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apothecarinomicon · 4 years ago

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Spring week 4 part 3

After my hectic experience with the marshbloom, I decided to take a day for myself. Greenmoor isn’t anywhere near the ocean, but Meltwater Loch is big enough that I figured a day spent there could be considered a beach day. And after the couple of weeks I’d had, boy did I need a beach day.

But anyone who’s read this far ought to be familiar with my luck by now. There’s a lot to record, but I’ll try to get it down in order.

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It was a beautiful day—clear blue sky, warm air, and (at least when I first arrived) no one around at Meltwater Loch. I spread out a towel on the beach and laid down for a good session of sunbathing. I’ve never been one for tanning, but simply laying doing nothing while being warmed by the sun and cooled by the breeze felt absolutely decadent.

After a while of simply existing, I became aware of the sound of a bird calling above me. I cracked my eyes open and recognized the large forms of a pair of gull-drakes flying overhead. Gull-drakes are a strange hybrid, both reptilian and avian. Their torsos and wings are feathered, while their heads, tails, and talons are scaled. They do have beaks like gulls, but their tails are prehensile like their alleged draconic ancestors’. I say ‘alleged’ because no one knows how the hybrid gull-drake came into being. The sheer anatomy and scale discrepancy between the average seagull and the average dragon fossil (they were much larger in ancient times than the pocket-sized lizards we have today) seems to rule out any cross-breeding. Additionally, the typical combination of traits displayed by gull-drakes is too awkward and ungainly to be the result of natural selection. And yet, there have been records of the gull-drake’s existence for just about as long as there have been records—the third-oldest surviving written document, in fact, is a bestiary which includes them along dozens of other species, most of which are now extinct.

Nature is a strange thing.

Digressions aside, there was a reason this caught my attention. Gull-drakes are scavengers, and have been known to leave catches uneaten while they go out to hunt for more. It’s just an evolutionary quirk—they prefer to feast only once per day. This means that, as they leave their nests unattended, some other opportunistic creature could come by and steal their catch.

It’s easy to identify a gull-drake nest, too—they tend to be very large, and are often positioned balanced atop large, pointy rocks. If a gull-drake catches you stealing, though, it’ll chase you and squawk at you and try to peck you until you drop the stolen goods and flee. They’re not too smart, though, so hiding in nearby foliage (say, a patch of large ferns) will fool them easily.

All of this to say, I managed to get myself a shock fish without a rod, all while only getting chased a little ways by a jealous, stupid bird.

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As I returned to my towel, I heard an unusual sound—the put-put-put of a motor. Machinery of that kind is a fairly new invention, and unless you know how to make it, very expensive.

The woman driving the boat certainly looked like she knew how to make a motor. She was dwarven, with russet hair and a long beard, both held in thick braids. She was (as dwarves are) rather short—I'd estimate maybe one-and-a-fifth meters tall, and nearly as wide—with large hands and feet, and limbs thickly corded with muscle. She wore dark green coveralls and had a fairly heavy-duty fishing rod held in one hand so that it rested on her shoulder.

She shut the motor off as she neared and called out to me, asking if I was the village witch. I said that I was, and she told me that she was friends with my crocodilian patient. She thanked me for helping him, and said he would have been a goner without my potion-making skills. I demurred just a bit, saying I wasn't the only healer who helped him that day. She scoffed and dismissed my humility outright, saying that I might as well have been the only one—that without my care the village doctor wouldn't have been able to do anything.

She introduced herself as Janneth Hillhorn, and I told her my name in turn. She asked what I was doing out by Meltwater Loch and I told her I was taking a day off. She let me know that her cottage was just around the other side of the lake, near Glimmerwood Grove and right on the border of Blastfire Bog, and that I should feel free to stop in any time. I thanked her.

At this point, there was a tremor in the water. It couldn't have been an earthquake because the land wasn't shaking, but the water abruptly became much more active. Ocean-like waves crashed into the shore and Janneth held tight onto the sides of her boat, doing her best not to capsize. I would have been quite alarmed in her situation, but Janneth barely seemed preturbed. I asked something along the lines of "what the blight is going on?!" As the water settled, Janneth told me that this was a common occurence on Meltwater Loch, a quirk that—many said—was due to the emotions of its guardian sea-dragon, Bàs Bàta. I found this explanation rather silly, reminiscent of an old wives' tale. I'd never heard of a sea-dragon before, and given that the name ‘Bàs Bàta’ directly translated to "boat death," I figured it was just a local story told to frighten children and dismissed it out of hand.

