Smythe

Smythe was one of the sailors of the HMS Beagle who had been employed by Charles Darwin to travel the world to collect specimens and samples. He travelled with Stephen Barr, Paul Caulfield, Henderson and Jonson.

Sample Collecting
"The snow's run out. The tracks 'ave gone."

- Smythe

Far from interested in Charles Darwin's scientific endeavours, Smythe and his colleagues were contracted by the naturalist to collect samples for him. These ranged anything from exotic plants to dangerous animals.

The sailors accepted Darwin's commission and left London in the HMS Beagle. Though at some point during their long voyage, they eventually became tired of their job and eating the same foods every day. To resolve this, they made a pact. For now, they would abandon their work and go out in search of meat.

At an island in Antarctica, Jonson waits at their small boat whilst Smythe leads the others on the trail of a wolf into a dark cave. There is evidence of a previous civilization there. They cross a precarious bridge of ice and enter a spacious cavern, flanked in every corner by enormous statues of Polynesian design. Henderson is the first to notice a stone on the floor, fashioned in the shape of a lizard. Excited by the prospect of selling the artifacts, Smythe and Paul discover another three of them lying in the snow. Too engrossed by their findings, the sailors fail to notice the wolf they had been tracking. It leaps onto Paul, gnawing at his throat in an instant. Smythe and Henderson flee back to the bridge while Stephen fends off the animal and helps Paul to his feet. They desperately demand that Stephen hurry back. As the wolf reappears, Stephen drops Paul's body, his deadweight causing the bridge to collapse. The sailors slide into a tunnel and soon they are deposited onto the mountainside.

Paul, having died from the injuries, is buried beneath the snow by his colleagues. The four surviving sailors vow never to tell the truth behind Paul's demise, fearing that Darwin may demand that they hunt down the wolf for his samples.

Smythe and the others leave the island, continuing Darwin's work.

Curse of the Artefacts
"...we celebrate da death of heem. Da feast of Smythe."

- South Pacific Tribesman

When the sailors arrive in the South Pacific Islands, they experience a hostile reception from the natives. Tribesmen, they appear to recognize the artefacts that the sailors are carrying, for they are the descendants of the Polynesians who settled in Antarctica. Smythe is brutally killed and eaten by the tribesmen. His colleagues however escape the tribesmen's wrath and go on their way in the Beagle.

Smythe's death spawned a recurring event, a feast that the tribesmen would continue to celebrate for many decades to come. They called it the Feast of Smythe. Smythe's artefact, the Ora Dagger, fell into the hands of Puna.

FMV - Sailors

 * The snow's run out. The tracks ave' gone.
 * C'mon Stephen!
 * Faster! C'mon!
 * Okay Stephen?

Trivia

 * Smythe's model in the FMV sequence, with the exception of his face and hat, is identical to that of the other sailors.

Appearances

 * Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (First appearance)