It started out as a typical day on the seas. I was swimming around near
Celest's docks, enjoying the various sea life around me, and watching Captain
Serarn guide his ferry back and forth between the Isle of Light and the
mainland. A favorite hobby of mine. The sea has always calmed me, even in the
darkest of times. My troubles simply vanish from my mind. But of late, troubles
seem to find their way back to me, even in my most sacred of places.

. . .

Before the young kelpie even reached me, I knew something was wrong. It
wasn't unusual for me to encounter a small group of them in my travels in the
shallows. But this time was different. Never before have I seen a kelpie
venture this close to New Celest, especially one as young as this. Many
adventurers less traveled in the seas wouldn't have recognized her for anything
more then a clump of seaweed caught in a rapidly moving current.

I hastily swam out to meet the young one, but it wasn't necessary. The
kelpie moved with surprising speed considering her youth and shape. When she
met me, she managed to gasp one word: "Viscanti." Without waiting for another
word, I cupped my hands around my mouth and called across the sea, hoping to
attract a dragon turtle to aid me in my travels. I wasn't disappointed. Not
one, but two of the beautiful creatures came to investigate the sound I made. I
quickly mounted the first one to reach me, and bending over, I grabbed the young
kelpie and swung her up behind me. She gave a quiet murmur of protest at the
unwelcome contact, but she didn't have the energy to do anything but cling onto
the giant turtle as I urged her towards the kelpie shoals.

Shortly into the trip, the turtle began to submerge itself, a welcome action
to both of her passengers. As we dove deeper, I strained my eyes, hoping to see
the outline of the intruder. I turned to ask my kelpie friend if we were going
in the right direction. She nodded her head at me, her fear of facing the foul
beast ahead giving her the adrenaline she needed to stay alert.

I ordered the turtle to pick up her speed. She turned her head enough to
give me a look, but obliged and began to work harder. Knowing I had a few more
minutes before reaching the kelpies' home, I looked around at the life I was
sharing the Inner Sea with. A few golden dragon turtles watched me as I sped
by, sorrow in their eyes, as if they knew what was ahead of me. I looked into
the darkness below me, and saw the bright lights of lantern fish, as well as
the smaller lights of the firefly squid. Normally I'd be entranced by such a
display; today my heart wasn't in it. Above, the setting sun cast a blood-red
tint on the water above. A bad omen for those of the sea. I sighed, and focused
my eyes ahead again, and was surprised to see we had just arrived at the shoals.
Everyone was either hiding, or… well, I hoped they were hiding. I stopped my
turtle, ordered it to protect the kelpie, and dismounted, listening for sounds
that didn't belong to the sea.

And then I heard it. A distant growl of a Viscanti. I shuddered, but swam as
fast as I could, clutching my staff in my hand, and wishing that I had thought
to grab my shield before hurrying off to a likely fight. I then saw the outline
of the one I had been searching for. An unarmored Viscanti, with a sword in each
hand. He must have shed his armor so he wouldn't sink into the darkness below.
If I had my way, the filth would have sank to the bottom of the sea anyway, but
with one blast of steam from my staff, the brute realized that he was out of his
element, and stood little chance against a Merian in the sea, even one not used
to fighting. The coward looked me in the eye, then vanished before I could stop
him. I brought his image up in the waters between my hands, and saw him standing
at the Necropolis. I swore under my breath before I noticed the dark clumps of
seaweed floating around where the Viscanti was standing.

I stood in shock, staring at what could only be kelpie bodies, when I heard
the sound of a turtle behind me. Turning around, I see the young kelpie
swimming up, followed by the turtle I ordered to guard her. With a few choked
sobs, she swam past me, and buried her face in the body of what I could only
assume was a family member of hers. As I stood there, other kelpies of all
shapes and sizes began to emerge from the shadows to mourn their dead. Knowing
I was no longer needed or wanted, I mounted the now fatigued turtle, and asked
her to take me back to Celest. While I was unable to turn back at the scene
behind me, not even the beauty of the night nor the colorful sea life around me
could take my mind off of the gruesome murder I was leaving.