Mermaid Notes
I am such an enormous dork. So glad I like dorks!
Massive amounts of personal notes about the merfolk in my story. Probably boring, unless you are me.
Piscisalio Veneficus
Common Name: Merfolk
Class: Demon (ensouled)
Habitat: Open Ocean
**author’s note: The elegant piscisalio veneficus is not to be confused with the slightly less pure form of merfolk, piscismulier aliquantulus. These cousins of the merfolk in question are more popular, more likely to be spotted, far hairier, and exponentially more likely to burst into song or sprout legs. Veneficus is a creature that would never willingly leave the ocean.
Overview
Merfolk, as they are most commonly called, are some of the more secretive creatures that make a home on Rhydin. Though their unique and uncommon physical adaptations in concert with their relationship to magic technically identifies them as a demon race, the few who have written first hand accounts of interaction with merfolk have been loathe to describe them in these terms.
Culturally, they favor a matriarchal colony. The females of the species are larger than the males, more brightly colored, more aggressive and far more dangerous. These are most commonly seen by seafarers, as they are far more likely to stray from the safety and seclusion of deep water. Their bright colors also make them easier to spot from any distance. The more carefully camouflaged males gather food, care for the young, and are far more likely to engage in intellectual or artistic pursuits.
Biology
All merfolk have certain adaptations which enable them to live in many different sorts of underwater environments. These adaptations also make it theoretically possible that they might travel on land, if they were transported. However, there is no evidence of this ever occurring.
Piscisalio veneficus does not have scales. The skin is very smooth, and transitions seamlessly in color from the more human torso to the long, powerful tail. From a distance, the easiest way to tell the difference between the males and the females is by their coloring and marking. The males are built to hide, with mottled, freckle-like markings along their tails and up the sides of their bodies, including the arms. Males have darker torsos than the females. They are predominantly blue, grey, green, and sometimes black. Males often have combinations of these colors in their patterns. They average less than 2 meters in length.
The females are much more flamboyant. Their tail and limbs are brightly striped in a pattern reminiscent of a tiger. The short, coarse hair that grows from the tops of their heads also carries this striped pattern. Where not striped in almost violent hues of red, gold, and very occasionally, orange, their flesh is much paler. Along their forearms and lateral lines, females also feature several small ray fins which an aid in maneuvering them more efficiently, or even serve as a deterrent to predators. Larger and leaner than the males, they are naturally stronger and faster. They average about 2.5 meters in length. The females have gas bladders to aid in underwater buoyancy. The males do not.
They gain oxygen from their environment in two ways. Their primary method is through absorption. Their skin contains cells that absorb oxygen directly from the water and deliver it into the bloodstream. They do have a small set of lungs and a respiratory tract, mostly for use during the sunning behavior that occurs around mating season. This adaptation also allows them to speak (a function that requires breath). When the secondary respiratory system is not in use, there is a muscular valve that closes at the top of the trachea, which prevents water from entering the lungs.
Merfolk reproduce very slowly. Their biological process requires a great deal of heat, which does not happen naturally. Though merfolk do not choose a mate, they are known to group, and spend more time with certain individuals in their colonies. They seem to choose diverse partnerships; it is rare to see a group of four Reds or four Greens exclusively together. The mating season, which lasts a few weeks every year, is usually only capitalized upon by a few groups out of the colony.
During mating seasons these small subsets of males and females travel to a desert island far to the south of their territory, one difficult for land-dwellers to get to as the underwater terrain in the area is very treacherous to all but the smallest of ships. They lay on the rocks for hours, absorbing sunlight to raise their body temperatures to the appropriate levels. The excess energy enables them to produce an egg. The males fertilize this egg, and then the eggs are gently carried all the way back to The Cradle.
Because of the extremely delicate nature of the eggs, few survive the gestation period, which is about twenty-six months. When they hatch, ready to swim, they have hair and teeth, and all of the markings they will possess as adults. Because, at birth, they are ready to eat what the adult merfolk eat, there is no nursing process. Therefore, it should be noted that these merfolk have no nipples or navels. The young are raised by a group of males, and when they are between the ages of seven and ten years, they are slowly introduced into the social group where they will live and work to support the colony.
Magical Properties
Their relationship to magic is powerful, but much more passive than most other magic-using higher demons. The seat of their power is an undersea place known as The Cradle. In a radius of at least fifty nautical miles from the seat of The Cradle, the conditions of the ocean are notably affected by the presence of these creatures. Both weather and current are milder, making the territory that belongs to the merfolk a more accommodating environment.
The effect of this broad area can ultimately have profound global implications. There is no one person with controlling interest over this space. Rather, it is the overall well-being of the merfolk that seems to dictate the status of The Cradle. When threatened, weather and climate can become erratic in their environs, and can lead to an increase in sea monsters or dangerous anomalies in the nexus.
The energy emanating from The Cradle, and through the rest of their territory, is rumored to have healing properties. Merfolk have tremendous health and longevity, which makes up for a very slow rate of reproduction. Other creatures doubtlessly benefit from the positive energies that encapsulate their environment, so many diverse forms of life are drawn to the reefs and kelp forests within the reach of The Cradle. It’s a key path for migratory creatures of the sea.
Their magic also enables them to communicate with higher forms of intelligent ocean life. Merfolk have formed a rather symbiotic relationship with many species of dolphins, and several species of whale. Though it is rare for merfolk to intervene directly in matters that happening Above, it is not uncommon for them to direct dolphins to assist seafarers in shipwrecks or accidents. It is theorized that they can grant escort to vessels of note, or conspire to destroy any threat from above that finds its way into their territory.
