18/1/2024 - Getting in the Deep End - Cort

I don’t know if to call this a diary or journal but, my thoughts would do well here.



I’ve been called weird before but, standing here has always worked. Cort is not good at talking but, thankfully I’ve found new friends. Cort is so happy to be making friends. Alasdair is here. Cort is happy with someone familiar; there are new people here and new friends to meet. I am quite intrigued.



A nervous man Mack has approached us and though he seems to be new to speaking, Cort is happy to help, the money is only extra.



Cort learns a new threat exists from, a sweet older woman, Bosalind. Mirror people. Cort should be much more alert around mirrors from now on. I must also tell Master Set, he will remind me about the evils of vanity. This team then goes to see the friend of Mack, a frightened man who at first, seemed to have bumped his head and produced fearful babbles until the sweet words of Bosalind finally reveal there’s a great creature in the ocean.



Fear!

We shall fight fear!

I feel that Master Set has always taught me of this lesson. This is what Cort has been waiting for. I am quite excited, about a mission of love. This is what Cort was made for. He shall bring his expertise and his gentle nature and be successful. What fun!



Everything was going amazingly and so sweet and then… a child of darkness asked us to meet her at a tea shop. She seemed quite pleasant but, then a Zola called her a Nec- Neh… I forgot the word but, Master Set has said it before as an enemy that plays with the bodies of the dead. She asked for us to do more for her but, Cort has kept his space. I don’t trust her voice. Words can cast spells and be powerful, I kept a watchful eye on friends but, kept his ears safe.



The long conversations and the passing of an odd tube, coral-looking tube have brought my attention back to the table. Which is what that witch wanted



For now, Cort is shamed.

I never thought this evil woman would get under my skin but, I can feel my heart rising when I think of her. I want to crush poor innocent leaves at the sound of her name, simply due to my obscene frustration. Curse that woman, forgive me Master Set but, Curse her! Curse her!



I tried not to let my new friends see me upset but, before I had the chance, this beautiful tune arose from the sea where we found ourselves with a saddened Mack and a missing Mr. Morpheus. Suddenly, unlike, but yet like, Master Set has taught me, that my body must take over and without my control, I’m sprinting toward the water. The next thing I realize, water overtakes me.



My new friends found me and we found Morpheous curled up in a ball. Bosalind doesn’t join us, I think she is unable to swim, which makes sense to Cort. That witchcraft tube made us breathe underwater, which feels unnatural but, we don’t fight it. The darkness in the water feels alive, like I'm in a dream, and this is where I learn a lesson but, the dream keeps going.



The moment Cort is expected to wake up is when the spear hits my new friend Zola but, Cort realizes… this was no dream and Cort could die. So I do what I know best, I quietly move into the shadows and keep a watchful eye on friends.



We find a very sad mermaid, she goes by Reka, and she is quiet and sad. Cort thinks she took a vow of silence but, I can’t tell her because I’m in the shadows. Shadow rule number 1, tell no one.



I reveal myself at the opportunity to call that witch, a bitch!



Do you know what that witch did?! She stole this poor mermaid’s throat. Cort knows because the image of the throatless Reka is very disgusting, Cort held in vomit. Cort now knows that it’s possible to do such a thing…. That witch. When Zola returns her throat, the cranky mermaid Reka finds her voice and grows quite large. Mr. Morpheus becomes untouchable and Cort gets so confused, that I don’t remember how to hide as a giant shadow hand reaches into the sunken ship.



Master Set would be upset with Cort for I am actually… afraid. But, my new friends don’t hesitate to fight this fear-hand so, Cort must now be brave. As soon I think this, the hand slaps the ship and I bump my head. It hurts a bit but, I’m not afraid.



I fall on top of the hand, my claws going through as Zola, Kalta, and Alasdair are remarkable warriors. I apologize for my contribution to it’s fear-based hand and it accepts my love. Cort is a master at love, yes? I feel like Cort may make peace with its giant, dark scared body except it shoves forward toward my friends and so does a giant Reka, smashing Colt before, Reka grabs us all and rescues us, as I stumble back on land, badly wounded.



The worst part… we lost Mr. Morpheus. We couldn’t get him back, I have failed.

I feel like the worst Monk. I try to bring long but, everyone ends up getting hurt because of me..



That witch left us money but, my heart can’t think about anything other than Mack as we watch his heart break when we tell him we failed to bring back his… what Cort picks up is, lover. They say friends but, the love seemed deeper, much deeper.



Cort did what he could to hold Mack, so he felt safe to cry. To release. It seemed the way. I even decided to stay with Mack and nurse his grief back to acceptance.



This is “The Way” Cort thinks of and enjoys. I watched a man get taken and I almost died in the process. I want to be able to save people and help them to not get taken, to help my new friends and fight their enemies, like that Witch!



Cort has decided to follow “The Way of Mercy”. Master Set would be proud of me. Maybe the more people I help, the more are willing to help me find my own family and dear friend… Negrog.



I don’t know where you are my friend but, I will find you.



I promise you.





Cort.

Monk in the Way of Mercy.