Wyvern

Imshael, a wyvern

Androvax

Caliborn

A **Wyvern** (called **Wyrrm** or **Drakken** in the Old Tongue and occasionally **Dragon** in Common) is an extremely powerful High Demon. The Underking Vermithrax, supposedly the original progenitor of demonkind itself, was the first of the Wyverns, and the few others in existence are thought to be the "first of his children" according to many belief systems. Despite being the most feared of all demons among the Aradian populace, their rarity has made them mysterious, and much of what is truly known about them from comes from speculation by scholars and experts.

In an invading Horde, a Wyvern takes a commanding/"general" position and appears to steer other lesser demons around it to its will. Its means of doing this are unclear, though Mordaghast, who is speculated to be a kind of Wyvern, has displayed the abilities to control terrestrial minds and this may be some sort of terramantic gift common to all their kind. In addition to commanding, the Wyvern will fight on its own behalf on the field to devastating effect; in addition to being the physically largest of all demons, the Wyvern has a selection of natural weapons it can use, including an invulnerable hide, flight, and the ability to spit a flame hot enough to liquify stone castle walls.

In 1014AE, only a single Wyvern has appeared in the Second Great Demon War; this is Vermithrax's youngest child, General Imshael. With her father dead at the hands of Jason Blackthorne, and her sisters implied to have been killed by Moradghast, she is the last of her kind.

In 1086AE, due to the union of Jaster Blackthorne and Imshael, a second Wyvern is known to exist.

## Biology

Wyverns are notable for their physical scale. Imshael, the smallest of their number, measures over a hundred meters in length from snout to tail-tip and was able to reach eye-level with the highest parapets of the Great Riverford when standing on her hind legs. Their largest, Vermithrax himself, was so vast he could be mistaken for a mountain and in first rising from the Sorrows was thought to be a new island. Wyverns are covered in scales so dark that they seem to drink in light, which makes observation of their physical forms difficult. Their outline resembles a reptilian creature with bat-like wings, a long spiked tail, rear legs that end in splayed four-clawed talons like a bird of prey's. Their heads are topped with long spiked crests that are said to resemble monarch's crowns; the shape of these crests varies widely from wyvern to wyvern. They have eyes that glow like "miniature suns," the color of which also varies--Imshael's are blue, while Vermithrax's were said to be orange or red. They have maws, but make no direct vocalizations; observers have noticed an eerie, deep humming that surrounds them at all times that may be a form of language.

The Wyvern's head ends in a crested snout, which is its primary means of attack. Through unclear means, they are able to exhale through their noses in a targeted, flamethrower-like burst, expelling a torrent of unnatural black flames. Drakkenfire vaporizes anything it touches instantly, and can even break through magical wards--even the anti-magic weapons of the Storm Kings could not fully protect from its effects, as it is simulatenously mundane and transmundane, magical and non-magical. The Wyvern has amphibious capabilities and can move through water at speed, like most demons do. Wyvern flight is unusual; the creature will almost never beat its enormous wings unless to attack, as the force of that is known to able to destroy castles, so when taking to the air observers have described that the creature appears to glide with an eerie weightlessness. Wyverns are thought to be completely invulnerable to any kind of harm; while all demons are immune to damage from weapons wrought of human smithing, the Wyvern's hide resists even sorcery or Starforge swords. Jason Blackthorne disproved this by killing Vemrithrax with a strike through the eye, the one area on the body unprotected by scales.

Vermithrax had the ability of Terramancy, the magical power to manipulate life and nature itself. This is what he supposedly used to create Terros, the world of the Isles of Aradia. His offspring do not appear to posses the ability, but he was able to pass it on to his servant through unknown means.

As revealed by Imshael, Wyverns have an ability to shapeshift and appear in a Terrestrial form that resembles High Elves. It is unknown which of the shapes, the draconic or the humanoid, is the "true" form of the creature. In this shape, Wyverns are more vulnerable, as Imshael was hurt by a Drow-forged dagger cutting through her "skin." They are also capable of speaking with both the Old Tongue and even Common in this shape. Similar to the Lillin, Wyverns are also capable of copulating with terrestrials, and reproducing with them. The true implications of this have yet to be seen.

## History

According to the Order of the Seven Suns, when Vermithrax was cast back into the Void, his power was diminished. He attempted to create new life, but was only able to produce twisted copies of his own monstrous form; these were Androvax, Caliborn and Imshael, his daughters, and for millenia the only existing Wyverns. Vermithrax himself had been the first ever living conscioussness in the Void, and the draconic shape was a mutated form of his original physical appearance, implying he could have been even more dangerous and powerful originally. Vermithrax was able to extend his influence outside the Void and contact a human sorcerer, who agreed to bring Vermithrax and his growing army into the terrestrial world in exchange for some of the Underking's own power. Vermithrax and his two older daughters terrorized the land for decades in the First Demon War--his youngest, the "runt" Imshael, rarely appeared on the frontlines. In the the Deadlands, Jason Blackthorne killed Vermithrax, and helped force his daughters to retreat into the Void. Dragons did not trouble the realm again for centuries.

In 1014AE, Imshael reappeared during the Massacre at the Riverford, as a General in Mordaghast's army. She killed Sir Roderic Blackthorne and critically injured his nephew Jaster. She later reappeared lying in wait for Jaster in the Silkwood, where she revealed a plan to betray the Underking; she took Jaster in a demonic pact as his "bride," faking her own death at the subsequent Battle at Stomrise Isle, and sat out the rest of the Second Great Demon War in hiding.

By 1086AE, Imshael has been waiting in the dormant Void, her plans and actions unknowable. But it is said that her fell half-human offspring has escaped her, and wanders the Isles of Aradia in human skin, seeking to re-open the Void and plunge the world into eternal war once again.

## Trivia

-The Aradian version of Dragons was based on director Guillermo Del Toro's professed influences for his hypothical version of the Hobbit's dragon Smaug; Maleficent and Vermithrax Pejorative. The former's dark outline and glowing eyes were the visual basis for the creatures, and the latter gave their leader his name.

-The idea of the Wyverns being able to take an attractive humanoid shape is also based on modern response to Tolkein's work; chiefly the controversy around the depiction of Shelob in the video game Shadow of War, with one particular comment wondering what would happen if one reproduced with the Grotesque Spider?

-The writer got hold of dragons, a fantasy staple, before anyone else did and now controls the shots so no-one else can have them which ruins it for everyone else. What a bastard.