The Tragedy of Benron

A Dorish Folk Tale

There once was a young fisherman named Benron, of the city Uri-onu. He was pure of heart and reputable, but soft of mind—and this was his weakness. One day, Benron’s fishing crew sailed further out into sea than they were wont, in the hopes of finding larger and rarer catches to sell at market. To their delight, their nets snagged on something greater than they’d ever seen before. The net thrashed as they tugged it into the boat, and to their surprise they found it tangled around not a fish, but an Aquatic maiden.
The Aquatic was a ghastly creature, with blue-green scales that faded into pale, sickly skin the color of old bones. She had sharp teeth, like a shark, and when she blinked, her eyes clouded over, like when mist cloaks a dark forest. Her hair was in a savage tangle, like stringy, sticky seaweed that washes onto shore. Between her fingers were repulsive flaps of skin, like the webbing of a frog’s hands.
Benron’s crew rejoiced at their find, for the Aquatic’s many parts would make them wealthy indeed. But the Aquatic looked upon Benron, and sensing he was soft of mind, placed a magic spell upon him.
In his trance, Benron could no longer see the hideous creature, but instead beheld a beautiful girl with silky hair, dark skin, and lovely, doleful eyes. He saw the girl crying, even as in reality she remained cold and placid.
Heart-stirred and enamored beyond reason, Benron fought against his comrades to release the Aquatic. In the chaos, he managed to free her partially from the net, and she wiggled the rest of the way out.
Before leaping into the waves, the Aquatic whispered the last words of her magical spell; and with them, Benron dove after her, thinking himself in love.
Deep beneath the surface, the Aquatic’s sharp teeth found their mark. She fed on the pure-hearted fisherman, just as the spell broke and his infatuation was replaced with horror.
Benron was never seen again.
Author's note: This myth appears in City of Reckoning.