Merfolk are amphibious humanoids with the lower body of a fish.
Appearance[]
Merfolk are varied in appearance,[2] but they have fins and gills. One was seen to have deep, dark blue hair, while another had no hair, but instead had a frill going down his head.[3]
Merrow[]
Merrow are monstrosities with demonic origins;[4] it's not yet established whether Exandrian mythology is quite the same as in the 5th-Edition Monster Manual, in which merrow were created when a group of merfolk were pulled into the Abyss by the Demon Prince Demogorgon and warped over generations into hulking, evil monstrosities,[5] but Exandrian merrow have been described as "strange, twisted-looking merfolk".[6]
Sirens[]
Sirens are fey creatures[7] with magical abilities (such as their Stupefying Touch),[8] able to perform complicated rituals and even take bipedal humanoid forms (although they lack proper coordination in this form).[9] Their true appearance is very merfolk-like, with elongated proportions, fish tails, big mouths of sharpened teeth, and spines growing out of their skin.[10]
History[]
Several sirens inhabited a seaside cavern[11] on the island of Athova-Rae on the northern edge of the Shattered Teeth.[12] At some point before 795 PD,[13] during the Musetide Festival, three of them performed a ritual (which involved a blood sacrifice) trying to control a crab-like entity known as the Dreamer, since they considered the humanoids unworthy of its blessings. They, however, were stopped by a group of adventurers known as the Glorious Ones, who killed the sirens and the Dreamer.[14]
Vox Machina encountered merfolk members of the Water Ashari when they visited Vesrah.[15] Some of the merfolk Ashari came to help push back the kraken who was threatening to pass through the rift from the Elemental Plane of Water.[16]
As of 836 PD, merfolk are known to live in enclaves in the waters off the Menagerie Coast, where they trade with the secluded civilizations of sea elves.[17] Orly Skiffback suggested that the perils of the Diver's Grave could include mermaids and "other such dangers."[18]
In the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, set in 836 PD, a mid-level adventure hook called Stormbringers deals with a group of exiled merfolk in Daggerbay who discover a relic of Kord, the Stormlord.[19]
After the apogee solstice of 843 PD it was reported that the Labenda Swamp had been flooded, and that merfolk were reclaiming it.[20]
Trivia[]
Depiction of a merfolk sovereign, by Andrew Mar from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, page 101.[art 2]
- It has been implied that there are unexplored territories and civilizations in Exandria under the sea,[21] and it is very likely that merfolk and/or sea elves are present in such places.
- When this was mentioned, Laura Bailey, Marisha Ray, and Dani Carr expressed their enthusiasm about a potential one-shot in which everyone would play a merfolk character. After the events of "The Mighty Nein Reunion: Echoes of the Solstice" (Sx79) Laura wondered if said one-shot could be Fjord and Jester's thematic wedding, with all the attendants temporarily transformed into mermaids via Divine Intervention.[22] Abubakar Salim has also expressed interest in joining such one-shot.[23] More recently Marisha has even suggested to make it a mermaid-themed campaign.[24]
- The Stupefying Touch, charming magic, and change of physical form that fey sirens display are the same as those of Siren, a character from Tales from the Yawning Portal.[25] The similarities, however, end there, as Matt gave them additional abilities and an appearance that makes them look more like merfolk.
- Vex'ahlia was fascinated by mermaids and fantasized about being one; according to Vax'ildan, they were all she talked about from ages six to 13.[26]
- The bows of seagoing ships are sometimes adorned with a representation of a mermaid. Fjord remembered the Pink Giver, for instance, for the carved wooden mermaid that appeared to be holding out a bright pink heart.[27] Playing on this practice, The Landlocked Lady, a brothel in Shadycreek Run, featured a carved false bow of a ship with a beautifully carved mermaid.[28]
- Former pirate Nydas Okiro of Avalir had a busty mermaid tattooed on his back to cover a wound.[29] Orly Skiffback tattooed a sailor with an image of a mermaid picking fruit, representing a past recovery from scurvy. Jester helped him complete the tattoo, and Orly then taught her about gemstone tattoos.[30]
- In "Critical Role One-Shot: Once Upon a Fairytale Cruise" (Sx28), Peter Pan was still smarting from when Wendy cheated on him with a mermaid.[31]
References[]
- ↑ See "Tangled Depths" (1x88) at 1:25:14.
- ↑ See D&D: Monster Manual, 5th ed., p. 218.
- ↑ See "Tangled Depths" (1x88) at 1:25:14.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 70.
- ↑ See D&D: Monster Manual, 5th ed., p. 219.
- ↑ See "Lost Treasures" (2x22) at 0:10:16.
- ↑ See "Choose Their Adventure...Again!" (Sx81) at 1:59:27.
- ↑ See "Choose Their Adventure...Again!" (Sx81) at 1:49:04.
- ↑ See "Choose Their Adventure...Again!" (Sx81) at 1:19:40.
- ↑ See "Choose Their Adventure...Again!" (Sx81) at 1:26:38.
- ↑ See "Choose Their Adventure...Again!" (Sx81) at 1:39:24.
- ↑ See "Choose Their Adventure...Again!" (Sx81) at 0:02:08.
- ↑ "Choose Their Adventure...Again!" (Sx81) takes place in a time in Scanlan's life when he's still inexpert and lacks confidence, and by the end of it he's trying to behave more like the charismatic Ranthiel Volthor. Since between 795 and 796 PD Scanlan had a messy affair with a member of the Darrington Estate staff that forced the bard and his troupe to leave, presumably the gnome's time with the Glorious Ones preceded this incident in Deastok. For more information see "Curious Tides" (1x89) at 1:13:37 and "Talks Machina #17: 'Voice of the Tempest'" (TMx17) at 56:37
- ↑ See "Choose Their Adventure...Again!" (Sx81) at 1:30:20.
- ↑ See "Tangled Depths" (1x88) at 1:25:14.
- ↑ See "Curious Tides" (1x89) at 0:18:15.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, pp. 162–163.
- ↑ See "A Hole In the Plan" (2x42) at 1:25:49.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, pp. 129–130.
- ↑ See "Gathering of Needs" (3x95) at 2:06:35.
- ↑ See "4-Sided Dive: Kiss and Tell" (4SDx16) at 1:18:10.
- ↑ See the Critical Role panel from London's MCM Comic Con at 59:00.
- ↑ See "4-Sided Dive Episode 20: Discussing Up To C3E82" (4SDx20) at 1:49:48.
- ↑ See "4-Sided Dive: Queries & Quandaries" (4SDx27) at 0:39:39.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast, Tales from the Yawning Portal, p. 243.
- ↑ See "Tangled Depths" (1x88) at 0:20:28. Also see 1:25:14.
- ↑ See "Waste and Webs" (2x10) at 3:01:30.
- ↑ See "Converging Fury" (2x27) at 1:25:14.
- ↑ See "Fire and Ruin" (E3x04) at 4:10:01.
- ↑ See "A Pirate's Life for Me" (2x41) at 0:35:42.
- ↑ See "Critical Role One-Shot: Once Upon a Fairytale Cruise" (Sx28) at 2:30:30.
Art:
- ↑ Depiction of a merfolk individual from D&D: Monster Manual, page 218. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
- ↑ Depiction of a merfolk sovereign, by Andrew Mar from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, page 101. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.