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

(Shadow Knight, I guess you could just have them on another ship headed towards Blarne? I was planning on having the ship leave soon so that they can meet everyone at sea, maybe people who see the sea monster start to get riled up? Or do you guys want to go on shore first?)

Marianne gently extracted the paper from Kane’s hand, passing it to Chesh. “I don’t know…” she replied to Kane with a sigh. “It’s pretty big, whoever’s on it has done something to twenty-two children from Eris. But.. how? Ghosts are mostly insubstantial, it would take a hell of a lot of force to take that many….”

(Kk)

“Typical pirate ships aren’t glowing and insubstantial, nor can they disappear when you get too close,” Marianne responded, chewing on her lip. “I guess we’ll just have to avoid the coast of Eris for now, and keep posted for other sightings..”

What to do, what to do?//

(I could have Olena bump into your Siren?)

Sure.//

(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)?"

(Lex, where is your character right now? I'll have mine swim out and bump into them)

Currently… Where ever is best for yours I suppose.//

Olena wove her way between colourful anemones, the powerful strokes of her tail propelling her under bits of coral and around other Mer. The sunlight filtered through the crystalline water, dancing across the sand-strewn rocks below and warming her back as she went.

Suddenly, she felt something close around her tail. She flinched, jerking it forward instinctively, and an exasperated smile appeared on her face when she saw her baby sister clinging too it. "Daphne!" she scolded gently, reaching forward to scoop the tiny child up into her arms. The small child giggled, her pale pink hair floating around her face. "Ol-ma!" she babbled, trying and failing to pronounce Olena's name. Olena sighed, tousling Daphne's hair.

Glancing up at the surface of the water, Olena took a moment to pinpoint the position of the sun. It was just before noon… which meant that she'd have to take her little sister home soon. But Daphne clearly had other ideas.

"Tha-way!" she cried when Olena turned back towards their home, pointing out towards the edge of the reef. She wouldn't budge or change her mind, not even when Olena bribed her, and sprung out of her arms when she threatened to carry her all the way back. She sighed. "Fine. Just for a few minutes.*

(maybe Kydah could be at the edge of the reef, just past the settlement?)

Kydah was sitting at the edge of the reef, trying to stop the blood flow as to not attract any of the Sirens spies, which consisted of mostly sharks. "Damn it." She muttered as she tore away a piece of cloth from her shirt with her teeth, she could use it to bandage some of her wounds. "How did I not think of this earlier?" She asked herself with a laugh, obviously a bit delusional from the loss of blood.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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??"