New pains too, don't sit on that tail, bud.

You and the others approach the buildings you saw before, all of which seem to be for military purposes. Watch towers, barracks, defensive positions, even a few small scale fortresses by the looks of it. The guards each stare at you, murderous intent in their eyes as they firmly grasp the grips of whatever weapon they hold. You hear a cacophony of subtle thumps coming from all around you, each frantic and panicked; each out of sync with the other.

"They... hate... Me..." You slowly whisper to Ariel, hoping he will somehow make them stop staring.

"Whaaat? Nooo... they just... ok yeah they don't like you. But we just need to change their minds with some help around the town is all! These are some fine folks." The cheerful cherub sings out, almost dancing as words come from his mouth.

Cilla nods as we near a large gate. "Agreed, this town is quite the accepting place. It even has a Runacathy." (Rune-Ah-Kath-E)

You look at her, so confused is your expression that it appears as though you have just seen her grow a second head, forcing her to elaborate.

Taking a deep breath, she does just that. "There are those of the Dark that, for one reason or another, are looking to join the Light side of the great conflict. The most prevalent being the hybrid children of those who have been... violated... by monsters. While most offspring from such evil acts are almost entirely of their darker parentage, rarely, the light from their other parent shines through. There is the even rarer instance of a monster simply choosing to do so, such as the namesake for the Runacathies, Runa Ruya, who helped the great heros defeat her own father..."

She continues as your group pass the gate, and head towards what appears to be a hole delving into the earth. "The Runacathies help applicants integrate into the local area, providing them with work, housing, clothing that fits their often strange forms. The signifier of someone who is from one of these Runacathies is..."

"A red cloak." Interrupts Ariel, looking all too pleased about knowing that little fact.

The infuriated look in Cilla's eye is enough to send chills down your spine.

"...yes. I am one such case." She responds coldly, pulling the hood of her cloak from her head and neck.

Revealing her ears to be pointed, and covered in silvery blonde fur. You also spotted a large tuff of fluff around her neck, forming a sort of poofy collar.

"Pretty..." You say, as if somehow that makes her implied 'troubled past' any less horrid, you damn Ego.

"Yeah, bad timing Ego." Urge says, being smart and agreeing with me for once.

As expected, things get quite a bit worse, with Cilla pulling the cloak back over her blushing grimace. Ariel now looks as though he had just kicked a puppy, with how somber his look became. Your group silently walk into the hole past the gate, and delve into a dark tunnel; the end of which glows a fair greenish-blue, and smells of salt.

"Oh man, I can't wait to see her again..." Ariel barely whispers, his face now contorted back into a childish giddy grin.

"Who?" You ask.

"The priestess of my temple. She's the best li... follower! Best follower, ever. Yeah..." His face changed again, now shifty and red once again.

Ignoring the dim deity, You continue to make your way though the tunnel and towards the light and salty air, until at last you reach it.

The port town of Tomo.