Mermidae
More commonly known as sirens, mermaids, sea witches, and all other sorts of names, Mermidae all share one thing in common- the sea.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Mermidae come in multiple subspecies, each following a distinct body plan and having unique needs. It is very common for mermidae of all kinds to have forms of deep sea gigantism, and to be many times in magnitude the size of land based humanoids. While all mermidae can breathe air, they are almost always restricted to bodies of water due to often also possessing gills and requiring them to stay moist to be able to breathe properly, and their great sizes can mean that being on land causes a great deal of pain due to their weights. Mermidae also can easily get sunburned and dangerously dehydrated when on land even for brief periods of time. Most oceanic mermidae can for extended periods venture into fresh water, however fresh water mermidae may be burned by salt water.
Moluska Mermidae are defined by having the body of an octopus, cuttlefish, or squid, with a humanoid body where the beak traditionally would be. To outsiders, they will simply appear to be a massive squid, although it is said that they have many tells to their own kind, such as unique markings, coloration, or body patterns. These mermidae also can use the eyes on their bodies to see, without having to expose their humanoid bodies.
Hippocampi Mermidae are defined by seahorse or sea dragon like bodies, with a humanoid torso. Hippocampi are typically much more shy and reclusive than their other brethren, and rarely seen.
Pisci Mermidae are what one may typically think of as a true mermaid- the lower body of a fish or shark, and upper body of a humanoid. Their colors and markings vary wildly, and they may possess long, streaming fins or tentacles rather than hair. Bodies covered in hard scales, they are quite durable, and often possess luminescence. They are the most common population of Mermidae in the world due to thriving in a wide array of environments, including open ocean.
Biological Traits
All mermidae have gills to breathe under water, but also retain their lungs and can stay on land as long as they are properly hydrated and not so heavy as to suffer decompression. Female mermidae are often larger than the males, both in size and mass.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Mermidae diets very greatly and are heavily dependent on regional factors. As omnivores, mermaids typically have a wide variety of food sources available, with most cuisine including fish, shellfish, algeas, kelp, snails, and eggs. Sea birds are uncommon and generally reserved for the upper class who can afford them. Almost all meat in mermidae cuisine is uncooked, aside from Moluska mermaids, who often live at a deeper depth and utilize deep sea vents for food preparation.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Oceanic
Average Intelligence
Human or greater
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
All mermidae, regardless of subspecies, have some form of echolocation. Typically, they are also the most well known users of Water Mana and ice magic. It is also not uncommon for Mermidae to be able to change the color of their skin, often dramatically and at will.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Remoras are a common symbiotic species to mermidae, cleaning difficult to reach places of their bodies from parasites and algea growth.
Sea lice are a common problem, particularly in childhood, often akin to the lice outbreaks in primary schools of other races.
Civilization and Culture
Courtship Ideals
Among hippocampi mermidae, it is the fathers who typically raise their offspring and retain almost all of the parental duties.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Although possible for Mermidae to learn spoken language, it is quite uncommon for most to do so unless regularly interacting with land dwellers, such as in regions known for fishing. Many variations of sign language are used by the Mermidae, with Shanin Sign being particularly common across the whole of the Pacific. When speaking to other Mermidae, many different languages exist as well as regional dialects, which are often compared to whalesong and echolocation clicks by land dwellers.
Common Dress Code
Clothing is rather uncommon among Pisci, due to it causing drag and difficulty swimming. Instead, jewelry in sleek, hydrodynamic designs is common as are piercings on the fins, face, and body. Tattoos and other forms of body modification are also extremely common.
Moluska and Hippocampi Mermidae do make use of clothing and fairly frequently. In the former, their swim speeds are not affected due to the drag as most Moluska typically swim with their tentacles around their humanoid portions. Hippocampi are typically far less mobile to begin with, instead primarily moving around by climbing from pieces of kelp, seaweed, or rock formations using their tails or hands, and unbothered by excess drag. Clothing is often made from harvested and woven plant fibers, kelp being particularly prized for its long lengths. Many Mermidae clothing pieces are created by drying kelp and stripping it into thin fibers, which are often dried on shore, floating rafts, or from ships, and knitted and crocheted.
Over all, jewelry made from pearls, shells, and whale bone are extremely common, often being used in engravings. Moluska also often have a preference for using sea urchins in their jewelry. It is also a quite common trend for jewelry and clothing pieces to feature living plants and animals, such as barnacles, sea grasses, anemones, and corals. Many mermidae form symbiotic relationships with these pieces as well as fish that live within them, such as Hippocami often using anemones and clownfish together.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
It is quite common among Mermidae living in reefs or in more shallow water to have cultural norms surrounding meat from animals that are not ocean dwellers themselves, such as seabirds and other coastal animals. Such meat is often highly prized, a rare commodity, and the mark of truly skilled hunters and trappers to regularly acquire. Hunters known to be able to accurately capture and kill these animals, most commonly birds, are often highly respected and keep their tricks of the trade closely guarded secrets until they take on an apprentice.
History
It is unknown exactly how and when the mermidae came to be, but thought that after the rise of the gods, those devout to Nagi and other fish gods were transformed to escape the wars and strife on land and live in the ocean. This myth is repeated across multiple regions and cultures among them, and thought to have some basis of truth to it as Nagi calls members of the race his children.
Historical Figures
Most regard Nagi, God of Water, as their race's spiritual father and creator.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Due to their deep oceanic environments, mermidae do not typically interact with most other races on a regular basis other than island communities and coastal regions. They are often allies of the Naga, and fond of races who also regard Nagi, God of Water as a patron god.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Origin/Ancestry
humanoid
Lifespan
200 years
Conservation Status
Unknown
Average Length
15 to 35 ft
Average Physique
Piscii mermidae often are more heavy set than other races, and like all mermaids, very muscular. Hippocampi and Moluksa are the most lithe and slim, and sometimes thought to be underweight by other races' standards.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
All mermidae vary wildly and have a large array of patterns and colors, most often similar to that of fish local to their region.
Molluska mermidae in particular have the ability to change colors and patterns at will, and do so frequently for camouflage.
Related Ethnicities
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