Brass Drake Hounds

"I remember back when I was a kid, we had a small pack of Brass Drake Hounds plowing the fields, pulling carts and herding our one cow and sheep on our small, personal farm. Overkill for our home but Dad liked to show them off. I guess it was more of a hobby. We had Morris, Chori, Kigs and Francis. Friendly fellas, beautiful shiny scales but vicious towards sketchy people. I remember when Dad invited a friend over to his house and Chori started hissing and growling at him. Dad tried to call him off but he pounced. Turns out, he had a bomb and a knife on him. He was some sort of cultist scouting the neighborhood, poor bastard didn't know that Brassies are wise buggers."

Basic Information

Anatomy

"Brassies are four legged Drakes that tend to have shiny shimmering scales and flat, dull, metallic armored scutes running down their slightly curved back, covering their heads like helmets and running all the way down, covering their sides and spine, ending in a large, hooked tip. Perfect for gripping wood and milk tanks. They kind of remind me of a tall armadillo with sharp crocodile teeth. Their tales are long, heavy and strong compared to most Drake Hounds which they use to help move lumber. Their claws are long, dull and never stop growing which helps them dig into dirt and rock, helping farmers plow their fields. And also they're about the size of a gator on stilts. Like most Drake Hounds"

Biological Traits

"A neat thing I've seen on some of my Uncle's Brassies is that some of them have sharp spines running along their scutes. They aren't more aggressive or anything, and considering that they mostly live on farms, this is mostly just aesthetic. They are pretty cool though, Uncle Caeser say's "Young farmhands like the spiky ones, so I wanna breed more of these fellas because they're kinda rare". Ooh, I also saw one with gold eyes. Usually they're blue or green. This is really really rare."

Genetics and Reproduction

"Brassie breeding isn't very popular among high end breeders, most high-enders tend to pick more flashy or cute Drakes to breed, like Teacup Pinks or Hunter Grays. This might be because of the fact that the best looking Brassies are old and look like charming giant toaster ovens with tiny bits of fine china slapped on top. Or maybe because it takes 5 months for a Brass to lay an egg and another 6 for it to hatch. Where it then takes another 5 years for it to fully grow.
Brassie breeding is a lot of work, but someone has to do it. I'm glad that someone is my uncle."

Growth Rate & Stages

"A newborn Brassie will typically only have 3 or 4 large scutes on its back, not even reaching its tail. As a Brassie molts and sheds, it slowly gains and grows a scute. They tend to molt a lot during their juvenile years but as they get older they shed less and less. They never stop shedding, they just shed less. A typical 5 year old can have anywhere between 15 to 20 scutes on its back."

Ecology and Habitats

"Brassies are resilient Drake Hounds, though they tend to fare better on farmlands near warmer cooler environments. But wherever their master is, a Brassie can live there. They want nothing more than to live with their "Hoomie"."

Dietary Needs and Habits

"They eat just about anything. Bugs, meat, plants, you name it. They aren't picky, which is really convenient for farmers who have to feed them a lot. They can just give them a combination of vegetables and chicken feed to keep them full and healthy. That being said though, the most peculiar thing about Brass Drake Hounds is that their favorite food seems to be metal ore. No other Drake Hound is known to do this, but apparently feeding a Brassie metal will make their scutes shinier. Raw ore is a hard thing to come by for a farmer though, but when they do come across it they dont mind treating their buddy to some well deserved copper."

Additional Information

Domestication

"Appearantly Brassies have existed before the Age of Scholars, we're not too sure what they evolved from but scientists have guessed that it might have been a primitive Wulfstone Drake

Uses, Products & Exploitation

"Farmers mostly use Brassies to help them till fields with their big claws, herd cattle, haul lumber or pick up heavy objects with their long tails or keep intruders at bay with their sharp teeth. Generally, most things the farmer can do, they're very clever. But most importantly of all, everyone treats them as a loyal friend."

Facial characteristics

"Their faces are mostly occupied by their large head scute, but their jaw still protrudes far enough to give a nasty bite."

Average Intelligence

Like dogs, they are loyal to their masters and wise to sketchy people, often harboring aggression to those it thinks would hurt it's master. It can't speak though, they aren't Dragons

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Drake Hounds
• Drakes

Lifespan

30 to 50 years, depending on diet and location

Conservation Status

"They're like really big dogs, not too common but you see one now and again. Not worth protecting since their numbers are large."

Average Height

Roughly 60-70 centimeters tall from feet to shoulder (They tend to slouch, so the shoulder is higher).

Average Weight

350kg. Somewhat hefty but they can use that weight to help dig and break.

Average Length

About 3.9 meters. Imagine a crocodile with armor and a tail that can choke you