Soul Merger

Monsterpedia

Labyrinth Shark

Monster Level - I

Soul Type - Composite

Intelligence - Animalistic

Strength - Strong

Magic - Weak

Rarity - Ubiquitous

Labyrinth Sharks are, as might be expected, six foot long sharks. They're called that because dire sharks and monster shark didn't seem to fit, since natural sharks can be bigger and stronger. In fact tiger and great white sharks have both turned to hunting the creatures, as have orcas. They also have the distinction of being one of the few monsters that are frequently defeated by fishermen just doing their job.

However due to their common status in underwater labyrinths they're incredibly common. So common they've become an ecological niche in the oceans, and are probably the source of any generic 'fish' in a fish dish. Anyone traveling the oceans needs to keep an eye out for these annoyances.

In a proper labyrinth they're considerably more dangerous than they are in open waters. These sharks are well suited to fighting in the enclosed tunnels that make up most underwater labyrinths, and if there are multiple in an area they'll use something vaguely like pack tactics. Just because there are deadlier things in the oceans doesn't mean these are a threat to be ignored. If you want to hunt them and aren't very certain of your underwater skills, stick to fishing.

Not all sharks need to keep swimming in order to breathe. And labyrinth sharks don't either. If you see a shark that isn't moving, it's probably not dead. It's likely stuck and waiting for your hand to get in biting distance. Unlike normal sharks, it wants to kill you.

Merge

Common Name : Gill person

Benefits : Underwater breathing, sleek form, replacement teeth

Weaknesses : Dehydration, tooth loss

A common merge for fishermen sailors and those that work the waters, gill people can be more frequent than elves and dwarves in some areas. The merge has a great number of physical changes. It tends to straighten hair and bleach it to silver or blue, and alter the person's body to a more smooth hydrodynamic form. The merge's teeth noticeably sharpen, and will grow back if lost! Of course the biggest change is the addition of gill slits, which give the merge its name and let gill people breathe underwater.

As a cost for these benefits gill-people need to drink a large amount of water. Especially in dryer climates. While muscles keep the gills closed on land, there's still a lot of moisture lost through the slits. Many seagoing vessels will have a flooded sleeping compartment for gill-people to rest in, so they don't have to carry as much fresh water. They also tend to lose teeth a lot, which can lead to cuts if they keep chewing with a tooth in the food.

The benefits of being able to breathe underwater are pretty obvious. Especially to anyone who's learned to swim. As such this merge is considered the poor man's entry level to most seaside jobs. Merfolk merges are 'prettier' but have less side benefits so few people are willing to shell out the extra money.

It's very easy to accidentally get this merge by fishing up or netting a labyrinth shark accidentally. It's recommended that unmerged people use fishing lines and nets unable to hold these sharks. And definitely don't use explosives for fishing! Otherwise you may have your merge decided for you.