Wyvern

Wyverns are among the Descendants of Ignethon, having been created by the Dragons during the Age of Unity. Laymen will often mistake Wyverns for Dragons on account of their general appearance and ability to breathe fire, however there is a key distinction between the two: intelligence. Though there are morphological differences, as Wyverns' forelegs are also their wings, the largest difference is that fact that a Wyvern is no smarter than a very intelligent beast. They can be tamed and trained like many others, but they have no higher cognition like a Dragon.
Their general behavior is not unlike the majority of canines or ursines; being raised from birth to be around people makes them far more docile and trainable. A wild Wyvern is effectively incapable of domestication. They can still be tamed, but it's only a matter of time before their wild nature causes a problem. However, if properly domesticated, a Wyvern is a very loyal and very helpful creature.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Wyverns tend to be in the "large" category of the Hunter's Skepsis. Beyond size, they can be identified by their winged forelegs and strong back legs. They will walk on all fours the majority of the time, but will use the three fingers on each of their wings to grasp objects when not in flight, cupping around it and pressing it into the wing, as they lack thumbs. When they carry things in flight - cattle for example - they tend to hold it with both feet, as they also don't have rear claws like a bird. This seems to be due in large part to their tendency to not carry often. In the case of food, they typically hunt and immediately eat their prey, rather than taking it back to their den. They will, but only when threatened. They also do not hoard, unlike Cockatrice and true Dragons, so they rarely have to carry other types of objects.

Genetics and Reproduction

Like most Draconoids, they lay eggs.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

One of the most common uses for Wyverns is as living bellows. They are more than capable of learning basic commands, allowing them to provide heat for the forging of metal. This has made them immensely popular as companion creatures among Smiths.
It is also possible to teach them how to be - in effect - guard dogs, thanks to their very territorial nature. While far less common than hiring actual guardsmen, a trained Wyvern is very protective of their master and thus makes an excellent guardian. This can even be applied to livestock, assuming that the Wyvern is kept properly fed.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Like the vast majority of Ignethon's Descended species - especially Draconoids - they have modest hearing and a dulled sense of touch. However, they possess a relatively unique method of sight in the form of Thermo-sense. This allows them to see more than just light, but also sense the heat of other creatures, allowing them to see even in the dark. They also have a great sense of smell.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Dragon

Scientific Name

Draconis Wyverae