Making landfall in the Yucatan

After a few more days of hasty recruitment and packing, the expedition set off. Spread out in a small fleet of almost a dozen ships, you have around 500 men altogether. You have to wonder how far such a small **** can go in a foreign, potentially hostile land with little hope for reinforcement. You may have superior technology and a military ethos bred from more than half a millennium of incessant warfare, but will it be enough?

In a few days the scouts find a good beach to land on. Cortes gets out of the boats first and starts to organize the disembarkation. Since you are a noble, he has made you one of his junior officers, and thus privy to his plans. He has called his officers to him to explain the plan. "I have heard word of at least one bearded man living nearby. If the rumors are true, it may be a shipwreck survivor. Hopefully such a man would have learned the language of the area; he would be invaluable to our efforts. Our first task is to find this person, or persons." Cortes stops and surveys the men gathered before him. "Who will find him?" Eager to prove yourself, your hand rockets up to volunteer before all others. Cortes laughs at your enthusiasm. "Very good Delgado, the task is yours. Find him and bring him back as soon as possible. Bring as many men as you need, and you may take the horses too that you may be quick. Just don't lose any of them" he says gravely. You've heard that horses are unknown in these parts, so the few you have are of **** value to the expedition. "Yes sir!" you say.

You gather a small group of soldiers and mount up, speeding away to the nearest village with extra horses in tow for your quarry. The dirt roads are narrow, and likely used mostly or even entirely for foot traffic. The dense greenery around you blocks out most of the sun, making the heat at least somewhat bearable. The first village you come to is rather small, and the natives scatter at your approach. They look mostly similar to the handful of natives you saw while in Cuba: tan, dark-haired, with little clothing. You scan the village and find no trace of European habitation and continue. You repeat this act another few times until you reach a larger village. Almost as soon as you arrive, a bearded man walks to greet you. "Hola, mis amigos! My name is Geronimo de Aguilar, at your service. I heard some monsters were going around scaring villagers!" he says, laughing. You dismount and greet him. "Monster, eh?" you say with a coy smile. "Oh yes, many of the people here have never seen horses. They think and and rider are one bizarre beast!" That strikes you as very strange. You've ridden horses since you were a toddler, and you can't wrap your head around such a view.

"Well, regardless, we've come to fetch you. We are exploring this country, and have need of an interpreter. Would you like to come?" The man nods. "Yes, I would be happy to. I have no life here, despite the chief's efforts to marry me to one of the women. I am a priest, and have never broken my vows. There is nothing to tie me here." Glad to get a speedy yes, you lead one of the horses to him and help him mount up. As you ride back, you ask him about any other Europeans. "Yes, there was one. A Gonzalo Guerrero. We were held as slaves together after escaping sacrifice from another tribe." You stomach turns at the thought of such barbarism. "When he worked himself free, he settled with another tribe. Has a wife and children, last I heard. Not only that, he leads their armies as a war chief." Remarkable. What a contrast between these two men. In their situation, you would have likely chosen the latter. You took no priestly vows, and the women here are quite tempting. A few hours later you've returned to camp without trouble, earning much praise from Hernan.

"Excellent job boy. We make for the village of Tabasco next. Let me speak with the priest now; you are dismissed." You walk and find a place to rest, satisfied with your work and eager for the next step on your adventure.