Absolutely everybody, outside and inside, early afternoon on Saturday

[scots_wolf]

It is a cool and rainy Scottish afternoon by the lake, the rain now pouring, now drizzling from the fast-moving clouds over the lake. The wind is gusty, and even though it is July, there are some moments in some corners along the steep lake shore when it's positively unpleasant. Despite this, some people need to be outside. Among them are:

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[never_b_free]

Like Tower, Amascut is outside, smoking. Or was. Out on the lake there is no protection from the winds and rains. Not in a waka, at least.

Foul northern climates. She hopes the rains won't put out the fires she had set.

She paddles toward shore, but with the winds, who knows where she will make a landing. Or who she will bump into in the way.

[areyoumyjolly]

She bumps into the tail fin of the drifting mermaid.

Tamara turns in the water, and finds that she already met the woman with the odd red hair.

"Hello," she says, cheerfully. "What a cute little boat!"

[never_b_free]

"I am in no mood for any mischief, mermaid," she says as she continues paddling.

Who knew that the water averse woman would actually be out on a canoe in the middle of a lake. And would know how to paddle. She's full of surprises!

[areyoumyjolly]

Tamara leans over the rim of the waka, giggles at the red-headed woman, and rocks the boat a little.

[never_b_free]

And up comes the the oar from the other side of the waka. She's just going to bop the mermaid in the head, but she is already reviewing her options if things get ugly. "Stop that!"

She is already wet, and being dumped into the lake won't accomplish much. Still, there is not much she scan do to stop the mermaid from overturning the waka except lean in the opposite direction and keep the same rhythm as the rocking.

[areyoumyjolly]

"Why are you so scared?" Tamara giggles. "It's only water! You're wet already!"

[never_b_free]

"I am not scared!" she protests. And the oar comes down on Tamara.

Sarah is going to pretend she didn't actually hit the mermaid and continue trying to paddle away.

Fire spells will still sting and burn despite the water, but inside the lake, their effectiveness will be reduced dramatically. She has earth runes. Pummeling someone with rock works almost everywhere.

She also has crossbow bolts, but what good are those without a crossbow?

[areyoumyjolly]

"OWWWWW!" Tamara shouts. "Damn you, I was just joking, silly woman!"

She hisses, tenses up at the water, and then attacks, jumping at the waka with the intention of overturning it.

Now, this is definitely an invitation to attack. And kill. And eat!

[never_b_free]

"Well, for a jokester you are," which way to lean? "awfully ill-tempered."

Wait! If she can just manage to keep the waka afloat, she might not need a harpoon to capture this exotic fishie! That's what crossbow bolts are good for! Stabbing fishies that flop into boats.

Well, it is a tiny boat, and this mermaid can grow legs. And possibly kick. Instead of slapping her around with a fin. Might not be the best plan.

She manages to keep the boat afloat, for now.

[areyoumyjolly]

"And you're awfully scared," the mermaid giggles. She hangs on to the waka and paddles backwards to keep it from moving away.

She can still sink it as it is.

[never_b_free]

She paddles to try to get away.

Suddenly the paddling stops. And the feel of the water changes.

There is something rising up from the lake's floor, headed toward Tamara.

Sarah Then returns to paddling, with increased furor.

[areyoumyjolly]

Tamara turns to see what it is, coming towards her. What is scaring the red-headed woman so much.

[never_b_free]

A boulder from the lake bottom, making a beeline for the mermaid. Well, not from the bottom of the lake, but it looks like that was the most probable point of origin.

Why is it taking so long to hit? Is the lake bottom that far away?

[areyoumyjolly]

Tamara jumps high into the air and swims away at the amazing breakneck speed of a mermaid, leaving the boulder still hurtling towards the waka.

[never_b_free]

The boulder smashes the stern of the waka and knocks it over. Though the caster of the spell was thrown overboard, the rock does not dissipate back into nothingness. It won't until it hits its target or is somehow counteracted. Instead it rockets through the air, chasing after the mermaid.

When Sarah surfaces, the mermaid and the boulder are long gone. Well, there is no point in chasing after the mermaid. There is no point in trying to paddle the ruined waka to shore, so she swims to shore instead.

There is also no point in setting fire to the waka, but she does it anyway before swimming away.

[areyoumyjolly]

Tamara flees through the shifting waters back home to Whitecap Bay.

The boulder doesn't follow her there.-