Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival โ€“ Day Two

I make a decent catch, brave the fog for squid, hit a rock, and find myself scolded by a lighthouse keeper. Also, the Mayor hands me a suspicious package. What could go wrong

Missed day one? Catch up here: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival Day One

A Fishy Favour, Fog, and a Friendly Fright

I start the morning determined to buy that sweet engine I researched yesterdayโ€”except I immediately forget what I actually researched and stare at the rod section like it’s going to jog my memory. Spoiler: it doesn’t.

Instead, I head out and fill my boat with four Gulf Flounders and three Grey Eels, making the kind of efficient haul that would make yesterdayโ€™s version of me green with envy. At 1:37pm, my inventory is maxed out, so I rush back to townโ€”this time beating the sunset like a responsible angler. I dock at 2:55pm and breathe a sigh of relief. No second Madness Strike today. Growth!

Oh Look, A Convenient Fish Order

The Fishmonger greets me with news: a special order just came in.

Naturally, curiosity wins. Turns out the customer wants one of each fish I already caught. For once, the universe is kind. I hand them over like a champion and get a new orderโ€”two Arrow Squid and a Black Grouper. One problem: squid only show up at night. Great. But since it’s an official Pursuit, that means I can break my “no sailing after dark” rule without earning a Madness Strike. Hooray for loopholes!

I sell the rest of my fish and knock my debt down to $21.44. Progress.

Vroom Vroom into Doom

Back to the Shipwright I go, and this time I make a solid purchase: a Rusty Outboard Engine. Sure, it looks like it might explode at any second, but it installs in 2 hours and makes me marginally faster. By 4:58pm, Iโ€™m back in the water.

I fish up eight Arrow Squid while trying to stay near the light and far from danger. Thatโ€™s when I realize that the eye icon is my panic meter. Good to know! I head back, cautiously navigating the thickening fog, only to hit a rock I couldnโ€™t see. My flawless streak is over.

At 00:41am, I limp back into the dock and am greeted by a woman who clearly didnโ€™t expect visitors.

Sheโ€™s the Lighthouse Keeper, and sheโ€™s less than thrilled. I tell her the truthโ€”just here to fishโ€”and she tells me I should leave. Thatโ€™sโ€ฆ encouraging.

Suspicious Mayoral Package

The Mayor is waiting with a new task. He wants me to deliver a package to Little Marrowโ€”and quickly, because it might spoil. I donโ€™t ask questions. I just take the box. (Mistake? Possibly. But that’s tomorrowโ€™s problem.)

Before bed, I give the Fishmonger two squid from my terrifying night voyage and sell the extras. My debt is now a laughable $9.48.

The Shipwright patches up my poor dented hull, and I decide to put off the Little Marrow delivery until tomorrow. Iโ€™m sure whateverโ€™s in that box wonโ€™t mind sitting around for a bit.


Daily Summary

  • Fish Caught: 4 Gulf Flounder, 3 Grey Eel, 8 Arrow Squid
  • Debt Remaining: $9.48
  • Madness Strikes: Still just 1
  • Damage Taken: Rock collision in fog (1 hull hit)
  • Suspicious Package Count: 1

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

Survivor’s Shorts: The Rabbit Got Up and Left Like I Wasnโ€™t Even Worth It

In Pleasant Valley, I stunned a rabbit in The Long Dark. I walked over, ready to claim victoryโ€”only for it to stand up, look at me, and run away. Iโ€™ve never felt so insulted by a ball of fluff.


Ah, Pleasant Valley.

Land of blizzards, wolves, and soul-crushing optimism.

I was low on food, lower on morale, and spotted a few rabbits hopping around like they hadnโ€™t a care in the world. I grabbed a rock and let instinct take over.

Thwack.
Direct hit. Rabbit down. I stunned it.

Heart racing, I walked over like a proud predator. This was itโ€”my big win.
Dinner secured. Survival extended. The tundra had finally thrown me a bone.

But when I reached it?

The rabbit got up. Looked at me. And left.

No panic. No zigzag. Just a calm, confident hop back to its fluffy little lifeโ€”like I hadnโ€™t just concussed it with a rock.


I tried to chase it, failed. I just stood there, rock still in hand, questioning my worth.
Turns out in The Long Dark, you donโ€™t get the kill unless you earn it fast.
And that rabbit clearly decidedโ€ฆ I wasnโ€™t worth the effort.


Final Thoughts

The Long Dark is full of brutal wildlife encounters.
Turns out, sometimes the smallest animals donโ€™t need claws or teeth โ€” they just need perfect timing to humiliate you.


