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Prologue
This is the diary of Amisi. If anything should happen to be, then please bring this diary to the Osirian trading house in Sargava. They will send in on to my father the Basha Awan Seth-Naam . I'm sure you will be rewarded for your efforts.
Dear Papa
If you read this, then something bad must have happened to me and your favourite flower might have been picked ahead of it's time. Due to some foul play we got ship-wrecked just ahead of our arrival.
Luckily I'm not alone and with the other survivors we will try to find a way to get to Sargava. But I'm not under any illusion - this is a hosile environment here. We already have been attacked twice and I feel of all the comrades here that I seem the worst equipped to master the challenges ahead.
But I should look ahead with hope. Despite the tragedy I have to say that the area around here has a beauty I've not seen in Osiron. The dimorphodon which attacked us - while fierce and deadly - also was full of colour and beauty. So maybe this is just a test of Shelyn to show me that there is beauty outside of libraries and books.
I don't know. I feel alone and lonely, I'm afraid of the night for the first time in my life. At the same time my comrades give me hope and I believe I should come out of this well and with new knowledge learned.
If not - you know that I love you
Your daughter
Amisi
It is likely that you are one of my comrades who shares my fate. But in case you got this book through other means, let me introduce myself shortly.
I'm Amisi - eldest daughter of Basha Awan Seth-Naam . I'm from Sothis and this is my very first travel that far away from home. My father gave me an important mission - despite my young age. It also seemed a nice interruption to leave the libraries of the wizards academy and to go on a voyage.
To be honest - it didn't seem that different to me. Apart of cause that there are more books in the library and you just can't learn as well in a small cabin with only a light spell helping you to deceiver the limited number of scrolls you where able to take with you. And writing into your spell book is a challenge when the waves are rolling high.
Maybe I should have been more on deck and mixed more with the other travelers while I could. But it didn't really occur to me until the fateful event that I might miss anything away from my books.
As indicated above - I do have a small talent for magic. It seems I'm the only wizard here in the group - not that I would dare calling myself a wizard yet. But I might soon need to become one if the group needs to survive.
Spells cast here are no longer Childs-play like in the past when I used my magic to influence my three younger brothers and to ensure they were doing my biding.
But I should get back to what is going on around me. Maybe a later day and I will write more about myself.
Amisi
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Entry 1 - 23rd Erastus
Bad news, very bad news indeed. Our Ship, the Jenivere, has crashed on an island called Smuggler's Shiv. There was foul play involved as it seems all of the crew as well as all passengers got drugged with a strong dose of oil of Taggit ahead of the crash. I did wake up on the sand - just in time to watch a Giant Crab attacking one of the passengers called Sasha. Luckily the crab didn't last long.
Storian nearly single handedly crushed the crab with his mighty sword. I think others had been involved as well - but by vision was still blurred when it happened - so I might have missed some other heroics. It also seems very odd that most of our belongings where neatly piled up on the beach. Do we have some saviour who rescued us and doesn't want to show himself, was this some kind of magic that caused all this.
Right now I can't tell if we ever will find out. Just surviving the next days and then getting to Eleder won't be easy.
This is what I know through my studies about this island – and it doesn't bode well for us.
Smuggler's Shiv is a notorious island north of Eleder. It's not shown on most maps, but is rightfully feared by those who ply the waters of Desperation Bay. The island is named not only for the knife-like shape of its coastline, but for its uncanny habit of wrecking ships that draw to near - mostly smugglers eager to avoid detection by Saragava's navy.
It's commonly believed that the shores of Smuggler's Shiv are haunted by the ghosts and ghouls of the sailors who have died on the jagged rocks and reefs surrounding the island. These rumors are supported by reports of several failed attempts to establish long-lasting colonies on the island.
When Sargava was first settled, Chelish engineers erected a lighthouse on the Shiv's south-west shore. The light was intended to warn approaching ships of the dangerous waters and, eventually, was to have been the first building in a small colony. The light and all plans for colonization were abandoned just before completion amid rumours of curses, haunts, and cannibalism.
But maybe I should start and introduce in more detail my fellow stranded comrades.
First of all there is Jask. Poor fellow - he was a prisoner on the ship and is still bound in manacles. God knows how he got with these away from the ship. To me he seems an honest person and he helped me move my belongings up the beach as good as he could. He told me that he actually is innocent - just the wrong time to be honest. He worked in the Ministry of Foreign affairs 10 years ago when he uncovered some evidence that could have been bad for others. Politics can do that to you. The way he told me his story I do believe him - maybe I want to believe him. The whole situation looks bad enough - you don't want to mistrust the travellers who seem to have the same fate as I have right now. I hope we can free him from the manacles - but the captain who has the keys hasn't been seen anywhere yet. But there is an expedition on it's way to the ship.
