[Chapter 1.01] The Ghost Fleet
A few days after setting sail there is a call about ships on the horizon. At first Harrigan seemed wary of engaging with other ships while his own ship was so heavily damaged but as they grew closer it was discovered that the other ships appear to have been severely damaged by the storm as well.
A group of three ships, each within about a half mile or so of one another, were drifting. No crew was seen helming them despite the sun being high and Harrigan set course to investigate.
"We will check for survivors, and more importantly check for cargo!"
The crew was organized into three exploration teams. The Wormwood would put up next to each one, drop off the crew and then sail onto the next wreck. When it had completed all three dropoffs it would circle back around to collect the crew and cargo. While this was an efficient use of their time and ultimately would only delay the ship about a day of sailing, it did mean that the crews dropped off would have to survive for hours on their own. There would be no reinforcements and no easy way of retreat unless they found a servicable rowboat or raft.
The crews were determined by drawing straws and three teams of eight were formed from the press-ganged crew.
Team #1
Kimes Pellegrin
"Narwhale" Tate
Gloom
Olivari "Ten-Eyes"
Lissa Cochrane
Jarrod Marriott
Terrin Young
Amithel Ashtrain
Team #2
Rafe Rookward
Kalia Tyrnddare
Nenelethas
Oivind
Zug Zug Bog
Pearl McCalister
Vander Wargrider
Xao Fang
Team #3
Rosie Cusswell
Crimson Cog
Yana Risad
Kaye Haduk
Rinaldo
Amithel Ashtrain
Ratline Rattsberger
Jack Scrimshaw
The first team is dropped off one what looks to be either a pirate vessel or a pirate hunter. The livery suggests it was a Cheliax ship but what it is doing so far south and ravaged by the storm is unknown. The team is dropped off and they begin cautiously exploring the ship while the Wormwood< moves on to the next derelict.
The second ship appears to be a trading ship from the south bearing the markings of Vidrian. It was likely originally a ship from Cheliax that was captured when the Vidrians broke free from Cheliaxian colonization. Unlike the first ship this one looks to have been a derelict even before the storm hits as there are signs of rot all throughout the ship. It's masts have been shorn clean off and it lists to the side. The upper deck is clean of debris, likely swept away when it was hit by the storm. The vessal groans in the wind as the Wormwood pulls alongside and grapples are sent over to allow the second team to climb aboard. As they board the Stitchman makes note that the ship looks to have taken on water and will likely sink within the next couple of days.
On the deck the decking has warped from moisture and puddles have formed all across the deck. Short white stumps are all that remains of the masts. The double doors leading to cabins fore and aft appear intact, while a metal grate in the deck offers access to the lower decks. Aside from the rhythmic creak of the ship's badly weathered soaking timbers, all seems quiet.
Once the exploration team is onboard the grapples are removed and the Wormwood sets sail for the third wreck.