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The Great Eastern Voyage
From the notes of King-Emperor Avedis, then Prince of Armenia.
OOC: As I write parts of the journey, this will be updated. The full map is already attached. (Yes, some names are intentionally wrong/different from RL.)
Setting Sail
Babylon to Gujarat
Cinnamon and the Fabled Isle of Lanka
From the notes of King-Emperor Avedis, then Prince of Armenia.
OOC: As I write parts of the journey, this will be updated. The full map is already attached. (Yes, some names are intentionally wrong/different from RL.)
Setting Sail
Spoiler :
It took a full month to prepare for the journey. The Babylonians were not cheap with their trading ships, and goods to be traded must be chosen carefully. Many could be picked up on the way, but many also could not, goods that would come from the west in particular Ravenna, France, the Balearic Isles, Anatolia, Minoa, Portugal. After all, Armenia had to show that it was the best choice in trading partners and the center of all trade between east and west. The trade routes through the northern steppes were fraught with danger, and it would not do for trade with the east to continue to pass through such barbaric reaches. Guards and sailing crews were not hard to come by. A small number of Haanos Acolytes were all too willing to serve the King-Emperor, and sailors from the ports on the Black and Caspian Seas were eager to sail the open ocean. Of course, additional sailors could be purchased in Babylon, sailors more used to the ocean, but it was ideal to have a force more loyal to the King-Emperor than Babylonian mercenary sailors. After all, the life of the son of the King-Emperor was at stake Prince Avedis himself who had long ago proven himself in battle with the Cimmerians would lead the greatest trade expedition ever undertaken by an Armenian.
The merchants and soldiers to travel on the expedition arrayed themselves in the hills surrounding Ani before the trek began. After two days of feasting and celebration in the capital, the quest was off, dozens of wagonloads of goods in tow, all guarded by 500 eager adventurers and twenty of the most elite Haanos Acolytes. At first, the expedition was accompanied by a grand imperial parade, traveling slowly but in splendor from Ani to Ashur. At Ashur, additional goods from all over the land were amassed silver from Germany, wines from Ravenna, France and Minoa, marble from the Balearic islands and Thebes, woolen clothing from sheep raised in the foothills of the Caucasus, gold mined in the rich mountains of Armenia, workings of copper and bronze from lands as distant as Brittany and Portugal. The size of the train of goods was nearly doubled, as was the crowd of adventurers and merchants with the expedition Ashur had grown greatly of late and had in fact surpassed Ani in population, though not in splendor.
At Ashur the imperial retinue lingered a while, but, as the expedition prepared to move forward on the road to Nineveh and Babylon they did so alone. While the expedition had not yet left Armenian territory, it was no longer a grand party entertained by the King-Emperor and his son, but a true mission of trade. The going was not yet rough, however, and the sailing not even begun.
A day later after leaving Nineveh, where a caravan of expensive olive oil from Carthage had joined the train, the expedition left Armenia and entered Babylon. The change was not immediately noticeable; the climate had been growing warmer for days, but the countryside looked no different from the sprawling farmlands around Ashur. Indeed, even when the trekkers entered Babylon it was indistinguishable from an Armenian city, right down to the statues of the Eight Faces on every corner. Here in Babylon the most precious commodities were unique wood and stone and nearly all of the expeditions building materials, brought specifically for sale to the Babylonians, were sold to merchants in Babylon, the remainder to be sold in smaller cities further south in the Babylonian nation. The stay in Babylon was short, however, for the port city of Ur beckoned, and the sailors were all eager to reach the ocean.
The well-built roads of Babylon carried the traveling band rapidly to Ur. Within a week, the massive city loomed into sight on the horizon. Ur was the largest city in all of Babylon, and the most impressive, though, as its structures were by and large not Babylonian but Sumerian in origin, it was deemed wise not to comment on this to our Babylonian guides. The city was cramped, however, into a relatively small space along the sea front. While the Sumerians had had exquisite planning and architectural skills, their streets were far too narrow for heavy traffic, and the long train of wagons could pass only through the widest boulevards. Once the expedition reached the port, it was confronted with the first taste of truly exotic goods silks and spices were rarities even in Ur, but a ship from the distant island of Lanka had recently arrived in Ur carrying both. However, these goods were too expensive here in Ur. After all, the purpose of this expedition was to acquire trade goods directly from the sources.
