Valryns

Valryns (plural: Valryns or Valryn) are a semi‑aquatic semi‑mythical species that appear in the folklore of the northern archipelagos of the continent of Valeria. The name is derived from the Proto‑Valerian root *valru*, meaning "deep water". According to oral histories, Valryns are believed to have once lived in the once‑vast underground river system that now exists as the Cavern of Echoes.

Physical descriptions of Valryns vary among accounts. The most frequently cited features include a translucent, silver‑hued skin, webbed limbs, and large, luminescent eyes adapted to low light. Witness reports describe a length ranging from three to five metres, with a more elongated, serpentine body as compared to terrestrial reptiles. Many stories also reference a faint, bioluminescent glow along the sides of their bodies, which is said to shift color depending on mood.

The Valryns are reputed to possess extraordinary regenerative ability; for instance, a torn fin may grow back in a matter of hours, a trait that has attracted scientific interest. While most accounts portray them as mostly neutral in disposition, some villages claim that the creatures are capable of communicating through a series of clicks and whistles and that they form close bonds with certain fisherman who feed them a special type of kelp.

Anthropologists view Valryns mainly as part of a cultural narrative used by Maru Keld fishermen to explain sudden shifts in tides and to invoke caution when approaching shallow waters. Nonetheless, occasional sightings among the coastal communities have not been dismissed; a small number of researchers have proposed that a cryptic marine creature remains undiscovered in the biologically diverse, under‑explored portions of the Valerian watershed.