I'm finally having some time to catch up with my personal journal. I just started my watch and I am trying to stay near the fire so I have some light to see by and to stay warm. It has been too long since I added anything to my diary.

t has been a hell of a trip so far. I don't believe that the Blackcloaks were on the Moonwind. In retrospect, it seems obvious that Nathaniel and his brothers were not to be trusted. I remember thinking it odd that we had 3 cooks, but it's not like I ever went sailing before. But, the thing that really gets me is that they were travelling under the name "Hunter". Maybe it really was their name, but I doubt it. I'm sure they thought it quite clever. Where to begin? Maybe I should organize my thoughts by starting with the passage through the veil. I have already covered some of it in the official log entries, so I will pick up from there.

After we were asked to leave the deck, we all gathered to eat, drink and enjoy each other's company. The cooks had laid out a huge meal (for a ship) and the entire crew was enjoying everything. I brought my mandolin so I could entertain everyone. It was actually a real good time. Next thing I know, I am peeling myself off the deck and I feel like I have a humongous hangover. I have only felt that bad one other time in my life. I was groggy and achy. Everything was horrid. I noticed that everyone else was out as well. Very odd. It was then that I heard a slight noise. Looking up, I saw a shadowy figure with something glinting in it's hand. It was picking up one of the crew members heads and moved the shiny thing across his neck. My blood ran cold. I had no idea what the hell had happened, but I wasn't about to watch it murder helpless people!

I staggered to my feet, grabbed a nearby plate and threw it at the figure just as it was slitting someone else's neck. I had been hoping to distract it enough that someone else wouldn't die, but I was still feeling very sick and must have been moving considerably slower than I was thinking. Unfortunately, I missed with the plate, but that definitely surprised it! It shouted something about people being up and took off. I tried to run after it, but I still felt quite sick. I heard Jaden stirring behind me as the figure sprinted up the stairs toward the upper decks. This really got my attention! Paules had warned us not to go on deck! I got out to the passageway and then I used a minor spell to close the upper hatch, hoping to slow the figure down. I heard someone above call down and then heard the hatch open. So much for that.

I hesitated for a few moments as Jaden caught up with me. I wasn't sure what the best course of action would be. On one hand, we had at least two hostile creatures that might disturb the summonings. Maybe we could stop them before they went out on deck. On the other hand, we had no reason to believe that the Navigators hadn't been killed already. In that case, we needed as many people as possible awake. I asked Jaden to wake the others and then I headed up the other stairway. I was hoping that they would be watching for me on the stairway that the figure had used.

By now, I was feeling much better. I guess the exertion was helping clear my system. I arrived at the top of the stairs and saw two figures across from me. They saw me and one of them pushed the other through the door and shouted something that I don't remember now. I tried to catch the cloak of the figure and was successful. Unfortunately, it twisted out of the cloak and kept going. In the meantime, the other one pulled out a wand and whipped off it's hood. That's when I realized that it was one of the cooks. Now, my blood really ran cold.

I could hear the rest of the company on it's way up the stairs. At least we were all ready now. As I was moving for position, the cook mombled something that I was barely able to make out and a bunch of magical daggers shot into me. This really staggered me. I had seen Jaden use such things, but it never occured to me how much they hurt. I did not like this one bit! Thinking fast, I used my rapier to knock the want out of his hands. I saw Jaden grab it from behind me. He fled through the door onto the deck and the entire company raced after him.

As soon as we stepped outside, it was apparent that something had gone badly wrong. There was a large, purple, wall of fire burning through the boat just in front of the forecastle. The entire deck was burn scarred. Whatever had happened had been enough to overcome the enchantments in the wood. In places, the wood was warped. Paules was lying near the door, looking badly wounded. At the forecastle, we could dimly make out the figure of Skellius wrestling with something. And, the ship's boat was missing. Nobody else was to be seen. I immediately stopped and conjured some healing force into him. He looked bad, but he beseeched us to save Skellius as nobody else could protect us from the enchantments of the Veil.

Raven sprinted across deck and lept across the purple fire just as a figure rose from the forecastle. It was wearing a black cloak with a scarlet hood and was laughing maniacly. For a moment, I feared it was a demon, then I realized it was the head cook. Nathaniel Hunter. Blackhawk considered a shot with his bow and decided that the winds were too extreme. He ran and jumped across the fire to assist Raven. Nathaniel was levitating up there above the ship, dressed as a High Inquisitor for the Church of Ardania, with an elaborate staff in his hand. Clearly, he was in direct violation of every edict that has been passed down through the centuries by the Blackcloaks. What was going on here? We then noticed that the ship with the red sails was a few hundred yards off our starboard bow. Things were just looking worse and worse.

