Charming is a Victorian Era Harry Potter roleplay set primarily in the village of Hogsmeade, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the non-canon village of Irvingly. Characters of all classes, both magical and muggle — and even non-human! — are welcome.
With a member driven story line, monthly games and events, and a friendly and drama-free community focused on quality over quantity, the only thing you can be sure of is fun!
"Are you always this forward?" He asked teasingly since it would be a very short thread if he just ignored her entirely. — Tobin Cartwright in Take A Peek
Did you know? Churchgoers and worshippers had to endure a foul stench during prayers due to the amount of bodies often stored within the vaults of churches and chapels.
The first day of a grand new adventure. Intended to set sail at dawn but delays with shipping onloads kept us in until noon. Fair winds and following seas, as the saying goes, though of course the latter applies very little to a ship with the Sycorax's capabilities. Still, we could not have asked for a more auspicious start for what I am certain will be the great expedition our Captain has so long looked forward to.
Making good time around continent of Europe; intention is to sail SW and make brief port in Rio d. Janeiro before crossing S. America and continuing to Pacific. Supplies will last longer but I believe Captain wants the sailors to have a chance to stretch their legs before beginning the proper journey.
W.S. Huxley, deck sailor, taken ill with dragon pox. Ship's healer S. Reade removed him from duty but he is expected to recover in a matter of days. Morale beginning to flag from the heights it was at the onset but still rather high. Fair weather continues.
Has only just come out that we do not have appropriate medicine onboard to treat dragonpox; Reade has been making do but seems less confident. One more sailor fell ill today bringing total quarantined to four. Air onboard is uneasy. Reade asked to pull into nearest port to secure medicine but we are midway over Atlantic and no known ports nearby, so will have to wait until R.d.J.
Quarantine rests at five and one of them is the healer. Rather unfortunate. Men will not go near door of sickbay for fear of catching it. RdJ still a week ahead.
Brief storm this morning. First dragon pox victim died sometime during. There was a long discussion of whether to break the quarantine to remove the body but Reade insisted it was a sanitation issue and body must be removed. Conducted burial at sea at sunset. Mood among the men is very dark.
Many of our non-seamen spent the afternoon laid up with nausea, the wind being rougher today than it has been since our setting out, and E. Fenway (botanist) came out seeking dinner right in the middle of the funeral. He didn't know the custom and asked some rather stupid questions about it before he realized what we were about.
Three deaths today. Unsure why so many, so suddenly. Reade might have had an idea but he was among them. Long discussion was had about what to do with the last remaining pox victim with no one left to care for him. Quarantine still in effect and we've begun sliding his food under the door. Unsure if he has strength to eat any of it. RdJ two or three days away, still. Unsure if he will make it through but with quarantine, we won't have any way to know if he doesn't.
Reached Rio d. Janero in country of Brazil today. Sent a local healer in for the pox victim but he was already dead. Cleaned out the sickbay but now down four sailors and one healer. Captain spoke of trying to hire replacements here from local population but prospects are uncertain. Men have four days shore leave, officers and the non-seamen seven days with nights included. Everyone is very glad to be ashore but I suspect it will take setting sail again with a clean break before morale is what it should be.
Setting out again today. Captain Peppersmith was unable to find another healer but did hire two sailors to begin to replace the ones we've lost. They do not look to me like very able seamen and I do not believe they have experience with a ship like the Sycorax who sails on air.
Broke over the Andes mountains today en route to Pacific Ocean. There is nothing so wondrous as the sight of mountains lying miles beneath you and I feel the spirit of the Sycorax was very much restored by the sight. I hope we have put the dragon pox incident behind us and can now focus on the mission of the voyage and make Britain proud.
Brief incident with one of the non-seamen today; Pince (archaeologist) sighted something below which he perceived to be an undiscovered ruin and demanded Captain land the ship. Fenway (botanist) was soon on his side. Neither of them know anything at all about sailing and do not seem to understand a ship cannot be landed just anywhere, no matter how she sails. Exec W. Percy talked them down but for a few minutes there was quite a bustle.
In another day or two will be over the Southern Sea and expect fair winds throughout.
Devastating loss today. Exec W. Percy perished of dragon pox. Unsure when he first became symptomatic but must have kept it from us and tried to manage on his own. Captain Peppersmith was livid; buried him at sea without ceremony as punishment for putting the crew at risk. Understand Captain's point of view, but think that was ill-done. W. Percy was a good man and a good leader and nothing good has ever followed from dishonoring the dead. Several of the men feel the same and are talking about ill omens and bad luck. Some ominous dark clouds on the horizon to help the suspicion along, but the officers are trying to quash the idea that bad weather can be brought about by bad deeds.
Bad weather has blown off without incident but men are still muttering about omens. I'm unsure whether they are more suspicious than I or whether they were very much attached to Percy. He was a very good Exec, in my estimation.
Sailing without incident (or sight of land) for over a week. Non-seamen are restless and making nuisances of themselves. Pince is among the worst--I knew him in school and he has not improved since. Most of the men are used to long periods at sea but I hope for the sake of these naturalists we find an island soon.
Captain lost temper today with C. Henry, ship's navigator, for being slow to answer with ship's position based on calculations last night. We may not be where we intended to be and Captain is restless now. His mood is affecting the whole crew and the air feels tight today.