The Mantissa

"*Abruptly, the lilac sails unfurled at once and revealed the same black symbol on each: A stylised woman’s face with black tumbling hair, closed eyes, and two hands held outward. Each sailcloth streamed water, as the boat did, gaining more buoyancy with every second.*"
―The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire, Chapter 31: The Sky is Falling
**The Mantissa** is a mixed-alignment warship that only rarely sails, and serves as the main setting for *The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.* It is owned by Ondine, who normally lives in it underwater, when it fully submerges.

## Description

The Mantissa is described as the largest warship to exist in the fae realm, and a ship that used to 'end wars'. It has multiple crow's nests, sails, and decks, suggesting it's similar to a medieval ship like a man-of-war or ship of the line. Its sails are lilac, with a motif of Ondine drawn on them with open palms, possibly to indicate her role as the sea's prophet.

Unlike human ships, the Mantissa remains buoyant because of fae abilities, so she can be impossibly tall, long, and weighty. There are two circular holes cut into the surface decking that plunge straight down into the ocean, so that sea fae can come and go through the centre of the ship into the water. The bottom levels of the ship are always filled with seawater, and the water level is raised and lowered for ballast. There is a large abovedeck cabin with giant double doors, with a corridor within leading to 'a ballroom, a vaulted library and more' as well as 'a kitchen area'.

Certain sea creatures make their home on the Mantissa, including starfish, octopuses, barnacles, and more.

Stasis magic is used liberally throughout the ship 'to stop items from going everywhere if the ship encounters rogue waves or similar . . . It’s all over the ship, but it’s particularly strong in the offices, storage, the kitchens and so on.' This can be seen on the crow's nest most frequently occupied by Mosk Manytrees and the Raven Prince, where a book and an apple are left on a shelf, but do not move. In some places, the ship smells of 'fish leather and the lanolin found in wool', and heavily of salt, and it rocks like other large ships. The halls are hung with lanterns, that swing with the movement.

Fae share responsibilities: Awan is seen taking over as Captain when Ondine is too busy. Ondine herself and Julvia Dubna Vajat work on repairing rope. Eran Iliakambar helps repair fishing nets and performs other odd jobs.

The Mantissa is a social vessel with an informal culture, readily hosting other fae as Ondine pleases (or as are required for diplomacy). There are many quarters designed for guests, and many creature comforts for those guests. There are fancier cabins on the afterdeck, with long corridors containing hanging tapestries. 'There was one showing an undersea garden, colourful fish swimming along pathways as a Mer fae tended a sea anemone. Further along a tapestry in blues and blacks and glowing turquoise depicted murky depths and spooky glowing eyes.' Near these is a large lit library smelling strongly of salt, with a large archway entrance and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and books with spines made of some kind of kelp, with pages made of some non-tree material Mosk couldn't identify. 'The library was larger than a single room and he walked deeper into it, the books looking older and sometimes fancier as [Mosk] progressed through another archway.'

Fleet sea fae carry spears and bows and arrows for combat, but can also use magic and innate abilities as needed. There is an armory containing ranged weapons, that Gwyn ap Nudd took Mosk to when Mosk wanted to practice archery: 'a room filled with all kinds of items that shot projectiles. Longbows, crossbows, recurves, but also slingshots in varying sizes, and then throwing weapons too, like kestros, bolas and javelins. An entire wall was devoted to quivers stuffed with arrows that had different fletchings. Most were fletched with the stiff fins of fish.' The Mantissa also had at least one other armory with sharper weapons, where Mosk obtained a knife. There was also a craft room: an 'indistinct room, inside [of which] was shelf after shelf of art and craft supplies. A table, an easel, tiny glass jars filled with inks that all looked like they’d be black until Mosk saw the little stains of bright pigment around the corks.' On the room's ceiling is 'a mural painted of a whale and her calf. Someone had painted it in violets and blues, adding to it the refractive qualities of fish scales.'

When the Raven Prince discusses what he knows about Davix, Olphix, and his own life, Gwyn ap Nudd leads them all 'to a dark room, and Gwyn held up his hand for all of them to wait. He walked up to one of the lanterns filled with witchlight, passed his palm over it, and all the lanterns in the room began to glow a warm yellow. A long table that looked like it was patched together with driftwood and planks of sunken ships was at the centre of the room, but the place felt musty with disuse. None of the chairs matched. In one shadowy corner, starfish lingered in a pool of water, pale red and violet.'

Eran's room has wooden walls, and 'a panel that opened to the ocean that was permitted to run through the ship as ballast'. Fish swim past the glass, and it is 'lit by glowing shells.' The room also has a 'bed that was made with sheets and blankets the colour of the sea. There was no fireplace or hearth in this room. The walls were decorated with shells and a tapestry depicting some underwater castle that looked too fantastic to be believed.' Mosk brings Eran fire-colored blankets, which Eran appreciates. Mosk also grows a eumavine in Eran's room, that has white leaves and flowers that blossom deep red. Mosk's room is opposite Eran's.

