Diary of the New World (Rebooted) - Updated 3/7/2017

[Blackwater]

Hello all.

For those of you who aren't familiar, a little over a year ago, I wrote a story involving a young man traveling to the New World as part of one of the first expeditions to explore it. While I deeply enjoyed writing it, the recent updates have made the story obsolete. I figured now was as good a time as any to rewrite the story. For those of you who might be worried that this going to go the same way as before, don't worry. While elements will remain the same, this will be a new path with a familiar face. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading it, and look forward to enjoying your comments and critiques.

 

[Blackwater]

November 28, 1419

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November 28, 1419​

I've never kept a diary before, but this was a gift, so it seems only right to at least jot down some notes and say that I've used the gift I received, though I doubt that I'll have any use of it. I suppose I should begin with who I am. My name is Isen, and I am the son of Senas and Irena of Aldeburgh. I was born this day, November 28th, in the Year of our Lord, 1398. I have one brother, who is currently serving as a guard for Viscount Guimarte in Maras Castle, and one sister being groomed by my father to follow in his trade: medicine. It's a trade that I wouldn't mind so much if my father didn't insist on forcing it on me as well. I respect doctors for the work that they do, but I simply have no interest in it myself. What does hold my interest, though, is the past. As a boy, while my father was teaching my brother to fence and fight, I would sneak off to play in the nearby ruins of Uxkhal. The site has always fascinated me, and I often wondered what the city was like during the siege, how it must have looked before it was razed to the ground and the current city was built next to it. The ruins also had small treasures to find - old coins, broken blades, rusted armor, scraps of silken clothing that might have belonged to noble lords. Of course, I often searched for the lost sword of King Harlaus II, but was never able to find it. Perhaps it really is merely a myth and never meant to be found. I've kept these treasures in a small box for several years, locked away where my siblings can't get to them. The last thing that I need is to lose precious bits of history to a curious relative.

When I grew older, my father began teaching me medicine, as he claimed that I would never have the body to be a fighter like my brother. Which he's correct about. A tall, scrawny, pale young man with thin arms and a fair face has no place on the battlefield. I realize that my father was trying to do me a kindness by teaching me a valuable trade, but as I said before, I have no interest in it. While he droned on about the anatomy of the human body and the symptoms of diseases, I found my mind wandering back to ancient battles and forgotten heroes. This always earned me a smack across the cheek and a stern warning to pay attention. This continued for six years until I turned seventeen and my father declared that I was no longer his problem. Instead, he paid for me to enter the University of Praven.

I have deeply enjoyed my time in the university. The library is filled floor to ceiling with books detailing everything from the rise and fall of the Calradian Empire to the modern era to the intricate politics of the realm. My father, of course, enrolled me in the university in the hopes that I would pursue medicine, but my teachers - especially one by the name of Weiss - suggested that I pursue history instead. When I echoed my father's concerns about what professions were available to someone with a degree in history, Weiss they suggested a number of worthy professions, such as archaeology, heraldry, or serving as an advisor to nobles and their children. Thus, when I was one year into my studies at the university, I declared history as my focus of study. I'll never forget the day that I returned home and my father greeted me at the door looking more furious than I had ever seen him. In hindsight, it's almost funny, as I had no idea a man's face could turn bright purple. For the next three hours he shouted at me about how he had wasted his time bothering to teach me, how I was wasting my time following a worthless field of study, and how he would have been better off sending me to work in the fields instead of throwing money away. During his tirade, I sat with an impassive look on my face and my mother blithely knitted in the corner. When he was finished, I calmly asked him how my siblings were doing, and while he looked ready to punch me, my mother calmed him down and suggested that we have dinner. Fortunately, the subject was not brought up again, though I know my father still resents my decision.

However, I know that I'm not wrong. There are things on this world waiting to be discovered, and I hardly think that finding them for the sake of knowledge is any less noble than saving lives. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I'm saving our culture, so that future generations might look back on us and understand - just a little - how we lived, and why we made the decisions we did. I will never regret my decision, and I fully intend to continue studying the past, with or without my father's support.

December 2, 1419

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December 2, 1419​

Kivana came to me last night to give me a late birthday present. It's funny that the best gift I received was simply getting to see her. I suppose this is what it means to be in love with someone. The fact that she spent the night as well simply made it all the sweeter. My only regret was that she had to leave before first light, since my father certainly doesn't approve of our relationship, and we don't want to give him any reason to forbid us from seeing each other.

Kivana and I first met when I was eighteen, a year into my studies at Praven University. I was in a tavern studying with some friends when a beautiful song floated through the air, catching my attention. Singing on the stage was a small girl with wavy red hair, sparkling green eyes, and a mischievous, yet confident demeanor. She was with a troupe that was traveling the land, singing tales of old heroes. The tales, of course, caught my interest, but it was the girl singing them that I was most fascinated with. When she finished her set, I was not the only one to approach her, but I noticed that she didn't care about the men who simply wanted to buy her a drink in the hopes that a couple of cheap drinks would be payment enough to bed her. Instead, I took a different tact, waiting for her to step out of the tavern for some air, whereupon I followed her and struck up a conversation with her about the tales she was singing about. She seemed far more interested in this line of conversation, and despite the cold in the air, we spent a good hour and a half trading stories. The discussion eventually turned to more personal details, and even as I found myself growing more interested in her, I could tell she was likewise enjoying spending time with me. The night ended with her inviting me back to the tavern and offering to let me buy her a drink, though I countered it with an offer that she could buy me a drink if she wanted me to return. We parted laughing.

