Wanga Wanga, The Deepjaw Leviathan

“It does not swim. It waits. The river belongs to Wanga Wanga.” — Emberclaw River-Tamer Nohvath

 

Classification

Superfauna / River Deity Beast Native Region: River deltas, murky lakes, and flooded jungles of Jurkash
 

Appearance

Wanga Wanga is an enormous armored catfish-like leviathan, often mistaken for a jagged riverbank or submerged ruin until it stirs. Its body stretches over 80 feet in length, with a gaping, downward-turned maw flanked by massive feelers capable of sensing even the smallest ripple. Thick, obsidian-hued plates run the length of its spine like natural armor, and its mottled belly gleams faintly in moonlight with a slick, oil-sheen texture.
  Its eyes, if glimpsed, are pale silver and lidless—unblinking, patient, and ancient.
 

Behavior

Wanga Wanga is a reclusive river behemoth, dwelling deep within slow-moving, silt-choked waters. It is rarely seen in full, as it hunts by stillness—waiting for prey to draw near before erupting with terrifying speed. Entire rafts and hunting parties have vanished beneath its ambush.
  Its movement is nearly silent, and when it does surface, it often coincides with storms or flood tides. Locals claim it can sense fear through the vibrations of water.
 

Abilities

River Ambush – Remains motionless for hours or days, then strikes with sudden, overwhelming force.
Siltstorm Thrash – When enraged, Wanga Wanga whips the river into a blinding spiral of mud and debris, making escape or targeting nearly impossible.
Barbed Maw – Its bite drags victims beneath the surface, where sharp internal spines prevent escape.
Pressure Sense – Detects even the faintest movements or splashes in the water, making stealth nearly impossible nearby.
 

Cultural Significance

The Emberclaw Tribe regards Wanga Wanga as a guardian of sacred waters and a judge of souls who attempt to cross the rivers without honoring the land. Offerings of fish, polished stones, and woven charms are left on overhanging branches to appease it. Riverfolk whisper that it is the physical echo of a drowned god, watching over the balance between flood and drought.
  To encounter Wanga Wanga and survive is to be chosen.
 

Notable Sightings

The Drowning Path – When a squad of imperial scouts attempted to forge a bridge across the Vusk Delta, their construction barges vanished one by one. A survivor claimed he saw “the river lift up its mouth.”
  The Moon-Swallowing Wake – During a lunar festival, a slow-moving procession of floating lanterns was interrupted by a massive shape gliding beneath the surface. All lights were extinguished in an instant, and silence fell across the water.
  The Devouring of Kinmarch Ford – A dam erected without tribal consent was destroyed overnight. Locals found clawed trenches in the riverbed and bits of shattered stone far downstream.