Having a full night of sleep as Nicora again was not as restful as one hoped. It was difficult to get to sleep, due to the growing discomfort in her abdomen - until Mave gave her some soothing tea. It didn't help with Gorphat's curse, however, which seemed to flair up a bit whenever Nicora overheard Nikky (aka, Kaira for the night) servicing one or more of the crew, since her 'nest' seemed to be directly beneath the Eee's bunk. Nonetheless, exhaustion could not be distracted for long, and Nicora slept, free of any disturbing dreams (or at least, the sort involving dragons and goddesses - they were still pretty disturbing in other ways, as they involved Hortense and Mordecai and being tattooed).

The Shadowdrake set down in Zannara, at the base of the mountain range that cradled not-so-distant but hard to access Babel. Gotrekis left the ship before it even landed, flying into the city himself. Tulani was also early to rise, following her sailor habit when it came to landing when the entire crew needed to be ready for anything. Mave brewed more tea, which she offered to Nicora when she finally got out of bed.

"I imagine Tulani will try to follow Gotrekis, or meet with her own secret contact in town," the Yodhinala suggests. "Will you come with me to the local Temple to see what my sister Yuna may know about routes into Babel?"

"Mrglplth," Nicora mutters, hunched over her tea where she sits on the edge of one of the cots. She doesn't answer immediately, but instead takes several long drinks from her cup. "If Tulani plans to follow Gotrekis, she may want to leave the sheathed Light with me. I know mages can't detect it, but I'm not as sure about The Demon," the Eeee semi-answers, finally. "And I'm sure I have to be very careful around this navigator contact as well. So, yes, it is probably best if I go with you to this temple and see what routes are available to us."

"Do you wish to go as Nicora the Yodhsunala?" Mave asks. "There may be protocol issues I am not familiar with, as Zannara is not like Babel in regard to the Sisterhood."

"What is it like? Perhaps one of the crew would know?" Nicora asks. "I would prefer remaining as I am and not picking up any weird traits from some other form like I tend to. I'm not sure who I would go as, anyway."

"You can be Nicora the Eee, just not a Yodhsunala if you choose," Mave says. "The Temples here are more.. practical, I suppose. The Yodhsunala are undertakers - and occasional healers. The Yodhinala are midwives and many mothers go to the Temple to give birth. The Yodhgorphat deal with disease - treating rather than causing. I do not know if the Temples of Rephath, Zakarro and Blakat do much of anything."

"Then I should just go as an Eeee until more is known," Nicora notes. "After all, we were disguised in Rephidim too." She downs the remainder of her teacup in a single gulp. "I must admit, though, I approve of being practical. If more people were practical, there would be less chaos."

"Oh, if you take that to its limit, there would be ultimate chaos," Mave claims. "After all, Babel's methods of dispute resolution - murder - is very practical and professional."

"Gypsy methods are better," Nicora claims as she rises to change inti 'normal eee' sort of clothing. Well, mostly; it is her clothing from Chronotopia, after all.

"Drinking and a burping contest," Nicora claims as she dresses; though she does seem to be leaving the corset part of the outfit rather loose. "By the end no one remembers what the dispute was about anyway."

"I don't think Eeee in Babel will ever be that trusting of one another," Mave notes, and also dresses in her 'well-off tourist' Chronotopian costume. "Did you arrange to meet Nikky somewhere off the ship?"

"No, but I can do that before we disembark," Nicora says as she smoothes out her dress and hopes the urge to pee doesn't hit in force when there is no way to. "And never say never. The world is full of crazy things."

"I'll meet you at the gangplank then," Mave says. "After I inform the Captain that we'll be gone for a bit."

"It isn't goodbye yet," Mave notes, raising a finger. "We may yet continue on with the Shadowdrake, depending on what we discover."

"I didn't say it was a final goodbye," Nicora points out as she retains that bemused smirk. "Well, have fun with him. I've got to go poke an annoying person."

"You consider Nikky to be annoying?" Mave asks, as she pauses at the cabin door.

"Well, the person animating her can be at times," Nicora notes, "Now go or I'll throw a pillow at you." She even raises one threateningly.

"You seem in a good mood at least," Mave says, slipping out. "Until the tea wears off at least.." she quips as she closes it behind her, however.

"You have to sleep sometime!" Nicora growls at the retreating Mave. She hits the wall with the pillow in her hand, then slinks towards and out the cabin door as well. "Lets go see how badly Kaira imitates Nikky," she mutters under her breath, in Sylvanian.

Down in the cargo hold, there are plenty of noises coming from the nest - familiar ones. Orca must be there with Kaira-Nikky, getting in some last minute quality time.

"When you two are finished," Nicora practically growls, "I have something to discuss with the Tail regarding her departure from the crew." The Eeee then spins about and walks into the next section of the hold and pulls her ears down so she doesn't have to hear them.

During the wait, several of the crew pass by and ask her, "Are you in line?" Gar even asks twice, on two different occasions.

"Do you wish to meet my Mistress?" Nicora's curt reply comes the second time Gar asks her. "My reasons are my own."

