Appearance

Poggle range in size from two to six feet long, with rubbery hides that come in various shades of blues, browns, and greys. They come in many patterns, from the simple to the extravagant. They have seal-like bodies, with two flippers and a split flipper-like tail. They have long, expressive ears and large black eyes. Adults grow a single spiral horn from their forehead.

On the back of their necks, and running down the rest of their back and tail, are shell-like scales. These scales change colors, and have a pearly sheen to them. They’re used for everything from defense to communication. These scales shed frequently, and are collected for use as tools, decorations, and accessories.

Abilities

Poggle are fast and agile in the water. On land they flop and roll around in a rather comical attempt at locomotion.

They sing beautiful songs to communicate over long distances, and even just for fun.

They prefer to blow mist filled bubbles above the water to play with boats and fishers, and when enough of them gather they can sigh out enough mist to cloak an entire island. Poggle can also shoot jets of water from their mouths, used in play or to surprise predators.

Culture

Poggle live in large groups in warm coastal waters. They spend their days frolicking at sea with mermaids and fishing boats before coming ashore to sleep on the beaches. When playing they create enough bubbles to make the shore froth with foam, much to the delight of local children. These mild mannered creatures are easy to tame, and many mermaids keep them as pets. Being highly food motivated it’s easy to teach them tricks.

They start their lives as young fluffy pups, where they spend their days on the beaches while their mothers hunt for food. Their primary means of defense are their sheer numbers, and the pups sigh out great clouds of mist when threatened; though they’re so curious that they rarely perceive things as a threat until it’s almost too late.

The young begin to swim at about one year of age, when they’ve doubled in size and have grown their first set of scales. Their first trip out to sea is made en masse, and this is the most dangerous time of their lives, as many predators lurk in the surrounding waters, just waiting for the clumsy young pups first swim.

From their first swim, Poggle begin to shed their scales several times a year. If a scale is damaged it will be shed immediately and not regrow until the rest of the scales have been shed as well.