Ruby Tane

'From skeletal remains, partial fossilized specimens, along with ancient artworks and written descriptions we can piece together what these magnificent creatures likely looked like. Ferocious, highly energetic hunters, with bullwhip like tails, short and wide snouts, flaring at the tip, their teeth long, straight and thick, with heavy serrations. Its skull shape suggests a large brain, which goes well with the folklore and mythology surrounding the Tanes, which suggest a true sapient intellect, not unlike our own, but much sharper and stronger, by all accounts. They were the masters of the world in their time, the apex of all. Ruby Tanes in particular, seem to have been swift and strong, their skeletal structure suggesting a heavy physicality, bearing many signs of joint wear and stress within the fossil record. The largest skulls and semi complete skeletons give us a good comparison for their likely size, and combined with the written records we possess well, it helps us at least attempt to try and imagine what seeing such a creature would be like, and allows us to try and visualize through word and sketch what they could have looked like.

"Scales of ember and spark, deep burnt orange blending to soft reds line the underbelly of this lean and athletic predator, its legs massively strong, its tail snapping back and forth. Heat radiates from its body, as one's eyes run up the legs and to the long reptilian like body, the scales giving way to deeper fires and reds, and the deepest of true ruby tone all up the shoulders, sides, flanks, head and back. Smoke wisps from the nostrils, heat, embers and sparks constantly rise and dance, pop and hiss from all around the mighty Tane, the air alive with Doitean, though no fires erupt, for its mere presence a conduit. It leaves no mere footprints, but scars them into the earth and soil, leaving burning around the edges, the charcoal edges a territorial marker. Running up the center of its chest and neck to the center of its jaw, a dull glowing vein visible through more transparent scales of its underbelly, and if inspected closely, the glowing seems to be as if magma or liquid flame bubbling and boiling within. The Magmis-Veris, unique to the Ruby Tane amongst other draconids of the Ruby variety, marking this as a True Dragon, a Tane. Liquid fire, the purest of Doitean, ever flows through its body. The eyes like hot coals, black with a soft orange and red glow, however like a bonfire, they erupt to life when emotion and passion takes hold the mighty beast, seeming as if the brightest of flames. Those eyes! They hold an intelligence that challenges and surpasses that of a mere mortal, they hold a connectivity to and an understanding of creation itself, something deep and fundamental that most mere humanoid kind can never truly experience or understand." From this description and the skeletal remains we have, the fossils we have discovered, images such as the one I've shown you here today, are generally agreed to be most likely.'

Pila Isabella, Archaelogist Lector, beginning her first lecture about Tanes.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Ruby Tanes were quadrapedal creatures, capable of great power. They were lean for a Tane, but tall and quite long, with a strong build. They were likely capable of sprinting great distances, able to leap quite far as well. Their bone structure in fossils we've found, the upper ribcage shows a unique shape, with an odd protrusion about the size of a watermelon, where the ribs are notably harder and not hollow, the only non hollow bones, besides the skull, in the entire skeletal structure. Within this protrusion, on ever fossilized specimen ever found, there are obvious signs, scarring, cracking, blackening, of burning on the inside face of the bones. Given what we know of wyverns and drakes, it is presumed that their smaller Arcanis Glands are an evolution from an organ Tanes likely possessed, which is as of now known as the Elementias Sac. It is believed that this organ was the center piece of an entire system within these creatures that would draw in Doitean as one might draw in a breath of air, filtering and seperating it, purifying it and manifesting it in volumes and concentrations that would pool as a liquid. This truefire, this breath of the inferno, was one of the Ruby Tane's most potent weapons, and the stories of it are that of legend. Liquid flame pouring forth from its mouth, engulfing and clinging to everything, as if magma and firestorm in one.

Given we have fossilized imprints from the scales, leftover body presses of a sort, partial ones preserved in rock, it is believed that they had some sort of semi-visible tube or artery running up the neck to their bottom jaw. Amongst fossilized bottom jaws there is a strange opening, two small discs of bone that bear all the marks and wear of a joint of some kind that overlap each other. It is believed this was a valve of sorts the other end of the Magmis-Verin, as the artery is known, which would allow them to breath fire. These are all theories of course, as no live specimen has ever been examined. Interestingly enough the fossilized teeth show slight charring and charcoaling about their point and serrations, suggesting a natural omnipresent level of heat within the creature's maw. Similarly so do fossilized claws that have been uncovered.

