Bestiary

Wyvern - by T.A. Saunders and documented by S.A. Robles ©2015 v1.0

Stats Description

Setting aside the unclear ancestry of wyverns, the easiest way to describe them is as feral pygmy dragons with a serpentine characteristics. Their leathery skin, covered with a smattering of minute scales, generally ranges from brown to green in the Jungle Wyvern (Anguigena Parvus Nemoralis) subspecies and blue to gray in the Tundra Wyvern (Anguigena Parvus Gelidus). Mutations within both varieties can produce albinos, which have a far higher likelihood of thriving in colder environs less visited by Ka’s rays. Chaos Wyverns (Anguigenae Parvus Horroris), a third subspecies ranging from brown to black, are found only on Vocoria and neighboring landmasses to a lesser extent. This variety is notably stockier, and the bony protrusions contributing to their monstrous appearance make them less apt at extended flight. Lesser known subspecies also exist: demonic-looking Xosian Wyverns (Anguigenae Parvus Larualis) whose eggs can only incubate in Frozen Dark’s frigid flames, and the bat-like Void Wyverns (Anguigenae Parvus Vacivus) with poor vision that thrive in Niraeth by using supersonic echolocations, to name a few.

Universal qualities include powerful winged forearms, whip-like tails that sometimes sprout spiky protrusions, and long necks capable of surprising maneuverability despite the turgid muscle and bone necessary to support their reptilian heads. Messy eating habits, infighting, and the shark-like trait in which lost teeth are constantly replaced lead to maws filled with disarranged fangs that resemble pits of spikes more than mouths. Coupled with a wingspan that can reach up to 40’ in length and their gorilla-like quadruped posture leaving them up to 16’ tall while in motion, to see one hissing up venom and glaring with its ravenous eyes as it approaches by either land or air can only get worse with the addition of more of these 500 lb. predators.

Lore

The origin of wyverns yet lingers as an unsolved mystery of the modern world, alongside that of drakes. Some theorize that both may be an offshoot of degenerated dragon born in from the Falling’s aftermath, but such an assertion is vehemently contested by the prideful draconic culture. Others advocate them being the forgotten descendants of selectively bred winged dinosaurs called pterosaurs by the ancient Zish people, back when both were widespread across Shalzaar; their presence on both Irys and Vocoria is often used as circumstantial evidence of this. Another possibility is that they were a gift imparted unto the Dark Zissah of Vocoria, the mythic Xosian Wyvern and the species’ remarkable adaptability to inhospitable condition cited as evidence. Whatever the case may be, they now inhabit a variety of extreme environments as predators dangerously high on the food chain.

Likely the most prominent trait shared amongst the wyvern subspecies is one that the Masar, and to a lesser extent the Masoq, also hold: sheer resilience in wiry bodies that sometimes verge on emaciated depending on the availability of food. Their powerfully muscled wings are designed for periodic bursts of frightening speed and catching the thermal winds they reach to soar like kites, something that even the Tundra Wyverns are able to manage in subzero temperatures. It’s unknown what sort of physiological adaptations the subspecies underwent to sustain flight in a freezing sky, but there is some conjecture that they release controlled amounts of toxin from their own glands into their bloodstream to induce a spike in body temperature while airborne – a possible origin of Voraathi Blood Venom. The Jungle Wyverns that inhabit Irys and other small island chains throughout Adanum conversely sun themselves regularly during the mornings on bright days to shore up energy before proceeding to hunt. This subspecies, due to the dense vegetation providing aerial cover to prey, is surprisingly adept at hunting on the ground. Ones that nest nearer to coasts will sometimes glide across the water to snatch appealing prey in their hind leg talons and take it back to solid ground for consumption. All wyverns living on Adanum are known to shed quarterly; information regarding the planar varieties is not forthcoming.

