The Iron Whale

Awldor    Myths & Legends      The Iron Whale

There are many fearsome beasts out there in the unexplored corners of the map. Yet the thought of this silent beast of iron waiting beneath the waves is particularly unsettling.

— Thorald Windswept, Sailor

It is said that a large, cauldron black beast forged from iron. This strange vessel silently travels the seas of the world underneath the waves and offering few chances to be seen. There are many sailors that have claimed sight of the gigantic beast, and even fewer who claimed to have seen the beast's unnatural body up close. They say that no munition forged, or magic cast, can harm this strange beast. Some of these sailors were recovered from the floating wrecks of ships and who were driven mad by whatever fate befall them at the hands of the Iron Whale.
Descriptions of this whale describe something with no visible eyes or mouth. It is also said that this beast travels at speeds that are impossible even for a Centrum Galleon, which are lauded for their quickness. Confirmed sightings of this whale are very rare for the beast apparently spends most of its time underwater for extremely long periods of time. Since whales are typically mammals, this lifestyle of the beast is unnatural. Nobody knows what it feeds upon for sustenance.

We have sighted the Iron Whale again. This time it follows us closely, but neither gains nor falls behind. It is keeping perfect pace no matter what we try...

— Amaya Pneuma, Captain. From her journal 31st of Aeris, 1159AGC.

Notes from the Pneuma Expedition

Amaya Pneuma claims to have encountered the Iron Whale twice during her around-the-world voyage. Once, while en-route to The Verdant Archipelago, and again while en-route to the Ancient Crater. Additionally, her Journal notes that cultures across Awldor have their own version of the legend that features at its core a strange and mighty vessel of iron. This has led to speculation that the Iron Whale travels around the world and has been sighted at least once by a denizen of each continent. Despite the accounts of adventurers like Amaya Pneuma, many still consider the Iron Whale to be a myth so strange is the idea. After all, sailors are known to weave a fantastic myth from time to time.

In Art

As a well known myth it has been depicted in various forms of artwork including paintings, mosaics, and sometimes pottery. The image of a whale of iron has sparked the imagination of several artists to make their own twist on the legend. One depicts the iron whale as being alike to a flesh and blood whale only with a skin of iron, while another depicted it as something entirely strange: a smooth and featureless metallic construction of great proportions.
This last depiction has become an increasingly famous work, A Wandering Legacy of the Ancients credited to Ruya Cristal Vassennes, that has fetched prices equal to the value of 125,000 Helian Aurums (125,000gp) at auction. It is rumored that the price of this piece of art is so high because it is imbued with some kind of magical effect though no owner has divulged the nature of this magic.

More than One?

While its difficult to confirm with any certainty, there is a postulation that there is more than one Iron Whale. Further, that each whale behaves differently to one another which can help explain the wide range of tales on this topic, from tales of destruction to tales of mere awe.

Note(s) from the Archivists:

I maintain that I saw this beast on our way back from Chivit, and I still don't understand why people can find this so hard to believe when there is a well documented- by us mind you- forest that's literally on fire all the time. - Archivist Edward
I believe you, but you have to remember that the rest of us never saw it with our own eyes. Remember that we need to verify these things and personal testimony is only as reliable as the person giving it. - Archivist Savitri
Are you implying something? - Archivist Edward
Not at all. - Archivist Savitri