Firedragon Sharks

"Get those things out of my ocean." -- Quicksilver-Rain

The stuff of nightmares. Seen so rarely that many folk don't believe they even exist. Less horrific in form than in concept, these goliath beasts are sometimes known in sailors' tales as the pets of Davy Jones himself.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The young simply resemble large sharks with red and black markings on their backs and jagged fins. Adults can grow to the size of a megalodon.

Growth Rate & Stages

Firedragons grow slowly, taking close to a century to mature.

They begin life near the surface, often in shallower waters near reefs where food is abundant. At this stage in their life, a firedragon's teeth are hollow to allow them to administer a potent venom to weaken larger prey.

As they grow larger, they gradually move into deeper waters, though the size of their prey remains about the same until they are large enough to no longer require venom.

Fully grown adults live in the deepest parts of the ocean amongst other sea monsters. At this point in their life, they have ceased producing venom and much of the colour will have faded from their skin, leaving them either a dull black or grey in their entirety.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Young firedragons primarily hunt larger fish such as tuna, as well as sirens and merfolk. While humans and other landfolk are not particularly sought out by these sharks, one would not shy from a chance to devour one such creature were it to be nearby.

Adults require much larger prey and ignore sirens and merfolk almost completely. They instead favour whales, other sharks, and the occasional smaller sea monster.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

There are few who dare approach a firedragon, and even fewer foolish enough to attempt to tame one. That being said, it is rumoured that Caetyn favour the firedragon as a pet or sort of bodyguard.

Firedragon venom is highly prized on the black market for its ability to torture a person so thoroughly without actually killing them, though it is illegal in most kingdoms. Some intrepid doctors have sought to create an antivenom from the venom itself to aleviate the pain of surviving victims of a firedragon attack.