Rainbow Cliff-Salmon

A type of fish that have uniquely evolved for the rivers in the War Ravaged that take advantage of the exaggerated swelling of the water in certain rivers to lay eggs on cliffs.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Fish. Smaller than other salmon and slender, so they can get into cracks in the rock other salmon can't and nest safely.

Genetics and Reproduction

They mate every full moon, and the females lay their eggs in a pool of water that, outside of a full moon, would never be reached by the water, and that may be hundreds of feet above the normal waterline. If a female rainbow cliff-salmon finds a pool that already has eggs in it, she may eat the eggs in order to lay her own in it.

Growth Rate & Stages

While in the birth pools, they mature until the new moon. During this time, they are slow and build up fat, with decreased brain activity due to the low amounts of food, but develop more refined muscles for faster swimming during the last few days in the birth pool. They leave the birth pool during the spring tide after the new moon. During the time in the birth pool, they have transparent scales and skin, however once outside of the birth pool they develop coloring, gaining their rainbow color. They stay in this state until they die.

Ecology and Habitats

During the first lunar cycle of their life they live in small pools surrounded by stone and eat moss, lichen and other plants that grow there. During the future lunar cycles they live in the ocean.

Dietary Needs and Habits

During its time in the birth pool, they eat moss, lichen and other plants, but while outside eat smaller fish.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The fish with the most coloration generally gets the most mates, although it also makes it targets for younger salmon.

Domestication

They can be domesticated easily by putting them in a cage with food and water and allowing them to swim freely, however, to keep the variety in their scales, they must have constantly changing diets.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

This fish is considered a delicacy, and having any of the rarer color skin is enviable, since they are very expensive to get. Coats or suits made of bronze natural rainbow cliff-trout can fetch prices as high as 1,000,000 gp. Owning one with a large variety of colors is a sign of wealth too, as the more variety a rainbow cliff-trout has, the more attention is required to keep it varied, giving new food to it nearly every meal, and rarely repeating foods, which need to come from sometimes exotic locales, and sometimes are delicacies of themselves. A single rainbow cliff-trout can fetch a price higher than a city if cared for correctly.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

found during full moon only in the War Ravaged, but can migrate during other times to anywhere.

Civilization and Culture

Beauty Ideals

The more varied the colors, the more attractive.

Lifespan

1.5 lunar cycles

Conservation Status

Their nesting environment is unique, only occuring in Plurum, so the area they nest in is protected, although the species themselves are not.

Average Height

4 inches

Average Weight

6 lbs

Average Length

1 foot 5 inches

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Starts with nearly transparent skin and fat with little muscle, but after leaving the birthing pools gain coloration that increases over time. The coloration diversifies over time, making it a good indication of the fish's age.

Color	Minimum Age in lunar cycles
gray	0.5
pink	1
yellow	1.1
red	2
orange	2.4
burgundy	2.7
green	2.9
blue	3
bronze	4