Megeri

The Megeri are an aquatic, sapient race that lives in the oceans and lakes throughout Folterra, but largely populate Moongrin, the sea west of Plenn, and the waters surrounding Arcadia. Though relatively peaceful, they don't often get along with Drakkon, or Dae. Recent interactions between the Megeri and Humans have allowed them to create a lasting peace for the past sixty years. Though they live in the water, they can live on land as long as they remain hydrated.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Humanoid; two legs, two arms, a long tail, and a fairly large head. Their skeletal system is similar to most mammals. In between the individual joints of their fingers and toes is a thick webbing, allowing them to swim incredibly fast. Not only this, but their individual finger and toe joins are much further apart compared to humans. Through the individual ethnic variants of the Megeri, four traits are always present. A large fin on their head, a pair of water-breathing lungs and air breathing lungs, a thick, bony chestplate, and large, shark-like teeth. However, deepsea Megeri have some features like thicker bones, smaller air breathing lungs (or in some cases, no air breathing lungs), and much larger feet and hands.

Genetics and Reproduction

The Megeri are mammalian, and reproduce sexually to live birth. Gestation period takes about fourteen months, and in that time, Megeri infants are much more responsive than human infants would be.

Growth Rate & Stages

Infancy: Birth to two years of age
Childhood: two years to ten years
Adolescence: ten years to fifteen years
Adulthood: fifteen years to death

Ecology and Habitats

Megeri live in aquatic environments, dwelling in vast underwater caverns and trenches. In place for these caves in lakes, they construct underwater housing. Though they are ley-mute, they seem to still be affected by ley-drain. Some deepsea Megeri have created bubble-cities with the use of telaurium (most notably the massive city of Benth-Val east of Plenn) where the water pressure is significantly less inside than outside. Additionally, the oxygen content within these bubbles is much higher.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Megeri are omnivorous, and eat fish, clams, crabs, sea urchins, eel, coral, kelp, seaweed, and other sea vegetables. They have been able to cultivate some of these sea flora highly successfully, and as so, Vortkelp is a common staple among their seafaring societies. While they can eat foods commonly eaten by the land-dwelling races of Folterra, they prefer not to.

Biological Cycle

Megeri are largely homeostatic, and remain in a constant state regardless of time. Females do enter a fertile window every five weeks, and a two-week infertility window following it.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Megeri are often found in the waters surrounding Arcadia, in Moonlight Bay in Moongrin, and in the Plerian Sea.

Average Intelligence

Megeri are about as intelligent as early recorded humans. Though some break this mold, and show that they can be just as smart, if not smarter than our contemporary peers.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Because of their aquatic dwelling, Megeri have exceptional hearing and sight, especially so underwater. Even better than this is their sense of smell, though is less effective above water.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Megeri do not often take last names, but take a trade name as a sort of identification. An example of this would be "spearfisher", "harvester", etc. Males are often named with harsh consonants at the start of their name, and females often start with O or E. Kash is a common male name, and Othia is a common female name.

Average Technological Level

The Megeri have utilized telaurium crystals with some amount of effect.

Scientific Name

Alrana megerus

Origin/Ancestry

Deepsea, Inland (lake), Seafaring

Lifespan

60 years

Conservation Status

Least concern

Average Height

Males: ~6ft
Females: ~7ft

Average Weight

Males: ~300 lbs
Females: ~450 lbs

Average Physique

Highly muscled and sleek - overweight or underweight Megeri are a rare sight given their environment.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Their shark-like skin is commonly in the blue-green spectrum, though browns are common as well. Rarely, some may be yellow, red, or albino. Deepsea Megeri are much darker in tone generally.

Related Myths

• Deepsea Leviathans