Brine walker

"Captain's log, date 41st of harvest season, 1543

It has been a year, 3 seasons and 34 days since we left on our voyage to the heart of the million isles. Many of us are already dead, but their deaths are not in vain. The scientific and theological discoveries we have made on our journey are invaluable, the island charts and maps as well as the illustrations of the things we have witnessed and discovered here are more than proof of it. Last night the sky was ablaze with green aurora, so powerful were they that they even color the moon green. Some of the men saw it as an evil omen, like from the old beliefs of the dragon of miasma who would drag them across the skies to indicate a bad harvest and disease. Uneasiness in the crew, the crew was ordered that evening to clean the kayaks, boats, tents and all other equipment, that should occupy their minds today.

Captain's log 42nd of harvest season, 1543

This night my lieutenant, my friend, Faramin the navigator, saw something in the water, and for reasons unknown was compelled to jump into the drink. Before his body sank unnaturally quick, we saw something besides him, a creature, a squid of some sorts, or octopus, small, snake like in appearance. At the time we thought he perhaps tried to capture this creature, although some openly speculated that it was perhaps suicide. I cannot say, this voyage has been exhausting for all involved. We will stop here, at a rocky outcropping of valleys and cliffs, with verdant forests, a landscape typical of what we have seen of the million isles. We will search for Faramin's body here for the next few days and give him a proper burial.

Captain's log, date 44th of harvest season, 1543

We have not found Faramin's body, one of the mates found a wooden necklace Faramin owned on one of the beaches. We will bury this necklace and we shall continue further to the center. The unsettling aurora continue to paint the night sky.

Captain's log, date 1st of decay season, 1543

Something attacked us last night. A creature wreathed in horrible writhing tentacles, walking on two feet, by the accounts of the seamen. The cries of those nearest to the beaches roused me and the officers from out slumber and as we got up to our feet, it all seemed to already be over. The beast had vanished back into the waters with one of our crew, leaving one dead and one to whom that accursed creature seems to have planted something inside of. They complain of something moving inside them. Talassyn, The surgeon, is looking into it. The seaman seems fine otherwise, except, I could catch a glimpse in the lantern light of something moving beneath his scales. The auroras continue. We are fortifying our position here, moving the men away from the beaches more inland to see if we can catch this creature.

Captain's log, date 2nd of decay season, 1543

The seaman who was in contact with the creature complains increasingly of feeling unwell. His condition has visibly worsened, bad for morale, the doctor's tent was moved further from camp, the cries and complaining are bad for morale. No sign of the creature.

Captain's log, date 3rd of decay season, 1543

Samas, the unwell seaman referred to earlier, is dead. In the evening we heard sounds of conflict from the medical tent, as we barged in weapons drawn, Samas, or what had become of him, was strangling Talassyn, the surgeon. Tentacles and tendrils had now sprouted from all over his body. I and a three of the seamen charged at this creature, stabbing it with our spears and swords until it did not move. We suffered minor cuts and bruises in the fight, but Talassyn was without pulse. During this moment, on the other side of the camp where now only the two guards remained who overlooked our ramshackle camp had begun to yell. As we rushed to their direction their sounds had moved closer to the beaches. We reached them only to see the bipedal monster dragging both of them into the waters and beneath the surface. Despite the efforts of our men to impale it with thrown spears, we did not see any blood float up to the surface. As we made it back to the medical tent, both Talassyn's and Samas' bodies were gone. A trail of blood leading to the water. That night there was mutiny in the air, I and the officers convened on whether to abandon the voyage. We were so close, closer to the center anyone may have ever been. But we decided to turn around. I announced this to the men, the men seemed defeated, no cheer left in them..."