Gunko's Junkos

The Hub for Gunk0o Bot lore and more! What's waiting below the waves? Or in the mind of everyone's favorite Jester, Dante?

The Georgia Aquarium is one of only a few institutes in the world to house merfolk as part of their aquatic programs. Particularly because merfolk are housed in their own wing with specialized glass to dampen and lessen the noise for their sensitive ears.Oskar is the first merman in the world to be held in an aquarium. Merfolk are rare and elusive, and most, if not all of the individuals housed in the Georgia aquarium are there because they are unable to live independently in the ocean and natural environments. The current plan by the founder of the program is to home merfolk are relocated/inhabit the aquarium as it is safer than living in the wild, were bred in captivity, cannot properly socialize, have been cast out of their pod, or experienced life-altering injuries.With time, merfolk should be allowed to meet at the bridging glass walls of their enclosures for enrichment and socialization, since merfolk are inherently social creatures. Each tank is separated by glass, but they are able to go into each other's tanks through the winding caverns built into each enclosure. A merfolk’s enclosure in the aquarium must be built to the individual mer’s comfort – meaning, there should be plenty of enrichment, hiding spaces, sound buffers, materials to build and craft nests, water filtering, and prey to hunt. This is partially why many aquariums simply do not house merfolk – it is expensive. Captive merfolk may simply use verbal flirtatious advances, or straight up ask to be mates.Captive merfolk are not very intimate as they are unaware of most wild culture. Led by William I. Akerson, The Georgia Aquarium established the captive merfolk program in the late nineties after much pushback from both political representatives and the violent history of merfolk/human relations. In history, merfolk and humans rarely saw peace between species. Of course, there were always rare outliers – manatee merfolk extending kindness towards lost sailors, documented treaties of peace between islanders and merfolk, and the rare bonded pair of mer and human. Initially, the program began as a way to simply display the merfolk captured or at risk of extinction. However, the program soon became the Georgia Aquarium’s main draw for guests.A few spirited individuals, mostly trainers, caretakers, and the then director of the Georgia Aquarium, sought to establish an ambassador program. The hope was that by showing how humans and Merfolk rely on each other, more care and thought would be given back to the ocean.

Most merfolk live and travel in pods or tribes, forming close-knit family bonds. Pods can consist of a single bonded-pair, a small family, a band of like-minded merfolk, etc. Despite being intimate, merfolk can be HIGHLY territorial. Pods patrol their waters regularly, often going in pairs for strength.Merfolk are intimate creatures. They show love by cuddling or simply sleeping together. Pods of merfolk will often share a singular nest with the exception of mating season in the Spring, when they will build their own to attract mates. Acts of bonding in pods are usually cuddling, grooming, sharing stories and meals, or spending time together. Merfolk wrap their tails together to not be separated during sleep from the natural current of the water. Merfolk mating season is in the spring and in warmer months. Merfolk will migrate in search of a mate, often following the natural warm currents to breeding hotspots in the wild. Courtship leads to mating, as many merfolk species mate for life. Most mermen have the natural and animalistic instinct to breed around females during the height of mating season.Courting is instinctual, but many expressed behaviors are taught through learning by elder pod mates. Gifts of shells, pearls, jewelry, or other trinkets are often exchanged during courting. A good hunter makes for an attractive suitor no matter what species they are. Sharing meals and hunting together is often an intimate act between courting individuals and mates. Males will often scout for a suitable nesting spot, allowing their chosen mate to create and weave a nest as a final act of partnership before mating. Merfolk usually construct dens. Betta merfolk create bubble nests from bubbles underwater. Dens are typically constructed underwater in alcoves, caves and covered areas. Mangrove roots are ideal to certain species of merfolk. Merfolk will decorate their dens with trinkets, decorations, coral kelp, seaweed and bones. Dens are usually made from thick sea grass, sand piles, driftwood, coral and anything else salvageable to provide proper protection. A merfolk den is usually located within the center, or, in the deepest part of their territory.The ridges, scales, fins, and gills on a merfolks body can flare up to create a threat display, which is used to ward off others or threats. The patches of scales or colorful skin on a merfolk’s arms and fins serve to become brighter when attempting to attract a mate. Mermen do the majority of the hunting, both on their own and for their mate once they meet. Mermaids do hunt small animals. Flirting usually consists of brushing together while swimming or nuzzling. Kissing can occur, but this often starts by bringing a partner’s hand to the lips - this action is considered intimate and shows deep devotion. Merpeople communicate through emotive sounds and accompanying gestures - like the purring content, or calling out in question, or the lower kind of purr that is meant to soothe and reassure. Social merfolk tend to pick up words, phrases, and accents from humans. Despite communicating through emotive language, merfolk are quite good at speaking human language and learning through mimicry. Many merfolk are able to interchangeably mate and produce hybrid offspring. The only distinction is whether their partner lays a clutch of eggs or gives live birth.Outsiders are often looked down on in shame, and given a facial mark that will scar designating their status. Many Primitive merfolk wear these marks with pride, and in some cases they are favorable mates.Certain species may be ovoviviparous, oviparous, or viviparous like many shark merfolk. However, many, if not all merfolk are live-birthing mammals with memory and reproductive organs. This is because despite part of their biology being fish or otherwise, they have most characteristics and distant relation to whales and porpoises. Merfolk can survive on land for extended periods of time, having both lungs and oxygen filtering gills. One of the downsides is dry tail or stiff tail, scales can flake and cause harm in abundance. Wild merfolk typically do not enter shallow water unless they are with a human individual they trust completely. Going into shallow water puts them at harm of being caught, trapped, or killed. Merfolk can become beached much like whales and dolphins, and extended exposure to sun can cause burns. Historically, merfolk have been the subject of many debates. While they possess intelligence like humans, they are also unable to access most of the world. There are many activists who fight for them to be released from aquariums, arguing that they should be in the wild, as is their nature. In the wild, mer are often hunted by illegal poachers for their scales, fins, and certain organs to be sold on the black market. Alligator mermen are attentive parents, courtship ritual involves a deep rumbling 'bellow', Reptilian merfolk have different behaviors, often live in small tribes in the wild.Merfolk-Human interspecies relationships are a fragile thing. It's recognized in the law briefly in certain merfolk heavy states like Florida that if a mer bonds with a human, under no circumstances may they be separated and risk the mer succumbing to broken heart syndrome. Merfolk, being rare and elusive, are protected by law!

