Thalassophobia

Thalassophobia is a story written by the user "Orion the Huntsman", set in 8E 2019 High Rock, which is absolutely underwater. It tells the story of Talvis Ārtan, a Maormeri guard captain from Pyandonea, and his adventures after sailing to Calaptis, High Rock's new capital, following an unfortunate incident that forced him to leave his home.

Prologue
"So, Mr. Ārtan, today I just want you to talk about what you think is the cause of these hallucinations." The therapist said with a sympathetic look on his face.
 * Word count: 1,394
 * Release date: May 7th, 2019

"What can I say? It's not like the past month has been very good." Remarked Talvis, a forced smirk forming across his face.

"Well what's your story then? Just tell me what's been happening, and I'll try my best to help."

Doctor Martel seemed nice enough, Talvis had to trust him either way. The prison therapy was mandatory for anyone not native to High Rock, and the punishments for saying no were brutal.

"Well, you might've heard that back where I live there's a bit of a crisis going on. After our "Great Huntsman" went missing looking for dragons, the beast population grew exponentially. This wasn't a problem at first, until some point in the 7th Era when people just stopped trying. By the time I was born over half of the land was ruled by the beasts. I was born into a family of hunters, and so I grew up fighting the creatures that plagued our towns."

"Are those the creatures on your arm?" Asked the Doctor, gesturing towards his left arm which was covered in tattoos of eldritch creatures all the way to his shoulder.

"Yeah, some of them. Anyways, this one day I saw something move in the jungles by our home. I had seen so many things like it, but this one just called to me. It was like my own fate was trying to guide me. If that's the case, I'm in danger. I followed the thing further and further, being lead through swamps, over massive drops, underwater, I was determined to get to this thing that was moving so fast. I finally caught up to it, but immediately realised my mistake.

"It was one of the elusive amalgamations of the jungle, a confusing blend between a Tiger and an Alligator. 6 feet tall on all fours, pure muscle, and a mouth that could crush a warhammer in one bite. It had patches of blue-green fur all over, with the rest being shiny scales the colour of swamp-mud. It launched at me with one of its paws, and hit me on the shoulder, before, swinging the same paw around and clunking it into the back of my head. I was knocked unconscious, but seemed to luck out to a divine extent.

"I was brought into what I assumed was its den. There was an enormous nest with eggs that I could fit into with ease. The beast seemed to be sleeping, probably waiting to use me as a midnight snack. I was losing blood quickly from my left shoulder, where it hit me, and so when I woke up I panicked. I looked around and saw the remains of more unlucky souls. Luckily, they still had their weapons with them. I ran over to them, trying my best to stand up and stay conscious. I took a sword, as well as a bow and arrow, just in case. Then, I charged over to that pile of slime, and shoved the sword straight through its skull, stabbing until there was no more blood left.

"I stumbled out to a beach, thank Hircine, and I saw an odd scene. With my blurred vision, all I could make out was one big beast battling a bunch of smaller ones in the water. All I saw was that the big one might be able to take me to safety, if I got it's trust. So I waded into the water, and then used the bow and arrow to shoot at the little guys. They were weak enough that a shot anywhere would get them, so I managed to help the big guy finish them off. It bent it's long neck down, and so I slumped over. The next thing I knew I was awake back home, with bandages and rags covering my left arm.

"When I got back on my feet, I chose to change what I did. I enlisted in the guard to stop anyone from ever crossing into that land again, and I actually got pretty good with that sword I found, I still have it actually, it's just sharper and has more carvings than when I found it. I also developed skill in some more atypical combat styles, like knife throwing, and using rope darts. This one day though, just as normal as the last day to change me, it was the worst thing to ever happen in my life, and it's the reason I'm here."

"Ah yes, here we go." Said a now excited Dr. Martel.

"Before I continue, this is confidential yeah? You won't talk about anything bad that happened in another land yeah?" Asked Talvis, beads of sweat dripping off his chin.

"Of course, no criminal activity outside of High Rock will be reported."

