Tidewalk

Tidewalks are waterfront districts of plazas and piers that connect a surface city and its adjacent Merfolk city. Merfolk and land-dwellers can socialize and trade, making Tidewalks one of the city's most important public spaces for both cultures. Tidewalk architecture is built for eye-level interactions. Aquagates and elevated water channels are integrated along dry platforms and venues to allow communication and goods exchange.

Tidewalk Promenade

The Tidewalk promenade runs along the city-facing edge and opens into a terrace at the base of a pier network that extends into the Tidebasin. The central pier is primarily for trade and business, while the outer piers are for recreation and civic infrastructure. Important and official venues are located along the terrace, including diplomatic offices and descent routes into the Merfolk city.

Tidebasin

The center of a Tidewalk is the Tidebasin: a protected harbor-basin held within the seawall ramparts. The Tidebasin uses Aquagates and sluices to maintain its water level, allowing it to remain usable at low tide.

Seawall Ramparts

The Seawall Ramparts function as harbor walls that protect the Tidebasin and provide elevated walkways along the water. Pranalights line the ramparts, providing lighting for ships and night traffic. Beneath the water are large arched columns that lead into the Shallows, usually along a major Merfolk route with a commercial district and marketplace.

Merfolk Pavilion

The Merfolk Pavilion is the Tidewalk's primary social area, reserved for open mingling, music, meals, dances, festivals, and informal meetings between Merfolk and land-dwellers. It is a large pier-style plaza composed of several venues and public spaces designed for cohabitation.

Shellswap

The Shellswap is a communal barter market where Merfolk and land-dwellers trade their wares, curiosities, or other valuables through Aquagate counters and raised-water kiosks. Open kiosks are often available, which Merfolk can freely claim for a short time. Official companies are not permitted to trade here; it is designed to facilitate cultural interest with the Merfolk.

Divehall

The Divehall is a public outfitting hall where land-dwellers rent Aquamasks, Finsuits, and guided instruction before entering Merfolk territory. Guides escort them through the Shallows and popular tourist destinations, such as Seagardens and marketplaces with Seahold chambers.

Glassway

The Glassway is a long glass tunnel for land-dwellers, leading directly from the land side of the Tidewalk into a Seahold district of the Merfolk city. It is designed as both practical access and a scenic procession through the underwater settlement.

Cerulean Consulate

The Cerulean Consulate is a diplomatic office used for dealings between Merfolk ambassadors and surface officials. It is frequently attended by Sirens and Cerulean Maidens to coordinate diplomacy on behalf of Ursula and the Merfolk colonies they represent.

Floodhall

The Floodhall is a water-integrated church where Merfolk and land-dwellers share worship without separating the congregation. Aquatic seating, raised pews, and channel-side altars are common, especially for Ursula and Nautilus services.

Water Arenas

The Water Arena is a public venue for mixed aquatic sports, races, and demonstrations where games are designed around having both land and aquatic participants. It usually has dry viewing tiers above flooded lanes or basins so mixed audiences can watch the same event.

Reefline

The Reefline is a public submarine route that carries visitors through the adjoining Merfolk city. Most vessels are flooded for Merfolk crews, so land-dwelling passengers use Aquamasks unless the vessel includes Seahold cabins.

Soakhouse

The Soakhouse is a bathhouse built around shared pools, flooded lounges, and aquatic tunnel access. It serves as a casual social venue where land-dwellers and aquatic guests can relax in the same facility.

Public Pools

Public Pools are supervised swimming areas, shallow play basins, and training pools that make water access ordinary for land-dwelling citizens. They are common near Tidewalks where children and visitors are expected to learn basic aquatic safety.

Companion Pools

Companion Pools are public venues where visitors swim with trained sea creatures that live alongside Merfolk. They are used for recreation, education, therapy, and first contact with the animals common in Merfolk settlements.

Seagarden

The Seagarden is a curated aquatic garden arranged as swim paths through coral, seagrass, shellwork, and reef sculpture. Guides commonly bring visitors here because it shows Merfolk aesthetics without requiring deep access into the city.

Undertide Access

Undertide Access is a public Aquatic Tunnel entrance leading from the Tidewalk into the city's Undertide, when one exists. It is usually built as a broad route where water traffic naturally branches toward Underward districts, bathhouses, guild sites, and Merfolk civic spaces.

Aquatic Tunnel Network

The Aquatic Tunnel Network connects Tidewalk venues to the Undertide, bathhouses, guild sites, civic buildings, and protected sea access. Tidewalk entrances are usually built wide enough for public traffic, Courier's Guild service routes, and Merfolk visitors moving between the surface city and adjoining colony.

Courier's Guild Offices

Courier's Guild Offices are the logistical operation centers for coordinating land-sea courier affairs. They manage delivery routes, courier contracts, parcel handling, and message transfers. These offices work closely with postmasters, Ondori Dolphins, ships, and Merfolk couriers.

Post Office

The Post Office is the public-facing Courier's Guild site for sending letters and parcels between land and sea. It commonly includes dry counters, aquatic exchange windows, and dolphin-accessible water routes.

Coldreef Vaults

Coldreef Vaults are cold storage facilities for seafood, seagreens, medicines, alchemy goods, and other perishables. They are placed near Tidewalk trade routes so goods can move quickly between ships, markets, and Merfolk suppliers.

Marina

The Marina handles ordinary boat traffic, passenger launches, small cargo craft, and visitor mooring along the protected edge of the Tidebasin. It is arranged to keep surface vessels clear of Merfolk swim routes while still placing sailors, couriers, merchants, and tourists close to Tidewalk services.