HOME | DD

Spinal Fin — Description

The great ships that go out to sea are an incredible sight for those not native to the coast. While villages upon rivers and lakes can certainly have impressive vessels, it is no debate that they don't quite compare to those built for the ocean. The sheer artistry and design, the imposing size and complexity of their sails. Vessels built from wood, bone, ivory, chitin, scales and shell, a beautiful combination of these fine materials to create a sea worthy ship. Membrane sails pulled open with complex riggings of hair braids, driving forth hulls supported by great ribs and plated by plank, scale or shell. With how intricate they are, folks from both land and sea often view them as living creatures. And there is no better example of that than in a whaling ship.
Look to these vessels as they stalk the waters looking for prey. See how eager they pursue when "food" is spotted, how they awaken and bristle with harpooning claws. They hunt down leviathans, slay them and then gobble them up. It is hard to deny this when you see an expert team of whalers descend upon a fresh kill, their coordination of the butchery taking apart the corpse like a hungering maw. And into the hold this food goes, quite literally filling the vessel's belly with meat and blubber. But it doesn't end just there, though some may assume these goods are simply sold instead of digested. One must remember, however, that leviathans provide many things for the seafolk, and ship materials is one of them. Their massive bones, aquatic hides and sharp teeth are vital components to any vessel, and thus these beasts can be more than just product. Like any other predator, what the ship claims winds up being added to its own body, as the crew uses harvested materials to build, repair and augment. What would the leviathans think if they knew what damage they dealt upon these strange attackers would be patched up with their own skin and bones?
With leviathans being a major source of ship parts, whalers have long identified which sea beasts provide the best materials. What creatures to look out for when a sail is damaged or a hull is cracked. The Spinal Fin is one such beast. Its thin body may make one hesitate to call it a "leviathan," but its sheer size and hardiness makes up for its lean nature. The great fish cuts through the deep like a blade, its body flat and razor sharp. Like a massive kite, its fins flare open so it may ride the currents with very little effort. The Spinal Fin is able to travel for many leagues without much exertion, letting the water do all the work. It only snaps into action when food, or a threat, is spotted. Undulating its body, it changes its course and pursues. The wide fins become a trap that corrals food, or a razor blade that slashes at foes. Other leviathans that dare challenge them may find themselves trapped in its coils, where its wicked spines dig deep into flesh. The bony body and sharp spikes make it a hard meal to bite or swallow, thus quite a few beasts skip this fish entirely. The whalers, however, do not...
Though its body is obviously poor in meat and blubber, the sheer bounty of bone and membrane it offers is invaluable. Spinal Fins are sometimes called "sailfish" because these beasts are excellent for building or repairing the sails of a ship. The bony spines are shaped into masts, yards and other spars. So when a vessel has issues with such things, the sight of a Spinal Fin is a welcome one. When hunting one, it is imperative that the crew focus all fire and damage towards the beast's head, that way it minimizes injury to its spines and membranes. Parts not big enough for sail making may be cut into garments, covers or fashioned into simple sacs. The spines may also be carved into harpoons and other pointy weapons. The actual meat within is so sparse and difficult to remove that it is typically turned to chum in the harvesting process. Every little piece is used in one way or another, and then the predator is back on the prowl...