Written during the pandemic, specifically so as to able to perform online. A larp about endings, possible beginnings, and dark secrets. Here the players play the roles of senior officers onbaord warship the “Unflinching”, a Dutch warship on its way back to the Netherlands, in the aftermath of the second world war. What will they encounter on their way back?
Warship “Unflinching”
Somewhere in the Indian Ocean, October 15, 1945
You are the senior officers of the warship “Unflinching,” a Dutch warship with a rich history. Originally, you fought to protect Indonesia from the Japanese. When the war was lost, you quickly sailed to Australia to continue the fight alongside the Australian navy. You inflicted damage on many Japanese ships. On the other hand, the Unflinching did not come through unscathed either, but it survived – your tough ship!
In early September 1945, the war was won. The Japanese had surrendered after two devastating attacks by the Americans. You don’t know exactly what happened there, and you don’t really care. The war is over, and just in time too – the Japanese suicide attacks (they called them kamikaze) were getting worse. In any case, you are still alive! That’s what counts.
After the war ended, you worked hard to repair your ship. You have managed to get the ship into a state where it can sail home at half power. From Perth, Australia, to Cape Town, South Africa, to refuel, and then on to home port Rotterdam. You haven’t been home for more than five years!
At this moment, you are halfway between Perth and Cape Town. Only ten more days of sailing and you will be there. There were rumors of German and Japanese submarines patrolling these waters, but so far, you have not encountered any. However, you have had to help other ships three times already. It is clear that you are not the only ones with damage after this long war.
A lot has happened, to the ship and to you.