Adam nods. "Generally navigating the continent itself is safe? How far are both locations?"

"Most of Madeza's safe - the places that aren't are far inland, they're still refusing to acknowledge the Great Speaker's rule - and outside of Madeza's usually fine, especially if you're flying."

She stops to consider.

"This spell doesn't do units of distance - a few hours boat travel to Hayadi City - then from there a day and a half's boat ride up to Huicoa, or an hour and a half in the ley, and then another day's ride up to Atencallah - that's the port town in the barrier islands around Amadahni, you'll probably be shot at if you try to approach Amadahni proper, so you'll need to dock in Atencallah then either take a boat across the bay or get special permission to fly in."

Nod. "Thank you. Uh... This is already obvious, but we really should ask. The water here does not melt people, right?"

"...Not on this reality-island at least, that I know of."

The three nod seriously. "All untreated water in our world behaves like acid when it touches people. We were very surprised when we saw a village built like yours."

"...Have you tried the water here? It might still not be safe for your species, even if it's safe for us."

"We have not. It's likely related to shifting and the pools. But we should test it before going ahead."

Nod. "Is there anything else you could use while you're here?"

"Any information we can get until we have abused too much of your hospitality."

"And maybe the opportunity to trade some things."

"My duties are mostly as a judge, a need for me rarely comes up, so I have the time. Trade would be welcome, though you might want to talk to our merchants for that. What sort of information do you need?"

"How common is translation magic for one? General navigation principles... there might be things that are could be obvious and perfectly natural to you that would blindside us, which makes hard to figure out specific questions."

"If there is anyone that travels through the relevant routes it might be worth asking them any other helpful navigation details." He waves at his father. "And also get a boringly-detailed account of a trip in case you have giant flying animals that would attack us. Or giant flying animals that are perfectly nice until we preemptively attacked them." He waves his hands helplessly.

"Hm. Pati's the face of the merchant house, she's done some travel. Meya's currently on break from university, you could talk to him about the route up to Huicoa. But most of us don't go any farther than Hayadi. The seas are calm between here and there, and there's few giant flyers this far ice-ward. Those're mostly in the Great Bay region, to the southwest, past the mountains. Storms are few this time of year, and they're generally weak by the time they hit us. You'll want to head towards the coast, then turn right to start heading up the coastline ice-ward. I don't know much about navigation in your world, but here there's two ends to the continent - the Great Ice, and the Fire Range. It's colder near the Great Ice, warmer near the Fire Range. If you head away from the continent, eventually you reach the Edge."

Sofia takes notes. "The Edge?"

"Where reality ends and the Void begins."

"Ah. We are likely to stick to the coast or further inland anyway. I think most of the crew won't find the water pleasant."

Nod. "I'd imagine so."

"Anything important comes to mind?"

" - You'll want to know how to identify the cities. It's been ages since I've traveled that way, but, hm, Hayadi is a bit back from the water, at the head of a large delta. The city is fairly sprawled - the trees are taller than most of the buildings, and there's parks and farms between neighborhoods. Quite frankly it looks like a village that outgrew itself. Huicoa - the biggest building's the university, it's a fairly obvious complex of stone buildings where most people are using wood and stucco. It's also the largest town between Hayadi and Amadahni. Atencallah is on the outer edge of a mountainous barrier island - Amadahni is in a massive crater that halfway slid into the sea. The leader of the nation is Asheli, the Great Speaker, she rules out of the second highest building - the highest's one of the temples - near the back edge of Amadahni."

"Oh, and you asked about translation magic earlier - I'd say most merchants and government types will have some, it's very useful what with everyone speaking different languages, but most people won't know any."

Notes notes. "Is literacy common here? My magic lets people understand writing, but illiterate people won't naively know how to write back."

"Also, are we likely to call the attention of Asheli?"

"The temples teach reading and writing, but a lot of people choose to leave school to pursue a trade. Most should have some basic literacy, though. And if you arrive in Atencallah in that strange ship of yours, possibly - it's not a ley-ship, and it's unlike any technology or magic I've seen."

"...What do they look like? What attracting Asheli's attention entails?"

"Ley ships? They're sleeker, and fully enclosed. Most common material's a smooth grey, sometimes with hints of other colors. Generally have a ley-sail. And I'm not certain what getting her attention would result in, she hasn't been Great Speaker for very long at all."