#and there's fossils & like natural structures in caves that aren't

[phoenix-manga]

💎Sea Serpent Lore💎

Sea Serpents are known to be legends among merfolk from all across the oceans, lakes and rivers.

The Sea Witch was belived to have lived in the fossilized body of a dead leviathan that had been hollowed out.

Other than a slight connection with the lore of the sea witch, many merfolk have heard tales long ago that the serpents ruled the seas with fericious power.

Their roars summon whirlpools and hurricanes that decimate ships. Even the waves bow to their sheer might, tsunamis were to be expected by towns who live near the shore long ago.

The phenomenon of the Bermuda Triangle was used among the sailors to avoid a certain part of the ocean. It just so happened to be the area where sea serpents lived in.

Nowadays it is still avoided, though no sea serpents were spotted on the surface waters, storms are still prevalent in that area that it becomes dangerous to traverse through.

💎Serpent Kingdom💎

The Serpent Sea is home to the serpent merfolk, it is located in the deepest depths where the sun does not reach. It is very dangerous for those who aren't used to deep waters.

Not to mention the water pressure can be dangerous for non-deep water merfolk.

Though Cerule visits Azul, she always has bodyguards or her father was around as they leave the depths.

She is never allowed to explore the depths on her own!

Without bioluminescence, you can’t find your way in the dark. Even if you do acquire a light source, you would be a beacon for any rogue sea creatures itching for a meal.

Hence why some merfolk regard serpents as fearsome and even dangerous because they can live there in the depths.

But the stereotypes about serpents aren’t entirely true. The serpents are much more intelligent and have an entire community that is much like any other merfolk community.

Albeit you have to get past the danger and darkness to know.

The kingdom of the serpents can be accessed through a large hole in an oceanic trench. You would have to navigate past maze-like tunnels that are confusing and would lead to dead ends if you are not careful. 

There are even deep sea creatures who will ambush those unsuspecting prey that passes by their tunnel. Serpents know to flash warning lights to scare them off and if they persist then they will simply fend them off.

Such is the way of the darkest depths.

Upon reaching the entrance to the kingdom, it will be guarded by an enormous lobster. The shell is dark as the cave walls making it blend in perfectly for an ambush. And not to mention the shell is strong as volcanic rock, so any firepower made by man or even magic couldn’t do much damage.

This is the guardian of the entrance, and only serpents were permitted to enter and exit.

So, even if you were to try and get past the darkness and find the entrance, without a serpent escorting you, this creature would end you within moments.

The residents of the kingdom lovingly call him, “Levi”.

The actual kingdom is very unusual, there is a large air pocket that is held by a spire-like structure naturally formed in the center. It has been hollowed out to be used as a stairway and fortified with minerals to keep it sturdy. 

The spire is NOT the throne however. It’s located below the spire, in a very deep yet large cavern illuminated by bioluminescent jellyfish, algae and even crystals. The throne room is not the typical fancy chair often seen with royals. 

It is the room where the royals reside, there they lay at the bottom coiled around the flat surface of their dwelling. There is a dome made from a gigantic conch shell that is used to keep the eggs or hatchlings safe. 

The structure of the throne room is less of aesthetic and more of functionality, it keeps the babies safe from any intruder who managed to get past the guardian.

This is technically Cerule’s room and it has soft coral sponges for her bedding and a lot of trinkets she collects are stored there.

💎Two Kinds of Serpents💎

Serpents from the kingdom are more civil though a bit hesitant to socialize with those outside their home. The serpent royalty has only recently been making an effort to attend royal meetings to better their relations with other kingdoms.

Though there are also serpents who live outside the kingdom and they are known as "Rogue serpents".

They often clash with the kingdom serpents that leave either side with scars.

Rogues don't follow any rules and even their speech has become growls and roars. They don't follow the rules of the royals and sometimes would venture out of the depths to cause trouble.

But this only happens when food is scarce.

Also, sea serpents can either be carnivore or herbivore. One can tell by the type of sea creature their serpent form takes after. Anything that has sharp teeth or venomous properties are carnivores.

Those that don't are herbivores, though they are still as fierce as the carnivores they just don't like to fight that often.

Sometimes there can be a mix of the two appearance-wise but as for the diet, it can be either one.

💎Early Stages of Serpents💎

Sea serpents are hatched from eggs which are often plenty in number. The eggs are hatched in giant shells to keep them safe, all serpents would start to venture out of the kingdom to search for shells.

It is their instinct, the male risks his life in the depths to find them for his mate along with any food because the female has to stay and give birth to the eggs.

When they hatch the babies' tails are similar to that of an oarfish, only by reaching their puberty stage can they start to develop other features that mix with the oarfish ones.

Puberty also refers to gaining the ability to turn into their serpent form.

Cerule in this case still hasn't reached her serpent puberty yet as she still looks like an oarfish. But she does hope to have betta fish fins like her mother.

💎Royal Pearl Rites💎

Serpents who have reached puberty must undergo the passage of rite to venture out into the depths and obtain a pearl.

All serpents undergo this trial to prove their might and test their independence.

It is a long and very dangerous journey as they must swim outside their kingdom through the abyss and face other deep see terrors to reach the source of the pearl.

The serpents refer to it as the All Mother of Pearls. It is an enormous clam that has been living for centuries and produces magical pearls that serpent children need to retrieve in order to pass the rite.

The pearls are actually large and quite heavy which makes it difficult to swim back with. Not to mention it was also glowing which attracts unwanted attention.

Once they return with the pearl, they wear it on their forehead as a symbol of their strength and that they are free to leave their safe caverns without the aid of any parent.

Also, the pearls are naturally large but after it is attached to the serpent, it can shrink when they de-transform into a smaller size mermaid.

The pearls are also used to help the young seprents control their power when in serpent form, as they tend to lose a bit of control when transformed.

[sunrisetune]

[ID: Tumblr tags replying to the post. "#I used to teach spelunking to 9 year olds it's So fun trust me, #the Power of a cave nap. like tight corner cold mud you get knocked out and feel like you slept 8h in 15 minutes

#the time dilation of being in a cave is the unsettling part. you are in there for what feels like 15 minutes and it's been 6 hours".

/End ID].

caving as an extreme sport is sooo unfathomable to me why are u as a creature of the daylight doing that. were u born without the dread in ur bones or something