The Adventures of Brandar Odaron
Book 1: The Hidden Continent
Chapter 9 Across the Wide Yerhiesc
After Brandar’s return to Andaria, many generations since he had sailed away, I, Maneldor, obtained from him the full account of his adventures upon the Wide Yerhiesc, the Great Eastern Ocean. And from that account I gleaned the following Tell.
Brandar had acquired maps, and scrolls of sea lore, from the Elves, along with a marvelous rod of far-seeing, and a magical pointer which always showed the directions of the four winds; north, south, east, and west, as true as the positions of the Stars and the paths of the Suns, so that the Seven could find their way through the densest of fogs, or the darkest of nights. And guided by these instruments, the Seven set a course for the untamed land of Dolgondil, northeast from Quiechios, where they hoped to find a base from which to go exploring over the Oceans East; seeking the legendary Mists of the Gods, said to mark the end of the world itself.
Three weeks the Seven sailed and sighted no land. Then a gale blew them far from their favored course, so that they were two weeks more ere coming wearily to the Western Shores of Dolgondil. There they spent a few days ashore replenishing their stocks of fresh water, dried meat, fruits and nuts, and other storable foods; for the land was bountiful, and there were no monsters of any kind. But sailing north and then again south, the Seven found, after many more weeks of sailing, that the coast ran from northwest to southeast in a great meandering curve across the upper half of the world, just as shown on their maps. Thus did they confirm that the ancient Elves had drawn the maps true, though the Elves no longer sailed to Dolgondil, and Men but rarely, so that there were no settlements upon the continent, and it remained unexplored.
And true to Elven lore, the continent appeared to be nothing but forest, but for tall mountains at the edge of sight far inland. But great reefs were discerned, by changes in the color and motion of the waters, and by depth measurements, and which extended nearly half a league from the beaches everywhere the Seven sailed along those coasts. And with the two longboats they towed behind Wingaron, the Seven went ashore to obtain supplies, as needed, and to explore the coastlands to a day’s walk inland; adding to the maps they already had, and also drawing new ones. Then, finding a narrow beach of yellow sand one day, with the forest growing thick to its very edge, they discovered that this region was the most bountiful yet, with many clear streams, and much game, and wide varieties of fruits and berries, and huge root-plants. And there were many fish in the streams and in the reefs, and crabs upon the beach. There were also herds of wild goats, some of which the men captured and penned up, and from which they had milk for making cheese, and much goat meat. And they found beehives in abundance, from which they gathered large amounts of honey. Indeed, so plentiful did the stores aboard Wingaron become at that time that, when at length they sailed again, following the coasts going south, they were able to make much in the way of wine from the fruits and berries, and beer from hops and nuts, and mead from the honey. And it was all turning out very good, in their minds. So they were glad they had come. They planned even to return to that place upon some future day, with many large ships, to gather foods, and skins, and other goods, such as lumber, to be sold in Quiechios, and also perhaps in the ports along the Eastern Coasts of Weyilendeh. So the Volunteers began to imagine how rich they would become, as they continued exploring the coast of Dolgondil, and also continued making new maps. And their spirits were high.
Several weeks the Seven spent sailing along the southern shores, and stopping at whiles to go exploring ashore. And on occasion they would row a longboat up one of the many rivers or large streams, to go farther inland than they would desire to go afoot. But all along they feasted on mutton or venison, and healthy vegetables, and drank clean water. And they sampled much in the way of foods they had never seen before, but none made them ill. And there were no monsters nor fell beasts to trouble them.
After a two months of this, they came to the eastern shores of Dolgondil and there found yet another seeming paradise, where they remained for some time, eating their fill, and drinking their wine and beer and mead. And it was a happy time. Then Brandar decided that the forest must be explored farther inland than they had gone before. So they loaded packs with provisions and headed west. But upon their second day of travel the nice forest had turned into an impassable jungle, where they must hack their way through. And here they were assailed by stinging insects, and came across very large snakes, and were bothered by countless creeping things. Then they stumbled onto a wide and dank swamp, where abode a great many scaly and snaggle-toothed lizards, much like those they had seen in the defiled River Theweg. And these quickly chased the men away, attempting to catch them, no doubt to eat them. But the Seven ran off, and returned by the way they had come for half a day.
