Convince her to Stay

You keep your hands on her shoulder, and you shake her again. You need not say much more. Sudden recognition dawns, and she clasps your hand into hers. Tears of relieved resignation fall from her eyes. ”Thank you,” she whispers. ”I don’t know what came over me. Thank you.”

But above deck, the swarm rages. They mock you with their songs and threaten lonesome death, your ship lost forever in the endless mists. A shaking mariner is roused from his stupor, now walking towards the stairs. You grapple him to the ground. He, snapped back to tenuous sanity, whispers his thanks. There is a strange twitch in his eyes. They look pale, and bloodshot.

The Squirmers rage for a day and a night. Some Mariners fall sick, shaking in a cold fever. The sickening smell of their vomit suffuses the hold. Vivid daydreams press down on your windpipe and grasp at your slowing heart.

You have lost [1] Sanity

Your Sanity is now {if Sanity = 3} 3 – Bad Dreams {elseif Sanity = 2} 2 – Nightmares {elseif Sanity = 1} 1 -- THE TERROR {elseif@} X -- You are not playing {endif}

And then they leave. The swarm takes flight, and you take a shuddering breath of relief. The mists part for your vessel.