Peek: Mariculture

Not far from the Memorial, the merfolk gather.  Practically the entire enclave is here, though not all of them are especially excited about it.  Thankfully, the Tidecaller has given his blessing for Yendo to speak to everyone, so most everyone came to at least hear.  The High Priest doesn't give his approval to just anything, after all.  People murmur, chatting to each other as they try to guess what Yendo might have to say, or just catching up on gossip in general.

The merman would let them keep it up all day, if not for the fact they probably would.  He double checks his scribekelp, making sure he has everything he needs, before raising his voice so all can hear.

"Thank you all for coming.  After the Admiral's last visit, I and others have been trying to find a way for us all to move forward, to be more self sufficient.  It's not to get away from the Captain, but to ease his burden in caring for us.  It will be new waters for all of us, but these new currents will uplift us and the Captain, both.

"The Admiral and his Voice suggested we focus first on our food, as providing that is a significant effort for the Captain, and I think one we can learn to carry on our own.  I and others have taken to exploring, and we've found several potential ways to provide food.  The one we can start immediately is to simply hunt in the deeper waters.  We've dabbled in this even before the Admiral came, and though I don't think it will be enough to sustain us on its own, it's a good first step.

"There are also crabs and lobsters more near the shoreline, and I believe we can raise them for food.  Similarly, we can grow various plants outside the Captain, and even tend beds of clams or mussels.  While not as bountiful as the Captain, our local waters do still have a trove of food for us to manage.  I believe there are opportunities beyond just food out there, but we should take this one thing at a time.

"But it will take more than just me and the other explorers.  I won't ask for you to go brave the true unknown, but we do need people to venture outside, even if only for a few dozen yards.  If you would be willing to volunteer, we could use your help.  If you want to explore our options with the crustaceans, come see me.  If you're more interested in the shelled things that don't move, my son is heading that project.  The Tidecaller himself is very interested in attempting to farm, so I'd suggest speaking with him about that.  Henlaria is in charge of the more exploratory aspects, and I hear she's looking for volunteers to attempt to ranch and keep various large fish that she and the other explorers can bring back alive."

He checks his scribekelp and nods.  "That looks like everything I had written down.  If anyone has questions, come talk to me, or to the others I mentioned.  Thank you."  With that, the merfolk start talking to each other again, the murmurs more a dull roar as everyone talks to everyone about what they think of all this.  While there are a few loud dissenters, most seem cautiously curious about the prospects.  Yendo is glad the Tidecaller took such great interest in the farming idea.  Having someone like him being willing to set tailfin outside will really help people be more at ease with the whole thing.

He can even already see a few of the enclave swimming over to talk to the priest, though he can't tell if they're aiming to volunteer or want to try to talk him into reconsidering.

His son, Yenlarn, is also drawing a crowd, but more of the younger merfolk.  He doesn't understand why the younger merfolk seem to like the shellfish, but he takes it as one of the simple facts of growing older.  There are just some things the new generation get into that just confuse the older.  He chuckles as he remembers the confusion is usually part of why they get into it in the first place, so maybe he's not so old and disconnected, after all.

He's not surprised he's not getting many to come to him.  Even with everything changing and him being vindicated, he's been all but an outcast for a while now.  It takes more than a couple weeks for something like that to change.  He's not fully alone, though, and is a bit surprised at how nervous Klyrnev is as he timidly approaches.  It's quite the difference from when the Admiral first came, and the young merfolk accused him of being a traitor.

"Uh... hello Yendo.  You're the one to talk to about lobsters?"

Yendo nods after a moment.  "I am, though I'm a bit surprised.  Weren't you working on being a guard?"

The younger merman winces at that.  "I don't think I'm cut out for that.  After seeing that lich move like that..." he shudders briefly, before continuing.  "Anyway, I uh... I had a pet lobster when I was real little.  I always liked them.  Maybe watching over a bunch of them would be nice."

Yendo smiles at that.  He remembers how Rocky moved, too, and he can't blame the youth for wanting a quieter life than having to potentially deal with threats like that.  "Ah, then you might be teaching me a thing or two.  I've always been interested in them, but don't actually know that much about them, except where to find them.  Lets give the others a bit more time to potentially build up their courage, then I can show you and whoever else is interested where they are.  Then we can work out how to actually care for them, together."