High in the mist
shrouded Rantanouk Mountains is a secret and all but forgotten world of
legendary riches and dangerous creatures of fierce beauty. The Grafelli people that live at the base of
these sleeping volcanoes have for centuries told stories of the Fo’olel a’ tel –which translates as
something like “the devouring slug” or “the always hungry worm.” Even the bravest of the Grafelli warriors refuse
to travel along the mountain paths during the days after rainfall. “Fo’oelel
a’tel janto! Fo’oelel a’tel janto!” They shout. “The slug descends! The slug
descends!”
This mysterious slug,
described by the Grafelli as being over
four feet in length and of a bright, almost fluorescent pink in colour, is said
to be carnivorous and exceedingly fast.
Until recently most
scholars were convinced that the fo’olel
a’tel was nothing more than a local legend, akin to the Yeti, the Domovoi or the Mapinguari
Sloth that has but one eye and a second mouth on its belly. But recently an intrepid band of explores
ventured up into the mists of Rananouk and have brought back startling evidence
of the fo’olel a’tel’s existence.
Captain Richard S.
Castle and crew have just returned from a year and a half long expedition to
study the Grafelli people – though, “We only intended to stay a year,” says the
good Captain. “We were… delayed,” he says
with grim expression.
Captain Castel and his
band (originally twenty-seven brave men and women, now but four battered and
scarred survivors) will present a lecture and demonstration every night this
week at the Rimbaud Museum of Wonder and Nature. Included in the lecture will be a series of
colour photographic slides as well as a taxidermic example of the no-longer-mythical
fo’olel a’tel.
Parents are advised to not bring young or
impressionable children.
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