Mermaids

Mermaids, also known as Merfolk, are half fish humanoids found in rivers, lakes and seas all across Felarya. From the waist up, they possess the torsos of a human with fin-shaped ears and sometimes webbed hands, while their lower bodies consist of the fins and tail of a great fish. Depending on the region, the scales and complexion of merfolk vary in hue, from pale green, to blue, to yellow mixed with stripes of crimson, to gleaming silver. Their size vary a lot as well; the average merfolk typically measures between 6 and 8 feet in length, with females being slightly smaller than males, but gigantic specimens measuring over 200 feet in length are not at all uncommon, with the legendary Leviathan Mermaid surpassing them all..

Perhaps the most well-known of all aquatic races, the legend of the mermaid’s extraordinary beauty is a tale that has been told across multitudes of worlds and spanning countless generations. They possess delicate features reminiscent of elves, with females having a graceful, slender physiques, and males, known as Mermen, often being chiseled and muscular. In Felarya, however, their stories are one that inspire terror in the hearts of seafarers rather than thrill. They possess a voracious appetite, with a single giant mermaid being capable of devouring an entire crew of sailors all by herself. For any adventurer brave or foolhardy enough to sail the rivers and seas of Felarya, they represent one of the biggest dangers they must face on their journey. When whispers of a lone mermaid reaches port, many savvy sailors know to give the waters a wide berth.

Biological Traits

In Felarya, mermaids can be generally classified into two broad categories based on whether they have adapted to life in fresh or salt water, with both species possessing a number of physiological traits that allows them to better survive in their respective environments.

River Mermaids are found in most bodies of freshwater, anywhere from frigid mountain streams, to jungle rivers, to vast open lakes. Although typically smaller and lighter than their sea-dwelling cousins, they are remarkably fast and agile, able to swim against rapid currents and leap out of the water with the greatest of ease. They are more graceful on dry land than sea mermaids, with some being even able to climb small trees to a limited degree, though they remain quite clumsy out of their element. Inexperienced adventurers often underestimate how quickly a river mermaid can move on land, believing to be safe simply from being out of arm’s reach, only to be caught off guard when the mermaid suddenly leaps out of the water and gives chase. Many river mermaids possess a long, adhesive tongue which they can shoot out and retract at great speed to catch prey like that of a frog.

Sea Mermaids make their home in the vast, deep oceans of Felarya. On average, they are larger than river mermaids, and because their habitats are found at the bottom of the sea, they can withstand greater amounts of water pressure. They are not as swift swimmers or as capable of the same feats of agility as their freshwater counterparts, but are significantly more robust and can swim much longer distances, owing it to the pressure of the undersea depths. As the oceanic environment is far more varied than the streams and rivers of Felarya, sea mermaids come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes compared to freshwater mermaids, sporting a wild array of bright colors and exotic patterns on their tails. Some sea mermaids have the ability to change the color of their scales to better blend in with their surroundings, though this ability is not as powerful as the color and texture-changing capabilities of chlaenas.

Both species of merfolk can survive in either fresh and salt water environments, but they rarely migrate to different waters. River mermaids have a hard time adjusting to the undersea pressure, and find the wide open waters difficult and confusing to navigate. Sea mermaids, on the other hand, are made uncomfortable by the comparatively shallow waters of lakes and rivers and the near-ubiquitous presence of banks, making the freshwater environment appear unnaturally cramped and claustrophobic. It’s not impossible for either mermaids to acclimate to a new environment, but most prefer to spare themselves the trouble if they can avoid it.

Despite being classified as an aquatic race, merfolk are in fact amphibious, and although they can survive on land, they have a clear preference for life underwater, with their bodies being specifically adapted as such. Like fish, they possess a swim-bladder, a gas-filled organ that allows the mermaid to control her buoyancy and help her swim. The lens in their eyes changes shape when their head is either above or below water, allowing them to see with optimal vision in the element they are currently in. Merfolk are able to breathe freely in and out of water, but how this is accomplished is a mystery that continues to puzzle humans to this day. Some mermaids have gill slits along the sides of their neck or ribcage, but most possess no visible gills at all. This has led some to theorize that mermaids have an organ that draws oxygen from the water they inhale. Others speculate that this is the result of innate magic that allows them to breathe water as though it was air. Obviously, merfolk are very clumsy on land, moving slowly and with none of their usual grace. For any mermaid, the feeling of dry earth and sand beneath their tail is a strange and alien sensation, one they generally find unpleasant and can never seem to get used to. A mermaid who spends a long time out of the water tends to become “landsick”, wherein she experiences dizziness and nausea not unlike motion sickness. Obviously, river mermaids are less prone to land sickness than seaborn merfolk.

Because mermaids usually sport an unassuming appearance, it’s easy to assume that they are weak and frail, but this could not be further from the truth. As much of their lives is spent swimming deep underwater, merfolk are as hale and hearty as they are graceful and beautiful. The average mermaid is oftentimes stronger and can withstand greater exertion than a human of similar size and build, making them a surprisingly powerful and hardy race.

Mermaids are half women, half fish. They can be found in rivers, lakes, and seas all across Felarya. They breathe freely in or out of the water and can even move on land, albeit very clumsily. They are often extraordinarily beautiful, with alluring voices. Their size varies a lot, from a few inches, to a few hundreds feet for some gigantic specimens, such as the legendary Leviathan mermaids. Felaryan mermaids are generally carefree and playful, quite voracious, and the giant specimens represent one of the major dangers for swimmers and adventurers sailing the rivers and seas of Felarya. They use their sweet voices and some illusion spells to charm and attract their prey. If they are in a hurry, they can use their powerful tail to sink a ship and then devour the crew falling in to the water. Some Felaryan mermaids also possess a very long and sticky tongue they can extend to catch prey, much like a frog.

Mermaids and merfolks in general can live in both salt and fresh water. They are extroverted beings, but speak surprisingly little of their life underwater. They are said to have a few large underwater cities in the Topazial sea and they regularly go there to mate or to simply spend time with their own kind. When underwater, mermaids "sing" their messages in a special language whose pitches and tones aren't distorted by water, allowing communication. It sounds a bit like whale song, but more modulated and of a higher pitch, although it also depends on the individual mermaid who sings it. Of course, that language doesn't work above the water. Those songs appear to be just as rich and complex as regular language, with differences in pitch, tone, tempo, and structure helping to convey different, intricate meanings. This also means that mermaids possess extremely precise hearing, and are very skilled at controlling the sounds they produce. It's probably the main reason why mermaids are so famous for their beautiful singing voices; it's simply one of their natural methods of communication.