However due to such fossils being predominantly found amongst ancient stone likely formed from volcanic activity, some scholars debate the authenticity of the assertion that these chars and burns are from when the creature was alive, arguing that it is far more likely they were caused after death. We simply have no way to know, although it is very telling that even the rare specimens found in deposits of stone and earth well far from any sign of volcanic activity now or in the distant past bear signs of these strange burns.

Biological Traits

Given limited reference material and fossilized remains, and making judgements and hypothesizing from this information, we have a guess as to the likely lifespan, both average and maximum, as well as heights, weights and lengths. These will be noted below. Our best guess for a sort of maximum life span, naturally is in the range of 1600-1700 years, the age the creature who left the fossils of the oldest and largest remains, likely reached. From this, naturally the postulated average life span/expectancy will be notably lower. From the fossil records, it would also seem that Tanes, including those of the Ruby variety, never stopped growing until they died. This is theorized to be part and parcel of their inherently manna based and magickal nature, containing so much raw energy of creation within their soul and spirit that it would simply need a bigger and bigger body to live within. The largest fossil specimen on record, a complete skull and five vertebrae and an intact ribcage, based on their size and complex ratio math postulate out to some 18.3 meters (60') in length and some 4.8 meters (16') tall at the shoulder. Based on our best guess from limited understanding of general theories of muscle structures, bone density, and biological matter in general, as well as limited written descriptions our best and broadest guess of such a specimen is that it would likely weigh nearly 2270 kgs (or about 5000 lbs). Naturally given this is the top end specimen, the presumed average sizes are reduced some, with the idea that such a large and old specimen is a rarity, a top end of age and size.

Genetics and Reproduction

Very little is known about the details of how any species of Tane reproduced, however we objectively know a few things. In the case of Ruby Tanes, we do know they laid eggs, as we have a nearly complete female skeleton, perhaps the best preserved find of the species, and within her torso were found two fossilized and unbroken eggs. Furthermore, in two seperate instances, one in the northern wilds of Valewyr, and again in Mount Kilijari, a long dormant volcano along Waston's southern coasts, a nest containing fossilized eggs were uncovered. Of these finds, the one in Mount Kilijari was the most complete and the most easily identifiable, as the eggs, though fossilized, still showed a deep but dull red hue. From ancient writings, we understand that in life, such eggs would have gleamed with ruby reds and deep crackling oranges, as if containing the purity of Inferno itself. Both nests were found intact, and the Mount Kilijari nest did indicate to us that multiple eggs was not an anomaly, for it also contained two eggs. From this limited information it is presumed that a clutch likely ranged between 1-3 eggs, though in truth we simply do not have enough data for such assertions.

Growth Rate & Stages

Dating fossils is difficult but not impossible, though getting exact numbers is exceedingly difficult. What is known however is that Tanes lived a long time. Fossilized scales can be aged by Ruby Magisters working with an Amethyst Magister through a complex and manna intensive ritual, and the few that have ever been found paint us a picture of a species with an extreme lifespan, with the oldest having seen millenia rise and fall. It is believed they had stages of growth and maturity, based upon what surviving stories and legends have been passed down orally, and what few ancient written works yet remain and have been translated. Broadly however, we group all Tanes into 8 categories by age and the same is true for Ruby Tanes. These age categorizations, and the rough age range for them are listed below;

Age Category	Age Range
Hatchling	1-50 years
Youngling	51-150 years
Sub-Adult	151-250 years
Adult	251-700 years
Old	701-850 years
Elder	850-1000 years
Ancient	1001-1200 years
Great Wyrm	1201+ years

The oldest fossil specimen is roughly aged at likely having died at around 1600 years old, though it is an anomaly, with the next oldest only being some 1250 years old when it died. So this would suggest anything north of 1200 years was truly extraordinary, however not impossible. Based on that information, and the roughly estimated ages of other fossil finds, and the spread of them, this rough table exists. Some debate will always continue about assigning such absolute ranges of age and values, as well as what significance, if any, exists between some of these ranges. However they are a useful tool regardless of such debates.

