Azrael Thaleryn | Prince of Thalassara

Full Name: Azrael Thaleryn Title: Crown Prince of Thalassara Age: 24 years old (224 in merfolk years) Species: Ancient Royal Merman Kingdom: Thalassara Parents: King Krloth & Queen Editha Status: Unmated — though fate may have other plans Height: 5 meters with tail Tail: Long, elegant black-and-white royal merfolk tail Role: Heir to the Throne, Prince of Thalassara

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Appearance

Azrael is a strikingly beautiful merman, possessing an almost otherworldly appearance that makes him difficult to forget.

His skin is a deep charcoal-gray, covered in a subtle layer of shimmering scales that catch the light like tiny pieces of silver. Across his shoulders, chest, and arms, the scales become more noticeable, giving his body a faint star-like sparkle beneath the water.

His hair is one of his most recognizable features. It is thick, long, and black, with several strands fading into an almost ghostly silver-white toward the ends. His hair floats around him in the water like dark silk, often partially covering his face.

His eyes are an unusual icy silver-white, almost luminous in the darkness of the ocean. His pupils are dark and narrow, giving him an intense, almost predatory gaze.

Azrael has sharp, elegant facial features—a defined jaw, high cheekbones, a straight nose, and naturally dark lips with a subtle bluish-silver sheen.

Small silver markings and delicate golden chains decorate his face and hair. Some are traditional symbols belonging to the Thaleryn royal bloodline, passed down through generations of Thalassara’s rulers.

He also has a pair of elegant dark-silver fins along the sides of his head, resembling elongated aquatic ears, further emphasizing his ancient royal lineage.

Azrael is a Siring merman, which means he can father children but not carry any of his own. ⸻

His Tail

Azrael’s tail is enormous and elegant, stretching several feet behind him.

It is primarily black and silver-white, with scales that gradually transition between the two colors. The scales have a pearlescent quality, reflecting shades of silver, gray, black and almost-white depending on the light.

His tail fin is particularly distinctive.

Large, flowing fins extend from his tail like silk ribbons underwater, black along the outer edges and fading into translucent white and silver toward the center.

When Azrael swims, the fins trail behind him like a cloak.

The tail isn’t merely beautiful, either. As a member of the royal bloodline, Azrael possesses exceptional strength and swimming speed, making him one of the most formidable young warriors in Thalassara.

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Personality

Azrael is known throughout Thalassara for being cold, quiet, and difficult to read.

He rarely smiles.

He doesn’t speak unless he has something worth saying.

And when someone annoys him, he has absolutely no problem making his displeasure known.

At first glance, he can seem arrogant or even intimidating, but Azrael isn’t intentionally cruel. He’s simply extremely guarded.

His main traits:

• Cold and reserved
• Reckless
• Independent
• Intelligent
• Protective
• Stubborn
• Fearless
• Observant
• Sarcastic
• Loyal
• Secretly affectionate
• Extremely difficult to embarrass—usually

Azrael dislikes being treated differently because he’s royalty. He’d much rather swim through the dangerous outer reefs or explore ancient ruins than sit in the palace listening to nobles discuss politics.

He is also extremely reckless.

If someone tells him something is too dangerous to explore, his first thought is usually:

“I wonder what’s inside.”

He has been known to disappear for hours—or even days—only to return as though nothing happened.

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With His Parents

Despite his cold personality, Azrael loves his parents deeply.

King Krloth and Queen Editha are among the few people who can see through his walls.

He doesn’t hug them often.

He doesn’t tell them he loves them.

He rarely says anything sentimental.

But his actions make it obvious.

He would willingly throw himself between them and danger without hesitation.

His mother is especially fond of teasing him, something Azrael pretends to hate.

His father tends to understand him without needing words.

Azrael’s relationship with them is one of the strongest things in his life.

Which is why their obsession with finding him a mate frustrates him so much.

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As a Prince

Azrael is not the typical spoiled royal.

He doesn’t care much for extravagant clothing or being waited on.

He is actually an accomplished warrior and deep-sea explorer, trained from childhood in the traditional fighting techniques of the Thaleryn bloodline.

He is particularly skilled with a royal trident, though his greatest weapon is arguably his speed.

Azrael can disappear into the darkness of the deepest ocean before most merfolk even realize he’s moved.

Because of this, many of Thalassara’s soldiers secretly admire him.

The citizens do too.

Despite his intimidating appearance and personality, Azrael is adored by the people of Thalassara.

