Raivanni Fire Drake
Raivanni Fire Drakes are some of the most dangerous wild drakes in all of Isesda. Exclusively found in the Heart Ranges of central Raiven, they are thought most closely descended from the True Drakes of old Dralis.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Easily identified by size and coloration, the Raivanni Fire Drake is a powerfully imposing creature. It is among the largest wild drakes, standing easily 10 meters or higher at the shoulder and with a terrifyingly imposing wingspan when fully extended, these monstrosities dominate the sky. Females are notably larger than the males, sometimes reaching as large as 15 meters at the shoulder.
Their scales are colored in patterns from pale, tan under the belly down to deep, ruddy brown along its spite. They are marked by long, back-swept horns and a spinal ridge running down from the base of the skull along the back to the tail tip. It is certainly one of the most imposing beasts found in modern Isesda.
The other instantly identifiable mark of a Raivanni Fire Drake is their projectile chemical capability which combines an projectile organic compound stored in glands in the drake's neck with saliva which causes a reaction resulting in a viscous substance that is extremely reactive with air. It not only burns incredibly hot, but also sticks to most organic materials it contacts causing ongoing pain and injury to living things. Of course, once this has been observed it's likely too late to avoid contact.
Ecology and Habitats
Raivanni Fire Drakes are found exclusively in the Heart Ranges of central Raiven, near the ancient imperial seat of Dralis. They live as solitary predators controlling vast ranges of their mountain homes. Most interactions between two drakes are brief, with the stronger of the two retreating from the encounter.
Drakes will carve out large, cavernous burrows from the mountain stone, usually directly into the face of sheer cliffs. They are almost always impossible to approach without the capacity for flight and usually do not have any other entrances. Such entrances are often easy to spot by the collection of discarded bone shards piled below the entrance.
When females are ready to mate they will attract males by marking high mountaintops with their claws and tails. Once mating has completed, the males have a brief window to escape before they are killed and consumed by the female.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Raivanni Fire Drakes are apex predators within the Heart Ranges. They mostly survive off giant game in the mountains, such as mega-avians or giants, but when hungry they will consume nearly anything. They are more likely than any other Wild Drakes to hunt and consume other draconic creatures. Their greatest enemy, and the most prevalent check on their population, is starvation. During times where game is scarce, females will cannibilize the weaker Raivanni Fire Drake males they encounter though it is still relatively rare outside mating times.
They are strict carnivores and lack the ability to metabolize plant matter. Old legends tell of Raivanni Fire Drakes consuming entire farms, buildings and all, but it is incredibly unlikely. More probably the drakes destroy the strucutres so completely in their attack that later people who discover the destruction assume the details of the attack. Still, there are no known accounts of survivors of a Raivanni Fire Drake attack on a settlement so the truth remains unknown.
Biological Cycle
Hibernation occurs throughout the Winter, begining with the first freeze of Autumn and lasting until the Spring thaws. During the time leading up to this Raivanni Fire Drakes can be incredibly dangerous as they are aggressively hunting. Many mature males will die out during this time.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Raivanni Fire Drakes have exceptional sight in both daylight and at night as well as a powerful sense of smell. They use these enhanced senses to hunt as they constantly need to feed to support their enourmous bulk. It is thought that they lack and clear sense of hearing, but they are rather adept at detecting vibrations in the stone of the mountains they call home, making them not only particularly effective ambush predators but also very well protected against being surprised in their burrows.
Scientific Name
Draco Draconis Firaris
Conservation Status
Raivanni Fire Drakes were hunted extensively in the old days of dragon slayers, but in modern times such professions have fallen to the wayside. Scholars in Axia and Atreus have worked together with Dwarf enclaves in the Heart Ranges to help preserve these mighty beasts' isolation for the mutual safety of the drakes and the surrounding civilizations.
Related Myths
Comments