Then there is Storian - he is a member of the crew. I mentioned him earlier in the fight with the crab. Storian seems to be a mighty fighter. He has a huge sword and seems to be very capable of using it. I haven't really spoken much with him yet. I'm just glad he is around - I feel so much safer with him.
Then there is Atzi. Off all the other passengers I seem to like her most so far. She is also concerned about poor Jask. Atzi only boarded us recently - and she seems to be a native from near by. Atzi seems not that much more older then me - albeit it seems she already has gone through a lot of experience. I hope Atzi could become my friend - I wouldn't feel so alone. Right now she misses her companion – Quetza. Quetza is a Quetzalcoatlus. I'm still a little bit afraid of it – and also the crew didn't like it a lot. But it always seemed so handsome whenever Atzi was close. I hope Quetza was able to escape or Atzi will find it on the ship. I guess that is the reason she was braver as I was to go down to the ship.
Another passenger is Uchendu Kybwa'ka. He scares me a little bit. He has a large tatoo on his face and you can clearly see that he partly has elven blood in him. I assume he is from somewhere close. Despite these first impressions - he seems quite capable. He is the one who found a way to the board of the wreck and is investigating it right now. Maybe my first impression of him isn't really fair.
Natalyah Melethiell's also has elven blood in her veins. She is a passenger and was already on board before I boarded it. She has a pretty elegant stride and the way she is carrying her longbow indicates to me that she is pretty capable of using it. She is currently down on the ship with Uchendu. I hope there are no more bad suprises.
Someone I haven't made up my mind about is Inkathru. She is quite pretty - despite some signs I noticed that seem to indicate some orcish heritage. I'm not prejudiced - but I feel I will have first to watch her actions a little bit more. It seems she is cappable of healing - so I better should overcome any possible issues as right now such skills are really in much demand. But I'm sure she will find it easier to convince someone by intimidation him instead of using her charm. Isn't it nicer if someone willingly wants to help you. But maybe in our current situation it doesn't really matter.
The others I haven't talked about yet are Aerys, Gelik, Ishirou and Sasha. I will tell about them later.
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Entry 2 – still 24rd Erastus
I realize I must have been off by a day in my first entry. I must have got confused in counting the days when the ship sank. This should now be correct.
The peace atop the cliff with it's beautiful sights over the ocean and the waves crashing into the sea cliffs didn't last long. Jask was the first who noticed the creature in the air - approaching us.
For a moment I wasn't sure if it was Quetza - but then it became clear that this wasn't Atzis companion. In a way with all it's colours around the huge beak it looked like parrots might have mimicked the play of colours from these ancient flying dinosaurs.
Alas - the beauty was very short lasted. It swooped down on us - giving me just enough time to cover behind poor Jask who had nothing but his shackled body to protect me. I blasted a magic missile into the beast - but it hardly seemed to notice.
You should have seen Gelig Aberwhinge. I've never seen a gnome to move so quick. Unfortunately this wasn't to help us in any way but rather to throw himself onto the ground. This despite his normal demeanor and boasting - and I know for sure he loves his clothes and tends not to treat them that badly.
So it was up to poor Storian to stand in front of Gelig and to take the full onslaught of the beast. I saw Storian swing his sword - but either he missed or he didn't manage to inflict much damage. As the blood that I saw running down his body seemed to be all his alone.
Gelig doesn't seem completely useless. I heard him doing a rousing speech lying on the floor as he was - to encourage Storian and the others. It also seemed to me he healed the worst of Storians wounds. Still - this wasn't a performance worth a true man. Even if he is only a gnome - I would have expected more.
But it seems I got distracted by writing about Gelig who doesn't even seem worthwhile to be mentioned here. As what followed truly is much more exiting and sup prising. So far I tried to learn more about Inka - a halforc and surely someone I wouldn't spend much time in Sothis merchant circles with. But out here the choices are few - and much more important to me right now seems the abilities of someone rather than the looks.
So Inka steps away from Storian and into the path of the beast - to suddenly explode like a fireball - only not to take any damage from it. The same can't be said for the beast as I heard it shrieking in agony. I did ask her if she could teach me that spell - but she said it's from her gods. Well - I still have a scroll of burning hands with me. So far it seemed one of the least inspiring while I read through it again and again on board. Out of the sudden and having seen the damage that fire dealt to the beast I might change my mind. Alas - I should have spend more time researching spellcraft instead of books. While in the library it seemed to unnecessary I will rue it now as I'm nor sure I will be able to transfer the spell into my spell book without a library or a lot more time as I would like to pass.