Astute readers should be growing worried for me right about now.

Janneth offered to give me one of the fish she'd caught as a thanks for helping her friend. I initially refused, but she insisted. She looked through her basket and pulled out a dentist crab. The gel their claws produce is good for the mouth and plenty else besides, so I accepted and thanked her. She thanked me right back and said (perhaps jokingly?) not to run afoul of Bàs Bàta while I was out by the loch. I forced a laugh as she sped away.

Once she was out of sight, I collected some claw gel from the dentist crab and released it back into the water.

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There was another rumbling as I made my way back to the beach, and as it abated I saw something bob up to the surface of the water close to the shore. It presented itself, et cetera et cetera, I waded in to see what it was.

I scooped it out of the water and found myself holding a glass bottle, like the kind that rum or sweet wine would come in, sealed with a cork and containing a rolled-up sheet of paper. Of course, I opened it immediately. I found that the sheet inside wasn’t quite *paper,* but something more slippery—maybe made of seaweed? It did have writing on it, though. As I unfurled it, a few things that looked like pebbles fell out. I barely managed to catch them before they hit the surface of the water. I put them in my pocket for safe keeping.

The writing on the note was as follows, with no spelling changes by me:

Let it be known that I fink this whole exercise is stupid. And pointless. And probly meant as some kind of sick, twisted punishment. No one but little kids believe in terrafolk, so I don’t know why the instructress is making us do this.

Even if anyfing could live above the water, there’s no way its advanced enough to read. How would it get all the minerals it needs wivout processing the water?

But anyway. I guess I ave to fulfill the prompt.

Me name is Genoveva, I live in the I.S.A.C.S. (that's short for 'Isolated Sovereign Aquatic City-State, but we all just pronounce it like 'Isax") and I’m in the fifth year of me education. I hate me name. I wish I could ave somefing exotic like a John or a Steve or a Sarah, but I’m stuck wiv boring old Genoveva. If you’re somehow able to read this, that must mean you ave schools on the surface, too. Wat ar they like? Ar they as boring up there? We all ave to sit in a circle and listen to the instructress drone on and on and on.

I live wiv me merma and me perpa and me two baby brothers. Do you ave family? I've got loads of cousins too.

On the rubric it says I ave to include a small gift, so I'm putting some fossil fish scales in wiv this letter. I found em on me way to school this morning and there not of use to me, but I figure you probly don't ave fish on land so maybe scales ar valuable up there.

If you're inclined to write back (no pressure), you can just pop your note in the bottle and put it back into the water. It'll find its way to me—there's magic all around, don't you know.

Signed,

Genoveva Galbrait, 5th year

[An accessible version of this letter can be found here.]

The letter obviously has some pretty complex implications. An entire society under the surface of Meltwater Loch, entirely unaware of the world above the surface beyond fairy stories? What must life be like down there? What kind of society must they have? How do they supply food? Get rid of waste?

What resources might be available there that can't be found on the surface?

I decided that somehow I was going to find a way to visit ISACS, and learn everything I could about it. I bet that would impress the University of Arcbridge. I wasn't sure how I would breathe under the water for long enough, but I was determined to find a way.

Take your final guesses now what happened next.

That water-quaking started up again, this time stronger than before. Waves crashed against the beach where I stood, and I felt a great vibration in my chest and in my head.

And then, it broke the surface of the water.

Giant and blue-green and serpentine, Bàs Bàta rose up before me. A blighting sea-dragon, it stood straight up in the air at least twice as tall as my cottage—and that was just the part of its body I could see. Its head was shaped like the tip of an arrow, with three great spikes sprouting out of the back (the outer two longer than the middle one). It let loose another deep roar, dousing me in spittle. It thrashed about, causing great waves to crash onto the shore, and through my shock I realized its movements might be less characteristic of anger than of pain.

My suspicions were confirmed when it roared again: one of the fangs right near the front of its mouth was missing a chip, and had a great crack running nearly all the way up to the root. That had to hurt. I'd never treated a non-humanoid before—or, for that matter, a cracked tooth—but I realized even past the moral obligation to help, there was no way I could access the underwater city-state without calming Bàs Bàta down.

I found out later, after I'd scrambled away from the lake and sprinted back to the cottage, after wiping the saliva off of me and getting at least some of it in a bottle for potion use, that the saliva was actually a really useful ingredient in treating shattered teeth. As it turns out, it's a pretty strong painkiller. Unfortunately, I knew I'd need more than just that to make a cure, and with the sheer size of Bàs Bàta, I suspected I'd need to make more than one potion.

