Seilhei

Most commonly found in the lush coral reefs, but also lurking in the deep dark of the watery abyss, the Seilhei are a branch of Dryad that seeks refuge underwater instead of on dry land. Despite their smaller size, the Seilhei are gargantuan in population, their numbers rivalled only by that of the Leidrie.

Appearance and Anatomy
While their general anatomy resembles that of the typical Dryad, with the two most notable differences lying in the sheet of membrane that lies between their arms and torso, and the lack of legs being replaced by one fish-like tail. Seilhei are typically smaller than the average Dryad, the tallest of which are only around 5’ tall. They do not have scales like most aquatic lifeforms, Seilhei bodies instead being made of a material similar to coral. The type of coral can be generationally influenced based on the typical diet of a given individual.

Their skin, in contrast to the more naturalistic palettes of other Dryads, are often bright and saturated, with mixes of magenta and deep blue. During adolescence, the body is incredibly soft, giving the impression that a Seilhei is similar to a jellyfish. However, after adulthood, the body then hardens, often resulting in the Seilhei’s speed dramatically decreasing.

Similar to that of sharks, Seilhei have a row of teeth that can grow back if broken. This teeth is used to puncture the surface of coral, and draining it of the nutrition providing algae that inhabit it. Alternatively, Seilhei will use their teeth in order to input parts of their genetic material into coral.

Seilhei that do not live in coral reefs, known as Dreseilhei do still share elements with their more shallow water counterparts, but have much larger bodies, up to impressive sizes of 15’, and paler skin. Their hair will also be be replaced with one tendril ending in a bulb-shaped light, like an anglerfish. As their eyes are not naturally accustomed to the dark, this allows them to see.

Reproduction and Children
When a Seilhei injects their genetic material into coral, it lays dormant until another Seilhei’s genetic code also enters the same coral, and the two combine and begin taking over the organism. The coral grows into a chamber where it begins to produce a Sprout Seilhei, finishing the process after roughly 12-18 months. Seilhei Sprouts live very lively childhoods, spending their days exploring the ocean and feasting on coral. They have a similar maturing time to human beings, reaching adulthood in their early 20s.

While a Dreseilhei Sprout will often live a similar childhood in the deeper ocean, the medium of reproduction is quite different. Instead of using coral as a host, Dreseilhei will use more unconventional reproductive hosts, such as anglerfish or even giant squids. This results in a more gruesome transformation into a Sprout chamber, though the process is the same from this point.

Diet
Seilhei are completely incapable of digesting regular food, instead relying on algae in order to survive and gain nutrients from assimilating it into their own body. This allows them to perform photosynthesis for short periods of time, which sustains their body for a while. This process can be compared to the likes of traditional vampirism.

Behaviour and Culture
In comparison to other Dryad cultures, the Seilhei are incredibly lax in nature, and have little competitors in nature. Despite this, they are also quite organised, often splitting coral reefs into 'sectors' with different purposes, with the coral designated for consumption in the centre. Often, these colonies are quite recognisable, as they are circular in design with a white patch of bleached coral in the centre.

As sailing has been a common practice throughout history, Seilhei often have to deal with the presence of explorers and sailors passing through their colonies. While friendly, they are often mischievous, and love to play harmless pranks on those unlucky enough to cross their borders. Their spoken language is also much more developed than the average Dryad, complex enough where Seilhei groups will have diplomats appointed that are both in charge of foreign relations and spoken linguistics.

Dreseilhei are often cast aside for their abominable appearances, and as such lead very solitary lives. They have practically no spoken language, as there is almost never any need to communicate through speech. While they are quite peaceful in nature, Dreseilhei can quickly be turned vindictive, and when their eyes are set on a target, the result is always a cruel outcome.

The Pirate Queen
Abandoning her home and joining up with an Eydrie to sail the high seas, The Pirate Queen was a terror for any sailor to encounter her. She cut off her own tail and replaced it with rollerblade-like legs built by her husband, and cut down victims with terrifying efficiency. At one point, she was heard to have a hoard of unimaginable wealth, though time has lost the location to this hidden treasure trove.

The Seilhei Sirens
Twins whose voices could enchant anyone who heard it, Sierea and Freiden spent their days luring sailors to their underwater dooms as a form of vengeance against the people who had wronged them. Historians have argued whether or not the twins were lost to Overgrowth, but one thing was for certain: there was more to them than just Dryad biology.