Noa said: Dawi said: Max said: "I guess we'll need a cover story as to why we're visiting Kentwing , yeah... I hadn't thought about that," Leoavor admits, then considers for a minute. "Before I joined up with the expedition that brought me into the Stonefare --that's how I met Kraggan, we got scattered by Puelossi, but Zeke and I happened across her group--anyway, before that I used to cast simple spells for coin in towns to make a living. I could pose as a freelance mage like that again, say that I'm fleeing the Stone River War and looking for more work?" "Since we are together I could pose as a modest traveling wizard as well. Some travel clothes, an unkempt beard... No jewelry of course." Ering nods. "It could work, we are fleeing from the war but we are not completely useless and defenseless; should be enough to pass unnoticed." After buying the disguises Ering will approach Leoavor. "Since you are familiar with this town, do you know if there is a place that sells scrolls or spellbooks? And maybe one that specializes in staffs, wands or rods. I'm not really in need of anything, but it would be a shame if something interesting remained unchecked." “Kraggan I would recommend the same cover...someone of Druidic power taking a more commercial approach to their skills isn’t unheard of and as long as you don’t parade your magic around you shouldn’t even have to explain that much,” Triss will say. “Nothing complicated, honestly changeling your dress, levels of grooming, and a few small features should be enough. After all you are mere guests of gratitude...focus won’t stay on you for too long.” Triss will in the end attempt to add some temporary dyes for hair, more inconspicuous robes for them each the rest being able to be done with his disguise kit. When this is done he’ll join them in their other endeavor. “I wouldn’t mind tagging along. I hardly have anything else to do for the moment...” You soon realize that most of the shops are closed today. "Oh nine hells, I forgot it was Godsday," Leoavor grumbles, smacking himself in the forehead. "They take it pretty seriously in Waterwend , too... halflings call it Safeday, and almost none of them work. Only the taverns and restaurants will be open, and all the churches will be busy." Indeed, from main street you can hear the noise of the crowds around the Temple of Yondalla . "I guess we'd better get a room and shop tomorrow. I usually stay at The Otterman , nicest hotel in town. I think you guys would like it," the half-elf suggests. "We can swing by the magic shops tomorrow too. For scrolls, you want Verrel and Arral's Quill . People say the two women who run it are secretly lovers, but I think that might just be a rumor. Ziged's Wands has, well, magic wands. I've only been there once or twice, his snake familiar kind of makes me uncomfortable. The rest you'd be most likely to find at the miscellaneous magic item shop, Ryelly's Wondrous Vault . Ryelly's one of the few magic shop owners who doesn't know any magic himself, he's just an experienced merchant." The Otterman turns out to be a five-story marble building, once of the nicest you've seen in town. The concierge welcomes Leoavor back, and comps a suite for your party. This might be surprising, if Leoavor and Kraggan hadn't been getting friendly waves and cheers, or being stopped for autographs or to get get free samples of street foods and flowers from children, all the way through the town. The Wayfinders are even bigger celebrities here than in Bowhery , it seems, and most everyone treats them like local heroes. Quite a few people ask you and "Axil" if you're new members of the guild, and some tell you they expect great things from you. The next day is the 19th, so Leoavor guides you and Triss into Waterwend's large Red Light District to a shop called Calbert's Crossbow & Pawn , where a rough-looking middle aged tallfellow halfling man helps you find some old clothing and other oddments for disguises. He seems like the discreet sort who won't go blabbing about what his customers buy. The total costs ends up at 19 gold pieces, 7 silver pieces, and 5 copper pieces. Leoavor puts in 5 gold towards the total. Then he shows you two to the magic shops he mentioned yesterday, to take a look at what's in stock. Ritt K. said: Knowledge (the planes) check: 16 You find a book in the shelves titled The Kaiu Wall and the Abyss , written in Hànyǔ. It has a lot of information about the Kaiu Wall and the Shadowlands of Rokugan , most of which you already knew from stories your grandparents told you as a child. However, it seems to be written from the perspective of an Oerikian scholar, and goes into more detail about the role of the Shadowlands in the larger multiverse. According to this tome, the Shadowlands are actually a 'thin place' where the evil outer planes bleed into the Material Plane , especially The Infinite Layers of the Abyss , realm of demons and chaos. The author believes that the unique properties of the Shadowlands (such as the presence of oni and other demons rarely found outside it) are a result of the particular magical nature of Rokugan interacting with the evil coming in from the outer planes. He posits that many Rokugani demons, such as akuma no oni , are actually 'normal' demons who were altered by their entry into Rokugan , or perhaps that only those varieties of demons are drawn to the places where their planes bleed into Rokugan . The author also believes that the Taint is not a condition unique to the Shadowlands , but rather to Rokugani people themselves. He describes several case studies where individuals of Rokugani descent living in Oerik became Attainted by exposure to powerful evil creatures or magics that were not, in themselves, associated with or common in Rokugan . He hypothesizes that someone without Rokugani blood would not become Attainted by exposure to the Shadowlands, but laments that he has not been able to find any evidence to support this guess. The only information you can find about curing the Taint in the book is that there are two known methods: one is a very rare spell used by the strange half-humanoid nagas of Rokugan , the other is direct divine intervention. The author mentions various legends of people being purged of the Taint as a reward by their gods for great deeds, but says that such legends should be taken with grain a salt. Ritt K. said: "Hello, I,m looking for some jade, do you have any?" "Hmm..." Thoraxe considers, "I think I might, as a matter of fact..." He rummages through a rusty iron coffer beneath his counter, and finds a small, cloudy green stone. It looks like about one finger's worth, by Rokugani measure. "I'd say it's worth about 84 gold." Ritt K. said: Spellcraft check: 16 "Did you feel what I felt, Siwan?" "It felt like something trying to reach out to us..." Siwan says in your heart. "But from this world, not the Void." The feeling is gone, leaving you in silence with no clue as to what it might have been.
