Enormous wooden ships yawned and creaked as they drew into Lotus Port. Their crews hooted and hollered as their long journeys were finally coming to an end. Enormous pelicans and slim seagulls stood on the tall posts jutting out of the water. Fishmongers readied their doors and posted signs of the season's catch of fish, crab, and squid. Colorful banners lined the alleys and inner roads in celebration of the Falling Fish Festival. Men and women paraded through the streets in colorful costumes and some on stilts. Shop windows and doors were opened wide for customers and friends alike to share, trade, and partake their finest of wares and entertainment. Children dressed as gods or goddesses of the sea and wind, chasing each other with kazoos and toy wands, not a frown was present for miles around.

A blue-haired girl, donned in various fins and jewels, ran along with a pet wyvern that fluttered beside her. Lost in a world of her own, she twirled right into a group of adults, knocking over a small mountain of apples and right into the arms of a man who promptly picked her up causing her to squeal.

"Well, well, look whose had too much sugar again!" The man laughed.

"Icha," she exclaimed, "You said you wouldn't be here for the festival!"

"Oh, I've got work to do still!" He said and dropped her on the ground. She looked up and covered her mouth in astonishment.

Icha, the often black or brown clad man, was wearing vibrant ceremonial clothes. Extravagant jewels that hung by invisible threads or nets of sheer, blue fabric. His hair too was colored white for the occasion but his eyebrows remained their pale, pea green. Intricate patterns drawn in black ink hid the scars on his face and chest. A long cylindrical bag was hanging over his shoulder with blue and white ties, and in them; stilts.

"You're a Walking Man?" She cried in excitement.
"Sure am!" He looked at a clock on the wall, "In fact, I have to get in line for the parade right now!" He messed up her short hair and looked down the street.

"But you have to clean up this mess first, alright?" He pointed to the apples and she frowned.

"Okay-" the little girl groaned as she and the wyvren obeyed his instructions.

Icha walked north down the long port for several blocks before hailing a cyclist-driven taxi that drove him down the coastline in a long hook. The Parade was to start at the far north of Crescent Coast, (aka the "hook") and ride all the way along it then back up in a spiral to the center of the city atop Mount. Vesc.

Unbeknownst to Icha and the rest of the city of Lotus Port, several members of the Mah'al were to attend the festival as well. In fact, several were participating in the parade in secret with a dastardly plan in mind. Icha stepped off the taxi and paid his fare. Many other men were helping each other on their stilts while the women were hardly halfway through their intricate robes and painted faces. Musicians trilled their horns and piped on their flutes as the drums found their rhythm.

There was nothing quite like the roar of the crowd as they watched a fight. They were brutal in their blood lust and that was just what Lee liked the most. He had missed the screams of the crowd as blood was split. It was not a pretty job, but it paid the bills. Lee could make some great money just by beating on some idiot. Currently he was wailing on the current champion. Lee's style allowed him to be better at fighting in a ring with a screaming crowd.

With one final punch, his opponent went down as his eyes rolled back into his head. Lee jumped off the man and pumped his fists. He loved when he won and that was a great win. The crowd roared again as he collected his winnings. Lee was going to enjoy this money. He figured that he could have a bit of fun.

---

Lee was having a rather good time. People were in high spirits from the parade and he could hit on just about anyone. He already had a human on his arm ready for anything. Lee looked around the room before he walked out and onto the street. He wanted to see the parade right now. He had never seen one before and he wanted a bit of peace. He looked like a drifter and that was how he wanted to stay.

Drums banged and flutes trilled as the parade started through the heart of the city's bustle through the Crescent Coast and south through the markets. Bombs of chalk exploded in the sky and showered the crowds with glitter. At the front of the lineup was the first set of the men on stilts. They passed out enormous flowers to the children and wives who pushed each other over just to get one. Dancers pranced around the giant-legged men in a perfectly timed dance around - and between - their long legs. Behind them were a large group of men spinning flames, one of which carried a burning urn to symbolize the powerful sun. Behind them was a group of women dressed in long blue robes who swayed and danced loftily in the streets to symbolize the tired, burning sea. Trained birds flew between them and high into the sky forming and arc before disappearing into a chalk cloud. Children dressed as fish ran through the women as they danced faster before jumping high in the air on their spring-loaded boots.

The parade continued south, just past the arena where even some men couldn't help but get their daily fight in. Icha was at the front of the line passing out giant daylillies and sunflowers. He looked towards the arena just east of the parade and saw a man who looked slightly off. With his eyes trained on him, he almost tripped over a cobblestone but regained his posture. The crowd made noises as he corrected himself and he covered it up with throwing flowers at those further from the street. When he looked back at the arena on the hill, however, the man was gone.

---

Later that evening, after the parade ended and the parties began. . .

---

Icha was standing outside of a short, musty "bar" with the stilts still strapped to his back, though he had managed to stuff most of the unnecessary clothing into the bag they were kept. A single dagger rested in his belt and a pair of sai were discretely hidden. He walked into the tiny establishment and was immediately recognized by his good, and rather big, friend; Palanayukei, or "Palan," for short.

"'Ey my tiny friend! I seein you in da parade!" He slapped his hands on the counter, "And youd deserve ta drink! Da wey you made those ladies swoon, mm-m, makin' da rest of us look bad!" Palan was already halfway through pouring Icha a tall, stiff, iceless drink when Icha leaned against the wall.

Icha rolled his eyes, "oh, come on, just because your time is over doesn't mean mine is!" He jabbed at the old, rotund man who slid the drink across the short bar.

(((sidenote)))
Most of the patrons drank outside as the only stool was behind the bar, but Palan still made his fair share of money. The bartend, Palan, was the only man brave enough to provide Icha with a job that paid decently. To this day they he still tells the story of how he proved to Icha that the town would come around to him.

Icha took a long swig from the drink and slammed it on the counter with a satisfying sigh.

"In all serious-stuff though," Palan started, "I got ta ask you. 'Ave you seen those strange guys? The ones with the clothes?"
"We all wear clothes, Palan, you gotta be more specific."
"Mah'al" He whispered and Icha's face darkened.
"No, they haven't been around this part of the world for years."
"'Tis why I ask you! You see more than this ol' man," he coughed as he lit the cigar he was chewing on, "I don' know who else ta ask."

Icha stopped for a moment and recalled the man near the arena. He hadn't seen him since, and he remembered his clothing; nothing that resembled the Mah'al.

"I'll keep an eye out," he finished his drink and motioned for another, "but I'll keep an eye out."