Mers (Murz)

The Mer species is a small people group living on the The Cerulean Isles a cluster of small islands off the coast of Xerenia and Faboren. They are a peaceful and secluded species that is rarely if ever at all seen anywhere but The Cerulean Isles. The Mers are a group of people who have the ability to shift from the lower torso to the upper butt regions and below into that of a tail, but they can only shift once they have gone through an awakening and Attribute Ceremony. The Mers are very close with nymphs and have a few trading and other collaborative treaties and contracts among each other.
Mers are also a very social species and like to be near if not physically in contact with people at all times, they do not handle seclusion and loneliness very well at all. They tend to be found in groups as small as 2 to as large as 14 on average, but never found by themselves. They also like to be in physical contact with someone, as to them it is a reassurance that they are not alone and have someone with them. So it is not that uncommon to see Mers holding hands, or linking arms, maybe even randomly brushing up against each other and/or hugging or cuddling.

Basic Information

Anatomy

In there Traditional form, they look like a normal elven or human being, with arms, legs, feet, hands and everything else of the sort. They also have semi pointed ears, not as pointed as elven ears but enough that they can’t be called round ears.
In their Halfling form there bottom half starting from usually the lower torso just below the belly button—to high or mid butt region, is shifted into a tail. Mers tails are not like your average tail but can come in all sorts of unique colors and styles/shape (i.e. dolphin tails, tropical fish tails, shark tails, or whale tails). Tail colors include (but are not limited to...) shades of blue, red, orange, yellow, along with turquoise, purple, pink, and green. In rare cases they can be black, white, iridescent or a combanation including said colors. (ex. black and red, white and blue, purple and iridescent).
In their Mer form (or True form) they have a shifted tail starting around lower torso with fins or texture from their tail creeping up their sides to from around mid torso point to slightly below the armpits, with smaller fins on the upper side of their arms as well.
In their True or Halfing form their hair will become all one color, but the color is different from their Traditional hair color and normally more colorful. This is commonly known as Irregular hair color*. Most commonly seen are colors a few shades lighter or darker than their tail color. (ex. dark blue, bright red, lavender, or peach). Rarer colors are either a shade lighter or darker than their Traditional hair color (brown, blonde, black, red) or a shade of golden, silver, or white (which would normaly corespond with a rarer tail color or combination. _{*In their Halfing form their Irregular hair color wil be a couple shades duller than their True form Irregular hair. Resulting in an almost magical looking hair color when (and/or if) they are succesfully able to tranform into True form.}

Genetics and Reproduction

Mers, along with all other beings existing on Aonani, have really low fertility and birth rates. A Mer baby will on average only conceived once in a family, usually taking 2-3 years before actually conceived. With how low fertility and birth rates are, it is extremely rare for a family to have more than one child, and is looked greatly upon if such a phenomenon does happen to a family. When a child is conceived it usually takes on average 3-6 months before the child is born.
In females, once a month for about 3-4 days, there body will be forced to shift into half Mer form. They will be constant fatigued and their emotions will be stronger than normal, increasingly fluctuating between many different feelings depending on the situation. In this period they will be at a very vulnerable state and must be protected by either parents, close friends, significant other.

Growth Rate & Stages

Mer Life Cycle

Guppy (0-20) → Prime (20-144) → Adult (144-372) → Ancient (372-515)

Guppy Years

Fetus (3-6 months in womb) → Infant (0-1) → Toddler (1-3) → Minnows (3-12) → Spriteling (12-19)

Minnows Years

Dwarf Minnow (3-5) → Minnow Sprite (5-12)

Guppy lasts 20 years, Prime lasts 124 years, Adult lasts 228 years, and Ancient lasts 142 years

Guppy - Fetus (3-6 months)

• Small and tailless baby within the womb
• Carried by mother for 3-6 months
• The longer the child is carried in the womb the stronger both the mother and child will become

Guppy - Infant (0-1 years)

• A small child about the size of an average human baby
• Legs, arms, and torso is covered in scales the same color as their soon to be tail
• All children are born with the innate ability to breathe underwater and swim
• Their eye color will fluctuate during this period as their body is trying to assimilate to their bloodline. The brighter, purer, vibrant, and more unique shade their eyes are the better their chances of become increasingly powerful or gaining rare and/or powerful attributes
• All babies are born with their Irregular hair color, but they will lose it in the first couple of weeks and soon after their natural hair will grow in
• The sound of the ocean, waves or water will soothe and calm the baby due to their innate affinity with the water element and ocean
• The Mother will be quite hormonal and very protective of their child in the first year.