That will have to be a longer term project, then, because the events of my relaxation day have worn me out. I've got to get to bed. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

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auroraxrp-blog1 · 8 years ago

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AURORA is pleased to introduce Kim Jihun known as Kimchi, a Uncommon Abyssal Merman not affiliated to AURORA. He is 120 years old, but looks around 30 years old. Currently working as Source, at a Saltwater Life Aquarium. He likes things that remind him of the sea, night time, things that glow in the dark, seaweed crisps but is not very fond of people who mistreat their fish, fishermen with the big nets that catch dolphins, tuna fish, laying on the beach (to get a tan. Why. He doesn’t get it). Wanna know more about him, make sure to pay a visit !!

–GENERAL

name: Kim Ji Hun

alias: Kimchi (more of a nickname, honestly)

age: Actually 120, appears/pretends to be 30.

affiliated: yes or no ?

if yes, headquarter: n/a

years they have been part of AURORA: n/a

are they a mentor within the headquarter they belong to: n/a

race: Abyssal Merman

race description: Abyssal Mers are quite alike to regular merfolk, however they have an additional set of stiff fins that grow at the small of their back, to help navigate through deep ocean currents. Due to their homes being in the farthest depths of the ocean, their skin, even while in human form, is very pale, and can, after centuries of being deep beneath the ocean, even be white or translucent. Their tails are often opalescent, but are usually creamy white, with tones of purple, blue and green in them. Their eyes are also dark, mostly pupil, in order to take in as much filtered light as possible. After living for nearly 150 years, many Abyssal Mers gain the ability of bioluminescence, small pricks of light beginning along the edges of their tail fins, warding off most predators. These also begin to glow at the tips of their fingers when they reach 200 years of age. This effect is not seen in younger aged Abyssal Mers because being dark keeps them safe from many predators while they’re young. These quiet folk tend to band together in tight-knit clans that don’t stray into the shallows, believing themselves a more evolved race, and better than the generic mermaids of yore.

occupation: Sources fancy saltwater fish for aquarium owners. (He uses his ability to transform in order to meet with buyers at a pier near where he’s made his home).

unique features: Has several circular scars from where he’s had barnacles grow and then been torn off of his skin. Usually around his shoulders, but he has one on his waist, near where his tail begins that is quite large. He also always wears an amber stone on a strange metallic chain.

class: uncommon

Kimchi has spent quite a lot of time in order to make money in the shallower water, as his tail has gone a bit dark blue, to preserve himself from the sun. It has also caused him to be able to see less well in the dark of the deep sea, as such, he would probably not be able to survive for long periods of time in deep waters anymore.

–POWERS & WEAKNESSES:

main power: water

magical abilities: Can absorb water through his hands, like a sponge. (ex. From the ground if it’s damp, from plants, and in desperate situations (high emotion situations) from other beings). Can transform into human form for about 24 hours (varies due to outside factors due to weather/climate. The drier the air, the shorter the time he can be out of the water). Has an amulet that extends his out of water time by an additional 24 hours, regardless of climate/weather. He can also communicate with aquatic beings (including animals) that are highly intelligent.

non-magical abilities: Is good at identifying fish that would do well in aquariums, rather than simply identify by the species. Knows a little fighting skill, but is better at running away from a fight.

weaknesses: Using his absorption power makes him physically tired, and when/if he absorbs from beings it makes him tired to the point of passing out/fainting, usually immediately afterwards or if he’s able to focus enough, about five minutes afterwards. Within his human form, he’s exceedingly accident prone and clumsy, almost to the point of it being comical (he can however, dance quite well, as it reminds him of swimming). If he doesn’t return to the water within the amulets extended 24 hour period, the amulet crumbles, and he’d have to find someone to make him a new one. Although he can talk to some of the higher-intelligence sea creatures, he often feels bad because he has no way to ask the fish that he captures for his work if they’re alright with being pets, which bothers him quite a lot.

–PERSONALITY:

likes: things that remind him of the sea, night time, things that glow in the dark, seaweed crisps.

dislikes: people who mistreat their fish, fishermen with the big nets that catch dolphins, tuna fish, laying on the beach (to get a tan. Why. He doesn’t get it)

positive traits: soft-hearted (he’s likely to help if you need it), is charming (which leads to persuasiveness), independent, intelligent, empathetic.

neutral traits: Experimental, familial, progressive, sarcastic, unaggressive.

negative traits: clumsy, impulsive, a little naïve, vain, stubborn.

mental state: Social anxiety in large groups (10+ people), due to being on his own for several decades.

personality description:

As a young mer, Kimchi was insufferable when it came to being self-confident and even to a point, rude. He was always able to find someone who would tell him yes in regards to something he wanted, and he knew exactly who to go to for whatever it was that he wanted. Though that charm remains, he’s calmed down quite spectacularly over the years. Now, he uses his charm only when necessary, knowing that having good people skills help him in business more than in personal life. He’s oddly kind, however, still remembering that upbringing he experienced from his clan, he wants to be able to repay their kindness, even if it is to someone else. Though, part of this is a base instinct to be helpful as well.

