Ridegeback Giant

A ridgeback giant is a creature of unatrually large stature. They get their name from the jagged formations of stone alomg their back, which to passing sailors appear like jagged rocks, poking out of the water. They are completly made of stone, and while dormant appear to be a rocky sphere under the water, with an exception to the ridge along their back. It is thought that they are made to be the most powerful guardians of the Sea Segundo, and a challenge to the most worthy pirates. They will attack anything that isn't native to the sea, and wil avoid harming what is at all costs. It is rare for a Ridgeback to show any emotion, they function far more like machines. To awaken a Ridgeback from their slumber one must channel an extreme amount of elemental energy. This process can be deadly if the elements overwhelm the caster. Said caster must stand atop the highest stone of the ridge, and let the elements flow into them. The process will make the caster feel very powerful, but if their lust of power is too great, and they attempt to keep the power by stopping the ritual they will be destroyed. The channeler must then let the power flow into the stone. Such a monumental transfer of energy will debilitate the caster in some way. Ranging from being unconcious for two to four days, to being rendered permanently blind or deaf. They and any others on the ridgeback will have less than a quarter hour to get back to their ship before it awakens. They stand above the water at a length of three masts, not to mention what is underwater. Oft times powerful Mensaya shaman will attempt to summon ridgebacks to clear out new settlements. For a ridgeback not only posseses the strength to tear a galleon from the water with a single hand, but is also a powerful caster. Depending on the Ridgeback they can either harness air, water, earth, or fire. They have been known to destroy entire towns with massive waves, hurricanes, magma, rising from the earth, landsides, or wind gusts that blow buildings to sea. But the reward for felling a Ridgeback is great, for in their rocky bodies are housed many gems, and unimaginable gold, waiting to be harvested from their corpse. This had driven many equally brave and foolish captains to meet either their second death, or unimaginable wealth. Such is the tale of one of the latter: When it's huminoid form rose ten times taller than us out of the sea we felt as if we had made a fatal mistake. Our cannons roared loud, but our munitions only bounced off its stony hide with barely a crack for our efforts. Then it looked at us with a face long eroded, and swung is sharply clawed hand down at the ship. I braced on the rails as the ship lurched to one side, then back . We had lost four men, and a good portion of hull . Then I peered to its neck, which had a great crack in one side, I ordered the rest of my crew to pick up a cannon and angle it towards the neck. I myself lit the fuse, and prayed as the canon ball impacted the crack. And god surely heard my desperation for a second time and it's head slid off, splashing the waves, and sinking deep beneath them. But the body still stood, reduced to the likeness of a statue. We shot out it's legs and I saw gold gisten in the stump of it's neck just above the waves. So I took the crew to work, and now I've more than I could ever have dreamed of in the old world.