Skiree and Wynona have left Roho for the Mage's Guild that resides in one of the smaller ziggurats that dominates the city, but a passing golden fox takes Roho in charge and leads him here. "This is the Sabaoth's palace, may he prosper," she says in a hushed voice. "They say that he has not come out to lead the Greeting of the Sun in a hundred days, so ill has he felt. We all pray that the First Ones will send a healer who can help him… "

Roho follows the fox, quietly saying, "I will do what I can… "

Maza's hand is warm on the fennec's as she threads through the people that gather in the gardens to pass one of the entrances. "The tradesmen, the common artisans and crafters that are needed to tend to the needs of the Palace, go in by the Gate of the Hand. We approach the Gate of the Eye, which is that of the wise men… "

Roho smiles at Maza, "You do me honor, milady… "

Several robed Eeee and a badger walk up the gently curving path as well, talking among themselves.

"It is an ailment of the liver," one argues. "The Sabaoth will benefit from a proper dietary plan, eschewing red meat and delicacies, turning instead to simple grains and fruits."

The badger seems to be tiring from a long session of animated discussion, waving his hands to emphasize his points. "I know all too well his dietary needs, but that will avail us not at all for any sudden change. We need some sign of recovery, at least for the sake of the people's hearts."

Roho stops by the two arguing gentlemen, "Excuse me… "

Up the path, sounds come to Roho's ears of fervent discussion and a small number of people gathered at the gate – ten or twelve. Maza whispers to Roho, "It is the chief advisor, Thath! Sabaoth loves him over all his other advisors, and has trusted to him the Greeting of the Sun. He must be here to test the physicians that seek to tend to the Sabaoth, lest they be fools or worse, malicious assassins."

Roho nods at the mention of Thath, but shows nothing…

The badger raises a tired eye to the fennec, then turns to face the path ahead.

Roho smiles to the badger, then decides to meet Thath. He walks up the path with Maza.

Thath is a white bat with black hair, robed to the ankles in rich velvet and with silk shrouding his arms: obviously the sort of person who can say 'I never have to fly anywhere'. He sits in a high chair at the gate and waves a cane of reddish wood peremptorily. "Go ye from this gate, ye charlatan," he commands of a hapless-sounding doctor. "The Sabaoth is not to be tended to by one whose idea of physicking is to drain from him his vital blood. Begone!"

Guards pick up the bewildered Kavi and escort him away from the gate.

The badger's eyebrows raise, and his pace slows. That was to be his idea. He swallows and steps forward to meet Thath.

Thath looks down at the badger. "Have you come bringing a cure for our direly ill Sabaoth, beloved ruler of us all and lord of the land of Ashdod?" he asks in a tone that suggests while concerned, he has seen altogether many cranks.

Roho stands quietly, and listens to the badger's response…

The badger bows at the chest to the white bat. "Yes, milord. I am Flemm, and I have come a great distance to offer my services." He straightens up, his hands beginning to stutter at his sides. He seems to be deep in thought at the moment.

"Say on, Physician Flemm," Thath says boredly.

Maza whispers to Roho, "Oh no! How can you treat someone when you haven't even seen him?"

Roho whispers back, "I can't. If he thinks any healer can, than his seach will be long indeed."

Flemm nods, and swallows, reaching into the folds of his robe to remove several bulbous trinkets which vaguely resemble dried vegetable matter, as well as a few tiny corked vials. "My specialty is in the healing effects of scents, milord. I propose a therapy of my best scented oils, derived from the best roots to be found at the foothills of Dronnel Mountain."

The badger holds up a vial for Thath to inspect.

Maza looks over at Flemm and several of the other doctors assembled, then whispers to Roho, "It doesn't seem that has stopped some others… "

Roho nods at Maza, and shrugs noncommitally.

Thath takes the vial and sniffs at it. His nose wrinkles. "Indeed, were I a sick Eeee, this would surely inspire me to recover the more quickly." He chuckles dryly. "So then, these smells, they will somehow cause the Sabaoth's blood to flow more quickly, bring back life to his heart and belly and clear his eyes?"

The badger nods, encouraged. "But if I may, sir… despite the success this treatment has had on others, from what I have heard in the air concerning the Sabaoth's condition, I am prepared to offer more … pronounced help."

Thath nods, looking a little more interested.

Roho listens to the conversation with interest…

Some doctors near Roho whisper among themselves agitatedly. "The man's a quack," one mutters. "Scents! As much ask a patient to feel better with a pretty picture."

Flemm reaches into his robe again, pulling out a miniature funnel and a length of tubing. "With all your support, I shall tilt the Sabaoth's head back to gain better access to his olfactory region." He gestures with the tubing.

Thath's eyebrows threaten to jump off his head.

"And the patient has lived, the last time that you tried this?" Thath asks dryly.

Flemm blinks a few times, looking to Thath with as much feigned sincerity as he can muster. "Of course, milord! There was… ah… no trouble at all… " He stammers a bit. "… well… er, I've actually only tried this on colds. But they recovered quickly, yes indeed. Why should the Sabaoth's affliction be any different?"

Flemm's smile seems to waver a bit. He tries his best.

Thath sniffs disdainfully. "Colds, indeed! The Sabaoth's illness is no mere cold but a veritable blizzard of the soul. But you may try your treatment… "

"Upon a slave first."

