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Description

So far all the Illhveli mentioned have shown how they use brute strength, deadly weapons and endless ferocity to live up to the "evil" title. Powerful sea beasts that can smash boats to pieces, tear sailors to shreds and cause fishermen to flee the waters as fast as they can. A showing of strength like that would certainly convince anyone that these species deserve the infamy, but sometimes it isn't always about raw power. A creature does not merely have to be strong to be dangerous, and there is a certainly Illhveli that gladly proves this point. Size and strength can do a whole lot, but intelligence can bring down giants. Wielded properly, it can outclass any brute and overpower any blade. Such words are usually meant to be uplifting, but in this case, it brings dread. What if a beast is granted such smarts but decides it is best used for wickedness? What if that power and brutality is not usurped by this intelligence, but instead, is powered by it? The Taumafiskur goes to show that cruelty is not born from savage ignorance, but is rather chosen by those who should know better yet embrace this evil.

The Taumafiskur is a whale that swims through the icy depths of this northern region, bringing terror and torment wherever it goes. Those who wish to avoid its ire refuse to speak its name aloud and instead refer to it as "Bridle Fish," which personally drives me insane. You got a category called "Evil Whales" that has species that aren't whales, and then when you get to a real whale they call it a fish! Is there no end to this insanity?! Regardless, the reason it has this name is because of its distinct coloration. Spotting it in the dark waters is nearly impossible, as their hide is black as night. Looking towards its head, though, and you will notice pale streaks that break up this darkness. White stripes extend from its mouth, wrapping around the head and stretching down the body. This pattern brings to mind a horse's bridle, which is where this nickname arises. Outside of this patterning, you will see a long thin pair of jaws, perfect for slicing through the water and snapping up prey. Upon its back is a wicked dorsal fin, but one that is not bladed, as that distinction belongs to only one Illhveli. The other prominent thing to notice lies atop their head, swollen like an obsidian fruit. Their forehead is quite large and bulbous, and people often point to that when one brings up their intelligence. It is a beast that flaunts its massive brain, because look at the size of it! Well, I hate to ruin the fun, but that isn't its brain. It is actually a mass of specialized tissue, called the "melon," that is used for altering and magnifying its vocalizations. It is sensitive to sound, and is used in tandem with the Taumafiskur's calls to navigate the icy ocean and track down prey. Other toothed whales possess such a feature, but this species has a surprisingly large one compared to its body. One of this size means that this sense of theirs is increased in sensitivity and use, allowing them to detect the smallest sound and emit a wide variety of specialized calls. This allows them to communicate with other members of this species in a rather complex way, but it also means that they are frighteningly good at tracking down their targets.

Fish, squid and seals are the preferred prey of this Illhveli, using its thin but strong jaws to seize them. A small throat means that they have to either swallow smaller prey whole or tear anything too big into meaty chunks. While they are fast and strong, those aren't the only reasons they can efficiently find and take down prey. Going back to that melon, they use it to for echolocation and they are quite good at it. The simple use of it is to send sound out from their heads and listen for what bounces back and when. Most whales use it as a straight beam, but the Taumafiskur can alter its melon to change the direction. Instead of shooting it straight from its face, it can angle it more to the side, which helps broaden the range of their senses, but also can confuse prey! Most ocean critters are used to these calls coming from the same direction as the hungry jaws, but by aiming it a different way, they can make prey think that danger is in a different area. While this doesn't seem like a crazy wild move, this little difference makes quite the impact! Shooting these sounds at the back end of a fish will make the piscine believe that danger is nipping its tail. In this case, they zip forward and away, believing they are escaping. But if the call is coming from the side of the Bridle Fish's head, then they may be fleeing right into its path and gobbled up! This highly tuned sense allows them to detect the faintest sound and smallest fish, meaning nothing in these waters can escape their notice. Once they are locked on, they won't give up, and they will use any tactic they can to secure dinner.

