Sorjin's Journal, October 15: day 1 at sea

This is going to be a long trip. The Ascendant was never intended to support 3 people. And these two buffoons I've picked up are going to make for a very long journey. They complain all the time and don’t seem to understand who is paying whom here. If I ever forget why I live in the high mountains, this trip shall serve to remind me.

Ardan's Journal, October 15

We finished provisioning the ship this morning and got underway. In the late morning we passed over the coastline and headed out to sea. There's no turning back now.
Though I've sailed many a ship, this one is completely different. I pray to the gods that this crazy hermit knows what he's doing. And it's not very big... where am I going to sleep tonight?

Sorjin, October 16

We had a brief encounter with some kind of flying beast today. It wasn't anything I'd seen before, but then these are unfamiliar waters. It was like a giant bag floating above the clouds with tentacles hanging down. It tried to grab us, but a couple of harpoons through its body chased it off. I suspect the harpoons didn't do much damage, but we clearly startled it. It was a fascinating creature- I'll have to make some drawings when I get the chance.
I missed my studies last night, thanks to the endless chattering of my hired companions. This journey is supposed to be about new discoveries, not ignorance!

Rosso's Journal, October 16

Some... thing... attacked us today, but the golems shot it back to wherever it came from. We're calling it a fly-bag for lack of a better name.
I feel like I'm back in the Hanging City. There's so much open space around everything, and I feel so alive. I don't know why I didn't take up sailing earlier- it's invigorating to be out over the ocean and headed for the unknown.

Sorjin, October 17

We are making good time to the island. We passed over a couple of sailing ships today, far below us. The rumors I heard appear to be true- we clearly aren't alone on this trip.

Ardan, October 17

By the gods, couldn't this ship have been a bit bigger? There's barely enough room to breathe, we all take turns in the one bunk, and I have to stand all day because those soulless metal idiots fill up the only available flat space.
Sorjin doesn't seem to mind the confines. He stands rock-still in his spot all day, moving only his head and arms. He's got to be stronger than he looks, and clearly has more endurance than I credited him with. And he knows what he's doing- we were attacked by some flying bag-thing yesterday that I've never even heard of, and he handled it like he'd done it a hundred times before.
I have to admit that the Ascendant makes for a smooth ride. It's like nothing I've ever sailed before. But by the gods, couldn't it have been just a bit bigger?

Sorjin, October 18

The journey is becoming monotonous, but we should spot the island by midday tomorrow. I hope to make landfall the following day. As we draw near, I find myself more excited than I have been in a long time. More so than since... well, a long time.
Legend says that there are metals to be found at the center of the world that cannot be found anywhere else... stones with incredible magic properties... gems of indescribable beauty. If truly the world was spewed forth from a volcano in its center, that volcano would still be there, sleeping. Could this island be that place?

Ardan, October 18

Rosso is really getting on my nerves. He thinks I'm his best friend. But he's about as crazy as the wizard that brought us on this wild groat chase. He woke me up twice to try to steal the bunk. He was ranting about the open sea, the joy of being a sailor, and some other filth, but he's never even been on a sailing ship. He has no clue what he's talking about and clearly was trying to lure me up on deck so he could get some sleep. If he wakes me one more time, I swear I'll kill him. One push and down to Davey Jones he goes.

Sorjin, October 19

Early today, Ardan spotted the Isle. More properly, he spotted mist. The island is shrouded almost entirely in that mist, though after sailing alongside it for a while we did spot some exposed land. It isn't very inviting, however. I lowered the ship down to the water and reloaded the hanging items onto the boat, which we are now towing. After wasting half the day today trying to ascertain how magic is affected in the area around the island, we found that the ship appears to at least operate at limited capacity. She seems to be working much harder to move, but move she does. I'm not yet willing to risk taking to the air near the island.

Rosso, October 19

I'm getting to know Ardan better. He is an experienced sailor and seems to be enjoying the trip. But by the Forest Mother- is he cranky when he wakes up!

Sorjin, October 20th, day 6 at sea: landfall on the Isle of Mist

First thing in the morning today, I sent one of the golems out on the boat with Ardan. I figured that Ardan could row back if the golem ceased its animation. To my delight, it was fine on the island. The two of them scouted around for an hour or so before returning to the Ascendant. We've landed on a river delta that appears to turn into swampland as one ventures further from shore. But it's the only land we've got, as I'm not approaching the island directly through the mist.
We spent the afternoon shuttling supplies to shore by boat, and the evening setting up a temporary camp. The Ascendant sits in the water, a few hundred yards out. Tomorrow we venture onward.