Aquamarine
Culture
Psychology
Aquamarine were isolationist by both their nature and the physical location of their settlements, although they were not quite as reclusive as the Drider or Angelics. Their isolation from the rest of the world also left them ignorant of the grand achievements of other civilizations or struggles the rest of the world has dealt with. Their trust did not extend far beyond their factions and others of their kind, and their communities were very tightly-knit and social. However, despite being extremely cautious, they were also extremely curious, and Aquamarines near the shore would often spend a significant amount time observing the land-bound races or interacting.
Their arrogance aside, they would readily sacrifice themselves to a cause, willing to fight and die for the other races of the world. They harbored a sense of guilt over almost flooding the world.
Ideals
Aquamarine society was based on family and clans. Noble rulers and monarchs ruled, in a variety of fashions depending on the sea as each was quite diverse.
The concept of private property, for the most part, did not exist among aquamarines in Sitnalta, Reef, Crag and the Trench. Whatever a given Aquamarine currently carried on their person could be considered theirs, but everything else belonged to the community as a whole. This particularly applied to tools, limited vehicles, and other practical items. Any Aquamarine could take one of these items whenever it was needed and regardless of who had possessed it previously, although individuals were allowed to keep relatively private dwellings. Such communal ownership meant theft was almost unknown. The exceptions to this were leaders, who often had large and elaborate homes with limited access and many personal items. However, Aquamarine rulers were a reflection of their people and usually remained rather generous. The freedom to borrow items at will was not extended to outsiders, and surfacers were often watched carefully to make sure they did not try to take advantage of the cultural practice. If a surface dweller lost or had something stolen it was normal by accident. Feuds in the past have arisen between the surface and aquamarines when property is lost at sea and an aquamarine finds and claims it, most of the time it gets returned, if the owner comes looking for it.
Aquamarines believed in the Law of Duels, in which two combating armies would instead put forward their champions to represent their faction and fight a personal challenge. This public conflict could have been nonlethal and to first blood, if the challenged (not the challenger) chosen so.
Architecture, Art & Leisure
Sculpture were primary art forms for the Aquamarine, as other mediums were likely to be destroyed by the water in short order. Intricately carved reliefs cover the walls of most cities, and statues were common or yards of ice sculptures could be found popping up in community spaces.
Sub races of the Aquamarines such as the Orca Dragons, Mermarines and Seirns were also quite musical. Their powerful voices traveled farther than expected underwater, and their thrumming songs brought to mind whale song and dolphin noises. The songs were often very long and evoked the rolling calm of the ocean. Though Musicians and Signers are not common in aquamarine society.
Architecture for aquamarines varied depending on which sea you where in, most build inside or with the naturals formations of the sea floor, other built up structures and implemented ways for sea life alongside it. More recent buildings often have a modern korean and new york styled of architecture.
Fashion
Aquamarines went either went fully covered, lightly clad or no clothes at all, to them less is more with clothing. Females prefer to wear little as possible to even being nude. Males are similar. They can and sometimes do where clothing, and all have their own styles, often tropical swimwear. Aquamarines who were fully covered often wore a black body glove, which sometimes had form-fitting plates attached to, it was an uncommon choice for aquamarines who would go the surface and not wish to dry out as fast or entered heavy combat situations. Their clothes were synthesized from underwater plants, coral or rocks and made with intricate designs colours varied and was often were linked to an aquamarine home sea.
They can have body modifications like piercings, ground down horns, implants, tail rings, ect but they never get tattooed as they see their markings as a kind of tattoo.
Aquamarines wore two unique kinds of armor. The first, called silverweave, was a light and flexible fabric made out of coral fronds, treated so that it had the durability of chainmail but moved like cloth. This was rarely worn outside of war, and usually was made to protect the legs. The bulkier, ornamental pearl armor served as a counterpart, offering protection akin to plate armor while being much lighter.
