(This is part of an interactive story)
You are Isabelle Starlight a noble`s daughter and it`s only two days to your birthday and also your marriage. It`s a grand occasion and it will be celebrated for a whole week. Everyone is talking about it and they congratulate you on your oncoming wedding.
However right now you are sitting in front of your mirror with tears in your eyes. Your father ordered you to stay in your room to repent.
(Why should I repent? Am I really in the wrong?)
You don`t want to marry Lord Mark of Cornwall. You have seen him only once and he is nearly thrice your age, fat and disgusting. He is also very arrogant and snobby. He cares nothing for his own people and has a reputation of being merciless to everyone he dislikes. He has a frightening aura. Even your father is intimidated in his presence.
You have tried to persuade your father to cancel this arrangement today again but this only got him in a rage.
“I have spoiled you far too long and have always followed your wishes. Now you have really become too stubborn and willful. Our family depends on this marriage and you will go through with it!” he told you this sternly not leaving any room for discussion.
You start to think deeply about your future.
1.) What are you planning? -> You plan to run away.
You calm yourself and there is suddenly a flash of determination in your eyes.
(I can`t sit here and keep crying. It won`t change anything. The only option for me now is to run away. Didn`t a big merchant ship arrive today? I must board this ship before it sets sail tomorrow.)
You start packing your favorite dress and a little money into a small cloth bundle and wait until everyone is asleep. At midnight you leave your room and stand in front of your residence to give it a good look for the last time.
(I will really miss my parents, relatives and friends. Will I be able to come back once I`m leaving now? I think my father will be furious if I run away from my marriage with Lord Mark now…)
Tears start to form in your eyes and you are having doubts again…
2.) Will you really run away? -> Yes, you are determined!
However just thinking about your impending marriage with Lord Mark a cold shiver runs down your spine and your doubts are dissipating quickly.
(I have to get going before anyone notices that I am missing. I won`t have a second chance to escape again.)
You quickly move towards the port and arrive at the merchant ship about an hour later. The only person on board was what looked like a deckswab, passed out drunk.
(They must be visiting the local tavern now, getting drunk and enjoying the company of some immoral wenches. Just the imagination of how these whores are offering their service to this dirty and stinky crew for a few coins disgust me.)
You easily sneak in into the cargo hold and hide yourself in a corner. You make yourself comfortable and fall asleep.
The ship leaves the port the next morning according to schedule. You don`t know its destination but you are happy to have escaped your arranged marriage.
You hide yourself for nearly two days but hunger and thirst are getting unbearable. You know that you won`t survive unless you get some nourishment. Cursing your own lack of foresight you have to leave your hiding spot only to notice that the hatch to the deck is locked.
3.) What will you do? -> You call out for help
You start to panic and beat the hatch calling out for help.
“Hello, is there anybody? Please open the hatch!” you cry out again and again.
There are mumbling sounds of surprise and curiosity and it takes about ten minutes before a man opens the hatch. He grabs your hand and helps you up onto the deck. You are surrounded by what seems like fifteen crew members. They are looking at you with lecherous eyes and ask you a lot of questions. In your frightened state you reckon to fare better to keep your mouth shut.
After a short discussion they decide to take you to the captain`s quarter and let him decide how to deal with you.
To your surprise the captain is a young man in his mid twenties at most. He is muscular and his shoulders broad. He has a thin moustache and rugged stubble, his dark black hair shoulder-long. You would consider him attractive if there isn`t this gruesome scar on his face giving him an intimidating look.
He orders his men to go back to work and sits down comfortably on his desk starting to examine you from head to toe. He seizes you up like a predator would his prey making you feel extreme uncomfortable. Nevertheless you are too afraid to rebuke him.
At last he starts to talk, “I think you have some explaining to do.”
You gather all your courage and reply, “I apologize for getting on your ship. I …”
He cuts you off before you have a chance to finish your sentence, “I´ll ask the questions, you just answer them. Who are you?”
4.) How will you answer him? -> You make up a lie
(I don´t want him to know my identity. He will surely turn me in for a hefty reward.)
You try to think quickly, “I`m a tavern waitress.”
He grins, “What is your name?”
“I am Isab…” you reply without thinking. Knowing it was too late to change your answer you give him your real name, “I am Isabelle.”
“Isabelle what?” He asks.
You are momentary speechless, “What?”
The grin on his face is getting bigger now, “Are you as daft as you are pretty or are you playing dumb?”
“Oh you mean my last name? I am Isabelle Miller.” you answer.
This is your servant girl`s last name and the first thing coming into your mind.
“Ok, Isabelle Miller. Why did you board my ship?” he questions.
You have never been good at lying and so you aren`t able to think of a plausible story at all. “It was a terrible mix up. I booked another ship but it was dark and…”
“It was dark so you got on the wrong ship. Am I right?” he helps your out.
You grip this straw and readily agree, “Yes, yes. You are absolutely right. It was just a mistake.”
“Then why did you hide all this time? We are nearly two days out of port.” he lets out a sigh.
