The reinforced double doors leading into the chamber are cycled open, revealing a couple of lupine guards who part way to allow a solitary (though impressively-sized) visitor to enter.

Zoltan glances at each of the guards and enters the chamber with a few fluid steps. For the past months he's felt as though he was constantly encumbered by packs and weapons and armor – but for the first time in a long while his only adornments are his clothes, the metal gauntlets on his wrists, and a few shinies adorning his tail. He squints a bit, trying to accustom himself to the strange lighting.

"Please be seated," comes the greeting from somewhere up on the catwalk ringing the central column. The black unicorn can't presently be seen, though a few scraping and scratching noises give a clue as to his location. As to the choice of seating … well, there are quite a number of pieces of furniture to choose from – with or without implements attached.

The Vartan's head shoots upwards at the sound as though he were expecting something to be dropped upon it. His head lowers back down to examine the room, and he seats himself quietly in a backless chair that appears to be sturdy enough to support his weight.

The sound of something ripping – perhaps a piece of cloth, perhaps leather, perhaps something else – can be heard from above, then a couple more scrapes. There is a pause of near-silence … and then several jets of steam shoot out from the base of the column, as a platform starts lowering down from the catwalk.

"Arch-Inquisitor?" Zoltan scrawks, watching the platform come down.

With another escape of steam, and a jolting stop, the platform snaps into its resting place, flush with the chamber floor, as a black-and-red-robed Aeonian steps out to meet the Vartan. "Greetings, Baron Zoltan Cambio. Welcome back to Sinai," he says in a flat tone.

The Vartan's face remains neutral for now. "Thank you. Is that why you wants to see me?"

"That would be a good place to begin," says the unicorn, as he walks over to a pedestal holding an inkwell, a quill pen, and some parchment. He starts scratching something onto the parchment. "Your journey took you through the Forbidden Zone of the Sea of Sand, I understand. Is that correct?"

"Yes. I hoped to find gateway to Abaddon theres, and I did." Zoltan fidgets with his hands. "I know I broke Rephidim law, sir. I was desperate, but I know that no excuse."

The unicorn nods. "You present the Temple with a difficult situation. In the past, most Inquisitors would just quietly shuffle this whole incident into a dark corner … or perhaps lose some paperwork … or solicit you for a bribe. However, this is no small, quiet matter … and many changes are being made in the Temple. The Captain-Astromancer would be displeased if he found that the Inquisition were playing favorites."

Zoltan nods his head. "I am willings to take whatever punishment Temple feel fit for me, Arch-Inquisitor." He sighs. "All I asks is that my family is kept outs of it."

"It will most probably manifest itself," says the unicorn, "in some fines to be determined by the Audit. From what I understand, however, you have not come back to Sinai laden with wealth. That may work in your favor. Or perhaps not. Your family will not be involved." The unicorn turns to look directly at the hippogryph. "Not in this issue, in any case."

"I came back with the only thing I went for, but he is whole different story." Zoltan relaxes a little, comforted that he won't be finding himself up against a lashing. His eyes narrow slightly, "There are other issues?"

The unicorn nods. "Most will assume that I brought you in here to give you a tongue-lashing about your foray to Abaddon. If they wish to make wild guesses about things they shouldn't be concerned about, that is their problem, not mine. No, what really interests me is an entity called Necropolis, and your connection to it. There have been developments in your absence."

Zoltan's ears go flat against his head. "What … developments?" It's all he can do to keep from growling; such a sound probably isn't very wise to make in the presence of an Arch-Inquisitor. "And what do you wants me to tell you about her?"

"For a long time, there have been rumors of a ghost roaming the Old Cemetery. A ghost 'Kitsune' – or, that is, an Exile Fox with many tails – who was supposedly preying upon other Exile Foxes, specifically those who are female." The unicorn paces. "This mythical creature was called Amaranth. For a long time, it was just yet another ghost story. Real dangers in Darkside have generated a higher death toll than even the most generous accounts of atrocities attributed to this spectral Exile."