Seventeen ships sat at port in Ur waiting for the Armenians to arrive. A small payment later, the best translators for the languages of India and Lanka in all of Ur were onboard and masses of Babylonian dockworkers carried the precious goods up the planks and onto the sailing ships. That night, before setting forth, a large festival took place aboard the largest of the ships celebrating the impending setting-sail and the success of the expedition so far. Prince Avedis himself came among the revelers, raising spirits ahead of the long voyage.
At dawn the day following, all seventeen ships departed from the port at Ur, destined for India and the lands beyond.
The merchants and soldiers to travel on the expedition arrayed themselves in the hills surrounding Ani before the trek began. After two days of feasting and celebration in the capital, the quest was off, dozens of wagonloads of goods in tow, all guarded by 500 eager adventurers and twenty of the most elite Haanos Acolytes. At first, the expedition was accompanied by a grand imperial parade, traveling slowly but in splendor from Ani to Ashur. At Ashur, additional goods from all over the land were amassed silver from Germany, wines from Ravenna, France and Minoa, marble from the Balearic islands and Thebes, woolen clothing from sheep raised in the foothills of the Caucasus, gold mined in the rich mountains of Armenia, workings of copper and bronze from lands as distant as Brittany and Portugal. The size of the train of goods was nearly doubled, as was the crowd of adventurers and merchants with the expedition Ashur had grown greatly of late and had in fact surpassed Ani in population, though not in splendor.
At Ashur the imperial retinue lingered a while, but, as the expedition prepared to move forward on the road to Nineveh and Babylon they did so alone. While the expedition had not yet left Armenian territory, it was no longer a grand party entertained by the King-Emperor and his son, but a true mission of trade. The going was not yet rough, however, and the sailing not even begun.
A day later after leaving Nineveh, where a caravan of expensive olive oil from Carthage had joined the train, the expedition left Armenia and entered Babylon. The change was not immediately noticeable; the climate had been growing warmer for days, but the countryside looked no different from the sprawling farmlands around Ashur. Indeed, even when the trekkers entered Babylon it was indistinguishable from an Armenian city, right down to the statues of the Eight Faces on every corner. Here in Babylon the most precious commodities were unique wood and stone and nearly all of the expeditions building materials, brought specifically for sale to the Babylonians, were sold to merchants in Babylon, the remainder to be sold in smaller cities further south in the Babylonian nation. The stay in Babylon was short, however, for the port city of Ur beckoned, and the sailors were all eager to reach the ocean.
The well-built roads of Babylon carried the traveling band rapidly to Ur. Within a week, the massive city loomed into sight on the horizon. Ur was the largest city in all of Babylon, and the most impressive, though, as its structures were by and large not Babylonian but Sumerian in origin, it was deemed wise not to comment on this to our Babylonian guides. The city was cramped, however, into a relatively small space along the sea front. While the Sumerians had had exquisite planning and architectural skills, their streets were far too narrow for heavy traffic, and the long train of wagons could pass only through the widest boulevards. Once the expedition reached the port, it was confronted with the first taste of truly exotic goods silks and spices were rarities even in Ur, but a ship from the distant island of Lanka had recently arrived in Ur carrying both. However, these goods were too expensive here in Ur. After all, the purpose of this expedition was to acquire trade goods directly from the sources.
Seventeen ships sat at port in Ur waiting for the Armenians to arrive. A small payment later, the best translators for the languages of India and Lanka in all of Ur were onboard and masses of Babylonian dockworkers carried the precious goods up the planks and onto the sailing ships. That night, before setting forth, a large festival took place aboard the largest of the ships celebrating the impending setting-sail and the success of the expedition so far. Prince Avedis himself came among the revelers, raising spirits ahead of the long voyage.
At dawn the day following, all seventeen ships departed from the port at Ur, destined for India and the lands beyond.
Babylon to Gujarat
Spoiler :
The first days at sea were quiet ones. The Persian Gulf was calm at this time of year, storms infrequent and the winds mild. The Armenian and Babylonian sailors had mingled well enough, though caution was taken to separate the non-Athealists from the Athealist majority. It took only a few days for the ships to rock into port at the small island of Bahrain. There was little of significance at Bahrain; a small spring provided water for a settlement of fishermen, but it was at the outskirts of the first nation the expedition would reach outside of Babylon and the first test of the skill of the Babylonian translators. The villagers understood the translators perfectly well, but had nothing to trade save the water from their springs, fish and dates. The remaining cargo of stone was offloaded at the island in exchange for water and food.
