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These plains are no more than 70 miles from the Saelith Ocean at the farthest, and come withing a mile in some places. The Calith Plains are also known as the Grass Sea, as they appear at times to be a vast sea of grass. They are the largest plains in Lienae, very dry in the summer, and take days to cross even by the winged dragons. Once they were called by two names, the Carenin Plains in the East and the Lithien Plains to the west, and the current name is a combination of the two.


Map: Coming soon


Weather: Clear and cold. The snow has hidden the tall grasses, only lumpssticking above the deceptively thin-looking layer of snow, which is actually three feet deep, with two-three feet of grasses still standing beneath it. This panorama easily deceives the unfamiliar traveler - as there are low hills directly to the north, south, and east, the only place you can look edge-on and see this is coming in from the Saelith Ocean to the west. Moreover, there is a plate of ice over the whole thing - thick enough that even with a horse you'll go several feet beforefalling through up to six feet of snow and grass. Very dangerous weather, even for the experienced traveler.

((The contest has begun! This series of posts will contain the initial clues.))

"Kaela!" Kaela's mother called across the plains. "Hurry up! You'll be late for the ceremony!" She sighed. She hadn't told her daughter that she would be skipping dinner as the beginning of the ceremony's fast. During the ceremony, or more specifically the trial that was the bulk of it, anything could happen. She wasn't sure her daughter would understand the need to go into it hungry. She certainly hadn't at her age. "Kaela!"

Kaela's mother watched as her daughter came into view. "Hurry, get into the ceremonial outfit - it's laid out on the table. We've no time to lose, the priest says that you must begin in less than an hour."

Kaela's mother smiled at her daughter as she came back out. "You look nice," she said, even as she reached to adjust Kaela's collar. "Now, quickly. The Elders are already waiting in the Circle, along with the priest."

The Elders and the priest were waiting in the Circle. The Circle was an age-old ring of granite, seemingly grown right out of the ground, with a small bowl-shaped dip in the center. The Elders were spaced evenly, standing on the ring, and the priest stood in the center, only visible above his waist due to the dip. The Elders heads remained bowed and their arms raised horizontal as Kaela approached, but the priest looked up and gestured slightly for Kaetha to stop when she reached the edge of the ring. Sometimes I wish we could give the young ones some form of preparation, the priest thought. So much depends on them answering questions correctly, on their ability to sense what they should do...

The priest began the ceremony. The beginning was simple enough, the same three ritual questions began almost every ceremony that took place at the Circle.

"Who approaches the Company of the Circle?"

The priest smiled slightly. So far, so good.

"Are you true to your people, and to the good of this world?"

"Are you true to your own mind, spirit, and future?"