just remember if felarya is going to still have mysterious qualities to it, some aspects of it should be more explained than others, for example, maybe not all types of elementals are discovered yet, and mages are constantly studying it

Well, this took much, much, much longer than I would have liked, but I now have a slimmer, trimmer, hopefully more interesting revision of the Naiad. Suggestions and/or criticisms are always welcome, especially since this whole race building thing is still rather new to me. I'm not at all thin-skinned, so feel free to let me have it.

Naiad 2.0

The Naiad is one of the more recognizable and less exotic types of water elemental, but should still not be underestimated, as large specimens can be very dangerous. Naiads can vary in size greatly between individuals, ranging from nearly human in scale, to truly enormous. The average specimen however, is commonly about the size of a typical Felaryan giant predator.

Naiads always take the shape of humanoids from the waist up, akin to the many tauric Felaryan races, and mostly appear female, though male specimens have been confirmed. Their bodies are mostly translucent, but also manifest some color, with blue, green and aqua being common. Older and/or more powerful Naiads tend to have a more opaque, nuanced coloration, some to the point of being mistaken for Mermaids or Chlaenas at a distance. At least from the waist up.

The upper half of a Naiad is more fixed than normal for an elemental, possessing very little shapshifting flexibility, making them more vulnerable to physical harm, though their sensory organs tend to be sharper as a result. Conversely, below the waist a Naiad's body is very simple and amorphous in nature, closer in functionality to magically animated water than anything. Common shapes utilized are that of a mermaid's tail for swimming, or a Chlaenas's tentacles for capturing numerous prey, though these imitations are far less effective than the real thing. Naiads 'improvised' limbs are quite weak in comparison to their size, and are thus are ill-suited to support them on land.

Due to the unfixed nature of their lower half's, Naiads can regenerate them very quickly, given an ample supply of available water, but are also more vulnerable to gradually 'loosing' bits of their tail to absorbent substances, or simple evaporation when away from their element, and thus prefer to keep excursions onto land short, or shun them altogether. Naiads can happily survive in fresh or salt water, though transferring from one to the other renders the Naiad in question very uncomfortable and irritable for several days while she adjusts.

Naiads are, like many creatures in Felarya, at least somewhat carnivorous, though fortunately they usually prefer to prey upon the other aquatic denizens of their home, rather than venture onto land. They do attack ships on occasion, and their natural resistance to the common types of predator deterrent makes them a concern for just about any voyage. Cold magic and certain chemicals that react violently to water are favored means of repelling them.

Naiads have a powerful weakness for sweetened beverages, usually preferring fruit flavors, and will go to great lengths to acquire them, even to the point of allowing more nutritious 'food' to escape. For unknown reasons, alcohol is very bad for them, and overindulging will cause them to literally dissolve back into water. This is considered one of the most embarrassing ways to have their body destroyed.

You know, specific variations of elementals are always getting just that, really specific. Probably unnecessarily so, if we take into account that it's really almost totally dependent on how an elemental develops on its own, rather than being genetically predisposed to, as other races. To be honest, it may be best to:

1. Rethink submissions for elemental varieties, being certain to simply limit complexity to the individual elemental, and not a particular variety.

or

2. Discussed before with Eric, here's what can be the 'club' theory, which could logically result in many similar specimens.

Have an explanation for different elementals having similar forms. For the non-sentient variety, let's say elementals may have an inclination towards a niche. A young nature elemental for instance, pretty savage in its behavior, does not yet have a form that resembles known elementals. Eventually it runs into a pack of bramblewolves. At this point the bramblewolves would force it into their pack, and imprinting on them, would take on a similar form. A method of recruiting, as opposed to reproduction for that variety of elemental.
For sentient spirits, it can still follow a 'monkey see, monkey do' mentality. Just assuming that a spirit can make a body quicker without having to figure out how to make a complicated one itself- by copying what another has accomplished, then you already have a strong premise for elementals to create similar body forms with similar functions. Ease of configuration, if you will.

If that isn't the case, then it could simply be for like company.

Elementals that don't copy others, and instead create their own specialized forms, may result in future elemental variations if their form is used by a base for others.

Other variants on those, with incentives to copy other elementals' forms.

Thoughts?

Some interesting thoughts here. Obviously the elementals need a bit more thinking I think.
The question "why is there species" should be a simple one and yet I'm not sure of the answer , personnaly ^^;