The most common inhabitants of Felarya’s abyssal depths, Cerationes are a breed of merfolk that have taken traits from anglerfish, and ones that certainly deviate from their popular image. Cumbersome and often globose bodies, scabrous and splotchy hides, ragged fins and oversized jaws bristling with long hinged teeth make a truly terrifying sight that have earned them the nickname of “Sea Hags”
Cerationes are more famous, however, for the glowing appendages that sprout from their foreheads. The ghastly giantesses dangle these lures above their mouths as they lazily drift in the dark waters, attracting smaller creatures that might mistake the light for a potential snack. A Ceratione can’t afford to be choosy and will readily attack and devour anything the lure brings her; even far larger creatures, which her immensely stretchy stomach will accommodate. Several species show varied takes on these adaptations, such as fins that extend in multiple sensitive feelers or extremely elongated whip-lures
Also worth mentioning is the extreme sexual dimorphism this breed displays. While females are fearsome titans in their own right, male Cerationes are degenerate and defenceless, not much bigger than a full-grown human. Possessing a sophisticated sense of smell, their only purpose in life is to sniff out a potential mate, and once they find it they will spend the rest of their lives clinging to her body, living off her blood and continuously fertilizing her eggs.
Cerationes are often seen as asocial and non-talkative by other merfolk, and they tend to avoid them as much as they can, if they even reach their domain. Which suits the angler-maids just fine; as far as they’re concerned everything else but them is potential food.
Subject: Cerationes 
Sun Oct 31, 2010 5:00 am
