The Captain's Log: 1010 LD

New Log, New Ship, Nearly a New Year

Zule, 4th of Red Hearth, 1009LD

Normally a Captain waits for the new year to close out a Log before opening another, but in light of the damage done to the old book, here is a new one.

The Debtless has been a good ship, but the damage it took makes it no longer seaworthy. My options for a new ship were limited and I have settled on a small, rebuilt pirate corvette. She has been christened Barracuda. This should prove seaworthy enough to get us back to Ostr’Haus to fix Malcom’s pact, and then back to Foriedy where more options should be available. Marissa made a statement of intent to buy the ship from me once we are back to Foriedy.

The Debtless was put to rest a mile off of the shores of Darigad with the permission of the City’s port authority. Thanks for the journey old girl, your spirit is free to sail other waters.

Marissa Possessed

Luce, 8th of Red Hearth, 1009LD

Marissa is possessed by an Ephryn spirit called Yhasta. Some level of possession was suspected, but I did not have any real proof until Alenka confided in me that Marissa and Lea needed my blood. Marissa apparently gave Alenka a bladder bag designed to keep raw materials. A container designed for holding my blood I suspect.

I spoke with Keeper Agis, servant of Demuen within the Scarlet Order regarding my suspicions that something was in control of her. He seemed to think it was demonic possession and came directly to the ship to perform an exorcism. His attempt failed and only made Marissa angry. She stormed off the ship so I decided to confront her directly along with Alenka, Lea, and Raul. She accused me of not coming directly to her to confront her initially, so I played her game and asked her about the bladder bag. She avoided the question until Lea and Alenka asked about Yhasta who then revealed herself.

The ghost seems to think I need to spill my blood over some sigil to awaken a bunch of dead Ephryn warriors. It seems that Raul and Tan Re Shii have been assisting it as well, though admittedly neither of them were aware any harm might come to the crew as a whole. They likely know more than they have let on and I will have someone I trust - Gregory - get the information out of them. Lea and Alenka are compromised for the time being.

We will aid this spirit only so we can get it the hell off my ship. It also seems that Marissa is in some control of her own actions and has been despite the possession. She claims to have lost all trust she had with me and claims she will be leaving when this is resolved.

Slim Pickins and No More Ghost

Maxas, 7th of Dawntide, 1010LD

For all the hassle involved in getting into the sunken tomb on Eliquary Island, I find the ‘spoils’ we have gotten to be rather limited. A bowl full of gems that while shiny have little value, under which was a small locked but rotten wooden chest holding some simple trinkets. Whatever debt I had with this Ephryn ‘Matriarch’ damn well better be repaid now because I risked the lives of my crew for it, and the opportunity to rid us of the ghost Yhasta.

Marissa no longer appears to be possessed, though I am only getting information second hand. The Barracuda is a small boat but Marissa has proven adept at avoiding me, or any meaningful dialog since we left Darigad. Not that I wanted to talk to her while she had a ghost riding around in her head. She kept to her duties and didn’t cause any trouble on the voyage over, and even offered some assistance while we worked our way past the traps inside the Ephryn tomb. I’m not sure what I going to do about her…

No one was hurt, which is more than I could ask for. We encountered an Avatar of Iro, supposedly some offshoot of the evil god of death Surdem or some other. It left us alone after giving us one hell of a scare. Now we can get the out of here. And good riddance at that. I’ve had it with all of this Wayward crap.

• Captain’s Note: No more Ephryn aboard my boat. Raul and Tan Re Shii will be the first and last exceptions.

She Left

Ouras, 11th of Dawntide, 1010LD

Marissa left. She won’t be coming back.

Until We Meet Again

Ouras, 11th of Dawntide, 1010LD

We took on a new cabin girl today, miss Jenny Kincade. Alenka tells me that the girl is nine years old, and I suspect that we are giving her an opportunity to be more than menial labor for Condor Rock’s infrastructure.

