>TM 4
>LS 2
>PS ON
>PL66
>SM6
>CP ON
>FO OFF
>------L-----------------------!---------------------------R
		â35â

	The rolling plain to the west of Bakhasa is a bleak 
Š	and barren steppe, devoid of flora yet studded with 
Š	countless thousands of sawn-off tree stumps. Once 
Š	this region was part of the great forest of 
Š	Kelderwood, but in recent times the ruler of Bhanar, 
Š	Autarch Sejanoz, has commanded the Bakhasians to 
Š	harvest the forest's valuable hardwood and dispatch 
Š	it downstream to feed the insatiable needs of the 
Š	imperial shipyards of Otavai. Travelling on foot, the 
Š	stumps do not obstruct your progress and you are able 
Š	to press on until late in the afternoon. As you are 
Š	cresting a ridge of high ground, you spot a troop of 
Š	horsemen escorting a line of wagons laden with 
Š	timber. They are less than a mile distant and they 
Š	appear to be heading towards a settlement on the 
Š	banks of the River Tehda. You wait and watch them 
Š	until they are dots on the horizon before continuing 
Š	your trek towards the city of Bakhasa.
	
	You are within twenty miles of Bakhasa when dusk 
Š	begins to darken the gloomy sky. Karvas requests that 
Š	you stop to rest awhile before making a final push 
Š	for the city. You are feeling hungry after your long 
Š	day's march and you readily agree. (Unless you 
Š	possess the discipline of Grand Huntmastery, you must 
Š	now eat a Meal or lose 3 ENDURANCE points.) You are 
Š	about to resume your trek when your Kai sixth sense 
Š	alerts you to the sound of approaching horses and 
Š	wagons. You are scanning the surrounding hills when 
Š	suddenly a dozen riders appear from behind a ridge to 
Š	the north. They are escorting two wagons filled with 
Š	sleepy timber workers returning to their settlement 
Š	after a day's labour. You signal to Karvas to hide 
Š	himself as they approach along a cleared trail which 
Š	passes within twenty yards of your position. The 
Š	horsemen canter past ahead of the wagons, but one of 
Š	the riders who is following behind suddenly leaves 
Š	the track and steers his horse through the stumps 
Š	towards your position. Fearing that you may have been 
Š	spotted, you signal to Prince Karvas to split up and 
Š	find a new hiding place. Silently you watch as the 
Š	horseman is slowed to a halt by a dense cluster of 
Š	tree stumps. He dismounts and abandons his mare in 
Š	order to continue his search on foot. He draws his 
Š	sword as he passes close to where you are hiding, but 
Š	he does not see you. As he moves away, you see that 
Š	his horse does not follow. She stays to crop some 
Š	sickly weeds at the base of a tree stump barely ten 
Š	yards from where you are lying. Hanging from her 
Š	saddle is a bulging leather satchel, an axe, and a 
Š	coil of rope.


	If you wish to attempt to look inside the horse's 
Š	saddlebag, turn to  â145â

	If you decide to remain hidden among the tree stumps, 
Š	turn to  â287â