[Ralis] The Journal of Brother Nye, May 1321

[Lev Lafayette]

Next session 7pm, Thursday April 23 at Rodney's in Richmond


Being the recordings of Brother Nye, sometime in May 1321 in the Year
of Our Lord, somewhere in Nor'western Ralis.


After the revelations of Manu-foun we decided to head nor'west towards
the Iberian lands in the hope of rescuing their people and, it must be
said, to find Manuel Jose Isobel dos Porto and our equipment. Manu-foun
had informed us that Manuel had been in league with the Blue Dragon,
Diabu Odamatan. We pondered whether we could use that information
against the ruler of the Iberian town of La Finistera, Dragao Verdu, or,
in the language of fae natives, Verdu Manu-Lafaek, or Ngarrang or Gan.

Manu-foun sent his people to gather some herbs, some two score and ten,
which we hoped would alleviate the drugs that the Iberians had fed them
and which weakened their magical connection to the land. He also
provided a scout and translator, as we would be travelling through the
desert lands of the Nyangumarda, then the Karajarri, the Yawuru and
finally the Jukun, where the court of the Green Dragon and the city of
La Finistera would be found.

After a few days journey we arrived at the lands the Nyangumarda. This
was a wide and open land, even more so that that of the Mardu, and there
was some animated conversation between our scout and the fae that we
encountered. Our scout proudly informed us, much to our horror, that the
Nyangumarda were pleased that some good white folk had come to save them
from the wicked Iberians and once they had done so, would we be so kind
to do the same to the Zeelanders? We scolded our scout at this, for our
journey was supposed to be somewhat secretive, but he made up for it
quickly, as the Nyangurmarda collected a score and five doses of the
desert herb to alleviate the condition of the spell-casters. Later we
discovered that it was through these lands that Zeelanders and Iberians
often came into conflict, with the Nyangurmarda suffering at the hands
of both.

Under our reminded orders we travelled with greater care into the land
of the Karajarri. Here we exercised much greater caution, for the
control of the Iberians was much stronger. Fortunately the land was
rougher here, with thicker grasslands and trees. Our scout mentioned
that we were in the Bulga Bulga, a hilly region that would soon turn
into heavy jungle, rivers and swamplands.

For most of our journey we managed to avoid both Fae and Iberians;
however a golden opportunity presented itself as we advanced towards the
land of the Yawuru; a small group of Iberian soldiers, perhaps out on a
scouting mission, perhaps looking for more slaves in their plantations.
It was of little matter; although they put up something of a fight there
were certainly no match for us and soon we had bested them, by the grace
of God.

Taking advantage of their clothing and wares, we advanced into the
Yawuru land and headed towards what appeared to be a manor house on top
of plantation. The guards initially mistook us for their own, and Joni
prepared a false visage so that she appeared in the form of Manuel Jose
Isobel dos Porto. We took the guards out of action relatively quickly
and advanced upon the manor house, where a great battle began. But we
are experienced in such affairs, and the Iberian colonists were unable
to defeat us; some fell, some lay down their arms, and we captured their
women and children. Unfortunately one escaped into the night, may the
Lord curse him.

The manor house itself was a large, quite elegant, two story affair. On
one side there was a church dedicated to the True God, albeit with the
old heretical idolatry and a powerful incense I did not recognise
immediately, but Larquis informed us that it was magical sandalwood,
which enhanced powers of sorcery and divine visions. On the other was
stables and granaries, the latter also containing significant quantities
of the rare wood. 

As we made our way through the buildings we sent our scout to inform the
Native Fae slaves that we had come to rescue them; they were a odd
collection, consisting of members of tribes whose lands we had already
travelled through and many more besides. About half took to heel as soon
as it became obvious that their freedom was won; the others seemed
curious to find out what sort of men we were who were white of skin, but
did not seek to enslave them.

Upon looking at regional maps and dragging content from those captured,
we soon discovered our location and surrounds. The maison we had
captured was called Viqueque, one of ten sandalwood farms, each of
approximately one hundred souls, of which two-thirds of that number were
Native Fae. The city of La Finestera held some two and half thousand
individuals.

Far to our west was the waterside maison of Suai, which served as a
stopping point for the Iberian fleet when they launched against the
Zeelanders. To our north and east was Losplos. To the north, Baucau,
Same, Ainora, and then further north to Maliana, Aileu, Emera, Aileu and
finally, La Finistera itself.