Ghully Glassgut

A mismatched blend of nautical features. Ghully was a tandoku. Some sort of seal squid dolphin thing with a few bits of other stuff in there. Droopy ears and arms adorned the semi-bipedal frame while a thick tail dragged along in tow of the aquatic critter. Overall coloration was a blend of browns with a light sandy theme serving as decent camouflage in the shallows. There were some deep-sea quirks there as well like the bit of transparency across the front showing off the innards but he'd usually cover up with a shirt or something when dealing with folks on land. When not hunting stuff in the depths or accompanying ships on their route, he could often be found hanging out around port selling fish to the market vendors or pawning sunken treasure for some coin to spend.

Raw Effects
Small Dose - Increased Heartrate, Tingling Sensation, Numbness
Medium Dose - Drowsiness, Confusion, Paralysis
Heavy Dose - Coma, Organ Failure, Death

Refined Usage
Boiled - Regenerative Tonic
Dehydrated - Explosive Powder
Filtered - Poison Salve

Ghully's venom is produced inside the dorsal spots of his arms. Inside, sugar-secreting glands feed and maintain a symbiotic bacteria culture that gradually refills the venom sacs as they propagate. When needed, contracting muscles force a portion of the venom through veins leading towards the creature's claws where hollow tips serving as needles inject the venom into the target. This venom is normally used in hunting rather by direct injection into large creatures to paralyze them or by expelling the venom as a cloud while swimming through schools of fish who become sedated once the venom makes it to their gills. Out of the water, the injection method remains viable and while not immediately effective, sprayed venom can gradually produce effects as it oxidizes into a toxic haze.

Ghully's usually a pretty easy-going sort. Bit of a daydreamer, much of his time is spent swimming around hunting for food or burying himself in the sand like a feral for a nap. Growing up around a port town, he comes off as a bit unrefined with a blend of redneck and buccaneer dialect carried with a drowsy sorta drawl making it hard to tell when he was being sarcastic or not. While he'd normally be content to live like an animal and just do his own thing, he's made a few friends topside and being able to help them out every now and then is nice. When the coin isn't being used to get them out of the hole they dug themselves, Ghully sometimes splurges a bit and enjoys a night on the town. The luxuries are nice while they last and it is kinda fun messing with folks who mistake him for some kinda beach bum at the door. When nothing else is going on, he'll sometimes go off exploring rather by taking a trip up the river or cutting a deal with one of the ships heading off on their routes. Ironically enough though, it's frustrating for him to lay around knowing stuff has to be done while some incompetent person responsible for it is goofing off so being around the sailors has inadvertently wound up making him develop a bit of discipline even if a bit spitefully driven. Dealing with people for too long gives him a headache though so he avoids developing a more permanent career with the lot. He usually leaves on good terms with the quartermaster and every now and then, might help them out again whenever they're short-handed.

Born near a port town, Ghully grew up as most of his kind did. That is, basically feral. The fishing was good and some of the folks were nice enough near the docks as long as he left their bait alone. With age gradually came sapience and his relatively late introduction to society. Sometimes he'd catch fish and sell them for small luxuries like somewhere comfortable to sleep for a few days or some food aside from his usual diet of fish and shellfish. When ships went out on their routes, he'd sometimes tag along and get treated pretty good for hunting whenever they accidentally let their rations go bad. Deep waters were kinda dangerous though. They'd often take him along anyways just as a source of anesthetic for any mishaps that may befall the crew. Every once in awhile, he'd sometimes take on quests from the tavern's corkboard to earn himself some comfort through the colder months. Usually stuff like exploring ship wreckages or escort missions for some merchant vessels.

Tandoku are an aquatic species slowly acclimating to civilization. With the name roughly translating to "Poison Claw," the species sports needle-like claws underneath the ends of their flippers that allow them to inject their toxins into whatever they manage to latch onto. With a vaguely seal-like head sporting a horn at the end of the muzzle, they are supported by thick digitigrade legs and a fluked tail. Diets are omnivorous with a preference for meat, usually targeting fish and crabs but they have been known to go after much larger whales and squid on occasion. Pups are born year round though one at a time and often treated as pets until they reach sapience where they form tribal pods if not integrated with a larger society.

The species was first encountered along the Riftwind Isles partially encircling an underwater crater filled with radioactive fragments of the meteor responsible along with toxic runoff from the flora of the isles contaminating the streams. It is theorized that the species was changed from the events resulting in the hazardous environment but this speculation has led to negative social relations with the tandoku often being referred to as abominations or mutants. Producing a deadly toxin themselves has not helped alleviate the stigma. More affectionate nicknames from friendlier folk have included things such as seal-squids and mudpuppies. Overall though, the species is generally distrusted and not without reason as many of the young pods have been known to take up piracy and target ships sailing through their territories. Older tandoku often take up occupation at ports doing things like selling fish or helping repair ships at the docks.

Docks
The wooden piers are a common spot for Ghully to lounge about. With the sound of waves and seagulls making up the ambiance, it's a nice spot to relax and watch the sunset. That or just mess with the fishermen and bet he can catch the fish that just broke their line or stole their bait. When the ships come in, he can sometimes earn a bit of quick coin to spend later by helping unload cargo and such. Even when there's nobody around, it's still a pretty good fishing spot for himself. Not too far past the end of the piers, there's a huge drop-off into deep waters.

Beach
The sandy shoreline. Past the dunes, powdery sand goes on for a bit before gradually coagulating into the denser terrain the closer one gets to the water's edge. A few rocks here and there are common spots to find crabs during low tide and the area is a common gathering area for many of the locals to lounge about and have fun. Ghully's usually belly-surfing the waves or burying himself in the sand to rest for a bit when in the area. That or diving for some seashells. Some of the local shops will accept them as currency if they're big enough.

Tavern/Inn
Restaurant, gathering hall, sleeping quarters, and more. When the weather's a bit rough out, there's usually still plenty of commotion going on at the local tavern between the drunken sailors, guild members planning their quests, and pretty much everyone everyone else with nothing better to do. With a bar along one wall and a fireplace to the other, booths and various other seating arrangements scattered between provide plenty of room for the crowds. Ghully usually drops by to buy some food and a comfortable spot to sleep when he's got some coin on him. Sometimes winds up getting caught up in some of the other folks' antics though.

Ship at Sea
Every now and then, Ghully finds himself on a boat. Apparently calling it a boat is a great insult to the captain though so he's gonna have to remember to refer to it as a ship even if it's just a big boat. Just because he's a semi-aquatic critter doesn't mean he naturally knows all the nautical vernacular. Anyways, he's usually there as sort of an insurance policy. If the rats get to the rations and spoil things, Ghully can dive overboard and hunt something for folks to eat once they manage to haul it up onto the deck. The other reason is when there's a doctor on board who's smart enough to use his venom as an anesthetic when someone's needing a peg leg or a hook for a hand fixed up. Venom in a jar only has around two weeks' worth of shelf life in the best of conditions so having him onboard kinda helps avoid that issue towards the end of a month-long voyage.

Upriver
Ghully's not always swimming in saltwater. Occasionally, he'll have reason to swim upstream and follow the rivers inland to some of the towns and such along the way. That or he might go hunting in the swamplands and marshes when there's too much commotion going on back at the beach. A lot of the merchants use the rivers as a trade route so there's always a bunch of stuff to find along the bottom from pirate attacks and such. That and smugglers often ditch contraband over the side of bridges when on the run so they're a good spot to check every now and then for sunken loot.