Clearly, then, their paradise had become a nightmare realm. And upon their return, they lost their previous path and went astray. Then, upon the afternoon of the sixth day of that venture, they happened upon a sunny glade full of jungle Apes, which the Seven had never heard tell of before. But the Apes were angered, and after pounding their chests, set upon the Seven to kill them, as the men attempted to run away. But alas, the Apes caught them, so that the men were forced to turn and use their swords; slaying some of the Apes ere the rest held back, though Khalen and Tomas were bitten savagely about their shoulders, while Brandar received a long gash across his scalp. And indeed, were it not for the armor which the Seven had acquired in their days of fighting pirates, they would likely have been felled by those beasts.
Four apes lay dead when the rest at length retreated to the safety of their jungle, and Brandar led the Volunteers upon the best course he could determine from his magical pointer. And they came to the beach as night fell, and beheld Wingaron at anchor as they had left her, but far to the north of where they emerged from the forest. Trudging then upon the sand, Brandar led his men back to the ship under the stars, and by the light of only one half-moon. Then Brandar expressed remorse at the slaying of those noble and mighty Apes, who had been living so peacefully in the wilds ere the coming of the Seven. And he vowed to himself that he would slay no innocent beast from that time forward, excepting only when hunting for food.
The Seven made good time on their return, despite their wounds, and were on the ship ere the middle night, at which the three stricken men tended their hurts with medicines and bandaging. And after four days more of gathering and loading goods, they set sail once again, turning about to go south, with the coast to starboard.
After three more days, the Seven came to a place they had seen before, where dense trees grew right up to the shore, with no beach. And this too was jungle growth, though they had not studied it as closely beforehand. But they noticed now waterways, with many overhanging trees, emptying into the sea. So Brandar asked that they stop there and take a longboat up by such a way, which was very wide, and which surely must be a river going a great distance into land. With him Brandar brought Rosth, and his cousins, Alak and Daram. But after two hours of rowing, they had yet to find a good place to land, and Rosth suggested they go back, though Brandar begged to continue for yet a little while more. And after another half-hour they found a pleasant grove of orange trees, which grew upon both sides of the river, and was floored with a carpet of cool green grass, replete with sweet-smelling flowers, white in color. So they took sacks ashore to fill with oranges, and began happily eating while gathering the fruit.
Unexpectedly, they were violently attacked by a Wyvern lizard, who must have considered the grove its territory. And Rosth was thrown down, then Daram and Alak, though their armor kept them from injury. However, the men must slay the Wyvern, as it would fight to the end, and would not relent, and would not let them flee. And Brandar was sad for having to slay the great lizard; breaking the promise he had made to himself. But, truth be told, he likely provided a boon to the wildlife thereabouts, as these could thereafter feed freely upon the fruit without fear of the Wyvern, which could be viewed as the first true monster that the Seven had encountered upon Dolgondil.
Brandar’s three companions rejoiced at the felling of the Wyvern, then Brandar joined them in filling their sacks with the oranges. And Alak filled one sack with dirt, and in it placed a small laden tree, to keep aboard the ship. Then the men returned with their boat filled nigh to overflowing with their sacks of oranges, and Alak’s little tree.
Sailing south for another day and a half, the dense jungle began to thin out, and longer and wider beaches were seen once again as they sailed. Then, Brandar ordered that they lay anchor there, and in the morning must all go ashore to explore the land, for it was at a place that they had not searched before. Yet, just before noon, they were attacked by a group of huge long-toothed cats; tigers with fangs, and who were fierce!
Many wounds the Seven received from the tigers, despite the armor; for the tigers were large and terrible, and exceedingly swift and strong. And their curved fangs were every bit as long as the Northron’s swords, so that not one of the men came away unscarred from that fight. Indeed, barely did they keep themselves from being killed.
Three of the tigers they slew before being able to escape by running headlong back towards the shore, glad that the rest of the beasts did not pursue them all the way. Then Brandar ordered that the sails must be set as soon as may be, whence the Seven had boarded Wingaron and tended to their wounds. So it was that they sailed again to the south, and did not go ashore for many days.
At length they came again to the southernmost coast of the continent. And there they went upon land only so long as to replenish and overstock their stores, as Brandar now desired to sail away east, to discover what secrets the Ocean would reveal, and to seek for the Enchanted Mists themselves; as marked upon the edge of one map.
Many days did the Seven sail after leaving the last sight of dry land behind them. And they later recalled how swiftly Dolgondil faded from view upon the horizon to their northwest, as they sailed across the unexplored Ocean. And many a great storm did they survive, though there were also days without wind, where the Six must row while Brandar manned the helm, else drift and be idle, play games, or get rest, while waiting. And many other hazards they endured; ghosts and wraiths, great waterspouts and whirlpools, and not a few of the smaller kinds of sea-serpents so common in those days. But through all of these troubles the Volunteers never lost heart, nor hope, nor their loyalty to Brandar. And he was resolved that much more to continue exploring.
