Sahuagin

Among the many undersea peoples of the Twin Worlds, none are more feared by drylanders and sea-dwellers alike. This reputation is well-earned as their xenophobic tendencies often lead them to attack their neighbors mercilessly, including drylanders ports and passing ships.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

The sahuagin are a fish-like race with flat facial features. They are most easily recognizable by the mouthful of sharp teeth and small fins on the sides and top of their heads.
Their bodies are covered in wet, slimy scales, and tend to be very muscular. Body mutations such as fluked tails and four arms are proportionately common and highly valued.

Average Intelligence

As mages are greatly valued in sahuagin culture, a high emphasis has been placed on education. Additionally, many sahuagin kings have instituted eugenics programs targeting those of lesser intelligence. Both of these factors had led to higher than average intelligence among the race.

Civilization and Culture

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The culture of the sahuagin is centered around the magocracy. Mages are effectively above the law and can treat non-mages like property. In theory, anyone can become a mage and join the ruling class but in practice those spellcasters carefully guard their secrets. The most powerful spellcaster is expected to murder the current ruler and claim the Staff of the Sea King. Whoever holds the staff is recognized as the ruler of all sahuagin.
Other cultural considerations are very utilitarian. Selection of occupation or mates are made for practical reasons, rather than emotional ones. Celebrations are also limited to major victories and the ascension of a new king.
Their religious beliefs are very strongly atheistic, believing all gods to be fantasies created by lesser beings. They believe that all clerics are nothing more than charlatan wizards or warlocks.

History

According to legend, the first sahuagin came from another plane of existence-- a place where the seas were red with blood and meat swam directly into waiting mouths. These conditions bored them, so they traveled to the Material Plane so that they could feel the thrill of the hunt.
They fell under the influence of a creature known as The One in the Depths and the first sahuagin king learned magic from it. He then betrayed it by cutting its limb off and using it to destroy the creature. He took its limb and created the Staff of the Sea King-- an everlasting symbol of the sahuagin's rightful rulership of lesser beings.
Their actual history is not nearly as clear-cut or well-known, however. Scholars of other races have made discoveries suggesting that they once served as slaves of the ancient kuo-toa, although whether they were bred by them or were simply captured is unknown.
It is believed by these same scholars that they escaped from their captivity when they stole magical secrets from their masters and fled into the surrounding trenches and deep places. These escaped slaves then built their brutal society around the magic that freed them from servitude.
The rest of their history is, simply put a history of war. They have fought against any enemy they could including surrounding merfolk and elven communities, and even each other. Their main enemy is, however, the Empire of Triton.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

The society of the sahuagin is completely geared towards waging war against other races. Thus, all sahuagin are taught that non-sahuagin are prey, fit only to kill and eat. Every aspect of society from food production to trade is centered around the large and organized military. It is rare for any sahuagin to cooperate with an outsider, and such individuals are considered disgustingly deviant.

Lifespan

approx. 200 years

Average Height

6 ft - 7.5 ft

Average Weight

220 - 300 lbs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Dark green or blue-green scales, light underbelly
Black eyes