Azhdrhacos

**Azhdrhacos** (As-d-RAW-cos) is a highly territorial and large species of male Wingdrake/Bird Wyvern that is capable of using the deadly necrotizing effluvia bacteria to combat threats.

## **Description**

Azhdrhacos are large bird wyvern characterized by their massive beaked head, powerful forelimbs, and quadrupedal body shape; these strange monsters resemble a cross between real world pterosaurs and flightless ground birds. These wyverns are primarily covered in black and white feathers and possess slate colored scales and light grey armored plates and beak. The wings of these monsters are heavily muscled and are used in walking and running; the wing membrane is supported by a single robust digit and is capable of being retracted against the forelimbs when not in use. The rear legs of these bird wyverns are smaller and underdeveloped when compared to their forelimbs but possess dagger-like claws that are useful in kicking threats in self defense. The short tail of these avian monsters is short when compared to most other wyverns and instead of spikes or clubs these monsters possess a fan of tail feathers.

## **Abilities**

Azhdrhacos are usually slow and sluggish monsters that would rather rely on intimidation and showy displays to fend off attackers and threats, however these bird wyverns become much more sporadic when agitated. These bird wyverns are able to use their powerful winged forelimbs to swat hunters and competitors away with ease and their pointed beak and powerful jaws are more than capable of piercing the defenses of any foe while their numerous armored spikes and foot claws are able to inflict gruesome wounds upon both prey and competitors. When these avian monsters become enraged they will utilize the debilitating infectious pathogens to defend themselves from threats; these necrotizing attacks inflict hunters with effluvium and the soiled status effect which makes these monsters a fearsome and challenging foe for unprepared hunters.

## **Ecology**

### Taxonomy

* **Kingdom**: Animalia
* **Phylum**: Chordata
* **Class**: Reptilia
* **Clade**: Dinosauria
* **Order**: Wyveropoda
* **Family**: Dracanomimidae
* **Subfamily**: Ornithodraconosaurinae
* **Tribe**: Gryphonini
* **Genus**: Pteranoraptor
* **Species**: P. vulgaris
* **Name Meaning**: Vulgar Winged Thief
* **Common Name**: Azhdrhacos

It is still up for debate among guild ornithologists and monster researchers as to whether Azhdrhacos belongs to the wingdrake or bird wyvern classification due to the monster possessing physical traits commonly found within both classifications of monsters.

### Rage and Tired States

* Enraged: When enraged, Azhdrhacos will ignite the spikes lining its body and draconic smoke will seep from its jaws. While enraged some of its physical attacks will generate moderately sized dragon element explosions.
* Fatigued: When Azhdrhacos becomes fatigued these wyverns will begin to droll and become much more sluggish with its movements.

### Habitat Range

Azhdrhacos are known to hold extremely large territories that can encompass multiple different areas, these large territories are often so large that the wingdrake is constantly on the move patrolling the feeding grounds of its harem flock. The most common locales this monster species can be found inhabiting include Ancestral Steppe, Ruined Pinnacle and Verdant Hills. Although it is most commonly encountered within these locales it is reasonable to assume that these wingdrakes are capable of flying to and inhabiting more hostile environments due to their nomadic nature.

### Ecological Niche

Azhdrhacos are predatory omnivores that primarily subsist off of carrion but will often hunt any monster smaller than themselves. These large avian monsters will also supplement their diets with fruits, berries and nuts on occasion. These apex scavengers are well documented kleptoparasites and seemingly show a preference for fighting other predators off their kills rather than hunting living prey themselves; however on the rare occasion these monsters have been seen hunting other large monsters the prey item is typically either old, sick or suffering from wounds caused by an unrelated conflict which usually allows for the prey item to be swiftly dispatched by the Azhdrhacos. These bird-like behemoths are known to face fierce competition from other scavengers like Revoltures, Odogaron and its ebony colored subspecies but the Azhdrhacos ability to fly typically give the avian monster the edge when it comes to searching and traveling to carrion. The biggest threats to Azhdrhacos claim to carcasses is the notorious carrion coated elder dragon Vaal Hazak and the enigmatic Nakarkos.

