Rays and Sharks

Even though their appearance is so different, these two are related by class. Older records indicate they were mostly sea and estuary creatures; however, it appears that in the last centuries they have adapted to a semi-terrestrial life on beaches and shores around Valorn and Kilican. Both species have nictitating membranes over their eyes. This protects their eyes from being injured by thrashing prey or sand damage.

Both have placoid scales that have the same structure as a tooth. They consist of three layers: an outer layer of enamel, then dentine, and finally a pulp cavity. These scales do not increase in size as the shark or ray grows, instead more form. The scales appear in a regular pattern in sharks and an irregular pattern in rays. The scales aid in efficient swimming. With the recent terrestrial alteration, the placoid scales also aid in efficient land propulsion as well – at least on sandy surfaces. The placoid scales, somewhat altered and enlarged, form the teeth of the shark.

The skeletons of these creatures are made up of cartilage and not bone so it is difficult to find complete ones other than on the recently dead. Both are slow growing and maturing. Their major predators are larger sea creatures as well as the human subspecies Adventurous. Most sharks have five different types of fins, and in the rays the fins tend to be fused together. These fins also aid in propulsion; however the ray is more adapted to the land and can be found further inshore than the shark.

The observed Valorn and Kilican species both bear live young, hatching the eggs inside their bodies first to enable them to further grow and develop. They possess no swim bladder.

Rays

Rays have a sharp, venomous stinger which they use in combat. This is often removed and sold as there is a specialty market for it. Their coloration is a mottled orange gold, to better blend in with the sand where they are often found. They have a flat, disk-like body and this formation aids them in concealing themselves under a light layer of sand. Their pectoral fins have developed into a wing-like structure which aids in locomotion in the water or on the land.

Sharks

As they are opportunistic and voracious eaters, naming a shark Ravenous is rather redundant. From closer examination it appears the Ravenous and Scavenger sharks are merely different sizes of the same species. Cutting open carcasses, one may find a large variety of items that a shark has considered ingestible. The range is rather appalling. Unlike their ray cousins, the sharks of Valorn do not live completely on land. They patrol the shoreline and will venture only a little inland to attack their prey.


Shark fin soup is a delicacy that some Adventurous discuss at length. To date, it has not been found professionally prepared and served in any of the dining establishments.

Marron: “I think they get so close to the beach because they like the taste of humans. I also think they're attracted to shiny things, be it the armor of adventurers glistening in the sun, or various shiny things they carry. I still haven't figured out whether they attack people because they're hungry or to get said shiny items”

Tui Mai: “Strange thoughts come to mind when you find full armor, a ticket or a glowing crystal there...”