The South Gate

The South Gate, discovered by the Foldsquire-Mix Expedition, was the principal path around Satan's Spire. The South Gate opened the untamed southern land to the people of the Republic of Megatridimensional Order.

Historical Context

In early 1797, the city of Novum and the Megatridimensional Order was at a turning point. The cost of the Telembrian Border War of 1792 and the constant fortifications to keep the city from sinking in o the Crudumpascor Swamps was bankrupting the young government. The Order leader Rain Petrus and her board of directors authorized an expedition to find a way past Satan's Spire and the Trine River to open up the south to find a new location for the city and it's inhabitants.

The Goldbrig Expedition

With a tremendous amount of Telembrian citizens still pouring into The Order along with attempts by most who risked the Swamp Sickness to move quickly through the region, the path west became a nightmare of bogged horses, broken wagons and masses of people with high numbers of sick and injured. In this hellish landscape, the pioneers became prime target for thieves and outlaws. With the Telembrian Border War of 1801 looming, the Order was

The Goldbrig Expedition preparing to begin their journey

already short of soldiers and with Rain Petrus' vow to not charge a passage tax, the Order turned to mercenaries who would accept promises of land and government positions in lieu of cash payment. One of these mercenary groups, let by Edgard Goldbrig was well funded by Goldbrig himself, who had amassed a large fortune in Telembria, but left with The Order for adventure, the "only thing [he] never had." Goldbrig worked his way slowly south, spending days talking to railroad workers and pioneers, choosing from the best among them to join his nondescript group of adventurers. By the time Goldbrig arrived at Novum, he had a group of twenty of healthy young men and women. Once settled in the Broken Laje Inn, Goldbrig waited until the time had passed for the Swamp Sickness to take effect. He lost only five men to the sickness after two weeks. During that period of time, Goldbrig offered his services to Petrus as mercenaries. Petrus, after hearing Goldbrig's offer and the make up of his crew, proposed that they would be better off as explorers vice mercenaries and offered what she could by way of promises and land if his crew would open a passageway to south of Satan's Spire and the Trine River. Goldbrig, in his own words, immediately "loved the idea. It kept all I had to accepting on the spot." Instead, Goldbrig retreated to the Broken Laje Inn and wrote up a proposal. The proposal included all of promises Petrus had made along with one major addition. Any passage found would be owned by Goldbrig, and he would be allowed to charge a negotiated fee for his passage and any other found later until 1815, when it would be open to all. When offered, Petrus' chief negotiator Sarjon Xenwith added a clause of his own. Should the expedition fail and Goldbrig not return, the Goldbrig fortune became property of the Order either on proof of his death or 3 years after the date of the expedition's start. If Goldbrig returned unsuccessful, he would relinquish half of his fortune. With no family to inherit, Goldbrig agreed.

The expedition set out well supplied and well armed from Novum in April 3, 1797. It was made up of 15 adventurers who were well paid and well supplied, all offered Petrus' promises along with substantial bonuses by Goldbrig. Before the team even emerged from the jungles leading up to Satan's Spire, two of the group who had developed animosity got into a violent argument, and one killed the other. The former died of his injuries within a day.

Arisha Novik wrote:

"There has been a pall cast over the group of adventurers, not only because of the loss of two of us - however unliked the both were - but also because Goldbrig refused to use any medical supplies on Mr. Britland. Goldbrig made it clear that he would not waste resources on any stupidty or injuries not related to the expedition. While that makes sense to most of us given the wastefulness of their actions, we are all concerned. It's clear that medical care is up to Goldbrig's discretion whether we are mauled by beast or fall ill to some strange sickness. To be sure, it has brought reality to us all, but doubt has been cast on Goldbrig's oft-stated notion that we are "all in this together."

Upon reaching the foot of Satan's Spire, the group searched first to the west where the Trine River roars down the mountain into the plains. Following a methodical pattern to climb behind every waterfall and over the Trine, after ten days, the expedition turned back and headed east. Selena Von was killed on the descent when she fell into the river and was swept away.

Now numbering 12, not counting Goldbrig, the group slowly traveled east, every so often stopping to attempt a climb in a space that looked promising. After several days of this slow, methodical search, Goldbrig became impatient, and at the next promising space, split the group into two, with him leading the 7 and Zdebka Cade leading the others, with plans to meet back at their seperation point in two days. The Cade faction began climbing. Goldbrig's crew covered several miles, but skipped many promising paths upward that some of the men thought they should follow. At this point, Goldbrig had become convinced that they would need to circumvent the Spire to the east and there was no point in continuing to climb. Having come to this conclusion, and becoming more impatient, Goldbrig did not want to return to regroup, so he sent Gennadi Caruso and Emilx Terr back west to regroup with the Cade party. One day afterwards, Goldbrig's group were attacked by gorillas, killing all but Goldbrig and Vidka Overon, who escaped. Though Goldbrig at first wanted to continue, Overon reasoned with him that they should return to the group. They began making their way west, finding the tracks of Caruso and Terr and following back to the rendezvous point. When they arrived, they found only Caruso, so shaken that he could not speak. After Goldbrig and Overon took turns watching him toss and turn through the night, but the morning light morning Caruso was calmed enough to relay what had happened.

Overon captured it in her journal:

"They had arrived to no one at the point, and after a few hours decided to track the group up the mountain. Nearly a day later, they came across the other explorers bodies, strewn throughout the area, some dismembered, and all bore signs of a gruesome death. Terr suggested a quick retreat, but Caruso felt it dutiful to bury the dead. Terr would not assist, and returned down the mountain. Caruso finished burying the bodies in the eerie stillness, and night fell. Caruso decided that spending the night there would be unwise, and he began to make his way down the mountain. The forest was silent now, with no birds, animals or insects giving away their presence. Caruso, naturally, continued to be uneasy. About a quarter mile from the bottom where we now sit, He heard a moaning sound just off the path and, in spite of his fear, decided to investigate. Six feet off the path he found Terr, hung to a tree with hyperdiamond forced through his hands and feet. Caruso attempted to get Terr down, but could not budge the crystals. He took his machete and started to cut through the tree instead when he someone grabbed his arm. He spun around to face what appeared to be two very large men with albino skin, mud smeared over their bodies with eyes that, in his words, "cut to his soul." Frozen, the three regarded each other until Caruso regained his senses and left. Caruso, poor fellow, ran as fast as he could, with no memory of anything to the point of waking this morning."

Overon and Caruso wanted to abandon the expedition, but Goldbrig was undeterred. After arguing nearly all morning, Overon and Caruso would not give in, Goldbrig recognized the folly of continuing alone, and finally joined Overon and Caruso. The three returned to Novum on April 22, 1787, ending the expedition. Goldbrig forfeited half his fortune, as agreed, and spent the next years working at the Broken Laje Inn, by all accounts drunken and dejected.

The Matrish-Harver Expedition

Sarjon Xenwith read all the journals brought back from the trip and interviewed each survivor numerous times. He then went about pulling together a team to build on the of work the first expedition. Xenwith hired Mydra Matrish and Guldn Harver to lead the expedition. Matrish was a personal friend of Xenwith and had assisted George Lathroller in locating a site for Tabula Rasa. Harver was a a former Telembrian citizen and soldier that had turned to the Order prior to the war. He was one of men and women standing with Rain Petrus as she "accepted" the terms of the cessation of hostilities. As with the Goldbrig expedition, Matrish and Harver were offered promises of government and military positions were the expedition successful. Neither Matrish nor Harver had enough money, unlike Goldbrig, to fund the expedition on their own. The Order government provided not only the supplies, but also fifteen men and women volunteers. Goldbrig, Overon and Caruso were all offered invitations to join, but none accepted. The team did, however, take copies of the journals as well as a professional cartographer, Renvig Elter. Elter was Telembrian and did not support the rebels, but when asked by the local newspaper why he was supporting the Order, Elter said "My first allegiance is to my craft, and there is no greater honor in my craft than to document new lands. Besides," he said jokingly, "anything to get these rebels as far away from the motherland as possible is a good deed." Telembria did not share Elter's view and immediately stripped him of his citizenship, banning him from the country.

