Arderopac

**Arderopac** is a tree-like Fanged Wyvern that partially buries itself in dirt in order to trick passersby into mistaking it for a harmless bush or shoot, allowing the plants on its back to spread their seeds. These plants produce flammable oil used to clear out forests in order to reduce their competition, and it defends itself by spewing fiery wind and smog at foes, which has the consequence of causing whole forests and wetlands to burn down.

## Physiology

Arderopac resembles a hybrid between a tree and a rhinoceros, possessing a beige, ringed, bark-like hide with thick layers, a long, pointed horn on its nose, a short neck, a heavyset torso, thick legs, and large feet with ungulate-like toes. However, it also shares some design traits with dicynodonts like *Ischigualastia*, possessing a hooked beak, a barrel-shaped torso, fleshy pads on its feet, a short, high skull, and a short tail that resembles a tree branch, with it having twig-like extensions. A pair of horns can be seen on the sides of its face, and a wide, pointed crest rests on the top of its head, and its eyes are red. Its most notable feature is that plants can be seen growing on its back, with these plants taking the form of bushes that grow clusters of large, red-orange berries and sizable shoots that possess large, green leaves with orange tips. Bizarrely, in a manner akin to the plants that grow on its back, the inner layer of its "bark" is much more vibrant, being bright green with blue, orange, purple, red, pink, and grey streaks.

## Ecology

Arderopac is a highly specialized herbivore, having adapted to eating a pair of plants that originate in the region that used to be the Contaminated Wasteland: these plants in question are a unique species of bush and shoots that are adapted to growing in bushfires in a manner akin to eucalyptus trees, producing a flammable oil that explodes upon ignition along with a bitter miasma that releases pollutants and greenhouse gases into the air, trapping heat within the area around them and allowing fires to spread further, and these plants are able to survive these conditions through epicormic buds that form within their thick bark and stems, tough lignotubers found on the shoots, and the fruits of the bushes holding serotinous fruits that release their seeds upon the application of fire.

Unfortunately, despite their adaptations, these plants have very poor cold tolerance, and the long, harsh winters along with the contamination of soil and groundwater brought on by experiments with nuclear superweapons within the region have caused these plants to largely die off; as a result, the Arderopac, which garners little nutrients from other plants and cannot recognize them as food due to its brain being somewhat small and smooth, has taken up a nomadic lifestyle, spreading the seeds of the remaining plants wherever it goes to ensure their survival along with its own. Prior to the nuclear experimentations, it was adapted to its home through a thick, bark-like hide designed to resist fire and heavy blows, allowing it to contend with a wide variety of monsters, and its body possesses a specialized organ that produces fiery wind, burning down any plants in sight over wide distances to make room for the plants it feeds on and help them grow, sustaining the organ by feeding on the highly flammable oil derived from their berries and leaves and forming a mutualistic relationship with them as a result; in addition, its body produces smog as a waste product, with the smog serving to help further their growth by trapping heat within the air. Its body also houses a separate organ that stores the flammable oil derived from the plants, with it applying the oil to other forms of plant life to burn them down easier. To further its chances of spreading the seeds, it has taken up a more sedentary lifestyle, burying itself underground and pretending to be a harmless plant to get other herbivores to eat the seeds and fertilize them through their dung, though will attack if its disguise fails to fool passersby, bombarding them with burning wind, flammable oil, and smog. The plants along with the Arderopac itself have also been observed to produce a separate, sweet-smelling oil that contains a powerful antimicrobial and antiseptic agent, protecting them from a variety of toxins (though not radiation, sadly), making it high in demand from doctors and perfume aficionados alike; this has resulted in Hunter's Guild outlets attempting to introduce Arderopacs and the plants they raise to new areas, with disasterous effects due to these regions not being adapted to handle long-term bushfires. This, along with Arderopacs invading regions throughout their native continent on their own whim, has led to them causing untold casulaties and being declared a menace that is to be killed or captured on sight.