Guppy - Toddler (1-3 years)

• Still a Tailless child
• Scales begin to lessen leaving only a few on their upper arms, legs, and lower torso
• Eye color will still fluctuate as the assimilation process lasts 3-4 years on average
• Their hair color is know their natural hair color, their Irregular hair color will have all been lost
• The children are sensitive to sound and magical frequences
• This age is the most important years in a Mers developmental track, as they determine not only how much they will develop but also how much potential they have to develop more and grow stronger
• All toddlers are required by law to join an all large island program that helps the children socialize with other kids similar to their age, as well as grow their potential
• Toddlers will spend seven hours at the program from 10 to 4 only seeing their guardians in the morning and at night
• Most if not all Toddlers begin to learn both Commons and Cerulia
• Most Toddlers know how to walk by 2 years old, along with extremely great reflexes

Guppy Minnow

• Dwarf Minnow (3-5 years)

• The children are still tailless
• All of the scales are no longer on their bodies
• They have completed the assimilation process to the best of their abilities, because of this they now have their permanent eye color
• their eyes will now glow when they are in extreme emotional situations (such as anger, sadness, excitement, or happiness among others)
• The children will begin attending preschool as well as starting their Martial arts and/or weapon training
• The children will begin to be given independence within school grounds and situations, learning to be less dependent
• Social interaction will be encourage along with the introduction of physical affections (such as hugging, cuddling, holding hands among others) with close friends as a way to express affection along with encouraging social development among the children
• Monthly field trips to the beach and ocean will be introduced as to encourage a positive relationship with the water element along with explaining the draw towards the ocean

• Minnow Sprite (5-12 years)

• This is the most mischievous stage of a child as they begin to think of many different to make trouble and prank people
• All of them are very social and will become lonely very easily if they are not around other Mers
• You will never see less than 2 Mers in a group at once as they are very social. Their is around 4-6 Mers in a group on average
• This starts the beginning of their focus and patience training
• Sarcasm and back talk at its finest
• Though that will change quickly as they realize that back talk is not tolerated and sarcasm only within friend groups at appropriate situations
• Most children are very agile, flexible and innately athletic due to their training and natural genetics
• Though minnow sprites know and recognize the fact that their is two genders, social gender separation incorporated by the minnows themselves does not happen

Guppy - Spriteling (12-19 years)

• The first Tail shift can happen anytime in the next seven years
• They begin secondary school
• Martial arts and/or weapons training is now required while before it was recommended
• They begin learning and preparing for their Attribute ceremony at age 15
• The children have become mostly independent in both school situations but parental situations as well
• Spritelings will be able to regain their Irregular hair during their tail shifts once they have their First tail shift and Attributes ceremony
• Gender separation begins, minimal at most and only for most necessary situations, besides that not really much of a big deal
• Most will become very cuddly and physically affectionate with their close friends
• They become even more social and will do practically nothing unless it is with a minimum of one other Mer
• Most Spritelings will spend their time preparing for academies, of which accept application for freshmen at the age of 16 minimum
• Tend to spend their free time not spend studying and/or preparing near water or at a beach, either for fun or to actually study/prepare there

Prime

• Since Mers live to around 515 on average, 20 year old was deemed too young to be considered an adult (though they can legally make their own legal decisions at 22, after they graduate from whichever university or academy they attended), pushing it back to around 144
• They have already gone through their First tail shift and Attributes Ceremony
• Most are preparing for either their 5th year, senior year or both
• Dedicate most of their time (after they've graduated) to training and trying to move up in Attribute stages
• Most prepare to take their Dungeon hunter licensing test in order to be granted a legal dungeon hunting license
• After being legally licensed most spend their time training in and/or conquering dungeons
• Most dungeon hunters are in this age group

Ecology and Habitats

Depending on what type of Mer one is, determines what environment is the best for them to live in. Islandic Mers naturally live the most comfortably and contently on islands and/or island chains. Darkwater Mer naturally live the most comfortably and contently on dark caves on islands or underwater and/or deep under the sea. Oceanus Mer naturally live the most comfortably and contently on beachfronts very close to the ocean and/or in a half or fully submerged house in the ocean.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Living up to the Aonias ranking sytem of the 9 class system, the Mers follow it closely

Aonias Ranking System

1. Poor
2. Common
3. Uncommon
4. Rare
5. Epic
6. Ancient
7. Legendary
8. Mythical
9. Spirit

Following this ranking system Mers are split into three noble catagories, Common Mer, Noble Mer, and Celestial Mer

