Beast Fables Mermay 2026 - Merfolk Courtship Pt. 2
Continuing with Merfolk Courtship rituals... and some consequences from said ritual.
Suitor No. 4: Manu Fulumako, big as a boulder, strong as one too, member of a proud clan of Merlobsters that are appropriately tough as the stony bedrock of the seas themselves.
He is however, very much scared of his own shadow. The main reason why he has a coat of a Giant Mahi Mahi was because he ducked at the last second during his initiation into manhood, and the great fish hit a rock by accident.
Everything else, he'd very much flee than... well... talk, let alone fight.
Kara understands he's a nice guy... buuuuuut Tridentsfall prides itself of punching above its weight for a reason.
Suitor No. 5: Uzdur Gantuor, a giant merman whose people are based on beaked whales. Dense in both bone and muscle, his people and tribe are some of the greatest warrior nomads around.
The skull of a Tizheruk he slew is a testament to his might.
Of all the suitors, he's the one that impressed Kara the most, for not only is he strong enough to defend himself and his people, he is honorable, respectful of her own people's traditions, and respects her own strength.
Sadly, Kara had to turn him down, mostly because his people's philosophy of "all things can be solved with ritualistic brute force" isn't yet compatible with Tridentsfall's more diplomatic policy to trade. Plus, Uzdur, really neglected the more administrative parts of ruling.
Uzdur takes it in stride, because he did better than the others! So long as there's no big, lifechanging events or someone who actually meets Kara's standards in a year's time, he has a good shot at being chosen by the matriarch's daughter!
Kara Otodona, for the second year in a row, has rejected all her potential suitors, solidifying the reputation of the heir of Tridentsfall as one of the hardest bachelorettes to impress in the southern seas.
The courtship process of the ruling families can be a lengthy one, especially one who routinely attracts suitors from many a great family, and in the case for many merfolk clans, especially mersharks, the choice always comes down to the decision of the matriarch's heir.
Routine rejections however, are a political headache for the Clan Matriarch, especially one who manages a place as interconnected to oceanic seaways like Tridentsfall. As a trading hub, it is the center of a large network of allied city states and towns, and the last thing Carol needs in this most uncertain of times is the straining of said relationships
- Brutus Magnus Magnomanus: The Great Cuttlefish himself, ruling over a clan of warrior cephalopods, with an impressive record against raiders and great beasts. One of Carol's most loyal allies and a good friend.
- Carol Otodona: Kara's mother, and Matriarch of Clan Otodona. Wise, VERY strong, but also increasingly exasperated and worried about the general path of Merfolk-dom. Respected by all of Tridentsfall for her patient guidance combined with enough physical might to send troublemakers swimming.
- Finnaeus Efaradis the Elder: Sometimes known as Finny the Elder, he's the boss of Kara's dad, Galeo Otodona. Incredibly intelligent, and runs his archeology guild as a well run unit. Incredibly insecure about his skills as a parent, and deeply afraid of disprespecting other figures of authority.
- Taksho Makokiro: One of the richest men in the seas, and Patriarch of Clan Makokiro. Runnning a network of trade stations beneath the waves, he's always looking for any new opportunity to expand his reach. VERY peeved that Clan Otodona's rejected his son.
- Byru "the Lucky" Fulumako: Named for his blue shell, he's the chief of an entire clan of mer-lobsters famous for their strength. It's a shame his own son isn't what one would call "mighty and brave warrior" material.
- Bardur Gantuor: The nomadic chieftan of fearsome beaked whale folk, he's pretty much an older version of his son, which includes love of fighting and winning. One thing he has above his son, is that he has a strong grasp of logistics.
