Name: tuni sọ därïyä ar mïshän, tun'sọ där'ar'shän (an abbreviation), commonly Great Whales
Quick Facts:
Height: 10 meters at widest cavity, average
Width: 12 meters across pectoral fins, average
Length: 26-32 meters, top to fluke, females being slightly larger than males
Weight: 170-190 metric tons, massive
Native to: the seas and skies of Idalos
Locations: The Orm'del Sea, The Sea of Desolation, along the coasts of South and West Idalos, The Iulure Isles
Appearance: These massive whales have been best described in the adventures of Mer, Biqaj, and Sev'ryn – the mythical name coming from the Xanthea tongue ('whale" being "tun", "tuni" plural - other suffix?). Commonly known as Great Whales, and variants, these tuni are massive creatures compared to mortal races. Their thick bodies dwarf even the tallest of mortals by three times, spanning lengths the size of great towers. Their skin is slick, smooth, and colored gray. They are sometimes speckled, and range in tone from lighter grays to dark grays, nearly black. Sometimes they take on tints of blue or violet as well. In adults, bumps, scars, and other bodily mutations are common, sometimes even being accompanied by parasites or other symbiotic creatures.
Their eyes are commonly described as gray, though tales suggest their eyes change much like Biqaj, though rarely observed from a distance. Spurs also are known to grow along pectoral fins, flukes, and along the snout resembling small claws or horns. As the whales mature, they are known to grow a single set of teeth as well.
Habitat: Though seen across the oceans of Idalos, tuni have known migratory patterns that impact the frequency at which they're encountered. Outside of mating seasons, the tuni are known to cover the fringe water bodies of the world, having been recorded as far north as Valaris, or as far south as Port and Quacia. It's not exactly known how far the whales travel at this time.
During the Cold Cycle, however, the whales will gather to pair and mate. Three distinct large groups are known to gather: east of Ivorian, south east of Strosdyn, and further west among unnamed islands south of the Fields of Gauthrel.
Lifespan and Development: The tun'sọ där'ar'shän are thought to live upwards of a hundred arcs. After mating, calves take approximately three hundred trials to gestate before birth. Born calves will nurse for approximately 180 trials before being weaned off their mother's milk entirely. They may take up to ten arcs to reach sexual maturity and seek mates of their own, leaving their mothers at that time; mothers are unlikely to have more than one calf with them as well. In additional to sexual maturity, great whales are shown to develop impressive intelligence among other creatures of the world, including understanding of emotion, basic problem solving, and magic. Female tuni cease to be sexuality active around 70 arcs, while males are known to continue their activity well until death, though mating habits often prevent successful mating. Venerable whales are known to still participate in migration and social interaction among their kind, sometimes finding other whales of similar status to wonder with for companionship. In other cases, these venerable whales will group with their families, forming small pods, and aid in the upbringing of calves.
These beautiful beasts are still with weakness, however. Like their sea bounded counterparts, they may be pursued to exhaustion or tethered and broken. Large enough gashes will bleed the whales to death too. Their skin seems to be sensitive enough that they must stay near water to survive. For that reason, it's unlikely to find a whale out in clear skies or in arid environments. Rather they are more common in humid climates, during cooler seasons, or around precipitation. These whales seem to mind the heat more than cold, and have even been rumored to explore the ice caps when fat enough.
Diet: Their diet mainly consists of plankton, small shellfish, and small birds. In the sea, their diet is not much different from other whales of their kind. These whales will hunt squid, fish, and smaller whales in rare events of food scarcity, making use of their teeth as they mature. In the air, these silent giants are able to sometimes ambush flocks of birds (e.g. ducks, geese, swallows). This tale rings especially true in West Idalos over the Fields of Glauthrel.
Temperament: Outside of mating seasons, great whales are typically peaceful creatures. Their personalities vary as much as mortals in terms of their shyness or curiosity. The same can be said for the whales' hostilities. When in danger of predation, such as dragons or hunters, the whales may flee or fight. Being able to submerge themselves at great depths, escape is sometimes a quick and sure escape. However, when left without choice, the great whales will make use of their great mass and studs. Their boned snouts become ship breakers as they ram the ribs of ships and predators alike. The protrusions on their pectoral fins and flukes become more than enough to swat and cut at prey that venture too close. While some whales will simply ward of predators long enough to make an escape, the aggression of some whales – namely nursing mothers and heat-driven males – will hunt their would-be predators to the death. Their crushing body weight can end most offenses. And should that fail, a well-placed bite – such as on a dragon's wing – may be all it takes to drown a threat.
In mating season, female great whales are generally more social while males are more aggressive. The whole mating groups become a community of their own during the Cold Seasons, in which threats are dealt with quickly – though the massive grouping hosts many opportunities for poachers and hunters of all kinds. Males will compete for mates as well, usually demonstrated in song, races, acrobatics, or dances in the case of these flying behemoths.
