[ WP ] You 're an explorer in the Dark Ages and set out westwards to show that the earth is round . Except it is n't and together with your crew you sail off the world 's edge .

A soft breeze dried the sweat off my brow as I sat in the crow's nest. I, Dar'yll, was the oldest cabin boy aboard the `` Eos''. She's a beauty. I've worked on her since I was in my early teens. Now, nearing adulthood, I call it home and have earned the right to live in the crow's nest. The gentle sway would be in harmony with the wooden creaks from her trusty hull. Captain Tibek would march around, keeping spirits up. As each week passed, it would be harder to achieve that, but I was immune to this really since I could hide away in the crow's nest carving my little statues. Wood, stone, whatever I could get my hands on, I would buidl a collection of faces and heads of people I met on my journeys. The other sailors would rarely bother to come up anymore. If we were nearing land, or the feared'Edge of the World', of course I would be pretty busy, but we really did n't expect to see land yet. We had another month at least by the calculations of Captain Tibek. I was excited to land and prove those cartologists wrong. The reward for achieving this feat is why every man on this vessel kept going. 
 
 
 It was n't instantaneous, but gradually, the weather was behaving oddly. Strange cloud formations would seem to appear out of no where. When it looks like a storm is brewing, it would quickly change to calm weather. Superstitions grew as the days passed. But today, today would be the worst. Quarter Master, Burl, shouted for the captain. I could see the sailors rushing below. I frowned and squinted trying to see what the commotion was about. Looking to the horizons, I saw no reason for panic. No other ships, no sea creatures... I clambered down the ropes and jogged across the deck, dodging through the fast moving bodies. The captains door was closed, not good I thought. I looked around before clambering down into the hold. In storage, behind one of the crates, there was a small crawl space that a few of us smaller sailors could squeeze into. Why? Well, to hear what's happening of course. 
 
 `` This is ridiculous, get the spare. ``, A voice similar to the captain's. 
 
 `` That is the spare cap'in'', the quartermaster admitted, `` even the make shift ones are the same''. 
 
 `` Well, I suppose it could be worse. We still have food'' 
 
 `` But cap'in, how in the hells are we going to find our way home?'' 
 
 A pot fell from the wall, I was facing it before it bounced the second time, to find another cabin boy looking sheepish. `` You fuckin' idiot!! ``, I scrambled out of the cubby hole and raced back the crows nest. The other cabin boy can take the beating for eavesdropping, clumsy fool. I looked down upon the gathered crowd as the captain announced the broken compass to the crew. 
 
 I was panting heavily, blood rushing through my ears from scrambling up the ropes so fast. I wish I brought some water up this time as I glanced at a dry cup. I peered down again. The blood not settling in my ears. This distracted me from the shouts below. It was disorientating. My heart rate was down, but it sounded like... I slowly looked up to the horizon. My face went pale. Unable to speak, I tugged a rope hooked to a bell, used only when we saw hostile vessels and tugged and tugged. The sound was n't rushing blood, it was rushing water. Our speed had picked up, but the wind had died down. It went unnoticed for what could turn out to be a fatal length of time. 
 
 Bearing down upon the Eos, laid a magnificent waterfall. The sides were... there were no signs of sides. The entire ocean seemed to slip over the'edge of the world'. 
 
 
 There was complete panic below. the ship started turning, but without the wind, it would do nothing to avoid this disaster. I came to terms with the fact that if this entire ship is going down. I may as well have the best seat. I stopped ringing the bell. I had n't realised I had been bashing that thing for ages now. I wrapped some rope around my chest and tied it to the framework with a quick release knot. The sailors below orientated the ship back toward the edge and were all trying to see where it went. My vantage point would inform me first. 
 
 There was nothing visible, just more water. The sound drowned out the shouts below. Many pictures depicted the edge as this straight cut drop, like water over the edge of a bowl. But that just was n't the case. This was a gradual decline that got steeper and steeper. The ship picked up speed now, going faster than she could on her own sails. Steeper and steeper, until we were practically free falling. It grew darker and darker. The ship creaked and complained under the stress, begging for relief. The sailors were all gripping the ropes, light fading. An almighty crash impacted the ship. Wood splintered, the ropes snapped releasing the tension and throwing my crow's nest, along with me, around like a ragdoll. Water splashed across my face from all sides. At this height? I heard one more snapping sound as a pulley from the deck whipped up, crashed through the side of the nest and then darkness. 
 
 
 I eventually came to. I hung from my make shift harness over the edge of the starboard side. The mast had snapped, but was just about holding on to the ship. I called out weakly but heard no response. It was silent now. Silent and dark. It sounded like a calm summer day. My head throbbed and I worked to release myself and clambered back to the ship. I crawled back carefully. Looking down, for certain, anyone who fell in there would never be found. 
 
 I heard talking from the deck and made my way there. `` What... what happened?''. 
 
 `` Jesus boy...'', the captain shouted, `` where the hell have you been? I was sure you were done for back there!'' 
 
 I attempted to shrug, but winced in the pain. I guess my harness was n't too kind to my shoulders. I looked around, `` Where... where is everyone? Where's Burl? Where's... where's...'' 
 
 `` Enough of that boy, we've lost them. Some fell over bored when we hit this water... some were pulled over board by a huge tentacle! ``, he portrayed a quick grab and a slow drag with his bloodied arm. `` It tried to grab me too, but I was n't going down so easily! ``, he picked up what appeared to be a severed end of a tentacle, it looked to be a part of something huge. `` Who knows what lives beneath us. The troubles of the dead have ended now and ours have just begun.'' 
 
 I did my best to hide my terror. My home ruined by these waters, our lives at the mercy of some sea creature, and there was no way to get back up where we came from. No wind, no light apart from the dull leaking twilight from above. `` What.. what now?'' 
 
 `` No choice but to see where the current is taking us. We're at the mercy of this new sea. I call it The Dark Sea lad. ``, the captain declared, facing the bow of the ship. 
 
 I walked to it and saw more nothing. I could hear the water moving though. I backed away slowly returning to the small group of about five and mourned the loss of my family. We all did. 
 
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