Whelkeyes

The most notable feature of the small fish is its wide eyes which are large in proportion to its small body, reflecting the fact that it likes darker but not completely black waters. A small dorsal fin and a wide tail give it great manoeuvrability.

Whelkeyes swim in deep waters during the day but swim closer to the surface at night and are thus often described rather inacurately as "nocturnal".

In ancient times, whelkeyes were not sought after by the fisherfolk of the Zurle Sea, owing to their nocturnal habits and size. They were too small to be trapped in traditional nets, except in small numbers and by accident, and were not considered to be worth the effort of night fishing. This changed during the Age of Famine when the Nephatar fleet became desperate to find new sources of food. According to the legend of Hella and the Widow, the Net of Pruth caught the first significant haul of whelkeyes which fed a grateful city and inspired weavers and crafters to make their own nets with a finer mesh. Thereafter, night fishing because a part of the culture of the city and the region and even today, whelkeyes form a small but important part of the bounty of fish sold at Nephatar and are considered almost to be a sacred species because of their role in saving the city from famine when the bigger day time fish were not available.   Whelkeyes are often fried in batter, salted and sprinked with xulberry or apple juice then sold by the handful in conical rolls of paper.

Whelkeyes have only ever been found in the Zurle Sea.