The Merman's Hold

Names and key terms

• Alaria (ah-LAH-ree-ah): Name of the Goddess.

• Alathai (ah-lay-THAI): Language of the Mer people

• Kaelen (KAY-len): Character name.

• Neridia (Neh-REE-dee-ah): City name.

• Sepiia (Se-PEE-ah): Character name.

Alathai Glossary

• Athen = Sleep.

• Beliara = Slow (slow down).

• Celestara = Goddess.

• Dara = Light.

• Elor = the (article)

• Elyra = Beautiful.

• Emara = Welcome.

• Farin = Must.

• Felor = Sacrifice.

• Fulora = Name.

• Ilan = Yes.

• Lanka = Stay.

• Lorin = Sorry.

• Lunara = Ocean.

• Molora = Sick/unwell.

• Nahneh = No.

• Nael = Fish.

• Nerath = Darkness.

• Opar = Big (OH-par).

• Ramascat = Kingdom.

• Rathi = Here.

• Ril = How.

• Selor = Safe.

• Syran = Water.

• Tela = Home.

• Valor = Food.

• Valara Eat.

• Varaen = Human.

• Yen = You.

• Zelun = Please.

Simple Phrases

• Emara Tela = Welcome home.

• Ril yenonaka? = How are you?

• Zaral Lorin = I'm sorry.

• Lanka Selor = Stay safe.

Origins of the Alathai Language

The Alathai language is said to have been gifted by the goddess Alaria herself. Legend claims that in the early days of the oceanic kingdoms, the goddess Alaria sang the first words into the tides, teaching her children to communicate not just with one another but with the sea itself. Its melodic tones and flowing cadence are said to echo the natural rhythms of the ocean, giving the language an almost musical quality.

As clans drifted across different regions of the seas, Alathai evolved into dialects, though its divine roots remain untouched. Even now, subtle accents in Neridians' speech can reveal their lineage, hinting at ancestral migration routes or home currents.

The sacred core of Alathai endures in prayers, rituals, and moments of profound emotion. Its written glyphs, crafted in intricate patterns, are believed to hold divine energy. These glyphs glow faintly in the presence of Neridian spiritual power and are used to etch blessings on homes, paint protective sigils on warriors' shells, or weave into rituals of summoning and protection. It is said that only those attuned to Alaria's will are able to fully unlock their mystical potential.

Priestesses are among the few who study Alathai in its purest, ancient form, where its melodies resonate with the ocean's rhythms. They strive to attune themselves to Alaria's will, seeking to unlock the full potential of the sacred glyphs and rituals. However, only a rare few have ever achieved this connection, and even fewer have been able to wield the full power it grants.

Cultural Notes:

• Words like "dara" (light) and "nerath" (darkness) are often used in poetry to symbolise hope and despair.

• Neridians rarely say "goodbye." Instead, they use "Lanka Selor" (Stay safe), as parting is viewed as temporary.