Fable: Created page with "== I. General Characteristics == === Physical Appearance === ;Size ::Teros tend to be smaller than lake Naiads, with shorter tails. ;Shape ::Teros are delicate in frame and slight in build. Males and females tend to have roughly the same body shape, and their fins are frilly and delicate. Their tail fins are more fan-shaped than those of lake Naiads. Among Teros, the larger and frillier the fins, the more attractive you are considered. ;Color ::Teros are typically very b..."

2026-05-19T18:12:09Z

Created page with "== I. General Characteristics == === Physical Appearance === ;Size ::Teros tend to be smaller than lake Naiads, with shorter tails. ;Shape ::Teros are delicate in frame and slight in build. Males and females tend to have roughly the same body shape, and their fins are frilly and delicate. Their tail fins are more fan-shaped than those of lake Naiads. Among Teros, the larger and frillier the fins, the more attractive you are considered. ;Color ::Teros are typically very b..."

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== I. General Characteristics ==
=== Physical Appearance ===
;Size
::Teros tend to be smaller than lake Naiads, with shorter tails.
;Shape
::Teros are delicate in frame and slight in build. Males and females tend to have roughly the same body shape, and their fins are frilly and delicate. Their tail fins are more fan-shaped than those of lake Naiads. Among Teros, the larger and frillier the fins, the more attractive you are considered.
;Color
::Teros are typically very brightly-colored, especially favoring red or black bands for markings.
;Features
::Teros's main feature are ostentatious dorsal fins tipped with venomous spines. Historically these have kept these small Naiads safe in the open ocean. In the confines of the Lake, Teros tend to wear coverings on their spines to prevent accidentally envenomating their friends and colleagues. There is nothing in their biology that allows for movement on land, and in fact their dorsal spines are very heavy out of the water.

=== Mental Capabilities ===
Teros are a highly social race and therefore are very skilled communicators. They are clever, coordinated, and excel at solving puzzles. Teros have an eye for art, design, and style, and beauty is prized as much as cleverness. Common career paths for Teros are those in which they can organize and delegate other pae'il, as well as aesthetic careers.

== II. Habitat ==

=== Geographic Location ===
Teros do not like being out in open water at all. They need the protection of a reef or other structure. Lake-dwelling Teros frequently make home structures, or live in the palace.
=== Climate Needs ===
Teros thrive in warm water, but can live in areas of varying salinity and depth without problem. They can tolerate cold water like any Naiad, but definitely prefer warmer areas.
=== Home Needs ===
Traditionally they've found homes among coral reefs, but Teros can happily live wherever there's sufficient cover to hide. Too happily, perhaps. Larger prides of Teros have been known to aggressively take over other Naiads' territory when they become too large for their own.

== III. Life Behaviors ==

=== Diet ===
Teros can eat anything, including sea vegetables, though they favor mollusks and other shellfish. They don't bite directly into these creatures, and in fact have quite delicate teeth. Instead, nimble fingers unshell the morsels which can then be consumed raw or cooked. Teros who live near ocean vents will often use them to cook food, and scallops steamed in the shell are a particular favorite of Teros. They don't use their spines for hunting (it gives the meat a bad taste), but are coordinated and devastatingly accurate hunters. Nets are the traditional weapon of choice for shellfish, and spears for fish.

=== Mating ===
Teros have very complex courtships and tend toward polyamory. The “traditional” pairing is one male and 1-3 females, but all variations are common, including strictly homosexual units. Relationship units are called “coalitions”. Courtship for Teros is done in three stages, with the last being optional. In the first stage, a single Teros declares their intent to pursue another single Teros (or a group of Teros declares their intent to bring another Teros into their coalition) by delivering a gift to that individual. The gift should be tailored to the Pae'il's personality, interests, or desires. Favored foods and artworks are common courting gifts. If the Teros accepts, they enter into the second stage of courting, which is cohabitation. The pursued Teros will temporarily move in with the pursuing Teros to see how each other fit into their real lifestyles. At the end of this period (typically around 3 lunar cycles), the pursued Teros will either choose to stay, at which point they are considered partnered and part of the coalition, or choose not to stay, with no hard feelings on either side. The third stage is optional, and results in the Pae'il becoming soulbound. This is fairly rare, and is only done when the coalition does not intend to take on more members. The coalition does a mating dance in front of the whole gathered pride, while the shaman sings a specific song. The movements and the music weave their souls together. Afterward, the whole pride celebrates with food and more music.

