Captain Rory Barbarosa Log and Map
When the gale finally ended, we found ourselves approximately seven days normal sailing distance due South of Specularum, in the Thanegioth Archipelago. We replenished our supplies, patched up the ship, and trades our remaining goods at native villages along the shores of several islands. We were well received by the natives who lived on the south eastern peninsula. The villages were cut off from the isle by a massive stone wall the natives contend was built by the gods to offer protection from the dangers of the island they refer to as the Isle of Dread. Their own peninsula they called Tanaroa - a word that translates to "home."
The villages were quite diverse - they included tortles, tabaxi, grung, tritons and even some humans. While in their company the villagers told us a tale of an ancient city in the central highland of the Isle that was built by the same entities as their wall. The inland city is rumored to be filled with treasure beyond imagining. In particular, I heard persistent tales concerning a great black pearl of 'the gods' that still remains in the inland city. The island waters abound with excellent pearl beds, so the rumor of the black pearl may well be true.
I would have liked to explore inland to verify the rumors, but too many of the crew died in the storm. Only five of us are left. I am the only professional adventurer, while the others are sailors. We can sail the small ship well enough, but on land in hostile territory, we would be helpless. Once back in Specularum, I should be able to recruit a professional team to return to claim the black pearl and whatever other fabulous treasures await.
One thing I managed to do before leaving: we sailed around the island and made the best map we could. We were afraid to land, since the villagers had warned us of the large beasts and dragons that inhabit the mainland. Furthermore, the coasts were rocky and beaches were scarce to find. As a result, the map only shows the coastal areas we could chart from the ship.
-Rory Barbarosa
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