Hi! Are you ready to go down under? What?
You don't have any scuba gear? That's okay, I'll lend you my second octo and let's dive down
and explore the wonderful world of underwater coral and what that biome can offer the Fantasy
World Builder. Imagine a home beneath the waves, the architect of your house a creature as diverse
as its environment. Coral would be the builder of this place and it would form the home of amazing,
fantastical creatures that could feed your magic system, shape your religion, and form the
bedrock of the cultures that live in around and on the coral reef. Envision a civilization
of merfolk swimming between the columns of water, or a sea otter transforming into a human as
it walks out onto the beach. From myths that echo in sailor tales to sacred rites held in
underwater temples, that is what I want to talk about today! Coral reefs and the enormous
value that they can add to your fantasy world! Welcome to another episode of just in time
worlds with your host Marie Mullany [Music] [Music] Welcome to the channel if this is your first
time or welcome back if you're a subscriber! Today we are continuing my long running series on
world building biomes and if you're interested in other biomes, there's there's a playlist right
over there for you to check out. Today the topic is coral reefs and appropriately the first thing
to talk about is coral itself. Now if you look at coral you might think that they're a family
of plants but this would be incorrect. Coral is actually living animals each coral is made up of
hundreds, sometimes thousands, of tiny creatures called polyps. These polyps secrete calcium
carbonate building the hard rock-like structures we know as coral reefs but here is where it
gets fascinating. Coral houses microscopic algae called [OMG WHAT?] zooxanthellae. I did not pronounce
that right it's on the whiteboard! These algae are hosted within their tissues
which through photosynthesis provides the coral with nutrients. It's an amazing symbiosis
between the algae and the animal that creates the magic of coral. At least this is the
case with shallow water corals which is what I'm going to talk about today the reefs we
discuss today are shallow enough that sunlight still penetrates and photosynthesis is possible
and this symbiotic relationship exists between algae and coral. There are deep water reefs that
function very differently and I might explore them in another biome video. If you would
like me to do a video on deep water reefs, comment down below and let me know! Okay so back
to shallow water coral reefs. One of the most fascinating parts of coral is how it spawns. It
is a very synchronized event and it happens mostly annually with a mass spawning where they just toss
out the gametes into the ocean and hope that these gametes will find each other and make little itty
bitty baby corals. The timing of this event varies depending on the coral species and their locations
but the general rule is that it happens after a full moon because the lunar cycle does have a
significant role in the timing. And this is of course because the moon affects the tides as I
discuss in my video on multiple moons. For the spawning to take place there must also be a rise
in water temperature so the late spring or early summer is ideal and it typically happens at night
which is thought to help protect the eggs from predators and the Sun. So so this spawning event
would likely have a large impact on societies that live on or near coral reef biomes and that
is a topic we will talk about a little later in this video, so stick around for that! Now I did
mention that coral builds these undersea houses and of course they are the reef builders. They are
the foundation animal of the reef which is to say the biome cannot exist without them. But reefs are
more than just undersea structures. They protect coastlines from erosion and from adverse weather.
They provide nurseries for sea life where juvenile fish can grow up in relative safety. Medically
beneficial compounds are harvested from coral, even in our world. Of course in a world where you
have magic, you can enhance this by having it not just be something that physiologically reacts
but also is magical and that is something else we will talk about a little later when we talk
about the magic of coral! Now in your world coral could be a sacred place of power where water
mages draw strength or it could be the backbone of an underwater economy trading in precious
minerals and magical pearls! Coral is already a rich environment in our world, add a little
magic and it truly becomes the home of fantasy! So if you enjoyed this conversation about coral
itself hit the thumbs up button and let's talk about the fauna and flora that you find in a
coral reef. Before we go under the water let's talk about above the water. The frigate bird is
a fascinating species that has several adaptions that make it very well suited for life associated
with coral reefs. These birds are also known as the pirates of the sky, which is just an amazing
name! Their wingspan is enormous relative to their body size, allowing them to soar on the thermal
updrafts above the sea for weeks and this allows them to stay out the sea and not land and get
water logged. Now they are called pirates of the sky because of their feeding strategy. They are
kleptoparasites meaning they they often obtain their food by stealing it from another bird.
