Wispfish

They who swim on streams ætherial.

A wispfish, also commonly called ætherfish, is a type of fish that is commonly found in the cold waters of the Amber Sea, which lies between the continents of Ar'Nuhûn and Ni'Hel. It is characteristic for its blue coloration and veil-like fins, oftentimes appearing as a veiled ghost or figure gliding through the ocean.

To most people, a wispfish is little more than a curiosity to ogle at. However, the inhabitants of the city of Starpath know that wispfish can produce one of the only substances from which æther can be obtained, making them invaluable to its people and for the city's everyday activities. Through through pisciculture and an established methodologies, Starpath farmers can reliably breed the fish and ensure a steady production of essence of æther, which can then be turned into pure æther.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A. Floccus Splendidus is an aquatic vertebrate that uses six sets of fins (two of which, dorsal and pectoral, function in pairs) that allow them to move through water. Because of their size and flexible material, these usually float behind them like a veil thrown into water. 

A wispfish's skin is covered in overlapping, blue colored scales that provide a limited amount of protection from external hazards, such as sharp corals, while also providing the animal with less friction when swimming through the ocean.

Because of their partly mineral-based diet, wispfish have extremely acidic gastric juices. To compensate, the skin lining the wispfish's stomach is five times thicker than a regular fish's.

Genetics and Reproduction

Wispfish reproduce through a method called oviparity, wherein a female will release unfertilized eggs into the water, which will then be fertilized by a male. These will grow outside the female's body, relying on nutrients found within the egg to feed, grow and eventually hatch. During this time, both parents zealously guard their unhatched young. 

The entire process takes around ten weeks, with most of the young dying shortly after birth.

Growth Rate & Stages

Wispfish fry quickly grow in size. When born, ætherfish are translucent, with their internal organs being visible under careful observation. Around two weeks after hatching, their scales develop, their skins turn opaque and begin adopting their characteristic blue color and beginning producing the essence of æther which makes the species so valuable. Infancy lasts about three to seven months, where they keep growing in size, becoming adults after a year or three of life. Approximately one and a half years after being born, the fish achieve sexual maturity, being able to generate offspring with a suitable mate.

Ecology and Habitats

Ætherfish thrive in the large coral forests found in the cold waters of the Amber Sea, where edible plant life is common, smaller fish are available in droves and minerals are very nutritious. Normally docile, ætherfish will turn violently territorial when defending their eggs. Otherwise, the fish live rather solitary lives, living with small school of their own species. 

Warm waters are not optimal for an ætherfish, yet these can adapt to them should the need arise.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The ætherfish has an unusual diet, consisting of it consuming high amounts of plants and smaller fishes while also needing to eat soft crystals with elevated concentrations of sulfur, sandstuff and trace amounts of what has been described as a 'lustrous metal'. The reason as to why this must be is unclear, yet the consensus among scholar from Starpath is that these crystals are what allow the essence of æther.

Biological Cycle

Because of the slow rate in which seawater heats up and cools down, seasonal changes rarely affect wispfish outside of their natural habitats. In captivity, however, they tend to bask near the surface of their ponds when climates get colder.

Additional Information

Domestication

Domesticating wispfish is an art that is only known to the people of Starpath, who are wont to keep the information for themselves rather than share it with the greater public. Those who try without the proper know-how are usually met with disappointment, as the fish's extremely specific diet and habitat are not well-known, often resulting in a specimen's death.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Ætherfish are invaluable sources of essence of æther, which can be distilled and concentrated into pure æther, a magical liquid with several powerful properties. The fish produce it as waste, be it through their urine, feces or the fish's equivalent to a humanoid's sweat. It has been speculated that their scales and fins, when freshly removed, contain a greater amount of this essence, yet after numerous experiments and deceased fish, the results remained inconclusive. Through fish farms, this essence is collected, separated from its aqueous medium, concentrated, refined and finally purified to obtain the æther necessary to perform many of Starpath's activities.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Wispfish are found throughout the Amber Sea, most commonly in open waters. However, they are known to be found along the shores of either Ar'Nuhûn or Ni'hel.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Ætherfish use a combination of eyesight, taste and a sense that has been loosely defined as 'water pressure' to perceive its surroundings. With these three, it is able to make its way through the ocean, find its food and sense oncoming danger.

Scientific Name

Aether Floccus Splendidus

Lifespan

5 - 7 years in the wild, varies in captivity.

Conservation Status

Wispfish are notoriously rare, and because of the essence of æther they produce they are oftentimes kept in captivity by those who understand this substance's properties and importance. They are usually kept in saltwater ponds, where their waters must be cleaned and replaced every so often to match the Amber Sea's conditions, keeping no more than a school of eight fish per pond. This allows for easy feeding and for less competition between them.

Average Weight

500 - 750 grams (17.64 - 26.45 ounces)

Average Length

13 cm (5.1 in)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Ætherfish have a vibrant blue coloring adorning their scales, varying on its intensity depending on each individual fish. A pattern of stripes has also been observed, each pattern being unique.

Geographic Distribution

• Starpath

Related Materials

• Æther