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Alignment: White to Dark Arts
Age Range: Between 600-1000 years Size: Generally 7-10 feet in length Experience Level: Beginner+ |
Talents: Ocean or Sea Magic, Prophecy, Healing, Prosperity
Disposition: Playful, Vain, Chatty, Resourceful, Volatile Suggested Offerings: Seashells, Pearls, Bath Bombs, Kelp, Fish, Aquamarine, Larimar, Blue Zircon, Singing, Seawater |
Merfolk are beings of Earthen myth. With a human-like torso and the tail of a fish, they are one of the creatures that have captured Earth imaginations most pervasively for centuries. The Merfolk we specifically work with at The Dragon's Library are very similar to Sirens in origin and appearance, but they are the gentler of the two races. Merfolk are often not focused or interested in calling sailors to their watery graves, and more interested in living their own lives. They are beautiful and vain creatures, who are aligned with the ocean they live in. Although they are living entities, they do live on an Earth-adjacent realm, and reside in our own oceans here on this planet, even though we can’t physically see them. It has been said that when you feel a brush of warm water up against you in the ocean, you are being touched by one of the Merfolk.
Biology
Merfolk are most similar to humans in anatomy, but from about their belly button down they have a fishlike tail that enables them to swim with ease in the ocean currents. While they do sport lovely scales of any color and pattern, Merfolk are generally warm-blooded mammals with a high tolerance for cold temperatures. The skin on the upper half of their body can be any shade of skin tone, and it is capable of tanning, paling, and freckling depending on their exposure to the sun. They grow hair on their heads similar to that of humans, and the hair is capable of presenting as any color. Their eyes can also be any color or combination of colors, although they are somewhat better in seeing in the dark, and have no sensitivity to the saline ocean water. Sometimes merfolk have webbed fingers, though not all do. Their tails generally operate horizontally, like that of a whale or dolphin, although the tails themselves, complete with scales and fins, are more fishlike. They generally have gills just behind their jaw, on their necks. Some Merfolk are capable of breathing air for short periods of time, and an even smaller number are capable of transforming into a human form and walking on land, although neither of these presentations are the norm for those who are ocean-born. Merfolk are known to decorate themselves expressively with jewelry made from found and created objects.
Despite the prevalence of Mermaids within mythology and popular culture, Merfolk can be masculine, feminine, or nonbinary in gender. Masculine Merfolk are known as Mermen, feminine Merfolk are known as Mermaids, and nonbinary Merfolk are generally simply referred to as Merfolk for ease of reference. In the case of all Merfolk, their genitalia are not generally visible when they are not engaging in sexual acts. There is some variation depending on the kind of Merfolk you are interacting with, but generally their offspring are live births, with twins or triplets being very rare, and develop cognitively similar to human children.
Merfolk do have a diet primarily consisting of fish, although they generally do not need to cook the fish. They also eat various sea plants, mostly kelp, with a dabbling of shellfish and found human foods accessorizing their diets. Their diet is very high in protein, but they need to eat rather frequently, due to the fact that they are nomadic and burn off many of the calories they consume during the day. That being said, Merfolk are not all athletic in body type - they sport a beautifully diverse presentation of bodies. They do not need to sleep very frequently, and are almost always moving through the night. Generally, the nomadic pod will take a break every few days to rest and send out individuals to hunt for any extra food or supplies they may need.
Magic comes naturally to Merfolk, who are so intrinsically connected with the ocean and its ways. Through intuition and cultural, oral tradition, they are proficient at ocean magic, and especially magic that involves music. Merfolk have ethereally beautiful singing voices, and they often weave safety and prosperity spells for themselves in a choir as they swim. What they use their magic for depends entirely on the individual. What remains is the fact that they are very good at influencing the world around them for the better, and in companionship they are usually very happy to lend or teach their skills to their human friends.
Despite the prevalence of Mermaids within mythology and popular culture, Merfolk can be masculine, feminine, or nonbinary in gender. Masculine Merfolk are known as Mermen, feminine Merfolk are known as Mermaids, and nonbinary Merfolk are generally simply referred to as Merfolk for ease of reference. In the case of all Merfolk, their genitalia are not generally visible when they are not engaging in sexual acts. There is some variation depending on the kind of Merfolk you are interacting with, but generally their offspring are live births, with twins or triplets being very rare, and develop cognitively similar to human children.
