Realistic Pirate CYOA

You make a beeline for the boat! No way you're getting killed by a mermaid.

You climb up the anchor; it's tough work, but you manage. After a while, you land on the deck. The boat's totally deserted. There's three dingies.

Down below, your dingy is topside again, and Towns is talking to the girl. In her language! He hands her the pocket watch and they both hop in. They both row towards the lighthouse, moving in a zig zag.

You're wondering how a mermaid sits in a boat. But you know nothing of them. At least you're safe.

What now?

You check the topdeck. Nobody.

Gundeck. Nobody. No cannons either?

You're about to hop in the bilge.. but you don't expect barrels to be of good conversation.

There's a captain quarters, and it's getting late. Sleep?

You could also check the bilge, find something to bar the door, or root around in the cabin. You hear a scream in the distance.

You cavalierly push a dingy into the ocean, jump in, then row towards the screaming. Your boat touches his and a flash of light shows Captain Towns fight with the girl.

You still have your cutlass tucked into your belt. You jump into the water, to find the beach at your knees. It's incredibly shallow. He runs towards the lighthouse, the girl at his heels.

Taking up your cutlass, you chase the two. She turns around, sees her pursuer and tackles you.

After the shock of her having legs instead of a tail sinks in, you draw your cutlass; which she kicks away. Maybe you should've gotten more experience. [+1 Sword]

Luckily, you're not so useless with your hands.

You grapple with the girl, before the fight is ended with one thrust. [+1 Fist]

The blade just nearly misses you. Captain Towns, sword in hand, pulls the girl off. She gasps for air, then leaps into the sea.

Sharks close in and both of you head for the shore. The lighthouse is still far away, but you notice a hut.

With Captain Towns leading the way, you enter.

A feathery bed stands before you. You share it for the night.

---

Morning comes. It must be past noon. Captain Towns is gone.

Do you explore the island? Search the hut for items? Start a fire? You're essentially marooned without a gun.

You walk outside, breathing in the brisk sea air. The sun is hot, but the wind on your wet clothes chills you to the bone.

You use your cooking skills, and some flint from the hut to start a fire. Captain Towns approaches from the jungle and warms himself by the fire.

Soon, you're also approached by a few merchants and natives. The natives are speaking the same language as the girl - that solves that.

The men tell you that they're wreckers from the Florida Keys, men who lure in ships to the reefs, then rush out to thieve them of cargo - or rescue them from certain doom, depending on who you talk to.

So you're in the Keys. That means there's a wrecker's port nearby. You still have your dingies from last night.. do you head for the port, the ghost ship, or the reef? You could always ask Towns..

The ghost ship!

I search for valuables, interesting objects and ghosts.

I run for my dinghy and head for the reef!