October 30, 1371


The night passes quietly, though you do notice thickening clouds moving in out of the west. You make the most of the favourable wind. As dawn approaches, though, the wind drops again for a few hours, and you are becalmed. By sunrise the sky is overcast. The temperature only dropped to 85F overnight, and you suspect that today will be a very hot day.

Soon after sunrise the wind returns, this time out of the west, and much stronger. Niko calls out the crew, and sails are hauled in while others are reefed. The wind is not so favourable for you, so you make less progress today. Still, you are moving much faster than you would if you were walking.

Watching the coast some miles to the east, you see a flat, arid plain. Around breakfast time a range of low hills comes into sight, but you soon leave them behind.

Niko comments, "Well, we might as well make up a flag, too. Anyone have an idea for a design?"

Darian grins. "Occa's profile?"

"How about a yellow smiley face?" suggests Robert.

Jesse, from the helm calls, "I can design an appropiate, and heraldic flag for us."

Early in the afternoon you spot a large castle on the coast. It is the first sign of habitation in the Empire of Mestom that you have yet seen. You are too far out to sea to spot any details, though. By now the temperature is 103F.

As night falls Ramage brings the ship onto a more southerly course, as the land curves east into a wide bay. There is no point in following the coast into the bay and then back out, so you don't.

Again, as night falls, another new sail is hoisted.


next day...

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