Coral Merfolk
Coral Merfolk are a tropical race of merfolk that are known for their dramatic and beautiful multicolored skin patterns. They usually have small to medium size communities around atolls, islands, and reefs. Coral Merfolk blood is naturally magical which allows many to become talented spontaneous spell casters.
Background
Physical Description: Coral Merfolk have the upper bodies of humans and lower bodies of a Tropical fish that are at least twice as long as human legs. Their most distinguishing feature is their bright multicolored skin and fins which form striking patterns across their entire body. Each individual has their own unique pattern and colors. Instead of hair, tropical merfolk have a variety of colored feathery fins or crests. Merfolk have specially adapted gills instead of lungs that can breathe both water and air. Their tails allow powerful swimming, but are equally capable of supporting the rest of the body upright on land as they slither along.
Society: Coral merfolk society is fiercely competitive and has a strong emphasis on sorcerous magic. Almost all Coral mer have some spontaneous casting ability. In coral merfolk society, there are relatively few institutions in for the resolving conflict between individuals. Instead, many communities are organized by a tribal system where the elders of the different tribes negotiate with each other to maintain the peace. Each merfolk has loyalty to and depends on the protection of his family tribe. Individual disputes are often settled through ritualized tests of sorcery. Coral Merfolk communities are often isolated, insular and suspicious of outsiders. Coral Merfolk blood has strange magical properties that causes many evil groups to try to kill or capture them. Settlements that receive regular traffic are often subject to predation by these groups. Other settlements are often separated by hundreds of miles of open ocean which reduces the amount of outside contact.
Alignment and Religion: The powerful sorcerous blood within Coral Merfolk tends to push them towards the chaotic side of the alignment spectrum. However, there is significant variation among individuals. The deities most associated with the coral merfolk are the Nesoi, demigod spirits that personify the many islands and reefs of the tropical seas.
Relations: The natural beauty of coral merfolk usually allows easy relations with most races. They often have a spirit of friendly competition with their companions, always trying to outperform each others deeds. Sometimes this competition become bitter if it is too intense, and for this reason coral merfolk get along best with races and classes that do not have a strong magical tradition. There are some races that have a history of predation on merfolk to harvest their sorcerous blood, such as the abyssal merfolk, orcs, goblinoids, and various other evil races. These are viewed with intense suspicion or more oftenly outright hatred.
Adventurers: Coral Merfolk usually become adventurers to test and improve their magical powers or take revenge on enemies of their community. Oftentimes they will be given a task by a tribal leader. Sometimes, a coral merfolk get into conflict with another individual but refuses to adhere to the resolution of the tribal leaders. In rare occasions, if the dispute is serious enough, refusal can mean loss of protection of the tribe. In this case the only option is self exile, or face reprisals by the opposing tribe. Coral merfolk have the natural gifts to become powerful sorcerers, warlocks, bards and oracles. Their natural speed and agilty also allows a small minority to become cunning rogues.
Coral Merfolk Racial Traits
Pathfinder
Racial Attributes: Coral Merfolk gain +2 to charisma +2dexterity and -2 to strength
Medium Size: Coral Merfolk are medium size and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Slow Speed: Coral Merfolk have a base speed of 20 feet and are never slowed by armor or encumbrance.
Aquatic: Coral merfolk gain a swimspeed of 30 feet and +8 to swim checks. They can breathe water and air.
Merfolk Blood: Coral Merfolk gain a +1 racial bonus on all saving throws
Low Light Vision: Coral Merfolk can see twice as far as a race with normal vision in conditions of dim light.
Quick Reactions: Coral Merfolk receive improved initiative as a bonus feat.
Deep magic: Coral Merfolk gain a +2 racial bonus on caster level checks made to overcome spell resistance and a +2 racial bonus on dispel checks.
Coral Merfolk Gallery
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