Merfolk do have a diet primarily consisting of fish, although they generally do not need to cook the fish. They also eat various sea plants, mostly kelp, with a dabbling of shellfish and found human foods accessorizing their diets. Their diet is very high in protein, but they need to eat rather frequently, due to the fact that they are nomadic and burn off many of the calories they consume during the day. That being said, Merfolk are not all athletic in body type - they sport a beautifully diverse presentation of bodies. They do not need to sleep very frequently, and are almost always moving through the night. Generally, the nomadic pod will take a break every few days to rest and send out individuals to hunt for any extra food or supplies they may need.
Magic comes naturally to Merfolk, who are so intrinsically connected with the ocean and its ways. Through intuition and cultural, oral tradition, they are proficient at ocean magic, and especially magic that involves music. Merfolk have ethereally beautiful singing voices, and they often weave safety and prosperity spells for themselves in a choir as they swim. What they use their magic for depends entirely on the individual. What remains is the fact that they are very good at influencing the world around them for the better, and in companionship they are usually very happy to lend or teach their skills to their human friends.
Disposition & Manifestation
Merfolk are individualistic when it comes to their personalities and interests, but their primary skills tend to lie in magic workings. They work with everything from the Sun to the salt in the water itself, and are very resourceful individuals. Their abilities are diverse - some individuals are talented when it comes to prophecy and in creating wish contracts, while others still are healers and creators of fertility and prosperity. They are also inclined to be collectors, and will craft their clothing and any other items from what they can find in their natural habitats. They are a very social people, with bright and chatty personalities, generally always happy to meet others and swap stories or share their findings. Additionally, they are known to be quite helpful to humans who are lost at sea. Frequently, they drop gifts for those who need them most at seashores, as many of them realize the pain of loneliness or grief.
That being said, Merfolk are mistrusting of outsiders, and can be quite volatile when they are mistreated. They do not give their trust lightly, particularly to those from pods they have not met before, and humans. When the trust of a Merfolk is granted, breaking that is a grave mistake. They are not above cursing someone who has hurt them, nor above making the ocean a dangerous place for them. They expect to be treated with respect, and in some cases, reverence. A Merfolk highly values honesty, kindness, and generosity - they react well to gifts given freely and the sharing of sensitive or secret memories. They have an easier time understanding someone when music is involved, and they love to sing with others.
When they are not manifesting physically, their primary manifestation can be felt in water, such as a warm wave of water or the sensation of something moving within the bathtub with you. They are also capable of manifesting as white or blue orbs, shadows in bodies of water, the scent of a saltwater breeze, or the sensation of being splashed by water.
That being said, Merfolk are mistrusting of outsiders, and can be quite volatile when they are mistreated. They do not give their trust lightly, particularly to those from pods they have not met before, and humans. When the trust of a Merfolk is granted, breaking that is a grave mistake. They are not above cursing someone who has hurt them, nor above making the ocean a dangerous place for them. They expect to be treated with respect, and in some cases, reverence. A Merfolk highly values honesty, kindness, and generosity - they react well to gifts given freely and the sharing of sensitive or secret memories. They have an easier time understanding someone when music is involved, and they love to sing with others.
When they are not manifesting physically, their primary manifestation can be felt in water, such as a warm wave of water or the sensation of something moving within the bathtub with you. They are also capable of manifesting as white or blue orbs, shadows in bodies of water, the scent of a saltwater breeze, or the sensation of being splashed by water.
Social Structure
Typically, Merfolk can be found living in nomadic groups called pods, which are family groups that range from about ten to thirty people. There are some instances of much larger pods that consist of over a hundred people, but these are rather rare and will often break off into smaller groups as individuals change goals or interests. Where the groups migrate to depends on the goals and ideals of the various groups - some of them go on long circuits to various religious sites or shipwrecks with the intent of pilgrimage. Others follow the migratory pattern of certain species of fish for a consistent source of food. Others still go with the flow, keeping an eye and ear out for trainwrecks. Some Merfolk are coastal, living in warm bays and interacting with and living off of the human activity occurring near beaches.
There are some rumors of cities deep under the waters that house non-nomadic groups of Merfolk, but these cities are difficult to find and are well-protected, generally not frequented by humans. To cultivate the feel of a large society, the nomadic pods meet in large groups migratorily, mingling socially when they come across each other in the ocean. The meetings encourage genetic diversity among the groups, but the Merfolk also take great pleasure from simply interacting with each other in casual social settings.
Merfolk pods generally have leaders or a handful of leaders who call the shots on where the pod is going, as well as make calls on discipline, and any other things that need consultation. Each individual within a pod usually has a specific role or skill that assists their pod - for example, some individuals may be very good at hunting, while others may be very good at healing magics. Even when an individual does not have a "useful" skill, such as if they are only proficient at making jewelry or providing kind and wise advice, they are never left behind. Merfolk do not believe in the concept of banishment - they will always continue to try with a troublemaker within their society, or suggest that they seek out a life in another pod when they come across one. They can be a bit suspicious of outsiders, but they have a deep love and bond with those they consider their own.
