The Voice of the Waters
as recorded by Qrow Branwen
There once was a ship that was put to sea. The name of the ship was the Leviathan, and it sailed the waters of Remnant, both deep and shallow. It was a hearty vessel, crewed by a dozen men, all committed to their jobs and their ship. The voyages were long, often taking years, as the schooner explored the vast oceans.
The Leviathan was headed north one cold winter's night. The sky was clear and full of stars, but the air was chilled and still. Most of the crew were asleep below deck, save for the lookout in the crow's nest. He wrapped a blanket tighter around himself, attempting to stay warm. He breathed heavily, seeing a fog rise from his mouth with each exhale. He kept watch for ice and rocks in the water, a bell dangling above him should he be forced to alert the one other crew member awake: the helmsman, a man named Snow.
Aside from the cold, little was happening this night, and the lookout did his best to keep his mind occupied, primarily with trying to stay warm. He would glance at the stars, but would always glance back down to the sea, both for his duties and because he loved it so much. Despite the frigid temperatures, there was no place he would rather be. The ocean waves were the most soothing sound in Remnant, and he would do anything to listen to them forever.
At least, that is what he was thinking when a new sound reached his ear. It was strange and it was faint, but he could tell instantly that it was not the sounds of his beloved sea. It seemed to get louder, reaching a point where it could be heard over the creaking of the ship and the lapping of waves. It sounded like a beautiful voice humming and harmonizing. The lookout glanced at Snow below, who showed no signs of hearing the noise. The lookout leaned on the rail around his perch and listened carefully, slowing his own breathing to better hear over the waters. It was a melodic tune, sung by a feminine voice, and the closer he listened, the more he could make out the voice speaking words seemingly meant for him:
"Down in the waters,
I dance and I sing.
Riding the waves,
Never worrying.
To those who can hear this,
The sea wants you
The ocean longs for thee
as much as you long for it too.
Thou art the chosen,
The ones destined to be
one with their true love:
the deep blue briny sea."
The lookout leaned further on the rail, soaking in the gorgeous tune. He truly loved the ocean, and now it was calling to him in the voice of an angel, inviting him into its waters. The helmsman did not seem to hear it, so the lookout thought that he, and only he, who loved the ocean more than any man on the ship, was the one being called and the only one that could hear. He cast off his blanket and, as if in a trance, climbed on top of the rail around the crow's nest. He knew he was chosen, and longed to be with his love, the deep sea. In the moment he should have been terrified at his position, but only felt peace and compulsion as he looked down at the water far below, trusting the ocean to allow him safely into its embrace. He closed his eyes, bid a silent farewell to the world of the surface, and jumped. The cold air rushed against his body as he fell.
The helmsman Snow was fighting off sleep when a loud noise woke him completely. It was a ear-splitting crash and a bag, and he whirled his head around just in time to see the mangled body of the lookout slide from on top of the deck's railing off the side of the boat and into the waters below with a splash. He rushed from the wheel to glance over the side, and saw the dead body of the lookout floating at the surface of the water for a few seconds, blood leaking into the dark water, before sinking below.
The crash had woken the men, and in minutes the deck rang with activity. The captain of the Leviathan, a man named Rich Silver, interrogated Snow about what he saw. The helmsman gave his report, saying what he saw and heard, and that the lookout had jumped from his post, struck the railing and was killed instantly, and then his mangled corpse fell into the sea. Upon examining the crow's nest and broken rail, the Captain concluded suicide. Why he could not say, but he could not find another reason behind the lookout's demise. He commanded his men back to their beds, save for two. The helmsman would continue his duties, and the first mate would be the lookout. The men reluctantly agreed to their orders, and each went to the place he was commanded.
The first mate was a man named Flint Steel, and was a man of very few words. He took his place willingly, because his captain had ordered it so. He was loyal to the captain and the Leviathan, valuing each plank of wood and length of rope more so than his very own life. He stood diligently up in the crow's nest, looking out for anything that might obstruct his precious vessel. As the hours went by, he found himself bored, and, out of a morbid curiosity, would look down below to see the snapped rail far below. He shuddered to think what a painful death it was, and his thoughts turned to sorrow as he mourned his crew mate. His eyes had only just left the destruction when he heard a noise out towards the sea. At first he thought it was nothing, but the more that he listened, the more he thought he heard a melodic sound, and then a singing voice from the darkness:
"Down in the waters,
I keep my eyes laid
for vessels and travelers
in need of my aid.
I see thou, great vessel,
though you cannot see me,
and I plead for you to hear
this song from the sea.
Your crewman is here,
He is barely alive,
Please turn to retrieve him,
or he may not survive."
Flint paused with concern about the nature of the call, but felt a compulsion to heed the voice. If there was a chance he could save a member of the crew, he thought it best to take it. He leaned over the railing and called down below for Snow to turn the ship around. Snow called back with confusion and questioning, but Flint made his order clear. The helmsman, not wanting to be insubordinate, obeyed his superior and turned the ship, facing it the opposite way. Flint looked out to the water, squinting his eyes to try and see the caller or the lookout in the water. It was so dark, however, that he could not see a thing, including a reef just under the surface. The Leviathan jolted and shook as it struck, making the helmsman spin the wheel quickly to try and pull away. However the shaking and rocking, along with the swerve, were too much for the first mate to handle. He stumbled as he lost his balance and toppled backwards over the railing, falling from the crow's nest. Snow this time saw the whole thing as Flint missed the railing but fell right into the sea, no doubt striking the reef in the water.
