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Sept. 22 - Autumn Equinox. A day of regrets and sad necessities. Led the
day with the proper office and prayers. Robyn, scouting ahead, killed two
ogre sentries, one before he knew he was under attack and the other after
a brief struggle. He took the two horns they use for summoning their
troops, which perhaps we may have a use for in future. It is regrettable
that he had to kill them, but since they probably would have regarded us
as a threat (or an opportunity; the amount of treasure we carry, and the
extreme visibility of the artwork, makes me nervous), I could not condemn
his action, as it prevented us from having to fight large numbers of
ogres.
When, at dusk, we gained sight of the bay, we saw a ship in harbor near
the river - but it was not our ship. We found a secure and defensible
location to leave Gaius and the mules, Decimus flew up invisibly to
reconnoiter the vicinity and spy upon the ship, and the rest of us crept
down to the beach. He returned with the news that the ship was a pirate
vessel which had seen survivors from another ship, sunk by halflings,
reach shore. We had been seen by lookouts on the ship, but they had made
no move to apprehend us yet. Robyn said: "Sink it," and while Alfredus
and I were debating the wisdom of this course, Decimus did so, sending a
lightning bolt through the hull and spreading alchemist's fire on the
deck. He then placed two more lightning bolts into the water, so only a
handful swam ashore. Tamara was coolly picking them off as they swam. I
spotted one of the men Decimus had overheard talking about survivors, cast
hold person on him while he was knee-deep on the beach, and made a general
announcement to the survivors that any who came ashore within a particular
stretch of beach would be held to have surrendered, and would be spared.
So far as I could tell, all did so. Alfredus carried the held man, who it
transpired was Captain (but no more!) Achilles to the building where we
stayed last time. We summoned in Gaius, who put up the mules and built
fires. Decimus and I questioned Achilles while Robyn, Tamara, and
Alfredus organized the prisoners, some score or so, to build fires and
cook dinner for themselves.
When we questioned Achilles, we found that the survivors to whom he
referred had fled from a new ship that fell into the halflings' trap not
to our ship at all! Ours he had seen slip off to the north, evidently as
a result of spying them! He seems listless and subdued, as do his men,
who discarded all their weapons and equipment in order to swim. I keep
reminding myself of the horrible crimes committed by pirates, but I don't
like the way this went. Decimus is angry at me, I don't know why. Robyn
is so uncommunicative and cold-blooded that he frightens me. Tamara is so
volatile and so willing to do distasteful things, Alfredus is so ready to
talk things to death and question everyone's ethical decisions at
inappropriate times, and I - if it all falls apart it's my fault, but I
doubt my strength to hold it all together.
I don't like this island.
Sept. 23 - Spoke to a gull, tied a message to it, and sent it to perch on
the Captain's shoulder if he could find it. About two hours after dawn,
he did. Our people are all safe and sound, praise Orus! Gaius, Decimus,
and Tamara are diving for tools and food. Robyn Alfredus and some of the
sailors from our ship form a hunting and foraging party. We have set the
pirates to making selected ruins habitable for winter. Either they can
use them, or we can, and in any case the busier they are the less mischief
they can do. Discussed overwintering with the Captain.
Sept. 24 - Salvage operations from yesterday are completed, and the
hunting party goes out again in hopes of better results than were had on
their first foray. If not, we must obtain adequate winter supplies from
some alternate source. Decimus came to discuss recent events and
behaviors with me. He says he's not sure why he's been angry with me,
either. I think there is evil in the ground here, and replacing the
Hadean temple with Theodosius's grave and killing the devil at the Tomb
were only a faint beginning of the work that must be done to clear out
centuries of accumulated evil.
Decimus says he wants to train as an acolyte. I am far from certain that
he wants this for the right reasons, though Orus knows I could use the
help! He is so mercurial, though - and the slow pace at which he has been
gaining access to new spells frustrates him mightily. I told him to pray
to Orus to send me a sign that this was what he wanted from Decimus at
this time.
