The Lochstrode

The Lochstrode is a Scottish designed naval tall ship commissioned by the British navy in 1849, by naval standards the brig is classed as a 6th rate 24-gun 4-mast barque Navy frigate. The ship was officially launched in on May 11th 1850 from the port at Inverness into the North Sea. The first reports on the Lochstrode suggest it was the first the many ships used on celebration for the coronation of Queen Matilda the Rexus, the leading ship on the cruise past old London bridge, and the same one carrying the royal herself. Later reports indicate that the ship was used primarily as a freelance dimplomacy vessel for the Great British Empire, tasked with the transferal of documents and important cargo. One thing always consistent with the Lochstrode however, is that it has always been captained by the stern orc McLauchlan, an accomplished British naval captain. In fact the ships namesake refers to McLauchlan's own history in living amongst the Scottish highlands.

Voyages Preceding 1863
The Navy frigate had been on a miriad of adventures preceding the famed voyages of Darwin Moore, but it had mainly been tasked with sailing across the main ports along the coast of the Mediterrainian, Cape Verde, South Africa, the nations of Arabia, India and Indonesia. The ships missions where primarily to deliver important documents and cargo to selected locations, however in McLauchlans spare time he enjoyed surveying the local landscapes and islands. Through his efforts, McLauchlan manages to correct a total of 49 errors in the officially commioned naval Atlas, and even founded a miniscule island off the coast of east Africa. The ship never saw much combat except on the occasion of 1854 in where the town of Cape Verde was set upon by a band of Pirates, and the naval frigate single handedly, managed to fight them off, sinking four of six gun boats. In was for this victory, did McLauchlan receive the Conspicuous Gallantry Medel for his bravery. It was this story that McLauchlan then later told his wife, and made her fall in love with him.

The Voyage of 1863
The Voyage of 1863 marks the beginning of Darwin's adventures abroad the Lochstrode, after aiding in the ships safe landing at the mouth of Loch Ness, Darwin was unofficial brought aboard the vessel for a period of six months, as a thank you for saving the lives of the crew members aboard the ship. This first voyage ending up taking them to the Mediterrienian and its surrounding countries, stopping at ports in Libson, Barcelona, Rome, Egypt, Lebanon, and then finally Turkey before it was seized by unknown forces...