In 1539, Hernando de Soto landed on the Gulf Coast of La Florida with over 600 men, seeking the same gold and glory he had gained years earlier with Francisco Pizarro during the conquest of the Inca Empire — the height of a fortune built through earlier campaigns in Central America and the Andes.
For over a year, his expedition pushed inland through what is now the southeastern United States — crossing swamps, forests, and lands fiercely defended by its native peoples. By the fall of 1540, they had entered the powerful domain of Chief Tuskaloosa in what is now central Alabama. It is here that our story begins.
This series follows two perspectives — de Soto and the Spaniards who marched in, and the Chickasaw of Northeast Mississippi who observed the strangers in their land and prepared for what would come.
While some elements have been added to create solvable puzzles, the events and timeline are based on documented history.
