The Cold Chronicles Day Seven: A Voyageur’s Tale of The Long Dark

The Cold Chronicles โ€“ Day 7: Dead Ends, Rifle Finds, and Aurora Skies

Difficulty: Voyageur
Optional Features: Cougar enabled (because paranoia keeps you alive)

Day 7 on Coastal Highway brings dead-end roads, beachcombing, Barbโ€™s rifle, and my first aurora. I almost fall through the ice (again), stash gear on Jackrabbit Island, and cook meat like a man possessed. Soโ€ฆ a productive day?

Missed Day 6? Read it here.

The Road That Goes Nowhere

Another sunrise, another overambitious plan. Today, I decide Iโ€™m going to follow Coastal Highway all the way to its mysterious conclusion. Maybe Iโ€™ll find a new transition zone. Maybe Iโ€™ll find a wrecked truck with some rifle rounds and a can of dog food. Maybe Iโ€™ll find peace.

Spoiler: itโ€™s a rockfall.

But I donโ€™t know that yet. I set out early, dragging my increasingly reluctant survivor across the snow. First stop: the bridge just beyond the garage. Itโ€™s held up surprisingly well for the end of civilization. On the far side, I spot a car, and inside itโ€”a note. Someone left a tip about a hidden cache near the garage. Tempting. Very tempting. But I decide to keep pushing forward for now. Eyes on the prize.

The road gets quieter. No wolves, no wind. Just snow crunching underfoot and the occasional groan from my guy whoโ€™s still mad about the 40kg backpack Iโ€™m making him haul. Eventually, the highway ends not with loot or glory, but a literal wall of boulders. No secret passage, no helpful signage. Just a dead end.

Rifles, Ice, and Intrusive Memories

With the highway goal dashed, I backtrack. But Iโ€™m not going to waste the day. I decide to poke around under the bridge I crossed earlierโ€”because thatโ€™s a normal survival instinct now. Good thing I do, too.

Tucked under the support beams, half-buried in snow, is Barbโ€™s rifle. No note, no explanation. Just the long-forgotten tool of someone else’s survival story. I take it, check the condition (not bad), and immediately feel 30% more powerful. Rifle > revolver. Every time.

Feeling cocky, I veer off the road and make my way across the ice toward Jackrabbit Island. The ice creaks and pops in that threatening way it always does, but I push forward, ignoring the very obvious signs that I am not welcome here. My screen does that โ€œyouโ€™re about to dieโ€ wobble. I shuffle back to solid ice just in time. Somehow, I donโ€™t fall in. Survival roulette wins again.

The Jackrabbit Hoard

I reach the house on Jackrabbit Island and decide to use it as a makeshift drop zone. I ditch the revolver, some food, a spare lantern, and whatever else I can live without. The rifle stays with me, obviously.

Loot-wise, Jackrabbit delivers. I find:

  • A skill book for rifles (Barb would be proud)
  • Another lantern (my thirdโ€”clearly I have a problem)
  • More food, because Coastal Highway is just one big buffet if you know where to look

My inventoryโ€™s still ridiculous, but a little lighter. Temporarily.

Seagulls and Sketchy Ice

On the way back, I decide to risk a little beachcombing. I hug the shoreline, watching for anything shiny poking out of the snowโ€”and get rewarded. A couple of arrows just sitting on the ice, half-frozen but perfectly usable. I swipe them up and head for Misanthrope Island.

As I get close, I see birds circling. That means one thing: a carcass. The ice between me and it looks about as stable as my guyโ€™s calorie intake, but I edge closer anyway. Itโ€™s a deer, still fresh. I manage to harvest the meat and pull back without falling in. That makes two ice victories today, which honestly feels greedy.

Inside the house on Misanthrope, I findโ€”surpriseโ€”more food and clothing. Nothing game-changing, but enough to keep the โ€œloot goblinโ€ part of my brain happy. I stow what I can, then head back toward the garage with a torch in hand in case wolves decide theyโ€™re hungry for man meat.

A Spark in the Static

Back at the garage, somethingโ€™s different. Thereโ€™s a glow. A hum. The computer whirs to life.

The aurora has arrived.

