Waterpeople

Waterpeople are an aquatic humanoid species that appears in folklore, myth, and fantasy fiction. They are typically described as native to underwater environments, though some traditions place them in estuaries or river networks. Most depictions portray humanoid figures with webbed digits and respiratory adaptations such as gills or highly efficient lungs enabling extended submersion. Skin tones vary; some accounts feature bioluminescent markings used for signaling or camouflage.

Habitat and society: Watercities are commonly imagined as built from coral, stone, or seaweed, with air-filled chambers and complex tunnels. Waterpeople may live in clans or family groups and maintain social roles, rituals, and guardianship of sacred sites. Their economies, when described, include fishing, pearl harvesting, kelp farming, and trade with surface communities. Language is often depicted as a combination of whistles, clicks, and muffled vocalizations.

Culture and interaction: In mythic traditions, Waterpeople are guardians of underwater ecosystems, while in other tales they are merchants, travelers, or tricksters. They may form alliances or rivalries with surface-dwellers, depending on the narrative. Education tends to be oral, with stories transmitted across generations; art emphasizes coral sculpture, shellwork, and sea-grass textiles.

In modern fiction and games, Waterpeople are a common playable race or faction, granted abilities such as water breathing, swift swimming, and underwater camouflage. They are used to explore themes of coexistence, environmental stewardship, and the tension between land and sea.