Thomas' Arrival in Itona

Two months, two weeks, and three days after slipping its lines and sailing away from its wet dock in the East, the lumbering ship had finally pulled back into port. This time, however, it was docking in Ynnis, Itona. Standing tall near the bow braving the morning chill, Thomas Clear was gripping the railing with excitement and definitely not the crushing effort of staving off the seasickness that had been haunting his trail across the ocean for the last two months. His face was turned windward peering through the early morning fog roiling off the water in an attempt to catch a first glimpse of the land that would make his dreams come true. Thomas was venturing to Itona in search of business expansion. His transportation company was staying afloat back in the east but the cost of upkeep was a constant nuisance to his companies growth. Luck struck in the form of exhilarating news of technological advancements from the distant land, Itona. Learning of the mechanical engine set the gears turning in Thomas' own head and before he knew it, he was on a ship bound for the famous port city of Ynnis, in search of an investment that would catapult him out of the mucky past and into the steamy future.

Thomas' past success came from his company's ability to handle variety. He had ensured that their horses would be equipped and suitable for a great number of jobs and they would never be caught wanting for ability. He employed a suite of horse trainers and worked with incredible breeders to ensure his stock was capable and prepared to haul anything. His horses were trained for jobs from sixteen-horse team-pulling and transporting heavy loads (such as mineral from quarries) to their modest fleet of personnel carriages for the not so modest estate owners who found their pockets somewhat wanting when it came to purchasing a personal carriage. The only problem is that horses are expensive and of course, they age and can get wounded. Thomas was constantly in touch with his breeder contacts and training team to make sure that there were more horses and that they were being trained to replace his oldest horses. Too many potential points of failure drove Thomas mad with worry. It was about a week after his second breakdown that word of a mechanical engine (that runs on hot water of all things) got to Thomas. It was immediate; the practical applications bombarded him like blows to the head. His ears started ringing and eyes fogged over, staring vacantly at a motionless carriage sitting in a vacant lot with not a horse in sight.

Bells gently tolling over the water and dark shadows of dockside warehouses taking shape through the fog shook Thomas from his reverie and brought him to the present. Glad to be disembarking soon, Thomas moved to be nearer the gangplank, hauling his luggage trunk and briefcase. He carried a weeks worth of clothes and an old umbrella, as well as the odd document and a sheaf of blank pages for notes. As the ship pulls up, the gangplank drops with a raucous bang and gives Thomas a start, as if it finally became real. "Here we go" Thomas breathes out, launching into his first step and moving smartly onto land. Now onto the real work.