Technology
Because they lived underwater, the products of Aquamarine crafting often differed significantly from the surface. They developed a range of waterproof magical materials, and a system of writing underwater using either cured sharkskin or thick seaweed and an extremely viscous ink, these quickly fell out of use when the elves invented the maid. They did not commonly use metal, as it was almost impossible to forge underwater and would corrode quickly, however when the Crag Sea was founded that changed very quickly. Metals they used was traded for or scavenged from shipwrecks. The exception to this was gold, which would not corrode and was easily shaped in its raw form. Beaten gold jewelry was common among Aquamarines. Most Aquamarine items were crafted from synthetic materials, stone, gemstones, coral, shells, and animal materials such as bone, horns, turtle shells, sharkskin, or chitin.
Weapons
Aquamarines commonly crafted tridents, spears and other weapons that functioned underwater. They also developed longbows with bowstrings made of a special kelp that damped vibrations and turbulence. Combined with specially crafted arrows, these bows functioned without the usual drastic loss of momentum that most ranged weapons suffered underwater. Infamously known is the Aquamarines' plasma weapon technology, such as ion-infused metal blades or the Hydro-pulse rifles which convert water into ionized plasma through the process of fusion, firing plasma bolts. They have also developed blades of pure plasma light however they are largely underused by the military as the training to use a full-blade with no weight is considered a waste of time, the Starlocks have adopted the use of these weapons, however aquamarines still have small versions of these for cutting through doors, cables or just to be used as power tools.
Ships
Aquamarines where excellent shipwrights for both above and below sea. With the corporation of the Avians they have built many sailing ships over the centuries and are often more then happy to build new ones for them. Many set up businesses in the isle of flight to help repair or build them, with the invention of the maid they can now deploy on demand repair services out to ships stuck in the middle of the sea.
Another type of ships primarily created but and mainly used by the Aquamarines are submarines often dubbed Aquamarine Warships. Aquamarine warships are vessels utilized by the various factions of Aquamarine culture as transport. Some of these warships are battle mounts that are controlled by Aquamarine soldiers. While other types of different ships act as exo-suits manned by soilders or construction workers. The warships of the Aquamarine races are specially equipped war-rigs for land to undersea combat. They're also utilized for modes of transportation across the high seas for the kingdoms' numerous armadas for the purpose of ferrying war fleets across battlefields.
Many of the military Warships have been redeveloped for community and public use, such as shuttles between the various kingdoms or moving freight. The smaller bike warships are quite popular for sking around the seas by the public and often you can find them in community spaces to transport you about the city and then leave it behind for someone else to use.
The Aquamarines have developed versions of their warships for the land and sold them to other races, however they where a commercial failure, as they where no rules or regulations surrounding how fast someone could go on the vehicle and frustration between certain nations banning them and trying to travel cross border with freight was a nightmare.
Magic
Aquamarines tended to use various shells or of magical staves to channel their magic. Aquamarines mana networks where vast depending on the sub-race, however their mana points where most common in their hands, head and tails. This meant their magic had a lot of somatic components especially in controlling and shaping water or delivering powerful tail attacks. Some subraces could channel magic through other parts of their body, such as the Cephamarine through their tenticales and the sharkmarines through their mouths.
Being gifted with Water magic the race as a whole generally was very attuned to their primary type of mana being constantly surrounded by it like the Avians.
Aquamarine Sea Union
Unlike the other races of Mekkan the aquamarines do not hold a sole nation, they hold seven key deep seas where different aquamarine factions have built different cities, settlements of politic spheres. They are all united under the ASU (Aquamarine Sea Union) which is spearheaded by the king of Sitnalta. The Seven seas are as follows:
Sitnalta
The first Aquamarine Kingdom which quickly became center of early aquamarine civilization. Under the World Leader it is considered the capitol and most important of the seven kingdoms, and still remains the center of Aquamarine life and culture. Built atop the sea floor near Avernus, Sanguina, Midnight and the Isle of Flight, it has since grown over the millennia into a technologically-advanced city. The kingdom itself is difficult to access, as it is surrounded by high sea walls which are guarded by plasma cannons.
Sitnalta is ruled by a king or queen, who resides in the Sitnalta Royal Palace within the city. Sitnalta is currently ruled by King Danube.
Traders Reef
Built upon the great teaming reef near Buckwood and Drid'are, the Reef is mighty military presence with its own proud history. While it has often allied with Sitnalta, they have been rivals throughout history.
