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Description

Despite the claims that the Bake-kujira is some kind of undead beast or reanimated whale skeleton, it is an actual living creature. It does bring to mind the skeleton of a whale, but it is not dead and it is not mammalian. In truth, the Bake-kujira is an arthropod, whose pale exoskeleton resembles bone. A part of the reason it is labeled as a mysterious and creepy species is because they are rarely seen near the surface waters. Their preferred home is deep down in the dark heart of the ocean, where light barely reaches. On that note, I should mention that it is believed that this weak presence of light is the reason they are this pallid color! Anyways, that is where they spend the majority of their time, in the depths, but there are some occasions where they rise from the deep. During the nights of a particular season, they may swim up to the shallower waters to feed, returning to the dark sea once the sun threatens to appear. Even with a regular migration like this, this species is not often seen, as they don't normally get that close to the surface. Also, they are hard to see in a dark ocean with no light, and you would have to even be out there at such a time to even have a chance to spot them. With observations of them being incredibly rare, we don't have too much information about their lifestyle, but there are a few things we know! For example, every sighting has only revealed a single Bake-kujira, so we are starting to think they are solitary creatures. If they do indeed live in pods, then it must be something they only do in the depths, or we just keep seeing nomadic individuals.

We also know that this species is a filter feeder, straining the ocean water for food. So your creepy skeleton monster is only a real terror to krill and such! On their heads, they possess baleen-like structures, which help catch food and sieve out the water. Aiding in this effort is their front most pair of limbs, which are greatly elongated and possess the same baleen. These limbs are slung under the head, making the "jaw" of the skull, and also comb the water for food. Behind all that is a series of appendages that are designed for swimming, helping propel the Bake-kujira through the water. The largest pair of these swimmers are used when the creature needs a burst of speed, launching itself forward rapidly to catch a cloud of food off guard. Most of the time, it seems that this large pair remains still, while the smaller ones hidden beneath its body do all the work. This method of swimming adds to their creepy image, as it looks like the creature is drifting lifelessly through the water. While they sift the water for food, they make sure that they themselves don't wind up on the menu. Their already tough exoskeleton sprouts rows of spikes that run down its body, making it tough for large predators to take a bite. If they somehow can avoid getting a mouthful of pointy bits, they still have to penetrate its armor. This is something they need to do fast, as the Bake-kujira will fight back by thrashing its spiny body about. Most predators don't wish to be sliced up by this leviathan, so they are often left in peace. This same armor is what makes panicking whalers think they are invincible, as harpoons simply bounce off them. The other reason this weaponry fails is because most of the time they are thrown out of desperation, as the sailors believe they are being attacked by a malevolent spirit. You don't exactly have the best aim and mindset when you think a skeletal demon is coming to eat your ship.

With all the details I mentioned before, like the similarities to a whale skeleton and their impenetrable hide, you can see why folk around these regions find them unsettling and creepy. Some think that they are a vengeful spirit that has returned from the dead to destroy whalers, while others have accepted they are a living species but one that is terrifying to see. No matter the reasoning, almost everyone agrees that this species is a bad omen whenever they are seen. I have mentioned that sightings are rare and they never really get close to the surface, but sometimes the conditions are just right (or wrong, in this situation). All sightings of living specimens have the Bake-kujira swimming right there on the surface, where anyone can see. Indeed it is rare, but it is also wrong. They have no reason to be this close to the surface, as there is plenty of food for them below. If they have nothing to gain up here, why do they sometimes do it? Well, we think it may not be their choice. The reason Bake-kujira are seen as terrible omens is because powerful storms seem to follow in their wake or bouts of sickness occur in local villages around where they were sighted. For the longest time, it was believed that they brought these disasters with them, but now we think their appearance is a response to these environmental changes. When huge storms blow across the sea, they churn the waters below. The violent waters may push the Bake-kujira to the surface, as they fight against the raging tide. Other fish as well may be displaced, as they all seek to escape the storm. Pushed by wind and wave, the creature may be spat out ahead of the storm, finding calm in the peaceful waters before the typhoon catches up to them. That is also why flocks of birds and strange fish are spotted around this species when they are on the surface, as they too are fleeing the storm. Get one look at this scenario, and know that some nasty weather is not far behind! Funny enough, I ran into this exact scenario once. I was out on a fishing vessel to follow up on a lead about strange fish being pulled out of the nets. Though our nets were not finding this mystery fish, someone on the boat spotted that pale spine-like armor breaching the surface. We all rushed to see, and I was blessed with a sighting of a Bake-kujira! I was so excited, it was practically a miracle! To have the chance to glimpse one of these incredibly rare creatures! It is certainly something I will always remember! I was overjoyed, but soon noticed that nobody else was as thrilled as I. We all fell into a silence, and then I think it hit all of us at once. We all realized what usually follows after a Bake-kujira shows up, and we hightailed it to shore. Just as we were tying up the boat, a massive storm barreled into the shoreline and nearly blew us all away. We were able to reach shelter and weather out the storm, but I dread to think what would have happened to us if we were still on the water.

