Carp

The Carp (Ngara'omi: *Baro*) is a family of freshwater fish, common throughout Polaris and the Polar Regions, and sometimes found throughout the south and the tropics where they're often considered an invasive species.

## In the Great Basin

Carps are among the most common freshwater fish of the Great Basin of Polaris, being found in rivers and lakes across the [eastern] and [southern] shores of the sea, where they're commonly fished for food or even farmed. There are three primary species of carp found throughout the great basin. The largest, known as the Southern Carp, [Anklotkese Carp], or Great Carp, is a naturally silver-white species found on the southern shore, around the country of [Anklotkis] and surrounding seas. The second-largest is known as the Great Basin Carp or simply the Common Carp, and found commonly throughout the basin, but primarily towards its north. The smallest species is known as the Lesser Carp, Eastern Carp, or Schooling Carp after its propensity to group together into schools. While it is most common in the east, around the nation of Lalamuf, it's also found in lesser density throughout other parts of the continent.

### Ornamental Varieties

A number of more colourful varieties of carp have arisen throughout the great seas, often kept as pets or used in ornamental pools.

The **Barotinapi**(Literally "Sun Carp"), also known as the **Sunfish**, **Golden Carp**, or **Orange Carp**, is the oldest of these, a group of Schooling Carp displaying a vibrant orange-yellow colour, as opposed to the duller grey common in nature. The Barotinapi was first bred by the people of the historical empire known to the sea nomads only as "The Great Kingdom" or "The First Kingdom", while there are not detailed records, it's suspected they were originally cultivated for food by coastal fisher-farmers from the southern end of present-day Lalamuf, who upon noticing some of the carp having a yellower colour, separated those and kept them together, eventually leading to the Barotinapi we know today.

The **Dolai'ingara**, or **Jewel of the Sea**, sometimes also called the **Blue Carp**, is the most common variety, bred from the Great Carp, which has a deep blue colouration on top with a paler underbelly, and spots of white all around. The Dolai'ingara is thought to have first been bred by merchants on Potiramingka, the largest island of the Ngarapiti, or possibly brought there from the southern coast, but quickly became popular among the Sea Nomads as well, and many Ga'omoris will keep one on their ship in a small aquarium. Occasionally a Dolai'ingara will appear with a fully blue coat, these rare specimens are considered good luck tokens for their owners, for it's said no ship carrying one shall sink or be destroyed by natural means.

The **Barotogabao**, or **Pearl Carp**, also sometimes called the **Black-and-White Carp**, is another variety of Great Carp, which has a seemingly random distribution of black and white patches around its body. The Barotogabao is said to have originated in the northern lands of today's Anklotkis, and then spread to the rest of the sea by fishermen and merchants.

The **Baromoringi**, or **Skeleton Carp**, sometimes also known as simply a **Skeleton Fish**, is a more recent variety, which has a distinctive pattern of white and black scales on its back, which in some ways resembles a skeleton. The Baromoringi is thought to descend directly from the Barotogabao, with some fishmongers noticing a more symmetrical pattern arising among their Barotogabao, and breeding selectively for that.

The **Baromarikasira** (Sometimes called "Barokasira" for short), or **Marcaz Carp**, also sometimes known as the **Red Carp** or, confusingly, **Orange Carp**, is a medium variety of Schooling Carp, larger than the Barotinapi but smaller than the Common Carp, sporting an orangish-red colour with a number of white scales. As the name implies this variety was developed in the land of Marcaz, towards the north of the sea, before their lands were united by their first god-king. Due to their association with Marcaz, and particularly its pre-unification years, they were adopted as a symbol of the Marcazi rebels, and afterwards became a symbol of Communists in general throughout the great sea, although of course still being kept by non-communists as well for decorative purposes.