forum 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕣𝕤; 𝕒𝕕𝕣𝕚𝕗𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕖𝕒 // ℙ𝕚𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤, 𝕊𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕤, 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕡𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℍ𝕦𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 // 𝟞/𝟞 // ℂ𝕃𝕆𝕊𝔼𝔻

Started December 15, 2018 by @blue_topaz

tune

(Wait, Shadow Knight, the shipwreck hasn't happened yet. We need to get The Wanderer out into the sea, where they'll see the wreck and rescue the two travellers)

(OMG I'm sorry. I will delete that.)

don't worry about it! For now, just write a passage with your character, maybe she's on the ship looking out into the sea? She can interact with the other traveller too

A few minutes later, Olena found herself ducking under a low-hanging, splintered mainmast from a shipwreck years ago, all the way at the edge of the reef with a three year-old bundled up in her arms. She bounced Daphne up and down, gently moving her chubby hands away from her newly beaded strands of hair and tickling her tummy. The little girl let out a peal of laughter, and her older sister grinned, glancing around at the sea ahead.

That was when she saw it. A Siren. All the way down South, perched on the edge of the reef not twenty metres away. And judging by the markings– a Sirenix. One of the most ruthless tribes. Olena's blood ran cold, panic taking over her brain.

Kydah didn't notice the mer and the small mer staring at her, she was only focused on her wounds. I must be a strong warrior and find a way to convince them that I'm not the one who killed the child. I must. Was her only thought as she finished bandaging her wounds.

(Wait, Shadow Knight, the shipwreck hasn't happened yet. We need to get The Wanderer out into the sea, where they'll see the wreck and rescue the two travellers)

Marianne nodded, then paused. "Unfortunately, the best place to get those is Eris.. Pisces (the capital of Copiae, where they are right now) doesn't sell much weaponry.." She paused, pondering something. "I know a provider on an island not far from here, have you ever been to Cirus (volcanic island)?"

"Nope, but I have a feeling I will be soon." He thought for a second, then looked back at the Capitan. "Why the hell did we stop here if it doesn't sell much weaponry?" he asked, his tone light.

(Wait, Shadow Knight, the shipwreck hasn't happened yet. We need to get The Wanderer out into the sea, where they'll see the wreck and rescue the two travellers)

Marianne nodded, then paused. "Unfortunately, the best place to get those is Eris.. Pisces (the capital of Copiae, where they are right now) doesn't sell much weaponry.." She paused, pondering something. "I know a provider on an island not far from here, have you ever been to Cirus (volcanic island)?"

"Nope, but I have a feeling I will be soon." He thought for a second, then looked back at the Capitan. "Why the hell did we stop here if it doesn't sell much weaponry?" he asked, his tone light.

Finley listened to the conversation for a few moments, biting her bottom lip in thought as she watched the two converse. "Do you think that Cirus might have some medical supplies? Or will we have to stop in Barne or another neighboring island?" She asked, referring to her home island and one that was known for it's medicine. Perhaps she could find something to protect the crew from the Siren's singing.

"If Cirus does have medical supplies, Finley and I could go together," Kane said, leaning against the railing of the ship.

"So we're going to Eris and then Cirus?" Chesh asked to make sure. "I'm ready to head out as soon as possible." Chesh said with a shiver.

Marianne sighed, answering Kane's question first. "Just because we're pirates, doesn't mean all we do is kill things, Kane. We stopped here because we were on our way to Eris, remember? I'd heard rumours that something was going on and didn't want to risk it, and Pisces was the nearest port where we could get the news and non-perishable foods," she explained, turning next to Finley. "Yeah, they have medical supplies on Cirus. We tend to avoid it because, well, it's built on an active volcanic island, but there's no risk of it stirring up any time soon." Finally, she answered Chesh's question. "Cirus first, and I vote we avoid Eris until we know what's going on. What do you guys think?"

Olena was frozen to the spot, staring straight at the Sirenix. She could see the almost crazed, delirious look in their eyes and the blood staining there hands– their own blood or someone else's?– and did not want to risk turning and fleeing. If he did, there was no guarantee that the Siren wouldn't chase after, and being the faster species, it would easily catch and kill her and Daphne.

But Daphne, once again, had other ideas. Upon spotting the Siren, she began to let out a long stream of loud blabbing, reaching her chubby arms out to the terrifying creature.

Kydah looked up at the sound, thinking it was a Sirenix guard. When she saw the little Mer, her face broke out into a grin. "Aww! What a cute little Tadpole!" She cooed at the baby, quickly getting the blood off her hands and swimming over toward the Mer and the little Mer.

