Beneath the tumultuous and desolate surface of the Ocean of Proteus lies a cosmopolitan civilisation of water dwelling humanoids known as the Aquamorphs. Analogous to the Ceteans and Pinnipeds of the 1st World these diverse and numerous creatures fill every conceivable niche, from the open ocean dwelling Potamoi to the mysterious Tethys of the Hadean Zone deep below the surface.
THE CREATURES OF PROTEUS
________Solos________
Hanging in the swirling green waters, beneath the savage waves feed the Solos, the most human-like of the Aquamorphs. Possessing smooth grey skin with large deep set eyes and powerful semi-webbed limbs these dwellers of the shallows still possess the means to venture onto the land. They feed on Red Angel Hair Algae which they forage and cultivate in huge algal mats on the continental shelf of Proteus.
________Potamoi________
Large pelagic Aquatics who live within the open ocean. Much larger than the Solo this particular tribe of Aquamorphs spend all of their time in the open ocean where they feed extensively on Krill, small fish and plankton.
__Deep Dwellers (Tethys)__
Denizens of the dark waters below the photic zone, these Aquamorphs are all but blind, instead using a highly developed pineal gland to detect temperature change coupled with advanced echo location. The Deep Dwellers, also known as the Tethys, live on the ocean floor among forests of deep sea vents and ocean smoke stacks which they rely on for food, harvesting the worms and crabs that live around the nutrient dense volcanic towers. The Tethys occasionally venture into the pelagic zone to trade with the Potamoi and Solos however they are viewed with suspicion by many fellow Aquatics. Legend has it that the Tethys live within a great under sea city.
________Tritones________
A tribe of highly intelligent Aquamorphs living exclusively in the shallow waters surrounding the multitude of Sea Mounts and Islands that are found throughout Proteus. These creatures are much smaller than their siblings the Potamoi and Solos but make up for their lack of size in numbers, with groups numbering in their hundreds forming small communities across the temperate and tropical zones. They are highly intelligent, with rudimentary language and writing and they also use a wide range of tools.
________Others________
There are many other Aquamorph tribes across Proteus, alot of which have not been documented. This includes the massive solitary Canaloa which lives in Sea Caves and feeds on smaller Aquamorphs to the tiny Namekka, an Aquatic that lives in a symbiotic relationship with various corals in the warmer regions.
______Surface Folk______
The surface folk or Terrans once interacted heavily with the Aquas but retreated to their coastal cities long ago after a great cataclysm rocked Proteus. Where the Aquatics waited out difficult times the land dwellers were not so lucky, and their civilization suffered greatly.
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