The ray is a flat-bodied fish with a venomous sting. It tends to hide in silt, waiting for opportunity to attack. Apart from the severe pain and eventual shock, the hemotoxic venom contained in the sting may cause an allergy.[1]
While dangerous to obtain, ray skins, called shagreen, are valued by gnomes of Tir Tochair. The famed gwyhyrs have their hilts covered in ray shagreen to assure firmer grasp and reduce slipperiness.[2]