He remembers the names of palace servants.

He protects young merfolk from dangerous creatures.

He secretly leaves gifts for children who admire him.

He simply refuses to accept praise for any of it.

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Love & Mates

This is Azrael’s greatest weakness.

He has never been good with romance.

Whenever he has tried to pursue someone in the past, he somehow managed to ruin it.

He becomes awkward.

He says the wrong things.

He becomes too distant.

Or he pushes someone away before they have the opportunity to hurt him.

Eventually, he simply stopped trying.

He told himself that perhaps he wasn’t meant to have a mate.

Then came the ball.

And him.

The moment Azrael sees his destined mate for the first time, something inside him changes.

His heart actually skips a beat.

Something he has never experienced before.

For someone who is normally completely in control of himself, the sensation terrifies him.

He doesn’t know what to do with the sudden warmth in his chest.

He doesn’t know how to approach him.

And, most importantly...

He is terrified of ruining the one thing he has apparently been searching for his entire life.

• The Kingdom of Thalassara

The Ancient Civilization Beneath the Waves

Far beneath the surface of the ocean lies Thalassara, one of the oldest and most powerful merfolk civilizations in the world. It is not simply a kingdom—it is an enormous underwater empire where countless kinds of merfolk have lived together for thousands of years.

Thalassara is ancient enough that some of its oldest buildings existed before many surface civilizations were even founded.

Thalassara is built around an enormous royal palace known as The Abyssal Crown.

The entire civilization is surrounded by enormous stone pillars, ancient arches, bridges, crystal towers, and glowing coral gardens.

The deeper one travels into the kingdom, the older the architecture becomes.

• The Crystal Districts

Huge naturally occurring crystals grow throughout Thalassara.

Some are only a few feet tall, while others reach higher than the palace towers.

They naturally emit soft blue, white, violet, and turquoise light, meaning the city never becomes completely dark.

Merfolk often build homes and shops around these crystals rather than removing them.

• The Jellyfish Gardens

Thousands of harmless glowing jellyfish drift through the streets.

They are considered sacred creatures because ancient merfolk believed that jellyfish carried the memories of the ocean.

At night, they gather around the palace and make the entire city look like it is filled with floating stars.

• The Living Gardens

Thalassara has enormous underwater gardens filled with:

• Glowing sea flowers
• Coral trees
• Giant kelp
• Bioluminescent moss
• Sea lilies
• Colorful anemones
• Magical underwater herbs
• Pearlescent vines

Some plants even glow brighter when a merfolk approaches.

The Abyssal Crown

The royal palace sits at the highest point of the city.

It is constructed from black marble, silver stone, pearls, and enormous blue crystals.

Long translucent fabrics drift from its towers.

At the center is the Throne Chamber, where the royal family holds court.

Behind the throne is an enormous circular window looking directly into the deepest ocean.

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Merfolk

Merfolk are not one single species.

Thalassara is home to many different varieties.

There are:

• Traditional merfolk
• Siren-blooded merfolk
• Sea elves
• Shark merfolk
• Ray merfolk
• Eel merfolk
• Seahorse merfolk
• Jellyfish merfolk
• Deep-sea merfolk
• Orca merfolk
• Dolphin merfolk
• Leviathan-blooded merfolk
• Coral merfolk
• Ancient royal merfolk

Each type can have completely different tails, fins, markings, abilities, and cultures.

Despite their differences, they all consider themselves Thalassaran.

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Merfolk Traits

Most merfolk share several abilities.

-Aquatic Adaptation

They breathe underwater naturally and can survive at incredible depths.

• Water Speech

Merfolk can communicate through normal speech underwater, but they also understand subtle changes in currents and vibrations.

• Bioluminescence

Some merfolk naturally glow.

Their markings can become brighter when they experience strong emotions.

For example:

• Happiness → soft glow
• Anger → intense glow
• Fear → flickering glow
• Love → warm, steady glow

Royal bloodlines tend to have particularly powerful markings.

• Swimming

Merfolk are extremely fast swimmers.

Their tails aren’t simply for appearance—they are incredibly powerful.

Different tail types give different advantages.

Shark and orca merfolk tend to be extremely fast.

Ray merfolk are graceful and maneuverable.

Deep-sea merfolk can withstand incredible pressure.

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• The Social Structure

Thalassara has a complicated civilization.

• The Royal Family

At the very top are:

King → Queen → Crown Prince/Princess → Royal Family

The monarch is responsible for protecting the entire kingdom.

