Part 7 – Aquatic Reptiles

ARCHELON

(Archelon chamaphagus)

Bite 5W+2, Leathery Shell +3, Forage 5W, Large 5W, Strong 12W, Swim Fast 18

Distribution: East Isles, Worm Sea, Kereneth Sea

Habitat: Coastal and offshore

These are giant turtles, fifteen feet or more in length. Its shell is hard and leathery, similar to that of a leatherback turtle rather than the more typical horny covering of its other relatives. Archelons are peaceful unless attacked, and even then not especially dangerous for their size. They mainly eat clams, although they supplement their diet with squid and other soft-bodied creatures. Like all turtles, archelons lay eggs and must visit dry land to do so, burying the eggs in the sand of a suitable beach before heading back out to sea again. These eggs are considered a delicacy by many of the natives of the East Isles, but the Sofali people of the Tortugax islands and eastern Pamaltela regard the animal as sacred, as direct descendants of the turtle-god Sofals, and will protect its eggs if necessary, although they will certainly eat those of smaller species.

Image: Archelon

Sea Turtles

Bite 18+1, Leathery Shell +2, Forage 5W, Large 15, Strong 15, Swim Fast 18

There are many species of sea turtle, the largest being the leatherback and loggerhead turtles, which can reach over six feet in length. Some of the smaller species are hunted for their meat and for their shells, from which many decorative artefacts can be made, but are essentially harmless.

Image: Leatherback Turtle

ICHTHYOSAUR

(Ichthyosaurus maritimus)

Bite 8W+2, Blubber +2, Acute Hearing 2W, Dodge Attack 2W, Large 12, Spot Prey 5W, Swim Fast 8W

Distribution: Umathela, Fonrit, Errinoru, Tarien, Slon

Habitat: Coastal waters

These are dolphin-like reptiles, with long beaks full of sharp teeth, and reddish-brown streamlined bodies. Like all reptiles, they breath air, and they are generally found in coastal waters where they can hunt their typical prey of fish and small squid. There are many different types, frequenting different regions along the coasts of Pamaltela and Slon. Most species are not social, so that single specimens are most commonly encountered.

Ichthyosaurs are considered more dangerous than sharks of equivalent size, hunting by sight and sound rather than the scent of blood and being rather more intelligent. Even so, Umathelan sailors occasionally hunt them for their meat, blubber and hide. Ichthyosaurs give birth to live young, rather than laying eggs and, like a beached whale, would die if brought onto the land.

Image: Common Ichthyosaur

Greater Ichthyosaur

(Temnodontosaurus venator)

Bite 15W+3, Blubber +5, Acute Hearing 2W, Dodge Attack 18, Large 12W, Spot Prey 5W, Swim Fast 8W

Distribution: Togaro, Marthino, Dashomo and Worm seas

Habitat: Coastal waters

Much less common than its smaller cousins, this thirty foot monster leads a solitary life around the coasts of Pamaltela, especially in the shallow Worm Sea. They are solitary animals, eating large squid and fish up to the size of small sharks. They generally do not attack ships, but they have been known to kill swimmers. These animals are generally considered too dangerous to hunt, although Heroes may not be deterred, for doubtless the animals would provide a large amount of meat and blubber, and an especially tough leather.

Image: Greater Ichthyosaur

KRONOSAUR

(Kronosaurus navidemergor)

Bite 10W2+5, Blubber +5, Large 18W, Spot Prey 5W, Strong 8W2, Swim Fast 15W

Distribution: Slon, Worm Sea

Habitat: Shallow seas, coastal waters

This fearsome creature resembles a plesiosaur, but has a short, muscular neck and a relatively large head. It is also much larger, at over forty feet in length. A Kronosaur’s jaws have teeth ten inches long, and are large enough to swallow smaller humans whole; even a those of a tyrannosaur are small by comparison. Its normal diet consists of small sharks, plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs, but it will certainly eat human flesh if such is available, and has been known to attack ships, often simply ripping the bottom out. Like most other marine reptiles, kronosaurs never venture onto land, and give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.

