The Crossing

The tavern door slams. Wet bodies fill the enclosed space. The smell of rain and sweat clouds your thoughts. The men deposit the chest, still guarding it. Obviously their journey wasn’t a smooth one. The Innkeeper approaches the figure that could be their captain. They talk but you can’t hear what it’s about. You step closer.
As the captain notices the crowd approaching, he stands up and addresses the crowd. Everyone who will put hands on the chest, will lose the same. We might be tired, but we will defend it to our last breath. What we can give you though, is a better outlook. We sailed eastwards and missed the Island of Lashun. Not noticing, we kept on for days, thinking the storm set us on the wrong path. Finally we reached unknown territory. A new land. A land, where every man can earn his weight in silver. We were 100 when we took off. It’s us shady dozen returning. The rest has been consumed by something, that took power over them. We fled as fast as we could. That was two weeks ago.
A young kid, seemingly poor steps forward from the crowd. „What will happen to the ship now? Will you pay town pier fee?"
"Kid. We will never look back again. Take the ship" he shouts and points at the crowd "it’s yours now.

The crowd disperses, still gleaming at the chest between the mens feet.
After you left the tavern, you see a small group around the father of the kid standing together. As you come closer you hear talks of the promised land. You have to admit that you would be in for an adventure yourself that is different to working for your fathers land all your life.
A few sailors from town inspect the ship and come to the conclusion that it's sturdy enough for another week of voyage. You are confused and anxious. You run up the cliffs back to your hut. You sleep.

The next morning, you hear shouting from the village.
They were serious. 100 men can leave for the first boat.
The wind blows a hand scribbled note into your hand.

Your backpack is on your shoulder and you walk towards the pier. The crew tells everyone that they will organise more ships, but this first ship will be special. Everyone on the first adventure will be given a special adventure set in exchange for a fraction of their earnings - should they ever come back.

You are anxious of what is to come. The first rays of sun feel good after the storm. The crew seems to be hard at work making the ship ready. You have to admit, it looks less menacing now. You feel the tough ropes in your hand, while a breeze goes across the deck. A look at the horizon makes you think that you have no idea where this all will take you. But somehow - it feels exciting.

Without waiting for a response, he began a swift steady march towards his cabin at the back of the ship with shouts of, "Look alive!!!" and "To Arms!!!".

When he reached the back of the ship he disappeared into his cabin for a brief moment before emerging again dragging a long, heavy chest behind him. By this time, some members of the crew had amassed outside his cabin with bewildered looks on their faces; some still chewing mouthfuls of food and with bowls in their hands.
Unlocking the chest and flinging the lid open, the Captain reached in a grabbed a couple of handfuls of harpoons then spun back around and started handing them out. The first person he approached who still had a bowl in their hand got a surprise as the Captain deftly twirled a harpoon around knocking the bowl cleanly out of their hand and into the sea.
"You’ll not be seeing your next meal if you don’t smarten up.", he barks as he thrusts the harpoon into their hand.

He then called out to his first mate, "@Eikas! See to it that every hand gets a weapon from this chest."

Looking to the bow of the ship again the Captain could see that the hand he had left to keep track of the shadow was now on the other side of the ship. "You there! Report!" he hollered.

To which he got the response, "The….the….thing….it circles us." The young crew member points in the direction and continues following it with their outstretched arm.

The Captain responds with a grunt and urges them to keep following it and addresses the crew in a low booming voice that cuts through the chatter that has picked up as more and more of them take a harpoon into their hands.

"The sea’s chosen today as your first test. Today we will learn if you’re worthy to call yourself the crew of The Resolute. I’m sure by now you’ve heard a tale or two of the creature that’s out there in these waters. But I assure you, it’s naught compared to like living through a real encounter face to face with one. Now look to the people next to you. Depending on your next decisions these may be the last faces you see. I urge you to work together. Communicate with those around you and ATTACK AS ONE! It will take teamwork to fend off the many arms of a…"

"C..CA.CAPTAIN!!!", the young crew member interrupts. "I can’t see it anymore. I think it’s gone away." Looking back towards the Captain for further orders, the young crew member barely had time to flinch as the Captain hurled a harpoon just inches from their head, resulting in a resounding squelch as it lodged deeply in the tentacle that had just risen up over the railing of the ship.

"AT THE READY!" he yells stomping on the end of a harpoon, launching it up into his hand, while shadows started to engulf The Resolute as more and more tentacles reach up out of the water and begin wrapping over the deck...



What do you do?