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Description

I really have to ask what people's deal with sharks are, I don't quite get it. What is it about the word "shark" that gets humans scrambling and screaming? I swear you get the same reaction from folks who don't even live near the ocean! To most people, sharks are vicious saw-toothed sea monsters that follow ships like omens of death and messily devour any who dare fall into their domain. True bloodthirsty killers! I will concede that they eat meat, can't deny that, but what else about them is so terrifying? Most I get when I push folk on the subject is them saying: "well, they eat people!" AND!? What about it!? Do you have any idea how many things in the ocean would eat you if given the opportunity?! I got at least a dozen other species out there in the open sea that eat flesh and are way more scary then a simple hungry fish! And I am not even counting the more unnatural denizens of the ocean! You guys do know that there are a bunch of ex-humans lurking down in the depths, right? You got massive sea serpents, great leviathans, and species you have literally called EVIL WHALES! With all that in mind, why give the sharks any grief?! From what I have heard, they seem way more reasonable then some other oceanic beasts. I have been at sea dozens of times, and I am not the least bit scared of a shark! To be fair, though, I guess a plant doesn't have much to fear from them, especially when I am more worried about the sea water itself...

There are plenty of shark species around the world that garner fear and superstition (still not fully sure why), but the one we shall focus on here is the Isonade. Like all sharks, they are fish with a whole lot more cartilage than bone, and plenty of pointy bits. Their scales are hardened and sharpened, forming denticles, which allow their bodies to cut through the water with ease. This reduces drag while they swim, and also makes them more stealthy in their movements. Isonades have their denticles more overtly spiny and pointy, making for very rough skin if you ever rub them wrong. Along their fins, these scales have gained a more blade-like edge, allowing them to slice into flesh as they swim by prey. It isn't just their scales, as almost every part of the Isonade's body is sharp and toothed. Their snouts are pointed like arrows, not exactly sharp enough to be a weapon but it does give them a wicked look. Their teeth are masses of inwards facing hooks, which makes their bite impossible to escape. They have even developed spurs near fins and on other parts of the body, to further ward off predators. However, the most notable feature on their spiny serpentine body are the trailing tendrils.

To some, it may look like the Isonade is throwing itself a one fish parade, and they brought along some streamers! Though fleshy and tendril looking, they aren't prehensile or used like limbs. Don't expect octopus-like movements from these growths. They simply flow behind the Isonade as it swims, but they aren't just meant to look pretty. If one can get a close enough look, or have the misfortune of grabbing one with their bare hands, they would find that these tendrils are lined with small nasty barbs. They are tiny and sharp, so they don't cause much drag, but they have quite the bite! Brushing against one of these growths will cause countless of these barbs to snag skin and hold tight. Depending on how deep they go, you may be able to tear yourself free, as long as you are willing to sacrifice some skin. This should probably give you a good idea for what they are used for!

As the Isonade swims through the ocean, it is following its keen senses to find prey. What they are looking for are squid, octopi and other soft bodied prey. When food is spotted, they pick up speed, their bladed form slicing straight towards prey like an arrow. Their mouth yawns open, revealing their many hooked teeth, and it moves in for a bite. Most of the time, though, this chomp comes up empty, as the prey zips out of the danger zone. Unfortunately, this bite was a weak attempt, as the real weapon is just about to arrive. As its food jets off to the side of the chomping jaws, the Isonade twists its body and whips its tail around. Its back end comes swinging around to the front, bringing a whole tangle of barbed tendrils with it. For animals with soft flesh and lots of long limbs, it is inevitable that these barbs will find something to snag. Prey will be hooked by this whipping tail, and further movements from both hunter and hunted will cause them to be further ensnared. With dinner properly caught, the shark will quickly loop itself around, its serpentine body letting its jaws reach the back fin. Now they will bite down on their food and tear them out of this trap, often leaving behind loose flesh and tendrils still caught in the barbs. The large chunks will be wolfed down, and then the hunt will resume. Sometimes they will clean the bigger pieces off of its hooked tendrils, but it is fine leaving a couple morsels behind. It will be food for the clouds of scavengers who will gladly clean off what scraps are left. This is why the big shark is often followed by countless fish, as they know this predator is a notoriously messy eater.

