The Muse of the Barrow's Lake (Back O' Beyond)
The tales of the Muse of the Barrow's Lake, a water spirited being of seductive and harmonic vocals, disguised as a mermaid, however, the water spirit held the ability to shape shift to whichever form of being it desired. The mermaid longed for a lover and demanded the lust of the locals, those who were close enough were seduced by the melodic vocals, those who were brave enough to peek in the waters were not titled brave at all but idiotic, few ever returned and were able to resist the arousing sung chorus. The locals did not know what it desired, it didn't seem to 'want' anything, it was there simply because it happened to be, it came about because that's where it chose to reside some said, it's only purpose to drive us mad, it's only purpose to fulfill the will of the gods.
It is said men were the target, women were never chosen to be persuaded except for rare occasions, the mermaid's sexual orientation had a mind of it's own. Those who were sunk to the bottom of the waters entered a whole new sea of dimensions where they, both, the mermaid and the chosen lover of the water spirit could interact. Though those brave to ever hover over the waters where the harmonic chimes would call never entered unless specifically called for, in which they weren't the targets, but they, as individuals had the option to enter if demanded of themselves, but again, an exceptionally difficult task to achieve.
The water spirit's irresistible voice lured persons of interest to her, specifically to enter the waters, the willpower to refuse were nonexistent of the Barrow's locals, not a single local held such self control. Those who were called unto, by the mermaid's call to perceive such a lustful spirited Muse were often refused because of the mermaid's lack of interest, however, after it no longer desired the man, they were disposed of, never to be seen again. The Muse called upon men by men, longing for the appropriate mate, each male stolen by the wives of the Barrow's locals meant a month's worth of interruption of the creature's work. It was never enough, an on-going cycle of snatched husbands still led on, after the month's necessity worth of a mate is served, another is longed and desired once more, every evening its voice craved for attention and influenced cooperation. The beautiful symphonies were also haunting, to steer clear of such a voice, an impossible task. Many men, husbands and sons, all fearless and ferocious worthy warriors had made the decision to end the chaos of the water spirit from driving the locals away, strangely nothing was ever found, no carcasses, no personal belongings, nor did her once-accepted lovers leave any imprints in the mud.
A volunteer and non-wedded man by the name of Arnulf grew the courage to reside by the lake where all the locals had fled, though the never-ending voice had never influenced this man, maybe indicating that she didn’t desire him, or maybe Arnulf's willpower was telling and resolute, whatever the reason, no one knew for sure. Arnulf pondered day by day to sneak out in suspicion to peer upon the lake, but it was always out of will, but some say he was too weak so he gave into the lustful harmonic symphonies of the water spirit, none can really say why but there he stood, hovered and contemplated, why now of all times has the mermaid stopped lingering with her lustful songs. Arnulf dared to go in but still yet, unsure if it would do any harm, but once under water the beginnings of the chimes commenced. It then began, the beautiful vocalist of a water spirit, Arnulf willingly stepped in and dove underneath the surface where the harmonic vocals grew even more alluring and resounding, such wonders of the water creature, there they met and rejoiced, whether the mermaid had found her lover or not was another conspiracy theory, or if the shape shifting mermaid had sought reasoning was of another thought, though once undergone, Arnulf was never to be see again after some time had past. The mermaid had never bothered the people of the lake again, though rumours are the mermaid had come back in her quest for love once more, still yet alluring only specific persons of interest, hiding beneath the surface, just less active than before, some still imagine the symphonies though not many have undergone the alluring effect.