They literally just steal the fish right out of the mouth of other birds though they are
also adept hunters themselves and can pluck fish and squid from the ocean's surface. In a
fantasy world they could represent a graceful and strategic thief that has the patience
to wait for the right moment to strike! Now, moving one step down from the sky, let's talk
about air breathing animals and we're going to split this into two and talk about reptiles
and mammals. In the reptile category let's start with green turtles. With streamlined shells
and powerful flippers these are the long distance travelers of the marine world and they migrate
incredible distances, always returning to their spawning beach to lay their eggs. They can hold
their breath for several hours while resting, but when they are actively foraging they usually hold
their breath for about 5 minutes before surfacing for air. I've seen a green turtle sleeping and
it is the most amazing thing. They sort of drift right above the coral in a sheltered spot and they
just don't pay attention to anything. Like they're just taking a nap down there. It's awesome.
The diet of the green turtle is mainly seagrass and algae which is pretty important because it
prevents the overgrowth and maintains the health and balance of the seagrass beds. Green turtles
in a fantasy world could be ancient navigator of the seas or they could act as living vessels
for underwater species. They could also in and of themselves evolve to sentients and civilization
and become an amphibious sentient species though you'll have to make a plan with their hands cuz
those paws aren't made for tools! Now as I said, we are splitting air the air breathing section in
two and the other animal that we're going to talk about is sea otter. They are just the most awesome
animals they are known to hold their breath for up to five minutes and they are a keystone species
in the kelp forest ecosystem which is often the neighbor of the coral reef ecosystem. Keystone
species means that they are critical to the health of the ecosystem. The primary diet of the
sea otter consists of sea urchins, crabs, snails, and small fish and they can actually crush
shellfish open on their chest using rocks, which is just the most cutest thing ever. Though
I guess it sucks for the shellfish. Anyway! By controlling the sea urchin population sea
otter prevent the overgrazing of the kelp forest which is a critical habitat and feeding
ground for many marine species. Sea otters in a fantasy world with a dexterous paws
and their playful nature could very easily become a sentient species either in
their own right or as shape shifters and we will talk more about that a little later on so
stay tuned! But sea otters could also just be mischief makers in a marine community. Perhaps
they could become the holy animal of a God of Mischief which would be a very interesting role
for them to fulfill. Okay so those are the two sample animals of creatures that need to come
up to breathe, but what about those that are water breathing? There are of course a myriad
of these animals. The first one I want to talk about is the parrot fish. Sporting a rainbow
of colors and equipped with a wicked beak the parrot fish is like a living kaleidoscope but it
is critical to the reef vitality. They graze on the algae-laden corals in a process that prevents
the algae from choking the reef. With each munch, the parrot fish actually ingests bits of coral
and its digestive tract grinds the coral into fine sands which it then deposits. And that helps
create those white sand beaches associated with coral reefs. In fact a single parrot fish can
produce hundreds of pounds of white sand each year. In a fantasy world if you have Druids or
something like that I can see parrot fish becoming important to such a society as an animal that
enhances the environment both by creating those beaches and by maintaining the balance between
the algae and the reef. And with the parrot fish's vibrant colors and transformative work
in creating sand, they could easily become the symbols of renewal and cyclical balance. A very
fitting thematic element of druidic orders! But of course everything that eats has things that
eat it and there's always a bigger fish in the words of Qui-Gon Jin. The potato bass is a pretty
formidable predator. It's mottled skin provides great camouflage and it can strike with lightning
speed to snag its prey. Now the potato bass is a really cool fish and the reason why it's in this
video is because of this piece of footage where you can see this potato bass actually playing with
us. He just really wanted to go to the fishy spa and have everybody pet him! It was awesome. He
was literally swimming into us. So that's why the potato bass are here and they really are awesome.
But they are of course not the only predator on the reef. There is also the moray eel which winds
through the nooks and crannies of the reef and launches its attacks from ambush. They use their
second set of jaws called pharyngeal jaws to grasp and pull prey into their gullets. Because if
the jaws open wide and there's more jaws inside, it's a moray! Seriously it's a remarkable
adaption that seems to be pulled straight from a creature feature. In the realm of
fantasy these hunters could be guardians of sacred treasure or they could be keepers of
underwater ruins or you can make that moray large and offer a serious threat to anybody
who visits the reef. Now it is a simple fact of life that everything needs to be clean. I
have in a previous video spoken a great deal about cleaning cleaning stations underwater so
I'm not going to rehash everything I said there, you can check that video out over there in the
information card, but I do want to just briefly talk about the importance of symbiosis because
that's something will talk about again when it comes to magic. so cleaner shrimps and wrasses
have a symbiotic relationship with their fellow marine inhabitants. They set up these cleaning
stations and the other marine inhabitants come to have parasites and dead skin removed. Even
creatures like the giant manta rays will patiently wait in line at a cleaning station and then come
park themselves in the station to be cleaned. Without the cleaning crew the reef would succumb
to the perils of disease and parasites. Now these cleaning stations could be used as a healing
station in a fantasy world. Maybe these cleaning crew are natural magic users who heal things that
they clean and then you could even have people from the surface coming down to the cleaning
station to visit these natural healers which I think would be a really cool fantasy element.
