Azucar was in a library, leafing through dusty crumbling sheets of parchment when she first heard the whispers. Rumors and nervous stories about strange happenings over the sea caught at the edges of every gathering and conference, until she was thoroughly distracted from whatever she had been studying, and decided to take up this new avenue of research. She rounded up her supplies, secured passage, and soon was presenting herself and her small team.
"Helloo! So good to meet you, Newnden. I am the Mage Azucar, this is my team, we're very eager to begin! What have you found so far? Have you been in correspondance with any other institutes of learning? Archivists? Oh! How rude, I should introduce my lads properly."
"Here's my research assistant Flaris, he's new but his handwriting is remarkable. Very good sailor too, do you know, its as if he can read the wind like a map."
The young fae nodded quietly, surveying the shoreline and growing crowd. He carried several scroll cases and a lumpy sack. Coiled behind him was a pile of darkness, green eyes flickering furtively.
"And... well, it took some work, but I've managed to convince this one to slither up into the daylight and help us out. Very good at deep dark watery places, this fellow, although not much for conversation. I'm sure he's seen more than we can guess. Isn't that right, Whalefall?"
The spiral's eyes turned from the waves to blink at her, tongue stilling and drawing back into his mouth. In reply he slackened his coils and ran his chin through the sand.
"Well, anyhow, I'm sure we'll all get along marvelously." Azucar beamed at the pearlcatcher and patted her shoulder.
(I'd like to join the pinglist, please!)