Whizbang

Before becoming a pirate, Whizbang was the Fireworks Designer for the Orbiting Circus of the Air. Since they were a hatchling, they enjoyed nothing so much as setting things on fire...until they reached maturity and discovered a fascination with explosives. So their installation as Fireworks Designer of the Orbiting Circus of the Air was a natural fit.

When not designing and testing fireworks, Whizbang haunted Pan's Brewpub. They never participated in the gambling around the hearth; mostly they sat by the fire gazing at the flames and dreaming up designs for rockets that wouldn't scorch the flying circus dancers. (Yeah, that happened.)

Whizbang loved attending the monthly festivals with Phenophon. It gave them a chance to get out and away from the scrutiny of the more traditional members of their clan. While they were never censored, they could tell some of the elderly "old school" dragons tolerated their shenanigans with an ever-lessening patience. So when they came upon pirates, actual PIRATES, at the local tavern during the Trickmurk Circus, they signed on and climbed aboard!

And a good thing, too! Once airborne, the First Mate, Davnan, discovered a stowaway in the hold...none other that the clan's own Enkidu! When Whizbang entreated Captain Keats to put the youngster ashore, the little Snapper pointed at them and piped, "I'm not going unless Whizbang's going, too! Besides, if we both stay, they can watch over me and make sure I behave!"

The Captain looked at Whizbang with a wise eye...and what could a Spiral say to that?

Life as a pirate was a lot more civilized that Whizbang expected. The crew of the Jolly Rhymer were a literary bunch. Instead of a "war room," Captain Keats had a library! When they weren't tending to the crew's munitions supply, Whizbang tried to make sure that Enkidu spent some time in the library each day, studying. After all, they hoped someday to return the lad to his parents. Whizbang was able to send a Storm Seeker with a letter for Enkidu's mums, letting them know the boy was safe and that they would rendezvous at the Mistral Jamboree. (They did NOT tell Enkidu their plan.)

However, Whizbang was undecided about their own future. Should they return to the clan with Enkidu? Or was the life of a sky pirate truly the life for them?

Whizbang & Dewette sat high up on a yardarm of the Jolly Rhymer, watching the sunset. The sails were tied up tight beneath their feet. It had been another amazing day at the Jamboree. "By ze end of ze week, Whizzy, you will 'ave to decide. To stay wiz ze Jolly Rhymer or...or to go 'ome." "And what about you, Dewette? It's your home, too!"

"Ah, bah, I will go where you go. You must not get into trouble wizout me! We are a pair, you know!"

"I know, I know. Enkidu fer sure has t' go home t' 'is parents. I wrote t' them an' they'll be here last day." "Does 'e know?" Dewette leaned her head on her friend's shoulder. "Ah, no! I didn't want the lad t' run away again!"

"Zometimes 'e ees crazy! Stowing away on a ship! What would 'ave 'appened if you were not zere?"

"Yeah," Whizbang paused. "Kinda reminds me of us, don' it?"

"Oh, Whizzy, you are getting all kinds of melancholy! I know! Let us zing a zong! Zat always cheers you up, no?"

Down below and all around the ship a rousing tune tumbled down on the air:

Yo ho, yo ho, Sky Pirate’s th' life for me! We flap an’ we soar, we climb an’ we dive, Let’s fly, me ‘earties, yo ho! We ne’er live in a lair, cave, or hive, Let’s fly, me ‘earties, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho, Sky Pirate's th' life for me! We tell lots o' tales o' th' grand days o' yore, Let's fly, me 'earties, yo ho! We steal from th' rich an' we give t' th' poor, Let's fly, me 'earties, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho, Sky Pirate’s th' life for me! We’re rascals, scoundrels, villians, an' knaves, Let’s fly, me ‘earties, yo ho We run from our duties (we’re not very brave) Let’s fly, me ‘hearties, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho, Sky Pirate’s th' life for me! We never bemoan th' things that we lack, Let’s fly, me ‘earties, yo ho! We soar o'er th' horizon an' never look back, Let’s fly, me ‘earties, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho, Sky Pirate’s life for me! Yo ho, yo ho, Sky Pirate’s life for me!