Merfolk (Zendikar; Ula Creed)
Source: Plane Shift: Zendikar p. 13
- Ability Scores: Intelligence +2
- Type: subrace
- Size: Medium
- Speed: walk: 30 ft.; swim: 30 ft.
- Spellcasting: Intelligence
Traits
Age
Merfolk mature at the same rate humans do and reach adulthood around the age of 20. They live considerably longer than humans, though, often reaching well over 100 years.
Alignment
Most merfolk are neutral, though merfolk of the Emeria and Cosi creeds have chaotic leanings.
Amphibious
You can breathe air and water.
Size
Merfolk are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.
Swimming
You have a swimming speed of 30 feet.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common, Merfolk, and one extra language of your choice.
Cantrip
You know one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.
Water Creed Navigation
You have proficiency with navigator’s tools and in the Survival skill.
Description
Ula-creed merfolk emphasize intellectual pursuits, stressing hard evidence and reason over passion. They are analytical scholars, chroniclers, explorers, and navigators who pride themselves on being blunt and straightforward.
Curious, thoughtful, and analytical, the merfolk of Zendikar are natural scholars and explorers. In the past, merfolk society was organized around their belief in three deities. But in the wake of the reappearance of the Eldrazi, the merfolk have realized that their faith was a web of lies, built on a corrupted memory of the Eldrazi titans handed down from generation to generation. In peaceful times, the merfolk might have fought over the ultimate meaning of this revelation. But faced with the danger presented by the Eldrazi broods, the merfolk have largely set aside their differences and joined together in a united force. Old grudges still linger, but the well-being of the merfolk race—and the world—far outweigh any ancient conflicts between creeds.
Merfolk are associated with blue mana, though the traditional merfolk creeds express this connection in different ways.
Born of the Sea
Merfolk are an amphibious race, born and at home in the water but comfortable on dry land. Humanoid in form, they have skin of ivory, silver, russet, blue, or deep purple. Long fins extend from the backs of their forearms and calves, and their fingers and toes are webbed. The hairlike growths on their heads are either thick and bristly like the needles of a sea urchin, or long and wavy, resembling fine seaweed. In either case, these growths typically range in color from red to warm brown to black. Male merfolk have similar growths extending down from their cheekbones.
Merfolk wear little clothing unless they are armored for battle. Even then, they drape themselves with nets and a minimum of cloth, wearing armor crafted of large, bleached seashells and augmented with leather.