Yield up enough sacrifices an’ savage knick-knacks an’ harbourage in the taown when they wanted it, an’ they’d let well enough alone. Wudn’t bother no strangers as might bear tales aoutside—that is, withaout they got pryin’. All in the band of the faithful—Order o’ Dagon—an’ the children shud never die, but go back to the Mother Hydra an’ Father Dagon what we all come from onct—Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn! Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah-nagl fhtagn—”- Zardok, a Hinnysmouth native and town drunk.

there are tales spoken about these beings, most regarded as myth. but any creature who has spent their lives at sea will assure you that they are real.

Coastal towns such as Hinnysmouth in Equestria and Ipswitch in Trottingham are often home to ponies who have married into Sea Dweller families

over time, the foals resulting from such unions, always born as unicorns or earth ponies, begin changing.

it starts with the eyes, but as they grow older, other abnormalities sprout. teeth change shape, gill slits form, a dorsal fin appears, and occasionally a special design forms on the torso.

the full fledged sea dweller usually returns to the ocean.

Sea dwellers are expert craftsponies, and often work as jewelers on land. however, not all ponies are accepting of families that include sea dwellers, and usually take drastic action.

Sea Dwellers are an ancient race. in lost Shetlantis, they mated with the noble warrior class of that island kingdom, and gave them crystal weapons that emitted rays of light to destroy their enemies and enslave them. these weapons were the downfall of Shetlantis, misused in the civil war which sent the city under the waves and left but a few pockets of colonists scattered across the world.

Sea Dwellers, for their part, have three main cities, representing the three beings they revere as pseudo-gods:

Y'ha-nthlei, dedicated to Dagon, near Discord's Reef near Hinnysmouth

Ahu-Y'hloa, for Mother Hydra, near Ipswitch.

and G'll-Hoo, for Cthulhu, found north, near Reinland.

the Sea Dweller language can be spoken by normal ponies, and is often likened to singing

Esoteric Order of Dagon was the primary religion in Hinnysmouth after Captain Obed Marsh returned from the South Seas with the dark religion. It quickly took root due to its promises of expensive gold artifacts and fish, which were desired by the primarily-fishing town.

The central beings worshipped by the Order were the sea dwellers, Father Dagon, Mother Hydra, and, to a lesser extent, Cthulhu. The sea Dwellers were seen largely as intermediaries between the various gods, rather than as gods themselves. Even so, the cultists sacrificed various locals to the sea dwellers at specific times in exchange for a limitless supply of gold and fish.

The Esoteric Order of Dagon had three oaths which members had to take. The first was an oath of secrecy, the second, an oath of loyalty, and the third, an oath to marry a sea dweller and bear or sire its child.

*ahem* yes, quite inventive *nervous laugh*
Agent...ahhh "researchers" from Luna's Arcane Library will certainly be... "interested" in this bunch...
*jots down a note to stock up on jars of silver fire...

I understand there was racial tension in the past, but unless they're trying to wipe out life by resurrecting elder gods or something, could racism that blatant even still be an issue for families with sea dwellers without the princesses or even lower government putting their hooves down? Even the conflict with the buffalo seemed to be more land use than species.

2121806 that sort of racism is usually found outside the Princess's control, in other countries like Trottingham

2120699

2124119
....uh, oh...

2124519 relax, it'll be fine, they're just draconequi like Discord

2124045 Oh, so in this alternate universe there are other pony nations. Still, the princesses did attack the Crystal Empire to liberate it, so there is precedent for intervention.

2129118 yeah, but Equestria and the Crystal Empire are on the same continent. Trottingham is on the other side of the ocean.

2129134
Well it's your thing so I hate to argue too much...but wings/teleportation? Just curious.

2129406 peace treaties and certain laws. Equestria doesn't interfere