Korbin's Journal

[mcian]

Day of the Moon – January 1, 414

Well, here I am, beginning a new year and it is shaping up badly. First, the kidnapping of me, then of my family members later: Keitara, my wife, Jakoby, and Jakeem. After cutting off a tattoo from my arm and sending it to my friend Scar, I have been imprisoned by this pirate and her crew. They gave me something that made me think they were friendly and I told them all I knew about Scar and Deminatza, my dearest friends. I thought they would seek a ransom, or an exchange, as she hates Scar very much. But she did not. I think she is insane.

Then, today, with my family present she told me her plan. I will try to repeat it here but I am sure not all the words will be exactly the same.

“Look here,” she said so very calmly to me, almost smiling. “I need eyes that no one suspects. So here is how this is gonna go. You are going to escape, but you work for me now. If you screw up, that pretty wife of yours…” Then the men holding her laughed and shooked her roughly as she talked. “Will probably not survive what I do to her.” Her smile was like a deranged person. Then she said, “Deal?”

I did not know what to say, so I asked about my children. Jakoby is ten and Jakeem is six. She said, “Oh, not to worry; they’re being looked after. Little Jakoby seems to be great with stealing. He will make a good pirate one day.” That seemed to make her happy. I did notice she did not let the bad men be rough with Jakeem and when she looked at him, the madness seemed to vanish, somewhat.

I was crushed. What could I do? I saw the fear and uncertainty in the eyes of my family, though Jakoby seemed less frightened, as if it were just an adventure. The pirate lady told me I could spend time with them just about every day, though we would be guarded. She also told me good behavior would be rewarded with gold and trinkets for the family. I did not want them but I can see she is not herself and to refuse her would only be trouble for me and my family. So I agreed and she let me go, but told me I must return to her outpost every evening before nightfall, or else.

I cannot tell anyone of this, nor lose the rune I have to her outpost. If I come back without it or try to loan it to someone else, and she finds out, then doom for us… them first while I watch. She said she has other spies and friends in Papua who will be watching us, me and Scar.

I think they plan to use it as a base of some kind. They are helping someone else who is as bad as they are. I could not yet catch his name but I will be listening.

[mcian]

Day of Thorr - April 68, 416

At long last my family is returned to me.  Scar paid the pirate lady much gold for it.  He told me to forget it but I will not.  I am happy to see my family all back now.  I was permit to visit them and made sure they are healthy but we could not be together all the time or at our house.  Now we are.  Son Jakeem cries some.  He misses his "Auntie Soo" and sailing on the ships with her and pirates.  He said she keep him safe but show him how to fight.  Now he is good with swords and can do ship work.  I suppose that is good.  He wants to work on ship some day so that may be all right.  Son Jakoby not sure about pirate life.  She show him fighting things too but he mostly miss his friends.  He has many friends here and he is happy to be home.

Because they did not harm my family in no way, I will forgive this of them all.  I cannot do anything anyway and do not want Scar or lady Deminatza to risk lives for it.  Best to leave the pirates alone.  If they come here for visit I will serve them good food.  If they pay me well, I go and cook for them.  I have learned much about many things and all has end well for us.  I learned how important is freedom!  I also learned that pirates are not all bad as we think they are.  They can be, but not all of them.

I go to work now as always, cooking.  I love it.  I am happy now.  Life is good again.

[mcian]

Day of Saturnus - October 65, 416

All has been going well for us.  My family is doing good; my sons are growing fast.  They still wish to be pirates "when they grow up" and no matter all I say to them, they will not see a better way to love life.  Ah well, they have much to learn of life yet, don't they?

I am back cooking still in many places.  I like this.  It brings variety to life, which is a great spice!  I am gone much of the time but it pays well and I see my many old friends.

We had a huge party for three days recently.  I saw many old friends.  There was music and dancing and great fun for all.  I cooked a lot before and during but it was hurried so I think it was not so good cooking.

After this everyone has become so very happy!  They drank a lot of wine and spirits so it may be they are still feeling that.  I was surprised so few had bad headaches and sick stomachs!  If they did, they got over it fast.

I saw the boss - Chomsul yesterday.  He was happy too!  He was directing workers to go get more lumber and even sent teams to mine the desert for some kind of black ore.  That is the first time ever he has done that.  The new man who came to us seems to have influence on him to do this.  It is for a lot of money, I know that, but the people are working harder than ever.  I thought they would complain but they did not any.

