Elduri Mountain Koi

The elduri mountain koi is a species of koi that lives within the deep caves and mountaintop ponds of Euvurcrest. These ponds are in the furthest reaches of the Elduri mountains, where no land is flat or stable enough to merit the placement of citizens. While those in the subterranean caves have recently been disturbed by local mining operations, there have been movements to ensure that the species remain undisturbed by civilization.

Peak Koi

The koi at the mountain peaks are said to have firey red, orange, and yellow patterns. their eyes are a distinct crimson red and their size is a few inches shorter than your standard koi. Diet is a major concern for the fish, but they generally eat bird droppings and local algae. Their main predator is the local buttress falcon, which ironically is their main source of food as well. Their ecosystem is highly volatile, leading to rapid changes in their physiology over time.

Subterranean Koi

The koi within the winding mountain caves tend to be white in color with pink or black eyes, though they have lost their sense of sight. their barbels are as much as 5 times the length of standard koi species and their diet consists mainly of bat droppings or smaller fish that find themselves in the caves as a result of flooding in the Abdulet Stream, west of Euvurcrest.

Abdulet Stream

The Abdulet Stream is a waterway that runs through various farms and villages at the base of the Euvurcrest mountains. While it is one of many, this particular stream leads beneath the eldruri mountains when flooded. Otherwise, its water is directed to the western river. Upon flooding, it leads to the deepest of mountain caves providing a new burst of foreign flora and fauna for the koi and bats to consume. This tends to jumpstart population growth and forces any individuals within the cave to adapt in the face of a population boom. It is theorized that these flooding periods are the main force promoting evolution within the caves.

Cultural Impact

The elduri mountain koi are a cultural symbol for the people of Euvurcrest, often being associated with cycles, hardship, change, and succession. There have been several periods when locals worried that the fish would go extinct, leading to government intervention. Whether they are transferred elsewhere, fed, or their predators need culling, humanity is there to ensure that these symbols continue into the future. Usually, these efforts only involve the koi at the peaks due to their pleasant features. In recent years, the Hellstrom Governy has taken action to assure they never go extinct, creating an exhibit within the keeps of crest, where a subsection of the population is regularly cared for and bred.