I O N I Z E @delta-hexagon - Tumblr Blog

"In rough times like these, fishing is a good way to find some peace for the body, mind and soul. Just take the boat out, toss out a line and sit back. Gives you time to soak in a calmer world, and enjoy the silence. Then the occasional bite and successful catch! Nothing puts my soul at ease more than a nice lazy fishing day. Of course, there are times you reel in something so freakish you toss it back in, row back to shore and spend the rest of your day comfortably on land. We try to forget those days..."

1. Cyclops Shark - A predator of the sea, its large eye searches the dark waters for prey. Though it bears a terrifying visage for some, it only possesses a real threat to smaller fish. The structure of its head causes it to have small jaws, and the vulnerability of its eye means it doesn't want to deal with a fight when eating. Thus its hunts are aimed towards smaller prey and they end as quickly as they start. Unfortunately, this very eye makes it a target for fishermen, as it is considered a delicacy. The eye jelly of a cyclops shark is highly sought after, hitting local populations hard. Rumors claim that larger specimens dwell in the dark abyss, bearing a glowing eye that aids in its hunts.

2. Big Lip Swallower - A pale eel known for its massive maw and gluttonous ways. They are a species that never passes up a meal, thus has altered its body to consume a wide variety of prey. It may hunt for its food or try to lure it in with the pulsating tip of its tail. Once it draws close, it opens its mouth wide and expands its gullet, creating a powerful suction. Prey is pulled right in, and its lips seal tight behind it. With its stretching stomach, it can choke down food larger than it, though dead specimens have shown that its appetite may be a fatal weakness. Prey that is too big or violent may rupture its stomach or block its gills, causing it to perish in the struggle. Fishermen have been known to accidentally hook these eels when reeling in another catch, the creature attempting to feed on the caught fish and winding up snared as well. An unwanted prize, but some folks do eat the meaty lips.

3. Benthillus - A species of marine "unistilla" that has become the size of a fish due to living in nutrient rich waters. Typically found around coasts where potent runoff spills into the surrounding fluid, enriching the area. This species lacks a mouth, instead absorbing nutrients directly through their membrane, which is why they can only live in nutrient rich waters, like those around guano islands. The benthillus serves as an important species in the food chain, with their ability to absorb the ambient nutrients and plentiful numbers. Many predators feed upon the benthillus, both from the air and sea, though man is not one of them. They have no real flesh, just thick cytoplasm that tastes like the crud it absorbed. Serves as good bait for better, tastier fish.

4. Zitfish - A species that is more often seen in ornamental ponds and aquariums then its natural environment. It is known for its bulbous head growths, though this feature has been greatly exaggerated through special breeding. These bulbs possess a foul fluid within them, which spill out when ruptured to deter predators. It is also believed these growths show off the health of the individual, which is important for attracting mates. The species became popular in the pet trade, resulting in many different breeds. Two of the most common types are "White Heads" and "Black Heads" which refer to the color of the body of these breeds.

5. Brocacod - A floating brainy creature of the deep, its orb-like body filled with Phlegm. It uses its tendrils to slowly maneuver when needed, though it is content to drift along and slurp up food particles with its tongue. If it is threatened by a predator, it will release a Phlegm-fueled pulse that messes with the brain, inducing underwater vertigo. Foes are left too disoriented to properly attack it, either giving it time to swim away or leaving the hunter vulnerable to becoming the hunted. Brocacod are harvested for food and fluid, with seafolk often calling them "sea brains." They can be cooked in their shell to make a meal with a crunchy outside and juicy inside, or they are cracked open to feed solely on the brain portion. Though it uses its fluid to power vertigo pulses, the Phlegm itself is more beneficial when used as is. It is said to be used in medicinal drinks that help with sea sickness, and the brains themselves are claimed to help ease the mind when dealing with the anxieties of being on the open sea.

6. Sea Tongue - A slithering pink thing found in reefs, typically spotted slipping through cracks and crevices. Though it may appear simple, its body is actually covered in sensory buds. As it travels, its flesh "tastes" the environment around it, allowing it to detect the trails of prey or the presence of predators. A boneless body allows them to squeeze into tight spaces, either to follow food or avoid becoming food. Seafolk take note of large populations of sea tongue, as it indicates a rich environment. Unfortunately, they have also noted that sea tongue tastes pretty good, thus such catches have a few winding up on the dinner plate.

7. Amoepus - A voracious"unistilla" that has taken the shape of an octopus or jellyfish. Its lower body is much like a bell and "pulses" to help move it through fluid. This same bell is used to engulf prey, yawning wide to capture food and then cinching shut to keep it trapped. When a meal is caught, the body tightens around it, releasing digestive enzymes to break it down. Very little of prey remains after feeding, entire fish seemingly absorbed into its mass. Large meals are required for its reproduction, which is done by splitting itself in two. This species is difficult to catch due to its gelatinous body, and it cannot survive long outside of fluid. Slimy puddles on beaches are often the remains of an amoepus that was washed up and stranded. Like jellyfish, it is advised to not touch these piles of goo, as their digestive vacuoles may still be intact and may rupture when handled. What is inflicted is not life threatening, but it is quite painful, as it is essentially getting acid on your skin.

