Rana
The Rana are a fierce, amphibious race both feared and revered by sailors across the world.
Their raids plague coastal cities, and their pillaging has lead to the demise of many vessels overseas.
They're better known as the Merfolk.
The Iron Way
The Rana are the creators and followers of the Iron Way; a faith in no God or hero but the self. The Iron Way believes that fate is to be bent and shaped by the will of the wielder rather than the will of Gods or higher powers. Things are to not be granted from boons or made from shining trinkets, but to be reaved and taken.Raiders & Pillagers
The Rana do not sow. They're extremely aggressive and hold a strong sense of superiority over the other races across the seas, and believe that they're the rightful owners of whatever they may take. Much of their culture is centered around the Iron Way; believing that belongings should always go to those with the means of taking it. They form aquatic raiding parties called Pods; a Pod is a harrowing sight. The sea's waves can swell with dozens of Rana that will leap and cover the hull of a ship in the span of seconds before they board the deck and slaughter the crew. They're merciless in their raids and never leave survivors; anyone unfortunate enough to be swept by the Iron Tide is broken beneath its wave. Those that plea for mercy may be given a chance by the cruel pod masters, but they will quickly learn that a quick death is far more merciful than being marooned and bloodied at sea. Raiding is not just about taking riches; it's about food. The Rana are a carnivorous people, and do not shy from eating the flesh of sapient creatures.Basic Information
Anatomy
The Rana are tall, burly, and broad shouldered. Their upper bodies are densely packed with muscular sinew and they're fairly top-heavy.
Rana are covered in very small overlapping scales that allow water to flow freely over their bodies. It can also serve as a sharp armour that defends well against slashing -- Rana hide is notoriously resilient, and can resist a sword's hacking slashes. The scales are a deep blue and their bellies are a light white; not too dissimilar from a shark.
The Rana lack hair and instead have frills and fins that vary from person to person; and their hands and feet have powerful, sharp claws with soles lined with sticky padding that allows them to cling to rough or damp surfaces; the Rana are known for using this to scale up ships during their raids.
They are a carnivorous people, with two rows of shark-like teeth that are made for ripping and tearing chunks of flesh. Also much like a shark is their ability to rapidly regrow sets of teeth when broken or lost.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Rana have a unique sense of smell that's entirely reliant on moist or wet environments. While amphibious, dry climates can easily dry out the Rana's nose until they start bleeding.
Their unique sense of smell is incredible when in a proper environment; a Rana is capable of detecting blood from miles away when underwater.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Male
Cossus, Nonus, Arruns, KaesoFemale
Vinicia, Politia, Consentia, ModiaEpithets
The Rana earn names that they call Glory Names; they're names that commemorate a great deed that becomes a part of their identity. These secondary names are spoken in their own language, and added after their first name. As an example; the title of Shipbreaker is Navisfrang. Cossus, who earned this title from breaking a ship fleet, would be known as Cossus Navisfrang.Major Language Groups and Dialects
The Rana language is known for long, flowing vowels and harsh and sharp consonents. They have a somewhat throaty trill that bubbles out from the back of their throat with hissing s's, often described as a fish attempting to speak on land.
Common Dress Code
Raiders are to wear trinkets and baubles that shine beneath the ocean waves. This is because Pods are encouraged to draw as much attention to them as possible for their raids; while the Rana are happy to butcher an unaware or off-guard foe, they despise stealth, finding it a dishonorable affront to the Iron Way.
Raiders believe that everyone is entitled to take and own what they have; this applies not to just them, but the people that they face as well.
A Rana pod is often visible through the glittering gold and pearl necklaces that shine ominously beneath the waves.
Land Walkers
The Rana are a very battle-ready people. When on land, the Rana are very fond of wearing shining trinkets from their raids as trophies. Gold is often melted down and made into circlets, bracelets, or necklaces. Gems and other forms of jewellery are a common sign of an accomplished raider from the Pod. They're fond of wearing loose white silks or flowing robes that's worn over their jewellery. A Rana's clothing on land is often called the Ambulator; or 'Walker Clothes'.Food & Cuisine
The Rana eat their food raw and bloody if possible. Their stomach is able to tolerate rotten flesh and they're capable of digesting just about anything that their jaws can snap into. Despite that, brining isn't just a common custom -- but a sacred one. Entire corpses may be left in deep brine pools to be eaten at home as a celebrated victory. The Rana are carnivorous and are incapable of handling vegetable matter.
Geographic Distribution
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