In legendary cases, tales are told of great whales using magic and ether to combat threats.
Abilities: The most notable distinction of great whales from other whales is their ability to fly. There's no certainty to how they do it, though surely the Immortals know, whether it be an air sac or just magic alone. There are theories of the great whales using becoming as a means of giving themselves flight, or manipulating the elements through defiance. The latter is supported by castaway sightings of these mammoths taking shelter in or above thunderheads and other violent storms as lightning sparked off of their bodies.
The most certain use of magic has been rupturing. Great whales are known to chase through the sea and air. Chasing between mediums is especially commons among tuni with calves that cannot generate enough speed to breach into the open air. Among sailors, this is often an explanation for at least some of the unexplainable sounds heard out on the open water.
The greatest evidence of magic use among the whales is sign of mutations. Those who study these whales suggest that is what leads to the different appearances in color and nodes. Tales from the poles of Idalos speak of glowing whales dancing among the night skies. Whether this is due to mutation or another symbiotic relationship seems to make little impact on the wondrous sight. Other mutations supposedly include altered colors, extra limbs, eyes, and tendrils, and different sounds and smells.
Another notable feature of great whales is their voice. Like other whales, they are known to sing, their voices carrying through miles of water allowing the whales to communicate. Normally dampened by the liquid medium, these songs can be soothing and calm in their simplicity. Great whales are known to vocalize outside of water too, however, which can be drastically more dangerous. The intensity of a whale's volume can leave others with damaged hearing if close enough. While hunting, the whales may use this tactic to stun a flock while engaging for easier prey. The once melodic sounds from underwater become piercing cries in the open air. From safe enough of a distance, these songs are beautiful as well, characterized by clearer tones and more intricate timbre normally unheard underwater – by mortal ears anyway. ((Think Lugia's screech at max volume right next to your ear drum as played from a heavy metal rock concept speaker set))
In the water, the great whales travel at speeds ranging approximately from 3 mph to 30 mph, depending on whether they are feeding, traveling, fleeing, or playing. Whales will feed at lower speeds in water. In the air, great whales can cruise along at 30 mph. As it stands, there is no record speed for how fast these whales can fly. If observation of other avian life suggests anything, however, they would be mythically fast.
Cultural Significance:
Tun'sọ där'ar'shän have been cosmically linked to several immortals in theory, though there's been little push for any one of them to stake a claim. Some, namely the Mer, attribute the creation of these monolithic wonders to the work of Chrien. This stands with little more credibility than the great whales being another abominable failure of her experiments.
Other stories point to the Immortals U'frek, Moseke, Ilaren, or Karem. The majesty of the tuni are attributable to the purviews of these immortals, and various cultures will renown them accordingly. More commonly are suggestions that they are spawned from an affair of U'frek's with any of the other three. More twisted rumors yet tell of the whales spawning from Chrien's seduction of U'frek, long before her vile nature was known. Those stories are rarely told openly though, and even less so the closer to the seas one goes.
Among the Sev'ryn, the great whales are revered as powerful guardians of sea and sky. The tun, "whale" in Xanthea, is a legendary familiar full of wisdom, poise, magic, fortitude, and compassion.
Biqaj views of the whales vary. Among the more spiritual, they are messengers and agents of U'frek, best left to their own devices. Others, especially those who deal with whale hunters, poachers, and the like, may see them for nothing more than meat and profit.
The Mer have the most grounded perspective of the tuni. Legendary hunters tracking and hunting these beasts are common. More impressively, although rarer, and stories of the whales being tamed. With such magic at their control, they might rule both sky and sea aboard barges carried by these potential war engines. The more observant Mer can see the whales as more than just that, if they look closely enough, and perhaps find great allies in their conquests for survival.
Credit: Ilied loraeva
Some picture links: Quick Facts:
Height: 10 meters at widest cavity, average
Width: 12 meters across pectoral fins, average
Length: 26-32 meters, top to fluke, females being slightly larger than males
Weight: 170-190 metric tons, massive
Native to: the seas and skies of Idalos
Locations: The Orm'del Sea, The Sea of Desolation, along the coasts of South and West Idalos, The Iulure Isles
Appearance: These massive whales have been best described in the adventures of Mer, Biqaj, and Sev'ryn – the mythical name coming from the Xanthea tongue ('whale" being "tun", "tuni" plural - other suffix?). Commonly known as Great Whales, and variants, these tuni are massive creatures compared to mortal races. Their thick bodies dwarf even the tallest of mortals by three times, spanning lengths the size of great towers. Their skin is slick, smooth, and colored gray. They are sometimes speckled, and range in tone from lighter grays to dark grays, nearly black. Sometimes they take on tints of blue or violet as well. In adults, bumps, scars, and other bodily mutations are common, sometimes even being accompanied by parasites or other symbiotic creatures.