Over the next few years, our friendship turned to affection, and it was she was the first girl that I took to bed. She didn't stay in the tavern in Praven for more than a few nights at a time, but we constantly wrote to each other and she always let me know when she was coming. Though the beds in the barracks of Praven University were softer, I found that I preferred the straw mattresses of the tavern if it meant I woke up with her snuglged in my arms. When I returned to Aldeburgh for the holidays, my father was far from pleased when I introduced her to him, saying that I could do better than a common bar wench. Fortunately, my brother stepped between us before I could throw a punch, and my mother had a long talk with him. When he re-emerged, he apologized for his behavior, but I knew that this was little more than lip service and that he still didn't approve of our relationship.

Frankly, I couldn't care less. Kivana is the woman that I want to be with, and I would rather have a "common bar wench" that makes me happy than a merchant's daughter whose only appeal is her dowry. I've made up my mind. Tomorrow, I intend to propose to her, regardless of what my father thinks. I am twenty-one now, and my time at Praven University is almost done. If I'm to go into the world and settle down, I'd rather do it with the woman I love than wait for my father to choose someone for me, as he's tried to do with my profession. This is my decision, and damn the consequences.

December 4, 1419

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December 4, 1419​

I did not think that through.

While at dinner this evening, father asked both myself and my sister what our plans were for the next year, so he could begin allocating funds for each of us. My brother, sadly, is not with us, as he's still stationed at Maras Castle and will not be granted leave until the new year. My sister, on the other hand, asked our father if she might begin an apprenticeship as a nurse at the church - she's thirteen years old, and at the age where she can begin working. My father happily agreed to this before turning to me with a familiar look of disappointment, and he asked me how I intended to waste his money this year. Without thinking, I angrily snapped that he wouldn't have to look after me much longer, since I was planning to marry Kivana and move out of his house by the end of the year. My father stared at me in stunned silence for a few moments before commenting that I wasn't serious. Without hesitating - and without thinking - I said that I was.

Thus began an hour-long tirade about how he had been far too lenient with me, tolerating my dalliances with bar wenches and allowing me to waste his money on a worthless education rather than pursuing a useful field of study that would allow me to remain financially secure for the rest of my life. Instead, I had no future, and I was doing nothing more than wasting his time - and money - without any clear goal. All I had done since I had started university was read fairy-tales and bed whores. This was not the first time he had gone on a rant like this, so I sat expressionless while blithely sipping my after-dinner tea, waiting until he ran out of energy. However, at the end of it, he suddenly became eerily calm and declared that enough was enough. He was cutting me off from funding. If I was willing to leave Kivana and switch my academic focus over to something like medicine or the clergy, he would be willing to forgive me, but he was not going to put up with my "whimsical behavior" any longer. I was shocked, a few moments later, I stormed out of the house without giving him an answer.

I am currently sitting in the local tavern, the Last Haven, listening to Kivana sing while trying to figure out how I'm going to break the news to her that I'm now homeless and penniless. I should be more upset. I should be furious that my father can't see beyond the goals he's set for me, and I should be terrified that I can no longer afford to feed myself. However, what I feel instead is a strange sense of freedom. I no longer have to tolerate my father's ideas for my life. I'm actually free to choose my own path for the first time. Of course, there is still the matter of how I'm going to pay my tuition for my last year at Praven University, but I'm actually surprisingly pleased with the entire situation. My destiny is in my own hands for the first time, and it's surprisingly liberating. It's also not as though I don't have any options. Tomorrow, I intend to write to Professor Weiss and see if there's anything that I can do that might allow me to finish my education even if I can't pay the tuition. I'm willing to work as a kitchen scullion in between classes if I have to. I know that I'm grasping at straws, but I have few options available to me, and I'll do anything to finish my last year. I've invested too much time to finish university without a degree, and I can't have Kivana sing for both our suppers. That's not fair to her.

Speaking of, here she comes now, wearing a radiant smile. Telling her what happened isn't going to be fun.

December 10-12, 1419

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December 10, 1419​

For the past week or so, I have been working at the Haven, scrubbing dishes and serving drinks in exchange for a room while I try to find some work that will actually allow me to return to the university. Kivana has been absolutely wonderful, securing a job for me here and spending her nights with me. However, even though she's kept smiling throughout all of this, I can tell that she's worried. The stress and impatience for a reply to the letter I wrote to Professor Weiss is starting to take its toll on me. In the letter him if there was anything at all that I might be able to do to secure funds for my final year, but I have not had any word back from him.

