Seafolk

The Seafolk are a term used in folklore and fantasy to describe communities associated with the sea, often depicted as humanoid inhabitants who live in coastal regions, archipelagos, or underwater settlements. They are typically portrayed as having strong maritime skills and deep knowledge of marine ecosystems.

In most depictions, Seafolk exhibit adaptations for life near and in water, such as webbed fingers, resilient lungs or gill-like structures, and bioluminescent features that illuminate the depths. Their settlements range from shorefront villages and floating platforms to submerged cities connected by canals or tunnels.

Social organization among the Seafolk is commonly organized around kinship networks, fleets, or clans. Navigators, fishers, healers, and song-keepers form core roles. Rituals often align with tides, moon phases, and migratory patterns of marine life. Art and craft include shell carving, weaving of kelp fiber, and coral sculpture.

Language and knowledge are transmitted through oral tradition, with songs, myths, and chants encoding navigation, weather lore, and sea laws. Some depictions feature a written system carved in shell or coral, while others emphasize nonverbal communication such as sonar-like signals.

Interactions with other populations vary by setting. Some Seafolk engage in trade or alliance with coastal communities, sharing fishing rights, navigation expertise, or medicine. Others are portrayed as elusive or resistant to outside control, guarding underwater realms or special resources.

In culture and media, the Seafolk serve as a flexible archetype of ocean-dwelling peoples. They appear in fantasy literature, role-playing games, and visual media, where interpretations range from benevolent guardians of the sea to mysterious traders or tricksters.