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World area: Moonsea
A good (sub) artic area.
Moonsea Fauna
Humanoids and related
Sahuagin have recently appeared in the Moonsea in great numbers. Little more is known of these orcs of the deep. Freshwater trolls, called hools, have recently become more common, but are not by any means encountered on a regular basis. These creatures have large maws filled with hundreds of teeth and relatively weaker arms and claws, as compared to the land based troll. Trolls and sahuagin inhabit the deep, cooler areas of the Moonsea.
Mammals
Seals
There are 3 or 4 species of seals commonly found in the Moonsea. The most common is the Rocky Shore Seal (Urso mianthops), found in the western portions of the Moonsea. This animal, once very common and now hunted to near extinction, inhabits the rocky ledges and drop-offs so common in the Eastern Moonsea. The last great colony may be found near Ironfang Keep. It has an excellent pelt; four are required to make a coat. This seal eats the fish found at depth in deeper, more brackish portions of the Moonsea. They are reported to be somewhat rank in flavor. Average size is 4 feet in length and 200 pounds. Colonies may range up to 2000 members, with males establishing territories and harems of 100 or more females. Single pups are born in alternate years and stay with the mother for 15 to 18 months. Females with young often stay near shore and are easy pickings for sealers.
The major predator of the Rocky Shore Seal is the Sea Bear (Urso aquaticiens). Once a common inhabitant of all portions of the Moonsea, there are slim reports of the Sea Bear in recent decades. Very few are thought to exist in the Eastern Moonsea, far away from any human contacts. Sea Bears are very aggressive and have been known to attack small boats and pairs or trios of people. Although they do not appear to exhibit any innate intelligence, these animals are highly dangerous, even more so than their land based cousins, the grizzly bear, Sea bears range in size from 8 to 12 feet and 500 to 800 pounds. They eat seals, porpoises, and any aquatic or land mammals smaller than they do, as well as small and medium sharks, salmonoids (lake trout, salmon and true trouts), herring, and turtles of all sizes. They will occasional and together in pairs or trios to herd groups of prey so they may be attacked more efficiently. Their pelts are highly prized as rugs. Sea bears breed every third year. Males and females seek out each other in generally accepted breeding areas in the autumn months. Exploring these areas can be exceedingly dangerous as repeated attacks from several pairs and trios of Sea Bears are likely to occur. Manchard Burton reported having killed Eleven Sea Bears in seven separate attacks in 1297 DR. None of the pelts measured less than 10 feet and largest was a behemoth of 13 feet! Of the 26 men who traveled with Burton, 13 were killed in these attacks when the Sea Bears overturned their sea dories. Manchard killed the Behemoth on land after it stalked and charged from a thicket, killing his guide and son. He records a death spell was necessary to stop it, although this is not corroborated by second sources.
The River Lis Seal are common animals that prey on the great numbers of perch and small migratory species, which move up the river during spawning season. The River Lis Seal is a shy and reclusive creature, usually active at night. It often makes an eerie haunting sound that sets one hair to standing on end. There is a local superstition that the seal is actually a reincarnated sailor that drowned and watches over the river bargemen and boatmen. Locals frown on molesting the River Lis Seal and often leave out offerings on remote riverbanks. This activity, and the lack of large predators, means that the River Lis Seal population has steadily grown over the past 2 centuries. The seal is approximately 3 feet long with a distinctly spotted pelt. The pelt is too thin to make a good garment, but they make excellent hats and their meat is excellent, if excessively sweet.
The Moonsea Seal is found throughout the Moonsea. It eats all manners of fish and has expanded to fill the niche of other predators that have been removed from the aquatic food chain by the activities of man. These animals are approximately 4' to 7' long and vary in weight from 80 to 250 pounds. Local populations rarely mix, but appear to migrate within a given range. One group is known to migrate up and down the River Lis. Their pelts range from a light gray to glossy black, but are too thin to make a proper coat and are too thick to make a comfortable hat. Hence, they are rarely hunted when other more valuable species are available. Some become notorious pests, congregating in harbors, and making raucous, taunting calls at night.
