“As our story goes, a man by the name of Gwyn Wynn approached me one day while I was strolling along the docks, minding my own business. I donned the title of Captain that same day, though I had not much in the way of prior experience. There was only one stipulation to me becoming captain of his ship: Gwyn was to be a permanent part of the crew and the crew would help him with his ‘studies’, no questions asked. I thought this was a mighty fine opportunity and took this stranger up on his offer (after all, I had nowhere to go really, and this seemed like it could become quite a fortuitous adventure).
“Now, this man, Gwyn, was a self-proclaimed ‘Doctor’, however I think that sometimes he’s quite downright mad! He’s a bit of an absent-minded scientist with very grand and strange ideas. I never really asked anything about his past, as he had not asked about mine, and to this day I do not think anyone else has bothered, let alone wanted to know about this strange man’s past, what with his comments about the crew being his grand experiment. Though I am kind of fond of this preternatural man, I am glad that he keeps to himself in his laboratory inside the heart of the Zygote. This has caused some commotion however, as his lab is next to the boiler room and engine…” - Captain Thomas Mashek to a prospective deckhand.
SAV Zygote
The Science Air Vessel Zygote is a “double-wide” airship with a balloon on either side of a platform, and is owned by Gwyn Wynn. Inside, it contains two labs for Gwyn, one of which doubles as a shop for building and tinkering (to be used by Gwyn and Nathan). The primary function of the Zygote is that of an exploratory science and archaeological vessel. The secondary duties include courier runs between ports as well as smuggling goods when necessary and/or intrinsically beneficial.
The Crew
Captain Thomas Mashek, Aerialist and Purveyor of Exotic Goods
Captain Thomas Mashek is a self-imposed captain with no formal aerial history to speak of (or anywhere on record under that name). He donned the title of captain when the Zygote was presented to him by a strange man named Gwyn Wynn. The only stipulations with accepting the captaincy of the ship were that Gwyn was to become a permanent part of the crew and that the crew were to help him with his “studies”, no questions asked. Seeing this as a good opportunity, Thomas took this stranger up on his deal without giving it so much as a cursory thought, figuring it to be infinitely better than being stranded upon this rot of land he had managed to get himself to.
- Excerpt from the Captain's LogEdwin Marie Starkweather, Master Engineer
Click to read entry.What is a crew of an airship without an engineer? Edwin Marie happened upon the captain’s good fortune and was quickly brought into the crew after his swift response to a “freak accident” with an ornithopter Gwyn insisted Thomas test. (By freak accident I mean Gwyn forgot to make sure the left wing pin was attached to the wheel properly). Gwyn insisted he had it made perfect, and that the fault was mumble mumble mumble (for nobody could hear the words as he trailed off into thought, looking to the sky in contemplation).
- Excerpt from the Captain's LogFirst Mate Tea Adipi, Martial Defender of the Deck
Click to read entry.Curious he was, that Tea, that inconspicuous one of odd contempt. He was truly eager to get on the ship, I could tell be causes of his lack of care for a couple of those less pleasant conditions. Though, he was able to keep his intents unclear, other then wanting to stay above decks most of the time. He seems to like that, its like he has some obligation to watch over the ship from the outside, I mean he does seem fit for that too. I don’t particularly know why he would come to us to get on this ship either, all of the others were recruited, but this one. He must like something about the Zygote that isn’t in other places, still can’t put finger on it though …
- Excerpt from the Captain's LogGwyn Wynn, Scientist, Brewer of Alchemical Goodies
Click to read entry.Gwyn Wynn is an absent minded scientist with very grand and strange ideas, with little of himself known about by the crew of the Zygote. He often makes comments about the crew being his grand experiments, yet seems to take no notice of them the majority of the time. He is often found in his laboratory inside the heart of the Zygote, not far from the boiler room and engine (this has caused a few of the crew to question the captain about the safety of the boat, but ultimately end up having a lot of faith in his work). Generally, nobody asks him questions about his studies, as they are afraid of the answer.
- Excerpt from the Captain's LogNathanael Equale, Tinkerer
Click to read entry.It was very simple – Gwyn needed an extra hand in his lab. You know, to do all the things like cleaning and bringing the “Doc” his food. Captain Thomas found him just the person he needed, or so he thought. Nathanael Equale, a pretty plain-clothed man, was hired on relatively quietly, with the captain being rather dismissive of the claims that Nathanael had about his time as a tinker’s apprentice. The duties giving to Nathanael quickly bored him, especially after figuring out how to stay out of the way of Gwyn. (Who likes brightly colored liquid of unknown origin and power spilled all over their trousers, anyway?) Nathan oft thought Gwyn a “not entirely there” or “just plain mad”, which indeed he might have been. However, Gwyn was quick to note the deft hands of Nathan, and urged him to use the spare lab (for one cannot have too many labs). However, Gwyn said that he could only use half of it, and only if he agreed to not stop his current duties. Nathan agreed and put together plans to build something or another.
- Excerpt from the Captain's Log