Alathra:Merfolk
| Merperson | |
|---|---|
| Major race | |
 Example appearance | |
| Characteristics | |
| Average lifespan (max) | 80 years (160) |
| Height range | 1.10 - 1.75 m (3′7′′ - 5′9′′) |
| Strengths | Exceptional swimmers and navigators; gifted in water magic, singing, and aquatic herbalism. Strong environmental intuition. |
| Weaknesses | Land-bound limitations; dehydration risk; culturally insular; poor mobility out of water. |
| Back to Major races → | |
Merfolk are an aquatic race of humanoids adapted to life beneath the surface of water. Their appearances range across a broad spectrum: some resemble fish, with scales, gills or finned tails, while others echo the forms of marine mammals such as seals. This diversity reflects their evolutionary breadth, shaped by the ecosystems of rivers, reefs, and deep ocean trenches.
Though widely scattered across the underwater regions of Alathra, merfolk often form strong cultural identities around their home waters, with distinct customs, biologies, and even dialects tied to their specific aquatic environments. Communication among merfolk relies heavily on sound. Vocal clicks and melodic speech patterns carry well underwater and form the basis of their languages. Many merfolk also use bioluminescent patterns, fin-signing, or ripple-based cues, especially in deeper or darker regions of the sea.
Contact with surface dwellers remains limited. Trade, politics, and shared knowledge are most often managed through coastal envoys, amphibious individuals, or magical translation artifacts. Though viewed by some land-dwelling races as aloof or mysterious, merfolk are rarely hostile and are widely regarded as courteous and cooperative when engaged on equal footing.
Strengths and weaknesses
Merfolk excel in their native element. They are peerless swimmers, capable of high agility, deep diving, and complex movement in three-dimensional space. Their senses are heightened in aquatic environments. They are also known for their diplomatic natures, thriving in cooperative and community-driven settings.
However, their strengths fade quickly on land. Merfolk suffer rapid fatigue, dehydration, and general physical decline when removed from water for long periods. Many are unfamiliar with surface customs and technologies, and their biology can make them vulnerable to air-borne illnesses or changes in temperature.
Merfolk tend to favor magic that aligns with their environment. Water manipulation, acoustic projection, bio-luminescence and pressure control are some of the several topics taught in their magical curriculum. Elemental water magic is particularly common, as is the ability to sense or subtly shift underwater currents.
Mechanical technology among merfolk is less industrial than that of surface races. Their innovations lean toward organic engineering, utilizing a lot of the underwater plantlife or geological structure. While lacking in combustion-based devices, merfolk societies often rival or surpass others in magical infrastructure and sustainable resource use.
Minor races
Morvren
Average lifespan: 55 years
Height range: 1.3 - 1.75 meters