If you enjoyed this one, please check out my other Survivorโ€™s Shorts | Survival Game Clips, Fails & Funny Playthrough Highlights

Hereโ€™s Whatโ€™s Coming This Week โ€“ June 9th – June 14th Preview

Survival, stunned rabbits, fishing horrors, and a lot of undead. Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s scheduled for this week on Survivor Incognito.


The Week Ahead

Weโ€™re keeping the survival streak alive with another full lineup of chaos, questionable decisions, and more permadeath fun. Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s coming your way:

๐Ÿ‡ Monday: Survivorโ€™s Shorts โ€” The One Involving The Stunned Rabbit

Youโ€™ll see. It involves a rabbit, a stone, and my general lack of coordination.

๐ŸŒŠ Tuesday: Dark Waters โ€“ Day 2

The sea grows darker, the fish get weirder, and the Madness meter keeps rising. Day 2 of Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival goes live.

โ„ Wednesday: The Cold Chronicles โ€“ Day 6

The Long Dark journey continues. More cold, more danger, and probably more bad choices.

๐Ÿ—ก Thursday: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat โ€“ Day 7

The Argonianโ€™s Skyrim Survival Mode adventure rolls into Day 7. Expect more sneaking, more sniping, and definitely more repeat.

๐ŸงŸโ€โ™‚๏ธ Friday: Day One Diary โ€“ Zombie Army Trilogy

The undead rise just in time for Friday. Itโ€™s a Day One Diary entry for Zombie Army Trilogy, and letโ€™s just say the welcome committee was enthusiastic.


See You in the Wild

As always, stay tuned across the week as each new post goes live โ€” and feel free to place bets on which run falls apart first.

Hereโ€™s What You Missed This Week โ€“ June 1st Week Recap

Catch up on this weekโ€™s survival chaos: bears, zombies, Customloper runs, permadeath hubs, and one very questionable Interloper experience.


This Week in Review

Another week of survival, panic, and the occasional questionable decision. Hereโ€™s what went live across the blog:

๐Ÿป Monday: Bear Meets Panic Rifle

Sometimes you bring a rifle to a bear encounter. Sometimes the rifle just brings panic. This week kicked off with a new Survivor’s Shorts entry where I learned that even with a firearm, bears remain terrifying.

The One-Shot Wonder: Bear Meets Panic Rifle


๐ŸŒŠ Tuesday: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival โ€“ Day One

The boat launched, the paranoia began. My permadeath Dredge run officially set sail with the start of Dark Waters. The ocean may look calm, but we both know it isnโ€™t.

Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival โ€“ Day 1


โ„๏ธ Wednesday: Customloper โ€“ Day One

The Customloper experiment is underway. A bit Interloper, a bit Voyageur, a lot of me desperately hoping I donโ€™t freeze to death before leaving Mountain Town. So far, soโ€ฆ technically alive.

Customloper Diaries Day 1: A Woollen Windy Welcome to Milton

Side note, The Cold Chronicles and Customloper Diaries will be alternating weeks for the foreseeable. Until one of them ends of course. So next week will be the next entry The Cold Chronicles


๐Ÿ—ก Thursday: Skyrim Survival โ€“ Sneak, Snipe, Repeat โ€“ Day Six

The Argonian saga continues. Day Six saw more stealth, more arrows, and the usual healthy amount of questionable life choices while wandering Skyrimโ€™s frozen wilderness.

Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Suvival Day Six


๐Ÿช“ Friday: Grounded Permadeath Hub Goes Live

The hub page for The Backyard Trials: Grounded Permadeath is officially up and running! Rules, info, and upcoming entries are all ready for you.
I also teased whatโ€™s coming next Friday: a special Day One Diary for Zombie Army Trilogyโ€”fittingly set for Friday the 13th.

The Backyard Trials: Grounded Permadeath

Zombie Army Trilogy โ€“ Day One Diary Coming This Friday the 13th


๐Ÿ’€ Saturday: The Desolation Point Debacle

Today’s Survivor’s Shorts took us into Desolation Point on Interloper. It didnโ€™t go well. (Shocking, I know.)

Survivorโ€™s Shorts: Interloper โ€” The Desolation Point Debacle


What’s Coming Next

The backlog grows stronger. Next week, expect more from Dark Waters, Customloper, Skyrim Survival, and our first look at Zombie Army Trilogy. More danger, more chaos, more very avoidable mistakes.

