“And this is the spot where the mermaids always came to to trade with us,” explained loremaster Cilan. “Until 27 years ago. They came every year after the summer solstice.”
They stood in a large circular building in the northern part of the harbor. Instead of walls, its domed roof was held up by large columns. The ceiling was painted with colorful scenes.
A giant mermaid pointing the way for a group of ships. The ships arriving at an empty green shore. One of each other race, working together to build a town, as harpies soared in the skies. As dragonewts carried freshly hunted deer into the half-built city and tiny creatures that could’ve been gnomes helped with the building.
Mermaids shared the bounty of the ocean with the various people and safeguarded the ships that left.
Another scene showed the finished town and the newcomers offering tribute to the four races.
A wet feeling on her talons pulled her overwhelmed mind to the ground of the building. Water lapped against the stairs that made up the landward side of the building and flowed over the flat ground in the middle as the tide rose. A deep channel was dug into the floor of the building, ending as a pool right in its middle, giving easy access to the fish – and to the mermaids that once came here.
“Do not worry. It’s shallow enough here.”
Rethia nodded her thanks towards the loremaster and returned to inspecting the ceiling of.
“It’s marvelous. The colors are so vibrant!”
“We don’t know how they were done, or when. I’ve heard that other cities have similar buildings, with the same scenes in their harbors.”
“Where did you come from?” asked Rethia, pointing a wing at the scene that she thought was the first: The mermaid that pointed the way for the ships.
“Legend has it that we came from the far west, beyond the horizon. A great catastrophe happened there, and the strongest of our mages, said to sail east. The journey took months and without the mermaids showing the way, it’s said that our ancestors wouldn’t have found the way.
“The promised land, green and lush with life, instead of dying from… I don’t know. The legends don’t say much about our homeland. There in the corner before that scene, you can see the remnants.” Cilan pointed at a tiny scene: A person with a glowing staff and rich clothes stood on the edge of a piece of land, behind them dead trees and a crumbling city. They pointed into the waves, at a group of ships that was sailing away from all of that.
“Huh, I hadn’t noticed that. Interesting. Go on. The mermaids showed the way?”
Cilan nodded and turned to the next large scene.
“They led the way to the promised land, where we built our first town. Not many had survived the journey, while some had decided to stay behind. But there were enough of us to start over. Everyone worked together, and then we were greeted by the others of the God Races. The legends described them as inventive, fast and powerful beyond words, and they helped us survive the first years. We built with them and lived together, and when the first settlement was overfilled, several of us went on to built more towns along the shore. We traveled inland and explored this new land. We gave tribute to the messengers of the gods.
“During that time, our gods also sent us heros to help. They went on to become brave warriors, wise men or cunning merchants. They helped us explore and expand, and they hunted the ferocious bests that threatened us.
“And then, something happened. Legends don’t say much about it. It’s said that harpies flew out to the ocean and then a massiv storm swept over the coast and far inland and destroyed many of our settlements. After the storm was gone, we started rebuilding, but only our heros remained. Gods messengers had vanished.
“With time, we got back on our feet and our heros were called back by the gods, leaving us with only legends about them. Much much later, the messengers of the sea, the mermaids, returned to some coastal towns and started trading with them.”
“That’s an amazing history. I guess this ceiling was painted before that storm?”
“It’s been here since forever. Today, we think that it was built together with the city. As I said, many of the settlements were destroyed, but not everyone. Those who survived the storm still have an intact Mer-Temple, as this building is called.”
“Is this the first settlement your ancestors built?”
“No one knows. It could as well be one that was destroyed by the storm,” Cilan shook her head, her voice became yearning. “I wish we knew. There is so much history in the First Settlement. So much we could learn from it. But it’s more likely that it’s one of the destroyed towns, or that it’s now submerged. Maybe it never even existed.
“You know, this part of the Mer-Temple was dry when I was a child, over thirty years ago. Not even a high tide could wet the spot where we’re standing now. Generations of loremasters have recorded the water line, and it’s been rising for a long while. Thus my theory that the First Settlement, if it even existed, could be submerged now. But it is much more likely that our ancestors landed at different spots along the shore, instead of only one. That makes it impossible to say today which one was the actual First Settlement to be built. And by what account do we declare it as ‘first’? When they started to build or when they finished?
Stolen story; please report.
“I mean, it would’ve been idiotic to let all ships start from the same spot and sail the same route. What if a shipkiller storm hit them? Our ancestors knew nothing about the path they took. Not prevalent wind nor current. It’s a wonder they even arrived, and it doesn’t explain the other races. One of our oldest records says that only humans were on board of those ships, yet in this scene are also beastkin, elves and dwarves. As far as I learned, they are not native to this continent.
“But those are just the ruminations of a humble loremaster who listens too much to the Wanderers that discuss our origin story when they think no one listens.” Cilan bowed politely.
“Wait, only humans settled along the west coast?” Rethia looked up from her notebook, where she had written down most of the story she had just heard.
“That I don’t know, but it’s my educated guess that only humans were on the ships from the west.”
“Interesting…” Rethia alternately stared at her notes and at the pictures on the ceiling, wondering if she should try to copy the scenes or not. She wasn’t the best artist. Maps were her strong point, not pictures. But a nagging feeling told her that it could be important information for her flock.
With a sigh, she opened a new double page in her notebook, dipped a claw into the inkpot that Sven offered and began to sketch down the ceiling as best she could, which was: terrible. Cilan drifted over to glance over her shoulder.
