The Failure

The journey was all for naught. The Holy Father nor the Queen approved another expedition lead by me again. They agreed to clear another man's, Cortez, to head to the New World to finish what I started. They did not believe me about the sorcery, nor the great treasure, not even the oppressed natives!

I now live again in Toledo. With a heavy heart, I have come to admit two things. I failed. I was the fool. It was useless to try and clear the Delgado name, for all it will do is bring further dishonor. Not only could I not save the new found natives, I endangered the lives of my own men under my command.

I did not do anything to protect the natives from their harsh rulers. For what I realize now, we are now the saviors. Cuba is the example. What the Governor did in Cuba, I fear is what Cortez will do to the New World and the Nahuatl. He will bring it beyond Reconquista. He will bring Colonization.

La Noche Triste

Late in the night, me and the men put the plan into action. Little did we know what tricks the savages had up their sleeves. The sacrifices weren't just ceremonies for them, they were accessories to witchcraft! Vile sorcerers with magic of blood attacked us as we tried to sneak out in the night. Bones erupted through men's bodies! Gunpowder igniting in the pouches!

Were it not for our combat prowess and our better technology, we wouldn't have made it out alive! I and the remaining men in the expedition escaped from their capital and hid in an outlying village for several days. From what we gathered from the village's inhabitants, not all Nahuatl were happy with the ruling class in the capital. The 'Aztec' as they called them often overstepped their boundaries, forcing their religion on their subjects, and taking back breaking amounts of tribute from their villagers. True tyranny, I say! We were lucky to escape the city alive, but I am sad to say these villagers will not be so lucky.

If we survive to reach the ships, I will petition the Holy Father in Rome and the Queen to clear another expedition. It's clear there's treasure here, and it's clear that these misguided natives need a savior. We must declare reconquista. For glory, I will return to the New World. I will not be another fool!

The 'Nahuatl'

Sailing west for a mere week, we landed at what we assumed was the true New World. Thick jungles surrounded us on all sides as we trekked inland. It was truly filled with wondrous creatures! Brightly colored birds, gargantuan insects, giant cats and monkeys of all sorts! It was some time until we finally met the inhabitants of this strange land.
Truly mystical people they are. Red skinned men like the natives in the Caribbean, they called themselves the Nahuatl. Nahuatl cities are situated in the vast cleared plains and marshlands, rising high above the flatland around them in clusters of homes and eye catching pyramids. Their warriors, wielding wood and stone weapons watched us with suspicion, and their nobles greeted us clad in gold and feathers.
The terrifying thing? When they greeted us? They brought out dozens of prisoners, and killed them right before our eyes. Tribute to us, they said! Savages, all of them! Me and the men have been formulating a plan to escape these madmen without any harm. It shall be put into action tomorrow night...

The Governor

Here I was thinking Columbus was the most arrogant person I ever heard of. The Governor of Cuba? The self proclaimed owner of "Cuba and the Caribbean, Lord of the Indians"? Simply nothing more than a decadent waste of space! Were he not a proper worshiper of God, I would overthrow him myself.

The City of Havana flourished under this man's influence, believe or not. And unlike the other islands we have encountered so far, some of the native population remained. A fair amount have converted to Catholicism, but a forsaken few remain to their old ways. The monks have convinced them to work on the missions for shelter and trade, but I fear that all natives on this island will not be safe from imperial tendencies any longer.

Aside from the native residents and Spanish settlers, I met a peculiar group of men in the harbors of the city. Portuguese, Italian, even fellow Spaniards mulled away their time in the dockside taverns, grumbling about wasted fortunes and terrible jungle horrors. Is this what fate befalls me and my crew?

Of course not! We are Conquistadors! With flint and steel, we can overcome any threat, overtake any obstacle! As great as we be, we will not stoop to the decadence the Governor or the melancholy of the harborside barflies. We have come to gain glory and treasure, and by god's will it shall be done!

El Diablo

Since our journey began, God had tested us extensively. Day after day, we sailed against erratic winds, strong currents, and punishing rains. My ship, the Amor de la Madre, lead the expedition through to the end. Weeks pushed on, and events got even stranger.

Fish jumped up from the sea and into our boats! This would have been a bountiful feast, were it not that it attracted seagulls, the rats of the sea! We had to throw out almost all it. Truly a spectacle I would have never seen back at home.

Second? We came to an island. I heard a previous explorer had discovered this place, filled with many natives. The odd thing? They were all gone. Not a single soul was left on this island, just some goats and birds. All we could find were the overgrown remains of their villages. Surely nothing of that magnitude could have happened in a year? No matter.

The journey continues. Our next stop is Cuba, where we will get supplies, then head to the land to the west. That is where the treasure lies.

The Journey Begins

I am the Conquistador, Enrique Delgado. Today is going to be the greatest day of my life. In two hours, I will join the greatest endeavor my life: I will journey to the New World. Not only will I venture out to a new world with undiscovered treasures ripe for the taking, I will have a chance to clear my family name!

You see, my father was Alfonso Delgado de Valentia, or El Campeador del Los Locos, the Lord of Fools. After receiving a blow to the head, he went off on a journey to 'bring back Chivalry' like some sort of Don Quixote. He was tragically killed in a duel with a Portuguese noble.

Well? I am not bound by my father's legacy! I am Conquistador Enrique Delgado de Toledo! The Gracious Queen of Spain and the Holy Father in Rome has granted me and my men a charter to explore the New World. With this band of merry men and our technology of flint and steel, we will gain great glory, or die trying!