Raven was pouring one of her precious vials of potion down Skellius's throat. From what she told us later, it was amazing that he was even alive. He was burned so badly that his skull was exposed in places. Whatever Nathaniel did, he did it well! While this was happening, Nathaniel stopped laughing long enough to address us. I won't quote him directly, but he basically told us that people like us weren't needed in Ardania. Ardania needs the direction of the Church. We were doomed and Uncle Max would soon perish as well. Jaden began to lose it. He evoked his own magical missile and aimed it at Nathaniel's staff. We were all hoping the staff would explode and kill Nathaniel or something, but it didn't. About this time, we also noticed the ship's boat in the water, heading for the ship with the red sails. Inside, we could see Nathaniel's brothers.

Raven and Blackhawk helped Skellius up just as an arrow thudded into the rail near them. The arrow looked vaguely Elven and Jaden just snapped. He handed me the wand and pulled out this scroll that I had never seen and began to read from it. I pointed the wand at Nathaniel and tried to mumble the words I had heard earlier. I guess that bit of magical training I took at the Guild paid off. A bunch of those magical daggers shot out and hit Nathaniel. That did not make him happy at all! I don't think that was the worst though. Jaden finished reading and a small red ball darted out toward the boat. As it got near, it blossomed into an immense sphere of elemental rage. As the flash cleared, there was a bit of soot and dust right where the boat had been. I have to admit, it was a fitting use for the scroll. I am inclined to believe that Jaden may have killed two of those responsible for the death of Sir Alfred.

Raven told us that around that time, Skellius used some magical talisman to protect the ship. We passed through the next barrier of the Veil. From everything that I have heard in training, we passed through the largest Prismatic Wall I have ever heard of. Surely, we would have perished if not protected somehow. After we passed through the wall, I went to check on Paules. I had left him in a stable condition, but when I got to him, he was dead. It took a few moments before I noticed the arrow sticking in his side. An Elvish arrow. It looked like the brothers nailed him before Jaden fireballed them.

I could hear Skellius mumbling something to Raven about getting something to the Navigators Guild and then he pressed something into her hand. I admit, I am curious what it is, but I will respect Skellius's desires and not ask her. Skellius then stood and invoked the name of an Elemental and bade it to protect us. Then, his staff turned to dust and he fell to the deck. I am thankful to Skellius and the Elemental. I won't name the Elemental. One of the things that I did learn from Mistress Kali is that names have power. It just doesn't seem right to write it's name down here.

By now, the fire had burned to the water line and had gone out. Blackhawk began to tie the main mast and the forecastle together to keep the ship from splitting further. I went below deck to do the same. This appeared to be futile however. Raven told us that it would split within moments. Jaden had checked on the rest of the crew and found them all slain. I went down to the secure deck, opened my chest and took out the box I was carrying for the Celestial Church. I was hoping to bring it with us. Everyone else gathered what they could of their belongings, and we dragged MacGyver above deck. There were some 8 by 8's that appeared to be for emergency use. We grabbed onto those and braced ourselves. Up ahead, we could see an immense wall of water rising straight up into the air. I guess we had made it to the next wall.

As the ship started moving up the wall, we could feel the timbers groaning beneath our feet. It happened suddenly, the forecastle just disappeared into the water. The rest of the ship twisted a bit and then boards started popping every direction. The ship all but disintegrated beneath us. Suddenly, we were dunked into the water for a moment. As I wiped the water out of my eyes, I could see the company around me. It was odd. There we were, moving up this enourmous wall of water, and it looked like we were standing in a shallow pond! I could feel something beneath my feet, holding me up. As we got higher, the buffeting of the water got worse. Finally, just was it was starting to batter us badly, we cleared the top of the wall. It was odd. I looked down and it looked the same as if we were standing at the top of a cliff. for the briefest second, we just hung there. Then, we began to fall. We were still in the water and I could feel something beneath us, holding us upright and secure. Finally, we made it down the wall and we were rushing away from it rapidly. As I looked around, I could see the rest of the company spread out and away. About 30 feet away, I could see one of the 8 x 8's. Then, as the weight of my clothes and the box started to pull me under, I realized that I am not a good swimmer.

part 2

Though it pained me to do so, I released the box containing whatever it did for the Celestial Church. As that did not help much, I also began cutting away my clothes to reduce the weight. It is with great remorse that I report my Journeyman's Cloak to be gone. However, it would do me little good if I died while trying to retain it. I did manage to keep the clasp and stuffed it into my pouch.

I kicked up to the surface and saw that the rest of the Company was trying to make it to either of the 8 x 8's. Even with much of the weight gone, I had a very difficult time making any headway. I learned to swim in the lakes and placid rivers of Ardania. I never tried swimming in the wide ocean with the waves frothing about me constantly. Fortunately, Blackhawk is quite a strong swimmer. He made it to the nearest 8 x 8 and tied much of his equipment to it. He then swam to the next 8 x 8 and pushed it to me. This helped mightily.

In the meantime, Raven had done much the same. While Blackhawk is a strong swimmer, Raven is almost graceful. MacGyver was swimming competently and Jaden was making slow progress. I think that Jaden was going more on sheer strength and stubborness. He was still weighed down with everything so far as I could tell. He was helped in a bit and we tied the two 8 x 8's together to keep from drifting apart. I realized that I was the only one that had dumped most of my equipment.

