NationStates Jolt Archive

The engine of Trawler 9, a fishing trawler of Port St. Loren's fleet, thrummed gently over the unusually calm waters, only the ship's bow wave broke the surface. The crew of four were experienced, and the fishing ship wash one of the oldest in the fleet, and of course still seaworthy.

The Skipper stood watching the fish-finder as the Mate scoured the horizon for birds. Trawler 9 was away from the main fleet in search of a largely avoided but highly productive fishing ground. Only the more seasoned fishers knew when it was ripe for the harvest.

That area was avoided by almost every vessel. It was notorious for a sea monster that could swallow ships whole without any trace. Those on board Trawler 9 were superstitious, most sea-men were, but they didn't believe in sea monsters.

Mike Daniels sat propped on the stern, his fishing line lancing far out behind. The boat was going to fast for smaller fish, but he was out for bigger game, marlin was more like it.

He leapt off his perch when the reel began to spin wildly. He called for the other crewman as he clipped himself onto the ship. Now would begin a test of wills. He tightened the spool and began to reel in. He was fighting against a good sized fish, he could tell by the pulls, but he'd brought in bigger.

Forty-five minutes later he had just about finished bringing the line, bit by bit, inch by inch, fighting the fish. Suddenly it leapt out of the water a little way back. Mike grinned.

There were precious few feet left on the line as Mike prepared for the last tug. The other crewmember stood by with a gaff (hook), ready to grab it by the gills.

The line momentarily relaxed as the fish suddenly burst from the water, of its own accord. It cleared the stern by several feet and landed on the deck. But Mike wasn't watching the fish anymore. Something else had followed it.

The ship suddenly lurched, and the Skipper and Mate turned. Their jaws dropped at what they witnessed. Then the whole ship suddenly listed sideways and capsized.

Four hours later the fleet began to hail the trawler.

"Trawler 9, this is Trawler Fleet, over."

Silence.

"Trawler 9, this is Trawler Fleet, come in, over."

"Trawler 9, this is Trawler Fleet, over."

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OOC: The beasty is most likely a squid of some kind, cos an oversized sharky isn't going to be able to capsize a fishing boat, they're built like reinforced steel and concrete out-houses.

You can RP another vessel or fishing hunters. Khwarezmia isn't asking for help as such, but, word gets round.

I'll RP the beast.

Or beasties...

bump. sea-monster fishing. modern tech btw.

Jipangunesia's six hundred and twelve permanently inhabited islands fostered many things. While unity and central government weren't amongst them, nor was progress in any serious way, fishing certainly was.

So was getting hopelessly lost, as the three Immannanng natives now found themselves. Their large outrigger canoe had -thanks to the enthusiasm of the two younger men and the slightly senile complicity of their grandfather- been testing the bounds of their usual fishing range, daring themselves to go just a little further. Then came a moderate storm, a miracle of survival, and... last night even the stars seemed almost unfamiliar.

Now, as they drifted under a high sun, the old man sat in near meditation, trying earnestly to find in the recess of his mind some spark of insipiration or forgotten information that may lend his grandchildren salvation as they squabbled almost distantly over whether it was best to stay hydrated or conserve their bladder-lined basket of fresh water for the long-term.

Earlier talk of seamonsters joked about at the boys ventured willingly beyond known boundries had now been forgotten in the face of more real concerns.

(Add- oh, I know that you said modern tech, but I assume you won't mind less. Jipangunesia is part of the early C21st, but most of it is rather backwards and even pre-historic, with pockets of disorderly modernity sparked by generations of on-again-off-again colonialism and passing trade.)

OOC: Yeah that's fine Jipangunesia, was trying to avoid people using advanced SONAR and gauss water type cannony things.