Aarluk

Throughout the colder seas of the Vernean Cavern, Orcas flourish. Although not sitting at the top of the food chain as their relatives are on the surface, the Aarluk also called the Vernean Orca, still hold court among the apex predators of their ranges. Intelligent, cunning, and large, they are nearly twice the size of surface orcas. With adult males measuring nearly 15 meters long, Aarluk have plenty to choose from in terms of prey. Other whales and dolphins, sharks, small mosasaurs, pinnipeds and large fish are all on the menu, with many pods occupying the same stretch of ocean specializing in vastly different prey.

The enlarged cranial melon gives the aarluk an almost beluga-like appearance and heightens its echolocation ability, allowing the aarluk a greater sense of environmental awareness, a crucial asset to have when they are as likely to get eaten as they are likely to eat.

Aarluk are divided into two types much like surface orcas, transient and resident Aarluk. The differences between HE pods and Surface pods is HE pods regardless of their type, are usually around the same size. On average an aarluk pod can consist up to 30 individuals, and like surface pods, are led by a matriarch and defended by her eldest sons. Aarluk bulls are always identifiable by their multitude of battle scars.