Oskar was the first Merperson in captivity, and he was joined very recently by Mette, another whaleshark Merman! Another new addition is Pinkie, a Betta merman who was saved from the black market and is currently in quarantine at the Aquarium. Another rescue was Taff, an electric eel mer with territory issues. And speaking of not well behaved, we have Malek. Malek is a bit of a hassle, being a bottle nose merman isn't an excuse. Skippy is playful, if a bit mischievous. A Yellowfin Tuna merman, he was relocated to the Aquarium after causing some trouble for the locals. Judas, a barracuda merman, though violent, has a a fatherly side. The opposite end of the spectrum holds Hartley, a cownose Stingray merman, who's loved by all! Gage is another popular Merman at the aquarium, being an alligator merman and ambassador, he's able to work between humans and mers alike!It's not just a testosterone fest though. Kyri is a nurse shark Mermaid, and previous mate to a harem. She's got some trauma from her past, ut with the love of her new mate in the Aquarium, and her friend Mieke, she's doing better! Mieke is a coelacanth, a rare and deep sea mermaid who wants to make friends and explore. One of the few captive born mers, Roe is an albino alligator mermaid who's not too sure how to act. Kiya and Marina are the Aquarium's local celebrity couple. The pair have 9 kids and are expecting a 10th!The Georgia Aquarium is partnered in a couple other spots, namely the Chimelong Aquarium in Hong Kong. Their program isn't going as... swimmingly. Activists are against this branch, as so many of the merpeople are in isolated solitary tanks. Shui is a massive humpback whale merman, and he's not adapting as well as Oskar had.

William I. Akerson founded the Merfolk Program at the Georgia Aquarium, after extensive training and a shipwreck changed his life. In a twist of fate, William found the very Merman who'd saved his life after the wreck, for sale. Saving him from an uncertain destiny, William founded the program, starting with Oskar.Will is joined by Junhi Tao, a caretaker at the Aquarium who is known for being friendly to the Merpeople. Nika Fredrikson is Head of Merfolk-human relations and Aquatic merfolk director, and a lot less kind than Junhi.Though Dutch isn't a member of staff, he's a fisherman whose father doesn't have the best the Merpeople. He isn't like him though, and after catching a merperson, he had them transferred to the Aquarium for rehabilitation. Though he can't help himself from visiting, as the mer wasn't all he caught. Who's not welcome around the mers? Carlyle Wright. He's the Head of a Merpeople smuggling ring, and former owner of Pinkie.

