“An incredible turn of events! As I write these lines, I still cannot fully comprehend the cascade of events since my last journal entry. I keep pinching myself to ensure I am truly alive. Hunger gnaws at my stomach, and sleep weighs heavy on my eyelids, but I must record my memories while they remain vivid. Should I fail to awaken again, may this journal bear witness to my adventure. 

On the night of my final conversation with the captain of The Intrepid, I returned to my quarters and prepared an emergency pack in case of disaster. Inside, I placed rations, bandages, a torch, a remedy, a leather waterskin, my journal, and writing tools. By some providence—or sheer luck—I strapped the pack securely to my back with ribbons tied across my torso. I then lay on my bed, attempting to calm my nerves as the hour of reckoning approached. 

Suddenly, the ship began to tremble violently, its timbers groaning under immense pressure. Thunder roared, and deafening cracks of lightning illuminated the chaos. Flames erupted, consuming the hull and spreading rapidly through the lower decks. I scrambled to escape my cabin, desperate not to be burned alive. Just as I reached the corridor leading topside, the ship split in two with a deafening crack. 

Thrown into the raging ocean, I was swept away by torrents of icy water. Screams of passengers echoed in my ears, but soon even those faded. The last sight I beheld was the ship’s mast crashing down upon me. Miraculously, the water cushioned the blow, leaving me with only a minor head wound. 

I awoke on the shore of an underground cavern, my body cold and battered. By some inexplicable means, I had been carried here. My pack, still strapped to me, proved invaluable; I quickly bandaged my wound. Exhaustion is overtaking me now. I must rest if I hope to survive…”