A Strategic Retreat

Okay, first, it's great to see you back Captain Filth and Captain Gackt. The entrance was impressive, Gackt. Hyde left a stonefish in my boot though, could you please ask him not to?

Plenty to update on; I've collected a whole load of new crew, notably Simon and Markus from Zonaria (the pretty Swedish boys), and I was also joined by Tuomas and Marco when the Night Wish ran aground against the forces of The Thing That Should Not Be. They are all very good company. I also rescued Satyr from the island that Captain Abbath marooned him on and gave him to Captain Stene as a goodwill present, and now we have a sort of arrangement. Cough. All I am saying is that I am happy to share most of them but I am keeping my cabin boy very firmly where he belongs at all times (i.e. my cabin). Incidentally I keep finding very odd pictures of myself floating around the place. Some of them are... interesting. And most of them, for some reason, seem to feature me with wet hair (or general just-post-showeredness) and I have no idea why.

Due to ill health (going mad) I'm being forced to make a temporary strategic withdrawal from the lands of the Cantabrigians I've been fighting through, on and off, for the last couple of years; they are increasingly formidable enemies and I don't stand a chance of winning through to the final bosses until I'm better. I don't fancy another suicide attempt; that time between Something Wild and Hatebreeder taught me a few things. So maybe I'll see Captain Gackt and Captain Filth more? And Captain Stene, when you dock in the country, anyway.

Now I have to go and sort out official landing permits and stuff. Ugh.

Commodore Alexi Laiho