There are of course a myriad of other creatures. I haven't even spoken about the octopus though I
did talk about them extensively in another video, which I did on Illusions. And then of course
there are sharks who are the apex predator and if you've ever been on a reef when a great white
appears you immediately know it. Everything else on the reef disappears and the Jaws music
starts playing in your head, even though you know it's not actually interested in eating
you! But we've got a lot of ground to cover, so let me just say that sea sea snakes would
be great for some kind of association with assassins for example harvesting their
poison as a deadly substance. Electric rays would be awesome for power
generation or life detection and kelp forests would be an amazing place
to hide anything, since it's super easy to get turned around in there! Okay so if
you've enjoyed this quick take on fauna and flora in coral reefs hit that thumbs
up button and let's turn to Coral magic! I promised we would talk about symbiosis and
so we will! Consider the intricate relationship that defines the reef between coral and algae, in
a similar vein we can imagine a form of symbiotic magic where power is drawn from the bonds
between creatures. This magic could manifest in partnerships like a shark and its remoras,
or the mutualistic relationship that forms in cleaning stations. In a fantasy realm, a mage or
magical creature might form bonds with each other, each pair enhancing the magical abilities and
power of the other. These alliances could be a central part of the magic system where
understanding and respect for each other are as crucial as the spells themselves.
This would open up thematic storytelling devices where you could tell stories about
broken bonds, rejoining bonds and the need for mutual support. But the coral reef is also
a place of death where the skeletal remains of corals form the foundation of new life. This
cycle can inspire a form of necromantic magic. Drawing power from Death to create shape and
transform. But here lies a moral dilemma: the temptation to abuse this power by causing
premature death for magical gain. Such a magic system can introduce complex ethical questions.
It can challenge characters to consider the consequences of their actions, weighing the need
for magical power against the sanctity of life, and that can make for an amazing central conflict
to an epic fantasy tale! The coral reef with its myriad relationships and cycles and its extremely
rich environment, is more than just an ecological marvel it's an absolute treasure trove of magical
possibilities. So think about those intricate connections that is formed on the coral reef,
think about its biodiversity, think about the different elements that form. It could it be a
source for Elemental Magic. It lives under water, it also touches the Earth. There are creatures on
it that transform the coral into sand. Could that be part of an elemental system? There are many
aspects to the coral reef that you can build into a fantastical world to form the bedrock of
your fantasy elements! And if you enjoyed that exploration of the magic of coral hit that thumbs
up button and let's talk about cultures and societies that might exist on a coral reef.
as with animals we'll split societies into two those adapted to diving down and visiting the reef
and those who are not so adapted. In other words, the more classical humans or elves or whatnot. If
you want my take on complete underwater societies, I have done a number of videos on underwater
civilizations and you can check those out in the playlist. Okay, let's first talk about shape
shifters that are adapted to diving and let's circle back to that sea otter! In our own folklore
there is the legend of selkies which are creatures that can transform between human and otter and
they have the ability to live as a marine animal or as a human. That kind of shape-shifting ability
opens up great narrative potential with themes of transformation, identity and belonging. You could
explore the struggle of living Between Two Worlds, never fully belonging in either. This would be
particularly suited to young adult novels where you have young shape shifters coming of age and
learning to navigate both the human and aquatic world. In modern fantasy we see echoes of these
themes in works like the Song of the Sea, where the protagonist grapples with their connection
to the ocean. This kind of device also plays into themes of Guardians of The Reef because these
people live as sea creatures some of the time as such they might have extensive stewardship of the
reef. So you could also play with themes around taking care of the natural world where they could
battle threats like pollution and over fishing and so on. The culture of these people would be
well suited to rituals and traditions tied to the rhythms of the reef and of course the moon.
You might have celebrations aligning with coral spawning events, and you would probably have myths
around creatures of the deep teaching lesson of balance and harmony and the respect for nature.
