Dragon Mermaids, Sea Serpents & Co

[Echidna]

So, Dragon, Naga, Serpent and Seamonster Mers, this is your thread!

Show your inspiration and your tails if you so wish, and maybe tell us a bit about your draconian/serpentine/monstrous mersona background!


In most olden tales, the friendly, pretty mermaid looking out for a human prince to cuddle is a small minority.
In fact, the very epitome of a traditional mermaid from ancient Greece is a beautiful waterspirit that when angered, will turn into a large seamonster (and devour the unlucky witnesses).

Likewise, the waterspirits of Europe (both male and female) can turn into a sea-serpent like form.
Sea Serpents are essentially water dragons, very similar to asian dragons, mesoamerican winged serpents, and so on.
(the word "dragon" means "large serpent", by the way.)

Dragons, serpents, and merfolk are thus related.

Many mer tribes are waterfairies and shapechangers, not limited to a half humanoid, fully humanoid, or serpentine form.
Some take the shape of ghostly horses, seals, swans, waterfowl, and the like.

So, feel free to contribute here if your mersona and/or tail(s) deviate from the "modern" Mermaid version!

[Echidna]

I'll start.
Most of my tails are inspired by waterfairies that are serpents, dragons, and merfolk all at once!

Most notably Mélusine, and Vouivre
19671 19672

Sometimes I combine said tails with Isis Wings (see my profile pic).

I also found Krait (seasnake) tails look really good in motion, so I made quite a few colour and material variations of those.

[MermaidAllie]

I saw the word dragon and I had to come check it out, lol I love dragons.

I have been thinking about making a serpent-like tail, but you don't see many of those so I guess I kinda forgot about it. I'll sketch out a design to see what I can come up with and I'll post it here once it's done or somewhat finished (:

[AptaMer]

I've always been inspired by such sea creatures, and am in fact visualizing my mer self as perhaps a black sea creature with two fins and much more creature -like than humanoid on top . . .

Will see if I can come up with some photos or drawings that capture the idea.

I recently saw a costume made out of scaled latex fabric that has really inspired me.

[MermaidAllie]

Well, I drew up a design, but it's not a true dragon inspiration. I found the Blue Dragon Mollusk and couldn't help myself! It's not an actual sea dragon, but it's name is a blue dragon and looks amazing.

Here's one of the pictures, the rest are in my album labeled "Tail Designs"

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=19691&d=1396121899

EDIT: And here's the reference picture I used, isn't this little thing beautiful? It's actually poisonous.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3573/3344064880_326dee828b_z.jpg

[Starfrit]

Like I mentioned over in the Show Us Your Tails thread, my tail design is based off of a shapeshifter roleplay character of mine named Starfrit whose "natural form" is a dragon!

I don't have any artwork of the original dragon character, but here's a (90% finished, I couldn't quite figure out how to incorporate the stripes on her back) custom skin I'd been working on for an old dragon-breeding website I used to hang out on called FlightRising! (This was for one of their dragon breeds called a Pearlcatcher, which was pretty fitting for her!)

19702


Starfrit was a big inspiration for me while I was designing my mersona, not just in her color scheme but also in terms of her overall character -- She's smaller than most others of her kind, but she's got a pretty feisty and fiery personality. She can be pretty hot-headed and stubborn but ultimately tries to do the best for the people around her and tries not to take things too seriously.

And here's the tail:

19703

I ended up doing two separate designs for my tail, one with a more smoothed out orca/dolphin look (Koral's template) and another with a more dragonny appearance (Merbella's template)-- which works out really well with the whole shapeshifting thing, really! I made the former to sort of work best as my first neoprene tail, and is what I'll be commissioning from Morticia Mermaid once my tax return comes in, and the latter will be the base for if I decide in a year or two to move on to a silicone tail to be more dragon-like. I haven't decided on the fins for the dragon version yet. :D

Hoping I'll be able to actually sit down and do some proper drawings of my mersona; I've done some of her more human-ish form for a story I'm working on, but they're really just concept headshots and don't show off the body or anything:

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=19470&d=1395462368

[MermaidAllie]

@Tieri - Your design is gorgeous! I love the fluke on the tails in the corner without a human half.

[Starfrit]

Yeah, that one's from the Merbella's template-- It's my favorite fluke shape ever! <3 If I ever get a silicone tail, I'll definitely try to it from Merbella's and get that fluke shape! That one just SCREAMS dragon to me, haha.

[Mermaid Enhydrina]

@Tieri- That design looks really cool!

I've been playing around wth the idea of my mersona being half mer- half sea dragon. My mer name is the genus of a type of sea snake so it fits. I haven't figured out a design for a tail though.

