#raudkembingur

The danger and mystery of the sea breeds superstition and monsters. In a realm where a single mistake or one moment of bad luck can doom an entire crew, it is no surprise that fear and caution is so prevalent. You never know what the ocean will throw at you, and you have no clue what dwells beneath the waves. In truth, it is just another ecosystem with its own climate and creatures, but it is terrifying to many when we see and know so little about it. I am sure the same fear arises in aquatic civilizations when they think about the land and the beasts that walk there, as all the unknown bits are filled in by our own morbid imaginations. So if you are ever in a coastal town, or visit a dockside bar, or charter a ship to go out into the ocean, be prepared to hear these strange tales and be sure to follow their rules. They may seem silly, but once you are far from shore, you will suddenly yearn for these small comforts. The sea is full of mysteries and it certainly has its share of beasts. Everyone knows the tales of great serpents and mighty squids dragging ships down below, but there are plenty of other monstrosities out there. You just have to hit up the right region or the right tavern to hear about these other horrors, and probably buy some folk a round or two. One such place to go is up north, where the ocean waters turn frigid. There you can hear of a group of sea monsters so notorious, that their kind has been given their own term: Illhveli. This name translates to "evil whales," and the members of this group are so terrifying that it is forbidden to say there names lest you draw their attention. To show this, let us start with the most vicious of the bunch: The Raudkembingur. The Raudkembingur (also known as Red Comb or Red Crest), is one such member of the evil "whales." It should be mentioned now that the word "whale" in the "evil whales" is used quite similarly to the "dragon" in "dragon beasts." Meaning that it is not referring to a specific classification of animal, but rather a general descriptor of the beasts within. The "whale" in this scenario is mainly referring to their sheer size and power, pretty much like if you used the word "leviathan." The Red Crest shows this, as they are not actually a whale, they aren't even mammals! In truth, this species is reptilian in nature, and have adopted a similar body shape and plan as many aquatic species. They have a strong pair of front flippers and a powerful fluke to help propel them through the water. They do possess a hind pair of flippers, but these are reduced and may just be used to help stabilize and maneuver. The most obvious feature of the Raudkembingur is that brilliant crest they have. Running down their back, from snout to tail, is a series of blade-like finlets that slice through the water. To make it stand out even more, they are a powerful red, matching with its own crimson head. Both male and female members of this species have this crest, but the males' are much more prominent. Their finlets stand taller, having that noticeable peak atop the head, while females' are shorter and more uniform. The males also have a brighter red coloration, while females are more dark and dull. This difference should already clue you in that these crests play a role in mating, as a bright red color and big crest is what catches attention. It is also suggested that these crests help with identifying individuals, serving as a unique feature that other Raudkembingur use to help recognize one another.         Take one look at that powerful jaw and rows of conical teeth, and you will know precisely what these beasts eat. The answer is: anything big and meaty enough to fill their bellies. Fish, sharks and seals are their diet, chasing them down with their powerful limbs and then crushing them in their jaws. They are also willing to go after whales, even other Illhveli, mainly targeting the young smaller members. Their large size and bulk lets them throw down with a lot of beasts in the ocean, and if they can get a hold of them with their jaws, then the battle is decided. Since they target large prey and rip them apart with their savage jaws, many Raudkembingur are followed by smaller sea creatures who wish to feed on the scraps. Tagging along with one of these beasts can ensure a free meal, but they must be wary that they don't draw enough attention to wind up on the menu. It has been noted that some species that typically follow a Red Crest will only do so in their juvenile years. Once they get closer to adulthood, they cease the journey and strike off on their own, as they can hunt food for themselves and are also getting big enough that they may catch the hungry eyes of the Raudkembingur. The other trait of the Red Crest that helps them hunt is their sheer stubbornness. Once this beast sets its sight on prey, it will refuse to give up and will chase them for as long as it takes. It is believed that they have a much higher stamina than other similar sized sea beasts, which allows them to tire out prey on an endless chase and then tear into them once they slow down. Stories claim that a starving Raudkembingur will pursue prey to the ends of the earth, only ceasing when the prey or itself perishes.  

Raudkembingur "Redcomb" (Illhveli “evil whales”)

In Icelandic mythology, the Raudkembingur is a sea monster. One of the illhveli, or evil whales, it is said to be very vicious. Its name translates as "red comb" or "red crest," and it is said to possess a mane of red bristles on its back.

The Raudkembingur is known for attacking boats and drowning sailors. Despite its viciousness, it is also very cunning, known to play dead in order to lure vessels in.

Image source.

Monster master list.

Raudkembingur (red comb or red crest)

Another mythological creature with a ton of different names, the Raudkembingur is known in Icelandic mythology as one of the most deadly of the illhveli (evil whales). Described as having hair like a horse, the hair and head of the raudkembingur are said to be red as if soaked in blood.

Red sky at night, sailors' delight