Mer
Basic Information
Anatomy
Those who live in salted water live there permanently, and very rarely if ever go on land. All have fish-like tails and scales, but once dried on land, can turn into legs, but the process must be learned and is very strict, since improper drying can lead to death.
Biological Traits
Species of Salted Water Folk
Merpeople
Tryton
Syren
Selkie
Merpeople
Tryton
Syren
Selkie
Genetics and Reproduction
Only reproduce during the warm months, and only underwater. They mature at age twenty and sexually mature at age eighteen. Women do not bleed like Sylvans.
Growth Rate & Stages
Young merfolk are more fish like, and when they grow up they drop most of their baby scales. At age three, all baby scales drop and they begin to grow hair. Scales on hands, arms, and neck stay.
Ecology and Habitats
Live in underwater villages surrounding the lands of Aequor. As years passed, the Water Folk became amphibious and could live both on land and in water.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Strict fish, shellfish, and underwater plant diet.
Additional Information
Social Structure
The land walkers and water folk often butt heads and disagree with one another's living choices. Syrens most commonly live on land, and due to their enchanting voices they are often mistrusted and all born in water are exiled to land. Salted-Water Folk stick to strict customs and rarely deviate from them.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
As explorers began to sail the great seas, those who live in salted water aid stuck adventurers and are the sole producers of fish and shellfish exports.
Facial characteristics
Soft features, slightly larger eyes than most that are always shades of blue, rarely greenish. Teeth are sharp and fang-like, and ears are pointed. Classic Etherian marks.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Prefer to swim in warm water, but some train to swim in cold water, sicne it puts them into a type of hibernation.
Average Intelligence
Intelligent when it comes to knowledge about the oceans, but cannot read. Books do not exist underwater.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Excellent vision underwater, not so great on land. Some communicate through echolocation. Some speak enchantments that lure boats to rocky shores. Most don't have very good hearing on land.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Aquatic names are customary, but not required.
Beauty Ideals
Those with bigger, more decorative tails are seen as more beautiful, hence the term 'tailing', the Etherian version of peacocking.
Gender Ideals
Women spend time harvesting pearls and maintaining kelp fields, men tend to coral reefs, herd schools of fish, and fight off large predators.
Courtship Ideals
Men traditionally ahve shorter and duller tails than women, who often ahve brightly colored and decorative tails/fins. The men must prove themselves to be a proper mate, and the women choose once presented with all the man has.
Relationship Ideals
The men give women gifts daily, and most hoard shiny objects found and have grottos to hold it all. They mate for life.
Average Technological Level
No technology, even old land.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Speak Deepwater, a language unique to them. Those who live on land speak a broken form of Aquan, and are hard to understand since their voices are bubbly and gurgled, sometimes even sounding as though they are speaking udnerwater.
Common Etiquette Rules
Extremely strict manners as well as speaking and swimming patterns.
Common Dress Code
On land, light and airy dresses, shirts, and pants are worn. Not very decorative, often plain blue/light purple/white clothing since they are almost unnaturally beuatiful, and feel that clothing would take away from that.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Yearly migrations are 'celebrated'.
History
The third race to come to Etheria in 448 R.O.C. They were born in water, not on land.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Wary of others, but friendly with Etherians.
EXTINCT
Scientific Name
Salus Homines
Lifespan
150 years
Average Height
5'4"-6'4" (land)
Average Weight
125-250lbs
Average Length
7'-12' (tail to tip of head)
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Skin is tanned or tinted blue/green.
Related Ethnicities
Discovered by
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