Inuzumatako

• 25 August 2025

The inuzumatako was a fearsome creature that would loom over the seas surrounding The Eastern Provinces. Much like jellyfish (or their closer relatives, skyjellies) inuzumatako were sedentary, floating monsters that trawled the waves and sky with their electrically-charged tentacles.

In Tradespeak, inuzumatako were often simplified to the name of Isutan stormclouds.

Appearance #

An inuzumatako was a colossal being that pulsated with the light that came from its bioarcane-electricity. Lightning would run along its tentacles as they trailed through the waters below.

An inuzumatako had two different types of tentacles. First were its thinner, filamentous "stingers" which served as vessels of delivery of lightning. Second were its cephalopodan, muscled, sucker-clad tentacles. These were used primarily for feeding.

The head of an isutan stormcloud could span up to 250 meters wide while its tentacles could reach lengths of up to 900 meters.

Biology #

Inuzumatako were at great risk of dehydration from hovering over the ocean for long periods of time. They would maintain the water content of their bodies through constant contact with the ocean below, siphoning up water through the mouths on their tentacles.

Inuzumatako had little to no senses, acting reflexively to things that touched its tentacles. It also couldn't control its own movement, simply moving wherever the winds blew it.

Magical Abilities #

Inuzumatako were highly magical elemental creatures. Unlike skyjellies which used gases to maintain aerial buoyancy, inuzumatako were magical and used aeromantic organs in their heads to keep them in the sky. They also had fulgurmantic organs that generated the electricity wielded by their tentacles.

Often, the extreme amounts of arcane energy being produced by an Isutan stormcloud would lead to storm systems forming around them. The death of an inuzumatako was equally as awesome, with a thunderous explosion crackling across the sea as an announcement of one's demise.

Inuzumatako could teleport short distances, although only in response to extreme damage (through prey fighting back or dehydration). This often led to the phenomenon of seeing an inuzumatako disappear into a storm cloud before vanishing without a trace.

Hunting #

Inuzumatako were predatory creatures that dragged their lightning-infused tentacles across the ocean from a height of about a kilometer above sealine. While ships and other sea vessels weren't their primary targets, they could often kind themselves caught in the grasp of the monster's tentacles.

A crew of alarmed sailors regard the inuzumatako on the horizon. Some watch in awe while others scramble to turn their vessel around.

Inuzumatako primarily hunted ocean wanderers and even Klo Ming.

Inuzumatako were elemental creatures and killed their prey by sending massive currents through and between their tentacles. Once neutralized, an inuzumatako could pull apart their prey with their suckered tentacles. With their typical prey being scaled or shelled, this was necessary to access the juicy flesh within.

Fanged mouths within the tentacles' suckers would bite into the prey and devour its flesh as it fed. It was a common sight to see the wrecks of vessels, corpses of klo ming, and legs of ocean wanderers caught up in the trailing arms of an inuzumatako.

Ecology #

Inuzumatako usually trawled the central-to-northern waters of the Cyclopean Ocean. Uncommonly, one could find its way blown into areas like the Winding Strait, leading to entire operations to try and forcefully remove the leviathan cnidarian.

During monsoon-induced flooding of The Eastern Provinces, inuzumatako could find themselves a fair ways inland, where their electrical tentacles could wreak havoc on the land.