Sirens: Water Elementals (S-eye-renz)

Sirens are beings born with innate elemental magic within them, and then killed by the power of their element. This magic was dispersed throughout the mortal bloodlines with the creation of the first elementals—children born out of the power of their patron elemental spirit alone. These children are known by the spirits and each other as the ho’oholo ‘ia, which translates roughly to Destined. Out of all elementals, the Destined have a unique connection with their patron spirit, which grants them extraordinary powers. The four spirits each correspond to a fundamental element: earth, fire, air, and water. Sirens are beings linked to the water elemental; they are shapeshifters who, upon being submerged entirely in water, or, upon their choice to do so, gain a powerful fish tail in the place of their legs. As they transform, their legs fuse, and anything that is in the way, and that is not particularly thin and form-fitting, is promptly shredded. Their scales are iridescent; they often resemble real fish, though there are exceptions. The spirit of water, being one of the four primordial, elemental spirits, embodies a core need of humanity. Earth is power, air is freedom, fire is consumption, and water is connection. Being images of the sea spirit, and intrinsically tied to its power due to residual scraps of its magic deep within their souls, sirens, too embody this need for connection. As such, each and every siren has these four instincts: 1: Sing when emotional, as it is connection to their souls and the souls of others through beauty, and thus brings them deep joy. Sirens cannot resist the urge to sing—whether it simply be using a pseudo-song through speaking the spirit language to command others, or unleashing the full force of their song by outright singing, their words, when sung, are forever tangled in the dulcet tones of the spirit language and can control any other being with irresistible force. However, when a siren truly sings, it can be lethal to them, as they’re using the full force of their magic and can thus potentially overexert their souls. 2: Feed off of blood, as it is connection to life and thus sustains their magic. Sirens cannot eat mortal food; the magic of the sea spirit has warped their bodies and souls to make them rely entirely on mortal blood. Demon blood does not suffice; it is addictive yet poisonous. Elemental blood is revolting to them, and burns like acid. If they do not drink blood, they will fall into agony, consisting of stabbing/twisting/aching body pain, fever, burning, desperate thirst, and severe weakness. If they still refuse to drink, they will lose control and fall to their baser instincts—and if they still do not receive blood, they will starve. When a siren abuses their magic, they go into a blood frenzy to make up for their magical loss. 3. Rejoin the water, as that is connection to their spirit and magic, and is absolutely necessary for their own wellbeing. If a siren avoids the water, they grow rather sick, and desperate to return to the water. Most sirens don’t refuse this—they feel compelled to seek out water in every form they can. Its very presence soothes them, from the smell of the seaspray to the sound of the breaking waves. 4. Find, protect, and cling to an “anchor,” as this is connection to humanity and emotion. A siren’s anchor can be any sentient being, such as a demon, a human, a naga, or even another siren. Anchor bonds are formed by a siren’s soul and magic latching on to another being through a profound emotional connection to the other person; whether it is platonic or romantic is of no importance. A siren can have multiple anchors; however, if all of a siren’s anchors are to perish, then the siren, too, would die. A siren and their anchor(s) are bonded eternally through their very souls; to lose their other half would be to lose an intrinsic part of their soul, and it is for this reason that the loss of all of a siren’s anchors would kill the siren. An anchor can typically survive this, because, while both parties are affected by the bond, it is the siren’s magic which has ensnared the anchor’s soul and bound them together. It is the siren who bears the brunt of this magical connection. As such, and in line with their need for connection, when a siren bonds with their anchor, they feel a profound, emotional yearning to be with their anchor whenever possible. Their anchor is, magically, emotionally, and in every sense of the word, their most important person. Even if, emotionally, this ceases to be, the anchor bond remains. It is something deeply permanent. A siren does not come into their magic, nor their other instincts, until they have bonded to an anchor. The formation of this intrinsic connection solidifies their bond to the sea spirit and its magic, and, as a result, unleashes their power. Gills, being a more physical characteristic, are present on a siren from the moment of their genesis. Still, due to the connection of a siren’s soul to their magic, their magic is connected to their anchor as well. Their powers are strongest around their anchor, and their anchors are the only thing that can alleviate their need to indulge in their other instincts. When around their anchor, a siren is at their most stable. A siren’s anchor, in turn, receives a sort of magical boon, though this does vary. Some receive power over water, some receive longer lifespans, and others receive a unique charisma and persuasiveness. Due to the sensitive nature of their anchor’s existence, as well as the bond between the souls of both siren and anchor, every siren is instinctually driven to protect their anchor—and the anchors are driven to do the same. The anchor bond is extremely intimate; as a result, many anchors reject the siren upon discovering the bond and/or the inhuman nature of their elemental partner. Anchors have been known to kill their sirens in order to escape their bond—and to avoid the consequences of it. When a siren is stricken by their lust for blood, they are consumed with agony and often lose their senses entirely, falling prey to their overwhelming, all-consuming thirst—as well as their yearning for their anchors. Sirens are driven by instinct to cling to their anchors; their anchors are the only beings who can comfort them in such moments. However, the anchors also serve a baser, more utilitarian purpose—to protect the siren and supply them blood while they are so completely incapacitated. As a result, anchors are sent into an uncontrollable bout of ferocity when their sirens are hungry—or when their sirens are just generally in any kind of danger. This is one of the primary reasons why anchors kill their sirens—to escape their berserker instincts and live a normal life once again.
In 7466, the sea spirit brought into existence its greatest creation yet—the Core. Each spirit created a Core, a pure extension of their power, their physical vessel upon the earth, and the container of limitless elemental magic. Anyone with an affinity with the element of a particular Core can wield the power that particular Core. When the Core of the sea spirit was created, it lifted the brunt of the spirit’s power off of the sirens. They lost their need for blood, their bond with their anchors, and their reliance upon said anchors. They gained unrestricted access to their magic, as well. Still, their need to sing and their connection to the sea remained. Sirens are creatures of connection, and they thusly seek this out in all of its forms. While humans and mortals in general are very social creatures, a siren’s need for social interaction is unparalleled. Before the Core was created, sirens had to work to find each other. Venus, the first siren, child of the sea spirit, travelled across the world, chasing rumors to find others of her kind. For millennia, she travelled on a ship run entirely by sirens and their anchors, searching for more sirens. This group, however, was only a fraction of all the world’s sirens. When the Core came into existence, however, its power allowed the existing sirens to create an underwater kingdom in a cavern off the coast of Gelu. It was aptly named Gelu Maris. Additionally, the power of the Core acted as a homing beacon, drawing all sirens to the pod without fail. A blood pact was formed using the Core as a binding object. It formed a bond between all sirens who gave blood to the crystal, allowing them to feel each others’ emotions and pain, communicate with each other mentally and nonverbally, and boost each others’ healing, morale, and magic when near each other.

EXTINCT

Origin/Ancestry

Created by the Sea Spirit in the 3rd Milenium

Geographic Distribution