Tonus,
I promised to keep you apprised of our journey, but I warned you then – don't expect them to be as colorful as if you had written them yourself. If you are not satisfied with my storytelling, you will have to get more details from Isadora or Ulco upon our return. I will send them to you by courier as I can, but Ulco is still trying to get a better understanding of how this ship works and I don't know if we'll make port before we arrive at the Isle of Hazren.
Though I am sure you have already found a map and looked it up, you may not know that it would take two months to travel to the Land of the Linnorm Kings by ship. Lariss was unable to gain any information about the city of Halgrim, and no merchants were traveling north, but, since the trip would take even longer by land, we had little choice but to try and use the ship in a bottle that Curchanus gave me.
The morning after you and your brother left with Owl, we went to the dock and Ulco managed to activate the ship, dropping it into the bay and then saying, “I cast upon the sea and land, the sky is no barrier” in that mad Aklo tongue. The bottle sunk and a huge ship – a galleon, according to Lariss – rose from the depths. The ship is huge but there was no crew. The wheel was frozen in place, and the captain's chambers held only a chair and a huge gem that seems to control the entire ship, even the very sails and the wind that would propel them. The stone – , yes, I know, you would think we would have learned not to become involved with ships and gemstones – draws power from whoever captains the ship. In this case, it was Ulco who placed his hand on the gem and it drained some of his life. There is a strange sphere – a globe – showing the entire planet of Golarion, some type of seafaring tool used to plot your course. It shows lands I've never heard of and I'm sure you would love to see it. There are also a series of symbols alongside this round little map that has let Ulco tell the ship to either coast over the sea and – I swear on my sword arm – under the sea. I've also heard him talking to the ship itself, and, seemingly, it replies to him.
We can go faster on the water than beneath it, but this fantastical ability let us avoid a pair of Chellish ships intent on boarding us. We tried the same trick when we reached a Chellish barricade. There was no way that we could allow this intelligent, self-propelling vessel to fall into diabolist hands and, though it drained much of Ulco's strength, he directed the ship to fly over the barricade. There were at least twenty other ships in the lanes, so I'm sure you'll hear of the mystical flying boat long before we return.
Once past the blockade, the ship was only able to coast atop the sea, and at a much slower rate than before, which made it much easier for a half-dozen water-bred giants to board the ship that night. Lariss and I were on guard – let this be a lesson – even when you think that you're safe, always set a guard! – and we were able to hold them back until everyone else wakened. You know how Lariss works, and when he disappeared, all six of the green-skinned beasts descended on me, but Ulco's power has grown so that he was able to heal all of my wounds at once. Our newest companion, Syntaura Luckweaver, is a capable combatant, driving the beasts before her and clearing a path for Isa to do what she does best. A few fireballs and swordstrokes later and it was over.
There you are – our journey thus far. Now, my instructions to you – if you happen to find any information about that strange "K" symbol from the scroll case, ask Owl if he knows any way to get us that information to us quickly, but don't bother him unless you have to. Make sure you listen to him, and keep a close eye on Karison. If there are cultists active in Thrane's Bridge, the streets will be more dangerous than they seem. Worse, if they hail from Norgorber's church, they're likely looking for us and will try to use you to get to us, and Karison has been under Lariss's tutelage too long to NOT try and see just how much he can get away with.
Blessing of the blade upon you, Tonus, and we will see you soon.
Claire