Inhabitants of the reef have a very strong magic focus, around Plasma influenced by the Isle of Flight as well as being strong companions with reef wildlife and fighting alongside may have some influences from Buckwood. Despite have an impressive fleet of ships and sub, they seem to favor using giant sea-dragons or dolphins as their choice of mount and transport.
Originally a monarchy when the last heir died the Reef reformed as an oligarchy, overseen by military leaders and knights.
Marinic
Of the four thriving Seas, Mariners is the most technologically advanced, with a culture that places an emphasis on engineering, intellectualism, learning and capitalism. While, themselves, proud of their peaceful and thoughtful nature, regard them as cowardly and culturally stagnant, hiding behind their academia, ivory towers and bi-laws.
Their impressive city is located within a dense kelp forest, and structures a very modern and urban. Currently they are a Technocracy where various members are voted in by the public, with parties buy-ins belonging to major corporations or academic institutes. Their current Prime Chancellor is Avon Coil, CEO of Coil.
Crag Sea
One of the four remaining kingdoms, the Crag Sea is most unique in the fact that its aquamarine population have mainly evolved into crustacean-type people. Brutish, proud, and easy to provoke, the Crag seem to have the worst relationship with the ASU.
The physical kingdom itself is lined by craggy mountains and streaked with rivers of lava. Their technology is inspired by their own forms and environment. For instance, their forms of transportation resemble different types of crabs, including horseshoe crabs; while their weapons and magic utilize the rivers of lava running through the ocean floor.
The Crag Sea operate under a monarchy; it is currently led by the Salt Brine King.
The Dire Depths
Home of the Trench, while technically its own political entity, is populated by savage mutant aquamarine, criminals, witches and demons who know little other than how to hunt. As such, it is considered one of the three sunken seas.
The Sea itself is a clearly defined trench located in the depths of the ocean. Within its depths lies a vortex which acts as a portal to the Hidden Sea. Inhabitants make their homes in caves or shelters built against the walls. Those banished to the trench are cursed to never be able to surface as long as the sun and moon shine, the only rare time they can leave is during a new moon. It is said it was a curse placed upon them by Amaria for vile deeds of eating forbidden flesh.
The Trench is also used as a punishment by most of the ASU. Criminals who sentenced to death are given the choice of death or be exiled (also called a sacrifice) to the Trench. It is suggested that the Coral-Song Trident can be used to command those in the trench and bring them back into the folds of the ASU.
The trench is run by various gangs or groups biding for power, although having no reconsidered leader by the ASU, the underwater valley is lorded over by the ancient Sea Witch Queen, Arcturia who resides in it's very depths.
Deserters
An excommunicated sea kingdom that splintered off from Sitlania long ago, it was said they where very ambitious and ahead of the curb in terms of technology as they had access to construction from the Bovines and the Kito'ans. However their sea dried up thanks to the first king using the Coral-Song Trident which provided Terra Del Leon and Mashara more landmass to control and an extension to the desert.
Despite not actually being part of the ASU the ancient ruins of Deserters Kingdom has been taken up by the coven leader of the sand witches, Salix Willow a bovine a curious Lich who has created a refuge for restless undead.
Hidden Sea
The Hidden Sea is a realm and pocket space found near Mekkan's core. It is only accessible through a one way abyss in the Trench or entering Water Gate. This strange sea named after the realm acts as a buffer between the Water Realm and Mekkan so that the moral realm isn't flooded and mana can move through at a regular rate, this strange internal globe is home to many strange creatures such as dinosaurs and other water creatures.
The sea is home to and overseen by Aqua the water gate dragon and her children. She has significant influence with the ASU holding a seat, but she rarely appears at meetings unless the gate is of concern.
Species Classification
Aquamarine is an umbrella term for sentient creatures found within the seven seas. Typically an aquamarine are both an aquatic and land species, although there are some very special expectations to these rules. They are a large and powerful race and come in many different forms, types, sizes and hybrids resembling diffrent types of aquatic life.
