>>6138468“An excellent question, young lady.” Marlin says. “Our work is not only demanding, but can also be quite dangerous. Much of what we do here never sees the light of day. Given the risk of accidents, or the possibility of dangerous magic falling into the wrong hands, we carry out our experiments in secret here in the desert, far away from the capital. The sandstorm is our way of keeping things in order. Nothing gets in or out of Ithaca so long as the sandstorm holds.”
>“So the sandstorm isn’t naturally occurring, but magical?”“That’s correct!” Marlin says. “The sandstorm is created by an ancient artifact known as the Djinn Orb. It is a sacred relic created by the Sorcerer King himself, passed down to his disciples. The orb resides inside our keep, and is responsible for controlling every aspect of the storm.”
>“May I see it?” You ask, hopefully.“I apologize, Lord Tristain, but for security, the orb is kept under the strictest guard inside the Keep. Only the Adjunct of Ithaca is allowed anywhere near it. Now, your companion has mentioned wishing to know just how we survive out here. Allow me to show you a demonstration.”
Marlin stops his tour in front of a large cauldron. Peering inside, you find nothing but pitch blackness. However, once Marlin begins muttering some sort of incancation, the bottom of the cauldron begins to light up. A shape of light materializes, slowly rising from the blackness and hovering there. When the light fades away, you see…
“Bread!” May exclaims with surprise.
“We’re able to magically conjure our own food and water here.” Marlin says with pride. “It takes some effort, and frankly, is not as delicious as the real thing, but out here in the desert, this is an invaluable tool. Here, try some.”
>You received “Bread”!>“It’s okay…” You say, chewing through a mouthful of the tough substance. It was edible at least. You take one bite, before offering the rest to May, who accepts it happily.“I have some business to discuss with Marlin here.” Alvin says. “But the Adjunct has assured me that you are free to explore Ithaca at your leisure, so long as you stay away from the Keep.”
>“What’s so special about that building?” You ask, your mouth suddenly dry from the magically conjured “bread”.“It’s where our more volatile experiments are held.” Marlin says. “Nothing to worry about though, I assure you. The Keep employs the strictest safety measures. Now please, enjoy your stay here in Ithaca! You’ve been afforded a rare opportunity. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on our humble home later.”
Before Marlin and Alvin depart, they provide you with some areas of interest around the camp for you and the others to visit.
>A): Visit Food Production>B): Visit Magic Research and Development>C): Visit Artifact Hub 