Sept. 25 - Achilles says the survivors he saw took a boat to the southern
island about 15 miles out the bay, near the barrier of rocks and false
open channel. We took ship out there and had Decimus overfly it. He
returned to report three men, all wounded, being cared for by two
children. They were suspicious of us, but I approached first with Gaius
to tend their wounds. I wish we had come sooner. Two were very bad, at
death's door and with gangrene. I treated them as well as I could and
heard their story. They worked for Giulia and she set these three - her
guard captain, two under guards, and two small slaves - in a rowboat with
a chest of papers before the ship went down. Apius, the fittest of the
three, agreed to return with us for proper treatment. Alfredus had Chips
strike the slave rings from the children's necks. Their names are Hansel
and Gretel. Their parents were on the losing side of a war in Thule.
They say that Giulia was not a harsh mistress, but they didn't like her
"pet." This pet, from Robyn and their descriptions, must be an imp. I am
glad we got to the Tomb first, but I wonder if she is really dead?
We have opened the chest she entrusted to her guard captain. It
contained
the papers we already knew about, notes about the current state of the
island made from the testimony of pirates in Freeport, certain mundane
paperwork concerning ownership of Hansel and Gretel, and a nexus finder!
We took the nexus finder, leaving a receipt, and replaced the remainder of
the papers after copying out the most pertinent information, mostly so
that, when the guard captain comes round, he can feel that he has not
failed in his duty and will be unlikely to regard us with suspicion. I
wonder why she wanted to bring such young slaves? Remembering the altar
below the treasure vault, I fear I may know.
Sept. 26 - Removed disease from the two guards. Apius asked for a receipt
indicating that he had traded us Hansel and Gretel in return for healing
services rendered. He appears to be a scrupulous young man, fresh off the
farm. We have offered him and his a job for the duration of our stay, and
he has agreed.
We went out to the wreck of Giulia's ship and dove, but it had been
picked
clean except for a few bones. Both Achilles and witnesses from our ship
agree that the halflings have a wizard, apparently a quite powerful one.
Achilles, who knows them of old, says they take captives to their village
in the marsh, but it's as much as anyone's life is worth to go in after
them. Quicksand, traps, etc. Presumably they sell the captives as slaves.
It seems to me more and more certain the Giulia is, indeed, dead. It
would be most uncharacteristic for a mage of any power to permit herself
to be handled so, and if she were alive, she would surely have come to
retrieve her papers. The guard captain, Publius, is angry at Apius for
changing allegiance and wants us to mount a rescue mission for his
employer. I explained to him that Giulia is probably dead, and some of
the difficulties involved in confronting the halflings at this time, but
also told him that, if he could present us with a workable plan, I would
take it under advisement. Sometimes I think we ought to go in, since they
may have more than 60 more-or-less innocent captives; but I don't see how.
To stir them up would be dangerous; and what would we do with them?
Presumably it's a village, full of children.
All this has delayed us badly. In order to do any sort of proper survey
now, we'll have to overwinter, but we aren't equipped, and the hunting and
fishing aren't good enough to stockpile; nor have we sufficient winter
clothing. We are sending the ship to Freeport to supply.
Sept. 27 - To keep my mind off things, cast identify on certain items
Robyn thought peculiar to make sure no one had cast "Nystul's Undetectable
Aura" on any magic items. None were enchanted. Theodosius's symbol is,
however; it is powerful for turning undead.
The Captain has re-arranged his crew, and could leave for Freeport as
early as tomorrow. Some of the treasures of the Archmagi are being sent
with him in order to finance winter supplies and creation of magic items,
as well as extended salaries and certain personnel expenses. We are
marooning the captured pirates, with tools and basic supplies, on the
southern island. They'll have fresh water and some game, tools to build
shelters with, and be nicely far away from the temptations offered by our
staff, equipment, etc. They've been docile while we were around, but I
don't like the way they look at Greta and Tamara, and they do have a
grudge against us, after all. We will leave part of the crew, all of our
staff, the mules, and Giulia's ex-guards, here to finish the shelters and
make all ship-shape. We have given Greta and the Sunshine Boys and Apius
& Co such magic as they could use that might be useful in an emergency. I
wish some of them had magic of their own.*
In addition to buying supplies, the Captain will get a message on it's
way
to Uncle. I hope I have done all as he would have wished.