### Biological Adaptations

Azhdrhacos is mostly covered in a dense coat of pycnofibers and loose leathery skin that protect the large wingdrake from the the claws and fangs of rival monster species. The powerful scythe shaped beak of these monsters possess small fang shaped protrusions along the edges that assist the monster in tearing upon carcasses and piercing the tough armored hides and bones of other monsters. The unique wing muscles of Azhdrhacos allow it to retract its wing membrane against its forelimb which allows the wing to be protected while the avian monster utilizes its wings in quadrupedal movement and for attacks while defending itself; these muscles also give Azhdrhacos expert control of its wings in the air which allows the monster to move with surprising agility while in the air. These avian behemoths possess a unique symbiosis with the infectious effluvia bacterium that is otherwise typically found inhabiting the Rotten Vale or the body of Vaal Hazak and the monstrous pterosaur has seemingly evolved to be asymptomatic to the necrotizing pathogen and utilizes it to weaken potential prey and to defend itself from rival species of monsters. It should be noted that while these monsters possess the ability to utilize the effluvium bacteria to defend itself from threats it lacks the unique ability to influence the infection to quickly drain the life of infected creatures in the way that Vaal Hazak does. This species displays a minor case of sexual dimorphism but the only notable outward appearance between the males and females of this species is the larger size of the males but other than that the two sexes appear nearly identical.

### Behavior

Azhdrhacos are highly territorial monsters and prefer to keep rival predators and hunters out of their territories and will defend their nests from intruders fiercely. While not defending their turf these titanic wingdrakes can be found patrolling the area for food to feast upon or resting by sunbathing and preening themselves.

### Social Behavior

Azhdrhacos are typically solitary monsters but during the breeding season the males will gain a crimson hue to their crests and will often construct elaborate dens decorated with large bones and colorful rocks within their territory to advertise to female Azhdrhacos.

### Turf Wars

#### Vs Great Girros

Upon spotting the smaller predator the Azhdrhacos will roar loudly before proceeding to chase the fleeing wyvern down and seizing the alpha raptor with its powerful beaked jaws. The alpha raptor attempts to free itself from the large wingdrake by biting and clawing the Azhdrhacos jaws but the attempt is futile as the titanic wingdrake crushes the raptor with its jaws dealing high damage to the helpless predator. The Azhdrhacos drops the smaller wyvern and then proceeds to send it flying with a kick as it attempts to right itself. The Azhdrhacos roars victoriously as the smaller monster flees the area.

### Tracks

Azhdrhacos is capable of leaving behind multiple tracks that hunters can use in tracking them. The tracks can be found along the ground as **"footprints"** and **"damaged terrain"** as well as **"shed feathers"** and **"pulverized bone chunks"** which can be found upon stones and walls.

