Sailwing

Along the coasts patrols a comparatively small predator. The Sailwing stands as one of the oddest residents of Amnisican waters. It’s believed by the superstitious that Cherog’s hands may have had something to do with their bizarre disposition. Another of his confusing jokes. Whatever their origin, Sailwing present a most alluring opportunity. Amongst local fishermen they’re often revered as helpful assistants to their quarry- if not for their taking of a share. In their wake lies an untapped sport which proves to be as popular amongst locals as more conventional games. Given their engagement with both maritime work and physical contests, they remain otherwise common where other large marine animals are waning.

#### Physiology and Anatomy

Sailwing are a close cousin of common stingrays albeit significantly larger. Like them, they possess a deadly barb at the base of the tail. This barb can be ejected at will and functions much like a small harpoon. Being struck with a Sailwing sting is particularly grievous as the barb is about the size of a dagger and covered in serrations to inflict lacerations and embed into muscle. A sting is excruciatingly painful to remove and potentially life threatening should it strike an artery or organ. These barbs are readily shed like teeth, regrowing over the course of a few weeks. Like other rays, their diet consists largely of crustaceans and small fish. A grand mouth on their underside acts as a vacuum, sucking up smaller animals to be grinded into edible chunks.

Their namesake comes from their dual set of fins. Sailwings beneath the tide make for graceful and exceptionally fast swimmers, able to keep pace with the schools of Croppers like no one else. However, their fame is not derived from their feats below water, rather, above it. Sailwings are able to generate significant thrust with their front flippers to propel them up out of the water. Stabilized by their back fins, they can maintain a steady glide above the surface for up to a minute at a time. Their tails act as a rudder so that they can make sharp turns over the water without falling back into the ocean. Easily, Sailwing can rival typical horses in both speed and maneuverability over the tides. Naturally they use this bizarre form of locomotion to escape predators or launch above water ambushes on schools of fish.

Spawning on mass, Sailwing simply produce thousands of eggs opposed to any real parenting. Females simply cast their brood into the open water. These eggs float around in the current until they eventually hatch. Young Sailwings aren’t able to swim against the current so rely exclusively on the particulates in the current until their fins fully develop. Adult Sailwings often accidentally eat fry by sifting their feeding areas though this hardly has an effect on their numbers. There’s simply too many Sailwing fry to eat. A Sailwing won’t get its mature wing coloration until it has fully matured, a clear indicator of an adult specimen.

#### Psychology

Sailwings are relatively unaggressive although clearly in a state to protect themselves. In a panic, Sailwings won’t hesitate to kill. They don’t mind close proximity to other organisms and are even known to trail ships for the fish commotion they stir up. Touching a Sailwing is a delicate business as sudden movements could spook them. Should one get close enough to touch them without instigating an attack, standing upon them as if they were a board is possible. Sailwings are by no means loyal nor tamable but they will not throw a person off unless they’re actively impeding their ability to hunt- often sated with a food reward. Sailwings can ferry a single sapient race passenger (provided they don’t weigh too much) along the water, directed by shifting the stinger. Best bring a glove as those serrations could still cut fingers.