Czavhy

"The sailor put his net in the river
The sailor put his net to catch
The sailor put his net on the Czavhy
The sailor got dragged and snatched!"
~Common Foothills children's rhyme.

Summary

Legends speak of a serpentlike Ferneth haunting the length of the Grasping River. This creature is overtly evil, murdering any that it can.
The creature is said to have a skull-like face and a twisted, needle-toothed smile. The head sports long, stringy hair that resembles the riverweed that grows in patches all along the river. The head stands at the end of a long, thin neck that swells only slightly into a body and tapers off into a wickedly barbed tail. On the body are two thin fins used more for pushing along the bottom and maneuvers than swimming, which it does with sinuous movements and supernatural speed.

Historical Basis

Most scholars believe that the Czavhy is a local superstition to explain the sinkholes and gelrimes that make the Grasping River so treacherous.

Spread

This legend is familiar to any who live near the Grasping River's entire length. Mothers warn their children of the treacherous monster.
Similar stories with local twists exist in most rivers, and some scholars believe that this is evidence of a similar story's inclusion in the monomyth.

Variations & Mutation

Some tales say that the Czavhy is benevolent, or at least only interested in protecting the river.
Other tales say that slaying the beast will grant a year of bountiful harvests and safe travels on the river.

Cultural Reception

To the rural folk of the Foothills, this legend is unquestionably true. To those more urbane citizens of Krezzym, they laugh at the idea that a large serpent could pass through the city without notice.

In Art

The Czavhy is depicted in rock carvings on especially dangerous places in the river. Some river folk have adopted it as a symbol of ferocity, and paint it on their shields or on bulwarks.