Merman
CLIMATE/TERRAIN:
| Temperate/Oceans
|
FREQUENCY:
| Uncommon
|
ORGANIZATION:
| Community
|
ACTIVITY CYCLE:
| Any
|
DIET:
| Omnivore
|
INTELLIGENCE:
| Average-Very (8-12)
|
TREASURE:
| C, R
|
ALIGNMENT:
| Neutral
|
NO. APPEARING:
| 20-200
|
ARMOR CLASS:
| 7
|
MOVEMENT:
| 1, Sw 18
|
HIT DICE:
| 1+1
|
THAC0:
| 19
|
NO. OF ATTACKS:
| 1
|
DAMAGE/ATTACK:
| By weapon type
|
SPECIAL ATTACKS:
| Grapple ship
|
SPECIAL DEFENSES:
| Nil
|
MAGIC RESISTANCE:
| Nil
|
SIZE:
| M (5'-6' long)
|
MORALE:
| Average (10)
|
XP VALUE:
| 1 HD: 65
|
| 2 HD: 120
|
| 3 HD: 175
|
| 4 HD: 270
|
| 5 HD: 420
|
| 6 HD: 650
|
| Shaman: 420
|
Mermen are marine-dwelling, amphibious humanoids with the upper torso of a
human and the lower torso of a fish.
Mermen were once human but were transformed by unknown powers into their
current forms. They live by herding fish, but during times of need they attack other
sea-peoples or ocean-going vessels. They live underwater but surface to sun
themselves on large rocks.
Adult mermen are 5 to 6 feet long (tall) and weigh between 150 and 225 pounds.
Their skin tone is fair to tan, hair color is usually dark brown (occasionally
fair), while their scale color ranges from green to silver. Females, also
known as mermaids, are 6 inches shorter than the males and weigh between 100 to 150
pounds. Mermen adorn themselves with coral and shell decorations. Mermen speak
their own language (with different dialects spoken by communities that are
separated over wide distances), and 50% of all communities also speak locathah.
Combat: Mermen communities are well-armed. The arms used by mermen are as follows:
Trident, dagger (50%) *
Crossbow, dagger (30%)
Javelin, dagger (20%)
* 20% of all trident wielders are also armed with a hook and grappling line
(50 feet long).
Mermen crossbows have a range of 30 yards underwater. They use grapples to
attack ships; the grapples can be thrown up to 50 feet. Each grapple held by 10
mermen slows a ship by 1. Once stopped, the ship is attacked and a hole is
knocked in its hull in 4d4 rounds, after which the ship slowly sinks, to be looted by
the mermen.
Merman suffer double damage from fire attacks.
Habitat/Society: For every 20 mermen encountered, there is a patrol leader (2-3 HD) and 1-3 barracuda (AC 6; Move 30; HD 3; #AT 1; Dmg 2d4). For every 40 mermen, there is a leader
(4 HD). For every 120 mermen encountered, there is one chief (6 HD) and two
guards (4 HD). For every ten mermen, there is a 10% chance of a shaman (3 HD,
with the spells of a 3rd-level priest).
Mermen have regular undersea communities, usually a reef or cliff honeycombed
with passages. Rarely (10% of the time) they construct a village from sea
shells and coral. An average community has between 100 and 600 males. Females and
sub-adults each equal 100% of the males in a village. The communities are usually
guarded by 3d6 trained barracudas.
Mermen society is heavily patriarchal. They prefer to be left to themselves
and usually reject proposals of friendship or trade. They have strong territorial
instincts and, while closely related to humans, they have no love for them.
Males hunt and herd fish and protect their territory. Females raise children and
tend to domestic affairs. Mermaids are also known for their creativity, and
they produce works of art for the community (shell carvings, seaweed tapestries,
and songs).
Ecology: Mermen are omnivorous, but they prefer a diet of fish, lobster, crab, and
shellfish. They do not cook these creatures, but must fillet them before eating.
They can survive out of water for one hour before they begin to dehydrate. When
dehydrated, they lose 2 hit points per hour and will die when they reach zero;
immersion in fresh or salt water immediately restores these lost hit points.
Mermen have an average life expectancy of 150 years. Mermen have many natural
enemies but particularly hate the sahuagin and ixitxachitl. They often clash
with tritons over territory.
Index