In addition to these qualities surrounding its relationship with the dying breeds of plant life, Arderopac also possesses a number of other strengths. Its pillar-like legs are designed for walking long distances and supporting its heavy, armoured frame, and its tail provides it with balance and support when running. The long horn on its nose is used to root up stubborn shoots, whereas its teeth are designed to chew through tough bark and berries alike. The pads seen on its feet are designed to release excess heat from its body and cushion steps so it does not slip and fall, and the crest seen on its head is an indicator of health, with healthier individuals having larger crests; as a result, the Arderopacs with the largest crests, regardless of their sex, are the most likely to secure a mate, and upon breeding, males will leave females to rear their young on their own, with females producing one to two babies per birth. The young are sustained through plants that their mother gathers, and will feed on them until they are old enough to defend themselves, as the signature bark-like shell seen on adults does not form on the young right away, leaving their more vivid skin exposed; it is believed that this bright skin is an adaptation designed to help adults keep track of their babies, as the species is solitary when not raising young.

## Behavior

Concerned with its survival and the survival of the plants it forms a symbiotic relationship with at the cost of everything else, Arderopac is a nomad that spreads the plants wherever it goes to help them prosper, as it gains very little to no nutrients from other forms of plant life due to it being overspecialized; unfortunately, its efforts to spread the seeds around and ensure its own future have resulted in a sizable number of wildfires, with these plants secreting a combustive oil designed to clear out areas for them to grow in and leaving behind a pollutive miasma when burned, and the Fanged Wyvern itself spews fiery winds and miasma as a defense mechanism, clearing out forests, jungles, and swamps more than it intends to; while its methods of spreading the seeds were a non-issue in its native homeland (the sizable forest that once made up the Contaminated Wasteland) due to the plant life there having evolved to thrive through bushfires, the areas it invades are not adapted to handle such blazes or toxicity. To help the seeds spread some more, it will bury itself in the ground and disguise itself as a harmless plant to get other monsters to eat the plants on its back and help spread their seeds some more, and is placid unless its disguise fails to deter would-be attackers. If the disguise fails, it will use the plants as weapons, burning up the shoots to produce a layer of miasma around itself and shaking off the berries from the bushes, which contain combustible oil and nitroglycerin.

## Abilities

Arderopac has the ability to use the Inferno element, using it in the form of fiery wind shot from its mouth, and can compliment this blazing breath with the plants that grow on its back: the bushes drop sizable berries that explode upon impact and inflict Natureblight and Fire Res Down, whereas the shoots produce a thick layer of miasma that forms an "aura" around its body and inflicts Pollution onto nearby hunters when burned, rendering them more vulnerable to Fire attacks. While normally slow, it can move at shocking speeds when enraged, and it often fights while partially buried in the ground, "swimming" at foes to trip them up and leave them open to a crushing attack. Its body can resist intense heat along with crushing blows and a variety of toxins, has a high regeneration rate, and the absorbent nature of both its hide and the plants it carries around allows it to drain areas that are too damp for its oil and fiery winds to work dry.

## Habitat

Arderopac is found in a wide variety of forests, jungles, and swamps, but is native to the Contaminated Wasteland, having once lived in the region until the soil could no longer sustain the plants it needs to live as a result of the superweapon experiments that took place within it.

## HP and Damage

**HP:**

* Base HP: 6,300 HP

* High-Rank (0.70x): 4,410 HP

* G-Rank (1.30x): 8,190 HP

**Physical/Elemental Damage Taken:**

* Head: 55 (Cut), 60 (Impact), 40 (Shot), 0 (Fire), 0 (Water), 10 (Thunder), 25 (Ice), 10 (Dragon), 10 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 0 (Nature), 25 (Aether), 20 (Void)

* Neck: 60 (Cut), 55 (Impact), 45 (Shot), 0 (Fire), 0 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 15 (Ice), 5 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 0 (Nature), 15 (Aether), 10 (Void)

* Torso: 25 (Cut), 35 (Impact), 15 (Shot), 0 (Fire), 0 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 10 (Ice), 5 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 0 (Nature), 10 (Aether), 5 (Void)

* Back/Plants: 25 (Cut), 20 (Impact), 25 (Shot), 5 (Fire), 0 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 10 (Ice), 0 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 5 (Wind), 0 (Nature), 10 (Aether), 10 Void)