Orcadragon
Said to be created in the likeness of Amaria, Oraca Dragons are often seen as royality and make up a large percent of the Aquamarine population, they are large killer-whale like people, they have small wings that help them swim fast in the sea and allows them to hover on land. They are biological cousions to the Salamanders, except they don't suffer from being cold, but do share the ability of a breath weapons, enabling them to launch high presure streams of water or cold mist regardless if they posses the gate or not. Orca-Dragons tend to be orcals and powerful mages. They have a layer of blubber which can help them stay warm in colder areas of the world but tend to dry out a little quicker.
Sharkmarine
The classifcation of Sharkmarines make up the next largest population from Orcadragons. Resembling anthropmorpic sharks of all types of species, they are quite fast, deadly, intelligent and possess a higher then average pain tolrance. They natrually gravitate toawrds roles of technicians or military. Being known for their advance building skills among the other Aquamarines. The Sharkmarine population is heavily squewd towards Male by only 10% leading to male sharkmarines createing harems of females of any race or mate with someone for life.
'''Siren'''marine
A classification of Aquamarine that was orginally named by the Avians. Sirens commonly resemble traits similar to many sea slugs, snails and jellyfish. Sirens come in an enormous variation of body shape, color, and size. Most are partially translucent. Commonly from the Reef Sea the often bright colors serve as a warning to others to toxic stinging cells (nematocysts) or offensive taste. They all have small, razor-sharp teeth, called radulas. Most sirens have a pair of rhinophores—sensory tentacles used primarily for the sense of smell—on their head. Many have feathery structures (cerata) on the back, often in a contrasting color, which act as gills. Sirens have a bad reputation with outside races, favoring diffrent kinds of humanoid prey. They most friegtening traits is they lure nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island or will try to woo them on their boat, often paralyzing on touch and/or drowing them.
Brinemarines
This curious species of crustacean themed Aquamarine mainly hail from Crag Sea. The body of a brinemarine is composed of segments of hard exoskeleton, which moult as they age so they can grow. Various parts of the exoskeleton may be fused together to provide extra protection but limits movement. Some brinemarines have two pairs of antennae, a mandibles and maxillae. They are often famed as the slowest aquamarines as they don't swim nearly as much as the other classification of aquamarine and typically walk under the sea; However many shrimp influenced brinemarines have been known to set many sea speed records by propelling themselves with jets of water albeit backwards.
Cephalmorphs
These exclusively aquamarines are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, and a set of arms or tentacles (muscular hydrostats) modified from the primitive molluscan foot; Either protrudting from their backs, arms, replacing their legs or as hair. Fishermen sometimes call them inkfish, referring to their common ability to squirt ink; that correspond to the color of their hair or markings. They often resemble octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish; and Nautiloidea.
Mermarine
Sometimes dubbed mermaids and mermen. A mermarine traditionally possess the upper body of a humanoid and the tail of a fish. They can resemble almost any kind of fish however tropical fish is often the most common type. More so than other types of Aquamarine, the Mermarine tend to struggle to move about on land without crawling or aid from a mobility device; however, it is said that Mermarine can learn to take on biped appearances when they get to certian ages. There is a varient classification of Mermarine called Manta-mermarine who posses bipedal legs and have have ray-like fins that they can use as wings to slow their fall or allow glide while on land.
Bastardised Classifications
Due to aquamarines being able to easily traverse the land and sea, many hybrids and cross breeds with other Races have spawned over the years. Many don't survive beyond the simple cortship between the races, however a number have become quite common and have a minor classifications found here.
Wolfsharks
These are a cross breed of sharkmarines and Wolvians they often have tribes located near islands where their wolf kin live. They are often dominated by main Aquamarine Society. Most often they sport wolf ears or clumps of fur that helps then sence in the water, gifted with a superiour power to smell in the water. They are also typically fantasic enginers.
Hippocamarine
Often dubbed as "Sea Horses", Hippocamarine resemble Mermarine's however posses features such as goat horns, equine features or antlers. Often hypothises to have orginated from the Union of an Aquamarine and a Bovine or Cervidian, They are extremly strong swimers and are build like mountians similar to centaurs, they are able to haul charriots or salavage around the sea.