House Melusine

The merfolk of House Melusine, the smallest and least trusted house, are those few chosen by the Shelled One to act as his representatives among Vatea’s Children. Valued as intellectuals, the merfolk of house Melusine are the lorekeepers and scholars of merfolk society. Oddly, House Melusine is also known for holding the majority of Apsarae that are not truly Vatea’s children. Although they are all merfolk, the members of house Melusine are virtually all devoid of gills. Whales, porpoises, pinnipeds, otters, sea snakes, turtles and even a few diving birds all become Melusine. The Melusine certainly feel the sting of prejudice from their brethren, but the knowledge that they are indispensable to merfolk society eases the ache somewhat. Since the Melusine must surface to breathe, they are more in tune with the surface world than the other merfolk. Some nixes even go so far as to break the unwritten law and sneak aboard a ship or an island and “go native” for a few days. While it is known that this is done, it is still not tolerated in merfolk society — the punishments vary, but are often harsh enough to startle even an Unseelie. The majority of bio-architects and coral artists are Melusine merfolk, and even a few high-ranking nobles are Melusine. In recent years the Melusine have become indispensable for their knowledge of surface matters. This sudden need for their skill has led some other merfolk, particularly Lorelei, to question the motives of the Melusine, sometimes going so far as to even accuse this house of collaboration with the surface-dwellers. The Melusine typically ignore these accusations, and the mightier among them are quite capable of exacting vengeance should the insult be too severe.

Boon: Melusine fae are rather more in touch with the society of the landwalkers. They purchase the “forbidden skills” — Streetwise, Drive, Firearms and Computer — without restriction.

Flaw: The Melusine must all breathe air. Melusine must surface every six hours to breathe before the danger of drowning sets in.

Reference

 * CWOD: World of Darkness: Blood-Dimmed Tides, p. 74 - 75