Merasaurs

These reptilian Mermen are found in almost all bodies of water and are close cousins to the Dragonelles . While the ones that live in rivers & lakes are of a slightly different variety than those who inhabit the oceans they are all linked by a common culture.

Bio

Merasaurs are able to breathe both air and water and in this regard are truly unique life forms in Xumlandia. Closely related to Dragonelles they spend almost their entire lives in water and cannot remain out of water for a long period of time or they risk losing too much body moisture. All Merasaurs have a human upper body and most have a lower body consisting of a large scaly tail, often with fins. While they reproduce in pairs (like the Dragonelles) they give birth to live young. Like Dragonelles they are covered in scales across the entire body. These scales are quite reflective and give Merasaurs an ‘angelic glow’ under most forms of light. There are three distinct subspecies of Merasaurs.

1. Merasaurs: These are the ocean-going variety of Merasaurs which make up the majority population. They live in the two largest bodies of water in Xumlandia and will make forays into brackish water at major estuaries. Normally they are light skinned and have blue or blue-green tails which may or may not have further markings.
2. Riverfolk or Lakefolk: Within rivers & lakes they are known by these names and the coloration is somewhat different. They still sparkle but they are tan to brown in color from stem to stern.
3. Shorewalkers or Mudskippers: These are the only Merasaurs to actually have feet. They have no tail and can pass for a human; they sometimes do just that for a period of time. They must remain near water as they have identical requirements to their legless brethren.
   

Habitat

They are found almost exclusively in water. While they breathe air just as well as water their bodies do not retain moisture and as a result must be kept wet. They are affected by the clarity of the water just as surface dwellers are affected by the clarity of the air. They can filter out mud & sand to a certain extent but without enough clear water to breathe they will suffocate. There are only a few known cities and what follow are the cities of note:

• Serpentia: This is the capital of the Merasaurs (proper) located deep into the Coastal Sea. It is a sprawling structure that measures roughly 100 miles across and is home to almost everything vital to all Merasaur folk. Libraries, medical centers, theatre and politics all claim this as their home.
• SaurCristo: This settlement is vital as it is the primary trading port between Merasaurs and the rest of the world. This is also where they have the most contact with Humans , Zenubians being chief among them. This settlement is just off the coast of the Zenubian capital: Case Cristo.
• SaurLakeshore: Located at the bottom of the Northern Lake most Riverfolk regard this as their capitol – although they certainly recognize the authority of Serpentia first.
  

Global Politics

While there are two sub races of Merasaur and almost two capitol cities, Merasaurs are largely united in their political views. They take a slightly environmentalist approach to global issues since rain runoff normally settles in a lake, a river delta and/or eventually the ocean. Other than this single issue Merasaurs normally have a relaxed approach toward world affairs; they don’t have to compete for land or resources with the other cultures of Xumlandia.

• Allies: Merasaurs & Riverfolk tend to view their nearest trading partners as allies. Merasaurs are very friendly with Zenubians (but not Sandscrits of Zenubia ) and somewhat friendly with the nation of Kapetapec. Riverfolk are most commonly allied with Granada and the humans of The Great Plains.
• Adversaries: Above all others they are antagonistic toward the Wind Lords and will rarely forgo the opportunity to foil them. This is not a true hatred but more to make a point that the Lords hold absolutely no power over Merasaurs. They have no love of Sandscrits of Zenubia but as the two rarely meet it’s not a large deal.
  

Languages

Merasaurs are very accomplished linguists but due to their biology they are fairly limited in their exchanges with other cultures. With that said they normally speak the following:

• Worldspeak : This is actually the most common tongue among the Merasaurs.
• Mermerrian: An ancient tongue that is normally used for ceremonies and long-distance underwater communication.
  

Demeanor

Merasaurs are a VERY proud and EXTREMELY self-important lot and they have no trouble letting others know about it. They see themselves as true royals because they have no race that can wage an effective war with them. They pay no tribute (or respect for that matter) to the Wind Lords and will not pass up an opportunity to make this clear. In a party they tend to use their ‘power of distraction’ to occupy danger, but their mouth will get the group into trouble. They are outstanding in the water and are extremely knowledgeable on matters concerning the ocean, weather, coastlines and rivers. As they are sensitive to the flow of water they very rarely become lost or disoriented.

Abilities

All Merasaurs have the following powers.

• Water is Air. They can breathe both air & water without any penalty, and they swim as fast as a horse can run. Their vision is unhindered under water and they navigate in murky waters the way we navigate through a light fog. Cost: 4
• Speed Swimming. They can swim faster than most can run and they can change direction almost instantly, making them difficult to hit. Cost: 2