The Tale of the Mermaid Pendant
Because I'm fairytale nerd, I was inspired by the Grapefruit Sky discord server to write lore behind the Mermaid Pendant in sdv. As always: enjoy, or don't. But I hope you do ;)
The Tale of The Mermaid Pendant.
By: ienjoywallpaper
Long ago, when the valley's magic was stronger, there lived a benevolent queen of the sea. Because of her kindness and beauty, she was pursued by many romantic partners - but she refused them all. She chose to rule her realm with strength and dignity, and the sea prospered.
One night, a violent storm raged across the sea. Her subjects were safe, but many feared for the lives of the land-dwellers, who lived peaceful lives and shared the bounty of the sea. The queen went to speak to the spirits of the air, to see if she could make peace and perhaps save the innocent land-dwellers. As she approached the surface, a bolt of lightning struck a land-dweller's ship. She watched as the crew panicked, calling on their gods for rescue. All except the young captain. He faced the storm with immense bravery, gallantly leading his crew to safety. The queen was impressed by his courage and called down a blessing on him. As long as he remained near the sea, no harm would come to him. Even without the sea queen's blessing, the captain bravely weathered the storm and delivered his ship and crew to shore safely.
Years passed, and the captain once again found himself in a fearsome storm. This time, he was thrown overboard and lost to his crew. Because of the blessing, he was safely transported to the sea queen. He pleaded for his crew's safety with such fervor, she granted his plea and promised him their safe returns.
"You have shown yourself to be honorable and faithful. Please, come be my companion, and rule the sea by my side." She offered, but the captain refused.
"I am in love with a girl from the valley." He explained, "it is my greatest wish to marry her and live our lives together. I cannot accept your offer." Rather than becoming angry, the sea queen was moved by his loyalty; but she saw an obstacle in his heart.
"What prevents you from your greatest wish?" She asked.
"I have not long been a captain, and a ring of betrothal is too precious for my means." The queen considered his answer, then proclaimed:
"Love should not be a shackle, it should be a home, as beautiful as it is strong." She presented the captain with a handsome shell amulet. "Give this to your beloved, to house your love all your days." The captain gratefully accepted the gift and the queen sent him to land to live his greatest wish.
More years passed. The captain and his wife lived happy, fulfilling lives full of deep love. They raised children who were raised loving the sea and its inhabitants. One day, a grave sickness took away the Captain's wife and children. Heartbroken, he returned to the sea, to cast himself upon the rocks to escape his grief. The sea queen saw his plight and brought the captain to her.
"Your love is true, and your heart is pure. Please, allow me to give you another path than the one you've chosen. If you do not accept, I will send you back to where I found you." The captain agreed to hear the queen's offer.
"I will give you the knowledge of the shell, the home of love you bear, and you will give this knowledge to the pure of heart who seek it. You will bestow the gift of this amulet for generations, and be fulfilled in passing on the legacy of love you and your wife shared for all eternity." The captain agreed to the queen's offer, on the condition that he be allowed to stay close to his home by the tidal pools. She transformed him into a coral and placed him by the house of his marriage. She then made this decree:
"When the waters fall from the skies, you will appear to those whose heart is strong with loyal love. Should you determine they are worthy, you will bestow the amulet upon them, with the blessing of the sea queen. And the receiver of the amulet shall remain bound in love to the giver the rest of their mortal days." And with the rain, she sent down this knowledge to the land-dwellers.
That is how the mermaid's pendant came to be a sign of true love and betrothal down to this day.
