Harlan will happily purchase the scrolls and some bolts. Assuming no other shopping, he then leads everybody out of town and quickly casts the spell from one of the scrolls.
By the time you're done scrying, it is night, and you'll have to wait to the morning. After a decent rest, you return to the Kuroi Yane Market. On your way through yesterday, you remember passing by a seller of exotic and obviously magical wares.
"Ah, my friends. So good to see you alive and well," the man says with an exaggerated bow and wide smile. "How can I help you today?" It also strikes you that he speaks in Avistani common, rather than the local tongue.
"Ah yes, I believe I have something along those lines." The Keleshite bows his head and performs an elaborate hand gesture of respect. "I am Faliz al'Basheer ibn Haleb, purveyor of the rare and exotic. Please, come into my tent." He gestures towards the small caravan tent that has been erected inside the market.
Inside Faliz's tent, you find the air thick with the scent of exotic spice and Katapeshi incense. The floor is covered with a colorful round carpet, with large sitting pillows arrayed about. The din of the market outside is muffled and distant. Light comes from a chandelier floating in the air below the tent's apex. The interior seems somehow larger than the outside, but when you try to visually measure it, everything appears normal.
Surrounding the edges of the tent are a collection of crates, barrels and chests of myriad size and shape, dispersed between a number of glass-covered display cases. The array of goods here, exotic, magical and mundane, is astounding.
Faliz steps over to a case loaded with scrolls, selects one and holds it up. "This should meet your needs. Was there anything else you require?" He waves to the surrounding stock, smiling. "This is but a part of my inventory, of course."
Harlan nods.
"Two would be best."
He begins to poke around the rest of the tent.
"Say, do you have anything that can detect illusions?"
"You have a blind man," Parity replies wryly.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Sure sure, but what about magical disguises?"
Faliz checks his case, filing through the lot before coming up with two scrolls. "Indeed, a second wind walking spell... and this one will let your eyes pierce any veil, magic or otherwise."
Faliz bows respectfully, "Indeed, but you will not find a fairer price in all of Tian Xia, and I will personally guarantee its quality."
"Well, that's a lot but I don't see as we have a choice. Anybody else need anything before we go?"
You purchase the scrolls and the merchant bids you to return if you should need anything in the future. "I may not be here," Faliz says, "but I will be here." With a wink and elegant bow, he returns to his market tent.
Once away from the market, Ameiko gathers the group into a private huddle. "So, if I understand that magic right, you can take only a handful of people. There are eight of us -- who stays and who goes?"
"The five of us, obviously ... and in this case, Ame, I think you should come. Maeve likely still has ... feelings ... for you. We may be able to use that to our advantage. Wouldn't mind Koya's prescience as well."
"Parity is right, I can take myself and 5 others. While Koya would be helpful I think we should stick with Ameiko."
Kiyomi stays silent, having never known this Maeve to begin with.
"I agree with Parity. She may not fight with Amee with us."
"I'm sure you will be better off without Sandru and I slowing you down," Koya nods to Heng with a smile. "Besides, until this Kaibuninsho character is dealt with, Ameiko will be much safer in your close proximity. We will wait here until you return."
Once you are prepared, Harlan recites the blessings from the divine scrolls, transforming everyones' bodies into wispy, cloudlike vapor. You easily fly up and away from the streets of Enganoka and pick up the speed of the wind heading east. Kiyomi's knowledge of the roads and region keep you on track as you rapidly traverse the Minkaian countryside. Many miles pass in just hours, and just after midday, you spot your destination.
Against the backdrop of a great lake of pristine waters, surrounded by emerald vegetation and white granite bluffs, with a wall of stony mountain peaks rising beyond, is a great temple complex. High walls of stone surround and divide the complex into several adjoining squares. Each square holds a pristine garden -- one with a small shrine and koi pond, another with rocks painstakingly raked into sinuous patterns, a third a collection of spring blossoms -- all surrounding a large, central temple building.
From your airborne perch, you see a handful of sohei guards walking the perimeter walls, and only a few robed priests among the gardens.
Harlan gazes on the scene in wonder.
"I have got to learn that spell. Ok guys, what's our plan here? We don't know what's going on or who these guys are, should we head out of sight and turn back, then head up and be polite?"
Malnival just shrugs. "Or We could tell them the truth that we are here for the the pretty round eye girl that has the mental aptitude of an out house rat."
plus 22 if Local, plus 8 if Religion
"Huh, for once, it sounds like we should just walk up and say hi. Assuming they haven't been all replaced by evil badness, we should be welcomed."
Kiyomi shares her insights. "I do not believe sneaking would be appreciated by these people."
Malnival nods his head at the others. "We should prepare for conflict but enter peacefully."
"Sounds great guys. Let's go make friends!"
Harlan will lead the way with Kiyomi and approach the front gate.
Kiyomi smiles and joins Harlan in strolling toward the gate.
The temple's front gate is a set of double doors nearly twenty feet high, constructed of thick wooden planks decorated with etchings and jade glyphs. A steep-roofed gatehouse in the Minkaian style overlooks the approach. One of the great doors rests half-open.
As you near the entrance, a small gong sounds, and a sohei guard steps through the gap to greet you, wearing plate armor and robes all in shades of jade. He bows respectfully and says, "Welcome, travelers. It seems you have come quite a long way to visit our humble temple. Have you come to mediate?"
Kiyomi bows back, smiling. "We have indeed come a long way, but we have come to seek a comrade long lost. Is there a foreign woman here, who goes by the name of Maeve?"
Harlan nods along.
"Meditation sounds fun though!"
The sohei shakes his head, "There are many pilgrims here, but none have given that name." After a short pause of thought, he adds, "But there is one woman, a foreigner like you, calling herself Kuro Ga."
Parity leans in to Kiyomi. "That mean anything to you?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"This is very irregular," the sohei laments. "Kuro Ga has asked for isolation and privacy."
"Perfect, my middle name is isolation and his," Parity points a thumb at Mal, "is privacy. She will welcome us. Show us where she is."
Parity ends with a flat, humorless smile.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Harlan beams at the helpful sohei and opens his eyes wide.
"Plllllllleeeease?"
Malnival smiles at Parity's joke but remains silent.