The Final Voyage of the Mary Celeste

By James MacDougall
Players: 14-19
Genre: Shipboard weirdness
It is
November 28, 1872. The brigantine Mary Celeste has been at sea for 23 days en
route from New York to Genoa with a cargo of 1700 casks of commercial alcohol.
It is a cargo the ship’s complement is unfamiliar with, and Captain Briggs is
concerned with its volatile nature, particularly with the uncommonly warm
weather this voyage. The Mary Celeste lies approximately 500 miles off the
island of Santa Maria in the Azores. The ship has experienced rough seas and
gales for the past three days, although she has weathered it well. This
morning, the storms broke and the day began with fair sailing. For the last few
hours, however, the ship has been becalmed. There is no reason to expect the
winds this evening. This is not a matter of much concern. In fact, the still
air comes as a welcome relief for the tired crew of the Mary Celeste.
The Mary
Celeste is an excellent vessel and in good hands. Captain Briggs is an
outstanding master; his mates, Richardson and Gilling, are of unimpeachable
character and competence, as are the cook and the crew of four. The Mary
Celeste’s only passengers, the Captain’s wife Sarah and their daughter Lizzie,
are quite at home at sea, as is fitting for a captain’s family.
But for the
lack of a breeze, all is well with the Mary Celeste, though should the need
arise there is a lifeboat. The ship carries a 20-foot yawl, more than fit to
carry all aboard the Mary Celeste, though hardly a boat to be called on for a
long voyage. Also, the weapons locker is fully stocked and at the ready.
Captain Briggs has the only key to the locker.
There have
been strange happenings aboard the Mary Celeste. A stowaway has been found
hiding in the forecastle. The Captain is quite nonplussed to find a woman
hidden on his ship. Her story has yet to be sorted out.
A be-furred
savage in a canoe made of hides has also hailed the Mary Celeste. How she came
to be so far out at sea remains a mystery. At her insistence she has been taken
aboard.
It is early evening, an hour from sunset.
Cost: free
Available from: http://www.interactivitiesink.com/cgi/download.cgi?id=61
Previous NZ runs
Wellington 2016
Category:James MacDougall
Category:10-15 player
Category:15-20 player
Category:Weirdness