Whales are the greatest of fish. Growing to a hundred yards in length, these creatures are as grotesque as they are gargantuan.
Like the sea mammals, whales have horizontal flukes rather than vertical tailfins, apart from there are few similarities between them and these great fishes.
Whales have gills. In addition to this, they have two tubular protrusions from their heads. From these they can exhale great gouts of water.
All whales have large heads and great maws. Some have canine teeth, others are tusked, and many have mouths filled with baleen.
Whales are all sheated in thick layers of fat, covered with skin that ranges from smooth, to pebbly to scaly.
Among the more well-known species of whalefish are the policorn - this whale has multiple horns set around the circumference of its head - and the hârwâl - which is covered in matted brown fur.
While only the smallest and youngest whales may be hunted by humans, even these are a cornucopia of fleshy bounty. Larger whales may be found beached, either by ferocious storms or by orcs.
Ambergris, the semen of the whale, is worth near its weight in gold, being used in perfume and in medicine (a sovereign remedy against dropsy, gout, fainting and epilepsy).
Whale tusks are the largest pieces of ivory that may be found, and are used to carve marvellous items. Sorcerers hold that this ivory is the finest material for crafting a staff of great potency.
Whale hair (of the hârwâl and related species) can be shorn off and woven into strong, if stiff, cloth and ropes. The Fraegings favour whalecloth for rigging their ships and boats.
Whale oil: Whale oil is used as lamp fuel.
Whale skin: The skin of the greater whales is used as a building material, being strong, rigid when it dries, and entirely waterproof.
Whale bones: Whale bones are used for diverse purposes. Most well known is their use in the place of wood in the far north, as a material for buildings and ships.Those sleeping in buildings or ships of whale bones will invariably dream of the sea.