Mer
For centuries, the merpeople of Alcedon (al-seh-don) have thrived in the depths of the Opasnan Sea, which stretches between the lands of Numaria and Cirra.
Physiological Characteristics
From the waist up, mer bear a similar appearance to the numari - with the same pointed ears, head, neck, and torso. Mer have slightly larger eyes, with iridescent, glowing irises. Their luminescent eyes are capable of seeing in the dark. From the waist down, mer have a fishtail instead of legs. Their tails vary in appearance and colour depending on caste. Although mer have the ability to transform their tail into legs in order to walk on land, few have ever had reason to do so. It is uncommon knowledge that they are born with the ability to transform into land-dwellers. Many have gone their entire lives without having left Alcedon at all. Mer are unaffected by cold temperatures, however do not fare well in the heat.Castes
There exist two castes of mer: the Aecori, who live near the surface on Pentus Reef, and the Profaeri, who live below them near the depths of Abysseus. Members of each caste can be distinguished by the appearance of their tails.The Aecori
The Aecori mer have slender, colourful tails, which vary in colour and pattern. They reside in Aecorus, near the surface of the sea on Pentus Reef. They compose 85% of the population in Alcedon.The Profaeri
The Profaeri mer have longer, thicker tails that are shimmering gold, silver, or bronze in colour. They reside in Profaerus, which begins below Pentus Reef and spans all the way to the end of where the light can reach. As the only caste capable of performing magic, they are the best equipped to live closest to the Abysseus. The Profaeri are the ruling class in Alcedon, following the tradition that the queen must be first to face the dangers of the Abysseus in order to protect her people. While relations between the two castes are positive, copulation between castes is forbidden. It is believed that those of the Profaeri caste ought to produce strong offspring with fellow Profaeri in order to bolster defenses against the monsters of the Abysseus.Language
Alcedoni is a similar tongue to its root language, Numari, with small variations in pronunciation and vocabulary. Given that sound is difficult to hear underwater, mer have been blessed with the ability to communicate telepathically, relaying words or ideas with ease. For the mer, telepathic communication is as natural as speaking and verbal communication is rare.Breaking Barriers
When the treacherous storms of the Opasnan Sea were quieted and travel began between Numaria and Cirra, the mer of Alcedon played a pivotal role in breaking language barriers by using their ability to communicate telepathically.Origins
According to legend, the mer come from the ancient Queen Alcedor, who threw herself into the sea to become the bride of the Sea God, Meros. As a land-dweller, Alcedor was ill-equipped for the depths of the sea. Meros blessed her with the ability to breathe underwater and to transform her legs into a finned tail. She became the first mer and her offspring with Meros named the realm after its founding queen.Content
Physiological Characteristics
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
