Maysozoic day 9 comes with the colossal Ichthyosaur from the late Triassic, Shonisaurus, a truly huge beast, especially given how relatively early it evolved. Ichthyosaurs just have such an elegance to them, very similar to modern day cetaceans in that regard. For the saddle I decided to take inspiration from Avatar Way of Water. I thought the movie on the whole was fine but I was truly enamored by the creature design in it, just as in the first movie. I also took some inspiration from Aquaman, despite having never seen that movie. I remembered that the trailer showed someone riding a Mosasaur so I decided to dig it up and see how the saddle works. Overall I quite like this one, and it's very good that I actually got it done in a timely fashion, both because I can actually get it in decent lighting and it just frees up the rest of my day in general.

Around the coastal towns and cities of the region, few creatures of the deep are more respected and revered than the Shonisaurus. These oceanic behemoths are quite peaceful, only eating small fish and shelled cephalopods with their long thin snouts. Those lucky enough to form bonds with these creatures gain a useful traversal option when traveling across the sea. Should the sea prove rough due to storm or otherwise, riders will have smooth, safe passage by travelling bellow the waters surface. Since Shonisaurus tend to travel out to sea and come back to the shallows periodically, they help to ward off many would be predators due to their size. The more superstitious people believe them to be directly descended from the Sea God, and frankly, I can't blame them.