Seafolk

The Seafolk are aquatic humanoids who dwell beneath the waves, thriving in the vast and mysterious depths of the ocean. While their general shape is human-like, their features reflect a harmonious blend with marine life, showcasing traits adapted to their underwater environment. Seafolk often have gills for breathing underwater, webbed fingers for swimming, and fins or frills along their limbs for agility in the water. Many also possess strong, fish-like tails in place of legs, allowing them to glide effortlessly through the currents. Their skin ranges in hues from soft blues and greens to pearlescent whites and shimmering silvers, often patterned or textured to mimic aquatic creatures.

History

For much of ancient history, the Seafolk lived exclusively in the ocean's depths, forming communities in the deep, shadowy parts of the sea. Over time, as life expanded in the ocean, some bands of Seafolk began to move closer to the surface, exploring the shallower waters and coastal regions. This shift brought the Seafolk into contact with early settlers from the land, including Moon Elves and humans. These encounters were initially marked by caution and misunderstanding, with both sides unsure of the other's intentions. The Seafolk's mysterious and otherworldly nature intrigued and unsettled the land-dwellers, while the Seafolk viewed the settlers with wary curiosity. This tenuous relationship saw alternating periods of conflict and uneasy peace as each side struggled to understand and coexist with the other. The turning point came with the rise of the dreaded pirate captain Morshay, who terrorized the seas with his ruthless fleet. Morshay’s reign of terror threatened both the coastal towns and the underwater realms of the Seafolk. Recognizing the need for unity, the Seafolk and land-dwellers put aside their differences and forged an alliance to confront the common enemy. Together, they waged a hard-fought campaign against Morshay, combining the Seafolk’s unparalleled knowledge of the seas with the strength and ingenuity of the surface towns. The alliance ultimately succeeded, ending the pirate's tyranny and fostering newfound respect and understanding between the two groups.

Geography

Seafolk are most prominent in the seas and coastlines of Suna, which is their ancestral homeland, as far as anthropologists understand. This has not stopped far-reaching villages from appearing in the waters deep under Linden's surface, on the shores of Eren's Waytos Coast, or amidst the drifting ice floats of Eiri.

Relations & Society

Seafolk generally get along best with themselves. Untold millennia of interacting solely under the surface has defined the cultural and societal norms of their kind. They tend to get along with humans and moon elves best, both races in abundance within Suna, and also beings that spend ample amounts of time on the ocean sailing in between islands or living on the coast.

Related Articles

Ancestry: Animal Folk
Lifespan: 100 years
Adulthood: 18 years
Average Height (m.): 1.6m to 1.8m
Average Weight (kg.): 62kg to 75kg
Type: Mammal
Blood: Red
Contributors: Kashii, Taylorzilla, Yuii

Passive Ideas

Exceptional Swimmer - You are an adept swimmer while fully submerged, even compared to others of your kind. You can even use equipment and weapons underwater without much penalty at all, whereas others might have trouble balancing treading water and engaging in tasks.
Deep Diver - Your body has a thick skin that retains heat well, as you are used to diving into the deepest waters where the sun cannot warm them or within the frigid waters of the north. You can exist comfortably in freezing temperatures as well as somebody wearing snow clothes.
Comforting Waves - Due to some trait, submerging yourself in water is more beneficial than it seems. As long as the wounds are not lethal and properly cleaned/free of debris, you can submerge yourself overnight in clean, fresh water. In turn, you heal wounds as if you had received basic first aid, recovering some by the next morning. If this is interrupted for any reason or you are suffering another negative condition, this ability doesn't function.