Merfolk

P’keea’a’

Merfolk are playful, aquatic mammalian sophonts in the dolphin family. They rarely utilize complex tools or weapons, and -due to their aquatic lifestyle- do not construct buildings. Merfolk have never achieved the creation of fire, or the wheel, but it is a grave mistake to underestimate the intelligence of these marine nomads. Beneath their playful and carefree veneer they are intelligent and highly analytical. Some merfolk pods have minor agriculture, being shepherds of domesticated fish used as food sources, but do not farm non-animals like umibōzu. Indeed, most merfolk are exclusively hunters, using carved whalebone lances to bring down prey.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Merfolk are large-brained delphine sophonts with a unique method of environmental manipulation: prehensile genitalia. The species name of merfolk is indicative of their highly derived nethers, which both sexes possess, used as a sort of tentacular "hand" in tool use.

Ecology and Habitats

Merfolk are, by their very nature, exclusively marine creatures. However, they thrive in a wide range of oceanic biomes.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Merfolk live and work in groups of close family and friends called pods.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Merfolk are found across Sphaera's global ocean, typically closer to shallow waters, though there are certain pods who have taken to a pelagic lifestyle.

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Merfolk can communicate either vocally or through a form of nonmagical telepathy based on ultrasound.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Merfolk and gryndulos have an uneasy relationship, as the delphine sophonts have been known to prey on gryndulos.

Scientific Name

Delphisapiens chirogenita

Origin/Ancestry

Delphinus delphis

Average Weight

200 kilograms

Average Length

2.6 meters

Sapience type

quasi-collective