The Winding Way continues its trek, having been repeatedly delayed and sidetracked and occasionally temporarily grounded by fierce storms and other hazards. Finally, it is making its way to the Vykarin Wastes, to the north…

Bassai has been preparing for the arrival on the site. He has been reviewing his information, and what little outside data he managed to collect. Tekki has been briefed on the various duties he will be supervising, and given several reading assignments. There is so much to do, including unnecessary checks of the equipment to ensure it isn't disappearing or has been sabotaged. The Naga is taking a break of sorts, and has decided to speak to the Savanites on board – the first one being Ibis; Bassai stands outside the door of the slave's shared cabin and knocks.

The door opens, at the hand of Ibis. He peeks out, ears flicking, regarding Bassai, and bows his head.

The Naga nods to the Savanite, looking past him to see if the Rose Templar is also present in the room. "I'd like to speak to you Ibis, about ways in which you might assisst this expedition, are you free?"

Ibis looks back into the room. The door is not open enough for Bassai to see all of the room, or if the Templar is present. Ibis nods, then looks back and nods again, and steps out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Bassai starts to progress down the passage, "Come with me to my cabin, I may need to refer to some of the maps you have made. I understand you organized a lot of Titus' excursions. Did you accompany him to the field sites, or were your efforts solely related to the trip logisticss?" He looks back to see the signed reply.

Ibis signs, "I was present at most of the sites that Lord Titus used my abilities for." He follows the snake to the cabin.

The Naga reaches the cabin, and lets the Savanite enter first, then follows closing the door. "I see. The thought had occurred that you might just have seen maps, and had a good memory. Presently, I have Tekki trained to handle the more trivial aspects of the site, identifying artifacts as worthy of my attention, or not, and making sure they are properly protected. In what ways did Titus use you?"

Ibis signs, "I was mostly used in order to coordinate the activities of other Savanites working at the site, and to determine what should be done with discovered artifacts."

Bassai nods, sliding over to the desk. "Yess. That sounds similar to what I use Tekki for." He flicks out his tongue, "I am planning the logistics, and need to know to what degree you are at my disposal. It was not clear to me if you were along to serve the Templar's needs, or mine. Is it necessary for me to ask the Templar for you on every occasion, or am I able to write you into the work schedule?"

Ibis blinks, then signs, "I am here at the bequest of the Champion of Roses, for the express purpose of assisting your expedition. It is advisable to keep Mistress Thorn informed as to my whereabouts, but she does not require personal assistance."

"I just wanted to make sure, my mind has been occupied of late, as you can well guess, and I did not want to make assumptions." The archaeologist nods, "I'll have you coordinate the other slaves along with Tekki then. He will tell you in more detail how I like things done, though I am open to suggestions for improving my methods. I would also appreciate it if you could share some of your experience with him."

Ibis signs, "First of all, I would recommend keeping a tighter rein on Kame Ikata. He is going to get himself killed, if not all of us."

Bassai nods, "That was the next thing I was going to ask you about. Restraints do not seem to be working. How was he controlled on the return voyage of the first trip?"

Ibis signs, "He was not the escape artist that he is now. But, incidentally, he was rendered unconscious with medications for the return voyage, so that he would not harm himself."

"I am reluctant to continually drug even a slave, but it may be necessary for everyone's safety." The Naga slithers around his desk and takes a seat. "I had brought him along in the hopes of finding a way to restore his mind, my good intentions would not be well served by damaging him with drugs. Still, it is better than having him fall over the side."

"Prepare for landfall!" a Rhian whinnies loudly from abovedecks.

Ibis nods, then signs, "Perhaps you could consult the healer about such options."

Bassai gets seated comfortably, "Brace yourself until we've landed."

Ibis snaps down a few fastenings to make sure things don't shift too much, then settles down. The craft buffets a bit from turbulence closer to the ground, and there's a jolt as some of the mooring lines are secured, then a few more subtle jerks as something pulls it downward.

