The SS Bannatyne is a small passenger steamer serving the west coast of Scotland and the Hebridean archipelago. As one of few vessels currently operating in the area, it carries a variety of people from all walks of life, who will be travelling for work, for leisure, or for reasons known only to themselves. It also carries mail between the islands and the mainland.

On Sunday 23rd April, 1933, the Bannatyne is suddenly caught in a storm en route to Castlebay, a port on the south coast of Barra in the Outer Hebrides. Blown off course and with its navigational instruments behaving oddly, the ship eventually ploughs into a skerry¹⁾ some way from the main island chain. Despite the tireless efforts of the crew, the Bannatyne sinks shortly afterwards.

There is no time to launch either of the ship's two lifeboats, but a number of people make it to a nearby island - most of them wash up on the south-western shore overnight, many still alive. Of the ship's twenty crew members, the Master, Chief Officer, Bosun, Purser, and 2nd Engineer survive, along with four members of the deck crew and one steward; the bodies of the Chief Steward and two other deck crew are recovered from the shallows. The others, including the Chief Engineer and the Cook, remain unaccounted for.

Of the fifty or so passengers on board at the time of the disaster, around half make it to the island alive. A dozen bodies of passengers are recovered in the morning, leaving the fates of many others unknown.

Having sent the Bosun and two deck crew to the nearest high point to map out as much of the island as they can see, the Master calls the survivors together for an assembly on the beach. The island appears to sit at the eye of the storm, which can still be seen raging across the sea in all directions….

A somewhat imposing gentleman in his late fifties, Veysel Köprülü is gruff of demeanour, effortlessly assertive, but softly-spoken and evidently not lacking in empathy. He clearly has strong moral principles, as evidenced by the severity with which he handled an abstract philosophical debate with Brendan Shaw during the journey. He has the markings of a good education and an appreciation of ‘high culture’ from his upbringing in the south of England.

As Chief Officer, Brendan Shaw is second in command of the crew. While his duty of coordinating his subordinates tends to keep him busy, he's been known to make a point of conversing with the crew and passengers where possible. He has a rather energetic personality, and enjoys telling exaggerated tales of all sorts.

Sassa is a wiry, solemn-faced woman in her late thirties. Although rather withdrawn by nature (and more so since the loss of the Bannatyne), she seems nice enough in person. As befits her role, she is evidently very practical and down to earth - she has kept herself busy following the shipwreck, putting aside her own emotions to support others and scope out the island.

The purser²⁾, a man in his mid-forties, is the kind of person who seems to be everywhere at once, organising and assessing. In spite of this, in disposition he appears remarkably calm and competent. He is clearly well-liked by the crew, who have given him the nickname “The Quartermaster” - he does not seem to object to this.

The second engineer is a woman in her mid-thirties. Generally seen with a smudge or two of engine grease on her face, she has a generally cheery disposition, though the profanity occasionally heard from the engine room suggests that this may not always be the case.

Please note that the full list of NPCs appearing in session will include passengers as well as the crew listed here.