Storm 311.

Donations: Helping Undrus dig to the East.

Exploration: An odd brushy dead-end trail in Westwood.

Fordi, day 51 of Spring, 552.

I was pleased to see that fellow POS member Newton successfully survived the Fifth Circle fighter test several days ago. Congratulations!

He told me afterward that he thought he might well be the last of the veteran fighters from the Ripture War to pass this. I very much doubt it, but that day is approaching.

I found a wide assortment of Wyrms in the Rocky Cavern recently. I fought all but the Sun Wyrm, since I can barely hit that kind yet.

Farhope brought to my attention the fact that she had seen the brushy trail in Westwood quite some years ago when Westwod was just discovered, and that Aravir had reported on a trip she led there.

Oh well, rarely is anyone actually the first to find a new thing, are they? Still, this is an interesting spot, and one I will check on from time to time. I was hoping that some Rangers might like to hide in such a woody place, but that seems less likely now.

Otherwise, I have had a pretty quiet time in the Lands lately.

I heard from several sources that a strange thing happened to the latest Fundin Foothills expedition (which I unfortunately was unable to join), but have yet to see a direct report of it. What I heard was that several folks made it into the ruined library and found a nasty arachnoid waiting for them inside. I heard conflicting versions of whether the Arachnoid was there before the exiles, or followed them inside. In any case, at least some folks who entered the library were felled before being able to read a chapter in Giayl's book. That's a scary thought! All that effort just to have victory snatched away at the last moment makes me sad for those involved.

Sombdi, day 31 of Spring, 552.

While out on my usual after-Storm rounds to explore the edges of the known Lands for new passages into more distant reaches of the island and to seek ut any Rangers among us, I stumbled into an interesting trail through the dense brush and rocks on the South edge of Westwood.

I crawled through the dark underbrush on hands and knees, barely able to see my own hands before me, and found I could advance quite a way in before being blocked totally by very dense growth and the surrounding rock walls. At one spot, I could pop my head above the trees and bushes to look about, and I made this sketch.

I scanned all around for paths, to no avail, then asked Aleena (who has a bit more training than I do yet) to have a look here as well. We saw no obvious way forward. Still, I do expect that there should be some way through here to the South, and I shall be checking this trail periodically for any changes.

Also while wandering around Westwood, I stopped into a small abode to chat with Lavo Stonetailor. He collects volcanic rocks from the Greymyr Passes to help make Lava Cloaks for Champions. Considering how few of those there are in the Lands, I expect that his business must be very slow!

He had no word about sighting any Rangers about though.

I did have a little good luck today, for when I asked Erthor test a lump of ore for me, he found it to contain a good Darkite. Very nice! This is the first useable Champion mineral I have found.