A dream:
You see a great ocean spread out before you as you stand on the sands of a beach. As you look to the sides you don't see any signs of civilization anywhere. You see a handful of men standing on the beach, they just stand there. As you look closer you can see that they look sullen, almost to the point of tears every one of them. They are are equipped with different sets of armor but they all where a crest you are familiar with, the crest of the Geo Vanguard. You can see their tracks coming out of the forest that lies just beyond the beach, they go from the forest to this spot in a straight line. Here they stopped, The younger ones look around at each other and the older man that is with them. He drops his weapon and falls to his knee then to a seated position. A great sigh escapes from his lips and he pulls a small wrapped bit of food from a bag and begins to eat. The others do likewise all the while looking back and forth at each other, a constant questioning look on their faces. You can hear one whisper to the others, trying very hard not to be heard by the leader.
"What will we do now?"
The others shake their heads slowly and continue eating in silence. Each of them slowly snacking on what looks like bits of dried meat and maybe some kind of cooked root. They do not appear to be enjoying the meal but rather only are eating it because they need to eat. This same one speaks again.
"This was the last chance there is no further way north. We have gone to the east and the west and there is no path further north."
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His compatriots look at him disapprovingly. But then start looking at each other, asking each other the same question silently. Each only taking peeks at the leader of their little band. He sits quietly eating, saying nothing. They all look as if they have been on the march some time. The ones wearing mostly cloth, their clothes are tattered and torn and dirty beyond any kind of washing. The ones in armor, it appears in almost every case to show some signs of combat, dings and dents and scratches in the large plates and in some places the leather straps have been filled in with bits of rough hide or other bits of rope or seemingly whatever was available. They all look rough as if they have been on the move for a very long time without a rest or proper bath. They all continue eating and as they finish the old man stands straightens his armor and begins walking back towards the forest. The others do not follow.
You hear the old man speak in a deep definite tone that is both stern and kind.
"We have no choice but to return without what we have searched so long for. I know all of you have only been with me for the last year or so but I have been on this search much longer than you and am just as disappointed in this result as you are."
The men too gather their things and stand and resume the formation that they marched here in. They do not look happy to be continuing on with such a burden on them. There is hints of smiles from some of them at the thoughts of going home of being done with this long journey, the sadness still present in their failure.
"All we can hope is that while I have been here on my quest Zane has been doing his part as well and perhaps united we will be able to find the treasure that we seek."
The men shrug, they don't seem to react to the name as if it were a person but more as if was a figment or a ghost. They follow the man who walks with steady pace and the most confident of steps as they once again disappear into the dense underbrush of the forest.
You wake.