I could certainly see a green turtle God in a culture of such a society but we'll talk a bit
more about my general thoughts on religions that could arise in reef societies in the last section
of this video. For now let's leave the shape changing otter be and talk about an amphibious
civilization fully adapted to live on both the reef and under the water. These amphibious beings,
descendants of an aquatic ancestor, would possess unique psychological trays. They might have
gills for underwater breathing that would seal when they come up, with webbed hands and feet
for expert swimming, perhaps even specialized eyes adapted to the varying light conditions of
the deep and sunlit lands. Or maybe they are like the turtles who have an immense lung capacity and
they basically hold their breaths under the ocean. I think that their home should ideally be built
in environments like mangroves or other kinds of halfway environments where they would have the
water close at hand, even washing into the home during high tide, but it also has enough dry
area for them to breathe freely and be safe. These amphibious people would probably have a deep
connection to the sea, diving for pearls, fishing and harvesting coral, which all could be part
of their routine. They probably trade with other species that are less adapted to marine life.
They might even have domesticated some of the fish species like the potato bass or the parrot
fish that they use as a food source or perhaps as a means to make some other products. These
people would be a very interesting fantastical element and they would open up some great themes.
Again they will open up the dual nature of living partially underwater and partially on land and in
that liminal space, you could play with a lot of themes of being caught between two worlds. You
could also set up a situation where they have the demands of the land perhaps requiring more
and more trade, and you have the pressure that this is putting on the ocean. And so you can play
with themes of progress versus stewardship in the same way that Tolkien did in The Lord of the
Rings. So those are two examples of societies where they would live both on land and visit the
ocean with adaptions, but what about societies that are like our world? That are societies that
live on the reef but aren't specifically adapted to diving down to it? Now I have already done a
coastal societies video in general which you can check out, but just as an overview, in a society
where the reef is a cornerstone of the existence of the society, the reef could become woven into
the fabric of the culture. They could have rituals and festivals centered around the reef, where you
have myths that are told of the Sea Gods residing within the coral themselves. Or you could perhaps
have festivals when the turtles come to lay their eggs! The society would move to the rhythm of the
reef and if their magic is dependent on the reef, their relationship ship to it will deepen even
further. So it could become the source of mystical power, a place of learning and discovery.
These societies with their added dimension of magic could transform the coral reef from a
natural resource into a living breathing entity at the mystical heart of their society! and if
you enjoyed that discussion of societies that could exist around a reef hit thumbs up button
and let's talk about religion and legends! So coral reefs in our world have already spawned
a whole host of Legends, if you think about all the pirate hideouts and the creatures of the
deep and sea nymphs and sirens and so on. They all come from areas like coral reefs, but in a
fantasy world the reefs might actually be home to guardian creatures, mythical beings tasked with
protecting these underwater paradises! Think of ancient guardians like sea nymphs or merfolk.
Entities that are part coral, and part creature embodying the essence of the reef! Their stories
could be one of eternal vigilance against threats both natural and supernatural. We've certainly
got plenty of myths and legends in our world so you should probably have a couple in yours even if
there are fake stories like our merfolk and just tales told around a campfire. From a religious
aspect for some the reef itself could be a living embodiment of their deity the reef could become
what is in some religions the Mother Earth goddess figure. The Reef could take that place and be
that mother figure, or you could have a pantheon of deities where you have different aspects of
the reef. A god of the deep water, a goddess of the corals, a deity of the fish and so on. Or you
could also go with a more animism approach where every part of the reef has a spirit. So you've got
a lot of options in terms of the central figure of your religion. Then as I said, I do think that
the rituals would follow the rhythm of the reef with things like fertility rights happening when
the coral spawns and so on. I also think the moon would be critically important in these kinds of
religions because the moon controls the tide and of course a coral reef environment, the tide
has a great impact. So certainly consider the impact of the moon on your religious rites and the
activities and cultural festivals of your people. By weaving in legends and mythical creatures
and religions into your coral reef societies, you build a rich multi-layered narrative. These
stories can be things that your characters tell each other and that enhances your world, showing
how these cultures live. Coral reefs in their complex beauty and ecological diversity are
more than just backdrops. They can be living breathing settings that can inspire stories
and shape cultures and birth legends. When you're building a coral reef in your world think
about them as a source of magic and mystery. Can you use them in your magic system? What legends
will spawn from them? What terrible creatures live down there? What themes do they feed in your
world? And those are my thoughts on coral reefs in fantasy worlds! This video has been brought
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and I'll take my octo back now and see you soon for another episode of just in time worlds,
where we build what we need when we need it!