Massive amounts of personal notes about the merfolk in my story. Probably boring, unless you are me.
Piscisalio Veneficus
Common Name: Merfolk
Class: Demon (ensouled)
Habitat: Open Ocean
**author’s note: The elegant piscisalio veneficus is not to be confused with the slightly less pure form of merfolk, piscismulier aliquantulus. These cousins of the merfolk in question are more popular, more likely to be spotted, far hairier, and exponentially more likely to burst into song or sprout legs. Veneficus is a creature that would never willingly leave the ocean.
Overview
Merfolk, as they are most commonly called, are some of the more secretive creatures that make a home on Rhydin. Though their unique and uncommon physical adaptations in concert with their relationship to magic technically identifies them as a demon race, the few who have written first hand accounts of interaction with merfolk have been loathe to describe them in these terms.
Culturally, they favor a matriarchal colony. The females of the species are larger than the males, more brightly colored, more aggressive and far more dangerous. These are most commonly seen by seafarers, as they are far more likely to stray from the safety and seclusion of deep water. Their bright colors also make them easier to spot from any distance. The more carefully camouflaged males gather food, care for the young, and are far more likely to engage in intellectual or artistic pursuits.
Biology
All merfolk have certain adaptations which enable them to live in many different sorts of underwater environments. These adaptations also make it theoretically possible that they might travel on land, if they were transported. However, there is no evidence of this ever occurring.
Piscisalio veneficus does not have scales. The skin is very smooth, and transitions seamlessly in color from the more human torso to the long, powerful tail. From a distance, the easiest way to tell the difference between the males and the females is by their coloring and marking. The males are built to hide, with mottled, freckle-like markings along their tails and up the sides of their bodies, including the arms. Males have darker torsos than the females. They are predominantly blue, grey, green, and sometimes black. Males often have combinations of these colors in their patterns. They average less than 2 meters in length.
The females are much more flamboyant. Their tail and limbs are brightly striped in a pattern reminiscent of a tiger. The short, coarse hair that grows from the tops of their heads also carries this striped pattern. Where not striped in almost violent hues of red, gold, and very occasionally, orange, their flesh is much paler. Along their forearms and lateral lines, females also feature several small ray fins which an aid in maneuvering them more efficiently, or even serve as a deterrent to predators. Larger and leaner than the males, they are naturally stronger and faster. They average about 2.5 meters in length. The females have gas bladders to aid in underwater buoyancy. The males do not.
They gain oxygen from their environment in two ways. Their primary method is through absorption. Their skin contains cells that absorb oxygen directly from the water and deliver it into the bloodstream. They do have a small set of lungs and a respiratory tract, mostly for use during the sunning behavior that occurs around mating season. This adaptation also allows them to speak (a function that requires breath). When the secondary respiratory system is not in use, there is a muscular valve that closes at the top of the trachea, which prevents water from entering the lungs.
Merfolk reproduce very slowly. Their biological process requires a great deal of heat, which does not happen naturally. Though merfolk do not choose a mate, they are known to group, and spend more time with certain individuals in their colonies. They seem to choose diverse partnerships; it is rare to see a group of four Reds or four Greens exclusively together. The mating season, which lasts a few weeks every year, is usually only capitalized upon by a few groups out of the colony.
During mating seasons these small subsets of males and females travel to a desert island far to the south of their territory, one difficult for land-dwellers to get to as the underwater terrain in the area is very treacherous to all but the smallest of ships. They lay on the rocks for hours, absorbing sunlight to raise their body temperatures to the appropriate levels. The excess energy enables them to produce an egg. The males fertilize this egg, and then the eggs are gently carried all the way back to The Cradle.
Because of the extremely delicate nature of the eggs, few survive the gestation period, which is about twenty-six months. When they hatch, ready to swim, they have hair and teeth, and all of the markings they will possess as adults. Because, at birth, they are ready to eat what the adult merfolk eat, there is no nursing process. Therefore, it should be noted that these merfolk have no nipples or navels. The young are raised by a group of males, and when they are between the ages of seven and ten years, they are slowly introduced into the social group where they will live and work to support the colony.
Magical Properties
Their relationship to magic is powerful, but much more passive than most other magic-using higher demons. The seat of their power is an undersea place known as The Cradle. In a radius of at least fifty nautical miles from the seat of The Cradle, the conditions of the ocean are notably affected by the presence of these creatures. Both weather and current are milder, making the territory that belongs to the merfolk a more accommodating environment.
The effect of this broad area can ultimately have profound global implications. There is no one person with controlling interest over this space. Rather, it is the overall well-being of the merfolk that seems to dictate the status of The Cradle. When threatened, weather and climate can become erratic in their environs, and can lead to an increase in sea monsters or dangerous anomalies in the nexus.
The energy emanating from The Cradle, and through the rest of their territory, is rumored to have healing properties. Merfolk have tremendous health and longevity, which makes up for a very slow rate of reproduction. Other creatures doubtlessly benefit from the positive energies that encapsulate their environment, so many diverse forms of life are drawn to the reefs and kelp forests within the reach of The Cradle. It’s a key path for migratory creatures of the sea.
Their magic also enables them to communicate with higher forms of intelligent ocean life. Merfolk have formed a rather symbiotic relationship with many species of dolphins, and several species of whale. Though it is rare for merfolk to intervene directly in matters that happening Above, it is not uncommon for them to direct dolphins to assist seafarers in shipwrecks or accidents. It is theorized that they can grant escort to vessels of note, or conspire to destroy any threat from above that finds its way into their territory.