After we had recovered somewhat, we looked around a bit. It appeared that we were floating within the elemental. This was furthered confirmed as we noticed several other forms apparently bashing at the elemental trying to get to us. This was somewhat disconcerting and I hoped that this elemental was large enough to withstand the assault. If I had trouble swimming now, I can't imagine what it would be like with a bunch of water creatures battering me.

Thus began the remainder of our journey to the Isles. It wasn't exactly as we had planned it, but at least is better than being fish food. After a few hours, we noticed something several yards away. As we debated whether somebody should swim over to see what it was (I was not about to release my grip on the wood!) a barrel popped up to the surface. It would appear that it was caught below the elemental and had been leaking oil, which is what we saw. Raven swam out to bring it back. It was a floatation device of some sort and might prove useful. Some time later, we also saw a cluster of wood come floating to the surface. Jaden, having left most of his equipment with us, swam out to get it. We were delighted to discover that it was a significant portion of the poop deck of the Moonwind. He had a difficult time swimming it to us, but eventually got it there. Now we had a ragtag flotilla of floating debris. This would later prove to be useful.

What ensued was like some demented version of a watery Hell. I won't relate the details. Mainly, because it involved several days of treading water and trying not to drown. As we had passed the final wall in the Veil, we had been able to determine that the elemental was moving quite rapidly. This was good since we had no reason to believe we were anywhere near land. If it hadn't been for the healing draughts we had secreted away, I am sure at least one of us would have perished. After roughly three days, we saw a line of rock pillars jutting from the sea. We were moving toward them quite rapidly and it appeared to be where the elemental was guiding us. Most of us passed the rock pillars without mishap, but Jaden and MacGyver were dashed upon them painfully. Then we were being thrust upon a sandy beach and we could feel the water receeding from around us.

I rolled over and muttered thanks just as the elemental reared up to observe us. It was huge! After looking at us for a few moments, it fell back into the water and disappeared. I staggered to my feet and headed for the top of the nearest dune to see where we were. Raven joined me a few moments later and Blackhawk was looking for anything to build a fire with. I noticed that the island we were on was only about 200 yards across. Still, I couldn't see the north end, so maybe there was more to it. More to get my blood moving than anything else, I trudged down the beach on the pretense of looking for something flamable. Raven headed the other direction.

I did manage to find some dried seaweed and brought it back to where we landed. Blackhawk was able to get a bit of a fire started and Raven returned to tell us that she had found a large chest that may have come from the Moonwind. Her and MacGyver went back to the chest and he jimmied the lock open. Inside, was some of our silk that we were carrying as cargo. The top few layers had been damaged by the salt water. After the returned with this news, I plodded up the beach to cut off some of the ruined silk to use as, and I use the term loosely, clothing. What the heck, it would at least protect me from the elements.

By the time I returned, Raven had befriended a seal and talked it into bringing us some fish. Blackhawk and Macgyver were engineering some sort of signalling device. Jaden looked quite worn out and I was exhausted, and freezing. I pulled out my rapier and stuck it in the sand. I then pulled some of the silk over to make a weak lean-to with my rapier next to the fire. Then I curled up underneath it and passed out until morning.

Blackhawk awoke first, but the rest of us soon followed suit. We ate the barely cooked fish that the seal brought for us and planned out our days activities. Blackhawk explored the island while Raven tried to get us more food. Jaden didn't look so good, so I used a healing spell on him. Raven did find some wood that was carved like a paw. We made a guess that it was part of the SeaFox and are assuming that they met a similar fate. Raven also found a boot with the foot inside. She removed the foot and buried it.

After a while, Blackhawk returned to ask Raven's opinion on something. Not wishing to be left out, Jaden and I trundled along. Blackhawk brought us to the top of a dune and asked Raven to look off toward something. She quickly realized that the dune he was pointing at was too regular to be natural.

We all hurried over and began exploring the area. After several hours, we managed to uncover a structure and part of a door. It was nearing dark and we still needed more food. Fortunately, Blackhawk had located a clam bed. We dug up a bunch of clams and Raven put together a stew in a pot she had found. The only real question was what to do about our current situation. I badly want to explore the structure, but am certainly not in any position to do much exploring.

Given that I am the elected leader, I decided that I should be the voice of prudence. We are unsure what the structure is and, based on Uncle Max's stories, may be faced with a crypt containing the undead. Raven countered with the possibility that we could find something inside that would help us get off the island. I am not sure, but Raven is determined to enter the structure in the morning. Everyone has agreed to join her.

On one hand, I am excited! After all, we are supposed to be adventurers. This is what it is all about. On the other hand, this is not how I wanted to approach my first exploration. In any case, we have decided as a group. We presented both sides of the argument and made a thoughtful choice. I hope it goes well. We will be trying to open the door to the structure in a few hours.