Merfolk

The Merfolk, also known as "Sea Folk" or "Oceankin", are a mystical race of humanoid Beastkin that dwell beneath the waves. They possess a humanoid upper body, while their lower body takes the form of a fish tail. Their existence has been a subject of fascination and folklore across cultures, and their enchanting underwater societies have captured the imagination of many. Residing in the warm waters of tropical oceans, Merfolk are split into 3 subspecies that reside in coral reefs, seagrass, and the deep seabed respectively. All three communicate through singing. 

A large part of Merfolk culture revolves around songs. Due to their vocal cords being unable to produce the sounds of land based languages, Merfolk communicate with other races using sign language. Like humans, Merfolk lack the ability to use magic on anything more than a rudimentary scale. They do have the ability to grow and shape coral into various tools. In their early history, Merfolk lived secluded from land based cultures. Lacking metallurgy, they were left with Stone Age technology. At the surface they were at the mercy of more advanced races, but could retreat deep underwater for protection. 

When the Ninth Gate War devastated and destroyed several countries along the Ruby Sea, the Merfolk in the region managed to survive by hiding out underwater. In the war’s aftermath some Merfolk would take up residence within the abandoned ports and harbors of the region. Here they would begin trading items from the ocean in exchange for products produced on land, most notably metal tools. 

Today a select few Merfolk have organized into small city states centered around trade. The original Merfolk port cities have greatly expanded with canal waterways being dug to allow further travel inland. As they are disproportionately affected by industrial pollution, some Merfolk are seeking to strengthen their ties to the Elderkin during the Third Age. 

Merfolk can be divided into three major subspecies based on their preferred underwater habitats.

These merfolk are the most numerous and the only subspecies known to have organized countries. They make their homes among vibrant coral reefs. They possess the ability to cultivate and shape coral formations for shelter and defense, as well as creating beautiful works of art from them. They have the strongest connection to the leylines which helps in the cultivation of coral. They also have the most interactions with land-based races, sometimes acting as intermediaries to the other subspecies.

Some merfolk prefer the lush meadows of underwater seagrass beds. These nomadic merfolk are a unique and free-spirited subgroup among their people. They have a close bond with the marine flora and fauna in these areas. They are known for herding large schools of fish with the help of dolphins and moving between the pastures. Their way of life is defined by their boundless love for the open sea and their unquenchable thirst for new experiences. 

The core philosophy of the nomads revolves around the idea of collecting experiences rather than material possessions. They believe that the richness of life can be measured in the memories they create. They are not burdened by the accumulation of material wealth, focusing instead on the wealth of stories and adventures. When nomadic merfolk meet fellow wanderers or even merfolk from other subspecies, they engage in a cherished tradition of communal singing. These gatherings are a time to share their tales of adventure, their encounters with unique marine life, and the wonders of the underwater world.

The most enigmatic of the merfolk reside in the dark depths of the ocean, where they have adapted to the extreme pressure and lack of sunlight. What little is known about them mostly comes from second hand reports from other merfolk, as this deep sea subspecies is rarely seen by land dwellers. They are the most biologically divergent of the three subspecies, having lost the ability to breathe air on the surface. Instead they possess armor like scales, pail oily skin, and wide reflective eyes sensitive to light. Their appearance has been described as uncanny by the few who have witnessed them. 

Abyssal merfolk are known for their hunting skills, stealthy ambushing deep sea creatures for sustenance before retreating into rocky outcroppings. Their culture supposedly places a great emphasis on strength and speed. Abyssal merfolk live harsh lives and are often preyed upon by Kraken’s and other horrors of the deep. Abyssal merfolk songs can travel for hundreds of miles, but are on such a deep frequency that other merfolk have trouble hearing them. This has led to the legend that Abyssal Merfolk have lost their ability to sing. 

Merfolk are believed to have originated in the waters of the Ruby Sea. For most of the First Age they lived in primitive tribes secluded from land based cultures. Early interactions with seafaring cultures were sporadic with many sailors mistaking merfolk for manatees, water spirits, or even ghosts. These would give rise to some of Tyrrell’s earliest seafaring myths and legends. 

Eventually with sea travel becoming more common encounters with merfolk increased dramatically. However the language barrier between surface and undersea tongues prevented adequate communication. Some on land even assumed merfolk were non-sentient and treated them no different than other fish. Ancient songs from the period speak of a seagrass merfolk scholar named Mona Mona. 

They credit her with creating the first sign language used to communicate with surface dwellers. Despite the breakthrough the merfolk’s relative isolation would continue. Lacking metallurgy, they were left with Stone Age technology. As the Elderkin empires spread in size and power many of the merfolk living near shore would become vassalized. Others would retreat deep underwater for protection. 

The Ninth Gate War would bring major changes to merfolk society. When the conflict devastated and destroyed several countries along the Ruby Sea, the merfolk in the region managed to survive by hiding out in the depths. In the war’s aftermath many of the ports in the region were left abandoned. These empty harbors provided a safe and protected location for coral merfolk to expand their dwellings. 

As the recovery from the war began, merfolk would often become employed to help speed up the reconstruction of coastal areas. Merfolk would also begin trading items from the ocean in exchange for products produced on land, most notably metal tools. It was in this environment of mutual cooperation that the first organized merfolk city states would form. 

These merfolk inhabited port cities would greatly expand over the last 2 millennia of the Second Age. Many saltwater canals would be slowly constructed over the years. This was beneficial to both ships and for allowing merfolk to travel further inland. While still weak compared to land based countries these merfolk city states would grow wealthy from increased sea based trade. 

Today merfolk societies stand at a crossroads. With the advancement of industrialization in the Third Age came strange new ships with new technologies would begin to appear in merfolk waters. Some merfolk cautiously approach these new technologies as a way to grow their influence and provide economic growth. 

However as they are disproportionately affected by pollution like oil spills, overfishing, sewage, and contaminated runoff, many merfolk grow increasingly angry with humanity. Some seek to strengthen their ties to the Elderkin as the only way to safeguard the health and productivity of the oceans they call home. 

Due to their unconventional biology merfolk languages are unique, producing many sounds that are absent in tongues spoken on land. Deeply melodic in nature, these sounds travel long distances underwater allowing for distant communication. Merfolk tell their history and heroic deeds through their songs. Each merfolk "Polis" has its own set of songs, which are sung on podiums made from coral. The greatest honor is when others begin to sing songs about you. Therefore, merfolk embark on grand journeys, craft enchanting artworks from coral, or perform heroic deeds to earn the privilege of having their Polis sing songs about them. 

Songs are also used to spread news or as greetings. To approach another merfolk without singing is considered an act of aggression. While merfolk can learn and understand the languages of other races, they lack the ability to vocalize the sounds of those languages. As a result, a form of sign language is used to communicate with people on the surface. Merfolk also have a form of “writing” that consists of knots strategically placed on multiple strands of rope. Merfolk typically live in crevices along the seafloor or in domed structures grown out of coral. 

In modern times some merfolk have taken up residence within protected harbors. In a limited number of the very largest merfolk cities, canals have been slowly and painstakingly dug out over the centuries to allow expansion inland. Merfolk are famous for trade. In exchange for commodity’s rarely found undersea such as metal tools, merfolk offer things such as pearls, sponges, black coral, seafood, or sea silk. Some may also choose to take on jobs that benefit land dwellers such as ship resupply, hull cleaning, and salvage operations. 

• Artwork by Robert Landrigan of kalasource.com

• The original proposal for Merfolk in Tyrrell was created by lexirion on the World of Tyrrell Discord.