Skullfish

The reconstructed head-plates of a dire skullfish.
Source: Wikimedia Commons

"Skullfish" is generally used as a broad term for all the plate-headed or 'aspid' fish on the plane of Waking Materia, however it often colloquially refers to the feared Dire Skullfish, which can grow to twice a human adult's height in length and snap a tree trunk with its bite. Though they are mercifully uncommon and each individual oversees vast territories, the Dire subspecies are perhaps the most ubiquitous apex predator in Materia's oceans. Though these monstrous fish are sometimes associated with the kaiju, it is generally accepted to be a cousin of smaller, more docile aspid fish, and therefore mundane Material fauna.

Skullfish are found all throughout The Sunken Expanse in all manner of niches. They may even be related to the amphibious aspid salamanders, though this is strongly debated: more common is the belief that sea creatures are created directly by the ocean gods Ina'ut or Ob'Silexia, or perhaps by Aios and Uhrmazd themselves during the formation of the plane.

Appearance

See also: Skullfish, Aspid Salamanders Image Gallery (External)

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In Humanoid Culture

Skullfish are very often associated with death and psychopomp, as schools of them will arrive after naval battles to clean up the empty shells of fallen soldiers. As such they are often associated with Overshepherd Rom or the Great Overdark, Uhrmazd.

The head plates of the dire skullfish are valuable in many societies as talismans of strength, vigour and favour in the afterlife. Their fearsome appearance also inspires a large amount of folk art and heraldry. A white dire skullfish head on black is popular in pirate flags and insignias.

The dire skullfish is The Totem Kami of The Shiomi clan of Marai.