Undine

The Undine are the direct descendants of the Tritons. Being born on the material plane has cost them the seemingly immortal lives of their forebears, though they retain their appearance and connection to the sea.

## History

Thousands of years ago, the Tritons found their way into the mortal plane through a rift deep in the ocean. When the horrors of their home realm tried to follow them through and wreak havoc, the Triton were honour-bound to become guardians of the places where terrible things find their way into the deep.

## Biology

They are an aquatic bipedal race, most commonly with blue skin and green, blue or black hair. The possess webbed hands and feet, ear frills and other aquatic adornments, and gills. They are able to breathe air, and suffer no physical detriment to being on land, but they prefer to live below the waves.

## Settlements and Infrastructure

There are three Undine town, some of the deepest hubs in the ocean, overlooking the deep trenches where it's said their ancestors still guard the depths. Kainta, on the edge of the Ogol Chasm. Whatt, suspended over the Violet Trench, Porewa, on the slopes of the Pelean Vents.

## Art and Culture

Many Undine have gone out to explore the wider world, but they retain a keen sense of duty and purpose that tends to see them pursuing lives that help to protect others or the wider world.

They are proud of their heritage, and take care to differentiate themselves from the likes of merfolk and gillfolk, despite sometimes overlapping physical attributes or interbreeding. When parentage is in question, the blood purity of Undine children is tracked through appearance and ability, those of "weak" blood are not exiled or abandoned, but they are denied to claim being Undine.

### Language

Undine and Triton speak Aquan and Common.

They call back to their heroes and heritage with names, naming them after stories of great Triton heroes. They also carry family names that can be traced back to the Triton of old. During introductions, family names proceed a given name.

**Examples:** Trikateni Awhina, Paleko Tamati, Wehipeihana Kahurangi, Epiha Te Ao

## Triton

The Triton are an ancient, immortal race who are believed to have come from another realm thousands of years ago, following great leviathans through the rifts into the Cobalt Sea. They remained to guard these crossing places from encroachment, and the Undine are their direct ancestors.

Many legends of the Tritons have been passed through the ages, and across cultures. It is unknown how many Triton of old survive in the depths, guarding these points of crossing.

The rare encounters with Triton suggest they are a proud people, prone to arrogance.. Having spent eons protecting the world from supposed great evils under the sea, they expect a certain amount of fealty and respect from other races.

Their arrogance aside, they are known to readily sacrifice themselves to protect others, willing to fight and die for any species of the world. This is often attributed to a sense of guilt over allowing the threats of the elemental plane of water threaten the world.

## Society and Relationships

Undine society is traditionally martial and militaristic, with each person expected to do their part to protect the three major settlements. More recent generations of Undine have increasingly chosen to leave, preferring to live in more diverse settlements such as Akau.

Undines hold no biases or prejudices toward any particular races, but their militaristic approach sometimes puts them at odds with more peaceful communities.

## Death, Deities and Belief

While the Undine and Triton have their own gods, many of them also pay homage to the mermish deity Loloto as a fellow guardian of the deep, following customary offering practices. They are also known to work along with the Le Lalo, who are dedicated followers of Loloto who patrol deep and dangerous waters to protect settlements from creature attacks.

## Notable Figures

* Iytana Je
* person
* person

## Campaign Events

* event
* event
* event

## 5e Mechanics

### Traits

* Amphibious
* Triton Martial Training
* Guardians of the Depths
* Advanced Watersight
* Darkvision