[After purchasing stuff in Esterport, Xenia leaves, ready to begin her vacation.]

"Gods be damned, of course I'd forget to buy a journal."

Xenia frowns and then glances down at her map, "Burning you soon," she mumbles to herself, "just one last glimpse before….."

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"Well, guess I just gotta walk down towards the south. Bound to run into a city faster in that direction."

 Xenia scans over the convergence of paths with squinted eyes and a hand shading early morning light. As it slowly makes its way to the southwest she straightens and with sure steps, begins in a stride.

[Xenia takes longer walking to Enorian than it should]

The Landward Gate.
A camel awaits its rider here, snorting irritably. An armored camel awaits its rider here, snorting irritably. A sigil in the shape of a small, rectangular monolith is on the ground. A fire-blackened anvil lies here, surface emblazoned with the symbol of a dual flame. An elegant obsidian cup has been left on the ground here. There are 2 imposing Luminaries here. There are 3 Daru firebrands here. A powerful russet charger lingers here, gaze alert and ears perked. There are 2 Ascendril mages here. There are 8 shrouded Kingbound soldiers here. Resting on the ground is a cube-shaped silver sigil. Rising stark towards the sky, the spindly frame of the Wheel of Fates is here. A small brown nightingale perches nearby. A powerful black bear shuffles about nearby, snuffing at the air. A powerful nightmare snorts and paws restlessly at the ground here, its hooves swathed in pale fire. Melantha is here. Lait is here. She wields a fiery aetherstaff of swirling spatial motes in her left hand.
You see exits leading north and south.

Melantha inclines her head politely to you.

"Of course the directory's not right here at the gate. Nothing makes sense here, probably buried down in the middle of this damned city."

You incline your head politely to Melantha.

Rasani arrives from the south.

Xenia pauses at the gate and squinting at the direction of paths and frowning.

[Aimlessly walking around Enorian]

The Pilgrim's Gate.
Rain pours down from the sky, the dawn's light filtering dimly through the cloud cover. There are 2 Daru firebrands here. There are 2 Ascendril mages here. A sigil in the shape of a small, rectangular monolith is on the ground. There are 8 shrouded Kingbound soldiers here. Resting on the ground is a cube-shaped silver sigil. A granite pillar stands here beside the road, an orb of fire casting brilliant illumination from its apex.
You see exits leading northeast, south, and northwest.

"Great, now I'm in this city's slums, probably no shops around here and likely on the other side of this town from the directory."

Xenia turns in one direction, and then another, and another until she has turned full circle to squint off in the direction she had been traveling. "Think they'd post signs or something, let them know they were about to walk into the wrong side of town," she mutters under breath to herself.

[More aimless walking]

Stonebridge Main overlooking the harbor.
Rain pours down from the sky, the dawn's light filtering dimly through the cloud cover. A sigil in the shape of a small, rectangular monolith is on the ground. Resting on the ground is a cube-shaped silver sigil. A granite pillar stands here beside the road, an orb of fire casting brilliant illumination from its apex.  A thin mist is floating in the air here.
You see exits leading northeast, east, south, and northwest.

Rasani arrives from the northwest.

"Now here comes the brigade, best find what I want and get out before the locals try and talk to me."

[More slinking around]

An Orcish neighborhood in Stonebridge.
Rain pours down from the sky, the dawn's light filtering dimly through the cloud cover. A sigil in the shape of a small, rectangular monolith is on the ground. Resting on the ground is a cube-shaped silver sigil.
You see exits leading north, east, west, and northwest.

"Yup, more people without money to spend, definitely in the wrong place."

You mutter, "The ...ls am I?"

The surface of a compass-inlaid ilmenite bracer ripples, briefly revealing the visage of Rasani.

Xenia frowns, glancing at her bracer and she sets back into motion, quickly turning about in the direction she'd come.

[Walking]

Stonebridge Main overlooking the harbor.
Rain pours down from the sky, the dawn's light filtering dimly through the cloud cover. A sigil in the shape of a small, rectangular monolith is on the ground. Resting on the ground is a cube-shaped silver sigil. A granite pillar stands here beside the road, an orb of fire casting brilliant illumination from its apex.  A thin mist is floating in the air here.

Rasani arrives from the northwest.

Rasani says, "Do you need help?"

You mutter, "Like a maze."

Rasani says, "What are you looking for?"

Rasani chuckles long and heartily.

Xenia frowns at Rasani, "Just a directory for shops," she says, "Thing is, you can't really help me find it." She shrugs offering up what could be an apologetic smile, "No guides, no maps, just following my feet. So, here I am trying to find the directory because this is the nearest city to Esterport and I need a journal."

You look thoughtful and say to Rasani, "However, if my presence is cause for concern, you are welcome to escort me."

Rasani shakes his head. "Not at all, you just seemed lost, running about."

Rasani says, "I can take you to the directory, if you'd like."

"Pentarch, I would love to take you up on your offer," Xenia answers with a small dip of her head, "but I'm afraid I simply can not." Her nose twitches into a scrunch, eyes and brow setting into a rather annoyed fold as she adds, "Though you are right, I am lost, and it is pitting annoying."

Rasani chuckles. "Is this some kind of bet you're trying to win?"

Yeras arrives from the northeast.

Xenia shakes her head at Rasani, swinging a large flanged greatmaul over shoulder to be strapped away. "Halls no," she returns, "Just on vacation, and when you're on vacation you don't bring a map. You walk," she grins, "you wander and you end up where you end up."

Yeras grunts noncommittally.

Yeras leaves to the northwest.

Rasani blinks. "Vacation, huh?" He laughs, rubbing his chin. "I... well, if that is what you wish, I will not interfere." He hooks his thumbs into his belt. "An odd vacation spot, I admit. Or is the vacation spot Esterport?"

 Xenia peers off towards the departed Yelani, squinting her eyes with a smirk set to the corner of her mouth. Then, she looks to Rasani, "What, no, this ain't the spot, and neither is Esterport." She leans forward a bit, scanning down towards the beach in an attempt to gain her orientation. "Just ah, needing to buy something I can only buy in a city, and this was the closest one. Then I'm off," she explains distantly and with a nod, "back to my camp."

 Xenia turns decisively towards the west, fixing her green eyes on Rasani and flashing a wry smile, "Hot or cold?"

Rasani chuckles. "Cold, over here." He nods his head to the west with a grin. "I'm painfully curious as to what you need, though."

Xenia waves Rasani off, "Nothing of interest, just things needed to stock up for a vacation." Her direction chosen, she sets off, pausing to turn back to Rasani and wave. "Thanks for the tip," she calls out over shoulder.

[Walking over to the west side of town and some idle thoughts]

"Yup, that was the poor side of town. Of course they separate the poor from the shops."

The Sunset Gate.
There are 2 Daru firebrands here. There are 3 Ascendril mages here. There are 7 shrouded Kingbound soldiers here. A sigil in the shape of a small, rectangular monolith is on the ground. Resting on the ground is a cube-shaped silver sigil. A mare with mist-grey fur flicks her tail idly. An ornate, gilded tome is chained to a pedestal here, azure script across its cover reading "Shop Directory."  A thin mist is floating in the air here.
You see exits leading east and west.

You flip through the immense tome, quickly scanning the pages to find the wares you seek.
**************************[ Shops selling 'journal' ]**************************
VNum   Owner        Description                                        Price
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55839               a personal journal                                 5000gp
*******************************************************************************