I will go cook plenty more food for all of them.  I know they will be very hungry when they finish.  I must make sure they are all properly fed as reward for their hard work.  They come in late and drink more wine, but eat little.  I will make them eat more.  They cannot work long at this pace without it.

[mcian]

Day of Freya - April 39, 417

I am worried.  The people are over worked.  They come from the desert hot and tired with carts of the black ore they dig out all day.  I feed them and they are glad and full but they go home and stay until the next day.  I know two of them have died - Simull and Cheroco.  Healer said it was exhaustion but I doubt it.  They burn bodies quickly instead of time for honoring dead in our custom.  This is most strange.

They hurry to put the rock onto the big ship and when it is full they sail away to return a couple weeks later.  Why they don't get two ships, I don't know.  They do not allow anyone to go aboard it, the workers too.  The sailors do that.

They do bring in lots of food and medicine so that is good.  The new man, they call him "Benefactor" - he gives a lot of gold and jewels to the dead person's family and speaks kindly to them.  They seem to accept this; it calms them down.

Scar has visited with me.  He tells me to keep my eyes and ears open.  He seems worried too.  He wants me to be careful though and pretend I am not spying.  I think this is a good thing so I am doing it.

The archon has decided to have another holiday and the people are glad.  He has announced it for later in this month but for now they are taking a break from the mining and other work.  This has helped some but still a few people are sick with something.

I must go now to work.  It is another sunny but hot day in Papua, like most others.  Maybe it will rain later to cool things down, or make it worse I don't know.

[mcian]

Day of Toos - May 17, 417

I think I made a mistake. I decided to join the mining team today and after the first day I am very tired. I feel pain all over. I have mined before and am good at it, but this is different. It is a long journey to the desert and it is filled with many dangers. The most annoying are the imps who seem to be all over and they attack without warning throwing magic spells. The Benefactor keeps guards with us so all the big bad things are kept under control. We can do more work without interruptions from them.

I took some of the rocks we were mining and hid them in my clothes. They are small pieces of black rock. I know they are not charcoal as I cook a lot and use it. This is something else. I will give them to Scar or Demi whichever I see first. I am not keeping them in my house but buried outside in the swamp.

The party the Benefactor gave for us was even bigger than before. He brought very much food and wine. He also brought some people to perform, singing and dancing. They were very skillful at it. Everyone was pleased. I think even he was drunk by the end of it.

Everyone was glad to get the two weeks of holidays. After the party all seem very refreshed and eager to go back to work. The complaining has stopped for now. I think if they keep things this way, it will work out for all of us. They tell us Papua will be famous for trade some day but we do not want all of the people to come and live here or try to change our traditions and ways, or try to manage our lives. We live free and have our own ways and love them. So we will see what happens.

[mcian]

*written in haste; no date*

Someone has stolen my chest of rocks! I went to check on it and it is gone. I saw the rock I had buried it under moved and my heart sank. Sure enough, even in the bright moonlight, I could tell someone had tried to replace the dirt in the hole beneath.

This bodes ill for me. Someone may have seen me here. I must not return. I may try to smuggle rocks out but I will put them in a better place, or give them away quickly to whoever I come across first – Scar or Demi – as I can only trust them now.

The mining has resumed but at a slower pace. I am wondering if they are almost done with what they need of the material, or if it is to keep people happy. We are seeing a few more visitors in town. I heard there was a woman named Nadia, a merchant from the Trinsic area I think, who is looking to create a trade for reagents, and there have been others who have been asking questions about the trade deals.

I have decided to stop mining. I cannot do both jobs well. After tomorrow, I stop. I will be sure to collect more rocks to replace the ones lost. This time no one will find them.

[mcian]

Day of the Moon - September 51, 417

Somethings very strange going on here.  I went back to where I hid my chest with the rocks and it is put back now!  A note inside said thank you and 'you may have your treasure back' and there was a pouch with many gold coins!  I decided to move it to a different place but hide it at night when no one could see me.

The people are still digging at the mines and several more have become ill.  I decided to go back to the mine too as I took a friend's place who was sick.  I did see that they have a man who goes through our diggings and picks out some of the rocks.  He puts them in a special chest that is different than the others.  Seems it is made from some metal that is smooth like lead.

Very much money is coming into the town now.  People are living well and better than ever before.  They seem more willing to keep digging for the Benefactor since they are seeing fruits from their labors.  Even some of the children are helping at it, and they are rewarded too.

Still, I worry.  But I keep meals cooked for them and mine when someone needs rest.  I wonder where this will all end, but for now, everyone is pleased except those who are sick.