It's almost a week since the group first arrived at the tower. Envoy and Lochinvar have been busily deciphering the writings of Barabbas, and going through his library collection. Envoy has picked up the basics of written Nohbakim/Zerda, and has selected several of the creatures in suspended animation for transport back to the Emir … protecting them by drawing from supplies of amber in the tower and encasing them in protective, translucent shells. Also, with a bit of help from Envoy's earth magic to maintain things, the garden is looking much nicer now.

"Lochinvar," Envoy asks the Ranger while the camp is being broken down, "as a member of the Temple Rangers, I imagine you show proper reverence for the First Ones. But I was a wondering what you really thought of them?"

The coyote looks up from the pack that he's getting together and hrms a little. "You're right. They ask that I do," he says, "however, they don't ask me to like doing so. Until they ask me to do that, I have no problem with them." Something in his voice gives away the fact that he's not too fond of them, even though it goes unsaid.

Rajim and Avrim don't seem to be terribly concerned about the impromptu religious discussion, but Rajim finds the time to add in, "Pardon me, sir, but will we have to deal with that sand-monster on the way back out?"

The Earth Mage takes a moment to make sure the amber block securing the "guard dog" is sufficiently opaque. "I know how to turn the traps on and off with magic now, so that won't be a problem."

Lochinvar nods to Envoy. "Also, there is one of the levers up in that control room that controls the golem also," he adds. "If you are confident of being able to control them via magical means, should we leave them armed while there is not a presence here?"

"I had planned to," the Aeolun says. "I don't want to leave this place undefended when nobody is here to protect it."

The Hekoye nods again in agreement. "Right," he says.

Envoy does another check on the packed animals, then suggests, "I think it would be simpler to go out through the front door this time, don't you?" She gestures towards the door of amber, and the dark shapes suspended within it.

Lochinvar mulls over a couple of books that he brought down from the library. "I suppose that these are going to become the property of the Emir?" he asks, with a slight sigh. "A few of these I'd like a little more time to read over."

Avrim shudders as he looks at the door. Rajim just continues doing busy-work, securing bundles and double-checking to make sure nothing gets left behind.

"Oh, I can provide you with transcripts if you like, Lochinvar," Envoy says. "I've memorized all of the books." The Earth Mage then concentrates on the cantrip to deactivate the Amber Trap beyond the doorway.

After a few seconds of sing-chanting from Envoy, the amber door seems to contort ever so slightly, then resume its normal appearance.

But this appearance is misleading. It seems to be shrinking in thickness, pulling outward down the corridor, away from the group. As it does, some of the dark shapes inside the door break through the semi-liquid surface of the door…

… and fall to the floor. Judging by the way the bodies fall apart, it would seem that they weren't held in suspended animation after all.

"Thanks," says the Hekoye. "Though I'd prefer to read from the original books. Just something seems to get lost in transcript – Uh… should the door be doing that?"

When the process has finished … the amber door looks to be free of any trapped entities within … and looks a whole lot less thick than it was before.

The Aeolun doesn't move until the process completes itself. "Yes, it's supposed to do that. Do you think the victims can be identified? We could just leave them here, or move them to where the garden can deal with the remains."

"I'm not sure," Lochinvar says. "This tower has been here for a long time. There may not be anyone to identify these."

Rajim walks over to the bodies. "Looks like … Nohbakim. Heh! This fellow has lockpicks!"

"I guess he knew how to use them too," Envoy comments, as she finally moves down the exposed corridor to test the door.

The handle turns … and the amber door, rather than swinging open, slides smoothly into the wall, revealing the sandy expanse beyond, and letting in a blast of hot air.

Envoy slides the door closed again quickly. "Hot out there today."

Lochinvar says, "I'm going to guess that means this trap is 'off'."

"Until we turn it back on from outside," the Aeolun says, and heads for the stairs, "If everything is cleared out from upstairs, I'll go turn off the sand golem and reactivate the other traps."

Not terribly long later, the group has made it out to await the ship, making use of the sandshoes and sleds left for them. The sandstorm is parted, making an open gateway, as the sandship – amazingly punctual – soars across the sands, approaching the group.

The sand trireme glides to a stop, a kooshkie sled circling it playfully, then running up toward the party. As the sled slows, the kooshkies pop up out of the sand and begin to bounce about, jiggling frantically.

"I love the way the sandships make use of skeletal remains," Envoy says, smiling despite the wind, heat and blazing sun. "I hope to see one constructed someday."

Lochinvar shrugs a little. "Though for one to be made, something has to die so you can get remains," he comments a little dryly.

"That happens quite often in the desert, sir," comments Rajim just as dryly.

The ramp is lowered from the trireme, and several excited Nohbakims scurry down to help tow the sleds and the strange wondrous things set upon them.

"I expect it does," replies the Hekoye, his mind briefly wandering to thoughts of his two previous companions here and their presumed fate out in the vast … nothingness.

Envoy helps with the loading, mainly by offering instructions on how best to handle the encased critters. "One being's desert is another's ocean," she comments back to Rajim. "And like many other oceans, the maps here would do well to warn that 'Here be Dragons'."

"Shriken," says the guard, in between helping move a particularly awkward load. "Sand shriken, that is. Big ugly cousins of Gooshurms … can snap a man in half with a single bite of their jaws!"

Lochinvar continues with loading stuff himself, paying little attention to the Khattans' helpful commentary about the Himaat's hazards.

The Aeolun asks, "Do you suppose the Emir will have some in his zoo? I wonder if the Nohbakims have ever tamed any?" She takes up a position near the head of the sled, so that she can watch the kooshkies better.

Rajim shudders at the notion of capturing a shriken.

Several colorful kooshkies bounce around Envoy, some of them passing close enough to tickle at her with their jiggling, soft "spines".

Envoy asks the driver if it is safe to pet the kooshkies, and where they like to be touched.

The driver seems to have some trouble understanding Envoy's question, but then, at least, it seems that the message must be getting across. The driver reaches out and grabs one of the creatures and just gives it a squeeze with both arms, causing the creature to squeak, and its quills to wiggle about all the more … and then the driver lets go, and the creature bounces off his (or her?) head, before returning to its "dance" with its fellows.

Meanwhile, it looks like the Nohbakim have gotten the bulk of the goods on the sandship. Just a few little things to pick up – such as the mage and her entourage.

Envoy turns and waves to the Earth Tower. "I'll be back, don't fret!"

The Hekoye sets his last pack onto the sled, and looks dubiously at Envoy. "You really think that it will?" he asks.

The tower just stands there quietly, as towers are prone to do. Well, the branches wave a bit. But that's just the wind.

The Exile just grins and shrugs. "One should never underestimate living towers, Lochinvar. You may be related to one someday, after all."

The Ranger blinks. "Excuse me?"

"You're excused," Envoy says, grinning wider, and then turns towards the sandship.

Lochinvar folds his arms and frowns at the Aeolun. "That wasn't what I meant," he says.