Coastal Whale

Historical Overview

The Coastal Whale was instrumental in the growth of the Promenade's Whaling Industry. In Prominere art and mythology, the Coastal Whale is depicted as a deceptively friendly creature, capable of luring sailors in, only to founder their ships. This association speaks to both the nature of the creature, and the relationship between the early Prominade and the sea.

"Early Promineres saw the sea as an enemy. It made the low-lying land into salty marshes useless for farming, it swamped the fishers' small craft, and the waves tore away attempts to expand the city. To kill whales was not only crucial for the city's survival, but a way to strike back at an all-encompassing ocean trying to swallow the town." - Isobard Quickquill, Whale Whale Whale, What Have We Here? 

Constructed in a marshy region of Anhara, the early Prominade often flooded, and travel to the city through the Mire was treacherous. The settlers of the area had a rivalry with the sea, and thus with whales, which they saw as a dangerous creature that needed to be hunted. The Coastal Whales did not help their case, however, and as their name implies, lingered near the coast. Thus, they made easy prey for the burgeoning Prominere whaling industry. 
The easy hunting of the Coastal Whale led to a boom in the Prominade's fortunes as they began to formalize their industry and export whale-based product. However, following the Crossing Over, overwhaling caught up with the Promenade and the Coastal Whale population began decreasing. By 200AM, the Coastal Whale was all but gone.

Biology

The Coastal Whale, during the Peak of the the Promenade's Whaling Industry, averaged about 60 feet in length and 120,000 pounds. The largest specimen recorded at the Promenade measured about 100 feet and weighed about 220,000 pounds. 
The composition of the Coastal Whale lends itself well to being hunted. While it lacks a dorsal fin for easy identification from a boat, the body of the whale is almost half blubber. This blubber content makes the body float upon death, and thus is an easy haul for whalers.
The Coastal Whale's proximity to shore and inability to sink after dying meant that from the earliest days of the Promenade, even the most meager ships could hunt it. The ability to flense the whale at sea, as it floated, meant that each early whaling ship had a chance to maximize their profits. However, as the population began to decrease, and the efficiency of the industry increased, flensing was transferred to the Gallows neighborhood of the Seaside. 
The range of the Coastal Whale is, as the name implies, generally along the northern coast of Anhara. They travel between the eastern edge of the Verdante in the west, to the mouth of Etan's Stream in the east, occasionally entering the river as far as Genesee. Their northern extent is somewhere in the Unknown Tides, as no Coastal Whales have been seen near the Serpent Sea or the coast of the Boreal North.

Lifespan

80-100 Years

Average Weight

120,000 Pounds

Average Length

60 Feet