The Mercy's Cup, an ambassadorial ship in the Rephidim air fleet, has returned to its home dock, bearing the scars of battle. Along the way back from Ur, the ship picked up an additional passenger – an Inquisitrix who has not set hoof on the sky island for a very, very long time.

At the Temple, the Inquisitrix arrives with no fanfare – just an acolyte who showed up at the dock with a couple of Jupani guards to help with her bags and to make sure she didn't get lost along the way.

The acolyte, a young crow-like Korv, caws to Turtle, "Here we are, Inquisitrix. I believe they are still making arrangements for your office, but in the meantime… "

The Temple is largely as Turtle remembers it … except that the ornamental stonework has fallen into a grave state of disrepair and neglect.

Turtle looks over the Temple building with mixed emotions – disorientation of remembrance, disdain at the disrepair of the building, and a certain air of dread, as if not fully knowing what to expect, but disheartened at what she does know.

"… we have something temporary which I hope will suit your needs, recently vacated," continues the acolyte.

Turtle nods. "Thank you. I'm confident it will." She covers her emotions quickly to assume her usual look of dignity.

The crow hops up the steps, the two wolves following behind. "These two Jupani will be acting as your guards," he squawks. "Rathos and Soran." Rathos nods at his name – He's a brown wolf with amber eyes. Soran is a brick of a female, a pale gray wolf with ice blue eyes, and a long ponytail tied tightly back behind her head. They both dress in plain robes of the Temple Guard.

Turtle smiles kindly to both, then turns back to the crow, her smile quickly fading, as she looks over the building again.

The clip-clop of hooves can be heard, and several armored warriors on horseback (or, that is, on the backs of horse-like creatures with reptilian features) ride up to the base of the steps to the Temple. Several of the knights dismount.

"I," squawks the crow, "am Neekto. I am an acolyte of the Priesthood, but I am temporarily assigned to be your assistant until more permanent arrangements and assignments are made."

Turtle starts up the steps after the crow, giving a few glances back at the knights with hidden amazement.

A carriage rolls up to the steps of the Temple as well, stopping a short distance away, due to the number of knights providing an obstacle. The passengers include a Naga, and his Savanite slave – who is sporting some bandages around his head.

Turtle says, "Very well, Neekto." She smiles. "Shall we go in? I'm eager to see the Temple again after so long."

Neekto nods. "As you wish, Inquisitrix." He begins hopping up the steps again.

Bassai slithers from the carriage, looking around to check on his slave. "Careful Tekki, you are recovering well but still have a ways to go, do not slip." He then turns and looks at the temple, hissing quietly to himself, "The last obsstacle."

Turtle follows gracefully, her head hardly bobbing at all as moves up the step.

Several knights head up the steps … and some overtake the Aeonian. "Inquisitrix," says a feline in white armor, "Welcome back to the Temple." None of them are really familiar on a personal basis. The Inquisitrix recognizes the distinctive armor, but those she once knew who would have worn that armor three centuries ago are long gone.

Tekki nods slowly, and falls in behind his master, quickly glancing toward the gathering of warriors and warrioresses on the Temple steps.

Turtle nods her head to the knight politely.

Turtle hides a sudden feeling she is a bit out of place here.

Bassai progresses towards the temple entrance, with only a curious side glance at the knights, in case some should prove familiar. He faces the guards outside the door, hissing, "I have some paperwork to attend to, here iss my card." The archeologist shows his calling card.

A wolf in red armor barks, "We have heard well of you, and have high expec – hopes for you. We have heard of your long vigil at the Templar Outpost of Aelfhem."

Someone from further up the steps can be hear coming down. In a voice that sounds like a wounded Dromodon he sings softly to himself, "La la la Ambergris… If she gets fat and round, there'd just be more to love… "

A bat with stringy black hair and white fur walks by the raccoon, muttering darkly under her breath, heading the opposite direction.

Bassai flicks out his tongue, as he catches a glimpse of the Champion of Roses among the assembled knights, and one of her Lancers addressing the inquisitrix. He makes no other reaction as he waits on the guard.