I don't think that the fire blast was deadly for the dimorphodon. Using the ring tat father had given me all the years ago I timed it well before I cast a desperate spell on the dimorphodon. When it Was farthest out over the cliffs I send it into sleep. I didn't know it would work like on my brothers - I never had tried it on a living being that strong. And I know sometimes even with weaker creatures these spells don't work as intended. But luck was with me. It folded up it's wings and it plummeted down - outside of my view. I'm sure it must have gone into the water. I doubt the fall from that height will have done much damage on such a flying creature. But my hope is that it won't be able to swim and for once I wouldn't even complain if a shark would turn up to do his deed.
The creature hasn't been seen again - so I assume it's now on the bottom of the sea or in the belly of some creature I better don't meet myself.
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Entry 3 – still 24rd Erastus
The suspicion I had was right – the shipwreck didn't happen by accident. But I would never have thought that captain Alizandrou Kovack himself ordered the ship to be driven on to the cliffs. We did find the Logbook of the ship. Being short on paper I was hoping I could use it for my diary – after all – there isn't much more use for it right now. Even if it means I will have a heavy book to carry. What an irony as I decided only to travel with a lighter spellbook. Unfortunately it seems the book was nearly full. But without my quest for paper I wouldn't have learnt what I know now.
But back to the betrayal. It seems that Kovack slowly fell further and further under the spell of Ieana. There have been some rumours before that she is either the secret owner of the Jenivere, a Chelish Agent or Captain Kovack's lover. So far I didn't gave much weight to these whispers. But at least it seems proven now that Ieana was the Captain's lover – and probably more. From the logbook it seems that Kocack slowly lost his own will. Ieana is a bookish person – I wouldn't be surprised if she secretly use enchantment magic on the captain. Such a use of magic is deplorable and I'm unable to imagine what could drive someone that far. Love should be given freely – and enchantments should only be used when really needed.
And there is worse to come – we recovered two dead bodies from the shipwreck. It is not suprising that Alton Delvers was one of them. It seems Ieana used her skills in enchantments to rouse unfounded jealousy in the captain. So through what ever fate the rest of us was rescued – Alton shouldn't have been that lucky.
The other dead body was that of Rambar Terillo. He was the cook on the ship – actually a pretty poor one. If he would have been in my fathers household, his food would have earned him many lashes with the whip. Still – nobody can cook that bad to deserve to be killed for it.
We will prepare a burial for both members of the crew as soon as possible. We also need a save place to spend the night. To me none of the places so far seemed to offer any safety. At the beach we encountered the crabs. Here on top of the cliffs we got attacked by the dimorphodon. And the wreck will likely not survive much longer on the cliffs before going down to a watery grave.
There has only be one fortunate event so far. We have been able to rescue Jask from his manacles and even to hand him back his equipment. As it turns out – he is a cleric of Nethys. I know that I believe in Shelyn myself – but I have always been close to Nethys. I'm sure this isn't happening by chance – this is a sign of the gods to give me hope. They haven't left me yet and want me to come back.
The only mystery yet unsolved is - who did leave us on the beach. Was it captain Alizandrou Kovack in a moment when he realized what he had done. This sometimes happens when an enchanted person fights against the bounds placed on him. Or was it someone else who showed mercy but wants to be stay hidden.
Only one thing is sure - the gods wouldn't have intervened so directly - so it must have been a human or at least a thinking creature.
It is getting late and we need to prepare. I will continue later with this entry once I learned what happened at the shipwreck. I will also add the logbooks and the maps to my diary as they might be used later to proof the accuracy of all I have written.
The logbook covers the last three voyages of the Jenivere, from Magnimar in Varisia to Eleder in Sargava, back again, and then back once more; in all, it is almost a year's worth of notes.
The entries for the first two voyages, and the first part of this last one, are all very similar: precise, businesslike notes of shipboard events, boardings and deboardings, cargo unloaded and loaded, ships encountered on the seas, and so on, usually three or four entries per day, and sometimes more. However, as this last transit from Magnimar to Eleder went on, it seems as though some strange madness began to overcome Captain Kovack. His recordkeeping becomes spotty as Amisi reads, with some entire days having no entries at all; moreover, the entries that do exist take on a more diary-like tone, focusing more and more on one of the passengers, the Varisian scholar Ieana. Kovack seems to have become obsessed with her, and some of the entries are nothing but poorly written love poetry in her honor. As the entries go on, they take on a paranoid tone as well; Kovack writes that he suspects some of the crew, in particular Alton Devers, the first mate, of having designs on "my Ieana" - as these suspicions grow, Kovack writes several times that he wishes Devers "would just have an accident."
