AKA: Gill Men

In the Monongahela basin, a mysterious group lurks in waterways and pools, watching silently, bitterly. Able to stand and walk like a man, but looking more like a fish, the Monongy are an ancient, aquatic civilization. They are known to live in underwater tunnels and caves, making the hovels into houses and living in scattered clusters. Once spread throughout the east coast, the creatures now reside only in small sections of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland; though, some speculate that derivative species may live elsewhere.

A well-documented beast, the fish-folk were first recorded by the British army in the mid-18 th century during the French and Indian War; in their accounts, Native Americans referred to the beasts as “Monongy,” the foreigners dubbing them the “Gill Men.” During these encounters, the British were said to have fought the vicious attackers off, provoking secondary attacks and parties set on revenge. Near rivers and lakes, the fish-folk laid in wait, hoping to stave off intruders and protect their territories; though agile in the water and keen in setting ambushes, the Monongy could not take down the sheer mass of humans that rose against them. Their numbers and boundaries declining, the Gill Men retreated into the murky depths, hiding and living mostly peaceful lives－but always watchful for a chance to strike back, regain what was lost.

Sightings of the strange humanoids greatly diminished until two centuries later; from 1930 - 1950, a record number of sightings occurred along the Monongahela River, causing panic to ensue. To ease the public’s fears, the Pittsburg Police created a task force that was put in charge of an intensive investigation: interviewing those who had encountered the monsters, scouring reported locations, and examining alleged photos. Nothing substantial was determined, and the Monongy seemingly disappeared again, only raising alarms once per year.

In 2003, a sighting of one of the fish-folk was said to have resulted in a photograph－one that was said to prove their existence beyond doubt; however, the image never surfaced, its being only rumored in cryptid communities, and now, only in conspiracy circles. Today, many theorize that the missing photo was part of an elaborate cover-up－actions taken by a secret interest group that does not one to the public to know about several strange creatures, like the Monongy.

Anatomical Oddities & Physical Descriptions

The Monongy are a vibrantly colored species: their scales are an olive hue intermingled with shades of green, their belly tapering into a shimmering silver and backs decorated with dark green stripes; while males’ fins are a pale green and females’ a vibrant red, both sexes display small, hauntingly red eyes with large, dark pupils. Though they have a very fish-like face, the Monongy have an excellent range of facial expressions. When angered or irritated, their lips pull back menacingly－baring thin, pointed teeth－and their fins raise and fan out, making them appear larger, more ferocious; when saddened or in submission, the creatures tuck their heads in and tighten their fins, thinning out their forms.

The fish-folk are not very tall, growing only 2 - 3 ft high, but they have powerful arms and legs, each with five, webbed digits. Their hands resemble fins, wispy and semi-transparent; though they can grasp objects, it is with a clumsy grip. Aided by a powerful tail, the Monongy are agile swimmers, able to fluidly navigate through tight corridors and rushing currents. An anomaly, they have a small pair of land-breathing lungs and large gills behind rows of thin ribs; although they can survive out of water, they are not as suited to the environment, finding it awkward to navigate dry land. Out of the water, Monongy walk slowly with a gait similar to that of a man wearing heavy flippers; here, they cannot hunt as effectively, limiting their diet to insects, vegetation, and carrion.

Life in Colonies

Monongy live in small groups within abandoned, underwater caverns or tunnels dug out of the riverbed. While resting, they cover themselves in silt and debris, hiding from those who may wish them harm; Gill Men hibernate in these same dwellings during the winter, burying themselves under more detritus than usual, but taking no other precautions.

Born in holes dug into the mud and amidst tall grasses, Monongy begin life encapsulated in small, round eggs－their forms only a black speck in the center. After a week, the embryos double in size; after seven more days, the small creatures break free of their casing, but are no larger than an inch. The fry consume copious amounts of algae, zooplankton, and other microbial life forms, growing rapidly; they cease burgeoning after five months, their limbs and internal organs fully developed. After 120 days, the beings’ mental faculties have matured, allowing them to understand simple concepts and formulate elementary ideas.

Though the youths are not actively parented, all Monongy visit their broods when they reach physical maturity; experienced adults teach their offspring how to make and use simple tools, skillfully traverse land and water, build proper dwellings, and effectively communicate. The Gill Men do not have a spoken language; instead, they transmit their emotions by releasing hormones and pairing them with facial expressions; they may also convey thoughts or plans by drawing in the mud and sand.

Unlike many intelligent creatures, Gill Men do not develop romantic or friendly relationships; they are not hostile to any of their kind, just disinterested, interacting almost exclusively with family members. If a Monongy’s siblings perish, they may join another’s group or their children’s, being grafted in as a brother or sister.

Reproduction is an informal, quick process carried out each year in the spring. Females swim to other colonies, attracting attention with her bright scales before laying 50 eggs nearby; males fertilize the clutches. The eggs, left to their own devices, are preyed upon by fish and other, larger predators. The sex of each fish-folk can be determined at any stage of development, as females are vibrantly colored red; the brighter hue attracts more attention, causing there to be disproportionately more males than females. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing, as too many Monongy would not be sustainable even in an ecosystem well-populated by prey.

The lives of Gill Men are short－only lasting 3 - 4 years; the fish-folk spend most of it in a calm, relaxed manner unless their way of life or homes are threatened by others. If provoked, they wage relentless war. Yet, after taking heavy losses in the past with Native tribes and Europeans, when humans are near, the creatures go into hiding－sometimes moving elsewhere to avoid detrimental conflict. Oguas, Uktenas, or other large nuisances are met, however, with hostility when trespassing.

The Monongy spend much of their day sunning, sleeping, or observing activities near their home. Some craft objects and tools or cater to underwater gardens－which are used for food and comfort. Some Gill Men decorate the interior and/or exterior of their dwellings not only with gardens, but stones arranged in a variety of patterns. They are most active on rainy spring or fall days; they are also more likely to be in the water during the day and on land at night. When emerging onto land during the day, the Monongy coat their scales in mud to protect their delicate skin from the sun; though all engage in hunting on land, young adults have also been known to play-fight with one another.

Omnivores, Monongy eat aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation and organisms, including: algae, cattails, turtles, bluegill, catfish, insects, small birds, and other, similar organisms that drink from or live in their waters. When fighting larger, smarter creatures, they use weapons and tools made of bones and/or wood; clubs and spears are typically formed with their ancestors' jaws or leg bones－tokens of good luck or fortune. As Gill Men do not have a good grip, oftentimes a sticky substance is wrapped on the weapon, temporarily adhering it to the fish-folk’s hand; others tie down the weapons with strong cords. Even without the aid of tools, the Monongy fight capably, using their tails to knock opponents off their feet and their powerful limbs to strike blows to foes’ weak points. The fish-folk also have dangerous bites, which may spread illnesses, as bits of clinging food within their maws supports hordes of bacteria. Enemies entering broods nests may find themselves swarmed by the miniature, toothed offspring; though easily killed, their large numbers still pose a threat.

When one of their own passes away, they are stripped of their flesh, sinew, and organs; the grisly pieces are sent floating downstream to feed others－a macabre ritual recognizing the circle of life. The bones of their kind are treated with reverence; in fact, Gill Men are interacted more with in death than life. Bones are not only used for weaponry (believed to combine one’s ancestor’s strength with their own), but for structural supports in underwater dwellings, decorations, and teeth or other small bones are forced through the skin as ornamental body piercings. If an abandoned colony is discovered, their collected and leftover bones are recovered and repurposed in an active den.