Equatorial Merfolk

Government

Merfolk live in multiple large pods ruled over by the monarch of a region. There are generally determined to be three merfolk kingdoms: The Western Kingdom, which controls the coasts of eastern Azoh and western Tekeburi, the Three Point Kingdom, which rules over the merfolk in the Three Point Sea, and the Lyric Kingdom, which rules over the kingdoms in the Lyric Sea. The three kingdoms aim to keep peace with each other and defend their people against the sirens of the north.

Culture

Merfolk are incredibly social and often though of as vain and pretentious, since a lot of their culture is devoted to the upkeep and care of their elaborate fins and hairstyles. They tattoo themselves and tie their hair into elaborate knots, rivaling the hairstyles of the Iksandi nobility. The only merfolk who keep their hair short are the hunters, who double as scouts and defenders against the sirens. Since many merfolk live near shallower water, they carve maze-like fortresses out of rock and weave tents above ground. Merfolk are fond of collecting things and trading with each other to get what they want. Seashells are a common de facto currency among merfolk, and shells from other parts of the world are worth more than shells from a given merfolk's home region.