by Seth Rutledge (sprutled@UNCC.EDU)
Lords of the ocean, tritons are deeply entrenched in the lore of sailors and seagoers. Many have been entranced and led to their doom by Unseelie tritons, and the stories of people being saved by dolphins are also the work of this kith.
Seelie or Unseelie, all tritons are extremely prone to strong emotions. Their's is the deep mystery of the ocean, and the terrible fury of its storms. Once angered, a triton is a terrible foe to have, as they will hold grudges for incredibly long times.
Tritons live along the rocky coasts of oceans and seas. They very rarely leave the water to adventure inland, but occasionally, one will forsake her native environment and join land-society. Those that are lost to banality at this time are especially mourned by this kith. A triton who dies or succumbs to banality on dry land will be reincarnated as a ground-walker, which is a fate worse than death for most of them.
Seelie tritons take little notice of mortal society, but the unseelie, usually called sirens, gain unholy joy in luring mortals to their deaths in the water. This has served to give this kith a fairly bad reputation in changeling society.
Regardless of court, the tritons regard ground-walker changeling ways with amusement, but they rarely interact in the politics of the other kiths. Although they nominally recognize High King David, their support is minimal to none.
Appearance: Most notable about a triton's appearance is the lack of legs! They have a long scaled fishlike tail from the waist down. The color of the scales varies greatly, but it usually is a shimmering green-blue. Their human features are generally strong and blunt. Hair is usually blue-green or greenish-blonde, and their eyes are large and green. Tritons have webbing between their fingers.
Seemings: Childling tritons frolick and play with dolphins and seals - they would rather swim and play than anything else.
Wilder tritons delight in taunting mortals and ground-walkers. They are self-indulgent and highly stubborn.
Grumps of this kith grow to look even more fish-like; their skin turns a pale green, and their desire to walk on land practically disappears. The only time a grump usually leaves their underwater grotto is to wreck furious vengence on the mortal world.
Lifestyles: Tritons are like the sea - deep, secretive and ever changing. When they do take a mortal seeming, they tend to pick lifestyles that allow them to stay near the ocean. Sailors, dockhands and surf-bums are all common choices.
Affinity: Nature
Birthrights:
Sirensong: A triton's voice is capable of entrancing even the strongest willed of mortals. Anyone failing a willpower roll (difficulty 7), must approach the triton in a non-hostile manner. This spell will not be broken until the triton actually harms the target.
Water Affinity: All tritons can breathe water and air with equal ease. A triton can swim 20 yards + 3 x dexterity yards per round. They can withstand a water pressure equal to 500 ft * stamina without fear.
Manform: By spending a glamour point, a triton may temporarily transform her tail into human legs. If water touches the triton in any way, this transformation will reverse, and cannot be cast again until the triton is dry. Also, for every day in manform, she automatically gain a point of temporary banality.
Frailties:
Aloofness: Tritons do not understand, or really care to understand the nature of ground-walkers. All social rolls involving grounders have a +2 difficulty.
Quote: "The ocean has always been there, it always will be. Why should I care about your petty problems?"
Boggans: They need to let loose and have a little fun.
Eshu: If they weren't grounders, they'd be great to hang out with.
Nockers: Dirty and obnoxious, but intense.
Pooka: As long as they leave me alone, they're amusing enough.
Redcaps: These changelings know the meaning of vengeance.
Satyrs: A party with them is almost worth coming out of the water.
Sidhe: Our "rulers" have so little actual power of us. Let's keep it that way.
Sluagh: They have forgotten what it means to be happy, but they go their own way regardless of how they are ridiculed.
Sylph: They swim in their ocean, we in ours.
Trolls: Strong and steady as the tide.