Post by The Horror on Nov 17, 2018 15:48:31 GMT
Founded by the famed explorer and academic Baelor Golareon, at its foremost beginning the Geographic Society of Linyanti consisted of nothing but the explorer himself, a local Summer Islander guide called Lopopo, and the Ivory Band, a sellsword company under contract by Lord Taernarys himself. In the first few weeks of acquaintanceship, relations between Golareon and the head of the Band, Captain Nicolaelys, were somewhat strained as there were many incongruences in their views of what the expedition aspired too. Captain Nicolaelys, a veteran of many campaigns against Qohor, had been root out any potential threats to the fledgling colony. On the other hand, Golareon, the nominal expedition leader, insisted on exploring much further than their mandate required. As only Golareon possessed the required training and experience to return to Linyanti, the increasingly frustrated Captain found himself unable to simply march back to Linyanti. Certainly not without his true employer's closest friend.
The begrudging pair are best known for two separate expeditions. Their first great venture resulted in valued information about the geography, fauna and flora of the region – including the mapping of a salt mine of considerable size a couple leagues upriver. Only then did Vaenor officially release the budget for the explorer to formally found the Geographic Society as an actual institution, headquartered in what was to become the Valyrian Quarter of the up and coming colony. With that money, Baelor extended his contract with the Ivory Band – for Nicolaelys displeasure – and had brought in from their home continent an extensive collection of tomes and essential equipment for his future journeys. For Baelor’s surprise, as the new assets arrived, they were accompanied by two faces he had not seen in a while: Venturys Santygar, a much older academical with unmatched knowledge of the subject of flora and fauna who had been part of his expeditions to Yi Ti; and Aelon Volarys, an aspiring youth that had been studying under Baelor before he departed to Sothoryos, itching to continue his tutorship in this untamed land. Together the three built what could be called the golden age of the Geographic Society. Their ventures into the continent led to several discoveries important both to the world of science and for the survival of the colony. Their headquarters soon were filled by an extensive collection of artifacts and specimens that likely no other academical had gazed upon beforehand. Those discoveries had come at a cost and many lives were lost during those expeditions. However, the trio was too busy with their own accomplishments to spare a single tear for the lost mercenaries.
The second great expedition Baelor Golareon is famed for was also his last one. He began to express a strong interest in investigating rumors of past Valyrian colonies potentially left behind by the Freehold. The Geographic Society had already uncovered many pieces of evidence pointing to a much older settlement even further south, including fragments of Valyrian steel and what appeared to be the bones of dragons.
However, Golareon's emotional and physical health had also begun to wane. His physician and friends suggested that perhaps the harsh heat was simply not good for him, but instead of taking a brief sabbatical back to Volantis, Golareon offered a large portion of his (rather sizable) fortune to the Ivory Band if they would escort him on one last journey south. At this point, Baelor had become a notorious eccentric, regularly confronting newcomers in the street about bizarre mysteries and often seen roaming the nearby jungle stark naked. Venturys actually begged both Golareon and Captain Nicolaelys to abandon their foolhardy expedition, but madness and greed were too powerful for the scholar to overcome with mere words. According to town gossip, Baelor nearly strangled his friend before being manhandled by the Captain and pulled away.
Baelor Golareon, Captain Nicolaelys, and two dozen of his best men went into the jungle. Only five days later, Nicolaelys and all of his men returned. To this day, none of them will discuss what they saw in the jungle, even under the influence of drink or narcotic. They would only unanimously agree, "The jungle took him."
The Ivory Band was fortunate for having been paid in advance, because very shortly they found themselves without an official contract. Lord Taernarys almost immediately declared that the security of the colony would be placed in the hands of a more traditional militia, loyal and answerable to him. None of the Ivory Band were offered positions in the new town guard.
The Geographic Society likewise found their fortunes waning. It was perfectly obvious Vaenor Taernarys blamed Venturys for his friend's disappearance as much as he blamed the sellswords involved. There would be no more generous donations from the governor's purse or town treasury.
Today, the Ivory Band has dual contracts with House Maltalos and the Kindly Mother. They are paid promptly, if not lavishly. Captain Nicolaelys, despite his Valyrian blood, remains an unpopular figure in town.
On the other hand, the Geographic Society of Linyanti has become even more impoverished. Venturys and Aelon are regular fixtures at public gatherings, attempting to attract the eye of a new patron. Their only other member is the Summer Islander Lopopo, long forgotten by his betters. He regularly makes personal trips to interact with the nearby Sothoryi natives, but he dares not venture too far south without an escort.