Introduction
Greetings Traveler!
Your teacher has just assigned you a research project on the Middle Ages and you are required to choose a topic. As you sit reading through the information about your assignment, your eyes get heavy and begin to close. You are unable to stay awake. Suddenly, you hear strange music and, as you gaze around, you realize that something very strange is happening. Everyone is dressed differently. Although you can understand what they are saying, the language also sounds very different from what you are accustomed to hearing. A group of people pass by and, curious about where they are going, you decide to follow. Attracted by the sound of voices and music, you enter a village and follow a busy road to an open square which seems to be a gathering point for many people. Looking around you discover that this seems to be some kind of fair. People are dressed in colorful costumes. Children are laughing and chasing each other. At one end of the square you see a band of musicians playing strange music on instruments you do not recognize. Villagers are clapping and dancing to the beat of the sound. At the other end of the square a group of actors seem to be performing some kind of play. The audience is laughing and stomping their feet at the antics of the performers who are leaping, spinning, and rolling across the stage as they bellow out unfamiliar words to each other. As you approach one of the booths, you see a number of people talking to one another. One person looks your way, smiles and heads in your direction ...
The visitor notices your surprise and says, "I see that you are new to this place. Our Lord and Lady told us to expect a visitor, someone who was unaccustomed to our way of life. We have assured them that you will be made most welcome. Perhaps we can begin by helping you become familiar with our village and its people. I know you will be especially interested in our customs and culture. Being from a noble family myself, I can also help you find information on knighthood and a bit about weapons, armor, and heraldry. I can help you find resources about our daily life, including where we live, what we wear, and what we do in our free time."
The villager's good-natured disposition and obvious desire to help you relieve you of any suspicions you had at your initial encounter. You also realize that you really do need a helping hand. You have no idea where, or when, you are and no clue about how to return to your own time and place. Is this a dream or have you been transported to another time and place by magic? You need information and this person seems very eager to supply it. You nod your head and smile at your new friend.
"Wonderful," the villager exclaims.
"May I suggest we retreat to the nearby inn? There are several tasks we need to talk about before you complete this adventure." You indicate a willingness to follow your guide and so begins your quest ...
Your teacher has just assigned you a research project on the Middle Ages and you are required to choose a topic. As you sit reading through the information about your assignment, your eyes get heavy and begin to close. You are unable to stay awake. Suddenly, you hear strange music and, as you gaze around, you realize that something very strange is happening. Everyone is dressed differently. Although you can understand what they are saying, the language also sounds very different from what you are accustomed to hearing. A group of people pass by and, curious about where they are going, you decide to follow. Attracted by the sound of voices and music, you enter a village and follow a busy road to an open square which seems to be a gathering point for many people. Looking around you discover that this seems to be some kind of fair. People are dressed in colorful costumes. Children are laughing and chasing each other. At one end of the square you see a band of musicians playing strange music on instruments you do not recognize. Villagers are clapping and dancing to the beat of the sound. At the other end of the square a group of actors seem to be performing some kind of play. The audience is laughing and stomping their feet at the antics of the performers who are leaping, spinning, and rolling across the stage as they bellow out unfamiliar words to each other. As you approach one of the booths, you see a number of people talking to one another. One person looks your way, smiles and heads in your direction ...
The visitor notices your surprise and says, "I see that you are new to this place. Our Lord and Lady told us to expect a visitor, someone who was unaccustomed to our way of life. We have assured them that you will be made most welcome. Perhaps we can begin by helping you become familiar with our village and its people. I know you will be especially interested in our customs and culture. Being from a noble family myself, I can also help you find information on knighthood and a bit about weapons, armor, and heraldry. I can help you find resources about our daily life, including where we live, what we wear, and what we do in our free time."
The villager's good-natured disposition and obvious desire to help you relieve you of any suspicions you had at your initial encounter. You also realize that you really do need a helping hand. You have no idea where, or when, you are and no clue about how to return to your own time and place. Is this a dream or have you been transported to another time and place by magic? You need information and this person seems very eager to supply it. You nod your head and smile at your new friend.
"Wonderful," the villager exclaims.
"May I suggest we retreat to the nearby inn? There are several tasks we need to talk about before you complete this adventure." You indicate a willingness to follow your guide and so begins your quest ...