Fishfolk

🍄 Overview

Fishfolk are a diverse group of Fae that inhabit the Underwater Duchy. They have the top half of a humanoid, and the lower half of a sea creature. There are many different types of fishfolk, and so they vary in size but are generally small to large sized, and mostly human sized. Fishfolk are one of the races of Fae that give birth to live young rather than creating them out of magic.

Due to the sheer number of Fishfolk that inhabit the Underwater Duchy and the Oceans around the Folkland island, war-like clans have formed and vie for the position of Duke/Duchess in the City of Lampa. It is a beautiful, yet militaristic civilisation that lives beneath the waves.

Fishfolk are open to other races visiting their Duchy as long as they don’t view them as a threat to the monarchy (Selkies are welcome, being tribe based and not interested in being a ruler, however High Fae are unwelcome).

As mentioned, Fishfolk clans inhabit the Underwater Duchy region between the Spring and Summer Duchies. They live in shallow rock pools, coral reefs, kelp forests, underwater ruins, and there is even rumoured to be a deep sea clan that live in the freezing, pressurized water thousands of feet below the surface.

Because the ocean is vast and dangerous, the Fishfolk cities tend to exist close together in the Underwater Duchy.

🍄 Appearance

A Fishfolks appearance is based on a sea creature. Their top half is humanoid and their bottom half is a fish tail, tentacles or another sea creature appendage. They are able to shed their tails and walk on land on two legs, although they may find this awkward and uncomfortable until they get used to it. There are many many different types of Fishfolk and a lot of genetic diversity. 

Design Guidelines

• They have medium to long very wavy hair (maximum length is thigh length). There are usually braids woven into their hairstyles. Men can have short hairstyles.

• They love adorning their hair with sea shells, sea glass, crab claws, driftwood, whale bone, kelp etc.

• They have sharp, pointed teeth.

• They have webbed fingers and fish ears.

• They have fins running along their spines.

• They have gills on their necks and below their lungs on the side.

• They have light scaling on their backs, cheekbones and top of the skull.

• Fishfolk colouring varies wildly, as it is based on the fish type of the creature. Fishfolk have human skin tones but it can be slightly tinted to match the hue of their sea creature ‘tail’.

*Fishfolk physique varies based on the type of sea creature they are based on. At a minimum, Fishfolk should be 6 foot or above from top to tail.

• Eels: Slim and lean, tall

• Fish: Average height and build

• Whales: Broad and muscular, tall

• Sharks: Muscular, average height, stocky

• Octopus: Hourglass curvy to plus size

• Crustacean: Shorter, stocky

• Ray: Broad shouldered, lean

Fishfolk Adoptables

coming very soon...

Clothing

• Fishfolk wear very little clothing, and usually only on their top/humanoid half. Clothing consists of rope woven into crochet-like shirts and shawls, kelp, crustacean or shell armour. Long, draping clothing isn’t really practical in an underwater environment and the Fishfolk do not feel the need to cover breasts.

• As mentioned, they do like to ornament their hair and clothing with shells, fish bones, seaglass, and pearls.

• Armour is a very important aspect to their everyday attire - so please include some in your fishfolk’s design. If your character is a magic class they can wear little to none.

🍄 Birth, Life and Death

Birth

Fishfolk give birth to live young and have around 3-4 children at a time. They give birth to eggs, and the eggs will hatch with young Fishfolk.

They do not adopt as other races cannot exist under the ocean. However they can adopt other Fishfolk.

They are pregnant for around 9 months.

Life

Fishfolk can live to be up to 200 years old.

Many fishfolk grow throughout their entire lives - so the older the Fishfolk, the larger. Nevertheless, the average and maximum size of Fishfolk varies according to its type (whale type versus fish type). Regardless, being physically large is a sign of honour in a militaristic society as it denotes that a Fishfolk has managed to outlive their enemies.

Signs of ageing include greying hair, wrinkles, and loss of physical substance, as well as a great many scars gathered over the course of a proud and active martial life.

Death

Fishfolk are buried in an underwater graveyard called the Sholl. Their bodies are placed inside caskets made of giant shells, and anchored to the floor of the ocean. They drift there with bioluminescent jellyfish floating around the graveyard, keeping watch. During the actual funeral procession, a song called The Oceans Lament is sung by friends and family present.

🍄 Fishfolk Customs & Culture

Personality Traits

• Fishfolk are strong willed, dogmatic, and combative. They have a long, rich history of inter-clan conflict across the Underwater Duchy and thus can be abrasive and suspicious to others.

• Physical attributes such as strength, combat prowess, and weapon aptitude are highly regarded.

• Fishfolk are dutiful and competitive. They are suspicious of new things, but have a strong desire to be good at whatever they pursue. They despise being manipulated or cheated, being fundamentally authentic people who value honesty.

Your Fishfolk should have a few of these traits but doesn’t have to have all of them. Please feel free to put a unique spin on it.

Romance, Marriage and Offspring

Romance

Fishfolk are less interested in romance but its not unheard of. They can have same sex relationships and they are common due to the collaborative nature of raising children. They can have inter-racial relationships but its less common and destined for heartbreak due to Fishfolk only really being able to live in the sea long term.

Monogamy is rare. They place a strong emphasis on fluid bonds, where individuals are encouraged to form connections with multiple partners. Gender equality is a fundamental principle. All members are considered equal and free to explore connections with whomever they choose, regardless of gender or physical attributes.

Marriage

Marriage is practically non existant, because monogamy is uncommon. 

Offspring

As mentioned, Fishfolk give birth to live young, hatching from eggs. In cases where children are born within non-monogamous relationships, the clan practices egalitarian parenting. Multiple adults may contribute to the upbringing of a child. 

Miscellaneous

• Fishfolk have a rich cultural cuisine. They eat all manner of things from the sea including fish, sea cucumbers, seaweed and other sea grasses, etc. They are very proud of their unique cuisine and eat everything raw. The only sea creature they are forbidden from eating is seals due to their alliance with the Selkies, and they also do not eat Blue Whales, believing them to be sacred.

• Fishfolk can breathe underwater and on land. This is thought to be due to an ancient pact made with Rhiannon and Morrigan. The Fishfolk promised to protect the Sea and look after the oceans health, in exchange for land legs and lungs that could breathe air, so they could explore the surface when they wanted to.

• Fishfolk have a human form where they can shed their tail and wear human legs. If they get back into a body of water, their tail will come back. After 4-5 days out of water, they will start to dry out and become uncomfortable, and will need to recuperate in a body of water for a few hours.