What if this is my life from now on? What if my father was right? Perhaps all I have been doing my entire life has been wasting time, without doing anything worthwhile. If I was in medicine, I would have at least been able to work in a hospital or a church to pay off my debts, but a student of history is hardly in high demand, especially one that's half-trained. Maybe every decision I've made up to this point has been a mistake. I can only hope that the Professor sends word soon.

December 12, 1419​

Professor Weiss is the single greatest human being in all of Calradia. I just received word this morning that he has an assignment for me that promises to pay enough that I should be able to return to Praven University in the spring. Apparently, there is a crew in Zendar that is leaving in the new year on an expedition for the New World. It is not a widely-publicized event because the Doge of Zendar wishes to keep it quiet, so that they can prevent other nations from sabotaging the voyage. After all, the New World is still a very recent discovery, and the purpose of this expedition is to explore the region and learn what we can about it, especially whether or not there are any resources they can exploit. Zendar and Swadia are currently at peace, but that could change at a moment's notice, given the unpredictable nature of Calradia, which is why I must depart immediately, before another war breaks out.

Professor Weiss claims that the Swadian crown itself is interested in this venture, and it's offering a substantial reward for information about the New World: three thousand florins, more than enough to finish out my final year. This is the opportunity that I have been hoping for, and I can hardly believe that it's fallen into my lap like this. Of course, I know little about the New World - as does everyone, for that matter - but the Professor pointed out that if I return from this journey, not only will I receive the reward, I'll also be one of the few Swadians to have ever set foot on the soil of another world, and certainly the only one to be able to teach others about what was discovered. A teaching position once I graduate is almost assured. Therefore, my entire future rests on this endeavor. Of course, I'm going to miss Kivana with all my heart, but I'm sure she'll understand. We'll have a long talk this evening, but I have to leave quickly. The ship sailing for the New World departs at the start of the new year, and considering the dangers involved in such a journey, I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it to the southern coast of Calradia in just a few weeks. The sooner I leave, the better.

December 16, 1419

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December 16, 1419​

I finally left Aldeburgh this morning, since my departure was, unfortunately, delayed for quite some time. My talk with Kivana about leaving went rather well. She was upset that I had to go, but also understood my circumstances and knew that this was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up, especially considering how dire the circumstances are. She also pointed out that she spent weeks on the road while I was waiting patiently for her, and I never once complained, so she could do the same for me. This is why I love this woman. We enjoyed the night with each other, but the next morning I got to work preparing to leave.

The first thing that I did was return home and announce that I was leaving for the New World. My sister and mother were both shocked, but then quickly became supportive. My father didn't even acknowledge my presence. Not that I care. While my mother and sister set about securing provisions for me, I went up to my room to the box of treasures that I had gathered from Uxkhal. At final tally, I had forty ancient denars, a small roll of silk, and the ornate hilt of a blade. All these I was able to sell to a local pawn store in exchange for four hundred florins. I was surprised that he gave me so much for them, but the old denars are apparently worth more than modern florins, so I was able to get a good deal for them. I was able to purchase some hard bread and dried fruit to go with what my family provided me. I also bought a new leather jacket to help ward off the cold, as well as a pair of gloves and a pair of soft leather traveling boots. I hope that my new clothes will be enough, since the weather has only gotten colder lately, with regular snowfall becoming increasingly common.

The snow also delayed my departure, which I initially saw as an inconvenience, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The same day, a messenger approached me with a bag full of books. Professor Weiss had apparently anticipated that I would accept his offer, and sent me some material to study while I was traveling. One of these was a basic guide to survival, which I admit, I was in need of, since I've never traveled for any great distance besides the road between Praven and Aldeburgh. Another one of the books was a history textbook outlining a general history of the world from the fall of the Calradian Empire to about five years ago. I don't know how much help this will be, but I suppose that it doesn't hurt to have it. If nothing else, it might provide some entertainment on the long journey. The last book, however, is certainly valuable. Professor Weiss was able to procure a copy of the diary of Aeric the Navigator, the man who first discovered the New World. This book is the only source of information about the New World. Having glanced through it, it's clear to me that Aeric wasn't a scholar, so what he wrote is of limited use, but I'll certainly take it over heading to the New World completely blind.

The evening before I left, my father surprised me by appearing in the tavern and taking a seat across from me at the table where I was studying. There was an awkward silence between us for several moments before he spoke. He said that he thought I was a fool to be doing this, and that in his opinion, I was still chasing fantasies instead of focusing on what is concretely in front of me. However, he then added that he also thought that it was very courageous of me to be attempting this, and that he was proud of me for at least trying to do something with my life. He then gave me a gift, a book of medicine that he said he hoped might be useful. I took the gift, but before I could thank him, he left without another word. Though part of me was still angry with him for putting me in this situation in the first place, I couldn't help but smile as he departed.

