Geode Lindwurm

Lindwurm-class Species

A bidepal menace to the more untamed mountains of the world, the Geode Lindwurm is among the most common remaining species of Dragons left in Verden, with size and ferocity befitting such creatures

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Geode Lindwurm displays a body plan typical of their bretheren, with strong hind legs and significantly reduced front limbs, they differ from other Lindwurms in that their arms are more developed than other breeds, most likely to assist navigating their often mountainous homes. The most distinctive features of this creature is their mouth and jaw. As a result of living in both a magically enriched enviornment and a mineral-heavy diet. their scales have adopted a rock-like apperance and where other Lindwurms have spikes of bone, they have outgrowths of magically resonant crystals. On top of their elongated neck a remarkably round head opens to a curious mouth, a circular ring lined with sharp teeth, recent studies have disrpoven the theory that the Geode Lindwurm lost their jawbones over time, instead they have segmented in a process similar to a snake, only to a much higher degree, thus giving the beast a incredibly flexible jaw.

Ecology and Habitats

Geode Lindwurms are solitary and dwell in mountaionus areas in the Grand Hills continent, with more aggresive breeds the closer one gets to the Wildlands. Given their size and appetite a given area can only support a few Lindwurms at a time, thus they each mark out a large territory where they will live and hunt, only leaving it during mating season

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Geode Lindwurm needs a lot of food given their immense size, so they are not obligate carnivores like other Lindwurms. This means they are able to consume most things in their home (animals, fruits, even small shrubs if hungry enough), this includes the rocks found in their mountainous homes, this is used for their unique hunting strategy, they possess a second stomach that produces a less severe acid than their primary stomach, and they use it to store and reduce large rocks into smooth projectiles that can then be expelled with great force.
As an ambush hunter, the Lindwurm will lie in wait, using its rock-like apperance as a camouflage, until suitable prey draws near. In case the animal is small enough (like mountain goats, Driller Roosters,etc) The Lindwurm will whip its neck and grab it with its teeth, swallowing it whole. But in the case that the prey is too large to be eaten whole, the Lindwurm will regugitate the stone from within its stomach, aiming at the head or spine if possible, in order to incapacitate or kill its prey. If the inital hit was not lethal the Lindwurm will deliver a killing blow to the back of the neck, that way the painful cries of the animal won't draw scavengers whilst its feeding.

Additional Information

Social Structure

They are incredibly solitary by nature, being incredibly territorial and only tolerating the presence of another Lindwurm during mating season. During which males will produce a booming call that carries far throughout their homes in hopes of attracting a mate. If a female listens and shows interest, it will produce its own call, drawing in the male into her own territory, and once mating has concluded and the new mother lays her clutch (often a single egg, but twins aren´t unheard of), the male will leave her territory and return to his own. During the first 20 years the mother will look after her children, teaching them how to hunt and protecting them from other predators (especially other male Lindwurms), and once they are big enough to hunt on their own, they will look out for their own territory to claim, but some children have been seen returning to their mother's home to check up on her.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The crystal growths on Geode Lindwurms are imbued with magical properties, and are thus prized by magically inclined individuals as spell components, foci for magical implements or decorations for the extremely wealthy. Due to the recent developements in the field of Magitek, these crystals have skyrocketed massively in value, but due to the difficulty of hunting these powerful beasts, the supply in the market is still extremely low.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Lindwurms in general rely mostly on smell, the Geode Lindwurm has above average sight for a Lindwurm (most likely due to their mountaious habitat) but their strongest sense is still that of smell, using to track prey and lookout for other Lindwurm's territorial markers
Suprisingly for a creature so magically infused. It lacks any remarkable supernatural perception, with initial studies by early scholars (not easily carried out given theit power and appetite) coming to the conclusion that they are completely magically blind. More recent studies have disproven this hypothesis, as prolonged observation of Lindwurms have shown a ability to detect others of their kind from considerable distances, far beyond what their mundane senses would allow. Current consensus  is that their crystal outgrowths are capable of emitting and receiving a unique magical frequency, that allows them to keep track of other members of their kind, but further research is necessary fo reach a definitive answer.

Lifespan

Due to their status as apex predators, high magic concentrations and Draconic lineage, a Geode Lindwurm will live up to 80-90 years, with exceptional cases reaching over a hundred

Conservation Status

Due to their size and power, their numbers must be limited lest they risk ecological collapse, Despite this their population size is considered healthy for such a powerful beast.

Average Height

They will often reach a height of 4 meters. Males will normally slightly shorter than females in terms of sheer mass, but the more frequent crystal growths compensate this difference

Average Weight

Given their high concentration of minerals . the heaviest Lindwurm on record reached an astonishing 10 tonnes, but often tend between 7 and 8 tonnes as fully grown adults

Average Length

without counting the neck and tail, their bodies reach a lenght of 4 meters, including them the Geode Lindwurm can measure a shocking 9 meters from the tip of the tail to its mouth

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

A Geode Lindwurms' scales are gray in coloration, coupled with their texture they resemble rock. The most distinctive feature are the crystalline growths found throughout their body. These can come in a wide range of colorations but purple is the most common,

Geographic Distribution

• Verden