[Fish] Syliran Shiner

[Karyk]

Note :

Continued from http://www.mizahar.com/forums/topic69768.html after determining that I should do one fish at a time.

The below is simply a basic description. If it receives enough interest or approval to move forward, I'll write it out in full depth as a proper creature, with emphasis on its uses and cultural impacts in the North Suvan, specifically Syliras, Alvadas, the Svefra in the area, and the Isurian craftsman in those two cities.

I want to greatly emphasize up front that the metallic bones would not be a new/superior metal to anything. With the high amount of impurities, it would often be a brittle metal, but due to its unique coloring, only used as adornment. Not for use as structural material.


Name: Syliran Shiner
Location: Coastal waters of Northern Suvan Sea
Frequency: Rare
Physical Appearance: A silvery rope fish, grows 2'-4' feet in length. Much heavier than it seems it should. Has a large sucker for its mouth.
Unique Traits: Metallic bones, often a blended alloy of the different types of metal it has consumed. This metal is often used in a decorative fashion, having different effects based on the different levels of metal in the alloy. Common traits include a kaleidoscopic color sheen, an adaptive color, to match the color of a majority metal it is worked onto, and anti-reflectiveness, to prevent it from shining when exposed to light. Shine Oil, the fish's oil, when cooked out of the meat, can be applied to metal for an everlasting shine and rust resistance. This oil is odorless, but can sometimes add a slight colored sheen to the metal it is applied to, often silvery blues, greens, golds, and purples.
Requirements to Catch: Competent+ Fishing, Competent+ Bodybuilding, Metallic Bait, Extra Strong Rod or Line
Extra Requirements: Novice+ Cooking to cook meat, Competent+ Cooking to obtain Shine Oil, Expert+ Metalsmithing to melt down the bones properly, Expert+ Blacksmithing or Weaponsmithing to work Shiner Metal into usable things
History/Cultural Impact: The Syliran Shiner has been a favorite fish of the Syliran community, first discovered stuck to the anchors of ships. Their decorative properties let craftsman make more unique pieces for customers. Isur were the first to discover how to work their metallic bones, using them for crests and jewelry on armor. Hunters, criminals, and others prefer the dull aspect to the metal, preventing their weapon or armor from shining when hidden.

[Ball]

A like the start of it.

But what about the fish other than the minor details.

Why do they shine?
Why do they eat metals?
Do they eat other things?
What happens if a person eats the meat? Do they get ill? Do they taste a lot of metallic flavors?
Do they come in schools or are they solo fish?

[Karyk]

Why do they shine? Their scales shine a bit extra bright as a defense mechanism, to blind other fish. They use this to their advantage by being active closer to the shallows during the day, and staying near the bottom at night to feed. Their scales while shiny, are not metallic themselves.

Why do they eat metals? They started as a type of saltwater rope fish before the Valterrian. When the Valterrian struck, and wild djed went rampant, a large portion of rope fish that were feeding near an exposed iron deposit on the bottom of the ocean were changed. Their diet changed, and they now feed on metal. They can do this by filtering sand to remove metallic particles, as well as attaching themselves via a mouth sucker to large metallic objects.

Do they eat other things? No

What happens if a person eats the meat? Do they get ill? Do they taste a lot of metallic flavors? The meat isn't considered "high quality" due to its metallic taste. It will not make one ill in the short term. Long term consumption can lead to various metal poisonings.

Do they come in schools or are they solo fish? They are solo fish, only coming together in large mating gatherings or if a large metallic object is discovered and spurs on a feeding frenzy

[Prophet]

I like this idea, Karyk. It's pretty cool.

I'd like to see some lore about this fish.

Are there some cultures that keep the mouths to ward off this or that? Is it a bad omen if a shiner attaches itself to a knight's armor when crossing through a drainage basin that feeds into the Suvan? Are their insults associated with the name since it seems to be a seemingly worthless catch?

I would like to say that I don't like the solitary aspect. I think a scavenger like this would be where there was ample food. If a vessel sank full of metal trade goods, there should be schools of these little buggers...right?

Good article. Push it in chat and get your peers to give their input.

[Karyk]

1) Are there some cultures that keep the mouths to ward off this or that?

Hmm this is a great question and idea. My gut instinct is saying yes, and that it would be the Svefra that do so. Perhaps since the fish is known for latching onto and eating metal, often times anchors/chains as the first exposure to the fish, the Svefra might view them as a symbol of freedom from being in one place too long. To cut the chain/anchor loose, so to speak. So maybe the jaws might be used to ward off lethargy/complacency, and is often held by the wanderlusters, world travelers, any character that doesn't wish to be tied down to anything. I'll see if I can find further discussion with some Svefra specialists.


2) Is it a bad omen if a shiner attaches itself to a knight's armor when crossing through a drainage basin that feeds into the Suvan?

I would also say yes and it matches up nicely with one of the myths I have planned for the fish from Syliras. Essentially the myth involves the first Knight (first one to quit, not first one to be a knight) to quit the Knighthood. He threw his sword into the sea, and his betrayal caused the sword to become a fish that would torment the knights for years to come.

So with one of these fish latching onto a knights armor, I could see it representing that maybe the Knight's own intentions are not pure enough, that he's attracting betrayal. Also because of where the fish latched on, there would be a mark (the Shiner's Kiss) left on the armor. That weak point is often viewed as a prediction of where the Knight will receive his death blow.


3) Are their insults associated with the name since it seems to be a seemingly worthless catch?

Yes, and I do love insulting the knights. Armor sucker is one that's right on the nose, basically someone who is more worried about how the armor looks than how to use it effectively. The Kissed is an omen as mentioned above, for how one will die. Some of the cockier knights might get a tattoo on their body in the same spot as the Shiner's kiss on the armor, but the more superstitious fear it. Chain Eater - One who is enslaved but not in the normal sense of being against their will. In this case, it is in reference to all knights in general, enslaved by their "righteousness" rather than thinking for themselves.


4) I would like to say that I don't like the solitary aspect. I think a scavenger like this would be where there was ample food. If a vessel sank full of metal trade goods, there should be schools of these little buggers...right?

My initial thought was no schools in normal scenarios. Simple bottom feeders. But when a big metal load is detected by smell, it creates a feeding frenzy attracting them from miles. I sort of view it like when huge migrations of sharks come to a single area. They sift through the sands for small particles of metal until one of these large payloads is discovered. They will also congregate onto anchors if they are made with metal, and if left too long, will destroy it. But more often they just make the anchor a lot heavier to pull back up.

Thanks so much for the feedback and questions, I'll begin fleshing this out further and pushing it into chat for additional feedback.

[Karyk]

Questions from Chat

1)

(23:09:26) Freki: Would it have metal spikes or something to help defend it's self?
(23:10:01) Karyk: nah, its a rope fish. It's defense is that its heavy, therefore stronger than it appears, super shiny to blind fish, and tastes terrible
(23:10:16) Karyk: Plus its bones are metallic, so that helps when being bitten

2)

(23:15:42) Freki: How expensive are you thinking the metal should be?
(23:16:10) Karyk: the metal itself isn't a new thing, nor is it useful outside of decoration, so I'd imagine fairly cheap
(23:16:48) Karyk: Its mostly a blend of impure lower grade metals, based on the fish's diet
(23:17:05) Karyk: But it has a sort of... swirl coloring to it that is difficult to replicate

3)

(23:17:45) Freki: Will it have different grades/quality?
(23:18:11) Karyk: For the metal, probably not. Its crap metal, just pretty

4)

23:20:44) Byronn: As for the shiner. Does the metal pose a threat when one consumes it? As if prepared improperly? Somewhat like lead or how if a puffer fish isn't prepared right it could make one sick?

(23:21:17) Karyk: Yeah, heavy metal toxicity comes if eating the fish over the long term. One every now and then probably wont kill you

5)

(23:20:58) Freki: If it's crap metal does that mean the weapons made from it are mostly for show? I ask because you'd made mention in your post about criminals liking it for the lack of shine

(23:21:21) Karyk: Weapons wouldn't be made from it
(23:21:39) Karyk: It would be more for like hilt decoration and armor decoration, and jewelry

(23:23:21) Karyk: I'll probably remove the dullness of the metal tbh, I don't especially care for the idea now.

6)

(23:21:56) Byronn: How much metal can be harvested from one fish of maturity?

(23:23:43) Karyk: And as for how much metal, I'm not sure, but I'll work it out hear after a bit. But it wouldn't be a lot

7)

(23:25:11) Byronn: And I remember the question, what does it feed on and what feeds on it? (besides people)

(23:26:06) Karyk: Feeds on metal, either from large sources (anchors, exposed deposits, Syliran Knight in full armor thrown overboard), as well as sifting through sand for small metal particles
(23:26:28) Karyk: As for what feeds on it... Not sure on the full specifics, but I'd imagine many of the larger, predator fish/sharks

8)

(23:27:02) Freki: Karyk would it be profitable for people to dump some junk metal in the water and use that to lure, and latter attempt to catch, these fish?
(23:27:13) Karyk: Yep, metal is the bait
(23:27:31) Karyk: as for profitable, thats debatable, but that's how you'd catch it

[Karyk]

Chat Questions

9)

(00:05:14) Kaie: Karyk, do you do something other than toss the bones of the fish into something over a hot flame to melt the metal down?
(00:05:52) Karyk: it would be Expert metalsmithing to work with it without ruining, so yes
(00:06:38) Kaie: I think it's a really cool creation
(00:07:30) Karyk: because the whole idea is if not done with enough heat, it will just make the metal brittle and dull, but too much would force the metals to blend into a junk alloy and losing its coloring scheme

[Karyk]

The History and Myths section has been updated (excluding Alvadan Myths). Put into a spoiler for easier reading and separation for now
http://www.mizahar.com/forums/post510632.html#p510632