The door to the office cycles open, revealing the corridor outside, and a couple of wolf guards who escort a winged, light-furred "Aeolun".

Inquisitor Melchizedek sits at his desk, in his usual state of filling out the neverending stack of forms which keep accumulating on his desk.

Envoy stands before the desk and shuffles her feet.

Melchizedek turns in his chair, to face Envoy. "So. You have returned, and all in one piece. I had been concerned that there were some unfortunate events occurring at the expedition site."

Envoy nods, and glances at the guards.

The black unicorn turns toward Azhtar and signs to her, "You may leave now. I will be questioning Envoy." He uses the phonetic, rather than a word translation for Envoy's name.

Azhtar nods, and heads to the door, passing between the two wolves, who remain outside the office. The door cycles closed behind them, leaving only Envoy and the Inquisitor.

Envoy says, "Yes, there were a few deaths."

"Please," says the unicorn, gesturing toward a chair nearby. It's a new addition, one more accomodating for winged races. "Be seated."

Envoy sits down and clasps her hands together in her lap.

Inquisitor Melchizedek sits back in his chair. "So. I have heard much about the disasters that befell the crew. I hope that you did not become close to any who were counted amongst the dead. Have you any commentary upon what you discovered there?"

Envoy takes some time before answering, "I found the expedition very educational."

Melchizedek nods. "That is good. That is the purpose for having you along. Did your linguistic abilities prove to be useful? I did not read much in the reports about your skills being utilized."

Envoy nods, "I learned Savanite and talked to the Creens."

Melchizedek raises an eyebrow. He signs, "And can you understand this?"

Envoy signs back, "Yes."

Melchizedek signs, "That is very useful. One needn't worry about eavesdropping when using sign. How did you speak to the Creens?"

Envoy makes several chirruping Creen-calls, then signs, "I do not understand the language yet."

Melchizedek looks down for a moment, his hood obscuring his face.

Envoy leans forward just a bit, trying to peek under the cowl.

The unicorn looks up again, then signs, "It is being said that this city was built by the Naga, and that the excavations uncovered a palace of the ruler. It was said that this Naga appeared as a ghost."

Envoy does not comment, since no direct question has been asked.

"Did you see any ghosts or other paranormal manifestations?" Melchizedek signs. He pauses, realizing that perhaps Envoy hasn't learned quite that much. "Strange events?"

Envoy signs, "I saw many unfamiliar things, and also familiar things that were strange."

Melchizedek signs, "Can you elaborate upon that?"

Envoy signs, "Yes."

Melchizedek signs, "Please do."

Envoy signs, slowing in parts where she is uncertain of the proper words. "I was once the moving part of a living building. The living building and its moving parts in the ruins were similar, but they were stone and not flesh."

Melchizedek signs, "So, did you find some basis for legends that spoke of a living building, then? If so, please describe it to me."

Envoy signs, "It was large, formerly a palace. The Priest-King had been magically merged with it, and it became his body. The bodies of Titus' nephew Eustace and the Naga Raysse were made into moving parts of the building and sent to the camp."

Melchizedek signs, "I have heard of how you outwitted the poodle. Do you know if any more of these … 'remotes' are still alive? Or, operational?"

Envoy signs, "Those two were the only ones to die inside the building. There should be no others."

Melchizedek signs, "So, you entered the building and escaped again? Did you see the Priest-King? Did you speak with him?"

Envoy hesitates.

Envoy signs, "I did not speak with him."

Melchizedek scrutinizes Envoy's face. "Did you enter the palace?" he signs, rephrasing his question.

Envoy slumps slightly in her chair, and signs, "Yes, I entered the palace."

Melchizedek signs, "You do not seem pleased to give me that answer." He pauses a bit, then signs, "You saw the Priest-King, didn't you?"

Envoy signs, "The Priest-King and the palace were one and the same."

Melchizedek signs, "Did you try to communicate with him as when you spoke with the … 'ship-mind'?"

Envoy shakes her head, signing, "I only spoke to the remotes. I did not communicate with the Priest-King directly."

Melchizedek signs, "Do you believe that the Priest-King still presents a threat?"

Envoy thinks.

The unicorn sits back in his chair to wait for Envoy's answer.

Envoy signs, "The Priest-King represents knowledge which could disrupt your society."

The unicorn, still sitting back, signs, "And what knowledge would that be?"

Envoy stiffens.

Melchizedek signs, "Have you promised to keep a secret?"

Envoy nods.

Envoy signs, "I have learned that some knowledge is dangerous."

Melchizedek gazes at Envoy's face a long time, before signing, "Then this has indeed been educational."

Envoy blinks three times.

