The Merfolk Cities and Merfolk Society

Since mermaids speak little of their life underwater, I'm assuming that they have something to hide. This thread is to unravel those secrets (or weave them, depending on how you look at it.)

It is stated in the wiki that merfolk use their underwater cities as breeding grounds and meeting places, but I would like to elaborate on this. Since there is a fairly wide array of mermaid species, then one would assume that they have a mixed society with information-swapping, hunting tips and some sort of at least semi-organized arrangement.

Of course, to Anko, a melting pot of merfolk sounds like a meal...
*Imagines Anko looking left, right, swallowing an estuarine mermaid, then being eaten by an angry leviathan*

And I'm also picturing ichthys there too, in nursery-like areas. What does an underwater city for giant merfolk look like, anyway?

The way I picture it is that it is made up of deep rocky canyons or underneath a large overhanging land structure, or even in a giant coral reef. Perhaps during the mating seasons, leviathan mermaids will stay within the vicinity of the cities to protect them; I also see ichthys having a part in protecting the merfolk eggs and having protection in return. It's also not hard to imagine Royal Mermaids using their magic to ward off would-be predators that threaten mermaid fry.
Since I'm not sure what infant merfolk are called, I'll just call them fry if that's alright.^^;

Is it also possible that powerful magic-using merfolk could create barriers around these cities, in much the same way that humans have a barrier around Negav with their crystals? I know that mermaids are practically the largest race in the sea that you wouldn't normally think of needing protection, besides the smaller estuarine variety, but sharkmaids and other predators (Tallulah, etc.) could pose a great threat to merfolk fry, of which we don't really know the birth rate of...

(By the way, do merfolk lay eggs or give birth to live young? Does it differ like nagas? I'd imagine that Royal Mermaids, being two parts mammal, as well as possibly the estuarine mermaid (described as dolphin), would give birth to live fry.)

Merfolk are relevant to my interests.

/Fish/ wrote:

Since mermaids speak little of their life underwater, I'm assuming that they have something to hide. This thread is to unravel those secrets (or weave them, depending on how you look at it.)

The big mermaid secret: They worship Cthluhu.

I think it can be interesting to developp an underwater world. But I fear it becomes too much classical or a simple copy of the life in surface

I don't intend to differ from the basic description given in the wiki- what I've discussed here mainly concerns mermaid breeding and such; I don't see them living anything like surface-dwellers in way of settlement and more like a safe place to bear young and then back to life at sea. This is basically to form a picture of what exactly goes on while they are at these cities and any quirks a mermaid society would have.

And Quantum, the fact that's all you have to say on the subject frightens me- just a little... Do you think it's a non-issue?

/Fish/ wrote:

And Quantum, the fact that's all you have to say on the subject frightens me- just a little... Do you think it's a non-issue?

Not at all. I just had a lot of pans in the fire, so to speak. I grew up always wanting to be a marine biologist (until I found out how much they make ^^; ), so I've always had an interest in marine life. Just needed to wrap up a few things before hopping into yet another thread.

/Fish/ wrote:

It is stated in the wiki that merfolk use their underwater cities as breeding grounds and meeting places, but I would like to elaborate on this. Since there is a fairly wide array of mermaid species, then one would assume that they have a mixed society with information-swapping, hunting tips and some sort of at least semi-organized arrangement.

Don't forget "marketplaces" in your consideration of meeting places; markets are an important part of any city, and mermaids are certain to have some kind of economy... even if it's just trading shiny rocks for bundles of kelp. But considering the number of sunken ships and lost treasure there must be in the oceans of Felarya, Merfolk may very well use gold and gems. They wouldn't place the same value on it as we would, but they could still use them as a form of currency. Rubies might be more valuable than Diamonds in the Mermaid economy for no reason other than because they're red, and red happens to be the popular color that week. You could have a lot of fun with it.

As far as Anko and other predatory Mermaids "eating out of the melting pot", I'm sure there would be some laws or mechanism in place to prevent that. Maybe it's just the honor system, and everybody actually follows it (everyone needs a place to unwind every now and then, and a quick snack might not be worth getting exiled from the only marginally "safe" place in the ocean); or maybe it's something a little more intense, like a Isolon Eye-style zapper. But considering one of the main purposes of the city is to rear young, chances are fairly good that there's some kind of lasting neutrality policy while in city limits, however it's enforced.

/Fish/ wrote:

What does an underwater city for giant merfolk look like, anyway?

Good question. I imagine lots of coral is involved, and plenty of wide open spaces, like you said. Maybe even some deep sea vents, like the "black smokers" at the bottom of the ocean. Hot springs for giant mermaids?

/Fish/ wrote:

Since I'm not sure what infant merfolk are called, I'll just call them fry if that's alright.^^;

Fry works. You could also call them Pups (as in baby sharks, not baby dogs). It's up to you.

/Fish/ wrote:

Is it also possible that powerful magic-using merfolk could create barriers around these cities, in much the same way that humans have a barrier around Negav with their crystals?

I'm sure it is, although such a defense could take practically any form. A swirling boundary of water surrounding the city that sweeps non-mermaids away from the entrance, powerful sonic blasts that carry through the water and stun intruders, or even something more complex... like a buffer of air between the water surrounding the city and the "wilderness" outside, that is ionized and has bolts of lightning coursing through it. The only way into and out of the "bubble" would be through hidden tunnels in the rock and coral that only the mermaids know about. Tons of possibilities.

/Fish/ wrote:

(By the way, do merfolk lay eggs or give birth to live young? Does it differ like nagas? I'd imagine that Royal Mermaids, being two parts mammal, as well as possibly the estuarine mermaid (described as dolphin), would give birth to live fry.)

It probably differs. Some mermaids might lay eggs, some might give birth live. Heck, some might have egg cases, like some species of skate, ray, and shark. They did call them "Mermaid's Purses" back in the day...

Those are the Quantum answers I was looking for.

Fish, one thing I need to add: Ichthys aren't restricted to guarding youngs. Many of them are fighters that protect said underwater city. They have the advantage of being small: harder to hit and easier to hit something big.