Night 0:
The Swift Gull has made good time on its voyage, and has stayed just ahead of the squall. The sailors have been busy with their duties, and trying to coax every bit of speed from the sails. The Captain has kept mostly to himself during the voyage, but appears on deck to see that the ship is on course and to peer at the storm behind.
Night has fallen and most of the sailors sleep below decks while a few remain above. The sails are trimmed, and the crew mumble amongst themselves, hopeful that they can stay ahead of the weather. Some of the sailors have a very bad feeling about this voyage.
Shortly after midnight, fast moving clouds blot out the moon, and a fierce wind tugs at the sails. A large wave casts spray over the deck, and a bloodcurdling scream is heard from the captain's quarters!
The sailors pound on the door, and find it unlocked - inside they see the Captain's room is a shambles, and not from the rocking and tossing of the ship, but instead from a struggle. The Captain himself, master of the Swift Gull, is lying on the floor with a sailors knife embedded in his skull!
His logbook is open on the table, where he apparently was making an entry. It reads:
28 August - The storm behind us bothers me greatly. We have stayed ahead of it thusfar, but it seems to keep time with us, and gains ground slightly. I am hopeful that we will make good time, for I am eager to see this blasted cargo off the ship. I am hopeful that it will have no - ill effect, though even of that I am uncertain of. The crew seems on edge, sullen, combative. I am no fool, but I do not believe that they would mutiny. Not yet. But more worrisome is what they warned me about. I noticed a small sigil carved onto the deck earlier today. It is no sailors sign, of that I am sure, and not from any barbarian language that I've seen. I fear that it may be a sign that our secrecy was not as complete as we had hoped. If they've managed to send some of their kind on board, then I fear all may be lost. I shudder to think that they were not destroyed previously, and that their reached extended beyond Beluterra. Tomorrow I shall see about bringing us to
The text ends abruptly there.
The sailors eye each other warily. Who amongst them is guilty?
Time to find out. Voting may begin.
The Captain of the 'Swift Gull' is murdered in the night!