Their eyes are commonly described as gray, though tales suggest their eyes change much like Biqaj, though rarely observed from a distance. Spurs also are known to grow along pectoral fins, flukes, and along the snout resembling small claws or horns. As the whales mature, they are known to grow a single set of teeth as well.
Habitat: Though seen across the oceans of Idalos, tuni have known migratory patterns that impact the frequency at which they're encountered. Outside of mating seasons, the tuni are known to cover the fringe water bodies of the world, having been recorded as far north as Valaris, or as far south as Port and Quacia. It's not exactly known how far the whales travel at this time.
During the Cold Cycle, however, the whales will gather to pair and mate. Three distinct large groups are known to gather: east of Ivorian, south east of Strosdyn, and further west among unnamed islands south of the Fields of Gauthrel.
Lifespan and Development: The tun'sọ där'ar'shän are thought to live upwards of a hundred arcs. After mating, calves take approximately three hundred trials to gestate before birth. Born calves will nurse for approximately 180 trials before being weaned off their mother's milk entirely. They may take up to ten arcs to reach sexual maturity and seek mates of their own, leaving their mothers at that time; mothers are unlikely to have more than one calf with them as well. In additional to sexual maturity, great whales are shown to develop impressive intelligence among other creatures of the world, including understanding of emotion, basic problem solving, and magic. Female tuni cease to be sexuality active around 70 arcs, while males are known to continue their activity well until death, though mating habits often prevent successful mating. Venerable whales are known to still participate in migration and social interaction among their kind, sometimes finding other whales of similar status to wonder with for companionship. In other cases, these venerable whales will group with their families, forming small pods, and aid in the upbringing of calves.
These beautiful beasts are still with weakness, however. Like their sea bounded counterparts, they may be pursued to exhaustion or tethered and broken. Large enough gashes will bleed the whales to death too. Their skin seems to be sensitive enough that they must stay near water to survive. For that reason, it's unlikely to find a whale out in clear skies or in arid environments. Rather they are more common in humid climates, during cooler seasons, or around precipitation. These whales seem to mind the heat more than cold, and have even been rumored to explore the ice caps when fat enough.
Diet: Their diet mainly consists of plankton, small shellfish, and small birds. In the sea, their diet is not much different from other whales of their kind. These whales will hunt squid, fish, and smaller whales in rare events of food scarcity, making use of their teeth as they mature. In the air, these silent giants are able to sometimes ambush flocks of birds (e.g. ducks, geese, swallows). This tale rings especially true in West Idalos over the Fields of Glauthrel.
Temperament: Outside of mating seasons, great whales are typically peaceful creatures. Their personalities vary as much as mortals in terms of their shyness or curiosity. The same can be said for the whales' hostilities. When in danger of predation, such as dragons or hunters, the whales may flee or fight. Being able to submerge themselves at great depths, escape is sometimes a quick and sure escape. However, when left without choice, the great whales will make use of their great mass and studs. Their boned snouts become ship breakers as they ram the ribs of ships and predators alike. The protrusions on their pectoral fins and flukes become more than enough to swat and cut at prey that venture too close. While some whales will simply ward of predators long enough to make an escape, the aggression of some whales – namely nursing mothers and heat-driven males – will hunt their would-be predators to the death. Their crushing body weight can end most offenses. And should that fail, a well-placed bite – such as on a dragon's wing – may be all it takes to drown a threat.
In mating season, female great whales are generally more social while males are more aggressive. The whole mating groups become a community of their own during the Cold Seasons, in which threats are dealt with quickly – though the massive grouping hosts many opportunities for poachers and hunters of all kinds. Males will compete for mates as well, usually demonstrated in song, races, acrobatics, or dances in the case of these flying behemoths.
In legendary cases, tales are told of great whales using magic and ether to combat threats.
Abilities: The most notable distinction of great whales from other whales is their ability to fly. There's no certainty to how they do it, though surely the Immortals know, whether it be an air sac or just magic alone. There are theories of the great whales using becoming as a means of giving themselves flight, or manipulating the elements through defiance. The latter is supported by castaway sightings of these mammoths taking shelter in or above thunderheads and other violent storms as lightning sparked off of their bodies.
The most certain use of magic has been rupturing. Great whales are known to chase through the sea and air. Chasing between mediums is especially commons among tuni with calves that cannot generate enough speed to breach into the open air. Among sailors, this is often an explanation for at least some of the unexplainable sounds heard out on the open water.