All this is settled, but we are still discussing timing, and the
possibility of rescue. The initial idea was to let the Captain drop us at
point E on the map, to take a look at it and make our way north - to D, if
feasible to do so in time to return to the bay and meet the ship.
Publius, however, has made an alternate suggestion. He has found a spot
on the map which he thinks is a necessary bottleneck through which the
halflings must pass if they take their prisoners south to sell. He wants
us to lie in ambush there. The weaknesses of this plan are manifold, and
Decimus has been quick to point them out. He is less sure than I am that
Giulia is dead, but that's not an argument he's making. We can't afford
to upset the halflings, the Captain would have to postpone going to
Freeport in order to carry any rescued prisoners, we don't even know that
they'll go that way, etc. Robyn makes counter suggestions, apparently
taking all this as a logistical exercise. I have left them discussing. I
am tired, and unsure of myself. There are so many good practical reasons
to let the halflings alone, yet - if Gaius had been captured, would I give
two hoots for any of them? Certainly not. Am I really willing to consign
sixty-odd people to an unknown fate, merely because I do not know them?
Sept. 27
To Senator Lucius Simpronius Alabraxis from Sofia Napea Theophilia,
Greeting and All Love -
My Esteemed Uncle - I trust this finds you in all good health and spirts
and that your business prospers. The errand you asked me to undertake is
essentially done, but has proved more complex than originally anticipated.
A portion of what you wanted removed cannot be taken from its present
location without irreparable damage. We have rendered it as inaccessible
as we were able, and recommend that you discuss a partnership with other
parties of similar interests in order to curate the property. A hobgoblin
who calls himself a king has a rival claim, but I think that matter can be
dealt with in time.
Meantime, during the course of completing that errand, we came upon leads
to several similar investments which we are presently engaged in
investigating for you. Due to the lateness of the season, this additional
survey work will necessitate our remaining incommunicado for the winter,
so do not worry. We have retained the ship for an additional six months
and have ample resources. When I tell you that we have leads on two
properties similar to the one we acquired for you in the south this
spring, as well as three others possibly equal in interest, you will
understand why we undertook to remain and gather more information. I
trust that this action meets with your approval.
Decimus begs to inform you that he has obtained a device similar to the
one we used in the spring, which he will be using to gather the pertinent
information.
All are well and performing admirably. Decimus is a credit to your
training every day. He, Alfredus, and Robyn will all need substantial
combat bonuses. Tamara is showing initiative and doing good service. The
Sunshine Boys and all the staff have given every satisfaction. We will be
taking on extra personnel, but I assure you that the profits will
overwhelm the extra expense in short order.
One rival for the property in question has met with difficulties and I
fear may have come to a bad end; however, she is the type who can surprise
you and I have no direct evidence one way or another. I would not write
her off the books just yet.
If I may ask a favor of you, Uncle, I would like you to inquire among
your
religious acquaintance whether anyone is aware of a priest named
Theodosius with a connection to this area. He will have been missing for
some time. If so, please report that I have news of him, but the story is
too complex for a letter of this type. The sum of it is that, despite
great odds, he has not been corrupted.
If you follow us out here before we leave in spring, please send word
ahead however you can. Despite what you may have heard, the northern
route is far preferable to the southern. This is what led to your rival's
present difficulties.
Please give my duty to the Archbishop, and my love to Mater and the
girls. If you see Brax before we do, please tell him we look forward to
visiting
his establishment in the spring. I pray that the war goes well and that
you have received no news of their families that Ludo and Tamara would be
grieved to hear.
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