Vodnik

Vodniks, often simply called, "fishfolk", are an emergent species of humanoid demikith displaying properties of various species of undersea life – primarily of fish and eels – and an appropriately aquatic affinity in accompaniment. The majority of vodniks are amphibious in nature, able to either hold their breath for extended periods of time or simply breathe through both mouth and gills depending on their current environment, and thus favor wet, lowlands territories with plentiful subnautical space. Despite many displaying characteristics of underwater creachers confined to a single salinity, current research indicates that vodniks are entirely euryhaline in nature and able to comfortably exist in fresh and saltwater regardless of their physical characteristics. Believed to have originated in southern Karda where they are natively referred to as tangaroa, vodniks can currently be found in sparse amounts across most continents in temperate locales. Though nearly always living in communities sanctioned away from nearby kith as is the case with the majority of emergent demikith species, vodnik communes are historically viewed as peaceful and rarely fight among other kith. This is likely due simply to a divergence in physiological needs, as vodniks are like to conglomerate in locations hostile to goblinoid kithfolk. Vodnik communities in the south of Ivskia and across the Divlasal Isles, however, do often enter into territorial disputes with native saurians as the two species are drawn to similar environments.

by Rudy Siswanto

The term vodyanik has been frequently used in reference to a distinct sub-species of vodnik demikith. With names among the common folk including "fish ogres" or "catfish folk", vodyanik are significantly larger in both height and build than other members of their species and can frequently be seen in more physically demanding roles within their communities. Should a vodnik commune feature an organized militia, vodyanik are almost certain to fill most of the positions.