Merfolk

Merfolk

(Creature)

Common

Medium

Amphibious

Humanoid

Merfolk

Level

Varies

Adjective

Merfolk

Images of merfolk

Source: Monster Core, pg(s). 231

Merfolk are an

Uncommon

ancestry in Howl of the Wild' 34–39. Merfolk in Bestiary 235 had the

Aquatic

trait and lacked the

Amphibious

trait.

Type

Humanoid
(aquatic)

CR

By character class

Environment

Temperate oceans

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Adjective

Merfolk

Images of merfolk

Source: Bestiary, pg(s). 204

Ⅰ

Ⅱ

Merfolk (mermaid f. and merman m.), called sapiaquali-oths in the language of their alghollthu creators, are amphibious humanoids most often encountered in the temperate waters and coastlines of Golarion. A merfolk's torso resembles that of a humanoid, while their lower body is dominated by a fish-like tail and fins. They can be highly territorial, though some are also curious about the lives of surface-dwelling peoples.

Appearance

A merfolk rogue.

From the waist up, a merfolk's body resembles that of a powerful, aquadynamic humanoid with large eyes, and ears whose slight points resemble an aiuvarin's. Their skin runs the gamut of hues; the complexions of those near shore often resemble the predominant human or elven cultures in their home region, while more distant and deep-sea merfolk have skin of deeper blues, dark grays, or translucency. The humanoid halves of merfolk bear a reputation for beauty among land-dwellers reinforced by tales of popular folklore, despite many merfolk cultures' reclusiveness or xenophobia.

A merfolk's lower body is composed of a scaled tail and fins similar to that of a giant fish, with a similar diversity in scale coloration that tends to share traits with local fish populations: iridescence in temperate zones, brilliant colors in the tropics, and translucency or bio-luminescence in the depths. Like many types of fish, merfolk scales are often darker on their backs and lighter on their undersides, which helps camouflage them against deeper-water predators. Some merfolk that have the features of a shark or another apex fish possess a shark's sense of smell, especially a sensitivity to blood; such merfolk may have rows of serrated shark teeth or a viperfish-like nest of needles within their jaws that can open significantly wider than a standard merfolk's jaw.

Female merfolk are generally smaller in size than their male counterparts, but all tend to weigh an average of over 200 pounds and measure between six and eight feet in length.

Ecology

A deep merfolk.

Merfolk are naturally adapted to life underwater, but they are amphibious creatures; merfolk can breathe both in and out of the water. They are even capable of traversing short distances across land, though these journeys are rare, and merfolk tend to stay relatively close to their aquatic homes. Merfolk favor temperate waters with plentiful fish, and can be found in the coastal and deeper regions of the Arcadian and Obari oceans, as well as the Inner and Steaming seas.

Some cyclopes enjoy feasting on merfolk flesh, and the cyclopes of Butcher's Rock were even willing to trade a valuable prisoner for delicious merfolk flesh, which is said to have a fishy flavour.

Powerful merfolk may exhibit one or more primal magical traits, such as: perpetuating bad luck; transforming their tears into short-lasting pearls that enthrall others to pick them up ahead of any other task before the pearls dissolve into salt water; growing legs in place of their tail to walk on land; or opening small portals through which the limbs of a kraken can attack.

There are legends based on some fact that suggest eating merfolk flesh grants the feaster good health, long life, or even immortality, although such stories are fiercely rejected by merfolk themselves, sometimes violently. A few merfolk indeed possess blood that has minor healing properties, and if their heart and liver were consumed within an hour of their death, all the consumer's physical injuries would be healed and they would stop aging for eight years.

History

A merman warrior.

The sapiaquali-oths were the result of the alghollthus' first attempt to create humanoids. However, they were quickly forgotten and left alone by their creators, who moved on to other experiments and began interfering in terrestrial societies. The merfolk have forgotten about their origin, but are instinctively xenophobic and prevent intruders from entering certain deep places of the oceans for reasons they do not fully understand—these are actually remnants of the instincts imprinted by the alghollthus in the distant past. Many merfolk still serve alghollthus, sometimes willingly.

Society

Communities formed by merfolk tend to resemble surface communities in several ways. Settlements are unified into territories with aristocratic nobles whose politics and diplomacy strongly resemble those of surface nations. Many merfolk communities keep their distance from surface dwellers, however, by sheltering themselves in hidden communities and fiercely protecting the territory they hold from outsiders, whether from above or below the waters. While some warn away lost or misguided sailors from hazards, they will attack any who show them hostile intent.