"However, recent events led to the 'capture' of a crazed Zerda claiming to be Amaranth herself. Due to the diligent work of one of my esteemed colleagues, Arch-Inquisitrix Esther yod Rahab, we have made some tangential discoveries that we had not expected. We had been looking for proof of a pathetic attempt by a … misguided Babelite Ambassador to cause a political incident."

"Instead," continues the unicorn, "we may have uncovered proof of magical activity in the Sphere of Spirit that may pose more threat than a mere 'ghost story'."

"I hear occasional ghost stories about Amaranth here and theres, but never linked with name of Necropolis – unless Amaranth is one of her avatars." The Vartan rubs the bottom of his beak. "I been looking for her Avatar, hopings to destroy her presence on Rephidim since she a threat to my family… saw some glimmers around the Babelite Embassy but guards chase me off before I could investigates more."

"Saw some glimmers?" repeats the Aeonian.

Shifting a bit in his chair, Zoltan nods. "The Champion of Amber loan me his mask, said it would help me. I been using it to try and find Avatar, and also to help me feel outs magic. Sometimes if it strong enough, I can pick up magic without mask."

The unicorn nods. "You may not have heard the story yet, so I shall recite one version of it for you. The Babelite Ambassador to Rephidim, a former courier by the name of Brishen Kara, was assigned the old residence of Kame Ikata, which is nestled into the edge of the Old Cemetery in a less hospitable part of Rephidim."

Zoltan raises an eyebrow at this, remembering meeting Brishen not all that long ago in Himaat … although not much was really said as both he and the bat were more concerned to clinging to the Titanian vehicle at the time. He keeps his questions to himself and simply listens for now.

"This was to become the new Ashdodite Embassy, since the old one was destroyed by a riot shortly after the Battle of the Plaguebringers – which you are already familiar with, of course," adds the unicorn. "The young Ambassador misunderstood the terms of the loan of this land to Ashdod, and proceeded to knock down several monuments in the Old Cemetery in a region beyond the borders of the property. The fall-out of that incident was fairly unpleasant. Ultimately, the Ambassador was asked to make reparations, by turning over eight Savanite slaves to the Temple."

"The slaves never materialized. The Ambassador's story, bolstered by suspicious 'evidence', was that none other than Amaranth – vengeful ghost of the Old Cemetery – had devoured them," says the unicorn. "I have reason to believe that this story is untrue."

"Why is that?" the hippogryph asks.

The unicorn ticks off his fingers. "First of all, I visited the City of Hands recently, and saw Kame Ikata there myself, as well as the 'missing' slaves. The Priest-Queen respectfully declined to tell me just how they got there, and at any suggestion of taking them back, pointed out that a large percentage of her populace is wanted by the Temple as well – including herself. That issue shall have to be left to the lawmakers and the diplomats."

"Second," says the unicorn, "it is highly unlikely that the digestive system of a ghost would allow it to swallow eight Savanite slaves and expel them out somewhere in the Savan, to say the very least."

Zoltan smirks. "I woulds agree with that, yes. But if whole Amaranth thing was just big hoax, why you taking it seriously now?"

"Third," counts the unicorn, "the old house of Kame Ikata used to be – a very, very long time ago – a funeral home, for lack of a better term. It was built with the aid of mages of the Sphere of Spirit, with materials and wards meant for the purpose of keeping any spirits from leaving the dead 'guests' kept temporarily in the basement. Theological concerns aside, the house itself is quite resistant to most forms of magic of the Sphere of Spirit, especially at this elevation."

The unicorn nods. "A good question. The reason is that this 'Amaranth' – the deluded vixen that was brought in – shows signs of contact with something genuinely magical and quite beyond the abilities of the Ambassador – or her presumed resources. We have reason to believe that this false 'Amaranth' was provided to us in an attempt to throw us off track from discovering something genuine in the Old Cemetery. I can't help but wonder if the Ambassador's antics were part of some elaborate exercise in reverse psychology to dissuade investigation into the Cemetery as well."