Itโ€™s my first one in this run, and itโ€™s just as eerie as I remember. The air crackles, the sky pulses green, and the electronicsโ€”dormant and useless for daysโ€”suddenly flicker back to life. Itโ€™s beautiful in a โ€œshould I be worried?โ€ sort of way.

I donโ€™t have time to dwell on it. Iโ€™ve got meat to cook, water to boil, and coffee to brew. Lots of coffee. My survivorโ€™s probably 80% caffeine at this point. I do my best diner cook impression, juggling pots and pans, and by the end of it the place smells like scorched venison and instant espresso. Not the worst way to end a day.

I eat what I can, dump the rest into storage, and crawl into bed. The aurora flickers through the window as I drift off.

Final Thoughts

Day 7 gave me a rifle, some arrows, a hidden cache hint, and a front-row seat to the aurora. Sure, I nearly fell through the ice twice and carried half my body weight in gear the whole way, but it was worth it.

Still alive. Still hoarding. Still hallucinating predators.

Continue the journey:
Day 6 |
Day 8

Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival โ€“ Day Four

Fishing frustrations, elusive groupers, a shiny new rod upgrade, and a very foggy late-night encounter with a suspicious rock. Day 4 of the Dredge permadeath run tests both my patience and my sanity.

Missed day three? Find it here: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival โ€“ Day Three


The Great Grouper Hunt (That Wasn’t)

The morning plan was simple: head out early, catch fish, finally land that mysterious Black Grouper, and pretend I’m not on the verge of bankruptcy. But the sea, as always, had other plans.

I head straight out and find several fishing spotsโ€”most of which give me the โ€œyou need better equipmentโ€ message. Apparently, my starter rod wasnโ€™t cutting it. Still, I manage to pull up 7 blue mackerel and a lone grey eel. Not exactly the haul I was hoping for, but at least the cooler wasnโ€™t empty.

Somewhere along the way, my studies in Sustainable Fishing pay off: book finished, and now I have a 10% chance of not reducing fish stocks every time I catch something with a rod. Youโ€™d think that would make me feel better about the environment. It mostly makes me feel better about my wallet.

By 4:36 PM, I pull back into Greater Marrow, snagging one last mackerel on the way in. Still no sign of a Grouper, though Iโ€™m starting to question whether theyโ€™re actually real or just a fishmonger fever dream.

After selling my haul, I decide itโ€™s time for some serious gear. I visit the Shipwright, sell off my old Simple Skimmer, and upgrade to a shiny new Weighted Line. The installation takes 3 hours, which means by the time I’m ready to head out again, itโ€™s already 7:39 PM.


Unionised Fish and Fog โ€“ And Maybe Rocks?

Determined (or possibly just stubborn), I head back out into the night. With my new line, surely the elusive Grouper will finally show itself.

Spoiler: it does not.

Between 7:39 PM and 2:20 AM, I catch absolutely nothing. Itโ€™s like the fish all formed a union and declared tonight a strike. The only thing I catch is frustration.

With the fog rolling in thick, visibility drops to near zero. I briefly spot some shiny things off in the distanceโ€”potential treasure, or more likely, a quick route to a Madness Strike. I wisely decide not to push my luck.

And then there was the rock.
At one point, something comes into view near the edge of my light. It had that familiar red tinge that usually means my panicked brain is starting to see things that aren’t there. But as I moved closer and got it fully under the light, the red vanished and it looked completely normal.

So was it real?
Probably.
Maybe.
Hopefully.

For the sake of my Madness Strike counter, Iโ€™m calling it real. But letโ€™s just say the boat was very carefully steered around it, just in case.

I pull into dock and call it a night. Day 4 closes with no Grouper, a slightly better rod, one near-debate with my own sanity, and a growing suspicion that the fish are mocking me.


Daily Summary

  • Fish Caught: 7 Blue Mackerel, 1 Grey Eel
  • Madness Strikes: Still just one
  • Damage Taken: None (rock judged real โ€“ no collision)

If you’d like to know more, please check out: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival

For more information on the rules, please check out: Dark Waters: Dredge Permadeath Rules & Survival Guide

๐Ÿ›  Behind the Blog: Why I Made SnowRunner Permadeath (and How Itโ€™s Somehow Working)

Youโ€™d think SnowRunner would be the calm one.

