open to all investigators. (3rd day of Maiden)

[creatic]

[ okay so he's pretty well known to just drive you people up a wall in telepathic conversation but in rare instances he can be serious.

And one thing the veterans, at least, know? He never starts open conversations unless he's serious and with something worth hearing. And he only says things worth hearing when he finds it dangerous. ]

Right, so, I think we might suddenly have a really big problem. Like, really big.

[ yeah he means it literally concerning it physically as much as simply metaphorically. ]

Has anyone heard of anyone around the ships talking about something called "the Grasper"?

Comments

[detectivewonder]

No, but I agree that sounds... not good. Who's been talking?

[creatic]

One of us that's infiltrating as a mermaid.

She is terrified.

[detectivewonder]

I've only spoken to one mermaid, and she didn't mention it. Does she have a description?

[creatic]

I don't think it's one of those topics you bring up in casual conversation. I mean, not to make it sound dramatic or anything, but she's basically saying this thing is going to kill her and her people if they encounter it.

She wanted on the boat without hesitation. Considering some of the stuff I've overheard about this species rumoring around the ship, they're not exactly considered safe approaching a ship like this and trying to get attention.

When you're so eager to step into one possible death to avoid another like that, it's no good. [ this is very much a problem without them even knowing the details, yet ]

Yeah, I'm working on getting one from her, give me a minute and I'll try to relay it.

[detectivewonder]

I'll see if I can corroborate with one of them over here.

[pseudologist]

Doesn't ring a bell. But any monster that has its own name can't possibly be good.

[creatic]

You know, I was afraid you were going to use that word.

[ HE SORT OF TRIED TO PRETEND MAYBE IT WAS ANOTHER SHIP OR SOMETHING. but monsters are never cool, especially monsters that are in mystical type worlds with magic or the like. ]

[pseudologist]

I could use another word, but that won't change what it probably is.

[If it were a ship, he figures the question would've been about a ship and not a general something.

Besides, the timing is suspect - ships don't usually cause stampedes.]

[creatic]

I guess it's true. Saying it's a unicorn won't make it one.

You ever dealt with something like this before? [ because he's never been on anything but maybe a fishing boat in his life, nevermind out in the deeper waters. ]

[pseudologist]

Sea monsters in particular? I can't say I have. But 'shoot it in the soft bits' tends to be a fairly universal solution.

That or running.

[howexciting]

[Leonardo quietly responds after a bit of discussion on the subject. Anyone who sees him in person will see just how hesitant and nervous he is. But his thoughts are deliberate.]

It seems to me as if it might be a reference to the Leviathan. If that is the case, we are in grave danger.

[unabatedly]

[He's not the only one listening in. But she finally speaks.]

How so? What is the Leviathan?

[unabatedly]

It doesn't sound like something we wish to tangle with.

[Neria sighs. Nothing can be easy around here, can it?]

Where did you hear of this, Souji?

[creatic]

[ YEAH WHAT'S A LEVIATHAN... he'll just let neria ask the questions here instead of repeat them. ]

da Vinci-san?

[ you have his full attention. ]

[creatic]

[ of course not. ]

One of ours that's currently one of those fish people. I've seen real fear for one's life many times [ he's been the cause of it so many times ] but her level of terror was the same as a person not wanting to die watching the blade in motion as it descends on them.

The thing is, I don't feel as if it's anywhere closeby despite the strange... activity in the water.

[ a pause ] At least, not immediately so.

[creatic]

Well, how lucky for us we don't have to make a decision here, since there's no where to run to on these ships.

[ he's being sarcastic of course, but not in an attacking way of the suggestions given. it's more along the lines of... awesome, this is actually real life for us. ]

~10 minutes later.

[creatic]

Hey, Tim-kun, would "stupidly big sea monster of death" help at all in matching any descriptions you're managing to hear on your end?

[ THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE SAID, but it seemed to get the initial point across well enough for starters and was much quicker said. ]

[howexciting]

... you can call me Leonardo, you know. Da Vinci only means "from Vinci", the city where I was born--

[Right. The Leviathan.]

Mi dispiace. What is it that the mermaids have said about it?

[creatic]

Well, I won't object if you say so, it is certainly way easier to pronounce.

She said it was the Empress's beast—their Empress's beast?—significantly larger than the ships and devours anything and everything because it's insatiable. She suggested taking the ship into shallow waters, so I'm guessing she's not exaggerating and it must be really damn big if it can't go there.

[pseudologist]

Not literally, of course, but I've heard it said that ships can also go away very fast when there's trouble at their metaphorical heels.

[He's used to that...tone, for lack of a better word. He's heard it at least once every time another dragon, demon, or less identifiable horror has turned up.

...That's a lot of times.]

[howexciting]

Yes, mermaids are a matriarchal society, it makes sense they have an Empress. The mermaid you spoke to is correct on those fronts, at least from the stories. She suggests we move to shallow waters because the Leviathan is supposed to be very large and formidable. It also lives in deep waters and only arises when awakened or, in this case it seems, summoned.

The Leviathan is supposed to resemble a squid, although other stories say it is a mix of squid and whale. It is rumored in some stories to have hard scales on its back that nothing can pierce through, and can breathe fire though it lives in water. One story even says it can boil the sea water around it and possibly breathe fire. It is also called the Kraken by some, though others seem to think the Leviathan and the Kraken are two different creatures.

Then there are the whirlpools it can create.

[upcard]

[Her mental tone is just as quiet as the rest of her speech is, and she's additionally ridiculously exhausted, but nonetheless, she can't let this go.

Mostly because that's terrifying.]

That's...

[um...she's seen her pirate movies probably but--]

A monster...?

[creatic]

...I see this little Empress of theirs just has to have the pet that does pretty much everything, doesn't she? [ because that is kind of insane. ]

....Possibly different? [ still a problem regardless of which it could be. There's a small hum from him as he considers. ] so I guess they're somewhat similar to Akkorokamui, but with a real thirst for death and destruction.

[ Akkorokamui is just fickle and has some 'off' moments. ] ...Akkorokamui is considered unkillable. Leviathan and Kraken are...?

[ please finish this sentence with good news... ]

[hakodate]

I hadn't heard anything yet. What've you got?

[creatic]

[ at least that's good to know... Or good to hope. ]

Think the captains are already well-believers in this monster we have coming for a dinner date?