One Taumafiskur is often a big enough threat on its own, but unfortunately for the denizens of the sea, they tend to travel in groups. These groups range in size from two to five, which doesn't seem like a lot but is quite terrifying when you encounter them. Their vocalizations allow them to communicate with one another and they will develop strategies to hunt down prey. They will do the usual ambushes, or bait-and-switches, but they can also do things like make waves to wash seals off of ice blocks or coordinate attacks to drive larger prey into shallower waters. What they do to claim their meal is quite surprising, as they can cobble together solutions for nearly any situation. These strategies also show how social these creatures are, as they are quite bonded to the members of their pod. They can be seen playing together, chasing each other around or defending wounded friends when predators show up. It would be absolutely heartwarming to see if it wasn't so dangerous to be in the same waters as them!

I know before I threw around words like "wicked" and "evil," which sounds quite alien coming from me. I am always the first to denounce any slander like this thrown onto innocent species, but I must admit that these whales can make me wonder if such claims are true. While they are very good at taking down a variety of prey, there has been many instances where people have watched these pods delay the kill and instead play with their food. A single bite could end this hunt at any moment, but the Bridle Fish choose to keep it going so that they can chase and batter this victim a little longer. They have been seen ramming prey or slapping them with their tails, and then waiting for the animal to regain its sense before they bash it again. And some stories say that these tortuously long hunts sometimes end with the pod leaving the body untouched, left for the scavengers to fight over. These whales are also known to harass other cetaceans, biting and bashing them for no real known reason. Sometimes they will use their brains and melon to mimic other species' calls, luring individuals into an ambush where they can beat the blubber right out of them. It seems that they have a vicious streak, and find a whole lot of fun in hunting and killing, even when no food is to be gained. I have heard of one story where a particular Bridle Fish would use chunks of prey to bait scavengers, like sea birds, into coming close and then killing them in its jaws. It is a bizarre thing to witness, but it must have some kind of purpose to them. True, they could just be doing it all for fun, but I sincerely hope there is a real reason to this. All the locals, however, are perfectly content with stating that they are vicious little monsters that love to torture and kill.

With the knowledge of what they do to other sea creatures, you should immediately realize why they are such a problem for the locals. Fishermen and whalers are just another toy to play with in their eyes, and they like to play rough. Boats are overturned, catches are stolen. Nets are grabbed and pulled, often dragging the poor soul along with it. They beat ships to pieces with their tails, or they break every paddle and rudder they can get their teeth on. Those who fall into the water are toyed with, often pulled down then released so that they can thrash back to the surface as the whales watch. Rescuing these poor souls is another opportunity for them to torment, as they leave floundering victims alive so that they can lure in more. It is truly shocking to hear what these beasts will do! Though I am certain some of these tales are hyperbolic, there is definitely some truth to these. You can see it on their faces, whenever a survivor recants their story. You won't see a lie on their face, only dread. Some would suggest fighting back against these monstrous creatures, but the locals won't dare raise a finger. The Taumafiskur aren't just smart, they have a really good memory. It appears that this species is great at memorizing everything they hear and see, which often helps with recognizing members of their pod or identifying prey. Others claim that it is also great for holding grudges, as the Bridle Fish will never forgive the slightest offense. Those who attack or anger them will be remembered til the day one of them dies, and often the Taumafiskur will do everything in its power to ensure it is the last one standing (or swimming, I guess). Foolish sailors who happen to wound one of these beasts will be forever remembered for this trespass, and will be tormented by that very same whale anytime they go out to sea. Often it is said that the Bridle Fish will poke its head out of the water to spot its nemesis and memorize their face. Others claim that the Taumafiskur instead memorizes the voice and sounds of the particular sailor, even listening to their heartbeat if they fall into the water. Once they have that committed to memory, they will forever be on the lookout for those very same sounds, so that they may have vengeance.

