The Second Expedition of Braddock of Conteign

Expedition

The Expeditions of Braddock of Conteign were a series of expeditions taking place between the years of 211 and 234. Much of the world outside of the realms of man were first learned about through Braddock's writings.

The Second Expedition saw the exploration of the westernmost reaches of the Mainland in the Zafirah Peninsula, the desolation of Arcta and the squabbling tribes of both man and aelve.

The Second Expedition (218-226)

Return to Allve Alari (218-219)

Leaving Conteign in the spring season of 218, the expedition made once again for the Aelven Kingdom of Allve Alari. In the year prior, the a caravan of Rudoran gold was sent to the Aelven Port, to comission the construction of a ship that would be capable of navigating the waters of Amal Anore. The result was the Carrack, The Unbreakable, the designs provided to the Aelves envisioned a massive wooden craft with four masts standing defiant against the waters, three decks fit for the compliment of 100 men that were set to depart and at the front of the ship, a bronze figurehead in the shape of a roaring lion, the symbol of Rudoran Pride.

Arriving in the summer of that year, the expedition found the ship nearly ready for departure and so, with two weeks time needed, the expedition were allowed to encamp outside of the city walls. For Braddock, who had made an impression upon the ruler of Allve Alari however, he was given a place at court for the duration of their stay. The crew was made of exactly 101 men, as laid out in the specifications. Braddock, the Expedition Leader and overall commander, A Ship's Captain, The Captain's Deputy and eight officers subordinate to Braddock. The Ship itself demanded Fourty-Nine assorted crewmen to act as lookout, navigator, quartermaster, boatswain and so on. In addition to this, there were assorted others, doctors, carpenters, scouts, assorted men-at-arms and a member of the FaithGood Wayfarers, hoping to make converts of whoever they may encounter. A translator was gifted to the expedition by the King to round out the crew.

Two days before they were set to sail, the expedition had it's first major hurdle. allowed entry into the city to celebrate, the expedition terrorized half of the city in a drunken near-sacking of half of the taverns. In the ensuing chaos, two crew members suffered broken bones, a building was burned down and the city guard was called in to halt any further lunacy. It was only the efforts of Braddock, who had earned the ear of the king that total disaster was averted and allowed to still set sail from port. In reperation for the incident, one of the carpenters, who had been most responsible for the fire, was imprisoned and the expedition would depart without him.

Setting off on the back of a strong wind late in the summer, the Unbreakable pulsed westward towards the city of Onfanora, their first stop in their expedition. For three weeks they sailed across waters that to everyone but the translator who was native to the lands, felt like a field of teal silk fluttering beneath them as an unfurled banner. On the second day of the fourth week, the navigator called out a landmass, the plateau of Arcta piercing the unbroken sea at first, then consuming the horizon in their approach. For two days they approached the plateau which stretched every skywards until at last the lower levels of the plateau, and the city of Onfanora appeared before them.

Onfanora, & The Attempt to Circumnavigate Arcta (219-222)

219

The Onfanoran reception of the Unbreakable, with it's familiar Aelven hull and it's unfamiliar Rudoran Flags was initially adequately warm with a small crowd of curious onlookers trying to make sense of the foreign flag on their horizon. As the landing party approached, the gathered crowd began dwindling the closer the got to shore until not but two port officials awaiting the ship and one drunken sailor who was more than likely unconcious remained. The expectations of the vainglorious Braddock envisioned teeming crowds of Aelven onlookers curious at the arrival of these foreigners to their distant lands, kings laying wreathes upon their heads and women throwing themselves at their feet. What he received however, was the scornful gaze of a port master and his assistant. The frosted reception of their greeters matched only by the sudden realization that, despite the sand deserts of arcta, an honest chill filled the air, demanding the landing boat be sent back to the Unbreakable for colder weather clothing which demanded another inspection by the port master.

Onfanorans are hostile as shit.   On the third day of their stay in the city, the Good Wayfarer caused a scene when attempting to make converts of local residents on what turned out to be a date of religious signficance to the Onfanoran.

They Depart

220

Early Days of the attempt

Sickness on board

observation of sea creatures

Difficulty at the ice coast

They turn back

221-222

they take the safe route and see almost nothing

they stop at that big island on the way though, lotta wild life and weird fruit

more boring sea travel

Ghaznylan (222)

Tribal Diplomacy & The Zafiran Interior (223-225)

summer of 222 - The expedition disembarks outside of maqara and marches ashore - it's realll hot. They get an incredibly warm, if cheap welcome (maqarans dont have a lot yet))

They are told of the big PLOT stones in the center and travel to reach village 2, wanting to see it. When they reach village 2, the word gets out and they are made to strongly reconsider theri options as it's sacrilige for them to go there.

Tensions falre up in village 2 and they are made to leave

things are made worse on return to Maqara as *someone important* is now pregnant as a result of the expedition and they must make things right. To do so requires them to SOMETHING that is complicated by the fact that what htey need to do can only be done by someone who they are not. they however are able to barter with a 3rd party to do the thing and in return, they are given something only the expedition would be able to offer.

With the situation under control, they need to return to Ghaznylan to give back their translator. On the trip over, they discuss with him of a land with a tremendous maw of fire that they know is actually Kruzug and of Kelth Anore which they set their sites on to travel to on the return trip

Kelth'Anore & The Return to Allve Alari (225-226)