Weather Wyvern
If the fraught weather of Tempest Island is not enough to convince you to stay away from it, weather wyverns certainly will! Associated with the Air element, this subspecies of the Altairain Wyvern is a vicious and effective predator. Its sleek form and wings allow it to make sharp turns in the air, and its flight speed is unparalleled amongst Air elementals. If that weren't enough, weather wyverns breathe storm clouds and can shoot lightning out of their mouths.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Weather wyverns are a subspecies of the common wyvern. They possess sleek, dark bodies that blend in well with the storm clouds they fly in. They have short horns on their heads, luminescent eyes, and prominent canines that poke out when they close their mouths.
Genetics and Reproduction
The species lays eggs, typically 2-4 in a clutch. Their mating season is between the Spring Equinox and Winter's End.
Growth Rate & Stages
Weather wyverns are precocial; they hatch with the ability to walk and feed themselves, but still rely on their mother for protection. It takes two years for a weather wyvern to reach adulthood.
Ecology and Habitats
Weather wyverns are concentrated on floating islands known for their stormy weather, most notably Tempest Island. They make their nests in high places, such as on Mt. Tempest, as these areas are where Air magic is the strongest.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Weather wyverns are primarily carnivorous; they need meat in their diets to survive and thrive. However, they can digest some plant matter. They have been known to eat tear bulbs and certain kinds of fruit for hydration. This could be due to them being fed scraps by storm gremlins on the islands they inhabit.
Biological Cycle
Weather wyverns' mating season is in mid-to-late spring. They tend to be more aggressive if they are in a storm. When they are in clear weather, they tend to be more docile.
Behaviour
Being Air elementals, weather wyverns have powers relating to weather control. They breathe out storm clouds, and they can shoot lightning out of their mouths either in self-defense or as a means of killing their prey.
Weather wyverns are extremely dangerous, especially in thunderstorms. While they typically stay away from sapients, they can and will attack if they are starving, cornered, or if they see an opportunity. They have a 95% kill rate, and they kill their prey by using their lightning breath and their claws. Females are especially vicious if they have young. Getting between a mama weather wyvern and her whelps is a guaranteed way to get mauled or worse.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Weather wyverns hunt in packs, which consist of a family of wyverns. Once weather wyverns are old enough to fly, they begin hunting. The oldest weather wyverns are the leaders of the pack.
Domestication
As remarkable as it is, storm gremlins have managed to domesticate weather wyverns to use as mounts. The process of domestication involves acquiring an egg and raising the hatchling as one's own. This is a dangerous task, since weather wyverns are very protective of their young.
Domesticated weather wyverns are to wild weather wyverns as dogs are to wolves. While still dangerous, the wyvern will be incredibly loyal towards its master and display many dog-like and neotenous traits, such as playing well into adulthood.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Weather wyvern eggs are considered haute cuisine in Cyclone City. They are especially difficult to obtain without getting mauled, placing them at a high value.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Weather wyverns are most commonly found on Tempest Island and near Cyclone City, though they can be found circling the skies throughout Altairus.
Average Intelligence
Weather wyverns, like all wyverns, are considered semi-sapient. While they cannot speak and do not form civilizations, they show remarkable understanding and communicate complex emotions to each other through facial expressions, vocalizations, and gestures.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Weather wyverns' eyes are sensitive to infrared light, allowing them to seek prey even in low light. They also have an excellent sense of smell for sniffing out their prey.
Air
Weather wyverns are typically a dark shade of purple, though dark blue, green, and even red weather wyverns exist.
Comments