PLATECARP

(Platecarpus acerdon)

Bite 5W+2, Blubber +3, Agile 5W, Large 2W, Spot Prey 5W, Strong 5W

Distribution: Marthino, Dashomo and Worm seas

Habitat: Coastal waters

These giant aquatic lizards possess a fourteen-foot long, snake-like body and small flippers. They are found along the northern and western coasts of Pamaltela, and around Slon, and catch fish in their elongated, sharp-toothed jaws. Their relatively slow speed makes them less menacing than many other large aquatic animals, and they themselves are frequently eaten by sharks. Platecarps are a dull greenish-grey in colour, and are about as agile on the land as seals, and so only come onto beaches in order to lay their eggs.

PLESIOSAUR, GREATER

(Cryptoclidus errare)

Bite 8W+2, Blubber +4, Agile 2W, Large 2W, Spot Prey 5W, Strong 8W

Distribution: Dashomo, Worm and Kereneth seas

Habitat: Coastal waters

Plesiosaurs are long-necked marine reptiles with four flippers instead of legs. The greater plesiosaur is a dark greyish species, just over a dozen feet in length. They do not move quickly, although they are surprisingly manoeuvrable for their bulk, and hunt fish and squid in shallow seas. They are sometimes angered by passing boats, which they perhaps mistake for rivals, and can raise their heads out of the sea to strike at any humans or other moving targets. Like turtles, they crawl ashore once a year onto secluded beaches where they lay their eggs, concealing them beneath sand before abandoning them and returning to the sea. Although they can move about on land, hauling themselves along with their flippers, they find this uncomfortable, and prefer to return to water as soon as possible.

Image: Greater Plesiosaur

Common Plesiosaur

(Plesiosaurus solitus)

Bite 2W+2, Blubber +2, Agile 5W, Large 12, Spot Prey 5W

Distribution: Dashomo, Worm, Kereneth and Marthino seas

Habitat: Coastal waters

Much smaller than its greater cousin, the common plesiosaur is also more widespread, being found as far east as Errinoru. About half the length of the greater plesiosaur, they are also a paler colour, although with some mottled markings. Umathelan sailors consider them small enough to hunt, although this is not without risk.

SEA SNAKE

(Pelamis platurus & others)

Strike 5W, Dodge Attack 5W, Small 15, Swim Fast 18, Scent Prey 12W

Venom: Lingering (1-3 hours), Lethal, Potency 12W

Distribution: East Isles

Habitat: Coastal waters

Bright yellow, with a black stripe down the back, typical sea snakes are about four feet long. They are flattened from side to side, to enable them to swim better, but are helpless on the land. Because they cannot leave the water, they give birth to live young rather than lay eggs. They have been known to attack human swimmers. Sikkanos first created them in Pamaltela, but they chose to escape the invasion of chaos by diving into the sea, and then swimming to the East Isles, far away from their old foes.

SEA SERPENT

(Megaserpentes maritimus)

Bite 18W+3, Scaly Hide +4, Large 2W2, Spot Prey 2W, Strong 10W2

Distribution: Worldwide, except the Hudaro, White, and Worm Seas.

Habitat: Offshore waters

Giant snake-like reptiles, these creatures are typically sixty feet or more in length. They are found only in the deep seas, far from the shore, but are voracious carnivores which frequently attack any ships which they encounter. Being reptiles, the creatures must surface to breath air, but they never travel on land, and give birth to live young, as sea-snakes do, rather than laying eggs. They are fortunately rare, and only ever encountered alone, although some mermen magicians know how to summon groups of them to their aid.

The origin of sea serpents is unclear; for although dwell in the deeps, they lack the magics which would mark them as children of Drospoly and Varchulanga, the rulers of that realm. Many mermen believe instead that they were created by Wachaza, perhaps as a gift to Varchulanga.

Combat Tactics: In the water, they lunge rapidly at their opponents, although they are not capable of sustained speed. Against ships, they usually rear out of the water, pluck sailors from the decks, and drag them below the waves as quickly as possible. Against larger animals, and smaller boats, they will attack by constriction, and will wrap their coils about the victim and squeeze it to death (use their Strong as the combat ability).

Image: Sea Serpent