The Diary of Teera von Bloodmoon
1/
Well that’s it, my life is over. Against my
better council – and my desires – Humphrey’s mission to go to the Furthest
Continents has been approved. Of course, that means dutiful wife must attend him – across the world, away
from everything! And I can’t bring my gowns! He assures me everything will be
fine, that nothing could happen to one of her majesty’s finest ships! I do so
dislike boats.
(illegible,
water-damaged entries)
8/
I hate boats, I hate boats, I hate boats, I
HATE BOATS!
9/
Well, I was sick over the side once more.
The mean laughed at me. Again. I also believe they are making crude eyes at me.
Leering. Always leering, wanting. I stay in my cabin mostly. Away from the
ruffians. The swordmaster, Phinnius, he’s the leeriest.
10/
Humphrey arranged for us to have a
candlelit dinner on the bough this evening. It’s the first patch of calm water
we’ve had since our first week. We’ve been out here for 10 weeks!
Humphrey says we’re about a quarter of the
way there!
Wretchedness!
(pages
removed)
14/
The worst finally happened! It’s been days
since it happened and I’m only now able to write it down – my hands have
finally ceased their trembling.
It was as if he couldn’t steer the ship
anymore. It just started careening off to the side, like we’d hit a whirlpool.
“Make it stop!” I remember screaming,
begging. “Bring us around!”
“I can’t!” he shouted. “It’s like she’s
steering herself!”
It was then that the island came into view
out of the mist. A tall, desert thing. A mountain lay off in the distance,
around the other side, smoke firing up into the sky from all around it.
We crashed into it, the rocks jarring,
splintering, us to a stop and sending most of the crew overboard and down onto
the beach.
The natives were on them so quickly,
murdering them, blood was everywhere.
It was like they were waiting for us.
They started hunting us. Humphrey stood
between a group of them and I long enough for Phinnius to help me escape. I
fear the worst for Humphrey. Dearest, dearest man.
I’m holed up in a cave near some fruit
trees with Phinnius. There was a village with some abandoned buildings not far
off, but we knew better than to stay there.
He tells me to be quiet most of the time.
I’m happy to oblige.
(sketches
of the island trees, mostly of the fruit, the bats.)
15/
Phinnius went scouting today, to find more
crew from the ship. He found the ship burned. He found the bodies gone. There
was evidence of fires and cooked meat. Some of them still had their boots on,
in the ash pits.
16/
It’s been two weeks since Phinnius found
the wreckage. He managed to salvage some pole arms and he’s been teaching me to
use them. Just in case. I’m weak and can barely swing it, but I practice for
hours when he goes scouting for food.
17/
I KILLED ONE!
One came upon our camp and I murdered
him!
It was exhilarating!
Phinnius made wine from fruit. Phinnius is
rather handsome.
(page
covered in blood. Entries long faded away)
20/
We went scouting together. He thought I
should know where the food comes from. Just in case. Him and his “just in
cases”…
Yes, we found their camp.
They had heads on pikes. One of them I
recognized.
Humphrey’s.
Well, I recognized the necklace, tie, hat and
rings that were on or around the rotting head. Poor Humphrey.
(pages
covered in dirt or torn or covered in sketches)
21/
My god, I had forgotten about this journal!
Phinnius is dead. The cannibals raided our
camp and caught him.
I killed a few but I had to retreat.
I could hear his screams in the night from
their camp as they ate him alive.
Poor Phinnius.
I’ve lost two men now to these inhuman
bastards – brutes! Wretches! Devils!
That was 6 months ago, now.
I’m supremely good with my pole arm now. Phinnius
would be proud.
Hubert might not be.
Humphrey, sorry.
Gods it’s been too long. What another life
I lived.
I fashioned a tree home. If a cannibal
strays by here, I murder him.
Or her.
It does not matter what they are.
They are monsters.
(entries
stop here. It is obvious that this last entry is at least a year old.)
