Sirens (Mermaids)

Siren

“Dont let their appearance fool you, they will use their beautiful voice to lure you in and then snatch your face off clean”

Sirens (or mermaids/mermen or merfolk) are a legendary aquatic creature with the upper body of a Human and the scaly tail and fins of a fish. Sirens are closely related to the Cecaelia and are very similar anatomy. They are the second-largest humanoid species in the known world with many different legends surrounding them.

Despite their stunning beauty, Sirens are extremely dangerous and they have the power to decide the fate of any ship they come across. Female Sirens use the combined power of their beauty and voice to lure men into the sea, either to bring them down to live in the Siren realm to quell their loneliness or to drown them out of humor or spite.

Some Sirens are benevolent and have been known to rescue drowning humans, while others are monstrous and are able to sink entire ships. Sometimes a Siren will fall in love with a human. However, the land and sea are two different worlds. Tales of mermaids who tried to overcome this great divide usually end in sadness and heartbreak. Known examples are Princess Thetis, Pania of the Reef and Nympha.

In the history of Sirens, they were hunted and killed for sport and gold by pirates bringing their species to vulnerability. This hunting came to an end when King Pontus, the current king during the time, declared war on the surface world, specifically targeting pirates and House Starkweather. The war lasted two years with both sides facing many losses though it came to a conclusion when king Ignatius Starkweather offered a peace treaty with King Pontus which halted the war. The treaty stated that hunting and killing of Sirens will end if they removed themselves from the trade routes of the pirates and Calydonians (which is now known as the Soundless Sea) and in return the Atlantic Ocean would be officially recognized as a sovereignty of the Siren species where no Human should sail. This was signed by the current rulers of the realm and each of them took notice of not only the Sirens sovereignty but also their immense military power.

Anatomy & Morphology

Both female and male Sirens are a hybrid of human and fish with the heads and torsos of humans and the lower bodies and tails of sea creatures. Sirens are exceptionally beautiful with pearly, glass-smooth skin with a strange luminescence, coral-colored lips and shining eyes of ocean blue or green. Soft, silky hair flows down their backs in slight or many waves like the sea or thick curls like seaweed. Female Sirens vary greatly in appearance and coloring but they all possess an enchanting and other-worldly beauty. Male Sirens are considered less attractive compared to their female counterparts but many have a fearsome and intimidating beauty with cold eyes, powerful muscles, and skin as cold as ice and fish's with a grayish to bone-white tinge. Just beneath the belly button, a mermaid's body becomes akin to the body structure of manatee or blue whale but slimmer and elegant. Most tails are at least two meters long or more and end in huge, horizontal and semi-transparent flukes. A short dorsal fin runs down the length of their tails.

Like a fish, their tails are covered in shimmering, iridescent scales. For female Sirens, scales cover them from their waists to their fins, replace their fingernails and cover their breasts while scales coat a male Siren's waists to their fins and forearms where they also have smaller fins. Thin and translucent webbing connects their fingers. Sirens vary greatly in color with scales ranging in hue from blues, greens, and violets to reds, coppery-orange, and golden-amber. Male Sirens generally have cold-colored scales while female Sirens can be any hue.

Genetics & Reproduction

In mermaids, reproduction is much like that of dolphins. The reproductive organs of both the male and female are akin to the dolphin and whale, and mermaid babies are born live (as opposed to hatched from eggs).

Females have human internal reproduction organs; however the vagina is slightly shorter, and the common urogenital opening (the urethra merges with the vaginal canal near the opening) is at the front. The opening can stretch as much as a human vaginal opening; Sirens babies are born ¡live. A clitoris (which is the same color as the tail) is slightly below the urogenital opening, and an anus is above the urogenital opening. Sirens vaginas are slightly smaller than human ones (since merman penises are smaller, explained below), so they tend to be more sexually satisfying to human males.

Males do have a penis, but it is almost as small as a human female clitoris and is the same color as the tail; it is hardly visible (this is the only plausible explanation as to why no one has ever seen a penis on any of merman). It is used for urination, as well as sexual intercourse. The testicles are inside the tail, as opposed to the pelvis since they require a slightly lower temperature to function properly (the human and pelvis part is warm-blooded, but the tail is cold-blooded). The anus is above the penis.

Behavior and Society

Sirens are mysterious beings whose nature varies from siren to siren. A common Siren trait is a vanity. They often perch on the rocks to comb their flowing curls and love to gaze upon their fair reflections. They are also proud and easily offended. They can become very vicious when angered. A princess was nearly destroyed because her mother claimed she was fairer than the Sirens. Though this vanity can be unrewarding as shown when a power Mage cursed their entire species for it. Some Sirens are as cold as fish and act icy towards other beings. This does not extend to their own kind as they care deeply for each other. When one is hurt, many mortals, including the offender pays the price. Male Sirens are known for their strong masculinity and which can sometimes be aggressive. They are easily angered, very territorial, and protective of their own. The majority of the Siren military consists of men and are strong fighters. Sirens as a whole are strong, independent and powerful beings but they can be benevolent. Some rescue mariners from drowning and others fall in love with humans. Female Sirens are more curious about the world above than their male counterparts and used to shed their true form to dance on the beach or attend human festivals. Though they can be very cruel, Sirens always help those who have helped them. Those who have dealings with the Sirens do so at their own peril. Many can also live for more than 100 years.