8. Seardia - A bottom dwelling "unistilla"that rummages through silt and muck. They live in nutrient rich waters, like those around guano islands, and partake in the buffet that flows into the sea. They feed by absorbing nutrients from the surrounding fluids, at times even burying themselves in the silt to access richer sources. They dig down to hide from predators, as they are a commonly consumed species in this bountiful harvest. For humans, they are inedible, and some inland species prove to be sickening. There are those that live in stagnant fluids, and their presence can be a problem to those who partake without proper filtering or sterilization. They reproduce by budding off tiny offspring, which are a size that can be swallowed by a person without being noticed. Once inside, they take up residence within the gut and wreck absolute havoc. Intestinal pain, fever and diarrhea are the result of being infected, calling for medicine and a flushing of the bowels. They serve as a good reason to properly clean wild fluids before putting them in your body.

9. Bowelhead - A blobby, wrinkled fish found in sludgy waters and areas rich with decay. Places choked with growth and Rot are perfect for it, as its many folds serve as a way to draw air from these depleted waters. These wet membranes also absorb nutrients from its surroundings, allowing it to feed without ever opening its mouth. Yet it rarely skips an opportunity to consume, its large mouth perfect for swallowing smaller fish or scooping up clumps of floating Rot. Obviously its diet and composition make it inedible, and its appearance grants it very few fans. However, one may hear stories claiming that the Bowelhead can be eaten if properly prepared. It is a long and complicated process, but eventually you will obtain an edible piece of meat. Be warned, these claims are actually pranks made by elder seafolk to be used against rookies. The purpose is to put the ignorant through a tedious and foul process, only to gain nothing at the end. Bowelhead does make good attracting bait for scavenging fish or beasts that are willing to eat anything.

10. Eyeball Sponge - A bizarre sponge that has recently been discovered through Aquanaut dives. Remains of them have been found earlier in trawl nets, but their destroyed state made identification impossible. They grow from the ocean bottom in tall stalks, branching out into eyeball-like orbs. What looks like an iris and a pupil is actually an opening into the sphere where fluid is drawn in and filtered. An affinity to freezing Tears causes the sponge to have a low temperature, and its frigid flesh traps tiny prey. Attempts to collect samples from this sponge has resulted in it dropping one or more of these round growths and detonating them to release a freezing aura through the surrounding fluid. Not much is known about the species, and Aquanauts are curious about how big they can get and how many "eyes" an individual may sport.

11. Skull Barnacle - A common type of barnacle found in the deep, the species iconic for its skull-shaped shell. Like other barnacles, it is a filter feeder that uses hairy tendrils to collect food. The "jaw" of its shell can open and close, often slamming shut when predators are around. The shape of it has inspired countless superstitions and myths, with some seafolk believing they grow from the remains of drowned men. There have been cases where a washed up shell has caused panic, with folks believing they found a dead body, while other instances have people intentionally trying to pass off a bleached barnacle as the real deal. There are certainly morbid folk out there that enjoy the shape and collect them to craft various creepy vessels.

12. Floating Rump - A simple creature with an unfortunate appearance, their image one very few folk can take with a straight face. They are actually a bulbous worm that is found floating in the sea, using a sticky emerging tendril to collect marine snow. When threatened, they can expel a cloud of foul mucus to gum up the gills and deter predators, but that just makes it worse in the eye of the public. Of course, the jokes are nearly endless whenever one lays eyes upon a worm. Some seafolk have even used dead specimens for pranks, hiding the swollen carcass where someone will sit on it and forcibly eject its payload of rank mucus. It is a tad unfortunate that such a species is nothing more to man than the butt of a joke.

13. Maw Snail - A tooth covered snail that lives in the deep, its unique form a defense from predators. While folks may mistake its closed shell as its head, the true head is the tongue-like appendage that emerges from its maw. This comes out to feed or gather its bearings, but it is quick retreat back into its "jaws" if it detects a threat. The tooth and shell offer sturdy armor, but it is warned that this snail has a bit more "bite" to it. The slamming shut of its shell has some real force to it, with claims that it can even do damage to flesh that gets caught between in. It is unknown if this is an actual offensive strategy the snail uses or pure accident. Regardless, those who catch it are warned to watch their fingers when handling one.

