Isk Viper

Racial Magic

First Ability

Aasaru's Form

Able to transform their horns into a kind of desert plant, usually Aloe or a kind of grass like Jari Tamal or Mashe Lovegrass. Each viper is different. Used to lure herbivorous prey.

Second Ability

Rithaldis' Sense

Able to feel their environment using radiant energy, anything interacting with it and sense radiant energy in their environment despite barriers. They aslo cannot be harmed by radiant energy, even radiation. Used mostly to assess those attracted to their horns and defensively.

Ilnid's Skin

Able to convert their scales into glass or quartz. They can build this up into layers or expand it into spikes or armor. They also cannot be harmed by sand or glass, magic or natural. Mostly used defensively, to kill prey by coiling around them or to protect them from glass in course sand (like in Arabiyyah).

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These are a venomous viper native across northern Alkelbulan. Those in the Shamsi Desert, Dawn Ahrayn and Kemet tend to inherit Rithaldis' Sense while those in Arabiyyah usually inherit Ilnid's Skin. Some locals of the desert fear them, some hunt them while others even revere them, giving Isk Vipers a place in their lore and mytholgy. In Arya in particular these snakes are associated with their folklore and old gods, still surviving despite the spread of Islam al'Rasul. For this reason, Isk Vipers are associated with heretics and jinn by followers of Islam. These snakes spend much of their time waiting beneath the sand for prey, leaving only their horns exposed to lure their dinner to them in their barren habitat.

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Anatomy

Isk vipers have characteristic horns over each eye but these can be folded against their head when burrowing. They are apt diggers. They have large eyes set on the sides of their head. Males tend to have larger heads and eyes than females while females are larger than males. Their body tint can range from yellowish to pale gray, pinkish, reddish or even pale brown--whichever matches the sand of their home. They also have dark, semi-rectangular blotches along their back while their bellies are white. Their tails are usually thin with a black tip.

Original Ancestor

Cerastes cerastes
Saharan Horned Viper

Lifespan

15-18 years

Length

12–33 in (30-85 cm)

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Habitat

Isk vipers can be found throughout northern Alkelbulan, especially within the Shamsi Desert. They can also be found in Arya, the Arabiyyan Desert, Balkurtiz, Kna'an, Kemet and Dawn Ahrayn. They prefer dry and sandy habitats with infrequent rocky structures. They don't care for coarser sands but might occasionally live within oases.

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Venom

Isk venom causes swelling, hemorrhaging, necrosis, naseau, vomiting and hematuria (bloody urine). They might even cause cardiotoxicity and myotoxicity. They usually inject about 19-27 mg or even upwards of 100 mg of venom in a bite, a lethal dose for humans being 40-50 mg.

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Reproduction

Isk vipers mate in april, usually while buried in the sand. A female will lay 8-23 eggs which incubate for 50-80 days. The eggs are hidden under rocks or in abandoned rodent burrows. Hatchlings are 5-6 in (12-15 cm) and completely independant. They fully mature after two years.

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Diet

These are nocturnal carnivores, primarily feeding on lizards but will also eat Qafz Jerboa and birds. They usually hunt by ambush, submerged in the sand near rocks or plants. They convert their horns into plants which either attract their prey directly or attract insects their prey are interested in. They will remain still until they sense the approach of a beast of the right size, striking quickly and coiling around prey while their venom goes into effect. Those with Ilnid's Skin won't hesitate to cut apart prey with their razor sharp, glass scales wheras those with Rithaldis' Sense are far more cautious.

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Behavior

Isk vipers move with a sidewinding motion, pressing their weight into the sand and leaving distcint impressions. This peculiarl looking motion makes them appear unnaturally flexible, peoples like the Quiris believing they have no spine. While they aren't overtly aggressive, these vipers will assume a C shaped posture when they feel threatened and rub their coils together. This produces a rasping sound thanks to the shape of their scales, even more unsettling when they have glass scales. They are quick to strike if approached in this position.

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