Just a week after the August 28, 1797 start, the leadership had already become a dictatorship.

As Geevia Stingle, the doctor for the expedition, wrote:

"There is not doubt that Harver is the leader of this expedition, barking orders and making decisions with much strutting and bellowing. It concerns me a bit that Matrish is not taking more of a lead. She's the lead explorer, and I can think of a dozen situations where she might need to be a steady voice. Something we're clearly not getting from Harver. More than once these weeks, Matrish disagreed with Harver and was promptly dismissed. More concerning, the one time she did continue to state her case, Harver simply ignored her and walked away. Elter, the cartographer is quiet, measuring and charting as we go. He stays off to himself, rarely engaging in conversation."

At the end of the second week, the expedition came upon the camp site where Goldbrig, Overon and Caruso had decided to end the Goldbrig Expedition.

Stingle wrote:

"There is a great fear among all of us who are not soldiers, being so close to the savages that murdered most of the previous expedition. Among those seven I knew to be soldiers, there seemed to be a calm focus. It wasn't until we made camp for the night that it became clear why. Harver and the soldiers fully intend to scout up the mountain to find the brutes. I can only imagine the plan if they do. Those that have chosen the Order are most often those who cannot stand losing."

In fact, Harver, with Xenwith's consent and encouragement, did plan to seek out the attackers. But not before waking Stingle and informing her she was part of the plan. Stingle protested.

From her journal:

"You're a medic," Harver said, "and we need you. Why do you think you're on this expedition?"

"To care for those involved in accidents, broken bones from falling, insect bites, even amputation if necessary, but I am not a war medic."

Matrish said, "I sympathize with you Geevia, I really do. I admit we didn't inform you - or anyone besides the soldiers - of the plan here. Maybe we don't really need..." she looked at Harver. "Could she stay here? And if there's a problem..." Harver cut her off and looked at me. "You're a medic and you're coming with us, whether you're willing or not. Let's move out."

"What was I going to say to him? Matrish was already sitting by the fire, poking the ashes. Useless. So I didn't say anything. I just grabbed my bag and as many supplies as I could carry and motioned for him to get moving. Truth be told, I was afraid, thinking that this wasn't the way I wanted to die. But then I realized that signing up for this expedition at all was throwing caution (and your life) to the wind - did it really matter how? Of course once we started moving, I noticed Matrish was staying behind. I mean, I understood this wasn't her area, but I couldn't help feel pretty salty about it."

The rainy season just ending, the hunting party had a difficult time re-tracing the steps of the previous expedition. They could not find Emilx Terr's body, but finally made it to the camp where the Cade faction had met their demise. The graves Caruso had dug were still intact, and marked with the names of the explorers.

From Harver's journal:

"We spent some time to surch the area and set a watch. The place was as eery as any I had felt in my trevals. To be certain there was the unmistakuobel oppression of deth, but there was also something else I felt as we surched. I felt eyes on us, and it did not seem to be few. Suddnly, one of the women, Batxer (believed to be Olvia Baxter), fired high into one of the trees along the forrist. She hit her mark as a giant fell from the tree, making all manner of noyze until it no longer made any and landed with sickning thud. All of us turnt to face that way and peered into the forrist when a white blur, ran or flew, I no not which, straight to Batxer and took a swing with the weapon the giant was carrying. I have nevar seen such speed, and it is a comfort that Batxer's head was speerated so cleanly that I do not beleev she felt anything. I turned my weapon towards the whir, when I was grabbed from behind. I turnt and saw another giant much too close. He was 3 metres tall if he was a centimetre, with white skin like a babys powdred bottom, and long hair of blinding white. The manner of dress was skinds of animals and fur that I did not have time to take in before I was knocked cold."

