Species: Shelkies (with a H)

Hereditary Magic: Affinities can be passed down through family lines, but for most Shelkies affinities are learnt. Shelkie affinity isn't really influenced by location, though that changes depending on non-Shelkie parents.

Elemental weaknesses/resistances: Shelkies dislike aridity; Fire is fine in conjunction with water, but Sand or strong Air dries them out and negates most of their magic. Shelkies have an enormous resistance to poison.

Common locations:  Mostly, Shelkies are found in villages they build on the seabed, often extending into the tidal zones - these areas are used as Bazaars, where land dwellers can, at certain times of the day, visit and trade goods! Shelkies make good neighbours. However, it's said the majority of Shelkies actually live in much deeper waters in closed-off cities, but the distance required to get to and from these cities means Shelkies from these places aren't seen much.


Climate preference:
Shelkies don't mind cold or warm waters, and can survive in Freshwater with frequent salt baths and supplements. On land, most of their discomfort comes from the fact that their shells become much heavier, and they'll gradually dry out, but a Shelkie can choose to live on land permanently with a few significant lifestyle changes (e.g. ditching their current shell) if their partner requires it.

Sentience: Shelkies are entirely sentient if not particularly prone to philosophy. Deep thoughts are better left to the deeper dwellers, they'll say.

Language: Common. But Blubbery is a northern language that they use to better communicate underwater. It can be taught, too!

Trivia:  Shelkies can breed with anything that has a high enough Water affinity - for Avian/Mammalian/Insectoid/Plant species, the water affinity will have to be particularly high. A hybrid can breed with a wider range of species, but a water affinity will always have to be present; if it isn't, children without any Shelkie traits are likely.

The Shelkie King hasn't been King for all that long, considering; approx. 400 years. Midos is quite the diplomat, and toes the line between benign worshipful leader and bloodthirsty dictator - he's not afraid to lose a few (read: Entire villages worth of) Shelkie lives, if it means the desired continuation of his civilization, and his verdicts in Shelkie high court are often disproportionately severe - but he is extremely protective of his subjects as a rule and works hard to ensure a decent lifestyle for them. Because of this, loyalty in Shelkies is almost genetic... those that object to his rule aren't given a chance to breed. It's best just to go with the flow, they'll say, and by and large, this works. Midos has no direct family and nobody's really sure what he looks like, only that he's really really large and equally scary. He travels the world's seas passing judgment and building townships, and a village can go for decades without direct contact with him.



Teasels are the brainchild of sapphire3690, while Vipera Rays are Smash-chu's and Sardaven = WanderingRider!
If you wanna create your own or incorporate them into hybrids let me know I'd love to welcome them into the family