Day Fifty-six

There is an old saying amongst the Tendu peoples of eastern Adoracia that a man should be careful of what he wishes for. For the peoples of our Fleet we have certainly got more than we asked. In the early hours of this morning a stormfront moved in from the south, and we have been visited with a day of rain and high winds that have dispersed our ships, and left us fighting to keep the Dromannion in good order. Unlike previous storms this tempest does not have the uncontrolled fury of its predecessors. We are confronted however, with changing winds and a continuous rain that has found its way through the entire ship as a floating mist.

On the decks above the crew struggles with the conditions, the winds turning in all directions, tearing down rigging and throwing furled sails onto the decks below. The Captain has been forced to turn the Dromannion into the winds and it is a constant battle to keep the ship stable in a churning sea. Above all we can feel the cold that has come with this bluster. All hatches have been covered and only the crew remains above. Below decks we must be content with listening to the howl of the winds and placing our trust in the skill of the Captain and his crew.

In the midst of this storm I have found that nothing can safely be done. Our duties lay uncompleted, and we spend our time instead huddled in our quarters, listening to the gales and talking amongst ourselves. The cold creeps in to our small room like a thief in the dark and we have all resorted to throwing on extra clothes to keep warm. Only one task must be completed and it has fallen to Stump to do it. It must be ensured that the children are warm and the northerner has left to ensure this. The rest of us cannot help as we must wait in case a call comes from above for help. The storm rages on and the only person I can think of who might be happy about it will be the WaterMaster. I believe our stores will be replenished quickly.

Maps of the voyage
The Chronicles of Arborell
A Glossary of Terms