Ngerupic folklore

There are certain beliefs that are common among speakers of Ngerupic languages, though all vary slightly by region and ethnic group.

Mermaids

One common belief is in mermaids, which are usually seen as spirits of the dead. Specifically, the spirits of people who died at sea, usually on shoals or in storms.

A common trope is for them to offer hidden knowledge of treasures or avoiding danger, but barter it for exacting prices on the souls of the living. Another is that they speak with the voice of a dead person who the person they are bartering with knew.

It is common for coastal people to leave out red lanterns, to warn ships from the shore, but not attract mermaids, who can't see bright land colors. But, for fishermen caught in a storm, it is good luck to put out bright lanterns, on the off chance the mermaids lead you out of the storm, because their greed means they want live sailors to entice.