This module adds the Undine entity to the game, a race of aquatic humanoids hailing from fresh waters. They make the world’s finest musicians and have a number of gimmicks based around harmony and resonance.

Warning: no graphics. Use at your own peril.

Description
It would be tempting to classify undines as elf-kin but apart from pointed ears, stature and forested habitats it would be difficult to draw any other similarities. Undines have grey leathery skin similar to a shark and have no body hair apart from slick black locks atop the head. While ungainly on land, undines have a pair of finned tails that work in concert with webbed feet to propel them through water at amazing speed, and forms the main method of travel in their communities.

Even more exceptional to the undine is not their physical appearance but their sonic capabilities. They have perfect control of their voice boxes, able to perfectly pick their harmonics and overtones to produce any sound they wish. Indeed, the raucous drinking gatherings of undines sound more like a cacophony of fighting animals rather than cheery banter, and only with outsiders will they put on more appealing tones. This also makes them the best singers of all the civilised races, though that potential still requires some training. The few adventurous undines tend to find themselves as appreciated court musicians and tavern guests.

Gameplay
Undines have superb musicianship, and your fortress guests and residents would be delighted to have such amazing prowess available to them. Be careful you don’t get too greedy though - Undines start acting unpredictably in large numbers and may cause more ruckus than you can handle!

Civilisations will send traders in autumn. Undines are vegetarians and will be offended by the offer of any animal products.

Despite espousing pacifism and harmony, undines will send armies to silence the discord if you turn out to be a dissonant voice. As part of their non-violence oath, they use blunt weapons only, and use unique hand-ballistas to deliver bone-cracking metal shot. I’m sure that notion about not shedding blood won’t come up later down the line, I’m sure . . .

Inspiration

Undines fill the “High Elf” trope in the Civ Crucible world. Their ethical framework is more grounded in ahimsa rather than the enviro-crusader aspect of DF elves. That doesn’t mean that they are supposed to be more agreeable, as their singular focus on harmony can dish out harsh penalties for the most minor of infractions. Ultimately, observing how elves physiology complements their entity, I wanted to create one that had lofty ethical goals and values but was let down by their personalities. They think of themselves like they’re Vulcans but their emotional instabilities compromise that goal. Maybe they’ll get there someday.

Undines are a conglomeration of various water spirits - Sirens, kelpies, nixies, and many others. Common tropes for these folks tend to be music, luring in mortals with beautiful singing or playing the fiddle. In the end their physicality ended up being closer to Legend of Zelda Zora’s rather than beautiful maidens which vanilla elves have that base covered already.