Common Mer

• Poor
• Uncommon
• Common

Noble Mer

• Rare
• Epic
• Ancient

Celestial Mer

• Legendary
• Mythical
• Spirit

Those at Common rank usally deal in modern day mundane jobs, such as sales men, accountants, nurses, among others. Those at Noble rank usually take more higher end jobs such as doctors, business ceos, scientist among others. Those at the Celestial rank usally take high up there or unisal jobs such as presidents, clan or guild manager or even commanders. Each one is very important towards the function of The Cerulean Isles
Everyone starts out at Common rank when they first awaken their attributes, and as they work hard and train with them the stronger they become and the higher they climb. Most are able to reach lower to mid Noble rank, some can reach high Noble to low Celestial but very few are able to reach mid to high Celestial and only 1 has been able to reach beyond and achieve acension to Divinity.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

All Mers (except for a handful who dont due to a multitude of reasons) live in the cerulean isles. The Cerulean Isles is a collection of about eleven large islands and a multitude of smaller islands. It is located off the southern coast of Xerenia and Faboren. Nestled closley next to Eilaira the Nymphs and Mers have the best relationship out of all of the Aonias trying to interact with the Mers.
The Cerulean Isles is seperate into three rings with the center being Atlantis (the capital city/island). The outer ring belongs to the Islandic Mers, encompassing four large islands and a multitude of smaller islands. The islandic Mers are the largest ethnic population in all of the Mer species, meaning 1 in 5 is probably an islandic Mer. The middle ring belongs to the Oceanus Mers, encompassing three large island and eight smaller islands. The Oceanus Mers are the second largest ethnic population in all of the Mer species, meaning 1 in 10 is probably an Oceanus Mer. The inner ring belongs to the Darkwater Mers, encompassing three large island and seven smaller islands. Darkwater Mers is the smallest ethnic population in all of the Mer species, meaning 1 in 20 Mers is probably a Darkwater Mer.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Mers have something called the Trinity of Attributes which is what sort of Powers, Elemental blessings, and Aura the have. They also have natural underwater breathing abilities along with a modified echolocational ability. They can also survive, comfortably most times, in really deep and high pressurizations underwater.
Along with their magical abilities and perception senses, each Mer ethnicity has a specific navigation sense. Darkwater Mers excel at navigating dark areas such as caves and deep sea water. Oceanus Mers excel as navigating water areas such as navigating ships along the open sea or a couple of feet below sea level. Islandic Mers excel at land navigation, specificaly on islandic or coastal areas (the further inland the harder it is to navigate).

Civilization and Culture

Historical Figures

The First Ruler of the Sea, Great Queen Atlantia was said to not only have been the one to discover the magical God Stone properties and use them along with them help of Nyiara to create the great Atlantis Barrier. A huge water and and magical enhanced barrier that protects the entirety of Atlantis Island
The Wise Sage Oceania the founder and first Acedemic head of Oceania Academy, the first school to offer not only educational support to the children of The Cerulean Isles but also magickal help in the form of teaching about the Trinity of Attributes. Her apprentice Kaimi Akamai was a huge reasearcher who went out and explored all that he coulded about the Trinity of Attributes. resulting in The Complete Guide for Mer series. a series of textbooks with all the kowledge he found on thr Trinity of Attribute among other Mer related things.

Common Myths and Legends

Sea goddess legend

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

The Nymphs and Mers have the best relationship out of all the Aonias trying to form relationships with the Mers. The Mers also have an okay relationship with the Elves, and Fae. They tolerate the pixies though their trickster ways make them annoying to deal with to the Mers. They can tolerate Xerenian due to the close proximity but rather not interact with them. Theyve had little to no contact with the Avians or the Dwarves as both are pretty secluded Aonias like the Mers. They've never had any contact with the Beast kin due to them being relatively underdeveloped in comparisson to the rest of Aonani, along with the Goblins or Trolls (though there is no real reason behind it). They refuse to interact with any of the dragons, because of the complicated relationship between them and Xerenia (the Mers wish they could do the same to Xerenia but because of the close proximity they can not safetly do so).

Scientific Name

Caelestis Anima Aquatilis

Lifespan

515 years

Average Height

A male is 177cm (5′9) on average while a Female Mer is 167cm (5′5)

Average Weight

A male Mer is 103.2 kilograms (227 lbs) on average while a female Mer is 98.1 kilograms (215.8 lbs).

Average Length

A male is 357cm ( including their Mer tailwhich is 180cm long ) on average, females are 337cm (including their Mer tail which is 170cm long) on average.

Related Organizations

• Oceania Academy

Related Ethnicities

• Darkwater Mers
• Oceanus Mers