Merfolk

Basic Information

Anatomy

Humanoid, however able to change their legs into something resembaling a fish tail.

Biological Traits

The Merfolk (or sometimes reffered to as Mermen in the Masculine and Merfmaids in the femenine) are a strange but communable people, and have been known about by costal communities for a few thousand years. The Merfolk species demonstrates something remarkable and only found in a select few aquatic species have: a limited ability to survive out of water. Though they are noted as being somewhat slower on land, their lungs have demonstrated remarkable ability to survive in both enviorments. It should be noted however that Merfolk do require to be submerged briefly in water or similarily moisturized once every 24 hours, lest they become more weakened and evnetually die. 
The most remarkable ability they have however, is the ability to display limited body morphing attributes, changing their tail like lower end into that similar to a humans. This remarkable ability is only seen in one other species: changelings, which leads some scholars to debate on the possibility of a common ancestor. Besides this, the Merfolk race can largely be broken down into 3 primary subraces:

• Sirikan: Sirikan's are observed to besimilar to a mythical creature known as "sirens", mainly the ability to sing. Despite popular folklore, these Sirikan are the most common and passive of their kind, and seem to have a special connection to language and song. Their song is said to be laden with fey magics, and is oftne described as rivaled only by a harpies singing. They also display an ability to communicate with nearly all examples of aquatic life.
• Selaky: Selaky are observed as a outcast type, displaying attributes more similar to a shark than a standard fish, namely sharper teeth and increased senseation upon seeing blood. Largely known as more fierce and courageous than the Sirikan, the Selaky largely keep tot heir own, though can still be found amongst costal communities.
• Levati: Levati are an odd subrace even for Merfolk, being said to be the result of a union between deep abyssal creatures and former Sirikan merfolk. This has resulted in a type of merfolk where instead of a lower fish tail, possess 8 tentacles that act as propulsion on land and sea. The Levati also display limited electrical conductivity, being able to mimic effects similar to lightning magic. The levati also possess low light vision, an adaptation picked up from their more shaded living enviorments.

Genetics and Reproduction

Though they possess sexual organs similar to humans and other various humanoids, they seem to be an egg laying species. Eggs take roughly around 5-8 months after fertilization to hatch into a young Merfolk.

Growth Rate & Stages

Growth is observed to be roughly similar to human growth rate, though only slihgtly faster. However the lifespan is observed to be longer than a humans lifespan, ikely due to their fey nature.

Ecology and Habitats

The Merfolk are a primarily aquatic species, though they have developed the means of living upon land. However, they still feel much more comfortable if not in the sea than in either wet or costal communities and territory.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Largely omnivorous

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Roughly similar to a humans, however some key diffrences can be noticed. Their eyes have a more slit like shape in the iris, similar to felines, which help with sensory ability in the sea. Their ears are also strange almost fin like growths, sometimes likened to an elfs ears. Similar to an elfs ears, they also provide more sensetive sensory ability and the ability to "wiggle" upon emotional responses.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Typically around costal communities and sunlight zones of the ocean. As of the modern era, its common enough to see Merfolk around csotal communities, espically Ardita and other such lands known for their ports and harbours.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Standard sensory abilities, although certtain sub species of this race have demonstrated the ability to see in low light enviorments.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Merfolks names are largely melodic, a curious commonality in many fey like and fey descendnt species. The surname of a Merfolk is based on the tribe/clan they grew up in, sometimes jokingly reffered to as a "school". General Names: Alwyn, Cora, Fianna, Llaith, Lochan, Maena, Niamh, Rae, Shani, Teris, Uaine, Vilit
School Names: Aislach, Belyyreka, Glaisbela, Inbhirean, Muirlough, Polesian, Rodhayla

Major Organizations

The Anureian Fiefdoms

Beauty Ideals

Known as largely incredibly beautiful, another commonality amongst fey related species.

Gender Ideals

Largely eggalitarian

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Though not much is known, what we have learned via interactions amongst our species is a love of romance and music, as well as stories. Seemingly inspired by poets and scholars who would ply their craft on ship or in beautiful costal vistas, they began to at first mimic, and then develop their own complex tapestry of storytelling and song. Stories can range from tall tales, moral teachings, romance, and even tragidies are seen as the favorite of the Merfolk, which would explain some of the reverance for the "First Lover" amongst their culture. This "First Lover" is largely known as the first merfolk to walk the land and fall in love with a human man, only to then be cursed and forced out by other locals to die alone in the sea, where her tears are said to have blessed the rest of her kin. Merfolk are also known as highly curious people, which can at times get them in trouble. Finally, singing is known as both a pasttime, recreational activity, and almost religious custom amongst Merfolk, and many have taken to life as bards or preformers that love to introduce their cultures to outsiders.  Religon largely is built around the worship of the Elven Sea Goddess Ivlena, much like many of the strange aquatic lifeforms.

History

A creature for a long time thought more myth than reality, the Merfolk are a fantastical example of the strange nature of the reality Tertara lives in. Some stories point to their origins in the Elemental Plane of Water, where it has been observed some areas of the Mortal World have small "gaps" connecting the two planes. At least, so it was in the past, as it is believed they were banished to the mortal plane after some entity kicked them out. This entity is unkown, but a common story amongst Merfolk is that they are the children of the Elven Sea Goddess Ivlena, and this entity. While they were happy in the elemental plane of water, some said to yearn for land, and to follow their mother after she disappeared to the mortal realm. This entity raged and roared, and eventually banished them to our plane, but in doing so accidentally gave them the ability to go upon land, if only partially. For a good chunk of history, Merfolk have largely stayed away from land dwelling races, and aside from a few sightings were thought of to be myth. However roughly 3 thousand years ago marks the first extensive amount of contact amongst Merfolk and the surface, and despite initial hostitilies and fear has now turned into largely peaceful if infrequent interactions amongst each other.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Though first interactions were restricted to scatterted sightings and even hostile confrontations between sea and surface folk, by now Merfolk have largely been known as passive amongst surface kin. However they are still a curiosity outside of most costal communities, and in those costal communities most Merfolk still live in the sea rather than in houses along the coast. However they have been known to form an important part of many costal communities, being dock workers and  also entertainers for dock based taverns.

Lifespan

Roughly 300 years, but their fey nature has resulted in some exceptions living quite longer

Average Height

5-6ft tall

Average Length

Starting at the hips an tapering towards their tailfin, a merfolks tail is at least twice as long as their upper body.

Average Physique

Typically slim and "fine featured" humanoid bodies with powerful and strong aquatic tails.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Typically the wide range of human skin tone, however some more fantastical skin tones hav ebeen observed such as blue or pink. They also possess small amounts of scales on their "human" portion of the body, but have scales covering their fish like tails.