In Bar-Alda : Days 1-7

 The Announcement set out the days leading up to the Great Race itself.

As noted at that point, a general picture of the coming days would read:

Day 1:    Poster published announcing the Great Race.  Preparation begins across Bar-Alda.

Day 13:  The Race prizes are announced.  Registration for the Race opens just after midnight, Runners can now enter the Race.

Day 14:  "Counting Eve".  Registration of Runners continues.
Day 15:  "Counting Day".  Race registration is paused.

Day 16:  The Festival of the Tree begins. Registration of Runners reopens.  

Day 17:  Second Festival Day.  Registration of Runners ends at Midnight. No new entrants are allowed after this time.

Day 18:  The Great Race begins at Noon.

The adventurers may well take up the quest for Callaghan, or explore Orn to try to determine the shape of the world.  

But what happens in Bar-Alda between Days 1 and  13?  This section summarises what happens in the first part of that period, as a tool for the referee should the players opt for some or all of their characters to stay in the elven village for the first few days, or if they return to the village from the wilderness before Day 8.

Day 2:  At Noon on this day, Gerion asks the adventurers to seek for the lost adventurer, Callaghan.

As noted in that section, towards the evening of Day 2, a young dwarf, Balar arrives in the village.  He is quiet and wary.  He may attempt to befriend any dwarf player character.

To cater for the anticipated arrivals, both Race entrants and spectators, the elves launch the first of several rafts on the Lake.

Day 3:  If they accept the quest, the adventurers will leave to seek out Callaghan.  

The elves float two more rafts, and begin fitting out all three of them.

Falco continues to build something in his new workshop.  He is hoping, it seems, to take over the whole hut.

Days 4 and 5:  Huts are built on the first three rafts, and more rafts are launched.  If the adventurers are in Bar-Alda at this time, they will be asked if they can take on some of the security patrols around the Taiga, as there is so much work to do in the village.  If they accept, Nigel will accompany them.  

For a description of the terrain, see the section on the Taiga in Three Great Forests.

The patrols may shoot occasional small game, to supplement the village diet.  However, the main job is to ensure no dangerous creatures come near to Bar-Alda.  Serious encounters are rare, maybe once every ten patrols. The following is a possible encounter table, although the referee may wish to extemporise a different, suitable challenge.

Most creatures are from the MM, except where otherwise indicated.

D100	Encounter	Notes
01	A Friendly  Maple Treant	This creature is ‘just passing through, but will stop to speak (very slowly!)
02-07	Three wild Axe Beaks
08-12	An Owl Bear
13-19	A Sabre-Toothed Tiger
20-30	A Giant Boar
31-35	Nest of Giant Centipedes	The nest must be destroyed – it contains a dozen beasts.
36	A solitary Grick	This will be hiding in the sparse undergrowth at the base of a tree
37	A Manticore	The creature will flee if it meets stiff resistance.
38-39	A pair of Scarecrows
40-50	An adult Crest Cat	Will not reveal their presence, but will attach themselves to anyone who appears to be a brave fighter, at least for a few days.  They may assist during moments of peril – so long as their chosen companion is not cowardly.
51	A pair of Satyrs, and a Satyr Revelmaster
52	A Medusa
53-58	A Tree Blight	This at first resembles a native tree from the Taiga, before its true form is seen.
59	A Death Dog
60	A pair of Worgs
61-63	A large Skyshark	Will simply fly overhead, above the trees, unless attacked.
64-67	A patch of Violet Fungus	Treat as four  plants
68-70	Three Gnoll Warriors	They are lost, having appeared on Orn by portal, and very cross indeed.
71-75	Green Dragon Wyrmling	Will flee if strongly challenged
76-79	A Mimic, hiding as a rotting log	What a nice spot to have a rest. Take a seat…
80-86	A Vampire Spawn	Part of the Vampire nest subsequently attacked by Chaffinch (qv)
87-90	An Allosaurus
91-92	Giant Constrictor Snake
93	A Swarm of Ravens
94	A pair of Blink Dogs	Just passing through…
95-98	A couple of Ettercaps
99	Roll twice on the table, ignoring duplicates	Represents two encounters during the patrol - dangerous
100	Roll three times on the table, ignoring duplicates	Represents three encounters during the patrol – very dangerous

In the village, Falco has been co-opted into helping with the huts. He is good at the work, but doesn't look very pleased about it. It's is taking him away from his project.  Meanwhile, Knock is feeling overwhelmed by the level of organisation required.  The elven fishermen and -women are going out more often to build up stocks.

Day 6:  The Lord of the Forest Dwarves, Kalabaxi, arrives with his retinue. (Note: This only occurs if the player characters have successfully found the Forest Dwarves beneath the Zigurrat - see The Search for the Forest Dwarves).   

Kalabaxi arrives with five other dwarves, as follows:

Exalith - his counsellor

Bergaz - a bodyguard

Rutluk - a bodyguard

Zirf - an advisor

Remember that two other Forest Dwarves, Filigor and Elagon, arrived in Bar-Alda during the adventure of The Caravan of Mystery. Thus, there will now be eight in the village altogether.

Day 7:  The new Forest Dwarves are settling in and meeting with the elves and their compatriots.

Kalabaxi presents Gerion with an Ash Bow +3.  A gift from the Forest Dwarves.