@DangerBanana NOOOO mermen. *weeps* But again, Capricorn's hitting closer to what I'm thinking of. Something Greek, possibly, or a shade of that flavor. Hmmmm. The locals think of it as one thing while in reality, it/he is much more ancient.
@Helliana and @Musicnotes -- yeah, maybe something like that. Something that has to shed his skin. @Hyperlink4 That... Is interesting. More along the lines I'm kind of going for.
RPN member question time! If I'm a character in a sleepy coastal setting who is secretly some sort of creature another character would come looking for, what would I be? (and don't say "merman"... done to death!)