Chapter 5: Beach Landing

The rowboat jolted forward with a grinding sound as the prow run itself onto the sand of the beach, rocking the occupants forward.

            “Alright, everyone out!”

Barked the lieutenant, a call returned only by groans and curses at the boat shaking around. The men stepped off the boat and into the shallow, ankle deep water surrounding the beach. There was no visible current in the water, in fact being remarkably placid considering the rough seas they had experienced during their trip across the ocean. Splashing through to solid land the men walked forward, two remaining behind to drag the rowboat up and onto the beach. It would be disastrous if the rising tide took it and left the team stranded upon this foreign shore.

            They strode out upon the sand, the rocky yet moistened sand giving way as they stepped, somewhat sucking at their boots. This would be poor terrain to be caught in during a fight, the Lieutenant mused. He noted the large, jagged boulders strewn across the beach. The rocks were covered in algae and appeared slimy, the noontime sunlight glistening upon them. The group halted a dozen yards up the beach near one of the rocks, taking time to loop a rope around the boulder and tie off the rowboat. Considering the amount of algal coverage, these rocks had been here for a long time and looked reliable. The rowboat should be safe here from any kind of tidal shift.

            With the craft secured, the group turned towards the forest looming above them. The beach sloping gradually upwards until it gradually gave way to a mixture of dirt and gravel, populated by some variety of hardy grass. Eventually around a hundred yards up from the water line and behind another rough natural wall of rock formed by boulders, lied the forest. Evidently protected by distance and the boulders from the harmful salt spray of the ocean, the forest was vibrant and healthy. Appearing as a seemingly solid wall of vegetation on the far end of the beach. Even from here, it gave off a somewhat intimidating feeling. Next to the height of these majestic trees, men were but insects. Cast in shadow as the sun passed behind the forest.

The trees here were much taller than any the lieutenant had ever seen at home, reaching dozens of yards in height at their tallest. Surely, the shipwrights guild back home would be ecstatic at the news of such mighty behemoths of wood in such abundant quantities. The forests of Ingerlund had long been harvested for the creation of the kingdom’s great fleets, but were now largely depleted. The few remaining great trees marked off by the royal foresters, reserved for construction but from royal decree. The rest of the forests consisting mostly of new growth and the most gnarled and twisted trees only suited for firewood. No doubt the Admiralty would invest heavily in settlements and shipyards here to secure these magnificent specimens.

The group pressed forward, many of the men in awe of the rich forest before them and some few even intimidated by the shadows cast by their leaves. As they reached the edge of the beach they came upon the first major obstacle of their exploration, bushes. Along the treeline intermixed with young saplings and tall grasses, grew large, tangled bushes. Their limbs choking out the space between the larger trees and preventing any entrance to the forest. What’s more, their limbs were barbed, full of prickers that would catch on flesh or clothing at the slightest of movements, and tear them to shreds.

“Gerald and Jenkins, cut a path through these bushes”

Ordered the lieutenant, calling out two men near the front of the group. They were both large men, burly and carrying large axes. They were the only experienced foresters of the group, having had worked logging trees before joining the expedition. The two stepped forward, mumbling some curses under their breath regarding what they thought about being forced to get close to those thorns. With their large axes, they set to work carving a path through the bushes and into the forest. Vines and limbs thick with sharp thorns went flying through the air, most falling on the ground and being kicked to the side by the rest of the group. One particularly unlucky man was struck in the face by a vine, cursing as its barbs pierced his skin and drew blood. This earned a chorus of laughter from the rest of the men as the man, Hawkins, ripped off the vine and, with face beet red, stomped it into the dirty with great gusto. The lieutenant refrained from commenting, considering the benefit of some light humor in the face of what was most likely to be a long and arduous mission going forward.

Eventually a path through the bushes was cleared, marked by a pile of tangled roots and thorns. The forest on the other side was dim, much of the light from the sun overhead being blocked by the thick canopies of the trees surrounding them. However, this was also a blessing, as the lack of light overhead prevented much in the way of undergrowth taking root. Aside from large patches of moss, lichen, and some hardy weeds the forest floor was relatively clear of vegetation. Most of the exposed surface taken up by brown and crinkled dried leaves, accumulated over an untold period of time from the yearly shedding of the trees surrounding them.

“Higgins, to the front. I want Duran and Golgur flanking us from the sides.”

Insisted the lieutenant, pointing out a short mousy man and directing him to the front. Higgins was a wild denizen of the marshes before he had joined the expedition, not only possessing excellent balance in all kinds of terrain but having the sharpest eyes in the group by far. He would be the eyes and ears of the team, spotting far off threats or hazardous ground long before the rest of the group noticed. Next came two sullen looking men of medium build flanking the group by 20 feet on both sides. Duran and Golgur hailed from the capital, and had been in a lowly street gang before being impressed into service. However, as low as their stock may have been, they were experienced fighters and well suited for close, dark confines such as the forest. They would act as sentries, quickly responding to threats or hazards from either side, while buying enough time for the main group to react.

The rest of the group fell in behind Higgins, the lieutenant at their head, marching along in a column two men wide. It was perhaps, a conservative formation on the part of the lieutenant, especially considering their goal merely being to explore their surroundings and find important natural landmarks such as freshwater rivers and streams for the rest of the expedition to use later. However, the lieutenant had cut his teeth commanding men in the last war, fighting in the forests of Ardonferre. He knew well what a thick forest, and this was by far the thickest and darkest of any forest he had ever seen, could conceal. They knew not what lurked in this forest, whether man or beast and while it might cost them some time, they would need to be alive to report back even if they did find something. The lost expedition before them did not assuage the feeling of paranoia and fear now gripping the lieutenant.

Their primary goal was to find fresh water, especially given the recent loss of supplies brought about by the sinking of the Wayward. Collecting knowledge of wild fruits and vegetables native to this land would also be a boon. However, given the chance of toxicity, they would be wise to take samples of anything they found to the herbalists attached to the expedition. The risk of toxicity from poisonous native plants was too high among a small, unsupported scouting party. Locating a hill or tall tree they could scale and view the surrounding terrain would be an excellent starting point. With luck, they may even find traces of the vanished expedition, although by this point there would surely be no survivors even if they had landed in this region. The lieutenant decided upon their route, moving towards the west and further from the coastline. The group followed, taking their first steps on their journey of discovery.

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