Into the dark

The superficial waters of the low tide gently wash in and out of the hull as you both step inside the wreck The interior is in awful condition; parts are scattered all across the broke floor and the lower deck is now the home of a wide range of aquatic creatures big and small. The perfect home for ecosystem to grow in and around.

It isn't a pretty sight, but that's to be expected after so many seasons of neglect. Broken timber and little dents cover much of her exposed hull. A whole bunch of crates and containers of various sizes lay strewn around the hold. Nothing's inside those that have broken open. Jutting from the water they see bones stick out of the sand here and there, although they cannot tell if the remains are human or animal.

Alexis carefully moved towards the crates, mindful to not agitate the resident fauna more then strictly necessary. She was looking for any writing or symbols that might divulge what the container once held- or even better, whom they belonged to.

"Odd, ...that the locals haven't stripped this ship bare." Nicolaus inspected the bones strewn on the sandy floor; using the light she was holding aloft to inspect them.

Across some of the intact crates and some of the broken rotten wooden Alexis and Nicolaus can both make up a strange symbol that neither recall having seen before...

Alexis furrowed her brow and pulled out the container holding her paper. She did her best to sketch the symbol down and put the paper away meticulously for safekeeping.

“Any verdict on the bones, Nicolaus?”

"They appear to be from some type of sea creature." Nicolaus moved to join Alexis at the crates. Holding a example up to the light for her to see more clearly. "They are from something large." He shared a glance at her then looked around the hold. "Perhaps there is a answer in these?" Nicolaus slid his dagger into the crevice at the lid of one of the crates and levered it open.

They are half way inside the vessel as you reach the base of the middle mast. Nicolaus vial radius of illumination reaches only a few feet in front of them. On the deck above you hear the groaning and creaking of planks almost as if someone is walking around. Nicolaus dagger slips into the lid and it splinters it as it pops slowly open, sending a shower of rotten pieces of wood flying.

Nicolaus pauses to listen.

When they strain to listen the sounds from above they seem to stop. They cannot be sure if someone if above you or its just the normal sounds of the creaming old vessel. A few more crates are nearby.

Nicolaus moves over to the other crates and begins to lever another open but stops suddenly to listen again.

Nicolaus exchanges a glance with Alexis and looks up and then at her questioningly. He then looks into the crate, before preceding to look for a way up onto the upper deck, as they are near the main mast there should be some sort of access to the hold. If this ship matches any standard design he hopes.

Inside the smaller crate they find a glass globe 10 inches in diameter with clear liquid inside and what appear to be golden metal leaves. They are not sure what it is.

Nicolaus carefully places the glass globe it into one of the pouches in his satchel for later inspection, adjusting the padding for his vials to protect it.

As Nicolaus pulls the globe and stores it away, Alexis sees something sparking at the bottom of the crate. Reaching down she picks up an integrate small gold bracelet. Its design is plain so as to be appropriate for anyone.

She took a closer look at the trinket before handing it to Nicolaus. Her gaze wandered up to where the sounds are coming from as she drew her blade and adjusted her shield.

“Careful now.”
She quietly warned Nicolaus and began looking for a way up.

Nicolaus accepts the bracelet, giving it a cursory glance then slips it into a pouch as well. He takes the light vial from Alexis so she can arm herself and follows her, pausing only to slip another vial from his satchel.

At the end of the hold you find a wooden vertical ladder leading to the next deck. The vial in your hand barely piercing the darkness above.

“This thing is massive.”

Alexis murmurs. She turns to Nicolaus.

“As much as I want to continue, it’s just to dark, and it would take to much time with only the two of us. Navigating the jungle after nightfall would not be fun. I’d say we leave this for now and come back with more light, and a few more eyes to check this out.”

Nicolaus nodded, "Agreed. We need better light and tools to explore something this extensive. I did not expect it to be so untouched. We should gather the others and do a complete inspection, we could learn much from the wreck."

Alexis gestured towards whence they came.

“Take lead, please. Just in case we are not as alone in here as we should be.”

She looked up to impenetrable darkness beyond the ladder with a frown and kept her sword at the ready.

Nicolaus held the vial up to give Alexis light to guard their rear as he moved towards the hole in the hull and daylight. He gave warnings of obstacles in her path she might trip or stumble over as they retreated out.

The two exit the vessel the same way they came with no further occurrence and make their way back to camp.