No wolves. No starvation. No sanity meter. Just trucks, mud, and the occasional fallen powerline. And yet, when I started playing, I realized something important:

I had the perfect canvas for portable permadeath chaos.
I just needed a few extra rules (and a slightly reckless imagination).

๐ŸŽฎ Why Permadeath?

Honestly? For the drama. The stakes. The thrill of knowing that if I lose a truck, it’s gone. It turns every route into a calculated risk, every muddy hill into a potential obituary.

Normal SnowRunner is about problem solving. Permadeath SnowRunner is about character. I named my trucks. I argued with myself about whether I could save one stuck in a ditch. And somehow, that made it all feel more alive.

๐Ÿ“‹ How I Fine-Tuned the Rules

Permadeath in a driving game isnโ€™t exactly a toggle, so I had to make it work manually. A few highlights from the rulebook:

  • No selling dead trucks for profit. You’re not a junkyard, you’re a survivor.
  • Every truck gets one lifeโ€”unless it’s truly recoverable later (aka, itโ€™s not a ghost story).
  • Upgrades? Optional. Some may say I’m making things harder. Others say I’m making them funnier.

๐Ÿš› Meet the Cast

So far the crew includes:

  • Scout โ€“ plucky, chaotic energy.
  • Mac (GMC) โ€“ the dependable workhorse.
  • Frank (Fleetstar) โ€“ big, bold, and stuck somewhere inconvenient.

Yes, I name my trucks. No, I wonโ€™t apologize.

๐Ÿงญ What’s Next?

More entries for The Permagear Diaries, of course. Iโ€™m stacking up posts behind the scenes before I start the full series rolloutโ€”but this chaotic convoy is very much in motion.

In the meantime, Iโ€™d love to hear:

If you had to permadeath one of your favourite gamesโ€ฆ which would it be, and how much therapy would you need after?

๐Ÿงญ Weekly Recap โ€“ Survive, Sleep, Repeat

Catch up on the latest survival stories from Survivor Incognito, including permadeath tips, The Long Darkโ€™s Customloper progress, Skyrim Survival struggles, and our chaotic first steps in Grounded. Your weekly roundup of cozy chaos and portable panic is here!


Monday:

๐Ÿ’€ How I Handle Permadeath (And Still Sleep at Night)
I laid out my personal rules for permadeath, how I cope when a character dies a stupid death (usually of my own doing), and why it somehow keeps me coming back for more. Survival tip: Sleep helps. So does sarcasm.

Read it here: How I Handle Permadeath (and Still Sleep at Night)


Tuesday

๐Ÿ“œ Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival โ€“ Day Three
We went further out to sea, saw things we probably shouldnโ€™t have, and learned that fish aren’t the only things lurking in the dark. Spoiler: sanity is overrated.

Read it here: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival โ€“ Day Three


Wednesday

๐Ÿ” Customloper โ€“ Day Two
Mountain Town continues to be less โ€œcosy alpine retreatโ€ and more โ€œconveniently located death trap.โ€ At least we are still in one piece. Mostly.

Read it here: Customloper Diaries Day Two: Blizzards, Boots, and Baseball Cap Confusion


Thursday

๐Ÿ—ก Skyrim Survival โ€“ Day Eight
Frostbite, bandits, and the general annoyance of being overencumbered after picking up one too many cabbages. Classic Skyrim survival energy.

Read it here: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat Day Eight


Friday:

๐Ÿก Grounded โ€“ Day One
Honey, I Shrunk the Panic. First day in the backyard brought bugs, dehydration, and a steep learning curve. That aphid had it coming.

Read it here: The Backyard Trials: Grounded Day One โ€“ Honey, I Lost Myself in the Backyard


Coming next week:

๐ŸงŠ More Long Dark, more Dark Waters, more Skyrim, and a deeper dive into the backyard horrors of Grounded. If weโ€™re lucky, there may even be fireflies. If not, probably just death by thirst.

