My expedition has been approved, alongside a sizeable amount of funding. We depart on the [REDACTED], aboard one of Dr. Windbreaker's finest. It was costly on our budget, but we manage enough left over for supplies. The Council let me have a pick of potential members on the expedition, though they have the final say. That's alright with me.

- Blue Tones

The following members have been

APPROVED

for Expedition #243, equestrian-historical Expedition #3, by the United Tribes Council.

Blue Tones // EXPEDITION LEADER // Earth Pony

My past in management certainly lends itself to the idea of leadership, but I feel with my wider grasp of history and just what we might be getting ourselves into, I'm a good fit to lead such an expedition. Not that I believe the Council has seen it this way, rather the reason I've found myself in charge is simple: a captain must go down with his ship. I should live and die by my idea, should it not return what the Council seeks.

Ebony Windbreaker // MAGE AND SCHOLAR // Pegasus

Dr. Windbreaker is an exception in almost every regard. One of the most talented mages in his field despite being a pegasus, he has led the charge on many scientific pursuits. I've heard several nicknames for him float around, but the most accurate to me seems to be "the octopus", stretched out to encompass every aspect of his field at once. Though his special interest lies within Old World magic. If he was talented at regular magic, he is practically gifted when it comes to Old World magic.

Emerald "Emmie" Plains // BIOLOGIST // Earth Pony

Dr. Plains is somehow a mix of shy and out-going, introverted and extroverted all at once. I'm told, however, that she works quickly and efficiently under pressure, and is one of the best Biologists in her field. I hope to see her come out of her shell before we leave, the inability to communicate could break this expedition before it even begins.

Hayward Shores // MERCENARY // Unicorn

Mr. Shores is an interesting character. Cocky, definitely, and absolutely smug. Unlike the rest of our crew, Mr. Shores seems to motivated by the money of the discovery alone. That's not a crime, no, but it concerns me on his level of commitment. If anything, Mr. Shores' special talent seems to be annoying his teammates. Still, he is highly skilled in his field when it comes to protecting clients.

Pine Scout // HAULER AND MEDIC // Earth Pony

My introduction with Mr. Scout was rather intimidating. How is it possible for a pony to kick through such dense rock? Mr. Scout tells me he used to be a miner. I asked him whether the other miners used him to mine the ores. He just laughed. For such a large, muscular stallion, Mr. Scout can be surprisingly deft and gentle when need be, which makes him an exceptional medic.

[REDACTED] // EQUINEPOLOGIST AND OBJECTIVE OBSERVER // Pegasus

In understanding our past actions, from as simple as the tools we used to the way we behaved, there is no one better than [REDACTED]. They're also relatively disconnected from the rest of the group, and seem to prefer to observe rather than interact. For that reason I've elected [REDACTED] as our objective observer, to counter my biased accounts that I will record here.

[REDACTED], Day -3

An update to the assembling of our little team. Everyone seems to have meshed well. They understand the journey and are fully aware of the dangers. I have utmost faith in them, of course. Did I not, I would cancel the expedition, as heart breaking would be.

Our equipment will arrive tomorrow morning, and we will go over our route then. In three days time, we will set sail for the Dead Sea. I'm frightened, yet excited.

Blue Tones,

Author's Note

.....
Whoever redacted this did both an amazing and poor job. They pressed their pencil so hard I can see what they wrote underneath the black marker, but all they wrote is either '[REDACTED]' or '[EXPUNGED]'. I've included those here, though I doubt they will lead to anything.

- Feather Quill
.....

DEFINITIONS
Equinepologist : The study of Equine cultures, norms, and behaviors. A relatively small field.

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