A Forest, A New Friend, & A Fearful Concern

As we travelled eastward, Miss Ofeq and I found ourselves in a delightful pine forest. As we moved through it, my plan was to aim towards the shoreline. As we did so, I and Miss Ofeq began to hear the faint sounds of chimes and other mechanical alarm devices coming through the branches like chirpings of clockwork birds. Breaking free of the treeline, we came to a large open and flat stone shelf set up from the shoreline and which contained a wide variety of devices that resembled the altars of the Almighty Dollah. The devices lined the area and were the source of the several different types of bells, whistles, and flashing lights we were hearing and seeing.

Steppng into the area, we saw only two natives standing near the altar-like devices, one of which was in a similiar bowing meditation. Because of this, we immediately assumed we had found yet another sacred area. The natives took no notice of our arrival and, in truth, paid us no mind even when spoken to which is something that I have yet to get used to so far in this expedition. Miss Ofeq began taking measurements of the area as well as making several sketches. I moved to the altar-devices themselves to investigate them. One in particular caught my attention since it too carried the same symbols we had seen back at the large temple which were the images of "those rewarded."

However, as I drew closer I realized that we had stumbled upon something else entirely. Now, I am sure my reader will understand that, as an airship captain and someone that has been to many ports, I have seen my fair share of gambling dens and establishments that would, perhaps, be considered far out of the realm of polite company. My job, at times, has carried me into such places. And, faith forgive, I've been known to frequent a few of the higher class ones so as to test my luck with a game of cards. I'm sure such knowledge would shock Miss Ofeq as well as many of my other social contacts in Caledon but, alas, it is the life of a freelancing captain.

As I studied the devices I began to realize that they were nothing more then a form of automated gaming for coin. Though borrowing heavily from the previous altars they served another purpose entirely. And, in the name of science and experimentation, I deposited a few coin and worked my way through the device. From what I can tell, after depositing said coin and then pushing a button to wager an amount of it, three clockwork wheels begin spinning. When those wheels stop, particular images are revealed and then, if the images line up in one of the proper patterns, you are paid off an appropriate amount for your wager.
In this image, I had scored one "rewarded follower" and, in turn, had won a slight return on my money. My experiments continued for a few moments with an interested Miss Ofeq standing by but, as I assumed it would happen, the machine ended up taking my coin when its wheels did not spin to a beneficial alignment. Miss Ofeq, attracted by the sounds and lights, decided to also give it a go at a nearby device. Her coin suffered the same as mine. Luckily for both of us, we did not wager that much from the beginning.

It was about that time that we were approached by a very friendly native with a large rambuctious head of dark curly hair. Wearing a shirt that reminded me of the temple to the Dollah with its colorful swirls, he greeted us and welcomed us to "The Lorax Foundation Casino." I quickly introduced Miss Ofeq and myself and explained our mission and what we were doing. In turn, he announced himself as Galen Paster, the operator of the area. I was pleased at his congeniality and his willingness to answer our questions.

He explained that by running this establishment, he was using the winnings offered up by the very machines we had used to purchase more land for more of the wonderful and thick forest around the area. In a way, I had to give a roguish grin and applaud him for what I would consider his Robin Hood way of doing things. A gambling forester. He also went on to state that in an attempt to be beneficial and to aid others, the forest was home to some without their own home whom he had granted the freedom to place a small tent or campsite. Hearing this, I asked him if we might be able to avail ourselves of the forest for our own basecamp. Such a thing would allow us to rest and recover from forays out into the mainland. I promised him we would not be long, a few days at longest, a week at most, with the only burden upon the land a few tents, some crates, a small fire, and a hovering airship. To my delight, he agreed to the proposal!

Wishing us well, he moved on to attend to his own business and we moved on to explore the area. Moving up the stairs to the next level was a large oval table. As we explored, we found two more. Again, I am no stranger to these things and my only pause in investigating them was due to not initially recognizing them. Several years ago, I allowed a young man to serve on my crew as a way for him to get further along on his own journeys. He brought with him a good work ethic and a pair of sharp eyes. He also brought along a game that he said he had learned in his homeland. An odd variant of the gambling game called poker, it involved a player receiving only two cards in the deal and then making use of a central area of five cards. He taught the game to me after a small scuffle had been broken up between my crew and, after getting my brain around it, I found I enjoyed the game for its skill. We played for some time before I eventually dropped him off near the Goldcrest Mountains near Dahlastein.

What we had stumbled upon here, I believe, were tables specifically for the purpose of card games, if not poker itself since the name emblazoned on the table seemed to strike me as similiar to the name of the game taught me. As Miss Ofeq went about her measurements and I took what images I could, I found myself slightly disappointed there had not been a game going on. It was more for the better for I would have wasted far too much time there! No, such a thing can transpire when there is not an expedition to attend to!

Pleased at finding an area to call something akin to home for a short while, our conversation leaned towards what we had seen in our own solo adventures. Miss Ofeq mentioned seeing some manner of flying craft, possibly of military purpose back a small pace to the west. Surprised that I had missed them myself, I had her take me there immediately via the flying crystals so as not to waste a moment further. And, yes, I had somehow missed what appeared to be a strong military base hidden amongst the jumble of small buildings!

Upon the roof sat four large craft that must have been aerial in their design. Their design appeared to be inspired by beetles or insects and without closer study or inspection I can only surmise their lift was created from the spinning of large thin propellor blades mounted to their rooves and with another additional guiding propellor on the tail of the craft. And, no, we were unable to get closer to the building or to the aircraft due to, yet again, another invisible wall obviously placed there for security reasons. Alighting on a nearby roof, I looked over the craft from a distance and used the imaging crystal to its fullest effect in order to capture what we had found. What concerned me the most was this defense base in conjunction with the invisible walls I had encountered earlier which effectively sealed off the southern shore from entrance to the Mainland. If they had gone to so much trouble was the actual Mainland government concerned about, astounding as it sounds, an invasion from Caledon? From another nation? Of course, I had not seen any indication of ANY government so perhaps it was simply some form of civic defense.Again, without natives to interview, I was at a loss as to how the pieces fit all together. Perhaps by having a simple base camp for a short while, we will be able to get some of these questions answered. I do know for sure that if more information might be acquired on those airships, there will be inviduals back in Caledon that would not mind knowing of it. But, I am concerned that too much poking and prodding might end up with us burdened with an espionage charge and on the run. I will keep my eyes and ears open concerning them.

After thanking Miss Ofeq for showing the base to me, we returned back via the crystals to the forest. I evenually found not only a suitable landing spot for the shuttle, a small and perfect clearing, but enough space so Miss Ofeq and I could set up a few tents, a fire, and to unlimber a few crates from the Albatross' hold. As we set up camp, I happened to see, through a small opening of the trees where our next excursion will take place. Up on the hill, a building rose that shocked me with its familiarity. It was if we had simply gone a short distance and, in the distance, we had spied Caledon. It seemed a majestic and proud building.

Settling down to sleep in my tent later that night, I was struck with one particular and perplexing thought as I reviewed my day, and more importantly, my time with Mr. Paster. He had said that this place was called the "Lorax Foundation." However, I was quite sure I had never heard of a Lorax before and was completely at a loss as to what it might be. And for that matter, what was a "Trucker girl" which had been displayed on one of the gaming devices? These are the things that swirled in the mind of an exhausted adventurer.

I make for the structure first thing in the morning...