-THE TRAPDOOR COMPENDIUM-

Relating an Appearance of the Vampyre

MASTER UNKNOWN · DATE UNRECORDED

Day 14 - Wind WSW. Sea moderate. Course maintained south by east. Land no longer in sight.

Day 15 - Wind fallen. Vessel making some headway. An unusual air lingers, two crew have fallen into a pale, wakeless sleep. First mate cannot identify the nature of the sickness.

Day 16 - Wind and sea moderate. No disruptions among men aboard. Vessel moves steady.

Day 17 - Officially, there is an unseen life aboard. It emerges after dark. Of the two afflicted crew, one perishes. The other is stable.

Day 18 - No wind. No discernible movement of the sea. The vessel's position cannot be furthered. Compass gives an inconsistent bearing. We rest.

Day 19 - Wind returns. We make for the south-east gyre, where we will follow unto whatever land we deem most honest.

Day 20 - An argument aboard, between two thirsted men. The quarrel leads to a strangulation. First mate takes the aggressor to his cabin, wherein a new altercation begins. First mate is allegedly forced to dispatch aggressor and cast the body overboard.

Day 21 - We make port in Islet Chen. First mate requests we recruit sailors to compensate for deceased.

Day 22 - A Chennit has accused us of slaughtering livestock. We are being forced to depart early.

Day 23 – First mate and crew have taken ship without me. I am stranded on Chen. The locals remark the fiendish look of the first mate, Corte, as he departed.

[No further entry.]

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE: The surviving extract terminates without signature or indication of the vessel's fate.