I did in fact find someone who could enlighten me on legends in other cultures. While this log is primarily focused on humans, you cannot describe the brightness of the stars without a good understanding of the sky behind it after all. 

Anyways, Zarris, as he asked me to call him, is a member of the species known as Aqarnis. Ah, for those unaware, they are remarkably similar to humans, aside from having an extra pair of arms, and six eyes scattered asymmetrically across their face. They’ve been around longer than humans by about a thousand years, so cosmically speaking, rather close to when humans first achieved space travel. 

I did learn from my experience with Lark, and asked if he could give his story directly. The following is my transcription of that recording, as best as I could understand. Some of it may seem jumbled, however the ship's engine room where I found him was surprisingly loud. 

*recording switches off, before resuming with the loud rumbling of a ships engine in the background, the voice that speaks first is not Harrington(myself)*

How legends are made you say? I suppose that depends. I have studied some of your culture and I would assume it's rather similar. It is knowledge to be shared. It is easier to remind people of a story than it is a textbook. The story has a fraction of entertainment, so it is easier to remember by more people. 

How do you know not to eat a certain plant? You tell legends about young facing horrible fates should they encounter them. Much of your legends feature creatures and monsters that resemble humans. The er… Vanire? 

*mutterings from Harrington too quiet to be heard over the engine*

Ah, Vampire. It looks like a human in most instances I have found does it not? You teach your young to fear strangers, fear the unknown. Stories keep that idea, but they of course morph overtime. Details lost and shifted. 

Fear is not the only thing portrayed in legends. Guides often find themselves there as well. We have a common legend told to our young, my guardian told me of it when i was small. Of a ship passing through unfamiliar territory. 

On the ship are three different people, Collector, Seeker, and Sight. Collector is slow in thought, gathers the information they have and comes with an answer, but never looks elsewhere. Seeker is faster, searching in the unknown for an answer, but they never consider what they already have. Sight is their balance. With time, with thought, they can see everything before them. 

So, the three lost sailors each come up with their own plan on how to get their ship back to familiar ports. Collector of course, looks at all the maps, all the projections and all the logs to try and trace where they were headed, and where they came from, but without any idea on where exactly they are. 

Seeker sets out on their own, speaks to the local people, looks to the local flora, looks at everything around them and learns about where they are, but with no idea on where they came from, or where they were headed. 

All while Sight does what Sight does. Watches, takes time and looks to each of the other crew, asks what they both know, and sees the whole picture. The close, and the distant. They restore balance, and with the help of both Collector and Seeker, returns their ship to safe and known waters. 

It is a well known story among our kind. So much so that most Aqarnis ships have three captains, The Collector, The Seeker and The Sight, each to do exactly what is told in the story. It has served rather well as an organizational guide for a ship crew's formation. Both space and planetary. I would imagine you have similar legends, do you not?

*harrington speaking and offering a brief confirmation*

Ah, I see. How fascinating indeed. You mentioned earlier that the void space we are currently traveling through brought this inquiry on, yes? While I know of no legends or stories of them in my own culture, there are many different species that do. 

Larger minded beings are the primary focus, and while it is possible they do exist still, they certainly have not been noticed in some time. While coincidence is something to consider, the fact that so many different species have stories about it. Well, should you ever come up with a reason as to why, I do hope you would enlighten me. 

*recording ends, before Harrington returns in a quieter setting*

This was most definitely a worthwhile endeavor to pursue. Not only the legend, but the idea and commonality behind them. Perhaps it is because Aqarnis’ are so similar to humans, but even then we have many cultural and physical differences. Different averages if you will. 

What he said at the end however gives me more to be pondered. I said previously that eldritch beings are thought to be responsible for the Silky Skys poem in my last entry, but the idea that it's somewhat a commonality between different species never really occurred to me.

 Then again, what are we to bacteria but massive and unknowable. There is always a bigger fish. Perspective.

I do find that much of this log is turning out to be less the human experience, but the human perspective compared to that of others. All things considered, I don't think I entirely dislike that idea. Much of life is all just one perspective, it would be refreshing to learn of other perspectives. 

Hmm. Yes, I do think I will try that in the future. 

Harrington, signing off