The next day, the snow had been cleared enough that people were once again able to leave the city. As luck would have it, there was a caravan leaving for Veluca that I was able to tag along with by paying the caravan master twenty-five florins as a bribe. It's been eight hours since we left, and we're just setting up camp. The scenery is beautiful. We're camping in the open with a small patch of woods to the east. The trees are still covered in snow, and the air is very still. It would be peaceful if not for the activity of the caravan members. The men are working, collecting firewood, pitching tents, packing snow into buckets to melt for water. I never realized that so much effort went into long journeys, as I always traveled to Praven via carriage, and the driver always stopped at inns along the way, so this is a new experience for me. Camping like this certainly a far cry from the comfortable beds and warm fires of the wayside inns, but everyone is surprisingly cheerful, singing songs and laughing as they work. I can't help but enjoy myself as well.

And now a man is prodding me to stop sitting around and help collect firewood. That's fine. It's getting too dark to write anymore anyways.

December 18, 1419

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December 18, 1419​

Between the deep snow, the bitter cold, and the constant threat of bandits lurking in the woods along the road, travel has been slow for the last few days, made worse by the fact that we had another snowfall last night. The slow pace has given me plenty of time to myself, though, and in that time, I was able to read through Aeric's diary, which I hoped would lend me some insight into what we might expect in the New World.

Aeric first discovered the New World in 1412, a feat that would later earn him the nickname "Aeric the Navigator". Before this, he was the leader of a band of sea raiders and the captain of a caravel called the Agnar. Originally, Aeric was content to raid around the northern coast of Calradia near the Nordic Union, poaching rich Swadian merchants from Tihres and occasionally serving as a privateer for the Norse rebels. His success raiding the Swadians, however, convinced Aeric that there was more wealth to be found off the coast of Swadia, and he began traveling south towards warmer waters. What he was unaware of was the fact that the Swadian Navy had a much stronger presence in the south, and when he began attacking merchant vessels in that area, he brought the full wrath of a Swadian fleet on himself. He tried to retreat to the north, but he found a disgruntled Nordic Union fleet waiting for him in that direction. Unable to retreat north or south, he turned his ship west and sailed with the wind, hoping to outrun the two pursuing fleets. When he was a week into sailing through the open water, he got caught in a storm that blew him even further off-course. The storm lasted for three days, and when it was over, he learned that the compass had been broken. Furthermore, the weather was fairly cloudy with intermittent storms for the next several days and nights, making navigation problematic at best. When Aeric realized how far west they had traveled, he realized that they didn't have enough food to make a return trip before they starved to death. Therefore, he made the decision to continue traveling west and hope that they eventually reached land.

Aeric goes into great detail about how the men slowly began to die of thirst as they traveled, as most of their stock of rum had been depleted and they were running out of fresh water, which had to be carefully rationed. He caught wind of a mutiny and killed a half-dozen of his own crew to put it down before it became an issue. For several days, even Aeric thought that they were doomed. However, one morning he awoke to the lookout joyously shouting that he had spotted land, which the men immediately made for. What they quickly realized, however, was that it was unlike any land that they had ever seen, as it was a dense jungle with alien flora. Nevertheless, the men landed on the nearest island and replenished their stocks of food and water, resting for three days before Aeric decided to explore the new land. He ordered the men to sail away from the island and head further west, and after a couple more days of travel, they arrived in a massive bay. Landing on the coast, Aeric ordered his men to set up camp, and for a month they stayed on the mainland. Food and water were plentiful, but what surprised him was when they were discovered by half-naked men with reddish skin. The men led them into the jungle, where they revealed hidden temples full of gemstones and treasures. However, these men then tried to sacrifice Aeric's crew, and a battle broke out, resulting in the death of three of the men. The greed of the raiders was stoked, however, and for the next several weeks they ventured into the jungle, attacking villages and raiding temples for their treasures before retreating to their camp. Only once they were attacked by angry tribesmen in the middle of the night did they finally retreat, stocking up on provisions before heading back to Calradia. Using their notes from the voyage, they were able to retrace their path, and about a month later they arrived near Wercheg.

When Aeric explained his story to the Noregr and presented the jewels that he had recovered, he was treated like a hero, as the Noregr place less importance on perceptions of crime and more importance on valor and deeds. Finding a new world, raiding native settlements, and returning with plunder was a tale on par with any ancient ballad. The king of the Noregr, Olaf Forkbeard, declared his return a national holiday, and Aeric became wealthy enough that he no longer had to raid, though there are rumors that he still adventures simply because he enjoys the thrill of earning more glory. However, with all this interest surrounding the New World, there is one key reason why there have been no return trips: no one has been able to recreate the journey that Aeric took. Some sailed for as long as he did, while others tried to trace his route directly, but turned back before they went far enough or their crews grew tired of waiting and fearful that they would never return to Calradia. Aeric himself has been disinclined to help as well, since he has everything he would ever need to keep himself comfortable, and probably would not be able to recreate the journey again anyways. The last expedition to the New World was attempted by the Kingdom of Rhodoks about three years ago, but they were never heard from again, and this has deterred any further attempts to this day.