I’ll also hopefully have the Day One Diary for Don’t Starve up. And will explain the the rules for Snowrunner Survival. But these are both hopefully as I’m currently under the weather at the time of this going up. Thank goodness for being able to schedule posts though.

๐Ÿš› Introducing: SnowRunner Survival โ€“ The Permagear Diaries

Where the roads are bad, the trucks are heavier than your hopes, and every mistake could be your last.

Welcome to SnowRunner Survival: The Permagear Diaries, the newest addition to the Survivor Incognito blog. If youโ€™ve ever thought to yourself, โ€œYou know what my survival games are missing? Eight wheels, four tons of steel, and zero margin for errorโ€โ€”then youโ€™re in the right place.

๐Ÿ›  What is Permagear?

Permagear is SnowRunnerโ€ฆ but with consequences.

  • Normal Mode difficulty
  • No recovering trucks to the garage
  • No teleporting to safety
  • And if all my trucks are stuck, flipped, fuel-starved, or unrecoverableโ€ฆ the run ends.

Thatโ€™s it. No resets. No second chances. Just mud, cargo, and an ever-shrinking fleet of regret.

Itโ€™s trucking logistics turned into a survival game.
Itโ€™s permadeathโ€ฆ with bad suspension.

๐Ÿ“– What to Expect

Each entry in The Permagear Diaries will follow my journey across the frozen, flooded, and just-plain-unforgiving maps of SnowRunner.

Expect:

  • Terrible decisions dressed up as tactical ones
  • Trailers that tip five feet from the drop zone
  • Scout vehicles doing things they were never meant to do
  • And missions that somehow take three trucks and an apology

Ohโ€”and Iโ€™m playing on the Nintendo Switch, so itโ€™s not just the terrain thatโ€™s unstable.

๐Ÿ“… Coming Soonโ€ฆ

The first entry in the series is on the way and will cover:

  • Bridge repair
  • Raised suspension upgrades
  • An early contract delivery
  • And dragging a broken truck with a slightly less broken truck

You know. Classic start-of-shift stuff.

๐Ÿ”ฅ In Other Newsโ€ฆ

The Donโ€™t Starve Day One Diary has hit a small snag (not a spider one, thankfully), but itโ€™ll be live ASAP.
Turns out surviving the dark is easyโ€”scheduling around it, less so.

Whether you’re a fellow hauler, a survival game masochist, or just here to watch the wheels fall offโ€”welcome to Permagear.
Itโ€™s going to be slow. Itโ€™s going to be muddy. And itโ€™s going to end gloriously badly.

The Backyard Trials: Grounded Day One โ€“ Honey, I Lost Myself in the Backyard

Day One of my Grounded permadeath run. I wake up microscopic, clueless, and desperate for clean water. Let the backyard chaos begin.

The Day I Became Smaller Than an Ant (Not by Choice)

I wake up. I don’t know where I am, how I got here, or why everything around me is suddenly the size of skyscrapers. I’m not ant-sized. I’m smaller than an ant. That’s never a great start to the day. But if panic has taught me anything, it’s that panic can wait. First, I need to get my bearings.

Pebblets. Lots of pebblets. I grab a handful because even tiny rocks feel better than empty hands. As I cautiously scout my surroundings, I stumble across a strange science station. Naturally, I press every button that doesn’t scream “self-destruct.” Turns out, I can analyze items here. Good news.

Science and Sharp Objects

I analyze the pebblets and some plant fibers I’ve picked up. That unlocks some basic blueprints. More importantly, I can now craft an axe. Primitive, sure, but it’s better than yelling at bugs and hoping they go away.

Water quickly becomes a concern. I sip some nasty puddle water because desperate times, but I know I can’t rely on swamp juice forever. Clean water will need to become a priority.

The Big Machine and Mysterious Tapes

While wandering, I discover a massive machine, along with a tape left behind by someone who sounds a little too excited about being tiny. I hit the giant power button (as you do). Only two lasers fire properly. One’s blocked. Clearly, there’s a puzzle here, but it’s not my priority while I still have a growling stomach.

