And this version proves that the c_trace is working ...because it beeps.

Code:

---

function village_func()
{
	my.polygon = on;
	vec_set (temp, my.pos); 
	temp.z -= 1000; 
	result -= c_trace (my.pos, temp, ignore_me + ignore_sprites +  use_box );
	if(result){beep();
	}
}

function sioux_camp()
{
		temp.x = -96;
		temp.y = -1164;
		temp.z = result;
		ent_create("tepee_village.mdl",temp,village_func);
}  

---

But the village is then placed at 0, not on the terrain surface. That seems to indicate that c_trace is identifying 0 as the terrain surface. In this instance the surface is at z = 10.

I'm losing my mind.