Locathah, Oppressed and Undaunted

The locathah have been dealt a bad hand in terms of their racial history, having been enslaved and conquered by a great many deep ocean kingdoms, especially by the Kuo-toa and Sahuagin. 
Although there are still some locathah slaves dotted around the deeper oceans, most are now free and living in more shallow waters as nomads. The reason for their enslavement, in their minds, was that their enemies took advantage of periods when the locathah were at odds with their allies or each other and thus, fragmented. As such, they now live in tight-knit communities and if others prove to be their allies, the locathah will prove firm in their allegiance, trying everything in their power to keep such alliances together. Despite a sad history of slavery, even when treated with the utmost cruelty, they do not harbor angry or vengeful feelings towards their former captors, though they will do anything within their power short of threatening harm to their fellows to escape if enslaved by someone else. They don't believe that it is shameful to be enslaved, but it is shameful to do nothing about the situation.
It is easy to unintentionally offend a locathah as they have many unwritten rules of etiquette. If approached by a creature wielding a weapon, a locathah will always either flee or engage in combat. They do not like to be touched by other species, interactions with others are always done at a distance. They commonly lead creatures unfamiliar with their territory by their wake-currents
Though unsettling in appearance—at least to most surface races—locathahs are friendly and inquisitive. Unlike many aquatic denizens, locathahs have no inherent distrust of surfacers. In fact, most locathahs enjoy conversing with surface races and often hail passing ships to exchange goods or simply pass along news. Crews who sail in locathah territory know the piscine people as traders of both goods and information, trustworthy so long as they are dealt with fairly.
Locathahs also enjoy the company of aquatic animals, and they can often be found living alongside dolphins, giant eels, whales, and other such creatures. Many locathahs train as eel riders, and a band of locathahs atop giant eel mounts racing through the water is an impressive sight.
Locathahs are slender humanoids who have feathery fins running along the backs of their arms and legs, along the crown of their skulls, and down their spines.
They generally have protruding fishlike faces with large, round eyes. Locathahs exhibit a startling racial variety that runs in tribal lines based on the features of the tribe’s matriarch; in some tribes, locathahs might have fins that are rigid rather than feathery or inset eyes protected by a bony ridge.
Locathah have a very pronounced smell, this smell is detectable under the ocean but is quite obvious out of water, this is seen as not pleasant to many land walking races but the locathah value this scent and view it as important as one's own clothing and as a symbol of identity.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Fine scales, slender, large fins on arms and legs, fish-like

Ecology and Habitats

Since they require water to live and their skin will dry out quickly in the sun they make their home wherever water is accessible. They have shallow built villages and underwater colonies.

Additional Information

Social Structure

They are hunter-gatherers by nature, which has led many to believe them no more than simple barbarians. The locathah simply pay those with this attitude no heed.

Average Intelligence

Average Intelligence

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Locathah, Aquan

Common Etiquette Rules

They don't like physical contact, even amongst locathah families, touching is seen as a last resort.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Most locathah live in communal tribes. Those of 100 members or less are usually simple hunting parties, dominated by males, but in larger tribes, they prefer a matriarchal chieftain. The chieftain lays a multitude of eggs that are cared for by the rest of the tribe. Kelp farms and hunting territory are defended zealously and religious ceremonies to the Sea Elder Dragon Ceadeus are kept totally private, but otherwise, locathah are welcoming of strangers

History

Locathah territories can be found in warm coastal sea waters. They are perfectly happy living in deeper waters, but their former captors tend to live in such places so the locathah tribes have acclimated themselves to living in these shallows instead. Locathah nomads live south of Ilborndan and west of the Summerwild , however, some have moved to more permanent settlements on the slopes they call the Murmur Plateau which they use as a natural barrier against their traditional foes, the kuo-toa and the morkoth. They used to also live in the Alamber Deeps but the sahuagin there hunted them to extinction, earning the rare hatred of the locathah.
A particularly large and advanced civilization of locathah was found under the waves of the Celestial Sea between Sumner and Seonguk.

Lifespan

125 years

Average Height

5.0 - 6.0 ft

Average Weight

180lbs - 300 lbs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Yellow green to ochre