“this muddiness is said to be very agreeable to the smell or taste of other fishes, [and] they gather together from all parts to it, and keep […] directly over the Kraken: He then opens his arms […] seizes and swallows his welcome guests, and converts them, […] by digestion, into a bait for other fish of the same kind.”
This hunting method is so effective that ancient Nordic fisherman sought out the Kraken, braving his wrath to get in on the bounty of fish who swarmed above him.
The Kraken has other skills too, although none of them are quite as practical as his hunting strategy. When he moves, he can create whirlpools that suck ships to a watery grave. He can also make vocal calls that cause underwater earthquakes.
Cultural Representation
Origin
The Kraken was first described in 1180 by no less than the king of Norway. As decades passed, the beast’s legend grew larger and larger, with heroes in some of Norway’s first epic tales, like the Orvar-Oddr, having close encounters with the monster.
By the mid-thirteenth century, naturalists had begun looking into the legend. The Konungs Skuggsja elaborated on its appearance and feeding habits. Even into the eighteenth century, prominent scientists like Carl Linnaeus included the Kraken in their classification of sea creatures.