Merfae (Merrow for short)

-Contrary to what most mortals believe, merfae have human forms that they can take on when they are on land...HOWEVER they cannot keep that form for more than three days at a time, and once that time has run out, they can't take it for another 6 moons (6 months). So, many Merfae tend to use that form sparingly.

-Hair is always colourful. If it is brown or blonde or another mortal colour (as they call them), there is always a colour or two (or several) shot through the strands. Their hair is always long and flowing. Males tend to tie it up in their human forms, but all Merfae have hair to at least their waist.

-Eyes can be any colour but the shades of brown, gold, or black, and aways have silver flecks in them, said to be a blessing from the First Merfae, they always have the shining sea in their eyes.

-Skin can be pale or sun kissed, but because they need a balance of sun and ocean, the colour is rarely very dark (unless the Merfae is one who uses their human form often or suns on the rocks a lot).

-Huge fans of facial and skin decoration (makeup and tattoos), and Merfae are known the Realms over for their expertise in these arts. Some Merfae use their human forms to attend festivals and hone their craft. It is a high honour to have a tattoo or other marking made by a Merfae, and most who have them are very wealthy, though there are a few who gain them out of friendship or charity/kindness.

-Merfae LOVE shiny things, like jewelry and coins. They don't care about the value, unlike Dracofae, they just like the shininess. They tend to display any coins they find or recieve on their walls or lamps, where they can catch the light. Jewelry, however, they do wear and very much enjoy wearing. They do favour the lighter metals and materials that the Spring Kin use in their designs though, so it's actually a rare treat for Merfae to get the jewelry they like to wear. Some Spring Kin do leave gifts for them on the beaches during Moon and Tidal festivals, but there are far more Merfae than they can make for...

-Seelie Merfae are typically very kind creatures, unlike their Unseelie counterparts. They will help lost sailors find their way home and return any objects that are lost at sea. They also use their communication abilities with fish to hear of any problems in the reefs that they can help with. There is a limit to this kindness however, as they will not tolerate any disrespect of the Moon or seas...if proper homage is not paid at festivals or disrespect is shown at any time, the Merfae turn their back on the ones who do so. They are not allowed to speak a word to them, and they pass this on to their children. Basically, if one is disrespectful to their home and light, they are forever shunned by them.

~~Notes: There was a time that merfae visited the human realm and not just the Fae Realms, but in recent years, relations with the humans has been forbidden, on pain of banishment, which results in completely losing their human form.

~A merfae kiss, no matter what form (hand, cheek, forehead, lips), will grant the recipient the ability to breathe underwater for a short time.