'This is my first time doing one of these! I wonder what sort of secrets this Santa is supposed to have? But I digress- this one has heard that a certain someone likes stories. These ones were taken from the Mer Court archives and contain a few stories that are sure to have never reached land before.
Oh, don't worry by the way! We have extra copies! Happy holidays!'
From: Owen ("Wait, I'm not supposed to write that?") Santa!
Details:
A series of four different books containing some of the folklore and customs of the merfolk. While it is clear that each volume has been used a number of time and that they are well-aged, the books themselves have been maintained meticulously. Each book is bound with the hardened leather of a sea serpent, with stiff pages made from individual sheets of kelp that were dried out and thinned out. The stories were written out by hand in squid ink and the books were sewn together using thread made from the sinew of the same serpent that covers the books.
From the bottom to the top:
Book 1: The Chronicles of Notable Merfolk
An extensive history of all the famous merpeople of Sansoria and beyond, detailing the feats which made them into legends. This book is far from a dry read, filled with the many tales of adventure and daring on the high seas. The stories range from quirky odes to the retelling of a lifetime, celebrating the benevolent and the infamous at the same time. Some of the most popular stories include Typhus the Bellower, Nix the Charmer, Chella the Deceiver, Titan the Great and Caspian the Wanderer. A small marker has been placed to indicate where each story is.
Book 2: A Beginner's Guide to Merfolk Customs and Traditions
A brief introduction into the culture of the merpeople, spanning from the popular beliefs of their creation all the way to the trivial, yet culturally important occasions that occur throughout the year. There is a section dedicated to the proper conduct a merman should show when faced with their mortal enemy, the Fey, as well as a follow-up section written in a different hand making critical remarks about it in a snarky manner. Some important milestones include the First Drowning (which has changed in nature to merely mark a coming-of-age), the Royal Coronation, as well as birthing and funeral traditions.
Book 3: Songs of the Sea, Volume 1
A basic lesson book that even the youngest boys and girls are taught from when learning to harvest their siren's call. This includes a few interesting odes about sea faring adventures and easy-to-learn choruses. In the margins, Owen wrote down a translation of the lyrics for easier comprehension, as they are not necessarily sung in the same language as the Common Tongue. He also notes briefly as to what song does what- which ones are used to invigorate, which ones are used to lure, which ones for hunger and so on.
Book 4: The Little Mermaid And Other Human Tales
As implied, this is a copy of the classic fairy tale from Earth, which had been collected and modified by mermaids from long ago. Rewritten for archival purposes, this volume contains commentary from several influential scholars (Including Owen) debunking the common misconceptions promoted in the work. ("Mermaids do not turn into sea foam after all.") The end result of the critique makes for a more humorous read than a serious one.
