Genvieve 8, 1806: A Disturbing Message

From the Journal of M. Maelstorme Smythe
Captain of the Signet Ship "Seraph"
Captain's Log: Official Log, the Second
Date: Genvieve 8, 1806, Year of the Drake

The Seraph has been underway for a full week now. Smooth sailing thus far, but a thick black ball of worry has settled firmly in my gut. I find it impossible to ignore, and see bad omens all around me. Nonetheless, the lack of serious problems has allowed me to spend time with the crew, getting to know them all a bit better, and reacquainting myself with my officers.

The ship consists of 28 men and women in total, excluding myself and my raven familiar, Morrigan. Yes, I list her as a person...I do this for reasons I shall reveal in my own time. My four officers are: Commander Harris Deckwalkre, first mate; Mister Solomon Hungan, gunnery officer; Doctor Augustus Dayafter, ship's doctor; Mister Christholm Thorne, navigator. Mister Gregoe Zlatkis is ship's chef, and I've mentioned our chief engineer, Mister Scott Aul (pronounced "all") DuBreens...his name alone is quite the boast, but his parents were rather eccentric. The remaining crew includes many fine men and several women who I will undoubtedly single out in later writings.

I have realized in the last few days that I shall be forced to reveal certain things about myself and my crew through this journal - things that I would have preferred to safeguard. I suppose nothing is safe forever...even secrets. Chief of these is the history behind myself, Morrigan, and the good doctor. None of us is exactly what we appear to be, and only the crew of my former ship, the Rasputin, know this. I simply wish to quell any possible situation that might lead to misunderstanding, or worse, mutiny.

I must confess to being most troubled of late. A Black Signet message hawk delivered an important message several nights ago. It appears that they have lost contact with our mining colony on the far southern continent of Salamandrius. The mine on this continent is critically important to the Black Signet due to the rare metallic ore that is found only on this continent.

This mildly pearlescent, silvery ore is called resilientum, and, when combined with iron, produces the strongest and lightest metal on Aerthe, as well as the best conductor of aether. The Seraph herself is the first airship to be armored with resilientum, mainly due to our status as the flagship of the Black Signet organization. Many nations secretly rely on us to be there to uphold justice when their efforts fail, so at the very least, this ship must be powerful.

The large island of Salamandrius there is barren and forbidding; only the hardiest of folk have dared brave the mountain mines. The Black Signet purchased the mine from the Salamandrian dwarves several years ago after they abandoned the land for reasons they refused to share with us. Later intelligence revealed that they had been frightened out of the mine. By what, we know not. Sailors have spoken of large krakens sighted in the area - both under and above the waves. They have been described as "propelled by some sort of internally generated flame." These "flying hellsquid" are also said to attack frequently, and without apparent motive.

I must admit to being a disturbing mixture of excited and loathe to meet one of these beasts. Our current orders are to set a course for Salamandrius and investigate their lack of communication with the Black Signet, so an encounter with these hellsquid is likely inevitable. The society needs more of the resilientum for further construction, armor testing, engines, etc. If my worst fears are confirmed - and those colonists have been harmed by the natural inhabitants of that area - a low supply of resilientum may be the least of our worries.

- Mael