Thal'rathin

In the oceans of Tanaria, where the will of Thalassara churns in salt and storm, dwell the Thal’rathin—graceful, sea-dwelling creatures that blend the features of swift marine mammals and noble steeds. With the muscled front half of a horse and the serpentine lower body of a massive fish, their scales shimmer like moonlight on storm-swept waves, and their long, ribboned tails can propel them faster than any sail.
The Thal’rathin are most commonly seen during temperate weather or just before storms, darting playfully alongside vessels or surfacing to investigate passing ships. Sailors have long considered them omens—sometimes of safe passage, other times of trials to come. Their sudden appearance is often interpreted as a sign that Thalassara herself is watching.
Though wild by nature, Thal’rathin have been known to form brief bonds with druids, sea-elves, and followers of Thalassara. They cannot be tamed in the traditional sense but may aid ships in distress, guide those who pay proper homage, or even bear aquatic riders into deep and forgotten places beneath the sea.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Thal’rathin possesses a lithe, equine upper body fused seamlessly into the muscular tail of a large fish or sea serpent. The Thal’rathin’s scales shimmer in patterns that change with mood and sea conditions—dull during calm waters, vibrant in storms.
Their head is elongated with expressive sea-green or storm-silver eyes. Their ears are finned and highly mobile. Their mane is flowing strands of bioluminescent tendrils, thought to communicate through subtle shifts in color and ripple, while their forelimbs are webbed. Thal'rathin have a long and powerful tail, ending in a broad fluke capable of sudden bursts of speed or complex acrobatics.
Hidden along the ribcage are gill structures, allowing both aquatic and short-term surface respiration. A dense cluster of tissue near the crown of the head, believed to act as an extrasensory organ attuned to magical fields and deep-sea currents.

Behaviour

Thal’rathin are highly intelligent and emotionally attuned creatures. While not sapient in the traditional sense, they exhibit behaviors akin to dolphins or sea elves—cooperative, curious, and at times playful. Their emotional sensitivity has led some scholars to refer to them as “the empaths of the deep.”
Thal’rathin travel in loose pods (called “tides”) of 4–12, often led by the oldest female. They exhibit protective behavior toward injured creatures and shipwreck survivors. They are known to surf waves, chase fish in intricate spirals, and mimic passing ships.
Thal'rathin communicate via clicks, pulses of light from their manes, and sonar-like chirps. Some druids claim to share dreams with them through deep meditation. Highly sensitive to emotional distress in other beings. They avoid areas of great death or destruction, and seem drawn to places of peace, healing, or spiritual resonance. Sailors speak of Thal’rathin appearing beside vessels before major events—storm, salvation, or birth—marking them as omens or guardians.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Coastal waters across Tanaria, especially near:

• The Stormveil Sea
• Western Miranore and the Cliffs of Faelon
• Southern reaches of Eouma and the islands around Kamulos and Miranore
• Rare in the frigid Frostmere Ocean, though rumors persist of frost-adapted subspecies.
• Often spotted trailing fishing vessels or basking in sheltered coves.

Thought I was done for, adrift for three nights with naught but splinters and sea in me mouth. Then she came, sleek as moonlight, eyes like storm glass. Didn’t speak a word, but I swear she knew me fear. Let me cling to her mane, carried me through breakers like I weighed nothing. Never felt so safe in me whole cursed life. A goddess, she was. A wave-born angel.

— Cale Widdermark, survivor of the Elarin Wreck

Scientific Name

Hippocampus thalrathinensis

Lifespan

Estimated 70 to 90 years in the wild

Conservation Status

Monitored, Rare but Stable
While not considered endangered, Thal’rathin populations are closely monitored by sea-bound nations and druidic circles.

Average Height

6 feet (1.8 meters)

Average Weight

2,200 to 3,000 pounds (1,000 to 1,360 kg)

Average Length

18 to 24 feet (5.5 to 7.3 meters)