First Blood: The Weevil Incident

Food is now problem number one. Aphids sprint away from me like they’ve seen this horror movie before, so I craft a spear to even the odds. After confirming that yes, I can throw it, a weevil helpfully volunteers to be my first meal. The spear works. The weevil doesn’t.

A short time later, I find an aphid who wasn’t paying attention and deal with it too. I then stumble upon a patch of mushrooms. Crisis temporarily averted.

Lean-To and Level Ups

The game suggests building a lean-to. For once, I listen. A few quick chops and gathers later, I’ve got my shelter set up right next to the science station. I analyze my newly acquired bug remains, unlock more blueprints, and watch my brainpower level go up. Apparently scanning stuff makes you smarter.

As night falls, I set my respawn point (which, letโ€™s be honest, I probably wonโ€™t need in permadeath) and call it the end of Day One.

Survived the first day. No spiders yet. That counts as a win.

Current Status: Alive

Location: Science Station Lean-To

Major Achievements: Crafted axe and spear, discovered giant machine, avoided spider-related trauma.

Biggest Threat: The growing suspicion that things will only get worse.




Stay tuned for Day Two of The Backyard Trials: Grounded Permadeath.

If you want more information on what this is, please check out: The Backyard Trials: Grounded Permadeath

Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Eight

Missed the previous day? Find it here: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Seven


You Can’t Just Plant Cabbages & Hope For The Best

The day began innocently enough: me, a farmer. I planted crops. I surveyed my new property. I even admired the way the fence sort of stood up straight if you squinted.

Then came the harsh truth: someone needs to run the place. A steward, apparently. I considered Janessa. But Iโ€™ve seen what happens when I leave her behind โ€” bandits get braver, and I get deader. So the plantation gets to manage itself for now. Iโ€™ve got adventuring to do.

Rorikstead Road Trip & Unwanted Job Offers

headed west toward Rorikstead, thinking I might find a decent recruit or just a quiet village to loot โ€” I mean, explore.

Thatโ€™s when the courier found me. Another letter. This time from the Jarl of Falkreath, who has apparently heard great things about me. Which is wild, considering Iโ€™ve never been to Falkreath. Either heโ€™s got spies, or the Skyrim rumor mill is on fire.

The jarl wants to make me his thane. Which Iโ€™m sure is perfectly normal and not part of some elaborate trap.

Also in Rorikstead: the Alikโ€™r warriors from Whiterun were waiting to follow up on the Redguard woman situation. They asked me to lure her to the stables. Classic bait job. I agreed because gold.

Quest Cleanup, Sneaky Illnesses & Ambush Season

I polished off the โ€œWhile the Catโ€™s Awayโ€ questline and handed some newly found armor to Janessa, who continues to be my personal vault and bodyguard.

Then I realized I had ataxia, which explained why I suddenly couldnโ€™t pick locks to save my life. One quick sip of a cure disease potion, and we were back in business. No need for a healer when you carry your pharmacy.

On the road again, things took a turn. First East Empire guards ambushed me. Then bandits showed up, probably thinking I was weak from the first fight. Jokeโ€™s on them โ€” I was just angry.

I took a torch off one of the guards. Light is life out here. Especially when you’re a lizard.

Broken Fang Cave: Mistakes Were Made

For reasons even I donโ€™t understand, I went into Broken Fang Cave. It looked vampire-y, smelled vampire-y, and yes โ€” it was vampire-y.

Two of them. One was a master vampire, which seems overkill when the total staff is two. I barely made it out alive, with Janessa doing most of the heavy lifting. I now hate caves even more than I did yesterday.

Also: I lost my horse. Twice. I parked it near the cave, then it vanished. Reappeared later. Skyrim horses operate on pocket dimensions. I refuse to believe otherwise.

Whiterun Wrap-Up & Moral Ambiguity

Back in Whiterun, I sold off excess loot and completed the Redguard woman questline. Yes, I lured someone into a trap. No, I donโ€™t feel great about it. Yes, I took the 500 gold. We all have bills to pay.

That shouldโ€™ve been the end of the day. It wasnโ€™t

A Red Horse, A New Bond, & Horse Armor

On my way out of town again โ€” this time for Ustengrav and the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller โ€” I got distracted. Again. By a red horse. A wild one.

