A Rather Quick Finish and a Departure...

Captain's Log

Initially, it was a bloody waste of time. While we agreed that these foolish sirens would stay close to their former hostage, the island was riddled with caves, rat holes and various other underwater crevices where these bitches could hide. Being lesser godlings and related to water they could be of any depth.

The others stumbled on a solution to our corundum. I was thinking clearly for the first time in a while and someone else just stumbles on ferreting out a secret from our acquaintance, the undertow.

We quickly arrived at the scene of a sacrifice. I voted for letting this all finish and talking to the undertow at our leisure but the others are more compassionate and decided to intervene.

Akira quickly used her cloak of Vanishing Escape to nab the intended sacrifice, in this case a little girl, and return to the ship. Leaving Naar and I to deal with the undertow.

I took Naar along because while I dealt with this undertow before, the power of his anima is something powerful, in case we need it.

The undertow wanted another sacrifice and before discussions in conflict with the compassion of my companions got out of hand we finished our business and traded a few secrets about the publicity stunts of his neighbors. We were fortunate enough that it knew the whereabouts of the those sirens.

It is fortunate that my companions did not stop me when I took matters into my own hands and picked a more suitable sacrifice. Compassion can be a good thing but at times it can be quite inconvenient - especially if we have priorities which in turn will save many more lives. I said a few things on the island before I left. I really should spend more time honing my social skills.

The undertow was grateful and even asked us if we could get it released and maybe he could work for us. I'll make a note to ask Lord Fakharu just that. If we can get the undertow from there he could make an excellent source of information if we could get him to work for us.

The people would likely need someone's protection from the other denizens of the Archipelago of Exiles and as Azure Heart of the Sunrise said, we could always use more people in my island. Azure Heart wants a cult, Raging Snowstorm was eyeing the able bodied youths, and Drifter Against the Vast Eternity was wondering about savants and assistants. I overheard him and Naar talking about Harmonious Academic Methodology or something like that... but I digress.

The party agreed on a course of action and we headed out for the hideout of the sirens. Akira and I went into the water and attempted to sneak up on the sirens. Her octopus form worked wonders and quickly grappled them. It was a simple matter for me to wrap them in the enchanted nets. The nets gripped tight. Sikunare has a sense of humor. The battle was over before it was joined.

We met up with the others who were following us to give us aid if necessary and we had an uneventful ride back to the Storm Mother's Sanctum.

Apparently, we were expected and shark spirits lead us to the great dead Oyster of a sanctum. The throne room was a rich mother of pearl and the servants were all slightly or horribly scarred. It reminded me of the Isle of Broken Masks and my own failure. I growled a few times and noted with some satisfaction that my scarring could be useful at times. Sikunare herself said it was an improvement. I believe that while I am not happy about it, I will make the most of my disfigurement.

We surrendered the sirens to the tender mercies of the Storm Mother. We were asked if we wanted to claim our boon but we decided that collectively we could use it in the future.

We then made for Fakharu's Manse and returned Amarel to him still wrapped in sorcerous sleep. We specifically told him we would rather not try to wake her because any mistep on our part might harm her. He judged it wise and said he would attend to it himself. He bade us to rest for now while he took care of his lover. We decided to postpone business for the morrow.

Howling Wind was strangely quiet the whole time and largely because of the surrounding water kept his flamepieces to himself. He kept gazing at some drawing he kept with him and seemed to be mulling the information he gleaned from our adventures even mumbling it out loud.

He then made an announcement that he would be leaving our group and be heading for An-Teng to search for his quarry. He left with us manuals detailing the Martial Arts he uses his flamepieces with. He would be taking a boat rented from Fakharu as his own boon.

While I respect his decision regarding this matter, he will still be missed.

We have 17 days to prepare for the invasion. All of us need to prepare our bodies, minds, and souls for the coming battle.

P.S. There is a really strange sailor in Naar's crew. We never noticed him before but it strikes me as strange. Did I just write strange? Yes, weird. What was his name again? I know he usually was around us with a mop. Bah, this is something to consider after the invasion when we have more time to attend to our other affairs.

P.P.S. I could not seem to find the exquisite Dragon Blooded Sorceress in the manse. I think it is just as well, for I don't think I would want her to see me in this manner.

P.P.S.S. Akira seems to be absorbed in study of sorcery in Fakharu's Library. One such spell requires she tatoo an arcane symbol on some of my skin. The only place where this is currently possible is... Why am I even writing about this!? I really should learn the Whirling Brush Method.