1034.67 · March 8, 1287 BC
Black Gold of the Ghats
In the dense forests of the Western Ghats, Devraj of Magadha leads an expedition to capture what local hunters call "black gold" — melanistic leopard cubs, rare even among the region's abundant wildlife. Four cubs from two separate litters will begin a journey that transforms them from exotic commodities into the ancestors of something far more dangerous.
The melanistic leopard is a prize beyond measure. Revered, feared, and worth more than its weight in gold to the right buyer. Devraj of Magadha has spent three months in the Western Ghats, tracking rumours of black-coated cats through villages where locals speak of them in whispers. His purpose is not trade with Earth's kingdoms — he has grander plans. In the dimension his group has claimed, these creatures will guard territory, breed wealth, and establish Andhakara as a power no rival settlement can ignore. But first, he must take them from a forest that does not give up its treasures easily.
