Entry 1

Being an extract from the journal of Dr “Frank Victor”.

Entry 1: following an unpleasantness in my previous place of abode, I have taken upon myself this new identity with the intent of avoiding those who seek me and continuing with my researches. Hopefully it is far enough across the world of Alvenein from my humble origins to allow me this fresh start.

I have fallen in with a small group of fellow miscreants and vagabonds:

Methuselah Smith - an itinerant navigator and sailor. He is a Nautolan - a humanoid with tentacles in place of hair - as at home beneath the waves as he is on land.

“Hannah” (I believe the name is more properly something like “Haan’argh” but am unsure as to the spelling.) An Avian, her non-human components bearing similarity to some form of snow owl.

Tabitha Khan, a Rajasthan - a feline humanoid - with tiger like features and personality.

(They all have fascinating anatomies which I hope to have the opportunity to study in more detail in the future.)

At Methuselah’s suggestion we have pooled the last of our resources to acquire a small, rather battered galley. A three cannon craft with a crew of six.

(Pew, Pew, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub.)

The craft had suffered misuse and her figurehead was mostly missing. An ill omen to most sailors which enabled us to acquire it cheaply.

(It has entertained me to purchase further figurehead remnants from local wrecks and lash them together.)

We have called our new craft - The Chimera.

So equipped, we have determined to try our hand at sea-borne brigandry. Determining to start small we decided to assault a lesser vessel transporting foodstuffs - which I’d heard about on my travels.

Hannah was tasked with scouting the vessel but her report was unclear . (It seems she may have a problem with alcohol.)

Fortunately I was able to clear her head with a  medicinal brew, and her second scouting mission yielded more coherent details of our target’s crew and heading.

(Side note - the stimulant I used seems to be particularly effective upon avians. Hannah was unable to sleep -or get drunk, or stand still - for some 48 hours.)

Fortified with our intelligence - and taking advantage of Tabitha’s ability to see in low light - we were able to successfully track, follow and approach our prey under the cover of night. As dawn broke we were abeam and boarded her easily. Two of our target’s crew were killed in the initial assault. (I was unable to resuscitate them.) The rest were easily captured except for the Captain who concealed himself in his cabin to ambush an over confident and unwary Hannah. He was readily overpowered, however.

Whilst my comrades tortured the captives for information, I scoured the ship’s records and manifest - cataloguing she ships cargo and uncovering illicit goods.  Muskets due for sale to the Rakashans - an illegal trade.

A family of furriers were travelling as passengers on a family vacation. We took them to hold for ransom.

Apparently the Captain displeased Tabitha who shot him in the head. Again I was unable to resuscitate him.

(Side note: the body can survive when limbs and some organs are lost or damaged. Others seem critical. The heart is a pump sending vital humours around the body via the blood system. If it is damaged it makes sense for the body to die.  But why is the brain so important and how does the body know when it is damaged? More research is needed.)

Determining to sell our goods and captured ship for Bounty we have set off for the friendly port of Micante. My comrades decided against ransoming our captives. Too much effort. We have, instead, put them off at a fishing village, unharmed.