“You know, they sell woven fabrics of the scenes. It’s been selling nicely to the Wanderers. Looks to me that they all want at least one piece. Some buy even several at once,” offered Cilan.
“Why is that? I mean, it’s historical value may be pretty high, but what use to Wanderers have for history? They only ever hunt feral monsters. And I guess some went and opened shops in larger cities?”
Cilan shrugged. “No idea. But since they want to buy it…”
“Is there maybe a map in your records, that shows the coastline from ancient times? And where the first few settlements were?” asked Rethia hopefully.
“Sadly, no. But there is an interesting mural you could look at. It’s a three days ride south of here. There is a bay with a cave entrance that is only accessible by boat or swimming, though at low tide, one could wade through the water. Then it only comes up to the thighs, but I wouldn’t want to be inside when the tide rises again. I’ve only heard tales about it. Never been there.”
“Why not? It’s so close!”
“I would love to, but I have my duties in this city. Teaching the children, advising the council, weather forecasts for the sailors and do you know how many wild animals and feral beasts are between here and there? Even a sailing trip is fraught with dangers. Ships have to give that area a wide berth, because of the large reefs and rocks that lurk beneath the waters. The sailors say that at low tide, you can see their tips above the water, like an irregular carpet of pins and needles. And a fishing boat is too small to make that trip unharmed.” Cilan shook her head. “No, thank you. I prefer to stay safe and alive. Though, if you make the trip, could you tell me how it was? The last time someone from Etrimera was there was over a century ago.”
“If I come back this way, I will tell you. Thank you for your time and your explanations.”
Cilan waved her off. “Nothing to thank for. It’s the same history that is taught to the children, though with some of my own theories added to the mix. If you want to know more, just visit me. I’m either in the library or in the school.”
Cilan led her out of the temple and to the couple that sold the ceiling scenes, then left her. One sat at a large loom while the other stitched. They had draped five differently sized squares over their stall, each with a different amount of details. The smallest was the size of four human hands and was missing the scene with the dead trees. The next was three human hands long and wide, had all scenes but was missing a lot of details. The middle sized was four hands long on each side. It had more details but it still felt lacking.
The largest had the most detail, but fancy waves and leaves had been added around it. Rethia settled for the next largest, the one that was five human hands long on each side. It had slightly less detail than the largest, but it had no fancy stuff added to it either. It still cost her a pretty penny. Without the reward-money from the wyvern hunt, she would’ve thought twice before buying it. Now she only gulped at the price but paid it nonetheless. Even got a discount.
At her wondering face, the woman nodded towards several clusters of adventurers. Wanderers.
“See those younglings? They’ll buy several right after you move on.”
“Why? Are they searching for the mermaids? Or is it… I don’t know… a souvenir?”
The woman shrugged, but her husband was faster: “Heard some whisper that it was a key item. Whatever that meant. There are no keys in the scenes.”
“Others said that it must be the lead to a hidden quest. It’s amazing what nonsense they drop. They barely even take note of us, treating us like background when they don’t need something from us,” added the woman. “Not you, though. You’re too flashy to blend in. I guess they always watch their mouths around you, eh?”
Rethia grimaced. The many cut-off conversations between Kaska and Stooge. Or that time in the mountains, when Thomas had led a bunch away before they could ask about taming.
“Batshit crazy is what they are. But they are paying customers,” muttered the husband, shoving the weaving shuttle through the line. With a clack, the rows were switched.
“So, you think this will lead you to the mermaids?” asked the woman with a sidelong glance. Her fingers danced over the delicate embroidery.
“Don’t know. Probably not, but it’s my best lead at the moment. At least I can look at the scenes again without having to fly back here. Well, there is still daylight left. I should resupply, if I want to leave tomorrow. Have a good day.”
The couple gave her directions to several good but hidden stores. As she left, she heard the man bellow over the clatter of the harbor: “Come one, come all! Thi’s the lead to the Maids of the Sea! Even the Hunters of the Winds use this to find ‘em! Come and buy your waywiser now! Only limited stock!”
She looked back and chuckled as the cluster of Wanderers descended upon the couple. More hurried out of the inner city to crowd around the tiny stall. The husband winked at her as he caught her eyes above the gathering idiots.
Briefly she thought that she recognized Stooge, but there were at least three more people of his bulk in the crowd, wearing similar plate armor.
————
“I wonder where she went?” muttered Kaska around a sushi roll.
“Who?” Stooge admired the embroidered fabric he had managed to snatch. A lead to the mysterious mermaids!
“Rethia! Who else, you idiot?”
“I saw her walking into the city proper when that man started to yell about this. Don’t they look fascinating, Kaska? It’s like one of them murals in a museum. One of the better preserved.”
“Yes, it’s fascinating, but we could’ve come back later to buy one. Now we’ve lost our lead to an epic chain quest!”
“Don’t growl at me. You’re just angry that you didn’t get one because you’re too squishy to get to the front. But I’ll lend it to you later. After all, we’re a team. For your obsession with that origin story. See here? They sailed over the ocean and a mermaid pointed the way to the shores of Yurazia.”
Kaska glowered at her large friend, but ripped her curious eyes away from the fabric.
“Yes, I’m happy that you got one. And I’ll prolly show it later. After we find our quest harpy again. Now pack it before someone tries to steal it.”