14. Phage-Arm Squid - An unsettling creature of the deep, drifting through the abyss with its incredibly long tentacles. These squid rarely move, preferring to hunt like a jellyfish, riding the currents and waiting for prey to blunder into its trap. Their curtain of tentacles can reach a length of twenty feet, and they possess a sticky coating that holds prey fast. Though they appear delicate, these squid have been seen catching impressively large creatures for such a placid hunting method. Studies have shown that there is more to these tentacles than meets the eye. It appears they have a tie to Rot, resulting in their tendrils housing a nasty disease. Those that come in contact are quickly infected as the coating eats through skin and scale. The sickness moves quickly, rapidly draining the host's energeiai and paralyzing the muscles. They are reduced to a state where they cannot easily fight back, leaving them victims to its ensnaring tentacles. Their carcasses are slowly fed upon, but also aid in luring more prey as scavengers hone in on the smell of decay.

There isn't much known about the lives of these squid, and that is because research on them was recently restricted. It came with the collecting of a specimen from the deep, which was then brought to shore for further study. Unfortunately, a single mistake caused one of the researchers to be infected with its sickness, and the Aquanauts quickly found that it was contagious. The infection spread like wildfire through the facility until a quarantine was put into place. Several staff members died from the outbreak, and the facility required heavy duty sterilization before it could be opened back up. It is theorized that the sickness may have gotten out when a harvested tentacle was exposed to the air for study. The belief is that the infectious coating dried out and broke into airborne particles. However, this theory was not able to be tested, as the specimen was destroyed in the decontamination process. For now, all studies must remain in the sea and careful monitoring of it and the crew must occur whenever one is spotted.

15. Bearded Jelly - A jellyfish that has traded its typical tendrils for a thick curtain of hair. It drifts along with flowing locks, tiny prey getting tangled within the mess. With its pale flesh and glowing insides, it has the appearance of a bearded, cyclopean head. Folklore claims it was born from a one eyed criminal that had been executed, his severed head cast into the sea. Due to his crimes, he did not perish, instead forced to live on in this miserable state, forever pondering his past deeds. Regardless of its origins, this jelly is harvested for its hair, as it does not have any stinging parts inside it. What is collected is often weaved into small garments while its bell serves as a hefty pouch.

16. Avatars of the Deep Divine - Though these two things may mimic the shape of sea life, they are by no means fish. They are not real animals, instead believed to be swimming scraps of the gods of the deep. One that looks like a headless, rotting fish, and another that is an overgrown crimson jelly. Yet you will find no bones, organs or recognizable structures within them, as they are more like animated sludge. Those who have looked up depictions of the Mother of Snow and the Father of Bloom may recognize these shapes swimming around them, often trailing behind them in great swarms. They are extensions of their being, yet little else is known about them. Do these gods see through them? Speak through them? Do they have an actual purpose or are they merely forgotten bits that have been separated in the vast sea? There are no answers, yet there are a few simple things known.

One is that they cannot survive out of fluid. The moment they are pulled out and exposed to air, they dissolve into lifeless sludge. You have to constantly keep them in liquid. Yet, if they do dissolve, there still may be use. The gray avatar of the Mother melts into a highly nutritious sludge that has been found to be an incredible fertilizer or feed for certain creatures. The crimson avatar of the Father, however, dissolves into a toxic slime that is strong enough to kill a leviathan. It can serve as a potent poison, but one has to be extremely careful handling it, lest you become its first victim.

17. Sea Scabie - A nasty parasite that dwells in fluids. It swims about looking for flesh to latch onto with its toothy suckers. Once it grabs one, it uses its rasping maw to open a wound for it to feed on, gorging upon spilled fluids. Its name comes from its appearance when infesting a host, for its shell resembles are crusty scab. Hosts that have one or two of these parasites may survive, but heavy infestation typically results in death. They are despised by fishermen for their nasty appearance and their marring of prized fish. Few customers like buying fish with open, weeping wounds, though that worry may be a thing of the past. No one is picky about food in these trying times...

18. Bathyipod - A scavenger from the bottom of the sea, it is a common sight around the great corpses that have fallen into the abyss. They follow their sharp senses to fresh falls and use cutting mandibles to tear through rotting flesh and blubber. Due to violent feeding frenzies usually breaking out around meatier carcasses, the Bathyipod possesses a tough shell to protect it from errant bites and attacks. Their armor's strength is compared to abyssal bone, making them incredibly hard to damage. Stories claim that the abyssal beings down below keep and use Bathyipods like we do hyaenas, making pets out of these scavengers. Some Aquanauts have been trying to test such a theory.

19. Flutterfin - A colorful finned fish that is known for its grace and deadly beauty. Their powerful tails allow them to swim with incredible speed, all so that they can spear unwary prey with their jutting proboscis. Fins and sail give them great maneuverability, while their large eyes let them detect targets in darkened waters. When the Flutterfin hunts, very few can escape them. Of course their gorgeous sails help make them iconic, with the belief that the more colorful males use them to attract mates. Pro anglers specifically target these fish because of their large size, vibrant sails and fighting spirit. Landing one is quite the challenge, one that can be deadly. Their speed and stabbing proboscis can turn them into a living harpoon, and quite a few anglers have been impaled by the jumping and flailing of a hooked fish.

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And of course we just got to have MORE FISH! Part 5!

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