The giants disarmed the party, rendering unconscious those that still fought. Stingle did not have a gun and made no effort to fight back, but she was tied by the wrists.

Stingle's journal:

"They bound our hands and feet and forced us to kneel in the clearing, lined up in two rows of four. I recall seeing several others assisting the giant Olvia shot from the tree, and one that appeared female became very distraught and unloosed a howl that cut to my very soul. Then she suddenly jumped up and ran towards our group, straight towards Olvia. Others of her tribe tried to grab her and hold her back, but she was on Olvia very quickly, cutting her throat in a matter of seconds. It was a brawl at that point, with the giants quickly overpowering us and taking our weapons. The woman was led by others back into the forest, and what appeared to be their leader stood in front of us. He was about 3 meters tall and was an imposing figure, dressed in animal skins like the others, but sewn in expert fashion, in a way that reminded me immediately of a uniform. Glancing at the other giants, I started to notice some similarities in their dress, once I knew where to look. Their leader finally spoke, and of everything I had seen and heard that night, the biggest shock was what he said."

He spread his arms out. "This is the second time you savages have come to the mountain. The first time you guys were just annoying, but now you've stepped in it." He paused, and looked at Harver. "You, you're the leader, right?" Harver stared at him and leaned forward against his restraints, practically growling. The giant moved in closer and said to Harver, "Do you understand what I am saying to you, savage?" I did not understand everything that Harver said at that point, and I truly believe some of what he said were not actual words, but more of a spitting and growling. The giant looked frustrated. "Are you all savages?" he said to the rest of us.

There was nothing said for an uncomfortable period of time as the giant's gaze focused on each one of us. "No sir," I finally said, "we are not savages. We hear you and understand." The giant looked shocked.

"Was I wrong? Are you then the leader?"

"No...sir, I am a doctor."

"A doctor?" He shook his head. "Did they kidnap you from your mountain?"

"We are all part of an expedition from our country to find a way around Satan's Spire. This mountain."

"How come you're the only one who can speak?"

At this point, Harver spoke up, controlled, but still clearly angry and yanking on his restraints.

"We can all speak," he spat. "And I AM the leader here."

"OK then," said the Giant. "'Leader', explain yourself and save your people. Tell me why you attacked us."

"We are NOT the aggressors," said Harver. "You attacked us!"

"Uh, no. You came on to our mountain, attacked our livestock, then returned with more people and kill one of our citizens, making a widow of his wife, and you say you are not the aggressors."

"We did nothing to your livestock."

"We can dig up your citizens and take a look. Surely the doctor could tell us how they died?"

"You're disgusting," said Harver, and spat at the giant.

"No, 'leader.' They attacked our livestock, and our livestock fought back. Before we could get here, they had killed all your citizens. We took the animals home. When we returned for the bodies, one of your citizens was cursing them to second death."

At this point, I had a sick feeling in my stomach. Harver, however, was still somewhat dense as to what he was saying and called him a liar.

I took a deep breath. "If that be so, can you explain the death of our countryman that was hung to a tree with hyperdiamond?"

Harver started cursing the giant again, but the soldier next to him bumped against him and told him to, respectfully, shut it.

The giant looked me in the eye for a second and then looked away. "That wasn't us," he said, "but it was one who used to be us."

"I don't understand."

"She was afflicted with the mountain sickness. It takes people's... minds. Makes them do horrible things. She was too far gone, and we had to expel her once she had killed your citizen. I am sorry we didn't make the decision more quickly. It's complicated. Had we known there was anyone left on the mountain that didn't belong, we would have never allowed her to wander off alone."