Cephalopods are the main staple of their diet, but they do eat other things if need be. The hooked tendrils can catch on the gills of larger fish, slowing them enough for the Isonade to take out. Some believe that the shark may even feed on some of the scavengers if one gets too eager and gets caught up in the barbs. However, they don't just eat the things that live underwater! Research has found that Isonades will actually go after sea birds, targeting those that float on the surface. When schools of fish are driven upwards, the sea birds converge for a chance to feed. The slippery scales of small fish make them hard to hook, but a bird does not have this protection. As these flocks focus on finding the right fish to nab, the Isonade is prowling below, waiting to strike. When it sees a promising congregation of swimming birds, it launches forth and whips them with its tail. Barbs grab hold of feather and flesh, and they are pulled down below. The Isonade swallows them whole and goes back looking for seconds. While this hunting method is horrifying for the birds, it is incredible to see! They move so fast and silently, you don't see them coming! Then they pull off a tight turn and let their tail rip from the water and ensnare prey. This method means you very rarely see their front ends, rather you catch glimpses of a gnarly tail rising from the deep before vanishing below with its doomed prey. It is quite the spectacle, as foam and feathers fly! However, it is one best seen from afar, as their hunting method have made them a bit infamous.

With their larger size and barbed weaponry, they are already intimidating fish for most people. But as long as you stay out of the water you should be fine, right? Well, most of the time the answer would be "yes," but the Isonade can break this rule. This sea bird hunting means that their tails rise out of the surf and swing around like nasty whips. They are after birds, but they can't really control what they hit. Whatever they snag gets pulled down with them, and if it is food they will happily eat it. So if a person in a boat gets whipped by this tail and hooked, then they will be yanked off their feet and towed into the depths. The Isonade will note that it is an odd bird, but still give this morsel a taste. If blood and flesh is detected, then it will chow down. This is what I mean about giving these hunters a wide berth, as their tails have a wider range than you think and will totally snag clothes and skin. Sadly, sometimes avoidance is harder than one would imagine. While Isonades are infamous to fishermen, these sharks don't really target them. The sea birds, however, love fishermen and the easy meals their nets can provide. When these flocks follow boats to try and steal a meal, an Isonade may think it a good time to feed. Unfortunately, that means they hunt close to the boats, and thus their tails can catch an unwary fishermen and drag them to their doom. It is certainly a terrible situation, but you have to see why these accidents happen. The Isonade is not a malicious creature hungering for human flesh, they just find themselves hunting at the wrong place and the wrong time.

With many of these incidents occurring over the years, the Isonade has become a feared beast of the sea. Some equate them to phantoms, as their silent speedy movements make them hard to spot, and their fins and victims vanish within moments. They are also a problem for fishing nets, as their sharp scales rip them to ribbons and they aren't above grabbing some free fish while they are at it. This has led to a rise in Isonade hunting, especially when people find uses for their hide. Isonade skin is valued for clothing, weapon handles and even graters! The sharper bits are often worked into more nefarious garments, creating hidden blades and ways to secretly draw blood from foes. In some darker corners, the barbed tendrils of the Isonade were used for punishment and torture, either being wielded like whips or force fed to prisoners to tear them apart from the inside. A horrific meal for sure, but Isonade can be properly prepared and served. Their meat is seen as a delicacy, though all the spiny bits need to be removed. The tendrils are not eaten, but often used to decorate fish markets and restaurants. This makes researchers worry for the future of the Isonade, as their man-eating encounters make them villains, and their edible flesh makes them targets. We have already seen Isonade fishing become more popular, so it is a wonder of how much higher it will go. I truly hope things stabilize and our shark friends remain a constant to the ocean ecosystem.

Makes me think of that story I read about with the boy that helped free a trapped Isonade. There was a drawing on the cover that always stuck with me. You got the kid standing there with arms raised triumphantly, and the graceful Isonade leaping overhead in a wonderful watery arc. It really is a moving piece, though I think the artist failed to note the trailing barbed tendrils that come from the Isonade's tail. Not to be a downer, but that kid is kinda in trouble when that Isonade comes crashing back down. Last I recall, the story doesn't end with the boy being snared by thousands of barbs and dragged into a watery grave, but that picture kind of hints at that. I should probably stop pointing that out, as it kind of sours the mood for people who enjoy that story.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------

If we are making a shark, then not just any shark will do!

