Merfolk

Merfolk are aquatic humanoids that have the upper body, arms, and head of a fair-featured human from the waist up and instead of legs it has a fish-like tail from the hips down. Males are called "Mermen", while females are called "Mermaids". Their humanoid features are fey-like, more similar to elves than humans. Merfolk are capable of interacting with surface folk, as they can survive outside of the water. They do so rarely, however, as they cannot walk on land.

Society
Merfolk live in cities and isolated settlements within shallow seas and coral reefs, where protection and food is abundant. They train aquatic animals to serve as their guardians, similar to the way humans train dogs and horses. Merfolk's only natural enemy is the Sahuagin. (Sahuagin are a fish-like, monstrous-humanoid species that live in oceans, seas, underground lakes, and underwater caves.)

Merfolk worshipped the god Eadro.



Locations
There were merfolk that dwelt in the Trackless Sea and Sea of Swords. In Waterdeep, merfolk dwelt in the harbor in their own city, and the Merdock connected the sea to the watermen's guildhall so that merfolk could come through.

Merfolk also dwelt in the Sea of Fallen Stars, where the name Serôs was used a general term for all of the merfolk realms. Myth Nantar (near the Whamite Isles) was inhabited by merfolk.

The falls of Rauthgor in the River Rauthenflow were home to a colony of merfolk.



History
In -1533 DR, the merfolk of Thalorlyn declared themselves independent and established the First Kingdom of Hmur. Two years later, Aryselmalyr quashes the rebellion at Thalorlyn and slaughtered some 30 percent of all merfolk in Serôs.

In -1396 DR, the surviving merfolk of the Fourth Serôs War formed the kingdom of Thalvan under King Darmox and the protection of the Coronal Vaeqiis of Aryselmalyr.

In the 6th century DR, the Ninth Serôs War was fought between the merfolk realm of Hmurrath and the merrow Axe Kingdoms of Khuur and Nmalk in the undersea land of Serôs. The Battle of the Haunted Plains took place in 654 DR.

In 735 DR, the merfolk kingdom of Eadraal was founded. Its capital city was Voalidru, just off the Hmur Plateau. Queen Selana was crowned the realm's first monarch.

In 1369 DR, the Twelfth Serôs War occurred.

Notable merfolk

 * Hodatar
 * King Kyron of Thalorlyn
 * Prince Aldem
 * Prince-Consort Kran
 * Kosul, the king's heir.

Appearances

 * Novels:
 * Realms of the Deep
 * The Sea Devil's Eye
 * Elfsong