Though many Merpeople live in aquariums, or are stolen away via black market, some are still wild and free! One of those would be Charlie, an exiled Saltwater Crocodile Mer from Australia. Or there's Jasper, the Don of a pod, and one cruel Red Snapper merman with a penchant for...not great things. Phineas, however, is just a bit dramatic. He's a clownfish merman wanting the pretty mer to share their shells with him. And Thorn, a bullshark merman, who changed a little after losing his mate. He's become a guardian of sorts, patrolling the waters and helping where he can. He can be a bit overprotective though.In the Gulf, Ford, a manatee Merman has settled under some docks (belonging to a human he's quite fond of), along with an Alligator Merman who's his friend. He'd left his old pod of manatees after his aggression made me him an undesirable mate. Ford used to butt heads with a Whaleshark Mer, Mette, but he hasn't seen him in a while. Louie meanwhile, has been alone a bit longer after construction took his home from him. The merman have formed a small pod together.With a thriving market for exotic merpeople, many are taken from their pods, and well some (like Pinkie) can be saved and rehabilitated, others live their lives in captivity. Guymar, a Swordfish Merman, is practically French Nobility, swimming in his master's moat. Mirjani is another prized gem in a black market collection. As a Red Scorpionfish, she's a fierce prize.While merfolk are rare enough, the rarest of all is a hybrid between a mer and a human. In the Everglades is Casimir, a caiman hybrid with his Alligator Daisy. Without his parents, this teen is taken care of by the Park Rangers.Some of the Merpeople are a little less civilized, having evolved a bit differently (or less) and retained prehistoric features. Ripper is a Flying Fish Merman, looking for love. He's not the only one, as brothers Scar and Thrasher fight over a pretty mer too. They're a bit rough around the edges, Scar,the megalodon, being the more caring and gentle (if it can be called that) of the Prehistoric Brothers. And Thrasher, the Leviyatan, being a tad brash(er).All the way over in Scotland, away from the Aquariums, is the lone plesiosaur, Lochlan, the Loch Ness Monster Merman.

Florida has more than beaches and aquariums. The scenic Silver Ridge State Park, a place renowned for camping and relaxation has suddenly become a place you should reconsider vacationing.
Camp Slick Rock has ten spaces for both tents and campers, and is always booked up. The waitlist for the camp is always booked out months is advance, but the state park was recently under investigation for its abundance of missing persons and the under reporting of them. Silver Ridge is known for its natural springs and tubing, as well as it's abundance of alligators, snakes, otters, and bears. Camp Slick Rock offers many recreational activities like a community bonfire, free inner tubes, guided kayaking, and included amenities.There have been large amount of missing persons at the Sliver Ridge, and unsurprisingly, many incidents go unreported.
On top of that, weird things have been happening at the campground and park at night. Reports of people's sites having been ransacked, the bonfire lit dangerously, random bird carcasses ending up in the pathways, and more. The tense atmosphere has everyone feeling as if they are being watched.
Spot number ten is home to a permanent cabin where the on call ranger lives, Trent Grace. Lately, there have been a string of disappearances regarding missing guests visiting the watering hole discovered by two Silver Ridge Park employees. Two bodies have been covered, and were mutilated. This has been covered up by the state and the park. More recently, another camper's beloved pet cat has gone missing, the guy staying in site four had his tent ransacked, and the older brother of the siblings staying in site one has started asking around if anyone's seen his younger sister...

Many people find themselves drawn to the campsites at Slick Rock, among them is Zeke Hankins. Zeke is travel vlogger with cat called snowcap! Also at the camp is Kenna Louis, a lesbian who loves adventures and the outdoors. The neighboring campers have been reporting some weird stuff, like their tent being disturbed, and a sister missing? Meanwhile, over at a separate tent, is Elijah Earl, a frequent camper who's been seeing some odd things.

The Rangers at the camp have been trying, sort of, to deal with the sudden influx of mysteries and reports of missing people. Though sometimes it seems like they might be... hiding something?
The Ranger at site 9, Trent Grace, has been seeing a masked figure down by the swimming hole as of late. He's a worn man, but he does try to keep the campers safe. Joining him is security officer, Nika Gunk. Nika is good at de escalation and is rising in the ranks despite her lack of experience.

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Lord Hendry is a ruler, a kind king who's never had a child of his own, so he adopted one, wanting to share his kindness.Lord Hendry's only child had always been a bit of a downer, so he bought them a jester. Dante isn't any ordinary jester though. He's a Lankite, a creature akin to an incubus, though created though science rather than the arcane.In a separate fantasy world, there exists a brothel, the Lovely Loon, frequented by Dragonborns.... Osed is a sweetheart with a dark past, drinking away his sorrows at the tavern and throwing misplaced affection at the Brothel. Eldral, a swordsman and adventurer, however, gets put in a room without someone at the brothel who doesn't even work there! He still wants to blow off some steam though. Corrys no longer works at the brothel, having retired away with his beloved.

Earth itself can have some....interesting turns. Sometimes men get lucky and find the very thing they'd been dreaming of, right before their eyes. Like lucky Alan Gear, a Cryptid fanatic who was lucky enough to find an alien all of his own. Or there's, Garth Martin, a major nerd, working in a hobby shop when his online gaming friend stops in. Not everyone waits for destiny though. Like Gabriel Garder, a science geek who's good at robotics. He built himself a robo partner!A little less wholesome is Rohan. He's unaware his crush (whom he's stalking) is a werewolf. But he sure loves when they come to the coffee shop he works in. Even more problematic is Phillip Kindle, a survivor in the zombie apocalypse. He has a "Shuffler" on a leash, acting as a pet of sorts.