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"I have gathered the four of you here today because things are desperate."
The Merman was big, with an impressive build, and he carried a trident that Amber knew he could use to great effect. She could also feel his magical talent, radiating out almost palpably. He could wield that impressively as well. His presence named him King of Atlantis as much as the crown on his head.
"It's public knowledge that we've begun drafting civilians for guard duties. But few know the true reason why. We're losing the war against the formori."
Every citizen of Atlantis knew things were desperate. Their god was missing, and without his protective hand common vermin, ancient evils, and even the sea itself all seemed set against them. The merfolk had been created by him when Atlantis had sank beneath the waves, and without him they would eventually die. But until today that had seemed a distant prospect.
"Not because they are better than us - they aren't - or even because they outnumber us, though they do. Because I have diverted most of our troops from the fight. The bare minimum guard our city, and what we have left further out is woefully inadequate. Because none of that will matter if Elric doesn't return soon."
"The evils we have faced so far are those simply held away by Elric's influence. But there are darker things that our God sealed away entirely. And those seals are weakening. They will fail. Imminently. Maybe in a week, maybe a month. We will be very lucky if they hold for six months, and fools if we hope they last a year. They could fall tomorrow. And when they fall, we fall. Keiga will likely ravish the cities on the shore, but the Other seal may spell the end of all."
An evil worse and more powerful then Keiga, the Dragon of the Tides, and the other Leviathan was difficult to imagine for anyone who lived their entire life in the sea. They had not been troubled by demons since Elric's Ascension, nor the invaders that had recently troubled the landbound, but the King seemed to think that whatever was beyond the second seal was worse. After all, those above the water had survived their invasions.
"But there is still hope. None have yet found any concrete hints as to where Elric is or why he doesn't answer our prayers despite years of searching, but there are always rumors. I have sent out as many of our folk as I dare following these rumors, and the four of you are no exception. Your task will be to go above water, among the Bound of Badaria. I have assigned each of you a city. If you find nothing there, continue inland until you discover the fate of our god or reach the Frozen Sea. If you do find something, follow wherever it leads. Do not waste a single moment."
"If you have questions, ask them now. Otherwise I will move you near to your destination."
The other three merfolk looked shocked. "What if we are discovered?" Melisa was a somewhat homely mermaid, with hair the color of seaweed.
"Then so be it. A small price for even the chance of salvation."
"And if... if we have to go out of sight of the sea?" Andrea was a middle-aged woman, with sandy hair, and a little bit old and well endowed for the traditional seashell bikini.
"THEN SO BE IT!" The water almost seemed to shake, though Amber knew that they 'spoke' through a direct mental link. "I apologize, I am under considerable stress at the moment. Any further questions?"
Michael, the other merman present, shook his head, sending his short halo of beaded braids bouncing, even the two coming off his chin. He gripped his spear a little tighter. "No, sire."
The Merman was big, with an impressive build, and he carried a trident that Amber knew he could use to great effect. She could also feel his magical talent, radiating out almost palpably. He could wield that impressively as well. His presence named him King of Atlantis as much as the crown on his head.
"It's public knowledge that we've begun drafting civilians for guard duties. But few know the true reason why. We're losing the war against the formori."
Every citizen of Atlantis knew things were desperate. Their god was missing, and without his protective hand common vermin, ancient evils, and even the sea itself all seemed set against them. The merfolk had been created by him when Atlantis had sank beneath the waves, and without him they would eventually die. But until today that had seemed a distant prospect.
"Not because they are better than us - they aren't - or even because they outnumber us, though they do. Because I have diverted most of our troops from the fight. The bare minimum guard our city, and what we have left further out is woefully inadequate. Because none of that will matter if Elric doesn't return soon."
"The evils we have faced so far are those simply held away by Elric's influence. But there are darker things that our God sealed away entirely. And those seals are weakening. They will fail. Imminently. Maybe in a week, maybe a month. We will be very lucky if they hold for six months, and fools if we hope they last a year. They could fall tomorrow. And when they fall, we fall. Keiga will likely ravish the cities on the shore, but the Other seal may spell the end of all."
An evil worse and more powerful then Keiga, the Dragon of the Tides, and the other Leviathan was difficult to imagine for anyone who lived their entire life in the sea. They had not been troubled by demons since Elric's Ascension, nor the invaders that had recently troubled the landbound, but the King seemed to think that whatever was beyond the second seal was worse. After all, those above the water had survived their invasions.
"But there is still hope. None have yet found any concrete hints as to where Elric is or why he doesn't answer our prayers despite years of searching, but there are always rumors. I have sent out as many of our folk as I dare following these rumors, and the four of you are no exception. Your task will be to go above water, among the Bound of Badaria. I have assigned each of you a city. If you find nothing there, continue inland until you discover the fate of our god or reach the Frozen Sea. If you do find something, follow wherever it leads. Do not waste a single moment."
"If you have questions, ask them now. Otherwise I will move you near to your destination."
The other three merfolk looked shocked. "What if we are discovered?" Melisa was a somewhat homely mermaid, with hair the color of seaweed.
"Then so be it. A small price for even the chance of salvation."
"And if... if we have to go out of sight of the sea?" Andrea was a middle-aged woman, with sandy hair, and a little bit old and well endowed for the traditional seashell bikini.
"THEN SO BE IT!" The water almost seemed to shake, though Amber knew that they 'spoke' through a direct mental link. "I apologize, I am under considerable stress at the moment. Any further questions?"
Michael, the other merman present, shook his head, sending his short halo of beaded braids bouncing, even the two coming off his chin. He gripped his spear a little tighter. "No, sire."