Riley explores Cthonica (OTC)
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"Yeah, I feel the same way as an explorer. Are we headed straight back to the OTC office or are we exploring some more first?"

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"I want to get a better sense for this place. Figure out whether people are happy, maybe see if there's more signs of the changes that had to have come even if it's been a while."

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"I thought you'd say that. People watching it is." Riley takes down the privacy barrier and relinquishes the time slot if that's a thing then they pick a random direction and go.

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A demon pair who appear to be brother and sister are sitting on a bench and talking. Across from them in the field, a pair of winged demons are playing flying-frisbee-with-drones, while a tiefling woman and a pair of human men (all wearing collars) look on and cheer. There are other small meditation groves screened off from the rest of the park; a black-skinned woman with pointy ears is stepping out from one, carrying a small stack of books that emanates magic under passive scan. 

The library is quite clearly visible. It looks like mostly stonework, but there's a tall dome on top made of stained glass inlaid into a web of black material. It looks newer than the rest of the building. 

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"People seem happy here. Including the natives."

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Riley nods and they continue walking. Did the maps have any areas that seem like they might be less prosperous?

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It's not exactly marked on the maps, but the histories and biographies they have on file can direct them to the nearby apartment blocks where the servant classes have historically lived. 

As they approach, the proportion of demons drops and the number of teiflings and humans they encounter on the street increases. There are also definitely more men here. Most of them are wearing the black, thorned necklaces, which the books they have on file say are takkarash minters - they induce pain, which is used to power sacrificial magics elsewhere in the OTC. The general attitude seems to be "stressed but coping"; people are walking fast, or else looking at their devices. There's a tiefling man leaning against a building smoking something that smells peppery and sweet. 

The buildings are visibly older, small apartments all pressed together. There's also a gate that stands in front of a small garden plot, and as they watch a human woman turns a key in the gate, steps through with a flash of magic, and vanishes. There's some graffiti, mostly of claim-runes but they also pass a large mural of a tattooed back with a brand in the shape of pursed lips. 

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Siobhán switches to encrypted radio. "It's about what I would expect and given this was historically a servant's area it was likely worse before the war. Not as nice as areas we run but maybe a bit better than most Earth analogs. I think I can work with this."

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"Back to the office then?"

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"Back to the office." They turn around and start their walk.

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They pass demons and drow and humans, all occupied with their own business. The shop bell dings as they step in the door.

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The clerk at the desk looks up, and notices Riley. "Ah, it's you again. Change your mind on buying something?"

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"Not exactly, we're from a realm with no contact with the OTC are you a good person to talk to?"

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"- I'm not the person to talk to but I can get you a meeting room and an exec within ten minutes. Come back behind the desk here, meeting rooms are on the left."

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"That sounds ideal." They go where directed.

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The clerk ushers them into a small meeting room.

"Would you like tea or coffee while you wait? It shouldn't be long."

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"No, thank you."

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Riley shakes her head.

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"Alright then. I need to mind the shop but I'll show in the executive when they come."

And she leaves them alone. 

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They wait silently.

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And eventually an androgynous woman wearing an immaculately tailored suit knocks on the doorway. 

"May I come in?"

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"Of course. Thank you for being so prompt."

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"It's rare that other worlds make contact with us before we make contact with them. When they do, it usually means we'll do something great together. I'm Morning-Glory, Executive for Discovery, First Contact Management, Universal level. It's my duty to treat with the high representatives of newly contacted worlds. And you two are?" 

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"I'm Siobhán Ionbhá Envoy for Starlight and this is Riley Clearsky Explorer for the same."

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"To be clear, what territory does Starlight administrate?"

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