Merrow

Merrow

(Creature)

Type

Humanoid
(aquatic, giant)

CR

3 or 6

Environment

Temperate lakes, rivers, or oceans

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Images of merrows

Source: Bestiary 2, pg(s). 189

The merrow is an aquatic cousin of the ogre (indeed, sometimes called an aquatic ogre). They are divided into two distinct species: the smaller freshwater merrow and the larger, ocean-dwelling saltwater merrow.

Appearance

Although related to the land-dwelling ogre, merrows appear substantially different with green, scaly skin; webbed skin between their large claws; and dark green hair. Their size depends on whether they are fresh or saltwater merrows. The smaller freshwater merrows grow up to 12 feet tall, while the saltwater merrows grow much larger, up to twenty feet tall.

Ecology and society

Despite their difference in appearance, culturally ogres and merrows are very similar with merrows being every bit as cruel, sadistic, and bloodthirsty as their land-bound cousins. Merrows are known for attacking fishing villages and towns, raiding in the dead of night to abduct a few villagers and then returning back into the water's depths before a real armed resistance can be organised. Much like ogres, merrows have a strong sense of family and tend to form familial gangs. Unlike ogres, they have a much stronger sense of unity and the infighting and murder that characterises the leadership of an ogre tribe is notably absent from merrow life.

On Golarion

Merrows are known to dwell within the caverns that dot the length of the Aya-Maru Trench in the depths of the aquatic nation of Xidao where they war amongst themselves and with the neighbouring sedacthy.

In the Great Beyond

Merrows also live in the Elemental Plane of Water.

References

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