Post by Adam Conant on Dec 12, 2023 17:29:10 GMT -5
The sun dipped low over the horizon, casting a golden glow across the Cape Cod shoreline as Adam Conant prepared for the end of another day of hard work on the fishing boat. The rhythmic sounds of the waves against the vessel and the seagulls overhead provided a familiar backdrop to Adam's summer routine. He loved the sea, the thrill of the catch, and the camaraderie of the crew. Little did he know that this particular day would bring news that would ripple through the magical history of New Salem.
As Adam cast his net into the ocean, the rhythmic sounds of the waves were interrupted by the excited footsteps of the captain approaching. "Adam!" he exclaimed a twinkle of anticipation in his eyes. "Did you hear? They found one of them old clipper ships sunk 'round Middle Brewster." The seasoned mariner puffed contentedly at his wooden pipe, his weathered face expressing a mix of awe and fascination. He fished his phone out of his coat pocket as if the news needed visual confirmation. He showed Adam the article and the image of the underwater vessel. The older man's thumb swipe through images of the black vessel's wreckage, some of the gold lettering still visible on the hull.
"Bet she was a 'beaut back in the day. What a morbid name for a clipper! I thought a black Mariah was one of those old funeral hearses," the captain mused, a cloud of pipe smoke swirling around him. Still, amid his work, Adam couldn't help but be drawn into the intrigue. The discovery of the sunken clipper ship added a layer of mystery to the area's maritime history. As the crew shared speculations and stories of legendary vessels, the ocean seemed to hold its breath as if harboring the secrets of the Black Mariah beneath its surface.
The rest of the evening unfolded with the routine rhythm of the sea. Adam continued his work on the fishing boat, the earlier news of the discovered clipper ship lingering in the back of his mind. It wasn't until later, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, that his cousin Freya's call interrupted the lull of the ocean's melody.
"Adam," Freya's voice came through the phone, breathy and excited. "They found a ship off of Middle Brewster."
"Yeah, I heard about that," Adam replied casually, glancing out over the expanse of the ocean. However, the tone of Freya's voice caught his attention, and he furrowed his brow as he focused on the conversation. There was an underlying concern that piqued his curiosity.
"No, Adam. You don't understand. It's Black John's ship. They finally found it," Freya emphasized, the weight of her words sinking in. A chill ran down Adam's spine as the weight of those words sank in. The Black Mariah, a vessel steeped in the town's dark history and linked to their own magical legacy, had emerged from the ocean's depths. As the significance of the discovery settled in, Adam felt a surge of anticipation and unease, realizing that the secrets of Black John's ship might hold the key to unraveling mysteries that had long haunted New Salem.
The hushed exchange between Adam and Freya carried a weight of urgency as they discussed the ship's discovery. Adam's inquiry about the Master Tools, potent artifacts associated with the dark history of New Salem, was met with a somber response from Freya.
"No, just some of his journals. Are you still in the Cape?"
"Yeah, at least I'll be here for three more days."
"Okay, write this down. We may have a lead." Freya continued to speak even as Adam fumbled for a pen and paper. "At the waypoint in between three islands, the flying place. Buried beneath low granite and slate outcroppings, ten paces from the fine gravel beach."
Adam, meticulous in his note-taking, captured the details in his neat, blocky penmanship. "I'll check it out tomorrow. I'll keep you posted." The clandestine mission set in motion by Freya's words promised to unveil secrets hidden beneath the rugged terrain of the three islands. They chatted for a few minutes more, exchanging pleasantries before Adam hung up.
Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the stars emerged, Adam found himself gazing out over the vast expanse of the ocean. The discovery of the Black Mariah opened a portal to the past, stirring the ancient magic that lingered in the town's history. Adam couldn't shake the feeling that this revelation was just the beginning, a prelude to something greater that would unfold in the coming days. With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, he knew that the mysteries of the Black Mariah would cast a shadow over New Salem, beckoning to be unraveled.
As Adam cast his net into the ocean, the rhythmic sounds of the waves were interrupted by the excited footsteps of the captain approaching. "Adam!" he exclaimed a twinkle of anticipation in his eyes. "Did you hear? They found one of them old clipper ships sunk 'round Middle Brewster." The seasoned mariner puffed contentedly at his wooden pipe, his weathered face expressing a mix of awe and fascination. He fished his phone out of his coat pocket as if the news needed visual confirmation. He showed Adam the article and the image of the underwater vessel. The older man's thumb swipe through images of the black vessel's wreckage, some of the gold lettering still visible on the hull.
"Bet she was a 'beaut back in the day. What a morbid name for a clipper! I thought a black Mariah was one of those old funeral hearses," the captain mused, a cloud of pipe smoke swirling around him. Still, amid his work, Adam couldn't help but be drawn into the intrigue. The discovery of the sunken clipper ship added a layer of mystery to the area's maritime history. As the crew shared speculations and stories of legendary vessels, the ocean seemed to hold its breath as if harboring the secrets of the Black Mariah beneath its surface.
The rest of the evening unfolded with the routine rhythm of the sea. Adam continued his work on the fishing boat, the earlier news of the discovered clipper ship lingering in the back of his mind. It wasn't until later, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, that his cousin Freya's call interrupted the lull of the ocean's melody.
"Adam," Freya's voice came through the phone, breathy and excited. "They found a ship off of Middle Brewster."
"Yeah, I heard about that," Adam replied casually, glancing out over the expanse of the ocean. However, the tone of Freya's voice caught his attention, and he furrowed his brow as he focused on the conversation. There was an underlying concern that piqued his curiosity.
"No, Adam. You don't understand. It's Black John's ship. They finally found it," Freya emphasized, the weight of her words sinking in. A chill ran down Adam's spine as the weight of those words sank in. The Black Mariah, a vessel steeped in the town's dark history and linked to their own magical legacy, had emerged from the ocean's depths. As the significance of the discovery settled in, Adam felt a surge of anticipation and unease, realizing that the secrets of Black John's ship might hold the key to unraveling mysteries that had long haunted New Salem.
The hushed exchange between Adam and Freya carried a weight of urgency as they discussed the ship's discovery. Adam's inquiry about the Master Tools, potent artifacts associated with the dark history of New Salem, was met with a somber response from Freya.
"No, just some of his journals. Are you still in the Cape?"
"Yeah, at least I'll be here for three more days."
"Okay, write this down. We may have a lead." Freya continued to speak even as Adam fumbled for a pen and paper. "At the waypoint in between three islands, the flying place. Buried beneath low granite and slate outcroppings, ten paces from the fine gravel beach."
Adam, meticulous in his note-taking, captured the details in his neat, blocky penmanship. "I'll check it out tomorrow. I'll keep you posted." The clandestine mission set in motion by Freya's words promised to unveil secrets hidden beneath the rugged terrain of the three islands. They chatted for a few minutes more, exchanging pleasantries before Adam hung up.
Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the stars emerged, Adam found himself gazing out over the vast expanse of the ocean. The discovery of the Black Mariah opened a portal to the past, stirring the ancient magic that lingered in the town's history. Adam couldn't shake the feeling that this revelation was just the beginning, a prelude to something greater that would unfold in the coming days. With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, he knew that the mysteries of the Black Mariah would cast a shadow over New Salem, beckoning to be unraveled.
