Nén Essár

By Meridian legend, a young woman lost her daughter to the woods. Her daughter had proclaimed that indeed the spiritual forces that bound her people were wholly unneeded- ludicrous even. As punishment, as the legend goes, her body was disfigured into a hideous reptile; the first Nén Essár. Regardless of any truth to this tale, the Nén Essár is an abnormal reptile. It has earned a reputation among the superstitious as an omen for a soon-to-be wrath of the spiritual or fae. Their close-to-near extinction since the beginning of the Eternal Storm has made them ever more elusive, only compounding their often foreboding reputation.

#### Physiology and Anatomy

The Nén Essár are tree-dwelling creatures. They have hooked talons and muscular legs to move through the canopy with ease. Amongst the trees they’re wholly unmatched, allowing them to use it either as an escape or as a means to engage potential foes. Despite their mobility in the canopy they cannot hope for the same on the ground, their cumbersome climbing equipment slowing them down more than the typical monster. Their muscular tail does grant them a bit of leeway though, allowing them to make sharp turns by angling it in the opposite direction. Should worse come to worse their tail can also function as a good deterrent, a strike of their tail can sting like a whip and embed a series of serrated barbs.

Nén Essár are omnivorous though they prefer fruit over flesh. They possess powerful jaws that can break open the hard shells of nuts and fruits amongst the canopy. This often puts them in competition with the Ketsoma, who they may attack or even kill for attempting to rob their supplies. Nén Essár are not above eating Ketsoma or other small animals but largely avoid hunting altogether. Thick thistles and other spiked vegetation is of little irritation to the Nén Essár as its scales are noticeably well-armored. Their scales are akin to a form of studded leather, a natural alternative to that produced by sapient races.

Amongst the oddest method of brooding young is that which the Nén Essár uses. Nén Essár do not need to pair or even meet another of their kind to have a brood. In fact, all Nén Essár are female. Instead, their offspring are produced internally and are semi-exact copies of their mother. Alterations to offspring may cause color changes, leading to certain lineages of Nén Essár developing distinct colors. Juvenile Nén Essár do not have the whip-like tail of their adult form. Instead, their underdeveloped scales make them lighter and in turn faster than adults.

#### Psychology

A dim-witted and lonesome beast, the Nén Essár prefers to go it alone. They control small territories which span a couple trees, defending them fiercely from other Nén Essár and rival monsters. They will only congregate to bask on rocks or to commune on large food sources. Fights between Nén Essár are brief and usually non-fatal. Their enormous dewlaps communicate health and strength, when they extend them, they advertise their health to others of their kind. Usually this is enough to dissuade further assault by a weaker rival. Nén Essár are very protective of their dewlaps as a result and will attempt to keep them clean and undamaged for as long as they live.