<span style="color: #008000"><span style="font-weight: bold">Gensho Koban<br/>Date: Finallar 4<br/>Location: Port CIty Victoria</span></span><br/><br/>Under cover of night a young man approached one of the gates leading into the city of Victoria. It was late night, just about the time parents would be sending their children to bed. The sky above was cloudy, sprinkling light snowflakes on the ground. As he entered the city he could see the harbor and  St. Catherines Bay in the distance. The above the endless reaches of the bay was clear and glistened with stars, Elegos' closest moon Selene, and the Sentry belt. It was nights like these that helped him to appreciate the gift that was given to all humankind, their wonderful planet.<br/><br/>The guards at the gate told him to hurry into an Inn since it might get colder. The young man inquired about an Inn that would be close by. They recommended the Travelers Crossroads near the center of town, but urged him to hurry since they were not sure when closing hours would be for this particular inn. Gensho would hurry if not for the fact he was forced to fast since yesterday given his rations had been consumed. He marched onward holding fast his cloak as the wind blew past him. It was only a few hundred meters to the heart of town but in the cold of winter, the dark of night and an empty stomach it might as well have been the next town over.<br/><br/>Reading a sign only brightened by a flicker of light saying Travelers Crossroads gave his tired soul relief. He pulled the door open and went in. Taking his hood down he scanned the area. Some regulars of the bar were lingering while he saw others retiring upstairs in the guest quarters. He approached the desk and was asked if he'd like a drink.<span style="color: #008000"><span style="font-weight: bold">" Anything will be fine as long as it it accompanied with some food if possible my good man."</span></span>he said in a tired tone. A servant girl came out with some leftover stew and a loaf of bread. It had been a week since the last time he ate a good meal.<br/><br/>Exercising great self-control so as to pace himself and enjoy the food he asked the barman if lodging had been all taken for the night. The man replied that the only suites available were ones that could house more than one person. He then asked what the price was for his dinner and the use of that room. After calculating the total, he had just enough to pay everything. Surprised that the young man did not want to bargain for a lower price the Keeper said he would pay for the meal, and should he be willing to share the room he would split the charge. Gensho, appreciative of the man's kind gesture thanked him.<br/><br/>Dinner was finished and Gensho made his way upstairs. He placed his luggage on one side of the bed and unpacked some belongings. Realizing he only had 5 Diamars as he emptied his money pouch, he knew he would have to look for some odd jobs tomorrow morning. After all the reason he traveled to the Northern Kingdoms was to raise money to rebuild the monastery back on the Eastern Union. Opening his journal he went to the table and started writing about the days events and continued doing so in the late hours of the night.