Some ideas Brad & I worked out to make the warden, smuggler,
wizard, & ruby plots come together properly.  -Eris, 4/3
*plus some other stuff, to get the chronology down on paper.)-Dave, 4/4

"Day" 0: Three emissaries sent out from the Hordelands, return(or not).  

Day 1: Smugglers land, smuggler #1 ("Eric") goes into town to scope the
place out.  

Day 2: Eric robs treasury, takes gold back to craft.
       High priest passes on, Oracle isn't found.

Day 3: Tinker discovers Eric's tech, blows Eric away, cleans up body and
takes stuff (but note smugglers bright enough not to give away origin).
Tinker boogies (tracking - infrascope?) to ship under cover of night and
is investigating in wee hours (say 3-4 am).  He gets a bit too close and
the remaining smugglers come out and fire at him.  Yow!  Drops his staff
(tricorder, &c.) & jet-paks out of there - back to Thriff about 6 am,
just as sun is rising on...

Day 4.  Wounds received prove fatal about this time due to loss of blood
(for the last hour he's been "hanging on for dear life"), thieves strip
body before anyone else can get to it (particularly at 6 am). Smugglers
didn't see him drop staff, and since it looks like another wood branch
in the forest, they don't notice it.  Some time this morning, Banthrogfians
(first party) come by, and are blown to bits by the paranoid smugglers,
who *then* relocate their ship {subject to change}.  Smugglers find
rubies on them.

Day 5.  Evening - 2 remaining Banthrogfians come by old smuggler landing
site, discover dead bodies & staff.  Teslan exploration team arrives in
Tesla.

Day 6.  Evening - Teslan mining team dispatched.  Very late -
Banthrogfians arrive in the Sultanate, bearing the news.  Hasty meetings
called, Spirit Lord gets the post.

Day 7.  Morning - Banthog speedy messenger sent off to Tesla.

Day 8.  Evening - Banthog speedy messenger arrives Tesla.  Night -
hurried discussion.

Day 9.  Morning - Tesla speedy messenger sent to Banthogf, notes that
Queen's retinue will be in Thriff for the games and should meet there.
Evening - Teslan retinue sets out for Thriff.

Day 10. Evening - Teslan messenger arrives Banthogf.

Day 11. Evening - Banthog retinue sets out for Thriff.

Day 12. Morning - Teslan retinue arrives Thriff.

Day 13. Evening - Banthog retinue arrives Thriff.  Horde Leader arrives Thriff.