Pacific Ocean I: The Fruitless Search

10) The Fruitless Search
Off the Coast of Peru and Ecuador, May 2-26, 1845

A) Moving North
The Rachel’s report of the “prodigious white whale” electrifies Joab—“Moving north, is he? Oh, he knows we’re coming! He senses me, I can feel it. By God, I’ll chase him past the Line, all the way to California, all the way to New Archangel if I must!” Joab orders the ship to bear north, leaving the Chilean Grounds behind.

B) Bad Dreams
Dr. Lowell and Rachel Ward are visited by uneasy dreams following their excursion to the ghost ship. Although Sarah doesn’t reveal her name until Encounter 13, Lowell soon finds himself back in the warm tub, her naked body pressed against his. And Rachel may have powerful visions of her son’s “great destiny.” See “Character Secrets and Development” for details.

C) Whaling
The Quiddity spends most of May cruising off the coasts of Peru and Ecuador, capturing 1D4 whales but seeing no sign of Mocha Dick. Joab becomes increasingly irritated by the “fruitless search.” Indeed, he sparks some friction with the other officers when he refuses to lower for a pod of “mundane” sperm whales—an encounter that may be narrated, or roleplayed as the Keeper desires. (Perhaps a few Persuade rolls are needed to convince the captain to do his job?) Eventually the Quiddity runs low on fresh water and provisions, so Joab reluctantly agrees to call at Atacames in Ecuador.

White Leviathan, Chapter 3—Pacific Ocean I
[Back to Encounter 9, The Ghost Ship | White Leviathan TOC | Forward to Encounter 11, Atacames]

Author: A. Buell Ruch
Last Modified: 3 April 2024
Email: quail (at) shipwrecklibrary (dot) com
White Leviathan PDF: [TBD]