I can see that. Clearly this is some sort of hex. Who did you piss off?

Marniva. 

Never heard of them.

Then you must be new to these parts. Marniva is a terrible, powerful, and frankly not very nice to deal with Maren sorceress. She used to mostly hang around the Tangled Wood’s northern shore, but about 12 years ago had a particularly bad temper tantrum and rampaged all the way up through the southern Gladeveins, which is where you are now. I USED to be a Water Sprite, sent by the Tidelord himself as an emissary, until she sealed my soul inside this hideous old skull. Wrong place at the wrong time, I’m afraid. I’ve been trapped here ever since. 

Tragic. And where is this Marniva now?

No clue. After I was sealed, this place became a wasteland. The only people who roll through these days are lost travelers and looters. So, which are you?

Neither. I’m a witch and I’m just passing through. 

A witch?! Fantastic! Then you can help lift this miserable seal and free me from this skull! 

Sorry buddy, like I said, I’m just passing through. I’m not interested in charity work. ((Balbuoy turns to leave))

WAIT! I can make it worth your while. In case you didn’t hear me, I’m a Water Sprite. My powers come directly from the Tidelord. If you agree to release me into a new body, I’ll transfer those powers to you. That’s a pretty great deal, actually

Oh really. If you’re so powerful, then why did this Marniva character leave you trapped here instead of taking your power for herself?

Well, to be honest, I don’t think it ever really occurred to her. Besides, it wasn’t like I was in any mood to strike a deal at the time. But after 12 years stuck in this heap of bones I’m feeling ready to make a bargain. That’s what it is, by the way, a BARGAIN. All this power for a new body. Easy peasy for a great witch like you. 

I’m not an idiot. Deals like this always come with conditions, and even if they didn’t, resurrection is not “easy peasy”. The level of magic needed to retether a soul is beyond what any witch is capable of, not to mention a crime that no god would tolerate. Especially not when its one of their little divine cronies. 

Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong. I’m not dead. My soul is merely trapped in this vessel. You won’t be stealing it back from the gods... more like sewing it a new suit.

Huh. And what sort of “suit” are you looking for? Should I go find a reef snail to stuff you into? Maybe a bass? The mouth would certainly be large enough.  

Cheeky! But no, no need to take an existing body. We can create one from scratch.

Outrageous. You really are off your marbles, if you ever had any to begin with. 

Once a link is made, my power combined with yours will be more than enough to complete such a ritual. What do you honestly have to lose? Think of everything that you’ll gain.

There’s always a catch.

All I’ll need is a tiny bit of your blood, no more than you’d lose from scraping your hand on a rock. 

You’re asking for blood magic and expect me to trust you. Get real.

Working on ideas for aquatic Ridgeback designs using my two babas. 

Balbuoy is an ambitious Ice witch who leaves her homeland to train and become stronger. She stumbles upon a powerful water sprite, Zorbog, who’s been imprisoned in a skull and who offers all of his powers in exchange for a new physical body. 

[Balbuoy] All this time being obligated to babysit you like some lost dog I didn’t want, under the assumption that I would DIE if I didn’t. The constant fear that at any moment you’d make some stupid mistake and I’d lose my life over an ill-thought-out bargain that has only brought me trouble. I’ve not known a moments peace since I met you, yet you can’t even do me the basic courtesy of keeping yourself out of mortal peril!!

[Zorbog] Balbuoy, I...

[Balbuoy] No, instead you charge in like an idiot, prevent me from protecting you, and force me to confront the reality that maybe it isn’t MY life that I'm most worried about now. I wasn’t READY to deal with that, Zorbog.