However, I think that this time, the journey might be possible. By tracing the clues in this journal, hopefully I can help shed some light on how this crew might survive the voyage to the New World. Hopefully this will be incentive enough to convince the captain to let me on board. If I can't get on this expedition, I'll have no chance of returning to the university for my final year. Everything rides on how persuasive I am. At least based on how slow this journey has been, I'll have plenty of time to decide how to present myself to the captain.

December 22, 1419

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December 22, 1419​

The caravan finally arrived in Veluca, and since this is their final destination, I'll have to find another way to travel the rest of the way to Zendar. Hopefully, there's another caravan departing soon, and I imagine that the journey will be somewhat faster than the first leg of it, since the air has become steadily warmer as I've traveled south, and less snow has fallen in the region. I could travel alone, but that would not only require that I buy a horse, which would cost me at least a few hundred florins, but I would also have to purchase a map. I do have some riding experience, since my father enjoyed it and occasionally took us for rides through the countryside in the summer, but I don't have any experience with orienteering, so my only real option is to find another party to travel with.

In the meantime, however, I've been exploring Veluca, and have rather enjoyed it. If Praven is the imperial heart of Calradia, Veluca would be its artistic soul. Bards line the streets, and music is a constant companion when walking along the narrow avenues. The shopkeepers sell a variety of goods less common in Praven, such as velvet, wine, and finely crafted musical instruments, among others. There are fewer religious objects for sale, and the city seems to be more focused on gratifying a person's earthly needs rather than their spiritual ones. It's a marked contrast from the shops in Aldeburgh, though not an unpleasant one, in my opinion.

I spent some time at the art gallery of Veluca, admiring the works of artists dating back to the early Calradian empire. There's a significant difference between the focus of Swadian and Rhodoks artists, the painters especially. Artists from Swadia focus more on the past glory of the empire and the all-encompassing message of religion, while Rhodoks painters instead seem to take joy from painting the modern, living world. Landscapes, portraits, and still life paintings are far more common than the murals and religious displays of Swadia, and I find them a welcome change from the almost stoic feel of my homeland.

Rhodoks cuisine is also an interesting change from Swadian fare. Swadian meals typically consist of dark bread and butter, thick soups, roasted meat, and ale. Rhodoks, instead, favor lighter meals of fresh or salted fish, salads, and wine. They also use olive oil far more than butter, giving the food a more sour taste compared to the earthy flavors that I grew up with. I did enjoy my meal, but I found myself wishing for something heavier, especially considering how tired I am from traveling for so long.

Despite the fact that I've enjoyed my time in Veluca, I can't escape the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I need to get moving as soon as possible. I have less than two weeks to finish the trip to Zendar, and I haven't had any luck in finding another caravan to travel with, since they don't want to make the journey through the mountains with so much snow on the path. I'm also not stupid enough to make the journey alone. Orienteering experience aside, there's also the fact that Rhodoks can be a very dangerous country. The mountains alone are treacherous enough, but when combined with the groups of mountain bandits that live in the wilderness, traveling alone would be almost suicidal for me. Therefore, the only thing that I can do for now is sit and wait until I find someone who has enough traveling experience that I can trust to make the journey safely.

December 24, 1419

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December 24, 1419​

This morning, I was finally able to speak with someone who can help me reach Zendar safely. As I was sitting in the bar finishing the bread I was eating for breakfast, I noticed the tavernkeeper speaking to a wild-looking man. The tavernkeeper pointed to me, and the rugged man made his way over to me. In a thick Khergit accent, he introduced himself as Khadan, a hunter who had heard from the tavernkeeper  (to whom I had mentioned my problem to the previous day in the hopes that he could help) that I was trying to get to Zendar. As it turned out, Khadan was heading that way as well, and he offered to act as a trail guide for me and accompany me on the way.

At first, I was apprehensive about the man. He had a very unkempt appearance, with dark, weathered skin, shaggy hair, and ragged leather clothing made of tanned hide. At a glance, he looked more like one of the bandits I was hoping to avoid than a proper guide. However, beggars can't be choosers, and the asking price to hire him was very cheap compared to other guides. Fifty florins later, I had accepted his offer, and an hour later we were making our way south through the mountains.

As it turns out, having Gaden along with me was a surprising stroke of good luck. While he admitted that he was more familiar with the steppes of eastern Calradia, he had enough experience traveling in general that we were still able to make good time. The rocky terrain would slow down a wagon, but with just the two of us on foot, he was able to lead us through some of the more narrow mountain passes that we wouldn't have been able to take accompanying a caravan, making the journey significantly easier. It also helps that after a week of traveling, I'm in better shape than I've been in my life, though I still often found myself struggling to keep up with the pace that Khadan set. When I mentioned this, he seemed surprised, telling me that he was already moving at an easy pace. After he mentioned this, I decided to stop complaining and just follow his lead.

We learned later that if I had gone with a caravan, this might have been my last day among the living. Around mid-afternoon, Khadan spotted wheeled tracks in the snow and followed them to where he found a broken, raided wagon and a few corpses. He now seems worried that we're passing through mountain bandit territory, and we set up camp in a cave for the with the entrance half-blocked by packed snow to ensure that the light of the fire won't be seen at night. Khadan says that if there are bandits, they'll be watching the roads, so he intends to travel over less traveled back paths from now on. It'll take a little more time, but I'd rather miss the ship because we were late than try to hurry through unsafe territory and get killed.

