Shattered Mountains Wyrdrake

## Physical Description

A relatively weak and feral breed of dragon native to the Shattered Mountains, the Shattered Mountains Wyrdrake is a fearsome omnivorous aerial predator whose ferocity and strength made them prized mounts for the Bysri. After the destruction of their homeland, these airborne beasts took on a new importance for the Bysri as they refused to abandon their homes as the very earth split beneath them and drifted into the sky.

Physically, a Shattered Mountains Wyrdrake closely resembles a Wyvern, albeit lacking a venomous stinger. Like a Wyvern, a Wyrdrake only possesses a pair of wings and a pair of hindlegs, and uses its wings in lieu for forelegs to walk awkwardly on the ground. A Wyrdrake's wings notably have an extra digit, giving it two digits on its wrist that it can use for digging, grabbing, or holding onto rocky surfaces.

## History and Culture

The Wyrdrakes of the Shattered Mountains are bestial, lacking both the intelligence and the wherewithal to record or communicate either a history or culture of their own. In the culture of the Shattered Mountains' Bysri, however, Wyrdrakes are revered as their natural ability to fly, their capacity for carrying a rider and cargo, and their simplistic needs are the cornerstone for their survival.

In the cultures of the Shattered Mountains' Bysri, Wyrdrakes have a cultural role and value similar to those of a Horse among Serian nomads at not only the tribal level, but also the clan, family, and personal level. For a Shattered Mountains' Bysri, being the master or mistress of a strong, ferocious, yet obedient Wyrdrake is one of the highest marks of status possible. While many Shattered Mountains' Bysri go their entire lives riding semi-domesticated Wyrdrakes born and raised in captivity, it is only those who undertake the Trial of the Exiled Dragon by their 16th year and complete it by single-handedly capturing and taming a wild Wyrdrake or commanding a True Dragon by their 18th year that can ever be considered worthy of becoming a Chieftain or Warlord.

## Common Lore

The Wyrdrakes of the Shattered Mountains actually roam a far wider area than their name suggests, and they are frequently seen in Noxwood, Eastern Arcazia, the Great Mountains, and the central and eastern regions of the Northern Realms, and sometimes even as far away as Western Arcazia, Greater Nastrav, the Cosm Coast, and the Ice Coast. Wild Wyrdrakes are viewed primarily as a nuisance, albeit a potentially deadly one, as they will hunt humanoids as readily as animals if the opportunity presents itself and they are not capable of sapient reasoning or diplomacy. Those with more frequent exposure to the habits of Wyrdrakes liken them to "sky bears" for their propensity to attack savagely if hungry or provoked, but which otherwise seem just as content to eat fruit, berries, vegetables, and tubers.

Wild Wyrdrakes are almost always solitary creatures, though they sometimes form lasting bonds with a mate. Male Wyrdrakes are larger but often less aggressive than female Wyrdrakes, and the latter are extremely protective of their young. Wyrdrakes raised in captivity frequently form affectionate bonds with a small number of frequent handlers, and female Wyrdrakes raised in captivity often regard and protect these handlers as though they were their own offspring. This protectiveness makes female Wyrdrakes challenging to handle when they have actual offspring, but most Wyrdrakes used as battle mounts are female due to the combination of aggression and protectiveness they tend to exhibit.

## Notable Appearances

To date, all notable appearances by Shattered Mountains' Wyrdrakes have involved Bysri riders and handlers controlling the creatures.