At the Site – now pretty certain to be a Sifras rather than First Ones site – things go on pretty much as usual … except that it has taken a while for Thorn, the Magenta Lancer, to return … and she's finally done so, accompanied by some of the Vykarin guides sent out to find her.

Bassai has been notified of her return, and approaches the Lancer to see what the delay was. "What do you have to report Thorn, are you in need of any medical treatment?"

Looking up from his equipment as he hears that, the surgeon awaits the reply.

The archaeologist has ventured outside to meet up with Thorn, his protective clothing wrapped tightly around him, slowing the loss of his body heat. He stands near Fetiss' heated sled while the Vykarin's help the Lancer with her stead. He flicks his tongue out, once, regrets it, and refrains from doing it again while he waits on her answer.

The Lancer heads immediately to a fire to warm off … but doesn't look all that bad off, for all the time she must have spent out there in the frozen wilderness.

The ringneck slithers after her, his coils sliding across the stone floor. The fire at least is a good choice, and he welcomes the heat. He positions himself opposite the fire, half encircling it to receive as much warmth as possible, then waits some more.

The Magenta Lancer at last finishes, being not quite as susceptible to the cold as the snake … but still capable of being uncomfortable even underground. She digs into her magenta cloak, and pulls something out for the serpent archaeologist. She hands it to him. It's a flower.

The archaeologist takes the flower and examines it carefully, "How is this possible? I take it there was something to find." He examines the petals, botany not being one of his strong points, "Most interesting."

Fetiss returns his attention to his tools. Making sure they have boiled properly, wiping them and replacing them.

The Lancer shrugs, then walks over to take a seat nearby, lying back as if to take a nap.

Bassai hisses quietly, "Thank you for your assisstance. Please do not hesitate to seek me out, should your tongue unfreeze. I am interested in more details than a flower providess. Still… " He holds the blossom up for examination once more, "… perhaps it can tell me something."

The cook slithers up, and says, "We are sssshort on yifflesss. I think sssomeone hasss been sssneaking into the sssupply. We will be ssserving sssquibbitsss tonight." Squibbits are acceptable by Naga terms, somewhat slug-like creatures, lumpy in shape, and slow-moving, but meaty. They have an appreciable ability to regenerate, thus often being taken on trips as a supply of protein with more palatable sources are running short, since one can simply snap off a length for supper, and throw the rest into pile of spoilage to regrow later.

"I see… " Bassai hisses to the cook, "We will have to make do. Try and determine where our food supplies are going to. Post a guard if necessary, local Vykarins may be stealing from the camp at night."

The cook nods. "At once, sssir." He slithers off to tend to meal-fixing.

The ringneck nods at the departing cook, then slithers over to the surgeon's area. "Fetiss, I have something to show you that you may have some knowledge of."

The surgeon rises and nods to Bassai saying "Yess, what iss it?" then looks after the cook and asks "And what wass ch'at about?"

"It would seem we are running low on yiffles. You would not perhaps, be using them in dissection experiments to pass the time?" The ringneck raises an eyeridge as he slides over to the smaller cobra. He holds out the flower, spinning it slowly by its stem. "Our Magenta Lancer found this, some ways to the north. Is it recognizable to you?"

With a thoughtful hiss the cobra carefully plucks the flower from Bassai's hand and examines it himself. Letting his tongue pay over it to feel it's scent. He is thoughtful for a while before he answers "No, I have not. Ch'at ch'iss mean we are out of food?"

Spinning the flower gently in front of himself Fetiss observes it with one eye at a time as he says "Ch'iss do not grow around here now. Bapthissmss do not ussually lich'e ch'e ch'old, lich'e we do not eich'er. But it iss in a very good ch'ondition to have been brought here. Unless it wass imported of ch'oursse."

Bassai dismisses the question with a widening of his eyes, "No, we will be existing on squibbles. The Lancer returned with that, it is either an unlikely rare strain that can survive these temperatures, or an indication of some warmth in this forsaken land. I am not sure which possibility is more fantastic."

"Though, I would wager on the second case, if I had to choose." The ringneck taps his fingers against his arm for a moment, "I believe it iss worth investigating."

Fetiss hisses sharply and says in Imperial "Squibbles, curses be upon this land. I loath squibbles." then adds "But I suppose it will have to do."

The surgeon looks up and asks "Where hass it been found? And in what ch'ondissionss?"

"Ask the flower, the cold has clipped the Lancer's tongue. It is all I know at this time. I am going to speak with Ibis now, I will see you at dinner if you are occupied here." Bassai starts to slither away.

Hissing to Bassai's back, the surgeon pleads "Do we really have to eat ssch'uibbless?" sounding very disappointed about this fact.