December 26, 1419

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December 26, 1419​

I knew that this journey would be difficult, but this afternoon was the first time I've ever truly feared for my life.

Yesterday, Khadan woke me before dawn and told me that we had to move. If there were bandits about, our best chance to avoid them was while they were still likely to be asleep. We ate a bit of bread as we walked along along a jagged cliff face, away from where the tracks said the bandits had left to the night before. Fortunately, no snow fell, so the tracks were still fresh, and Khadan used them to avoid any potential danger that we might encounter. We walked for most of the morning until we came to a narrow footpath, which we followed southwest.

While we were making our way slowly through a patch of woods, a deer bounded in front of us. Neither of us paid much attention to it until an arrow suddenly landed in the snow at our feet. Turning to look, I saw a hunter wearing tattered leather armor staring at us. It was obvious that he had been aiming at the deer, but when he saw us, he ran off, blowing a horn as he did. Khadan quickly began urging me to hurry behind him as he began to run off of the path and into the woods. It took me a second to realize that the man might have been a mountain bandit, and that now he was running to get the rest of his band to rob us.

We ran through the woods for about ten minutes until the dull thudding of hoofbeats in the snow caught our attention. Khadan drew his bow and turned to face five men, armed with crossbows and hammers, charging towards us. One man, obviously the leader, shouted at us to hand over what gold and valuables we had, or he'd kill us. I tried to shout back at the man that we didn't have anything worth taking in the first place, but Khadan instead loosed an arrow, which struck the man in the chest. As I watched in shock, the man spat out a mouthful of blood before toppling off of his horse. Before anyone had time to react, Khadan dashed forward with a knife in his hand and cut the throat of the leader.

The rest of the men tried to charge at us through the trees, but Khadan ordered me to hide behind one as he took aim again, loosing another arrow which struck one of the bandits in the arm. He screamed in pain and lost control of the reins, and his horse had to turn to dodge a tree, throwing him from its back with a sickening crack. Another one of the bandits took aim at me, but I was able to scramble behind a tree moments before he loosed the arrow, which flew through where I had been standing just a few seconds before. The bandit circled around the tree to take another shot at me, but with his focus on me, Khadan was able to put an arrow through his neck before turning his attention to the other two bandits. Unfortunately, Khadan had been distracted, and one of the remaining bandits took the opportunity to shoot a quarrel at Khadan, striking him in the calf. The Khergit let out a yell of pain before returning fire, the arrow piercing the man's skull, killing him instantly. The last bandit decided he didn't want to die, and wheeled his horse around, charging off through the woods in the opposite direction.

After the fight was over, I immediately set about treating Khadan's wound, cutting the arrow in his leg in half and pulling the severed half through the wound before binding it tightly in some strips of cloth while silently thanking my father for teaching me the basics of medicine. Khadan won't be able to walk for a few days at the absolute earliest, but the horses fortunately remained where they were instead of running off, so we were able to mount two of them and continue on our way. I've never seen anyone fight like Khadan before. His accuracy with a bow is amazing, and I don't recall him missing a shot even with his opponents galloping on horseback. It's made me curious about his story and how he became such a skilled archer. For now, though, our focus is on making it to Zendar in the next few days, both so that I can get on the ship and so that Khadan can get his leg treated. Everything else can wait.

 

[Blackwater]

December 29, 1419

隐藏

December 29, 1419​

Khadan and I finally arrived in Zendar around midmorning. The last leg of our journey was the easiest, since as he traveled further south out of the mountains, the weather quickly grew warmer and the snow was gone by the time we entered the valley. Thanks to the horses, we were able to make excellent time the rest of the way to the city, and when we saw the coast, we were spurred to move even faster to finally reach our destination.

Zendar is an unusual city. The architecture is similar to that of cities in both Swadia and Rhodoks, mixed in with neo-classical architecture meant to replicate the buildings of the old empire. However, there's also something... deeper to this city. Perhaps it's the fact that it was recently rebuilt, or perhaps it's the fact that it's one of the richest trading ports in all of Calradia and thrives on the constant influx of commerce, but there's a buzzing energy in the air that I haven't experienced in any other city. While Praven liked to flaunt its imperial power, even that city did not have the ostentation of some of the structures I've seen in Zendar. Everywhere one looks, they see gleaming white marble and polished metals. The Doge of Zendar is not shy about flaunting his wealth, and even if all he controls is this one city, it's clear that he holds power equal to any of the kings of Calradia.

When we arrived, I suggested to Khadan that he get treated at a hospital. He resisted the idea at first, but finally, reluctantly, agreed when I insisted. His calf is swollen, but the wound didn't look infected, so I think he'll be fine. While he was getting treated, I went down to the docks to try and find the captain leading the voyage to the New World. I felt a wave of nostalgia walking along the docks, enjoying the warm, salty wind. It reminded me of summers in Praven when I would go with friends of mine to one of the taverns near the coast. It took me some time, but I finally located a large carrack situated at the west end of the docks, where a black-haired, olive-skinned man in his mid-thirties was speaking to the harbormaster about moving supplies on board. I overheard the name Santiagon, which according to the letter from Professor Weiss, was the captain of the Horizon, one of the ships slated to head to the New World.