Thath gestures for guards to escort Flemm into the palace. "Watch him closely," he orders the guards. "Have him test his medicines upon a slave and report to me. If there are no ill effects, at a later date we shall permit him to tend to the Sabaoth himself."

The badger's face falls, and he nods in deference to Thath. "Very well… " He turns to the guards to be led away, a bit dejectedly.

Thath adds to the guards, "If his treatment does ill to the slave or to the Sabaoth… Have him killed."

Roho's sensitive ears hear this last comment, and his eyebrows go up, but he keeps his place in the line.

The raven-haired bat turns back to the other doctors. "Who will be next to put forth his treatment for our ailing Sabaoth, the great ruler of Babel and the land of Ashdod? Who shall give of the wisdom of his mind?"

The other doctors gulp and step back behind Roho.

Roho steps forward as the others step back, not even noticing them.

Maza blinks. She whispers, "Er… Do you still need me to show you around?" into Roho's ears.

"What is your name, healer?" Thath asks, bored again.

Roho whispers back to Maza, "That depends on if I pass Thath or not, I would think… "

Maza nods and stands near Roho nervously. Her tail goes *swishswishswish*

"You have come a long way to see to the great Sabaoth," Thath replies with a raised eyebrow. "Tell me then, how you mean to treat the ailment of our mighty lord."

Roho fixes Thath with a questioning expression, "I don't know, milord… "

Roho continues, "I can't say how I will try to treat him until I have seen him. All I can offer you now is knowledge to discover what ails him, herbs to heal him if they can, and paws that may be capable of healing where herbs fail."

Thath looks surprised, and then bursts out into laughter. "An honest physician! I have never thought that I would live to see that day."

Maza giggles nervously, and the other doctors nearby shuffle their feet as they struggle to look quite honest and trustworthy as well.

Roho smiles slightly, "I have no use for being otherwise… "

"Tell me then of the cases that you have healed, Roho of the Himaat. Our master lies abed enervated, weaker every month so that he can barely lift quill to paper, and his nose has gone unnaturally cold. His heart races now and then like a young Dromodon eager to the hunt. Have you encountered a case like this?" Thath asks.

Roho nods, "I have, though it could be many things. I have treated poor hermits and rich nobles alike. With the symptoms you described, the treatment could be simple, or impossible. I wish I could tell you more."

Thath begins to seem bored again. "Tell me of a case you have treated then," he says again.

Roho rasps, "Very well. A kavi child in a small village was thought to be dead. While preparations for the funeral were being made, he awoke, though he had not the strength to lift his arms. His blood ran cold, and his heart was far too swift. I am a wanderer, and I came to the village two days after the child had awoken. Through a mixture of teas, good food, and some strong herbs, he was walking in four days, and fully well six more after that."

Thath listens. "That seems benevolent enough," he says with a wave of his hand. "Very well. You will be permitted to go in and see the Sabaoth, but any medicines that you intend to use must be tested upon a slave first. Your rewards will be great if you cure the Sabaoth, your punishment mighty if you fail… "

Maza goes 'eep' near Roho.

Roho tilts his head, "You mean, you shall punish me if I don't succeed in curing him, but yet do him no greater harm?"

"If you only fail to cure him," Thath explains leaning forward. His amber eyes flash. "You will be beaten and driven from the gates for wasting his valuable time with trivialities. If he worsens as a result of your cure… Death will seem preferable to your fate."

Roho shoulders his medicine pouch and turns back down the path he came from, "Very well. I've come offering my help. I have no need for your great rewards, and even less for your arrogance. If you change your mind, and wish me to try to help your master, then please send for me."

The other doctors buzz among themselves. "A hundred gold… " "Beaten? I didn't come up here to get beaten… " "They say he has only months to… "

Maza perks her ears up. "A hundred coins of gold?" she whispers as she walks beside Roho tugging on his sleeve. "Maybe it's worth the risk… "

Thath looks after Roho with disgust. "Guards, take this caitiff from my sight and throw him out of the city. We need none in Babel who scorn to help the Sabaoth that we all love and revere."

Maza pricks up her ears. "Eep."

Roho stops and turns to face Maza, smiling, "I really don't have much use for a hundred gold coins. I've always lived in the moment, bartering my services for what I need, and getting the rest from the land." His frown falters at Thath's words, "I do not scorn to help Sabaoth, I merely ask not to be threatened."

Roho turns to face Thath, "I will make a compromise… "

Thath fiddles with his cane, then gestures to the guards to hold. "Yes?"

Roho rasps, "If I attempt to heal Sabaoth, and fail, I leave the city, no beatings. If my treatments hurt him worse, than you may do with me what you will. And if I cure him, let the Sabaoth himself decide payment, it need not be a full 100 pieces of gold."

The bat advisor raises his eyebrows. "In the Sabaoth's name, so be it," he declares. "Your reward shall be on the winds. Guards, find the doctor and his assistant quarters. I shall personally guide them to see the mighty Sabaoth himself tonight."

Maza goes 'eep' at hearing 'his assistant'.

Roho smiles and bows again to Thath, "Thank you… the Sabaoth was wise to leave one such as you in charge."

"It is my honor to serve the Sabaoth," Thath replies. He gestures with his cane, and the quieting 'eeping' vixen leads Roho into the palace.

Roho follows the guards inside, taking Maza's paw as they're led away.