Radia (Part 1)

I’m not sure exactly how I got myself into this mess. Some how I had volunteered to go explore the continent of Radia. I was a well known explorer of the world. It only made sense that I investigated Radias terrain and wild life.

Now Radia was discovered over a hundred years ago. Over all those years no one ever stepped a foot on the land. The sailors that first discovered it thought it was an evil ghost world. I figured that to be nothing but modern folk lore.

The beaches of Radia had been mapped out perfectly. Ships have sailed around the continent several times. When the ships sailed around the continent it took them nearly two months in good weather. My journey was supposed to be quick and educational.

The Evane government now wanted someone to go and explore the interior of the continent. I had explored parts of Ambico and traveled to quanta. I was iffy at first but I signed up to go anyway. The government gave me fifty men and two full sized army vessels to go explore the new world.

I was to report to Koca port, dock two before 1:00 AL on the 12th of the second month of the year of 72. It was a nice warm day. I did a quick inspection of the ships. The next day the crew and I would be ready to set sail.

I had no family what so ever. I never had any time to settle down and start one. I was always of exploring. Except I had managed to accomplish everything else imaginable. Most normal people had married by the age of 21 but I was already 26 when I set sail to Radia. I guess at that time I just hadn’t found the right women.

The sails raised and I remember the smell of the sea that day. It was a very good day to go on a voyage. The flags whipped in the breeze. The wind and the tide were both with the two ships. The ports were filled with hustle and bustle. The crews where fixing up the ships. I had to stay on the War Ship Fortune. It was the bigger of the two ships.

The Fortune was not made for the specific purpose of exploring but it could easily get the job done. The second war ship was the Wintarana. When I was walking down the pier in between the ships I couldn’t help but notice the size of the ships. The Fortune looked slightly bigger than the Wintarana.

I wanted to meet both captains before boarding. I found both captains on the edge of the dock. I introduced myself.

"Captain Clinton Smith, you may call me Clint. I read your reports on Ambico. I would very much like to talk to about the natives. Unfortunately I’ll be commanding the Wintaraga.

"Yes, well maybe we’ll have time to talk once we reach Radia." I responded as I shook his hand.

"And I am Master Dave Carothers," Daves deep voice almost shook the earth as he spoke to me. "Captain of the W.S. Fortune. It’s a pleasure to finally meet the leader of this little expedition." Dave was a big man with a dumb look on his face, but you could tell he was extremely experienced when it came to sailing.

"How much longer till we’re ready to go?" I asked.

Dave responded first. "The Fortune needs to finish loading the fresh water barrels."

"On the Wintaraga we are ready for departure." Captain Clint was very confident in everything he said.

"OK the Fortune will launch first. The Wintaraga will launch directly after." I quickly explained.

I then proceeded on to the Fortune. I examined my cabin. It was quite charming with a desk, a table, and my bed. I laid down and rested for awhile. It had been a strenuous morning.

Just then a knock came at my door. "Come in." I answered to the sound. The cabin boy entered, a young man 15 years of age.

"Sir, the Captain requests your presence on deck."

"Tell him all be out in a minute."

The boy gave a quick bow and then left the room. My suitcases were sitting in the corner of the room. I grabbed the suitcase with my papers and the maps in it. I pulled a few personal papers and shoved them in the drawers of the desk. The rest came with me on deck.

I found Captain Dave on the helm. He was shouting orders to the crew. Big strong men were raising the anchor, hoisting the sails, and moving crates around. As soon as Dave noticed me he put his arm over my shoulder and said "Ok, here we go. We got quite a ways to go." He handed me a piece of paper. "This is the checklist for the group you see in front of you. The whole crew, and everyone is accounted for."