Thalassomage

Thalassomages are perhaps the most unique of the elven dragonfolk.

**To view a list of known Thalassomages,** view **this page.**

*Average height: 6 feet*

*Average weight: 130 lbs*

##### Genetics and physical traits

The High Queen of Light’s son, The Prince of the Sea, blessed his people with the unique ability to thrive both above and below the depths. Gills rest between their ribs, and lungs besides their heart. However, their skin is rather thin and fragile, and could develop life-threatening xerosis if not kept moist enough for long periods of time. The average adult Thalassomage can spend an average of 2-3 days without submerging their bodies before beginning to develop severe dry skin.

Due to their delicate dermal layers, their skin takes on a slightly blue tinted appearance as the veins beneath their skin are more visible. However, Thalassomages still exhibit the natural range of melanin tones within their skin. Those whose ancestors grew to thrive in the deepest parts of the ocean have naturally lighter skin, and those with heritage close to the reefs and shorelines typically have naturally darker skin. It is not uncommon for thalassomages to have splotches, patterns, or large areas of lighter or darker skin on some parts of the body. Their tongues are often black or dark brown in color. Large, round eyes with large irises and flatter, wider noses are common traits as well as a slender, fit physique. However, in the modern age there are many who do not exhibit some or all of these distinct features due to genetics from other mage types in their heritage. Hair and eye color do not seem to have a distinct frequency compared to other mage types.

Thalassomages are the only type of elven dragonfolk to not develop antlered horns. Their horns grow exclusively behind their ears, and rather than growing more branches as they age, the horns and the webbing between them grow longer. They are also the only type of folk to have webbing between their fingers and toes, attaching against the middle knuckles, and a fin-tipped tail. Small scales may develop anywhere on the skin. The Prince of The Sea designed his people well to ensure that swimming would be effective.  In addition, rather than fur along the spine, Thalassomages may develop small and thin horn-like spikes leading down to their tails.

Thalassomage genetics are very unique. Cross-breeding other mage types may result in additive genotypes or selective dominant-recessive phenotypes, however, when cross-breeding thalassomages with other mage breeds, thalassomage traits rarely are passed down in full. Fawns will only exhibit unique thalassomage genotypes if they are inherited from the mother. For example, a fawn with a thalassomage father and a dendromage mother may have thinner skin, and exhibit some facial traits of the father such as a flatter nose and wider eyes, but will not exhibit thalassomage horn types, phalange webbings, a finned tail, gills, or spikes along the spine. The fawn will physically be exclusively the mother’s mage type in terms of form and anatomy.

Thalassomage magic has a higher chance of being extremely faint or weak in fawns with only a thalassomage father and not at all if the father was a hybrid himself. Fawns with thalassomage mothers always inherit dominant thalassomage magic.

Researchers feared in the 9th Century that the inability to cross-breed effectively and pass down thalassomage traits to hybrid fawns would eventually cause the race to die out, however, this was not the case. Statistically, communities both from the deep and the shoreline reefs find their own kind more attractive and also, especially in the deep, easier to access. Due to this semi-isolation where no other mage type can thrive, they have no trouble populating the race at a sustainable rate to counteract the fact that typically, thalassomage traits die out in a hybrid’s bloodline within an average of 2 generations.

##### Magic and technology

Thalassomages have the ability to manipulate water. Swapping it between vapor and liquid, moving it and changing its shape.  However, they can not change the state of matter into a frozen, solid state. Only a Frostmage can produce magic cold enough to do so.

Echolocation, fine tuned hearing and enhanced sight are traits that come from thalassomage magic. Due to the lack of light in the depths, and needing to see through the blurring water even in lit areas resulted in the need to have enhanced sight and sound senses. Beneath the water, a thalassomage perceives the world around them as clearly as other mage types perceive the overlands. When a thalassomage exits the water, their eyesight and hearing are especially sharp.

The importance of Thalassomage Canals that connect through the kingdom are heightened because of this. While they are life-saving and healthy for thalassomages to have access to for their skin, the volume and visual intensity of the overland can quickly become overstimulating, especially to young thalassomage fawns, so the canals can be used as a safe space to calm down an overstimulated elf.

Thalassomage magic is responsible for the most efficient methods of travel and trade throughout the kingdom. Ships traveling on magic-enhanced water currents can direct passengers and cargo quickly. The magic also provides clean, pure water to drink.

Thalassomages, Frostmages and Stormmages have been known to work together to create weather patterns.