While unlikely to prey upon humanoid populations, a hungry wyvern who chances upon one traversing the wilderness isn’t going to be picky. Whenever possible, an airborne wyvern will conduct the opening ceremony by swooping down from behind to either tackle their perceived meal to the ground. In the case of more defensibly armored targets, the wyvern will instead grapple their shoulders or back to lift a distance – usually 30’ to 40’ – off the ground before dropping them; the pulverized target is then either spat at with their venom or struck with its tail until expiration. Sometimes a mated pair, with or without their brood, while hunt bigger quarries. Prey such as Borjah and Irysian Elephants are cruelly dealt with by the pair repeatedly swooping down to knock it prone, only to take flight again and continue the cycle until their meal is exhausted and bloodied for the taking. The venom glands are present inside the throats of wyverns, often used as a short-range projectile spray, but they tend to reserve it for when injured or cornered. The venom causes crippling disorientation and nervous system damage, and is generally fatal in smaller animals (and children) unless treated immediately. Chaos and Xosian Wyverns are less strategically minded, and if not being guided by a rider are far more inclined to engage in a vicious all-out assault.

Due to their highly aggressive and territorial behavior, wyverns in the wild tend to stay either solitary or in family environment. A typical nest is composed of a mating male and female and their eggs or young brood. Markedly possessive, each of them consider the other to be theirs without exception. This twisted dedication means that they often mate for life, and if one is killed the other will relentlessly pursue its slayer until successful in consuming them or slain themselves. Death by natural cause will on occasion result in the survivor seeking out a new mate – usually after eating from their deceased partner’s corpse. Rather surprisingly, both Tundra and Jungle Wyverns exhibit gentle and protective behavior toward their young offspring. Captive wyverns from the aforementioned subspecies have been witnessed licking the shed skin from their year olds, and in the wild they regurgitate food for them during the same time period. The mating pair will alternate watch over their nest unerringly until the hatchlings are capable of roaring for aid and defending themselves long enough for help to arrive. This kindness is short-lived, however, as after two to three years – whenever they reach sexual maturity – they are expected to develop their survival skills and leave within the coming year. Weak or otherwise unproductive ones have more than once become a meal due to lingering too long during a shortage of prey. On rare occasion, usually due to the presence of albinism or simply superior parameters, one may be allowed to remain as a third adult, so long as they provide for themselves and food isn’t scarce. Their reverence of the pearly-skinned albino offspring and kin has been put forward to support that they may hold a sort of genetic memory of draconic ancestry that induces respect toward the Xin.

No amount of ferocity or prestige is enough to keep non-sapient species from being preyed upon by the wise, and wyverns are no exception. Their leathery wings, highly resilient hide, bones, and horns are all used in a variety of more archaic weaponry, armor, and ornamentation. Hunting parties will on occasion scout for their nests, monitor a located one for years until there are eggs present, and then attempt to slay both adults. Providing they are successful – which is no guarantee with two desperate parents fighting to defend their unborn babies – the bodies are picked of resources and the eggs are transported elsewhere for incubation and sale. Wild wyverns – even hatchlings – are impossible to domestic, although some Druids and Rangers have been able to tame them to a degree. To this end, only wyverns hatched and bred in captivity with exceeding caution can be trained enough to be ridden. The Zissah of Irys and their baleful counterparts, both the few in hiding there and majority that live on Vocoria, are known to train them for this purpose. In recent decades, the Miroan society established by Nilharys the Black has also established teams to serve as scouts and aerial support. A small handful of them can also be found reared by the Shalzaari people paired with members of some law enforcement groups to assist in surveillance, as well as amongst the Tallis-Kah in Northwestern Tal`Rah. While the connection found in the Dragonriders of Farwind and their partners is absent, wyverns are fervently loyal to whomever they imprint upon as family, and a wyvern whose rider is lost has been known to fall into depression or go on a berserk rampage against whomever claimed them. This loyalty may sometimes extend to their riders’ companions, at least to the point that mere proximity or light contact won’t result in injuries, but they retain their generally violent proclivities toward the masses and hunting instinct will on occasion cause them to attack prey animals.