Melchizedek signs, "Let me rephrase my question. Do you believe that the Priest-King – or any other force at the City of Hands – still represents a physical threat?"

Envoy furrows her brow in thought.

Envoy decides that being able to predict Rephidim's course would enable pirates to ambush airships with ease. She signs, "Yes."

This time, it is Melchizedek's turn to furrow his brow. He signs, "What manner of physical threat does it pose? In what way could this threat be eliminated or contained, if you have any suggestions?"

Envoy blinks. Then signs, "No one may fly over the city without being destroyed. The ruins are booby-trapped, and dangerous. The jungle has dangerous life forms. The city should remain lost."

Melchizedek nods. "But that does not explain how the City of Hands might be a threat to Rephidim. How is it a threat to Rephidim?"

Envoy signs, "That information may put you at risk."

Melchizedek signs, "By whom?"

Envoy signs, "By yourself."

Melchizedek signs, "Then let us go on. Did anyone – other than the stone poodle – attempt to harm you in any way during your time there?"

Envoy signs, "A plant tried to eat me."

Melchizedek nods. He signs, "There are many hazards in the jungle. Was that all? Were you treated well?"

Envoy signs, "There were traps also. I was treated well, although I suspect many questioned my sanity."

Melchizedek signs, "Very well then. Have you any observations that you would like to share with me concerning what you learned and discovered during your expedition? Do you believe such excursions to be beneficial for you to accompany in the future?"

Envoy signs, "I am not comfortable with the lesson I learned. I am not comfortable with social values I observed. I would like to go on other expeditions if possible."

Melchizedek signs, "What social values did you observe which you were not comfortable with?"

Envoy signs, "The fabrication of events for the purpose of aggrandizement. The lust for treasure. The way people treated the Savanites. The fear of the truth."

Melchizedek signs, "Fear of the truth? What truth was feared?" He looks at her with an expression that might suggest he is already expecting a certain answer.

Envoy signs, "Any truth which contradicts the current status quo." That should be safe…

Melchizedek nods. Aloud, he says, "Thank you very much for being forthright with your answers. I will let you know of any upcoming expeditions which may have use for your unique abilities in the future."

Envoy nods shakily. "Will the site in the jungle be placed under quarantine?"

With that, the unicorn nods at Envoy's question and stands, then pulls on a cord hanging from the ceiling. The door starts cycling open. "You are free to go," he says. "But, as always, I reserve the right to recall you for further questioning later."

Envoy nods, and seems both subdued and upset. She really wanted to tell the unicorn all she knew.

Envoy leaves with the guards.

Melchizedek watches a short while before he motions for the door to be cycled shut again. As it does so, he returns to that eternal pile of forms once more, and sets back to work.

Some time later, the door cycles open again, revealing a couple of wolf guards who let in a muscular feline.

Janus pads in and sits down in one of the chairs, taking care that he doesn't strangle himself on his cape.

The door cycles closed again, leaving only Janus and Inquisitor Melchizedek in the room. The latter sets aside his forms, and signs, "So. What have you to report on the expedition?" He pauses, then adds as a note, "I have heard that Inquisitrix Esther was called away from the site shortly after your arrival."

Janus lets out a long breath, "I never could get a clear story about her, actually. Nobody there seemed to know what had happened."

Melchizedek nods and signs, "That is no cause for concern. It is not unusual for an Inquisitor to be called away with no explanation given."

Janus chews on his lower lip and shrugs. He signs back, "I suppose so. Makes it rather difficult to check up on her though."

Melchizedek signs, "Quite so. But many more things happened during your time there. I have heard the official story. Now I would like to hear yours."

Janus rubs his nose before continuing to sign, "Long story: In short, when I got there the camp was in a bit of chaos over a couple of deaths. I fit myself into the camp, but couldn't get sent in on any of the exploration teams. The last night we were there, some sort of golem attacked the camp, we beat it off with some casualties, then I went down to have a looksee on my own."

Melchizedek nods and indicates for Janus to continue…

Janus shrugs, "Not much else to it. When I got to the city, I saw a floating palace and another of the golems. I reasoned that if I couldn't hurt the first one on my own, there wasn't any point in sticking around to die at the second's hand."

Melchizedek hmms at this, then signs, "I suspect that there is some covering up being done on several levels in regards to the expedition. Did you discover any information that might explain this?"

Janus arches an eyebrow, "In all honesty, I dug up precious little in the way of real information. Now… I got some rumors, suppositions, and theories… but I wasn't there long enough, and wasn't able to get into the ruins except on that last night, to get anything of my own."

"Can you share some of these rumors, suppositions or theories?" the unicorn signs. "Such may be useful, once one recognizes their nature as such."

