Merrick Lured Into a Trap
Amaranta lured Merrick away from the security of Stephen's Spoils via an anonymous note telling him that they had urgent information for him.
Merrick went alone to the rendezvous point, an uncharted island at K9, and was caught in an ambush by Amaranta, now known as the Masked Assailant. They tussled but the Assailant soon overpowered him, sending Merrick to the Sea of the Damned.