Two Cultural Questions

[Eltern]

Just two quick questions regarding how the cultures of Talis and Kalimura would react to my adventuring party.

The PCs arrived in Orrojek, and two of them were identified as mages. Their magic items confiscated (they have just one, plus a book that was obviously about the arcane), and were told very sternly that if they practiced any magic within Kalimura, they would likely be shot immediately. After this warm reception the party bought some horses and rested. The next day they decided to do some research on Talis before they left, and went to the Flayed Priest.

While there Qulloch identified two of them as mages with a methkari crystal in his walking stick, and decided to get them arrested. While the group was reading in his library, he notified the city guard as to what was about to happen, then made it look like he was magically set on fire by one of them (he used some alchemy to light the back of clothes on fire temporarily). The two mages were summarily arrested and taken to that precinct's jail. They were told the next day they would be taken to the capital's prison, and would shortly have a trial. That night, however, the two used their magic to teleport out of the jail, and the entire party road their horses out of Orrojek, heading south.

How hard would the Kalimuran government track these people? Would they send messengers to every major town with composite portraits? Would they say "They're gone now, and good ridance"? Would they scour the nation for them? The group is currently a few hours ride south of Orrojek, sleeping in a field off the side of the road. What do they have to fear if they don't return to Orrojek? Also, how prevalent are methkari crystals outside of Orrojek?

Now for Talis. Humans coming out of the east that don't dress like Kalimurans: Will they look to trade with them? Attack them? Avoid them and stealthily watch to see what they do? The phellysians are used to karthasians, grum, and the bathynians. There are some humans and other races in Talis, but not much. So I'm not quite sure how xenophobic/isolationist the phellysians are.

Lastly, the PCs -will- try to get into Rexilar's ruins. What will the normal (non-Crimson Scourge) phellysians say to this? Will they wait outside like Myrians, waiting to kill them for their transgressions? Will they ask them what they saw? Do their codes apply to outsiders?

Thanks for the input!

[avisarr]

Good questions... all of them.

1. Orrojek's reaction to the two mages - after the two mages teleport out of the prison and escape in the night, Orrojek's reaction is likely to more like "They're gone and good riddance, but let's keep an eye on them and make sure they don't stir up any more trouble." Orrojek (and Kalimura for that matter) aren't in the business of hunting down and killing mages. They just don't tolerate magic. If mages behave themselves, they're tolerated. If, however, mages ignore the law and cast spells here, they are dealt with. However, Kalimura IS concerned with maintaining a stern and well known reputation that mages must keep their magic to themselves when here. So, the city of Orrojek may very well send out a few horsed riders from the city guard to track the party. Depending on the strength of the party and how blatant the violation was (the magistrate's mood that day, etc), they might just be given a stern warning - "Get out of Kalimura" or the soldiers might actually have orders to bring them back to the city. It's entirely up to you. A magistrate who's having a really bad week and is in a very foul temper might send out a big group of soldiers with strict orders to drag the two offending mages back. Could be fun.   Or if you don't want such a wrinkle in the plot line, let 'em go.

2. Methkari crystals are common in Kalimura, but rare outside of Kalimura. You can still find them in other nations, but they are harder to find and much more expensive.

3. It's the Bathyns that the phellysians don't like. So, as long as humans don't look like Bathyns, the phellysians initial reaction won't be hostile. The phellysians do trade with other (non-Bathyn) humans such as Kalimurans. The phellysians would probably trade with them. The phellysians are a bit primitive and uncivilized compared with many of the human nations, but they aren't xenophobic.

4. Yes, the phellysian taboo on the ruins extends to everyone (from their point of view). Normal (non-Crimson Scourge) phellysians will probably do everything they can to prevent outsiders from entering the ruins. To them, it's holy ground. They would take great offense if the players announced their intentions to walk into the ruins. Some phellysians will simply try to sway the players with words and warnings. Other, more extremist, phellysians might actually try to ambush them and prevent them from desecrating the holy ground by force if necessary. If the players manage to get in and the phellysians know about it, they would not pursue the players in. After the players emerge, the phellysians will be shocked, offended, demand artifacts be handed over (so they can be returned), etc. but they won't want to know what the players saw and will not take kindly to the players. Blatant disregard for their customs will provoke a violent reaction. At some point, the phellysians are just going to kill the trespassers outright.

[Eltern]

Thanks for the guidance