James Fitzjames: Mr. Blanky, most of the men survived.
Thomas Blanky: If that's the point you want me to get to, sir, then yes, we survived. But if we're going to walk out of here ourselves, and almost three times as far, you need to understand it wasn't sickness or hunger that most mattered to our chances. It's what went on up here. [taps the side of his head] Notions. A darkness with no firm hand to stem it. I know many were thinking what I was. Sir John Ross, he never knew how close he came.
James Fitzjames: This kind of darkness, do you see it among us here?
The ship has 8 crewmen, but some of them are not all they appear. Thralls are members of a previous failed expedition who, in order to save their own sorry hide, made a pact with a dark power to feed their future crew to its Dreaded Hunger. These men will do everything they can to halt progress and bring an end to the crew before they can finish their journey. Thralls are the only people that can use Bone Charms to cast dark magic, and while they can subsist on animal flesh they require Human Meat for full nourishment.
Objective[]
The objective of the Thrall is to cause a failure condition. (i.e Full Stop. Sink the ship; kill the crew; or waste time until the blizzard takes everyone.) How you achieve this victory is up to you. Be crafty, be clever, and above all don't get caught. It's typically a good idea to appear helpful and friendly before setting out on your mission to avoid suspicion.
Bone Charms and Powers[]
Currently, Thralls can cast three spells at three levels of power; Cannibals, Whiteout, and Spirit Walk.
Do not use bone charms as a weapon as it does 8 damage, which is the same damage as an unarmed player inflicts with their fists.
Cannibals[]
Select an unsuspecting victim to unleash a horde of hungry hungry cannibals upon them. A pleasant surprise for sure. The different power levels summon more and more members of the cannibal horde. In addition to a melee attack, as of update 3, they have a ranged attack where they throw stones at the targeted crewmate. Be careful though, as while cannibals will always focus on the targeted prey, once they have secured their kill they will turn on anyone nearby, even thralls.
Whiteout[]
Start a snowstorm so that everyone can only see just in front of them. This is helpful to prevent survivors from seeing where they're going, or what you're doing. The different power levels increase the duration of this raging storm.
Spirit Walk[]
Disappear from sight and speed up to escape any allegations or threats. The different power levels increase the duration of the spirit walk. Be careful with how much power you place in this spell as you can not return by your own power, only once the spell has run its course. when using spirit walk you can not climb ladders or walls.
Thrall Vision
Thrall vision is currently the only ability available to the thralls that they can use without having a bone charm in hand. The ability, toggled by the V key, allows thralls to see the outlines of crew, other thralls, as well as nearby food sources. The one downside of this ability is that it disables the ability to sprint whilst using it, so ensure that you're not in a situation where you need to sprint away from a threat. This ability is not affected by bone totems.
Totems[]
As a Thrall, you have an extra option in your build wheel (Q as default). It requires one bone and three wood to build one totem. Building a totem will buff your spells giving access to the further tiers of spell power; summoning extra cannibals, making the whiteout last longer, or spirit walk for longer.
Building a totem does not directly buff your spells, but instead causes a build up of power for your next spell. You require one totem to be built for any spell to go to tier 1 or above. To view your power hold a bone charm in your hand and in your bottom right you will find a wheel with 3 spikes coming out. Each spike represents a power tier and the next spell you cast will use that power up to strengthen itself. The more totems you have the less time it will take for your spell power to grow.
Totems emit an aura of whispering, which will alert any nearby survivor who will try their best to smash the flimsy frame and deny you your power.
Spells[]
- SPIRIT WALK
- Level 1: 15 seconds
- Level 2: 20 seconds
- Level 3: 25 seconds
- WHITEOUT
- Level 1: 50 seconds
- Level 2: 70 seconds
- Level 3: 90 seconds
- CANNIBALS
- Level 1: 4 cannibals
- Level 2: 6 cannibals
- Level 3: 8 cannibals
Charging[]
Totems charge has diminishing returns maxing out after 7 totems. Due to the timings past 3 totems, testing was only done up until 4 totems used.
- 1 Totem
- Level 1: 2 minutes and 12 seconds
- Level 2: 6 minutes and 6 seconds
- Level 3: 10 minutes and 33 seconds
- 2 Totems
- Level 1: 1 minutes and 15 seconds
- Level 2: 3 minutes and 28 seconds
- Level 3: 6 minutes and 0 seconds
- 3 Totems
- Level 1: 0 minutes and 56 seconds
- Level 2: 2 minutes and 26 seconds
- Level 3: 4 minutes and 30 seconds
- 4 Totems
- Level 1: 0 minutes and 46 seconds
- Level 2: 2 minutes and 26 seconds
- Level 3: 3 minutes and 45 seconds
Sabotage[]
destroys all coal in boiler by placing gun powder in boiler. when more gun power is placed it makes the sabotage happen faster
Coal[]
One of the main ways to delay the crew is to deny them their supply of coal. Without coal they can not move forward as nothing else provides a similar level of power to the ship. Throwing coal in the water is the easiest way and will reward you points. However, you will be provided more points by using the coal to make gunpowder or as a fuel source for wood burners, campfires or stoves.
Gunpowder[]
There are two ways to use Gunpowder to delay the crew. The first is by adding gunpowder to a running boiler. Doing so will remove all coal.
The second way to use Gunpowder is to make a bomb by filling a barrel with gunpowder. Once filled with any amount, the barrel can be dropped on the ground then lit via interacting with the lid. Doing so will open the barrel once more but also show a cracked square. Clicking the square will start a 10 second timer before the barrel explodes. Each gunpowder in the barrel when it goes off will open one hole in the ship, to the ships maximum of 20 holes. It will also deal damage to any crew directly next to the barrel, with damage based on the amount of powder added. Be careful as the crew can remove one gunpowder from each stack to disarm your makeshift bomb. Thus the best method is to add 20 gunpowder with 6, 7, and 7 in the three slots and to hide it carefully.
Poison[]
Poison can be used to weaken and delay the crew. Poison physically slows the individual as they need to stop and vomit as well as delays them by changing their priority from their current task towards procuring an antidote. It is very slow to damage so do not rely on it in the middle of a fight, but it lasts a long time so can be used to soften someone up for a later attack. Clever timing of a poisoned syringe or smuggling of poisoned food can cause distrust or outright fights due to crew blaming each other.
Nitroglycerin[]
The Nitroglycerin can be used as a 20 gunpowder barrel with a much larger damage range. A Nitroglycerin will instantly open all the holes on the ship, as well as likely damaging or killing everyone aboard depending on its placement. However, you can not move quickly with it as not only does it slow you, but its half health smoke will give away your plan. There is no reason for a normal crewmate to bring the Nitroglycerin to the ship, so being seen doing such will also reveal you as a thrall.
Another method of use is as a weapon. Charging a group with it, or dropping/damaging one next to a group of crew will likely damage or kill them all.
What ever use you find for it, be careful you do not inadvertently provide the crew with the Nitroglycerin they need to win.