## **Combat Information**

Attacks

* **Screech**: Azhdrhacos will let out an ear shattering screech in an attempt to scare off threats.
* **Sonic Scream**: Azhdrhacos will let out an ear shattering screech in a cone that is capable of physically damaging threats around itself.
* **Bite**: Azhdrhacos will snap at hunters with its jaws.
* **180 Spinning Bite**: Azhdrhacos will spin around with its jaws open. This attack is capable of knocking hunters back.
* **Tail Swipe**: Azhdrhacos will swipe at hunters standing behind it with its short, clubbed tail.
* **Charging Headbutt**: Azhdrhacos will charge towards hunters and knock them away with its bulk.
* **Peck**: Azhdrhacos will stab hunters with its robust beak.
* **Triple Peck**: Azhdrhacos will stab hunters with its robust beak multiple times.
* **Beak Slam**: Azhdrhacos will slam its beak into the ground with great force and generate small tremors.
* **Triple Beak Slam**: Azhdrhacos will slam its beak into the ground with great force multiple times and generate small tremors.
* **Jumping Beak Slam**: Azhdrhacos will jump into the air and slam its beak into the ground with great force.
* **Flying Beak Crash**: Azhdrhacos will jump into the air and propel itself towards hunters with its wing in an attempt to slam into them with extreme force.
* **Vault Kick**: Azhdrhacos will lift itself with its forelimbs and strike hunters with its hindlimbs.
* **Lunging Vault Kick**: Azhdrhacos will lunch itself forward with its forelimbs and strike hunters with its hindlimbs.
* **Forelimb Slam**: Azhdrhacos will slam its forelimbs into the ground in an attempt to knock hunters off their feet.
* **Lunging Jump**: Azhdrhacos will lunge toward hunters and slam into them.
* **Lunging Wing Slash**: Azhdrhacos will slash at hunters with its bladed wing scales.
* **Lunging Double Wing Slash**: Azhdrhacos will lunge toward hunters and slash at them with their bladed wing scales.
* **Spinning Wing Slash**: Azhdrhacos will slash at hunters with its bladed wing scales while spinning around.
* **Flying Talon Swipe**: Azhdrhacos will take to the air and swipe at hunters with its taloned feet.
* **Flying Charge**: Azhdrhacos will take to the air and charge towards hunters with its body.
* **Flying Divebomb**: Azhdrhacos will take to the air and crash into a hunter with extreme force.
* **Flying Miasma Divebomb**: Azhdrhacos will take to the air, cloak itself in effluvia and crash into a hunter with extreme explosive force. Hunters hit by this attack become afflicted with effluvium.
* **Vertical Miasma Breath**: Azhdrhacos will breathe a thin stream of effluvia cloud from the ground upwards. These clouds will inflict effluvium upon hunters that are hit by it.
* **Horizontal Miasma Breath**: Azhdrhacos will breathe a thin stream of effluvia cloud from side to side. These clouds will inflict effluvium upon hunters that are hit by it.
* **Miasma Burst**: Azhdrhacos will generate and detonate a effluvia cloud. These clouds will inflict effluvium upon hunters that are hit by it.
* **Double Miasma Burst**: Azhdrhacos will generate and detonate two large effluvia clouds. These clouds will inflict effluvium upon hunters that are hit by it.
* **Miasma Wind Shockwave**: Azhdrhacos will create an explosive shockwave by propelling effluvia clouds with its powerful wings. These clouds will inflict effluvium upon hunters that are hit by it.
* **Miasma Cloud Carpet**: Azhdrhacos will take to the air and charge towards hunters with its body while leaving behind a trail of effluvia before detonating the cloud. This attack will inflict effluvium upon hunters that are hit by it.
* **Gizzard Bomb**: Azhdrhacos will release a thick cloud of effluvia around itself before taking to the air and spitting a glob of regurgitated stomach contents into the center of the cloud causing a chain reaction explosion. This attack inflicts soiled and effluvium.

### Notes

* When Azhdrhacos is low on stamina it will travel to a monster carcass or bone pile and feed upon it to regain stamina.

### Elemental Resistances

Canon Elements

 Water
 Thunder
 Ice
 Dragon

Fanon Elements

 Wind
 Aether
 Void

### Status Ailments

 Paralysis
 Sleep
 Blast
 Stun
 Defense Down/Corrosion

## Gallery

Azhdrhacos Skull BonesCommissioned artwork by KitWhitham

## Notes, Trivia and Credits

* Azhdrhacos originated as an adapted species of Sicarapax but was later changed into its own monster.
* Azhdrhacos is largely based on various species and depictions of real-world pterosaurs and terror birds, although its preference for feeding upon bones mostly based on the bearded vulture.
* The new icon was created by the user Rathalosaurus rioreurensis! The old icons were created by the user YukiHerz!
* Credit to Rathalosaurus rioreurensis for helping come up with the monster's original name Sziarra Rapaz (Ssee-AUra Raw-paws).
* Credit to Aucoustism for the creation of the Roar.