Timestamp: The First Cycle of Immanis (2nd Month) of Winter.
Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.
JAEDAXIA -- Though mostly unknown to mainlanders, a herd of Zaratan -- gigantic sea turtles -- have often lived peacefully along the edges of the Trident Isle, migrating occasionally between different isles in Telath. These peaceful behemoths are perhaps thousands of eras old and are large enough to be mistaken for islands. Upon closer inspection, however, these massive creatures are indeed living, breathing, swimming turtles that spend their lives on the surface, floating effortlessly while passively feeding on underwater plants, schools of fish and shrimp. Fishermen are always delighted to find these water giants as they are considered good omens.
For countless generations these majestic creatures have dwelled peacefully with the people of the mainland and surrounding islands -- until this brightening.
An small tremor shook the city of Jaedaxia and the seas seemed to ripple, causing boats to bobble uncomfortably over the suddenly shifting ocean. Fortunately, no one was hurt and no structural damage was reported. News came in quickly that a team of fishermen claimed to see a 'mountain crash into the Jaedaxian Penninsula' moments before the mysterious tremor. The Protectorat was keen to investigate. When they arrived, they found a Zaratan, wounded, laying on the shores just north of the city gates. A candlemark later, the giant sea turtle was dead despite healers' attempts.
Experts agreed that the beached Zaratan was a youngling as no fully grown giant could have crashed into the mainland without causing major damage to the surrounding areas. But the good news ended there. After an initial inspection of the dead Zaratan, officials concluded that the wounds were now caused by natural predators nor a freak accident. Firstly, Zaratans had no natural predators. They were, by far, the largest water surface creatures on Telath. Second, the multiple wounds indicated deep, slashing motions -- akin to harpoons used in the whaling industry, except much larger.
"This is a horrific, cowardly attack", a spokesperson for the team of experts, Madamoiselle Corsonne de Jaeson, said in an interview with the Libertas Sentinel Newspaper, "anyone who hunts such peaceful creatures should be ashamed. There is nothing to gain by killing any one of these sea turtles, nothing at all. They act as buffers against the fiercest storms, shelter sailors lost at sea. They are guardians of the Trident Isle, and of Jaedaxia."
But rumors started to flutter after the incident. Rumors about treasure and a legend. One local, an notable man by the name of Craig Listoire, a veteran whaling captain disagrees with the experts on several counts.
"Ze Zaratan, oui, zey are magical creatures, born from ze deepest depths of ze ocean, only to rise and live an almost eternal life basking on the waves, under ze Suns. But", he pointed out after the poetic prelude, "zere is much to gain in killing one. If you can kill one. Or two! Legends says zhat Zaratan are peaceful giants, oui, but are more shrewed than zey are slow. How do you think zhey live so long? By laying there in ze sea? How do zhey hunt? How do zhey eat? Ze secret is inside them. They are like floating, island-sized oysters! Filled with pearls and unimaginable treasures! But ze greatest treasure is the Zaratan's heart! Oui! It holds the power to give one wish, any wish, to ze mortal zhat captures it!"
At this point, Jaedaxia has passed several measures to protect the remaining herd near the Trident Isle. Jaedaxia's local population reportedly heard a mournful yet melodious song rising from the ocean that brightening the young Zaratan died. Fishermen and whalers returned to port at a loss -- the sea seemed empty the entire brightening! When the Libertas Sentinel Newspaper staff asked the Protectorat and the experts if the young Zaratan anatomy held any signs of treasure, we were given no comment.
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