Astral driders are a species of large bird-like creatures that reside within the Astral Sea, the space of reality that exists between the different planes of existence. The name drider is a commonized form of the Primordial word for dragon, as the species has a close phylogenic relationship with dragonkind. Despite this connection, they are not truly dragons, and as such are protected from the added bonuses of many dragon-killer weapons.
Combining their fast movement and ability to travel through the Planes without warning, many myths make reference to the astral driders, claiming that their appearances within the Prime Material Plane are the result of disrespectful or greedy children as a way to teach life lessons to the youth of their cultures.
Biology
Size
A newborn astral drider tends to be around 1-2 feet in length and weighing around 20 pounds, while adult driders commonly grow to anywhere from 10-14 feet long and weighing around one ton (~2,000lbs). The largest drider ever caught was 41 feet long and weighed well over forty tons (>80,000lbs).
Diet
Astral driders are carnivores, preying on smaller animal life that resides within the Astral Sea. When food is scarce, astral driders have been known to move from the Astral Sea into the Elemental Planes to hunt prey there, however such occurrences are rare, and most driders hunting for prey pose no threat to those taller than two feet.
Habitat
As mentioned, and as suggested by their name, astral driders live within the Astral Sea, the space that exists between each of the individual Planes. The driders, in order to adapt to their habitat, have developed the abilities to phase through solid objects and move between the physical boundaries of the Planes. As such, many have tried to figure out ways to "piggy-back' off of the driders' abilities, though all of these attempts have resulted in spectacularly unfortunate disasters.
How to Fight
Driders tend to move in small packs of 4-7, not including any adolescent driders, and rarely attack anything larger than the smallest adult drider. That being said, should you find yourself in such a situation where fighting a pack of driders is unavoidable, it is best to target their strongest one first. While it will likely not stop the attack, it will make it easier to pick off the rest once the most dangerous among them are dealt with.
