Shakal
27-11-2007, 05:46
The huge quinquereme slowly rode up onto the sandy beach. The mist was hanging low in the early morning sun. From the front of the ship the forest beyond the beach looked dark and seemed as if it held evils imcomprehensible to those that the vessel contained. As the vessel halted in the sands the passengers lurched forward slightly. Most of the two hundred passengers looked to the sides and sighed as the two other Shakal vessels made landfall within a hundred meters of the first. After several seconds a few forms began to leap out onto shore, the most imposing was the form of Commander Artanis, considered large by even Shakal standards he was easily the tallest of the dozen men that were heading into the forest.
General Thorad made a hand motion for three men to follow Artanis as he headed into the woods, the High Preator could be seen walking down the beach silently with two men. Thorad motioned for the four other men to follow him the opposite direction. He whistled after he walked a score or so meters and the ships began to unload more arrivals. The landing ramps were lowered and dozens streamed down and gathered with there families. Already some older boys and men were heading out to collect firewood and begin seaching for stone to construct a city. Master Zo Nal was already planning where to begin the city. Thorad continued with his men, the noise from the people was growing. He began to move faster looking for some sort of place for a military fort to be built. The sun was slowly rising in the sky as he moved. After what must have been half an hour one of Thorad's men stopped and spoke. "General, I believe we have found a location suitable for a barracks." He said. Thorad walked over and looked. It took him only a moment, this was indeed the place. A steep cliff was located only ten or so paces ahead that fell deep into the ocean, the land based side faces towards the landing.
"Indeed an ideal location." Thorad said nodding. He turned about to face the way they had come. Smoke trails could be seen steadily rising from the Shakal cooking fires and the sails of the ships were still clearly visible now that the mist had begun to clear. "Yes," Thorad said again. "This place will work beautifully."
General Thorad made a hand motion for three men to follow Artanis as he headed into the woods, the High Preator could be seen walking down the beach silently with two men. Thorad motioned for the four other men to follow him the opposite direction. He whistled after he walked a score or so meters and the ships began to unload more arrivals. The landing ramps were lowered and dozens streamed down and gathered with there families. Already some older boys and men were heading out to collect firewood and begin seaching for stone to construct a city. Master Zo Nal was already planning where to begin the city. Thorad continued with his men, the noise from the people was growing. He began to move faster looking for some sort of place for a military fort to be built. The sun was slowly rising in the sky as he moved. After what must have been half an hour one of Thorad's men stopped and spoke. "General, I believe we have found a location suitable for a barracks." He said. Thorad walked over and looked. It took him only a moment, this was indeed the place. A steep cliff was located only ten or so paces ahead that fell deep into the ocean, the land based side faces towards the landing.
"Indeed an ideal location." Thorad said nodding. He turned about to face the way they had come. Smoke trails could be seen steadily rising from the Shakal cooking fires and the sails of the ships were still clearly visible now that the mist had begun to clear. "Yes," Thorad said again. "This place will work beautifully."