"You think the Ambassador was in league with Amaranth?" Zoltan's voice becomes slightly hoarse as he represses another growl. "She help save my daughter's life once… "

"There are many possibilities to be explored," says the unicorn. "More immediately, assuming that there is some paranormal activity occurring in Rephidim, it might be more productive to try to deduce just what purpose this apparition might serve here. And, since you've mentioned your daughter … what connection does your daughter have to this 'Necropolis', so far as you know?"

For a moment, Zoltan doesn't say anything, he just looks down at his hands as if contemplating something. Finally he swallows and raises his head back up. "She is one of the last survivors of race of cannibals driven mad by Necropolis. I rescue her and her brother before she could do them any harm… and we kill all other cannibals. But Necropolis has some kind of hold upon her, is no very strong and only last few seconds at a time – but I led to understand that the witch wants her as an avatar." Zoltan clenches his hands to his chest. "Pouncer is a good girl, Arch-Inquisitor… all Necropolis able to do is scare us from time to time, but she never goings to get Pouncer, I promise you thats."

"But THAT is why I so determined to destroy Necropolis' avatar here on Rephidim," Zoltan scrawks, slowly letting his hands fall back into his lap.

The unicorn nods. "Pouncer and Enos are recognized as two Temple Scouts with a very great potential … and they evidence strong moral reinforcement beyond that provided by the Temple. An Exile by the name of Envoy has brought to our attention this 'hold' that the entity known as Necropolis has on your adopted daughter. There is a possibility that this 'Amaranth' may be such an avatar."

"Why did Envoy tell you thats? She been spying on me?" The Vartan's voice holds the slightest hint of a hiss this time. "She visit my shop many months ago and seemed awfully interested in Necropolis… "

"Envoy," says Melchizedek, "is in the habit of accumulating and 'sharing' information for reasons known only to herself. At one point, there was a proposal to have your daughter sent to Nagai to be tested in a magical ritual there, under the premise of a Temple Scout field trip." The unicorn watches Zoltan's face. "That plan, of course, was never carried out."

Taloned hands start to curl into fists. "I … remember … the trip. Told them that it was no safe for spotted cub to go to Nagai." The Vartan's eyes look as though they're trying to burn a hole in the floor.

"Quite so," says the unicorn. "In any case, this is not about Envoy. This is about Necropolis. Do you know anything of its motivations? Its intentions, perhaps, toward the Temple? Our working theory is that your daughter holds some importance to Necropolis, and the exact reason why probably died along with those … cannibals … on Paradys."

"It very hard to find anything about Necropolis; I been searching for over a year and only come up with scraps." Zoltan closes his eyes and breathes softly. "I think it safe to say that Necropolis has no good intentions towards anyone. Although it probably hold special grudge against myself and Queen Third-Vision because we destroy her avatar on Paradys." His eyes open partway, "I think she was a spotted cat like Pouncer and Enos, able to talk and slightly different than Savanite. She was master of several magic spheres and was exiled by original Savanite empire. She died, but still lives in Aeztepa – if that make any sense."

The unicorn nods. "As much sense as can be made of such a situation. It is no secret to the Temple – or the Collegia Esoterica – that there are artificial means of preserving one's life through magic. Lacking that, there are many ways to make magical constructs that mimic the living … or ghosts of legend."

"But you indicate that vengeance is a motivation that may drive this entity?" the unicorn states/asks.

Zoltan shrugs, "I no for certain, but she seem to take pleasure in watching me squirm few times she managed to possess my daughter and scare me. She also already attack Third-Vision once in my own Shoppe." He waves a hand. "I assuming that killing one of her avatars, destroying her followers on Paradys, hunting her avatar on Rephidim, and keeping my daughter from her hands no make her very amiable towards me, Arch-Inquisitor."

