"What's an apartment?"

"It's like... if someone owned a really big house, and other people paid them money to stay in one of their rooms."

"I know who'll rent to tieflings? But I don't know how many of them are still alive. —I'm guessing most of them would rent to Lann too, that's why I mention it, 'I'll rent to guys with two horns or no horns but not one horn' would be a really weird rule."

"And I should probably regularize my relationship with the local church of Iomedae, which might even have a rectory once it's in better repair."

Lawful churches are weird.

"That sounds much less interesting than interviewing channels boy about developments in his magic."

"Nenio, where do you live?" Did she forget?

"Until a few weeks ago I lived in Absalom, but I came here to conduct research for my encyclopedia! ...I don't remember where I resided after arriving in Kenabres."

"You will be impaired in conducting any practical magical research if you don't have an adequate sleeping environment."

"I suppose that is true."

"If you get a Ring of Sustenance or learn how to extend your spells, you could sleep in a Rope Trick. You'd need to bring the bedding yourself, though, it doesn't make it for you."

"...That sounds more complicated than just renting a room."

"Different things may be complicated for Nenio."

"...We could... help her to rent a room somewhere?"

"Perhaps. Anyway. It's possible we should split up into smaller groups, the danger is less than it was yesterday, but if we all want to stick together we'll need some sensible order in which to accomplish things."

"You could check where they want the Stone Shapes to go? Maybe it'll be close to something else."

"A good idea." Do they have directions for him on his Stone Shapes (or his Mark of Justice)?

There's a particular throughway they think would be especially valuable to repair with the Stone Shapes, she can point it out on the map. For his Mark of Justice, he should check in with Irabeth at the Gray Garrison. (Given the relative locations of the places in question, it would be most convenient to start with the Stone Shapes, then go to the Gray Garrison, then speak with the Count.) They'd also appreciate it if Seelah and Lann wanted to stick around at the throughway clearing heavy rubble out of the way, but that might leave his party a bit heavy on the wizards.

"A little, but are the random encounters coming as thickly today?"

"No, things've been a lot quieter ever since the Wardstone went back to warding."

"Then I don't object to splitting up in whatever way is most useful and accords with other constraints," has Thall escaped. "Is there anything I should know about the medium-term state of the lodging situation here, or at the temple if that normally has quarters for priests - or who should I ask if not you?"

Thall's still here.

"Normally the temple's got some lodgings that you'd have access to, but it's not in a great state at the moment, and we're focusing on getting the roads passable before we fix it. Apart from that... I mean, if you signed on longer-term as a soldier here we'll be fixing the bunkrooms at the Garrison, but you might not want to do that. And we're hoping the people who've been sheltering here will be able to go home over the next couple weeks, which should free up the upstairs rooms a bit more."

Well, that sounds less not like "in the meantime get Ember to show you a good spot" than would be ideal but he can figure that out later. He nods. Off they go to do some Stone Shaping.

Compared to the previous several days, the streets are much quieter. If there are any demons or cultists, they aren't showing their faces at the moment.

As they're getting close, a brown snake with black markings slithers out from behind a barrel. It rears its triangular head, hissing.