Description

I really have to ask what people's deal with sharks are, I don't quite get it. What is it about the word "shark" that gets humans scrambling and screaming? I swear you get the same reaction from folks who don't even live near the ocean! To most people, sharks are vicious saw-toothed sea monsters that follow ships like omens of death and messily devour any who dare fall into their domain. True bloodthirsty killers! I will concede that they eat meat, can't deny that, but what else about them is so terrifying? Most I get when I push folk on the subject is them saying: "well, they eat people!" AND!? What about it!? Do you have any idea how many things in the ocean would eat you if given the opportunity?! I got at least a dozen other species out there in the open sea that eat flesh and are way more scary then a simple hungry fish! And I am not even counting the more unnatural denizens of the ocean! You guys do know that there are a bunch of ex-humans lurking down in the depths, right? You got massive sea serpents, great leviathans, and species you have literally called EVIL WHALES! With all that in mind, why give the sharks any grief?! From what I have heard, they seem way more reasonable then some other oceanic beasts. I have been at sea dozens of times, and I am not the least bit scared of a shark! To be fair, though, I guess a plant doesn't have much to fear from them, especially when I am more worried about the sea water itself...

There are plenty of shark species around the world that garner fear and superstition (still not fully sure why), but the one we shall focus on here is the Isonade. Like all sharks, they are fish with a whole lot more cartilage than bone, and plenty of pointy bits. Their scales are hardened and sharpened, forming denticles, which allow their bodies to cut through the water with ease. This reduces drag while they swim, and also makes them more stealthy in their movements. Isonades have their denticles more overtly spiny and pointy, making for very rough skin if you ever rub them wrong. Along their fins, these scales have gained a more blade-like edge, allowing them to slice into flesh as they swim by prey. It isn't just their scales, as almost every part of the Isonade's body is sharp and toothed. Their snouts are pointed like arrows, not exactly sharp enough to be a weapon but it does give them a wicked look. Their teeth are masses of inwards facing hooks, which makes their bite impossible to escape. They have even developed spurs near fins and on other parts of the body, to further ward off predators. However, the most notable feature on their spiny serpentine body are the trailing tendrils.

To some, it may look like the Isonade is throwing itself a one fish parade, and they brought along some streamers! Though fleshy and tendril looking, they aren't prehensile or used like limbs. Don't expect octopus-like movements from these growths. They simply flow behind the Isonade as it swims, but they aren't just meant to look pretty. If one can get a close enough look, or have the misfortune of grabbing one with their bare hands, they would find that these tendrils are lined with small nasty barbs. They are tiny and sharp, so they don't cause much drag, but they have quite the bite! Brushing against one of these growths will cause countless of these barbs to snag skin and hold tight. Depending on how deep they go, you may be able to tear yourself free, as long as you are willing to sacrifice some skin. This should probably give you a good idea for what they are used for!

As the Isonade swims through the ocean, it is following its keen senses to find prey. What they are looking for are squid, octopi and other soft bodied prey. When food is spotted, they pick up speed, their bladed form slicing straight towards prey like an arrow. Their mouth yawns open, revealing their many hooked teeth, and it moves in for a bite. Most of the time, though, this chomp comes up empty, as the prey zips out of the danger zone. Unfortunately, this bite was a weak attempt, as the real weapon is just about to arrive. As its food jets off to the side of the chomping jaws, the Isonade twists its body and whips its tail around. Its back end comes swinging around to the front, bringing a whole tangle of barbed tendrils with it. For animals with soft flesh and lots of long limbs, it is inevitable that these barbs will find something to snag. Prey will be hooked by this whipping tail, and further movements from both hunter and hunted will cause them to be further ensnared. With dinner properly caught, the shark will quickly loop itself around, its serpentine body letting its jaws reach the back fin. Now they will bite down on their food and tear them out of this trap, often leaving behind loose flesh and tendrils still caught in the barbs. The large chunks will be wolfed down, and then the hunt will resume. Sometimes they will clean the bigger pieces off of its hooked tendrils, but it is fine leaving a couple morsels behind. It will be food for the clouds of scavengers who will gladly clean off what scraps are left. This is why the big shark is often followed by countless fish, as they know this predator is a notoriously messy eater.

