Merfolk
Creation
Verina and Jiro created the Merfolk after Verina returned from a century spent beneath the Dalindan seas. She, like Nim and Jiro, drew great inspiration from the three elder planes. The water dragons beneath the sea were some of her dearest friends during her time there.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Respiration
Merfolk have three methods of breathing. While under water, they use branchial respiration via gills along their ribs, and when above water, autonomously switch to pulmonary respiration, breathing air through their lungs. Their lungs operate at a low capacity, however, and it becomes uncomfortable to be above water for more than a few hours at a time, without taking a break to rest their lungs. While above water, they also respirate cutaneously, which supports their weak lungs and sustains their oxygen supply longer.
The biggest danger to a merperson out of water is drying out; this will create discomfort long before their lungs tire. Merfolk are unable to utilize their cutaneous respiration without adequate moisture, and their skin is insufficient to prevent their bodily fluids from evaporating. They dehydrate extremely quickly outside of water, so any time they must surface, it is often with a few canteens of seawater.
Sodium
Merfolk manage their sodium intake with specialized cells in their gills, immense hydration, four powerful kidneys, and a naturally high tolerance for salt.
Genetics and Reproduction
Merfolk are oviparous. Merfolk that produce eggs are able to store sperm for up to roughly three Dalindan years, and can choose at any time to fertilize her eggs before laying them in a clutch of 2-6, on average. Embryos have their own individual yolk, but all share the same case, except in the event of multiple egg case production, which occurs roughly 0.5% of the time. In these circumstances, clutches are typically 1-4 embryos per sac. About 85% of embryos survive to full gestation and hatch.
Gestation lasts about 84 weeks before embryos hatch by pushing through the natural perforations in their egg case, and they begin to swim. It is a continual phenomenon that merfolk claim to remember hatching, and less often, remember being with their siblings in their egg case. It is estimated that about 15% of merfolk may have memories prior to their full development.
Growth Rate & Stages
Merfolk are considered infants until about six months old, where they are in a toddler stage until about three years of age. Puberty occurs from about 10-16 years, and full developmental maturity occurs at about 22 years of age.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Merfolk have very poor vision, and rely on it very little. Above water, they are able to wear corrective lenses to see clearly, but wearing them for long periods of time are known to cause migraines. They have incredible senses of hearing and smell, however, in comparison to the average land dweller. The main method of identifying friends and family is by their unique scent, and even an infant merperson can discern their caregiver's voice in a crowd of hundreds.
Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
There are three basic varieties of languages that are spoken frequently by merfolk. One is spoken above the water with their vocal chords, similar to most languages spoken above the sea. Another is a sign language that is only spoken in close proximity to others, due to their poor vision. The third language is widely agreed to be the most enigmatic language type in Esmir: the Clicksong languages, spoken and understood almost exclusively by merfolk and sea nymphs, spoken in a register most mortals cannot hear or produce. Merfolk and Nymphi are the only mortals able to hear and speak clicksong languages, but it is difficult to understand unless under water; land based clicksong languages tend to have vastly different dialects in different regions, as they diverge so much from the original sea-based proto-language. Bapatseche are the only other species able to hear Click languages, but they are unable to produce the sounds necessary to speak it. Clicksong languages are very important to merfolk culture.
Common Myths and Legends
There are several hypotheses about how Merfolk may have traveled to the Coastal District of Veritum, in the city of legend. Scholars and theorists and Verite Believers alike have argued over millenia, but the most common theories of how they got around above water include:
- river channels, for basic travel
- a designated golem
- palanquin
- a rudimentary wheelchair
- prosthetic mecha legs--- while arguably the most fun to think about, this would have been highly experimental technology at the time, and likely unsustainable
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Merfolk are very insular, especially following the War of the Gods, when weapons of biological warfare was spilled into the seas. Neither the any of the merfolk, nor their sole surviving creator, Verina, are confirmed to have been seen since near the end of the war.
Lifespan
350-400 years
Conservation Status
Unknown
Average Length
5.5 - 7.5 ft