Janus nods, sorting through his memory. "To start with… there was an airship on its way back here, supposedly loaded to the gills with artifacts from the site. Rumur has it that it crashed sometime about the same time that Esther left camp."

Janus continues, "Rumor also has it that it was stone empty when found, but you'd probably know more about that than I."

Melchizedek nods. "Yes," he signs, "it is being considered as an 'accident'."

"But I am already aware of that. Was there anything controversial that might have been discovered at the site?" Melchizedek signs. "… anything that might warrant keeping a secret?"

Janus looks at the unicorn searchingly for a couple of seconds. "There are two conflicting stories about the origin of the ruins. One holds that it was built by the Naga. The other holds that it was built by the Savan."

The unicorn nods. "The latter is not a theory that has even been considered in any of the reports. Surely you can guess why. But … a story?" the unicorn signs, pausing. "From whom did you hear such a story … or did you see anything to make you consider this conclusion on your own?"

Janus rubs his fingertips together then signs, "I heard it from someone who'd been there longer than I." He hesitates, "Someone with fewer preconcieved notions than most."

Melchizedek signs, "Who might this be?"

Janus signs, "I heard it from Envoy."

Melchizedek signs, "What led her to such conclusions? And did anyone else share her theories?"

Janus shakes his head, "Don't really know. She just didn't seem to give any faith to the notion that any Naga built that city."

Melchizedek signs, "Do you know who might have bid her to keep such theories a secret?"

Janus snickers, "Why, yes… Probably me. I was having fun shattering her innocence. I told her that it would not be good for the Savan if what she thought were accepted as a general truth."

Melchizedek signs, "If there was any proof to support such theories then, yes, what you suggested, joke or not, might well be true."

Melchizedek pauses. "Have you any other information you procured during your time there which might be of note? Your intervention to protect Envoy has been noted, in the confrontation with the poodle. You will be compensated well for seeing that the Exile was unharmed."

Janus chews on his lower lip thoughtfully, "Not really. I might have learned more if events hadn't … Suggested that it would be prudent to tuck tail and run."

Melchizedek nods, and signs, "Do you believe there to be any further threat posed by the Priest-King or any other force within the City of Hands?"

Janus rubs his nose again, "From what I personally SAW, I can say that going back would be at best foolish, and at worst stupid. I don't know if there are any more threats. I'm betting that there are, though. We were scared off too thoroughly for ther to be no more threat."

Melchizedek nods, then signs, "So, a military expedition may be required in order to eliminate the threat?"

Janus shakes his head, "I wouldn't. Look … that poodle, he was someone that had died in the city. So was the other golem. If you send an army in there, and they start to die, you don't just lose your army, you end up with a much bigger problem."

Melchizedek signs, "More of a problem, then, than when treasure-seekers start filtering in, ignoring rumors of curses and magic? There are many wizards who pride themselves in combating the supernatural."

Janus nods. "You can kill one, or two, or even a half-dozen of those golems. Good luck with an army."

Janus signs, "The snake wizard who was at the site… he had no luck. I'd wonder at anyone else's chances."

Melchizedek sits back. "So, perhaps it would be more in line to set up outposts to watch the site and make sure that none enter – or leave?" he signs.

Janus thinks. "Probably. If you're asking for a recommendation from someone scared enough to tell you the truth … then, yeah. Keep people from going in, and you won't have to worry about … things coming out."

Melchizedek sits back and ponders this for a time, then signs, "Did you observe any questionable activity that should come to the attention of the Temple? Or which otherwise should be dealt with?"

Janus shakes his head, "No. Just the usual sort of complaints and jokes from the peons and hired hands."

Melchizedek signs, "I am disappointed. I had hoped there would be more to come out of this. However, your performance has still been commendable. I believe your payment for this in addition to your previous work will cover your Processing Fee. If you should decide to remain on hand for future missions, however, your apartment will still be provided."

Janus's eyebrow arches up again and he nods. "All right. Keep me in mind for future missions. Right now, I'm going to go do something about this dye."

Melchizedek nods. "I will see that one of the baths is set aside for you so that you may take care of that unnoticed."

Janus nods. "Thanks. That would be helpful."

"In the meantime," Melchizedek signs, then switches to speaking out loud, "once you receive your payment, you are free of any obligation. Your service has been useful to the Temple. You will be informed of any future missions for which your skills may be useful … and of any additional bounties to watch for."

Janus stands up. "Sure. You'll know where to find me."

Melchizedek stands. "Azhtar will show you the way, and will fetch whatever accessories you require."

Janus nods.

The unicorn pulls on a cord. The door cycles open, revealing two lupine guards who wait outside the office.

Janus turns and exits the office, rubbing at his nose again.