The Kender found the arrivals fascinating.
They wore strange clothes, used unfamiliar slang, and carried an impressive variety of small vices. They also swore creatively, which we admired greatly.
Others were… less pleased.
The city guard was concerned.
Merchants were suspicious.
Several public officials demanded the Arc be dismantled immediately.
(It cannot be dismantled. Trust us, we tried.)
The mortals themselves were unhappy in a quieter way.
They could not return home.
No magic worked.
No rituals responded.
Even Elysira could not trace the Arc’s resonance.
They were stranded in a frozen realm they did not understand.
Which, historically speaking, is when interesting things begin. The mortals had no choice but to start new lives in Aurelthrym.