"Okay then, so a month ago I was was practicing with my apprentice, Kelmor Tenby, in a duel. He wanted to be as good as me, so we would just practice certain moves and how to parry them. I told him to attack with the flat side of the blade or the hilt at the side of my head, a good trick for getting rid of attackers non-lethally. I told him to go for the right, and I would parry to the right to show how to stop it. I mixed up right and left, and so I parried to the wrong side, which resulted in him knocking me unconcious. At this point the incident with the Tiger-thing was years ago, I thought I had dealt with it. Sadly, I hadn't.

"Kelmor watched over me while I was out, and so he was the first thing I saw when I woke up. Something about the way he attacked me made me freak out though, it triggered something in my brain and I just snapped. I didn't see my 17 year old apprentice, I saw the beast about to kill me. I drew one of my knives and I just tackled him to the ground, stabbing stabbing until no more blood could come out. I stood over the body, confused as to how it got there, but then my vision cleared up and all I saw was Kelmor's lifeless body before me. I was in shock, I was freaking out, and so I picked up my stuff and ran.

"The whole thing was like a blur. I ran to the city, and headed straight for the dungeon. I used my guard keys and released 4 prisoners who had all agreed to help. We returned to the body and they helped me dispose of it and all of the evidence. Then I brought them with me to the shoreline to look for something to leave on. I saw someone unusual, he had different skin to the rest of us, and so I saw promise. He seemed to be unloading things from his boat. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was leaving to find his father.

"He said he was heading here, to High Rock, the perfect place for someone like me, and so I told him that if he let me and my new friends on, I'd do all of the work on the boat. He agreed, more out of fear than anything, and so that's how I escaped Pyandonea. Now I'm here because that bastard who calls himself King doesn't trust my kind. I got my crew blown up and only me & that sailor, Yvetal, lived. But we're in jail!

"So there we go, that's why I have hallucinations. I can't close my eyes without seeing me taking the life of that innocent boy, without feeling that pain again."

Talvis stopped talking when he noticed the Doctor wasn't conscious. When he checked to see if the Doctor was alive, he saw a steel bolt sticking out of his neck. He looked at where the bolt had come from, and saw one of the prisoners in the dungeon hallway waving to him, gesturing for him to leave. "He isn't dead, just paralyzed!" The prisoner shouted in a muffled voice. He had a Glass mask on, so he couldn't see who it was, but he had no choice but to follow...

Chapter 1: The Escape
"Who are you, why are you helping me?" Shouted Talvis as he ran from Calaptis Prison with the masked stranger.
 * Word count: 2,119
 * Release date: 20/7/19

"Names aren't important right now," the stranger shouted through his mask, "we have to get out of here fast. Breaking into high security ain't easy." Not knowing what else to do, he just followed and continued to question the man.

"So what about the second part? Why are you helping me?"

"Your boat was blown up, only you an another guy survived. That's not right, you didn't deserve it, so I'm going to help you and your buddy from the boat survive here."

"Really? That's all?"

"Yeah. That and I get to piss off King Jyntax in the process!" Talvis could almost hear the smirk forming under the stranger's mask.

Before long, they found a door with a sign above saying 'exit here'. "Should we trust it?" Asked the Maormer, "I mean, who would put a door saying "exit" in a high security prison? Do you really think it's safe?"

"What choice do we have!?" Sighed the stranger in a much sterner voice than before. They tried opening it, and, much to their surprise, it opened with ease. Talvis chose to enter first, and so Garret stayed back to watch for guards, however, as the Sea Elf heard it locking behind him, he knew he was right not to trust the exit sign. He was in a caged stadium, just like one of the arenas back in Pyandonea, but this was more of a horrific scene. Bones and flesh chunks littered the roof, with blood stains all across the walls. Clearly this place had some tough competitors. He darted back to the door, but it was locked, just as he thought, and the stranger who saved him was on the other side. And just as the stranger quietly cursed to himself, the stadium's seats began to fill with cheers and boos as another hopeless prisoner entered.

~

"Welcome, all, to another spectacular fight!" Shouted a very shrill voice from somewhere up high, "Today I, your marvelous King Jyntax shall be hosting this event, as it is very special indeed! In this fight, an amazing warrior of the Pyandonean jungles shall fight our latest champion, Arnica Ogletree!"

