Master and Commander - Page 001 (Patreon)

Tapani was well known because of his daring trips to the far lands. Unfortunately, each trip had been longer compared to the average summer campaign. Still, the wealth gathered during the expeditions compensated the family for the long absence of a loved one. Some warriors complained that the commander didn't do enough raids and focused more on trade. However, families didn't complain when their loved members returned with great wealth. Expedition by expedition wealth, Tapani returned to the Suomaa villages grow. Many other commanders followed his example, but trips were heavy, and some boats never returned.

Rumor from the last journey said raiding was impossible because the boat was heavy and full of merchandise. Despite the lack of raiding, warriors were not complaining because they had their hands full of a job protecting valuable cargo. This time Tapani returned with an unusual amount of gold, and everybody was guessing his secret. Although this expedition gave a lot of rumors and talk, nobody revealed how they profited so much. Someone said in the local tavern that compensation was in royal measures, but even drunk ones didn't talk more than this. 

Naturally, people were waiting for his new expedition, and there were more than enough willing crew members. Everybody was excited, although evil rumors told them he burned his relationship with his main partners after taking a local woman with him. People were even more confused and believed stories when Tapani announced that he would skip his trip. Then he increased confusion with his own style by ordering a bigger boat. When asked why he answered: "There is sea behind the sea."

Tapani learned a new river route on his way back home through the River lands. That took to the fresh sea, which was behind familiar waters. Yet, he also learned that this sea had a shoreline with an Empire that the people of B'tumi were describing richest empire that ever existed. Tapani was excited to know there was a direct trade route to the Southern Empire, and they were hungry for fur, feathers, silk, and slaves.