God Snake
A dragon species native to Adamnan, god snakes can be found both on their home planet and Norrab. These massive serpents have long suffered at the hands of the Godkin and adamnans.
God snakes are deific in nature and are deeply rooted in adamnan mythology. The serpents are said to be able to wipe out mountains with just a single fiery breath.
Anatomy
God snakes are easily recognisable, mostly due to their size. Adults measure up to two hundred metres in length when fully outstretched, with a wingspan of around a hundred metres.
These animals have a blue colour palette, with a greyish/blue snake-like body and dark blue wings. Their heads are adorned with large horns and a crest infused into one, known as a crown. God Snakes also have several long feathers trailing down from the backs of their heads.
God snakes possess a flame sac that allows them to breathe fire. Their copper-chloride based flame sac produces a bright teal flame.
God snakes that reach a lifespan of a thousand years begin a major transformation. Referred to as their elder stage, god snakes over a thousand years old fade to white.
Their scales grow firmer and spikier, turning from blue to white, and their wings morph into a shimmering silver colour. Their crown can double in size, adorning golden swirling patterns. It is unknown what causes this transformation.
Diet
See those god snakes in the sky? Something big must be about to die. They fly around like vultures, sucking the life out of anything about to die. Poor things.
God snakes do not have a typical diet. They feast on magic, specifically magic in its spiritual form. God snakes are able to sense when something is about to die, and you'll often see them circling a titanic tortonid or other megafauna on its deathbed.
These animals do not consume flesh, instead absorbing spiritual energy from afar. God snakes play a powerful part in maintaining the Natural Order of life, ensuring dying organisms do indeed perish. While this job may be brutal, it is necessary.
Reproduction & Growth
God snakes are unreliable parents. Nesting just once in their lifetime at ten years old, god snakes smash a hole in the top of a titan trunk and lay eggs inside after stuffing leaves, bushes, and other soft objects inside the hollow interior. The eggs roll down at least a hundred metres to the ground, where they are protected from planktonic storms, harsh sunlight, but comfortably incubated at the same time.
These animals lay between two hundred and five hundred eggs and flee as soon as possible afterwards. They will immediately mask the scent of the eggs by releasing a noxious odour around the titan trunk that deters egg-feasting scavengers.
Baby god snakes will dig their way out of the titan trunks, immediately having to fend for themselves in such a dangerous world. Their ability to breathe fire keeps away most predators, but many are picked off by opportunistic hunters.
Habitat
Gather around, everyone! Stay quiet for a few minutes. Look up at this titan trunk. See that tail dangling down? That's a juvenile god snake. They nest on these trunceritans until they're too big for them. It's perfect for getting sunlight.
While once a common sight on Adamne, they are practically extinct on their native planet. They were a vital part of all ecosystems on the arid desert planet, but after the species was culled, few escaped to the neighbouring planet Norrab. Thankfully, god snakes have bounced back on Norrab, and their population sits around five to seven thousand.
God snakes are most common in Aridara, a desert continent on Norrab. The Sian Lowlands and the Looming Desert are reminiscent of Adamne in terms of climate, geology, and geography, and god snakes have thrived in these vast regions.
Behaviour
Despite their size and threatening appearance, god snakes are entirely benevolent. Never in the history of adamnans nor norrabians has a single god snake caused intentional harm among a population. Their size does mean that the occasional house or hamlet is damaged, but these incidents are still rare.
Most god snakes are protective over the unwell and injured. Their role with the Natural Order of things requires them to sacrifice those that are dying, but that does not stop them aiding those simply unwell. God snakes have been spotted carrying dehydrated animals to oases, hungry animals to crop fields, and even rescuing people from dangerous situations.
History
Originating on Adamne, god snakes were once a symbol of power. They were rode into battle by Godkins, who frequently wrecked the world with internal conflicts, driving adamnans to the point of rebellion and rioting. As a consequence, god snakes were hunted to near-extinction. Just a few hundred of these animals were left, hidden in remote corners of the planet.
Few escaped onto Norrab through passageways opened up by the Godkin, in a last attempt to preserve the memory of their species. God snakes ended up thriving on Norrab, where they are a symbol of revival and rekindling of relationships. Norrabian councils around Aridara have forbidden the hunting of god snakes, protecting the species once and for all.
Average Wingspan
~100 metres
They look awesome, and i love the role they play in the circle of life! Very cool article!
Thank you so much! <3