I am sorry.

[That simple heartfelt statement of grief and regret -- absolute, sincere regret that she has no reason to believe will be accepted by anyone -- is all Celestia has the strength for. Having spoken the words, she lowers her head back to her forelegs.]

[She has neither moved from this spot on the deck, nor eaten anything, nor slept, since she was dragged out of the collapsing fortress after doing her very best to murder everypony.]

[The song he's singing is already near the end since he opened the journal a bit too late. He didn't want to start the song over, though.]

It's evening now, at least where we are. I wonder if we travel far enough that night and day changes drastically, along with time. Are there timezones? Ah, that's not important right now.

Is everyone mostly alright? I'm sure the definition of alright will vary, but I'm mostly asking if everyone managed to get away before the fortress fell. I was mostly at the harbor, but it looked like a hard battle out there. So I hope everyone isn't still there.

[WRITTEN]
what does strength mean to you? and how does a person become stronger?

[ACTION]
[Asbel sits quietly on one of the crates abovedeck. It's not really clear if he's in some sort of "time out" or if he's here for his own reasons, but what's plain is he doesn't have any intention of moving. A few hours have passed, and he hasn't so much as gotten up to stretch or even gotten up to his usual antics. Instead, the eleven-year-old appears to be thinking hard about something.]

[He said he wanted to become a knight someday; he still does. But what does being a knight really mean? How can he serve a king and protect a whole country full of people when he can't even protect his friends or his own little brother from danger?]

[Written in a very fluid and well-practiced script. He'd worked what he was going to write and how to write it during the last two days, hoping to present himself in a favorable manner while also explaining why he had waited so long. From what he could tell, the next round of expected arrivals would be coming soon and him claiming to have only now shown up would be suspicious. The truth of the matter was much easier to go with, even if it needed some explanation.]

To those looking to recruit a sailor,

It seems all the activity and excitement of the last few weeks has died down and those who went to battle are tending to their wounds. Welcome news though this is, I do profess to be more concerned about my own circumstances. I arrived just as the lady, the witch, attempted to sway the minds of those new to this land. I remained quiet and did not seek out the ships and crews others have made offers of and continued to do so until now. In this time I have been studying the people and what is know of this world as best I may.

I confess I thought it all to be some elaborate lie and that I was being manipulated perhaps by the powers of some demon of the Fade. Or a particularly powerful and malevolent malificarum. For those of you not of my world, the world of Thedas, the Fade is the realm of dreams from which all magic comes. Malificarum are blood mages, those who use blood to power their magic instead of, or in concert with, the mana within them.

As the rest of you, I have come to accept that this is not a trick. We are really here. This does not make dealing with the demands of life in this world any easier, of course. With all that said, would like to inquire about joining a ship now that those who are established have a chance at a break from the fighting. I am a mage of some skill and a veteran of many battles, though I have little knowledge of how to sail.

My hound and I have been making camp in the forests outside the town on Isla Empieza and will be planning to return in the next several days to meet with interested parties.

Thank you for your consideration.

-Sydni Surana, Warden-Commander of Ferelden