* Forelegs: 35 (Cut), 40 (Impact), 35 (Shot), 0 (Fire), 0 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 10 (Ice), 5 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 0 (Nature), 10 (Aether), 5 (Void)

* Hind Legs: 40 (Cut), 40 (Impact), 35 (Shot), 0 (Fire), 0 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 20 (Ice), 5 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 0 (Nature), 20 (Aether), 15 (Void)

* Tail: 40 (Cut), 35 (Impact), 40 (Shot), 0 (Fire), 0 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 20 (Ice), 5 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 0 (Nature), 20 (Aether), 15 (Void)

**Element/Status Effectiveness**

* Fire = ✖
* Water = ✖
* Thunder = ★
* Ice = ★★★
* Dragon = ★
* Earth = ★
* Wind = ✖
* Nature = ✖
* Aether = ★★★
* Void = ★★
* Poison = ✖
* Sleep = ✖
* Paralysis = ✖
* Blast = ★
* Stun = ★★

## Attacks

Arderopac shares a number of attacks with Scelidians and other Fanged Wyverns, but also possesses a number of its own.

**Seed Spitfire**

Arderopac spits a cluster of ignited seeds at the hunter. This attack deals medium-high damage and inflicts Infernoblight and Natureblight. It can use this attack when digging or above the ground.

**Berry Shake**

Arderopac shakes its body around, sending large berries full of volatile oil flying around in random directions. This attack deals medium damage and inflicts Natureblight and Fire Res Down. It will only use this attack when it has a berry bush on its back.

**Miasma Aura**

Arderopac ignites a giant sprout, forming an aura of miasma around every part of its body, save for its head and tail. Contact with the miasma will inflict Pollution and gradually drain a hunter's health. It will only use this attack when it has a sprout on its back.

**Timber!**

Arderopac rears up and slams its whole body onto the hunter, creating a sizable tremor. This attack deals high damage, and the tremor's effects can be negated with Tremor Res (Hi). It will only use this attack when above the ground.

**Head Swing**

Arderopac stands in place and swings its head at the hunter twice in a row, first counter-clockwise, then clockwise. Both swings deal medium-high damage, and it will only use this attack on the ground. While it lacks status conditions, its speed makes up for it. It can only use this attack when above the ground.

**Pollution Breath**

Arderopac breathes a large stream of blue smog at the hunter, either standing in place while moving it in the hunter's direction or flying towards them as it uses it. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Pollution. It can use this attack when digging or above the ground.

**Pollution Bomb**

Arderopac spits a large ball of blue smog at the hunter that later explodes into a massive haze. The initial attack deals high damage and inflicts Pollution, while the haze rapidly drains health while inflicting Pollution. It can use this attack when digging or above the ground.

**Combustive Spit**

Arderopac spits three globules of dark yellow oil at the hunter at once. This attack deals medium damage and inflicts both Fire Res Down and Blastblight. It can use this attack when digging or above the ground.

**Volatile Spill**

Arderopac spins around while spewing a stream of combustive oil along the ground, with the trail left behind creating a large explosion shortly after. This attack deals medium-high damage and inflicts Fire Res Down. It can use this attack when digging and above the ground.

**Ground Burst**

Arderopac buries into the ground, digs its way to a selected hunter, then bursts out of the ground. This attack deals high damage.

**Underground Pursuit**

Similar to Ukanlos, Arderopac "swims" towards the hunter with most of its body underground, with it either throwing fruit in random directions (if a berry bush is on its back) or leaving trails of smog behind that linger for some time before dissipating (if a sprout is growing on its back). Direct contact with the body deals high damage, contact with the fruit deals medium damage and inflicts Natureblight and Fire Res Down, and contact with the smog gradually drains health and inflicts Pollution. This attack has a homing effect.

**Fire Whirls**

Similar to Kushala Daora, Arderopac spews one to three balls of fiery wind in front of it in a row, with these balls forming fiery tornadoes that quickly make their way towards the hunter. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Infernoblight. It can use this attack when digging or above the ground.

**Inferno Bite**

Arderopac rears back, then bites at the hunter twice in a row while standing in place, with its fangs being coated with fiery wind. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Infernoblight. It can use this attack when digging or above the ground.