The last two species may or may not exist any more due to over hunting and collisions with boat traffic. The Sea Hag is a large timid plant-eating creature found in the shallower sections of the western Moonsea and river mouths. It is an enormous animal, approaching 18 feet and 5000 pounds! It has thick rolls of oil rich blubber, which makes smokeless lamp oil. Zentish activities have greatly reduced their numbers even in the last century. No reports of the Sea Hag have been reported in the past 30 years, the last one having died of disease in the Hillsfar Aquatarium in 1341. The body has been preserved and resides in the Hillsfar Librium (owned by the mage Maalir). Remnant populations may yet exist. Their bones are commonly found scattered about the Moonsea shores. Their hide made excellent thick leather, perfect for book coverings. The flesh was considered coarse and oily, but the larger specimens made for better fare than the younger, immature specimens.
The Moonsea Tusker is a similarly large animal that eats crustaceans, such as large and huge crayfish, cockles, clams, mussels, and oysters of all sizes. The tusker has two great tusks which project downward from its upper front mouth. These animals disappeared over 3 centuries ago due overhunting for their blubber, ivory, and meat. Nothing else is known of this animal. Their bones may be found as doorstops and carvings throughout the Moonsea, and whole skeletons may be found in certain mage libraries and private museums, although most of these places now lie in ruin.
Whales
There are three principal kinds of whales: the pilot whale, the sea dolphin, and the river dolphins. The river dolphins are found in and around all major rivers. The Tesh and Starnow River dolphins have been hunted to extinction. The Lis River Dolphin is a reclusive animal that is often seen breaching at night, but not during the day. Lis River Dolphins are reputed to be invisible during the day. (Ed note: these dolphins are highly intelligent and psionic) The Cormaranthor River Dolphin is found throughout the Cormaranthor area and averages approximately 5 feet long and 100 to 200 pounds. They appear to communicate with each other and are found in small social gatherings of 2 to 4 females with their young or 1 to 3 males. Other river dolphins have been seen in Moonsea rivers, but little is known about them.
Sea dolphins are found in all parts of the Moonsea and there have been historic reports of sea dolphins following ships and fish up rivers. Sea dolphins are large animals, 5' to 7' long and 200 to 600 pounds, that are uniformly dark gray with a lighter underside and edging on their pectoral fins. Dolphins have been known to help humans in extraordinary ways, as though they could understand the language or mariners or read their minds.
Fishes
Sharks
There are four kinds of sharks found in the Moonsea. The largest, and mot dangerous, is the Bull Shark, known for its attacks on mariners and ability to migrate up rivers. These sharks have been found in freshwater creeks many miles from the Moonsea. They range in size from 6 to 12 feet, and 300 to 800 pounds. Larger specimens are taken in the deeper sections of the Moonsea, where they feed on fish and seals (when they can catch them).
The Swordtail Shark is a distinctive eastern deepwater fish with a large lobe to it upper tail. It slashes its sword-like tail back and forth in the water, killing and maiming all around it. Sometimes a group of swordtails will surround a ball of smaller fish and slaughter the lot of them. Although these fish are not known to attack humans, they should be treated with respect due to the Swordtail. Swordtails range in size from 120 to 350 pounds and 4 to 8 feet (sans tail). Swordtails are greatly prized for their excellent flesh. Their hide is not as coarse as at the Bull Shark and may be used as wraps for sword grips. The teeth are small and uniform in size; on Mulmastrian jeweler uses them in his distinctive designs, especially for poison finger rings.
Smaller Ground Sharks are found allover the Moonsea. Some are aggressive and will attack the legs and feet of swimmers, but most are reclusive and are incidentally caught by fisherman fishing for other species. Blackfins have small sharp uniform teeth and average 4 feet and 50 pounds. Blackfins are excellent eating but jump and spin when caught on hook and line, often landing in the boat. They are not sought after for this reason.
Grey Hounds are small sharks with irregular sized front teeth and back molar like teeth for crushing hard shelled prey, such as crabs, crayfish, and mollusks. Often aggressive to bathers in shallow, warm waters and river mouths, they are not found in rivers themselves. There are two varieties, the spotted (up to 5' and 100 pounds) and the smooth (up to 3' and 35 pounds). They are excellent eating but are hard to catch in nets or lines. Most are caught at night using a long spear. Slime Devils are slimy fish with odd, three cusped teeth found in the deepest part of the Moonsea. They occasionally appear in great numbers in other areas following prey, often to the exasperation of the fishermen. They are fair eating but spoil quickly and are not actively sought for this reason. The hide of this fish is exceedingly rough and often cut the handler's hand. The fish's slime harbors exceedingly virulent toxins which will inevitably cause a massive infection. Most fishermen either cut the line or use a bat to quiet the fish before removing the hook.
