<strong>Emerald City</strong><br/><br/>"Indeed we are." Saree said, smiling through her fangs and green lips, "But we must not speak here. Come, I will escort you to the Grand Cathedral."<br/><br/>The Paladin beside her nodded, and the priestess offered her hand to towards the stairwell that wound back and forth, bringing them back down towards the city proper. The streets were crowded with goblins, hobgoblins, hoblings, orcs, even some gnolls and trolls and giants. Even so, much of the architecture seemed to be designed with smallfolk in mind as much as orcs- and for once the stairwell wasn't a titanic effort for Yuffi to traverse.<br/><br/>"Is this your first time in the Emerald City?" Saree asked the barbarian as they walked with them, "I hope you don't believe all those dreadful things people say about us greenfolk."<br/><br/>The priestess smiled. Indeed, a lot of them seemed to be dressed in elegant robes or dresses, fanciful suits or doublets. Even if Adventuring was slow to catch on the Union, the fashion that it inspired across the continent was evident here. Everywhere they went, people respectfully parted to the side, nodding in obeisance to the priestess. Eventually they came upon the Cathedral, a great monument that looked to be made from polished marble and glass, shining bright in the sun. It looked like it was made of crystal and was nearly blinding to look at. They passed through the outer wall, guarded by knights in white armor, and went up a huge carpeted walkway up to the main entrance.<br/><br/>"Here we are." The orc priestess said. The entrance was still a hundred paces away, and they were out under the open sky, yet it seemed like the most private place they could find in the whole city, "You will participate in the tournament on behalf of my lady, the priestess of New Dazsu, Naiyu-hama. However... while you're here, you'll also be conducting something of an... investigation for us. It's a matter we cannot handle ourselves. Our interest into the matter would be too obvious."<br/><br/><strong>Kingsfall</strong><br/><br/>When the gnomish inventor realized his elven companion... or his test subject, had awoken and noticed the new arrivals, he turned to greet them as well. He had a curious mustache and a pointed beard, his hair was dyed blue but silver at its roots. He was elegantly dressed in the latest adventuring style, though he was a little more modest. The gnome didn't have the muscles or the figure to really show off...<br/><br/>"Ah, here we are. Miss DeForest, Miss. Sylmae, I am Grimmun Folletrix." He offered his hand to the aged elf on the table, "And this is Varunyr Redleaf, though you may know him as Varunyr Rocsbane."<br/><br/>"Hah hah, oh, those days are long past." The elf said, waving his hand dismissively, "I'm afraid my adventures are probably much too antiquated for these young one's tastes."<br/><br/>"Well, that's why we're here today, no?" Grimmun said with a wide smile as he climbed up into his chair and looked expectantly at the new arrivals, "If we are successful, even those adventures that were never scried upon could be seen again."<br/><br/>"Oh, but they're not even here to see<em>me.</em>" The elf said with a laugh. "Eh." The inventor began, "More like to see through your eyes."<br/><br/>He rolled in his chair to his desk and withdrew a pair of chokers from his table. They were made of leather and metal, with glowing runes on them. When he spun around, he offered them to the two women before him, "They should be fully charged now. With these devices, you can go back into the memories of old Rocsbane here. Specifically, the ones we were just collecting before you arrived. You'll live through events as he remembered it... except... well, except you'll retain your sense of self. Though you'll all experience the same things collectively the way Varunyr did those centuries ago."<br/><br/>"Uh... allow me." The elf interrupted, "You'll go on an adventure, one I had many years ago. Things should play out the way they did back then, but<em>you'll</em>experience them."