"There is a healer on board, I'll see what is available." The archaeologist nods, watching Ibis, and impressed with his attention to details. "This landing seems to be going smoothly at least. I hope the temperature outside is tolerable. Now… "

Ibis signs, "The temperature will be harsh, sir. Your room is heated. Please, do not be misled. I would humbly suggest that you bundle up warmly before you go abovedecks."

Bassai nods, "Yess. I have brought protective clothing, but I fear I will be less active at this site than I might be at a warmer one. I will be relying on Tekki, and you as well, to take care of the details outside. I expect I will be forced to spend a lot of time returning here to warm up. Thank you for your thoughtss."

The Naga observes the Savanite for a long, thoughtful moment. Finally he says, "How expendable does the Champion consider you?"

Ibis signs, "We will be unable to return here once we set across the Wastes, sir. I am sorry the Rhians have not been keeping you properly informed. We are at a Chronotopian outpost. We will be met by some Vykarin guides, despite the enmity between the northern barbarians and the Chronotopians. As for my expendibility … I do not know how to answer your question, sir."

Bassai nods, "Yes, I see should have spoken to you earlier about this trip. The Rhians don't seem to be the most thoughtful." Bassai flicks out his tongue, "I don't consider any of my team expendable. It is disgraceful when slaves are lost during exploration. Make sure you interrupt any unsafe actions you see about to occur."

Ibis bows his head. "I will do my utmost to help prevent unnecessary risks."

"Also, I have many jealous rivals," the Naga flicks out his tongue. "Be aware of the possibility of sabotage, I do not consider myself expendable either. Now, if you are packed, perhaps you can assist me here. I would like to send Tekki to oversee the offloading of the equipment."

Ibis bows his head, and sets to assist in packing. The process of taking the supplies groundward from the ship and organizing them properly takes some time, during much of which Bassai is kept inside in the fortified outpost, as he would surely die of exposure if he tried to personally oversee the proceedings.

…

"Velcome to Auchslander Keep Number Two!" a large armored Cervani says to Bassai, clicking his hooves together and executing a quick bow. The snake is bundled up in the main hall, in front of a roaring fireplace, accompanied by several blankets, and a mug of hot cider. Unfortunately, yiffles are not served here.

"Thank you, your hospitality is most appreciated," the Naga hisses, sitting close to the fire and holding his mug with both hands. "I will try to minimize the interference my expedition's presence is causing to your operations."

The Captain asks, "Haff zhu efer seen snow before?" Was that a faint smile? If so, it doesn't last but an instant.

Bassai says, "Fortunately, no. I have up till now, happily observed it rendered in oil paintings, and otherwise kept my distance from the subsstance."

The Captain nods. "Aha. Vell, ve haff plenty of tat here. Unt plenty more cider, if needed. Good day, Herr Archaeologist."

"I believe I would prefer the cider, I will be able to serve myself. Thank you Captain, for the loan of this room." The Naga nods to the Cervani, flicking out his tongue.

The stag clicks his hooves again, bowing, then exits, leaving the snake just as a horse clops into the room. "Master Bassai, the barbarians have arrived, and your sled is prepared," the Rhian whinnies.

Bassai rises from where he was sitting on his coils, and reluctantly slithers away from the warmth of the fire. "Splendid, things are moving along well. Is everything else ready to go, and has the surgeon been provided with a heated sled as well?" He takes one of the Keep's blankets wrapped around him, as he slides towards the door.

The horse nods. "Yes, another warm sled for the healer." He shifts from one hoof to the other, then belatedly thinks to open the door for the snake.

"Good." The Naga slips through, and down the cold steps of the keep, heading for the waiting sled outside. He spares a few glances for the fortification, but is most concerned with getting from warmth, to warmth.

The enclosed sled lies ahead, the door open, plumes of steam venting out. The Rhian holding the door open stands conspicuously where he can get much of that warmth, but moves aside as the snake approaches.

"Thank you for keeping the heat inside, give this to one of the Landsknechts." Bassai hisses, handing the Keep's blanket to the Rhian as he enters the sled. He relaxes as soon as he feels the warmth against his coils. "Close the door as well."

The Rhian closes the door, taking the blanket away. The sled is fully enclosed, with no windows to see what scenery is passing by. After all, that would make it harder to insulate, and there is little room for creature comforts on this voyage across the Wastes.