The unicorn nods. "This still says much. A 'ghost' – to loosely use the term – created and then left to act on its own, may act upon vengeance … but it would be a vengeance established before its creation. For such a creature to earn enemies and then pursue them suggests genuine sapience behind this entity … or else a living mage or group of mages behind it."

"I believe there is sapience behind Necropolis… but it somewhere deep on Aeztepa where nobody can touch it. I not know how she function or what can be done to permanently stop her… so for now all I can do is protect ones I care about threatened by her." The Vartan taps his beak. "I also know that if you destroy the avatar, it take long time to make another one … and she no able to reach beyond Aeztepa without avatars."

The unicorn nods. "It is believed by some advisors from the Collegia Esoterica that one of these 'avatars' would be sufficiently magical as to make detection fairly easy if one were to move about Rephidim. However, the Old Cemetery has a long history of being a popular place for mages of the Sphere of Spirit to dabble in illegal spells. A residual effect is to make such a place an ideal hideaway for such a construct – or so it may be surmised."

"Someone has to raise the Avatar, I thinks. Although if you plan to send anybody looking for it, I ask that you let me come along. I seen small bits of what Avatar can do, even on sky Island. Is no small thing to be trifled with." His feathers ruffle slightly.

"Your offer will be considered," says the unicorn. "For now, though, I would like to go back to the matter of the Forbidden Zone. It was long believed that anything that passed into that area would be destroyed. It would seem that this has been a long-standing fallacy, or that matters have changed. Is it true that a gateway to other worlds lies within?"

"Yes. I journeyed to Abaddon and back though it… which bring me to another matter, one which you should be made awares of if you not know abouts it already." Zoltan glances sidelong at the platform the Arch-Inquisitor had been standing on not too long ago. "The boomer that hit Himar somehow transported the population there to someplace on Abaddon, that included my father Cambio Herbir. While I was away to fetch him, some natives on that planet discovered gateway to here and came though… striking a trading deal with Titanians."

The unicorn furrows his brow. "This could be complicated for Processing," he murmurs. Then, back to his normal volume, he says, "I have heard such, and members of the Priesthood have already enthusiastically begun making plans to map everything on 'the other side'. The increased inflow of iron would seem to fit with this 'trading deal'. Have you any idea what these Abaddonians are getting in exchange?"

The hippogryph shrugs his shoulders. "Believe it or not, all they interested in exchange for metal is dirt. I think they soil no grow very well since everyone live in things called 'life domes'. Only one I saw looked like giant bug." He makes a 'bleaugh' face for emphasis.

"Dirt? Most interesting," muses the unicorn.

"I would like for you to prepare a report for me," says the unicorn. "If necessary, I shall assign an assistant to take dictation from you."

"Can you read in Vartan? I writes better in my own language," Zoltan scrawks.

"That will suffice," says the Aeonian.

The hippogryph nods, "I'll get started on it as soon as I can; maybe the Audit will be kinder to me if I writes well enough." He grins and shakes his head. "Is there anything else you wanted to discuss with me, Arch-Inquisitor? I hoping to be able to visits Golgotha before nightfall."

The unicorn answers, "That will be all for now. If you plan on embarking on any further quests away from Rephidim in the near future, however, please be so kind as to inform the Temple. You are a very important man, Baron Zoltan Cambio. It would not do the Temple well to lose track of you right now."

Zoltan slowly pulls himself to his feet. "I plan on visiting Paradys with my father and children within the next few weeks, and the City of Hands after thats… but I no planning on leaving Sinai again for a long time if I can help its."

The unicorn nods. "You may leave now." He turns, heading back toward the platform at the base of the central pillar.

"Thank you for seeing me, sir." The Vartan bows and starts to make his exit.

The hippogryph's footfalls echo though the Temple hallways. He blinks in the sunlight as he steps outside, unfurls his wings, and flies off for home.