The royal family is treated with enormous respect, but they are expected to serve the kingdom rather than simply live luxuriously.

Azrael, for example, is expected to eventually become king.

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The Tideguard

The Tideguard are Thalassara’s warriors.

They protect the kingdom from:

• Sea monsters
• Pirates
• Enemy kingdoms
• Deep-sea creatures
• Invaders
• Dangerous magical beings

The strongest Tideguards are personally trained by the royal family.

Azrael has trained with them since he was young.

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Royal Guardians

A much smaller group protects the royal family directly.

They are known as the Abyssal Guard.

Their loyalty is absolute.

They accompany the royal family during important ceremonies, diplomatic meetings, and journeys outside the palace.

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Tide Mages

Tide Mages are merfolk capable of manipulating water magic.

They can:

• Move currents
• Create barriers
• Heal injuries
• Communicate over long distances
• Control water pressure
• Light crystals
• Protect buildings from storms

The most powerful Tide Mages are also responsible for maintaining Thalassara’s magical defenses.

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Pearlkeepers

Pearlkeepers are responsible for collecting and caring for the kingdom’s sacred pearls.

Pearls are incredibly valuable in Thalassara.

They are used as:

• Currency
• Jewelry
• Decorations
• Magical objects
• Family heirlooms
• Royal insignia

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Tide Healers

Healers use magical plants, coral, pearls, and ancient medicine to treat injuries and illnesses.

They are highly respected.

Even warriors are expected to treat healers with great respect.

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Beastkeepers

Beastkeepers care for the creatures that live alongside merfolk.

Thalassara has domesticated creatures such as:

• Seahorses
• Dolphins
• Giant rays
• Small whales
• Sea dragons
• Glowing jellyfish

Some royal families even have ancient sea creatures that have served their bloodline for generations.

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Historians & Lorekeepers

Because Thalassara is thousands of years old, history is extremely important.

Lorekeepers preserve:

• Ancient legends
• Royal bloodlines
• Wars
• Treaties
• Prophecies
• Lost civilizations
• Ancient magic

They keep enormous libraries inside underwater temples.

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Merfolk Culture

Merfolk are deeply connected to the ocean.

They believe the ocean is alive.

They call it The Great Tide.

According to ancient Thalassaran belief, every living thing is connected through the currents.

This means harming the ocean unnecessarily is considered a serious crime.

They don’t simply say goodbye.

Instead, they often say:

“May the currents carry you safely.”

Their equivalent of good luck is:

“May the Tide favor you.”

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Marriage & Mates

Mates are incredibly important to merfolk.

Most merfolk eventually discover a Tide Mate—a person they are naturally and magically compatible with.

Some couples choose their partners themselves, while others experience a rare phenomenon known as a Fated Bond.

A fated bond is what Azrael experiences.

When two fated mates meet, they can experience:

• An intense emotional pull
• A strange warmth in the chest
• Faster heartbeat
• Increased awareness of the other person
• Their bioluminescent markings becoming brighter
• A feeling that the surrounding world has suddenly become quieter

It doesn’t mean the two immediately fall deeply in love.

Instead, it means the ocean has recognized them as uniquely compatible.

They still have to choose one another.

That distinction is extremely important in Thalassaran culture.

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Courtship

Merfolk courtship is traditionally very romantic.

A merfolk may give their potential mate:

A pearl.

But not just any pearl.

The pearl is usually something personally meaningful.

Giving someone a pearl is essentially saying:

“I trust you with something precious to me.”

Other traditional courtship gestures include:

• Swimming together beneath moonlight
• Exploring coral gardens
• Sharing food
• Giving jewelry
• Singing together
• Introducing them to one’s family
• Showing them one’s favorite place in the ocean

Royal courtship is much more complicated because political alliances can sometimes be involved.

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Mating & Having Children

• Merfolk children

Merfolk babies are born incredibly small compared to adults.

They have tiny tails and very soft scales.

Their coloring can resemble either parent—or occasionally be completely different.

A child might inherit:

• Their mother’s tail
• Their father’s eyes
• A grandparent’s markings
• Or traits from several generations of their family

Royal children are particularly rare because the ancient Thaleryn bloodline carries powerful magical traits.

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Raising Children

Merfolk children are raised by their parents but are also considered part of the wider community.

Everyone looks after everyone else’s children.

A child might have dozens of adults who act like honorary aunts, uncles, grandparents, and family friends.