Naturally, I tamed it. Took it back to Whiterun. Named it Loki, because itโ€™s clearly a chaos beast in horse form. Gave it armor. Declared it mine.

Silent Moons Camp: I Finally Stealth Archer Properly

I made one last attempt to head toward Ustengrav, but Silent Moons Camp was too close to ignore. And finally โ€” finally โ€” I had a stealth archer moment worth writing about. I took down bandits without being spotted. Just arrows in the dark and confused grunts. Beautiful.

Found good loot. Gave it to Janessa. Called it a night.

What Actually Got Done Today

โ€ข Planted some vegetables

โ€ข Discovered I own a farm I donโ€™t want to manage

โ€ข Was scouted for a thaneship I didnโ€™t apply for

โ€ข Got ambushed โ€” repeatedly

โ€ข Became a vampire hunter (reluctantly)

โ€ข Caught a chaos horse named Loki

โ€ข Lived the stealth archer dream

โ€ข Delayed the Greybeards. Again.


For more information, please check out The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Survival Hub

A New Challenger Approaches โ€“ Welcome to Green Hell

Itโ€™s time to trade backyards for the Amazon.

Iโ€™m heading into Green Hell, the survival game where nature doesnโ€™t just want you deadโ€”it wants you paranoid, dehydrated, and wondering if that rash is the least of your problems.

This new run is coming soon to the blog, taking its place in the rotation with all the usual Survivor Incognito flair: overly ambitious decisions, chaotic jungle flailing, and a main character who probably shouldโ€™ve stayed home.

So if youโ€™ve ever wanted to see how fast someone can go from โ€œIโ€™ve got thisโ€ to โ€œI think the trees are whispering,โ€ youโ€™re in for a treat.

Stay tuned. The jungle waits.

If you want to see how my first day in the jungle went, please check out Day 1 Diary โ€“ Green Hell โ€“ Poisoned by Nature, Humbled by Bananas

Customloper Diaries Day Two: Blizzards, Boots, and Baseball Cap Confusion

Customloper Diaries โ€“ Day 2: Blizzards, Boots, and Baseball Cap Confusion

Weather: Blizzard with a side of regret

Loot Highlight: Marinerโ€™s Pea Coat, Maple Syrup, Three Matches

Mood: Optimistic, then crushed by cooking requirements

Missed the start of this adventure? Read Day 1 here.


Blizzard-Hopping in Milton

I start the day in Grey Motherโ€™s house, do some quick inventory management, and drop 2.5 litres of waterโ€”hydration is important, but weight limits are brutal. I also find a third cooking pot beside the fireplace, which I immediately move to the kitchen like the house-proud survivalist I am.

Outside? Blizzard. Naturally.

First stop: the post office. It gives me nothing but disappointment, but the car loot makes up for itโ€”three matches from four vehicles is an impressive haul in a whiteout.

I hop from building to building, clothes getting wetter, warmth draining faster than my optimism. Still, I find a pair of work bootsโ€”a welcome upgrade from my starter footwear.


Weather Clears, Map Expands

Eventually, the blizzard dies down. I whip out some charcoal and start sketching like a freezing Bob Ross, mapping out more of Milton.

The improved visibility leads to some solid loot:

  • Rabbit meat in a freezer
  • A glorious Marinerโ€™s Pea Coat (cue dramatic coat-swirling montage)

Loot, Syrup & Sadness

In another house, I pick up a can opener and a cozy pair of wool long johns. Back at Grey Motherโ€™s, I drop off my spoilsโ€”deer and rabbit meat, sticks, and reclaimed wood. My outdoor meat stash is growing nicely.

With some time left in the day, I loot another house and find maple syrup. I get stupidly excited. Lilyโ€™s Pancakes are within reach! Or so I think…

Turns out I need Cooking Level 4 and acorn grounds. Who knew pancakes were an advanced skill? The disappointment is real.

Also found: another chunk of deer meat in the freezer. Iโ€™ll take it.


