Return of the Obra Dinn

The Age of Sail was in full swing in 1802, about 60 years before its end. Maritime transport across the Atlantic Ocean via ships was at its peak. One such ship, the Obra Dinn, built around 1796 and insured by the London office of the East India Company, weighed about 800 tons and had an 18-ft. draught. It carried a crew of 51 men and nine passengers, led by Captain Robert Witterel.

In late 1802, the Obra Dinn departed London, England, with over 200 tons of trade goods. Its intended destination was the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, en route to China, with a return journey planned within a few months. However, in 1803, about six months later, the ship failed to make its rendezvous point. With no sightings or contact, the Obra Dinn was declared lost at sea and never seen again.

Then, in the early morning hours of October 14, 1807, nearly five years after its disappearance, the Obra Dinn reappeared near Falmouth in Cornwall, England. The ship had minor structural and sail damage, but not a single soul was aboard. You, as the insurance investigator for the East India Company, must board the Obra Dinn in the middle of the night to determine what happened to its crew and passengers, and to identify any deceased or surviving individuals.

Armed with only a passenger log and a magical pocketwatch, you must discover their identities and the circumstances of their deaths or survival. This task requires careful deduction to piece together who everyone was. Keeping track of their names, ethnicity, appearance, and roles onboard is crucial to uncovering the events that transpired. Their fates depend on your investigation.