Savage Tide: ECL 8 Bartholomew Grundy human rogue 7 / legendary captain 1: Entry 2

We've retrieved the Kraken's Claw. I'm glad enough to be back in port and with our numbers bolstered, but I'm bound to commit some strange events which happened afore, lest I deny our accomplishments.

The medicine man did some ritual to conjure wind into our sails. I worried the men would have no part of it, but it seems they've decided he's on the good side of the sea. Well enough, as it got us there twice as soon.

First thing we sighted, halfway along, was an ebony pillar jutting up from the surface of the water, like a great, terrible headstone. If that weren't enough to tell you my dislike of it, then read on, as we came back to it later. On the leg up, we only let the witch fly out to it and he came back with naught but vague and ill omens. I was unsurprised.

It was smooth from there, and even as we approached the wreck, I thought we'd sight more of the same that brought her down, but all was quiet. Then, we set foot upon the boat, and out of the water rose a thunder lizard with a demon on his back commanding him. It might have finished us alone, but I spotted an eel biting at its nethers, and I took the chance to pierce its brain while it were distracted.

The medicine man surprised me before when he took a deep breath and blew a gale what knocked that demon off its mount. Now, though, it swam into my hold through the break in the side. That weren't to be had, so we all ran down there to face it. Again we may have been finished, aye and Long Bob were wounded but not mortally, but for that eel who followed it over, and then again a shark whose distraction gave me the opening to finish her.

Then it were quiet again. I set the men to repairs, and all were surprised to find them done by day's end. We celebrated as we could. I asked that Olman, who I've come to call Nock as his name is strange, why those fish were drawn to our fight. He just gave the same strange look I'm accustoming to. I thank the gods either way, and specifically those of the sea.

Then we sailed back, and for the blessing of his wind, we set the medicine man on a launch roped between both vessels. My companions insisted upon me that we go back to check that awful headstone we sighted before, so we did, though I half expected the writing on it to change to show the names of all on board when we neared it. We made it away without event, though I'm told that the thing is older than time, and probably were made by the gods themselves. Good riddance, I say. It's our place to leave be.

Now we've returned to Farshore just in time to see an election. Seems the horseman's uncle, probably another horse-loving fop, has been challenging her grace the Lady Vanderboren's decisions. Now, I'm all for beasts of burden, but they and their offspring have no say in a port under attack. They held a vote then and there, which ended in a tie.

And now we've been gone a week and all the problems in the town before seem to have grown unmanageable. So I set myself to recruiting for the local militia. I make sure to talk about the upcoming revote with each man, and too I'm keeping a list of those promising potentiates who don't care for duty on land, as they may soon be called to duty at sea. All were glad to hear the tales of what we've done so far, and I think I may have inspired a few of them.