The First Land Herald/436-02-01

Article Number: Unknown article number

Dateline: 436-02-01

ANDRESHLEW SICK — MERELEW ASKS FOR AID The Merelew diplomat Cotovatre made a surprise appearance yesterday at the visions meeting hosted by esteemed Visionist Miskton atop Shard's Great Tower. She expressed an interest in talking to the seers and listening to their visions, although her presence naturally excited the other attendees and prompted much friendly chatter about the Merelew and their ways. As the night wore on, she ultimately revealed that she had a very specific purpose for wanting to learn of the future: the island home of the Merelew, Andreshlew, is unwell. "Wrong feeling," as she put it. She had come to see if the seers could help her understand why. Miskton easily identified the vision he thought most relevant to her plight. He said, "I saw the sea, and felt a cold wind whipping spray from the tops of waves. The ocean began to bubble, warm air rising with the scent of brine and kelp. Far below the surface, numerous brilliant blue lights began to rise, luminescent orbs wrung around massive structures of shell and coral. The ocean bulged with displaced water, and a billowing cloud gathered. A massive bolt of electricity struck the ocean, and the waters parted, the twisted forms dripping and hissing as they breathed the air. From within the buildings, unblinking eyes peered from membranous windows, and the vision faded." When she spoke more specifically on the island's plight, Cotovatre said, "Is much not well with island. Not know what... Island is living. Sometimes get sick. But, this feel maybe not like sick? Is things hitting island, metal breaking things. But now island unhappy... Is been there for a while." We pieced together that the coral-wrought living city had been struck by several pieces of the mechanical spider after its spectacular ocean explosion, and some time later the city began showing signs of this unhappiness. Not sent by King Galpelus, as she would ordinarily be, Cotovatre had taken it upon herself to travel to land in the hopes of learning more. With some probing, we learned that there are Merelew mages who work with coral, although Cotovatre has not spoken to them yet about the condition of Andreshlew. They are, though, working to make the island better, shaping new coral, pearl, and other things. Many of the broken buildings have been repaired. Naturally, the mood of the Kermorians was to help the Merelew with their plight. I believe that our Empaths in particular may be able to diagnose what ails the city, though of course it would be wise to put together a cadre of mages to examine it in different ways. Interested mages, be on the lookout for further news or ways we might help. Cotovatre says she will come again, as will one called Kolanem, a delegate of their king. She likes the idea of help. In fraternity, Navesi Daerthon True Bard, Zoluren's Herald Editor in Chief of the First Land Herald MERELEW FACTS Of some note, Cotovatre also agreed to answer questions about her people and culture. This was the first such opportunity in many years, and many of us jumped at the chance. For posterity, I record here what we learned from her: The Merelew greet one another with a complicated bow that involves touching first the inside of the right foot to that of the other person's, then repeating with the left foot. Cotovatre explained that this spares the delicate webbing of the hands. The Merelew do not grow their own food, but rather harvest fish, kelp, seaweed, and other sea life such as oysters. They "drink lots of things." "Have many things imported when drylanders visit." They are able to speak via vibrations underwater, something like we speak through the air. They have musical instruments that work underwater, in particular the zuceira or "water drum," perhaps "water song." "Is drum. Put water in it. How much water makes sound different." They also have the shintu. When asked about singing, she said, "I guess is singing? Not like you sing. Vibrations underwater." Their houses have "roundy tops like onions... good for water current flow." Many Merelew worship the Thirteen, in particular Eluned. "After we leave Emperor who says MERELEW FOLLOW ME, we go no more drylander. But. Drylander religion come back." There is also a popular goddess called Aluna. "Aluna is older religion... Aluna is goddess of sea. She is the moonlight that come through kelp at night. Waves of moon kissing in the dark. She is silver scaled Merelew with green hair! In drawings anyway. Rides a big sea turtle." She mentioned that Lemicus and Drogor are around too, but not as popular. Their language is called Asaran. She said that the words are "harder for us to hear" and "some like how Elves talk." She mentioned they have a history with the Elves. "We trade lots with River Elves." They once used parchment to keep their records, but many were lost at some point. Now they write on wood and stone. An early Emperor from the Seven Star Empire tried to annex the Merelew, but they eluded that fate. "Then Emperor say MERELEW BELONG TO US. And Merelew say no. And leave." She also added, "Used to trade much with the mainland... Emperor ruin all things. We only make little trade now. Much better trade before Emperor came." They once had a village in Riverhaven, a very long time ago, but left. There they learned how to make metal. They do not have contact with any races other than the Eleven civilized races of Kermoria. When asked about Merelew mages, Cotovatre said, "Not know how to explain? Many things people do, though... Manipulate water, coral. Not maybe like you?... Not call Element though." She pointed out that coral is living, and said, "Many people depth shape. Make things into other things... Always watch tides." Prince Belirendrick IV and Princess Inavia lived on Andreshlew for some time. "They very fun... Princess very trouble. Prince not so much. He want to do best." The Ocular once impersonated a Merelew and tried to eat an Olvi at one of their festivals. "They don't breathe underwater even if shapeshifted. Gills are shapeshifted but fake."

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Author(s): Navesi