Merfolk — pirates

For other uses, see Merfolk (disambiguation)

One of the merfolk of dragging young to the depths. — One of the merfolk of Isla Sirena dragging young Jack Sparrow to the depths.

"We are not the Sirens. We are the merfolk. We sing our own melody and we do the bidding of the Sirens."

―Morveren, Aquala and Aquila to Jack Sparrow^[src]

The merfolk, also known as the merpeople and sometimes referred to as Scaly Tails, were legendary water-dwelling human-like beings. They are attested in folklore and mythology throughout the ages in various parts of the world. Female merfolk may be referred to as mermaids, although in a strict sense mermaids are confined to beings who are half-woman and half-fish in appearance, while male merfolk were called mermen. Depending on the story, they can be described as ugly or beautiful. The merfolk of Isla Sirena, the majority of them being mermaids and one known merman, served as agents of the Sirens, dragging many sailors down to a watery grave.

History

Henry Turner's drawing of a creature similar to some of the more hideous merfolk.

"There has never been a time―at least not within my memory―that any merfolk swam the seas freely. We have lived under a strict code since the time immemorial."

―Morveren^[src]

The mermaids of Isla Sirena were part of the merfolk that did the bidding of the Sirens, who were in turn ruled by Davy Jones. They resided in chambers within Isla Sirena, and had control over various creatures that inhabited Davy Jones' Locker, including iguana monsters and sea beasts.^[1] The merfolk also had contact with Tia Dalma, and were aware of legendary artifacts such as the Sword of Cortés.^[2] At some point during the first six months of his service aboard the pirate ship the Fleur de la Mort Billy Turner was kidnapped by the merfolk.^[3]

There were at least three separate sub-species of merfolk in Isla Sirena, distinguished by the color of the scales on their fish-like tails. Those with green tails were analogous to soldiers, and operated as the military arm of the society. They confronted sailors lured to Isla Sirena and dragged them down to the island itself. Red-tailed merfolk were the servants of mermaid society, and were commonly found wading around waiting for orders. They acted as guards and workers in Isla Sirena. Finally, blue-tails served as the leaders of the mermaids. The three blue-tails encountered by Jack Sparrow, Morveren, Aquala and Aquila,^[2] were named as "chairwomen" by the green-tails.^[1] Tonra was the only known merman in the merfolk species.^[4]