Glade 84, 124
It had been several weeks since the Ecithian Senate put out the word across Drathera. With the Eclipse and long winter ended, the Commonwealth needed to take stock of their lands and their people. Delegations and expeditions were being organized to seek out each of the villages, to ensure their survival and see if they needed help. Especially since all of the Chieftains had refused to return to the Senate following the exile of Chieftain Boraba and all of Ounokt Nora. And with expeditions being sent to the villages, two others were being formed, one for Dratir, the Historium of Ecith, and the other for Kythera, the Hanging Gardens of Ecith.
And on the 84th day of Glade, a bright and sunny and warm day, down in a large floating park in the river delta of Lowtown, the Kythera expedition was being convened. The leader of the expedition was an Orkhan man, a high ranking member of Ecith's Shield Armies by the name of Ooklo. He was well respected, a veteran of the war and a herbalist, a medical officer. He stood there in the center of the park, among the vines and flowers, a bright smile on his face, introducing himself to each and every person coming to volunteer for the expedition.
He gave the people a chance to gather before his booming voice rang out over them.
"Thank you all for volunteering to come and help. We cannot take everyone, for we have limited resources and do wish to have some semblance of expediency. As such, I have created three teams to be part of the expedition. The Satchel Team will be traveling by Flood Hippo, lead by myself. This team will consist navigators, mapmakers, healers, artists, and anyone else who thinks they could be valuable in some fashion to the expedition. This team will be escorting the supplies for both the expedition and the supplies we will deliver to the encampment that may or may not still exist outside of Kythera. If you wish to join Satchel, please, come and I will interview you.
The second team is the Shield Team. This team is to consist of capable fighters to help protect the Satchel team as we travel. The grasslands and jungles on the route to Kythera are untamed and unforgiving. If you have not proven your combat prowess in some fashion, then you will be tested here and now. This team will be lead by Major Alua, and she will be your test.
Finally, the third team is the Wind Team. This team is the scouting team, sent out ahead of and around the Satchel Team, to track the best and safest routes to take, where to make camp, and to see dangers before they arrive. This team will be traveling by flight and each member must be capable of surviving alone in the wilds. This team will be lead by Ward Norani Windwalker. You will need to provide your own means of flying to be on this team." He nodded over at Norani, standing by the water, "Speak to her if you wish to join."
He paused for a moment.
"I shouldn't have to remind everyone just how dangerous this expedition will be. There's a very real chance you do not return. There's a very real chance none of us return. But the darkness is gone and the clouds have parted and we must reunite our people once more. So if you accept these risks, present yourselves now. We leave at first light on the morrow."
A murmur went up through the crowd and people began to sort themselves out toward their respective desired teams, or off to the side if not feeling up to the challenge.