The last entry in the logbook is from the afternoon of the 23rd, the day of the shipwreck (yesterday afternoon, in other words); in it, Kovack notes that he has ordered a change in direction, one that he hopes will go unnoticed by the crew. "We will wreck on the reefs of Smuggler's Shiv, and there Ieana and I will build our lives together, with no one else to come between us ever again," the book says. And beyond that, there is nothing.
The maps show several sections of the Jenivere's voyage, including the waters along the western Avistan coast, the route Kovack usually takes around the Eye of Abendego, and the waters of Desperation Bay. One of these maps includes an outline of Smuggler's Shiv, along with a note of danger, but it is little more than an outline of the island's coasts, with no details about the interior at all.
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Entry 4 – Morning 25th Erastus
I did promise I would write about what happened on the wreck – but it seems I was too tired in the evening to get it done. The group – let by Uchendu which went down to the ship encountered a monstrous creature they called sea scorpion. I've never seen such a beast – and I hope I will never have to encounter one – but it seems it was this beast – or one of it's comrades if there are more around – that killed first mate Devers on the ship.
It's just so good that we have strong and experienced fighters like Uchendu around who killed the beast in one huge strike. But there is other information I haven't shared yet with the others. First of all – Jask did tell me that he discovered some rapier wounds on the first mate. They were not deadly – but someone with a rapier must have fought Anton.
There have been footprints in the sand. Was it Anton who discovered the plot and managed to get us all out against the captains and his lovers will. Was it the captain? Or a third mystery figure?
And there is more – Mr. Terillo the cook seems to have died ahead of the shipwreck – killed by a monstrous snakebite. Jask told me he is pretty sure his death was ahead of the shipwreck. Maybe someone took him out to poison the food – that would make sense. But what about the snake – a conjured monster, a hidden familiar? I don't know and I'm not sure I want to find out.
Both crew mates are now buried and we moved inland with everything we were able to rescue from the ship. It isn't much – but enough for a camp and some food. Also it seems we have several members in the group skilled of hunting – so at least we shouldn't starve to death.
Off course there are other dangers – like the two snakes attacking us in the camp. They are now in our cooking pot and not the other way round. I hope this is a warning to other wild animals. Storian and Uchendu ensured they didn't last long. A single hit from each of them was enough to decapitate them. Unfortunately not in time to prevent one of them biting Inka. But it seems my antidote did help against the poison. Unfortunately – there is non left now.
But lets talk about the other members of the team whom I haven't talked much about yet.
First of all there is Jask – who is now free and friendly to all of us. He is a cleric of Nethys. I'm confident this is a sign from Shelyn that she hasn't completely abandoned me. He also has some hope that there might be another shipwreck on the island – The Brine Demon. And if the gods shine upon him this shipwreck might hold the clue to his innocence.
Gelik seems still a little bit unsure about the group. I tried to befriend him – but I must have said something wrong. Whatever it was – it seems Uchendu was able to talk with him afterwards and at least he seems no longer hostile against me. I tried to help out with some minor tricks while he was entertaining the others. So maybe it's just a matter of time to win him over.
Then there is Aerys. She has a really threatening tongue – especially when she is drunk. I'm still not wholly sure what bothers her in her past. Seems she nearly killed a man while drunk and tried to flee. But you can't flee forever – especially not from yourself.
She nearly decapitated Atzi with her tongue yesterday – and Atzi just had tried to be friendly. Seems all the alcohol is gone now and she was in better mood this morning. The others helped me while talking to her and she seems now a lot more friendly. At least she isn't biting the head of others any longer. Hopefully she can see that we all need each other – and no matter what was in the past – she has a chance to help in the future.
Sasha was a lot nicer to talk to. She seems sometime nearly feral to me. She likes to kill – and I doubt she is bad at it. She is looking for one of the dimorphodons to train. It seems I did use some wrong words when I told this to Atzi and Natalyah as they seemed to have some reservations. I'm not fully understanding that – shouldn't it be good to have such a beast tamed as additional protection. But maybe I'm just not getting the special bond between them and animals – so I better be careful mentioning this.
Oh and then there is Ishirou. I had watch together with him. He seems a very nice person. It looks like he once has worked for the Aspis Consortium and thinks he knows the place of a treasure on this island. This can't be just by random that he was having watch with me and told me. There is danger there – but I can also sense threads in the fabric woven by the gods to pull our strings. I'm still blind to the pattern that will evolve – but I'm confident there is one – and we are an important part of it.