The crowed roared with praise, as the Breton prisoner Talvis assumed to be Arnica strolled around, clearly confident she could win. She didn't seem too tough, very limber with long, flowing hair. The only way Talvis could see that she could hurt him was with her fingernails, which were rather long for a fighter.

"When the blade hits the ground, feel free to start your fight TO THE DEATH!" Jyntax screamed, followed by maniacal laughter and giggles just to rub in the madness of it all. A man standing next to the King dropped a shortsword, and then Talvis watched as it fell.

When the tip of the blade hit the ground, Arnica charged in. She moved lightning fast, darting through the water like a kingfisher seizing its prey. Talvis was prepared already. The guards confiscated his shamshir and knives, but they missed the katar he hid in his left bracer. As the Breton arrived at her sword, she spun towards Talvis, who was already close to the landing point, but he brought out his katar and countered the blow, throwing his new foe off guard. He charged at her with his shoulder, and took the sword right from her hand. She then swam above him, swinging around a rope dart before ensnaring Talvis with it. Arnica threw him up above herself, and used shock magic to zap across the rope, frying the Maormer's entire body & creating an electrical explosion. As this happened, Talvis noticed that it had done some damage to one of the walls, which was over 30 metres away.

With his whole body in absolute pain, there was no winning for Talvis. He had to get out, and Arnica had given him the key. He swam straight up, looking out of the cage-roof to see the stranger, alongside his friend Yvetal from the boat, fighting off what must've been half the King's army.

"Yvetal!" Talvis shrieked, immediately regretting doing so. Speaking only made the pain worse. Luckily, Yvetal noticed him, and showed the stranger. They began backing towards him, and he knew it was his only chance at escape. Arnica had readied her dart and threw it like a harpoon, lightning crackling across the blade. Talvis panicked, but dodged the throw and grabbed the rope, throwing it towards the stranger, who understood the plan, but went through with it in an odd way. He swam straight in front of the dart, and then, with his eyes beginning to glow blood red, sent a crimson power surge to return the dart, embedding it in the cage and blowing it up instantly. Talvis threw himself out, but couldn't bring himself to move anymore. Yvetal saved him, dragging him by the wrist through the water, following the stranger, who was doing great at keeping the guards at bay.

Once they had lost the guards, the stranger finally spoke up.

"Okay, we lost 'em," he sighed, "I know somewhere safe for wrongfully imprisoned folk like the pair of you. Keep on following me & we'll get you fixed up." He nodded at Talvis, "Who are you?" Asked Talvis, fighting off the urge to scream at the top of his lungs. "Garret Ravensky, at your service." He went to shake Talvis' hand, but took it back immediately after seeing the burns, and just shook Yvetal's hand instead to avoid being awkward.

~

The trip to the sanctuary was torture for Talvis. He just wanted to rest, but if he lost consciousness in his current condition, he'd end up panicking. It was all too familiar. He couldn't let himself go because then Yvetal would end up as another Kelmor, and if that happened again, he couldn't live with himself. He just had to deal with it, the end couldn't be too far away. Eventually they arrived at a run down fort. Nothing flashy, though that was probably the point. Moss & kelp hung around everywhere, walls were crumbling, and there was a pile of rocks for a door. Perfect.

"We're here," sighed the Nymph-man, clearly relieved, "you, sailor guy, take your pal here to the infirmary. Down the hall, third on your right. They'll be able to help."

"Thank you for this," Yvetal was visibly ecstatic he could finally stop dragging Talvis, "I doubt we'd have survived in the city much longer. I'm not much of a fighter, and well, my friend here isn't exactly in the right condition to fight." "I understand. Just get him to the infirmary, and then you can find a bed to rest. You need it too." "Cool, see you later then."

Yvetal didn't stay more than half a minute after dumping off Talvis. He understood. Sailing and treasure hunting isn't exactly the most physically stimulating lifestyle. The nurses were kind, and didn't care that he was a Maormer covered in welts and bruises, they just wanted to help.

'Maybe I could stay here, and start a new life ' he thought to himself. It was tempting, but it could never work. The place could only exist with that tyrant king "Jyntax", and he wasn't going to give up on saving the province just to become a maid for a couple of people.