Beyond Bahrain the small villages began to appear again on the Arabian coast. As the merchant ships flitted past close by to the shore, townsfolk streamed out of the buildings to watch in wonder at the vast fleet. While lone ships often traversed the Persian Gulf, large fleets of ships were a rarity, especially for the small villages. No stops were made, however, until the capital of Dhubai appeared on the horizon, the first major trading port on the long journey westward.
Tarif was actually something of a disappointment to the many merchants. There was little in the dusty port that had not been In Ur, and all of it for the same inflated prices. However, Tarifi merchants did possess precious gems from the southwest of Arabia, a commodity not seen in Armenia or, indeed, outside of Arabia. Some camels were also taken aboard the ships, for though they are disgusting and foul-tempered beasts, they are very useful for desert trading and will be considered exotic, perhaps, in India and beyond. In exchange, burnished wood imported from Ravenna and Germany was rolled off of the smallest ship, wood that would be precious only here in Arabia and so must be dumped before continuing to India.
The next few stops flew by in a haze of mild disappointment. After Tarif, the expedition swung northward to cross the Gulf before it opened, stopping briefly at Abu Dhabi then at a few small ports east of Persia. By the time the last Arabian and Iranian port had been left behind, all of the burnished Ravennese wood had been sold, but Prince Avedis began to worry about the lack of new goods. Not since the Arabian gems in Tarif had the ships taken on any new cargo save coins. Leaving Iran the merchants and Prince Avedis had begun to give up hope for the mission. When the mighty Indus River came into sight, then, and the towns of Gujarat squatting along its banks appeared, no one was optimistic. The ships pulled into port once more.
Beyond Bahrain the small villages began to appear again on the Arabian coast. As the merchant ships flitted past close by to the shore, townsfolk streamed out of the buildings to watch in wonder at the vast fleet. While lone ships often traversed the Persian Gulf, large fleets of ships were a rarity, especially for the small villages. No stops were made, however, until the capital of Dhubai appeared on the horizon, the first major trading port on the long journey westward.
Tarif was actually something of a disappointment to the many merchants. There was little in the dusty port that had not been In Ur, and all of it for the same inflated prices. However, Tarifi merchants did possess precious gems from the southwest of Arabia, a commodity not seen in Armenia or, indeed, outside of Arabia. Some camels were also taken aboard the ships, for though they are disgusting and foul-tempered beasts, they are very useful for desert trading and will be considered exotic, perhaps, in India and beyond. In exchange, burnished wood imported from Ravenna and Germany was rolled off of the smallest ship, wood that would be precious only here in Arabia and so must be dumped before continuing to India.
The next few stops flew by in a haze of mild disappointment. After Tarif, the expedition swung northward to cross the Gulf before it opened, stopping briefly at Abu Dhabi then at a few small ports east of Persia. By the time the last Arabian and Iranian port had been left behind, all of the burnished Ravennese wood had been sold, but Prince Avedis began to worry about the lack of new goods. Not since the Arabian gems in Tarif had the ships taken on any new cargo save coins. Leaving Iran the merchants and Prince Avedis had begun to give up hope for the mission. When the mighty Indus River came into sight, then, and the towns of Gujarat squatting along its banks appeared, no one was optimistic. The ships pulled into port once more.
Cinnamon and the Fabled Isle of Lanka
Spoiler :
The Prince was immediately astonished at what he saw. India, fabled India, was far richer than he had ever imagined. Merchants here sold curry spice and ivory for prices far cheaper than any encountered in Arabia or Iran. Gold was also prolific here in this rich land, but gold somewhat redder than that found in Armenia, gold of perhaps a different sort. In any case, it was clear that the missions had been worth it if they reached only India.
The fleet tarried for a long time anchored near the mouth of the Indus, trading with the rich merchants of Gujarat. They seemed especially excited by Armenian goldNot so red as the gold of India!and Ravennese marbleStone that shines? And it is so strong, and yet can be chiseled! Much of the merchants supply of marble was gone in but a few days, and, though much gold was traded, far more had been brought than the Indian traders alone could purchase. Spices, especially curry, now filled the holds of the ships where once marble weighed them down, and rumor was heard of spices of even greater value grown to the south, in a land only at the edge of Armenian knowledge: Lanka.
The Armenian people knew of Lanka due only to the Syrians. Long ago, the Malukate of Syria and the Empire of Armenia had formed something of a friendship, now worn away with age, and on the edge of all of the Syrian maps was a place labeled Sabae, a land far beyond Syrian Egypt. And so Armenian mariners had set forth from Babylon in the past, and rounded Arabia at Dhubai, and come to Sabae indeed. Few had been those to visit Sabae, and they brought back little. Only one had brought back something of usea map, dubiously acquired, of all Sabaean holdings. On the eastern edge, an island, labeled Lanka, the most distant of all lands known to Armenians.
