Bankrunner

The Bankrunner is a freshwater fish found in rivers, small to medium in size. It is descended from old salmonid stock but modified to a much more armored and mobile life. Built to survive brutal waters, the fish lives in rough and rocky river channels and holds to the current, striking with precision into banks and shallows to take prey hidden in stones and roots. It is a common scare for faunids young and old to be fishing and have a bankrunner suddenly lunge into their fishing spot, looking to steal the bait reserved for a whole day’s trip.

Its body is compact but powerful, covered in dense interlocking scales that resemble natural armor plates. They are rough to the touch and often chipped through age. Bankrunners are commonly colored a sandy beige, green-grey, or river-blue according to the local sediment. Dark speckling on the back and flanks adds additional camouflage under dappled lighting. Whereas its salmonid ancestors had a dorsal fin, the Bankrunner lacks this aspect - and in turn, its momentum and agility are regulated by a long, muscular tail and long side fins. Its hooked beak and low-set small eyes are built to root through gravel beds or scoop up insects and crustaceans from tight crevices.

When threatened, the Bankrunner displays a unique defense: it can puff out slightly by flaring its scale-plates, making its body wider and more difficult to bite or swallow. This behavior, along with its tough armor, makes it an unappealing target for all but the hungriest predators that can rival a rasva ursa’s appetite. However, for those who succeed- or for skilled corrupted anglers- the reward is considerable. The Bankrunner’s flesh is famously rich, tender, and fatty, with a flavor unmatched by other river fish. It’s highly sought after in fishing cultures, though often regulated due to their slow growth.

Bankrunners are most active during dusk and dawn, when light contrast helps them ambush prey from the edges. Their quick movements between open current and shoreline make them essential for keeping invertebrate populations in check and stirring microhabitats. 

Bankrunner scales are frequently collected after cleaning and used for beadwork, belt adornments, and small utilitarian tools. In Atalavian culture, wearing Bankrunner scale jewelry is considered a sign of swiftness and adaptability. Some Tellers say that the river watches most closely those who chase the Bankrunner- a reminder that rewards are often found in the margins, not the center of the stream.

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Concept by Goryteeth, Rendering by Necrologia, Info by Deertush.