And my last name?"

"Ven-e-tri?" the Savanite signs, using the phonetic. "I am Fly-Catcher, but I am better known as Imp."

Brishen grins, and hands her pack to Imp. "Fits. Just making sure."

"Of course, Mistress," Imp signs before hoisting up the pack. Once he's comfortable with it, he guides the bat down one of the narrow streets of Babel. "We have not found your Savanite yet, but we intend to keep looking. You will be very useful, if we have a lead that one of the People cannot follow. In the meantime, we have a comfortable room near one of the more pleasant markets for you to stay in. The owner of the inn has been told that you are the daughter of a merchant from Rephidim, here to do some business and sightseeing. It will give you an excuse to go shopping, if that is your pleasure." He winks.

Brishen stretches her wings out and rubs her shoulder, then falls in alongside the taller Savanite. She smiles. "How could I not? I am in Babel, after all."

The cheetah's ears wiggle. "I apologize that we could not send a Babelite to guide you, as one could have taken you to the Inn within minutes with his wings… but our friends here are somewhat few. Tell me, how are things in the City?"

A pair of Khattas in robes pass the pair; they look like a married couple. Bags full of souvenirs dangle from their hands as the two cats giggle to each other.

With shopping in mind, Brishen pays a little more attention to the younger Eeee around her. If she's to be a merchant's daughter, she should certainly have an idea of what's fashionable. She glances at the Savanite, vaguely surprised that he's speaking about the City, openly, even in sign. "I don't mind the walk! It's fun."

"Is there anything special you will require during your stay here? Any news we should keep an ear open for?" Imp signs, narrowly missing a collision with a blue-scaled Kiriga in bright red robes.

Brishen sticks the tip of her tongue out, thoughtfully. "They're fine, I suppose. Father's doing well." She glances at the blue-scaled Kiriga as she passes, then adds, "We've had a lot of relatives arrive, lately. It was getting noisy! I'm glad I had a chance to take a vacation."

The Kiriga wanders on his way without sparing a glance at the cheetah or the bat, although a smaller one clinging to his tail gives Brishen a merry wave as the larger tugs him along. It looks like a father and son.

Brishen giggles quietly. There's a skip in her step as she walks alongside Flycatcher. It's good to be in Babel again, even covertly.

Imp glances back at Brishen and shrugs. "Would you like some dinner? The Gilded Wing makes a succulent roast, from what I've been told."

Large ears perk at the mention of food. "It sounds really good. I think I'd like to see my room first, though." Bree fights the urge to spread her wings as she yawns.

The cheetah nods and bows. "Just around the corner, Mistress. Mind the merchants here; they stick bugs in your face." He winks and steps out into an open area amidst the tall buildings. Several bats sit in stalls and tents, and carry baskets and boxes of souvenirs, trinkets… and bugs. It wouldn't be Babel without the bugs!

Quite a few of the merchants seem to have noticed Brishen and her guide. Imp quickly jumps in front of the bat, ready to play bouncer against some of the more aggressive merchants.

"Crunchy Crickets! Fresh from the candy maker!" "Beads spun of fire and ice! Nowhere else on Sinai will you find such beautiful beads!" "Cloth! Keep the sun off your ears with a shade made from the finest cloth! Perfect for a lady!"

Brishen grins, peeking around the taller Savanite. She slows down enough to buy a few crickets from one merchant, and a candied beetle from another. The latter is popped in her mouth instantly. Crunch!

Eventually the pair make it to the Gilded Wing, a beautiful bed and breakfast inn with cloth streamers fluttering in the wind. Behind the counter, a red-furred bat sits. He looks somewhat old and content, and adds to the atmosphere of serenity by playing sweet melodies from a blue chitin pipe placed between his lips.

The young Liesje spreads her wings as soon as she has a chance, then furls them neatly along her back. Her smile is genuine, her eyes bright, and the beetle was really good. She makes a note to visit that one merchant again, after she's settled down. After all, isn't she supposed to be on vacation? Her ears cant slightly towards the older Eeee. "Hello?"

The Innkeeper plays a snatch of a merry tune and bows to the younger bat before removing the flute from his lips. "Good afternoon young lady," he squeaks. "How many I help you?"

Brishen laughs and bows to the innkeeper in turn. "Good afternoon!" She smiles. "I'm Liesje Venetri. I have a room here?"

The innkeeper grins broadly and hauls a leather-bound logbook onto his lap. He pushes some metal framed spectacles up on his nose, "My my… your father didn't tell me you were such a pretty lass. Maybe we can convince you to stay here and not bother with that sky island of yours anymore." He winks and licks the tip of his pen. "Let'ssee now… ah! Venetri, yes indeed. Three weeks already paid for. I hope you enjoy your stay." He places the book on the countertop and points to a spot for the bat to sign, dangling her room key in his other hand.

Imp waits behind Brishen, adopting the stereotypical "quietly standing slave" pose.