These grudges of theirs can get so intense, that it is said that certain sailors can never return to the sea, as that very whale is waiting there to kill them. Some can get a whole lot more complicated then just flipping over boats and drowning the offender. One famous tale speaks of a whaler who targeted a bothersome Taumafiskur, but his harpoon missed its mark and struck the whale's pregnant mate. Her death drove this particular Bridle Fish to madness, and he became obsessed with killing this whaler. It attacked the vessel, but failed to kill the man. However, it claimed the lives of many sailors aboard, nearly sinking the ship before it limped back to port. Once he was on dry land, the whaler thought himself safe, but the Bridle Fish would not give up. It instead laid siege to every boat in the harbor and chased away all the fish in the waters. When the locals found out the reason for these attacks, they found the whaler and demanded he return to the sea. Though he feared going back into the waters, the locals threatened him with death if he stayed, as they wished to be free of the Taumafiskur's ire. He took his remaining crew back out to sea, and the whale was quick to greet them. The ship was besieged and the rest of the crew was slain. The story ends with the whaler alone on an ice flow, his crew and ship sinking to the bottom of the sea. Only then, when he had lost everything, did he take up the harpoon and give the duel that the beast desired. Some say that the creature got its revenge and killed the whaler, while others say that the two struck each other down, with the two bodies falling to the bottom still locked in combat. How it really ends, I can't really say, because everyone died. How did that story even get told if everyone perished? Not really sure, it could just be speculation or pure fiction. I have heard it around the tavern a couple times, but I also did find a book that went over the whole story, so it could just be from there. Fact or fiction, it does indeed sound like something these creatures would do, so that is why I made the mental decision to stay on their good side! I kept plenty of fish on my person in case I ever saw one at sea. No clue if they could be won over with food, but if they are truly intelligent like me, I would say it is a safe bet!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

------------------------------------------------------

And from our evil whale that is a crazy violent walrus, we go to an evil whale that is pretty much just an orca. At least tried to give it a slightly different look.

Also I just realized we are reaching the halfway point of the month I am nowhere close to having all the stuff posted crapcrapcrapcrap!

Description

So far all the Illhveli mentioned have shown how they use brute strength, deadly weapons and endless ferocity to live up to the "evil" title. Powerful sea beasts that can smash boats to pieces, tear sailors to shreds and cause fishermen to flee the waters as fast as they can. A showing of strength like that would certainly convince anyone that these species deserve the infamy, but sometimes it isn't always about raw power. A creature does not merely have to be strong to be dangerous, and there is a certainly Illhveli that gladly proves this point. Size and strength can do a whole lot, but intelligence can bring down giants. Wielded properly, it can outclass any brute and overpower any blade. Such words are usually meant to be uplifting, but in this case, it brings dread. What if a beast is granted such smarts but decides it is best used for wickedness? What if that power and brutality is not usurped by this intelligence, but instead, is powered by it? The Taumafiskur goes to show that cruelty is not born from savage ignorance, but is rather chosen by those who should know better yet embrace this evil.

The Taumafiskur is a whale that swims through the icy depths of this northern region, bringing terror and torment wherever it goes. Those who wish to avoid its ire refuse to speak its name aloud and instead refer to it as "Bridle Fish," which personally drives me insane. You got a category called "Evil Whales" that has species that aren't whales, and then when you get to a real whale they call it a fish! Is there no end to this insanity?! Regardless, the reason it has this name is because of its distinct coloration. Spotting it in the dark waters is nearly impossible, as their hide is black as night. Looking towards its head, though, and you will notice pale streaks that break up this darkness. White stripes extend from its mouth, wrapping around the head and stretching down the body. This pattern brings to mind a horse's bridle, which is where this nickname arises. Outside of this patterning, you will see a long thin pair of jaws, perfect for slicing through the water and snapping up prey. Upon its back is a wicked dorsal fin, but one that is not bladed, as that distinction belongs to only one Illhveli. The other prominent thing to notice lies atop their head, swollen like an obsidian fruit. Their forehead is quite large and bulbous, and people often point to that when one brings up their intelligence. It is a beast that flaunts its massive brain, because look at the size of it! Well, I hate to ruin the fun, but that isn't its brain. It is actually a mass of specialized tissue, called the "melon," that is used for altering and magnifying its vocalizations. It is sensitive to sound, and is used in tandem with the Taumafiskur's calls to navigate the icy ocean and track down prey. Other toothed whales possess such a feature, but this species has a surprisingly large one compared to its body. One of this size means that this sense of theirs is increased in sensitivity and use, allowing them to detect the smallest sound and emit a wide variety of specialized calls. This allows them to communicate with other members of this species in a rather complex way, but it also means that they are frighteningly good at tracking down their targets.

