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Message: <blockquote data-quote="alsih2o" data-source="post: 848270" data-attributes="member: 4790">The broad road stood in stark contrast to the surrounding wilds. It spanned 15 feet in width and rose evenly along the cliff face. While the vines, weeds and wildflower of early spring had choked every available spot the cobbled road flowed smoothly, as if carved from one monolithic slab.    A low whistle passed Finns lips and Rinney added “You see a road like that, you’ve got to take it, right?”    The trip up the valley wall felt so much different than the trip down, dropping into the valley they could see the lay of land ahead of them, and details got finer as the approached. Climbing the road out, with the valley falling away below them the sense of unease and wild speculation grew. When they reached the top they stopped in a small clump and stared ahead of themselves for a long moment.   Large birds ran in small flocks along the low hills spread before them, clumps of trees rose in short cylinders here and there defining the fuzzy edge of the savannah. Beyond were the short, broad, blue and purple ridges of the mountains beyond. Two hillcrests the right they saw a great beast emerging- a monstrous hairy rhinoceros. It stood fifteen feet at the shoulder and moved slowly across the turf, pausing to rend mounds of tall grasses from the ground and devouring them.    “By Balcla’s blistered balls” said Thabyra. “It’s enormous”   Rinney was startled at the beast “Um, perchance we should move along, while that thing is still at a safe distance”  “I was just thinking Kolindra could dance to It.” quipped Tavania.  She pointed to the mountains “They are closer than I thought.”   Her resolve refocused Thabyra suggested pushing on “We have to find that woman and help her, death by fire is horrible” under her breath she added, “I have seen it.”  Finn jumped “You have seen her too?”  Rinney snorted "My that sounds... odd... Are you certain you haven't eaten something against your palate?"  “I have seen people being burnt alive before, and I have had prophetic dreams before.  This was a true dream.” snapped Thaby.    They headed north, moving at an easy pace. It was the hilliest country any had ever seen and they enjoyed the extra cover and sense of security provided by the trees. As Balcla began to sink below the southern sky they made an easy camp, finding sleep to the distant murmuring calls of the giant, awkward birds that roamed the hills.  When morning came they a thick fog hung over the camp. It was nearly impossible to see anything more than 30 feet away and their unfamiliarity with the terrain seemed much more relevant. Tavania and Kolindra each looked to the sky and checked the wind, declaring north to be in approximately the same direction. They waited an extra hour in camp, and when it became evident that the fog was not to break the headed off.   After a short and foggy march they began to make out what appeared to be a low wall in the mist ahead. As they continued to approach it became clear that the wall was moaning a dirge-like tone, then it became apparent that it was not a wall, but a line of short stocky men. Each stood just over 4 feet tall and the line stretched out of sight in either direction into the fog.</blockquote>

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