Once again the crew was awoken from the violent striking of the reef. Captain Silver came by and barked at Snow, demanding to know what had happened. Snow told him that the first mate had ordered the turn, and that the reef had shaken him off. The Captain was infuriated as well as suspicious, and he ordered the helmsman be taken to the brig. The Captain took hold of the wheel and steered the boat back onto its course. He decided to forgo another lookout and commanded his men back below deck. When the crew questioned their captain, his patience ran out, and he threatened that all those not back in their beds would share Snow's fate. This made them comply, but he could feel their glares and could hear their mutters as he took both to steering at watching the ship himself.
Though the hours passed by, the tension did not die as the Captain gripped hard on the wheel. He had just lost two crew members, one of which was a good friend, and was in a sour and bitter mood. He cursed and he swore, spitting on the deck, while keeping his eyes peeled ahead. There were gusts from the cold sea air, but his anger kept his body burning hot. Just as he wondered what misfortune had struck them, he began hearing a noise over his profane muttering. He ignored it at first, but it grew ever louder, and soon he was forced to stop grumbling and listen to make it out. It was melodic and strange, and came from the ocean, rising in volume the more it went on. The Captain bit down hard on his tongue when he heard it turn into words:
"Down in the waters,
I watch over the night.
I have seen your ship, Captain,
and I see thy plight.
These deaths are a curse, Captain,
and I think you should know,
There is a harbinger of misfortune,
and its name is Snow.
He is locked away now,
but soon he'll be free.
He will make for thou, Captain,
to take life and ship from thee."
The Captain's rage burned hotter than ever before. He knew Snow had been suspicious, and now this voice was confirming it so. He reached to his belt and pulled out a pistol. His fury burned so hot that he never even stopped to consider the voice giving him the information. He abandoned the wheel and made for the brig, set on taking Snow's life before Snow took his own.
Down in the brig, Snow sat and pondered, wondering why his friends had to die. He knew with his strength, he could break down the cell door easily, but thought it best not to until he heard a knocking and a voice. He shuddered once and leaned down. The sounds were coming from under the boat.
"Down in the waters,
Safe voyages I lead
I provided justice
to all those in need.
I see thee, Master Snow,
and come to warn you:
Your captain intends for this boat
to sink deep in the blue.
He is coming now, I say,
to kill your crewmen.
Be quick and stop him,
I will explain more then."
Snow feared both the voice and its warning, not knowing if it was to be trusted. However, he figured that he would at least try to rationalize with his captain and find his true intentions, and then he would know if what the voice said was true. Using his strength, he grabbed hold of the lock and squeezed it until it bent. He push open the door and hurried up to where the crewmen were sleeping. He tiptoed as not to wake any of them up, when suddenly a din startled him. The captain appeared, charging down from the deck, a pistol gripped in his hand. Snow cried out for the Captain to stop, pleading that he spare the men.
The Captain saw Snow, escaped from his cell, and thought it was proof of the voice's premonition. He aimed for Snow and fired a single shot, striking Snow in the chest. Those who were not woken by Snow's panicked cries were surely woken by the gunshot. Some rushed to Snow's side while others attacked the Captain, restraining his arm and pulling away his gun. The Captain cursed at Snow, telling him that his plans were foiled. As Snow lay dying, he took his last breath to ask: if the Captain was with them, who was steering the boat?
As if an answer to the dying man's question, the boat smashed into large rocks in the water. There was splintering wood and clanging metal as the ship was quickly and thoroughly sliced. Water filled the lower decks, quickly overwhelming the crew, and those who did not go into immediate shock from the freezing cold sea tried desperately to swim up, but were dragged down as the Leviathan plummeted into the deep.
Snow bled into the water, rasping his breath, closing his eyes and preparing to die. As the screams and cries of his crewmen and Captain were drowned out by the rushing waves, Snow thought he could hear a voice below them all:
"Down in the waters,
I dance and I sing.
Riding the waves,
Never worrying.
Here in the ocean
I watch and I wait.
When I see Human ships,
I do not hesitate.
Thou art the chosen,
The ones destined to be
down here, down with me,
in the deep blue briny sea."
Ozpin's Notes
This story is a fairly common one among sailors and seaside residents, being told in taverns and on ships for centuries, especially to young or new sailors who are regarded as more gullible. Though the story frames the enigmatic voice as some kind of dark spirit, it may be based on real-world events. We know from history (and the fact that this practice sadly still occurs, albeit rarely, in current times) that pirate crews consisting of aquatic Faunus would lure or deceive Human ships by calling out to them or pretending to be overboard crew members, then have the ship crash on rocks, reefs, and ice so they could plunder it. While these events may have influenced this story, details such as how the voice knows their names and desires are likely the fictional additions and exaggerations that have been woven into this tall tale.