Whale Man Tries to Turn Around And Walk Back Into the Rift

[encoreinthedeep]

Type: Text
Sender ID: encoreinthedeep (Ulpianus)
To: Everyone
Subject: Return
Warnings: None

Requesting all available information on how to return to my own world.

[ He sends this message within ten seconds of receiving his shellphone. ]

Comments

[garudas]

Not far. The equipment that others have built could only handle the pressure so deep, but we did find what appears to be a lost ancient city in the deeper depths. Nothing much further than that, but you are welcome to try.

[She does not recommend it.]

What exactly do you hope to find there?

[encoreinthedeep]

[ A lost ancient city, huh... This is starting to sound even more familiar. ]

Answers. It may be the birthplace of ancient leviathans, or of what wiped out the larger specimens.

[garudas]

Perhaps one or two of them, yes. Not all. I suspect there are others that do not live in the ocean. This world was not all water a long time ago.

And that is not to say that they are wiped out. They are merely difficult to find.

So far, we have only met one, and the other that we are aware of keeps its distance. The latter you may have better luck beneath the ocean, but others have sought it out with little success.

[encoreinthedeep]

I have more knowledge of the ocean than land dwellers. I will descend. I will share what I find.

Tell me of the leviathan you discovered and where you believe others to be.

[garudas]

You are quite a demanding and confident little one, aren't you? How adorable that you think you could descend all on your own to those depths to search for the Ancient yourself.

I do not give all of my information for free, you know. I'd ask for something in return for my troubles.

[encoreinthedeep]

[ Well, that's a rapid shift in tone. He's starting to suspect this might be the 'Lady Benedikta' he was told about.

But she did offer him enough information so far. He can ignore the derision. ]

Name your price.

[garudas]

[He would be correct, and whoever told him about her was also correct.]

All I ask is that when the time comes where I've need of your unique skills regarding this research, you will heed that call. A very small favour, if you will.

[encoreinthedeep]

[ Well it was Dion so I assume he Knows(TM). ]

A reasonable proposition.

Which skills do you expect of me?

[ He will... do his best to be polite, given his hunch that this is Benedikta. But he also can't help but be wary of her request. (Girl you're so sus) ]

[garudas]

[ :D ]

Your knowledge of the deep and any ability to navigate it, as you said. I suspect that the things I am looking for are buried deep within those depths. It is just a matter of finding where.

[With that out of the way...]

The Ancient I speak of many call "Mother". All we have seen of her is a large red eye and the shadow of her form. She lurks in those depths, though I would be wary of her. She has the power to drown an entire island and all the people on it, which I have seen with my own eyes.

[Nearly drowned in that wave as well even with her wings.]

[encoreinthedeep]

[ wow! he hates All Of That! ]

I have several questions. Please and thank you.

Was there an abnormal silence before the island was drowned?
Was the island changed in any way after sinking?
Does this "Mother" appear to have any goals it is pursuing?
What are its offspring?

[garudas]

I would not say so much silence as it was a feeling of dread that overcame things. Those of us on the island or in ships heard a voice in our heads, saw the red eye, and then the wave hit. All we heard was "drown".

The island was completely destroyed. There is nothing left of it.

And "Mother" seems keen on protecting the sea and the creatures within it, if her previous actions are any indication. We've no idea what her offspring is, only that most, if not all creatures in the depths call her that.

[encoreinthedeep]

[ Hmmm. That sounds a little less Seaborn than what he was expecting - or at least, different from the specific kind he's dealt with. But as there are multiple Firstborns, who is to say they can't all behave differently?

But also... ]

You intruded upon its domain?

[garudas]

[A shame her offense to that question does not make it through text very well.]

We did not "intrude" upon any domain.

I suggest you read up on the abductions that happened a year ago. The wealthiest of people decided it would be fun to kidnap whales and humans for their experiments. Brought them to an island far out in the sea.

Some of us went to save those who did get kidnapped, as well as destroy the culprits.

[encoreinthedeep]

[ girl why are you mad at him for not knowing the Lore(TM) immediately!!! ]

I want to ascertain why the Mother attacked you. Studying its behavior is the first step to understanding it.

[garudas]

[Read more books, Ulpi! Intrude sounds so negative when they were there to ave them!!!]

I do not think she attacked us, per se, though the attack itself felt without prejudice. The water receded and that word was the warning we received before the wave crashed over the island.

Whales and dolphins and other sea creatures had come to rescue those caught in the waves. Those who did not deserve to die, of course. Whether she had sent them or not, I do not know. The whales were friends of mine that I'd assisted previously, but I cannot speak for anyone else.

[She'd been saved by a pair of whales herself.]

[encoreinthedeep]

[ HOW WAS HE SUPPOSED TO KNOW SHE WAS THERE TO SAVE THEM!

But, well, if other animals were able to still act... ]

The Mother sounds different from what I seek, but worth an investigation nonetheless.

[garudas]

What exactly is it that you seek down there?

[And why would anyone go down there to look willingly?]

[encoreinthedeep]

Confirmation.

[ --ah right he's supposed to be polite to her. Which probably involves explaining himself. ]

The nature and genesis of these Leviathans.

[ #explainedit ]

[garudas]

[That explains nothing.]

Good luck with that, then. The only Ancient that we have spoken with was grumpy and did not wish to speak with anyone at all, but should you have any luck with it, then do share with the rest of us.

probably wrapping up?

[encoreinthedeep]

[ It explains nothing! ]

Understood.

;D 🎀

[garudas]

[Read at 7:16 p.m.]