There are many benefits, to being a Marine Biologist

[Observing Future]

Year: 20**
Author: Al*** Mr***
Log: 02

My continued observation over this sect of the Grand Reef, and this Shiver of Sharks has been a bit exhausting. The younger generation has taken to using my ship as practice on how to take down landwalkers, and I have barely managed to keep up with repairs. Some of them mock me in a strange language that I have yet to deduce, but it is not hard to understand the tone nor the laughter. They prefer to strike during the night, and I have had to adapt my sleeping patterns just to ensure that my ship isn't taking on water while I rest.

Thankfully there is one silver-lining. Coralie, the one tasked with enlightening me, has been ferrying supplies from nearby islands to ensure that my ship doesn't sink. Planks of wood and nails are plentiful, though I've decided not to ask how she received it. The young girl didn't even seem to understand the concept of trade when I bought it up.

Tonight her Shiver is performing some form of ritual deep beneath the waves. As much as I would like to observe, Coralie has at the very least deigned to stop by and tell me more of the story of Inki and Yama.

---

The beliefs of The Great Reef (Cont)

Inki & Yama (Cont)

Yama in his great kindness would step-by-step mold and shape the first of the Sirenian, the Mermaid, and within the shape of Yama himself. The first of the Mermaid were sharkish in appearance, beings of immense strength, beauty, and posture, some of which held height comparable to the mountains. They were made to be the leaders and protectors of Sirenian kind. From them, the Anguill would follow, as rather than simply show step-by-step, Yama would include Inki within the creation of these deep sea dwellers.

The purpose of the Anguill was that of explorers, researchers, the brilliant and best of minds that could delve to the deepest depths of the ocean and find the mysteries that Yama had sprinkled throughout, to give his creations things to do and enjoy. Inki's mass of tendrils would aid in molding and shaping these humanoids to adhere to such depths of the oceans. Yet it is said because of Yama's willingness to allow his sibling to help in the creation of the Anguill, that all of them hold a portion of his envy and bitterness deep within their hearts. We musn't judge the Anguill, unless they show signs of sympathy to those of Inki and the unnamed one, for they still hold the heart of Yama beating within them.

At first such bonding seemed to bring some form of fruition, much to Yama's elation! However, unbeknownst to the elder, the envious sibling had been plotting. For you see, Inki valued the imperfection of his tantrum, while Yama sought for the errant soil from Inki's tantrum that had formed landmasses, to be swallowed once more by the sea. Thus when creation of the Selkie begun, Inki would work in silence to curse the very essence of the Selkie. Born of Yama's flesh, and gifted beautiful voices that could carry across the water, it was far too late to fix this innate flaw that Inki built into them, and soon many were burdened with a Curse of Air. Some even growing fur and other such traits of the land-dwelling creatures that Inki had shaped in his previous envy.

Yama would mourn, as many Selkie drowned when they first tried to swim the tides of the sea. As they learned of this Curse far too late within their lives. For many an eon would Yama work tirelessly to seek a solution to this Curse of Air, delving deep within himself, and upon his own blood. Thus was the Selkie gifted with unnatural abilities for those cursed to breath above the sea, with voices that could sway the common man and spread the gospel of Yama's will.

Yet while he sought to heal the Selkie, little did Yama know that his sibling had retreated to the surface masses he had created in his envy, and now with the knowledge of creation that Yama had gifted him...

The ceremony was to begin shortly and the story was once more interrupted, and again I find myself feeling far more tense than before. Perhaps this knowledge should be burned, and perhaps I should take my leave. The beliefs of the Great Reef are not propagated within New Atlantis or among many of the Nomadic clans I have met for a reason, and I am starting to believe that may be for the best.

Never have I heard a story of the Sirenian where the 'Sea' was how the world was first born, and that the lands that people like myself live on are simply 'flaws' in the creation. The implications thus-far seem to point out to Inki being the creator of 'Landwalkers', though I wonder where the Pantheon, Azrael, and Kraus sit in all of this. Or maybe they do not, and these sirenians merely see any landwalker religions as blasphemy.

I can hear them singing from the depths. It is muted, but there is a consistent chant among them all. Maybe I shall ask Coralie what it means, but until then I shall write it here to remind myself.

"Jusqu'à ce que la mer prenne la terre."