:: Random Location—Benchford, Grassland Thorp ::

Waves of heat rise up from the plain, taking entire clouds worth of moisture with them. It is stifling to say the least. The trail leads straight over a short but cavernous crack in the ground, spanned at the narrowest pinch by a bridge of stone. The height is daunting, but the trip to the other side is a brief one.

The thorp begins almost immediately on the other side of the chasm, a prominent selling-house advertising "ravine tours" on a sign that swings from the porch. This house, though old, is well lit and clean. The rest of the thorp, however, is positively ancient by comparison. As you emerge into the center of the place you see a crude stone bench—dew-dappled and moss-covered—surrounded by a circular garden with flowers of cobalt blue.

By necessity, each of the few dwellings that circle the bench is also tasked for selling the goods and services of those who live there. The trail continues on the other side of the bench, between "Frida's Belladonnas" and "Benchford General Goods", and out into the wide world once again. From that direction also comes the bleating of sheep, followed quickly by the sheep themselves, led by one shepherd and trailed by another.

:: Random Item—The Sage Sage Bow ::

The Sage Sage Bow

by Wm Jay Carter III, 6/16/15

a ranai bulb-lantern bearer

Weapon: Bow

Culture: Ranai

Condition: Small, Pristine

Color: Sage

Keyword: Splendor

One of the bulb-lantern bearers draws the curtain of willow-branches to the side, permitting you to enter the sanctuary of the legendary Sapo Velho. The venerable ranai elder dendrite seems not to notice you, but continues croaking softly and steadily. Following the instructions you were given, you kneel on the rock nearest Sapo Velho and lay the tiny bow down before the elder. The old frog reaches out, takes the bow, and holds it beside his head—all without breaking his meditative state, it seems, for he continues to snore in froggy fashion.

You wait impatiently for him to get on with it, but it seems the ranai is waiting for something. Then, as quickly as he might have snapped a fly from the air, his fingers pluck the bowstring. The sound resonates throughout the sanctuary, and suddenly a rush of color fills your vision as if every living thing—and perhaps even the earth itself—began giving off its own unique light. The sight is enchanting, and after another moment of drinking in the sight, it fades. You stand, bow, and escort yourself from the sanctuary, feeling that the old frog has given you a great gift indeed.

:: Random Item—Froggy's Fire ::

Froggy’s Fire

by Wm Jay Carter III, 6/12/15

a ranai

Beverages: Muddy Water

Culture: Ranai

Condition: Intact, Small

Color: Pink

Keyword: Wild Fire

The celebrating ranai pull you in for a drink. One of them tosses you a thimble-sized glass bottle stoppered with a tiny bulbed cork. Inside, you see what you assume to be slightly bloody muddy water. As you consider the wisdom of drinking such a gift, the ranai go back to toasting with the stuff, downing the contents of their bottles in a flash. Thinking such a small bottle of anything couldn’t possibly do much harm, you yank off the cork, toast to whatever the Ranai were toasting, and knock back the drink.

Immediately, you feel as though the ground has been lit on fire, the searing pain shooting up toward your head, causing you to jump into the air on impulse. Next, your hands feel as though they have been plunged into acid, the resulting unpleasantness following the searing pain. Just as you begin dreading the idea of what might happen next, the discomfort suddenly stops, and you realize one of your legs has shot out at an embarrassing angle, your hands are curled up in pain, and your face has frozen with a look of horror.

The ranai laugh at you.

:: Random Location—Slasher's Circle ::

Slasher’s Circle

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/23/15

Attraction: Arena

Weather: Muggy

Conditions: Small, Simple

Color: Pastel Red

Keyword: Slash

Wiping the sweat from your brow, you come upon the rubble of a fallen building. Traversing a cleared path in the debris, you see that the center has been swept to the dirt foundation, making an ideal place for several young combatants to play-fight without interruption. As one girl lunges with a “spear” fashioned from a broom handle and a damp sponge, her opponent staggers away with a dab of pastel red paint on his clothes. Thus “wounded,” he falls to the ground, acting out a gruesome demise. Only then do you realize the true purpose for the whole performance, for the adult spectators sitting atop the rubble now stand, alternately cheer or sulk, and begin exchanging money.

:: Random Item—The Bull Brand Missive ::

The Bull Brand Missive

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/14/15

Scroll: Letter/Message

Color: Brown

Conditions: Small, Glistening

Keyword: Bull

Leaving town far behind you, you take in the smells of the country air. Among these, unfortunately, is the stench of nearby cattle. You turn around and notice that a free-roaming bull is trotting after you at a fair pace. You ignore the wayward animal, but after several bends in the road it appears to be fixated on you and will not relent. Giving in, you finally stop and let the thing catch up. It bawls and flicks a glistening ear in your direction, damp with sweat, where a fresh brand has been made. Looking closer, you immediately grasp the symbol’s meaning, and know that it is unmistakably meant for you...

:: Random Item—Oar of the Paragon ::

Oar of the Paragon

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/11/15

Tool: Gondolier

Color: Apricot

Conditions: Small, Light

Keyword: Paragon

This tiny oar appears to have been crafted as a perfect miniature of its full-sized counterpart. Designed after the style of an oar used by a gondolier, it has been painted the color of ripe apricots. For one who has piloted a watercraft, simply holding it conjures vivid daydreams of gliding across the water as easily as a seabird flies.