Well then, let's go! Thanking the snakes for their assistance, I swim out of the cave in search of the Serpent, following the source of the roar.

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You pass through wide chasms, and at one point, you're pretty sure the words 'point of no return' was etched onto the sand. Could be your imagination though. Unfortunately, the statement's not entirely false.

You finally see towering obelisks depicting poisoned oceans overrun with skeletons of the common sea creatures, swimming away in desperation from what seems to be a cloud of spreading darkness. Or a plague. You shiver but continue, swimming past these obelisks. Only to immediately dart back behind it.

A huge dragon feasts upon a carcass of what seemed to be a whale, easily gulping down chunks of flesh and bone, loud crunches sounded as it shatters bone without breaking a sweat. Uh, this is a problem.

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Uhm... Approach slowly and tentatively to take a closer look at the dragon, and try not to get noticed.

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Hiamovi

Not one step later, the Serpent turns to you. All three of them.



"Challengers?"

"Opponents?"

"Dinner."

Oof, uhhhhhh

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Oh. Oh wow... Clearing my throat, I reply, "None of those. Friend, ally and most importantly, someone who needs your help."

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“Help?” One inquires, “what sort?” Another hisses, “give us a reason why we should.”

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"There has been trouble brewing in the oceans, a plague to be exact. Perhaps if you lend a hand, or two... or four, you might be revered as a powerful god yet again, not in any ocean or sea, but the Pale Sea itself. Now wouldn't that be perfect, for a dragon of your status, to not have to go into hiding but instead be respected and praised to the heavens?"

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"Flattery," they hiss, "gets you nowhere without its truth. Do you think curing a plague will magic all my problems away? Dragons were hidden away between the Layers for a reason, you'll have to up your game, little one." Huh.

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"I mean... I do know the Deity of the Pale Sea. Both of them in fact, old and new." I retort, continuing on, "not to say I know three dragons myself... Perhaps you have heard of Atlas? If not Scylla or Odyssey? They are now living free (...free-er, but don't say that um) in the Pale Sea, yet you doubt my words?"

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"Atlas? That old geezer, he has everyone wrapped around his little claw. Only the dead know how many days he wastes running about 'helping'. And Odyssey, that entitled worm, he's got wavikal blood in his veins. What point do you intend to make?" he lashed his tail, destroying the whale's skeleton, "prove it to me! If you speak the truth, I will cleanse this whole ocean of whatever that bodes ill."

The Serpent stomps away, looking for their next meal. Yeesh.

How in hell are you gonna do that?

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Well then. When in doubt, do not be afraid to seek help... To the bat-I mean snake cave!

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Hiamovi

Alfr- I mean, the snakes look up and let out warm greetings as you enter the cave. "Welcome back, did you...find them?"

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I sigh like a beauty guru making an apology, before nodding slowly. "They said something about... proving to them that the Pale Sea indeed has a plague and needs his help, otherwise he's not budging another step..."

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Hia

One narrows its eyes, "was that a Jame-" the leader interrupts it mid-sentence with a suggestion, "you could find a plague-ridden creature! It's quite unfortunate, but there are plenty around the Reef."

Ah, like the dolphin.

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"GOOD SUGGESTION!" I exclaim, swimming up and embracing (and maybe constricting) the leader tightly. Now just gotta wait for a sign to embark on an exploration journey again...

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