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From the salt and foam of the sea they are formed, born of magical ritual. From the moment of their creation they are adults with full agency and autonomy over their lives, as if their bodies had always been there in the sea, waiting to form. However, no siren has any memory of any past life, and their nature remains mysterious to all Alterans - even themselves.

Description

Sirens are ethereal beings, humanoid, but carrying the marks of their oceanic origin. Some have patterns and markings like those of sea creatures, be it the strange spots of an octopus or the faint stripes from a tiger shark. Hair colours can be any tone found in the seas, as can their eyes and skin. Their ‘full’ siren form, their form when under the waves, can follow the themes of sharks, fish, or even jellyfish. They’re as varied as the fauna around them.

The main difference is that whilst they can be toned and athletic, they’re never very broad, and seem distinctly delicate when they’re outside the ocean, as their bodies are adapted to it instead of terrestrial life. They don’t make for good land fighters, but are formidable in water.

Their teeth are all slightly sharp, pointed, or jagged. They have gills upon the sides of their necks when in water. Some have long pointed ears, and some have no ears at all but holes upon the sides of their heads. Occasionally, one might have strange eyes like those of a shark, all black and with its unusual eyelids.

Sirens & Ages

Sirens live for either four or twelve ages, depending on if their terrestrial form appears to be a human or an elf.

Abilities

Sirens are beings of the sea, but it is not so limiting. Should they leave the sea and dry themselves, their tails revert to legs for the land for a limited period of time (see flaws). In reverse, the moment they’re fully submerged in seawater, their full siren form returns in full.

Whilst in full siren form, they are as suited to the depths as any sea creature may be. They are fast swimmers, breathe underwater, and see clearly. Even temperature shifts in the water don’t hinder them unless extremes (boiling water and ice cold are still that).

They have limited control over saltwater, such as that from the ocean or even brackish water from estuaries or the like. They can cause the water to ripple in artificial patterns or swirl gently, but the water also seems attracted to them. Beading water seems to drift toward them instead of straight down, still puddles may gently ripple toward them. A siren may consciously draw saltwater toward them such as drawing the water from a drowning person's lungs, or water from a cup. They can only draw it toward themselves, and no more than, say, a pint or so at a time.

Flaws

Should a Siren remain outside of the sea for more than a day, the skin begins to dry and crack uncomfortably. Their vibrancy dims, all colour becoming more muted, white sections in hair, etc. Should they remain outside of the sea for more than two days, they will crumple to the ground as if overcome with sleep, and disperse into salt upon the third day.

Sirens require salt and water in far greater quantities than most races, a need which can be sated either by soaking in it or - much more rapidly - by consuming it. 

Because their bodies are adapted to the bouyancy of water, they can struggle to stay active on land. In terms of strength and endurance, over short bursts (no more than a few minutes), they are as strong as anyone else. However, while on land they cannot strain themselves for long - they cannot wear anything heavier than light clothes without quickly exhausting themselves, meaning almost all armor and bulky clothing is virtually off limits to them.

How are sirens made?

It’s not well understood, yet. Sirens seem to wash up on shores and beaches of seemingly no accord, however it is also possible for this creation to be spurred on by a release of great magical power. Power far in excess of what a mortal is capable of.

Can sirens have kids?

Sirens are considered an additional layer to elves and humans for these purposes. They can have a kid in the same way that elves or humans can. Their kids (and their descendants’ kids and their kids and so on) can take on some aquatic features of their siren parent, but are not considered sirens themselves in any other way.

How long do sirens live?

Sirens are considered an additional layer to elves and humans for these purposes. They have an expected life span of either 70 or 300 years, depending on if they are an elf or human descended siren.

Art Credit: https://www.artstation.com/tithendar

Thank you to Elz for writing it.