A lupine guard waves in the Naga archaeologist. "A good day to you, sir. Just in that way, down the corridor and … "

The raccoon tips his pointed hat at the bat and continues down the stairs, humming. He's dressed in robes, but not inquisitor… or even temple robes, instead he's dressed in the most gaudy mage's robes one can possibly imagine.

Turtle says, "Thank you, sir. I would love to tell you some of it, but I wish to regain my bearings first. Would you please if I went in?"

The red-armored wolf bows. "Of course. Forgive me for detaining you, Inquisitrix." With that, he backs away.

Bassai nods to the lupine guard, "Thank you for your assissstance." Then waits patiently, unwilling to push past the Inquisitrix's party. Instead, he turns to check on Tekki once more.

Tekki taps lightly on Bassai's shoulder, and directs his attention to a cheetah accompanying the Champion of Roses.

Turtle looks again for Neekto to proceed.

Fenter missteps one of the stairs and tumbles downward. "AIEEEEE!!!!"

The crow hops up the remaining steps and into the main entrance to the Temple. "Just follow me! Now, you'll be – KAW!"

Several swords unsheath, pistols unholster and other weapons are brought to bear as the knights react as if to some sort of attack. Several innocent bystanders use discretion and get well clear!

The Naga looks over at the Savanite standing beside the Champion of Roses. His tongue flicks out as he recognizes Ibis. Hearing the squawking in the entrance, and the sudden commotion, he decides to move. "Come Tekki, we should not be too near this." He progresses towards the Champion.

Turtle gasps, catching a glimpse at the tumbling raccoon, before going down herself.

Tekki nods and keeps quickly behind his master, not eager in the least to get in any more adventures than he needs to, in his condition…

"Ack! Ooof! Eek! Ow!" The raccoon blurts out as he continues rolling down the stairs.

Neekto squawks even more loudly, "Save the Inquisitrix!"

The ringneck Naga and slave Savanite manage to avoid getting caught up in the tumble, and come to stand beside the Champion and her Savanite.

Turtle looks back at her unwitting attacker with great annoyance.

Fenter says, "Save ME!"

A pair of armored boots stop the raccoon's descent, and soon he is being hoisted up by a gauntlet-encased hand.

The Champion of Roses turns to regard Bassai, and nods her head in greeting.

The Rath'ani oofs as he slams into the boot, and then just dangles there like a kitten being held up by the scruff of its neck. One of his eyebrows twitch nervously.

"Oh. THAT one," growls a regular Temple Guard who has moved in to investigate. "Let him go. He's harmless." He gives a meaningful look to the knight. "Just incompetent."

Turtle stands up, straightening her dignity (and her clothing) as she continues to look down at Fenter in annoyance.

The black knight holding Fenter reluctantly lets the raccoon down again, and says nothing.

Bassai nods in reply to the Champion, "Greetings Champion, I wissh to take this opportunity to thank you for all your help. It hass been invaluable. I thought you might wish to know that I have met with my sponsorss, and they were quite pleased."

The Champion of Roses nods again to Bassai.

The crow hops over to Turtle. "Oh! I'm so sorry, Inquisitrix. I'm so ashamed. I should have thrown my body in the way of your assailant to protect you! Oh dear, oh dear… "

Fenter tips his hat to the inquisitrix as soon as he's back on his feet. "Pardon the disturbance, madame. One of the steps must have been greasy. Perhaps gr-… er… soomebody spilled some there recently."

At last, swords are sheathed, and other weapons put aside and away, as it is apparent the raccoon is no would-be assassin. He still is the focus of several armored gazes, however.

Turtle turns to the crow, as if uniterested by him. "It was not your fault." She looks back quickly at the scene below.

The crow bows his head. "Thank you, Inquisitrix, for being merciful. By the First Ones, I will not let it happen again."

Turtle narrows her eyes at the raccoon. "You annoy me. But I will let it pass." She looks back at the Temple building with dismay.

The archeologist hisses, "I feel in part I would not have accomplished this without the excellent work of your slave, I wished to tell you how pleased I am with him. My expedition is nearly ready to be underway, and it is largely because of Ibis' information."