Survivorโ€™s Shorts: Interloper โ€” The Desolation Point Debacle

Sometimes Interloper doesnโ€™t kill you with cold or wolves โ€” sometimes the moose does the honors. A short-lived but memorable run in Desolation Point.

I decided to try Interloper. To make it fair, I went full Interloper difficulty. Since the spawn is random (and a few regions are excluded), I let fate decide my starting point. I kept the Cougar on, but letโ€™s be honest โ€” I wasnโ€™t going to live long enough for it to matter.

My spawn?
Desolation Point.

More specifically, right below the lighthouse. Under normal Interloper circumstances, I’d actually be thrilled โ€” the forge is nearby, and this could have been a solid starting run. But todayโ€™s goal was simple: survive one single day.

And thatโ€™s where the brain fog set in.
Instead of going straight for the lighthouse like a sensible person, I somehow forgot the route entirely. So I did the only logical thing: head to the Riken for the forge.

Then I heard it.
The unmistakable sound of antlers and doom.

Please have sound on for this video

With nowhere to run and no cover in sight, I accepted my fate.

Antlered Tank Incoming!

By the time the dust settled, I had broken ribs, my condition was down to half, and I was racking up frostbite risk and hypothermia risk like they were achievements. At that point, I decided to officially end the attempt.

If you enjoyed this one, please check out my other Survivorโ€™s Shorts

Zombie Army Trilogy โ€“ Day One Diary Coming This Friday the 13th

What better day to dive headfirst into Nazi zombies than Friday the 13th?

The latest Day One Diary arrives this Friday as I take my first steps into Zombie Army Trilogy. Expect undead soldiers, occult seals, suicidal zombies, and my usual mixture of panic, bad aim, and questionable survival instincts.

Character: Hermann Wolf
Chapter: The Berlin Horror โ€“ Village of the Dead
Difficulty: Marksman

Safe rooms reached? Yes.
Ammo well managed? Debatable.
Mental stability? Slipping.

Zombie Army Trilogy โ€“ Day One Diary goes live Friday the 13th. Consider it a very fitting start.

In the meantime, check out my other Day One Diaries | Survival Game Playthroughs & First-Day Survival Challenges

The week after Friday the 13th, begins my Grounded Permadeath adventure. Check out what is going to involve here: The Backyard Trials: Grounded Permadeath

๐Ÿ‘‰ The Backyard Trials Has Officially Begun: Grounded Permadeath Arrives!

The backyard is officially open for business โ€” and survival!

Iโ€™m excited to announce that both The Backyard Trials hub page and the full Grounded Rules of Survival are now live on Survivor Incognito.

In this permadeath run through Grounded, Iโ€™ll be taking on the full backyard, one day at a time, where every ant, spider, and angry bug can bring the entire run crashing down. One life. No second chances.

โœ… You can now check out:

The Backyard Trials Hub: [The Backyard Trails]

Grounded Rules of Survival: [Grounded Rules of Survival]


The first day of the run will be launching soon โ€” and from there, we’ll see just how far I can make it before something inevitably goes horribly wrong.

As always: survival is optional. Panic is guaranteed.


Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Suvival Day Six

Missed the previous day? Find it here: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day 5


The Great Trek to High Hrothgar (Or Why Iโ€™ll Never Trust Klimmek Again)

After a night warming my scales at the inn in Ivarstead, I figured it was time to climb the famed 7,000 Steps to High Hrothgar. Fresh air, spiritual enlightenment, maybe a new shout or twoโ€”it sounded downright relaxing.

That illusion shattered when Klimmek asked if Iโ€™d kindly lug a crate of supplies up to the Greybeards. Sure, I thought. Whatโ€™s a little frostbite between friends?

Reader, I barely survived.

About 1,000 steps up, my torch fizzled out, the cold turned vicious, and wolves started popping out like theyโ€™d RSVPโ€™d to a โ€œFeast on the Dragonbornโ€ party. Frostbite crept in, my health bar cried for help, and I wondered if Klimmek would refund my soul when this all went horribly wrong.

High Hrothgar: The Frostbitten Sanctuary

I eventually stumbled into High Hrothgar, shivering and looking like Iโ€™d rolled down a glacierโ€”which, to be fair, I nearly had.

The Greybeards greeted me with the social energy of a fog bank. I grunted, they whispered, and before I knew it, I had new words of power: Ro (from Unrelenting Force) and Wuld (from Whirlwind Sprint). Great additions to my skillset, assuming I live long enough to use them.