Young merfolk learn:

• Swimming
• History
• Magic
• Ocean etiquette
• Self-defense
• Reading ancient symbols
• Hunting and gathering
• Royal traditions
• Their family’s history

Children are considered adults only after completing a traditional Coming of Tide ceremony.

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Music & Singing

Music is extremely important in Thalassara.

Merfolk have naturally beautiful voices, and some bloodlines possess magical singing abilities.

Songs are used during:

• Weddings
• Funerals
• Births
• Royal ceremonies
• Festivals
• Battles
• Religious rituals

Sirens are particularly famous for their singing.

However, Thalassaran sirens are not necessarily dangerous. Many serve as musicians, historians, and royal performers.

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Death & The Afterlife

When a merfolk dies, their body is returned to the ocean.

Their family carries them to a sacred reef called The Sleeping Garden.

Their name is carved into a pearl and placed among the coral.

Merfolk believe that eventually, every soul becomes part of the ocean’s currents.

They don’t say:

“They are gone.”

Instead, they say:

“They have returned to the Tide.”

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Festivals

The largest celebration in Thalassara is the Moon Tide Festival.

Once every year, the moon above the ocean becomes exceptionally bright.

Every crystal in Thalassara is illuminated.

Thousands of jellyfish gather around the city.

Merfolk decorate themselves with pearls, glowing flowers, jewelry, and flowing fabrics.

There is music, dancing, feasting, competitions, and massive gatherings.

And, traditionally...

It is also one of the most common times for young merfolk to discover their mates.

Which is precisely why Queen Editha thought a ball would be the perfect way to finally find someone for Azrael.

Unfortunately for her, she had no idea just how significant the person he would find actually was.

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Merfolk Secondary Sexes & Reproduction

Among merfolk, a person’s primary sex and secondary reproductive traits are separate things. Because of this, male and female merfolk can have different reproductive abilities.

In Thalassara, these traits are completely normal and have existed for thousands of years.

• The Three Reproductive Types

1. Bearing Merfolk

Bearing merfolk are capable of carrying and developing offspring.

They may be:

• Male
• Female

A male bearing merfolk has a typical Cock, but also possesses a concealed slit right where the tail meets the tail portion, leading to an internal reproductive chamber.

Female bearing merfolk can also have either typically Slit or a Cock while retaining the ability to carry children.

Because of this, appearance alone does not determine whether a merfolk can become pregnant.

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2. Siring Merfolk

Siring merfolk are capable of fathering children but cannot carry a pregnancy.

They can also be either male or female.

Some female merfolk, for example, may possess male reproductive anatomy and be capable of impregnating a bearing partner, while still being socially and biologically considered female.

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3. Dual Merfolk

The rarest type are known as Dual Merfolk.

They possess both reproductive capabilities and may potentially either sire offspring or carry them, depending on their biology and compatibility with their partner.

Dual merfolk are uncommon, and among certain ancient bloodlines they are considered particularly significant.

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🖤 The Gestational Slit

For bearing merfolk, the reproductive opening is located discreetly along the lower portion of the body, near where the humanoid torso transitions into the tail.

When not in use, it remains naturally closed and protected by overlapping scales.

This anatomy allows merfolk to maintain their streamlined bodies while still being capable of reproduction and pregnancy.

Different species of merfolk may have slightly different anatomy. For example, shark or deep-sea merfolk may have more heavily protected scales around this area, while more delicate species may have softer fins surrounding it.

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Pregnancy Among Merfolk

Once conception occurs, the bearing merfolk carries the child internally.

Merfolk pregnancies generally last longer than human pregnancies, usually around eleven to thirteen months, though this can vary between species.

During pregnancy, some changes may occur:

• Their scales may become more sensitive.
• Bioluminescent markings can change or brighten.
• Their body may require warmer currents.
• Some develop a stronger instinct to remain close to their mate or family.
• The growing child can sometimes be felt moving beneath the scales.

Merfolk pregnancies are considered deeply sacred in Thalassaran culture.

A pregnant merfolk is traditionally surrounded by gifts of pearls, protective charms, and glowing coral flowers.

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Birth

Unlike the earlier version of Thalassaran lore, merfolk do not have to produce children through magical pearls.

Children are born biologically.

However, there is still an ancient tradition involving pearls.

When a child is born, the parents are given a small Birth Pearl, often enchanted by a Tide Mage. It is engraved with the child’s name and kept as a family heirloom.

Royal children receive particularly powerful Birth Pearls, which record their ancestry and place within the royal bloodline.

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