Day Sixty-nine

A new day has dawned and the news from the rest of the Fleet has proven disastrous. In the tempest of the previous day we have lost four ships, three of which have been confirmed as sunk, and one, the Kalborea, that is missing; a total of two-hundred and eighteen souls aboard. All were small vessels, and all stood little chance against the power of storm. The loss of so many has swept away any of the hope which had lightened the days prior to this tragedy. Many have been lost and in the relative calm that has ensued the Fleet has come together once again to take account of damage and make note of individual losses. It is a black day for which I wish to make no further record.

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

Day Sixty-eight

Storms and a cauldron sea confront the Dromannion at the break of this sixty-eighth day. The Fleet is spread wide and a gale races from the east, sending waves crashing over the decks of our ship. Above, the crew work frantically to keep us afloat, and below decks we struggle to lash down everything that might become loose in the storm's frantic rip and tear. Above the crash of thunder, and the pounding exhalations of icy rain that hammers against every exposed surface, I can hear the rigging of the ship straining under the forces being exerted upon its ratlines and tethers. The hull groans with the pitch and yaw of the ship, and from below I can hear a gurgling rush as seawater collects in the ballast-wells below our quarters. In this storm the ship is fighting for its life, struggling against the tremendous forces that are attempting to splinter its wood and crush its spirit. As is my lot I cannot take part in the fight. The Healer and his assistants must wait below in the surgery as the injured are brought for treatment, and as we listen to the grinding assault above it is apparent that many will be visiting us this day.

By mid-morning I have seen eight injured men brought into the surgery. It is with sadness that I record that three have been swept overboard, and a further two have died beneath fallen masts and yards. The foremast has collapsed and now trails in the ocean to the Dromannion's port, skewing the ship in the water, dragging it portside and dangerously out of balance. From reports coming down to us as the injured are carried in there is a great battle going on to free the mast and loose its trailing rigging. There are fears that we might capsize it this cannot be done and I shudder at the thought of all the souls that will be lost if they are not successful.

Midday has seen three more seriously injured crewman brought in. The surgery is a melee of screaming sailors and the frantic efforts we are making to help them. As we work the decking beneath us shudders as if the Dromannion is dying, but it has not given up yet. The foremast has been freed and in revenge the storm lingers, tearing at the ship as we run before its power. I can feel now however, that it is starting to weaken. I cannot imagine the damage that has been caused to the rest of the Fleet. I fear for small ships such as the Equinox. It will be a miracle if any of them survive this tempest.

It is only now, in the early evening that I can finish my account of this day. The storm has dissipated and left in its place a mire of drizzle and heavy mists. We can make no tally of the damage to any other vessels but the Dromannion has been hit hard. We have lost our foremast and the top yard of the mizzen-mast. It is amongst ourselves however, that we have taken the most grievous losses. Twelve men have been injured and six have been lost to the sea. The passengers of this vessel are all safe and for that I am thankful. It would seem that we have survived the power of the sea once again.

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

Day Sixty-seven

This day has begun with the Fleet pounding its way through high seas and dark skies. Rain has plagued us for the last two days and the winds have turned to the north-east, slowing the Fleet and scattering us wide upon the surging waters. Still we crawl northwards, our goal the islands of Laerion. For the dwarvendim there is no doubt that these islands exist, but I can record here that not all aboard are convinced. We have been sailing north now for four days and as of yet there has been no sign of land. When asked of this the Maturi Hedj has responded that the Grey Sea is far wider than most would expect and that the distances to be travelled are great. It is the wide spread of the ocean that makes the landfall of Laerion so important. Without the replenishment that can be gained there none of the Fleet will make the distance that remains of our journey to the New World.

Whilst there are some who doubt the words of the dwarvendim, and I believe that is mainly a product of not knowing how they have come to possess such knowledge, it is apparent that the great majority of us aboard the Dromannion have taken great heart in their certainty. We have been at sea for many days and it has been weeks since we left the sight of land, but the idea of landfall ahead has lightened us all.

Although we wait for the call that signals that land has been sighted I find my own thoughts filled with the words of Faren, and a recurrence of the disastrous dream that has now given me more than one sleepless night. The spires of stone have become all too familiar and I am convinced that they are a portent of dangers to come. Compounding this has been the words of the Healer Faren regarding Stump. I believe now that only myself and Faren are aware of his true nature. It has proven a boon having him as an Assistant to the Healer. Many of our patients have recovered far quicker than they might otherwise have, and I have my suspicions that he is practising a subtle use of his powers in their healing.

Only one point of interest needs to be recorded for this day. One of the huge sea creatures has been spotted to the south of the Fleet. Although I cannot be sure, it has been reported that the behemoth moves parallel to our course, and for the moment seems to be following us.

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

Day Sixty-four

On this sixty-fourth day of our journey the Fleet tracks north of north-west towards the islands of Laerion. The weather is clear, the sky a mottled veil of high cloud and scattered cumulus. We have been lucky since turning to the north, the winds have remained at our back, pushing us towards our chosen destination. Aboard the Dromannion I find a sense of hope growing amongst us. Somewhere out there is a new home, and it now seems possible that we may just reach it.

The Kraagers have begun to join the rest of the ship's company and are already proving of great value to our endeavours. Even though they stand just shoulder high to most men, they are immensely strong and have taken to the duties of the ship with great energy. After the labours of our journey we find now the focus of our endeavours changing. The Kraagers for the moment are the centre of our thoughts, and that change has brought with it the need for us to teach them our languages and try and break them free from the sense that they are still slaves. To this end the Maturi Hedj has proposed a change to the way we address the newcomers. From this day forward we are no longer to refer to them as Kraagers. In keeping with an old Adoracian custom we have given a new name to their number. From today they are to be addressed as Kaderas'dwarvendim, which translates roughly as "people of the small ships." Already this has been shortened to dwarvendim and the newcomers have eagerly accepted the change. Their drab uniforms have been replaced with new clothes from the holds and now they stand with us as equals. It seems only fair that after giving us such hope that we should repay them in this small way.

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