Ecology and Habitats

Based on where fossils have been discovered, the kinds of climates, environments and geology, as well as what few written sources remain and have been translated from ancient times long past, there is some general consensus as to the sorts of habitats Ruby Tanes would have inhabited. Places with little water to be found, and with very high natural temperatures, likely prefering hot, dry and arid, though the heat would have been the biggest requirement. Deserts, sun-baked wastelands, volcanic regions, even inside volcanoes. They would have been wide ranging predators, likely dominating a wide area and home range. Though of course, they were far from animals and we know that they were both feared and worshipped by our own ancestors many millenia ago.

Some scholars theorize that older Tanes may have even exerted a level of terraforming by the nature of their existence upon their surroundings, a concept that would seem in line with a notable percentage of remaining mythology and translated works from ancient times, though to what level or extent is not truly understood. In the case of Ruby Tanes, it is believed this could have manifested in drier and more sun soaked conditions, as well as perhaps increases in volcanic activity among other things.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Fossilized remains from three finds are generally used in these assertions and whilst yes this is a small, almost statistically insignificant data set is is the best we have to work off of. In conjuncture with these finds, as well as three various myths and one bit of translated text from one or two manuscripts of a sort, and comparing and contrasting to their closest living cousins, it is believed that a Ruby Tane's diet would have been omnivorous in nature, though leaning heavily towards meat and bone, and perhaps even bits of raw lava, the cooling magma perhaps having nutritional value of some kind to such a creature. This interesting tidbit is presumed because in all three finds, what would have been molten rock, bite size (for a Tane of appropriate size) slabs of what would have been molten rock at the time the creature lived, have been found within the cavity that would have been its stomach. Perhaps this was nutrition, perhaps meant to help with digestion, or even with accumulating manna. Whatever the purpose it is seen as irrefutable that magma made up some level of their diet.

Along with this, the fossilized remains within these stomach finds indicate that Ruby Tanes were broad in their diet. Some kind of large ungulate, as well as ursine, canine, humanoid, and even avain remains have been found, as well as fossilized seeds and plant matter that suggests fruit, branches, entire limbs would have been eaten. However this plant matter is quite limited, only making up between 10-15% of the contents of each of the finds, suggesting that whilst they were omnivores, it was likely more a trait born of necessity by evolution and less by nature or desire, due to their size and their likely highly significant nutrition needs since presumably their metabolic rates were of a notably high persuasion. What is also notable is that the fossilized plant matter shows plentiful evidence of high charring and charcoaling, an amount that very likely would have had to occur out in the open air before consumption, which would make sense given Ruby Tanes have but a one chamber stomach, unlike other creatures with a predominantly plant based diet. To digest such matter, especially leaf and limb, would be a massive expenditure of energy and resources for a body if the plant matter were green and healthy. Charred and burned however, is a much different story, though then the query must be raised as to what the nutritional value would be, what the benefit to these creatures was.

Behaviour

By what limited mythology and sources remain, it would suggest that Ruby Tanes were highly passionate, energetic and active creatures. They traveled the length and range of their home territory with high frequency in all likelihood, in part out of necessity for seeking nutrition, though as with any Tane, what limited writings we do have indicate that they possessed a lair of sorts, a place where they would keep and hoard objects of great value to them. Ruby Tanes in particular, the few such stories we have, suggest a love of passionate works, paintings, sculptures, artwork, and other objects crafted by mortal hands with love, respect and passion for one's craft. It would seem that such objects were a great and worthy prize, and one would assume, given their supposed sapience, objects they would be willing to barter and boon for.

The hoarding behavior of all Draconids and their ancient ancestors is well documented, and one partial hoard, discovered in Mount Kilijari, contained sculptures, beautifully preserved paintings, as well as a variety of tools and other hand crafted objects from civilization's long since passed. Much of what was found was in poor or unsalvageable condition, however among it all a few noteworthy pieces, including 2 paintings and one sculpture that seems to depict the All Mother in her eight embodiments, were found. These historic pieces are beyond treasure, they have no monetary value that one could assign, they transcend such simple considerations, and are currently housed in a vault in Waston's Academia Masoluem for the Naturalized History of Valerick, and are the most difficult and expensive exhibits to see within the facility.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

The eye sockets are set pretty forward on the skulls of Ruby Tanes, the mark of a creature that is primarily a predator, and its jaws taper in a snub like snout, very lizard or alligator like. Protruding spines and scale growths, comparable to volcanic rock formations are often referenced in what stories and myths do still exist, both oral and written, and the skulls do show evidence of such structures likely having been present, though it is often impossible to differentiate them from surrounding rock when unearthing fossils.