Cephalopods are the main staple of their diet, but they do eat other things if need be. The hooked tendrils can catch on the gills of larger fish, slowing them enough for the Isonade to take out. Some believe that the shark may even feed on some of the scavengers if one gets too eager and gets caught up in the barbs. However, they don't just eat the things that live underwater! Research has found that Isonades will actually go after sea birds, targeting those that float on the surface. When schools of fish are driven upwards, the sea birds converge for a chance to feed. The slippery scales of small fish make them hard to hook, but a bird does not have this protection. As these flocks focus on finding the right fish to nab, the Isonade is prowling below, waiting to strike. When it sees a promising congregation of swimming birds, it launches forth and whips them with its tail. Barbs grab hold of feather and flesh, and they are pulled down below. The Isonade swallows them whole and goes back looking for seconds. While this hunting method is horrifying for the birds, it is incredible to see! They move so fast and silently, you don't see them coming! Then they pull off a tight turn and let their tail rip from the water and ensnare prey. This method means you very rarely see their front ends, rather you catch glimpses of a gnarly tail rising from the deep before vanishing below with its doomed prey. It is quite the spectacle, as foam and feathers fly! However, it is one best seen from afar, as their hunting method have made them a bit infamous.

With their larger size and barbed weaponry, they are already intimidating fish for most people. But as long as you stay out of the water you should be fine, right? Well, most of the time the answer would be "yes," but the Isonade can break this rule. This sea bird hunting means that their tails rise out of the surf and swing around like nasty whips. They are after birds, but they can't really control what they hit. Whatever they snag gets pulled down with them, and if it is food they will happily eat it. So if a person in a boat gets whipped by this tail and hooked, then they will be yanked off their feet and towed into the depths. The Isonade will note that it is an odd bird, but still give this morsel a taste. If blood and flesh is detected, then it will chow down. This is what I mean about giving these hunters a wide berth, as their tails have a wider range than you think and will totally snag clothes and skin. Sadly, sometimes avoidance is harder than one would imagine. While Isonades are infamous to fishermen, these sharks don't really target them. The sea birds, however, love fishermen and the easy meals their nets can provide. When these flocks follow boats to try and steal a meal, an Isonade may think it a good time to feed. Unfortunately, that means they hunt close to the boats, and thus their tails can catch an unwary fishermen and drag them to their doom. It is certainly a terrible situation, but you have to see why these accidents happen. The Isonade is not a malicious creature hungering for human flesh, they just find themselves hunting at the wrong place and the wrong time.

With many of these incidents occurring over the years, the Isonade has become a feared beast of the sea. Some equate them to phantoms, as their silent speedy movements make them hard to spot, and their fins and victims vanish within moments. They are also a problem for fishing nets, as their sharp scales rip them to ribbons and they aren't above grabbing some free fish while they are at it. This has led to a rise in Isonade hunting, especially when people find uses for their hide. Isonade skin is valued for clothing, weapon handles and even graters! The sharper bits are often worked into more nefarious garments, creating hidden blades and ways to secretly draw blood from foes. In some darker corners, the barbed tendrils of the Isonade were used for punishment and torture, either being wielded like whips or force fed to prisoners to tear them apart from the inside. A horrific meal for sure, but Isonade can be properly prepared and served. Their meat is seen as a delicacy, though all the spiny bits need to be removed. The tendrils are not eaten, but often used to decorate fish markets and restaurants. This makes researchers worry for the future of the Isonade, as their man-eating encounters make them villains, and their edible flesh makes them targets. We have already seen Isonade fishing become more popular, so it is a wonder of how much higher it will go. I truly hope things stabilize and our shark friends remain a constant to the ocean ecosystem.

Makes me think of that story I read about with the boy that helped free a trapped Isonade. There was a drawing on the cover that always stuck with me. You got the kid standing there with arms raised triumphantly, and the graceful Isonade leaping overhead in a wonderful watery arc. It really is a moving piece, though I think the artist failed to note the trailing barbed tendrils that come from the Isonade's tail. Not to be a downer, but that kid is kinda in trouble when that Isonade comes crashing back down. Last I recall, the story doesn't end with the boy being snared by thousands of barbs and dragged into a watery grave, but that picture kind of hints at that. I should probably stop pointing that out, as it kind of sours the mood for people who enjoy that story.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------

If we are making a shark, then not just any shark will do!