Turtle says, "I suppose we should continue on inside."

"Lots of people say that about me," the raccoon replies. "Well, the first part anyhow… " He shrugs and continues down the steps, almost bumping into the Champion of Roses on his way.

Ibis humbly bows his head at the praise, while the Champion of Roses' response is, yet again, just another nod. The other knights begin heading back to her mounts, and the Champion turns back toward her own warbeast, perhaps ready to depart as well.

Bassai looks at Tekki, "I would be neglectful, if I did not warn you, that some individualss have already tried to take that information from me, violently I might add. You may wish to keep a close eye on your slave for the time being."

Bassai nods one last time to the Champion, "I have many unscrupulouss rivals."

The Champion pauses at Bassai's warning, looking at the Naga, and then at Tekki. She then looks to Ibis, and motions him to come along.

Fenter looks at the champion. "OHHH! You're the one that Haji said almost knocked his teeth out… " He suddenly blinks, as if realizing what he just said and slaps his hands over his mouth.

The Champion turns again, to look at the raccoon, then abruptly changes direction, dragging Ibis along … and motioning for Bassai as well.

The Naga notices the raccoon for the first time, hissing, then recognizing him. He waits, watching the champion's reaction, then follows her.

This time, the Champion of Roses is walking back up the steps, leaving the rest of the knights to depart on their Drokars, Raktors, and other warbeasts.

Fenter backs up nervously, and missteps again, this time he simply falls on his rear with a dull thud. "OW!"

Turtle is working with her handmirror in the meantime, fixing her mussed hair, and double-checking her makeup, occasionally running a finger through her eyelashes.

The archeologist says to Fenter as he passes, "I want to speak with you soon." but makes motion to wave him along. Bassai and his slave follow the Champion.

Turtle puts her mirror away, satisfied with her looks.

The raccoon spins around and starts struggling up the steps after Bassai, almost crawling up. (To prevent any further slippages of course.)

Some time later, within the Temple, Inquisitrix is introduced to her new office, with its ceramic and plastic walls, a simple wooden desk, an old "dentist chair" in the corner, various tools of the trade, and a socket where a helmet used in Exile Processing was once hooked up, but since then has evidently been removed, even though the knife switch is still on the wall.

The lighting in this room flickers intermittently, but overall manages to keep the chamber reasonably well lit. Candles and torches are on hand in case a longer failure occurs. The two wolves take up guard just outside the door, while the crow hops on in and starts picking up a few papers left lying around. Already, several forms await Turtle at her "new" desk.

How convenient. A wall mirror is set up in one corner.

Turtle frowns, dispite herself, at the condition of the room, and inwardly resolved to get some things fixed.

Turtle in the meantime resolves herself to other things. She combs her fingers through her hair idly as the crow works.

The door to the office doesn't stay closed for long before the voice of Rathos can be heard through a grill to one side. "Inquisitrix Turtle? You have visitors regarding a First Ones site excavation."

Turtle turns from the mirror, a bit startled. "Bid them enter."

A muffled voice can be heard saying, "Bid? I thought this was for free!"

Turtle looks even more startled by the response.

The door slides open, revealing a few familiar faces – and one familiar mask.

Well, two, actually. There's a raccoon and a Champion, two Savanites, and a Naga archaeologist.

Turtle narrows her eyes a bit at the raccoon, but then turns to the toehrs, congenial as ever.

The regal ringneck Naga enters through the doorway. He is one of the larger Nagas, standing taller than most around him and coloured a deep emerald green. His belly scales vary from yellow through to red, and he wears dark ruby clothes. There is a slight scraping as he moves forward. "Greetingss," he hisses.

Fenter just smiles dumbly in response. After spending one's entire life getting evil looks by people, one builds up a tolerance for them.

Turtle nods politely to the Naga. "Afternoon."

The Champion of Roses moves into the chamber, standing inside the door, rather than going for a seat. Her slave, Ibis, stands beside her as well, and Tekki looks about for some convenient place to keep out of the way in.

"My name is Bassai." Hisses the ringneck, "I am an archeologist, licensed by the Nagai Empire and the Rephidim Temple, and I have an expedition planned. I wish to obtain the necessary approval for this, and have brought my documentation."

