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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4950369" data-attributes="member: 3285">Ocean Meets Sky: PrologueCoralis rose from the Pale Sea, a sun unto itself, like a grand cathedral to Yarris, god of the depths.  Tall spires captured the light of the sun, transforming the dawn into a multitude of gems floating in the sky.  Four towers reached from their watery foundations up to the heavens, appearing to be made of precious stones: emerald, sapphire, ruby, and topaz.  The reef of coral below the towers was clearly visible through the crystal waters, extending out of sight in either direction, effectively blocking further passage.  Numerous islands, sporting foliage, emerged along the reef.  Fires burned on several of the islands, hinting that all was not well.  The ruins of four other towers confirmed that a massive battle had occurred recently. The black fihali turned as one to face Beldin, Kham, and Sebastian.“This is where we get off,” said Sebastian after a moment of interpreting the thought-symbols the alien fihali relayed only to him.  “They showed me an image of a buried ship, approximately one hundred feet below the surface.”“And we’re supposed to do what, exactly?” asked Beldin, dubious.“The fihali ship was trying to penetrate the defenses of the k’n-yan.  In the end, they rammed the ship into the coral, but they died in the ensuing explosion.  We must make our way through that opening and find the Moonsilver Orb.”“K’n-yan, huh?” asked Kham.  “I don’t suppose they’ll be surprised to see us?”The glass whale rocked from an explosion.  It was a testament to fihali engineering that the ship only shuddered.  “Never mind,” said Kham.The fihali pointed.  Slowly, the platform where Kham, Beldin, and Sebastian stood sank into the mouth of the glass whale. Water rushed in around their feet.“How exactly are we going to breathe water down there?” asked Kham.Beldin concentrated a moment.  “There, you can breathe normally underwater now.”The water was waist level. Although it was cooler than the air, the water of the Pale Sea was still temperate in comparison.  Kham looked at him sideways.  “Just like that?”Beldin crossed his arms.  “Just like that.”Kham took a deep breath. The water level reached his neck.  He reflexively raised his chin.  “I don’t know if I trust Cho Sun’s ring,” Kham muttered.“You don’t have a choice,” said Sebastian.The water reached Kham’s mouth and then suddenly he was completely submerged. “Relax now, Kham,” said Beldin, muffled beneath the water. “Sebastian and I have done this before. Just keep breathing as it fills...don't fight it.  Take it in.  Just let yourself take it in.”Suddenly, there was nothing to breathe but water.  Kham’s eyes went wide in instant panic.  He started to thrash, chest heaving.“This is normal,” said Beldin. “It'll pass in a second.  Humans breathe liquid for nine months, Kham.  Your body will remember.”Kham looked at the dwarf in disbelief.  He would have yelled at him if it didn’t mean giving up another breath.His spasms subsided.  Kham began to breathe normally.  He was alive, alert and quite completely drowned inside the glass whale.  He grinned and gave a thumbs up to Beldin.“Now the real fun begins,” said Sebastian.Then the glass whale’s mouth dropped them into the ocean.</blockquote>

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