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Tritons of Mystara

by Håvard

In this thread, I would like to explore the Triton race as it appears on Mystara. I am also looking to borrow ideas from other editions to see if there are ways we can expand on the race. Overall, Tritons seem to have seen much more development on Mystara than most other settings even though most of the Triton lore we have is from PC2 the Sea People and despite Tritons not appearing in the BECMI core rules.

DESCRIPTION

Tritons appear similar to Merrow (Mystara’s Mermen and Mermaids), but are noticeably taller. They usually have green or sometimes blue curly hair. Their skin has a noticeable blueish hue. They have two finlike legs. Tritons can live up to 250 years.
Unlike the Merrow, Tritons are much less prone to travelling, and develop kingdoms and permanent settlements where they can practise their magic, honor the immortals and persue their passion for art and coral architecture. They hesitate to delve into the deepest waters, preferring the waters of the sunlit sea.

BACKGROUND

Tritons are native to the Elemental Plane of Water. It is unknown when this race first appeared on Mystara, but it is believed that they were guided there by the Immortal they call Manwara (Protius). Early accounts of Triton activity on Mystara include the endeavours of Polonius who created wondrous coral architectural structures and eventually became an Immortal in the 15th Century BC*.
Tritons are a relative newcomer to the Sea of Dread and their current home in the Sunlit Sea. It is possible that they originally settled in the Sea Kingdoms in the seas of the Southern Hemisphere. Regardless of where they came from, their original homes on Mystara were destroyed by a group of Mystaran ixitxachitl**, known as The Devil Fish. Fleeing the Devil Fish, the Tritons arrived near the Known World around ca BC200.

After initially clashing with the local Merrow (Mermen), the Tritons won these battles and established their new kingdom while leaving the seas beyond those borders for the Merrow. Around AC410, Lycanthropy began to spread in the Undersea and many Tritons fell victim to this disease becoming weresharks, wereseals etc. Eventually this situation got under control although Triton Lycantropes still roam beyond the borders of the Triton lands. To this day, the Triton Kingdom lies in the seas between Ierendi and Minrothad.

*=date according to Codex Immortalis
**= I use the term ixitxachitl for the race and call the Devil Fish a subgroup or perhaps a local Mystara name for the race to make them appear more unique to readers less familiar with Mystara. They are clearly different from ixitxachitl even though they have strong similarities.

Triton Reading List
For those wishing to expand the lore of Mystara's Tritons with information from other editions and settings, here is what I have compiled from various sources so far:

BECMI/Mystara

AD&D 1st and 2nd Edition

D&D 3rd Edition

D&D 5th Edition