Human (Homo pisciensis)

**Mer-people** are quasi-humanoid Atlanteans that sometimes demonstrate amphibious characteristics. They are distinguished from other races by the fact that they have fish tails in place of legs. Males are referred to as *mermen* whereas females are referred to as *mermaids*. The merpeople are the dominant race of the Atlantean city of Tritonis.

## Mer-People

### Relatives

Homo erectus (ancestor), Homo immortalis, Homo hibilis (ancestor), Homo antecessor, Homo neanderthalensis, Homo magus (parent), Homo pisciensis mutant, Homo sapien (parent), Homo magus superior, Homo oceaensis, Mutant Homo oceaensis, Homo ergastor, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo sapien superior, Homo atlanticus (cousin), Homo atlanticus hybernica

## Biographical information

### Place of birth

Tritonis, Atlantis, Earth, Sol system, Space Sector 2814

## History

### Origins

Following the Great Deluge (or Great Cataclysm), those Atlanteans who survived were sequestered inside the domed city of Poseidonis. The Atlantean mystic, Shalako felt that the technocratic Atlanteans were "unclean", so his followers and he mounted an exodus through the tunnels beneath the city and re-established themselves in Tritonis. Shalako used the dark magics at his command to create a hard-water dome around the city that protected the Shalakites from being crushed by the ocean depths. Shalako's brother, Orin, had developed a means to transform the Atlanteans into an amphibious race, and offered this technology to the Shalakites. Shalako refused Orin's offer, but his followers readily accepted the ability to leave the confines of their city at their choosing. Shalako took this as an insult and the ultimate betrayal. He cursed the people of Tritonis, transforming them into a scaly race of fish-people.

Shalako's malign act was discovered and the Shalakites turned on him, killing him with their spears. They then set about to slaughter as many of his family members as they could find, including his surviving wives. Shalako's son, Dardanus, survived the massacre however and remained hidden for many years. Following the death of Shalako, the monarchy of Tritonis was passed to the venerable, but wise, King Stearn.

Over the span of centuries, Tritonis survived as an isolationist settlement beneath the seas. Those who survived the cataclysm adapted to their new marine environment. The dominant race in Tritonis were the Mer-people, men and women with the upper body of a humanoid and the lower tail of a fish. While their neighbors in Poseidonis expanded their technological capabilities, the Tritonians preferred concentrating their knowledge in the realms of magic.

## Attributes

### Powers

* **Mer-person Physiology**: They can develop human legs on land and the lower half of a fish when in water. They can swim at incredible speeds and can withstand the pressure of the ocean at great depths. Adapted for breathing underwater and resisting deep-sea-level pressure.
	+ **Amphibian**: Part of their Atlantean heritage; they can breathe underwater and on land for extended periods.
	+ **Superhuman Speed**
	+ **Superhuman Strength**
	+ **Superhuman Durability**
	+ **Telepathy**

### Weaknesses

* **Transmutation Curse vulnerability:** Like their *H. magi* ancestors, mer-people are vulnerability to curses.
	+ **Vampyrism Vulnerability:** Like their *H. magi* ancestors, mer-people are vulnerable to the catalysts (like the enzymes in most nosferatu saliva) that change someone into nosferatu.
	+ **Red Curse Vulnerability:** Like their *H. Magi* ancestors, mer-people are vulnerable to the Red Curse that causes an infected to change into the spirit animal during the full moon.
* **Asphyxiation:** *H. pisciensis* can only exist outside of water for a limited period of time or else they will dehydrate, asphyxiate and ultimately die.

## Representatives

* Britt Lemaris
* Lori Lemaris
* Ronal
* Sheeva