After concluding his business with the iron merchants, Jynx left Fahd al Akram's party and headed towards the Emir's Gardens to meet with Envoy. On arrival, however, he was told that the Exile had not arrived yet, but that he was welcome to wait inside for her.

Jynx's guide – a golden-furred female Khatta – leads the Sylvanian Count to a room in the huge tree that opens out onto a wide branch that serves as a balcony. There is a table there, with one of those odd-looking Nohbakim already seated at it.

"If you'll wait right here Count Kurai, I'll inform you the moment Envoy arrives," the Khatta says. "Are there any refreshments you would like in the meantime?"

"Just some water, thank you," the black furred Khatta replies. Taking a seat at the table, the feline gives a give courtesy nod to the Nohbakim, then looks out from the balcony, trying not to stare at the weird creature.

The Nohbakim watches Jynx with three glassy orbs atop an insectoid skull, where two chitinous antennae wave about randomly. The squat, hunchbacked creature's body is mercifully hidden beneath an enveloping cloak, with the exception of the two arms it rests atop the table. One arm isn't much more than a chitinous Zelak-like claw, while the other appears to be covered in Naga scales – although the hand itself is gloved and has a fairly normal shape to it.

"I'll be right back sir," the Khatta says, then bows before retreating back into the tree.

Jynx gives a smile to the servant as she leaves, and takes time to marvel at the garden. Feeling the Nohbakim's gaze upon him, the cat attempts a small bit of small talk. "I'd always heard about this place, but wasn't sure if it was real or not. Its truly beautiful."

When Jynx speaks, the creature's antennae seem to focus on him. "Yes," the Nohbakim buzzes. "Even this late in the evening. My name is Yovne."

The Khatta looks to the creature, and gives it a smile. "Mine is Feli, Feli Kurai." Adjusting his tail slightly, the cat puts it in his lap and gives it a scratch. "I take it you come here quite a bit?"

A happy little chattering noise emits from the nearby foliage. A brightly colored Creen flutters into view and glides by … passing close enough that it's evident that it actually has two heads, both of them eagerly scanning the surroundings.

The servant returns with a crystal pitcher of water and two goblets, which she sets on the table. "Here you are. I'll be nearby if you need anything else," she says, then vanishes once more.

"As often as I can," Yovne replies. Its antennae swivel to follow the two-headed Creen, but its gaze stays on the feline.

Jynx visibly relaxes a bit, partly from the small talk, and partly because he realizes Yovne wasn't staring at him. "I'd be nice to have something like this back in Sylvania," he replies, turning his gaze up at the strange Creen, "but the forests there have their own charm I guess. Do you live here in Abu Dhabi?"

Beyond the balcony, a spherical, translucent bubble-like form drifts slowly by, with long tendrils dangling beneath it, here and there showing bits of azure or pink coloration: a miniature waashu floats past, fully formed, its body rippling and tendrils waving as it makes its way on some slight current.

"No, I don't have any permanent home," the Nohbakim says, and awkwardly picks up one of the goblets with its claw. After a bit more fumbling, it grasps the pitcher with its normal hand and tries to get the two objects lined up for pouring. "Sylvania must be very interesting."

The black feline turns to the other table occupant with a smile, and makes a gesture as to offer to pour the drink. "It can be at times, but lately its been interesting in ways I'd rather it not be. That's part of the reason I'm here, but at the moment I'm waiting for a friend to arrive."

Yovne gives up its attempt at filling the goblet once Jynx offers to do it. "Thank you," it says. "I am here waiting for a friend as well, but he has already arrived."

There's a quiet chattering noise, and then something furry and many-legged briefly peeks up over the edge of the balcony, between the rails, blinking with liquid black eyes, and wriggling a pinkish bewhiskered nose. It abruptly turns about, shaking about a fluffy tail that looks like it would belong more upon a Sylvanian squirrel … or perhaps a Kadie.

Taking the pitcher, Jynx pours the goblet up, but not to full as to spill. He sets the cup by Yovne, then pours himself a portion. "Oh? Did they step out for a bit?" The Khatta sets the pitcher back onto the tabletop, and takes a look around with brow arched.

Beginning to take a sip from his glass, the Khatta nearly chokes when he sees the furry tail. "What the- cough… what the heck was that?"

"No, he's sitting at this table actually," the Nohbakim says, then reaches under its 'chin' with the gloved hand and manipulates something. Using both hand and claw, it removes its head. "That was a squirmite," Envoy says, now that her head is exposed, save for a thick cloth headband. "Barabbas made it, but I think he's been experimenting again; that one has grabbit legs instead of vermite ones. Sorry to keep you waiting, Jynx, but I wanted to know if my disguise was adequate."

Envoy sets the Nohbakim head-mask down on the table, close to the goblet. The masks antennae sprout mandibled mouths and take turns dipping into the cup for a drink.