[MermaidMichelle]

Ah, caltuna, I see you immediately acted upon your suggestion on the 28th and beat me to the punch! I actually started one a day later, but I will gladly transfer my own contribution (it's text-only) to this one at the end of this post! Ireneho also posted hers on that thread, but I won't add it without her permission....

caltuna has gone into quite a bit of general dragon-mermaid detail, and that's fine! The sea dragons were not just Asian, but also MesoAmerican and pretty much anywhere else one might find big cetaceans, sea snakes, or really large fish! The Little Mermaid image which has become so popular in recent centuries was initially an exception to the rule; even the pretty Disney mermaids in Peter Pan reflect this is their desire to drown Wendy!

That doesn't mean dragon-mermaids can't be as selfless as Ariel, however....

"My roleplay dragon character was a Bronze Dragon; they can shapechange into animals and humanoids (such as mermaids) once they hit 16 years of age (or Level 14). I played for a one-summer weekly campaign in The World's Largest Dungeon, so I only had enough time to hit 5th-Level and get my Lightning Breath (I could fly at 4th). I really liked that Water-type dragon character and wanted to be a dragon of my own Age Category (Juvenile, starting at 26 years of age), so I ground off War Wasps in Metroid Prime's Hard Mode to make up the difference. Since Prinaaksoal (my dragon's name in the Language of Dragons I invented at 16) could already breathe lightning and I could practice my aim, it seems a good fit.

I do tend to take my dragoning rather seriously as you might have guessed, and thus even though my tail is more angelic it does contain some noticeable tributes to my Bronze Dragon character...."

Bronze Dragons are always Lawful Good-aligned in Dungeons & Dragons, but they have a distinct and official look about them (somewhere between a Red Dragon and Saphira from Eragon in overall shape, with a bit of a prehistoric ceratopsian and pterosaur component) and thus I didn't want my tail to owe its origins exclusively to Prinaaksoal. Thus I shall be what Raven Sutter of Merbella Studios has dubbed "the Fire Angelfish"!

P.S. Speaking of Merbella; Tieri, your dragon/tail is MAGNIFICENT! :mermaid kiss: The fluke you chose is called "the Angler", as Raven quite likes real-world fish designs, and it is the one she used for her "Sea Dragon" costume/tail which you might have seen on her Facebook page (you can still scroll down to see it easily enough, I think). Raven suggested that her new "Butterfly Koi" fluke would be best for my tail, which is fine with me as Butterfly Koi are also called Dragon Koi due to the Far Eastern legend of sea dragons starting out as "Magikarp"...lol

[Starfrit]

I saw Raven's sea-dragon tail! <3 I watched that Ebay auction like a hawk when she was selling it! I didn't have the funds to bid on it at the time, plus it was too big for me, but it was so beautiful. The Angler fluke is my favorite fluke design by her, and the shape really would be perfect for my mersona! <3 Hopefully someday I'll be able to get one (though apparently this fluke design is only available for the performance-grade tails??) along with a matching "Siren" styled top. That's gonna be a lot of saving!

I really can't wait to see how your tail comes out, Michelle! I love fiery-colored tails, and Butterfly Koi are one of my favorite types of fish. I bet your tail's going to be absolutely gorgeous! <3

[Azurin Luna]

I have always liked dragons as much as mermaids and dolphins. I have always had a dragon friend when I was younger, atleast I believed I did. His name was Shera Kiki and was a purple and yellow dragon :)

I've designed a tail that has some dragon influences in them, but it needs some more polishing. But I will show it eventually.

[Echidna]

Butterfly Koi are also called Dragon Koi due to the Far Eastern legend of sea dragons starting out as "Magikarp"...lol

yep, I didn't mention that detail because asian dragon myths are extensive, but dragons are of course shapeshifters too and more often than not, will take the form of a snake, eel, moray, oarfish, or carp as disguise.
Snakes, eels and carp are also said to be "proto dragons", who will evolve and grow into a veritable dragon with the centuries.
In addition, carp can have magical qualities that enable them to turn into a real dragon when they manage to overcome the Magic Dragon Gate in the river or ocean.

[MermaidMichelle]

Tieri, Merci beacoup! Merbella's Performance Tails are worth it; you can exactly manifest your perfect tail design. I pray that you will be able to realize your own dragon dream soon! :mermaid kiss:

Azurin Luna, I hope you shall show us your design soon!

caltuna, right you are! Among the "true dragons", the koi is the most important fish; in Dungeons & Dragons the Lung/Ryu Oriental Dragons started out as "Carp Dragons" until the Young Adult age category (51+ years), at which point they "evolved" into one of a number of different dragon types (sort of like an Evee...lol)

[Azurin Luna]

Here is my design of a dragon mermaid, I got my inspiration from a drawing on deviantart, and yes, I was allowed to use it
20051

[MermaidMichelle]

That is a lovely and colourful take on a 'dark' dragon mermaid! I am reminded of Daksoalsipha ("my dark eternal soul" in the Dragon Language I invented when I was 16); a Young Adult Black Dragon who took the alternate form of a mermaid; I drew up a detailed sprite set for a video game I started working on (until hard drive wipe) eleven years ago. Here is a cell:

20064

[Azurin Luna]

Thank you :) The name sounds really cool, very fitting for a black dragon. Such a shame you lost your game in the wipe.

