Linnorm

Linnorms, otherwise known as Scourge Dragons, are a family of gigantic wingless dragons with long serpentine bodies lacking rear limbs, which once made their home within the world of ancient Aetheus. They were not capable of magical flight. They were the original draconic race on Aetheus. Like true dragons, they possess a terrible breath weapon, but unlike their cousins, they are not innate spell casters.
Born out of the birth of the universe, taking their own shape but without a divine spark - allowing them to frolic and exult in the new world formed by the Primordials. Though they lived in the universe, the chaotic yet powerful essence of the Elemental Chaos flowed within their veins and spewed from their mouths in gouts of flame or waves of paralyzing cold, and was considered the first species of Primordials - the first to hold a collection of powerful elemental souls. They also developed keen minds and lofty spirits that linked them, as with all sentient mortal beings, to the Astral Sea. However, they were connected less by the links to the Elemental Chaos, rather, they celebrated their connection to the brute reality of the universe. To survive meant to be strong, and to be strong, you must compete constantly against others. Some allowed themselves to embrace their physical link to the Elemental Chaos, allowing the power within them to manifest externally. They became disasters incarnate, taking the forms of fantastic catastrophes that shook the world and that continue to wreak havoc millennia later. When a mountain explodes, a Linnorm might erupt from it along with sprays of molten rock. When a cyclone or a hurricane rages, a Linnorm might lurk within the eye of the storm, revelling in the destruction. They seek to make their marks on the world, literally, and to have others fear and propitiate them. They have learned to visit afflictions upon living creatures, almost universally evil, they enjoy the raw physicality of melee combat.
The Linnorms have two powerful forelimbs which it uses to assist in locomotion when it slithers. Its head resembles that of one of the chromatic dragons with evil eyes, huge jaws and a large set of gnarled horns. They have long, serpentine bodies that are covered in greyscales and end in three barb-tipped tails. Favoured by some primal power of the mysterious Fey, any who manage to slay a Linnorm are forever cursed, making them exceptionally vulnerable to any sort of fire or heat. Some are said to be as small as 60-120 feet long and weigh up between 12,000 pounds to 12 tons.
Tenets of the Linnorms:

• The strong impose their will, the weak do not. Good, evil, chaos, law. These things are only possible through might.
• Lies are the tools of the weak, embrace what you are and feel not ashamed.
• It is naive to believe that peace will last, strive to control your world.
• Serve the Linnorms, punish the usurper dragons, those that would steal the world for themselves.

DESCRIPTION

Linnorms had immense gigantic bodies that were snake-like, lacking both wings and rear limbs. They moved through a combination of walking with their forelegs and slithering like a snake. Their bodies could grow as large as 70 feet (21 metres) and weigh as much as 2 tons (1800kg).
These primaeval dragons had flexible skeletons, containing hundreds of vertebrae, and grew large trunk muscles that allowed them to dig into the ground with the scales of their underbelly and by pushing forward with their ribs. Their forelegs ended in sharp, razor-like claws.

PERSONALITY

These creatures were typically known to be cruel, hateful, and very spiteful. They were known to never known signs of compassion or empathy, caring nothing for the deaths of other creatures. They were fiercely territorial. Unlike some draconic creatures, not all linnorms were known to be avaricious. The oldest of linnorms typically suffered from some form of insanity due to their isolative nature. They tended to be solitary creatures, they could not stand another linnorm within their territory. They have been around since the beginning of the universe, were brilliant strategists and highly knowledgable of the past, of history and long-forgotten civilisations.

ABILITIES

Much like the more common breeds of dragons, linnorms possessed varying forms of dragon breath. They were also immune to magical effects that induced sleep or paralysis. They had keen visual senses, possessing both a form of blindsight and dark vision.

SOCIETY

Due to their single-mindedness, these creatures lacked a societal structure and largely lived solitary lives, usually refusing to ally themselves with any other living creature. Whenever they did ally with someone, a linnorm would typically turn upon them after they achieved their goals.
Once every decade, female linnorms would release pheromones that were tuned to the heightened senses of male linnorms, though this call to mate went unanswered more often than not. While mating these creatures entangled their long bodies around one another, forming a sort of 'mating ball'. The resulting clutch of eggs would be cared for by the female until they hatched, at which point they would be abandoned.

KNOWN LINNORMS

• Xagekhan, the Ceaseless Quake: Force-Celestial/ Primal
• Voxicorst, the Caustic Devourer: Poison-Acid/ Primal
• Leviaroth, the Slumbering Tempest: Cold-Thunder/ Primal
• Neophatos, the Reckoner Necrotic-Psychic/ Primal
• Raghediphus, the Shining Core: Fire-Radiant/ Primal
• Bolzrucriar, the Screaming Deluge Lightning-Cold/ Primal