Qalupalik

### Location

Any cold water climate, some warm water climates, especially in Northern Orelisle

## Common Knowledge

These creatures often live in the frigid waters of the north and are vaguely humanoid in appearance. They live under the water but surface to hunt. The myth surrounding these creatures is that they will steal away children who disobey their parents or are abandoned by parents, presumably for food. Many believe them to be just stories told to children so they don’t wander off, but some know these creatures are very much real. Qalupaliks are said to make a distinctive humming sound; therefore, they can be heard before they appear but the sound also aids in attracting young children to them as the sound is very comforting to their ears.

## Location

They are most common in the northern waters of Orelisle but can be found in almost any colder water climate and even some warmer ones on occasion.

## Biology

The Qalupalik is a human-like creature that lives in the sea, with long hair, green skin, and long fingernails. Their life expectancy is influenced by what race they were before and they can die of old age as evidenced by some washed up bodies. They feed on smaller water creatures like fish and occasionally land creatures, as well, who drown in the waters. They sing to each other under the water and this translates into the hum they produce above ground. These creatures don’t eat the children they steal, but make them part of their family. They have developed a way to transform these stolen children into their species through some natural magic they have. They are all biologically “female” in that all of them can sire a child through the process, but there is no difference biologically to differentiate sex or gender beyond that. Some may view themselves as male internally or female but there is no distinction beyond their thoughts. They are cousins of the Siren which is why they make the humming sound that attracts children. They are a sentient race but not sapient.

## Rarity/Power Level

These creatures are not particularly powerful beyond a mild hypnotizing-like hum. They possess no great strength or intelligence. Their natural adaptation to living in the water have made them incredibly fast underwater which aids in escaping with the stolen children. Their general shyness and odd reproduction process makes them reclusive and pretty rare. They often travel alone but will sometimes create bigger groups for protection or feeding.

## History

They are a rare cousin to the siren that developed when the magic of the world was still in flux. They have such specific living and breeding needs that they are extremely rare. They are naturally a peaceful creature and are often shy when near other creatures, even those of their own race. They have a very strong pack bond with “family”, a child and sire will always be comfortable with each other and if raised in a group the group will be very close. The actual reason they take children is not because the child needs to be punished but they feel a deep need to protect these younglings and so take them so they may have a better family than those that weren’t there. This unfortunately leads the Qalupalik to take children that have just wandered away from their parents for a moment and haven’t been abandoned.

## Further/Related Information

* Siren
* Syl’wren
* Merfolk