On her way to the first leader meeting...

[thornsofmalkav]

All right. In the interest of keeping everyone on the same page, here's the story we're going with, at least on the finny side of things. Those of you with legs should work your story to fit with this.

We're calling ourselves the Cornu school currently, although that's not our original name. We had territory invaded by the Thalassans and during the invasion we lost all our sirens and the bulk of our warriors. We're running away to regroup and figure out where we're going next, so we're only asking if they'll let us stay on the island for a month or two. Like we discussed, I'm currently de facto Leader, but I'm very new at this.

There was a storm. We found the Cornu, which had its crew swept overboard. No one knew the Song of Breath, so we couldn't do anything. Because we felt responsible, we said we'd help the passengers and the cabin boy find their way to shore, but because they got blown off course it made more sense to try to find the legendary island hidden in the Labyrinthine Shoals than to get them to a human port. They're here to hunt and fish and replenish their supplies so we can take them to the human port.

We're probably going to only need to stay for a month or two. That covers how long the Jaunt should last.

I'm going to be vague as to where you humans come from originally, but you should probably get the story together. I think Lyall knows where you're going to claim to be from?

Lupa, you should really try not to Sing in front of people, but if you get caught... you were raised by mermaids--not our school--and you lost them and booked passage on the Cornu to find them. We are completely confused as to why you can Sing at all, but we're keeping you alive so we can find out. And also because it would upset the other humans.

All we know about the Pulao school is that they're just as confused about the weird Song as we are.

Comments

[papacerberus]

It... may be too late, although I don't sense anyone close to me and will stop if I do.

[A short pause.]

A story like that would work to explain things, yes. I can also tell them the truth, and that I didn't know and still don't truly know what I'm capable of because I keep learning and understanding more from being here... from the Sea, I should say? I only realized I could Sing the Song of Breath if I wished a few days ago, so that way of explaining could cover why I was unable to help at the time of the storm.

[thornsofmalkav]

... oh my god.

Um. Shit. Okay. I think there's some weird bullshit called Salt Gifts that humans here have. Maybe say that you think it's a Salt Gift that's letting you sing if you get caught. Because non-mermaids really shouldn't be able to.

[papacerberus]

What's a Salt Gift?

I do apologize. I'm not sure why...

[Lupa trails off and picks up again.]

The truth is easier to keep straight than lies. Wouldn't keeping as close as possible be better?

[thornsofmalkav]

Little magics that the sea gives humans sometimes. So you hearing the Sea could be a Salt Gift. You can even just say that you were told it was a Salt Gift.

... in a perfect world, keeping it close as possible would be good, but too close and they'll be suspicious.

[papacerberus]

Songs... aren't little? Wouldn't that be suspicious? But I can certainly claim to not understand how I was able to learn and Sing, because I don't understand it, truly.

[thornsofmalkav]

... well. I suppose that's something. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll direct questions back to me.

[Because someone's going to have to lie for you when you can't do it for yourself.]

[papacerberus]

I can suggest you might know more, as the Leader of our school.

[If he was 'raised' by mermaids, might as well talk like one, right? Also lying is a confounding and difficult thing and Lupa has no idea how people manage to do it.]

[morbirdinterest]

A reasonable story. Perhaps knowing we only intend to stay temporarily will put whoever is inhabiting this area at ease.

[thornsofmalkav]

Thanks, Doctor Shuu. I thought it might work. Hopefully we'll get away with this.

[morbirdinterest]

As long as nobody loses their heads... It should be sufficient.

[thornsofmalkav]

Yeah.

[Which can be a big 'if'... although at least Jules is Finfiltrating.]

[naturaltwohands]

Good luck with the parlay.

... But must I really be the cabin boy?

[Yes, they've already agreed to it, but Drizzt is still kinda annoyed about the cover story.]

[thornsofmalkav]

Yeah. I'm sorry, but with how young you look right now...

[naturaltwohands]

[Drizzt has practiced the art of being able to sign mentally, and he uses that gift now.]

I suspect I wills imply have to get used to it. I understand that I will always look this age during Jaunts.

[thornsofmalkav]

Yeah. Jaunt stuff is weird like that. You should talk to Right when he gets back. He always turns into a teenager too--although, he's naturally even younger.

[naturaltwohands]

That, and my body is nearly grown but my mind is not. According to both my father and Justice.

I may do so. It would be nice to commensurate with another over this slight.

[thornsofmalkav]

[Poor kid. It's hard being a kid and growing up. It's hard and no one understands.]

[naturaltwohands]

[CRAWLING IN MY SKIN, THESE WOUNDS WILL NOT--]

Thorne?

[tobegood]

Isn't that a pretty big coincidence, to have all our crew swept overboard like that?

[thornsofmalkav]

Maybe, but there's no real other explanation why none of us can sail except Drizzt.

[tobegood]

I guess so...

Couldn't we just learn how to sail? He's been teaching me, I'm a quick learner.

[thornsofmalkav]

Not everyone learns that quick, Imriel, not even Travelers. And... if we were going to do that we probably should have started when we first got dumped here.

Sorry, it's a decent idea and might have been the way if we'd had a few more days at sea, but timing conspired against us.

[tobegood]

It's not like they'll be testing us...

[But he's not truly arguing, just sullenly grumbling about it.]

[thornsofmalkav]

[Yeah, she knows.]

Yeah, but this island is full of real sailors. At least, if it's the one that the first Jaunt found, anyway.

[tobegood]

Well, maybe some of us should try to learn anyway. It might come up again in another jaunt, and we'll be ready that time.