"Sir, I realize that I'm in no position to ask, with all of us currently at your mercy, but can you prove any of these things so we can better understand what happened?"

The giant had still not re-engaged my eyes. He paused for a long second. "Get them up," he said and then to me "follow us."

The expedition followed the giant up the mountain for at least a kilometer. Hands were still bound, and the giants kept careful watch, but, as Harver wrote:

"Twas surely diffrnt, the tone, the feeling, turnt from anger to curiosity, tho in truth I was attempting to calm my heart from failing for fear. I was somewat preoccupyed with the embarrassment the doctor had laid on me by cutting into my command. We walked little more than an hour into the giants' town, tho small, I was amaized at the condition of the place, much more solid construx than espected. They led us to the middling of the town where a strange statue stood."

Stingles Journal:

"The statue was amazingly life-like, and the giant took us right over to it. His head remained bowed as he gestured to the statue.

This," the giant said, "is the ... killer of your citizen."

"I don't understand," said Purket, one of the older soldiers. "You built a statue to a mentally deranged girl that killed our countryman? Are murders revered in your culture?"

The giant lifted his head, but did not make eye contact. "This isn't a stat-whatever. This is my daughter Suntyrra. "

"Is she dead or..." I started to move my hand towards her and was immediately reminded that they were tied, "is she alive?"

The giant looked perplexed. "She is expelled," he said. "She stands on the precipice of death and life, not interacting with either," he swallowed hard and I notice his eyes filling with tears, "She is only allowed to be, see, and think about what could have been. She is expelled."

Harver started to say something, but I cut him off and asked if I could examine her. The giant stepped aside and held his head back. "Let her loose," he said into the air. I rubbed my wrists and stepped up to the statue. Gently, I touched her face and jerked my hand away quickly. She was warm to the touch! Her eyes were open but not blinking and as I touched her face again, I marveled at the softness of it. She was young, perhaps in her early twenties. She was not breathing, and I could detect no pulse. There was the strong smell of something similar to formaldehyde, which I thought gave me a clue to the preservation. Though even with the most aggressive embalming techniques, I had never seen such perfect preservation. And it gave no insight to the warmth. "How does she stand?"

"She doesn't stand," he said with a huff as I began to examine her legs where the furs ended. "She's expelled." I felt her calf muscles and realized that they were tense, just as they would be if she were alive and standing. It was exceedingly strange, as it felt as if she would move at any second. But she did not. I stood and noticed a crowd was gathering, aside from the party that had captured us. "Can I learn more about being expelled?"

The giant looked surprised. "No, you are not of the Ch'baka."

The mystery of Suntyrra had distracted me from the fact that we were prisoners.

"Is that the name of your people? The ch'baka?" The giant said nothing, but there were several titters of laughter in the crowd.

"Whatever your people are, will you let us go," I asked?

"What will you do?"

"We'll continue on our expedition to find a way around the mountain," said Harver, visibly calmer.

Statue of The Giant King Orpomeh

With a word from the giant, they untied us, but did not return our weapons. "You can leave," said the giant. "We will keep your weapons."

"What the hell?!" said Harver, taking a step towards the giant. Purket and Antivali grabbed him and held him back. "If you keep our weapons and send us back into the jungle you might as well kill us yourselves, you cowards!!"

The giant stood sternly, his arms crossed. Then he turned to me. "If you fear the jungle, why don't you just live on the mountain?"

"We come from beyond the jungle."

"Impossible," he said.

"It's true," said Purket. "We are trying to find a way through the jungle and around the mountain so our countrymen may move through and live to the south."

"There is no "south." There is only the mountain, the jungle, and the river."

"Still," I said, "we'd very much like to see for ourselves."

The giant shook his head. "Your tribe is crazy." Arms still folded, he furrowed his brow and paused.

"If we take you back to the jungle and give you your guns, do you promise to never return with malice?"

I nodded yes, and he turned to Harver. "And you?"