Peak Chaos: The Baseball Cap Incident

I end the day attempting to harvest a baseball cap for cloth. Instead, I drop it. Then I drop it again. Then I drop it somewhere else. Apparently, Iโ€™ve been out in the cold too long.

Back at base, I drop the last of my meat stash outside, harvest some clothes, fill up on food and drink, and wrap up Day 2. Hopefully tomorrow Iโ€™ll make it to that memento cache.


Continue the Journey

Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival โ€“ Day Three

Debt cleared, upgrades unlocked, and still no Black Grouper in sight. Day 3 of my Dredge permadeath run brings ship upgrades, mysterious messages in bottles, and the creeping fog of midnight.

Missed the previous day? Read it here: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival โ€“ Day Two


The Package Delivery, Finally

After two days of stumbling around like I had no idea where I was going (because I didnโ€™t), I finally discovered that my map exists. You know, the thing that tells you where stuff is? Turns out that helps.

With my newfound cartographic skills, I double-checked that Little Marrow hadn’t mysteriously drifted off into the abyss overnight. Satisfied, I set sail and arrived at 8:14 AM.

The dockworker greeted me like a man who’d been waiting a while for this delivery. He took the package (still no idea what was in it โ€” apparently it was “fresh,” which feels mildly concerning) and handed over $25. That nearly covered my hull repair bill from last nightโ€™s adventures, so Iโ€™ll take the win.

He also handed me a book on sustainable fishing โ€” whether thatโ€™s foreshadowing or just helpful remains to be seen. Oh, and I got the usual “stop by for a chat” offer. I might actually take him up on that. Maybe heโ€™ll tell me what was in that package.


Trinkets & Treasures

While I was in the area, I stopped by the Trader on Little Marrow. He seems keen to buy any “special trinkets” I find lying around the sea. Given the kinds of things washing up out here, Iโ€™m not sure if thatโ€™s entrepreneurial or deeply suspicious.


The Hunt for the Elusive Black Grouper

With business handled, I headed back out and activated my newly acquired fishing book, because reading on the job is apparently acceptable when you’re on a boat. At 11:53 AM, I pulled up a respectable haul of 5 cod. Not bad.

I then went searching for another fishing spot, hoping to finally locate a Black Grouper for the Fishmonger’s special order. Along the way, I spotted something floating โ€” a message in a bottle. Curiosity overruled caution, as usual.

Inside wasโ€ฆ well, letโ€™s just say people out here write very dramatic love letters. But nothing that helps me find a Black Grouper.

I fished up 3 blue mackerel instead, then headed back to Greater Marrow to sell my catch. Docked safely at 4:35 PM.


Debt-Free and Dry Dock Dreams

After offloading my haul at the Fishmonger, the Mayor popped up like a bad jump scare. Good news though:

The Dry Dock is now open for business.

The Fishmongerโ€™s facilities have been improved.

And most importantly: my debt is officially cleared.


Feels good not to owe anyone anything โ€” though in this town, Iโ€™m sure theyโ€™ll find new ways to get my money.

I went to check out the Dry Dock, where the Shipwright explained I can now upgrade my vessel โ€” provided I bring her the required materials. These materials are mostly found at shipwrecks, which sounds safe and completely unproblematic.


One Last Attempt Before Madness (Literally)

With the day slipping away, I made one last push to find this cursed Black Grouper. Night fell. Still no luck.

Since I was out, I decided to install a cracked bulb upgrade at the Shipwright, which somehow brought the time to 9:50 PM.

And because I enjoy dancing with doom, I made one final sweep after midnight. The fog rolled in right on cue. At that point, my sense of self-preservation kicked in and I hightailed it back to Greater Marrow to live another day.


Daily Summary

  • Fish Caught: 5 Cod, 3 Blue Mackerel
  • Debt Remaining: None (Debt cleared)
  • Madness Strikes: Still just one
  • Damage Taken: None
  • Suspicious Package Count: One (Delivered)
  • Upgrades Unlocked: Dry Dock operational, Shipwright expansion, Fishmonger improvements
  • Notable Finds: Message in a bottle (Read)

If you’d like to know more, please check out: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival

For information on the rules, please check out: Dark Waters: Dredge Permadeath Rules & Survival Guide

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