The tauren steps forward, “Welcome to our outpost. Normally we wouldn’t come out and greet visitors like this. However, you just came out of Forester’s Folly and there have been no reports of adventurers entering it from our side that match your group. If you wouldn’t mind telling us your reason for being here? I know it isn’t likely that you all came from the racist kingdom, but crazier things have happened.”

The group looks at one another. They hadn’t exactly planned for something like this. When neither of the others seem to want to step forward, Courtney shrugs and takes the lead. “Hello, our group entered the forest from straight back that away.” And she points in the direction they came from.

Courtney turns back to the tauren, “we cut through the forest both so we didn’t have to go through some unsavory kingdoms. Our group is made entirely of travellers. We traveled here because I had heard of this kingdom’s tradition with illusion magic.”

The tauren gives Courtney a glare, but the elf taps his shoulder with two fingers. With a shake of his head the tauren breaks eye contact with her and sighs. “Our magical heritage isn’t that easy to gain little kitty. Though you panthers have a bloodline suited for illusions we don’t hand it out like some places!”

Behind him, the elf scrunches his face and rubs the bridge of his nose. With a sigh, the elf whaps the tauren on the back of the head. “Let me do the talking from here. I know your father wants us to help train you to take over his position, but you just can’t seem to learn when to shut up. They’re travellers with a double L! Don’t give them a hard time for no reason. They aren’t from our enemies and just want to learn some magic. I know you folk and kin have a chip on your shoulders over the heritage of any myth bloodlines, but travellers are above that. If anything, they are their own type of myth race. Once we get back you better be ready for an intensive training session on the balance of power between them and towns.”

The elderly lizardkin chuckles at this display. While the elf continues to lecture the tauren, he steps forward and does a shallow bow to the group. “Welcome to the kingdom of the Nine Bamboo or as some more proud types would prefer us call it, the realm of the Nine Sky Breaking Purple Bamboo of Tribulations and Illusions.” Behind him, the tauren does a half turn before being cowed by the elf again.

More chuckles from the lizardkin before he continues, “my name is George, the elf goes by Peter, and as is tradition fuzzy there goes by Gold-Fur. Nevermind his hair being more tawny than gold and his parents having named him Bill. That and the tradition is for the kitsune to earn the name after gaining their second tail. Just humor the fool. Anyway, if you’re wanting illusion magic, you’ll be heading to one of the bamboo. Closest one is that way” and he points behind him to his left.

“Just follow the road going that way and you should be fine. My only advice is not to mention your goal if asked when there are only kin or folk around. Not everyone is as bad as fuzzy there. Some are worse. Now do you plan to stay the night? There aren’t any large caravans here at the moment so you would each get an actual bed. Though I think we don’t have any individual rooms available at the moment as they are first come first serve.”

Courtney looks back at the others, but Jason just shrugs while Rosha gives her a thumbs up. She turns back to Georges and nods. “Sure, we can stay the night. Anything we should know about the place?”

George shrugs, “The stay is free, subsidized by the kingdom. Food on the other hand is out of pocket. That will hold true for any of the waystations. Also, if you want to sell anything, Peter over there is related to the general store’s owner and he can help you with that. As for rules? I would like to say just use your common sense but you’re a traveller so who if that would be right. You started in a decent enough place so most of the rules will be similar, though we have more laws around not being a dick to others.”

Courtney nods, “reasonable enough and I do have some things to sell though I don’t know if this is necessarily the best place to sell some of it.”

George smiles, “just talk to Peter about it. Him and his husband like to travel around so he should be able to tell you. Though the prices are relatively stable at any of the waystations as we have traders always flowing through, buying up anything new and selling what needs selling. Anyway, Peter can take care of you from here. I’m going to save fuzzy from getting his ears scorched black and then go back to lazing in the sun. Good luck with your trip!”

The elderly lizardkin saunters over to the other two and with a swift grab has Gold-Fur by his ear. “Now you can follow me back to your father. He will want to hear a report of how this went. I am sure Peter will be in later to correct any misremembered sections so do try to keep it straight.” Then with a tug, leads him towards a small office building built off the side of the waystation.

Left behind, Peter shakes his head and turns toward the group. “So you want to sell some stuff? General stuff or as some of you travellers call it, vendor trash, can be sold here no problem. Honestly? You might get a bit more if you went to an actual town or city, but why bother? Though since you asked specifically about it I assume you have a few specialty items, likely from the forest itself. Undead related, perhaps?”