The Naga looks around his heated enclosure, hissing to himself. "Well, at least there will be a lot to read, and it's notas if I will be missing much outside." He flicks out his tongue, then opens the door to look for Tekki, or anyone who can update him on the status of things.

Outside, it looks like Tekki has his hands full loading up the other sleds – the bulk of which are not heated. Bassai's own sled is fairly cramped, not exactly a cabin on skis, though it has miniature accommodations for many concerns. Large hairy beasts bellow and call out as they are herded by the Rhians and hitched up to the sleds.

A few of the stooped-over Vykarins trudge about, their scalloped hooves doing well to keep them atop the patches of crusted snow here and there. The Landknechts keep a wary watch on the barbarians, and the barbarians don't seem very keen on approaching the Keep too closely, either.

Bassai watches Tekki, feeling quite proud of his slave's abilities and unwilling to interrupt him. His gaze then focuses on the Vykarins, and they seem busy as well. Feeling rather useless on his own expedition, the Naga looks around for the two people also most likely to be unoccupied, Fenter and Kame.

There's no sight of the insane cheetah. Unless Ibis and Tekki have been neglecting their duties, he should be trussed up securely, for they certainly don't look alarmed. There's no sign of the raccoon, though, opportunistic as he is, he may have managed to slip into one of the other heated sleds.

The Naga flicks out his tongue, and startles as it touches the cold air outside. "Thiss will take a lot of getting used to, waiting to be told what is happening, instead of seeing it myself," He hissess to no one in particular, then closes the door. "I suppose there is always the maps to review." He settles down on his coils, and opens up one.

Eventually, the sled starts moving, and the loud rumbling bellows of the gargantuan furred pseudo-saurians can be heard easily as they begin. So starts the trek across the Wastes.

The sled rarely even slows, apparently it being easier to just keep the beasts tugging away, rather than trying to goad them on again after allowing them to rest. Bassai occasionally receives his meals by means of a quickly-galloping Rhian rushing up alongside the sled and hanging on while he hands in a tray through a hatch – not opening the door, so that not as much heat will escape.

Bassai jostles around inside the sled. The motions of travel are something he has become used to during the years, and so he doesn't notice the tilting and bumps that the sled goes through. He takes his meals and waits as the trip continues.

Eventually, the trek slows to a stop at a place much like anywhere else in this frozen land, no features to be seen except for the occasional rolling hill, and distant mountains. In the middle of this featureless land, however, a large black monolith rises from the ground for several feet, drifts of snow piling up against its side, but not reaching anywhere near its peak.

Bassai lets a lot of his sled's heat escape as he watches the approach to the monolith, some things must be experienced.

"Soon we'll arrive, and Tekki can look for that protective clothing I had made." The Naga hisses, shutting the door again. The general absence of his slave has left him surprisingly aware of how often he speaks out loud. At least with Tekki around, there was the pretense of it being to the cheetah.

After the sled stops entirely, a Rhian plods through the snow, his breath obscuring much of his face as it steams and even seems to crystalize in the air. He knocks on the door. "We are here," the Rhian says. "Stay in your sled, Master Bassai." Some other Rhians unhitch the sled from the large burden beasts … then begin hauling it along by themselves through the snow, toward the large monolith. Then, the sled tips downward a bit … sliding down some sort of incline that wasn't visible from Bassai's vantage point previously.

The Naga waits, as he has been for the whole long trip. He opens the hatch, to make sure the sled isn't sliding in an uncontrolled manner down the slope. The Rhians probably aren't that inconsiderate, and Bassai does it mostly out of boredom. Where most of his expeditions require his constant attention for last minute details and problems, this one is going very smoothly. Tekki and Ibis are handling things so well, he is almost – unnecessary – . The archaeologist avoids this line of thought, and just looks out at the wasteland.

The sled slides safely down the slope and stops. Outside the hatch there is nothing to be seen but snow. Bassai waits, but nothing enters his sled except the cold air. Clothing the hatch, he slithers around his room, or box as he has come to think of it. Coiling up, he watches the door, and waits…

and waits…