Ecology & Habitat

Sirens live in the sea and inhabit marine areas all around the world, according to legend. But there are also stories of sirens living lakes and rivers.

Powers and Abilities

•Siren Song: Sirens can vocally emit a beautiful song that entrances men and subliminally compels them to either follow any predetermined orders given by the user in the song or to try to reach the source of the song, no matter what dangerous obstacles are in the way of the path. Their voices have a lighter side. While someone listens to the mermaid's song, they forget their pain, their sorrow, and rage until the singing ceases. Their songs are capable of empowering the listener, as well as weaken them or occasionally put them to sleep.

•Sonic scream - A Siren’s voice can also be used as a sonic weapon, capable of stunning or outright killing anyone or anything that threatens them.

•Superhuman Strength: Sirens are considerably stronger than a muscular grown man due to living at such great depths. Humans are generally powerless when attacked by a Siren. However, their upper body strength is nothing compared to the power of their tails which, with a few hits can break a metal door or break through a wall of ice. One hit from a Siren's tail fin can knock out a military frogman.

•Limited Shapeshifting (Removed): Sirens were able to transform into humans so that they can walk and breathe on land. Sirens can stay human for many days, weeks, months or even years. If a Siren gets wet when in human form, her legs will transform back into a tail. However, this ability was stripped from them after their entire species were cursed by a powerful Mage many years ago.

Fish/Cetacean •Physiology: Because Sirens are part fish, they can breathe underwater for as long as they wish and dive to depths no human could withstand. They can also adapt like migrating sea creatures so they can thrive in any aquatic environment; from the Arctic to the Caribbean, from vast oceans to streams and lakes.

•Speed Swimming: A Siren’s powerful and streamlined tail and huge flukes can propel them through the roughest waters with incredible speed, grace, and agility. They can swim at a speed of 600 km/h. Like a dolphin, their fins can propel them high out of the water.

•Weather Manipulation: Those parts of the royal bloodline may or may not inherit the ability to control the weather. Just as a mirror shows reflections, the weather, according to mythology, mirrors a mermaid's emotions, particularly anger or frustration. Sirens can control the weather and summon storms which can range in severity from a shower of rain to terrible tempests, typhoons, and hurricanes capable of destroying entire coastlines. Due to their affinity with water, Sirens can control water-related weather like snowstorms, hail, and snow. A Siren's storm can defy the laws of nature and they can conjure miniature tempests in concealed environments like a house, cavern or even a bottle. A Siren's weather powers grant them limited control over its various aspects, including wind, thunder, snow, sleet, and lightning.

Water Manipulation: A rare selective few of Sirens have unlimited power over all liquids. This power can be used to help or harm. They could even be used to pull ambient moisture out of the air to form water, withstanding great water pressure, or even raise water to send it at foes in the form of tidal waves, whirlpools, water geysers, orbs, and water surges or any other form they wish. One Siren is capable of sinking a ship with one tidal wave. Anger enhances this power and when enraged, Sirens can destroy entire coastal settlements and fleets with the forces of wind and water. As well as controlling natural disasters, Sirens can prevent them. A Siren can calm the roughest seas when calm. They can mold water like clay and make it form any shape they desire, from simple orbs, triangles, and squares to a Siren figure to a huge six-headed snake. They also have a tale of Sirens from Arcadia who has this ability able to boil, freeze and transform water into a gelatinous or glass-like substance. A Siren can grant protection from water to objects and people. They can grant humans the ability to breathe underwater.

Longevity: Aside from their incredibly long life span, they possess, from birth, ageless beauty and witty charm that a mortal would describe as nothing less than hypnotic.

•Cold Immunity: Sirens who live in the waters of the city of Acadia have a strong immunity to cold.

•Claws and Fangs - Sirens can grow claws and fangs due to being a predatory race.

•Telepathy - Sirens can call and communicate with aquatic creatures telepathically. This is also how they communicate with each other underwater.

Weakness

Dehydration: Sirens cannot survive indefinitely out of water. Exposure to air, especially for long periods or in hot, dry environments, is fatal.

Sonar/Loud Noises: High-frequency sounds, like those from ships, can disorient or incapacitate them, similar to what

•Fire/Heat: A natural aversion to fire and warmth, which causes them to dry out.

•Magic: They are often susceptible to other forms of magic or powerful mages.

•Sonar: Sirens have the same range of hearing as dolphins and whales. Sounds that can harm cetaceans will harm Sirens. Depending on the strength of the sound, artificial sonar can knock a siren out cold.

Mortality and Susceptibility to Human Weapons - Unlike the "Immortality" listed, sirens are generally portrayed as mortal and can be harmed or killed by conventional means (swords, harpoons, nets, etc.) if they are caught or encountered on land/near the shore.