"The Dreaded Hag - Deadly Ship of the Drowned & Damned!"

There we were! The sun-kissed waters sparkled brightly, and the wind was a gentle, familiar caress that pulled the ship along the endless sea. The cry of the gulls overhead broke the peaceful monotony of the gently creaking planks as the ship sailed atop the waves. The crew of the Galleon II milled about the deck like it was any other voyage on the Trackless Sea.

Then suddenly, like a spatter of black paint upon a picturesque canvas, came a squall of dark clouds on the horizon! Not a natural storm at all, but one that grew faster than the eye could track. The storm began to travel and raced toward us with unnatural speed. As the pelting downpour of rain started to engulf us, forks of lightning like sea serpents' tongues split the waves and churned the waters in an angry froth.

The rain soon parted like a tattered curtain and revealed the darkest ship I ever did see. It was a behemoth, known only as the Dreaded Hag! Its hull was rotted and splintered, held together only by ancient salt-crusted barnacles and the powerful will of pure malevolence. Its sails tattered and dark, yet impossibly full of wind gifted to it by the baleful tempest pushed it along with frightening speed.

Frozen only briefly by this drowned specter of death, the crew exploded into motion and gained control of the ship to fight in the midst of the churning waves and jagged forks of lightning thundering down like the Wavemother's judgement. The powerful gale threatened to capsize us but stay afloat we did in spite of it! Suddenly, impossibly loud, like a drum heralding doom with a flash of fire rang out the Dreaded Hag's bombard amidst the deafening roar of the storm.

Balls of black iron tethered by a cruel chain spun end over end and wrapped about our mast with the tale tell 'CRACK!' of a tree beginning to split. The crew began evasive maneuvers as best we could despite the wind and water that tossed us about like a child's toy in a bath. To the artillery we went, proud heavy ballistae armed with potent five-barbed javelins. These were the answer to any hull, no matter how powerful. The winds continued to blow the rain about like stinging needles, but fire away we did.

The javelins sailed through the storm true as ever, yet to our alarm they bounced right off the rotted hull of the Dreaded Hag! Some even sailed right through as if the ship weren't even there! Not deterred, the crew kept up the steady stream of fire. The Dreaded Hag's bombard rang out again, with the tell-tale flash of fire and another shot of chains wrapped about our mast again slowing our ship. The baleful forks of lightning began to kiss our hull, splintering the wood. Hints of acrid smoke began to corrupt the familiar smell of the salty brine of the sea.

The fight raged on for what felt an eternity, but in truth was still hours. Finally, the crew of the Galleon II landed a solid strike against the hull of the Dreaded Hag! A triumphant cheer went up across the deck but died suddenly as the Dreaded Hag sank beneath a wave as tall as a house! Dumbstruck, for only one shot had landed, the crew went to the rail and saw the dimming lights of the deck lanterns as the Dreaded Hag dove deeper into the churning depths, fading from view. The ship had not sunk, but DOVE beneath the water to escape the crew's reprisal! The storm continued to rage undeterred, so hop-to we did and tried to sail out of the tempest.

Though out of reach the Dreaded Hag may have been to us, it did not mean that its threat was so distant. The drowned, waterlogged bones of the damned crew floated up from the depths. Eyeless sockets burning with malevolent flame as their sharp, skinless fingers clawed their way inexorably up the side of the hull. Over the rail they came! With an unsettling creaking of bone and sinew struggling against the stillness of death, the undead boarders unsheathed rusted and ancient weapons, bared and ready to take life. On they charged against the crew, but no slouches were we in a fight! Steel rang out, staccato strikes piercing the roar of the gale, as we begin to push them back overboard.

Amidst the battle raging on the deck the sea shuddered, and like a leviathan breaching from the waves, the Dreaded Hag had returned from the depths of the sea! The hull of the ship landed atop the water with a powerful crash, like the thrum of a gong sounding certain doom. The black bombard blazed with baleful fire as the final shot roared across the waters to slam into the hull of our ship. With a heart-sinking "CRACK!" the hull of the Galleon II split in twain.

The ship began to take on water and the Captain, resigned yet resolute, ordered all crew to abandon ship. The crew, valiant and stubborn as ever, wanted to stay with the Captain, but soon enough the order was heeded. The magical portal conjured by the First Mate shimmered into existence, the inviting safety it offered reluctantly taken by the crew. To the isle it whisked us, to different destinations. To our surprise, and delight, eventually came the Captain who had survived the sinking of his beloved ship. The crew of the Merchant Navy lived to fight another day, hearts heavy as the remnants of the gallant Galleon II were sacrificed to the dark depths of Umberlee's embrace.

So ends this tale of the Dreaded Hag. Take heed reader, for anytime you are on the sea and see a storm on the horizon it may just be the Dreaded Hag coming to claim more sunken ships for its drowned fleet, and more souls of sailors to add to its crew of the damned.

       Day 25, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 176 AR
       Ayiesha Dahyarif