Fish, squid and seals are the preferred prey of this Illhveli, using its thin but strong jaws to seize them. A small throat means that they have to either swallow smaller prey whole or tear anything too big into meaty chunks. While they are fast and strong, those aren't the only reasons they can efficiently find and take down prey. Going back to that melon, they use it to for echolocation and they are quite good at it. The simple use of it is to send sound out from their heads and listen for what bounces back and when. Most whales use it as a straight beam, but the Taumafiskur can alter its melon to change the direction. Instead of shooting it straight from its face, it can angle it more to the side, which helps broaden the range of their senses, but also can confuse prey! Most ocean critters are used to these calls coming from the same direction as the hungry jaws, but by aiming it a different way, they can make prey think that danger is in a different area. While this doesn't seem like a crazy wild move, this little difference makes quite the impact! Shooting these sounds at the back end of a fish will make the piscine believe that danger is nipping its tail. In this case, they zip forward and away, believing they are escaping. But if the call is coming from the side of the Bridle Fish's head, then they may be fleeing right into its path and gobbled up! This highly tuned sense allows them to detect the faintest sound and smallest fish, meaning nothing in these waters can escape their notice. Once they are locked on, they won't give up, and they will use any tactic they can to secure dinner.

One Taumafiskur is often a big enough threat on its own, but unfortunately for the denizens of the sea, they tend to travel in groups. These groups range in size from two to five, which doesn't seem like a lot but is quite terrifying when you encounter them. Their vocalizations allow them to communicate with one another and they will develop strategies to hunt down prey. They will do the usual ambushes, or bait-and-switches, but they can also do things like make waves to wash seals off of ice blocks or coordinate attacks to drive larger prey into shallower waters. What they do to claim their meal is quite surprising, as they can cobble together solutions for nearly any situation. These strategies also show how social these creatures are, as they are quite bonded to the members of their pod. They can be seen playing together, chasing each other around or defending wounded friends when predators show up. It would be absolutely heartwarming to see if it wasn't so dangerous to be in the same waters as them!

I know before I threw around words like "wicked" and "evil," which sounds quite alien coming from me. I am always the first to denounce any slander like this thrown onto innocent species, but I must admit that these whales can make me wonder if such claims are true. While they are very good at taking down a variety of prey, there has been many instances where people have watched these pods delay the kill and instead play with their food. A single bite could end this hunt at any moment, but the Bridle Fish choose to keep it going so that they can chase and batter this victim a little longer. They have been seen ramming prey or slapping them with their tails, and then waiting for the animal to regain its sense before they bash it again. And some stories say that these tortuously long hunts sometimes end with the pod leaving the body untouched, left for the scavengers to fight over. These whales are also known to harass other cetaceans, biting and bashing them for no real known reason. Sometimes they will use their brains and melon to mimic other species' calls, luring individuals into an ambush where they can beat the blubber right out of them. It seems that they have a vicious streak, and find a whole lot of fun in hunting and killing, even when no food is to be gained. I have heard of one story where a particular Bridle Fish would use chunks of prey to bait scavengers, like sea birds, into coming close and then killing them in its jaws. It is a bizarre thing to witness, but it must have some kind of purpose to them. True, they could just be doing it all for fun, but I sincerely hope there is a real reason to this. All the locals, however, are perfectly content with stating that they are vicious little monsters that love to torture and kill.

