Ryns

Once, a party of Ryns crossed my property. Unfortunately, they were hungry. Fortunately, my heavers were enough meat for them, and they did not see me as a dessert. But unfortunately, my home's stone wall fitted the "dessert" part of their meal perfectly. C'mon, they ate my whole chimney...

Basic Information

Anatomy

A ryn is a huge beast. it can reach almost the size of a giant aetid. Ryns possess a body covered in mineral scales that they constantly secrete, giving them a coarse texture. They also possess three-fingered limbs.
The back limbs have short, immobile fingers, but on the front limbs, the fingers are long and strong, and each possesses a long, sharp and hard claw. Ryns always walk on four limbs, but can stand and balance on their legs.
The ryn's mouth is the scariest weapon one could posess. It is incredibly sharp, made with cerrated scales, and can chew through anything that we know, be it wood, stone, steel, even ceramic.

Genetics and Reproduction

Ryns reproduce in a weird way. Sometimes, their tail can grow to the point where it breaks away. Then the tail becomes a chrysalis, and after a few months, a miniature ryn hatches from it.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ryns grow very slowly. They can live for hundreds of years, and grow continuously.

Ecology and Habitats

The ryns live in a hidden place, deep in the western desert. The location of their "village" is unknown. Sometimes, they like to travel foe a few months, and discover new places, crossing path with humans or magissens.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Ryns mainly eat rocks and minerals, but also need organic food, so they hunt large preys, eat wood, anything can do. Their huge jaws can break down any mineral structure known. In fact, they can chew anything.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The ryn society is quite straightforward: toughest is best. Ryns spend lots of time fighting and challenging each other, and the most victorious takes the dominant place. But it must fight to keep it, for other will endlessly challenge it. Ryn rarely fight to the death, except when they really disagree on something (which is unexpectedly rare...).

Domestication

Do not even think about trying to impose your will on a ryn. It will prove you that it can do anything it wants, by destroying you to bits.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Ryns live in a remote part of the Golden Sea, more precisely in the rocky ranges of the Western desert.

Average Intelligence

Ryns are highly intelligent. They have a very good memory and learning ability. However they seem to lack speech, probably because their vocal chords are not adapted...

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Some ryns have mosses and lichens that grow between their scales, when they haven't molted in a while.

Civilization and Culture

Gender Ideals

There are no genders in ryns. However, a good ryn is supposed to be the toughest possible. A good ryn does not express feelings. A good ryn has no weaknesses and is always up to a good fight.

Relationship Ideals

"Either you're stronger than me, or I am going to beat you because you are weaker, so in any way, let's have a good fight and see who is the strongest." This is basically how ryns interact with other beings.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Ryns do not communicate other than by fighting and hitting each other. Of course, a gentle kick on the head does not mean the same as litterally ripping one's tail apart... Looks and postures also play a role in showing hierarchy, once it has been settled and until it is put to the test once again (you guess how...). In any way, they can listen, but can not speak, which makes communication with humans or magissens hard.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

When a ryn is born and hatches from his tail-chrysalis, the adult ryns will greet him by grabbing him and launching him in the sky. They all seem to enjoy it a lot, especially the young one, though.

Common Taboos

Expressing feelings. A ryn that expresses affection,pity, or tiredness, loses the respect of its fellows, and can even be banished if it does not change quickly its state of mind.

History

Ryns have been created by an elemental, long before humanity discovered their existence. Since then, they always lived in a small society, isolated in the rocky maze of the desert. They multiply so slowly that there is only a hundred of them today.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Ryns do not have much interest in other species, when they do not want to eat them... There are exceptions however. Stay tuned for it later !

Scientific Name

Rynnis deserticus petris

Lifespan

seemingly unlimited

Average Height

18-24 crosses (~3.5-4.5m)

Average Weight

aroung 20-30 barrels (10-15 tons)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Ryns take the colour of the minerals they eat, and that mineralise on their scales. It is often a sandy yellow, but can have pink or grey shades. It ranges from a white creamy colour to a dark and dull brown.