(OOC) Fri Mar 13 1998 -->

The battle seems to be dying down. What bug-ships are left are either falling to their dooms … or else in full retreat.

The garter beside Bassai hops on his coils. "We won! Yesss!"

The Minister of Savanite Affairs rubs at his eye, waiting for the flash blindness to clear. "Where did that fire come from, the Collegia? Where is the rest of the crew." He trains the telescope back on the Creen ship, trying to get a better view of it's activities.

Many of the Savanites are dancing around. Perhaps some sort of victory celebration, since the Eeee are evidently defeated – and soundly at that?

As the cleanup operation continues, the Intimidator continues toward Rephidim … gliding over the docks. For such a large attack, it looks as if the docks have been hardly touched, though the Guard is out in full force.

"Yes, I think we have. There were some unexpected allies." Bassai says, still searching the Creen ship to try and find the mages that must be there. "That Black Raider of the Safar was fighting on Rephidim's side. I fear there are many things I can't explain."

The garter hisses, "Can you be sssure? Maybe it wasss jussst a ssship of … sssimilar desssign?"

"No, I am not sure! It is a black ship without any lights against the ground and the night sky," the Minister hisses in frustration. "I can't be sure of anything I saw, except that there is a lot of magic involved."

The garter nods. "Asss ssshould be exsspected, with the Eeee attacking the home of the Collegia Esssoterica!"

"Of course. It would explain things if the Creen ship was one of theirs." Bassai muses, still peering through the telescope. "I suppose they might even split their forces, as some of the spells definately were originating from the Collegia. That still however, would not explain why I only see savages on the Collegia's ship, and no trace of their mages."

The garter shrugs. "Maybe it'sss sssome sssort of exssperiment? Maybe they wisssh to have a ssship with no sssapient crew – er … I mean … " He ducks his head and slithers over toward the window. "Oh! It looksss like we may be able to disssembark sssoon!"

"That doesn't explain the success of that ship. It was cutting a path through the Insects." Bassai flicks out his tongue, "If meer wild Savanites could manage that without any magic, they definately will be a problem in the future. I will have to ask Sephira… Perhaps the Mages can work their rituals safely inside, and their crew is simply dressed in some fanciful way for Candlemass."

The garter nods. "Of courssse. Brilliant!"

The Minister looks up to see what his assistant is indicating, "the spells coming from the Collegia had a childish aspect. Perhaps that was the student's efforts, and their teachers were in the other location."

The garter nods. "Perhapsss."

"The other possibility is one I'd rather not consider, with the problems we are having now." The Ringneck slithers over beside the garter, looking out. "The Champion's slave may be able to help, he was wild once and now has an educated view of things. He may be able to tell me something of use."

The garter looks confusedly up at Bassai.

The ship shakes mildly, and chimes ring out. The Intimidator's boarding ramp has been affixed to the docks.

"What dancing means for them, if they are wild, or even if they're tamed. Spontaneous exhibition I could understand on occasion, but it is becoming increasingly coincidental that every time I hear of Savanites in battle, they're dancing." Bassai turns away from the window, heading for the door. "Likely it's just something they all do, like Titanians howling while they fight, but I want to know. I have not run across it before."

The garter just nods dumbly, scooting after Bassai. Bash is waiting just outside the door, providing Bassai with an escort – and his luggage.

"Small details are not something you ignore in Archeology, Assistant Undercoil. A whole political system can be reconstructed from a pottery shard, or an entire language from one room's inventory list." The Ringneck lectures the Garter as he slithers over to the Rokuga. "It remains to be seen how many small details need to be ignored in government."

The garter, lacking for any better response, starts writing down notes … as if he might be tested on this later.

Bassai progresses down the landing ramp. "It would be no use talking to the warriors tonight, they'll be either getting drunk, bandaged, or their stories cleared by the Inquisitors. Fortunately I know a place we can stay not too far from here. Tomorrow I will see about meeting that noble. Oh yes, are you familiar with Rephidim Law?"

The garter says, "Only ssslightly, sssir."

"Basssically," the garter says, "obey anyone with a Ssstar-and-Anchor on their chessst?"

"A good start, but I would want a little more. I'll need to talk to a specialist, particularily about my diplomatic status, hmmm… " Bassai flicks out his tongue as he slithers onto the docks. "Bring everything Bash. At any rate, after that I can see about speaking with the Baron and the others, and finding out just what happened."

"Yesss, minissster!" says the garter.