Chapter 5: Return to the Surface

Hunter curtsies low. "Your generosity is unexpected and very gracious. Thank you."

Relieved that he didn't have to take part of the conversation, Elfog nods appreciatively to Danforth once is it's clear that he has taken Hunter and the group's story seriously.

Mai'ngor bows wordlessly to the Magister. Straightening, he gives Hunter a smile of approval and gratitude. All his life Mai'ngor had been training to rule, but his father the chieftain had been fiercely isolationist and so this training had never included diplomacy. Mai’ngor still often found it difficult to treat with those not of his kind.

Hunter asks Elfog where the Vault of the Sages is. She is interested in browsing through their archives, assuming it's open to the public. "While I hope never to encounter one ever again," she says to the group, "I am curious as to how I should defend myself or destroy the demon."

"I'll walk with ya over there" Elfog responds. "Gonna find someplace to let Beard loose so he can get some food in 'im"

Hunter spends her time at research, trying to find and study whatever lore can be gleaned about the Abyss and its inhabitants.

Mai'ngor wanders about, admiring the architecture.

I spend the time learning more about the history of this strange new surface-place.

Hunter stretches as she leaves the Vault of the Sages. She really needs to learn better posture when browsing books.

Hunter chalks it up to the distractions of meeting the Magister and bookworming, and makes no mention of the disconnect of the time it takes to return to the inn.

Returning from a successful hunt with his pet, Elfog wanders the streets.

"You were supposed to remember how to get back" he says to Beard with a chuckle.

Spotting the sorcerer in the distance Elfog yells out.

"Hunter!"

He jogs over to his companion and asks, "Where is the inn? Seems like I've been wandering towards it forever."

Mai'ngor is inexplicably lost. He chuckles to himself. Where he's from, tales are told of travelers who are lost forever after wandering into tikbalang lands. It's said the capricious fey play tricks on them and make them go around in circles. It's said that if one finds oneself inexplicably lost in the mountains the way to break the tikbalang spell is to turn one's clothing inside out.* Mai’ngor shakes his mane and keeps walking. There are worse things than being lost in this beautiful city.

Hunter waves at the approaching dwarf. "It's down this way," she says, indicating the road the party is on. "Well, maybe it's because we haven't been in the city long. Sometimes it seems longer since everything's so new." She continues toward the inn, relying on landmarks and her assumptions of Silverymoon's civil engineering.