<div class="floatleft">(http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k581/Am_Dreams/human_wizard_by_saturnoarg-d3kpdus.jpg)</div>At roughly the appointed time, Cornellius strides into view, and noting that you have all gathered in him, he wastes no time, but makes a bee-line towards the centre square, looking at each one of you in turn before he finally arrives before you.  His lips finally twitch in a grin and he nods his head almost imperceptibly.<br/><br/><strong>"It would appear you've all coped well with you time here - that is good, adaptability is an admirable trait.  I'm sure you've noticed that lessons on the outside world have been neglected but don't worry, that will come in time, for the sanctuary believes that it would be better to all of you to concentrate on but a single lesson at a time.  The outside world is moving on however, and, for those of you who weren't asleep during the brief history that was given to you, you'll know that closure of the world gates has everybody on edge recently - and when people can't find an answer to a problem they must find someone to blame.  You can rest assured that the Lost will be that 'someone'."</strong><br/><br/>Finally with a deep sigh, he reaches into his robes, pulling out his pipe, taking a moment or two to light, before continuing:<strong>"At the forefront of convincing the world that the Lost are that threat is the Order of Saeropane; I think I did tell you about  them once before, did I not?  They won't come out and say it naturally - their very existence is secret and anathema - but their considerable resources are bent towards this task, enough so that there are many who will wake up in the morning firmly believing that they thought it themselves, so subtle are the influences being pressed upon them."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"At the risk of sounding clichéd, rest assured that the Saeropaneans will be your most implacable foe in this world; their agents reach though every strata of society - peasant, merchant, nobleman and woman, leper or obese glutton; the resources of the Saeropeneans are vast enough that they could be their own country in all but name.  In an indirect manner, possibly unrelated, this is what brings me here today."</strong><br/><br/>Removing a gold-lined ivory holder from his pockets, Cornellius twists open the cap and produces a scroll from within which he unrolls on the marble before you.<strong>"I'm sure that you're aware that you've all come to more or less the end of your 'career' training as it were,"</strong>he notes with a sardonic grin,<strong>"and naturally there is a customary test.  Usually this would pit you through some obstacle course of unimaginative description, but I have managed to suggest something more... interesting and hopefully more productive: see here."</strong><br/><br/>His finger taps on a part of the map, which you can all see is on the exact opposite end of the island from the sanctuary.<strong>"This place was originally meant to be the site of small outpost for the sanctuary but the area was rocky to build foundations, but what was discovered is a deep cave, which our diviners have spent time mapping and realised that it eventually will lead under the sea and out onto the mainland.  The lasts group that explored it reported <em>mi'raks</em>... or goblins - a type of degenerate orc, lanky and scrawny, but much more nimble - found infesting the caves in numbers that makes them little more than a nuisance: that last group made it out to the other side with only a few scratches.  You'll win no prizes for guessing that your test will be to clear the passages out.  Still, I would not look down on it as a menial chore - any silver, gold, or precious stones you find within is yours, though the rest the sanctuary will take possession of."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"It will take you about a day to get there, half a day if you take some short cuts though I wouldn't attempt it unless one of you is skilled in woodscraft.  Three or four more days to make it through the caves, allowing for an extra day to clear the caves.  The idea behind all this, if you're interested, is that we'll be provided with a much more covert way to transport goods to the sanctuary, as Kalandorian ships have been sighted even as far south as here, and we're not the kind to want to have to answer awkward questions, if you know what I mean."</strong>