We set sail to test our special cargo and discovered a pirate vessel intent on following us. A great storm rose that I chose to use to our advantage and pressed Raul to sail into it. The dragon was unexpected. It struck in the midst of the roughest patch, spitting lightning across the deck of the ship. No major injuries to report though Alenka’s logs will show more if needed. I ordered the crew to lay low as we tried to keep the Barracuda from capsizing in the waves. The dragon turned its attention to the pirates when they tried to defend themselves. Sounds of their battle carried even over the winds.

To our amazement, and likely our saving grace, several water elementals appeared and seemed to be keeping the ship afloat. One of the elementals came aboard the ship, and had I not been there I would have a hard time believing that it washed over us without causing us hard. The event was not any that I have seen recorded. We chose to remain passive the entire time which is likely what kept us alive.

In the aftermath of the storm we found the wreckage of the pirate ship. We set about assisting any survivors to shore. Mercy separates us from the animals. Their captain Gretel Bloodblade showed her appreciation for the act by turning over a treasure map, but maintained a veiled threat that she and hers would still be coming for the treasure and we would be treated as an opponent should we cross paths. Nevertheless, I intend to check it out.

Many of our supplies were damaged by seawater, forcing us to return to Condor Rock to resupply. Iley Rose fled from the ship upon docking, claiming that she was cursed and clearly a Praff. Malcom followed her promising to keep her safe. I suspect that our former cabin girl needs to find herself. Malcom swore he will help her find her way, and when the time is right they will return. To our friends who have recently set out on their own journeys, I bid you the best until we meet again.

Shock and Awe

Veras, 15th of Dawntide, 1010LD

Testing of the special cargo has been completed upon the shores of Thunder Bay. It is without a doubt a powerful weapon. Now the question is whether to keep it for a rainy day, or sell it? Some mention has been made that the world may not even be ready for it and we should ensure that it become lost at sea. I am certain that we could make a king's bounty, or even several king’s bounties worth if we sold it. Alenka believes that she can accurately replicate the powder that makes it function, so we should have little problem fueling it as necessary.

Oceanic Anomaly

Veras, 29th of Dawntide, 1010LD

We were suddenly caught in a strange current today. It has been marked on the map so that warnings can be provided to other travelers. The current spans about 230 yards and rotates in a full circle, much like a whirlpool. Though slow moving, it took incredible effort to pull free from the waters. Inspection of the Barracuda revealed that the mollusks usually found growing on the bottom of the ship had been scraped off with obvious force, enough to leave scratch marks on the surface wood. Alenka and Gregory experimented with a buoy that vanished after sitting in the center of the pool. Lea was the one that noticed it was gone. Alenka is doing further studies of water samples that she took from the water, but I have denied any closer investigation. Whatever this is, I believe it to be dangerous.

Attack on Piruen Reach

Gevras, 3rd of Springtide, 1010LD

We have survived an encounter with the notorious undead that plague the Halim’Ra Isles. Last night Kyras spotted a large fire coming from the Island. This morning we were able to confirm this from the ruins of a small village. We set out to look for survivors, but we found an ambush instead. The dead of village rose from the waters and marched onto the beach. Along with them rose a great turtle that would have carried the new army away.

Being caught off guard, things would not have ended well had it not been for the quick thinking of Tan Re Shi. She navigated the ship into range of the turtle and then ordered the crew to fire on it with the cannon. It was the break we needed, though not before we were able to subdue the undead leader, a corpse woman who Gregory quickly interrogated. The information we got from the creature was fairly useless and Raul chose to finish it off with the scye he took from the Ephyrn tomb. As the blade touched the curse flesh of the undead, the ghost of the thing was swept up into the blade. When I asked Raul about it, he shrugged and indicated that to the best of his knowledge the creature was permanently vanquished. I can’t say I approve of Ephyrn voodoo, but being able to put the dead to rest for good puts my heart at ease.

With the threat of the undead put to rest we will pursue the contents of the treasure map taken from Gretel Bloodblade. It appears that we are close. According to Kiera there was a river mouth several miles up the beach from here. We will find out soon if it matches the description on the map.

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