he Dreaming is a place with as many unique landscapes as it has inhabitants, if not more so, thus it is obvious that the Dreaming would have its own streams, rivers, brooks, seas, and even oceans. While many creatures roam these waters who are friendly, many others are less amiably inclined. So the seas of the Dreaming carry their share of rewards and dangers, among them are the strange merfolk. As there are many fae, and even many shades of homo sapiens, so their are many merfolk, from the well known sirens to the kelpies and bean-nighe.

Of course, there is a classic view of what the Merfolk are. In the diaries of Celeborn he describes these folk having met them while voyaging with Fjolvar Windstrider, the mighty Troll captain:

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Upon the rocky shore they were seated, There to comb a golden tress, And in the moonlight we, aboard The ship Dionus, watched Luna Glance from their mirrors to locks In dance of phantasm, and twinkled Their eyes as one by one they turned Our way. The voices grew from whisper To mighty wind, impaled upon our minds. Brave Algaron, and Swift Footed Leif, Both were lost to the calm beauty of The undulating sea.

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To me one looked, her blue eyes locked With mine. Her gaze was like an ocean, Deep and dark with secrets for the telling. Black Water was in her veins, of this I have no doubt, for when we tried to pull Away, she began to shout. She called out Once, and called out twice, and Gentle Symion was lost. With an arrow Fjolvar Broke her mirror. Her head she tossed and Dove into the sea, a fish’s tail splashing last, Calling back to me.

A fish’s tail from the waist down, a beautiful maiden from the waist up. With tresses most often the shades of the sea, it is no wonder that sea-farers would find these folk enticing. The Mermaiden has been around in many forms since time immemorial. From the beginning of mans journeys across the sea, she has been known in her present form. The lack of a masculine counterpart in myth is reflected in their numbers as well. During my travels within the Dreaming I was able to visit the Queendom of one settlement of Merfolk. There are males within the race, certainly, but few it would seem. This obviously lends itself to a matriarchal society, where the men are little more than servants. Mostly they breed with sailors they have abducted, although it is the fortunate sailor who is subjected to this fate. Their sport in causing ships to dash upon reefs and rocks rivals games among the Redcaps. They do, however, have a weakness. Coming from the water, they are naturally curious about reflective surfaces. Each Mermaid owns a special handmirror. Destruction of this item can momentarrily shatter their wills. Once they recover, however, they carry a rage to match any sidhe lord. A better tactic is to attempt to gain the comb of one of the maidens, for possesion of their comb is akin to knowing their true name and grants control over the owner. Thus it was that I was able to visit their Queendom for a brief time.

They also have many cousins, among them the Selkie who are well enough known that they need not be covered here. As well there is the Kelpie, in origin wild black horses who threw would-be riders to their watery graves. Another form tells of the Kelpie appearing as a young man, betrayed by the water-weed and rushes in their hair. The bean-nigh is another cousin to the Merfolk. The “washing woman” can be found washing bloody clothes at a ford. If the unfortunate traveller does not spy her first, his Dan is near. Unfortunately, some hypothesise that only those near death can see the bean-nighe anyway. At any rate, it would be best to stay away from them.

Every stream, every brook, all fonts and falls, the great seas and vast oceans all have their share of water sprites. Some are mischievous, some malevolent. All are mysterious. Beautiful or horrible, their motives are rarely benign. The sea is full of wonders, but she is, as of old, a deceitful and jealous mistress.