Day 7 - 54th of Heïa
We take the galley and set off for Leandris. On the first day of our journey, the crew informs me that we're moving slower than we should, there's drag on the hull. Gash jumps into the water to investigate, but doesn't find anything amiss. Bea detects no magic, so we decide to investigate the matter further later.
Day 8 - 55th of Heïa
Our drag problem continues. We continue to sail.
Day 9 - 56th of Heïa
Gash fishes. We still have the drag.
Day 10 - 57th of Heïa
We notice sails on the horizon, approaching us from the bow. I polymorph into a gull, to scope out the ship. I discover that there are three ships, rather nondescript, flying a merchant flag. All three have an odd amount of guns for merchant vessels. As they draw close, the ships begin flying the jolly roger's of "Admiral" D'Souza. A notorious pirate with a mind for riches more than pillaging, we make a hard to port (our drag is getting really bad). At first, we caught them by surprise putting some distance between us and them, but they managed to keep pace with us. Faolan + Gash helps out the rowers. After about 30 minutes, they start firing at us, but we manage to put serious distance between us, losing them for the moment.
The drag has become a serious problem, and we decide we have to figure out the cause.
I manage to steer the ship to the remote island I was marooned on 15 years ago when I first began learning the arts of wizardry. After beaching the ship, we discover an egg of sorts attached to the hull. Gash rips the egg off the hull, and as it breaks we discover it's a baby kraken. Faolan panics, having been attacked by a kraken in the past, and in the chaos, attacks the baby before it can get to water and it suffocates – but not before it screamed for help.
Day 11 - 58th of Heïa
Despite our trepidation with the evidence that a larger kraken is in the area, we put the galley back in the water. As soon as we do, a kraken reveals itself, having been waiting for us to depart. Our puny ship stands no chance against this thing, so I desperately steer for the shore of the island. Unfortunately, this kraken proves a lot to handle, and I have to hurl some fireball at the thing, distracting me from steering the ship. It eats Gash, and crushes Faolan. In a stroke of luck, the kraken retreated as it was getting near to being halfway beaten – after having already knocked out Faolan and Gash. With my healing light and a scroll of mass cure wounds, I revive them and with an inspiring speech from Bea, we hit the water before the kraken comes back.
Days 12-13 - 59-60th of Heïa
We limp south, and arrive and the northern tip of Leandris. A 3 days march from Mount Hatesh.
Days 14-17 - 61st-62nd of Heïa
We trek to Mount Hatesh, and discover a heavily guarded Yuan-ti building. It looks ancient.
Day 18 - 63rd of of Heïa
After a standoff with D'Souza's men, we meet the Admiral himself. I negotiate our entrance into the ancient ruins, as we had succeeded where his people had failed, proving our worth and ability to enter the ruins, which he has been unable to. Placing the girdle between the two hands of the lovers – "in the arms of my lover, if you pass the test" as the poem said. A pop, a click, and a mechanical wir. Then the graves poppoed out and slide, allowing us to access the contents within.
In one tomb are four glass jars with a blue liquid, and a note in a Yuan-ti script. It describes the Mana Potion, which replenishes the lesser spells of arcanists. Gash copies the note ver batem. Faolan takes the diadem. Luckily, he was after the mana potions and the note, and we parted amicably. A few days later, we arrived back at Mysteria, ready to take care of business and protect the diadem.