There is also an area where sea fae do glasswork, deep in the ship, with anvils 'and a forge that pumped its smoke into bubbles channelled down into the sea.'

At night, the ship fae gather together on the 'deck reserved for socialising. . . . Some of the sea fae had conjured strings of phosphorescent lights in blue and green and gold, winking and twinkling away. The lights draped everywhere, and it seemed that more were added regularly. Some hung in globes of translucent shell, others in impossibly thin prisms of mother of pearl.' There is also a fire pit, which Eran regularly lights for them. The ship fae also dance together.

When the Mantissa connects to certain areas, like the two markets she visits during *The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas*, the crew add more ballast to lower the ship, and lay bridges between the ship and the destination, so fae can cross over.

The ship is damaged in battle near the end of *The Ice Plague: Book 2 - the Seething Seas*, and is only nearly fully repaired around nine years after the battle with Olphix.

## Residents

Outside the ship leaders - Captain Ondine, First Mate Awan, and Uhina - there appear to be hundreds of crewmembers and permanent residents. There is a contingent of sirens who sing regularly. There is also a population of sea trows who work in their capacity as servants, though they do not work for everyone equally.

After Albion rescues the Mantissa from the Markets and the House of Atros, the ship only has 'a skeleton crew remaining – about fifty or so, not the hundreds of before – and it didn’t seem like anyone who had escaped could make their way back.'

* Ondine (Captain)
* Awan (First Mate)
* Uhina
* Asceto
* Bhatha
* Churielle
* Cymothoe
* Guests
	+ Gwyn ap Nudd
	+ Augus Each Uisge
	+ Ash Glashtyn
	+ Julvia Dubna Vajat
	+ Mosk Manytrees
	+ Eran Iliakambar
	+ The Raven Prince
	+ Stertes (deceased)

## Quotations

* 'She’s not a normal ship, certainly,’ Ondine said. ‘At any time there are always twenty fae with water-manipulation powers keeping the ship buoyant. They deal with ballast by flushing water through the ship at all times, and can change the levels at will. This ship is willed into seafaring existence. Her true nature is to lie below, a sleeping beast. But once awake, she sails well.'
* 'It has a grand habit of finishing wars,’ Gwyn said. ‘There was a time when Ondine used to be more aggressively anti-war.’

## Trivia

* It is possible the name of the ship - the Mantissa - is a reference to the Greek word *mantis,* meaning 'seer.' Ondine is a seer and a prophet, and can read the people's futures by touching people's hands.
* At any time, there are always twenty fae with water-manipulation abilities working to keep the ship buoyant.
* The Mantissa is also know as 'the dreaded cursed ship' (or perhaps simply the 'the cursed ship', considering Ondine's exaggeration), due to Ondine's habit of using it to end wars.
* It's unknown what the ship is like underwater, or if anyone other than Ondine lives in it when it submerges. It is unknown how or when the ship was made, or for what purpose.
* Gwyn and his party spend a year on the Mantissa during *The Ice Plague*.

## Image Gallery

Fanart of Mosk Manytrees and Eran Iliakambar by intheendlessbluewine from "The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas, Chapter 1: The Past Revisited" https://intheendlessbluewine.tumblr.com/post/181252892884/when-your-hot-bed-ridden-bf-cant-maintain-hisFanart of Mosk Manytrees in the crow's nest on the Mantissa by sic-sempervirens https://sic-sempervirens.tumblr.com/post/663171885212811264/mosk-manytrees-a-gentle-herb-belonging-toFanart of Mosk Manytrees and Eran Iliakambar in their bed under a fire blanket by bluedooratthebeach https://bluedooratthebeach.tumblr.com/post/665448787604570112/eran-and-mosk-eran-and-mosk-eran-and-mosk-eran-and
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 10 May 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/44564854. Chapter 5: Unexpected Guests.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 15 March 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/42834056. Chapter 2: Flame Upon the Sea.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 October 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/38239544. Chapter 31: The Sky is Falling.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 7 May 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/44466025. Chapter 4: Damaged Instincts.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 7 November 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/50852635. Chapter 18: Long Past Due.
6. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 21 June 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/45901336. Chapter 8: Stay Right Here.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 3 January 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/42417629. Chapter 1: The Past Revisited.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 30 April 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/57536779. Chapter 31: Whatever It Takes.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 July 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/47044390. Chapter 10: Veils.
10. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 30 August 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/48516644. Chapter 13: The Glory of the House of Atros.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 21 November 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/51287020. Chapter 19: Evolutions.
12. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 2 April 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/56194975. Chapter 29: Fury Unleashed.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 2 August 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/47541529. Chapter 11: Lessons.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 October 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/38607599. Chapter 32: Somewhere Safe.
15. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 12 December 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/51951565. Chapter 21: Reaffirmation.
16. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 December 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/51724180. Chapter 20: What Did You Expect?
17. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 9 January 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/52978921. Chapter 23: The Sea of Sculptures.
18. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 August 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/102269367. Chapter 40: A New Season.
19. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 11 November 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/87334006. Chapter 19: Golden Bonds.