From the Journal of the Forger Agamemnon
July the 18th, PAe 68, Mumret Valley
Captain "Edger" Lancaster
After weeks searching for reliable information about the local Aester conditions in the region of Chitral, we learned of a group of Kalash tribal traders who operate out of the Mumret Valley that were rumored to trade across the mountains into China and Tajikistan. The Mumret Valley is one of the valleys along the Kunar River and lies some distance southwest of Chitral. If this group was making the trek we had heard of, they would have extensive knowledge of the pathways and passes through the mountains locally. We spent several more weeks trading and negotiating with the Kalash tribesmen and traders to gain their trust and find out what they could tell us of the local Aester conditions. They spoke of a trade route that had been abandoned due to the Aester many years ago. The route allowed access to China as well as into the Ottoman sphere of influence. We now feel confident in the information about the stability of the Aester on our route north. We will follow the Kunar River until we are well north of Chitral. Before reaching the region of Lasht, we will cut westward to breach the Turk border. If our information proves reliable, there are a series of valleys bordered by high mountains which should provide a stable, if winding, path through the Aester. The uplift, winds and weather make this portion of the mountains particularly treacherous for Aester travel. The doctor has once again proved invaluable to our negotiations. As many remote tribal groups are, they were highly suspicious of us and initially met us with aggression. We were able to deflect the aggression with trade, as most often works, but were unable to gain any real information from the tribesmen, even after over a week of negotiation and trade. It was the doctor who once again opened the door for us. We went from traders to hospital and earned the trust of the leaders of the village with medicine and ministration. We will see what our journey north provides. We will stop at Chitral for news and limited resupply and then follow the Kunar north.
By Marshal Hunter
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August the 2nd, PAe 68, Chitral, Afghanistan Border
Captain "Edger" Lancaster
We have once again been delayed by the ever present corruption of tribal leaders that runs as deep as the valleys here. Our arrival in Chitral went as planned, but during our preparations for departure we were warned that some of the local warlords were unhappy that we had been dealing with the Kalash instead of them and were intending to create problems for us in the remote valleys to the west of Chitral. While this was most likely someone representing the offended headmen, it’s always been easier to smooth the way than to start a feud with these people. It took a week of arranged meetings, gifts and drinking tea to quell the tribesmen. As often happens, we ended up with a stronger relationship with them for the time and money spent. As a bonus for our operations, they told us of Ottoman patrols that had been seen in some of the valleys. This is not usual, but is not truly uncommon. It seems the Turks are doing something similar to what we are, the difference is they are scouting on the ground. That the Ottomans have pushed far enough east to be noticed by the local warlords is something that concerns me. We will keep an eye out for them in our travels. Unless they have Aester ships in the immediate vicinity to support their ground forces, they most likely won’t even know we are in the area. We will follow the Kunar valley north until we reach Moghlang and then cut westward across the peaks of Afghanistan and then to the edge of the broad north south valley on the other side and investigate the Shitharv area before crossing into the Ottoman territory proper. The flight over Afghanistan will be interesting and could present potential threats, but all the information we have been able to obtain says that the Aester is stable and dense on our route and we should run into no trouble with the Ottomans until we cross the border.