 Two multi-finned tails, gills and lungs that allow breathing under water and on land. Melusians come in every color of sand and shell from powdery white, rusty red, to volcanic black, with hair in every color found under the sea. Their skin is thick and rubbery, and their eyes have slit pupils, some of the few tells when their fins have been converted to legs.  

One male and one female Melusian mate, always underwater. A baby melusian, born 12 months later must be born underwater, and stay submerged for the first year of its life. A Melusian is fully physically grown at five years, and fully mature at ten. Melusians have a similar lifespan to humans, living on average without the aid of spells 100 years. 

two-tailed fey-origin water-dwelling people with two multi-finned tails that functionally operate both like legs and fins in the water, giving them high swim speed underwater and a very slow walk speed on land. Melusian casters have a spell that covers their entire body in either scales for deep-sea diving, protecting them from increased pressure and temperature changes, or skin for periods when walking on land. The skin spell can only be maintained for a maximum of six days, needing to retreat to water for rest every seventh day. Melusians have a mysterious and adventurous reputation. Shipwrecked fishermen and lost navy sailors are sometimes found on the beach with tales of their two-tailed saviors.

Underwater. It’s possible for casters especially to adjust to either Salt or fresh water but takes time, and spells. 

Melusians need to be submerged in a large body of water for at least eight hours every seven days. Though Melusians can eat many foods, they thrive on saline sea vegetables, and high protein raw fish. 

 Melusian hair and scales are sought after as casting reagents for water spells and spells to help topsiders breath beneath the waves. The more evil creators even use their scaled skin like snake or dragon scale. 

 Melusians live in several realms, the mortal realm on Fractallus, of course, but they also inhabit the Aqueous Realm of Lake and Sea and The Wonderous Realm of Fairies and Odkins. A legend among the Bander Tribe of the Banderian Sea along the Devil’s Coast states that the Melusians, on the continent of Xeocun, washed through the Font that produces the ever-flowing sea found beneath Harctelion.

Another city of Melusians living on the opposite side of the landmass holds that they were washed through a font to the Wonderous Realm of Fairies and Odkins found in the Tranquil forest. That would have meant they migrated through the many distributary rivers flowing off the great Lightning River and into the Sea of Expiration.

Melusians possess a curious and passionate nature. While they will defend their home and those they see as in need, they really just want to experience the world. They are often found in their skin-covered form, walking amongst land dwellers in seaside communities, enjoying the food, art, and company of friendly townsfolk for a week at a time, at least.

  large cat, male and female have mane spikes. Turquoise fur and both skin feathered wings. Males have additional spines down the back. Wings and spikes make it very difficult to ride as a mount. It’s wings are unusually large for it’s size, with many folds to let them relax.

 Long lived with a life span of 60-80 years. Females have litters of three to six, with cubs taking about three years to physically mature, while social and psychological development won't be finished for another two to three. The lion comes in under weight when compared to other animals it's size being eight to ten feet in length three to four feet high and bedecked with wings and spikes and coming in around 400-600 lbs. 

 These now rare giant cats fly, bite, and use claw attacks. Their fear-causing roar, high intelligence, and use of tactics make them formidable enemies even for large and intelligent prey like humans or trolls.  The hollows in the spikes give the creature's essence a place to build up which Scholars believe is what give its roar such terrifying power and the extra lift it needs to glide for long ways like an albatross, saving physical energy, recharging it's reservoir of active essence during it’s ground attacks. They dive from height, and use cover like trees and the sun to avoid lengthy chases.  

 The Eidruian Lion used to inhabit the entire Landmass of Harctellion, it doing best in moderat climates, including the plains that are now the tame farmland of the Hampstead region. They roamed from the misty moors of Plinthon and fertile rolling hills of Vrator, and dominated the dividing Dobryan Hills. Now they are only found in captivity or their last ranging pairs scrounge the radiated areas of Plinthon and the Dobryan Hills.  

 15-20 lbs of meat per day in "rest," 25-35 lbs when being flown in battle, a fresh water source. They primarily lived in prides, like other lion species, but the destruction of their habitats, have been forcing them to shift to mating pairs/family clans. They prefer to live in covered areas, but dislike burrowing. They tend to inhabit above ground caves, large over grown thickets they can tend and defend, some have even been spotted in abandoned Barns and mills. 

 feathers are used in magical flying spells, and the hollow spikes from it's neck and back are used in specialty potions that give magical spiked armor. 

Legends, history, and spiritual connections:

 The Eidruian Lion is intelligent but doesn’t speak human languages. They can understand, and with magic items, they can communicate. Their heightened intelligence and ability to use tactics made them a formidable enemy and were killed in large numbers by Trolls, Lions and Trolls' natural enemies.

As an intelligent mount the Eidruian Lion is difficult to master. They aren’t for long hauls, they are best for use with the lance, spear, or even a gun. They tend to dive in on a charge, land, and fight amongst the men. Bounding up and taking off again to land another charge attack and focus on another area, rinse and repeat.

The kind of saddle used for riding is semi-flexible, with a collar around the neck, harness between the wings, moving the weight up to the more built flying back and down the hips and the seat lifting the rider's weight off of the spine to allow for proper movement.

With numbers already in decline, the bulk of their population was taken out during the Ion State Massacre in 1552. They are considered a rare and endangered species in the Eidru Empire enjoying Imperial protection from harm. Something the few wild living pairs and clans take advantage of, making use of any lands they need to hunt, occasionally attacking travelers or adventurers in the radiated areas of Plinthon or the Dobryan Hills with expectation of no reprisal.   

Melusians and Eidruian Lions

Beastiary Entry

Name: Melusian

Physical Characteristics:  Two multi-finned tails, gills and lungs that allow breathing under water and on land. Melusians come in every color of sand and shell from powdery white, rusty red, to volcanic black, with hair in every color found under the sea. Their skin is thick and rubbery, and their eyes have slit pupils, some of the few tells when their fins have been converted to legs.  



Melusians and Eidruian Lions

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Melusians and Eidruian Lions

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