Dorsal

Odd little creatures that populate a large area of icy environments, appearing as something of a cross between a penguin and a killer whale. Though they are swift swimmers they are equally as agile on land, sliding across the ice on their stomachs in much the same way common penguins do. Yet in a very whale-like way they prefer to swim towards schools of fish and scoop up whatever they can in their mouths, and seem to prefer being in the water to being on land.

Just as any wild animal might attack to defend itself so will they, but they are small in size and peaceful unless threatened which makes them overall harmless to most humanoids.

A few enterprising individuals have realized that dorsals can be domesticated, and that much of their bodies are useful. Their skins can be turned to leather and their bones to tools or decorations, their meat is edible if cooked, and most importantly their fat can be rendered into oil for cooking or keeping lanterns alight. This has lessened the need to hunt wild dorsals and wild whale species that are used to similar effect, especially for their fats as a fuel supply and in doing so has restored much of the natural environment otherwise destroyed by the over hunting and over consumption of those animals.