Chuubanitic Species
The Nasfaqgian Flowfish
Flowfish
Nasfaqg, specifically the Heartflow Strait
A species of fish
A species of fish that have been affected by the chuubanitic pollution of the Heartflow Strait.
Flowfish eat other smaller fish and zooplankton that live in the Heartflow Strait. The chuubanitic pollution from vitium-industries located all across the shores of the strait accumulates in the foodweb and concentrates particularly well in the muscle and fat tissues of the flowfish.
Flowfish typically grow to be between 5 and 8 cm long. The largest confirmed specimen to have been caught was 56 cm. It is theorized that flowfish do not have an upper limit to their body size, instead continuing to grow larger until they are caught or die of other causes. The larger the flowfish grow, the more potent the chuubanitic concentration in their flesh becomes.
The typical flowfish has no clear magical abilities, however experiments using larger specimens (16cm and up) have shown that as the fish grow larger, they begin to exhibit anomalous behaviour. Among these is a considerably higher intelligence and the ability to learn. Large flowfish (24 cm and up) have been shown to be able to solve rudimentary puzzles, such as navigating a maze, and pulling levers or strings to gain access to food after having been shown an example a few times. Even larger flowfish, the rare specimens of 32cm and up, have been shown to be able to remember human faces, and recognize themselves in a mirror (a dot was painted on the side of the flowfish, and then a mirror was placed in its tank. The flowfish proceeded to inspect the mirror, and after it noticed the spot in its mirror image, the fish proceeded to try to scrape this side of itself against the tank, in a presumed attempt to get the dot off). In one peculiar instance, "George", a 34cm long flowfish of the Tripoint Ka-ti Institute at Solus, was shown to have been taught to play tic-tac-toe. George could consistently tie against children between the ages of 6 and 8.
Flowfish of 40cm and up have been used in experiments predicting the movements of the market a day or two in advance. The results of these experiments have never been released to the public, but at least in one instance a biologist known to have been associated with flowfish experiments suddenly increased his net-worth by 91.4% within a week through a series of risky bets in local mahjong tournaments.
Flowfish cannot live in captivity for much longer than a month or two. Smaller specimens are known to survive for longer than larger ones. The reason for the flowfish dying off is unknown, but consistent. The fish seem to slowly wither away, even if they are fed. Farming flowfish has thus proved ineffective.
It appears that when taken away from a constant supply of nasfaqg type chuubanite, they slowly lose their presumed chuubanitic abilities. Whether the Flowfish Withering Syndrome (FWS) and the lack of just the right types of nasfaqg chuubanite are connected, is currently unknown.
Flowfish flesh and fat are known to have various desirable effects on their consumers. The flesh has a stimulating effect, akin to caffeine, increasing the awareness of the consumer slightly. Anecdotes of flowfish eaters point to flowfish flesh and caffeine amplifying each other's effects. In large amounts flowfish flesh is claimed to allow one to "enter the Flow", increasing their luck whilst giving the eater a considerable boost to their mood and energy levels. This state, known as "Flowfish High" is often sought after by amateur mahjong players trying to make a name for themselves in the parlors. These players are often pejoratively called "Fish-Breath" by the more experienced flowfish aficionados, who themselves prefer to use the far less disagreeable smelling (and considerably more expensive) oil of the flowfish.
Flowfish are usually consumed dried, although in places where the fish is caught fresh, they are often used as part of local cooking.
Overuse of flowfish is believed to have various negative side effects, most prominent among them negative mental conditions such as heightened anxiety, depression, and increased risk of schizofication.
The Legendary Flowfish
Nasfaqg, specifically the Heartflow Strait, Lover's Strait, Heartlight Isles, and Moonwater
A cryptid or a monster
A flowfish specimen of unknown size (Most stories approximate the fish to be between 16 and 24 meters), rumored to live in the Heartflow Strait. The Legendary Flowfish has never been caught, and those who claim to have seen the fish all describe it differently, some claiming it's scales glow with all the colours of the rainbow, and others saying that the scales were reminiscent of the night sky, black all over with shining bright spots. Various other descriptions also exist, some even claiming that the Legendary Flow"fish" is no fish at all, but a snake, or a whale. Everyone does agree on getting a weird certainty of the animal they were witnessing being the Legendary Flowfish, with many veteran fishermen claiming that "No other creature could have a presence such as the Legendary Flowfish".
Where the stories do agree is the Legendary Flowfish being extremely smart. In almost every story, the fish is described as evading, toying, and playing with those who try to capture it. In some stories such as "The Tale of Valt William and the Great Fish", the creature is described as outsmarting and outmaneuvering entire fleets of coordinated fishing vessels. The fish eventually sunk William's boat, ate his precious golden pocketwatch as a presumed taunt, and then swam away never to be seen by William again. In the story, Valt William who had visited the far southern realms of Writhaven and Pingviinilä, described the Legendary Flowfish as reminding him of the southern winter night sky when the fish swam close to the surface; "Like the Auroras dancing under the waves".
In some stories however, the Legendary Flowfish has been described a protector or an omen of some sort. In an untitled story in the "Tales from Southaven" story collection, which "The Tale of Valt William and the Great Fish" is also a part of, an unnamed fisherman had been seeing dreams of the Legendary Flowfish capsizing the fisherman's boat as he prepared to go out to the sea, and every time this had happened shortly after the fisherman's home village was destroyed by a massive storm. According to the story, as the fisherman next day went out to the sea, the Legendary Flowfish appeared and impacted the man's boat. Reminded of his nightmares, the fisherman returned to the shore, and when he inspected his boat he found that where the Legendary Flowfish had hit his boat was five deep scratches. Convinced that these marks were a warning, the fisherman gathered the villagers and told them to leave the village as soon as possible and head to the nearby town further inland. Five days later a massive storm swept through the area and when the villagers returned to their homes they found that the entire settlement had been washed out to the sea.
The earliest stories about the Legendary Flowfish date to ~500 VTE. Many a fisherman and cryptid hunter have made it their life's goal to capture the Legendary Flowfish, but no one has yet succeeded in doing more than merely witnessing the beast.