"They're a very, very broad category, mostly meaning 'techniques effected through writing,' versus techniques effected through the body or mind. Most commonly used are storage seals, which can store chakra, items, kinetic energy, presumably minds, or theoretically anything you can sufficiently define. Barrier seals trap things in place, form barriers that are difficult to pierce, or the like. Space-time seals also exist, but those aren't my field; I'm mostly familiar with the effects of one that enables rapid movement, and with the use of summoning techniques."

"Interesting. Is it possible for anyone to learn these?"

"In this world, excepting some rare disabilities, and I'd be surprised if even someone who couldn't use chakra couldn't work on seal development and just find someone to activate it. They're based on a combination of symbols - the shape of which are usually just 'written words' but if you're being efficient should be a special character set - and mathematical determination of placement and of what the seal should tell the chakra to do. I don't know if someone not from this world would be able to mold chakra."

"I assume chakra is local equivalent of mana, that from which magic is made."

"Possibly. Techniques require molding chakra into specific forms, and chakra so used is inaccessible until it regenerates. It's in everything, but most people can't sense nature chakra."

"Yes, that sounds similar. You mentioned the term 'shinobi'."

"One of the categories of people who use chakra."

"What are the others?"

"Samurai and monks are the two main others. The major differences between them are political and historical, but there are some different traditions used."

"What classes of abilities does each group use?"

"Samurai mostly base their abilities around their swords. The monks use staves when they use weapons at all, but are more likely to use elemental manipulation. They tend to stay out of fights, though. Shinobi are more broad - there's illusions, physical fighting with weapons or the body, elemental manipulation, or non-elemental other techniques, that most can use. Technically there's nothing stopping each group from learning the others' techniques except tradition."

"I see. You are a shinobi, yes? How likely am I to encounter other shinobi, or monks or samurai?"

"I am a shinobi. Shinobi are the most common, and are the backbone of most militaries, but as a part of the population are rare. There are few samurai in this country, and in most of the others they stay in the wealthier cities and districts. The monks tend to stay isolated in their temples; you're unlikely to encounter many if you don't bother them, but some do wander on nature pilgrimages or something. Anyone sent to investigate you would likely be a shinobi. You might have the rare person observing you, but I have the greatest claim to this territory, my enemies are unlikely to come this far in, and my subordinates will be warned not to annoy you."

"Good." She briefly flashes her teeth in a simulacrum of a smile. "Such distractions are briefly amusing, but quickly grow tiresome."

"Mhm. Are you planning to stay on this mountain range?"

"Yes, I think so."

"For an information exchange, I assume you'd prefer I send someone out to you?"

"At least until I've finished setting up."

"What will setting up involve?"

"Pulling a proper lair out of these mountains, mostly. Wards, defenses, possibly a small increase in vulcanism."

"Alright. I'll warn the nearby villages that there might be some rumbling. I assume the increased volcanic activity won't threaten areas past your range?"

"That is unlikely, yes."

"If there's an accident, I'd ask that you help in diverting any danger from the inhabited areas."

"We'll see."

"Pleasantries aside, do you have any needs in the short term?"