From The Sands

>Princess Yena would send correspondence back to her homeland of the adapting Tower Beasts, and suggest an expedition to acquire specimens so that they could be hybridized
>Visit the Shadow Merchant, and ask if anyone from the Fidds Residence has visited, and additionally if Reyq may attend if this transaction acts under "more the merrier" rules.

>Plan to visit the Fidds Residence after in case they are happy to host the party for the night

Princess Yena wrote down a very long letter and sent it back home. It was about her findings on how Tower Beasts adapted when placed in unfamiliar habitats, and how Ngugi-Mahru should consider raising new Tower Beasts in stables that do not match their original habitats in the Shadowless Tower. It would be weeks before it reaches home, but it would be safe in the hands of an invisible agent of the nation.

With that done, Yena took on the persona of Coin and approached the Shadow Merchant.

The Shadow Merchant had no visible eyes. A skin darker than black. When it spoke, it was more like the growling of a hound than a person.

Hessel instinctively reached for her sword, but Coin held her back. Coin asked the merchant about the offer, and it happily obliged.

According to notes written by Reyq, the Shadow Merchant transformed into “a glowing owl with too many eyes”. The bridge was gone, and all that was there was a starry night sky and a barren, solid land of pure white. Coin’s demonic arms were visible, covered in sharp scales that resembled teeth.

Coin was not afraid, but Hessel and Reyq were terrified. The Shadow Merchant spoke with a voice as if it was a thousand people whispering at once. It was lonely, claiming to be a lost soul from another world.

The Shadow Merchant then held out a piece of the moon, and said with a clear, single voice: Home.

Reyq’s notes then mention that the Shadow Merchant was trying to gather currency for a ticket home, and today it gained enough for the journey. The moon-piece was the last bit of stock, and it wanted to leave behind a piece of it with someone who would make a mark on the world.

The Shadow Merchant, or the Moon Owl as Reyq named in her notes at this point, then flew upwards and disappeared. The bridge returned, and when the trio left, it was sunset.

Historians are uncertain as to what actually happened. According to eyewitnesses, after the three entered the underside of the bridge, they immediately left and walked around the city of Boigonbear, but backwards. When they reached the city limits, they turned around and walked backwards in the exact same route.

Regardless of what actually transpired, historians are at least sure that Coin did indeed acquire a piece of the moon, which was confirmed when the travellers reached the Fidds Residence.

The Fidds were ecstatic. They analyzed the rock and were absolutely sure it was from the moon. They offered a large sum of money to Coin for it, but she refused. She was considering a trade.

When she arrived at the Fidds Residence, Coin could sense there were numerous other artifacts from outer space. She asked about them, and as she listened, she could feel her invisible, demonic fingers twitching. They wanted to craft something.

These artifacts in the Fidds collection, Coin thought, could be used to create something special:

- Boigon Lake Bloodstone: Part of one of the four meteorites that crashed into Boigon Lake. Can be crafted into a stone that would reflect magical spells.

- King Tiger’s Gem: A piece of outer space ruby that was found inside the stomach of a tiger, which presumably ate a piece of meteor. Can be used to form a needle that would immediately kill any germs that came into contact with it. A sterilizer?

- Comet’s Peridot: A piece of peridot that was shed off of a passing comet. Can be crafted into a blade that melts all known metal.

- Magnetic Carbon: A misnomer, it is actually a piece of iron that looks like carbon under night conditions, found on a piece of meteor that struck a ship. Can be crafted into a pebble that grants stealth when held; the wearer does not turn invisible but living creatures cannot detect the holder by any means aside from direct touch.

She could also make use of her Moon Rock. With her newfound ability, she could turn the Moon Rock into a sphere that granted whoever held it the ability to levitate themselves a few inches off the ground.

Did Yena keep her Moon Rock, or did she trade it for something else?

>_

*YENA’S STATUS *
Princess Yena’s Personal Money - 400 gold, 12 silver, 10 copper

Skill:
Cosmic Crafter - Can Craft Otherworldly Objects into items

Retinue:
Hessel - Bodyguard
Reyq - Scholar

No Tamed Tower Beast

Shadowless Tower exploration progress: 16.4%

World Map: https://i.imgur.com/V6xZODN.jpg

TOWER BEAST TREATISE