Session 153 - Blue Kelp Village
25 VALLION, 500 DA
On the Ultros
Hipofilius brought onboard a small gathered pouch of frogs, but before he could bring them on board Xan pocketed one and Slippy gulped one down. Bátrakhos.
The sky is beautiful, the sky crystal. The water is glass and the bottom of the bay can be seen. Under the shop as it moves a dense coral forest appears - as the ship moves over it, a village reveals itself. Folk with long flowing hair and fins for legs wave up at them. Xan, lying down with the sun beating down on her, looks sideways over the boat from her position on her back. She sees them waving and turns on to her side and looks down. The sight is colourful and welcoming but Xan hesitates before doing her regular jump into the water. Some of the folk are tending to some kelp, others fish in the water - different to those on the ship - as an ambush rather than with poles. Some are weaving with sea grasses, others are farming crabs. It seems there are around 100 people in this underwater world. Xan waves her spear in a way to show them she also fishes like them.
Hipofilius summons some small water sprites to help the Chosen to communicate with the underwater village. As the sprites flit around the merpeople stare at them in wonder, some chasing them. They signal for the Chosen to come into the water, and Xan immediately drops into the water and is surrounded by some of the merpeople. As she struggles with the broken aquan she had learned on Tidrees island the babelfish run around translating. The people ask her excitedly where she is from - “The South?”.
Blue Kelp Village
"Very few people come out this way, we haven't seen a boat in around 20 years."
Braz explains the winds bring us to many corners of many oceans. Your home looks like a haven and a place of safety.
They claim they are protected by Hywin. "He is an enemy of the gods above the sea, he hates the lord of storms. He brought us here to protect us from him. As many as he could. We have been here for many years. I don;t know Hywin very well - he is very secluded."
Braz enquires about the best gift to give to the priest, and they say to speak to his daughter Iaolah.
The excited merperson recognised her gestures from the merpeople at Tidrees island - and assumed that she too was from the same region. Xan describes their vessel to them and tells them they have been travelling the seas. When the merperson asks innocently why they travel, Xan realises they may not know of the troubles they will face. She panics and scans the lagoon for Alke and the red haired mermaid. The Chosen all move through the water and gather together. The red haired mermaid tells them her father brought them here to protect them from the storms and the other dangers. It was before she was born but she knows he is a wise man. The young red haired mermaid tells them she is around 15 years of age - Xan immediately offers her friendship.
They are surprised the boat has made it there, as there are protections on the village. Hipofilius explains the magic that the Ultros have. They ask the Chosen why they are travelling the seas again.
Alke tells them about the wars above the seas - they know of the old war but not of the one 500 years ago. They speak to the red haired mermaid and as Alke and Theo interrogate her on magic they soon realise they wish to speak to Hywin. The young mermaid Iolah, takes them to beyond the village coral as Alke tells grim stories of battles with Xan acting out some of the best parts. It seems to have a mixed effect in relaying the seriousness of the danger to come. At the edge of the sand it drops into a darkness with a large coral structure, a big drop down. A small piece sticks out sharply into the middle of the trench, coloured coral turning into a translucent room. At the end is a tower handing sideways off of the trench.
Iolah swims into the tower and the Chosen follow. Hywin’s home is full of plants, bits and bobs - no coins, no weapons, no treasure. He must be poor to live in this place.
Hywin is an older man wearing a sea grass vest, he is slim, with a beard and long hair. Pearls and small decorations attached to him. Xan is not sure what to do with herself as they swim through the room - whether they should place their feet on what would be the floor, or the walls.
Braz greets him and is immediately asked whether he comes from the island in the North. Braz tells them the mainland. Hywin says he is around 700-800 years old - and with a 15 year old daughter.
Hywin asks them what their business is in their village and the sea. The Chosen explain their quest regarding the Oath of Peace and it’s time to come to an end. Hipofilius assures them they do not wish to bring war to their shores. Hywin tells them he made efforts to learn as much about the titans as possible in order to avoid them. He says his home in this lagoon is the best place as Sydon cares so little for this place. In the middle of the ocean is not a place he ever turns his gaze.
“All I wanted for my people was for them to be safe so I brought them here. We are thriving.”
“If you are to meet our friends in the southern seas you may greet them by their gods, the most high, the Sky Father and the Sun Goddess, the Great Hunter, the Vile Trickster, the Moon Maiden, the Fish Queen, Fire King and Lord of Ghosts.”
It is said that the merpeople were not connected to the people involved in the war - they were under the water and kept it that way. He gifts the Chosen small pieces of pink coral and tells them to use them
Combined potion - 1 hours - Waterbreather and heroism x6
Iolah begs to join them on the ship but her father says no. She looks desperately at Xan and says they will be pen pals, they will keep in touch with a wink.