That being said, there is such a thing as solitary Merfolk. Occasionally, one or two individuals might seek their own lives away from the nomadic lifestyle of the pods, finding deep sea caves to house themselves in, or choosing to live near a tourist-ridden beach. These individuals are generally hoping to focus on a specific aspect of themselves, such as a specialized form of magic, or they are fascinated by a local structure that they wish to study, such as a shipwreck or reef.
There are some rumors of cities deep under the waters that house non-nomadic groups of Merfolk, but these cities are difficult to find and are well-protected, generally not frequented by humans. To cultivate the feel of a large society, the nomadic pods meet in large groups migratorily, mingling socially when they come across each other in the ocean. The meetings encourage genetic diversity among the groups, but the Merfolk also take great pleasure from simply interacting with each other in casual social settings.
Merfolk pods generally have leaders or a handful of leaders who call the shots on where the pod is going, as well as make calls on discipline, and any other things that need consultation. Each individual within a pod usually has a specific role or skill that assists their pod - for example, some individuals may be very good at hunting, while others may be very good at healing magics. Even when an individual does not have a "useful" skill, such as if they are only proficient at making jewelry or providing kind and wise advice, they are never left behind. Merfolk do not believe in the concept of banishment - they will always continue to try with a troublemaker within their society, or suggest that they seek out a life in another pod when they come across one. They can be a bit suspicious of outsiders, but they have a deep love and bond with those they consider their own.
That being said, there is such a thing as solitary Merfolk. Occasionally, one or two individuals might seek their own lives away from the nomadic lifestyle of the pods, finding deep sea caves to house themselves in, or choosing to live near a tourist-ridden beach. These individuals are generally hoping to focus on a specific aspect of themselves, such as a specialized form of magic, or they are fascinated by a local structure that they wish to study, such as a shipwreck or reef.
In Companionship
Merfolk are just as diverse as humans in personality and talent, so their specific desire for companionship can vary from individual to individual. Many Merfolk make wonderful beginner companions, particularly for those who are water-aligned and wish to try their hand at Oceanic Magic. Their energies range greatly, so when seeking out a Merfolk companion, keep in mind that just because a few do not align with your interests, that does not mean there is not one out there who will fit perfectly. They seek relationships of all kinds, and some are even fully open to the idea of romance with humans.
Merfolk react well to being lavished with gifts and compliments, especially small daily offerings like a stick of incense or a bowl of water. They are vain beings who love offerings like mirrors, combs, and perfumes, objects that are not very commonplace underwater. That being said, they also have a deep love of the ocean, and adore representations of the ocean even when they are on land. Many Merfolk love to enjoy a bath with their human companion, and will seek it out.
Being landlocked is no obstacle to having a Merfolk companion - they are not bothered by the idea of manifesting further in on land, partially because they are not used to seeing things on land. They are generally excited to try new and flavorful human foods, or to see the cities we have built. While some individuals may request that their human companion lives near the ocean, particularly if they are teaching oceanic magic, it is generally a nonissue.
Merfolk are overall chatty, lively, and magical companions who appreciate attention, conversation, and song, making them lovely companions for anyone who feels they need a friend.
Merfolk react well to being lavished with gifts and compliments, especially small daily offerings like a stick of incense or a bowl of water. They are vain beings who love offerings like mirrors, combs, and perfumes, objects that are not very commonplace underwater. That being said, they also have a deep love of the ocean, and adore representations of the ocean even when they are on land. Many Merfolk love to enjoy a bath with their human companion, and will seek it out.
Being landlocked is no obstacle to having a Merfolk companion - they are not bothered by the idea of manifesting further in on land, partially because they are not used to seeing things on land. They are generally excited to try new and flavorful human foods, or to see the cities we have built. While some individuals may request that their human companion lives near the ocean, particularly if they are teaching oceanic magic, it is generally a nonissue.
Merfolk are overall chatty, lively, and magical companions who appreciate attention, conversation, and song, making them lovely companions for anyone who feels they need a friend.
Please note that all The Dragon's Library Encyclopedia entries are based on my own personal UPG and may not reflect yours.
This entry represents the type of Merfolk I conjure, while other conjurers may not work with the same exact type.
This entry represents the type of Merfolk I conjure, while other conjurers may not work with the same exact type.