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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Joshua Randall" data-source="post: 9550955" data-attributes="member: 7737">[The choice between learning from Thayne and learning from Beldon has MAJOR ramifications on how the middle part of the book plays out. In my judgment, the Beldon path is a little more fun and leads to a more coherent plot, long-term.]217We listen to the boisterous sounds of the bazaar just outside the cul-de-sac. While Thayne has told us much of interest regarding our father, we're sure he is holding back some information. We also still feel a familial connection to Beldon: we need to tell him of Marla's death.Plus who wants to learn magic from someone who will only "endeavor" to teach us? Express more confidence in your abilities, Thayne!We tell Thayne our decision. He once again warns us of Beldon's evil, cryptically tells us not to enter Beldon's house, asks us not to mention that we met (because Beldon and Thayne hate each other), and gives us vague directions to Beldon's magic academy -- the large stone tower at the end of the market avenue."Follow the fence. Though it may seem to lead away from the college, you must never touch what guards it," Thayne pronounces."Touch what?" we ask. But Thayne has raised the hood of his (presumed) Cloak of Elvenkind and vanished without a trace.Turn to (68).---68After about 30 minutes of wandering the bazaar, this time without any press gang attacks, we spot the tower that Thayne described. It is a black-grey stone battlement that is part of Freeton's ancient seawall. The old tower stands between two newer buildings of whitewashed baked clay.Surrounding the tower is a rusty fence covered in ivy dotted with yellow and purple flowers.There's no visible gate into the tower and the buildings on either side are "abandoned ruins".[Huh? Why are the two "newer" buildings that have been "whitewashed" (which lasts about 20-30 years, presumably less in a seaside shantytown) the "abandoned ruins", while the tower built into the "ancient" seawall is NOT described as "ruins"?]We are presented with three options:(126) Follow the fence until we reach a gate;(97) Stay away from the fence as Thayne warned us; or(144) Climb the fence.[No, you are not crazy: in the previous section (217), Thayne's EXACT words were, "Follow the fence". Now in this section we are asked to distinguish between "Follow the fence" vs. "stay away from it", the latter being the one marked as what Thayne advised. Except Thayne didn't say "stay away"; he said "follow", and "never touch what guards it". (Doubly vague! Yay?). So if we want to heed Thayne's advice, what do we choose?]</blockquote>

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