My thoughts precisely. When I heard from the higher-ups that we weren't to go there I wondered if it could be a way to escape that they kept from us, but the more I heard from the citizens here, the less likely I thought it was.

[ He frowns, crossing his arms. The whole thing is quite discomforting. Not as discomforting as the Pale, but certainly a good reason to keep their heads down and act as good clanmembers, at least in public; in private, he's certain they can get away with at least shirking the more distasteful duties, or avoiding the feuds between the clans. ]

They seem afraid of it. It makes this city itself odd -- how is an entire city an oasis from what surrounds it? And what are really the dangers out there? They must go beyond the simple lack of food or water or shelter. If it didn't, I imagine they would have already expanded the city itself.

[ He glances over at Matoba. ]

Are there any particularly terrifying ayakishi you haven't seen here that could be lurking out there? What else could they possibly be so afraid of?