Yhahaa (ʔiˈha.haː)

"The ships of the Hleemeentreezee are not made of wood - they are crafted out of living flesh and bone. They are beasts of burden, who feel pain and hunger and fear. This is the Hleemeentreezee way - they turn living creatures into their tools, and by listening to them you invite them to do it to us." - Kraldanar, an advisor to the Nabijač, the Kar of Vlast, now deceased.

The monstrous aberrations that the Hleemeentreezee use to travel between islands are not a common sight outside the Rasrathnian Sea, but those who have seen them never forget. They are enormous, usually between 80 and 100 feet in length, and their bodies have been sculpted into a vessel by their masters. They have two large staring eyes near the prow, and a ragged-toothed maw that can crush anything within reach. In the language of the Hleemeentreezee they are called Yhahaa, which has no proper translation but is most analogous to 'slave'.

Swimming Ships

The Yhahaa do not have oars or sails. Instead, they swim through the water like a fish. They can even dive beneath the water and travel undetected while the Hleemeentreezee passengers are kept dry in the compartments they have carved from the Yhahaa's flesh. Whether on the surface or beneath it, the Yhahaa can match the speed of any other ship in the Great Ring (except for the Thalassopoúli vessels of the Aethry). When they swim, they often let out low moans that carry for miles and cause those who hear them to shiver. The songs of the Yhahaa are those of a tormented whale, and some believe the ships are warning other cetaceans to flee before they can be captured and transformed themselves.

Bound to a Cruel Master

Each Yhahaa is bound to one of the Hleemeentreezee, who rules it absolutely. This master has the power to communicate with the Yhahaa telepathically, and to inflict intense pain upon the creature in order to control it. Even the most strong-willed of the ships will quickly accede to the orders of their bond-master, unwilling to face the punishment for disobedience.

Still Hungry

The Yhahaa are living creatures, with all the needs of other animals. They are particularly tormented by hunger, and their favorite food is other ships. Whenever allowed to by the Hleemeentreezee, they will chase down and consume any ships they can find. They are particularly fond of eating Wavewood Trees, the living ships of the Middlesea. They find these vessels so enticing that they will even defy the Hleemeentreezee and endure the torment they inflict in order to pursue them.

The Hleemeentreezee

Yhahaa are the creations of the Hleemeentreezee, a race of strange demonic horse-people who conquered some of the Rasrathnii Islands centuries ago. They are known for their habit of altering living creatures to be their tools, molding flesh and bone as if it were clay and wood. Ever since they appeared in the Great Ring, they have made themselves an enemy to everyone who is not Hleemeentreezee. You can read more about them here.

A Worrisome Development

In the last year or so, the Yhahaa have become a common sight in the ports of the Empire of Vlast. After centuries of isolation, the Hleemeentreezee have sent emissaries and advisors to Nabijač, the tyrannical Kar of Vlast, offering to provide advice and magical aid in their battles. Despite the warnings of their advisors, Nabijač has chosen to accept their aid in the goal of turning the Empire of Vlast into a major power in the eastern half of the ring. You can read more about Vlast here.