They then dropped a fresh quest in my lap: go retrieve Jurgen Windcallerโ€™s horn. I nodded sagely while internally screaming, โ€œCan I at least thaw out first?โ€

Also, side noteโ€”where do these guys sleep? Thereโ€™s no beds, no chairs, not even a suspicious rug. Just stone, fog, and mystery. True minimalist vibes.

Mountain-Goating for Fun and Survival

Quest in hand, I faced the return journey. I couldโ€™ve taken the stairs like a rational beingโ€ฆ but no. I turned into a Skyrim-certified mountain goat and launched myself off cliffs like gravity was a suggestion.

Somehow, I survived the descent without a single injury. I donโ€™t know how physics works in Skyrim, but Iโ€™m not questioning it. If I can descend a mountain via sheer chaos and dumb luck, then thatโ€™s now the official route.

Cultists, Chickens, and Chaos

Back in Ivarstead, I expected peace and mead. Instead, I got cultists. Hooded weirdos stormed in, shouting about me being a โ€œfalse Dragonborn.โ€

Bold of them to assume I had the energy to argue.

Luckily, they made the mistake of attacking in town. Between the guards, the villagers, andโ€”yesโ€”the chickens, it became a bloodbath. Chickens pecked. Guards slashed. I think a goat even got involved. The cultists didnโ€™t stand a chance.

After the dust (and feathers) settled, I looted their robes and found a note. Turns out theyโ€™re part of some whole โ€œthere can only be one Dragonbornโ€ thing. Neat. Add that to the to-do listโ€”right under โ€œdonโ€™t freeze to death.โ€

Klimmekโ€™s Generosity and Collapse Oโ€™Clock

I reported back to Klimmek, who handed me 500 gold for my troubles. Honestly? Worth it. I delivered your box, fought wolves, scaled a mountain, survived a cultist ambush, and nearly died multiple times.

I crawled back to the inn, got a room, and collapsed into bed. Survival: barely achieved. Muscles: on strike. Brain: frozen.

Next Timeโ€ฆ

Time to track down that horn. Or maybe just follow the Greybeards around to figure out what they do when no oneโ€™s looking. Do they nap standing up? Meditate until they astral project? Organise humming contests?

Weโ€™ll find outโ€”if I survive another day.

Want to follow the journey from the beginning? Please check out: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Hub


Customloper Diaries Day One: A Woollen Windy Welcome to Milton

Customloper Diaries โ€“ Day 1: Socks, Soup, and Stubbornness

Spawn Point: Spruce Falls Bridge, Mountain Town

Weather: Windy, with a 100% chance of optimism

Loot Highlight: Hunting knife, Cowichan sweater, two cups of coffee

Visit the Mountain Town map:
Check it out here.


First Steps and First Socks

I spawn near Spruce Falls Bridge, spot a sign for Milton, and like any wanderer with no better plan, I follow it. Along the way, I grab rose hips and reishi mushrooms because nature said so.

The bridge cars turn into an early-game care package: wool socks (luxury), a parka (yes please), matches (liquid gold), and a hunting knife I immediately form an unhealthy attachment to.

Bridge car loot in Mountain Town

Shelter from the Storm (Sort of)

A nearby trailer offers a fire barrel, but I only duck in long enough to warm up and snag a wool toqueโ€”stylish and slightly smelly.

Down at the church I harvest cattails for calories, spot a deer carcass, and attempt to start a fire. The wind laughs. First attempt: fail. Second: also fail. Third: successโ€ฆ which the wind immediately blows out mid-harvest. Rude.

Deer carcass near the church
Can you spot it?

Redemption at the Altar (and in the Glovebox)

Inside the church, RNG finally smiles. One match, one try, one roaring fire. I cook the meat, boil water, and brew reishi tea. A nearby pickup coughs up a hatchetโ€”huge early-game win.

Back in Milton, a glovebox note reveals a memento cacheโ€ฆ at the church I just left. Classic.

Memento note found in Milton

Coffee, Cowichan, and Canadian Comfort

The bank delivers coffee grounds, two brewed cups, and a Cowichan sweater hidden in the safe like national treasure. Grey Motherโ€™s house becomes base: two cooking pots, some deer meat, a ski jacket, hockey jersey, and wool mittens. Team motto: Not Dead Yet.


Winding Down with Tea and Triumph

I end the day with boiled water, cooked meat, and a cup of herbal tea to patch up condition. A windy start, but a strong finish. Customloper is officially underway.


Continue the Journey

Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival โ€“ Day One

Where Am I, What Is That Fog, and Why Is My Compass Blinking at Me?

