Through the Jungles of Lost Lands
(Pilgrimage Day 2)

Near the northern gate of Delucia there was a strange stone building, of which I couldn't make out the meaning. I admired a small overgrown bed of flowers, ere I left the safety of town wandering northward.
I crossed the small bridge of Cibilo Creek, as the sound of clashing weapons and whistling arrows was heard from afar. I walked faster and gripped my bow tightly. Moaning and howling voices surrounded me, as I entered the City of the Dead. Carefully I watched the gravestones and crypts, noticing ghouls, skeletons or even liches melting from out of the soil, and swaying dangerously at the bravely fighting warriors. An arrow from my bow sent an undead to from where he had come from.
I passed swiftly through the City of the Dead, as I faced a new horror. A large palisade surrounded what could be described as a pool of stinking and foul creatures. An orc fort! Together with other brave warriors I eliminated some of the undead neighbors, but for every orc we sent to hell, another two appeared in the fort. I already had used up almost all of my arrows, so I decided to leave this evil location.

What I passed now could be called a tiny desert. I then continued to stride north again, looking for a bride to cross The Ru. I marched across a large savanna, where large piles of rock seemed to point into the sky like warning fingers.
 After leaving a small lake to the east behind, I passed the Damwin Thicket, and finally crossed The Ru. My sextant told me then, that the city of Papua was lying to the east. The vegetation had become more like a jungle now, reminding me a little of the area south of Trinsic. I was just daydreaming, as in front of me the walls of some old ruins shone through the leaves of the trees. I noticed a lonesome horseman being in trouble with dozens of snakes, skeletons and shades, and freed him from his mess with some arrows and energy bolts. Greeting me gratefully, he continued his journey.
What I found now, was the most dreadful horror I ever had experienced. A strange path with some stone pavers lead in a circle through a narrow lane As I had passed about a quarter of the circle, I could hear some strange hissing and whispering noises. I knew them too well, having once been a victim of the evil Terathans. It was the Terathan Keep! With the help of some mages I wiped out some Terathans, who were trapped on a small hill. Now my reagents had been used up too, and I left to find the town of Papua.
Papua was lying in the middle of a swamp, and the bamboo houses were built on stilts. I knew the area from several reagent shopping visits, and went to the bank. This was where I met the most beautiful lady of Britannia again, Storm Silverhand.
We both were happy to meet again, and I decided to interrupt my pilgrimage and invite her to my humble abode. We took the passage from the Tricks of the Trade in Papua to the Encyclopedia Magica in Moonglow, from where I gated us to the Virtue Village.

02/99

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