The lines in Harver's face were deep, and he looked both dehydrated and defeated. "Yes," said Harver, and though the giant may not have been able to tell, I could see that he meant it.

"Then come back anytime. I am sorry that our first meetings were ... not good. But I believe you are good people... maybe a little rash, but...we are the Comdantri Nortellus. What is the name of your people?"

"The Megatridimensional Order," I said. The giant let out booming laughter and more than most of the crowd joined in laughing.

None of us laughed, of course, but Harver and Antivali were both turning red. The giant saw and stopped laughing, holding up his hands to quiet the crowd. Quickly, I said "many call us the people of the Order.

"That'll do. People of the Order," the giant said, "I am Orpomeh, leader of the Comdantri Nortellus. Safe travels, and we hope to see you again."

Orpomeh was true to his word, releasing the group at the bottom of the mountain and returning the weapons. The soldiers returned to the expedition at nightfall. When they relayed what had happened, Matrish gave a eulogy for Olvia and informed the team they would head east in the morning. Several of the soldiers protested, frightened by the altercation with the Comdantri, but both Matrish and Harver insisted they fulfill their roles and continue on with the expedition. That night, two of the soldiers: Marin Bentle and Wica Eyrile, murdered Kanlin Paze, another soldier over a gambling debt and fled back to Novum.

Lentra Ness and Mingo Tweller, two of the three remaining soldiers, were close friends of Paze, and in the morning, realizing what had been done, told Matrish they were going after the killers. Matrish and Harver both tried to change their minds, but they were insistent, and took off after the murderers towards Novum, a chase which resulted in The Last Stand at Last Dance.

Burying yet another expedition member, Stingle argued against continuing on.

From Stingle's Journal:

"I listed for Matrish; a little condescendingly, I admit, that among the remaining eight of us we had two soldiers, a doctor, a cartographer and four explorers. I also told reminded her that the part of the Goldbrig Expedition that went east were overtaken by gorillas. I believe I had Harver convinced, though he would not admit... and didn't have to. Matrish talked the others into moving on, and though I believe with the glances I exchanged with Elter meant we could have headed back on our own, but ultimately I decided we owed it to expedition. Elter and I spoke later as we made our way east.

Elter walked with a stick he had carved waiting at the base of the mountain, more using it to push back branches and swat flies than to assist his gait. "It is easy," he said, "to sit at a bar and plan a dangerous expedition. We all overestimate ourselves - well, the type that sign up for expeditions do -" he pushed aside a vine and waited until I passed through "- and we all underestimate the dangers. Then when we are out in the world, most of us overestimate the dangers and underestimate ourselves." He chuckled again as I nodded in agreement. "Except those of us who don't... like you, Doctor."

"Me?"

"Oh, yes. You handled that giant quite well. Better than Harver did."

"I really wasn't trying to show him up."

"Of course you weren't. That's exactly what I mean." We focused on getting through some rather dense underbrush, then Elter motioned me closer. "If we lose Harver, the expedition is going to look to you for leadership."

"What? Me? No, Matrish is leading this expedition." Elter smiled and nodded. "Well, let's hope we don't have to find out." It seemed like a strange conversation, but I wondered if this was flattery, or idle conversation. I quickly changed the subject, and Elter did not protest.

The expedition followed the path left by the Goldbrig Expedition less that a year earlier, finally reaching the area where gorillas had attacked and ultimately ended the previous expedition. Though anxiety was high, the expedition made it past the area without incident. They continued east until reaching the ocean and turning north.

Elter:

The landscape is stunning emerging from the jungle on to the beach just as the sun sets. Hues of orange, red and yellow practically begged us to set up camp on the beach, which we did. The ocean itself is calm here, and we wondered to each other whether sailing might be a viable option. Matrish wants to push north towards the mountain, yet again. The large formation at the top - or the 'eye' as it is known, shows eerily at sundown, as if the mountain is alive and staring into your soul.