With the knowledge of what they do to other sea creatures, you should immediately realize why they are such a problem for the locals. Fishermen and whalers are just another toy to play with in their eyes, and they like to play rough. Boats are overturned, catches are stolen. Nets are grabbed and pulled, often dragging the poor soul along with it. They beat ships to pieces with their tails, or they break every paddle and rudder they can get their teeth on. Those who fall into the water are toyed with, often pulled down then released so that they can thrash back to the surface as the whales watch. Rescuing these poor souls is another opportunity for them to torment, as they leave floundering victims alive so that they can lure in more. It is truly shocking to hear what these beasts will do! Though I am certain some of these tales are hyperbolic, there is definitely some truth to these. You can see it on their faces, whenever a survivor recants their story. You won't see a lie on their face, only dread. Some would suggest fighting back against these monstrous creatures, but the locals won't dare raise a finger. The Taumafiskur aren't just smart, they have a really good memory. It appears that this species is great at memorizing everything they hear and see, which often helps with recognizing members of their pod or identifying prey. Others claim that it is also great for holding grudges, as the Bridle Fish will never forgive the slightest offense. Those who attack or anger them will be remembered til the day one of them dies, and often the Taumafiskur will do everything in its power to ensure it is the last one standing (or swimming, I guess). Foolish sailors who happen to wound one of these beasts will be forever remembered for this trespass, and will be tormented by that very same whale anytime they go out to sea. Often it is said that the Bridle Fish will poke its head out of the water to spot its nemesis and memorize their face. Others claim that the Taumafiskur instead memorizes the voice and sounds of the particular sailor, even listening to their heartbeat if they fall into the water. Once they have that committed to memory, they will forever be on the lookout for those very same sounds, so that they may have vengeance.

These grudges of theirs can get so intense, that it is said that certain sailors can never return to the sea, as that very whale is waiting there to kill them. Some can get a whole lot more complicated then just flipping over boats and drowning the offender. One famous tale speaks of a whaler who targeted a bothersome Taumafiskur, but his harpoon missed its mark and struck the whale's pregnant mate. Her death drove this particular Bridle Fish to madness, and he became obsessed with killing this whaler. It attacked the vessel, but failed to kill the man. However, it claimed the lives of many sailors aboard, nearly sinking the ship before it limped back to port. Once he was on dry land, the whaler thought himself safe, but the Bridle Fish would not give up. It instead laid siege to every boat in the harbor and chased away all the fish in the waters. When the locals found out the reason for these attacks, they found the whaler and demanded he return to the sea. Though he feared going back into the waters, the locals threatened him with death if he stayed, as they wished to be free of the Taumafiskur's ire. He took his remaining crew back out to sea, and the whale was quick to greet them. The ship was besieged and the rest of the crew was slain. The story ends with the whaler alone on an ice flow, his crew and ship sinking to the bottom of the sea. Only then, when he had lost everything, did he take up the harpoon and give the duel that the beast desired. Some say that the creature got its revenge and killed the whaler, while others say that the two struck each other down, with the two bodies falling to the bottom still locked in combat. How it really ends, I can't really say, because everyone died. How did that story even get told if everyone perished? Not really sure, it could just be speculation or pure fiction. I have heard it around the tavern a couple times, but I also did find a book that went over the whole story, so it could just be from there. Fact or fiction, it does indeed sound like something these creatures would do, so that is why I made the mental decision to stay on their good side! I kept plenty of fish on my person in case I ever saw one at sea. No clue if they could be won over with food, but if they are truly intelligent like me, I would say it is a safe bet!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

------------------------------------------------------

And from our evil whale that is a crazy violent walrus, we go to an evil whale that is pretty much just an orca. At least tried to give it a slightly different look.

Also I just realized we are reaching the halfway point of the month I am nowhere close to having all the stuff posted crapcrapcrapcrap!