Or'gara

Within Amnisican waters, a great and terrible beast rules supreme. Its iron grip over the entire food web brings all beasts to seek shelter when it passes overhead. Its wrath over the tides brings mariners and boatmen back to the ports early. Indeed, the Or’gara has a powerful influence over the tides around Ludwag, its mighty ruler with little that can oppose it. It is a limiting factor to naval operations for both nations and the layman, impeding their movement across the Emerald Sea on account of their ravenous demeanor. Most vessels steer clear of the open water not shrouded by the storm purely because of it alone; the terror of the deep keeping all but the mightiest of navies bound to the coastline.

#### Physiology and Anatomy

A colossal, lobed-fin fish. The Or’gara is the largest species of marine animal found near Ludwag’s shores. Its enormous size makes it practically untouchable by all other animals within its domain- short of a pod of Fracturga whales. Or’gara act as the ocean’s top-order carnivore, using their size and power to secure great bounties and bully the smaller predators off their kills. In that they can be described as ‘lazy’, often lying dormant on the seafloor for when blood or commotion meets their snout. Their sense of smell is immense, allowing them to track the iota of blood in their sea home, but their sense of vibration is stronger. Their head is covered in a keratinous sheath which amplifies the vibrations emanating through the water. Or’gara are compelled to follow heavy vibrations, often caused by the rocking of large ships or the movement of large numbers of other animals. These sheaths also act as a protective cushion as their sense of sight is rather poor, often leading them into ramming the target they’re tracking.

Or’gara are unusually fast. Their fins act like enormous oars to pull them through the water whilst their tail acts to push off the seafloor with an alarming force. This can send them rocketing up and oftentimes breach the tide several feet into the air. Like a Fracturga Whale, the impact of these charges is devastating. A ship’s hull can be compromised in an instant and anything unlucky enough to be hit would surely have their bones mangled by the concussive force. Oftentimes Or’gara need only charge once to secure their prey. Their teeth are conical to restrain their prey and prevent its escape, feeding it down through an inescapable series of rigid barbs.

When the Fracturga pods begin to have their calves so too do the Or’gara have their pups. Despite being fish, they too give rise to live young. A female may have two but it is unlikely that both will survive. She will usually only look after the stronger of the two, often leading them to outright attempt to kill their sibling.  They capitalize on the newborn calves as ripe food to satiate their pup. Or’gara rapidly grow and will likely be half their adult size by five years, requiring them to eat at a considerable rate. Once they reach that size their rapid growth and metabolism will slow down as the Or’gara matures. This mellowing often allows the Or’gara to live for quite some time, enabling them to repeat this process seasonally.

#### Psychology

Or’gara are solitary, instinctual beasts. They do not collaborate outside of pairing during the podding season- often attacking each other for territory and food. Male Or’gara are notorious cannibals, eating any pup they cannot discern as their own. All Or’gara show considerable aggression towards loud disturbances or the presence of a struggle, drawn to the rhythmic vibrations under the prospect of food. They often attack objects and organisms on the surface out of pure reflex, leading them to conflict with maritime vessels.  They have no qualms with eating men or any other sapient race, largely indifferent to their attempts to tame or appease it.