Isk Viper
These are a venomous viper native across northern Alkelbulan. In some places, Isk are feared if not hunted while in others they are respected and revered, Isk Vipers commonplace in lore and mytholgy. In Parsa in particular these snakes are associated with their old gods, still surviving despite the spread of Islam al'Rasul. For this reason, Isk Vipers are associated with heretics and jinn by their muslim neighbors. But Isk vipers are content to spend much of their time waiting beneath desert sands for prey, leaving only their horns exposed to lure uniwtting prey.
Predator |
Prey |
Carnivore |
Nocturnal |
Crepuscular |
Kaithur
First Ability
Aasaru's Form
With Aasaru's Form, Isk vipers are able to transform their horns into a kind of desert plant, usually aloe or a kind of grass like Jari Tamal or Mashe Lovegrass. Each viper is different. Used to lure herbivorous prey. 
Second Ability
Rithaldis' Sense
Those with Rithaldis' Sense able to feel their environment using radiant energy, anything interacting with it and sense radiant energy in their environment despite barriers. Radiant energy includes sunlight, photons, radiation and solar plasma--plentifulin Shamsi. They aslo cannot be harmed by radiant energy, even radiation.
Ilnid's Skin
Those with Ilnid's Skin are able to convert their scales into glass or quartz. They can build this up into layers or expand it into spikes or armor. They also cannot be harmed by sand or glass, magic or natural. Mostly used defensively, to kill prey by coiling around them or to protect them from glass in course sand (like in Arabiyyah). 
Anatomy
Original Ancestor | Cerastes cerastes Saharan Horned Viper |
|---|---|
Lifespan | 15-18 years |
Length | 12-33 in 30-85 cm |
Isk vipers are easily identified by their horns, features which can be folded against their head when burrowing--and they are apt diggers. Males tend to have larger heads and eyes than females while females are larger than males. The body tint of an Isk Viper can range from yellowish to pale gray, pinkish, reddish or even pale brown, whichever matches their habitat. Dark, semi-rectangular blotches line their back while their bellies are white.
Adaptions
Isk venom causes swelling, hemorrhaging, necrosis, naseau, vomiting and hematuria (bloody urine). They might even cause cardiotoxicity and myotoxicity. The bite of an Isk Viper usually injects about 19-27 mg or even upwards of 100 mg of venom in a bite, the lethal dose for humans being 40-50 mg.
Toxic | Camouflage |
Habitat
Desert | Semi-Desert | Shrubland | Rural |
Isk vipers can be found throughout northern Alkelbulan, especially within the Shamsi Desert. They can also be found in Parsa, the Arabiyyan Desert, Balkurtiz, Kna'an, Kemet and Birit Narim. These desert vipers prefer dry and sandy habitats with infrequent rocky structures. They don't care for coarser sands but might occasionally live within oases.
Diet
Herpetovore | Mammalivore | Avivore |
These are nocturnal carnivores, feeding on Mul'ataa Agama, Qafz Jerboa and birds like Ramil Lark and Marqat Sandgrouse.
As an ambush predator, Isks submerge themselves into the sand near rocks or plants. They convert their horns into a kind of desert plant which either attracts their prey directly or attracts insects their prey are interested in. Isk Vipers remain totally still until they sense the approach of a beast of the right size, striking quickly and coiling around prey while their venom goes into effect. Those with Ilnid's Skin won't hesitate to cut apart prey with their razor sharp, glass scales wheras those with Rithaldis' Sense are far more cautious.
Life Cycle
Oviparous | Precocial |
Isk vipers mate in april, usually while buried in the sand, and their eggs are hidden under rocks or in abandoned rodent burrows. A female will lay 8-23 eggs which incubate for 50-80 days, snakelets born measuring 5-6 in (12-15 cm). Completely independant from birth, an Isk snakelet is fully mature after two years.
Behavior
Solitary | Agonistic |
Isk vipers move with a sidewinding motion, pressing their weight into the sand and leaving distinct impressions. This peculiar motion appears unnaturally flexible, peoples like the Quiris believing they have no spine. While they aren't overtly aggressive, Isk Vipers will assume a C shaped posture when they feel threatened and rub their coils together. This produces a rasping sound thanks to the shape of their scales, even more unsettling when they have glass scales. They are quick to strike if approached in this position.
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