A Haunting Oddity

Greetings worn and weary travelers, this journal that you have found will indicate to you all that lies before you as more of a guide or autonomous helper. As you are hearing my voice as I happened to record it as I wrote it here. Lest not forget that here, upon this remote island, that none will be able to understand or comprehend. At least that appears to be the case for myself and those of my companions, that is. However the endeavor that promoted you upon this journey, I give you a thought to remember once more, things are not what they are, or appear as, such as this journal, you are hearing my voice, as if it is or I, rather, are with you currently, this again is a testament to the island and how it interacts with you. Remember that well, it will serve you in the future, if you have one that is. Speaking of which, look to the man to the left of you, or the right if you are on the furthest left, and remember what they looked like, as it may very well be the last time.

Great!

Now that you have done that, step one is complete. Here is your reward!

-Survival Skill +1

I am sure that you have a ton of questions to which I will not answer for you. As it is, I am not here in the present with you. This recording is all that I can do to try to ensure your survival. Follow it or the man to the left will surely perish. Perish the thought though. Time is precious and we are already behind schedule.

Behind the tree, yes that one there, the tall one with all the leaves scattered amongst the ground where it appears to be a trap of some kind but poorly done as to give you the clue that is not just a gathering of leaves.

Yes! Excellent job!

Did it just collapse? Well, none of you waited for the instructions… how sad really. Now you are down to four. Pity. I had faith in you that listening was a skill not required since you … now three huh? Once a man falls into a trap, any attempt of recue triggers an automatic response, or death sentence.

It appears that you all need a little, pardon the phrase, crash course on why you were all demoted and cast away here.

As you know, Her Majesty has no liking for those whom She deems as the worst offenders, as such, you five were brought here to redeem yourselves. If you had listened to Her or myself, you would not be in this predicament, or listened for my instructions and the five would be here instead of the three whom are now listening more intently. So for you three, the reasons you are here are your own, I do know and do not care either way. Her Majesty decries and I follow Her demands regardless of the fate of those like you.

In return for listening and doing as told, Her Majesty will re-admit you to the British Empire upon your retrieval of the item She needs to keep the Empire RUNNING that is. As such, off we go!

The tree that I was tell you all about is not just a tree, nor the leaves about it. Once more, please do not touch or go near this objects, secondly, Her Majesty found a practical use for the placement of various Camera Obscuras, these are located in the trees or among the leaves, as such, upon your death, they will take a picture of you and capture your soul within this way we get the full report as if it were to happen before us.

Now, onto the next assignment. Past the tree is a large group of rocks, send one of your remaining men and climb the rock. There you will find a small marker. Upon finding the marker, raise it high as you can, from there the remaining two will then accompany you and the recording will start again.

Good. Took you a long time to find it huh?

You lose points now.

It must be growing darker where you are all at, as I no longer see the sun in the same position. Ah! There it is, beginning to set upon the horizon, and as you can see looking Westward, your only chance of escape is now floating away with the tide…shameful. You all could have been able to escape that way at that moment, but you took so very long to find a simple grey marker.

You say it blended in with the rocks? It was too difficult? Your British boys and fighting to serve your Queen and Country, Stiff upper mates, stiff upper.

A vessel will appear upon the eastern side of the isle to take you all home, should you last the night and wake early in the morn. Till then it is a survival of the fittest men. Your night is only beginning.

Now, as it appears that you are all cozy and warm, allow me to remind you all once more why it is that this is all as it stands, shall I? No? It appears to me that you are all quiet happy with your current situation, shall I tell you of the nightlife and how you can dine and make haste for the vessels arrival? NO! Surely you don’t mean that? You do?

Yes, I can hear you, if you have not figured that part out yet, it is beyond me. The Queen Herself can hear you and all that you have been saying. It goes without saying that She is not happy with all the flabberjawing and slander that you three are doing there. How are we doing this? I shall not be advising you of this, just know that Her Majesty KNOWS everything and utilizes EVERYTHING to ensure that none shall query unless permission is given. I do not have the clearance to understand Her Majesty. This is her island and her game for you all. Since you are all so fond of games. It is only fitting.

As such, I shall now go over the reasons and grievances Her Majesty wishes me to.

Giles, Howard. You sir were responsible for maintaining the Locke, however you thought it more beneficial for yourself to reward your labor by taxing extra for supplies and demand which there were no proof of upon demand of things, henceforth you coveted the funding given to you and planned an early retirement in the small villa that you were creating. Not a shilling was but forth for the maintenance or that of cleanliness of the Locke, or the area surrounding it. You stole and lied about it to only gain more for yourself.

Jerid, Simon H., you worked diligently on the plans for the Villa and were rewarded with silver from Spain, a Spanish currency is illegal, nor did you report yourself or melt down their gold and silver to which you received as part of your BANKING duties, nor did you report the findings of Giles or of the third remaining, you sir, pocketed and promised the Villa and Giles to the Spaniards as a good faith payment for a small lighthouse atop of the Pillars of Hercules. Your duties to Queen and Country were wrongly placed. Betrayal.

Nippers, Gerld H., you sir were the in-between man of the three remaining. You introduced them to the Spanish, precured the Villa and land, sold yourself and the men with you, made a promise the Queen Herself was backing you and would PUBLICLY DENOUNCE herself from sole ruler in favor of a small hilltop view and a lighthouse…

You three are the worst offenders, the other two were common criminals. YOU three still have no idea the truth behind anything that you had done. Nor will you.

This night only one of you will survive. Sadly which one it up to you. Then again, will the one be able to make it to the vessel?

I leave you now knowing that we know and see everything, and with a small warning: every step upon this island will lead to death in some way, you will either face what it is that was given or stay upon the rock, and lastly, I would not linger long as the nightlife there enjoy a relaxing meal as well as you do.

Good night and good luck!