>call me Shoebill - I knew from the start that Iwabi and
>Tsuchinoko were going to be involved in Kaban and Serval's expedition,
>but until I wrote this scene, I wasn't sure whether anyone else would
>be joining them. I felt like the band needed more than four people in
>it, so the question then became who else would tag along. My initial
>thought was Raccoon and Fennec, but then I had the image of Shoebill
>as bass player and couldn't set it aside. Seven would've been too
>many, so the Raccoon and Fennec Show will have to wait... at least for
>now.

There's so many duo's that would be amazing, but I'm all for waiting until there's some more characterization (and some more fun!) before adding more. Tsuchinoko in particular must be -ecstatic-.

>
>Sandstar covering Powerman 5000 - Another option that was on
>the table until quite late in the process was "Word Up" by Cameo,
>which would have given them a... different vibe. I can't see
>Kaban agreeing to wear the codpiece, though.

Hey. It does not matter what songs they play, Sandstar is still clearly the code word. No matter where you say it, you know that you'll be heard.

>
>they're already got cool stage names - I mean, it is the
>most logical explanation. (It's also a useful coincidence that none
>of the Friends who have come to Jeraddo is an animal the girls from
>Dìqiú would have heard of, so it's not quite obvious to HTT just
>what Sandstar's "theme" is--just that they must have one.)

I can't help but think Tigerdillo would have been helpful against the Ceruleans way back in the day. Polar Bear Dog would have been downright unfair.

------
Authors of our fates
Orchestrate our fall from grace
Poorest players on the stage
Our defiance drives us straight to the edge