The Aquillion, or Murkmen, are a race of half-human, half-fish that typically live in the oceans and rivers and seldom come onto the land.
Aquillions have developed their martial arts strongly on thrusting and grappling, since those are the most efficient ways to fight underwater. They therefore prefer polearms and short swords above all other weapons, although they can also use longer swords quite well.
As spellcasters, they tend to be quite good in specific areas. Their mystical relationship with water makes it easier for them to use divination, poison, and ice magics... which use water occasionally as a material component.
Physical Traits
Aquillion stand a bit shorter than humans, about 4' 7" on average, and weigh
roughly 110 pounds. Their body is covered from neck to toes light
scales, which can appear in all colors, and most half-mer have several
colors. Their heads are shaped rather like elves: slighly pointed and
angled. They typically have long dark hair and very little facial hair.
Their fingers and feet are much longer than those of others, which help
them to swim.
While Murkmen have the ability to take to land for brief amounts of time, it is something they detest. Without the support of the water, they feel slow and cumbersome and are at a disadvantage. Too long out of the water and they will sicken and die.
Underwater Vision
Aquillions, unlike other humanoids, have 2 sets of
eyelids, the outer set are much the same as other creatures eyelids.
The inner set is simply thin, transparent skin to protect Macchali eyes
while underwater, and keep it from interferring with it's vision.-- they are always nearly black.
The voices of the Merfolk have often been described as 'silvery' or 'fluted', though this does not discount an occasional deeper timbre among the males. It is a rare treat indeed for land-walkers to hear a group of them singing.
The build of Merfolk tends to be slight -- the males not more than 5'6" and 110-130 pounds, and the females averaging about 5'3" and 95-115 pounds. They are slender, graceful creatures and can move through the water at great speeds.
Merfolk are omnivorous.
Personality Traits
Aquillions are one of the most trusting races of the world, accepting the most perfect strangers with open arms. They generally work well with others, and can't hold grudges for very long. Murkmen hold a large priority for physical appearance, sometimes to an obsessive extent. Many half-mer may judge each other at first glance base on the color and lustor of their scales.
Aquillions, as a race, love fun. Humor, simple to complex games, ad the simple joy
of day-today living, they approach everything with boundless enthusiasm
and energy. They love to chat, and keep in contact with nearly everyone
they have ever met, via long-range songs that carry hundreds of miles
under water. They take joy in the smallest of things, though their
perpetually upbeat mood can sometimes grate on landwalkers.
Family Structure
Matings are arranged by contract and only occasionally do Merfolk commit to lifelong partnerships.
Aquillion young are cared for by their mothers, and the females often congregate in pods, sharing the duties of child-rearing. At age four the child's caste and occupation are chosen by the Council of Elders.
Culture
Murkmen culture is very different from the one that the most land-dwelling cultures enjoy. Generally speaking, it is the females who are the dominant gender. Males hold two basic functions
in Aquillion civilization: public safety and child upbringing. Because the
males naturally enjoy a stronger physical stature, it is logical that
they would make up the majority of the military and police systems. Also, it is the males who are the primary
caregivers for the young. The males stay with and protect the young
from before they hatch from the egg to the time they are done with
schooling and ready to become adults.
Females, on the other hand, are more apt to run shops, hold government
positions, and do other more professional work.
Language
Aquillion's communicate with each other through whistles, clicks and squeaks called Oyreian. They have no written language because keeping written records is very difficult underwater. Murkmen are skilled at singing and storytelling. They have passed down their entire history through stories and songs and rely on their memories to keep their culture and their way of life alive.
Religion
Aquillion worship is a daily procedure involving all Murkmen to be thankful to the sea for all it provides, and praise Ioannes with personal dance. The dance styles used in worship revolve around slow, flowy movements of the arms and tail, as well as flips, spins and tail slaps. The hard to master tail slap involves the aquillon slapping the ground with their tail at a point, sending a fountain of dirt to spray outward. If controlled right the tail slap gives off the appearance of ripples under water or (in the case of battle) clouds the battlefield.
Being sensitive to the Sea, the Mer often regard it as a separate entity, assuming that good harvest or high fish yields revolve around its torrential whim. Aquillions often place offerings at the Temples of Ioannes for both the sea and their god. These offerings involve ornately colored coral or shells, shell incrusted headdresses (made of hardened seaweed), or even other aquatic life.
The temples, like the other aquillion structures, are formed from whatever the sea provides and as such is very specific to the location (coral, rock, and in some cases hardened seaweed). Usually the structure is built like a dome with an open ceiling and column-like walls, though it has been known to be nothing more than a room to encase the jewel within.
Regardless of the outer structure, the inner is always the same. Five steps each 2 feet high and 6 feet long lead up to a pedestal where the holy artifact is held by a chalice in the shape of the moon. This final step is called the inner cloister and its ascending steps were designed to give off the impression of the gods stepping down from the heavens and joining the common people. These structures are often placed in the center of the aquapolis, making it easy to locate and protect.