Beyond Dolgondil, Brandar’s Elven maps showed only three things; warnings against the most bothersome monsters and creatures of the deeps, and a long string of fiery volcanoes in the south, and cloud-like symbols at the edge of one map labeled as the “Timeless Mists of the Gods.” But other than those small and easily-slain serpents, the men had not yet seen any great monsters. And that bolstered their hopes. Then another mighty gale blew them far to the south. But when the sky was clear at last, here they beheld a long column of white smoke rising up to the southeast. Brandar took hold of his rod-of-far-seeing and with it climbed the main-mast to see if the smoke came from the volcanoes marked upon his maps. But when he beheld from whence the smoke was rising, he got the fright of his life. For there indeed were the volcanoes, with the largest of them belching the smoke, but there also was a great Winged Dragon doing battle with a horrible giant monster in the shape of an ominous Waterspout. And all about the combatants were gathered other monsters; ugly green Harpies, and scaly Gargoyles, and Gremlins and Imps, and many a vile creature flying in the air, or swimming in the water, and for a number of them Brandar had no names. And these were all jeering and cheering and reveling in the contest.
Needless to say, Brandar called for the Volunteers to set sail swiftly to the north, while praying that the monsters would not see the sails of Wingaron ere they faded from view upon the horizon. And he stayed upon the mast watching, until the monsters could be seen no more. Then did he climb down in relief, and described to his men what he had seen. Glad, therefore, were all of them that they had not been found out.
Narrowly did the Seven escape those waters; for all of the creatures, as it seems, were too intent upon the duel between the Dragon and the Water-Monster even to note Wingaron in the distance. And not a few times after did Brandar swear that the Gods had answered his prayer. But of the duel, they never knew, nor cared, who won.
Then another storm rolled in, lasting three days, which blew Wingaron eastwards, much to Brandar’s liking. Verily, therefore, not two days after, the Emissaries came to the Enchanted Mists, which Brandar had so long desired to see. But the closer Wingaron came to the Mists, the less wind there was, so that she could not go in of her own accord. Then did the excited Brandar urgently order the Volunteers to man the oars, while he took to the helm holding forth his magic pointer.
This marks the first instance in which some of the Six repented of their pledge to follow Brandar whither-so-ever he may lead them, as those Mists rose above them in mountain-high walls, like some vast battlement of swirling white fog. And it came into their minds that to enter the Mists was to tempt the very Gods who had placed this marvel upon the surface of the waters, at the very end of the known world.
I must relate here that I once happened upon a torn and brittle bit of parchment in my studies of Elven lore, inserted into a little known tome among the many which the Elves allowed me to see, an Age apast. It was placed in that portion of the tome which dealt with the time when the Gods removed themselves from the visible world, and with the land upon which once they dwelt, which we Men now call Arzultaur, the Hidden Continent. Writ in Elven script, the parchment said that the Mists were but the mid-most and only visible portion of a tremendous sphere of mystical magic, with its enormous circumference signaled by the Mists themselves. The sphere spans from the Frostlands South to the Frostlands North, so that it cannot be sailed about upon the oceans. But it is this ancient barrier which keeps evil trapped within from escaping into the world without, whether upon wing in the skies or by swimming in the seas, or riding upon the waves, else slithering slyly in the watery deep.
What evil this was the parchment did not say, though we learned of this from Brandar, after his return. I, Maneldor of Romin, found this parchment, and left it where I found it. But I and the Elven Loremasters themselves know not who wrote it. Clearly, however, it must have been penned by an Eld who had been taught by the Ensu, and who was told or surmised the true nature of the Mists, the Mists of Time.
I, Maneldor, in days afterwards, alone braved the Mists, and then explored the Hidden Continent, and also the islands to its south, which lie also within the Sphere of Batement. But that was long ere the Sereghran Founders had come there to establish Arzultaur. And I shall not burden this tome with my story, to which I allueded earlier, and which can be found in the Chronicles. Yet, I told not my tale to Brandar until long after his return, and only the Kings and the Loremasters of Romin would read of them in later days, though I begged them all to swear themselves to secrecy; desiring that the story of my life should be sung only after I have passed. What follows here, therefore, is the Tell of Brandar’s own braving of the Mists, and how he at length passed safely through them.