This forum Heojin and his seconds actually arrive on time, but sit quietly as is their wont. Their main source of contribution is the patrols Ran has been leading for much of the last month. Though they have found no Chihuelans outright, the Woodsmen have managed to find evidence of past living-places and even tracked them for some miles after the flooding of the radio station. Some objects found in their patrols have been brought to the forum, if the Foreigners care to make detailed enquiries.

The other topic the Woodsmen are most concerned about is the flooding. They confirm the College's results, with an admirable lack of ‘I told you so', and there is a good deal of discussion among them regarding how best to augment the farmlands' canals using small dams.

Over the course of the day, however, there are some oddities to note. Heojin, for those with heightened senses, smells and otherwise presents the same as the Heojin at the first forum and at the festival, and while his attention is subtle he seems to be keeping an eye on Meisheng's whereabouts. Ran, meanwhile, is more vocal than usual and in fact seems to be leading more discussion than Heojin himself. Lin doesn't stick close to his family's side of the Courtyard, but has apparently made a number of friends in the city in the past month and wanders around the Courtyard to pop up in various conversations and say hello to kedan from other sectors.