It was nightfall when the storm had cleared, the crew of the Daurin returned to the top deck after tending to the damages caused by the high winds. Eventually, they noticed that they were near a land they were not familiar with. Its shore was obscured by a thick canopy of dark trees.
"Where are we?" asked a mariner.
"I do not know." said another, "But that squall stirred us too far off course."
"But in what direction do you suppose it blew us in?" said a third.
"South." said the second.
"South?" repeated the other mariners, in horror and dismay.
"Aye."
"What land is that then?"
"I do not know. But I fear we have-"
But the mariner's words were cut short by a sharp wail coming from the shore. One of the mariners loaded an arrow into his crossbow, knelt by the port side of the ship, and aimed towards the nearby shore. But he did not fire, he made a small yelp and jumped to his feet. A sound like a low cackle came from the shore, but none heeded it.
"What happened, Mabras?" said the first mariner.
"I think I saw something," said Mabras, turning to face his companions. "probably just an animal. If it was an animal though, it was the most horrible I had ever seen. It was massive, and it seemed to be peering at me through the trees on the shoreline. It looked almost like a Man." But as he looked at the rest of the crew, he had a visible sense of dread in his eyes.
"Do you suppose it was an Ape?" said the second mariner, "We may be near Far Harad. Perhaps it was one of those 'Apes' mentioned in the old tales?"
"I do not think so, Neldor." said Mabras, wearily. "I am not aware of the tales, but what I saw was probably not an Ape." A moment of silence followed.
"We are nearing the shore," said the third mariner, "What shall we do?"
"We must find a way back to Pelagir." said Neldor. "And the ship is in no condition to sail back without further maintenance. We may find assistance in that land. Look! I see a fire over the trees! Perhaps there are Men on that island!"
The rest of the crew ran up to the port side of the ship, including the pilot and the captain, and indeed, they saw the light of a fire behind the canopy of trees.
"Prepare to dock!" shouted the captain, "But be cautious, for we do not know if these folk are friend or foe!"
In minutes, the Daurin was anchored, and the crew came and took weapons from their quarters. The captain sent two Men to tend to the ship, and four to search for food. Neldor, Mabras, and three other mariners went forth into the trees to investigate the fires and whereabouts of the dark figure in the trees. Mabras, was uneasy about traversing the treeline, but agreed to enter, due to his friendship with Neldor.
Neldor and Mabras walked through the jungle, swords in hand, their companions following suit. They heard sounds from animals none of them, save Neldor, had ever heard before. His companions looked around in the dark jungle, until when they walked two-hundred yards from the shore, Neldor spoke.
"I recognize this land now." said he to Mabras. "We are in Dark Harad. We are on the edge of the Great Forest of the South."
"You are sure?" asked Mabras.
"Aye." replied Neldor. "Look over there."
Mabras looked where Neldor distinguished, and cried out, pointing.
Neldor's companions walked over to where he had pointed, shouted and jumped away, for to their shock, a large, black Ape lay dead in the undergrowth.
