Gara Fish

The gara fish, sometimes known as the Southern Clawfish, is a Wyld-tainted creature of deeper waters in the far Southwestern seas, adults reaching 6ft in length and up to 300lbs in weight. Gara have four eyes, protected by a set of chitinous armoured plates which cover its upper head and neck. In addition to spiny fins, gara also possess a set of pincer claws set on either side of their necks, with serrated inner edges for tearing the bodies of their prey so they might consume the chunks through their small but toothy maws.

Gara fish are carnivorous, preying on fish, sharks, dolphins, Rinopagos, humans, and the like. During their mating season in the months of Descending Wood through Descending Fire, the solitary fish may gather into larger schools, that will attack larger prey such as whales, siaka, or giant squid as they travel and spawn. Gara may also fight amongst themselves, headbutting or having wrestling matches with their claws, though these seem more tests of strength than deadly duels.

Gara fish are known to target the eyes of their prey, and some savants wonder if their four eyes and armoured heads originate as a defense against their own form of attack. Blinded prey can more easily be gripped and dragged into deeper waters as they are torn apart.

To some in the Southwest, the gara fish is eaten for food (its flesh deep red, akin to tuna) or hunted for sport. The Wyld-tainted population of Karathay views the creature as important to its rights of passage, when a young man or woman wishes to become part of their warrior caste they must prove their swimming by descending to hunt a gara fish, slaying it in personal combat and bringing it back to shore. Its flesh is eaten raw as part of a communal feast, its chitin used to craft the new warrior’s Gara Plate, light and streamlined armour for being worn while swimming.