He is curious, almost to a fault, and once something piques his interest, he’s hooked. This can range from finding things to exploring areas, to learning things about people. It means that often times he puts himself at risk by being too focused on his curiosity to realize that he needs to go back to the water. He would probably benefit from having friends to remind him of these types of things, but he’s pretty absent socially unless he’s super curious about someone. This makes him seem awkward a lot of the time, and anti social. The rest of the time he cracks dirty jokes and lives in a pool of sarcasm, making him seem as though he feels he’s better than everyone else, which is quite the opposite of how he actually feels. He hides easily behind the mask of self-confidence, not sharing his self-doubt to anyone. It would take someone very special to break through the walls he’s built up.

–BIOGRAPHY:

place/realm of birth: Born in this realm, in the farthest depths of the Pacific Ocean.

date/era of birth: Born July 15, of 1891.

if half-breed, parents: n/a

if water being, nature: Salt

biography description:

Born to a woman who never even planned on staying around, of a man who was too important to be having a child with the likes of her, Kim Ji Hun was born unappreciated and disliked. That didn’t improve as he grew, his mother quickly realizing that the child would end up even more beautiful that she was, and quickly got rid of him. So at the ripe young age of 40 years (still such a child in the eyes of those around him, he was left to his own devices. He took advantage of his status though, the one left behind, and quickly found that it was only in his own home that he wasn’t wanted. He spent his childhood raised by the mantra that it took a village to raise a child. For once, he was surrounded by people who cared about him, and by people who wanted him to thrive. They wanted that, that is, until he began to show interest in the world above. He was told again and again, that the shallows, that is to say: normal merfolk, were just that. Shallow and unimportant when it came to the world. The world above the water wasn’t even spoken of in his clan, more than simply taboo, interest in it was an evisceration of what it was to be mer.

He quickly learned ahead of his peers, and found himself with more free time than the rest, and that found him venturing out on his own, his curiosity like that of the catfish, only settled when he’d explored every inch about something. When it came to the world above, there was no satiety to come from his explorations, and when he began to notice the differences between what he’d been taught and what he’d come to know, was when the real trouble began. He’d come back from exploring a reef, and found the leader of their clan waiting for him, casting him out from the people he’d known for his entire life, from those who kept him alive from a young age. He’d taken the few things he cared about, and left, traveling not to the shallows where he wouldn’t be accepted either, instead to the reefs, and the very shallows, learning his abilities to stay above water, to turn human, even if only for a while. He made a home there, near to the world he’d been taught to hate, and slowly learned to love it, if only just a little. It didn’t take long for him to realize the reasons why his clan hated the world above, and yet there were good things too, and he quickly found that the good outweighed the bad. He wanted nothing more than to continue to learn and explore, and was willing to do whatever it took to do so.

The witch had offered him the amulet, at what he assumed was a reasonable rate, and soon he’d found himself exploring every inch of this world that he could reach within the time he was allotted. It wasn’t as much as he’d hoped, and he was still too nervous to not return home every night, basking in whatever newness he’d found. It didn’t take long before he found he needed a source of income, and although he’d always swum among them, the fish that lived in the reef were plentiful, and every once in a while if one or two of them went missing, no one noticed, excepting of the bank account that Kimchi had set up in his name one afternoon. Some of the more rare fish kept his account filled for days, and he was happy to continue his explorations. It turned into buying a car so he could travel further, and eventually he found another body of salt water. It was a surprise, but a happy one, and he basked in the new possibilities. No longer was he tied to the ocean on the other side… there was a new wide world for him to explore on this side of the land, and explore it he did. He learned new things, found new people and made a new home, on the water, where he built a home that had direct water access, his bank account accruing interest as he aged. He was happy when he finally looked old enough to own a home of his own, and didn’t get odd looks as he entered and exited. He’d learned a lot about himself and the world around him, and he only hoped he was able to stay in this place for a long while.

#krp ad #krp #kim heechul #suju #super junior #heechul #au;follow

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