A Disturbance in the Deep

The First Mate still finds herself marveling at the transformation of the Captain at times. The early days were bright and vibrant, and after the Tragedy, she thought they would never return. In some ways, there's still a long way to go. But in so many others, the Captain is doing better than ever. She can still feel his apprehension around the delvers, but it's nothing like the anger and fear of the dark times.

Even the merfolk growing more independent is showing to be healthy for both them and the Captain. The dwellers are growing and exploring, looking more excited and just interested in life than they've been in a long time. The Captain still worries for them, but he also feels pride in their accomplishments. He's seen the error of his ways, and is working to ensure he doesn't repeat his mistakes.

New things bring new oddities, like the fishermen. Yes, there were some before the Tragedy, but the shear scale doesn't compare. Most of the fishermen seem to prefer targeting the resource-focused fish, though some try to capture the First Mate's fellow sharks.

Most ignore the baits, but some occasionally bite and fight, earning mana either by being captured, or claiming victory over the delver by snapping the line. But this new bait is something odd enough to warrant her personal attention.

The bait itself is something both new and yet very familiar: a worm. However, it is several feet long, and has a maw full of needle-like teeth. The invader is skewered upon a treble hook large enough to be mistaken for an anchor, especially considering it's attached to a chain, instead of a line. Several other sharks are eyeing the invader, attracted both by the blood in the water as well as the feeling of its presence.

What are these delvers up to now? She leaves the sharks nearby to ensure the worm doesn't somehow slip off the barbed hook and actually cause trouble, and surfaces near the lighthouse.

"Quartermaster!"

"Aye, First Mate?" he cries in reply as he swoops down from the top. The entire structure isn't quite finished just yet, but he's very much enjoying the prime perch at the top already.

"There's a new batch of fishermen. Take a look at them."

"Aye! Shall I heave them overboard, or just keep an eye on them?"

The First Mate considers for a moment. "Just watch them, though you don't need to be subtle about it. They might try to explain themselves if you make yourself known."

He nods and takes wing, flying towards the large ship positioned well away from the enclave. If they weren't respecting the safety of the enclave, the First Mate would have capsized the ship without bothering the Quartermaster.

She sidles up to the large ship, keeping herself out of sight, yet able to hear anything happening up on the main deck. The Quartermaster doesn't take long to make his entrance, and the reaction is immediate.

"AAHH!" shouts what could only have been the lookout as the Quartermaster forces him to abandon his post. There's no thud, so they probably didn't just fall to the deck at least.

"Captain! We're under attack!"

"Use yer eyes, ye swab! If we were under attack, it'd be attackin'!"

"But it almost landed right on top of me!"

"And I don't care! And don't you go causing any fuss with it, neither! It's bad luck to mess with an albatross, doubly so when it's a scion!"

That seems to cow the lookout, and the First Mate can practically hear them both just staring up at her fellow atop their mast.

"So... what do we do?"

The Captain hmphs and makes his way across the deck. "The dungeon wants t'know what we're doin'. I'm fishin'! I've fished up the mightiest beasts the ocean has to offer, but I've never claimed a great white shark scion! I know you respawn, you great toothed thing you! So do battle with Magnus Coralfist! I've a hold full of tasty and tempting invaders for you to nibble on! One of them will see you at the end of my hook!"

The First Mate can feel the confusion from both the Captain and the Quartermaster. Someone is actually challenging her? She could easily capsize this boat and feast on the invaders and the delvers, too. What kind of madman hatches a plan like that?

As she considers the challenge, she smiles. A true man of the sea makes that kind of challenge. It's not a simple challenge of strength, but of mettle, of wits! He has to know he'd fare little chance in an actual fight, but with his declared conditions, he might stand a chance! She grins as she slices through the water towards her target, before slicing through the chain holding the hook. She quickly returns to the surface, letting the denizen sharks clean up the worm invader.

She can hear them hauling back up the broken chain, and the despair in the lookout is delicious.

"Captain! She broke the chain!"

The lookout may despair, but the captain sounds jubilant. "Aye, she did! She's no minnow, that's fer sure! It's been a while since I had t'get me good line! Help me get the dire bullfrog out of the brig! She be a lass wi' class, me hearty!"

The First Mate smiles and swims idle circles around the boat as the delvers prepare. No matter how this ends, she imagines both sides will have one whopper of a tale to tell.