>TM 4 >LS 2 >PS ON >PL66 >SM6 >CP ON >FO OFF >------L-----------------------!---------------------------R ä180ä Young city children wave and cheer as the caravan Š trundles out of Bisutan. Soon you cross the great Š southern bridge, and when you look down at the Š sparkling blue waters of the Khorda you see there a Š flotilla of tiny fishing craft plying their trade. Š For the first hour of the journey you content Š yourself with the view and watch the lush scenery and Š picturesque villages of the river basin pass before Š your eyes, but when the caravan enters the Bavari Š hills this pleasant landscape soon gives way to a Š more mundane vista - a seemingly endless sea of Š barren mounds and arid rocky outcrops. After a while your attention turns to the other Š passengers. They are a cheerful group of Vassagonians Š who are returning to their homes in Bavari after Š family visits and business in Bisutan. You pass the Š time exchanging stories and playing cards. You learn Š that this caravan is regularly used by the merchants Š of Bavari and Hikas. They prefer to transport their Š wares by road rather than risk the sea voyage through Š the Bay of Sharks. Contrary to its name, you hear Š that there are no longer any sharks in this bay; they Š migrated to southern waters many centuries ago. One Š of the passengers jokingly suggests that the reason Š they left was because of the pirates. The bay is a Š notorious haunt of buccaneer fleets and renegade Š privateers. The surrounding country may be bleak and barren to Š the eye, but the road is good and the territory is Š safe. The merchants have established armed outposts Š every twenty miles which help to deter bandits from Š raiding the caravans en route. The first night is Š spent at an outpost and the second night a camp is Š struck at an oasis where the road is joined by a Š track. This neglected track traverses the mountains Š and leads to the Great Masourn Trail, an ancient Š trade route. Many of your fellow travellers have been Š looking forward to arriving at the oasis, for it Š allows them the chance to visit Temujun the Sage - Š the famous soothsayer of the Dry Main, and when the Š caravan arrives there they hurriedly disembark. You Š watch with fascination as roughly half of your Š wagon's passengers scurry towards Temujun's tent, Š which is pitched at the edge of a shimmering pool, Š whilst the other half gather about a blazing camp Š fire and share their food while they enjoy a Š performance given by a troupe of troubadours. If you wish to visit Temujun the Sage, turn to â282â If you wish to go to the camp fire and watch the Š troubadours, turn to â40â If you prefer to stay aboard the empty passenger Š wagon, turn to â185â