Ceryaen

Arbiter Ceryaen
Prime Status:	Alive
Race:	Merelew
Gender:	Female
Location:	Andreshlew

Description

Arbiter Ceryaen is a Merelew. She has pearlescent blue scales, and a swath of fiery orange hair that grows from the center of her scalp and is worn to the left.
She is slightly over average height for a Merelew.
She appears to be matronly.

Ceryaen has severe scarring about the right arm, left arm, and both hands.

She is holding a silvery trident with golden tips in her right hand.
She is wearing some ceremonial robes and a gleaming silver necklace dangling a pair of oversized deep sea-blue sapphires.

Topics

Factions

Arbiter Ceryaen tilts her head to one side and purses her lips in consideration. At last, she says, "As with any society, there are a number of factions competing for resources, leadership positions and influence. We Merelew are no different. In our current endeavours, there are six primary factions."

She gestures around her before continuing, "The Depth Shapers are an influential group of life sculptors and are primarily artists. The alchemists from the Inverted Crucible utilize the sea's wide range of gifts to create medicines, dyes, fabrics and much more. Not so unlike your land-dwellers' Rangers' Guild, the ecologists of the Trickling Sun seek harmony with the sea's flora and fauna while tending to the coral, fish and more that our society relies on."

After a short pause, she adds, "The Red Fan Traders are a typical guild of merchants working with the other factions in matters of commerce where a profit exists to be had. Our Supplicants of the Tide are followers of the Thirteen, though they do not adhere to the notion of the Aspects. Finally, the Gillborn Loyalists are primarily isolationist advisors and sometimes spies to the crown who disdain outsiders."

Arbiter Ceryaen concludes, "This, of course, is merely the briefest of overviews, and you should speak with their respective representatives if you wish to learn more, in their own words."

Spider

Arbiter Ceryaen frowns, her gills fluttering in agitation, and she says, "A travesty, devastation and chaos flowing down from above. Metals, stones, woods and so much more that was unknown to these waters are now strewn across the seafloor. Great coral growths, kelp forests, homes and feeding grounds that sustain life beneath these tides were destroyed in the blink of an eye, while others are slowly falling to the insidious poisons leaching from these contaminants."

Ceryaen continues, "We heard rumors over the years of the maybe abomination, but were unsure if such a monstrosity was real. When the poisoned tomiek began twisting the depths, everything was thrown into disarray. Flora and fauna went mad, the seafloor erupted, and even the tides changed. Truly, we were ill-prepared for such a catastrophe, and of course, there is much disagreement regarding how to best rectify the problem."

Arbiter Ceryaen sighs and looks at her hands a moments before finishing. "We have battled these issues on our own for nearly four years. But, as this disaster came from above, so too perhaps can the solution. Maybe, just maybe, you could help us solve this mess."

Clean

Arbiter Ceryaen's face twitches, almost forming a smile, as she says, "So glad you asked! The spider catastrophe caused a number of facets of the ocean to fall from order. Representatives of the prominent groups of our society have prepared a list of duties they could use assistance with. Presently, we believe your efforts can be best put to use by working on these tasks to restore order to our homeland. Among them are requests to kill corrupted or enraged creatures of the deeps that threaten our island, cleaning the corruption, or gathering bits of fallen tomiek."

Ceryaen says, "As you complete these duties, I shall vouch for your accomplishments by imbuing essence within a special ecosphere we have prepared for you. In turn, you may offer this essence in support of one of the representatives nearby to gain their favor as a show of commitment to their own endeavours. It is our hope that with your help we can purge the seas of the spider abomination's remnants and the corruption they cause."

Merelew

Arbiter Ceryaen points at herself. "Yes. I am one. See, I have gills." She tilts her head and points behind her ears, revealing a series of ridges that flutter slowly.

Palace

Arbiter Ceryaen glances back at the enormous structure visible in the distance, "Magnificent, isn't it? Shame, really, that you airbreathers cannot see it as intended, surrounded by schooling life flickering with the glow of the deep. The palace is the work of our finest artisans, inspired by the most perfect of designers, the ocean's inhabitants. The structure is always growing and changing, as the work of the Depth Shapers is never finished. There are rumors that the Shapers are excited to learn more of your building techniques and artistry."

Standing

Without Standing

Arbiter Ceryaen nods and says, "I keep records so that I may vouch for all who aid the Merelew people in overcoming the corruption afflicting our home." She unrolls a scroll and runs her finger down it until at last she recites in monotone: "[Title] [Name], [Race], [citizenship] and honored guest of Andreshlew, your deeds are [rating]."

With Standing

Arbiter Ceryaen nods and says, "I keep records so that I may vouch for all who aid the Merelew people in overcoming the corruption afflicting our home." She unrolls a scroll and runs her finger down it until at last she recites in monotone: "[Title] [Name], [Race], [citizenship] and honored guest of Andreshlew, your deeds are as follows:

Depth Shapers:

Inverted Crucible:

Trickling Sun:

Red Fan Traders:

Supplicants of the Tide:

Your unpledged renown is tallied at [number] thus far."

Eluned

Arbiter Ceryaen shifts her weight, leaning on the trident she carries. "Our beliefs are similar to your own, but there are different interpretations of some specifics. Eluned, as you know her, is honored by many here, but so too are others. In the past, Andreshlew has risen for the Feast of Eluned and all were welcomed to share the festivities with us. Perhaps you yourself visited Andreshlew then, hmm?"

Festival

Arbiter Ceryaen squints and says, "It has been many years since we shared the Feast of Eluned with you landwalkers." She looks around and tilts her head as she adds, "Perhaps it is time for a new tradition. Your efforts in assisting us may yet determine how the future unfolds."

Ripplegates

Arbiter Ceryaen glances to the side and says, "I believe they are similar to what your Moon Mages refer to as Moongates. Many of Grazhir's fragments fell to Elanthia's oceans, our domain, and were a great challenge that our own lunar-attuned mages recently overcame. The interference and difficulty of teleportation across the sea's vast distances are well studied, but not insurmountable."

Bribe

Ceryaen clears her throat and glances around. Quietly, she leans in and whispers, "Now listen here. I'm an honest sort. I'm not going to give you something for nothing. But if you're willing to part with, say, 276 platinum Kronars, I'd be willing to exaggerate your deeds to the representatives when the time comes."

Ceryaen says, "This isn't open ended, mind you. You'll have 1 hour from the time you hand over the coins. Whether you complete a single mission or a dozen is entirely up to you, and no one refunds a bribe, including me. That's just absurd. If you agree to these terms, then prepare your coins and ask again."

Ecosphere

Arbiter Ceryaen shakes her head. "You are unknown to us, drylander. Such a special gift of the depths would not be offered to you. You have much left to do to gain the needed trust."

Task

Offers a task.