A couple of notes.  Firstly, because in written English the vowels are indicators rather than definers of which sound is in the word, in the local names within this piece the vowel group 'eye' is said as the English word 'eye'.  Secondly, 'lumescent' is not an English word - I think that it was originally a spelling mistake in the handwritten document but I am using it to convey both what it does and that it is, to us, an unfamiliar technology.  Thank you for your forbearance.

Index Page.

Twirsday, 21 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal,

I was woken early by turbulence and a thumping sound, well I thought it was a thumping sound but then I realised that it was some type of alarm.  It wasn't one of the alarms we've been warned about by the daily safety briefings, but as it was light out and only an hour before the beginning of breakfast service, I decided to get up and get dressed.  When I opened the curtains covering my cabins windows I was startled to see another airship so close to us that I could see the faces of people on their promenade deck.  It was a larger vessel than ours and it had a bright, shiny livery in scarlet and white with a gold commercial heraldry - I didn't recognise it but the shield shape and parentheses tell you that it's a commercial emblem and not a personal or family one.

Castor Fhailaign had been trying to talk to his brother-in-law, Tallaig Nearabhaign, for several days but Tallaig was angry with him and had been refusing to meet with him.  Tallaig was, in general, a very angry man but at the moment he was angry specifically at Castor for "overstepping his place" and auditing the household accounts of Castor's mother-in-law who was, of course, Tallaig's mother.  Castor had begun the task because his wife, Annapeala, had been reduced to an overwrought version of herself after stepping in to keep house for her mother while her sister, Anadrasata, was off visiting relatives on the other side of the Circle Sea.  Castor had been there when his wife and mother-in-law had told Anadrasata not to worry because Anna would do a much better job than Anadrasata had ever done.  Castor may have been the only one of them who'd noticed the twitch of Anadrasata's eyelid as the insult couched as reassurance rolled over her.

Another day in Anadrasata’s big adventure/voluntold task/break for freedom in 790 words.  On a well-run airship, such as the vessels of the Pearlish Line, any drama comes from the passengers or events not on the ship….

Index Page

Ghairniksday, 18 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal

I was eating breakfast at a table with Miss Lhaidair, one of the Misses dh'Uhghitair, the two Reverend Doctors, and Mr dh'Venhair when Miss Dhaighan entered the room.  I don't know how she did it, but by the time she was two steps over the threshold everyone was looking at her.  She gave our table a look that could have been staring or fulminating and swept over to the buffet table to instruct the steward to make up a plate for her.

She was obviously upset with someone - probably Miss Lhaidair or Mr dh'Venhair, but I couldn't tell which.

Here we are with just under 800 words of more goings on in first class on the Pearlish Star.  The specifics of a new passenger's intentions are almost going straight over the head of our point of view character, but other people know exactly what is going on.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Hakkarsday, 16 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal,

All the military gentlemen and Mrs Naighteer made their farewells at breakfast this morning as they are disembarking when we dock at Dhairhgriel.  The Baron dh'Ghair and Mr dh'Ghair are leaving us there too so our company will be much reduced unless a large number of civilian passengers join us today - Major Abhulgaid explained that Army passengers going north generally join their airship at Jhihardine, the next stop, as a savings measure. [Airship transport from Ulgorial to Dhairhgriel or Jhihardine costs about the same so not paying the fare between Dhaihgriel and Jhihardine is a saving.]

So, here we have 1304 words of more drama than anyone shepherding the first class passengers on a small airship could possibly want.  Fortunately the crew is not involved and there has been no property damage, however one suspects that Someone Senior is going to hear about this from at least one person.  One wonders about some people, one really does.

Brogaiday, 14 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal, 

There was shuddering and bouncing after I went to bed last night but I think we must have avoided the worst of the storm.  When I asked the chambermaid about it when she brought my hot water This morning she told me that the only injury and damage had occurred because someone in second class had unsecured their luggage after the steward had secured it for them.