Once he was done speaking to the harbormaster, I approached him and asked to sign onto his crew. He dismissed me as a boy who had gotten lost until I gave him Professor Weiss' letter. I waited patiently as he scanned the letter, and when he looked up, he took a moment to glance me over. From his expression, I could tell that he wasn't impressed by my tall, scrawny build. When he asked what I could contribute, I told him that I was a university student and that I knew how to read and write several languages. He told me that he didn't have any need for an intellectual, since he already had officers that he trusted, but I pressed him by saying that my skills might be useful in helping to translate the language of the natives once we arrived in the New World. I could see the conflict in his face, but when I also mentioned that I knew some medicine, he finally agreed to let me on board.

Now I'm sitting in a tavern in Zendar, listening to a bard sing and trying not to think about how much I miss Kivana already. Still, I can't help but feel excited. This has been quite the trip so far, and it was nothing more than the prologue to the true adventure. We'll leave in three days, and I'm going to spend that time studying all I can about the New World before I leave. Perhaps there's more in Aeric's journal that might be of use. We'll see.

January 1, 1420

隐藏

January 1, 1420​

The voyage finally began earlier today, the ship ceremonially setting off on New Year's Day to mark what is hopefully the beginning of a new era for Calradia. I am currently sitting near the bow of the ship, a cool, salty breeze stinging my cheeks and blowing my hair around as we leave Zendar behind us. I can still make out the shoreline from here, but it's fading rapidly, while before us is an unbroken expanse of blue, across which lies the New World.

I spent the last few days relaxing and enjoying Zendar. Khadan disliked having to rest his foot, so I spent most of our stay keeping him company. He said he appreciated it, but I could tell that he was very restless. I spent most of my time studying Aeric's journal in the hopes that I might learn new details about the New World, and I did glean a few things from it. One of the major dangers we'll face in the New World is the heat, which Aeric mentioned was oppressive, even as far north as he apparently was. He also mentioned that many of the plants were dangerous and that he only learned of a few that were edible, which he described in great detail. Hopefully this means that we can replenish our rations when we arrive.

The night before we departed, Captain Santiagon organized a huge party in the tavern, paying for it out of pocket. Huge jugs of wine, seared swordfish, fresh, tangy vegetables, and warm bread were served to every member of the crew, regardless of rank. The men sang and danced all throughout the night, and even I drank more than usual, until my vision started swimming. Even after I went to bed, I could still hear the men partying downstairs, which would have disturbed me if I wasn't intoxicated and exhausted. Instead, I fell asleep quickly despite the noise.

I'm glad that I went to bed when I did. The captain woke us shortly after dawn, far earlier than I had expected. The other sailors seemed unaffected, even though I suspect they drank twice as much as I did while enjoying half as much sleep. Khadan and I were both assigned to the Horizon, Captain Santiagon's personal ship, a caravel meant to be the pilot ship of the fleet, which was trailed by the Visionary, a larger carrack carrying most of our supplies. We spent the morning hauling ropes and cargo, and by mid-morning my entire body was sore. Shortly before noon, the captain announced that we were finally ready to set off.

By this point, a crowd of Zendarian citizens had gathered to see us off. I was surprised, considering how the last few voyages to the New World had gone. Each voyage other than Aeric's had ended in failure; the first had only lasted three weeks before the crew mutinied and returned to Calradia, while the second was never heard from again, and the sailors pare presumed dead. Despite this, the citizens began to cheer when the sails were unfurled and the ships began to drift away from the harbor. I assume that they were simply excited to see the start of an adventure, even if it's ill-fated. Nevertheless, I found myself enjoying the attention, and I joined most of the crew in waving them goodbye as they steadily grew smaller and smaller.

I hope that wasn't my last look at Calradia. Still, what's behind us is behind us. Now I'm going to focus on what lies ahead of us, and what dangers we might face in the New World. I should get back to studying that journal.

January 3, 1420

隐藏

January 3, 1420​

When we were put out to sea, Captain Santiagon set the members of the crew to work. I wasn't surprised, since I didn't expect that I was going to be taking a pleasure cruise while everyone else worked. Khadan quickly found work as one of the deckhands, since he's in excellent shape and takes orders well. The bo'sun, a Nordic man named Holgar, quickly put him to work scrubbing the decks and hauling ropes as needed, and seems rather pleased with the addition to his crew.

The same could not be said of me, unfortunately. Having spent my life in the library, I'm not strong enough to haul ropes or carry cargo, and since I've never been on a ship before, I'm having trouble finding my sea legs. Even when I was part of a team hauling ropes, I was barely able to help at all, and eventually Holgar shooed me away. I should have expected this. Many of these men were farm hands and laborers before they signed on for this voyage, and even if they hadn't had any previous nautical experience, men can always find work hauling heavy loads.

