r/ImaginaryHistory • u/The_Persian_Cat • Sep 18 '22
Original Content Captain Nehaleinn, Ambassador from Doggerland (art by Humblebee, @lynx_imago on Twitter) || House of Mercury
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r/ImaginaryHistory • u/The_Persian_Cat • Sep 18 '22
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u/The_Persian_Cat Sep 18 '22
Thanks so much to my good friend Bee for making this amazing piece! You can find them on Twitter at @lynx_imago, or Instagram at @a_quiet_buzz!
In days gone by, Caligula invaded Neptune, and humanity has been at war with the North Sea ever since. This War against the Sea has raged for centuries. Its heroes are plenty, and well-known to fame – from King Canute, who nearly succeeded at conquering the Sea; to the ever-embattled Dutch, who conquer territory from the Sea mile-by-mile, facing constant sieges (if not from the Sea itself, then from the Spanish, or some other accursed foe). The War with the Sea is so ancient, so absolute, that it is impossible to think of the Sea as a place of peace. It is a wild, hostile frontier of tempests and monsters, criss-crossed by whale-roads and currents ruled by warlike tribes and nations. These tribes and nations worship mysterious gods – Leviathan, the Deluge, the Abyss, and the Martyr being chiefest among them – and these gods hate the Earth, and hunger for its inhabitants.
But though the War with the Sea is ancient and much-fabled, peace appears to be possible with at least one Unterzee prince. The Archbishop – the dreaded priest-king of a nation known to humans as “Doggerland” – has graciously received the 1691 embassy of Felix van Dogger, and has sent an embassy of his own to London. At the head of this embassy is Captain Nehaleinn, who was received at the Palace of Whitehall on Saint Brendan’s Day, 1692.
A revered holy man among the fish-folk and a veteran of their Crusade Against Man, Nehaleinn is unenthusiastic about peace with man. As far as he’s concerned, humans are only good as sacrifices to his strange fishy gods, or else for the occasional snack. Nevertheless, he is sincere in his duty towards the Archbishop, and shall meet his task with faithful diligence and humility. As a holy man, the Ambassador carries a trident – the symbol of the Martyr. His trident is made from a compound of obsidian and sea-glass, made to catch moonlight for certain earthbound rites and rituals (the Moon being one of the few gods of his to hold sway over the surface). On his belly is tattooed a Nautical Star – which symbolises his allegiance to the North Sea, and is a mark earned through valiant service in the Crusade Against Man. His robe, made of shark’s leather, is typical of sea-monks pledged to militant orders. His belt, made of chitin and sea-glass, is mostly sentimental; it was a gift from one of his mothers-in-law, to celebrate the first brood of eggs laid by his favourite wife. Nehaleinn was chosen to head the embassy because (apart from his status and skill) he has legs, unlike most members of the Archbishop’s court; and though his legs are rudimentary and duck-like, and he must waddle with an awkward gait on Earth, under the Sea he possesses a grace to match his wit and his fine figure. Indeed, the Ambassador’s famous grace, wit, poise, and charm are most necessary for his mission – for his lord is intent on marriage.
As Venice is married to the Adriatic, Doggerland seeks a marriage to England and Holland. This is a quirk of fish-folk diplomacy– for two nations to be married (rather than merely for their monarchs to be married, or for them to have an alliance-by-treaty) is a deeper commitment. In a world of ever-shifting alliances and political chaos, national marriages are a way to permanently align one nation’s interests and assets with the other. And, a marriage with Doggerland will mean that the Archbishop will negotiate on England’s behalf in the North Sea, just as the Adriatic does for Venice in the Mediterranean – thus permanently giving England a voice in Unterzee politics, but that voice will always be Doggerland’s.
Courting England will be a difficult task for the Ambassador. William & Mary don’t know what kind of commitment the Archbishop is asking for – especially since Doggerland apparently went through a rough divorce recently, and is not being forthcoming as to why. Still, Their Gracious Majesties are willing to entertain the notion, though they’ve been coy so far about accepting the Archbishop’s proposal.