It was not strange for Abanye ships to leave their village for weeks at once, but this time was different. As Zultanlam shrunk behind their ships, the men aboard were once again reminded that they were heading into the unknown. Usually, Abanye ships departed for known destinations: other Abanye villages with whom to trade, participate in festivals, or occasionally to plunder. But over the next few weeks, these me were following the commands of Watum Zahrh-Panlu, a man who had been named such for his adventurous spirit; a spirit which would take them all farther than any of their Abanye brethren.

Zahrh-Panlu had weeks ago announced his intention to round the southward bend of the forests, heading into the unknown. There were rumors that the coast again turned to the east, but the nature of the coast was effectively unknown more than a few day's travel past Zultanlam. Zahrh-Panlu had been open about his intention to change this lack of knowledge, hoping to find any places of import that may exist beyond the veil of uncertainty.

More privately, Zahrh-Panlu expected to meet new peoples of the wilds. Maybe there were other Luturru the Abanye had forgotten existed. Or maybe there were new people from whom to learn new and amazing things. By now every man in Zultanlam knew the stories of the primitive forest peoples from whom the Abanye adopted sails. It was rather fitting to Zahrh-Panlu, as it was sails that would facilitate his journey to hopefully meet new people.

Along with the 16 men he had brought in three boats (including the Zultan herself), the Watum had insisted on bringing amphorae of beer, wooden carvings of the village's guardian Aban, and shell necklaces. The Watum did not want to be caught empty-handed should it fall to him to make a good impression on behalf of all of his people. Though he had neither forgotten weapons, with slings and maces sailing along should these people prove to be giftless savages.

An Abanye makes his home on the waves and shore, so Zahrh-Panlu believed he and his men could easily travel along the coast until he found something worth the trip. Some of those he had brought were talented fishers, hunters, and foragers, and he hoped that the crew could more than sustain itself by hunting and fishing during the nightly beachings (as sailing from sunrise to sunrise was a recipe for disaster on the waves). The coasts of the forests were filled with edibles and fresh water, so Zahrh-Panlu had no real worries about his success.

His men unfurled the broad square sail, and the boats were pulled along towards their destination, with their home village now obscured completely by trees, only visible through the column of smoke produced by a campfire somewhere in the settlement. Staring ahead at what was destined to only be the unknown for a little while longer, Watum Zahrh-Panlu allowed himself to smile.

Abanye from a village in the east depart on an exploratory venture by sea along the coast, bearing gifts should they encounter another group of people. They plan to fish, hunt, and forage as they travel by beaching nightly, but provisions of salted fish and beer were taken as well. The crew is armed, and have both fishers and seamen among their number. The three boats, bearing 16 men total, will travel by sail when the winds are favorable, and by oars when they are not. The route they will take is this.