Turtles
Turtles of all varieties are common in the Moonsea. There are 44 species of river turtles, ranging in size from the Tiny Slider (4" across) to the Bearded Snapper (4' across and up to 200 pounds). The terrapins (to 35 pounds in the oldest specimens) are the most economically important and have staged a remarkable comeback after near extinction from overhunting. Several remnant populations have repopulated entire ranges in just ten years. Much of this activity is due to the reduced hunting pressure for turtles in general, but magical influence by druids or mages is suspected. Still, turtles as table fare has dropped off in favor chickens and pork.
Deepwater giant turtles have been reported. These turtles appear to be huge snapping turtles and are thought to be a remnant population of the Yulash Giant Snapping Turtle. Both turtles are enormous; the Yulash Snapper was created by an unnamed mage concurrent with Myth Drannor. It was magically distributed around the southern and western Moonsea and became a legendary predator of small children, livestock and travelers unfortunate enough to fall into a still pool of water. Most of the Yulash Snappers (standard giant snappers) were hunted into extinction 200 years ago. However, an even larger variety, the Moonsea Gain Snapping Turtle (+ one damage die each attack, +2 AC, +2 HD), has been reported in the deeper western portions of the Moonsea. Little more is know of this turtle except they are becoming more numerous. Reports of Yulash Snappers around Myth Drannor indicate that a remnant population still exists as well.
Sea Monsters
Reports of aquatic monsters are not uncommon in the Moonsea. However, one variety of supposed sea monsters has been identified. It is a kind of sea slug. These slugs seem to be the creation of wild magical effects during the Time of Troubles. Since 1361, these beasts have become more numerous and may threaten all the ecology of the Moonsea areas.
The smallest variety of slugs, the Giant River Starnow Slug, is approximately 30 long and found in rivers. These slugs can often be quite colorful, with wild patterns of colors that act to confuse prey. They have long eyestalks that see as well out of water as in (+2 to surprise near water). Other stalks appear to sense either air vibration or "taste" the air (-2 to surprise). A larger form of river slugs exists, the Giant Moonsea River Slug; approximately 40 to 50 feet in length, slimmer and faster (+3 reaction), and will swallow prey whole (natural 20). This worm has two sets of grasping jaws inject poison into its victim (save vs. poison or paralyzed, has 4 charges per 2 days). This slug is not brightly colored and may be a different variety altogether.
Sea slugs come in 2 varieties as well: big and bigger. The Lesser Moonsea Slug is similar to the Giant Moonsea River Slug, but is larger: 40 to 60 feet in length (8 to 12 HD). It swallows its prey more often (19 or better) and may spit acid as well as bite with its fanged maw. The last slug is the most dangerous. It is the Greater Moonseamonster. It is as brightly colored as the Giant River Starnow Slug. It is said to lie about in the mud of the deepest waters of the Moonsea and comes to the surface at night and then only occasionally. It will appear to be a serpent moving with a boneless repulsive rapidity. It ranges from a minimum of 60 feet to a reported maximum of 90 feet, although unconfirmed reports of larger Moonseamonsters have been reported.
The Moonseamonsters seem to prefer other foods to mammals but appear to be come frenzied by prolonged periods of the warmest weather. A specimen caught at this time was ripe with eggs, which burst upon the deck, releasing very small versions of the monster. Thousands of the little monsters (1' long) were released and fought with the crew. Apparently, the young grow from the tissues of the mother after the eggs are fertilized and are shed in the warmer, upper layers of the Moonsea. The Moonseamonster has been sighted on land, moving with a great spasmodic gait. Later investigation a few days later found the remains of several herd beasts near a water hole. The hole was polluted and foul smelling. The skeletons had been picked clean and the bones appeared to be polished clean.
(Submited by Xantaroth)
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