Olena's heart just about stopped breathing. She was paralyzed by fear only for a split second, before instinct and pure terror took over. Grabbing hold of Daphne, she whirled around and shot off, but the toddler wriggled out of her grasp and swam towards the Siren, oblivious to her older sister's terror. Olena let out a cry, reaching forward desperately.

"Aye aye, Cap!" Chesh said saluting. "I'm fine with that." She said.

Kydah paused for a moment before a look of realization came upon her face and a stream of apologies rushed out of her mouth. "Oh, oh shit! I'm so sorry! You don't want me to touch her! I am so, so sorry!" She backed away quickly, her face flushed as purple as her markings in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry!"

Marianne sighed, answering Kane's question first. "Just because we're pirates, doesn't mean all we do is kill things, Kane. We stopped here because we were on our way to Eris, remember? I'd heard rumours that something was going on and didn't want to risk it, and Pisces was the nearest port where we could get the news and non-perishable foods," she explained, turning next to Finley. "Yeah, they have medical supplies on Cirus. We tend to avoid it because, well, it's built on an active volcanic island, but there's no risk of it stirring up any time soon." Finally, she answered Chesh's question. "Cirus first, and I vote we avoid Eris until we know what's going on. What do you guys think?"

Kane sputtered in mock indignation. "Of course that's all we do, Capitan, if not killing people, then what else?" he smiled and answered her question. "Going to Cirus sounds good, especially if there are ghost ships out there." He shuddered.

Marianne couldn't help a smile, tugging Chesh's hand down from the salute and giving her a quick hug. "I'm your equal, not your superior. No need to salute," she reminded gently, glancing at Kane. "I'm sorry if I offended your psychopathic sensibilities, Kane," she joked, leaning back against the railing, "But yes, avoiding ghost ships sounds good."

Kydah paused for a moment before a look of realization came upon her face and a stream of apologies rushed out of her mouth. "Oh, oh shit! I'm so sorry! You don't want me to touch her! I am so, so sorry!" She backed away quickly, her face flushed as purple as her markings in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry!"

Olena pulled Daphne to her chest, hugging her tightly. She kept her wide eyes glued to the Sirenix, her heart pounding. Why were they apologizing?? Was this a trap?? Horrible images of Daphne's bleeding corpse flashed through her mind, and she flinched back. "Who– Who are you??"

Chesh laughed. "I'm still going to salute at you." She said jokingly pushing her. "And avoiding ghost ships sounds great!"

"Apology accepted, Capitan," Kane said with a wink, trying to contain his laughter.

Marianne rolled her eyes at them both, replacing the brown leather hat on her head. "You two are both ridiculous. Finley is the only sane one on the ship," she teased, leaning back over the side. Below, Saur let out a friendly bellow, surging up to meet her and successfully dousing the deck.

Kydah paused for a moment before a look of realization came upon her face and a stream of apologies rushed out of her mouth. "Oh, oh shit! I'm so sorry! You don't want me to touch her! I am so, so sorry!" She backed away quickly, her face flushed as purple as her markings in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry!"

Olena pulled Daphne to her chest, hugging her tightly. She kept her wide eyes glued to the Sirenix, her heart pounding. Why were they apologizing?? Was this a trap?? Horrible images of Daphne's bleeding corpse flashed through her mind, and she flinched back. "Who– Who are you??"

"Erm, I'm Kydah. A Sirenix exile." She said with a scowl, she hated it, but it was Sirenian culture to say your title, no matter how bad it is. And I'll be damned if I break Sirenian customs. "I would ask who you are… But seeing as I scared the living anglerfishes out of you. I won't."

So the stranger was Sirenix. The very thought sent chills all the way down Olena's spine. "I wonder why," she snapped, her voice so saturated with bitterness that it surprised even her. "I wonder why you scared me so much."

"Er, jeez. I would have the same reaction too if I didn't know how much we need the land." She muttered under her breath. They needed the land to survive, it was a downside that they were forced to harm people… But, violence comes as a last resort.

Olena clenched her jaw, backing away slowly. "You're a violent tribe! Not just—" She froze. "Wait– what land??" (the news hasn't spread about the siren invasion yet) Terror gripped her like a vice once more, snuffing out her anger.

"We're not violent! Only stories about the sirens who murder get out! They don't say how we help hunt for children who lose their parent's or teach some villagers how to defend themselves!" Kydah lists, ticking things off with her fingers.

Olena clutched a squirming Daphne closer. "I'm not generalizing Siren," she growled, though her heart tremored with fear. "Just because we're natural enemies doesn't mean that all Mer hate Sirens. But the Sirenix are some of the worst. What land were you talking about??"

"Some northern territories, we're trying to find some of the least populated areas and start building a home," Kydah said with a smile. "Or… We were, I guess I can't do it anymore." She said, her grin quickly turning to a frown.