Hiya, this is an idea that follows on from a thread I made on the discussion forum, as I thought it might be fun to have some writing prompts!

The prompt is a one-word one, as I find those to be the most versatile and interesting.

The word I picked for this thread is 'vessel'.

I'm going to post my interpretation of the prompt below this as a 'chapter 2', so that my submission doesn't sway anyone's ideas on what to write, and hope you guys will get involved with your own takes on the prompt by adding new chapters/story paths below! Credit to SepiandDust for the general idea of how this is all set out :)

• Riot45

The moon was bright, casting it's rays upon the great expanse of the ocean floor.

The wind blew. Strong enough to send waves crashing against the hull of the Hero's Journey, spraying salt water into the air and onto Captain Edrian's beard.

It was a beautiful night. It's a pity he wasn't sailing under better circumstances. And an even bigger pity he couldn't share this view with his wife.

Just a couple weeks after he had returned from battle, and married the love of his life Yvonne, Edrian had been commanded by the king himself to take charge of the search for the crown prince, who had taken the royal vessel the Regal Bearing for a well needed sabbatical and never returned. Edrian respected the crown but the sooner they could find the prince’s vessel the sooner they could all go home. And the sooner Edrian could see his wife.

Yvonne.

Edrian closed his eyes picturing her in his mind. The last time he saw her she had come to see him off before he left on this accursed voyage. Dark hair, hastily pinned away from her face, leaving a few stray ringlets to frame her face. Her bright green eyes shone like polished sea glass as she kept her suppressed tears at bay.

"Captain!"

Edrian's eyes snapped open as he turned around to see Commander Thomas jogging up to him.

Edrian sighed. One thing about being the captain of the royal navy was that people rarely came to him with good news.

"What is it Commander?"

"Vick spotted another ship up ahead. But..." Thomas hesitated.

Edrian tried to keep his annoyance at bay. As competent as his first mate was Edrian wished that the man would stop beating around the bush.

"Well? Out with it Thomas."

"It doesn't appear to have anyone on it."

Edrian frowned. An unmanned ship out in these waters? That didn't bode well for anyone.

"But that isn't all..." Thomas added as he followed Edrian down the stairs of the quarter deck.

They approached Vick down on the edge of the main deck looking out on the foggy horizon. Edrian ignored the young sailor's cry of protest as he swiped the spyglass out of his hand.

Up ahead drifting through the fog was the silhouette of a large vessel floating aimlessly like a piece of driftwood. Pointing the spyglass at the ship confirmed his crewmate's find; a deck void of any life whatsoever.

A sinking feeling entered the captain's gut. Where did everybody go? There weren't any islands for miles, and the nearest port was a two days journey from here. Was everyone having a party down in the brig or...

Edrian moved the spyglass up and froze.

At the very top of the mast was a flag flying the royal crest.

They had found the prince's vessel.