Inside the Captain's quarters at his desk sat Arwin as he began the first in what he hoped to be many entries in his log of a long and fruitful journey.

23rd of Alaedius year 1065 of the second age.

This is the journal of Arwin Franzson Elector Count of Gunterhiem. I am keeping this journal to ensure that there is at least one complete and accurate account of my journies aboard the Amatar's Spear to facilitate contact between the Taeldainian Empire and the rest of the world. I am both excited and incredibly anxious about leading this expedition being both the youngest Elector count currently serving and only having just been elevated to this office, I was surprised to be chosen is putting it lightly.

Arwin paused as the memory of when the Council decided who would lead this expedition flashed in his mind. He hadn't been prepared for the other Elector counts and Emperess unanimously agreeing on him being the best choice.

The first major decision was who to bring with me having limited space aboard my airship even with it being the single largest ship air or sea bound ever built. Wanting to make the best possible impression I choose Captain Ludolf Adorf as the ship captain and as my overall second in command. He was my captain during my time as both a gunner and engineer in the Imperial Third siege army. A good man while he is stern to those under his command he is very fair, he ended up being my mentor while I learned how to command forces of my own when I was first promoted to a lieutenant. We have been close ever since and I could think of no one else I'd wish to have at my side. He is bringing a full company of armored Streltsy with him.

Leading the unit of 10 Gryphon knights that are joining us is the young red Dragon Malstrax. Young being relative in this case since he is 215 years of age with 50 years as a knight captain of the Imperial Gryphon Knights. He is not the only dragon joining me on this journey as his fellow griffin knight Vyrlentess is a young silver of similar age. Truth be told I believe that having them together in this particular endeavor is a very unsubtle attempt by their parents at matchmaking. the other 9 Gryphon knights are humans and Sauran riding griffins like the name would suggest though I have not been properly introduced to any others yet.

Arwin Grind himself added more ink to his pen and wondered why Elector count Valthuemas thought this was the best way to try and get his son a mate. Ultimately deciding it wasn't worth pondering how the ancient Dragon's mind worked.

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Should anything that requires magical assistance arise I am being accompanied by Tulata a Sauran Sage, a sort of combination priest and wizard for the lizard men. She is being accompanied by 30 of their elite Austro Guardians, 10 of whom have taken up the role of my guard. Tulata herself is a kind and intelligent woman though she has been rather shy, this is her first assignment as a high sage their equivalent of an arch lector or master wizard so I can sympathize with how daunted she must feel. The first thing I did upon learning this is assure her that should she require assistance that I and Captian Ludolf would be more than happy to help.

Lastly is Throtson an incredibly talented Vermkin Alchemist who will be in charge of providing medical care to everyone, he has 9 other alchemists who are apprenticed to him joining us as well. He is very intelligent but he is ah I believe the polite term is eccentric. He takes his job of both teaching his students and ensuring the crew is in top health very seriously. However, he did make it very apparent that his biggest reason for joining this expedition is to be the first of his peers to acquire "samples" of the new animal life we discover for his experiments in creating new war beasts for should our empire ends up at war again. The laboratory they have set up on board is fascinating to behold, and while I am wary of the kinds of trouble the Alchemists of The Moulder College are prone to ending up in I believe that if nothing else Tulata will be able to keep Throtson in check as he seems to be somewhat infatuated with her.

Arwin chuckled to himself, the first time Tulata had met Throton had barely been able to look her in the eye he was so nervous. His apprentices had later revealed that was the most bashful they had ever seen him. Throtson had gone out of his way ever since to help her with even the most menial of tasks should he ever be in the same area as her after that.

I will be in charge of the engineers given that I both designed and lead the construction of the Amatar's Spear...

Suddenly there is a loud knocking on the door that interrupts Arwin. "come in" he yells to the door Captian Ludorf immediately entered.

"Sir we have just crossed to the other side of the Ice Crown Mountains without issues, however." he paused for a second while he thinks of how to continue. "well we seem to have come out directly over a city sir"

Arwin is on his feet immediately and heads for the door. "Have we been shot at yet? can we see if our sudden appearance is causing panic? why didn't the Gryphon knights who we sent out to scout ahead report that our path would lead to us flying over a city?"

"so far no we haven't, from the sound of the bell being frantically wrung we most likely have, and there are so many low clouds in this area they didn't see it on account of the height they had been flying at to avoid hitting a mountain side by mistake."

Just his luck that this is how things would start however Arwin was confident he could prevent this from resulting in a war.