**Flamethrower**

Arderopac raises its head into the air, spews out a large stream of fiery wind, then does a sweeping motion with its head in an attempt to hit the hunter with it. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Infernoblight. It can use this attack when digging or above the ground.

**Infernal Vortex**

Similar to Akantor, Arderopac stores energy while standing in place, blue smoke emanating from its mouth all the while, then fires a large, fiery vortex at the hunter from its mouth, shifting it to go in the hunter's direction all the way. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Infernoblight. It can use this attack when digging or above the ground.

## Theme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0IbN8fx4Ms&t=387s

## Weapons

### Great Sword

**Bushfire Edge** --> **Bushfire Demolisher**

### Long Sword

**Alleopathic Sword** --> **Alleopathic Predator**

### Dual Blades

**Volatile Daggers** --> **Volatile Assassins**

### Hammer

**Ironbark Mallet** --> **Ironbark Brute**

### Gunlance

**Wildfire Cannon** --> **Wildfire Impaler**

### Charge Blade

**Polluting Hatchet** --> **Polluting Ravager**

### Heavy Bowgun

**Bloodwood Flamethrower** --> **Bloodwood Terrorizer**

### Bow

**Firestorm Longbow** --> **Firestorm Marauder**

### Tonfa

**Blazing Hammers** --> **Blazing Murderers**

## Armour

### Blademaster

#### High-Rank

**Defense**: 275-620

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire +15
* Water +10
* Thunder +5
* Ice -15
* Dragon +5
* Earth +5
* Wind +15
* Nature +15
* Aether -15
* Void -5

**Skills**: Fire Atk +3, Bombardier, Wellness, Constitution -2

#### G-Rank

**Defense**: 480-715

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire +15
* Water +10
* Thunder +5
* Ice -15
* Dragon +5
* Earth +5
* Wind +15
* Nature +15
* Aether -15
* Void -5

**Skills**: Fire Atk +3, Bombardier, Wellness, Constitution -2

### Gunner

#### High-Rank

**Defense**: 140-400

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire +20
* Water +15
* Thunder +10
* Ice -10
* Dragon +10
* Earth +10
* Wind +20
* Nature +20
* Aether -10
* Void 0

**Skills**: Fire Atk +3, Bombardier, Wellness, Constitution -2

#### G-Rank

**Defense**: 260-460

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire +20
* Water +15
* Thunder +10
* Ice -10
* Dragon +10
* Earth +10
* Wind +20
* Nature +20
* Aether -10
* Void 0

**Skills**: Fire Atk +3, Bombardier, Wellness, Constitution -2

## Breakable-Parts

Head- The horn will break, revealing its colourful inside.

Torso- Some of the outer layers of the hide will be torn off, revealing the colourful inner layers.

Legs x4- Some of the outer layers of the hide will break off, revealing the colourful inner layers.

Tail- The tail will be severed.

Back- The plants will be severed from the monster's back, and the colourful inner layers of the back will be exposed.

## Trivia

* Arderopac's name is a portmanteau of two Romanian words: ardero, which means "burning", and repac, which means "tree".
* Arderopac's resistance to fire and flammable oil were based on those found in eucalyptus trees, and its colourful inner bark was based on that of the rainbow eucalyptus tree.
* Breaking the Arderopac's back will prevent it from holding plants on its back, negating its ability to fling combustive berries and form a miasma aura around itself.
* Arderopac is immune to Poison, Paralysis, and Sleep.
* When exhausted, Arderopac will take longer to recover after using its physical attacks, and the range of its breath attacks will be greatly reduced. It can recover stamina by digging up plants like the kind found on its back and eating them.
* Arderopac's oil-based attacks may leave shinies behind. When picked up, the shinies will either give the hunter Arderopac Oil+ (High-Rank), Arderopac Fineoil (G-Rank), Arderopac Amber (either High-Rank or G-Rank), or Arderopac Mantle (G-Rank), or will explode, which deals medium-high damage. The explosion has a 50% chance of occurring, while there is a 40% of acquiring the rank-specific oil (35% in G-Rank), a 10% chance of acquiring the gem (15% in G-Rank), and a 5% chance of acquiring the mantle.