Revolutions

104 - Legido

As you take in your surroundings, you're overcome with both a sense of awe and... disappointment? Confusion? Curiosity? You're unsure what you were expecting, but it certainly wasn't this.

The dramatic coastline is made of rocky cliffs and narrow, dark-sanded beaches. You notice the sparse vegetation, hardy shrubs clinging to the mountainous terrain, and the occasional splash of color from wildflowers that brave the elements. Just beyond the horizon, forests in deep green—almost black in their density—linger past the beige grasslands that stretch on seemingly forever in all directions. Looming above the trees, snow-capped peaks rise majestically, scraping the brilliant blue sky.

You can taste the tang of the salt in the air as the brisk wind bites at your exposed skin. It's much cooler here, colder than the humid climates to which you're accustomed. Already, you find yourself shivering, and you start to question if this is the paradise promised to you by Xiatli and the great explorers. Perhaps you wanted to see something lush, something vibrant. These lands, they're vibrant and magical in their own way—but certainly nothing like the regions of Legido.

The steady, constant roar of the sea crashing into the rocks brings you back to the moment your ship cautiously approached the shore the day before. You remember standing at the bow of the ship, eyes squinting against the harsh sunlight reflecting off the endless expanse of water. The lookout kept repeatedly exclaiming, "Land ho!", but at first, you thought they were mistaken, seeing nothing but the vast sea.

And then, there it was: breaking the monotonous horizon, a jagged coastline emerged. The land appeared rugged, untamed, and the beaches looked dark and narrow. But it was the first land you had seen since departing Auruma Xosta, so nothing was going to interfere with your excitement. You felt triumphant, ecstatic, like the long wait and all that you endured was finally worth it.

The crew was elated, as well. Captain Lema shouted, "Prepare for landfall!" But the command could have gone unsaid, as the deck was buzzing with activity before the words left his mouth. Everyone sprung into action: Sails were furled, anchors were dropped, and ropes were secured. You could feel the ship lurching as it slowed, giving you a brief scare until you watched everyone else moving about as if nothing terrifying occurred.

Having never witnessed a ship making landfall before, you looked on curiously, wondering if and how you could jump in to help. The crew anchored the ship a fair distance from shore, then loaded up the smaller longboats with a number of supplies. Captain Lema assigned a few crew members to comprise a small scouting party to send ashore. You'd be lying if you said you weren't relieved not to be one of the few chosen.

Everyone watched with bated breath as the scouts made their way ashore. People begun making morbid wagers on whether the scouts would return, or what they'd find should they reappear. Though you could've used the distraction, you didn't partake in the 'festivities'. The waiting was excruciating, but you reasoned that it would be even more agonizing to have traveled all this way and found the land inhospitable.

Once the scouts returned with the good news, mentioning the fresh water river that flowed just beyond the hills, the main landing began. Many were eager to get to the shore, wanting off the ship right away. There was a lot of pushing and shoving as people jockeyed for position. Along with Gartzen, the first mate, and a few other trusted crew members, Captain Lema managed to keep everyone in line, organizing the landing party swiftly and without any deliberation. This time, you were extremely disappointed not to be selected, feeling your heart sink as the others began to board the boats.

You felt a tug at your sleeve and saw Lander—err, you mean Landera—directing you with exaggerated movements of her eyes and pointing with her head. The two of you crouched low and snuck between the legs of the other crew members and travelers milling about. Before anyone noticed, you both quickly slipped onto the boat and took your places, masking your elation as you tried your best to nonchalantly assist the others with loading the vessel with supplies.