Mushussu

A mythic beast of Birit Narim, this hybrid drake possesses features of an eagle including talons as their back legs, a beak and sometimes wings. Mushussu are revered and honored in Birit Narim, strongly associated with Marduk (Zalikar). According to myth, Marduk defeated the mushussu and made it into his servant and steed. Since then, it has guarded holy sites from his enemies or even from other gods! Extremely evasive and mobile, one isn't likely to notice a mushussu before it makes its devastating attacks! Its kaithur is both adaptive and intensely destructive, easily tearing apart the average trespasser. To this very day, none have successfully infiltrated Dawn Ahrayn in the night, these fierce guardians ruthless and territorial. As Mushussu are divine guardians, the gates and walls of Dawn Ahrayn, the holy city and Seat of Lithmor, Marduk's wife, are littered with depictions of Mushussu. Both illusiory and real mushussu guard the grounds leading to this sacred city, difficult to discern from each other. It is believed they have been tasked with protecting Dawn Ahrayn in Marduk's absence, lurking and patrolling these sacred mountains after the sun sets. This is when the city of light is most vulnerable, sinking down from the sky as it follows the path of the sun. Mushussu are also rumored to protect Murk Mountain but no one knows for sure. Tertiary Predator Omnivore Nocturnal Intelligent Camouflage

Kaithur

First Ability Azowyr's Body Those inheriting Azowyr's Body can convert their entire body into shadows, maintaining their natural shape or abandoning this entirely. They can merge with and travel along other shadows in their environment before reforming elsewhere, slipping through even the smallest of spaces. They are also able to see in even total darkness too. This is considered the ultimate expression of shadow magic! However, their flesh can be destroyed by bright or magical lights when in shadow form. Besida's Form (Raptor) Mushussu with Besida's Form can take on features of a kind of falcon or eagle, which species different from mushussu to mushussu. Often these are eagle talons, a hooked beak, raptor eyes and on occasion even wings! Each Mushussu is unique. Second Ability Vokda's Blade Those with Vokda's Blade can generate void blades from their body or as bladed weapons which cut into and separate the space between molecules. Mushussu usually manifest these blades in their claws or talons if not their beaks. These blades can cut through any material and aren't visible to those without void magic. Vokda's Touch Mushussu with Vokda's Touch are able to expand the void within any material via touch, separating matter on a molecular level and violently disintigrating what they touch! The longer they maintain contact, the more pervasive this effect.

Anatomy

Original Ancestor Lifespan Unknown 500-1300 years Height Length 22-28 in 57-72 cm 41-57 in 103-145 cm Weight 42-55 lbs 19-25 kg 37-49 lbs 17-22 kg Coloration Scales are reddish gray to reddish-black with gray edges. Spikes line their back in the shape of a V along their shoulders. Their limbs are paler and their underparts are all white. Hatchlings are sooty-brown with a white patch on their chest. In their magic form, Mushussu become completely charcoal or pitch black.

Draconic Features All dragons possess innate elemental features aside from their kaithur as they are divine creatures. These abilities are believed to come from their very bones and scales. This includes total immunity to energy and fire magic, though dark dragons lack the immunity to light magic other dragons possess. In fact, they are weak to all light magic but especially solar magic, even sunlight keenly weakening them. But dark dragons are totally immune to all dark magic, especially shadow and void. They can step on or swim through any shadow or void in their environment, regardless of actual physical surfaces. Finally, they possess perfect darkvision and can perceive the usually invisible void and void magic. And of course, like all dragons their scales are extremely hardy and difficult to damage.

Habitat

Semi-Desert Montane Desert Steppe Polar While Mushussu are most famous as the guardians of Dawn Ahrayn, their range is fairly extensive even if they are rarely spotted. Some have even come to call them black hounds as they resemble canines. They are seen as sinister beasts lurking amid shadows and reporting back to Zalikar himself! In reality, Mushussu reside only in arid habitats such as deserts, semi-deserts, xeric steppes, mountains and even tundras, their scales unadapted to humid environments. While they prefer warm habitats, their void magic makes them impervious cold temperatures. Their range stretches from Birit Narim, throughout the deserts of the Frozen Wastes and into Bharat. They might also reside within Parsa, Kna'an and Sesli Plato but avoid the depths of the Shamsi Desert, weak to radiant magic!

Diet

Omnivore Mammalivore Anthrovore Frugivore The majority of a Mushussu's diet consists of meat but they won't pass up the opportunity when fruit is available, enjoying Khisbat Palm dates, Ramli al-Hanzal melons, bananas, berries and more. Otherwise they focus entirely on mammals. While 80% of their diet consists of antelope and deer, they might also hunt hares, rodents and as the opportunity arises, humans. They are nocturnal predators, hunting from dusk to dawn but never in sunlight which severely weakens or even wounds them! Having exceptional speed and endurance, Mushussu employ a surprising variety of hunting strategies. Most often mated pairs hunt together, one acting as a decoy while the other attacks from behind. Mushussu are a small predator but are individually quiet, cunning and stealthy--but most of all their void magic packs a potent punch! Other tactics involve the whole pack. One mushussu will chase their prey, often much slower than their quarry, and chase them into an ambush. Prey is chased into ravines, bushes or hollows where the entire pack lays in wait. Alternately, mushussu might simply run their prey down until they are exhausted, much like a ǁKo Wild Dog. In the end, the mushussu makes the kill by grabbing the snout of prey, disintigrating their face with Vokda's Touch while the rest of the pack attacks from behind, shredding prey apart with void blades! Yet despite their cunning strategies and potent magic, Mushussu aren't apex predators. Throughout their range, they compete with Wata Jackal, sloth bears, leopards, fox, bears, lions and Baihu Tiger.

Life Cycle

Gregarious Oviparous Monogamous Alloparental Territorial Communication Altruistic Mushussu live in small packs of about 6-8 individuals. While usually quiet, they may still communicate with howling, barking, whimpering, whining, growling and hissing. Despite their longevity, Mushussu are strictly monogamous, mating for life! This pair forms between separate packs, intimate and loyal. These two most often hunt together and if one leaves the pack so will their partner. Breeding occurs between October and December, making a den within dark ravines or even caves. Clutches consist of 5-6 eggs, hatching after 620-750 days. Hatchlings are totally helpless, blind and consisting only of shadow for 1-2 weeks--any sunlight could kill them! Throughout the rest of their childhood, they are raised by the entire pack. They are small and only leave their nest at night, resembling wisps of smoke with draconic eyes, beaks and sharp talons! They are not fully mature until they reach two hundred years old. Upon maturing, young Mushussu depart from their pack and seek out their own territory and mate. Often they might join a growing pack or might replace sick or old members if not one who has recently passed away.