Merpeople

Sea Folk

The Sea Folk—generally known as merpeople—are the mystics of the ocean, swift-bodied and sea-minded. They once roamed the shallows of every coast, especially the sunlit waters of the White Sea, but their range has greatly diminished with the rise of humanity. Now, their largest surviving populations dwell in the southern reefs of Trianmye and along the southern coast of Reiamnye, where the waters remain wild and less disturbed.
They have also been found on many of the Armirian coasts, and they have a whole archipelago to themselves in the newly discovered Mystic continent.

To many, they are just myths or songs sung by sailors. But to the sea itself, they are guardians, predators, and kin.

Appearance

Sea Folk resemble humanoids sculpted by the current. Their bodies are sleek and flexible, shining with fine scales that shimmer with blue, gray, or sea-glass hues. Long limbs end in webbed fingers and toes, ideal for speed and maneuverability in water. Their palms and soles are rough as reef-stone, allowing them to grip slippery surfaces and hunt with precision.

Their claws are short but sharp, used for catching prey or anchoring themselves in shifting currents. Noses are flat, ears are tight against the skull, and both are designed to minimize drag. Hair is thick, rope-like, and often shades of green, brown, or black, drifting behind them like seaweed in motion. Their large, side-set eyes are adapted for underwater vision and protected by a transparent third eyelid.

A thin film of natural slime coats their skin, reducing friction and aiding in stealth and hydration. On land, this layer is in danger of drying out. When this occurs, it is said to be comparable to being set on fire, and if not treated, it could prove lethal.

Behavior and Society

Merfolk live in small, semi-nomadic groups known as flocks. These bands are formed not by blood, but by bond—friends, lovers, and chosen kin who hunt, live, and travel together. Flocks roam ancestral waters in search of fish, crustaceans, and shellfish, often diving deep or ambushing shoals with speed and cunning.

Romantic loyalty defines much of their culture. Once a Sea Folk chooses a mate, the bond is lifelong. These pairings are profound and unbreakable, and many legends speak of lovers who swam through tempests, hunted leviathans, or even defied the tide itself to save each other.

Among their most feared enemies are sharks. Intelligent though they are, Sea Folk view sharks as brutal, instinct-driven beasts that cannot be reasoned with. Hunting a shark—especially a large, territorial one—is a mark of bravery and honor.

Anatomy and Reproduction

Sea Folk are marine mammals, uniquely adapted to life beneath the waves. They possess both lungs and gills, allowing them to breathe air or extract oxygen from water. They give live birth, and mothers nurse their young as terrestrial mammals do.

Reproduction is seasonal. Mermaids are fertile only in spring, giving birth by winter in protected coastal caves where predators cannot follow. The dangers of ocean life demand high survival instincts from birth—children are weaned within nine months and reach adulthood in just fifteen years.

Their biology is built for resilience and speed. Internal temperature regulation, strong cardiovascular systems, and advanced echolocation make them apex predators in their own domain.

Twins

Merfolk are nearly always born as twins, and this twin bond is a strong one. They will often also be the same gender, and this brother or sisterhood grows over time, and is often stronger than any other familial bond, at least until they find a mate.

Still, twins will often stay together throughout thier life, if they both survive their childhood, which sadly isn't always the case.

Magic

The Sea Folk command the ancient magic of water. Their spells flow through motion and intent, woven into their swimming and song. This magic manifests in three primary forms: Surge, Currentspeak, and Skinflow.

Surge allows them to move with unnatural speed, bending water pressure and resistance to accelerate or change direction abruptly.
Seaspeech lets them manipulate local tides and undersea currents, which can be used to create whirlpools, drag prey, or confuse enemies, and even redirect ships.
Watercall is a powerful and necessary ability they use when on land. It allows them to call forth the moisture from the air, and use it to preserve their natural slime layer and prolong their ability to stay on land. Still, it is impossible to remain on land indefinitely.