Jiaoren
The jiaoren (蛟人) are a human population whose first generation took on aquatic adaptations in order to reclaim the sunken North Esperean subcontinent. Jiaoren scholars contest the Common translation of "merfolk" on etymological grounds, but do not provide an alternative translation and simply claim that "jiaoren" in and of itself is the proper term.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The jiaoren retain broadly human features, with most of the distinguishing traits being additive in nature. The most crucial among these for underwater function are the gills that break up much of the surface area on a jiaoren's lower chest, sides, and abdomen. Even with these large gills, it seems that a human breathing underwater requires the aid of magic — an instinctive magic that all jiaoren use without even noticing, but magic nonetheless. Thus, a jiaoren who loses their soul will very slowly drown.
Jiaoren have fin-like flaps in front of their ears, which fold back over the ears to keep water out and provide a buffer against water pressure while swimming. Small scales around the base of these fins partially frame the jiaoren's face. The color of both the scales and fins varies as widely as fish colors do. While hardly noticable, jiaoren also have a clear membrane under their eyelids called a haw, which prevents uncomfortable contact between their eyes and the seawater around them.
For underwater mobility, jiaoren get a slight advantage compared to surface humans from the webbed skin on their hands and feet. In the case of their hands, though, the webbing only extends as far as the first knuckle and is absent entirely from thumbs; this mostly preserves human levels of manual dexterity.
There are two major misconceptions about the adaptations that the jiaoren have acquired. Jiaoren retain both legs; while the "tail" noted in many sightings is often mistaken for an anatomical adaptation, it isn't part of their body. Furthermore, the jiaoren still grow hair in human patterns. Many simply shave their heads to reduce underwater drag forces. These misconceptions are not helped by the fact that jiaoren regularly propagate them intentionally, either in an attempt to guard the secrets of their underwater civilization or because they think doing so is funny — it's unclear which.
Genetics and Reproduction
The jiaoren don't yet make a habit of venturing outside their own population for romantic interests, as the geographic barrier between land and sea is fairly difficult for the hypothetical partners to work around. If and when this changes, new information may come to light.
Behaviour
The jiaoren are rebuilding the culture of North Espere in its submerged ruins. This cause tends to be a point of pride akin to patriotic sentiment, and a strong cultural identity is encouraged (if not enforced) from one generation to the next.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Like all humanoids, jiaoren can be used as a source of spirit filaments. This is illegal.
Jiaoren scales grow back if removed, so jiaoren can opt to act as a consensual source of fish scales. If consent is not the scale-collector's concern, normal fish are a much more bountiful source with much less capacity to fight back.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Jiaoren have slightly better vision in the dark than humans, but not quite enough to deal with the pitch darkness of the sea floor without the use of various underwater light sources.
Civilization and Culture
Average Technological Level
The jiaoren invented monofins, a swimming tool that helps with speed when used properly. Monofins are often highly decorated in a way that resembles natural fish bodies. This is either a fashion trend or an elaborate prank at the expense of the surface world.
Common Dress Code
After adapting their bodies to the water, the jiaoren adapted their clothing as well. Traditional fashion is still prized as a conceptual ideal, but practical considerations have led to new styles. Typically, tight upper garments that leave the jiaoren's gills exposed are worn by those who decide to wear upper garments at all. More varied styles exist for the lower half. The simplest options are cloth coverings that follow patterns not unlike undergarments, apart from being designed without additional layers in mind. The monofin invention serves both as a boost to forward swim speed and as a common substitute for more traditional legwear. The most common forms of outerwear beyond what has already been described are skirts of various types, though swim safety does limit the range of hem lengths somewhat.
Imported textiles are the most common material for jiaoren garments, which is problematic due to the tendency of fabric to degrade underwater. More high-end outfits are made from sea silk, which, while sourced from beneath the waves, takes quite a while to produce in suitable quantities for clothing.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
The jiaoren left dry land with the express purpose of keeping Northern Espere's culture alive. Salvage expeditions can be a noble passtime or a career for jiaoren, as finding any remnant of the preceding civilization is seen as a way to save what was almost lost.
Historical Figures
Xie Lianya was the spearhead of the cultural revival movement that became the jiaoren. She survived the sinking of Northern Espere, and spent the rest of her life helping the other few survivors she found teach whoever would listen about the culture that they had grown up in. Her seemingly doomed efforts inspired The Reflection and The Allusion, who shook off a long dormancy and offered to help Xie reclaim her lost home. She agreed and became the first jiaoren, then led those who were willing to follow into the depths.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The jiaoren are fiercely protective of their territory, knowing from their own origins just how swiftly a home can be lost. Under the pressure of rebuilding a whole nation, it's not common for them to abandon their home and explore the surface. As such, there has been very little interaction so far between the jiaoren and the rest of the world.
Elves who use shapeshifting to explore underwater find the jiaoren about as easy to get along with as any other bunch of humans, allowing for the context that their recent historic tragedy is a frequent source of bad moods.
