The katta had just completed a transaction with one of the locals as Msaka walked up to the cart, but swiftly turned to greet his new customer. While Msaka sensed that his appearance had taken the katta by surprise, the merchant hid it well, never letting his warm smile falter.

"Good day to you, traveller from afar," the katta spoke in a genuinely friendly tone. "I have never chanced to travel to your southern lands, but I have heard much about them. My name is Marrak. May I be of any assistance in providing you with my wares to sate your hunger, or information about the city to satisfy your curiousity, you have but to ask."

Msaka waved at the offerings on display as he replied, "I need something fresh to eat. Whatever you have that isn't too expensive, I will take. And if you have something that will last a while when travelling, I will take some too."

He spent several minutes haggling with the katta, finally settling on the purchase of a couple of days worth of fresh fruits and one of the odd sounding cooked items the katta referred to as a gyro. Paying for his purchases, Msaka packed away the fruit and waited whilst the gyro was assembled for him.

His gaze drifted back to the Tarnan structure nearby. "Who lives there?" he suddenly asked, pointing towards it.

The katta looked up from his work and followed Msaka's gaze. "That is the home and shop of the wizard Shakra, who has come here from the same land as you do. While his size is intimidating to many, he is of noble heart. Since last winter, he has begun to purchase pizza from me quite often." The katta seemed slightly amused by this fact as he recounted it. "If there is any matter of magic with which you need assistance, he will be able to help you."

"Who is he? Or what is he?" Msaka asked next, as the katta completed the gyro.

"Ah," Marrak replied sagaciously. "He is one of the liontaur people, who rule the city of Tarna. I am told that his profession is unusual in that most male liontaurs are warriors and disdain magic, but with him that is clearly not the case."

Msaka's brow furrowed as he considered what the katta had said. A liontaur wizard could complicate matters, particularly if in contact with Kreesha back in Tarna. He'd have to be careful about what he said in the liontaur's presence, or around anyone who was on friendly terms with the wizard.

Marrak held the gyro out to him. Msaka accepted it, murmuring his thanks as he meandered over to the stream. Leaning against the rail, he swiftly devoured the gyro, discovering that it tasted quite good in spite of its odd appearance. His thoughts remained with the wizard as he silently debated the wisdom of inquiring with Shakra about the tritons. Given the tritons' supposed magical expertise, the wizard would certainly be a logical person with whom to speak about them, but the risk of someone back in Tarna being told about it was worrisome.

As he finished eating the gyro, he concluded that it was a risk that would have to be taken. The only alternative would be to wander around asking everyone about the tritons, and that would probably attract far more local attention. That could easily end up being just as awkward. Brushing his hands together to clean off the remaining crumbs, he straightened his shoulders and marched resolutely up to the doors.

Pushing one open, he peered into the dim chamber beyond. Allowing a moment to pass to let his eyes adjust, he stepped inside, sensing subtle power within.

He slowly scanned the interior as he stepped inside, allowing the door to swing shut behind him. The home of the wizard was more of a natural cavern than anything else, furnished with objects both magical and nonmagical; A tome-covered desk dominated the far left side of the room, while an imposing looking shrine filled the far right corner. More objects lined the right hand wall, and a large drum had been set near the middle. A high shelf of stone stood to the right of the foot of the stairs, with a bookcase and open passage leading to unknown areas beyond. The wall between the shrine and shelf was filled with an assortment of containers and loose items, but the left hand side of the room was mostly clear of clutter. That leaft ample room for passage, which was probably a necessity considering the size of the owner.

Msaka sensed that the shrine and the drum held the most magical power of everything in the room, though the drum's was far less unsettling. Resolving to keep well away from the liontaur's religious artifacts, Msaka slowly paced around the stone shelf. He was uncertain why the wizard had not made an appearance yet - this was supposedly a place of business, after all.

He eyed the drum for several moments, noting its rather plain appearance, which was in stark contrast to the artifact his own people used to power their most potent rituals. The aura radiating from it was distinctly different as well, though he couldn't discern its exact capabilities with such brief study.

Growing slightly impatient, he turned his attention to the tunnel behind the stone shelf and called out, "Is there anyone here?" For a moment all was silent, but then a faint sound of movement echoed from the tunnel. Msaka stood back from the shelf, waiting with his hands on his hips.

It didn't take long for the liontaur wizard to come into view, padding swiftly from the tunnel to stand upon the stone shelf. In one hand he bore what was clearly a magical staff, and Msaka sensed that his magical strength, even without the staff, was by no means insignificant. This was clearly someone to be wary of, even more so than Msaka had already intended.

"Greetings unto you," the liontaur called down, clearly somewhat surprised to find a leopardman within his shop, though not betraying what else he might be thinking. "You have indeed travelled far to visit me here, and I must apologize for not being here when you came in. What is it that you desire?"

Msaka waved one hand towards the collection of oddities adorning the area near the shelf. "I have been told that you sell magical items, and sometimes spells as well. I thought also you might have information I can use. Do you have time to barter, or are there other things demanding your attention?"

"I have no other duties requiring my time," Shakra replied. "Though if you plan to purchase spells, it might be best to return in a few days time. I have recently obtained several new tomes, which I was studying when you arrived, purchased from a very strange individual who was visiting the city. They contain quite a few new spells that I have yet to master."

Msaka frowned, puzzled. "Who do you mean?"

"I'm afraid I don't know his name. While he was quite skilled in the magical arts, his approach was most," Shakra paused, searching for the right word. "Unique. I have never seen the like before, nor was it a form of magic practiced at WIT. He claimed that the most powerful forms of magic could best be harnessed through the proper combination of edible reagents, and referred to himself as a Culinary Wizard."

Msaka stared at the liontaur, uncertain as to whether the entire claim was intended in jest. "I see," was all he could think of in reply. This obviously wasn't going to be as easy as he'd thought...