[b]Name[/b]
"Siren"

[b]Basic Description[/b]
The Sirens are a race of water-dwelling beings who typically reside in the depths of the sea. They are mostly indistinguishable from humans from the pelvis up. Below their waist is a long, muscular tail akin to that of serpent in lieu of legs. Their tail is finned, sometimes in the same configuration as that of a fish, but often more similar to that of an eel. Their hair is silky and fair, and is typically kept braided or banded in neat locks. Facial hair is meticulously combed and often braided as well. They are capable of living both on land and under the sea. In the sea they are adept swimmers and can outpace any ship, but they are cumbersome and slow on land and are forced to slither about as a serpent would.

Sirens, or sea demons as they are often called, have been reported by historians for many centuries. In antiquity, Sirens were regarded as a peril of the open seas, sinking wayward ships and luring navigators to desert islands. Never did they venture onto the mainlands until Gormon's invasion of Sharod. It is thought that the Sirens feared the Visha, and dared not intrude upon their domain. This might explain why the Siren conquest occurred a mere eighteen years after the Vishatan Empire vanished.

[b]Characteristics[/b]
Sirens are universally regarded as a miserly, vain, and hedonistic race. In antiquity the Sirens were mostly solitary beings and made brief alliances with other individuals only to prey on victims who were capable of defending themselves. Their camaraderie ended as soon as the spoils were divided up, and often fought immediately afterward over disagreement over each share of loot. The fact that Gormon could unite a large tribe of Sirens under his banner to lay waste to the Sardosh Empire in Sharod is a testament to his diplomatic prowess.

The Sirens are not a sociable race. Some Sirens are eloquent and well-spoken, but only out of necessity to see their aims achieved. Even the most patient of Sirens are hardly forthcoming with historians seeking to question them. As such, little is known about the history of their race, or how Gormon came to unite a large portion of it.

Sirens are savage fighters; even on land it will take a veteran warrior or two to slay a siren. But they are very small in number. To bolster their ranks, they must use a great many levies to accomplish anything militarily. The conquest of Sharod, however, has granted Gormon and his ilk a massive number warriors to follow the Siren warlords into battle.