Wyvern

== Biology ==
A distant cousin to the true dragons, the wyvern is a huge flying lizard with a poisonous stinger in its tail. A wyvern’s body is 15 feet long, and dark brown to gray or green; half that length is tail. Its wingspan is about 20 feet. A wyvern weighs about one ton. The defining characteristic of a wyvern, other than its barbed tail, is that it only has two back legs, its front limbs being wings with vestigial talons it places on the ground for balance when walking.
Wyverns speak Draconic, but usually don’t bother with anything more elaborate than a loud hiss or a deep-throated growl much like that of a bull alligator.
These flying reptiles are usually found in warm hilly environments, hunting in much the same fashion as birds of prey, though they will occasionally stalk prey on the ground.
Wyverns are usually found in singles or mated pairs. They lay clutches of 1-3 eggs, which are highly prized as these creatures can make fierce flying mounts when properly trained.
== Mannerisms ==
Wyverns are nasty, brutish, and violent reptilian beasts akin to more powerful dragons. They are always aggressive and impatient, and are quick to resort to force. Dragons generally look down upon wyverns, considering their distant cousins nothing more than primitive savages.
Wyverns are territorial creatures. Though they occasionally hunt in small groups for large prey, they are generally solitary creatures, hunting in areas ranging in size from 100 to 200 square miles. Wyverns have been known to fight to the death among themselves for the right to hunt a territory rich with prey.
Although constantly hungry and prone to mayhem, a wyvern that can be befriended (usually through a delicate combination of flattery, intimidation, food, and treasure) becomes a powerful ally. They often serve giants and monstrous humanoids as guardians, and some lizardfolk tribes even use them as mounts, although such arrangements are quite costly in terms of food and gold, for few are the wyverns who would willingly serve as steeds for lesser creatures for long.
== Combat ==
Wyverns are rather stupid but always aggressive: They attack nearly anything that isn’t obviously more powerful than themselves. A wyvern dives from the air, snatching the opponent with its talons and stinging it to death. A wyvern can slash with its talons only when making a flyby attack.