The EARTH story - January 23, 1372


You delay your departure this morning while Farad goes hunting. Two hours later he returns with a vole.

He puts it in the tent before Kelar closes it up.

He ponders, "If that is successful, I might try going out the back door myself. It would be interesting to see if the room is available even when the front door's access is closed."

You set out again. It is another cold, blustery day. The wind chill makes it feel like it is only -6F. Still, Jo-owrn is not bothered.

"We're lucky we haven't had snow," he explains.

Around noontime you come out of the woods and enter an area of fields and pastures. Ahead of you, in a shallow valley, is a town. An hour later you are in Neapolitan (pop. 4500). However, it is too early in the day to stop yet, so after a hot lunch in the town restaurant the ranger presses you on. There is, though, a signpost that you have to stop and read:

The Happy Road: North: To Yna Sur and Yip Yowee.

South: To Ordor, Santa's Village and Ar'razam.

East: To Va Va Voom.

You continue out of town, and soon are back in the forest again. You ride on until nightfall, when you make camp and set up Kelar's tent again.

Inside, you find no sign of the vole.

The night passes uneventfully.


Next day

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