Aquarian

The surface of the great swamp, black as night, begins to ripple. First it is a vibrant yellow crest that parts the waves, and then a massive, scaly head. Serpentine eyes blink away sheets of water and grime, adjusting to the light of the room. Aquarian feels particularly generous today, but he doesn't really know why. Maybe he's grateful for the group of Gembounds that have made this swamp their home. Or maybe he's just bored. In any case, there's a hoard of cave fish that he has fished up from the swamp and settled in a pile on the muddy shores. He's willing to share, granted his visitors arrive prepared to stroke his gargantuan and fragile ego.

This thread is part of the Trick-or-Treating event! Characters will have until November 1st to visit this NPC and receive either a trick or a treat!

Ghanyarah was already close to the great black marsh when the serpent had emerged from the waters. He barely caught sight of its bright yellow frill through the trees, and by the time he had made his way over to the swamp, the sea creature had dumped a pile of smelly fish in the mud. The sight of it made his stomach lurch hungrily, and his mind traveled to Netil. The boy was always hungry - surely he'd appreciate a meal... But why had Aquarian dumped them all here? Was something wrong with them? Ghanyarah had to investigate first. Swinging his head to and fro in search of Dragon, or at least Eve - neither were here yet - he crawled out onto the shore and peered apprehensively up at the monster. "He-Hello Aquarian." The komodo greeted shakily. The serpent still frightened him. "What are the fish for?"

Where ever Netil was, he hoped it was nearby. Maybe the smell of fish would attract him.

@Netil

Fish. Fish. Fish fish fish fishfishfish.

Tal'at did not eat fish, but as he was taking a nap on his newly found friend (a water spider, of all things) he found himself waking up to the stench of fish??? Of course, In'am was absolutely terrified of the huge water snake and now Tal'at was also horrified. Blind, and all, he couldn't percieve the threat until the spider explained through emotions: Hungry. Fish. Scared. Predator. Hunted. Things were difficult for the blind bat-- it would be so much simplier if the spider was smart enough to speak or even just think in full, proper sentences. Fed up, Tal'at focused on the link until he could see, dizzily, through the arachnid's eyes.

And then he understood. With a gentle press of thoughts towards reassurance and comfort, the bat took flight and flew over to noodle dad and plopped on the familiar crested face that was more like a small portable hill than another gembound to the tiny bat.

"Excuse me Aquarian... My friend In'am... May she have... Some of this?"

He was not fond of the hairy beasts which lurked within Cetus, even if they afforded a certain satiation to his hunger; but still he would lurk within the marsh, haunting its deep dark reaches until he felt full and warm. Having found one of the cave dwelling marsh beasts - some kind of many-legged lemur with a head the size of a small melon - Netil was begrudgingly summoning up the energy to rip the limbs off one by one, when a sound caught his attention.

The sound was of little to no consequence, aside from making him pause a little longer, and sniff the air. It was the scent he caught that truly shifted the lizard's attention; he flexed his wings, then curled the appendages close, and leapt in to the water. A handful of moments later, he arrived at the scene: head raised like a periscope out of the marsh, led by his nose. He saw Ghanyarah first, the bat second, and seemed to bypass both of them as his attention hit the pile of fish.

Where had this gift come from? What was the price for one delicious fish head? No, he wasn't thinking of these things, but he should have been - instead, Netil scrambled out of the water (much like Aquarian had when the great beast had deposited the bounty) and dove towards the pile, mouth opening wider with each step, intent on devouring as much as he could snap up.

Not many Gembounds had come to see the giant pile of fish, much to Aquarian's surprise. But that was fine. Maybe the smell would attract them later. For now, he watched first as a komodo dragon dragged his girth onto the scene, then some small bat, the same one that had landed on him before, and then finally a great inky black creature that had emerged from the depths of the swamp in the same fashion that he himself had. Aquarian emitted a low, curious chattering, watching - but the inky beast held his attention the most, and he realized almost too late that he was heading straight for the fish pile without so much as an acknowledgement towards the sea serpent.

Uttering a shriek, Aquarian dove his head down and snapped at the winged reptilian creature, seething. "HOW SELFISH!" He cackled maliciously, then swung his gaze back to the two others. "I SHOULD RESCIND MY OFFER AS IT STANDS! BUT THESE FISH HAVE ALREADY EXPIRED, AND THEY WILL ONLY ROT IN MY WATERS! TAKE THEM SOME PLACE FAR FROM MY GREAT SWAMP!" The serpent screamed, then withdrew and dramatically flailed his head before crashing back into the water, dousing those present with a wave of murk.

Exit Aquarian.

Tal'at stared with his blind gem-covered face at Aquarian as he roared in anger, furious at the bat's (as far as he knew) selfishness. He opened his mouth to ask what he had done to offend the great marsh beast, but the water giant disappeared underneath him with a loud, thundering splash.

In'am took this as her chance and darted forward, snatching up as many fish in her mandibles as possible, and then scattered away. Tal'at let out a series of clicking and fluttered after her, scrambling to not lose her to the thick of the marsh land.

;; tal'at exit