Editing Merfolk/Homebrew (section)

==Merfolk Culture & Technology==
The Merfolk's aquatic environment has resulted in unque solutions to technical problems and independent evolution of their societies.

===Materials===
[[File:stellite.jpg|400px|thumb|right]]
Merfolk can easily attain neolithic technology with no special considerations. By learning metallurgy from land-races, discovering it separately on land, or by simply trading for alloys (like most human civilizations did), merfolk can achieve a fully realized bronze age civilization. Some other materials required for iron age technology are not practical for use in marine environments. Steel and iron rust within days, and for this reason, merfolk have developed their own metallurgy tradition, which has resulted in a distinct set of alloys and other materials.

* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze Bronze]''' - Bronze is superior to iron and resists corrosion but is more expensive to produce.
* '''[[Stellite]]''' - Stellite is a silvery metal easily identifiable by its iridescent sheen which bends and splits light into different colors. It is as strong as steel, equally tough, highly heat resistant, and highly corrosion resistant. It was developed over several centuries, and is now is a staple metal for merfolk equipment. Stellite is an alloy of cobalt and chromium with higher quality varieties including small amounts of gold. The most exceptional and sought after type of Stellite uses a unique process to infuse magic into the metal. A merfolk sorcerer will perform a ritual to infuse a set of pearls with blue mana. The pearls are then dropped into the alloy while it is in a molten state. The pearls serve as a catalyst to allow mana to permeate the metal and improve its magic properties.
* '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orichalcum Aurichalcum]'''- Auricalcum, some times spelled "Orichalcum", is a rare and mysterious metal dug from out of Seamounts, undersea volcanos, and thermal vents. It has a golden or coppery color and it has similar mechanical properties to steel such as strength and toughness, but it is impervious to corrosion. This extremely valuable metal is highly desired for its mysteriously high magical conductivity. Armors made of Aurichalcum draw Magic into the metal and harmlessly away from the user. Armor crafted from Orichalcum costs +1000/+4000/+9000 gp more than normal for light/medium/heavy armor and is always considered to be of masterwork quality. Because of its magic resistant properties, the wearer of orichalcum armor gains a +1/+2/+3 bonus on saving throws made to resist spells, spell-like abilities and supernatural abilities. This bonus is further increased by half the armor's enhancement bonus (round down, min 0).

*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byssus Byssus]/[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_silk Sea Silk]''' - Strong fibers from mollusks that are immune to water degradation and can be woven into fabrics to make clothing, rope, nets, and other tools.
*'''Sharkskin''' - Leather made from the skin of sharks. It is very tough.

===Buildings And Cities===
[[File:mercity.jpg|right|thumb|400px]]
[[File:The Forgotten Atlantis by firedudewraith.jpg|right|thumb|400px]]
Merfolk cities are often very densely constructed compared to land based races for a number of reasons. Roads can be very narrow by terrestrial standards because merfolk are able to use three dimensions for their streets. Sometimes the upper floors of buildings are conjoined across the streets which turns the streets into tunnels. Some cities have been built up over time so that tunnels have completely replaced streets in many areas.

Merfolk are able to construct buildings much more efficiently than land races. They attach inflatable gas bags to a large building materials and lift them by filling the bag with air. Only a few workers are needed to position the piece. For this reason, gigantic buildings and monuments are common in merfolk cities.

Merfolk structures often incorporate unique materials and features which results in distinct a architectural style. Wooden buildings are uncommon due to the effect of woodworms. Instead, Merfolk make use of a variety of durable marine building materials:
*'''Kelp''' - Many merfolk buildings are made by weaving living kelp into a hollow ball that floats in the water while anchored to ocean floor. There can be several rooms arrayed in a daisy chain, one above the other, all constructed from only a few plants.
*'''Sea Grass''' - Sea grass is used as a filler material in thatching and living sea grass is planted on the roofs of buildings as an anchor or decoration.
*'''Coral''' - Coral is tough easily workable, and abundant in tropical climates. It is used all over the aquatic world.
*'''Stone''' - Used in alone or in combination with hydraulic cement, stone is one of the best materials for durability. 
*'''Hydraulic Cement''' - Hydraulic cement is a building material in use since ancient times and is known for its ability to harden underwater. Hydraulic cement is combined with sand or other materials to create concrete structures, or is used in mortar to create masonry buildings
*'''Giant bones''' - The bones of giant sea creatures such as whales and sea serpents are and strong and durable enough to be excellent building materials
*'''Giant Shells''' - Some sea shell are large enough to be used by themselves as rooms in buildings. Smaller ones are used in "shell masonry".
*'''Wood''' - Freshwater merfolk often use wood to build their structures, because woodworms do not live in freshwater.

===Agriculture===
The rich waters of most merfolk settlements allow for very productive fields of aquatic crops such as kelp, rice, water lilies, watercress, taro, lotus, waterspinach, wasabi, waterchestnuts, fish, and shellfish. Large enclosures serve as pastures for fish hatcheries. A typical farm consists of an oyster bed on the bottom of the sea floor, a canopy of kelp at the surface with columns reaching down to attach to the floor, and fish swimming in the water in the middle.

===Writing===
Land races have developed many methods for storing information, and many of them function perfectly underwater.
*Engraving
*Wax Pencil