On Sun, 13 Jul 2003 00:47:12 -0700 (PDT), you wrote: >Ok, my complaint for the day is about distances and rates of travel. >The default measure of length in _TPotD_ seems to be the league (aka >around three miles, as is in fact mentioned in the text.) Now, Dzur >Mountain is (according to Kytraan [as an aside, I'm trying to learn the >Dutch "aa" sound - somewhere between gargling and barfing]) about 70 >leagues. But it takes him and Piro over two weeks (10 days) to get >there, or less than 20 miles/day on horseback, which seems a bit lame - >I think I could walk 30 miles/day on levelish ground. Also the >expedition to Deathgate Falls starts off at 5 leagues/day until Zerika >decides 10 l/d is more in order. > 10-15 miles a day is reasonable for this sort of travel. One has to take into account setting up camp, breaking down camp, stopping to eat, etc. They're not in a rush. As opposed to Pel, who is indeed in a rush, and thus is traveling at speed. Wasn't some comment made in the book about how they were taking their time? >Ok, so then Pel has come 1500 miles from Kana to Khaavren (Scope plus >finger down the throat) in six days - this comes to 250 miles/day, which >seems like quite a lot, even by post. I cite for comparison d'Artagnan's >mad dash from Saint-Valery to Paris in Chapter XXI of The Three >Musketeers: he makes more than 60 "lieues" (I think leagues) in 12 hours >by post and we're supposed to be impressed. And then finally the Teckla >wire conveys news from Mt. Bliaard - some 500 leagues distant - to Pel in >three days - this seems out of control fast... Nothing travels faster than word of mouth. :-) -- lazarus "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American Public." -- Theodore Roosevelt