[Dandeli]

(Author's Note: very rough vomit from my brain pending hammer and chisel.)
The Founding of Nereides

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Nereides was founded in 2038AC by the High Priestess Maliyah, a Mermaid devout of the Shapeshifting Serpent, Yama. The new district of Dal’thala was to be a sanctuary for Sirenia, and would go on to become one of the only places within the Realm of Delphina to have a population where Faeborne and Humans are largely outnumbered.
 
 

"Sirenia - aged, weary, fearful, lost, or fresh ashore. I can only apologize for how long it has taken me to establish a home for our kind to, at the very least, convene and befriend one another. Or, as I would prefer, a place to live, swim and thrive in safety. That, is the purpose of Nereides. A haven one may find solace within, to nurture their talents and be provided the chance to grow into themselves without that spark being snuffed out by the Deep One's wretched cult.

 

The island is young, and there is much more to be built upon. But, it is here. A place of exploration, of rest, of calm - amidst Meranthe's ever-turbulent environment. I hold out love for each and every single one of you, kin. I will aid all I can that come to this island of ours. Be it food, shelter, mending, or classes to develop the gift of healing others. Lessons and sermons on Sirenia's history and its faith will also be provided.

  

May the tides push in your favor."

– Maliyah, 2038AC

 
 
Amongst the many historical figures of note to emerge from the Isle of Nereides prior to its formalization as a Duchy there was the Elzaran Commander, Ria, successor of Maliyah and the Thorn Captain Colucauda.
 
In the name of bringing the fellowship of both Grief’s Goddess Nemea and the First Siren Leucothea unto land a covenant was promised between King Camino de Caewynn and Lady Melionette Meandersong. She would be crowned Nereides’ first Duchess, representing a bond between those of Land and those of Sea.
 
Melionette would be succeeded by her son Kalione Meandersong in 2165AC following the former’s untimely disappearance, reigning for approximately nineteen years before the official retraction of his title by His Majesty in 2184AC following a major dispute.
 
 
Culture and Faith

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Nereides accepts all sirenians, its population predominantly consisting of Selkie, seconded by Mermaids and Anguill. 
 
Religion is splintered: there are for as many of the Isle’s inhabitants which choose to worship the Sirenian Pantheon collectively those that choose to worship one deity singularly. Leucothea and Yama make up the majority of worship, seconded by Galene, Scylla and lastly Inki. 
 
Worship of Nemea is no outlier, but commonly occurs in concurrence with those of the Sirenian Pantheon – Leucothea especially. The Isle is currently bereft of any formalized structures of worship, though some inhabitants may choose to establish their own informal sects.
 
The worship of Inki is a divisive subject given ancient history, made all the more divisive when the whisperings of him being the age-old enemy of Sirenia, the Deep One, were confirmed to be factual. 
 
Some view the stipulations of reigning as Duke or Duchess as controversial, given it is a mantle rumouredly reserved for only Selkie.
 
 
Military

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Nereides has close ties with the Realm of Delphina’s Suladari, a militant force with a central focus on water operations. It was founded as the Abyssal Dragon’s armies fast approached the shores of Meranthe, with many of Nereides’ Sirenia being leveraged to help combat the demonspawn horde travelling the Northern Sea.
 
Sirenians still make up a majority of the personnel, given their natural affinity for water.
  
  
Notable Events: Leucothea’s Consolation

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The Isle’s recent history is largely entwined with the First Sirenian, Leucothea. Lady Melionette Meandersong took unto herself the curse of the Selkie, promising to protect Her children. This steadily culminated into King Camino de Caewynn asking her to seek audience with her Goddess, leading her through the frigid waters of Uraheim and eventually Leucothea’s Realm. 
 
Beseeching Leucothea and Nemea both she pleaded fellowship between the two, leading to, as told in tales, clouds parting and radiant light which would bring with it the Grief Goddesses’ blessing. Glacial ice would become a grove, and at its core a pond allowing a glimpse beyond the veil, allowing Leucothea to look over her beloved children within the Realm of Delphina.
 
The newly established connection between Land and Sea could be found even within Delphina’s reaches – a bridge of sand and earth would soon connect the Isle to the Realm’s heart, Dal’thala.
  
  
Notable Events: Scylla’s Call

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Upon the shores of Nereides a song was played, attempting to rouse the attention of Scylla, Mother of the Anguill that had long cloistered away after the war between Land and Sea. Her child Gemtri would answer this call, condemning the idea of asking Scylla to reunite with the Land, given how much it tormented her.
 
In concession Gemtri granted a trial: six winners of a tournament would be granted the opportunity to travel to Scylla’s depths and speak to her. Those of the expeditionary force travelled through Scylla’s islands, made to simulate and surmise if Yama and Inki could ever co-exist.
 
In their travels Gemtri, tasked with overseeing Scylla’s islands, would be revealed as Trigem. Come the final trial Trigem, fond of the group he accompanied on their travels, sacrificed himself so they might meet Scylla. She would reveal the fate of Galene, prisoner of the Deep One, entrusting the quest of saving her from Hel to Lord-Marshal Kalione and his contingent.
  
  
Notable Events: Galene’s Rescue

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In a ceremony to try scry the whereabouts of the chained Galene within the Temple of Yama a cursed elegy sent the proceedings into disarray. In the midst of peril the Great Whale, Inki's true identity was revealed: he had, in fact, not died in totality but had evolved into the Deep One so many of Sirenia fear and loathe. 
 
In the aftermath three beasts were set loose from Hel: a Sea Serpent, Water Bull and Kraken. The former had taken the active Duchess, Melionette, whole within his maw, leading to speculation of her death and Kalione's ascent to Duke. Combined forces across the continent successfully dispatched these threats, but not without residual unrest.

Eventually an expeditionary force travelled to the Deep One's domain, setting off from the Landfallen's Light. The Trident of Galene and Galene herself were successfully wrest free from the manacles of the accursed domain, their escape supposedly watched by the looming, vengeful eye of the Deep One himself: to who else could that feeling of terror be owed?
 

Notable Events: The Sisters Reunite

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Upon the shores of Nereides did Galene, Scylla and Leucothea appear together for the first time since ancient history. The emergence of The Three Sisters was headed by Galene, and the question that shook all that bore witness to it: "Do you welcome us?"

Confronting Duke Kalione she would inquire as to whether it was within his and his people's ability to save the Great Whale, to which he replied he could, but not alone. A test of mettle proceeded, wrought by Galene. The battle was disturbed partway by a Shadow of the Deep One and an old, bygone cultist rumoured to be one of Scylla's scions from primeval times, abandoned when she fled to the depths.

Calaven of House Nubia made haste after the unknown cultist, attempting to halt her escape, but efforts found no purchase, the man allegedly sent undersea, later washed up by the tide. Galene and Scylla pursued her, leaving Leucothea alone come the Shadow of the Deep One's defeat. The now-diminished shadow was captured by the deity herself, cloistered in a lustrous bubble of light.

Before her sorrowful departure King Camino de Caewynn was seen returning unto Leucothea one of her erstwhile tears. It was not taken but, instead, transformed, crackling into a divine bloom after its frozen potential was finally kindled after years upon years of dormancy.