Day 1 of my Dredge permadeath playthrough. I crash a boat, inherit another, fish like a pro, and nearly get lost forever in Lesser Marrow. Welcome to Greater Marrowโ€”the creepiest fishing job Iโ€™ve ever had.

For more information on this, please check out: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival Hub

Welcome to Greater Marrow: Where the Fish Are Plentiful and the Fog Eats Souls

The game opens with a cutscene: Iโ€™m peacefully boating along when heavy fog rolls in like an uninvited guest. Thenโ€”crash! Rocks. Camera pans to a lighthouse, which apparently decided to take the night off.

Inside the boat before the crash, I notice a crumpled job advert: โ€œAngler Wanted.โ€ I see now it meant sacrificial angler.

I wake up on a soggy dock at 6:00am on a Monday morning, having apparently faceplanted here the night before. The Mayor of Greater Marrow is there to greet me with all the cheer of someone who just hired a corpse to do a job.

He casually asks if I โ€œdidnโ€™t see the lighthouse.โ€ I choose not to answer, partly because Iโ€™m still drying out, and partly because I very clearly didnโ€™t. My boat? Completely ruined. But the Mayor had the locals haul my stuff into an old spare vessel. How quaint.

My First Fishing Trip and Immediate Cartographic Failure

The Mayor warns me to be back before sundown. Apparently fog does weird things after dark. Comforting.

I hop in the backup boat and head out. The controls are straightforward and intuitive. Time passes while fishing, sailing, or basically doing anythingโ€”so multitasking is not encouraged.

By 3:17pm, Iโ€™ve reeled in seven blue mackerel and three cod. Iโ€™m feeling confident. A little too confident. I decide I have time for just one more fish.

Spoiler: I didnโ€™t.

After grabbing another mackerel, I turn backโ€ฆ only to realise Iโ€™ve docked at Lesser Marrow, not Greater. Oops. I am, in fact, an idiot. A kind soul points me back to the lighthouse. By the time I get home, it’s 8:43pm and there’s a disturbing eye icon blinking next to my compass.

Is thatโ€ฆ panic? Hallucination? Ancient evil? Who knows!

Debt, Deals, and the Definitely-Not-Suspicious Fishmonger

Back at Greater Marrow, the Mayor is somehow still waiting for me like an overbearing boss. He says I can pay off the loan on the boat by selling fish, with โ€œa small percentageโ€ going toward town improvements. Sounds a bit pyramid-scheme-y, but I nod along.

Inside the Fishmongerโ€™s shop, he greets me with surprise: โ€œNew fisherman, already?โ€ I ask about the last one. He doesnโ€™t answer. Just says it takes a โ€œcertain type of personโ€ to last out here. You mean one with night vision and zero self-preservation instincts?

I sell my fish, earning enough to reduce my $50 debt to $31.58. Thatโ€™s decent for a day of being lost at sea.

The Mayor intercepts me again and hands over a research part, which I can use to upgrade my ship.

Upgrades, Nightfall, and Regrets

I pop into the Shipwrightโ€™s to check out the gear. After some very internal debating, I buy the Simple Skimmer Rod for catching shallow-water fish. It takes two in-game hours to install, meaning I walk out at 10:46pm.

I use the research part to unlock the Improved Outboard Engine, because clearly I need all the speed I can get after todayโ€™s performance.

I return to the dock, mentally exhausted, financially lighter, and very aware that this is only day one.

End of Day Summary

  • Fish Caught: 8 blue mackerel, 3 cod
  • Debt Remaining: $31:58
  • Creepy Things Spotted: One blinking eye
  • Times I Got Lost: Let’s just call it “multiple”
  • Regrets: Also multiple

โš ๏ธ Madness Strike #1: Fogblind and Foolish

Letโ€™s be honestโ€”I didnโ€™t mean to return after dark. But between misreading the map, mistaking Lesser Marrow for home, and ignoring the increasingly twitchy compass eye, it happened. The fog rolled in, and I rolled with it.

The rules are clear: return after sundown, and the mind pays the price.
So here it isโ€”my first Madness Strike.

Sanity: Fractured

Confidence: Shaken

Navigational Skills: Still questionable

What’s Next?

Day Two promises more fishing, more fog, and probably more confusion. Will I finally learn to navigate using the lighthouse? Will the eye by the compass blink twice? Will I discover what happened to the last fisherman?

๐Ÿ“– Read Day 2 โ€“ A Special Order and a Return Before Madness
(Spoiler: I didnโ€™t earn another Madness Strike. Barely.)

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