Liesje's eyes dart up to look at the innkeeper, as she laughs. "Thank you! I'm having a lot of fun." She signs the book, sticking the very tip of her tongue out as she signs her name in an elaborate hand, making sure to add a tiny flower at the end of her name. "There."

"Dinner is served until sunset; breakfast will be here until noon. We try to make things as relaxed as we can. If there's anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable, please feel free to ask." The innkeeper puts his pipe back to his lips. "And one more thing: You speak Ashdodite very beautifully, Madame." He winks and resumes playing.

The cheetah shrugs his bags and starts to sidle up the stairs to the rooms.

Brishen smiles as she takes the key. "Your inn is beautiful. I know I'll have a lot of fun here – I've already bought some crickets." Her ears darken, faintly. "Thank you, again! My mother would be happy to hear that – She insisted I learn!"

Brishen grins, then turns to dart after Flycatcher.

Soon Brishen has been settled into her room, which is a cozy suite that sports a tub with warm running water, a luxurious bed, and a window situated just right to catch the sunrise from the Tower of Babel. A basket of fruit sits on a dresser, as well as several maps and brochures indicating the sights to see, including tours of the tower and other events in town. All in all, it's a magnificent room – not the room of a princess… but enough to pamper any tourist.

Flycatcher carefully sets Brishen's bag on the bed. "One of the maids here is with us. She'll deliver messages for you and keep you abreast of things."

Brishen shuts the door behind her, quietly, then brushes a lock of hair from her eyes and nods. "The innkeeper noticed that I spoke Ashdodite well, but I think I was able to cover for it. What does she look like?"

"She will be wearing a blue ribbon on her tail, and unless things have changed she will be the only female servant here. Our people do not stand out as much as yours." Imp winks and flicks his tail. "Anything else I can help you with, before I leave? I have many other errands I must run before the sun sets."

Brishen tilts her head slightly as she thinks. Is she better off trying to fake a Rephidimite accent? She decides that it may not be, right now, and irrelevant with the innkeeper, since he knows Liesje's voice. She shrugs, faintly. "I'd thought about asking you for a sword, but it may not be wise to have one here, in my room. I may need one later, though." She furrows her brow. "I'm here to find Creencaller, but I also have some friends in the city I would like to speak with as well, if it won't interfere with what I'm here to do. Were you told about them?"

"No, Mistress," Imp signs. "I was only told that you were here to help us find someone. Who are these friends of yours?"

Brishen bites her lower lip, thinking. "Degarde and Reico. They're both friends from Rephidim. Reico has been missing here for a long time, but I have reason to believe he's – happy. He's doing well. So I must let Degarde know that he can stop searching for him." She goes on to describe the mousy Babelite aide and the clumsy courier with the floppy satchel. "It won't be safe for Degarde and I to be seen with each other, so it may be enough to get word to him that he can stop searching."

Brishen shrugs, faintly. "I don't know where either are – only that they're somewhere in Babel. It's little to go on."

"I shall keep my eyes open for them, Mistress." The cheetah taps his chin before freeing his hands up to resume signing, "I may not be able to get you a sword, but perhaps a dagger?"

Brishen sighs and sits on the edge of her bed. She nods. "Is there a place nearby where a few things could be hidden? The dagger, perhaps, and some material for a disguise, were I to need it? I would rather I not leave such things here, where they might be discovered."

Brishen smiles, faintly. "I could give them to the maid, when she arrives."

"She may be able to hide them with the laundry. Thistletail is still a slave, however lax her master may be. She would probably get in trouble if caught with objects that did not belong to her," Imp signs. "I could take them for you… or we could find some place to hide them, but that would mean they would not be readily available to you here."

Brishen furrows her brow. "It's better for her not to take anything, then. Keep the dagger somewhere safe, but where you know you can get it quickly if I need it. I'll hide the rest: My present guise was to last for as long as I was here, so I've brought little but what I need to maintain the ruse, and darken my fur if I need to."

"As you wish, Mistress." Imp grins. "Anything else? Should I try to fetch you better disguise makings?"

Brishen grins. "There may be a need for it later, but I think I'll be fine with what I have for now." Her head tilts slightly. "You'll have to be careful with what you select, for a disguise. I won't know what color something really is, unless you label it as such."

The Savanite nods. "I shall be wary. Hopefully we should have some useful news for you soon. Meanwhile, I suggest you rest and enjoy yourself while you can. I'll ask around about your friends." He bows and starts to move for the door.

Brishen grins. "I plan to have a lot more luggage when I return. I hope to see you again soon, Imp."

Flycatcher smiles and nods and vanishes out the door. The locking mechanism clicks softly as it shuts.

Brishen darts over to the door and makes sure it's locked, then leans against it as she looks her room over again, noting where she could hide things, where it would be likely maids would find them if she did, and where they may not. Then, after glancing once in a nearby closet to see how large it is, she heads for the tub, wriggling out of her clothes along the way. (He's right about that. I might as well enjoy myself, before things get too interesting.) She smirks to herself. (When is it not interesting? Wires!)