Arctic Merfolk

The arctic merfolk are a large and powerful aquatic race that live in the cold northern waters of the world.

Arctic Merfolk

The arctic merfolk are large and powerful aquatic race that live in the cold northern waters of the world. They are a proud and noble race who have a strong sense of right and wrong.

Physical Description: Arctic Merfolk have the upper bodies of stout and strong humans and the lower bodies of marine mammals such as dolphins and whales. They are large and immensely powerful creatures. Most adults weigh about 500 pounds and are almost 10 feet long. Their skin is usually different shades of white black or grey. Arctic merfolk are usually have no hair on their heads. Merfolk have specially adapted gills instead of lungs that can breathe both water and air. Their tails allow powerful swimming, but are equally capable of supporting the rest of the body upright on land as they slither along.

Society: Arctic Merfolk have a highly ordered, and industrious society. Their culture emphasizes work, productivity, community and there is little corruption and criminality. They have a strong emphasis on faith in their communities which serves to unify the populace behind a common guiding force. Arctic Merfolk are known for building cities with massive buildings. The largest and most important of these buildings are the dual purpose temples and fortifications which can approach mythical proportions.

Relations: Arctic Merfolk are on good terms with other good individuals, but have very little tolerance for evil behavior. They get along best with elves and dwarves because they both share good alignments. They are more suspicious of humans until his alignment is known. A long history of conflict has resulted in a strong hatred for abyssal merfolk and orcs.

Alignment and Religion: The Arctic merfolk emphasis on community, order, obedience and religious tenets gives a strong tendency towards the lawful good alignment. Arctic Merfolk believe that the souls of their dead fall to the centre of their violent and vengeful Father Earth to be tortured in his violent, toxic and red-hot anger forever more. However, they also believe that with faith in Daughter Luna that Luna can snatch dead Merfolk from her vengeful father and bring her with them to a peaceful rest in the halls of the dead. Someday, the Merfolk sense Father Earth will rise from his deep sleep and kill the Sea Mother herself and consume all life in painful agony. On that day, the Merfolk believe when the Sea Mother can struggle no longer against the earth and she dies, boils over, and turns black with acidic sulphur, Luna "the egg of the world yet to come" will revive, kill the violent earth once again and forevermore and will resurrect all the faithful followers of her into the time yet to come, an eternally peaceful and happy paradise. Land folk are viewed as savage and barbaric but also with pity. They are seen as ones who have forsaken the Sea Mother for Father Earth and his evil ways of fire, iron and death. As such, the Arctic Merfolk greatly distruct the land folk.

Adventurers: Arctic Merfolk often become adventurers for abstract reasons such as to do good in the world or escape the rigidity of society. Their size and strength allows them to become powerful martial classes like fighters, palladins, rangers and barbarians. Their are also large numbers of clerics in the Arctic Merfolk population.

Arctic Merfolk Racial Traits

+2 Strength, +2 Wisdom, -2 Intelligence Arctic Mer are strong and wise.

Large Size: Large creatures gain a +2 size bonus to Strength and a –2 size penalty to Dexterity. Large races take a –1 size penalty to their AC, a –1 size penalty on attack rolls, a +1 bonus on combat maneuver checks and to their CMD, and a –4 size penalty on stealth checks. Arctic Merfolk take up a space that is 10 feet by 10 feet and has a reach of 5 feet.

Aquatic: Members of this race have a swim speed of 30 feet and gain the +8 racial bonus on swim checks that a swim speed normally grants. Members of this race are amphibious and can breathe both air and water.

Slow speed: The race has a base land speed of 20 feet. If the race is Medium, its members' speed is never modified by armor or encumbrance.

Powerful Swimmer: Members of this race receive a +10 foot bonus to their swim speed.

Languages: Arctic Merfolk begin play knowing common and Aquan. Merfolk with a high intelligence score can choose Gnomish, Orcish. Sylvan, Elvish, Draconic, and Halfing.

Related Links

Go back to Merfolk/Homebrew homepage

• Abyssal Merfolk
• Coastal Merfolk
• Coral Merfolk
• Crustaceids

Arctic Merfolk Gallery

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