Scourge to the Stormcoast
The Sky-Rat of Dorralia, or if called by its official name, Greater Glidelizard is a small lizard native to the Stormcoast. They originally lived along the cliffsides and edges of the coast, but after settlements were formed readily moved into the new habitats, most notably Dorralia itself. There they were first employed as pest control, but a wild population quickly established itself.
Description
The Glidelizard weighs about 2.5 kg, which is light for its size, considering they reach up to 40 cm in head to body length with a short tail of an additional 15 cm. The lizards have short frills along the spine and generally wear muted grey and green scales, though old lizards will develop reds on their face and neck with time.
Most notably, the lizards have scale covered leathery skin between their front and hind legs, which they can use to glide between heights. The distance traveled by the lizards is proportional to the height difference between start and landing and has been reported to reach up to a hundred meters in extreme cases.
The species sees almost no sexual dimorphism, with males and females being nigh indistinguishable to other species. Lizards older than two years reach their final size at which they have been known to swallow
Leik-crystals, which they use for a special tactic (see below).
Behaviour
Dorralian haze (via Midjourney)
The Sky-Rats show high signs of intelligence. They have been known to remember faces for several years, hold grudges and form highly organised social structures when living in larger groups. They also have shown problem solving behaviour that rivals that of crows and apes, easily opening simpler locks and raiding food supplies. As a result, the Sky-Rats are not well liked by people living along the Stormcoast. This has resulted in many confrontations with follow up "attacks" in which the lizards divebomb their new enemies to scare them away. Ultimately though, they rarely act maliciously though and have been known to mess with innocent bystanders out of boredom.
Glidelizards spend the night huddled up in groups of many to conserve energy. Shortly before sunrise, they climb the eastern walls of whatever structure they live on or in and catch the rays of sunrise to get back up to temperature. Whenever Storms occur, the Glidelizards have been known to scale the highest place they can find and raise their tail to try and catch a lightning strike. This does, surprisingly, not kill the lizard, but instead charges the swallowed Leik-crystal, which the lizard can then use as emergency heat or to discharge a small jolt of electricity as a last resort of defense to get other creatures to back off.
During the winter months, when heat is scarce and storms subside, the Lizards enter a catatonic state, in which their breathing and heartbeat slows to a minimum. They cool down enough that their bodies become rigid, and because of this, they need to find nesting places that will not be disturbed by potential predators. Unfortunately for settlers, this can also mean that Glidelizards will dig up the plaster of their walls to create small pockets to sleep in for the winter.
Life after the Fall of Dorralia and resulting dangers
Since the fall and subsequent disrepair of Dorralia, the city grounds have become overrun by the Glidelizards. From here they then also spread further inland, where they have become dangerous pests. Farmers houses which use thatched roofs consider the Sky-Rats to be evil signs and bringers of danger, simply because the Lizards affinity to call lightning strikes has caused far too many fires over time.
Despite the contempt of the settlers near Dorralia, the Glidelizard lives on, uncaring for the hatred of its neighbors; No, actively enjoying the contempt, perhaps even seeking to deepen the rivalry. Woe be you if you catch their ire, because a Glidelizard does not forget, and much less forgive.
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