DEMON DRAKE, THE (LOCUST WYVERN)

This beast is most commonly called a "Demon Drake", which is perhaps unfair. It certainly looks like it might have Netherworld characteristics - it is believed to have originated during the War of the Chosen, is very reclusive, and it is unusually aggressive in the wild with a voracious appetite. But beyond that the name is undeserved, being in captivity very sociable and tame like horses or dogs, except in battle when they are used as mounts. They usually live to 10 years of age, 20 if they are fortunate not to be killed before then.

Appearance:
The Demon Drake is from 2-3 peds in height, with a neck about a 1-1 ½ peds long, and a tail of almost 2 peds long. It usually walks or runs on its hind legs in bipedal fashion, though it can go on all fours if it chooses to do so. The drake has three claws on each of its hind feet, and five on its long fore arms/legs. The fore claws are shaped like a human hand and are prehensile, allowing the drake to pick up and carry objects. It has a long maw filled with teeth, the front fangs and teeth being sharp and dangerous, while the teeth in the back of the mouth are like human or bear teeth, allowing it to grind and chew food like humans. The skin of the beast is scaly and rough, brown in colour. They have a crest running from their nose to the crown of their heads. The male's crest is scarlet in colour, the female’s gold. Juveniles incapable of breeding have a green crest, and it is notably diminished in size compared to the adults. Their eyes are the most startling characteristic, being small and round… in fact they look like human eyes, with a violet coloured iris. Demon Drakes have a pair of weak but fully functional wings located behind their shoulders, though they cannot fly if they carry a rider, unless the rider be hobbit or Brownie. It ultimately looks like a cross between a human and a drake, which may be what gave it the name "Demon Drake".

Special Abilities:
A Demon Drake can run. Fast. Very fast. It can also fly or hover in the air, but only for short distances. Unlike some drakes, it will hunt in packs, in fact it seems to prefer it. The females can lay large amounts of eggs, leading to population explosions at times, hence the name Locust Wyverns.

Territory:
Locust Wyverns can be found in West Nybelmar, in the Kingdom of Orcal. It was nearly driven to extinction, and indeed it was on the very edge when a daring and curious orc stole an egg and from a nest and hatched it. The resulting offspring was very friendly and sociable towards the orc and all other orcs, but would turn very violent against other species, including his own! The orcs saw this and risked an experiment: they continued to raid nests, stealing eggs and raising the offspring. Before long the species revived under the care of the Orcals, and they used them as war mounts for scouting parties, as they had berserker-like characteristics in battle.
The Demon Drakes have slowly begun to spread again, as the Kingdom of Orcal has traded some off to the Zhunites, who have traded them to Anis-Anpagan, who have in turn brought them to the Crimson Islands and to the attention of the Sarvonians, and some daring thieves and rogues have managed to steal eggs from their orcish caretakers (though goodness knows how!), and they may soon become common as an optional war mount for other countries.

Habitat/Behaviour:
Demon Drakes can be found in places with plenty of food. They do not like cooler climates, though they adapt when necessary. When summer is warm and conditions are right, the females lay large amount of eggs and leave them to incubate in the warm earth. When the eggs hatch, their great hunger drives them to seek out large amounts of food. The only instinct stronger than this is to stay away from large groups of other beings, hence they will hunt and forage in seemingly random paths, eating anything that suits them, which is almost anything that humans, elves, dwarves, etc. will eat, which is why they are also called Locust Wyverns. They are very sociable with each other, but shun intelligent/sentient species, and if cornered, will fight with a mad bloodlust and abandon rarely seen even amongst drakes or dragons. If raised in captivity, they are very sociable to their caretakers and guard them fiercely, and in some cases will bind very closely with their regular handlers.