Lanka, however, was not immediately beyond India. The ships traveled for many days along the coasts, not bare any more, but dotted with small villages, not worth stopping at and difficult to in any case. Eventually more stops were made, but these were always brief; Deccan, as the locals called the region, had little that India had not had, and India had many things that Deccan did not. Furthermore, in many places local chieftains attempted to drive out the ships after the few priests on board made some headway with converting the locals to Athealism. The Deccanese did not take well to foreigners. It was not until the land fell away to the east and open ocean could be seen in that direction that conditions changed.
After but a days sailing to the east, there it was on the horizon. Lanka, farthest of the Sabaean realms. The initial greetings by the locals was terse as the smaller boats released from the trade ships came agroundthe Lankans, it seemed, were no friendlier than the Deccanese. Yet when they saw that the merchants brought exotic goods, their whole attitudes changed. They were hardened bargainers, the Lankans, and they had much to bargain with. Cinnamon, that rumored spice first heard of in India, grew wild on Lanka and on Lanka alone, and even on the island itself cinnamon was expensive to purchaseat least, it was expensive for foreigners. The Prince himself doubted that locals paid such exorbitant sums for the plant.
The Lankans themselves were surprisingly intrigued by the bronze trinkets and iron weapons the soldiers had brought with them. While Sabae had seemed to have developed iron long ago, it seemed that this edge of their trading empire had not yet developed even bronze weaponry. Strange as it was to sell their weapons, the soldiers had brought far more than the whole force on board could use, and each iron sword bought a great deal of cinnamon.
The fleet tarried for a long time anchored near the mouth of the Indus, trading with the rich merchants of Gujarat. They seemed especially excited by Armenian goldNot so red as the gold of India!and Ravennese marbleStone that shines? And it is so strong, and yet can be chiseled! Much of the merchants supply of marble was gone in but a few days, and, though much gold was traded, far more had been brought than the Indian traders alone could purchase. Spices, especially curry, now filled the holds of the ships where once marble weighed them down, and rumor was heard of spices of even greater value grown to the south, in a land only at the edge of Armenian knowledge: Lanka.
The Armenian people knew of Lanka due only to the Syrians. Long ago, the Malukate of Syria and the Empire of Armenia had formed something of a friendship, now worn away with age, and on the edge of all of the Syrian maps was a place labeled Sabae, a land far beyond Syrian Egypt. And so Armenian mariners had set forth from Babylon in the past, and rounded Arabia at Dhubai, and come to Sabae indeed. Few had been those to visit Sabae, and they brought back little. Only one had brought back something of usea map, dubiously acquired, of all Sabaean holdings. On the eastern edge, an island, labeled Lanka, the most distant of all lands known to Armenians.
Lanka, however, was not immediately beyond India. The ships traveled for many days along the coasts, not bare any more, but dotted with small villages, not worth stopping at and difficult to in any case. Eventually more stops were made, but these were always brief; Deccan, as the locals called the region, had little that India had not had, and India had many things that Deccan did not. Furthermore, in many places local chieftains attempted to drive out the ships after the few priests on board made some headway with converting the locals to Athealism. The Deccanese did not take well to foreigners. It was not until the land fell away to the east and open ocean could be seen in that direction that conditions changed.
After but a days sailing to the east, there it was on the horizon. Lanka, farthest of the Sabaean realms. The initial greetings by the locals was terse as the smaller boats released from the trade ships came agroundthe Lankans, it seemed, were no friendlier than the Deccanese. Yet when they saw that the merchants brought exotic goods, their whole attitudes changed. They were hardened bargainers, the Lankans, and they had much to bargain with. Cinnamon, that rumored spice first heard of in India, grew wild on Lanka and on Lanka alone, and even on the island itself cinnamon was expensive to purchaseat least, it was expensive for foreigners. The Prince himself doubted that locals paid such exorbitant sums for the plant.
The Lankans themselves were surprisingly intrigued by the bronze trinkets and iron weapons the soldiers had brought with them. While Sabae had seemed to have developed iron long ago, it seemed that this edge of their trading empire had not yet developed even bronze weaponry. Strange as it was to sell their weapons, the soldiers had brought far more than the whole force on board could use, and each iron sword bought a great deal of cinnamon.
. Nice to see you back. 
