> Nod.
> "Indeed. Thank you for your assistance."
>The earth spider nods. "You're welcome."
>Head towards the Palace.
>You walk across the bridge, finding that its resident either has no interest in bothering you or simply isn't there. Either way, you seen no sign of here and enter the city. Passing through the gates, you're buffeted by the noise of the city. Oni mill about everywhere, going about about their daily business. Much of this business, you note, involves having a drink in hand, staggering about, or being in an argument or fistfight with other oni. Sometimes more than one of these factors are involved. A broad thoroughfare makes its way toward the northern end of town, passing by houses and then an open air market filled with a variety of goods and foods. The latter are rather hard to pass by, as the smell of sizzling treats fills the air in many places and brings a painful growl to your stomach.
>But you soldier on, making your way through the crowds and having few problems. While the oni are a rowdy bunch, few of them are foolish enough to try their luck against you when you are obviously preoccupied. Soon you come to the northern end of the city, and can see the Palace just a few blocks to the east. There isn't much activity in that direction, as you walk along the streets, which does not surprise you. Few people willingly want to be around a satori. You imagine most of the people here are likely the dregs of oni society, and a glance seems to confirm it, sickly and impoverished-looking souls, all of them. The Palace itself is a simple, blocky kind of structure dotted with stained glass windows at regular intervals and covered in creeping ivy. A few birds are perched here and there, while the front doors are closed.
>_