~

After he got bandaged up, Talvis decided he should get some rest. Unfortunately, he fell asleep, and the nightmares began. He saw himself back on Pyandonea, in the training grounds he had helped to build. Kelmor sat by a mannequin, taking a break from dueling the lump of leather filled with assorted insects and worms. The best thing about High Rock so far was their pillows, they didn't have living things inside them.

Although he was aware of his presence within a dream, he had no control over his actions. He marched over to his apprentice, and snatched him up by the collar, dangling the young Maormer in front of him, "What are you doing Mr. Ārtan?" Kelmor was crying enough to flood High Rock all over again. Talvis seemed to ignore the screaming, and slammed the boy into the ground, drawing his sword and slashing like a maniac, laughter echoing through the room. He picked the Elf back up, throwing him into the walls, back and forth, never ending, until...

"Talvis!" Garret loomed over him, his face just as horrified as Kelmor's, "What's going on? You were thrashing about and laughing in your sleep, you looked like you were posses-" "I'm fine, I was just having a bad dream," Talvis cut the Nymph-man off, "how do you know my name anyway?"

"Your buddy, uh, velvet, whatever his name was, he told me who you were, or at least all he knew about you. He said you were some super-soldier or something, survived a brutal attack and then became a guard captain, that right?"

"Yeah, it's Yvetal though, not velvet." "Whatever. What made you leave Pyandonea with that kind of status? If you were captain of the guard, you shouldn't've had to go anywhere."

"I'd rather not talk about that, it's kind of a sensitive topic. What's your deal anyway? First you bust me out of therapy, then you shoot some energy blast to get me out of the arena, and now you've got me in your weird criminal infirmary. I deserve answers."

Garrett grimaced, or that's what it looked like. With all of different races intermingling, Bretons looked weird. They were tall & more frail, like elves, some had scaly patterns in places, and their skin, it looked like it had the same texture as the skin of the porpoises back home. His expression only showed displeasure, so Talvis assumed that's what it meant, but he persisted. "Come on, you have to tell me what's going on or I'll talk to the guards about this place, whatever it is."

"No! You don't need to know, and I have better things to do than explain myself to some guy from another continent, who won't even explain himself to me!" Garrett stormed out, and Talvis heard him shouting for quite a while afterwards, until someone came in. She was a young human, the likes of which he had never seen. The girl looked like one of the Akaviri he had seen in stories, but she was just different. "Hello, who are you?" Talvis asked confusedly,

"+I am…" she paused for a moment, looking up as though she was trying to remember something, "I am your nurse, Li Cheung-Hye. I'll just heal you and go, you seem scared." "No, I'm fine, it's just, uh, I've never seen someone like you."

"Ah, I get that lots. I'm from a far place, not a place near here."

"Akavir?" "What is that? I'm from Korea. Don't ask anymore questions." She readied a healing spell, and suddenly Talvis felt so much better, better than he'd felt in weeks.

"Thank you, I've gotta go now." Talvis said to Li, getting up from his bed.

"Ok, goodbye."

He wandered around the fort for almost an hour looking for Garrett, but the place was so packed with vigilantes & criminals that he could hardly see for a metre in front of his face. Eventually, he found the Breton in an almost empty room, talking about of they had "set up that raid", with a large figure hiding in the darkness beside him, so the Maormer knocked on the door frame to ask what was happening,

"Yes, it's all ready, and I spiked the guards food" Said the shadowy figure, in a very garbled voice.

"Knock knock?"

"Aah!" Exclaimed Garrett, as his friend seemed to disapparate out of the room, "Talvis, uh, what are you doing here?"

"I was just looking for you, actually, to see what I can do to help."

"Uh, you can help out the-"

"What was that raid you were talking about?"

"It's a, uh, whew…is it hot in here?"

"Cut the shit, I know you're a bunch of anarchists, I want to help!"

"OK! You can come! I just thought you had to recover more, considering you were completely electrified!"

"So I can come on the raid?"

"Yeah, I guess. Go grab your weapons, one of my guys went and collected your gear from the prison while all the fighting was happening."

"Awesome, thanks. I'll go gear up and, wait, when is it? And what're we raiding?"

"We're off to the King's quarters, apparently there's some special stuff there."

"The King? What? Really?"

"Yup, we leave in 5 minutes, you'd better hurry."