Having now left the Academy Arcanum for the term I have decided to write a journal of my travels through the Southern Seas. After purchasing this large leather tome, assorted inks and pens from a grimy faced trader in the crowded and foul smelling marketplace I strolled down to the cob looking for any outward bound ships that I might barter passage on to Freeport or other local harbor and hopefully earn some much needed coin on the way. After some three hours of approaching many a black toothed sea dog I found a small merchant vessel called the Alarielle was recruiting men for an undertaking. The employer Lord Haime says he needs protection, although he was tactful enough to say �escort� until he arrives at Freeport. We will travel onboard the Alarielle with four crew members including a Captain Lerrek and five other bodyguards. Six guards� sounds like overkill but Haime mentioned that he was a member of a shipping syndicate that had been targeted by pirates of late, so his paranoia is understandable. With my employment secured Lord Haime declared that he was satisfied with his security arrangements and told Captain Lerrek to depart Bardal Zia with all haste. By the time night fell we had cleared the cob and where on our way to Freeport.

The start of my day was not pleasant. I found it very difficult to sleep in my hammock with the constant rocking motion of the ship and the proximity of my new bunk mates. By the time I finally fell asleep the sun had risen and begun to shine through the portholes. I awoke barely hours later felling tired and nauseous and promptly vomited over the wooden decking of the bunkhouse, reveling to everybody my last meal of stewed beef and root vegetables. The crew didn�t seem to mind and found it rather funny at my lack of sea legs but they did give me a mop and bucket to clean away the mess before the Captain found out. The rest of the morning I spent on deck with my legs dangling over the side clearing my mind with the refreshing brine air and listening to the crew�s sea shanties.

By midday I felt well enough to practice my music and begun to mimic one of the simpler shanties using my ocarina. I had been playing for a few minutes when one of Haime�s other guards came over to me and rested on the ships rigging whilst I played. Felling embarrassed I quickly finished the melody and tucked the ocarina beneath my shirt. The man complemented me on my playing but warned me that sea monsters have been known to bite off limbs foolishly dangled over ships sides and like an idiot I yelped and scrambled back from the side fearful of losing my legs. Looking to the guard I could see him chuckling at me. In a moment of anger I imagined playing a melody of power and bewitching him to walk overboard and drown in his heavy armor but realizing it was just dumb pride I stood up on the deck and quickly introduced myself. His name is Geoffrey Desailley a mercenary for hire, although he seamed a lot more cultured than many other warriors I�ve meet in my time. Looking to his sash I noted the colors of the Azure Hawks a mercenary company of some standing, I mentioned the �Hawks to Geoffrey but he was not very forthcoming with details. I suspect he left their employ under bad circumstances but not wanting to offend my new shipmate I quickly dropped the subject. The rest of the day was spent exploring the ship with its many creaking holds, galley, mast and cabins. It�s now dusk I feel fatigued enough to try sleeping in that damn hammock.

A better start to today although yesterdays nausea was suddenly replaced by a famishing hunger so I went to the galley first thing to get my fill of salty bacon and the hard over baked bread boxed up in the ships galley. After an hour or so of gorging myself I was joined by another of Haime�s guards. Silently nodding to me and sitting to eat a repast of bread was Rhia the elven maiden. Rhia is still an enigma to me after three days company. She seems to hold everybody onboard with mild, silent contempt but having witnessed this trait firsthand with my elven fencing teacher at collage I have not taken it personally. Like most of us onboard she is always armed, often with her longbow and a wickedly sharp curved sword at her side. Her garments are of finely made silk and pearl while her leather armor sculpted to fit her lithe form. Rhia�s opposite also made an appearance in the galley that morning. If you where able to measure the amount of care and effort used by Rhia to appear fresh and graceful at all times and then spend that effort not caring about your appearance or personal hygiene you would have made the orc Hordash. Words cannot describe how unpleasant his visage is; although I am sure his dreadful gaze curdled the last flagon of fresh milk onboard. I quickly left the galley after Hordash�s entry fearing he might take offence at my weak psychical form and feel the instinctual need to end my life for the glory of the greenskin nations. I spent the rest of the day above deck re-reading my history texts to pass the time and listening to the relaxed banter of the ships crew as they fished for supper and attended to their regular duties.

Little of interest has happened today. My initial burst of excitement leaving Bardal Zia has now been replaced by the boring tedium of life onboard ship. I have memorized every one of the crew�s shanties and even translated two into the elven tongue to pass time but the captain tells me that we have at least four more days at sea provided the winds last and the currants run in our favor. I shall try and find some long term distractions tomorrow.

Not seeing the need to wake early today, I spent much of this morning lying in my hammock playing my ocarina. By late morning the sounds of my music where drowned out by the loud and unique sound of metal chain rattling the ships decking. At first I thought the captain had decided to drop anchor so I went outside to see for myself. Upon further investigation I found that it was actually fellow guard Veit practicing with his weapon of choice: a ten foot length of chain with spiked ends! The ship�s crews stood by like me to see him spin and whip the chain all around him with an amazing amount of control considering its size and weight. Geoffrey was probably least impressed by the display claming his pike could kill and maim just as well as Veit�s exotic chain weapon. No doubt they will get into some sort of machismo contest should we have to defend Haime before we reach Freeport.

That afternoon I had been pondering my own lack of martial prowess for some time and decided to recover my cutlass from my backpack and try and become used to its weight and fell. My uncle, Raoul Morgan gave me the cutlass shortly after retiring from militia command when he lost an eye during a naval skirmish in these very seas. The cutlass itself is made from fine steel with black and yellow filigree running up the hilt to where it meets the rounded guard that then curves around and down to the weighted pommel at its base. Drawing the cutlass from the scabbard I almost dropped it overboard such was its weight and size but after a few minutes of slashing the air I managed to find a grip that let me hold the cutlass one-handed without my wrist becoming tired too quickly. By early evening I had given up on sword practice and settled down with one of the ships long fishing rods, hoping to catch some nice cod or place. Dusk has fallen and I am now going to the galley to clean and cook my catch of the day, a nice fat tuna.

Let in be noted that Lord Haime of Freeport died this day. He was buried at sea following a ceremony preformed by Friar Percival Porpington of the church of St. Cuthbert. His death was the result of choking on a large bone ingested during his midday meal. The day�s other events seam trivial in comparison so are not worthy of mention. Writing is the last thing on my mind now.