The greatest evidence of magic use among the whales is sign of mutations. Those who study these whales suggest that is what leads to the different appearances in color and nodes. Tales from the poles of Idalos speak of glowing whales dancing among the night skies. Whether this is due to mutation or another symbiotic relationship seems to make little impact on the wondrous sight. Other mutations supposedly include altered colors, extra limbs, eyes, and tendrils, and different sounds and smells.
Another notable feature of great whales is their voice. Like other whales, they are known to sing, their voices carrying through miles of water allowing the whales to communicate. Normally dampened by the liquid medium, these songs can be soothing and calm in their simplicity. Great whales are known to vocalize outside of water too, however, which can be drastically more dangerous. The intensity of a whale's volume can leave others with damaged hearing if close enough. While hunting, the whales may use this tactic to stun a flock while engaging for easier prey. The once melodic sounds from underwater become piercing cries in the open air. From safe enough of a distance, these songs are beautiful as well, characterized by clearer tones and more intricate timbre normally unheard underwater – by mortal ears anyway. ((Think Lugia's screech at max volume right next to your ear drum as played from a heavy metal rock concept speaker set))
In the water, the great whales travel at speeds ranging approximately from 3 mph to 30 mph, depending on whether they are feeding, traveling, fleeing, or playing. Whales will feed at lower speeds in water. In the air, great whales can cruise along at 30 mph. As it stands, there is no record speed for how fast these whales can fly. If observation of other avian life suggests anything, however, they would be mythically fast.
Cultural Significance:
Tun'sọ där'ar'shän have been cosmically linked to several immortals in theory, though there's been little push for any one of them to stake a claim. Some, namely the Mer, attribute the creation of these monolithic wonders to the work of Chrien. This stands with little more credibility than the great whales being another abominable failure of her experiments.
Other stories point to the Immortals U'frek, Moseke, Ilaren, or Karem. The majesty of the tuni are attributable to the purviews of these immortals, and various cultures will renown them accordingly. More commonly are suggestions that they are spawned from an affair of U'frek's with any of the other three. More twisted rumors yet tell of the whales spawning from Chrien's seduction of U'frek, long before her vile nature was known. Those stories are rarely told openly though, and even less so the closer to the seas one goes.
Among the Sev'ryn, the great whales are revered as powerful guardians of sea and sky. The tun, "whale" in Xanthea, is a legendary familiar full of wisdom, poise, magic, fortitude, and compassion.
Biqaj views of the whales vary. Among the more spiritual, they are messengers and agents of U'frek, best left to their own devices. Others, especially those who deal with whale hunters, poachers, and the like, may see them for nothing more than meat and profit.
The Mer have the most grounded perspective of the tuni. Legendary hunters tracking and hunting these beasts are common. More impressively, although rarer, and stories of the whales being tamed. With such magic at their control, they might rule both sky and sea aboard barges carried by these potential war engines. The more observant Mer can see the whales as more than just that, if they look closely enough, and perhaps find great allies in their conquests for survival.
Credit: Ilied loraeva
1. http://t15.deviantart.net/7qmkGUm-8VY3l ... a5gmjr.jpg
This is the poster image for these critters, would need to be cropped to remove sci-fi elements.
2. http://www.hdwallpapers.org/walls/ship- ... ork-HD.jpg
A more common appearance with a surreal image, best placed around the habitat section
3. http://img02.deviantart.net/75a1/i/2015 ... 925b83.jpg
Among the abilities section, an example of the vibrant bioluminescence that can be either/both something on the skin or magical mutation.
4. http://pre02.deviantart.net/26fc/th/pre ... 5eboi8.jpg
a very surreal silhouette, maybe a Sev'ryn familiar depiction, appropriate to the culture section
There were a few other images as well, for example the eye-close ups which might be nice to nod to the mentioned Mer and Biqaj meeting these creatures face to face. Other image suggestions welcomed.
One of the most terrifying and mysterious parts of our world, Earth, is the seemingly endlessly deep ocean and what may lay within it. We've uncovered a lot of the history of the environment, and today see giants of the path that still thrive in the open oceans, much unlike our atmosphere. Our largest birds are still big, but not exactly whale big, which is why I wanted to propose a surreal creature of this scale to the world of Idalos. Allowing them to go between sea and sky might be a balance or realist element more than anything, but also leaves more room to play with them too. The original concept I had for these a while back kept them in the sky more often and made them more aggressive hunters (teeth and all); a series of deviant art sky whales with teeth and multiple pectoral fins saw to that inspiration. Blue whales serve as the earthly model for these not-so-gentle giants in terms of physical properties and measurement references. The air speeds were more guess work as tow hat can happen without water resistance holding them back.
The current version and patch notes:
first draft - A raw concept, decently cleaned up, pic links provided. Didn't grammar/style edit. Most information is under a proper category without feeling repetitive. May need to relocate certain bits to make for easy referencing.