Information Collecting [Lonely Lighthouse quest]

[crystalrepose]

Type: Text
Sender ID: crystalrepose (Miriam)
To: Public
Subject: Information Collecting
Warnings: N/A for now


Greetings,

I’m called Miriam; I’m one of several who’s been investigating the disappearance of the villagers from Marrowmouth, down the coast from the lighthouse. Though I do not know all of you, I believe I have information to share instead of feeling as though I’m chasing shadows.

Whatever took all these people also took the village’s boats, save for one too mired in red seaweed to be salvageable. There was a cut net on board, however—and the net was surrounded by a binding circle. To keep an entity contained—or trap those who came along to look into the matter. Which almost happened to me.

The crimson seaweed that washed up on the shore has its origins further out to sea; its stalks go far deeper into the water than any kelp forest I’ve seen, and it doesn’t seem attached to anything. Large mats of it drift wherever the current takes them. They feel...unpleasant to touch, but the worst is what hides within them. Predatory fish, some from my world. A group of hostile mer has made exploring the sargassum a bit troublesome.

If you’ve uncovered other information, I’d be glad to hear it. Others may find it useful, as well.

P.S. I’ve found what that antivenom was for, Sherlock.

((OOC: Further information has been gathered here! This is part of a leadup into a player plot development next month. And feel free to threadjack around this post if a subject of interest comes up.))

Comments

text; un: radiantdragon

[radiantdragonfang]

Whatever it is, it has managed to abduct the villagers without much of a fight. When Thancred and I explored the village, we found a lot of houses empty, as if people had just walked out and left. There was some effort to stop whatever the effect was as we found barriers in the basements, but it was almost like they were voluntarily deconstructed.

In some of the houses farther back from the shore, we found the message of "don't listen" scrawled on the walls.

I have to admit, it was rather upsetting.

[crystalrepose]

I'm sorry you had to see that.

The...well, the rats in the village also mentioned something about hearing an unfamiliar voice. We're not certain if it was my friend they were hearing, but one of them started getting very distressed.

And I did hear...humming, from the sargasso sea. But if it was a siren's call it wasn't a very powerful one; I felt nothing from it, and it sounded more like a mer practicing. Maybe it was different below the waves, but the humming had stopped by the time I got in the water.

[radiantdragonfang]

So, whatever it was, we can assume it was coming from the water?

Perhaps there was a time when it was stronger. And that's what called people away.

I admit, I don't know much about Sirens.

[But he is trying.]

[crystalrepose]

It seems like it. I think that fishing vessel might have dredged something up best left forgotten.

The sirens I've encountered in this world range from entirely harmless to somewhat troublesome; these might be somewhere in between. These mer we encountered quickly chose violence over song.

[radiantdragonfang]

Isn't that always the case?

[it certainly hits a little closer to home than he would like.]

It sounds like whatever it is, we should probably be on our guard and prepare for the worst.