19 Unndilar 835

Returning to Port Dimali, the party attempts to contact the painter, but he’s nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, the ship is ready to go and sets off, with Dairon joining the crew officially, and sitting in on conversations between the officers, though she kept mostly to herself.

The first officers meeting took place in Amira’s cabin that afternoon, where the heading was set. When all the officers were told they were heading to Diver’s Grave, they balked, with Tomba, the Quartermaster voicing the well known concern that Diver’s Grave is the apex of storms, where all ships lost at sea end up, and anyone searching there join them. Most of the others agree, save Icotta, who states that the souls lost there have not found rest and the waves carry their warnings across the sea.

That night, the crew at large bonds over ghost stories, after a rousing toast from Kerlu to toast their lives and their time at sea. While sharing stories, a random crew member speaks of ghost crews becoming more and more common now, ships floating aimlessly. There is an old legend about captain Idris Yensari, the Immortal Pirate, who’s sword controlled the waves and brought the sailors of his plundered ships back to life to sail under his flag. An armada was at his command and controlled by his very sword until the Great Queen Exandria led her own fleet to destroy him.

Then, Icotta spoke of a dark leviathan of the sea is rising again, as seen by the call of Ruidus on the waves. When the red moon glows at night, it’s light streaks through the water rather than across it, signaling the return of the seas greatest fear. Then Veng told about The Black Ship, nameless and silent, which patrols the seas, commanding the waves like never before. It’s able to leap through waves and appear or disappear at will, it’s captain a dark visage who leaves none alive; these stories come from those who have seen the attacks at a distance and fled and the Crownsguard Navy who have seen the ship disappear.