Aquelis

Created by Umata, the Aquelis are a semi-aquatic species characterized by dark blue, glittering skin and distinguished by webbed armpits, hands, and feet. While they dwell primarily on land along coastlines, they possess the ability to remain submerged for hours at a time. Their population is concentrated within the island nation of Umataia and along the western shores of Alinemia and Undalia. Culturally, the species is divided between the Islanders and the Mainlanders. The Islanders of Umataia largely preserve a traditional, tribal way of life, living in harmony with the tides and viewing the ocean as a living temple. They reject heavy industry, acting as the guardians of the deep reefs. In contrast, those inhabiting the coasts of the main continent have embraced civilization and progressivism. On the coasts of Alinemia and Undalia, the Mainlanders have built stone harbors and trading posts, acting as diplomats and merchants who bridge the gap between land-dwellers and the sea. This divide creates tension; Islanders sometimes view the others as "dry-souled," worrying they are forgetting the old ways. However, the civilized Aquelis argue that Umata never prohibited a civilized life, pointing to their powerful mages who remain in close contact with the goddess as proof of her continued favor. Regardless of their location or cultural alignment, all Aquelis share a sacred respect for the sea and its fauna. They view commercial mass-fishing as an evil practice, adhering to a creed that dictates one must only take what is needed while caring for the ecosystem. Instead of nets, their economy relies on precision harvesting, where they dive for specific rare pearls, medicinal algae, and deep-sea minerals that land-dwellers cannot reach. They are also the wealthiest salvagers in Andromeda; when Sarin or Eltar ships sink during storms, the Aquelis recover the cargo to sell to the Hearthens and Givrins. This trade has made them surprisingly rich despite their simple appearance. Their homes reflect their amphibious nature, built half-in and half-out of the water with features like patio pools—openings in the floor that allow them to swim directly into the ocean from their living rooms. Due to this lifestyle, they view nudity with indifference, typically wearing minimalistic attire designed not to hinder them in the water.

Geopolitically, the Aquelis maintain warm diplomatic ties with the Givrins and Hearthens. With their salvage wealth, they import materials not found on their islands, and Givrins who have settled in Umataia often live in symbiosis with them by managing agriculture and construction. However, relations with the Sarins are strained. Sarins dislike the Aquelis because they refuse to allow trawlers to fish in their waters. Sarin fishing ships that violate the Aquelis waters often find themselves at the mercy of inexplicable big waves, forcing them to stay away.

Social structure is heavily dictated by magic and gender. Female Aquelis are natural masters of water magic, talents that are amplified when submerged. High-level mages can create breathing bubbles to allow male partners or allies to visit underwater councils, and they make excellent ship captains, using magic to speed up their vessels. In contrast, Aquelis men lack magical ability, rendering them physically inferior in the water and defenseless against deep-sea predators. Consequently, men hold a subordinate status, relegated to land-based duties such as domestic care, building, and shallow-water gathering. A husband is affectionately, or sometimes condescendingly, called a "Bollard," as he provides stability on land and raises the children while the woman goes on long underwater hunts or trade expeditions. Because men are vulnerable underwater, women are fiercely protective of them, and it is considered a mark of shame for a female if her mate is harmed in the ocean.