Jarast's Saga

  From the Journal of Jarast the Sharp: Fire Season, 327 A.E., Cinder half, Wraith waxing crescent: Every time I think I have taken the full measure of the strangeness and foulness of this place, I am proven wrong.  The things I have seen here in just these past two days will surely haunt my dreams, should I be lucky enough to ever leave. I think not three hours had passed from putting down my pen and drifting into a dreamless sleep when I was awoken by shouts and general commotion by some of the men.  Thinking we were under attack, though not knowing by whom, I instinctively sprung up, drew my blade, and looked to see who or what had fallen upon us.  There was nothing, but the wind carried a foul smell of blood.  I soon knew the source, for as I followed my crewmates’ gazes to the west, I could see red clouds approaching swiftly, illuminated by flashes of lightning from within and Cinder from without.  I had heard of blood rains before but had never though...

  From the Journal of Jarast the Sharp: Fire Season, 327 A.E., Cinder waxing crescent, Wraith new: Had I known, all those months ago, that leaving my little rock and taking a bunk aboard the Talulah would have brought me to this place, I likely would have made the same choice but I must confess I’d have had to think about it for a long while.  I cannot deny that Black Bay and the marshes that enclose it are like no other place I have seen in my travels, but whether that is a good thing or bad I leave to the judgment of the reader. The journey itself was a simple enough matter, though it held some surprises of its own, which I will address shortly.  Upon accepting the commission of the elders of Hutum Cehecares, Captain Hohchifo set about learning what we could of our destination, this ill-humored bog that lured Imosak into its bosom with the promise of strong rope fibers, pretty black rocks, and leeches the length of a man’s forearm.  It was certainly well named, the...