The Ship of Andur (Patreon)

To those who already watch me on DA and FA, yes this is an older posting but I still think it is a neat drawing and a good place to start folks on the Andur dreamscape. Andur. This is the oldest of them and unfortunately I will not be able to give the day by day telling of events there like I have in Equestria. This is due to the fact that my first dream their occurred in September of 1995. The postings for it will be a bit more essay like in nature with less dialogue. My first dream in the Sultan's city began with a simple statement. "Hey wake up were almost there!" I awoke to find myself on the deck of a sailing vessel. I was in my usual 5'.2" male anthropomorphic raccoon form, but I was wearing very loose trousers and long sleeve tunic of tan cotton with a green felt vest and simple slip-on style shoes. A basic sheath knife and a satchel containing some rudimentary drawing supplies and a small change purse rounded out my outfit. I looked like I was dressed for a Renaissance Fair. It was about noon and the sun blazed down on the rolling deck. Gingerly rising to my feet I took first good look around. I was on board a single masted sailing vessel that was making a good clip in fresh warm breeze that filled its lateen sail. The air was full of screeching seagulls. The water was dotted with other sailing vessels. We appeared to be in a large bay with a mountain range ringing it. I turned to my figure who had woke me and ask where I was. "You're on The Ship." He said in a matter of fact fashion. I finally noticed that he was hooded and I could not clearly see his face or what exact specie he was. Feline, canine, mustelidae? I couldn't tell. "Why am I on this boat?" I asked. "It is not a boat. You row boats. It is a ship. The Ship to be exact" Said the hooded fellow. "And you are on it because you are suppose to be." He said this in a matter of fact voice as checked one of the lines. "Where is this boat....ship going to?" I was worried. I knew for some reason that I had freelance illustration work waiting for me back in the modern world. Also what would Rosemary think if I suddenly disappeared. How would I get back to her? Continuing to adjust the line the deckhand point toward the bow. "Andur, The Ship always goes to Andur." Apparently he thought that to be sufficient explanation for he wandered off. I looked where he pointed and saw the Sultan's city for the first time. I was on The Ship and it was going to Andur. "The Ship" is a vessel that has visited Andur for as long as people there can remember. The Romans noted the tales of it during their short possession of Andur, but either it never showed up during the 100 years or so that they occupied the city or they just discounted its visits as being local superstition. Sometimes entire generations can pass with it never showing up. "The Ship" is an unassuming looking single mast vessel of dhow-like construction that have sailed the Arabian Sea for centuries. The only thing that making it stand out in the 14th century is that uses twin steer boards instead of a single rudder and tiller. It is unremarkable in appearance possessing not dazzling sails and standards or brilliant paint on its hull. Except for a weathered dark green band of color around its hull and an ornamental eye painted on each side of the bow. At first glance looks not that different than the dozens of dhows that visit Andur's harbor every day. It is of modest size but people in the city instinctively seem to become aware of its arrival and will gather at the docks when it shows up, for its arrivals always heralds the arrival of Newcomers from faraway lands! So significant are these Newcomers that their arrivals are recorded in great tomes that are kept in the Sultan's Palace. Now I can not, nor can anyone else who has seen "The Ship" truly describe what the crew looks like. Ask three different people what species the captain was and they'll all say something different, but then won't be able to describe him or any of the crew in any detail. "The sun was behind the crew members so glare blocked out their features or they were wearing hoods." Will be their answer. They'll remember that the Captain had a honest voice, but no one can remember what exactly he said. Or what his or any crew members exactly sound like. People will tell you that the vessel always appears to be in good condition and that they are positive that the crew has unloaded cargo but no one remembers what? Nor does any taxes appear to be ever collected. The crew never comes ashore despite endless offers and always seem to find away to "politely way to decline". While people are aware of its arrival no one ever sees "The Ship" leave? In the morning it's just gone. Since my arrival "The Ship" has visited more times than has ever been recorded before. All of the original "Newcomers", the names we are referred to in Andur, with the exceptions being Petina and Rindis have arrived on it. Rindis is one of my roommates. Rindis's story I'll tell later. Petina won't say how she got to Andur. "I have my ways." Was all I got out of her. Great