Vawl (Vahl)

The vawl is a large mammal native to the Tathi Sea. Spanning the length of a royal ship, they are the largest animal on Seram. Highly intelligent, they are known to communicate to each other silent to the ear of people. It has four flippers On its body, two at the front and two near the back, these help it travel at quick speeds, estimates to have evolved these to move up to the open air To breathe from the opening on its head. The vawl has a lot of fat on its body, presumed to keep it warm in the lower depths of water it usually frequents. In olden times, this was used as lamp fuel but dwindling numbers had made an alternative necessary. The conservation of this mammal was largely due to the efforts of Shanti Marl helping ban the fishing and poaching of the vawl, and the numbers have increased significantly in the centuries after he death.
Research is ongoing into this mammal to study more of its migration patterns. In the colder months they tend to stay around ptema, and in the spring move north to Aguorn and some coastal parts of Estor to breed and birth their young. The young vawl will travel with their mother mostly, after 6 months they will begin their first voyage with the pod (plural) down to ptema. This is when they have to be careful, sharq that inhabit the sea border of ptema and aguorn will try to hunt the young on their migration. Although the vawl mostly eat fish, they have been known to kill sharq with their sharp teeth if they get close to their young.
At certain times of the year, the Vawl can be seen breaching the surface of the ocean near The Anchor. It is a popular sight for the seafaring folk, the gentle creatures use this maneuver to attract a mate, breaching and spinning in an almost-dance like manner. The young vawl are very inquisitive and have been known to come to the surface near smaller boats, almost greeting the sailors. Some vawl will also let sailors touch their smooth-hide if their backs are at the waterline, they have no records of ever attacking people to date. It is common to see the vawl on inkings of the Aguornians, either breaching, in their verticle resting position, or in a swimming motion.