Hippocampus

The hippocampus is a rare sea creature that appears to have gone extinct when the Blessing was performed. When the gods departed the moral realm, apparently so did the hippocampus. Some believe the old legends about a sea creature with the head and front legs of a horse and the tail of a large fish or whale. Some legends say that they creatures were ridden by the gods Ceitus and Caldora in the days when gods and demons walked freely about the planet. Most believe these to be exaggerated stories, tales told to children to amaze.
Then, 200 turns ago, the first Queen of Malminar stumbled into a cave, a Retinor (godly word for a retreat or haven) for the gods Ceitus and Caldora. Here she found records left by the gods, writings and histories, many still well preserved. She also found written evidence of the existence of the hippocampus as well as drawings, and a jade and gold statue of one of the creatures.
Emberly Malminar was struck with the image and description of the animal to such an extent that she adopted it as her house sigil. The animal exemplified strength, service, fortitude, and loyalty, all things the First Queen wanted her reign and her families continuing reign to emulate.
The hippocampus was said to be able to swim for days on end without stopping, below or on the surface of the water. They could dive to great depths and often were used to recover or retrieve things on the bottom of the ocean for gods and people alike. They were purported to be friendly to people, but especially fond of children. Dolphins and hippocampi were said to often follow ships on the open sea, protecting and guiding them to their destinations safely.
Occasionally ships making it safely to shore after encountering a strong and dangerous storm would report sightings of hippocampus, but always in the dark, and never with any real certainty. Seaside bars and taverns are sure to have at least one old sailor sitting at a table willing to tell the tale of the time he or she saw a hippocampus or was saved by one, or witnessed a massive battle between a group of hippocampi and a giant squid or sawtooth ichthyosaur on the high seas.
The Hippocampus has since become the symbol for the Royal House of Malminar as well as the country, with the country's standard being a stylized hippocampus in seagrass on a goldenrod colored field.

The statue of a hippocampus found by the First Queen Malminar.

EXTINCT

by Kbignell via Midjourney

Kbignell via Midjourney