Orl

And from the tides they emerged, a mess of claw and tooth and fish-like appendage. Those opaque, bulbous eyes.. They stared through me as if I was nothing.

- Whitestone Harbormaster

Lost Dwellers of the Abyss

Of the Orl, little is known beyond the scattered and outdated research of the deceased Grandmaster Alchemist Omeron, who is credited with their origination. His hastily scribbled notes seemed to offer at least some stability of knowledge. That the Orl were a misshapen, outlandish thing that should not exist. That they resembled, somehow, both the flesh of Man and the flesh of some unknown aquatic being - perhaps more. That they were primitive yet capable, to a degree, of rational thought.
Since the Orl ravaged their bindings and delved beneath the tides so long ago, myth and legend have thrown even these few guarantees into doubt.

Shaken sailors retell stories of chance encounters with beings that seemed to possess, loosely, the deformed figures of Men bearing heads more suited to fish. Fins rose from beneath the savage waves as if declaring the presence of something greater; from the depths, a dozen glassy eyes peered one after the other. They were observed - perceived by something they didn't understand. And in that moment, they realized the seas they thought home did not belong to them.

Origin & Creator

The precious little that can be gleaned from Omeron's research notes paints a grim picture of his work. The original Orl, like all Beastkin, were the result of a transmutation between the flesh of Man and Beast. However, those who endured this transformation were not participants of their own will. The records detail Omeron's meticulous work in acquiring subjects. It is known that he targeted the poor and the uneducated, namely those with debts they were unable to repay. With no other option and having been offered freedom from debt in exchange for their aid, the unwitting subjects marched joyously to their end.
Perhaps their misguided optimism provides the explanation why many of the Orls' forebears seemed to retain some form of intellect.

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Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Humanity (Distant)
• Aquatic Lifeform (Unknown) (Distant)
• Other (Unknown) (Distant)

Average Lifespan

• Unknown

Geographic Distribution

• The Abyssal Maw

Average Height

• 6-7 ft
• 183-213 cm

Average Weight

• 240-300 lbs
• 109-136 kg

Average Physique

The Orls' angular and gaunt figure belies their true strength: adaptability. Webbed digits, fins, and a laterally compressed tail enable them to surge through water without difficulty while their remaining humanoid traits facilitate their travel on land.

Markings & Coloration

A sickly, almost translucent pale is the dominant coloration of the soft skin (such as the stomach region), whereas rough patches of scale hued in blacks, grays, and dim blues cling to the outer sides of the limbs. Scattered undertones of cloudy grey, mossy green, and dim blue are not uncommon.

Additional Notes

It should be understood that certain information such as height and weight are only approximations, as the Orls' solitude has likely differentiated them from their forebears.