Merfolk

Merfolk CR 1/3

XP 135
Merfolk warrior 1
N Medium humanoid (aquatic)
Init +1; Senses low-light vision; Perception +3

DEFENSE

AC 13, touch 11, flat-footed 12 (+1 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 7 (1d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref +1, Will –1

OFFENSE

Speed 5 ft., swim 50 ft.
Melee trident +2 (1d8+1)
Ranged heavy crossbow +2 (1d10/19–20)

STATISTICS

Str 13, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 10
Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 13 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Perception +3, Swim +13
Languages Aquan, Common
SQ amphibious

ABOUT

Environment temperate ocean
Organization solitary, company (2–4), patrol (3–10 plus 2 lieutenants of 3rd level and 1 leader of 3rd–6th level), or shoal (11–60 plus 1 sergeant of 3rd level per 20 adults, 5 lieutenants of 5th level, 3 captains of 7th level, and8–12 dolphins)
Treasure NPC gear (trident, heavy crossbow with 10 bolts, other treasure)

Slipping in and out of the crashing waves, this beautiful woman has the lower torso of a long, slender fish.

From the waist up, merfolk bear the torsos of well-built humans and delicate features reminiscent of elves and other humanoids tied to the natural world. A merfolk’s lower body consists of the fins and tail of a great fish. Depending on the region, the scales of merfolk vary in hue, including gleaming silver, pale green, or even blue with stripes of yellow and crimson. Merfolk typically measure 6 to 8 feet in length and weigh over 200 pounds, with females being slightly smaller than males. Although amphibious, merfolk move only with difficulty on land and rarely wander more than a mile from sea.

It is quite rare for a merfolk to make contact with a creature not of its kind. In fact, many go to great lengths to steer sailors away from their lands, even resorting to violence if necessary. Ancient accounts hint at merfolk protecting a terrible secret bound to the depths, and though no reports mention what this secret is, the lengths merfolk go to remain isolated from other races highlight the importance of this safeguard.

While merfolk outwardly appear to be a beautiful and powerful race, some sages and seafarers whisper that degenerate and mutated merfolk roam the deepest, most isolated regions of the seas and oceans. Some evidence states that this offshoot fell to the worship of twisted and sinister powers lurking in the darkness below, while other theories include all merfolk in this sinister agenda, holding that even those merfolk who believe they control their own destinies are, in fact, merely unknowing puppets of a sinister and unknown master race deep under the sea.

Merfolk Characters

Merfolk are defined by their class levels—they do not possess racial Hit Dice. All merfolk have the following racial traits.

• +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, +2 Charisma: Merfolk are graceful, hale, and beautiful.
• +2 Natural Armor: Merfolk have tough skin
• Aquatic: Merfolk are aquatic and can breathe water. Their land speed is 5 feet, but their swim speed is 50 feet. They are amphibious, but prefer not to spend long periods out of the water.
• Low-Light Vision: All merfolk have low-light vision.
• Languages: Merfolk begin play speaking Common and Aquan. Merfolk with high Intelligence scores can choose any of the following bonus languages: Aboleth, Aklo, Draconic, Elven, Sahuagin, and Sylvan.

Variants

Arctic Merfolk (CR +1): Arctic merfolk live in the polar regions of the world, swimming in the iciest waters. They have the same statistics as merfolk, except they have cold resistance 5 and a +2 natural armor bonus. Arctic merfolk tend to be paler than their temperate and tropical kin. Their skin tones are waxen brown, gray, or snow white, and their tails can be gray blue, gray green, ice blue, pearly white, periwinkle, or silver. Source PAP124

Deep Merfolk (CR 3): Deep merfolk live near the ocean floor in the cold and lightless depths. While they have humanoid torsos and fish tails akin to other merfolk, their skin is murky and translucent, giving them a ghoulish look, and their long, silvery tails have red fins. Their eerie appearance leads to rumors that deep merfolk are evil creatures and that they worship demons and slaughter innocents. These rumors are unfounded, though; deep merfolk have the same reserved nature as their kin and generally keep to themselves. While individual deep merfolk may lead evil lives, the race as a whole is peaceful and neutral. Source PAP124