Kaori climbs out and takes a few deep breaths, chirping softly at the open air. After a moment, she takes out her ring, slipping it onto her finger and waiting tensely for her illusory transformation.

Taran nods, "I-I-I'll k-k-keep an-an eye out. I-I'll g-g-give a bl-blow on th-the h-horn if I c-c-can, l-let y-you kn-know I-I'm c-coming back."

The rings make Vishal's eyes less kalashtary, and transform Kaori into a short human woman about three inches taller than the birb is in reality.

Caelius signs to Vishal,

You start your journey across Syrkarn, which passes relatively uneventfully, thankfully. Slipping across the border proves a little more difficult, but you work together and make it one night without attracting attention. In Riedra, those of you who dream adjust to having your dreams controlled, and you find the road to Borutesh. After about a day's travel, you arrive at the village at dusk.

As the sun begins to set once more, and your feet tire from the march, the signs of greater civilization begin to show. A plume of smoke and dust rises from the horizon, preluding your arrival at the village of Borutesh. Stone walls some 20 feet tall circle a cluster of stone buildings and towers behind. Two structures dominate the skyline: the hanbalani monolith at the village’s core, and a manor framed with crystal and steel just inside the wall’s western edge. The Borutesh gatehouse is busy with activity--half a dozen human guards stand at the open gate, surveying the host of Riedran commoners bringing carts of goods in from the fields. Besides the humans, at least ten towering ogres haul crates, barrels, and quarried rocks between the humans’ workstations and through the village gates. Although the ogres go about their work diligently, their grunts and roars of effort are audible even with the village distant.

Arriving at the village gates, the guards give a suspicious look to these armed and armored strangers. "Who are you?" one orange-uniformed guard asks seriously. "What is your purpose in Borutesh?" Another guard whispers something to him, and his demeanor grows a little less suspicious as he adds with a hint of embarrassment, "Are you the Edgewalkers detachment?"

Vishal nods as he says, “Yes we are. A request was sent for us about a local manifest zone growing out of control.” Keeping his poster military like and his responses short and to the point.

"Right, of course." The soldier nods, looking equal parts intimidated and awed. "You got here just in time for the evening ceremony. Follow Jalaal. He'll also take you to your chambers once the service is done." He indicates the soldier who whispered, who bows deeply to you all.

"Thank you." Taran says slowly, eyes flicking to observe the gate, the wall and the defenses, "Did Lady Shiaala leave any instructions for us? Or are we to wait to discuss things with her in the morning?"

"You will have an audience with her in the morning," the guard explains. "It's too close to curfew now."

Vishal nods, “Of course.” He then moves to follow to hopefully fake his way through some service 

The guard escorts you in through the gatehouse, opening into Borutesh proper. From the north entrance to the town, you first fall in between rows of great communal blocks, built in stone, lined close to the road. Dozens of soldiers are placing weapons on sheltered racks, carefully storing armor, and joining the throngs headed down the central road. All are walking toward the hanbalani monolith, visible even from the gatehouse, with pride of place in the center of town. The monolith is surrounded by a ring of carefully managed gardens with bright flowers in all colors of the rainbow. With the sunlight reflected off the petals, the metallic surfaces of the monolith burst into color themselves.

The Riedrans arrange themselves into rings and kneel, and the guard drops his own weapons and kneels at the edge of the gardens. Everyone falls silent.

OOC: Okay, I need a post from everyone with two things: 1, if you kneel, and 2, an Insight check!

Taran would kneel near the edge of the circle trying to stay out of sight.

Insight: 6

Kaori kneels beside Taran, hoping to draw as little suspicion to herself as possible.

22

Vishal follows suit even putting his weapons down to kneel, trying to ignore Vakri who is probably fuming at this. 

Insight: 8

Caelius kneels, watching the citizens nearby, worried about missing something.

Insight: 17

Akuma kneels simply beside the others, her eyes scanning the people around her briefly and silently.

Insight: 22

A trio of figures stride down the western promenade. At the center, walking ahead of the other two, is a human woman wearing indigo robes and a horned headdress. To her right is a changeling woman with a round gray face, dressed in a green and gold cloak. To her left is a 10-foot-tall giant with blue-tinted skin and black horns curving from his forehead. When the leader reaches the monolith, she gently rests a hand on its surface and begins a chant that carries across all the central gardens.

Kaori:

The service lasts approximately five minutes. The beginning and end are in Riedran, and are traditional service openers and closers, giving thanks to the il-altas and the Path of Inspiration. The main sermon is in Quori, and is a fairly dry and functional sermon about trust and duty towards the guiding spirits. Then the trio make their way back to the large palace, and the Riedrans rise and start splitting off. The guard bows to you all. "I will take you to your barracks now. There is food waiting for you there, unless you would like to join us all in the mess hall for dinner."

"We wouldn't make them uncomfortable, would we?" Taran asks slowly, "I know people don't always feel comfortable around us, worried about things. I wouldn't want to ruin the good mood."

"We would be honored to have Edgewalkers dine with us," the guard says warmly. "But I'm sure it was a wearying journey, coming here, and we wouldn't want to keep you from getting some rest if you are tired."

The best plan is to appear natural, Taran thought as he nodded, "I would enjoy a dining hall," he said, carefully forming each word to avoid stuttering, "but I should drop off my gear at the barracks first. No point in bringing weapons to the table."


(Taran is planning on using the wrist pockets of holding to keep at least two daggers and a few alchemical tricks in his sleeves, he is still his normal paranoid self)