(OOC) -->

A big brutish Rokuga by the name of Bash (for that is what he does best) opens the door for Minister Bassai, Assistant Undercoil, the Champion of Roses and her assistant, Ibis, to enter.

Bassai leads the Champion and the Savanite into the room. He gives a brief sign "Hello," in the direction of the probe-plant as he slithers around Bash. He turns to face his companions, and flicks his tongue out.

The face of the plant swivels away from the sunlight, turning to face the interior of the room. Its 'face' is oddly formed … suggesting that the plant is, somehow … smiling.

The Champion stands inside the door, not taking a seat. Ibis does not take a seat, either.

The Ringneck's smile is almost as faint as the plant's. He clasps and unclasps his hands, then adjusts his coils. "I'm sorry to keep shrouding things in secrecy. I… am just not sure where to start with this." He shuffles again, nervously.

The Champion does not nod or make any other acknowledgment. Her expression is hidden under a mask, just as with any other Knight Templar.

Unclasping his hands, Bassai shrinks a little before signing, "Thorn, and Fetiss did not die in the manner I publicly claimed, and I feel you deserve the truth."

This still prompts no feedback. Bassai nonetheless, by all indications, has the Champion's full and undivided attention.

"I also have some questions, about her purpose on the expedition, and your unexpected assistance. However these can wait." The Naga continues to sign. "Thorn… claimed the Sky Island for the Rephidim Templars, and specifically your order. I was not pleased with this, and was discussing… no. It was a very passionate argument, I wanted her to revoke her claim."

Bassai waits to see if there is some reply. The unchanging mask facing him doesn't help. Observing nothing, he keeps gesturing. "She challenged me to a duel. I believe that is what she meant by throwing her sword at me. I was protesting this strongly, I am not a warrior. I wanted it to be settled peacefully."

"At this moment, Fetiss attacked her. Thorn cut… " The archaeologist shakes his head sideways, flicking out his tongue several times. "She killed him. His bites went deep into her throat, and injected her with cobra venom. I tried to save her."

"I couldn't," Bassai says, folding his hands in front of him. "I didn't have the medical skill. I didn't intend any of it to happen, and I feel the situation was a direct result of my earlier orders with Thorn."

The Champion holds up a hand for pause.

The Ringneck Naga stops speaking, seeming relieved at the break.

The Champion, in slow signs muffled by having to work against her own gauntlets, asks, "Is it so, then, that Thorn attacked you by hurling her blade at you, that Fetiss leapt at her to defend you, and they both died in the struggle?"

"No," the archaeologist shakes his head along with the sign. "She threw it into the dirt beside me. I asked why… she is even less communicative than you are. Picking up the blade, I asked if she was proposing we fight over the claim to the island. I had no illusions to my chances of success, and told her so, saying I felt this was a dishonourable way to do things. I was keeping my distance, she did not approach. Fetiss' attack came as a surprise to everyone… I was prepared to die for the Nagai Empire, I was not expecting him to strike."

The Champion signs, "Did she answer?"

"She did not speak or sign. She looked at Fenter… He was confused, but thought perhaps she wanted him to remove her flag. I'm not sure, he has a way of understanding things… " Bassai gestures. "That was all she had the opportunity to do."

The Champion nods. "If she laid claim to the island – and I know not why, for it was not her place – it would have been dishonorable to the flag of Rephidim to let you take it, and to herself to back down. To have another citizen of Rephidim remove the flag would have been the least dishonorable recourse."

The archaeologist nods slowly, "That may have been her intention then. I was not about to remove it myself. This makes their deaths even more tragic, and Fetiss' actions even more misguided. It was not his place to act." The Nagastops signing, and simply stares at the Champion's hands.

"I thank you for telling me the truth," the Champion signs.

Bassai sighs deeply before signing, "I seek the truth, I do not like it hidden. The Sabaoth's attack provided an opportunity to put a better face on this. I want their memory to be greater than their actions, but I felt you should know."

There is a light rapping at the door.

Bash looks to the door, then back to Bassai with a 'what now, huh, boss?' expression.

Bassai looks over at the door, and nods at Bash to open it.

The four-armed Rokuga looks utterly baffled.

"Open the door Bash," the Minister says.

The Rokuga smiles, as at last understanding dawns on him if but for a fleeting moment. In this moment of Rokugai illumination, he walks over … and opens the door.