Taking another sip to clear his throat, the ebony feline merely chokes again – this time due to Envoy's surprise. "Cough – It worked – coughcough – it worked well enough to almost give me a heart attack!" The feline takes another swig, but this time it actually goes down. "What in the name of the First Ones are you doing in disguise? And for that matter, why is it alive?"

"Oh, the antennae are really my… pets… Knick and Knack," Envoy explains. "I picked them up on Ashtoreth. As for why I'm in disguise, it appears that the local Mages Guild would rather that I not leave on my quest. In light of this, is your offer for a ride out of here still open?"

Jynx blinks at the Aeolun, and begins to fill his glass back up. "Of course it is, although Nohbakim are rather rare on the train. Are you sure that won't draw more attention to you instead?" The Khatta takes a drink, "although I will admit, there's no way anyone would recognize you in that."

"There's not much I can do about drawing attention, since any disguise I use would have to be pretty odd," Envoy admits. "I'm mainly concerned with people that are actually looking for me. But a traveling Nohbakim is at least plausible. Yovne is a soil merchant, since nothing really grows normally out in Noh, due to the poisoned land."

"Good point. Since my sister and I run the railroad, we really won't need a cover story," Jynx takes another sip of his water, swishing it around his mouth in thought before swallowing, "but just in case, we can say you're on your way to Sylvania to bring back some crop soil. That'd be feasible."

Envoy grins and nods. "I knew you'd be able to help me, Feli. Nobody I know is as good as slipping out from under people's noses as you are."

Jynx grins, "It runs in the family I suppose, and I've had plenty of practice." The cat finishes off his drink, and sets the goblet aside. "Have you figured out what to do once you find that pillar? I doubt that witch-hunter guy'd be dumb enough to follow you all the way down to Moltpaa."

"Once I get to it, I'll have to find a way inside to the actual object," Envoy says, gesturing with her costume claw. "If it is what I suspect, it may solve the problem of the Grooks down there too, but I won't know until I leave with it. Then I'll have to get a flight from Parthos to the Gateway Tower, and try to sneak past any lookouts to see how heavily guarded the way to Behemoth will be."

The black Khatta frowns. "I don't envy that task, that's for sure. What do you suspect the thing might really be?"

Envoy shifts in her chair, since there's no way she can lean back in her costume. "Well, the Leviathan on Abaddon is missing two critical things; a power source and senses. Moltpaa is known for having golem-like creatures that don't really seem to be alive, like the Grooks. If the object I'm after is the animating force behind those creatures, then it should serve as a power supply for the Leviathan."

"It's almost certainly a creation of the Sifras though," the Aeolun concludes.

Unhindered by a costume himself, Jynx leans back in his own chair, curling his tail around his ankles. "It won't affect the Hookahs too, will it?" A look of concern crosses the feline's face. "They can be annoying, but they're for the most part harmless."

"I doubt it," Envoy says. "I've seen Hookah's close up, and despite their appearance they are quite organic. They also aren't limited to Moltpaa, like the Grooks. I'm assuming that any animating energy in Moltpaa will be more attuned to inorganic systems… so hopefully it won't affect me either."

"I could also be completely wrong about the object's function too," Envoy admits.

Jynx twitches his tail tip, nodding to the Aeolun in thought. "So… you intend to absorb the energy and take it back to Abaddon, right?" He eyes the Exile at her second choice of words. "Let's hope you're not."

"Well, I'm hoping the object will be portable," the Exile says. "I'm not sure how well I might perform as a storage battery."

"Oh," the Khatta replies. "I got the impression that it was way too large." The Khatta pours one last glass of water, and downs it in a gulp. "Just be sure the Temple doesn't hear even a whisper about it, or they'll want to confiscate it from you. They go nuts over Sifran things." The feline stands, smoothing down the wrinkles in his suit. "Well, shall we be off? The airship leaves soon, but I've already had my things packed. I've told them to wait until I arrive."

"I can meet you at the airship," Envoy says. "It's best that we not be seen leaving together, just in case the entrance is being watched… which it probably is. Are you flying out on the Ferocious Roarer of the Veldt?"

"Sure am," Jynx replies. "Just meet me on deck when the ship has taken off, and we can sort things out from there. That way it seems more of an incidental meeting."

Envoy nods agreeably, and reclaims her "head" now that the antennae have finished drinking their fill. "Alright, Jynx! And if anyone asks you about me, just say that you came to meet me and see the gardens, but that I didn't show up and you couldn't wait any longer."

The Khatta grins, and gives the "Nohbakim" a nod. "Will do. I'll meet you in a little while. When we finally get to the train, I'll have a private cabin set up for you so you can ditch the disguise for a while." The feline heads for the stairs, and starts down. "Just be careful until then. So long!"