Captain Santiagon soon discovered that I was useless on deck, and instead decided to put me to work another way. He introduced me to his navigator, a muscular, dark-skinned Sarranid by the name of Basim. I had seen Basim around before, since he stood out from the rest of the crew. Dark skin aside, he wore a distinct turban and loose robe, carried a scimitar rather than a western straight sword, and always seemed to be smiling. Santiagon put me under his tutelage, explaining to Basim that I had information that could help him to navigate towards the New World. Basim asked to see the diary, but he was unable to read it, since it was written in Norse rather than Imperial Calradian. Therefore, he asked me to write a translation for him to use to help navigate, as he also believed that there might be clues in the diary that he could use.

While I was writing and Basim was calculating our course, I asked him about what he had done before this voyage. He was originally an astronomer in Shariz in addition to being a navigator, but when the latest war with Rhodoks broke out, he joined the crew of one of the Sarranid's fleet. During the war, one of the battles near Jamiche had pitted him against Santiagon. Santiagon had won the engagement by taking advantage of stormy weather that Basim's own captain was too inexperienced to fight in, and Santiagon used his superior sailing skills to capture his opponent. This had so impressed Basim that when he heard of Santiagon's latest venture a few years later, he volunteered his services, which Santiagon accepted once he had heard of Basim's own excellent record of service. In a way, it's representative of the status of this crew as a whole. We all come from different backgrounds, but all of Calradia is interested in seeing what the New World holds. All national grudges are set aside for this one purpose, which gives me hope that perhaps one day Calradia will once again enjoy the peace and prosperity it had during the Imperial Era.

January 7, 1420

隐藏

January 7, 1420​

When I considered that most of the crew comes from different backgrounds, I decided to take a tally of nationalities. Naturally, most of the crew are Rhodoks sailors, which is to be expected since we departed from what's basically the Rhodoks homeland. A few also consider themselves native Zendarians, though that's more a matter of personal identification than fact, as Zendar is still a young state. I come from Swadia, as do one or two of the other sailors. Basim is Sarranid, and a few of the other sailors, including Holdar, are Nordic, which is unsurprising given how closely the Nords are tied to the sea. In fact, only the Vaegirs lack representation on this voyage, though I doubt the Tsar has much use for knowledge of the New World, since he would be the hardest-pressed to do anything with knowledge of it.

Speaking of, since I had little to do, I decided to track down Khadan one night as he was eating dinner. Meals usually consist of a tough bread called hardtack, dried grapes, and salted fish, all washed down with watered-down rum. Khadan was a hard worker, but he spent most of the voyage on his own. He wasn't exactly shunned by the rest of the crew, but he also wasn't particularly sociable. Therefore, he seemed surprised when I approached him and asked if he wanted some company. He let me sit beside him, and after a little while of chatting about the voyage, I convinced him to tell me why he had decided to come on this voyage.

Khadan told me that he had always been something of a loner, even when he was part of his tribe. He spent his childhood learning to ride, wrestle, and shoot a bow, but as soon as he was old enough to ride on his own, he was exploring the plains. He loved hunting wild game, enjoying the chase and the thrill he felt when he was able to down his prey after tracking it for several days. It filled him with a sense of accomplishment that he couldn't experience anywhere else. His tribe therefore employed him as a scout when they needed someone to learn about enemy troop movements before a raid. Khadan admitted, though, that he felt much less fulfilled doing this. Armies were far easier to track than a single deer or wild boar, and he felt that it was a pointless exercise anyways. A few centuries earlier, the Khergits were feared and respected for their fighting abilities on the open plains, but he had become slowly aware that since his people refused to change with the times, they were growing increasingly ill-equipped to fight modern armies. Khadan sensed that this was the twilight of the Khergits.

He took a wife and fathered two children, but even so, Khadan felt restless around his family. Eventually, his wife grew tired of his neglect and took the children to live with her family rather than deal with his prolonged absences, especially since he rarely returned with enough food to make up for his long hunts. Despite this, Khadan only grew more restless. He began to travel further from the Khanate, heading west into Vaegir, and later Swadian and Rhodoks lands in search of more exotic game. However, he still wasn't satisfied with the hunt. When I approached him with the prospect of traveling to the New World, he felt that this might finally be the hunt that he was looking for, tracking down truly unknown game and conquering them. Perhaps, he told me, this would finally satisfy his wanderlust.

I'm not sure what to make of Khadan's story. Personally, I'd be satisfied settling down with Kivana and comfortably growing old while reading stories of the past. I suppose that's why Khadan feels so isolated. I can respect his reasoning even if I can't understand it. Still, I hope he finds peace in the New World, however it comes to him.

 

[Blackwater]

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[Blackwater]

Okay, that should hopefully be enough space. Have at it.

 

[Quintillius]

Good luck! You have my full support. 

 

[Blackwater]

And updated.

 

[Odin boarhelm]

Huzzah! 

 

[Blackwater]

Three updates in one day, what?!