Navigator’s Log – Winter Voyage – Eternal Mariner – 10th day of Hammer 1372 DR Year of Wild Magic
Running on a true south bearing on the Sword. Selûne (Waxing Gibbous) rising from the west, 12 degrees from run-line. Present in the night sky are Uruath (West setting) and The Star of Osiris (Turning South).
Covering a distance of 32 nm with a fair southerly wind at 9 to 12 kts at 8 bells
Navigator’s Personal Log
I swung comfortably in my hammock, listening to the familiar creeks and groans of the ship, in my usual meditative half-sleep. It was just past seven bells on the Dog Watch, and I would soon need to rouse and take my station for the coming handover. On the deck above I could hear footsteps of the sailors going about their duties and every once and while I overheard a conversation from below decks. Yet, ever constant was the sound of the sea rushing below the keel and the waves washing up against the hull.
I opened an eye and peered out from my lofty perch to see a soft glow of a lantern down the passageway. I let out a deep sigh then decided to get an early start, climbed down hand-over-hand, to the cold wooden deck. My bear feet touched the deck and my balance returned as the swell of the ship took over my senses. I bent down and pulled out my sea chest, un-knotted the latch and opening the lid. Inside I found my hood and mask on top, which I would wear during my watch to protect me from the wind and spray. As I picked it up, underneath I saw a familiar parchment with a name scribbled out many times in a still learning hand. I glanced at it for a moment and smiled before closing up the chest and retying the latch.
I made my way down the dimly lit passageway and climbed a ladder up where I appeared on the quarterdeck. Esko, the Day Mate, was looking out over the starboard beam and the quartermaster, at the helm, turned and nodded a salute in my direction. I nodded back and walked over to the binnacle to check the ship’s bearing. I then looked up at the starry night sky and the myriad of stars hanging above in the heavens. As I was searching the night, Esko finally noticed my presence on the quarterdeck and walked over to my position at the rail looking up at the stars with me. We both stayed quite for a time before I broke the silence saying,
“Evening… anything to report?”
“… passed the Browery Beacon at 3 bells… nothing else of interest to report”
We remained silent again for a time enjoying the calm. I then looked at Esko and gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder.
“To bed then old man" I said with a chuckle.
“Not as old as you!” he replied with a wide grin.
Right as we were sparring our words, the first of 8 bells began to strike, signifying the end of the Dog Watch and the beginning of the my command of the vessel. Sailors began to climb down from the tops, and their replacements waited below to receive their handovers. I looked over at the quartermaster of the watch who had just handed over the helm to his replacement and then back at Esko and stated in a loud voice,
“I relive you Sir!”
Esko responded back with an equal amount of vigor and authority,
“I stand relived!”
We nodded our salutes and he disappeared below decks. I made my entry in the ship’s log and then took a position near the helm behind the quartermaster.
“Pleasant evening sir?”
He said with a distinct accent.
“That it is…” I replied back with stern smile.
Just then, a slow moving figure appeared carrying a tray and a steaming cup at it’s center.
“Good evening sir...” said the somber looking fellow in an unenthusiastic tone. He wore a blue cap and a gold trimmed vest. His presence didn’t look out of place among the seafarers on deck, yet careful study of his face showed that he rarely smiled, or at least meant it when he did.
“Good Evening Mr. Buckley” I replied back with a slightly more lively voice.
“...Half a cup sir” He responded as I reached out and took the hot porcelain cup. I took a sip of the hot tea and nodded my approval, “…as usual sir” he finished as I placed the empty cup back on the tray.
“Will there be anything else sir?” he asked trying to muster a fiend of interest by inflecting his usual monotone voice at the end of his question.
“No thank you Mr. Buckley” I responded.
“Very good sir” He said, already turning around and slowly stepping down the ladder back to the galley.
Looking back out over the horizon I took a deep breath, the gentle wind blowing across my face. The sailors were tightening the rigging starting forward and working aft. They were all in light conversation. One of them nudged another and tilted his head in my direction. Soon, all eyes on deck were in one way or another on me. I then pulled my mask over my face and walked over to the binnacle. Looking down at the needle bobbing in it’s liquid filled casing and then up at the stars, I took one last deep breath and closed my eyes. Concentrating on the thin fabric of energy present in the air, I spoke an incantation and gestured my fingers, out stretched to the sea. A blue glow began to emanate from the binnacle and a point of light appeared illuminating the space bellow the hood in front of the helm. I lowered my hands and opened my eyes looking in the direction of the quartermaster. He looked down into compass and made a slight adjustment, turning the great ship’s wheel in the true direction I had provided for him. The sails furled in the wind as the boom swung across the deck.
I looked back out on to the deck at which time the sailors went back about their duties. Looking towards the heavens again, I made gestures with my hands and whispered a long string of arcane words. Slowly, after a short time, the magical energy in the air began to thicken. I finished the incantation, placing my hands together… then pulling them apart, with my arms outstretched. From a small glow of light in the center of my hands grew a planisphere that bubbled over the quarterdeck. Surrounding me was the night sky with all the constellations drawn in, and their names, all floating in a glowing magic. I looked about searching for particular star formations and pointed at one of the stars. A blue line traced my finger as I connected points within the plainsphere. The quartermaster watched with interest as did the sailors nearing the rigging on the bridge. As I finished making my calculations, I clapped my hands and the magical sphere was gone. I walked over to the ship’s log and made my entries. At about that time the first bell of my watch sounded. I looked out upon the horizon again, the stars and moon shining over the ocean… my thoughts were elsewhere though... They were thinking... thinking... of home...
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