Full steam ahead and hope for the best

There are murmurs among the crew, superstitions giving way to whispered knowledge. Leviathan attacks are rare, but they do happen. Must or madness takes hold, and no ship can hope to withstand the onslaught of an enemy this fearsome. The Demeter certainly can’t.

‘It won’t eat us," a Mariner asks, his face sweaty and coloured a sickly green. "Surely?"

‘Crush us, more like," another answers, keeping his voice calm even though a shaking hand betrays his fear.

You order them to hold course and consult the old logbooks for anything to do. The monster might give up on its own, or your predecessor’s notes could contain valuable insights. There has to be a way to escape, a way to calm the Leviathan. And whatever strange mood has excited it to its pursuit may vanish just as suddenly as it appeared. Leviathan attacks are rare, after all.

For now, you keep the engine at full speed and the **** rations doubled. There is not much you can do, but you will do whatever you can. Leviathan attacks are rare, after all.

You have spent [1] of your Supplies

Your Supplies are now: {if Supplies = 7} 7 {elseif Supplies = 6} 6 {elseif Supplies = 5} 5 {else} X {endif} – {if Supplies > 5} (Mostly) Fully Stocked {elseif Supplies < 6} Dwindling Resources {else} You are not playing {endif}

Smoke rises as a black and oily cloud, the whistle on the boiler piping as the ship lurches forward. You make good speed, but the Leviathan follows, moving effortlessly through dark waves. It surfaces close to the bow, near enough to wash the deck with spume. The engine roars. You dodge the onslaught and ride the waves; this time saved.

Someone intones a prayer outside.