Average Intelligence

It is presumed, due to skull size, along with mythos and what limited reference material exists, that Tanes were highly intelligent and even sapient creatures. Ruby Tanes in particular are believed to have had a high ego and social intelligence, given the limited writings and myths speak of them with respect and even fascination and love, less so a fear or loathing. They likely were sociable creatures, with a high energy.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Given what we know of Draconids, a few things are assumed to be true of the Tanes, of true dragons. For Ruby Tanes, like all dragons, they likely could sense magick, or perhaps even see it, likely possessing Aether Sight. Ruby Tanes in particular also very likely had a high sensitivity for the manipulation of Doitean, able to sense and pinpoint such activities from great distances. This is all assumption and estimation of course, based on best guesses from mythology, ancient record, fossils, and comparison to their closest living cousins.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Whilst we know precious little of what any species called themselves, we do know that they often were given monikers from what sources and myths survive today, and they would often accept and acknowledge these names and titles. In the case of Ruby Tanes, these often tied to fire, flame or heat in some way. Names like Infern'magmis or Blaz'il'ire.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

By all the stories and what myths and written sources we have, it does seem worthy of note that Tanes could speak fluently Arcanis, as well as Valarian and even Celestial by some accountings, often as well as other local tongues of sapient species in their home range. This again speaks to their intellect. Besides this, the language we know now as Draconic, it is likely born of some hybridization of Celestial and giving verbalization to the pictographic language of Arcanis, and Tanes, including those of Ruby, are likely the progenitors of that language, so presumably would be fluent and masters of it.

EXTINCT

Scientific Name

Infernius Draconis Thaneir

Lifespan

900-1100 years is our best current hypothesis

Conservation Status

Show spoiler

The species is believed extinct on Valerick. In truth Tanes are something far more....than biological entities. They are pure embodiments of creation, the purest and first of children of the primordial forces and of the All-Mother of creation, Geai. She has long since moved on from Valerick and this universe and dimension, however her children remain. Valerick is a fallen realm, its manna ever tainted, and as such, Tanes cannot last long here, being slowly poisoned and corrupted, their natural demeanor changed, twisted, turning them feral, hostile, monstrous, until their physical form is vanquished and they are freed into the Aether to flee this realm and to the Planar Sea, where they return to the eternal conflict with the Void. However if left to long, their very essence is corrupted enough that instead they can be claimed by the Void, and a new Nightmare is born, perhaps even an Avatar. All of this is far beyond mortal understanding and the truths of this are yet to be actually understood on Valerick. The idea that Tanes could and are still upon the world, much less are effectively near immortal extraplanar entities imprisoned in physical forms here to attempt to corrupt their very existence by the Great Enemy is.....a highly complex and little understood truth. Even the Magisterium is more or less unaware of the complexities of the cosmos in this way, they are unaware of the true role that they play

Average Height

3-4.25 meters (10'-14') tall

Average Weight

1450-1950 kgs (3200-4300 lbs)

Average Length

12.2-15 meters (40'-49') in length with some 10' of that being its whip like tail.

Average Physique

Despite their size and shape, they would likely have been strong, but not bulky like some Tanes, but with a rather lean and sharp shape to their body structure. Their strong bullwhip like tail was likely quite broad and thick, and some think this is in part due to the stories of such creatures swimming in tar and magma pools, seeming to enjoy the unbearable heat, finding it refreshing. The broad and powerful structure of such a tail would be useful to propel through such viscous and heavy liquids and semi solids.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Based solely on myth, legend, and precious few written sources, obviously Ruby Tanes are the color of Doitean, a deep fiery Ruby hue, however they seem to have grown into that, their back and head swiftly attaining such a hue, but their other scales starting as a ember like orange and reddening as they aged. A few fossilized scales that have been found still have a deep reddish hue, its brilliance no longer the crystal like ruby elegance it likely was in life, but still quite vibrant for something that has basically turned to stone over millenia buried in the ground.