I continue to write things on nice paper with the fountain pen - it's interesting how often my brain tries to skip ahead when I'm writing longhand.

Do I need index cards for people so I can keep track of them if they recur?

This section runs to 764 words.  Please enjoy.

Here is the Index Page.

Onnaday, 12 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal,

I spent the night at the Eagle's Arms, the inn my family always uses when they come to Glastriel.  This time I wasn't sharing the room on a truckle bed and the experience was much more enjoyable.

I left straight after breakfast and took my luggage to the airship terminal.  I checked my luggage so it could be loaded onto my vessel and made the necessary arrangements to safeguard my bookings.  When that was done I still had two hours before I needed to be back for permission to board the ship, so I did a little shopping.

Mother assured me that everyone in Great-Aunt's household would speak Imperial, but I bought myself a Coatl primer, a pair of commonplace books, pen, pencils, ink, and an eraser. 

My cabin aboard the Pearlish Star is smaller than my room at the inn last night and my room at home, but it is much more comfortable than either.  It is a first class cabin - Mother insisted on there for gentility's sake but the Pearlish Star does belong to one of the smaller, less expensive lines, which is how we are keeping costs under control on this trip.  After boarding but before castoff we were served luncheon in the first class dining room.  It was a sit down, served meal without assigned seating and the Chief Steward gave a little speech to explain to those of us joining the vessel that breakfast would be an informal buffet, self-served, in the dining room each morning, lunch would be as today's arrangement, and dinner would be a formal served meal with allocated seating each evening.

I am glad that I managed to talk Mother and Tallaig into allowing me some new outfits for this journey that did not come out of general household expenses.

Because this is not a large liner, the number of passengers in first class is relatively small - two families, including children, governesses, tutors, and companions, and a dozen military officers.

The Abheerghins are a wealthy manufacturing family with their roots in the Weavers' Guild.  I have heard of them because they donate to our diocese to fund the teaching of letters and numbers to those in our workhouses who don’t have these skills.

The dh'Ghainthears are a cadet branch of a cadet branch of that family, and I understand that Mr dh'Ghainthear is in government service.

The officers are from all five Regiments of the Solaich Brigade.  Two are using a walking stick, one is on crutches, and one has an eyepatch over his left eye.  I understand that they and their men in the other cabin classes are going north to the Army base at Ulgorial for further convalescence and rehabilitation.  Some of them are young enough to call me "Ma'am" although the half colonel and the major call me "Miss".

We had an emergency drill an hour after castoff.  There were some differences to the procedure for our local airships, mainly because of the greater height that we travel at.

I spent the afternoon making sure that I knew where everything was in my cabin, and then took tea with the other ladies in the first class balcony parlor.  Both senior ladies made efforts to find out more about me - no doubt to double-check whether I was someone they might wish as a continuing acquaintance.  I suspect that I am not because I do not move in either of their circles, my connections are limited, and I am not an heiress or well dowered.

After tea I took myself off to dress for dinner and I believe I achieved a credible result.  I was seated at the second table, which was presided over by the Chief Engineer, between Captain Adais dh'Thainbhaign and Lieutenant Pullox Ghearaint.  Captain dh'Thainbhaign is in Prince Bhorain's Own Regiment of the Royal Engineers and Lieutenant Ghearaint is in the 6th Regiment, Royal and Imperial Artillery.  I found both to be charming dinner companions and I did not ask what their injuries might have been.

After dinner the ladies retired to the balcony parlor for a small glass of fortified wine, or a shot of spirits, and conversation.  A tea tray arrived half an hour after that, closely followed by the gentlemen.  I had a cup of tea and two little sweet notions, then I pleaded tiredness, made my excuses , and went back to my cabin.

I followed some of the advice I was given before I left home and both locked my door and propped a chair under the handle.

                                                                                                                      Anadrasata Nearabhigan