Merrow

Found in the River Temese, as well as the Bright Bay, these inquisitive Monsters may also be known as the merfolk sighted throughout history by wayward sailors. They're beautiful, enticing, and certainly friendly and playful when encountered. It's not uncommon to find them splashing and giggling in the waters they call home. However, a quick look at those charming smiles might reveal the sharp-toothed nature that's made them well-known for stealing away anyone that gets a little too close to their waters. It's always best to tread carefully, especially as it might earn you their favor - something many seafarers make a point of pursuing, as a Merrow could very well be between them and a watery grave.

**A Merrow can be any extant fish (including sharks), cephalopod, or porpoise (dolphins, whales, etc), as well as any extant seal (walrus, seals, etc).** Purely cosmetic features like coloring and patterning can be mixed or exaggerated.

### Mandatory Changes

#### Physical

* Scales and markings - like a spotted seal's or orca's, for example - can be visible on different parts of the body, even when a Merrow isn't in their aquatic form. This coverage can show in small patches along the face, neck, hands, and feet, with larger ones across the rest of the body.
* Tying in with their perks, Merrow need to be able to survive underwater. Non-mammalian individuals can be seen with gills on their necks and/or ribs, closed typically when they're on land. Mammalian Merrow are well known for having greater lung capacity, which can result in possibly larger ribcages and diaphragms.
* Webbed fingers, as well as webbed toes when they're not in their aquatic form.
* Sharper teeth, along with a stronger jaw strength.
* Poison barbs, spines, quills, etc, or even small signs of fins (pectoral or dorsal), depending on the type of aquatic creature the particular Merrow in question is. These are smaller when the Merrow is on land, to the point of being almost unnoticeable for some.
* Eyesight and hearing that are far better underwater than it is on land. Some Merrow may even find that their eyesight is poorer above water, depending. However, all Merrow have a nictitating membrane - a third eyelid - that protects their eyes from debris and irritants.
* A more feral looking form during the full moons, which can also be triggered during high emotion situations. A Merrow may or may not be forced into their aquatic (tail) form during the entire full moons, but will if they are even partially submerged in water. If they retain their legs, they are scaled (or otherwise marked like the rest of their form) and finned. Their hair may appear more wild, their body is covered in scales or hide, their teeth may appear sharper, claws may grow from nails.

#### Mental

* A more feral mindset will also kick in for Merrow that have a harder time with their less human instincts, the ones that fight the change.
* A natural inclination to seek out the water, to prevent their bodies from overheating or drying out

### Optional Changes

* Further scale, hide, or pelt development across the body, resulting in more coverage of fish scales, shark hide, seal pelt, etc. This can also result in fins or flippers visible on the body - hips, arms, legs; perhaps even on or behind the ears.
* For cephalopods, possible additional appendages to bring the full count (when not in their water form) to the amount that their animal has. These can sprout under the arms, on the hips, or from the back. These can regrow if lost, but the same cannot be said of the four limbs they started off with.
* Some Merrow may find themselves with bioluminscent markings, especially notable in the dark of night or the depths of the water they inhabit. This is more common in non-mammalian individuals, but isn't unseen in the mammalian Merrow, either.
* Blubber for mammalian Merrow, and a greater tolerance in general for water temperatures that many would find inhospitable. Typically this falls in the colder range, but can vary depending on the animal a Merrow is.
* A compulsion to collect shiny trinkets, regardless of their quality or what they are. These can be kept on the Monster as accessories, clothing, etc, or tucked away for admiration at their discretion. This may also result in Merrow stealing away with things they find particularly eye catching, whether it's from a sunken ship, a town square fountain, or someone's open window. Finders keepers, and all that.
* The ability to share their ability to breathe underwater with their Bonded. This is traditionally done with a kiss, but can be carried out through other means found in merfolk lore. Again, this can only be done with their Bonded.
* Possible psychological changes that come with their respective animals or Merfolk/siren lore. Some Merrow may prefer to lay on the river- or seabed floor, others play with their "food" far more roughly than they should, and yet more will be musically inclined. A playful nature isn't uncommon in Merrow, although their definition of play will certainly vary from Monster to Monster. Abilities from lore that aren't listed here should be run by the mods first.

### Strengths

* **Able to breathe underwater** (fish, cephalopods), **or hold their breath for an extended amount of time** (porpoise, seal).
* **Increased speed and stamina in water**, allowing them to travel great distances in a short amount of time. **Merrow are also stronger than humans**, albeit only when they're in the water.
* **Minor water magic**, allowing them to manipulate the element slightly to their advantage. This can be done to create air bubbles, harder water for small attacks, or to carry with them in the case of emergencies.
* **Merrows can lure people with a siren's song**, but this only works under the condition that they are in Merrow-form; they must be in the water or otherwise wet for their song to work. Mammalian Merrow have an easier time of subduing someone with their song, but all Merrow have this ability.

### Weaknesses

* **Extremely weak to electricity**, to the degree that even small shocks may result in momentary paralysis. While Harpies are also weak to electricity, Merrow run the risk of outright death if trapped in a situation where they're faced with electricity.
* While normally able to retain human-form, **wherever a Merrow is submerged in water, their true Merrow form will show** - if it's their bottom half, say hello tail/tentacles, goodbye legs and feet.
* **A preference for water, but also a need for it.** Merrow can dry out easily, even outside of their aquatic form, and need to remain hydrated regardless of where they are or their form. They can also get heatstroke very easily on land regardless of how much - or little - the sun is out.