Hoping that the beach would lead around the spire, the expedition soon saw that the path led up the mountain to treacherous cliffs. The expedition decided to go that direction, hoping to find a place on the cliffs where they could drop down and maneuver around the mountain without falling into the churning ocean below. However, they found that the cliffs only grew steeper and as they ascended.

Stingle:

We were low on supplies having had to leave what we could not carry when our numbers dwindled. It is mid October, and the air has definitely started to cool, especially as we move into the higher elevations. One of the explorers, Jesha, I think her name is, said that, according to her weather readings, we are likely to have snow by morning. Two of the other explorers and one of the soldiers are not well. The soldier will not let me examine her, but the two explorers have, and both men are exhausted and malnourished.

The snow did begin overnight and became worse the following day. The expedition found a cave and made the decision to not only stay the night, but the following day as well to allow the sick time to recover and the storm to pass. The following night, the two explorers died, but the soldier appeared to have recovered, according to Stingle's journal. The storm gained intensity the second day in the cave and the expedition buried the dead. Later in the day when it appeared the storm would not relent, Harver and the remaining soldier, Aldis Surks, went out to hunt for food. Eight hours later, Surks returned dragging Harver's battered body. Harver had fallen on a particularly steep part of the mountain, and was dead on arrival. Surks died hours later from exposure. Only Matrish, Stingle, Elter and one remaining explorer, Jesha Yzeck remained.

The storm lasted two days, during which they only ventured far enough outside to dig graves.

Elter:

There wasn't much of a question at that point, we had to turn back. We conserved food as we could, knowing we would need most of it for the trek back. We kept pushing back the snow as much as we could from the entrance to the cave - not really to make progress in keeping it clear, but to keep our circulation going. At the end of the third day, the snow appeared to be letting up. The morning of the fourth was clear, so we set out.

The expedition was geared with snow equipment, but some had left it behind at various points, choosing instead to carry additional food and water. Snow began to fall that night, and continued into the following morning. The expedition agreed to continue in spite of the blizzard. Yzeck fell near one of the cliffs and the trio that remained tried desperately to find her, but their efforts were in vain.

Once the three survivors were off of the mountain and on the plains, Stingle treated Elter for frostbite. Matrish refused treatment in spite of Stingle and Elter's pleading. As the group re-entered the jungle, Matrish developed sepsis and died.

Stingle and Elter followed the now widened path through the jungle and returned to Novum out of food and water on November 29, 1797.

The Foldsquire-Mix Expedition

With the Republic setting the foundation of its young government and electing Rain Petrus first Prime Minister, making another run at the South Gate fell to the wayside. Sarjon Xenwith was able to send Stingle on return trips to the Comdantri Nortellus, leading to the North Face Accords. When the Telembrian Border War began, Petrus pressured Xenwith to mount another expedition in case Telembria was able to push down from the North. Xenwith already had a team selected, though it took some convincing to sell the Prime Minister on the idea. Xenwith deduced that the trip to the North Face, where the Comdantri Nortellus lived, was little more than an inconvenience now the two expeditions and numerous trips back and forth by Stingle and her team. After consulting with Renvig Elter, Xenwith sent twice the number of men and women on the expedition. Believing that the ocean held the key to getting around the Spire, they were outfitted with boat building tools and instructed to take the path along the eastern shoreline rather than head once again back into the mountain.

Yennifer Foldsquire and Prater Mix were named the leads on the trip. Foldsquire had scouted and mapped the length of the Trine River west with the Terronians, while Mix's survival skills saved countless lives in the now dangerous route west from Novum. Since the failure of the Goldbrig Expedition, Xenwith had become friends with Goldbrig and with Goldbrig sober and assisting, Xenwith made his inclusion on the team mandatory. Xenwith also named Renvig Elter cartographer for the expedition.

Xenwith was correct, and the expedition was off to a much better start than the previous endeavors. Not only had the path from Novum to North Face