So Bake-kujira get displaced by violent storms, that makes sense, but what of these "plagues?" How do these creatures bring about sickness? The important thing to note, is that these outbreaks aren't actual plagues, as there is nothing contagious going on. It turns out, people were getting incredibly ill because they were getting poisoned. By what? Algae! Taking note of the events that occurred around the outbreaks and Bake-kujira sighting, and we found that it coincided with algal blooms in the nearby waters! These particular species of algae produced a nasty toxin, which is passed on to the things that eat them. When the fish feed on it, they start to build up stores of this poison, which is given to what eats them. Fishermen were catching these poisoned fish and bringing them home, while at the same time, the Bake-kujira was consuming its own doses of toxin. In high concentrations, the poison sickens this species, which causes odd behavior and disorientation. In these scenarios, the Bake-kujira sighted were actually sick and lost, or maybe even dead! Nobody really hangs around one after spotting them, so it could be possible it was nothing more than a carcass! This toxin would also affect the surrounding sea life, so once again folks would notice odd behavior and concentrations of birds and fish. When folks went home with their catch, they would unknowingly eat and sell these poisoned fish, which would result in terrible sickness. So once again, the Bake-kujira is not the source of these incidents, but essentially a warning of their arrival! So honestly, this species should get more respect, as they can help locals anticipate the future and avoid disaster. Take note of my words, and you too can avoid such things! If you ever do get the wonderful chance to see a living specimen for yourself, celebrate as you furiously paddle back to shore and find a place to hunker down. And also skip the fish market for a week or two.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------------------------------

And now for something slightly different. Taking just a brief break from the Illhveli to toss in another sea monster from a different region. Got to switch things up from time to time! (And yes, we will be getting back to the rest of the Illhveli)

Description

Despite the claims that the Bake-kujira is some kind of undead beast or reanimated whale skeleton, it is an actual living creature. It does bring to mind the skeleton of a whale, but it is not dead and it is not mammalian. In truth, the Bake-kujira is an arthropod, whose pale exoskeleton resembles bone. A part of the reason it is labeled as a mysterious and creepy species is because they are rarely seen near the surface waters. Their preferred home is deep down in the dark heart of the ocean, where light barely reaches. On that note, I should mention that it is believed that this weak presence of light is the reason they are this pallid color! Anyways, that is where they spend the majority of their time, in the depths, but there are some occasions where they rise from the deep. During the nights of a particular season, they may swim up to the shallower waters to feed, returning to the dark sea once the sun threatens to appear. Even with a regular migration like this, this species is not often seen, as they don't normally get that close to the surface. Also, they are hard to see in a dark ocean with no light, and you would have to even be out there at such a time to even have a chance to spot them. With observations of them being incredibly rare, we don't have too much information about their lifestyle, but there are a few things we know! For example, every sighting has only revealed a single Bake-kujira, so we are starting to think they are solitary creatures. If they do indeed live in pods, then it must be something they only do in the depths, or we just keep seeing nomadic individuals.

We also know that this species is a filter feeder, straining the ocean water for food. So your creepy skeleton monster is only a real terror to krill and such! On their heads, they possess baleen-like structures, which help catch food and sieve out the water. Aiding in this effort is their front most pair of limbs, which are greatly elongated and possess the same baleen. These limbs are slung under the head, making the "jaw" of the skull, and also comb the water for food. Behind all that is a series of appendages that are designed for swimming, helping propel the Bake-kujira through the water. The largest pair of these swimmers are used when the creature needs a burst of speed, launching itself forward rapidly to catch a cloud of food off guard. Most of the time, it seems that this large pair remains still, while the smaller ones hidden beneath its body do all the work. This method of swimming adds to their creepy image, as it looks like the creature is drifting lifelessly through the water. While they sift the water for food, they make sure that they themselves don't wind up on the menu. Their already tough exoskeleton sprouts rows of spikes that run down its body, making it tough for large predators to take a bite. If they somehow can avoid getting a mouthful of pointy bits, they still have to penetrate its armor. This is something they need to do fast, as the Bake-kujira will fight back by thrashing its spiny body about. Most predators don't wish to be sliced up by this leviathan, so they are often left in peace. This same armor is what makes panicking whalers think they are invincible, as harpoons simply bounce off them. The other reason this weaponry fails is because most of the time they are thrown out of desperation, as the sailors believe they are being attacked by a malevolent spirit. You don't exactly have the best aim and mindset when you think a skeletal demon is coming to eat your ship.

