ferry? No? Then have a seat while we wait and I'll tell you. Until early this

century, men had to risk life and limb to travel to the lands beyond Talorien.

Many a tourist was sucked into the inky black water between Talorien and Trader

Center. Commerce between Korpel and Talorien was all but extinct. So, the

politicians with their delusions of godliness decided to build a boat to

traverse the great ocean. A boat that could house 100 men and store tons of dry

goods for import and export.

The city of Talorien contracted the finest of builders in the land to create a

ferry. The builders had never built such a large boat, and skimped on materials

and craftsmanship to bring the boat in under cost and on time. On its maiden

voyage the boat carried only the crew and a few Talorien dignitaries. The ferry

never made it to Trader Center. It was dashed to bits against the great rocks

along Trader shore. The Mayor of Talorien decided to change the destination to

the city of Korpel, where the waters are calm and the wind is gentle. The

builders learned from their mistakes, and built a bigger boat made of the

hardest wood in the land. Many years passed and the cities commerce boomed with

trade and tourism. Thats is, until the storm.

One dark winter night, the ferry was making its way past the dreaded Trader

shores. The Captain was uncommonly uneasy, as if he had a premonition of bad

things to come. He ordered the crew to change course slightly away from the

shore. The air was unnaturally calm, much like it is tonight. The passengers

could feel the Captains tension and kept quiet and out of the way. Just when

the Captain was feeling more at ease with the rocky shore behind him, the wind

picked up without warning. It turned from gust to gale in seconds, and soon

became as powerful as a hurricane. The waves grew tall and steep and tossed the

boat about the surface. Several men were thrown into the sea and their cries

were lost in the winds rage. The captain and crew did all that they could to

maintain control of the ship, and ordered everyone below deck for safety. Then

the rain came, it poured down in huge drops, blinding the crew of their

direction and heading. Several tall waves crashed down on the ferry, flooding

it with icy water. Those that looked for safety below deck were drowned within

minutes. The captain took the helm and steered hard into the wind, hoping to

find a break in the storm. Just when the ferry seemed to make it through the

worst, a great wind rose up like the very breath of God himself. The boat was

flung from the water and crashed down on the jagged rocks protruding from

Trader shore.

Its been 50 years since that night, and no one talks about it these days. Many

years passed and the city of Talorien built another ferry, twice the size of

its predecessor. The people spared no expense on its richly appointed decor.

The story became mostly legend and tale, and soon the people forgot that tragic

night 50 years ago. Since then we have had years of calm seas and strong

commerce between Talorien and the northern cities, But if your still thinking

of taking a trip this night, I would bend a knee and pray to the great God of

the sea for safe passage and smooth water.