=== Raising Young ===
Teros pups are born in groups of 1-4. They live with their immediate family (their coalition mother(s)/father(s)) but are raised by the whole pride. Childrearing is considered a group endeavor, and it's unusual for children younger than teen stage to be left alone for any length of time. However, it's expected for teens to spend time away from the pride, exploring and meeting other Teros from other prides. Upon adulthood, males leave the pride while most females stay.

=== Sleep Pattern ===
Teros are most active in the morning, with activity decreasing as the day goes on. Teros also love a good nap.

=== Movement ===
Teros have a specialized swim bladder that allows them to ascend and descend vertically quickly and without lateral movement. This allows them very precise control over their swimming.

=== Sound ===
Teros are near-silent swimmers, but you'd never know it if there are more than one of them around. The more Teros are around, the sound increases near-exponentially as they all talk over one another, laughing and calling out.

=== Mannerisms ===
Teros are, by nature, ostentatious and love to flaunt their appearance. They tend to be flamboyant extroverts with over-the-top personalities. They are highly social and hate being alone. They are chatty and have no problem interrupting one another to add to a story.

== IV. History ==

=== Leadership ===
For ocean prides, each pride is headed by a dominant coalition which makes decisions on behalf of the whole. The dominant coalition is decided democratically (usually....fights have broken out before). Since integrating with Queen Tariel and the lake Naiad, the dominant coalition has the additional responsibility of carrying out whatever missives or orders from the Queen. The Queen's authority is respected, as well as that of her “coalition” (though they understand she doesn't see it as such).

=== Social ===
Teros live in large colonies, up to 30 individuals, called prides. These are typically made up of a few adult males, many adult females, and children. A set of adults in a partnered relationship is called a coalition. Most female Teros remain in their birth pride through adulthood, while all males and some females will find another pride to belong to or begin their own. Outside females are not tolerated, while outside males may be accepted into the pride depending on its size and makeup. Prides maintain and viciously defend large territories. Groups of unpartnered males exist rarely and are usually nomadic. Prides act as huge family groups, even if the members are technically unrelated.

Teros are very physically affectionate, often touching one another when they talk. Even though their spines can't hurt one another, it's considered very rude to casually touch another Teros' spines without explicit permission as they are very sensitive and delicate. However, casual touching of the face, shoulders, arms, and hands is very common, as well as touching tails. These touches aren't considered intimate in nature, but rather a mark of friendship or family relationships. To not return these casual touches is considered a social slight.
Teros historically competed for territory with Seara and as a result tend to be very aggressive toward them. Teros who have decided to live permanently in the Lake sometimes find it challenging to be around so many types of Naiad.

=== Religion ===
Religion and spirituality are considered deeply personal for Teros and there's very little organized about it. The Spirits of the Water are revered, as well as the lionfish the Teros so strongly resemble. Probably one shaman exists for every 3 prides out there, whose services are only required a handful of times a season. Families may have altars in their homes, but public worship of any kind is extraordinarily infrequent as such things are typically very, very private.

=== Journey to the Lake ===
A small, nomadic pride heard Queen Tariel's call initially, and traveled to the Lake (as they were wont to travel anyway) to see what it was about. Word spread quickly, as Teros are notorious gossips, leading to more Teros joining in the Lake.

===Teros Racial Abilities===
Upon contact, Teros' venomous dorsal spines deliver a venom which causes muscle weakness and rapid heartbeat. The venom is very rarely fatal to healthy adult Naiad, but children and land races seem to be more susceptible. Other Teros are immune to this effect.

'''...Contribution from Menelie...'''

Teros - Revision history