Werecrocs are monstrous and primal, combining humanoid forms with the feral features of crocodiles. Standing 180-240 cm tall when fully upright, their bodies are covered in thick, scaly hides in shades of mossy green, brown, or black, providing excellent camouflage in the shallows. Their eyes are yellow and slit-pupiled, glowing faintly in dim light. Their jaws are lined with jagged teeth, capable of crushing bones, and their tails—often over six feet long—are powerful enough to sweep enemies off their feet or propel them swiftly through water. Werecrocs have clawed hands and feet, ideal for gripping prey and scaling rocky surfaces. In water, they are deceptively fast, blending seamlessly into their environment before striking with deadly precision. 

Werecrocs dominate the Brackwater Expanse, a sprawling network of mangroves, reefs, and coastal shallows where land and sea blend together. They construct dens in semi-submerged caverns or under towering mangrove roots, allowing them quick access to both land and water. These areas are rich with prey and provide the perfect balance of hunting grounds and territorial security. While they occasionally venture into deeper waters to confront larger prey or defend Dagon’s interests, their homes remain closer to the surface, where their metabolic needs can be more easily satisfied. 

Werecrocs live roughly 150-200 years, though their constant need to hunt and their predatory lifestyle mean many die much younger in battles or territorial disputes. Elders who survive long enough are revered as Bloodfangs, hunters of legendary skill who often train younger Werecrocs in the ways of the hunt. 

While Werecrocs acknowledge Dagon as the god of the seas, their faith is more practical than devout. They see Dagon not as a figure to worship but as a force of nature that embodies the primal laws of survival, dominance, and the hunt. Werecrocs believe that their unmatched predatory instincts are gifts from Dagon, enabling them to rule the shallows and strike fear into all who enter their territory.

Religious ceremonies among Werecrocs are rare and often tied to the hunt itself. Before a significant kill or battle, they may perform Blood Tides, simple rituals where blood is spilled into the water as an offering to Dagon. These rituals are less about reverence and more about ensuring success in the hunt.

Werecrocs live in loose, hierarchical packs, with the strongest and most cunning individual leading as the Tide Alpha. These packs are fiercely territorial, and disputes over hunting grounds or prey often lead to violent clashes. Despite their brutality, Werecrocs are surprisingly loyal to their kin and their packmates, banding together to take down larger or more dangerous prey.

The pack’s social structure revolves around hunting, with roles divided among Strikers (those who pursue and weaken prey), Clampers (those who pin and subdue), and Finishers (those who deliver the killing blow). Younger Werecrocs learn these roles early and are expected to contribute to the pack’s survival.

Werecrocs do not build grand cities or settlements, instead creating functional dens and lairs close to their hunting grounds. These dens are often decorated with trophies of their kills—skulls, bones, and hides—serving as both warnings to intruders and marks of status within the pack. 

Werecrocs have little interest in wealth or material possessions. Their currency is the kill; the greater the prey they take down, the higher their status within the pack. They occasionally trade with other aquatic races, offering rare pelts, teeth, or oils from their kills in exchange for tools, weapons, or supplies they cannot craft themselves. 

Werecrocs keep slaves as a practical aspect of their society. Slavery is not based on malice but on utility. Those captured during raids or failed territorial disputes are often enslaved, either to perform labor such as tending to dens, crafting weapons, or preparing food, or as bait or training tools for younger hunters. Slaves who prove resourceful or useful may eventually be freed, as Werecrocs respect competence and strength, even in their captives.

The absence of large-scale agriculture means slaves are critical in maintaining a steady supply of prepared food or tools while the Werecrocs focus on hunting and combat. However, slaves are under constant threat of becoming prey themselves if they fail or displease their captors.