Merfolk

Merfolk

Naiad & Mika Hybrid

• Common Name: Merfolk
• Other Names: Mermaid, Merman, Mers, Fish people (slur), Wildkin, rarely Naiad due to close proximity & being a subspecies

Physical Description

• Height: 6ft (long tail)
• Body Structure: Lithe & lean muscle
• Skin: Tiny, shimmering scales on the lower half; top half Mika like flesh
• Distinctive Features: Long fish tails, ear fins, hand fins, gills, side fins.

Abilities & Powers

Physical

• Resistance to cold & pressure
• Great swimmers
• Incredibly agile & limber in water.
• Alluring levels of beauty

Main Abilities:

• None.

Racial Abilities:

• Enchanting Siren voice that can cause Pae to fall into a trance. Most are able to control the potency with practice making APOP stars enchanting without throwing their fans into trances.
• Legs on land- unlike Naiad they do not dry out.
• If a Merfolk does decide to join a different faction, they will be subject to that faction's rules and laws and have to become a permanent land Pae. They will not be able to ever return home.

Weaknesses:

• Highly susceptible to Taint (to be expanded on later)
• Weak to physical attacks.
• Easily hypnotized or mind controlled, especially by musical abilities.
• Though they do not dry up on land, they are generally weaker out of their element.

Reproduction

• Method: Like a dolphin (its one of the most dangerous things to look up on the internet)
• Gestation Period: Two seasons
• Average Number of Offspring: 2-4

NOTE:

• Merfolk are monogamist.
• Mermen who bear children with a female who is not a Mermaid will have kids that are the same are the female.
• Inter-species relationships only produce 1-2 children.
• Females always produce other Merfolk.

Diet

• Primary Food Sources: Pescatarian
• Gathering/Farming: They are reliant on their fish/seafood/kelp farms for most of their food. Because of their nature, they prefer gathering and farming than to hunt.
• Dietary Needs: Protein & fat

Behavior & Society

Social Structure:

• Telrunya: Queen Tariel, Consort Turin, Queen's Council, Queen's Guard, Hunters, everyone else.
• Lucandria: Duchess Nomia, Mika nobility, Common Mika, The Mer Elder

Communication: Water Runes, body language, mellons for messages

Cultural Practices:

• Most live in family units within the lake. Some family units are nomadic and form pods in order to travel.
• They are highly communal and share food, tasks, and responsibilities with each other.
• Beauty, beauty regimen, self care are a top priority to the Merfolk.
• One aspect of their beauty that they love to indulge in is accessorizing. They will spend countless hours scavenging for the best shells, coral, or other things to decorate their bodies and fins with.
• A lot of young Merfolk will go through dance and voice lessons, seeking out the next APOP stars.
• This leads to art, beauty and music being the main focus of their culture.

Customs & Traditions

• Right of Passage: Young Merfolk go through a right of passage to showcase their readiness for adulthood. This can come in any form like showcasing a musical piece, a song, a giant oyster they grew...
• Multiple beauty pageants are held through the year, leading up to an overall winner in the grand finale.

History

Origin: When a large group of Pae were sent to Lucandria, a few Mika and Naiad intermingled. Their hybrids have evolved to become what are now known as the Merfolk.

Major Historical Events

• A controversial, but incredible moment in Merfolk history was when the first APOP star was found. A beautiful Mermaid took a step out of her comfort zone and performed for a Mika audience. At this time most Merfolk kept to themselves due to the view of Wildkin, but because of this one female the Merfolk's lives have been elevated. Now the Mika are constantly pouring resources and money into the Merfolk community in order to continue the APOP industry.
• The first APOP group goes on tour. Though the Water Duchy has warmed up to wildkin entertainment, much of the other Duchies were still closed off to the idea. Once the entertainment groups offered to start coming to the nobles they gave it a shot- it was an instant success.
• APOP stars were moved into a beautiful palace built within the lake where they were given many amenities common Mika would have. They still do not live like the nobles, but its definitely better than other Wildkin. Those Merfolk who are not APOP stars don't have as many amenities, but they do live comfortable lives thanks to the APOP stars who send money home.

Interaction with other Species

• Mika enjoy them for their entertainment quality and the Merfolk will sometimes begrudgingly agree to their terms in order to better their lives.
• They work hand in hand with Selkie pods due to their close proximity in the waterways. They're probably the closest to this species outside their own.
• Other Wildkin don't always look favorably on them due to their elevated life styles thanks to the APOP stars

Other Information

• Languages Spoken: Common & Ancient Miaki; body language in the water.
• Religious Beliefs: Respect for the water that gives them life.
• Technology Level: Everyday Merfolk live like most Wildkin while APOP stars have many more luxuries with the manastones they are provided like electricity.
• Tools & Weapons: Everyday Merfolk would use the bones of fish and other sea life to fashion their tools. Weapons are less common.
• Allies: Selkie, Mika-ish
• Enemies: None.
• Current Status: Thriving