<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Airships and Dragons</span></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">BGM</div><div class="spoiler_body">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPRrk3znE9c</div></div><br/><br/>Shipping baron Arano Yuki was dead, at the ripe old age of one hundred and fifteen, leaving behind no children to succeed him, only the multi-planar merchant shipping empire he had built up single-handedly starting from one broke-down second-hand airship bequeathed to him one hundred years ago by an adventurer friend. The sharks circle the waters, each looking to either commandeer his headless business empire, or to tear off as large a chunk of wealth as possible for themselves. But that is another story for another time.<br/><br/>Five youngsters whom Arano came to know towards the end of his long life, who he could see carried dreams of flight in their hearts, were now gathered, special beneficiaries of his last will and testament. They had accepted the posthumous offer of Arano's first airship, the<em>Yuuki</em>, in exchange for the burden of delivering his ashes to the Princess of the White Jade Tower in the Plane of Air.<br/><br/>The airship itself was being refitted on a secret island base, that the five chosen ones were being taken to, sailing aboard the schooner<em>Savanna Grace</em>. The winter weather was ungentle, with a cold harsh wind that made sails flap noisily, choppy waves that crashed against the hull of the ship throwing up salty foam, and a chill that permeated clothing right down into one's bones. The gray clouds of an overcast sky blocked out the sun, and what little light filtered through was dull and cast no shadow.<br/><br/>Besides the sailors going about their business, there was also a complement of a dozen marines on board, in case  they encountered any pirates while at sea. Overseeing the bustle was the captain of the ship, Sarafina the Maftet, a seven foot tall biped humanoid with the torso of a bronze-skinned amazon, the feathered wings of a hawk extending from her back, and the lower body of a tawny lion's hind legs. Runic tattoos that seemed to glow softly with their own light covered her arms and shoulders. Twin scimitars, her signature weapons, hung by her side. Captain Sarafina had requested a meeting with the five before they reached the base, at the bow of the ship near where the ballista was mounted.<br/><br/>The Maftet was waiting for them, a heavy chest by her feet. "These two items you shall require to complete Arano Yuki's quest, to be given to you when you lay your eyes upon the prize," she announced, nudging the chest with her leonine foot.<br/><br/>"Land ho!" the lookout called from the crow's nest, peering through the haze. The island base appeared out of the mist, little more than a collection of buildings on the beach and a single wooden pier jutting out into the water. Moored on one side of the pier was the<em>Yuuki</em>, her sleek lines bobbing serenely in the water amidst the choppy waves that crashed against the shore. The sailors aboard the<em>Savanna Grace</em>sprang to action, reefing in her sails and making ready to bring her in along the opposite side of the pier from the docked airship.<br/><br/>"The conditions have been met. Password,<em>sakura</em>," Sarafina said. Gears and mechanisms within the chest whirred and clicked as the protections within came undone. It opened of its own accord, to reveal two items within, buried within a pile of protecting padding. "Stand back. The chest is still warded," the Maftet warned them, as she bent down and retrieved the objects, each of them just small enough to be held in one hand.<br/><br/>"First, the urn of Arano Yuki's ashes, to be delivered to Captain Aaron Windwhisper," she announced, handing over an unmarked white ceramic urn. Its lid was sealed shut with a paper talisman glued over the lid and neck of the urn, upon which was written two words in a flowing script.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Know how to read Auran?</div><div class="spoiler_body">The words simply read "Arano Yuki" in Auran.</div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Detect Magic</div><div class="spoiler_body">The urn of ashes emanates a strong aura of abjuration, suggesting powerful wards protecting it.</div></div><br/><br/>"Second, the cherry compass, to be delivered to the navigator, Bonnie Lass," she continued, handing over a clockwork sphere to the navigator. Small enough to be held in the palm of the hand and composed of rings of metal gears and bearings, the gyrocompass held a small glass sphere in its centre, within which was suspended a single pink blossom from a cherry tree. "It shall point you the way to the White Jade Tower."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Detect Magic</div><div class="spoiler_body">The cherry compass emanates a moderate aura of divination.</div></div>