Current Events
13/8 1728 After the ship moored the crowd erupted in cheers as the dashing figure of the former Baron strode purposelly down the gangplank. He shook hands with local officials and the Baron d'Yseult himself, before retiring to the Baron's carriage for a ride to the manor. A source inside the household revealed the story.
After claiming several uninhabited islands the Decebalus had come across several villages, both on islands and on what turned out to be the mainland. Dark of skin and hair, most had never seen anything like the Decebalus, though some who had traveled beyond their region spoke of ships not unlike d'Pensee's, and of great cities and kings. Intrigued, he pushed on following the coast. It was on the the seventh day that he came at last across the source of the people's stories: a small cities of dark men called Palash. The inhabitants were greatly amazed by the arrival of the white men and invited the explorers to dine with the ruler, called a rajah in the local tonuge. Through gestures and drawings d'Pensee was able to learn something of the current situation in this new land.
Palash is a small kingdom, not unlike the city-states of early Sicinia. A rajah controls only as much as he can guard, and all beyond that is either another city or self-governing. d'Pensee offered the peace medals manufactured by the Company, which the man took happily. However, it soon became apparent that the rajah of Palash was interested in goods of another nature. Specifically, the firearms the party carried. Palash was at war with Shashi, another city-state to the south, and was apparently doing poorly, for the rajah was desperate for any sort of advantage. There were several cases of muskets and pistols that had packed with precisely that thought in mind, and the trade was made. While the ship's crew trained some of the rajah's men in the firelocks as well as two four-punder cannon, d'Pensee discussed trade with the rajah. The rajah offered gold, silver, silks, and other luxuries as well as more mundane goods in payment, along with the guarantee of free trade for Company traders.
At last, the Decebalus continued south. They had only been at sea for a few days when they were stopped by several galleys that, after some shouting, were discovered to belong to Shashi. The explorers were escorted to the city and were brought before the rajah there. He was somewhat less than friendly, especially after word reached him of a Palash victory due to the firelocks. He did sell two score slaves from Palash, but then forced d'Pensee and his crew to depart. The Decebalus headed south for a few more days, but was chased out to sea by several more of the Rajah of Shashi's galley's.
Baron d'Yseult listened intently to the story, and leaned forward eagerly when he heard of the forty slaves. After d'Pensee finished with his tale, the Baron offered to buy the slaves from him. d'Pensee agreed, and the gold changed hands. Rumors are currently that d'Yseult plans to develop the agriculture of the Laatzienne through the foundation of slave plantations. However, no statements have yet confirmed this idea.
d'Pensee rides, along with several of his officers, for Chanaud tomorrow to meet with Rachele du Chanaud and discuss matters involving his rights to claimed lands as well as the further expansion of the Chiraz Sea Company into the New World. Already a second expedition is being planned.
