River Denizens

River Denizens is a section of Zagreus's Codex detailing the various kinds of fish he catches. These entries are listed below.

For information on rarity and rewards for turning in fish to the Head Chef, see Fishing Rewards.

Tartarus

Name	Description
Hellfish	'...From the looks of them, they must have once been stowaways on the outer hull of Charon's boat, affixing themselves just below the waterline, securing passage from the surface down into the depths via the River Styx. Having adapted to the river's blood-red waters here, they are by now as common as undying shades, and seem very much content to have reached these depths.'
Knucklehead	'...My mother taught me countless water-dwelling denizens, though of this variety, I learned much more only in darkest Tartarus, their habitat being the deepest reaches of the River Styx. I believe they once were living sea-creatures themselves, their faint spirits having washed down all this way via the river, to take on a form of un-life, here.'
Scyllascion	'...There is a monstrous sea-creature that thrashes somewhere in Poseidon's waters far above; we were very careful to avoid sailing across her trenches even in my sailing days. This rare breed is reminiscent of her dozen heads. Whether or not these creatures are related to Scylla, or merely appear to be, is a matter that is still contested, as no one has yet bothered asking Scylla herself.'

Asphodel

Name	Description
Slavug	'...The Phlegethon does not rank high on my own list of locations in which I would spend eternity, given the choice, yet the Slavug seems as happy as a Chlam there in the river of flame. It is almost impossible to spot with the naked eye, blending in with the boiling magma, feasting off of bits of molten minerals, who knows what else.'
Chrustacean	'...The armored, heat-proof carapace of the Chrustacean makes it perfectly suited to quietly surviving, if not thriving, in the fire-river slashing all the way across Asphodel. In ocean waters, similar creatures serve as easy prey -- but not this magma-loving variety, which tends to be left alone. Though, some do swim up from the riverbed in search of companionship.'
Flameater	'...While some of the Underworld's river-dwelling creatures can probably be traced to surface-swimming counterparts, the Flameater appears to be descended from monstrosities born of the Underworld itself. Its winding tentacles and scaled body are reminiscent of the serpent Ladon, though whether Ladon or some other monster gave birth to it is, as yet, unknown.'

Elysium

Name	Description
Chlam	'...The common Chlam is plentiful within the misty waters of the River Lethe, flowing through the hills and valleys of Elysium. Its shell most of the time is shut so tight, it cannot be opened. I have heard Chlams feed upon the memories of the fallen, giving the river of forgetfulness its distinctive quality. Though who first said this to me, I cannot recall.'
Charp	'...The Elysium Charp seems to be the shade of a surface-dwelling fish highly reminiscent of it, with similarly multicolored scales and a placid, almost contemplative temperament. Its powerful shimmering form roils the waters of the River Lethe, stirring the thick mists that flow across the river's surface.'
Seamare	'...Rarely have I ever seen a water-dwelling creature quite as splendid as the Seamare, and I can assure you I have seen a great many varieties, growing up with the kind of mother I had. In Elysium, I have seen many former heroes staring endlessly into the River Lethe's waters, simply in the hopes of catching a brief glimpse of one of these majestic creatures.'

Temple of Styx

Name	Description
Gupp	'...This is an altogether odd river-creature, which skirts the border between the surface and the Underworld, likewise persisting in a state somewhere between life and death. It swims endlessly against the currents of the Styx, which threaten constantly to drag it deeper into this abyss; but it has strength enough to keep fighting against this. '
Scuffer	'...Truly a bottom-feeder of a fish, the Scuffer evidently is much more adventurous than similar saltwater counterparts, as it dares to dwell in the waters of the River Styx near the border where the waters plummet down into this abyss. The creature's ability to defensively inflate not only provides it a means of protection but keeps it from getting dragged under the waters and into the Underworld itself.'
Stonewhal	'...The hard-headed, harpoon-nosed Stonewhal is an elusive species that feeds on lesser river creatures that dwell too close to the gates of the Underworld, slaying them so that their little souls may then be eligible for the rest of the journey. Likely it was once a wayward sea-faring denizen itself, which proved capable of living in fresh water, and found a fertile feeding ground on the River Styx.'

Greece

Name	Description
Trout	'...On the surface, we distinguish between aquatic creatures that live in the drinkable waters of rivers and lakes that dotted the terrain, and those of Lord Poseidon's salt-filled seas. In the former category, the Trout is a perfectly common breed, though here in the Underworld, it cannot be found. Ironic, perhaps, seeing as the Trout's lot in its rather short life seems to be little more than to become the sustenance for some other creature, be it a bird, or a bear, or a man. By the time its tiny soul joins us in the Underworld, it cannot be distinguished from that of any other lesser creature's; for they are all contented in this place, having nothing left to fear.'
Bass	'...The seas and rivers of my country on the surface absolutely teemed with marine life, and I daresay my people were starting to grow quite skillful at capturing such creatures. I could not begin to tell you all the different species they would offer up at markets, including foreign and exotic varieties reserved for kings. The tendency of caught fish to quickly spoil turns out to be a solvable problem, as they may be pickled, or packed in luxurious salts, preserving their nutritional value for some time. Such is the ingenuity of our mortal minds! I understand fish are traded far and wide, now, for their delicacy and nutritional value. But we do not get those varieties down here.'
Sturgeon	'...The monstrous Sturgeon is a king among fish. They can grow massive in size, their bone-like ridges affording them considerable defense. Little wonder, then, that they are so highly sought after. To catch such a creature means staving off hunger for days, and makes for a tall tale, as well. To the gods, we would offer the finest meats we could procure. But we tended to keep the fish for ourselves. The Lord Poseidon, in his generosity, seemed not to mind too frequently. Although, I understand he still remains quite strict about ensuring that even his river-dwelling breeds are careful not to cross the threshold between realms. It seems even kings among fish are beholden to a greater power.'

Chaos

Name	Description
Mati	'...I am all too familiar with the concept of the so-called evil eye, which has been cast upon me many times while I lived and breathed; envy, hatred, distrust, all such matters, captured in a look. Purportedly, there is an ancient water creature from which the phenomenon is derived. That these emotions are as old as time, and life itself, is both a disappointment and an understandable reality.'
Projelly	'...Whence came life? That is a question mulled by many a philosopher whom I have met or overheard; even ones here, within the Underworld, who have already learned something of death. Still, they know nothing of life, other than that it came from Chaos. We know that primordial gods and forces sprang from Chaos, but so did such lesser forms of life as the Projelly. Whether such creatures still survive, I can only guess.'
Voidskate	'...It is said that before the heavens, and the earth, and the Underworld, there was only Chaos, an infinite void of nothingness, from which sprang all of existence as we know it. Still, there are creatures that dwell at the edges of this nothingness, beyond our view. Perhaps in Chaos, creatures such as these find solitude, as does a child in the bosom of her mother. Or perhaps, they merely await their time to take a shape less alien to the rest of us, their bodies like a living clay, made to be molded to suit the whims of their creator.'