Fish people

The term **"fish people"** is a (somewhat derogatory) umbrella term referring to several water-dwelling ethnic groups, especially those from Icthia, which includes the Chaplain Archipelago of Corinia and the Telenesia.

## Ethnicities referred to as "fish people"

### Merlans

Merlans are human-fish hybrids inhabiting southwestern insular Corinia in the provinces of Chaplain, Dogova, Lou, and Mahia. They are known for their extensive history, monarchy, megacities, and strategic and agile combat methods of the mid 2000s.

Name origin unknown, likely a portmanteau of mermaids/mermen and lancetfish.

#### Rocklans

The Rocklans are mermaid, merman, and siren-like inhabitants of the rocky Chaplain Archipelago (including the provinces of Chaplain, Dogova, and Lou) resembling lancetfish. Often they are simply referred to as Merlans, but the term "Rocklans" are used as a term of convenience for differentiating them from other Merlan tribes. However, some see it as a derogatory term used by neighboring Merlans.

They are known for their jewelry made of small, colorful shells, pearls, and mother-of-pearl worn especially by nobility, as well as their megacities like Borár and Salonica.

Rocklans are very prideful of themselves often showing a lot of nationalism and seclusion from outside cultures. In recent years, they have begun to forge relationships with international partners.

Notable examples: Lazarus

#### Paronians

The Paronians were an ancient race of Merlans that inhabited central Atalamia from the years 900 to 1600; around Oz's time period. Very little is known about them, as if they dissapeared without a trace. The only evidence of their existence was from a couple of unidentifiable artifacts and from Oz and Tyrus's oral records.

Tyrus proposed that the Alfonsino Medallion was crafted by the Paronians.

Name derived from *Alepisaurus paronai*, an extinct species of lancetfish.

### Mahias

The Mahias, formerly known as Mahia-Merlans, are distant relatives of the Merlans, including mermaids, mermen, and sirens from Mahia, a disputed territory of Corinia. They share traits of dolphinfish.

Like the Merlans, they are very prideful of themselves. The only differnce they share is that they are open to outsiders in comparison to the closeted culture of the Merlans.

Name derived from the mahi-mahi fish.

### Cetians

A dolphin and whale-like cosmopolitan race inhabiting most parts of the world. They are divided into the Tocetians (dolphins) and the Ticetians (whales). Tocetians have higher concentrations in polar areas like Aletarria, northern Sununda, and northern Atalamia, while Ticetians inhabit tropical areas.

#### Tocetians

Tocetians are known for being extremely athletic and boastful, unfortunately arising a common stereotype that they are rude and barbaric.

Notable examples: Mobius

Tocetians: Name derived from the parvorder Odontoceti, which includes toothed whales like dolphins, orcas, porpoises, etc.

#### Ticetians

Ticetians are much more relaxed than their Tocetian counterparts and live a more modernist, hippie lifestyle.

Ticetians: Name derived from the parvorder Mysticeti, which includes most large, filter-feeding whales.

### Gallians

A subculture of the Patingean race comprising of shark-like mermaids and mermen. Most are fast, vicious, and carnivorous, triggered by the scent of blood. Tocetians are their natural-born rivals, in a sense that both are highly competitive beings.

Patingeans: Name derived from the Tagalog word *pating,* meaning "shark."

Gallians: Name derived from the superorder Galeomorphii, otherwise called the galean sharks.

Notable examples: Carlos (tiger shark), Nicholas (thresher shark)