Work Text:
June 3rd, 1717
An exciting day! Seized a merchant vessel, forty-feet from bow to stern. Stocked well with textiles. Most of the crew agreed to cooperate, and the captain is being kept alive to later sell back to the English. Fine silks aboard. Found plenty of food and fresh water aboard, as well. Will be useful during the storm season.
June 5th, 1717
Storm's brewing on the horizon, ship is anchored, the crew is praying .
June 6th, 1717
June 7th, 1717
June 8th, 1717
After being thrown from the ship during a raging storm, I found myself rescued by the most beautiful creature. A mermaid! Long, cascading grey hair, sparkling brown eyes, and a magnificent tail that was shiny and black. When I gazed upon her, though, she dove back under the waves. I must find her again.
June 9th, 1717
My crew thinks I'm a bit touched, drowning must've messed with my brain. But I insisted the creature was real! She was as real as me. I am changing course today, there will be no docking in Nassau until I spot one more glimpse of that beautiful siren.
June 10th, 1717
Frustrating day. No sign of her.
June 11th, 1717
June 12th, 1717
June 13th, 1717
June 14th, 1717
June 15th, 1717
Captured a whaling vessel. The captain, a Mister Israel Hands, seems knowledgeable enough about these waters. Tomorrow, should he be more cooperative, I shall ask him if he's ever seen a mermaid. One with a shiny black tail.
June 16th, 1717
After a bit of coercion, I was able to get Israel to tell me what he knows about mermaids. I told him who I was looking for, and he warned me that what I'm tracking is no mermaid at all. She's a Kraken! he told me. A wretched, vile beast that lives in defiance of God. He was looking for her, too. The English have a high bounty on the thing they call The Kraken. Mr. Hands was determined to find her. Mr. Hands is a fool for thinking the beautiful nymph that saved me is anything close to monstrous.
June 17th, 1717
I saw her again, and she saw me. She didn't swim away at first, I thought I could reach out my hand, take hers, but when I did, she fell below the wave once more. Eight long and spindly tentacles traveled behind her.