The boy lingers, and asks, "Is the white one your mistress? Are you gonna be the new Tail?"

Nicora's head rolls slightly and she looks at the young Eeee with a single one of her silver eyes. "You are young, so I will forgive your lack of knowledge. I serve Sunala; Death. Matters of physical pleasure are of little interest to me outside of what this flawed body occasionally demands," she notes.

"Oh, thank goodness," Gar says in relief. "No offence, ma'am, but you're kinda spooky." Then he wanders off. There's a final grunt from within the nest, which Nicora knows means Orca is finished. Then some whispered pillow-talk and giggling.

"You have no idea how 'spooky' I can be," Nicora remarks rather dryly as Gar wanders off. The grunting, followed by the giggling and chatter cause Nicora to roll her eyes. "I am not that bad as Nikky, surely," she thinks.

Finally, a naked rat backs out of the nest, pants in hand and blowing kisses. "I serious, Nikky.. you let me know your answer before you leave!" Orca is so focused that he doesn't notice Nicora and trips backwards over her.

There's a sigh of long-suffering as Nicora regains her composure after being 'walked over' by a skreek. "Do you know what happens to someone who runs into a Yodhsunala accidentally?" she asks the rat, though she also offers her hand to him to help him back to his feet.

"You don't make bits wither and fall off do you?" Orca asks in terror, then accepts the hand up. His pants have gone flying across the room though.

"Nothing happens to them. Ever again," Nicora answers with emphasis on the 'ever again' aspect. "But you are fortunate that I am in a good mood," she says in a voice that doesn't exactly project 'good mood'. "Be more careful next time," she adds, then grabs him in an unmentionable place. "And preferably with pants on or you might just end up with a new piercing, if I happen to be feeling forgiving again." She squeezes just enough to make her claws known, then lets go.

It probably doesn't help any that Orca's physiological response isn't one of fear. "I.. uh.. I'm very nearly a married man you know.." he babbles, then runs for his pants and leaves the cargo hold with haste.

"Pervert," Nicora mutters as she watches the skreek dart off. "Getting married, are you?" she calls out to the other 'skreek' behind the crates.

"I was asked, 'aven't decided yet," Nikky the Tail says, before cackling from within the nest.

"Are you seriously considering it?" Nicora asks as she walks over, leans on a crate, and peers into the nest.

Nikky is lying on her stomach, head propped up on intertwined fingers and feet in the air as her tail swishes back and forth. Her eyes glitter wickedly at the Eeee. "Well, that wouldn't be my decision, now would it?" she asks. "Orca wants to marry you as Nikky, not me."

"I'm already spoken for, so that answer is no, now isn't it?" Nicora replies without even so much as a twitch of her lips into a smile. "We're going into the city to meet Yuna, one of Mave's relatives. She sure has a lot of them; scary. You need to meet up with me later at the temple Yuna serves at as Priestess before you pop."

"To hand over Nikky's wages of silver coins?" the Skreek asks, sounding a bit aghast. "I suppose, since I can't keep any.."

"Silver isn't for sleeping on, that's gold," Nikky claims. "And dragons have special uses for precious metals. That's all there is to it."

"Like what?" Nicora asks. "And if I had to marry a male, it would probably be Mordecai, but anyway."

"Mordecai? You think he could be pinned down to one woman?" Nikky asks, her lips in a cruel grin. "Anyway.. when do you want me to meet you at the Temple?"

"I think I could keep his attention," Nicora claims. "As for when, is early evening not too late? Just after sundown? We have to sort out the route we're taking to Babel."

"I should last at least that long," Nikky assures. "So I should let down Orca easy, hard, or.. let you do it?"

"I would have to become the skreek again to do that," Nicora muses. "I guess I could, if there is time. It would have to be easy. He's odd and a pervert, but kind of nice anyway."

"You think he's a pervert, but would marry Mordecai?" Nikky asks, then chuckles. "Anyway, he should be back in an hour or so.."

"Yes, but I have to go see Yuna now. So that farewell will have to be in the evening," Nicora notes. "I figure I can handhim a note claimed to be from you when I get back to the ship asking him to meet you in the city ... then just go there and let him down myself."

"Alright," Nikky says. "I'll keep coy about it then. Should I do the same for any other proposals?"

"Oh, no. Those you can just turn down on the spot," Nicora remarks dryly. "I'm sure you would rather marry one of those elves you look after anyway."

"Dragons aren't big on marriage," Nikky claims. "That's a long time to get on someone's nerves after all."

"I dunno.. does he snore in real life?" Nikky asks. "Besides, he's already married.. isn't he? Or nearly so."

"No, he's not married yet. Won't be until he returns, and it's iffy on survival," Nicora remarks dryly. "I should see to Mave and Yuna now. Try to stay out of trouble."

Free City of Zannara
Down from the mountains is this city and outlying villages, sheltered by ranges of mountains on one side, and next to a rolling river on the other. Palm fronds sway in the wind, and the sun shines down brightly on the lightly-colored stucco domes and towers of the city like a miniature tribute to the structures of Babel, but not nearly so grand, and certainly not in the need of miraculous means to stay standing. Orchards and fields stretch out across rolling plains, where the mountains give way, though on the mountain slopes, Rughrat herds graze, tended by Fnerfs.

