Ningalu

Ningalu isn't a land so much as a giant seamount, covered in coral reefs, and almost entirely underwater. This doesn't stop landlubbers from communicating and trading with its inhabitants.

#### Geography

A riot of colour and life, the warm oceanic waters of Ningalu look welcoming. The seas are as shallow as ankle-deep in places, but beware! The coral beds are extremely sharp and treacherous. At low tide, the tips of reefs can be seen jutting out of the water - and the bleached ribs of sunken ships. It's dangerous to sail in these parts without a guide.

Ningalu sits near the edge of a large continental shelf. New Albion is the mainland to the West, and the intervening strait is called The Catch. All sorts of wondrous sea creatures come there to breed and feed. Watch out for giant conger eels, hungry anemone and Megalodon. Fortunately, the Elnade and Ningalu are close at hand to protect visitors from some of the chaos.

To the East lies the Depths - a vast and profound oceanic trench. Gillies live in the shallower reaches of the abyss: few landlubbers have ever seen a gillman, and they guard the secrets of the Depths very closely.

Ningalu have good relations with the peoples of Lemuria and Garland. Elnade have ventured as far as Pele in the Grand Breath archipelago - they prefer the tropical northern waters. Some brave Ningalu have crossed the Depths to visit Terabitia - they wouldn't swim all the way to the Eastern Basin but can handle sea travel well enough to send emissaries back to the moister regions of Ladinh. Ningalu avoid New Albion for the most part - the continent is too dry, and Croc's lawlessness doesn't suit Ningalu culture. You'll see a few Ningalu in Boorloo, trading shark teeth and exotic fish for opals and enchantments.

#### Ningalu people

Use an adapted Triton race template for Ningalu characters.

* Strength +1, Con +1, Cha +1
* Lifespan 150 years, Size: Medium
* Alignment: Lawful
* Speed: 30ft on land and 40ft swimming (if the Ningalu has fused legs: 10ft on land and 80ft in water)

Racial traits: Control air and water, Emissary of the sea, Bathypelagic dive, Darkvision, Dehydration sensitivity

##### Ningalu physiology

Ningalu feet, while flat, aren't always adapted to land. Ningalu are at home on spiky or rough terrain, but they would have trouble dancing or wearing fancy shoes. There are some humanoid-style secondary sexual differences among the Ningalu but these aren't pronounced, so it's not known whether Two occur among their people.

Ningalu have pointy, peg-like front teeth suited for eating fish, and molars for grinding up kelp. Their bodies have adapted to sea life in diverse ways. All Ningalu have gill slits, eye membranes and webbed fingers. Some Ningalu deal with salt by sneezing it out, others have a special bladder-like organ. Some Ningalu have legs and an eel-like tail: others have fused legs like a mermaid.

##### Ningalu culture

Ningalu love decorating their bodies. Some warriors armour themselves by growing barnacles directly on their skins. Many Ningalu plant large anemones on their heads or backs - the tendrils look like "hair" but are also stingers. Ningalu adorn themselves with leg and hand tattoos, that record genealogy or serve as navigational aids. Ningalu love collecting magic items, shiny gems and anything that will withstand seawater and looks pretty.

Ningalu construction above the water is simple:

* fale - basic, open air platforms with palm frond rooftops
* falenui - larger platforms with walls and mats, suitable for meetings and celebrations
* jetees - mooring points and causeways

The oceanic architecture of Ningalu territory is more complex. Ningalu can use their communion with sea creatures to grow and shape the very reefs themselves into more convenient formats. Ningalu sleep in sand beds or large cup coral formations. They grow underwater stables for seal and dolphin mounts, and use baskets and air pockets to preserve food, grow salt-tolerant crops and corral shoals of edible fish.

Sometimes a Ningalu gets sick and has trouble breathing saltwater. For cases like these - or to welcome landlubber guests - Ningalu use their natural command of the elements and a bit of clever physics to create underwater air pockets. These work in the same way that a diving bell does - the entrance is a U-bend. Inside the chamber, air breathing races or infirm and elderly Ningalu can rest and relax.

#### Gillie people

Use the Gillman DnD bootleg race template, including Wisdom bonuses.

Racial traits: Emissary of the sea, Abyssopelagic dive

Gillies resemble slightly chummier versions of the Creature from the Black Lagoon - they are named after their distinctive, mutton-chop-like cheek gills. Their wide, smiley frog-like mouths hold teeth like those of a crabeater seal - large and triangular, with smaller hooks to grab fish. They have large bioluminescent eyes and can glow along their dorsal fin and lateral lines. Gillies often use chromatophore patterns to express moods.

A Gillie can venture to the surface or to shallow water, though dry land isn't their element and they feel a strong compulsion to return to the sea. When on land or in the shallows, Gillies like to clothe themselves in kelp - and they seem to enjoy wearing bits of deep sea jetsam as ornaments. They are incredible swimmers and divers - as well as their gills for breathing under water, they have an organ like that of the sperm whale, which helps them adjust to the crushing pressures of the very deep sea.

It would seem that Gillies have some sort of deep sea home which they return to and which sustains them. They are prudent and insightful. Ningalu and Gillies seem to have good relations, as they occupy different ecological niches. Unfortunately it's physically difficult for a Gillie to pronounce human or elven speech (those TEETH), but they can speak fluent Primordial and understand most seafaring languages just fine. Gillies can commune with ocean life telepathically.

#### Elnade people

Use the Elnade race template, with all the water elemental bonuses listed, but make the creature Small sized.