Selkie

When the water calls, we dive below the surface where we are safe. We dance and play beneath the waves, deep underwater wher no-one can hurt us.

Selkiefolk

The Selkies are an intelligent species of humanoid, similar to humans and elves in manner and in speech. They often referred to among other cultures as sea-elves or seal-people because of their ability to embody a seal by changing their skin. Spending most of their lives underwater (in the body of a seal), the selkiefolk have the unique ability to shed their sealskin at will and take on the body of a human who is able to walk on the land.

by Frod0_baggins

Basic Information

Biological Traits

• Selkiefolk are extraordinarily good swimmers when in their human body, although most prefer to enter the ocean as a seal. Those who do swim outside of their seal form can also hold their breath for up to 10 minutes whilst underwater
• Although they have a long lifespan, if their sealskin is taken from them, damaged, or destroyed, they will rapidly age in their human form and die at around 40 or 50 years of age.

Growth Rate & Stages

Youth

Selkie mothers give birth whilst in their seal form, thus selkie children are born as seal pups. Selkies only gain the ability to shed their sealskin around age 10 and before this point they are confined to the ocean.

Adolescence

Between the ages of 10 and sixteen, selkies age approximately equal to humans. Their human body ages naturally, whilst when wearing their sealskin, they will always appear slightly younger than their years. The sealskin grows with the selkie so, as they age, they age as a seal also.

Adulthood

Selkies come of age on their sixteenth birthday (during Mealia). At this point their aging begins to slow as they keep their youth in human form for many years. This is often confusing for land-dwellers as a selkie may look like a young adult until around their 50th birthday.

Old Age

Somewhere between their 300th and 500th year of age a selkie will choose that they no longer wish to dwell upon the surface. They will put on their sealskin for the final time and make the journey to Renea. Here they will dwell, alongside their ancestors, until their death.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Selkiefolk live in a matriarchal society where women are most often elders, religious leaders and those that provide help and guidance. Because of their long lifespan, selkie women can be leaders of a community for hundreds of years. Even after they choose not to return to the surface, culturally significant elders may still be asked for guidance during the yearly pilgrimage to Renea.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Selkiefolk are found all over the Isles, although mostly in the coastal regions such as the cities of Ostarith and Dentallie. However, it is believed that selkies originally came from the far north and migrated to the Isles due to the slightly warmer weather. Every year after their sixteenth birthday, the selkiefolk take a pilgrimage north to Renea (the home of their ancestors). They repeat this pilgrimage every year until they make the choice not to return.

Table of Contents

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Facts and Figures

Lifespan

between 300-500 years

Average Height

In their human body, selkies fall into the average height range of humans. Averaging around 1.6m for females and 1.7m for males

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

In their humanoid form, selkiefolk have a noticeably blue undertone to their skin, causing them to often be mistaken as ghosts when they frequent the beaches in the moonlight. The exception to this are the Loyra. The Loyra are from the south, a wandering people, who are darker of skin than most other selkies due to the fact that they originated from a warmer climate.
Facial Characteristics and Features
In their human form, selkies can be identified by their pointed ears and large eyes. Unlike most land dwellers, selkies eye colour tends to range between a pale blue, water grey, or in some rare cases, black.

Related Historical Events

• 1 SY
  The Selkiefolk Arrive