Merfolk

The Devils of the Deep

Written by David_Ulph

As with the Beastbloods, they are a form of mutant that has stabilised enough to breed true, although their numbers are kept low by the rarity of Mermen. They have a primitive, tribal society and utilise crude tools. They even appear to have a religion, worshipping beings that already plagued our coastlines.

— An Imperial Scholar's theory on Merfolk society

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

Merfolk organise themselves into nomadic theocratic hordes known as Khanates, each patrolling their own area of water. There are 3 significantly larger Khanates recorded by the GWE with their own unique traditions and styles of worship, with their respected God being chief of each Khanate. Their names are not known but the areas they patrol are. The Khanate of the Frozen Sea worship the Morkoth, the Khanate of the Olawa Straight worship the Dragon Turtle, and the Khanate of the Southern Sea worship the Kraken.
Below the respective God-Creatures are the Khans. These seemingly powerful figures are head priests of their own ideology of the teachings and worship of their Gods. Merfolk seemingly have a choice in which Khanate they choose to belong with, finding the Khan that they believe in the most or becoming a Khan themselves if no other Khans seem to show their personal beliefs. A powerful Khan will have many Khagans below them, representing different ideologies that Khan has assimilated or dominated. Khagans will act as lesser priests, military commanders or both. Not much else is known about Merfolk society other than what Khagan Ambassadors portray or mention.

Khanate of the Frozen Sea

The Khanate of the Frozen Sea are noted to be, for the most part, more benevolent than the other major Khanates and especially more than the savage lesser Khanates found in the Frozen Sea. This is only the case, however, with steady supplies of jewels and gold tools used as a bribery to not raid the shorelines. When the Khanate of the Frozen Sea do raid they will wait until the mist of the early sunrise ebbs its way onto land, using it as a cover. Out at sea - or when the sea mist hasn't occurred yet - the raiders will wait below thin ice patches for individual prey or boats, striking by dragging their prey below ice sheets. It is understood that this Khanate worship the Morkoth and so value food higher than other things (Leading to confusion amongst Imperial scholars as they favour jewels in their bribes), acting as food-slaves as a form of worship, bringing meat to their God-Creature. Trust is also more fickle with the Khanate of the Frozen Sea, revelling in betrayal and subterfuge as soon as a moment comes where it is beneficial to them. The Merfolk races most found in this Khanate are; Merfolk, Merrow, Triton and Wastrilith.

Khanate of the Olawa Straight

The Khanate of the Olawa Straight is often regarded as being the most diverse Khanates ever recorded, with many scholars coming to the conclusion that the unknown Khan is the most powerful Merfolk figure alive today. They are often very solitary, not known to raid shorelines very often not due to benevolence but due to the fact they rarely come close to the shoreline and so when they do reach the shoreline, it is extremely difficult to bribe the entire Khanate and so settlements will attempt to bribe single Khagans that are threatening their area. When hunting, this Khanate is known to prefer to capsize ships with no prior warning but if they do allow prior warning, the Captain of the ship is given a chance to bribe them, using anything from treasure, tools and knowledge. It is understood that this Khanate worship the Dragon Turtle and so are always found within the territory of one. Any gold, knowledge or treasure acquired by the Khanate through bribes or hunting is assumed to be offered to the Dragon Turtle as tribute. The Merfolk races most found in this Khanate are; Chuul, Kuo-toa, Locathath, Merfolk, Merrow, Sahuagin, Triton, Wastrilith and Yurian.

Khanate of the Southern Sea

The Khanate of the Southern Sea are the least recorded of all the major Khanates by the GWE. This is due to the destructive natures of the Khanate, with all information on them being found from military reports of raids. It is assumed that the Khanate is at constant war with multiple lesser Khanates and will only raid or prey on coastlines and ships when they are at war with less Khanates than usual. The war occurring beneath the depths is what scholars assume is the reason for the Faar Corridor to occur - the single passage of safe waters linking the two continents of Elgerlia and Sanaros via the Faar Isles - as the Devils of the Deep are too busy fighting amongst themselves to care for what happens above surface. It is understood that this Khanate worship the Kraken and so follow the beasts into the battle of domination. While Krakens are their God-Creatures, it seems that they only care for their own Kraken, as countless corpses and skeletons of other Krakens wash up on the shorelines of the Faar Isles and southern Skìrah every week. The Merfolk races most found in this Khanate are; Locathath, Merfolk, Merrow, Sahuagin, Triton and Wastrilith.

Merfolk is the collective term used by the Great Western Empire (GWE) for all aquatic sapient species including; Chuul, Kuo-toa, Locathath, Merfolk proper, Merrow, Sahuagin, Triton, Wastrilith and Yurian.