One of my coworkers asked if I was going to make a tail like that, I would love to, but I got neither time nor money for it, which is a shame, cause I think it would look really cool as an actual tail

[AptaMer]

Great designs, Azurin & MermaidMichelle- I love them! :mermaid kiss:

And speaking of dragons, has anybody been looking at the dragons in the lates Game of Thrones shows? To me that's what a dragon would really look like, and the way they behave toward Daenerys is exactly the way a true dragon would. I like them waay better than the dragon in The Hobbit.

[Morticia Mermaid]

O.o how an I just now seeing this thread? Would a predatory non "fanciful" style and design fit in this thread? I've been debating sharing mine, it was going to be my design for tailmaker of the year but sadly I can't participate this year. Anyone interested in seeing it?

Sent by star fish

[Mermaid Kelda]

I'd love to see it! Predatory mermaids are my favourite :3

[Echidna]

And speaking of dragons, has anybody been looking at the dragons in the lates Game of Thrones shows?
yep, I began watching it only because I heard it had dragons!

I love the Daenerys storyline. The dragons are cool, especially as I've always loathed the traditional (medieval christian) approach of the western world "dragons are evil coz devil derp" (which Tolkien adheres to).

GoT pictures them more in a realistic way, so to speak (Daenerys was the first thing they saw upon hatching, thus they regard her as their mother.)

[Fun123joker]

GUYS there is this site called flight rising and its raising dragons. thing is they're kinda strict on signing up BUT THEY OPENED REGISTRATION so sign up now its only 24 hours and there is only 6 hours left! VIVA LA WATER CLAN

[Morticia Mermaid]

Ok :) Working on a thread for construction of my tail, including showing design, and the entire look I am going for.

[MermaidMichelle]

Thank you all for your compliments to Daksoalsipha the Black; I've been considering putting her sprite set on the web later this year, and now I think I will!

caltuna, I also quite like Daenerys' dragons on Game of Thrones/only watch the show because of them; their attitude is more that of avians than monsters. I've never practiced falconry but I have studied it, and they way they're reacting to her now that they're human-sized reminds me of a falconer's experience with a female golden eagle (female raptors are larger than males in more than just Jurassic Park)!

Morticia, you have our interest (rest assured I like 'predatory' mermaids well enough; Daksoalsipha is as predatory as they come without being evil!). Be sure to link to your new thread so that those of us subscribed to this one can find it easily!

:mermaid kiss:

[Morticia Mermaid]

:) Was just setting up to do just that :P

You can find the thread here (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?7813-Introduction-of-an-Oceanic-Predator)

So far I have my tail design on it. I'm currently working on drawing up the design concept for the rest of the look. Think she creature, but more.... well, more. lol

[MermaidMichelle]

Merci beaucoup, and nice Eragon reference! :mermaid kiss:

[Echidna]

GUYS there is this site called flight rising and its raising dragons. thing is they're kinda strict on signing up BUT THEY OPENED REGISTRATION so sign up now its only 24 hours and there is only 6 hours left! VIVA LA WATER CLAN

thanks for the heads-up!
Never heard of the site, but I've seen the dragon models around.

Started a (surprise, surprise) fae water clan.

For those interested in dragon games, Istaria is the only MMO (Everquest style) where you can pick dragons as a race.

[AptaMer]

Wow! Just came across a video of something I've been thinking about for a long time- and these guys made it!

I've long thought of myself as more of a sea creature mer, or even a sea-dragon, scaled from head to toe, and not always a standard mer with human upper half and scaled tail lower half.

Have a look at this Uber-cool scaled creature-head made by a group called CFX Masks


http://youtu.be/1gz5BRTj_ys http://youtu.be/1gz5BRTj_ys


Also. I've contacted the people who make the 3D scaled sheeting, and they will ship to Canada, and they make a 3D dragonskin/reptile skin material as well. The have some amazing scaled costumes they've made form the material. Will have to link to them.

[Azurin Luna]

That mask looks really cool

[AptaMer]

Of course, adapting it so you could swim underwater in it would be challenging, but LOL- to be a real sea-dragon or sea-reptile . . . how cool would that be!

[Echidna]

they should make a wetsuit looking like one.
even more realistic if one can lurk in the water unaffected by cold :p

[MermaidMichelle]

Personally, I prefer looking like a dragon mermaid; if I wanted to go full dragon I would desire a graceful snout as traditional dragons sometimes have. Part swan, part raptor!

Having said that, the mask in the video is very realistic and convincing! It does an excellent job of removing one's humanity to give one the appearance of a dangerous predator! :shark: