Na'karden

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The greatest sea monster of Nebulum would be the na'karden. It has a large serpentine body with four large fins on it's back and a row of many webbed rudimentary legs along each side. The head itself can reach a height of 20-30 feet from bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead.

Considering its great size, many wonder what a na'karden would have to eat to survive. It is believed they do not eat spoonfish since a school of those would eat their way to freedom. It is possible they do eat danbobs when they get the chance, but those creatures do not seem to live in large enough numbers to feed the many na'karden in the sea. This has left many wondering if they resort to cannibalism or if there is another food source which has not yet been discovered.

Sailors have come to fear the na'karden because they tend to destroy all ships they find. If a lookout spots a fin sticking from the water, the ship will immediately change course and attempt to escape. However, chances of survival are small. Shipbuilders have also lined ships with metal-tipped spikes to try injuring any na'karden which attack. Success has been seen although very rarely. During the na'karden mating season in the early spring, sailors avoid the open seas at all costs. The waves created by the large creatures will capsize any ship they strike.

It is unclear what purpose the webbed legs serve the large beasts. They would have a very hard time supporting the na'karden's great mass and although not impossible, many do not fear a na'karden attempting to walk on land. If the legs do serve a purpose, it is probably the webbing being used in swimming much like a millipede would use it's legs in a wave like motion to walk.

A concept drawing of a na'karden with a closeup of the head.

Na'karden Riders

During the peak of their civilization, the Awa were known to sometimes capture and ride na'karden. The capture was done by using a large underwater drum to lure a na'karden into a long narrow passage. Once inside, a hundred or more Awa would drive spikes into the hide at set intervals the entire length of the beast. These were specifically designed to hold the wounds open and allow in the salty seawater. The na'karden would then rise to the surface to keep the wounds above the sealevel. The Awa then draped a rope netting on top of the na'karden and fastened it to the four main fins and in four other places, tied a rope the entire way around the na'karden. A spike then driven into the top of the head allowed the beast to be driven since it would swim in the direction opposite of where the spike was pulled. If a na'karden was released at sea and all the spikes and ropes removed, it could heal and survive.

This system was often criticised as being cruel and causing unnecessary pain to the na'karden. Because of this, the Awa only rode them for important missions. A large number of na'karden were killed in the year 4003 when the Awa drove them aground during an attack against the Dark Wizard Gerzh.