Weeping Lass

Known to the dock workers and sailors of Aru’Mas as the Weeping Lass, this spirit is one of the city’s most tragic and enduring figures. Believed to be a Once-Was, the spirit of a young woman whose heart broke beyond repair, the Weeping Lass haunts the city’s bustling harbor each night, mourning a lost love who will never return. While harmless, her presence unsettles those who work the late shifts, and her mournful calls drift like whispers over the water, echoing her pain for all to hear. Some say her presence is a reminder of the love that binds, even in death; others believe she is a cautionary tale of the dangers of despair.

The Story of the Weeping Lass

The Weeping Lass was once a young woman with a hopeful heart, eagerly awaiting the return of her betrothed, a sailor who had set off on one of Aru’Mas’s missionary vessels. He was bound for distant lands and otherworldly destinations, sailing into the Astral Sea to spread the city’s teachings and forge connections with the people of other worlds. She waited on the docks for his return, watching each day as new ships arrived, hoping that each would bear her beloved back to her.

Years passed, and when the ship finally returned, her heart leapt—only to be shattered moments later by the news. Her beloved had been lost to a violent astral storm, perishing while saving a young child from being thrown overboard. Though he had died a hero, sacrificing himself selflessly to protect another, the knowledge brought her little solace. Her grief became unbearable, and in her despair, she threw herself into the sea, seeking to join him in the depths.

It is said that the spirit of the young woman emerged soon after, taking on the form of the Weeping Lass. Unable to let go, her spirit lingers at the docks, searching in vain for the lover who will never return to her arms. The Lass has become a figure of sorrow and longing, forever bound to the place where she last held hope.

Appearance and Behavior

The Weeping Lass appears as a faint, translucent figure in a simple, flowing dress, her long hair drifting around her shoulders like seaweed in water. Her eyes are deep pools of sorrow, and her face is often stained with spectral tears that glisten faintly under the moonlight. She is frequently spotted wandering near the water’s edge, her hands clasped to her chest as if clutching something precious. Sometimes she stands at the end of the dock, peering into the distance as though hoping to see her lover’s ship on the horizon.

She moves silently, her feet barely touching the ground, her gaze fixed on the horizon or on the faces of those who pass by. Some say that if you meet her eyes, a wave of intense sadness will wash over you, as if her grief were your own. Dock workers and ship hands often hear her soft, mournful cries at night, calling out her lover’s name in a voice filled with heartbreak. She is drawn to quiet nights, especially those with clear skies, when the stars glimmer over the water, reminding her of the journey her beloved took across the Astral Sea.

The Shriek of the Weeping Lass

Though harmless, the Weeping Lass has a chilling habit of letting out a piercing shriek when she encounters a couple walking together along the docks. She is known to watch lovers with a mixture of longing and despair, her silent form often unnoticed until her wail cuts through the quiet. This shriek, a high-pitched cry filled with sorrow, startles those who hear it, and the Lass vanishes into thin air immediately after.

Locals say that her cry is the sound of a heart torn apart, a reminder of the joy she once hoped to share with her beloved. For couples, the encounter is particularly haunting, as it is said her cry is not out of malice, but of sorrow for what she herself lost. Many couples who hear her shriek feel a chill that lingers, and some even claim to experience a brief vision of her—a pale figure with tears streaming down her face, calling out into the night. Those who encounter her are said to feel a stronger bond, as if reminded of the fragility and preciousness of love.

Dock Workers and the Weeping Lass

The dock workers of Aru’Mas have developed a respectful superstition surrounding the Weeping Lass. They see her as a fixture of the night, a spirit who belongs to the docks as much as the water and the ships themselves. While some find her presence unsettling, others leave small offerings in the hopes of easing her sorrow. Coins, flowers, and pieces of worn rope are left along the docks as tokens of remembrance and sympathy.

Among the sailors, it’s customary to leave a piece of silver or a small charm on the dock before setting sail, a gesture meant to appease the Weeping Lass. It’s believed that these offerings bring good luck for safe travels, honoring her lover’s tragic journey and acknowledging the sacrifices that sailors and their loved ones make. Some even whisper a quiet prayer for her as they cast off, hoping to avoid the sorrow she embodies.

Legends and Folklore of the Weeping Lass

The Weeping Lass has inspired many stories among the people of Aru’Mas, each one a reminder of love, loss, and the persistence of grief:

  • The Sailor’s Return: One tale tells of a sailor who, upon hearing the Lass’s cry, felt compelled to seek out her spirit. Over the course of several nights, he watched for her, leaving small tokens of silver on the docks in an attempt to comfort her. On the final night, she appeared before him, and he offered a quiet blessing, promising to honor her love. Some say that he was granted good fortune on every voyage thereafter, and that the Lass’s cries softened whenever he was near, as though comforted by his kindness.
  • The Lovers’ Promise: Another tale warns that those who mock the Lass or treat her sorrow with disrespect are cursed with misfortune in love. It is said that a sailor once jeered at her cries, laughing at her heartbreak, only to lose his own lover soon after. Now, many believe that the Lass’s sorrow is not to be taken lightly and that her grief deserves reverence, lest one’s own heart be broken in return.
  • The Night of the Bright Moon: A popular legend among couples tells of a night when the Lass’s spirit is said to disappear from the docks, as though finally at peace. It’s said this occurs only under a rare alignment of Ahvantir’s moons, when they are all full, and the sea glows with their combined light. Lovers who walk the docks on this night are believed to be blessed with enduring love, and some see this as a sign that the Lass has, even for a moment, reunited with her lost beloved.

The Weeping Lass’s Legacy in Aru’Mas

The Weeping Lass has become an inseparable part of the lore of Aru’Mas, a haunting reminder of both love’s beauty and its sorrow. Her presence at the docks is both feared and respected, and those who walk the quiet paths near the water at night know to listen for her cries. Many citizens of Aru’Mas consider her a guardian of sorts, a spirit whose sorrow keeps her bound to the city, reminding all who see her that love, even lost love, leaves an indelible mark on the soul.

For the sailors and dock workers of Aru’Mas, the Weeping Lass is a symbol of the sacrifices that come with life at sea, the grief that haunts those who wait, and the resilience required to carry on. Though she is forever searching for the lover she will never again embrace, her story serves as a quiet but powerful reminder of the bonds that endure, even in death.

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