Merpeople: Beasts or Beings?
written by Fern Frondfeather
Merpeople are fascinating creatures that have chosen to reject our Being classification, and therefore have been classified as Beasts. We will be exploring why that is in this book.
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
5
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1,202
Chapter 4: Classification Confusion
Chapter 4
So why should we consider Merpeople Beasts? Why should we consider them Beings? The answer to their beast classification is a simple one, because they requested it. Vampires and Hags are widely seen as vile creatures, despite their sentient status. As such both Merpeople and Centaurs have refused the Being classification in favour of not associating their kind with dark creatures.
Yet it plain to see that Merpeople are and should be treated by the Ministry as Beings regardless of classification.
Merpeople, from what little information we have gathered from their kind, are incredibly intelligent. They have developed their own language, 'mermish' which is near impossible to master as a human. They are known to create elaborate stone structures for homes, can craft statues and other forms of art, and they live in large communities, it is thought that Merpeople form tight bonds with their kind.
Another important point that notes the Merpeople's sentiency is their ability to domesticate certain underwater creatures, such as Grindylow, small green water demons who are kept as pets and for security purposes. As well as the Hippocampus, a half horse half fish that has been domesticated by warmer water Merpeople as well as Merpeople off the coast of Scotland that domesticated a blue roan variety in 1949.
Merpeople also like to craft. Bodies have washed up and been found with thick roped jewellery, lined with chunky pebbles, and magizoologists and unwitting swimmers alike have noted their ability to craft makeshift weapons.
Perhaps the most famous attribute a mermaid has is its musical ability. Merpeople create songs that - when heard underwater move the soul. Yet when heard from above water, it is heard as a series of unpleasant, inhuman screeches. We must note however that just because we cannot fully appreciate their musical talent above water does not make it any less impressive.
Yet it plain to see that Merpeople are and should be treated by the Ministry as Beings regardless of classification.
Merpeople, from what little information we have gathered from their kind, are incredibly intelligent. They have developed their own language, 'mermish' which is near impossible to master as a human. They are known to create elaborate stone structures for homes, can craft statues and other forms of art, and they live in large communities, it is thought that Merpeople form tight bonds with their kind.
Another important point that notes the Merpeople's sentiency is their ability to domesticate certain underwater creatures, such as Grindylow, small green water demons who are kept as pets and for security purposes. As well as the Hippocampus, a half horse half fish that has been domesticated by warmer water Merpeople as well as Merpeople off the coast of Scotland that domesticated a blue roan variety in 1949.
Merpeople also like to craft. Bodies have washed up and been found with thick roped jewellery, lined with chunky pebbles, and magizoologists and unwitting swimmers alike have noted their ability to craft makeshift weapons.
Perhaps the most famous attribute a mermaid has is its musical ability. Merpeople create songs that - when heard underwater move the soul. Yet when heard from above water, it is heard as a series of unpleasant, inhuman screeches. We must note however that just because we cannot fully appreciate their musical talent above water does not make it any less impressive.
