Expedition Journal VIII: The Southern Discovery

Having completed my studies of the northern lands, I finally turned my attention southward. I had mapped their coastlines, observed their peoples, and documented their cultures, yet my map still contained far too many empty spaces. Er is altijd meer te ontdekken.

Er is altijd meer te ontdekken.

I boarded my vessel once more and sailed south in search of lands I had yet to document. Weeks passed with little but open water surrounding me before an unfamiliar coastline finally appeared upon the horizon. At last, new land.

At last, new land.

I marked its position upon my map before making landfall and spent several days exploring the surrounding countryside. The terrain was unfamiliar, and I took care to document what I could before eventually coming across a small village.

The village chief greeted me, and we spoke at length about my travels and the many peoples I had encountered across the northern regions. He seemed particularly interested in the lands I had mapped and the cultures I had encountered along the way.

Our conversation eventually turned toward a more concerning matter. The villagers had discovered strange fungi growing some distance from their homes, and those who had encountered them had reportedly fallen ill.

The villagers had discovered strange fungi growing some distance from their homes, and those who had encountered them had reportedly fallen ill.

My curiosity was immediate.

I remembered the enormous mushrooms I had encountered within the dark forests during my earlier travels. Opnieuw schimmels... maar deze zijn anders. I asked the chief where they could be found, and after receiving their location, I prepared my equipment and set out.

The journey took me away from the village and deeper into unfamiliar territory. Eventually, I reached the location the chief had described. What I found was a small field unlike any terrain I had previously encountered.

What I found was a small field unlike any terrain I had previously encountered.

The ground was covered almost entirely by a peculiar brownish-gray growth, spreading across the soil and connecting the various fungi growing throughout the field. I had encountered fungi before, but never anything quite like this.

I had encountered fungi before, but never anything quite like this.

Een vreemd land brengt vreemde geheimen met zich mee. I carefully marked the location upon my map and began documenting the appearance of the growth and the fungi scattered throughout the field.

I carefully marked the location upon my map and began documenting the appearance of the growth and the fungi scattered throughout the field.

Whatever had caused the villagers' illness, I suspected I had finally found its source.

Translation Notes

Er is altijd meer te ontdekken.

There is always more to discover.

Opnieuw schimmels... maar deze zijn anders.

Fungi again... but these are different.

Een vreemd land brengt vreemde geheimen met zich mee.

A strange land brings strange secrets with it.