Captain's Log
S. Fowler
The Mysterious Blackstone Islands
The existence of The Blackstone Islands has only been documented once within the history of The Gilded Empire's seafaring; and that is back when the troops under Captain Paulo Derovak has, "mysteriously disappeared," in the middle of the night as they passed by between the Silver Sea and the Red Sea, back in the year XX82.The Captain of The Alexandria wrote in his log:"...after getting lost at sea for years on end, we finally had the glimpse of our home. The night sky held familiar constellations, with barely any clouds. The wind was moderately strong, the waves calm yet making itself known. The Red Sea called to us like its children, guiding us back to where we truly belong.We were tired and weary; The Alexandria itself needing a break from all the storms it had managed to weave us through. The sails were down and were being repaired, so we only relied on the current in order to move. We had very few men left; some of them mysteriously disappeared in the middle of the night, some of them lying still in the orlop. The remaining crew are staying in the upper decks, wanting to be as far away from the rotting bodies of their fellowmen. I could not blame them; if we could throw them away at sea, we would have. But in honor of the families they left, we will bring them their bodies to mourn.We were lucky to have some of the bodies, at least. I do not know how I would explain to the families of the missing people why I did not have their bodies. However, I shall draft some letters while we pass by the Silver Sea. It is my duty to at least let them know what happened.This is Captain P. Derovak, signing off."
Another log, from The Alexadria's First Lieutenant, Lt. Arran Smith:"...there was land in the far distance, but for some reason, the captain could not see it. The stories my mother used to tell me when I was a wee bairn came back, and I was filled with terror. I had to tie myself to the brig, or else I will die."The Alexandria returned to The Gilded Empire's port in the year XX83.
The documented survivors were as follows:❂Ser Paulo Derovak, Royal Captain
❂Ser Arran Smith, First Lieutenant
❂Alastair Bancroft, Acting Lieutenant
❂Dr. Finnick Witherspoon, Surgeon
❂Ser Delvin Graham, Helmsman
❂Dame Alva Chandler, Boatswain
❂Hansel Smith, Coxswain
The documented casualties were as follows:❂Joan Wilson, Gunner
❂Edgar Langdon, Gunner
❂Alfred Langdon, Midshipman
❂Vernon Emsworth, Midshipman's mate
❂Geraldine Witherspoon, Surgeon's mate
❂Ardell Thomson, Sergeant
❂David Smith, Boatswain's mate
❂Sue Davidson, Boatswain's mate
❂Arnold Sisk, Engineer
The remaining of The Alexandria crew went to spend their remaining lives on land in The Gilded Empire. However, there were two mysterious deaths among them: Capt. Paulo Derovak had died one year after the incident by jumping off a cliff. It was said that he left a suicide letter in his childhood home, but right after his burial, the place has been burnt down.Lt. Arran Smith had died six months after the incident. His wife said she woke up and he was nowhere to be seen, only for his body to wash into the shore days after. The autopsy report made by Dr. Joseph Salvatore was as follows:"...The body had no visible signs of struggle-- no bruises, no scratches, no wounds.Cause of death: asphyxia by drowning.Other notable details: The victim's eyes were gone by the time the body was retrieved. Possible causes might have been the nearby fish eating them, or another animal gouging them out. The second instance, however, is canceled out by the fact that the body did not have any signs of struggle, so it was more likely to have been eaten by the fishes."
Since then, The Gilded Empire Navy has been avoiding the route between the Silver Sea and the Red Sea. The route itself was barely taken before anyway; with the raging tides of the Red Sea hostile to any sailor. However, during the coronation of the new Queen of the empire, the case of The Blackstone Islands has resurfaced, and the young Queen had ordered an expedition to explore the uncharted islands.The commandeer of the expedition was a young woman, respectably called Dame Elizabeth Goodwin, commodore and captain of the ship.
The rest of the ship's crew are as follows:❂Ser Irving "Impulse" Goldstone, First Lieutenant and First Mate
❂Ser James "Jimmy" Goodwin, Acting Lieutenant and Helmsman
❂Coney Bath, Sergeant and Boatswain
❂Farris Gale, Gunner
❂Calypso "Cleo" Salvatore, Surgeon
❂Garren Bath, Midshipman
❂William Benz, Coxswain
I fear for the day that The Blue Dragon sails. But until then, I shall pray for their souls and that Neptune may be kind to them.S. F.
The Dreaded Withered Islands
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS CONFIDENTIAL. THE DISSEMINATION OF THE INFORMATION WITHIN THIS LOG WITHOUT THE ROYAL PERMISSION OF HER GRACE WILL BE PUNISHED ACCORDINGLY, AND WILL BE LABELED AS A TRAITOR TO THE QUEEN, THE GILDED EMPIRE AND THE REST OF THE KINGDOMS WITHIN THE SEVEN SEAS.Only a ranking of royal advisor and/or Captain S. Fowler may have access to this document. Please proceed to the royal scribe and tell them the password to get the document.
The Royal Scribe asks you your rank.
The Royal Scribe asks you for the password.
Incorrect password. The Royal Scribe recognizes that you're not one of Captain Fowler's crew mates. You're sent to be hanged on the gallows.