[center][h2] The Mer Saga - The Theological Concern of Fish [/h2][/center]

The Ao journeyed northward. Age began to exact its toll from the first Merfolk, all except for Leviane, preserved by the holy eminence of the pearl. They would soon discover birth and death, thus beginning the cycle. After the first Ao died, it caused great confusion and panic. Age had weakened him, and it made the simple work of the long travel swimming and pulling kelp from the ground to much for him to bare. His death was only the first. Whispering echoes reverbed through the mer, threatening to tear apart the unity of the Ao. Leviane carefully considered the issue, and reflected and waited for divine meaning. However, her pause gave room to treason. In the ultimate act of foolishness, one Ao murdered another. Through tragedy, Leviane found revelation. The murderer was cast from the whole, their presence lessening it. Leviane explained that death was natural and a part of the great and mighty Ao-Yurin's will. To die was become closer to the God of the Mer, and join her in their dreams. Except, to prematurely kill an Ao was a grave crime, as it was to interfere with the will of Ao-Yurin. Only Ao-Yurin had the authority to determine when an Ao should join them in their slumber. Leviane was chosen to stay awake for longer, as they had a duty to protect the pearl and to teach the next generations. However, Leviane did not believe that she would be separate from the great god of the oceans forever. 

With that matter resolved, they continued further north and encountered something new -- fish. This was a matter of great concern of the merfolk, mostly out of practicalities however others began the whisper echoes of theological discussion. Hearing discordant thoughts among their people filled Levinane with great concern. 

Her hesitancy had meant the death of a young Ao, her judgment would need to be swifter to ensure that disunity could not claim another. She called forth her remaining followers. They had forced everyone who contributed to the whispering to speak openly, forcing those who said the most foolish of things to confess that they had made it up and plead for forgiveness from their fellow Ao. After using a few days to reflect upon the issue, she had appreciated how no-one acted rashly and the whisper echoes had stopped. 

She addressed the main concerns brought up regarding the theological matters of fish. They were not created by the great and powerful ocean god, or else they would have swimming around where the Ao were first born. They could not have been created afterwards, because after creating the Ao, the great and powerful Ao-Yurin began their rest. They had not stirred since to create such creatures, the pearl-keeper would have known about such an event. However, the fish were clearly of the mer. The only sensible conclusion was they were created by a subordinate god of the great and powerful Ao-Yurin. 

Leviane was relived that the dissonant noise had ceased. 

[hider= Story Discussion] 
The Ao begin to die of old age. This starts to cause a lot of theological discussion and general panic. Leviane is slow to explain mortality, until one Ao kills another. This causes them to rush to find an answer. They determine that mortality is the great and mighty Ao-Yurin's will and that death means joining them in slumber. However, only Ao-Yurin had this authority to end the life of an Ao and she expels the murderer from their group. She also explains her own immortality as Ao-Yurin's will, but doesn't believe that they won't eventual join the ocean god in slumber. 

The group continue to travel northward and eventually encounter fish. Most are just happy they have something to eat other than kelp, but it starts more theological discussion. Concerned, Leviane calls everyone to discuss it openly forcing those who say what she considers especially foolish to apologize. She then thinks about it, and proclaims that the obvious explanation is that fish is the work of some subordinate god to the great and mighty Ao-Yurin. 
[/hider]

[hider= Spirit Summary] 
Leviane, Pearl-Keeper: 4 
Starting 2, +2 for Post 
[/hider]