"There are no outside entraces outside the ones we see from here, nor are there windows. The size of the regio can be readily ascertained from this center square." Turold says to Thom, as he walks back to him. "If there are living quarters, they are upstairs, if there's an upstairs, or an underground perhaps. We could only ascertain that by finishing to explore the inside. But from the description that we have from the spirit, it's likely to be just a small part of the building, if there is any space for private and work quarters. It may not exist at all. Which means that if we decide to live here... either we build a third level to the building somehow, and I'm no architect, we erect a tower or other building in this town square, between the temple and the baths, or we live outside the regio, in the town or the forest proper. What do you want to do next? Do we see whether there are living quarters somewhere, or do we take a cautious approach and retreat for now?"
Thom listens and nods.
"I think we should retreat and move on for now. There is potential here but we're only a scouting party, and I'm ... limited. If we're going to get to the sites on the coast, we should go soon. I worry I will slow us down."
"Seems a valid thought, in line with my own. Hopefully exiting is as easy as entering. If not, we may need to enlist the aid of one of the residents and I am not so sure that will be easy," Betula thinks to herself afraid of what might entice one of these indulgent spirits or an elemental to aid them.
"Is it as easy as reciting the prayer at the well again? Do we need to reverse it somehow?" asks Thom.
"We won't know until we try," And Betula heads up to the Temple hoping the others follow.
Thom follows along, slowly.
Turold follows as well. (OOC: Does he see the townsfolk arround the town square?)
Outside the regio, Finn has reached the end of an entertaining performance. The magi and the two others have been gone for an hour or two, and the sun is starting to set. However solid Finn's repertoire is, the villagers have other things to do. «Hey, bard,» shouts the woodworker. «I loved your show. Would you like to have supper with us? I need to close up shop first; food should be ready when the sun sets, I think.»
“Thank you kind sir, that would be most agreeable, which house is your residence?” Replies Finn, packing up his show props, such as they are.
«It is above the workshop; I am the carpenter at the opposite side of the square,» says the carpenter and points. «You'll see me at the front when you come. I had better hurry. See you in a bit.»
Some other villagers flock around as well. Some throw a coin before they disappear, while others have queued behind the carpenter. Before he joins the carpenter, Finn has got an invitation for breakfast, as well as a few offers for food and drink for the road, if he pops around in the morning.
Strolling over under the last rays of sunshine, the carpenter sweeping the ground in front of the the workshop starts chatting. «I am amazed how far you have traveled. Have you seen all the great cities?»
In the regio, the magi have no clue about the time. There is no sun, and they have the same bland light as they had when they arrived. It feels like an encapsulating bubble of fog. There is indication of any regio boundary at the well or elsewhere in the square. The doors to the temple open easily enough and they find the three statues staring somberly at them as they approach.
Anything else before they try reciting the Mercurian prayer?
“I have travelled only the far western areas of Europe and so there is much more yet for me to explore. Have you seen many other travellers over the past year? The war has raged for some years now, has that affected your idyllic village?” Enquires Finn of the carpenter.
«There are always travelers at the market in Nottingham, but it is too crowded. Nobody has time to stop and chat. Here, it is only the well pilgrims who care to stop. We are too close to Nottingham, people prefer to stop there and further North. ... Western reaches, you say. Santiago? Ghent? Paris? London, I suppose. What are they like? Are they a lot larger than Nottingham?»
“Paris and London I have visited and both are indeed much larger than Nottingham. Paris university is a marvel and the churches and cathedrals of both cities are quite splendid.” Replies Finn
Thom steps up to the statues and looks at the other two.
"Shall we?"
He starts to recite the Mercurian Prayer.
Betula holds her breath as Thom begins to recite the prayer.
Turold will follow and recite as well.
Edwin listens carefully, trying to memorise the prayer, as he doesn't want to get stuck in this place.
Reciting the prayer, they feel the same tingling feeling of the world changing around them. The stone walls around them dissolve, and they can feel the chill evening draught. The flickering light of Vesta's flame is replaced by that from the hearth in nearby cottages. A cloud of dust hit them from the carpenter's broom, sweeping the store front.
The sun has just set, and without the stasis of the regio, their invisibilities and parmæ suddenly expire. The carpenter gasps and stutters, interrupting his conversation with Finn. «Where, where, did you come from?»
"What do you mean?" asks Thom, a bit of a wince in his face. "We just came back from a walk in the forest. I took a nasty spill..."
The Merinita glances over at the others before looking at Finn, trying his best to quickly move past the carpenter's gasp.
"How did the performance go? Did you get a good turnout?"
Edwin looks at the carpenter and says "Oh, I'm so glad we made it back into the village before it gets too dark. I don't want to be out in the wild after dark." He will ramble at the carpenter in the manner of a slightly confused man.