INTRODUCTION: 

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Merfolk are a sub-aquatic species of “half-fish” and “half-human” people that have been the subject of art and literature for centuries. Their kind has inhabited oceans and lakes on nearly every continent, though much of the stories people tell come from sailors traveling the seas. They have been associated with drownings, floods, and storms. Tales have been told about their existence all over the world and have made their way into multiple cultures' folklore. In contrast to the bad omens they’re portrayed as, merpeople have saved more humans than they’ve killed. The speculations of the Merpeoples' abilities vary wildly and not all have been confirmed by the Hunter Society. Some stories claim they can grant wishes and cast magic, yet most are completely false. In fact, merpeople are rarely seen close to the water’s surface. They are reclusive in nature, preferring to stay deep below the waves, hidden away from the surface world as much as possible. 

 

It wasn’t always this way, and they were actually a much more friendly and playful species with an ever insatiable curiosity- until they were hunted. Killed for their beauty, kidnapped to be showcased for their fantastic, otherworldly appearance, the list goes on. Now, after centuries of their kind being coveted and killed by humans, they retreated deeper and deeper away from prying eyes. Nowadays most keep to themselves, traversing the currents with the changing seasons as many sea creatures do. At times they travel amongst pods of dolphins and whales and some hunt with sharks and squid. Most are content to live their life free of any contact with other species, however, some still fall prey to old ways. Few merpeople have a tendency to seek out humans and their world, donning their human form and entertaining life on land.

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DESCRIPTION:

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When in their natural form, merfolk are humanoid from the waist up. Their hands have webbing between all five fingers and matching frills along their ears. In addition, they have a full set of sharpened teeth, all coming to deadly points to rip apart their prey. All merfolk have gills located on both sides of the neck as well. Freshwater and saltwater merfolk differ in this as saltwater merpeople have tails whilst freshwater merfolk have split legs with webbed feet and fins attached to their legs.

 

Merfolk have developed human forms over time to blend in, and their appearance is nearly indistinguishable. After shedding their scales and tails, they look like average human beings to the unsuspecting eye. The only telltale sign would be the light marks on their necks where, in their true form, their gills would be, appearing similar to faint scars. 

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Below is a depiction of a saltwater mermaid:

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BECOMING A MERPERSON:

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The merpeople are only born; there is no way to transfer the status of a mermaid or merman to a non-merperson.​

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SPECIFICATIONS:

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Abilities

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• Communicating with animals: Merfolk have the very unique ability to communicate with their fellow sea dwellers. This does not extend to any creatures that do not inhabit water. Not only can they have two-way conversations with these animals, but they can give these creatures orders as well. They don’t have complete control over the minds of other sea creatures, but most follow a merperson’s direction unless threatened.

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• Hydrokinesis: Control over water. merfolk can control the shape, temperature, and movement of water in both their true and human forms. In essence, they can water-bend. This is a skill developed over time, and older merfolk have better control over this ability. 

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• Camouflage: Merfolk have developed expert ways to hide in plain sight through the use of camouflage. Much like an octopus, if a merperson feels threatened or feels the need to hide, they can shift and blend the coloration of their body to match different surfaces. Whether it be the sandy bottom of the ocean or a bright and multicolored coral reef, merfolk need only seconds to shift their appearance from head to fin. The texture of their skin and scales do not change.

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Advantages 

 

When in water, merfolk are a force to be reckoned with. With enhanced speed, agility, and the ability to smell blood for miles, a merperson is a top predator under the water’s surface. They can reach a top speed of 50 miles per hour, with the ability to change directions on a dime. These traits vary somewhat depending on the variety; salt water merfolk tend to be faster, better killers, and hardier than their freshwater counterparts.

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Immunities

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• Traditional methods of drowning

• Vampire Venom

• Lycanthropy

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Disadvantages

• Merfolk need water to survive. The average merperson can spend up to 48 hours without being submerged in water before beginning to dry up. Drinking water can stave off this reaction temporarily, but a merperson will have to completely submerge themselves in water to recuperate entirely. For freshwater merfolk, tap water will suffice. Saltwater merfolk, however, need the equivalent of salty, briny water to survive.

• Temperature-sensitive. Merfolk do not do well with heat and sudden changes in temperature.

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Ways to Kill

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• Anyway that kills a human will kill a merperson, with the addition of withholding water from them.

 

MERFOLK Q/A: 

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