Wigfish

This fish can be found across Celarruhn in freshwater lakes and lochs, and has a unique ability to weave wigs out of seaweed and other marine plants. Unfortunately, it has been discovered that these wigs can be used as a powerful reagent, and is often sought out by many witches. Recently a group of volunteers have taken a stand against these witches and the harvesting of the wigs, forming the Wigfish Protection Society, which is located in Meltwater Loch.

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Appearance

Wigfish can grow up to a full length of 50cm (19.6in) with females being only a little smaller than males. Both sexes have predominantly silver scales, with a stripe of colour down their side which matches the colour of their fins and tail. Their stripes get thicker with age, and some develop additional stripes of varying hues. Females tend to have darker colours ranging from red, purple and blue, whereas males have brighter shades of yellow, green and orange.

Habitat

These fish have been found living in small family units within deep caves or carefully made rocky burrows. These are often decorated with strings of vines, weeds, plants and colourful shells and pebbles.

Diet

The algae that covers the pebbles and rocks on the bed of Meltwater Loch is a staple in the diet of a Wigfish, but their preferences tend to lie with the unique bubble berries that also grow here along with the colonies of fairy shrimp.

Behaviour

Once their wigs have been fully crafted, the Wigfish proudly swim up to the surface, attempting to catch the eye of as many admirers as they can. This, however, makes collecting their wigs rather easy. If and when this happens, the fish flee to their cavernous homes where they hide the shame of their shiny bald heads, and eventually gather more materials to begin the long process of weaving once again.

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Powerful Wigs

Lannas Raloren might not be a name well-known by many, but in the world of herbalism, he is credited for making a wide number of discoveries, including that of the raw power that is held within the wigs of the Wigfish. After a number of experiments, Lannas realised that simply adding the wig to a gently bubbling cauldron was all that was needed to extract the arcane properties. These wigs are particularly useful to help with ailments that affect the patients mood, sleep and, somewhat unsuprisingly, hair. Having suffered from bouts of depression himself, Lannas was excited to find such an effective reagent and quickly spread the word. Soon enough, all freshwater lakes and lochs found themselves a target for herbalist witches, and the Wigfish at first thrived off an eager new crowd of admirers. This new attention turned sour quickly as witches began to pluck the wigs off the fishes, causing them to flee and disappear for months.
Wigfish wigs became classified as a rare reagent, and witches had to search for an equivalent elsewhere. Lannas was naturally disappointed, but continued his search and experimented further with how to prolong the life and uses of the wigs he had carefully stored.

Who Taught the Wigfish to Weave?

No-one truly knows how the fish learned their talent, but many guess that it was the merfolk who first gave them their ability, due to their shared interest in decoration and attention to personal appearances. While the merfolk may not weave wigs, they have been seen with seaweed and vines carefully wound through their long hair. For this reason, some suggest instead of teaching the wigfish, the merfolk rather inspired them.
The actual weaving of the wigs remains a mystery, as none have yet been able to witness it. The fact they are imbued with such a potent arcane power makes many assume that the fish have a natural ability. Any attempts to discover more about this have so far yielded little to no results, as the Wigfish, despite still being proud of their creations, have become far more reclusive.