With all the details I mentioned before, like the similarities to a whale skeleton and their impenetrable hide, you can see why folk around these regions find them unsettling and creepy. Some think that they are a vengeful spirit that has returned from the dead to destroy whalers, while others have accepted they are a living species but one that is terrifying to see. No matter the reasoning, almost everyone agrees that this species is a bad omen whenever they are seen. I have mentioned that sightings are rare and they never really get close to the surface, but sometimes the conditions are just right (or wrong, in this situation). All sightings of living specimens have the Bake-kujira swimming right there on the surface, where anyone can see. Indeed it is rare, but it is also wrong. They have no reason to be this close to the surface, as there is plenty of food for them below. If they have nothing to gain up here, why do they sometimes do it? Well, we think it may not be their choice. The reason Bake-kujira are seen as terrible omens is because powerful storms seem to follow in their wake or bouts of sickness occur in local villages around where they were sighted. For the longest time, it was believed that they brought these disasters with them, but now we think their appearance is a response to these environmental changes. When huge storms blow across the sea, they churn the waters below. The violent waters may push the Bake-kujira to the surface, as they fight against the raging tide. Other fish as well may be displaced, as they all seek to escape the storm. Pushed by wind and wave, the creature may be spat out ahead of the storm, finding calm in the peaceful waters before the typhoon catches up to them. That is also why flocks of birds and strange fish are spotted around this species when they are on the surface, as they too are fleeing the storm. Get one look at this scenario, and know that some nasty weather is not far behind! Funny enough, I ran into this exact scenario once. I was out on a fishing vessel to follow up on a lead about strange fish being pulled out of the nets. Though our nets were not finding this mystery fish, someone on the boat spotted that pale spine-like armor breaching the surface. We all rushed to see, and I was blessed with a sighting of a Bake-kujira! I was so excited, it was practically a miracle! To have the chance to glimpse one of these incredibly rare creatures! It is certainly something I will always remember! I was overjoyed, but soon noticed that nobody else was as thrilled as I. We all fell into a silence, and then I think it hit all of us at once. We all realized what usually follows after a Bake-kujira shows up, and we hightailed it to shore. Just as we were tying up the boat, a massive storm barreled into the shoreline and nearly blew us all away. We were able to reach shelter and weather out the storm, but I dread to think what would have happened to us if we were still on the water.

So Bake-kujira get displaced by violent storms, that makes sense, but what of these "plagues?" How do these creatures bring about sickness? The important thing to note, is that these outbreaks aren't actual plagues, as there is nothing contagious going on. It turns out, people were getting incredibly ill because they were getting poisoned. By what? Algae! Taking note of the events that occurred around the outbreaks and Bake-kujira sighting, and we found that it coincided with algal blooms in the nearby waters! These particular species of algae produced a nasty toxin, which is passed on to the things that eat them. When the fish feed on it, they start to build up stores of this poison, which is given to what eats them. Fishermen were catching these poisoned fish and bringing them home, while at the same time, the Bake-kujira was consuming its own doses of toxin. In high concentrations, the poison sickens this species, which causes odd behavior and disorientation. In these scenarios, the Bake-kujira sighted were actually sick and lost, or maybe even dead! Nobody really hangs around one after spotting them, so it could be possible it was nothing more than a carcass! This toxin would also affect the surrounding sea life, so once again folks would notice odd behavior and concentrations of birds and fish. When folks went home with their catch, they would unknowingly eat and sell these poisoned fish, which would result in terrible sickness. So once again, the Bake-kujira is not the source of these incidents, but essentially a warning of their arrival! So honestly, this species should get more respect, as they can help locals anticipate the future and avoid disaster. Take note of my words, and you too can avoid such things! If you ever do get the wonderful chance to see a living specimen for yourself, celebrate as you furiously paddle back to shore and find a place to hunker down. And also skip the fish market for a week or two.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------------------------------

And now for something slightly different. Taking just a brief break from the Illhveli to toss in another sea monster from a different region. Got to switch things up from time to time! (And yes, we will be getting back to the rest of the Illhveli)