In the East District of Baldur's Gate, the known arcanist Aetius Cento of
the Mirari has attracted some additional attention from the common folk and onlookers to his recent street performances.
A particular act has the arcanist deftly flipping two Netherese coins—one with a solid white side and one with a solid black side—over the knuckles of both hands, simultaneously, while telling the tale of the split between realities: one of the prime white...and one of the shadowy black.
The climax of the act is what has so many talking: the Mirari takes the black-sided Netherese coin and flips it into the air, then chanting a select group of words of power, focuses upon the coin as it falls back towards the cobblestones.
In an instant, the coin bursts with energy, and a shadowy-cloud envelops the Mirari, erasing him from the square in a mysterious way...seconds later, the Mirari appears again in the open plaza where he is so often performing his street magic...but this time, he reappears with a humanoid-shadow-form in tow, to the fright of many observing the show.
Aetius waits for the initial fear effect to reach a high point, then blows air from his lips upon the shadow with great exaggeration, and the thing disappates....to great applause by those who've been temporarily frozen in place.
The Mirari arcanist then goes on to complete the act and the tale by describing the realm that exists parallel to the known Baldurs Gate, but this realm made of shadow and without color.
Many in the crowd dismiss the Mirari's claims as another great illusion or trick of the mind, known to be used often in the general performances of the Mirari.
But others stand idle and wonder, if indeed, this Mirari has traveled—and does continue to travel—to this plane of shadow...
As J.G. Ballard has said, "It's a mistake to hold back and refuse to accept one's own nature."