The raccoon takes a seat near the back, allowing the Naga to seat himself near the Inquisitrix's desk. He rocks back and forth quietly and looks at the 'dentist's chair'.

The crow hops up to the Naga, and squawks, "Well, the Inquisitrix just got back from her last assignment, but … let's see … I think I know where the proper paperwork is… " He hops about the room, checking in some drawers until he produces some forms.

Bassai nods, seating himself near the Inquisitrix's desk, and observing the crow flutter about.

The crow sets some forms out for Turtle, then checks Bassai's papers. "Hmm."

Fenter glances back towards the champion, idly wondering if the Naga is in trouble or not.

"I trusst everything is in order," the Naga says to both the crow and the Inquisitrix. "I can provide more information if necesssary."

Turtle watches the crow herself, it slowly dawning upon her just how out of place she is.

Turtle tries to regain her bearings once more "Might I ask, just out of curiousity, what the expedition is about?," she questions during this time.

The Champion turns to look toward Bassai.

The Rath'ani looks at Tekki and waves a bit, signing something with his hands.

Tekki manages a smile and nods back to Fenter.

Turtle catches a bit of the motion and raises an eyebrow, but her mind is still a bit dizzy, and it doesn't register consern long.

Bassai settles back, to talk about one of his favourite subjects, his work. "I wish to investigate a possible First Ones site, that was recently found and abandoned due to difficulties. I believe it may contain interesting facts about the early Naga civilization that rose soon after. It is located in the Vykarin Wastelands."

"The site was previously approved for exploration, for Titus Haut Mikade. His recent, and unrelated troubles in his house, caused the premature ending of that invesstigation." Bassai hisses, "My desire is to uncover what knowledge and artifacts may remain there."

Turtle looks thoughtful. "It certainly seems a notable task. And with the Champion's word to back you up, I don't see why I should not grant your request." She inwardly hopes she is handling the situation properly, but it doesn't seem any great risk.

The Champion nods her head to the Aeonian.

The crow squawks, "Well then! If it's all in order … hmm … Let me see. Did we get you a new inkwell? Ah, and here is a pen… "

Fenter arches an eyebrow… curious as to wether the pen is made from one of the crow's feathers or not.

If the crow knows, he's not volunteering.

Bassai flicks out his tongue, happy that things are going so smoothly, "Is there anything else required of me by the Temple?"

Turtle reaches for the pen. "Anything else? Oh, bother, it's been so long since I've been involved with Temple proceedures," she finally admits out loud, looking to the crow hopefully.

The crow nods to Turtle, then leans over to whisper, "It all looks in order to me. The receipts show proper fees have been paid by the sponsor."

Turtle nods in return, inwardly relieved. She signs the document, her penmanship amazingly showing little degradation from her time spent alone.

The crow nods, waits for the ink to dry, then puts the papers back together to present back to Bassai, with copies to send off to Bookkeeping.

The raccoon hums quietly to himself as he waits, still looking at the inquisition chair.

The Naga flicks out his tongue as the Inquistrix signs the forms, then takes them from the crow. He rises from his sitting position, and bows, "Thank you for your assissstance, the Temple is most efficient."

Turtle sighs, looking slightly annoyed at that statement. "Were it so with their outpost checks… " she half-mumbles.

Fenter looks at Bassai with 'can-we-go-now-please' eyes.

The door to the chamber slides open, revealing the outside corridor again.

"If that is all, I shall leave you to your other duties," Bassai hisses. "Good Day, Inquisitrix; may the Golden Serpent shine favourably on you." The Naga turns and slithers towards the door.

Fenter quickly hops from his seat, tipping his hat one final time to the inquisitrix, and follows quickly after the Naga.

Turtle smiles pleasantly at Bassai, although still a bit nervously.

The Champion leaves as well, along with the Savanite slaves.

Bassai exits the chambers of the Inquisitrix, and is joined by his small group in the corridor outside. He moves them a short distance from the guards outside the door, and turns to speak to them.

"We have an adventure ahead of us, my friends!" the archeologist hisses.