As a result, most merfolk settlements remain unknown to those on the surface, and encounters between merfolk and surface dwellers are uncommon. It is partially due to the infrequent sightings and defensive reactions of merfolk toward surface dwellers that their presence is sometimes considered an ill omen by sailors. However, some merfolk are genuinely curious about the lives of surface folk, with a few going so far as to use assistive devices or transformative magic to explore the lands.

The unusual River Kingdoms settlement of Outsea is a notable exception, where many merfolk live and regularly interact with surface folk and other aquatic ancestries. Other merfolk note the exception, however, and consider Outsea merfolk to be unusual.

Merfolk have a deep understanding of magic, which for them is a mundane tool that all merfolk regularly use as tools and weapons in lieu of fire and metal. Even merfolk who lack formal training have some skill with magical abilities. They are also renowned as naturally talented musicians, most often in singing, and many strive to bring music to the world around them.

Adventurers

Merfolk who become adventurers never do so lightly. Some have a strong curiosity about the surface or travel because they must, either from losing their homes through exile or violence, or to seek the means to defend their homelands or cure its people of an affliction. A very small number are reluctantly exiled from their communities due to their lack of musical ability, which some merfolk cultures consider to be a sign of being cursed.

Merfolk magical affinities lead many to become wizards, witches, or magi, while those less adept with magic become fighters or sometimes rangers.

Variants and heritages

See also: Category:Merfolk/Heritages

Abyssal merfolk

Also known as deep merfolk, abyssal merfolk are adapted to extreme underwater depths. These merfolk often have dark transparent skin and luminous eyes, and hunt along the depths of ocean trenches.

Arctic merfolk

Merfolk of Golarion's polar regions are paler and adapted to its coldest waters.

Carcharodon merfolk

These merfolk have the lower body of sharks and share their predatory resemblance's ability to detect blood by scent.

Pelagic merfolk

Merfolk of the open seas have tails that resemble the fish they hunt and can wield the waters around them as a defensive shield.

Reef merfolk

Merfolk of tropical reefs are brightly colored, with spots and stripes across their bodies. They are inured to the often poisonous nature of the aquatic creatures they live alongside.

Sailfish merfolk

As their namesake, these merfolk have a large dorsal fin that allows them to cut through water at great speeds and leap over it with ease.

On Golarion

Merfolk in Outsea.

In addition to the settlements listed below, merfolk can also be found among the undersea canyons of the doomed continent of Azlant.

Alohmab

Alohmab is a trading city in the Embaral Ocean which travels along the ocean floor due to being part of the shell of a giant snail.

Chosovosei

Chosovosei is a small, by surface standards, merfolk city located in a trench in the Steaming Sea. They peacefully coexist with the elves of the Mordant Spire, also located in this region, but are forced to make offerings to placate the krakens of the Endless Eye.

Jehyseel

Located in the Obari Ocean, the city of Jehyseel is protected by a forest of deadly stinging anemones.

Outsea

While not an exclusively merfolk-inhabited city, they comprise a plurality of this amphibious River Kingdoms city.

Stormshoal

Stormshoal is a merfolk settlement that floats beneath the waters along the edge of the Eye of Abendego. This isolated fortress is composed of coral and stone, and anchored in place by gigantic seaweed fronds. Native merfolk live in near isolation, the surrounding area made dangerous by the stormy waters of the Eye.

On other planes

Merfolk have emigrated to the Plane of Water, where they live in seclusion in dimly lit seas. They use illusion magic and other mundane techniques to hide their homes, often to the annoyance of travelers and the plane's other inhabitants. Several tribes live within the Jungle of Worms, using it as shelter from the dangers of the plane's open oceans.

Notable merfolk

See also: Category:Merfolk/Inhabitants

• Crimson Clepsana, a notorious merfolk of the Shackles
• Lythea, navigator of the airship Zoetrope
• High Command Thaiv, co-leader of Xidao's military

References

Paizo published a major "Ecology of the Merfolk" article in City in the Deep 70–75, featured merfolk in Blood of the Sea, and featured merfolk as an ancestry in Howl of the Wild.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.