The door, of course, opens. Behind it is a skinny Savanite swathed in coarse garments that suggest the robes of a Himaatian desert nomad – minus the sand shoes, and with the addition of a slave's collar. He has a shoulder satchel, and looks in toward Bassai … then casts a surprised look at the Champion and her slave.

Bassai observes the Savanite, trying to place the face. "Come in," he waves.

The Savanite obliges, by stepping inside, and reaches into his satchel, pulling forth a rolled scroll with a wax seal on it. This he hands to Bassai.

"A moment please," The Naga nods to the Champion and Ibis as he examines the seal, then breaks it to read the scroll.

The Savanite then immediately walks over to the Champion, pauses a bit to rummage through his satchel … then pulls out another scroll. He peers at it, nods, then hands it to the Champion. A step to the side and he pulls out another scroll … and hands it to Ibis! Without hanging around to make an explanation, the slave nearly sprints out the door, disappearing down the hall.

The seal of the scroll Bassai holds has an imprint that looks like a hand in the Silent Sign for 'Star'. Inside, the scroll is a finely penned invitation with borderwork that seems to shimmer and writhe with a life beyond that which could be attained by the best of penmanship or artistic knotwork.

If the writing is to be believed, Sir Bassai (with his long string of titles) is formally invited to the coronation of the Priest-King of the Savanite Empire, to be held on a date not that far away, in the City of Hands in the Xenean Jungle …

"This… is very interesting. Even more that you have received one also." Bassai says, as he reads the invitation. The shifting border holds his attention, then he speaks again. "It also leads me to one of the things I wanted to ask you."

By the look of shock on Ibis' face as he reads his own scroll, it would seem he has read something similarly unbelievable. He rolls up his scroll and hands it to the Champion beside him.

"Which is, what did you do at the City of Hands? I've heard some interesting accusations." The Minister says, watching for the Champion's reaction.

The Champion, having a scroll in each hand, hands them both back to Ibis, freeing up her own hands again. She then signs, "Accusations? Perhaps you should go first."

"I've heard that you were under orders from Arch Inquisitor Melchizedek to destroy it, and did so." The Ringneck signs, after putting his invitation on the desk and carefully weighting it down. "I'm curious why Rephidim would want such a thing. Also, since it apparently is still there in some form, why you didn't."

The Champion signs, "It is not within my power, nor Melchizedek's, to destroy a city, ruined or no. I have done no such thing, nor have I been instructed to do so."

The Ringneck nods, "Well, from what I understand the official reports are that it was destroyed. I've also heard a rebel slave of Titus Haut Mikide's was killed when that happened; One that stole an airship of that noble, kidnapping your wife in the process Ibis."

"That would appear to be mere rumor," the Champion replies, "especially since this rebel slave is the one to be crowned." She indicates the scrolls. "She is 'Third-Vision', the one who dares proclaim herself this 'Priest-King'."

"Daring indeed, and I thought the Empire Savanites were being uppity." Bassai hisses in a mild comment as glances back at the invitation. "It is an understatement to say the Emperor-Potentate is not pleased. I will have to deal with this situation in some manner."

The Champion nods. "Then I shall leave you to make your plans, if you have nothing further to sign to me."

The Ringneck Naga flicks out his tongue, pausing for thought. "I would like to make my plans based on some solid knowledge, and at the moment all I have are a large number of strange occurrences associated with the City of Hands. If you don't think any of your experiences would be helpful, I would still like to sign with Ibis. He was wild once, and I need some insight into that mind."

The Champion looks to Ibis, then back to Bassai. She signs, "At this point, I do not think that would be wise. I will have to refuse, Minister." The Champion nearly pushes Ibis toward the door.

Bassai watches Ibis especially as the two of them leave. "Thank you for your time Champion."

The door closes. Ibis and the Champion are gone.

The Ringneck Naga turns away from the closed door. Looking at his plant by the window, he raises his hand and signs, "Secret. Apart from the knowledge of others; private; known only to a few or kept from general knowledge. Something studiously concealed; what is not or should not be revealed; and what supplies the lift to Rephidim Island. Learn that word well, leafy observer." He slithers over to his desk, opening the invitation for another look. Without glancing up he says, "Bash, get Assistant Undercoil up here. Make sure he brings all the papers and see about my lunch. I've got some reading to do, and thinking."