Mave waits at the foot of the gangplank, on the raised landing platform used for airships. She's gotten hold of a parasol at some point as well, apparently.

"Very sophisticated," Nicora comments on the parasol as she steps off the gangplank and joins Mave. "Is everything arranged with the Captain?"

"Half the crew will be out on shore leave, so he does not expect to be launching again soon," Mave explains. "There are supplies to be renewed, gasses to be exchanged, and so on. We have time."

"Then hopefully this town will be relaxing," Nicora says, "And free of distractions that get me in trouble."

"What sort of distractions would those be?" Mave asks, leading the way off the dock. At the bottom are dozens of Fnerfs, basically taking on the role filled by Vartans at other busy ports. Most of them had wagons pulled behind them, or else large, precarious piles of cargo on their broad backs.

"Jewelry, odd clubs, cute guys, that sort of thing," Nicora remarks and waves her hand dismissively. "Of course how I'm feeling right now sort of keeps me out of the mood anyway."

"Praise Inala for the Blessing," Mave intones, and flags down a Fnerf rickshaw. "Otherwise Gorphat will try to take the credit."

"Credit for what? And which Blessing?" Nicora has to ask. "And do praise either I would need to visit their temples, I suppose."

"I don't know where the Temple of Gorphat is," Mave notes, and tells the Fnerf, "Take us to the Temple of Inala, please." The cabby tips his cap, and jogs along. The swishing of his enormous tail creates some breeze as well, as Zannara is having one of it's warmer days.

"I imagine I could find it if I am motivated to," Nicora notes as she settles back into the chair and folds her hands in her lap. "Is there anything I should know about this temple or your sister? Or anything that would be expected of me?"

"I have not seen or communicated with my sister in some years," Mave admits. "She is my younger sister however, so should still be alive. As the High Priestess of Inala, I gave her the position as head of this Temple. There is a slight possibility that she hates me."

"I don't think that will encourage her to aid us," Mave points out calmly, as the enter the city proper. It's much more 'road based' than Babel, certainly, with wide lanes. The Fnerf stops before a rather nondescript building near what must be the market district, from the traffic. There are no windows on the ground floor, and the door is flanked by the symbol of Inala carved into the stone columns to either side.

"I could be persuaded to become a savanite and server her if that would work better," Nicora remarks a bit dryly, though perhaps she sounds at least a little amused. When they stop she looks up at the rather non-descript building. "Not as ornate as I expected," she says.

Mave pays the Fnerf, and closes her parasol. "Zannara is not known for lavish displays or particularly devout observance of the Kindly Ones. Also, the Temple does not offer the more popular sorts of worship that the one in Babel does."

"Did, unless the temple in Babel was rebuilt," Nicora corrects as she exits the rickshaw and smooths out her dress. "Shall I knock? Are you uncomfortable facing your sister?"

"Knock?" Mave asks, as she steps up and.. just opens the door. There's no lock or anything, apparently.

"Well, it isn't usually polite to just walk in a building," Nicora points out, then shrugs. "But, as you like."

Beyond the door is a sort of lobby. There's even a reception desk - manned by a male Lapi, of all things. "Hello," he says passable Babelite (for non-Eeee). "Are you here to visit one of the guests?" he asks, still smiling.

"Visit the guests? You have guests?" Nicora replies in Babelite. "We are here to see a Priestess named Yuna."

"Oh, please wait here and I'll see if she's free," the receptionist says, then pauses to note, "And of course we have guests. Maternity takes time, after all." Then he's gone through another door. At least the lobby is filled with comfortable looking couches and even somne plants.

"Right, it's a place full of pregnant women," Nicora mutters. "I can't believe I had the urge to end up like that."

"Every woman does, at some point," Mave notes. "I have no regrets about being a mother. Although some women are prone to stretch-marks, if they do not properly revere Inala."

"I would make a terrible mother," Nicora notes as she waits, arms crossed across her chest.

"Desire does not necessarily translate into ability, it is true," Mave notes. "But, there are.." Whatever she is going to say is cut off, as another Eeee enters the lobby. Her robes are an odd mix of regal and.. easily washable, one would hope, given the amount of blood on them. She's still removing soiled gloves from her hands as an attendant and the receptionist follow in her wake. There's certainly a resemblance to Mave, but Yodhinala Yuna is tan with strawberry-blond hair. "Who wanted to see.." she says, then stops and stares at Mave.

"Mave? You're supposed to be DEAD!" Yuna claims, pointing accusingly at the elder sister. "Why are you alive? What trouble are you in this time?" she demands.

"And here is the part where a family reunites ... or a riot of violence breaks out," Nicora thinks to herself. Her greeting to Yuna is to bow her head slightly. "She has made herself my trouble," she remarks to the annoyed priestess, thankful no blows have been thrown yet. "I am Yodhsunala Nicora and we need to get to Babel."