The archaeologist turns back to nod, "It would seem so. As I said, there seems to be some problem with our food supply. There may still be some sweets, if Fenter hass not eaten them all, perhaps they would help." He continues to slither away, heading across camp to the centre of operations.

Leaning back, Fetiss brushes the flower along his lips as he seems to think about it, his eyes going slightly unfocused.

The surgeon approaches the archaeologist and says, in Imperial "I have been considering this flower. It needs three things to survive. Soil, light and warmth. And lacking almost all three, I do wonder where it might have grown. The soil is covered with snow. It is very dark, and naturally cold. It must have been brought here from somewhere else"

Ibis is in the same pose as before, leaning over reams of notes gathered from the exploration teams, diligently piecing together maps. Tekki goes about the usual duties of organizing teams and coordinating efforts and dealing with the inevitable problems that arise when directions don't cover all possibilities and Savanites and Rhians aren't prepared to improvise.

Bassai slithers over to the two slaves, accompanied by Fetiss. Normally he would be doing a lot of their duties. Instead of handling the various problems, and rushing to each new discovery, the archaeologist is forced to spend most of his time rushing back to a fire, or heated box where he can warm up. His inability to be as involved as he would like has left him somewhat brusque, and his first question upon seeing the slaves is almost always, "Have there been any problems, and what has been found?"

Tekki shakes his head, signing, "We still have much to explore. The passages continue for some distance north. They have run into side-chambers, and have not continued the full length yet."

"Is there anything unusual in the side chambers?" The ringneck hisses.

Tekki shakes his head, signing, "No. Nothing that we can make any sense of. Empty chambers, with different patterns of crystal veins, and glowing orbs. Everyone has been strictly instructed to touch nothing."

Hurrying after Bassai, Fetiss continues in Imperial *But since those tunnels do not lack light nor warmth, perhaps the flower can grow… inside." he stops and seems to consider this, his lips curving into a smile as he says "Yes, perhaps, a, a greenhouse, without a sun, only those strange lights. It might work, we have the essentials." mostly to himself, in the middle of the camp.

Curving around the surgeon returns to his tools, and begins to pack a some light travel gear, including things like rations, crayon, a ball of yarn and some medical tools. As discretely as possible.

Bassai nods as the surgeon disappears, then turns back to Tekki. "That is best, it is too early to start experimenting with things. There does seem to be a relationship between the arches on the level below, and some of the areas on the wall, but I am not ready to test hypothesis yet."

Tekki nods, and goes back to his work.

"There has been an interesting development. The Lancer has returned from her scouting mission. It would seem that there is an environment where flowers can grow, where the north bearing tunnels converge." The archaeologist hisses, "I would like to check that out personally. Ibis, will you be able to handle things if I take Tekki with me?"

Ibis looks up and signs, "We are falling into a manageable routine, sir. I believe I should be able to handle it." He nods.

"Good." Bassai says, looking around at the work completed so far. "We are starting to run short of some food supplies, it is not a concern yet but it does remind me that our time is limited here. Some detail may have to be sacrificed to allow us to explore the entire site. For the moment continue on normally."

Ibis nods. "As you wish, sir."

"Actually, select the teams with the most accurate results so far." The Naga reconsiders, "Send one each to the lower levels, as far down as the platform will go. Have them map simply the layout. Again, interfering with nothing they find. For the moment, don't send anyone to the other dark level, or any great length down the north corridors."

Ibis nods again.

Bassai hisses, "Tekki, was there any evidence that the north corridors on this level were recently blocked off, when compared with the ones below. Either fissures in the wall, or seams on the face? There must have been some explanation for the grinding noises that occurred earlier."

Tekki shakes his head. "The only signs of any movement in the stone would be that which occurred in the Arc Chamber."

The archaeologist nods again, "It occurred to me the north passages may have sealed off at the same time the green substance was released. Still, that can be considered later. For the moment Tekki, arrange supplies for a small group. It will consist of you and I, and a few other Savanites or Rhians to carry things. The surgeon may be coming, and the Rath'ani as well, simply so I can keep an eye on him, so plan for their presence as well. Lights will also be needed, as we will be seeing where those passages go."

Tekki bows and signs, like Ibis, "As you wish, sir."

"Dinner will be served soon, so finish up here and break for it." Bassai hisses, contemplating his two assistants. "You have been producing excellent results and I do not want your facilities diminished through overwork. Thank you." The Naga turns before he can see any reply and progresses back through the camp. Nearing Fetiss's area he calls out, "Surgeon, if you are ready, our gastronomical delights await. Let us go."

The surgeon hisses sharply and asks, to the world in general "Whatever ch'an bee made from ssomeching ass tassteless ass ssch'uibbless." But he gets up from his equipment and heads of to the dining area. Fetiss flicks his tongue with an open mouth in a face of disgust.