Lithosteros

gigantic crystal dragon, they live in the crystallized areas of the caves, rare geological anomalies populated by numerous crystalline creatures. they are the biggest and most important creatures of these zones.

## Appearance

despite being called "dragons", they are actually Wyverns: their bulky body is supported by two short hind legs and two very large and strong arms, ended by huge hands with sharp claws. Their specificity is, their body is covered in Crystals: all their spikes, claws, teeth, are crystals. this can be explained by the fact that they live in the crystallized zones, where the matter organize in crystals instead of being disorganized. The crystals also extend from the arms as nearly flat plates, mimicking the wing membranes, allowing them to glide. Their tail is also covered with irregular crystals, places on patters, and the tail end with some greater crystal formation. It's also noticeable that their skin seems to be made out of stone, but that could be just because it's rough and irregular. Taking all of that, it's really easy for them to hide, if they are near crystals similar to the ones they have on them.

## Types and Subspecies:

Depending of the geological composition of the zone they live, Lithostreos (and any other species by extension) can have different crystals on their bodies:

### Natural and common ones

* Amethyst
* Garnet
* Sapphire
* Opal
* Wavelite
* Quartz
* Boleite
* Malachite
* Diamond
* Crocoïte
* Agate (and the grape form)
* Desert rose and Fulgurite in Nexat
* Iron or Copper in [name to be found]
* Icicle in Ayamahli
* Aquamarine in Eltuiqanat
* Magic Crystal in Riolvan

### Rare and special ones

* Bismuth, and their toxic colors
* Electrocrystal and their lightnings
* Magma and their heat ==> able to become obsidian in the right conditions
* Fossils (possibly Opalized)

### Artificial Ones:

* Bones, obtained by necromancy
* Porcelain
* Ancient Ruins

### Unique specimens

* Prismatic persecutor : Covered in colorful crystals, it's able to launch deadly energy rays, that have the bad habit to be refracted on the crystals into kaleodoscopic arrays of lasers. From an unknown method, the Prismatic persecutor can change the color of it's crystals and give them different refracting properties
* Starforged : Came from space. Body not of stone, but made of what looks like galaxies, infinite void of glowing stars. All the crystals on it's body are floating around it. Able to control gravity.
* Katarias : A Much more gigantic Lithosteros. It's body is of the blackest stone, veined of bright blue. It's crystals are a bloody red with colorful iridescent edges. those crystals are of an unknown material, both extremely resistant and very cutting. Originally created by Erebus to be the ultimate guardian on the underground, Katarias became rogue and decided it would be funnier to spread chaos and destruction everywhere. the specifc zones of caves he's living has become a land of chaos and devastation, covered in moving crystals. few have saw Katarias, and it has been told to be a creature of power comparable to the gods. Few witnesses reports it's unusual methods of fighting and it's total control over the caves it lives in. Such power that the caves has been named *The Crystal Purgatory*.

## Abilities

The specificity of the Crystals on their body is, being organically generated, they can "grow". By that i mean that, when something touches the crystals, they will crystallize the touched area and create crystals around... This happens with any crystal on their body, meaning that they cannot really touch anything without covering it with crystals.

That ability is especially powerful when it comes to fighting, because it not only covers the opponent in crystals that restrain the movements and probably hurt, they also can generate huge crystals by punching the ground, or by slamming their tail... The crystals can even arrange in specific shapes, creating bridges, walls, spikes, and nearly everything. This make them some of the most dangerous creatures, both of the underground and from all the continent, and many have learned a lesson when trying to annoy one...

depending of the crystals present on the body , they have different fighting styles:

Some are more based on strength and resistance of the mineral, like Diamond, Bismuth, Agate, Iron or Ruins... The minerals being really thick and inaccurate, they specialize in generating walls or pillars to smash the enemy. They also are generally more resistant than the other Lithosteros.

Others have weaker minerals, but with sharp edges that can easily gut through the enemy, like Crocoïte, Obsidian or Quartz. They prefer creating spikes and crystal blades, meant to cut and impale the opponent.

Finally, and as said earlier, some minerals have special abilities, listed below:

* Bismuth is an oxidized metal, so it's more resistant than minerals and create perfectly rectangular formations. In addition, it's slightly toxic
* Magma is, not so surprisingly, extremely hot, and create blazing magmatic structures
* Electrocrystal bends the lightnings. This is very powerful and dangerous, despite making them the N°1 target for the apex of the lightning and of the underground, forcing them to live in the caves of floating islands
* Icicles, in opposition to magma, make frost spikes... beware of hypothermia
* Magic crystals have some properties that still need to be defined

## Behavior and Place in the ecosystem

Every creature living in the crystallized zones is geovore, and thus eat only the crystal present in the zones, meaning that predation and hunting are not really things, except if some outer creatures that could enter the crystallized zones. That's where Lithosteros enter the scene, as they take a protector role, guarding the other crystallized creatures and protecting them from any threat.

They are pretty docile, not being especially aggressive. They won't attack unless you represent a direct threat or if you show aggressive behaviors toward them or any other crystalline creature.

## Notable apparitions

* One of them is bonded to Garneta and briefly help the crew of the expedition for their mission
* Two of them is living under the Stone Monks temple, at the top of Erebus, and protect it when menaces above the power of the monks show. they fight together and combine their attacks in deadly duos. They are nicknamed *The Pillars*, and their elements are Granite and Quartz.
* Katarias